content, content, content

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Think Tank 2013. Through Think Tank, local communicators, marketing specialists, advertisers, developers, etc., have an opportunity to gather together for networking an informative sessions with industry leaders.

This year's theme was "Content is King." As someone who is responsible for a museum's content, as well as an aspiring author building her platform, this talk was perfect.

I am still processing a lot of what was shared and considering how I will use these lessons in everyday applications for both of my careers. But in the meantime, I wanted to share some of my immediate takeaways.

"Contacts and Content: The Changing Role of Marketing" by Porter Gale

• Technology has changed the marketing game.
• Technology created stronger connections and only four degrees of separation.
• More content is coming. Porter says with the number of web pages increasing you have to maximize your SEO.
• Important to note: 92 percent of people trust recommendations from people they know over any other source.
• "Power is shifting from the boardroom to the living room."
• Product will bring people in. Service will keep them coming back. Customer service and marketing work together.
• Empower people to take risks. Create an environment that encourages innovation and doesn't punish every failure.
• The person who starts the movement isn't as important as the second, third and fourth that helps create the change.

"Content Strategy and New Brand Realities" by Greg Andersen

• We've left the age of interruption and entered the age of engagement.
• The way we approach marketing communication has to start with "How are we going to earn their attention?" Then you have to go about earning it.
• "The bar for marketing content has to be placed higher than the content we are trying to displace in a media-rich world." 
• Build new platforms that offer your audience something they want and need.

"Content Strategy for College Websites: Creating and Sustaining Content that Works" by Rick Allen

• If you're on the web, you're a publisher. Act like one. 
• People don't come to your website for design or widgets. They come for content, so make it good.
• Content has so much possibility to reach multiple audiences.
• Ask yourself: If my brand were a person, what would I be like? 
• A brand is not just a logo.
• Your brand should be incorporated in everything you publish -- from books to Tweets.

This only touches the surface of everything we covered. I'm glad my boss allowed me to attend this -- and not just because of the free T-shirt, book and pizza that they gave away. I left yesterday's meeting with a full head (and consequently a bit of a headache), but countless ideas that I can use at my job and in my writing career.

During yesterday's sessions, I also had a chance to sit with an old friend from college who is also now working at a local museum -- small world, ey? We did some brainstorming along with the other people at our table and came up with some great opportunities for working together in the future.

At times, all of this information left me feeling overwhelmed. I kept thinking, "I'm one person. I have limited resources. How can I make this happen?" And then I remembered one of the points each of the speakers made. You don't have to go this alone. Find people to work with and make the change together.

That's a good thought for anyone building a platform, whether you're a writer or a reviewer, an advertiser or a teacher -- enlist support from others.

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for sale

Right now I'm trying to simplify.

When it comes to where and how I live, doing that means sorting through all of my belongings and having a garage sale. I started this a couple of weeks ago, but really only got serious about it over the weekend.

As I sit here and stare at the ever-growing piles of items I'm ready to part with, I'm struck by how much crap I have. It's no wonder I can't ever find what I'm looking for and that I never have room.

With that in mind, I'm being more fearless with what I plan to sell and ultimately give away. I've often kept items -- such as a large rubber bin full of old dolls and stuffed animals -- because I have some sentimental attachment to them. Or, I'm able to reason with myself, maybe I'll find some use for it in the future.

But when you come down to it, does having these items make me a better person? Do I need them? Would someone else be better off with them? 

Asking myself these questions has made the sorting process easier. Though, I admit, the little girl in me continues to hold onto a few of those stuffed animals, because I just loved them too much.

There's a lesson I can learn in this for editing.

I'm working on significant changes to Book No. 2. Some of those changes are basic grammar fixes. Others involve removing scenes and subbing new ones; changing characters; adding a new major plot element; changing the end.

It's tough, because the story I first wrote was quite lovely. There's nothing terribly wrong with it. But it also isn't as special as it could be.

So as I go through and make these changes, I'll keep asking myself: Does this make the story better? Do I need this part? Would some other story be better off with these words?

Parting with anything -- whether it's a stuffed animal or a scene in a story -- is never easy. But easy isn't always best.

I know I'm making both my living space and my story better by bravely deciding what stays and what goes. The only drawback: The kittens and I are living in total chaos for the next couple of weeks.

