Spring in New Mexico

NMBA Authors at Garcia Street Books

It’s spring in New Mexico! I know it’s not appreciated like it is back in North Dakota, where they got lots
of snow this winter, and now it’s flooding. I plan to visit my friends and family there in June and July,
when it’s finally warm!

I’ve been busy with my book and with the New Mexico Book Association (NMBA). I recently attended
the New Mexico Writer’s dinner, where 200 authors and fans gathered to share their publishing
journeys. After living in Santa Fe for almost five years, I found that I knew many of the authors at the
event.

In May, I will attend the Santa Fe International Literary Festival where I’ve registered for talks by Gillian
Flynn (Gone Girl), Luis Alberto Urrea (Into the Beautiful North), and John Irving (The Last Chairlift). I’ve
read each of the books by these authors and can’t wait to hear them in person. Last year, one of the
authors I heard was John Grisham, and earlier this year I was able to attend an event where Tommy
Orange (There There) spoke. Santa Fe is a wonderful place to be for an avid reader like me!

In February, I was a featured speaker for NMBA where I gave a workshop on “My Self-Publishing
Journey”. If you are interested, you can link to the presentation on the New Mexico Book Association
website. In March, I attended the Tucson Literary Festival with five other NMBA members and 100,000
book lovers. Snowbirds from up north who are also book lovers and avid readers might enjoy attending
this event on the University of Arizona campus next year!

I have been invited to speak to a book club in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on May 3 through ZOOM. Isn’t
technology wonderful? Then on May 6, I will be at Garcia Street Books in Santa Fe (10:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m.) to promote my book, along with two other local authors.
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I’ve learned that publishing a book isn’t the last step, it’s the first step on a long path. I continue to learn
more about being an author every day!

Connie L. Nelson