“Hello, beautiful readers! It’s that time of year – theย #RRBC 7th Annual Holiday Books & Budz Holiday Pop-Up Bookshop 2024! If you love the holidays and reading, this is the perfect place for you. Fabulousย RRBC authorsย are sharing their stories, with many of them on sale. There are games to play, books to buy, and authors to listen to as they read from their stories. There is also a blog with a different post every day from the various authors of RRBC. I’ve provided links to various parts of the event below. I hope to you see you around the site!
Reading Room – Come listen to authors read excerpts of their stories!
“Hello, and welcome to the 9th ANNUAL WRITERSโ CONFERENCE & BOOK EXPO! The theme of this yearโs WC&BE, โSTRENGTH IN THE LENGTH,โ speaks to our collective growth attained through our longevity in this arena, and our commitment of excellence to our craft.
Each year we aim to draw out more and more from the member-authors of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB, and this year is no different. In 2024, we are continuing our upward trajectory to ensure that our members are profiled and pushed to their highest potential!
No two people view success in the same light. What we constitute as success, you may see as mediocre, and vice versa. To RRBC/RWISAmembers, success is viewed through a different, very special kind of lens. Our membership is successful because over the span of 10 years, we have worked to build a body of authors who care not only about their own success, but also about the success of their fellow members. You see, we operate under the realization that we canโt reach the pinnacle of success that so many crave, without the help of friends, and at RRBC/RWISA, weโve found a slew of them!
At RRBC/RWISA, when we need help, we donโt hesitate to call on our friends, and they donโt hesitate to answer. They answer our questions, share their resources, generously read over our work and give us their honest opinions when asked, and theyโre always the first ones to purchase and review our newly-released books. Our core has grown stronger, and because RRBC/RWISA members genuinely care, it shows.
Weโve had challenges along this journey, but our core has remained steadfast and unmovable in their dedication to our mission: PROFILE, PROMOTE, PROPEL! #Community.
Our members are now keenly aware of what it takes to become the best in this arena.ย They are focused on publishing only the highest quality of writing.ย They are dedicated to the mission of continually supporting their fellow authors.ย They are ready to step up, lean in, and pull a new generation of writers into the fold, teaching and sharing what they have learned along the way.ย ย RRBC/RWISAย members can perform this unselfish act because they know that the only competition they have is with themselves.ย They feel as I do, that it is OK to help others.ย They realize as I do, that our sole purpose here on earth is to be of service to others.ย They know as I do, thatย “โA tiny spark ignites a flame, just as a helping hand can do the same.โ ~NJ
This is why weโre hosts to events like theWC&BE. We want you, our friends, family, and colleagues to witness our commitment of support to others and how easy it is to actually love your fellow man by selflessly supporting them as you would yourself. The way we do things here, is the way things ought to be done everywhere.
Once again, welcome to the 9TH ANNUAL WRITERSโ CONFERENCE & BOOK EXPO!
Hereโs what you can look forward to:
There are {virtual} Author Booths for RRBCmembers to showcase, promote, and sell their books. Each booth is beautifully decorated so that you can get a good glimpse into the authors and their work. Some have personal โLIVEโ ON THE SHELF Interviews inside their booths that will add to your delight.
Each author booth holds door prizes, and all you have to do for a chance to win in each booth, is to leave a comment. Talk to the authors. Let them know what you think about their booth and their books. And by all means, if you donโt have them, pick up copies of the books that interest you, and leave reviews after you have completed the reads.
No event of ours is ever complete without a raffle, so weโre excited to say that ours is back this year, and made fully possible by our ever-generous SPONSORS! As always, we will be raffling $100 Amazon gift cards. Have you gotten your raffle tickets yet?
We know how competitive you all are when it comes to games, so this year weโre going to catch you in some lies. Click to play our CATCH ME IN A LIE? NEVER! Game.
Everybody loves a good SCAVENGER HUNT, and the ones at RRBC are epic, so hereโs your chance to be this yearโs grand prize winner! But, before you begin visiting any booths, read the SCAVENGER HUNT instructions first! Youโll be glad you did!
Our BESTBOOK COVER Contest is awaiting your vote! Voting in this contest is open to the general public.
Because this is a writersโ conference and BOOKexpo, we would appreciate you picking up some of the awesome reads on promotion here. To encourage you to shop a bit more, we will be awarding a FREE CUSTOM BOOK COVER ($125 Value) to someone for their purchases! All you have to do is send us a snapshot of your Amazon purchase receipt (or the receipt from wherever you made your purchases legally), showing the date of purchase from the WC&BE24, and your name will go into a drawing for each purchase! Be sure to send us every receipt, and we thank you in advance for supporting RRBC authors and their books! RRBCInfo@gmail.com.
