Elizabeth Butts's Blog, page 2
June 27, 2015
Slow Going Because Life Happens
If you are reading this, you are either someone who has found out about Singleish through a friend (and if that is the case I am eternally grateful!) or an existing friend or family member. Oh – totally grateful for you, as well :)
So here’s the deal – life gets busy. I know, you have probably figured that out in your life, too!
I work probably about 50+ hours a week at my ‘real’ job, plus my hour commute each way. I then spend anywhere from 2-3 hours at this fabulous fitness studio I go to in East Wareham, MA (shout out to Fierce Fitness and the lovelies there). So when I get home, what happens? I make a tofu stirfry and collapse. Oh – shower first, then tofu, then collapse. (no, I’m not a vegetarian, I’m just really, really lazy).
When does a person find time to write? I was asked that question. I find snippets of time here and there. Also – as much as I don’t recommend it – I write in my head. I haven’t had a spare moment to put words onto paper (or laptop) in over a week. However, I’ve been working out plot and dialogue in my head. So far, short term memory loss has not hit me, so I’m good.
I’m trying not to be frustrated that Secondhand Purses is taking longer to write than Singleish. I think I’ve addressed my issues with patience in previous posts. HA! However, I want Secondhand to be even better. I’m proud of Singleish. But I’m trying to delve more into emotions, back stories, what makes a person who they are. I want Secondhand to be longer than Singlish, but I’m not willing to sacrifice a storyline in order to get a higher word count.
I just have to allow the process to happen. :) In the meantime, as you are chomping at the bit to find out more about what happens .. here’s an early, un-edited bit from Secondhand Purses:
He leapt forward to continue his assault on my poor, ticklish body and knocked me off balance. As I fell backwards, his momentum made it so that he couldn’t stop himself and he collapsed on top of me. Oh. My. God.
I opened my eyes to see that he was holding himself up by his arms, but from his waist down, everything was pressed against me. My mouth went dust dry. This was the closest I had ever been to anyone of the male species outside of my dreams, and I was acutely aware of everything about him. He was staring at me intently, as if trying to figure out some sort of a puzzle. I bit my lip and his eyes immediately shifted to watch, and they started darkening, as he slowly ran his tongue over his lips. His hair had flopped in front of his eyes again, and without thinking, I reached out to push it back.
That movement seemed to break his trance, and he jerked back just a tiny bit. He grabbed my hand before it reached his hair and held it while looking at me. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, but that was probably only about ten seconds ago.
There was a rustling coming from behind us. We burst into motion, with him jumping up to his feet in a beautifully fluid motion. He reached for me and pulled me up. However, I had pushed with my legs so between the two I found myself slammed up against his chest. His arms instinctively wrapped around me. I felt his breath in my ear as he whispered, “We must stop meeting this way.” I let out a shaky laugh. What the hell was wrong with me?
We stepped apart, still staring at each other as Nonna rounded the corner. I turned to face her, trying to act as unaffected as possible, not wanting her to know that an almost something had just happened.
June 23, 2015
What it takes to get published (the author’s POV)
Writing a book…that’s the easy part! I had no idea going in what it would take to have a book published. I figured it was almost impossible to be noticed. But there are so so so many other intricate parts!
How the whole publishing thing goes is this:
1. Write a query letter. UGH – think hell. This is where, in one page, you have to sell yourself and your book. One. Page. If you don’t do it right, they won’t read the three chapters you must submit.
2. Write a synopsis. DOUBLE UGH! Harder than writing a book, not kidding. Again, you have one page to write a full synopsis of your book, in third party, fully giving away the ending. This will let the person on the other end decide if the concept is worth their time and money. If they’ve read this, your query letter passed. If they don’t like this, they won’t read the three chapters you must submit.
3. Send 3 chapters (or first 10,000 words, or first 5,000 words…whatever the submission guidelines request). Obviously, if the publisher’s ‘people’ have read your three chapters, your query letter was good, and your synopsis held their interest. Now, you have to keep them interested with your actual writing. Oh…and by the way…this is not like an online order where you can see what step you are on. You’ll either hear from them…or you won’t.
4. Get an email (hopefully) telling you that they liked the first three chapters, would you be so kind as to send the full manuscript! Oh – but it will be the editor’s assistant who reads it first. So now, this is one more hurdle. Hopefully, this person will like it. A lot.
5. OMG don’t break out the bubbly yet. But smile, jump up and down, do a cartwheel (in your head). Your manuscript made it to the person who makes the final decision!!!
And then…the real work begins! They may want to change the name. They may want to change content. There may be a ton of changes. Your feelings may get hurt.
