Day One Report

As anyone who has attended a convention or trade show knows, there are lots of freebies. I spread out my haul for the day on my hotel room bedspread: one CD, a sample of coffee, mousepad, pin, teeshirt, holy card, five pens, a magazine, keychain, and a free book!

I started the morning with the Rosary and Mass in the Grand Ballroom at the Radisson and then attended the opening session of the Catholic Writers Conference after registering downstairs in the convention center.

CWG officers described the mission of the organization, the benefits of membership, and some future plans (regional guilds, for example).

Then I participated in the Rapid Fire Reading for Catholic non-fiction: I read for five minutes from Supremacy and Survival (all about St. Edmund Campion, torture, priest holes, and execution). When Ellen Gable and Susi Pittman and I had read from our books, we answered some questions, and then sold and signed our books. My publisher, John Powers from Scepter, was there and was glad to see my books selling (six so far). It was a smaller group than I'd hoped for, but it was a great experience.

I took a break to visit the trade show (collecting loot along the way) and stopped by the Scepter Publishers booth to say hello to Nathan. After lunch I worked on my presentation for tomorrow and then just finished attending a session on "Authenticity in Marketing." I just met the presenter, Theresa Thomas on the van ride to the hotel yesterday. She was an excellent speaker, mixing personal experience with measured data and strategic guidance for marketing yourself and your work honestly and effectively.