Our BOOGIE DOWN PARTY LOUNGE will be open 24/7 around the clock during the WC&BE24, so be sure to spend some time there, partying with us! Our resident bartender, John Podlaski, will keep the drinks flowing and the party going! Nonnie Jules serves as our DJ, so be sure to leave your musical requests in the comments section of the Lounge. Youโll also want to look for sweet treats from Maura Beth Brennan and Karen Black. Lastly, expect to find Shirley Harris-Slaughter dancing atop a table or two, or even looking around for her lost shoe! (โTry the LOST & FOUND, Shirley!โ)
Once again, all this fellowship and fun is right here in ONE placeโฆ and the best part is you get to enjoy it all from the comfort of your very own home, or wherever you have an internet connection!
Although this event will run for one full week, August 19 through August 25โฆ weโve attached a few additional dates, just so that our Authorsโ booths and books will get maximum exposure. The venue will remain open until August 30th!
You donโt get to remain in this arena for over 10 years without doing something right! So, as you move about the halls of the WC&BE24, enjoying and taking it all in, just remember, our strength is in the length of time weโve managed to remain at the top, while there were so many negative forces attempting to pull us down. But, weโre still standing, and so happy to have you standing with us!
“Delighted to share the news of the latest release byย Yvette M. Calleiroย a YA coming of age story โย Karma Doesnโt Kill.
About the book JT pulled the short end of the stick when he was given his lifeโs journey. With a convicted felon as a dad and a drunk as a mom, there werenโt many positive influences in his life. When his momโs boyfriend began sharing his marijuana with JT, his father fought for custody and won. Life on his dadโs farm was simpler. JT started turning his life around until one tragic event sent him spiraling again. All choices have consequences. For JT, those choices left him staring down the barrel of a gun. Could JT rise above his circumstances, or would karma have its way with him?
One of the recent reviews for the book D.G. Kaye Sunday Book Review Bad decisions have consequences, and sadly, some must learn the hard way โ like teen, JT. JT had some bad breaks in life and having an alcoholic mother and an ex-con father didnโt help him. With barely any experience in the real world and no good examples of parenting, JT found himself in a life-changing incident โ not for the better. The story is narrated through JTโs voice. He begins with informing us about how his current situation came to be and goes back in story, where we learn the consequences of unchecked and bad decisions. Choices. Life is all about what happens with the choices we make, and a very good lesson about always fact-checking to verify before stepping into a precarious situation.
This book states reader ages from 12-18, and I can see where this story could benefit teens as a cautionary tale, but still a great read for all ages 12 and up. The author states at the end of the book how she was inspired to write this story that she loosely based on an experience that happened to someone she knew. She also noted that she hoped this story could become a conversation between a parent and a teenager. I strongly agree. Karma may or not kill, but she always pays up.ย
“About Yvette M. Calleiro Yvette M. Calleiro is the author of the Chronicles of the Diasodz fantasy series, HYPE, and two short stories. As a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels, she spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends).
When sheโs living among real people, she is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. Sheโs been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.
Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.” ย
Author Spotlight – Maureen Twomey, Author of Before, Afdre, and After (My stroke… oh what fun) #author #authorspotlight #memoir #stroke #strokesurvivor #meettheauthor #RRBC @Maureen_2me @YvetteMCalleiro
“Hello, beautiful readers! I have the pleasure of introducing you to a remarkable woman and author, Maureen Twomey! She is the author ofย Before, Afdre, and After (My stroke…oh what fun). As you can tell from the title, Maureen survived a stroke and wrote a book to share her experience. I read her book in November, and you can read my reviewย here. I am excited to help you get to know this incredible lady!
Maureen and I spoke over the phone so I could interview her. Since her stroke, writing has been a challenge, but I’ll let her tell her story below.
Why did you choose to write this book?
I always wanted to write a story, but when the stroke happened in June 2000 (at the age of 33 years old), writing took a backseat. I initially lost all function on my right side as well as my ability to communicate. So, recovering from the stroke was my priority. As I got better, I decided I wanted to write about my stroke.
My teacher, Ellen Gilbert, agreed to type it for me since I didn’t have much control of my right hand or the ability to concentrate for long periods of time (now I write with my left hand), so I shared my story. Laura Mazer, my editor, introduced me to Brooke Warner, who helped me find a team to get my book published.
