Leslie's comments
(member since Aug 21, 2008)
Leslie's comments from the Goodreads Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors group.
(showing 1-20 of 48)
Janny, as usual, your comments are spot-on.
Last week-end at the L.A. Times bookfest, I attended a panel on the future of publishing. One of the panelists was adament that the paper book will never be replaced by the electronic book, even for mass comsumption, because the paper book as a piece of technology is just about perfect. Another panelist was just as adament that in a few years, just about all print media will be delivered in e-form for the masses, and paper books will become boutique/collectible items, valued more for their artistic and ascetic value. So, who will be right? I guess those of us still below a certain age will find out in due time.
I am so glad you are here with us, Janny. Your advice and words of encouragement are worth more than gold. You give me hope.
Thank you.
The article in Poets and Writers Magazine was actually a roundtable discussion with several sucessful literary agents. The guy who made that quote was Peter Steinberg, who heads his own agency. A second agent on the panel, Anna Stein, asked him if he'd made that number up and he said yes, but he thinks it's about right. Anna Stein agreed with him. I hope you're right about them being overly pessimistic, Janny.
I still have a very long way to go before I see a single dime made from my writing. I'll consider myself successful when I can drop one day a week from my job because I make enough as a writer to cover that lost income. I have no idea when that'll be, though! I just read in the latest issue of Poets and Writers Magazine that only about 100 novelists in America actually make their sole living as novelists.
Thank you for the great tip, Gwen. I'll look into that at the B&N closest to my house.
OMG, I am sooo envious you've met the boys!! I didn't know they did cons. That's good, because maybe I'll get to meet them myself someday.
I have yet to enter the 21st century in many ways, alas. I have no Facebook or Twitter account, but I fully intend to get onto Facebook. I do have a Myspace page, but I don't really do anything with it anymore. My website address is
http://www.leslieannmoore.com
Hi Sheila,
I tagged your books on Todd's site!
You must know about the CW show 'Supernatural'. First, do you watch it, second, did you start writing your books before the series started, and third, how close is the series to your books? BTW, I LOVE the show. The writing is excellent and the two actors who play Sam and Dean Winchester are SMOKIN' HOT!!!
Yes, thank you Janny for the pep talk. I had no idea about how placing orders at chainstores can actually get the computer to send an order to stock the book. I'm a big supporter of the patronization of local indie bookstores because I believe in supporting local, indie owned businesses in general, but this info does get me to thinking.
This has been most informative, Janny. As a new voice struggling to make it, though, I can't help but feel somewhat discouraged. I know I should be thankful I've been lucky enough to have jumped the first daunting hurtle--actually getting my books published--but what does it matter if my books can't get into stores in any great numbers?
I'm with a small publisher and, bless 'em, they've been absolutely wonderful in how they've treated me and supported my books, but they simply cannot get any of the major chains to stock any of their titles, including mine, which have been endorsed by both Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal! As long as the major chains refuse to carry any books that don't come from the 10 or so giant corporate publishing houses, many talented authors with good product will not get the attention and readership they deserve. It's very, very frustrating.
I haven't ever posted excerpts of my books to a blog, but I do have an ongoing podcast of my first book. I can't really say if it's affected sales, but I do get a steady stream of hits to my website from the Podiobooks.com website, so people are checking me out, at least.
Very well said, Michael.
Phyllis, make sure you've seen the movie 'Minority Report' before you get too far into your novel.
Hey Fellow GR Authors,
The signing at Chevalier's Books for Griffin's Shadow was a success! I even sold to some folks who just happened to wander into the store to browse! Now, THAT'S exciting!
This Saturday, March 28th, I will have my first signing for my new novel Griffin's Shadow at Chevalier's Books here in Los Angeles. Here's hoping for a decent turnout!
Congrats, Danielle! That's awesome! The EPPIEs are pretty prestigious and winning one is a fabulous endorsement of your book. Good work.
I read a lot about PublishAmerica when I was still considering a POD outfit. My research turned up a very mixed bag. Some people had good experiences while others had terrible ones. My advice is to just go into this with your eyes wide open. Expect to have to do all your own promotions. There is an industry standard for royalties, but that's for traditional publishing contracts, not POD contracts. I don't know what kind of standards, if any, the POD industry has.
I can't believe I didn't think of posting my reviews on my website!! DOH!!! I need to get right on that!
I don't think it's anal at all to track one's reviews, Robin. BTW, you can soon add my Amazon review of TCC to your site. I'll post one as soon as I'm finished.
You are not being rude, Jon; quite the contrary! You expressed your opinion in a calm, reasoned manner with no disrespect to other people's opinions.
Mike said:I'm also waiting for a book in which the male and female characters who take an instant dislike to each other at the beginning still dislike each other at the end. This happens all the time in real life, but in fiction they inevitably end up in love.
Mike, so I'm guessing Romance is not your favorite genre?<G> You are a pedant after my own heart, Mike. I, too hate it when dialect is badly used, and when authors don't fact-check certain things, even if it is a fantasy world. I don't mind so much the name thing, although now that you mention it...yeah, that IS annoying!
Todd: what a wonderful piece of writing! Your description of the fundie homeschooler mom and her mentally enslaved child is quite extraordinary. Bravo.
Thank you, Gwen.
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