So is it worth it? Yeah…I think it just might be :)
June 10, 2015
Decisions made…
So – a while back I wrote that I had a hybrid publishing company interested in Singleish. I was ecstatic. Beside myself. Thrilled! Nervous…
Why nervous? Because it had been suggested to me that this was not a great opportunity. That they took $$ but didn’t do that much. I had mixed reviews from authors who had used them. So I had to make a decision. I decided…no.
While making this decision, I was contacted by a traditional publishing firm. They had read my submission (first three chapters) and so far enjoyed it and it had made it to the next step. What?!
This week, I got further word…
Dear Elizabeth,
Good morning!
Nadine has given me permission to write to you for the full ms of Singleish.
I have read the first three chapters and was “hooked” if you will. I think Nadine may want you to do some things with the formatting but that is up to her to assist you with that process. I do know that she is
working on another manuscript right now so it may be awhile before she is able to take a look to see what needs to be done. That is her expertise.
In the meantime I will read the full manuscript and give my imput.
Looking forward to reading the full ms.
Sincerely,
Judith A. M…
Pre-reader
for
Nadine L…
Acquisition Editor
OMG…say WHAT?! Yeah…this just happened. Did I send the full ms (manuscript)? Oh, hell, YEAH I did!
May 27, 2015
Please Review!
So, a few of you have already read Singleish – I know it’s a quick read, so I’m assuming that you have finished it.
I have one small favor of you – please post a review! Reviews help other potential readers find my book! An unrated book may go nowhere in this world, like a poor, lost book soul. So sad.
Please don’t let that happen to Singleish!
If you got it from Amazon, please review there. If you got it through Goodreads, please post your review there. Or do both…both rocks. I’m a fan of both.
Thank you!
May 24, 2015
Secondhand Purses…a new jouney
That is the tentative name for book 2. For those of you who are reading and (hopefully) enjoying Singleish, this is Alex’s story. It starts out in 2005, then about halfway will jump to 2015. I’m still stuck in 2005, and only about 8,000 words in.
This book is going to start out by telling you how Alex became, well, Alex. What things as a child shaped her to be the tough as nails, snarky, in your face b*tch who has a heart of gold.
Writing a book is an interesting thing. The question I have been asked frequently is, “How do you come up with these stories?” Truthful answer, “Darned if I know!”
Unfortunately, when I’m getting ready for work in the morning, I find my mind drifting to Alex and Leah (oh, spoiler, book three is about Leah, and OMG it is a little dark and twisty!). So I’m there, brushing my teeth, and my mind is in Alex’s world. I see images of what she’s going to experience. I hear the conversations that she’s going to have in my head. Sometimes I accidentally jump forward and seen a plot twist that will happen in about 10 years… and I’m there with my electric toothbrush buzzing away and I’m staring into the mirror, but not seeing anything but Alex, and Nick, and Nonna. Oh, you don’t know Nick and Nonna? Don’t worry – you will. Hopefully in October. :-)
So please enjoy Singleish if you are reading it. Please download or order the paperback if you are not. I also hope you are willing to leave a review. But be prepared… I’m not done writing yet. It appears that I do have a second book in me after all!
May 22, 2015
And we are live…
While I was fast asleep last night, something crazy happened. At exactly 12:00am, I became an author. A published author. OK, so I’m a self-published author, but I’m an author, nonetheless.
When I woke, the clouds parted, angels were singing and the Heavens trumpeted in all their glory for the publishing of my little book, Singleish.
Well, that didn’t really happen. What happened was, the alarm clock next to my bed had the audacity to go off, yelling at me at the obscene hour of 3:45am (I have an hour drive to work, and in an effort to avoid Boston traffic I leave the house by 5:30am). My dogs and cats and bunnies needed some love, food and hay (ok, only the bunnies needed the hay). I had to make breakfast for myself and meals for the day. I kissed my husband (several times). I got ready for work.
What I’m trying to say is, that there is all this buildup. All this “MAY 22ND IS RELEASE DAY!!!” and then… life doesn’t change.
Actually, as I was getting ready, I was mentally working on book 2 (October or November release).
Normal is good, though. Normal means I won’t live or die by the reviews. But I have to admit. I want there to be sales. I’d like to see it move up from it’s spot as:
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,189 Paid in Kindle Store
But if it doesn’t, what will happen?
Nothing. I will continue to go to work. I will continue to workout at Fierce Fitness (heyyyy). I will continue to be a wife to the most awesome of husbands, a mom to the best 4-legged kids ever, a daughter to the most loving parents, sister to some fantastic siblings, aunt to the most beautiful nieces, and friend to the most patient of friends. My life continues.
But what does change, is that I can say that I’m an author. That’s pretty darned cool!
Now please buy my book :)
May 20, 2015
Thoughts on reader reviews and criticism…
In two days…just TWO days, Singleish will be unleashed on the world. Actually, I think it releases at Midnight, so while you and I in the States are sleeping, it will miraculously show up on your Kindle. For my friends in the UK, you’ll be able to read it while I’m still dreaming of you reading it.
