Hi everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself to you all. My name is Joyce Faulkner and I'm a freelance writer/author. I've had many articles published in places like "Women's Independent Press", "The Writer", "Piecework", "Crop & Prop International", "Ag Pilot International", "American Oil & Gas Journal", "Bike Midwest" and "Scribe & Quill". My fiction has appeared in college literary mags, "Scribe & Quill", "In Posse Review", "Good Gosh Almighty", "Morpho Review" and others. I've written several novels which I'm still trying to sell. Just recently fired one agent and I'm looking for another one. (Long story) And I just had a collection of short fiction published with Red Engine Press called "Losing Patience". A second collection will be out in the spring of 2005 called "In the Shadow of Suribachi".

Right now I'm on the road going coast to coast visiting bookstores, introducing myself and asking them to carry my work. I'm in Windsor Conneticut now and when I log off, I'll be off to meet as many folks as I can. I thought maybe I'd keep track of this effort and write an article or keep the info on my blog so that you all would have an idea if and where this approach works.

My background is varied. As they say, they call me 'wheels' cause I've been around. Went to college the first time in 1966 in writing at the University of Arkansas. Got married and started traveling around in 1968, had children in 1972 & 1975. Went back to school in 1978 in Engineering Science at Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh. Then went to University of Pittsburgh and got Bachelor's of Chemical Engineering with a Petroleum Option. Worked at East Ohio Gas for years...got my MBA from Cleveland State...was promoted and moved back to Pittsburgh where I ended my career in industry in 2000 when CNG was purchased. When I left, I was Director of eCommerce. I thought about consulting and did do several gigs in that area, but got started on my first novel and realized that if I was going to do this...it needed my undivided attention. So..there I was, starting over from scratch at age 50. Was the best thing ever happened to me. I've been working far harder than ever before but I'm so happy with each day that I'm building my body of work. I realize now that this was what I was meant to do.

Anyway, that's pretty much me. I'm looking forward to participating with you all on these boards and getting to know you all.

<smile>

Joyce Faulkner
www.losingpatience.com
www.joycekfaulkner.com

Oh good Lord....I want her life. WELCOME JOYCE! I sitting here green with envy but at the same time admiring you so, and happy that you can do all that you're doing!

Show the world girlfriend! Go get um!

Keep us posted on your travels and what transpires and we can also keep up through your blog, right? What an inspiration you are going to be to us all.

WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!

JJ

I second JJ's welcome, Joyce. Good grief, after I read your introduction I needed to sit down and rest. I felt like I was right there with you running from place to place!!

Good luck with your book tour. I hope you find many stores that will carry your work.

I hope you come back often to visit us here in boomerland.

I agree with Vicki and JJ Joyce...not only in the "WELCOME ABOARD" aspect of their posts but the "whew" aspect when I read of your considerable accomplishments and goals. I truly wish I could do exactly as you are doing - travel around the country trying to get placements for my book. Not an easy venture.....BUT I'll be interested to hear if you meet with successes and if so, where and how. Maybe it will inspire me!! In the meantime I'm just sending out letters to independent bookstores and the big chains so far with NO success. It's an uphill battle but you are making some great inroads and I'm excited for you.

Glad to have you here - you're going to like it!

A Big Welcome, Joyce!

You are one accomplished lady, and I'm thrilled you have joined us at BWS.

I live just an hour away from Pittsburgh so know your old stomping grounds very well.

Keep us posted on the self-promotion.

Di

Welcome Joyce. CCAC is one of my alma maters also but not until much later but only because I waited to go back to school until after I had partially raised my first three children. I graduated from LaRoche College in 1995. It will be cool chatting with you and getting to know you better.

Chris(angel)

Joyce I am trying to figure out why your name is so familar to me? Strange but true. Maybe I read something you wrote recently. I read and read and read. Welcome aboard the good ship loli-boomers. We are accomplished and sometimes just plain silly the way I'm feeling now. Good things happened around me lately that have made me feel giddy. Hope you find joy here too....

Welcome Joyce,
I agree with the others you are really an accomplished woman. Will be looking forward to your posts.
Maggie

Joyce, keep living our dream...traveling and promoting your work. How cool is that ladies?

I wish you tremendous success. No one can promote our work like we can! We are our best advocates.

Hi Joyce and welcome! Dana

A warm welcome from me too Joyce.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your centipede story.
You have an exciting life style, that's for sure!
May you keep safe in your travels and meet lots of boomer friends along the way.

Welcome, Joyce! What a wonderful adventure you are on. That's great. Keep us updated so we can live vicariously.

You guys are great! How wonderful is it to hear from you are.

This week was Conneticut. I'd only been here once a long time ago when I was working for CNG.

We got here Sunday and I've gone out in rain and sleet and snow and absolutely gorgeous weather. Here's what I'm finding.

Barnes & Noble is great. Most usually they say 'Yes' (so far). I go in and stand at the Information Desk and ask to speak to someone who has the authority to order books for inventory. Then I introduce myself and my work and explain what I'm doing. One said, "Oh, this is a POD book and they aren't returnable." Being face to face was great there, because I was able to explain that POD books can indeed be returnable and my publisher in particular will take returns. He said, "Oh, in that case, I'll order a couple copies right now." And he did so while I was standing there. I asked for his card and I'll post his information plus any photos I take on my blog when I get home. Others at B&N just said,"Sure." And all of them shook my hand and smiled and said, "Good Luck."

I'm 0 for 2 with Borders though. The first one said that they only got books through corporate buyers. The other one did have an inventory manager but he was in a meeting. However, they did take my materials and sounded positive. I'll try to get back in touch with them later.

Waldenbooks requires you to fill out a form and submit a book. If they like it, you get on their company database and the individual stores will order your books if you ask them to. I will be sending off that form and my book to regional office tomorrow and then trying these places again. At least two were provisional 'yeses'.

Independents are different. Friendlier. More personal...more cautious. The bookstore in Mystic Connecticut that has a GREAT location and a wonderful environment -- but he didn't want to buy. However, he did take four books on consignment..and the employees were very friendly..asking how to present the book and who to sell it to. The one in New London wanted a review book before they decided..but they were great too...kinda like excited that I visited them.

I'm going back to Pittsburgh to hit all of my homestores. (I was planning that attack for each of the last three weeks but had a cold that kept me home and silent. Feeling better now though..twinkle)

The other thing I'm trying is to choose a town/city/region that I'm going to be visiting and send review queries to all of the local papers..and to tell them I'm coming through and what I'm doing and to ask for an interview. (I can't believe I'm being SO bold. LOL)

Anyway, thought I'd share how things have gone so far. If anyone knows of any cool bookstores in your area, please let me know and we'll give it a pop. If it works for me, I'm glad to share what I did so you can try it too.

Joyce

Be sure and let me know if you come South, okay?
And keep up the stories and adventures. It's like a dress rehearsal for some of us!

JJ

Joyce, I want to add my "welcome" to the list.I'm glad you've lived such an interesting life and are fully energized!

Seems like you have your heart in the right place- writing ! You're an inspiration!

I wish you the best with your writing and promoting and look forward to sharing with you.

Welcome Joyce!

When I start the book promotion process in May or June, I'll return to your posts for encouragement!