Hi everyone, I'm Jenna! I wanted to introduce myself and say hello! I'm just outside Chicago, a mom to a very energetic 6-year-old, and a lifelong book lover. I spent over 15 years in education, mostly focused on literacy, and I'm also the founder of Love Smiles, a nonprofit that provides books and comfort items to kids going through cancer treatment. I've also been working on a children's book series called Tales from the MakerSpace, so I've been having some fun on the writing side of things, too! Books have always been a huge part of my life, whether I'm reading them, teaching with them, writing them, or finding ways to get them into someone else's hands. I'm excited to be here, connect with other book lovers and writers, and see what everyone is working on! So, what is everyone reading right now? I'm always looking for another book to add to my list!

I just went to FanX Salt Lake last week and sold 244 books!! Biggest success I've ever had at a convention! Here are some tips that will help toward event success. - Have something that draws people's attention. Ideally, something big and tall and curiosity-inciting. My big banner for my book "The Legend of Uh" is bright and colorful and weird enough to bring people in and make them ask questions. - Consider bundles. If you've got books in a series, consider giving people a discount if they buy the whole thing. I've been shocked at how quick people are to buy an entire series or trilogy at a convention (make sure to have bags on hand so they can carry them!). Having something you can point to and say "I'm only offering this discount at this event" is really motivating for customers. - Try to create a sense of "wow" with your booth! I'm still struggling with this, but I've seen other people create beautiful booths with lights, faux ivy, wooden frames, raised platforms, and more. Make it pretty! - When it comes to selling books, sometimes the best decorations are just big stacks of books. Seriously. Pack your booth with books. Put them on stands so the covers are tipped toward the customers. It gives them plenty to look at. - Have a folding wagon or folding dolly cart!! Seriously, these things will save your life. You can't be carrying books and book supplies by hand into a convention center. You'll wear yourself out before the event even begins. - Have calorie-dense rations on hand. Dried mangos, nuts, granola bars, protein bars—preferably things that don't get messy so you don't get anything on your merchandise. Convention food is EXPENSIVE so bringing your own snacks to nom on throughout the day will cut down on costs.

I disappeared for a little while there. At least my commitment to writing remained! First draft of book 2 is done! I'm noticing a lighter crowd. Is the group mostly seasonal?

Week 2 progress report!! I am phenomenally behind. But weirdly enough, I'm not too worried about it. I did really well at making time where there wasn't time this week, and several of the scenes I "edited" to check those little gold boxes on my tracker were ones I had to write completely from scratch. Another few yet-to-exist scenes to go, then all the floppy tentacles of my first draft are neatly tied together, and things should flow really quickly through the climax! I'm getting excited about it. Also I was SO helped by Erin Stewart's Q&A tonight, so it's difficult to be discouraged by my slow progress, since I'm riding on a high of inspiration :) Onward and upward, to my MC having his "Reborn" moment!

I had a very astute comment from a member of my writing group that had me rethinking some of my story progression. But instead of letting it derail me completely (which it might have done without this challenge) I wrote a couple thousand words to stick in between two earlier chapters. Don't worry, I'm not going to go back and fix everything right now, but I think this anchor point might be helpful in my first revision.