What do you love most about writing?
I’ve always enjoyed being creative. I wrote a story in second grade that will remain unpublished. I have always had a quirky sense of humor. I created a career in copywriting and creating ads. I originally was thinking of going into movies, but I knew I didn’t have the voice for that. So, I figured I could go into creative writing. Right out of college, I worked a few jobs before becoming a copywriter. I remember one time when one of my friends pointed out a commercial he loved, and it was one that I had written, which made me elated. I knew that’s what I wanted to do in my life.
How did you decide to write about this topic?
I wrote this to share what happened to me. I hope no one ever has to go through what I’ve been through, but if my story could help them in any way, I knew I had to tell it.
What was one of the valuable lessons you learned through the process of writing this book?
One of the valuable lessons I learned is that it’s okay to ask for help.
(As I read Maureen’s story, one of the lessons I took away from her journey was how many kind-hearted people surround us and we don’t even realize it.)
How long did it take you to write this book?
Well, I had the stroke in 2000. I don’t remember exactly when the idea came to me to write the story because, at first, I was just focused on getting my body and mind to work the way it once had. (That is an ongoing journey.) I finished writing the book in 2015.
How do you like to connect with readers?
It’s been about nine years since I published, so I don’t really promote it as much as I once did.
What do you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope readers enjoy my memoir. I want readers to know that I didn’t give up and kept pushing to get back to my life. And though I could never get back to my old job, I do volunteer whenever I can.
~o~
Thank you for speaking with me, Maureen. I am in awe of your strength and your positive energy. I hope everyone reads your story, and I hope it instills a zest for life within every reader.
When Maureen Twomey was only thirty-three years old, she experienced a massive stroke-one that took away her ability to read, write, walk, and even speak (AAAAAAAHHH!!). Well, she wasn’t about to go down without a fight. In Before, Afdre and After, Twomey offers a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes comical, and ultimately inspiring glimpse at what it is to lose everything when you’re supposed to be in the prime of your life-and what it takes to get it back, piece by tiny piece.
โI never thought Iโd say this and mean it: This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. Itโs a joyous, inventive journey through loss and recovery, and Maureenโs spirit shines through in this blueprint for living a full, blessed and loving life. Read it now, you fools!!โโJeff Kreisler, author of Get Rich Cheating and Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How Spend Smarter
Before Maureen Twomey’s stroke, she graduated from UCLA, and she went on to work for several advertising agencies as a creative copywriter. Then, at the age of 33, she had a major stroke (Aaaaaaah!). Well thankfully, her sense of humor is still intact. Before, Afdre, and After (My stroke โฆ oh what fun) tells her story with honesty, sometimes moving, sometimes funny, and ultimately inspiring.Connect with Maureen here:
This momentous milestone makes this event that much better! RRBC has been here changing the writing game for a full decade! Pushing writers to write more, to write better, to publish only the best writing! Yes, thatโs RRBC! Weโve lost some, weโve gained more, and we are still here pushing forward and doing the work! If youโve ever been on the RRBC roster and are now attentive and highly focused on the writing you publish, you can thank RRBCfor that!
CONGRATULATIONS, RRBC and Nonnie Jules! What great staying power you have! Youโre still here, and still changing the writing game! …”
Maureen Twomey has been on our roster since February of 2016โฆ over 7 years! When she was only thirty-three years old, she experienced a massive strokeโone that took away her ability to read, write, walk, and even speak (AAAAAAAHHH!!). Well, she wasnโt about to go down without a fight. In Before, Afdre, and After, Twomey offers a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes comical, and ultimately inspiring account of what it is to lose everything when youโre supposed to be in the prime of your lifeโand what it takes to get it back, piece by tiny piece. Maureen has been ingratiating herself with the membership, supporting her fellow authors and with her participation in club events. Itโs no wonder that we find her here as our OCTOBER MEMBER OF THE MONTH!
As writers, we sometimes find that Amazon is a huge pain in our arses.ย Some of their policies donโt make much sense (like how folks are allowed to leave ratings on books theyโve never even read), but, there are those times when I know first-hand that they are really working for us โ in the sense that they are actually pushing our books. And weโre not ever going to complain when someone or something is promoting us, are we?
So many of us have different reasons for not liking the giant Amazon, but, I personally am annoyed at their practice of allowing any and everything to be published.ย Doesnโt matter if its well-written material, doesnโt matter if itโs been professionally edited and proofedโฆย you got rubbish?ย Amazonโs got a place for you to try and push it.ย And although there is rubbish being traditionally published, we all know thatโฆ