My Campaign Has Begun by Morgan Mandel

Politics are monopolizing radio and television shows. The candidates are out selling themselves.

So am I. My romantic comedy, GIRL OF MY DREAMS, about a straitlaced assistant who turns vamp in a reality show to save a dying TV studio, just got released.

My main campaign stumping goes into full gear in February, when I'll meet and greet readers to convince them to buy my book. Right now, I'm in the trenches setting up the booksignings, planning strategies, amassing campaign literature, such as book marks, business cards, flyers, brochures. My husband acts as publicity manager, passing out cards to everyone and sundry.

Here are the campaign stops I've set up so far. More will follow. I hope to see some of you there.


Love is Murder conference - Friday, Feb. 1 through Sunday, Feb. 3
Wyndham O'Hare Hotel
Rosemont, IL
http://loveismurder.net

Barnes & Noble - Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008 7-8:30pm
20600 N. Rand Road
Deer Park, IL 60010
847-438-7444

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 1-4pm
Arlington Hts Hist.Museum
Dunton Room 110 W. Fremont
Across from the Library)
Arlington Hts., IL 60004
www.ahmuseum.org

Barnes & Noble - Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, 12-2pm
DePaul Ctr, State & Jackson
Chicago, IL

Barnes & Noble - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, 12-3pm
13 W. Rand Road
Arlington Hts, IL
847-259-5304

Chicago-North RWA Spring Fling Conference - Saturday, April 26, 2008
Panel & Signing
The Hyatt,
Deerfield,IL
http://chicagospringfling.com

Fremont Public Library - Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 7 - 8:30pm
Inside Writing & Publishing Series
Back to Basics
1170 N. Midlothian Rd.
Mundelein, IL

Girl of My Dreams is available to www.hardshell.com, www.amazon.com (print & Kindle),
mobipocket.com, allromanceebooks.com, by order at bookstores.

All the best,
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://myspace.com/morganmandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

DANGER ZONE - LIBRARY? By Morgan Mandel

Last Friday, against my better judgment I ventured once again to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library for the Friends of the Library Night book sale. This is the special night reserved for Friends of the Library members the night before the general public book sale starts. To be a friend, it's only $5.00, so it's worth the investment.

Between autographed books from friends I absolutely will not part with and books I would like to read but never seem to get a chance to, I own an overabundance of books. I had no business adding more to my collection but couldn't resist.

Although the library organizes the event by passing out numbers so everybody doesn't rush in at once, the sales room is a scene of semi-controlled bedlam. No one tramples on anyone, but sometimes they do come close. People sit or stoop to look at books under the tables, while others try to get around them. It's difficult to spend any amount of time trying to check what a book is about because there are so many people dying to get into the same area.

Then there are the notorious booksellers making their rounds with mini-computers which scan books into programs to gauge what the books are worth. These people are fast and know what they're doing. Before an average person can even pick up a book, it's swiped up into a huge canvas bag and deposited in the stage area, where boxes are kept. Entire dollies are wheeled out with what I assume are priceless books that will be for sale on e-bay or in bookstores.

Despite the bustle, I, being adventurous about stuff I really want, do try to get to the Friends of the Library Book Sale whenever I can. So, I did brave the mob and managed to pick up a few goodies for my collection - a few cds and some promising-looking books which I hope to finish before the next book sale, but probably won't be able to.

While I did my browsing, I happened to run into my hair stylist, Dan, from Village Family Hair Care, 108 North Evergreen, in downtown Arlington Heights. I'm including his photo, along with another from the event.

By the way, if you live in the area and need a good haircut, Dan can be reached at 847-259-4464. Tell him Morgan sent you. If you come to his shop, you'll notice my bookmarks, business cards and postcards on the counter by the register. I never miss a chance at promotion if I can help it.

Until next time,

All the best,

Morgan Mandel

http://www.morganmandel.com/

http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/

http://bookplace.ning.com/

http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel

Mark your calendar: Meet Morgan Mandel and DL Larson at the Schaumburg Barnes & Noble book signing ... on Thursday, November 29th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

iPHONE COMES IN HANDY FOR ARLINGTON HTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY DISPLAY By Morgan Mandel

If I seem disjointed, I kind of am. As usual, I try to fit too much into my free day. Add to that, I had a new toy to figure out.

Yes, I fell for it. I bought an iPhone and I love it!

The learning and setting up part was the pits, but now I'm in the happy phase where I sort of know what I'm doing and am experimenting.

Anyway, a while back I had reserved a display case at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library to highlight the Chicago-North Chapter of Romance Writers of America, to which I belong.

Today was the set-up day. I had three tiers to work in - two glass shelves and the bottom wooden shelf to fill up. It took me almost two hours of moving books and photos different ways to figure out how everything should look.

When I was through, as a bonus I got to use my new toy and take photos. Lots of sunlight and glass made getting good results a challenge, but I tried different angles until I found some that worked pretty well.

It was very easy to migrate the photos to my computer. Somehow the laptop knew exactly what to do. Okay, probably the new iTunes software I was instructed to install at the beginning had something to do with it.

I also figured out how to set up my e-mail and e-mailed one of my photos to myself and it worked!

Well, I'm off now to spend a few more dollars buying iTunes----

All the best,

Morgan Mandel

http://www.morganmandel.com/

www.myspace.com/morganmandel

http://bookplace.ning.com/

http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/

http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com/