I should be elated, right? That’s what everyone tells me. “You must be so excited!” Well, I am excited! I am thrilled. I’m also terrified. Absolutely fear stricken.
Why?
With readers come reviews. With reviews, oftentimes, come criticism. I think that when people review books sometimes they forget that a human being with real human being feelings wrote the book. That person spent a LOT of time, sweat and tears in writing what you have just mocked and claimed to be no better than the toilet paper that they use to wipe their butt (yes, I’ve seen that once).
I am a fairly realistic person. Some of you will love it. Some of you will not. I hope beyond hope that more of you love it than not! But it’s amazing how deeply words of criticism (or critique) cut. Even if you are expecting them. As we approach Midnight, May 22nd; I am giving myself all sorts of pep talks. I’m trying to remember everything I said to a friend when there were one or two bad reviews. Don’t focus on the bad, focus on the good. You are writing for YOU not them.
But now that it’s my book? Oh man. This is hard. Someone could tell me five things they loved about it and one thing that they didn’t love. Guess what is human nature to focus on? Yeah. That.
Case in point…my mom. Disclaimer: parents are not usually a good source for a decent critique of a book. Mom has been wanting me to write a book for so long that I could have published the phone book and she would have told me it was incredible. I knew that my mom would read my book. No brainer. So I wrote in a style that I felt comfortable with her reading. This translates into language that is not too offensive, and romantic scenes that are not descriptive in a manner that is the norm for romance novels. I actually have a hard time calling Singleish a ‘romance novel’, it’s more contemporary women’s fiction, or ‘Chick-lit’.
So mom reads it. Tells me she loved it. Tells me she laughed throughout almost the whole thing. Can’t wait for other people to read it. But…too much sex. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Seriously? In my mind, I heard “why did you just re-write 50 Shades?!” I heard the negative, but seemed to dismiss the positive. I have to not do that. I have to stay strong.
So, here we are at 7:18AM EST, and in 40 hours and 48 minutes Singleish will be published. And I’m thrilled, I’m biting my nails, I’m so happy, I’m scared to death.
This is fun!
May 14, 2015
Pre-Order “Singleish” today!
Singleish is available for pre-order through Amazon.com today! It will hit your Kindle on May 22nd.
The link to pre-order is:
May 12, 2015
Publication Date – May 22nd!
Yup, I finally did it – after over a month of edits, re-reads, bitten nails and sleepless nights… I did it…
I had hoped to publish May 1, but that didn’t quite work out.
I really wanted it to be this Friday, but if I wanted a chance for all the distribution channels to have it available on the same day, I needed to set a ‘pre-order’ date. So I chose May 22nd.
It will be available on Amazon.com, iTunes, Kobo, etc. Pretty much the major players in ebooks.
As soon as I have the links where you can order my book, I will let you know! :)
So freaking excited!
May 8, 2015
Thoughts on Authors…
I went into this venture of writing a book thinking I would be on my own. I imagined authors to be somewhat temperamental artists who hoarded their information and resources, who wouldn’t want to help a fledgling. People who would not offer assistance and advice.
You know what they say about assumptions!
I have been blessed to have a true friend in A. E. Murphy. Do I mention her a lot? Yup! Why? She kind of pushed me into writing a book. She says she didn’t, but she did. She’s given me a ton of advice, she’s been awesome. Besides us being friends, she says she has given me advice because that’s what an established author did for her when she was starting out.
In researching Booktrope, the hybrid publisher who is interested in ‘Singleish’, I reached out to their authors. Knowing that if someone is unhappy with a service they are more than happy to tell you, I figured I would get a TON of scathing reviews. Out of five authors who were kind enough to write me back, only ONE had a problem with the company. Those that wrote more contemporary style fiction had nothing but rave reviews. These authors were kind to me, encouraging of my attempts to write books, and thrilled for me that my first book had caught a publisher’s eye.
Now a second publishing company has expressed early level interest! Seriously?! I have researched and found an author who has published both under Kensington Publishing and Booktrope, trying to find out which she preferred. I have no doubts that she will reply and give me an honest assessment.
So my thoughts on authors? Most of them seem to be really incredible people who no only love writing, but they love reading! And because they love reading, they want more books out there to read! This has been nothing short of an interesting experience, and I’m glad that I decided to take a chance and write.
I know that you, dear reader, want ‘Singleish’ out sooner rather than later. I will have it self-published soon. I promise! I’d hoped it would be May 1…then I was hoping for today. Who knows, maybe I’ll publish it without those last edits and just cross my fingers! But, I really want to do this right! Good things are worth waiting for, right?
