This past week marks a year since I self-published my debut novel, Salted, which inevitably led to me looking back on my first year in the publishing biz and wondering how I fared. Success is a relative term and though I've a long way to go before people recognize the titles of my books, least of all my name, I feel that I accomplished most of what I set out to do this year.
  For the past couple months, I've been kicking around the idea of writing a number of blog posts about what I've learned, missteps I made, and funny little stories along the way this past year. My hope is the two of you reading this that are also interested in writing and/or self-publishing will find the information beneficial in your own pursuits.
  Ready to rock?
  Let's roll.

  "Yes, dudes and dudettes, major league butt-kicking is back in town!" -Michelangelo
  For those not clued into all things awesome, that's a quote from the original TMNT. I saw a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gear this weekend and kept thinking about one of my fave movies whilst having a blast at this festival.
  I'm still pretty wiped out from it all, but it's the kind of kid-tired where you just keep running around because you're down for the count once you stop moving. That said, I'm still grinning like a madman over here at how much fun I had this past weekend.
   I'm on my third cup of coffee, (apologies if I start to ramble), but I wanted to write down some fun stories, advice, etc. before I fall asleep again and risk forgetting them.
   So...shall we?
   (Oh, and big thanks to YA author Caylen Smith for taking the below picture of me and sending it on. You rock!)

   It's festival time, baby!
  I've been looking forward to this event since I first learned about in September. This festival is the real deal, yo. They have over 150,000 book lovers attend each year! Better yet, it's free admission. So if you live in Southern Cali, swing on out this weekend and say hey!
 Wondering who will be there? Say maybe LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, Roots, and Star Trek fame on Saturday @ 2:30 p.m. for an interview, or maybe you wanna attend the Malcolm Gladwell interview on Sunday @ 1 p.m.
  There is the one other author I keep hearing about though. I have no idea how they reeled in such a catch, but you can find him in Argue Plaza, booth #735 both Saturday & Sunday.

  Okay, so it's me. 
  You can find me in Argue Plaza, booth #735 both days. 
  Please swing by. Ooh, and make a big line so everyone's like, "Daaang, Geena. Who's in that booth? Guy must be a rockstar. He has a bigger following than Geordi La Forge!"
  (*That last line is false - no one has a bigger following than Geordi La Forge. Chicks dig the VISOR.)
  (**LeVar, if you're reading this - come see me in Booth #735. I watched Reading Rainbow every day as a kid and still need to thank you in person for the homemade pizza dough recipe!)

  Methinks we're off to a great start with my newest release.
  First, I learned Salem's Fury received it's first 5-star review and then I found this on my doorstep...

 Best news yet though? You could win a signed copy of that bad boy in the MASSIVE giveaway currently hosted by Kristine Hall.
  Yep.
  Did I mention you could win signed copies of all my books in said giveaway?

  4 books. 5 giveaways. 
   7 days of awesomeness!
  That's what we're in for this week, folks. And it's all thanks to incredible superfan, Kristine Hall of Hall Ways Book Views, Reviews, and News.
  Oh, and for the record, no - this is not an April Fool's prank. I'm surprised as you that I have legitimate fans. 
  Starting today until April 7th, you can enter to win daily prizes that include signed copies of my books, ebooks, and bookmarks. Also, one lucky winner will receive the grand daddy prize of 'em all - All four of my books, signed by me to you, for free.
   Better yet? 
  You don't have to like, share, tweet, or anything. Just go to Kristine's site and enter to win. That's it.
  So spread the word, yo. You won't have a better chance to win something this epic.
  Click here to visit Kristine's site and enter for the giveaway.