Social Media for Writers: Speaker Carol Doane

Vancouver Writer's Mixer

Social Media for Authors

Saturday, December 4

5-6:30 pm

Featured Speaker: Carol Doane

Saturday Carol Doane speaks to the Vancouver Writer's Mixer. She's got the internet wired for fun, for feedback and success! She's the doyenne of Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, and many other virtual publicity websites.

Carol will be demonstrating the basics of navigating these treacherous technical waters. Find out why you should dabble, even just a little, on-line. By the time we're finished, you'll be amazed and eager to get out there and start networking!  It's so easy, even Smedley the bookstore cat tweets. Carol will touch on hot social media topics such as Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, YouTube, Plancast and blogging.

Learn quick tips, easy to use shortcuts and what to do if you hate the idea of marketing yourself.

Carol was a top finalist in the 2010 SoMe Awards (Social Media Awards of the Pacific Northwest) for her volunteer campaign for the Southwest Washington Blood Program. Winning campaigns awarded to Air New Zealand, Travelocity, PAX East, Mio Gelato, Portland Fit, Hotel Max, Mio Gelato, a worthy group to be included in!

Carol Doane is also a published writer (chapter in Laughing Nine to Five: The Quest for Humor in the Workplace) and has two completed fiction manuscripts now in the hands of literary agents on both coasts.

Many, many thanks to Angst Gallery owner Leah Jackson for allowing Cover to Cover Books to hold their monthly mixer in the gallery. The bookstore remains closed due to smoke damage until renovations can be completed. Cover to Cover is taking special orders via email: mail@covertocoverbooks.net.

If you want to chat with Carol after the event we'll be taking over the couch in Niche Wine & Art next door.

Online event registration for Social Media for Writers powered by Eventbrite

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Books' worst enemy: FIRE

As reported in The Columbian, a fire next door to Cover to Cover Books ravaged the locally owned book shop with smoke and water damage. They are temporarily closed, but both owner Mel, and the owner of Mel--Smedley the cat, escaped unharmed.

Mel sent us this update:

We won't have power for at least a few days, and I will be meeting the adjuster later today to see what's what. Last night it was a mess, ceiling tiles down everywhere, water and smoke damage. Not sure how bad the books are, but there was no fire in our suite, just stink, some water damage, and mess of other sorts. Smeds and I got out just fine, along with most of the electronics. Luckily it was before our Open Microphone, so there was just me and the cat in the store at the time.

Probably need to scratch the author faire in December. I have no idea how long the business will be sidelined, but I expect at least a month, actually, and I won't have any extra oomph to keep that rolling while we assess the mess and get a new ceiling and flooring and whatever else.

*sigh*

It's always something. The irony is that last night while we were salvaging paperwork by flashlight, I found the inspection report and invoice from our annual fire extinguisher inspection: all 3 extinguishers were fine! Not that we had fire, but still. IRONY, WE HAVE IT.

Mel

We'll keep you posted on alternative location for the November Vancouver Writers Mixer as soon as we have secured space. In the meantime, our best wishes are with Mel and all the friends of Cover to Cover Books.

Sometimes a Carolyn Commotion

"It’s bedlam by the bay, chaos on the coast, another dustup in Devil’s Harbor."

Yes! The next book in the Devil's Harbor Mystery series goes on sale now at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660. It can also be found at other popular sites such as Amazon.com,  Barnesandnoble.com and Kindle.

That's good news.

Carolyn J. Rose co-wrote the mystery with her husband Mike Nettleton. She laughs a lot about the joys of writing with a spouse, but secretly we know that whenever the atmosphere gets tense someone gets knocked off in the book.

So, who dies in this commotion? Here's the scoop:

Thanks to reporter Molly Donovan, the person who killed The Big Grabowski is in jail, but things are hardly back to what passes for normal in the quirky coastal community. With the aging sewage treatment system at its limit and huge penalties looming, the mayor orders extreme water conservation. Townspeople complain, but comply; they make every flush count.

Then Elspeth spots an image scorched into a breaded crab cake served up at the Devil’s Food Cafe. Swarms of pilgrims descend on the town and the mayor, despite threats of impeachment or worse, plants a portable toilet on every lawn. Only selling timber from town trust land can supply funds to fix the sewer system. But a tree-sitting activist for hire keeps loggers at bay.

When someone takes a chainsaw to his perch, Molly discovers the fall alone didn’t kill him-he was poisoned, strangled, and struck with a blunt object. Who did him in? The mayor? The girlfriend he cheated on? The environmentalist he defrauded? Loggers with their payday on hold?

