It’s a quick update this week as I’m traveling: specifically, I’m on my way home from the 20Books Las Vegas conference, the biggest get together of indie authors in the world.

It took place over three days but I decided to spend longer in Vegas because, well, why not?

Right now I’m looking out at the English gloom, eating a meal that isn’t from Dunkin’ Donuts, and trying to convince my body clock that it’s 4pm and not 8am.

But more importantly – I learned a ton, and made lots of new friends.

Some of the biggest learning points for me were:

• Bryan Cohen on testing blurbs – this will be my first todo item from the conference and I will update you on my progresss here.
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith on how to have a sustainable author career that lasts decades and makes you happy (clue: it doesn’t involve writing a book a month in the latest hot subgenre).
• Brian Meeks on using copywriting in your blurbs and newsletter.
• Tammi Labrecque on building a high-quality mailing list full of people who actually buy your books.

There was more. I’ll be back next week with more on that and on my continuing work testing my blurbs, but thanks to Bryan Cohen, I’ll be a lot more structured from now on.

But meanwhile…I plan to spend time with my family, and to sleep!