I'm Addicted to the Internet!

Hi, my name is Kaily and I'm an addict.....

How did anyone ever survive before email, on-line shopping, social networking and syncing your entire life on your many mobile devices? I have just spent a frustrating few days with intermittent and problematic connectivity. I'm not a surfer (Internet that is), but without it I feel naked and vulnerable. I want it to be there when I need it. Once when we had no power or Internet due to a hurricane, my hubby thought I was crazy when I insisted we get the Internet taken care of FIRST. We had generator power after all, right? Well, the nice guy from the DSL provider was here this morning and promises everything is now fixed. Now perhaps I can focus knowing my lifeline to the world has been re-established.

I'm no longer a 'pitch virgin'!

A couple of weeks out now from the RWA conference held in D.C. and my thoughts keep drifting to the pitch meeting I had with an editor. It lasted for all of 10 minutes and I had to impress her enough such that she would request my manuscript. In my prior life I had delivered many presentations (sometimes to hundreds of people), I had conducted training sessions and had attended many conferences over a 15 year period, but for the pitch meeting I wasn't just nervous, but TERRIFIED. Perhaps because it meant so much to me; before, it was important of course as I considered my career seriously but it was just business. This was just too close to my heart and soul. I prepared meticulously, writing out and discarding a multitude of index cards to assist with the delivery of my 'pitch'. I believe I did OK in the meeting considering I had never ever ever told a single soul anything about what I have written. Did I say EVER? And I had to say it out loud. It probably helped that it was a stranger, a stranger that had heard a lot of strange stuff before I bet. She did ask for my first three chapters after all, but I still wonder if there was something I could have done better or what she really thought of my delivery and style. As I finish the revision of those chapters and prepare to send them off, I look back on the meeting. It could be an invaluable experience that I can file away and which could benefit me for the future pursuit of publication OR it could be an instrumental turning point in the realization of a dream!

Romance Writers of America

I just returned from a fabulous conference in Washington D.C.; the annual RWA conference. Joining RWA was one of the first things I did at the end of last year when I committed to this path. I recognized this was THE organization to belong to if I was serious about writing romance (and I intended to put my money where my mouth is). I have attended many conferences (in career 1 of 2) and was impressed with the professionalism of RWA at the event. I met many wonderful authors and aspiring authors and attended many informative and educational sessions. I even pitched to an editor who asked to see a partial manuscript so I am mad at work editing my first 3 chapters to send in! I had such a great time at the event, I wanted to thank the following specifically:
* Jayne Ann Krentz for helping me encapsulate my own core story
* Stephanie Bond for helping me realize that analytical thinkers can be romance writers too
* Angela Knight for reiterating that it has to be more than just hot sex (although I'd take it in a pinch)

I think my primary take away from the event was that there are all these really wonderful women out there who genuinely care about the books they pour their hearts and soul into and the readers that eagerly await their next work. I can only hope to be as gracious as they are.

Hi

Hi, my name is Kaily Hart and I write about unconventional heroes; knights in (not so) shiny armor and heroines who wouldn't choose to ask for help in a million years (maybe they don't even know they need help). This is my journey on the rocky road to learning my craft, finding my voice and becoming a published author (while I still manage my other life). I would love it if you joined me!