While Molly delves into the dead man’s past, hoping to untangle a snarl of lies and name the killer before Sheriff Greg Erdman, others chart stranger courses-her father falls for a shady lady, Henri undertakes an extreme makeover, Adam flees to the forest, Elspeth sees the light, Icky becomes a writer, and Shelley takes bold steps to turn back the tide of tourism.

Run on down to Cover to Cover. Make a commotion. They'll point you toward the right shelf.

Read an excerpt on the Deadly Duo's website!

IN THE NEWS: Mystery writers cook up a book

"Husband-and-wife team Carolyn J. Rose and Mike Nettleton have written several mystery and suspense books. But the Vancouver couple recently lent their talents to another project: a cookbook."

Read the entire article on The Columbian Newspaper's website. Story titled: Bits 'n' Pieces: Local mystery writers cook up cookbook contributions.

Purchase the cookbook Killer Recipes at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, or on Amazon.com.

Author Bill Cameron to appear in Vancouver, WA

Saturday, October 2, 5:00-6:30 PM
Cover to Cover Books
1817 Main Street, Vancouver 98660

Critically-acclaimed mystery novelist Bill Cameron opens the Vancouver Writers Mixer Series, a monthly event focusing on the publishing industry that happens first Saturdays October through June in at Cover to Cover Books.

Cameron is the author of the dark, gritty mysteries Day One, Chasing Smoke and Lost Dog—featuring irascible Portland homicide cop Skin Kadash. New York Times Bestselling Portland author Chelsea Cain describes Day One as "an utterly engrossing page-turner." In the Vancouver Voice, Carolyn Schultz-Rathbun said, “The body count is positively Shakespearean, but in Cameron’s vision of P-town’s dark underbelly, love really is strong as death. Maybe stronger.”

The next Skin Kadash mystery, County Line, will be released in June 2011 by Tyrus Books.

Chasing Smoke received a starred review from Library Journal, and Booklist declared, "it engages the reader on an emotional as well as literary level." It was a finalist for the 2009 Spotted Owl Award for best Northwest mystery. Lost Dog was nominated for the 2008 Rocky Award and was a finalist for the 2008 Spotted Owl Award.

Cameron's short fiction has appeared in Spinetingler Magazine, the Killer Year anthology, and Portland Noir, as well as on Lit 103.3: Fiction for the Ears. His most recent story can be found in First Thrills (Forge Books).

Bill lives with his wife and poodle in Portland, Oregon, where he also serves as staff to a charming, yet imperious cat. He is an eager traveler and avid bird-watcher, and likes to write near a window so he can meditate on whatever happens to fly by during intractable passages. He is currently working on his fifth novel.

Bill blogs every other Thursday at Criminal Minds (7criminalminds.blogspot.com) and tweets as bcmystery at twitter.com/bcmystery.

You can learn more at www.billcameronmysteries.com and more about the event at http://billcameron.eventbrite.com.

Event Tickets

The Vancouver Writer's Mixer was started by author Carolyn J. Rose (@CarolynJRose) and is emceed by Carol Doane, (@TheFirstCarol).

Portland Writers Examiner reports on Hemlock Lake book launch

Karen Gilb of the Portland Writers Examiner gave a nod to Carolyn J. Rose's release Hemlock Lake.

"Hemlock Lake is a departure for Rose who usually likes to inject a generous measure of wit and humor into her books. The characters in her newest novel are still compelling. The action is fast-paced and believable, but fans will find her newest book considerably darker than those which have come before."

The launch party was hosted by Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main Street, Vancouver, WA‎ 98660.

Rose Rocks the House at Cover to Cover

Carolyn J. Rose has a fabulous time at her book launch at Cover to Cover Books.

Carolyn J. Rose launches her latest novel, Hemlock Lake at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660. I think she just said, 'die somewhere and take a bow,' but I was eavesdropping and gulping very hot coffee, so I'm not completely sure.

Book purchasers snag a chance to chat with author Carolyn J. Rose.

Books are flying out of Cover to Cover as well as Cake being devoured.
Local Safeway store reproduced the book's cover on the celebration cake.

A guest conversation overheard. . .
"Are you from that area?"
"1805? No, I'm a little more current."

All this on coffee and punch. Now that we have experience in these things we're looking forward to the next book launch, a collaboration: Sometimes a Great Commotion.

Hemlock Lake with Cake! A deadly combination

Author Carolyn J. Rose

Meet author Carolyn J. Rose on Saturday, July 31st, 4:00-6:00 pm at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St, Vancouver WA 98660. The open house celebrates the publication of Rose's new novel, Hemlock Lake. She will be on hand to sign books and chat about her Hemlock Lake journey.