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'heartbreak cake' cover reveal

Blogger's Note: I am pleased to share the cover for Cindy Arora's upcoming novel Heartbreak Cake.

And now here's a little more about Heartbreak Cake:

Business is sweet for pastry chef Indira Aguilar. Her indie bakery, Cake Pan, is fast becoming the talk of the wedding circuit for its unique take on cakes and homespun creations for the modern bride, garnering national recognition and drawing in celebrity clients. But while her professional life is blossoming, her personal life is crumbling.

Indira may have a talent for blending buttercream into bliss, but when it comes to relationships, she’s got a lot to learn. Considering that the love of her life, Josh Oliver is not only married, but also runs the award-winning pastry department of her fiercest competition, Crystal Cove Resort, Indira puts much more at stake than just her heart when she ends her affair with him.

Rumors begin to fly as the small seaside community of Long Beach learns of her secret relationship, and Indira must defend not only her actions, but her wedding business and her reputation while trying to maneuver the choppy heartbreak waters of starting over, finding new love, and facing her past. With the support of friends, family, a fondness for butter, and a determined spirit, Indira may just bake her way back to happiness and possibly into the heart of Crystal Cove's dishy new chef, Noah. But one thing is certain. Where there's heartbreak, there must be cake.

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drum roll please...

If you follow me on Twitter, then you probably saw this tweet go out last weekend:

You either connected the dots, ignored it or don't follow me on Twitter, but regardless, I'm pleased to officially make this announcement:

This month, I signed a contract with Simon & Fig to release a novelette by me, Laura Chapman.

* cue the applause and teeny bopper screaming *

Thank you, thank you. I'm beyond delighted. I've previously alluded to this, but the novelette will be included in a winter holiday anthology scheduled for release in November 2013. We'll do an official title and cover reveal for the anthology in September.

Until then, I can share a few details with you about my story:

• The idea for this anthology was born during a Chick Lit Chat on Twitter last holiday season.
• I started the first draft while I was in Colorado in April.
• It's set in Breckenridge, Colorado.
• It's chick lit with heavy focus on Christmas, romance and secrets.
• It involves a rock band.
• I finished it earlier this month while I was on vacation in L.A. 
• Right now, the story is with my beta readers and will go on to my fabulous editor and publisher in June.

I am deeply honored to be included in this anthology and working alongside authors and a publisher I not only like, but admire and respect. I am thrilled, terrified and often still in disbelief that this is happening.

This is a dream come true. When I started this blog more than two years ago, my goal was to one day become a published author. I hoped to be one by 2013, and with this, it's happening. The years of dreaming, hours of writing and seemingly never-ending edits all make a little more sense, now.

Stay tuned for more information about this upcoming anthology. Hopefully, I'll have more exciting news to share with you on the publishing front soon.

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hbd baby sister!

On May 18, 24 years ago, I became a big sister. Sarah's birth was one of the happiest moments in my life. Though I have few memories of my life before her -- I was not even three at the time -- I do recall how badly I wanted a little sister.

Who could blame me? With two older brothers, I needed someone to help me level the playing field.

In that time, my sister has become more than family. She's my best friend. And so, today, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to her to celebrate the 24 years of my life she's made better by existing.

Her whole life, Sarah has known how to humor me. Whether it was being my pupil when I wanted to be the teacher when we played school or joining me in hosting an annual bad sweater party, she's been my constant wing girl.

And at the same time, she is very much the same person, who knows how to put me in my place. Like when I would get too bossy being the teacher and she'd refuse to do my assignments, or when she reminds me that my plans of making a volcano cake for our end of the world themed sweater party might be a little too much for a bar setting.

She's also my biggest supporter. When I need a beta reader, someone to bounce ideas off or just someone to vent to about a problem I'm having with a WIP, she's the first person I call. She constantly gives me support. 

We've made a lot of great memories together.

The photo above is the Facebook banner I made for my personal page. (We take our sister-ship and our FB seriously). It features 24 of my favorite sister photos. I shared it here for all of you to see. We have so many great moments from throughout our life it was tough to settle on only 24. It was a fun taking a few moments to look back.

Happy birthday, Sarah! Thank you for being in my life.

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