Last week was our first Roswell/North Atlanta Authors United meeting, and I’m very excited about the future of this group. If you are a writer in the North Atlanta area, be sure to check it out. Although it’s new, we already have 49 local authors or aspiring authors, and thanks to Heather Leigh, we already have our first project–planning a book festival for Woodstock, Georgia.

As of now, we have a monthly meeting and a separate monthly training class. The main focus of the group is marketing and networking, and I have many projects in mind as we grow. The idea behind this group is simple–We have a stronger voice within our community if we unite. Instead of one children’s author contacting the local schools for a book reading or signing, how about each school having a local author day with a group of children’s authors. The same goes for local bookstores and festivals within the area.

These are some of the novels by our local authors who attended the first meeting. There are many genres represented within this group.

It just happened to be Wayne Evans’ birthday so he got a special treat. So happy he decided to join us on his special day. And thank you, Wayne, for a copy of Is it a Bird, a Plane or a Red Chicken?

Here’s a couple of pictures from the book signing in Jesup, Georgia. Although it wasn’t a busy signing, I highly enjoyed getting to meet two of my biggest fans. They both told me what was going through their minds as they read Unexpected Entrapment, and as an author, I loved hearing the excitement in their voices. They are eager for more, and it’s fans like these that help with the self-doubt that sometimes creeps into my head.

I also got to spend time with my mother, which is a rare pleasure in itself.

Although I did bring a camera with me to South Georgia, I regret that I did not use it, and I did the best I could to fix the picture below. This is Tabitha Peacock and Debbie Lorenz, two of my biggest supporters. Don’t be surprised if you find their names in one of the future Alissia Roswell novels.

I spent the last week in South Georgia with my mother and enjoyed another book signing at Coastal Manor in Ludowici. Just as before, everyone welcomed me with smiles and kind words, and it made my mother very happy to be able to introduce me to her friends and coworkers. She is very blessed to have such a pleasant work environment.

I enjoyed meeting new readers and those that have already read Unexpected Metamorphosis. 

So glad to have met Hazel Gilmore. I hear she loves the Alissia Roswell Series and was excited about the release of Unexpected Entrapment.

She loves the butterflies and font.

My mother took Unexpected Entrapment with her everywhere we went.

I am very blessed to have met Kimberly over at Jera Publishing early into my writing. It was a time in my life when I was consumed with writing my first novel and wondering what I was going to do with it. There were many sleepless nights, as I did not know where to begin when it came to having a book published. Then, I met Kimberly, and everything changed!

After going to my first class at her office, I knew exactly what I was going to do with my novel. I was going to have it published, and I was going to do it my way! I went home that night filled with empowerment–no more worry, and I owe it all to Kimberly and the others at Jera Publishing.

Not only did they train me in the ways of the publishing industry, but they worked with Canton Walk Publishing in the designing, editing, and formatting of both Unexpected Metamorphosis and Unexpected Entrapment. When I needed bookmarks and a large banner designed for a conference, they worked hard to get the marketing materials ready.

Months later, I approached Kimberly with my author branding desire, and Jason came up with the perfect social media banner you now see at the top of this page.

Jera Publishing has done a lot for me, and I am very blessed to have met them early on in my writing career. Now that they are growing and business seems to be booming over there, I can’t help but be excited for them. They have a new, spacious office to hold classes and meetings, and more people are being hired.

If you are an author, I highly recommend you check them out to see what they have to offer. If you don’t see something you need, ask for Kimberly. She’s come through for me every time.

One more novel, and I get my own shelf there. I need to hurry up and fill up that shelf! This also might be a good time to mention that my twelve-year-old daughter would not let me leave the house that day without her doing my hair in a flower braid. She watched a video online and stood on a stool while I put on my makeup. Although I’m not much for braids, there was no way I was leaving the house without it–bobby pins and all! Mommy love 🙂

Check out JERA’s Facebook page for more pictures of their exciting event.