From the book's press release: "The mystery, set in the Catskill Mountains, involves betrayal, revenge, love, loss, and redemption, set against the search for an arsonist and killer in a remote community."

Rose, who founded the Vancouver Writers' Mixers in 2006 and teaches a novel-writing boot camp through Clark College Continuing Education, will talk about the decision to write a book far different from the humorous mysteries, such as The Big Grabowski, that she's penned in the past with her husband Mike Nettleton and as solo projects. She will also discuss the book's journey to publication, and serve up Hemlock Lake cake to those who stop by.

Watch the book trailer: Hemlock Lake.

To contact Cover to Cover: 360-514-0358

Writers mix it up every First Saturday

This post originally appeared February 10, 2010 on Pearl of Carol. It is edited slightly for here.

The Vancouver Writers’ Mixer was intended as a one time event hosted by Clark College Community Education teacher, Carolyn J. Rose. She sought to encourage students from her novel writing boot camps to connect with each other and form critique groups. The first mixer was a hit and Rose believed her job was done.

Apparently, she was mistaken.

Badgered by students who couldn’t break the tie to their favorite prof, she kowtowed to the pressure and planned more gatherings. She recruited Mel Sanders, owner of Cover to Cover Books, who agreed to keep her bookshop open 5-6:30 PM every first Saturday to support the blatant scheme to encourage local authors.

It should be disclosed that at each event a contingent of ringers fill the seats who merely desire to revere authors for the 30-40 minutes they speak, lob questions at them for 10-15 minutes, stampede to purchase their books, and publicly beg for autographs.

Presenters are expected to play along.

Both Rose and Sanders are task masters who have kept the guest slate booked with well spoken presenters. They are also experienced in the art of delegation and have passed the baton to a committee who seeks to continue the high caliber of education and entertainment the mixers have provided. These rabid volunteers insure events are entertaining, fast paced—beginning with a fantastic and very entertaining emcee (our very own Carol Doane)—and of course, the event offers snacks.

People in the Pacific Northwest will go anywhere if someone waves a cookie under their nose.

The monthly events consistently draw 20-30 locals who desire to improve their craft, gain insight into the publishing industry, and garner tips on securing publishing contracts. The tickets to the event are FREE and available NOW. Grab one here: http://vancouverwritersmixer.eventbrite.com/

And if you are published or work in the publishing industry and would like to speak at a future event, contact the Vancouver Writers Mixer's by emailing Will Glessner for more info. Please put 'Writers Mixer' in the subject line.

Bookstores read future

"To Mel Sanders, a successful author’s event or open-mike poetry night at her downtown Vancouver bookstore is like the binding of a good book. It holds the pages of her business together."
Great story by Cami Joner in The Columbian on the local bookseller scene.

Article quotes, our friend Mel Sanders from Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St, Vancouver (with THREE pictures!); also quotes Kol Shaver, Zephyr Used and Rare Books, P.O. Box 55, Vancouver WA 98666; Steve Tommerup, owner of Literary Leftovers in Battle Ground at 830 W Main; and Becky Milner, founder of Vintage Books, 6613 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, Washington

With the onset of the electronic book era everything is adjusting in the bookseller's world.

When the dust settles, will the reader still want to hold a real book in their hands?

What do you think?

Read the full story here: Bookstores try to read future.

Cover to Cover cracks the book on the hungry writing spirit

The creative economy can only survive if there are outlets to bring the fruits of the artist's labors to the public. Angst Gallery searches out unique offerings to feed the clamoring 'art-soul' from their sunny spot downtown Vancouver at 10th and Main.

Cover to Cover Books attracts patrons in search of well placed consonants and vowels.

Ir's red door at Main and McLoughlin beckons the avid reader to browse both new and used selections. Many drift through the shelves deep in thought or lost in the discovery of new worlds as they explore the vast array of choices.

When the visitor emerges from the rows into the main area, they are greeted by the steady hiss of the espresso machine as it floods the shop with the heady aroma of freshly brewed coffee beans and the vanilla fragrance of custom steamed milk. The bookworm takes up residence in a comfortable chair, soaks up the ambiance of this popular Uptown gathering place, and taps into the free Wi-Fi.

Cover to Cover is vested in the creative community and has become a hub of scholarly activity. They host a variety of monthly programs that spotlight local poets, local authors, and encourages each indivdual voice perpetuating the city's circle of creativity.

We are excited to announce our collaboration with proprietor Mel Sanders of Cover to Cover Books and salute her 'Active Quest' to be the most sought after bookshop in the metro area.

Welcome!