Jennifer Trethewey's Blog, page 7

Meet Entangled Publishing Author E. Elizabeth Watson

Monday, November 27th is the Book Birthday for five Entangled historical novels. Among them is my debut novel, Tying the Scot. In a gesture of solidarity toward my fellow Release Sisters (does that sound weird?), I’ve read the other four and I am so incredibly proud to be featured among these talented writers.

I want you to meet one of my Release Sisters, E. Elizabeth Watson. Her newest is The Maiden’s Defender, the second in her Ladies of Scotland series. I asked Ms. Watson a couple questions about The Maiden’s Defender:

Jennifer: I fell in love with your hero, Teàrlach, the perfect match for heroine, Madeline Crawford. What was your inspiration for creating the fourth son?

E. Elizabeth: I’m not really sure, but I wanted Teàrlach to be a man without any claim to a lairdship. With mortality rates being higher in the Medieval period, I wanted there to be little doubt that he would ever be laird of his clan, and so, he’d need a lot of brothers and some nephews in front of him. I wanted Madeline to fall for a man based on who he was, not marry someone because of their rank, which would have been the expected practice of the time. I have four sons of my own and their dynamic is entertaining to watch, as is it wonderful to see their relationships develop over time, so I suppose creating heroines and heroes who have lots of brothers is a common theme in my writing.

Jennifer: The Maiden’s Defender is the second novel in your Ladies of Scotland series. The first, An Earl for the Archeress, features Madeline’s sister, Mariel Crawford. Who will we meet in your next book?

E. Elizabeth: Poor Rabbie MacGregor, Teàrlach’s feral-looking brother, is hung out to dry at the end of The Maiden’s Defender. He’s a restless man, often misunderstood because of his shaved head and scarification, but he’s a good man who deserves a story, which I’m currently writing! I’ll introduce a new set of sisters, too.

I’ll be running a GIVEAWAY of The Maiden’s Defender on my Author Facebook Page, Jennifer Trethewey Romance, this coming Monday, Nov 20th and choosing a winner at noon on Tuesday, Nov 21st. I encourage you to check out these books by the five Book Release Sisters published in Entangled’s Amara imprint:

Tying the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey

The Maiden’s Defender by E. Elizabeth Watson 

Highland Redemption by Lori Ann Bailey

Lady Evelyn’s Highland Protector by Tara Kingston

The Lady and Mr. Jones by Alyssa Alexander

 

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Ruth Urquhart to Narrate Tying the Scot

I hit the jackpot when Ruth Urquhart agreed to narrate my first novel, Tying the Scot. My wonderful literary agent, Cassie Hanjian (now with DeFiore & Company), wrangled a four-book dream contract with Audible for me. But those dream contracts don’t come with guarantees about who will narrate. I had no say in the matter. If you are an audio book snob like me, you know a narrator can make or break a book. For six months, I sweated about who they would choose.

And then I met her (via email) and instantly developed a girl crush on Ruth Urquhart. Not only is her voice perfect—exactly what I heard in my head as I wrote—but she’s also multi-talented, charming, smart, gorgeous, and a Scot. I mean, bloody hell, she’s an Urquhart. That’s dyed-in-the-wool, man.

But don’t take my word for it. Check out her site and sample some of the books she’s narrated.

Tying the Scot will be available on Amazon.com in eBook and audio formats November 27, 2017. 

 Meet Ruth Urquhart

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Why Highland Romance?

The question I’m most often asked by my friends is, “What made you write Highland romance?” It’s a hard question to answer because I have trouble retracing my long, winding path back to the beginning and there were so many things that I fell in love with about Scotland.

 

But if I had to point to one thing, one single thing that I adore, it would be the burr. Yup. That luscious rolling “r.” That silky lilt. That rumbly tongue.

 

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My First Book Releases November 27th

I was having fun writing romance novels. Then I got an agent and a book deal with Entangled Publishing. Sounds like a fairytale, right?

Well, things just got real. My first novel TYING THE SCOT is due for release November 27th of this year. Yeah. Two and a half months from now.

Am I freaking out?

Yes.

Am I happy?

Double yes.

Do I need the help and support of everyone I know?

Hell, yes!

Still haven’t seen the cover art. As soon as I learn more, I’ll be posting. Meanwhile, thank you everyone for your patience and good humor about this crazy journey.

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Nom de Plumage

I attended a writer’s conference last year during which presenters lit a fire under unpublished authors to get their social media ducks in a row before sending out query letters. Apparently, the first thing many agents and editors do is Google you. If you have no web presence you won’t be as “interesting” to them.

That was the message. I took it to heart. Found a wonderful digital artist who specializes in website and book cover design. First things first, I needed a domain name which meant I had to commit to an author identity. I was writing Highland Romance and my last name, Rupp, sounded so…Germanic. My married name didn’t sound any better. I wanted to use a name I felt I had a right to use. I chose Jennifer Lynn. Lynn is my middle name. Sounded okay and sort of Euro-nonspecific.

That hurdle cleared, I purchased a domain name, published a website, created a Facebook page, and a Twitter account. Not easy for a digital dilettante like myself, but I did it. Spent twelve months attracting friends and contacts with the pen name Jennifer Lynn.

A year later, something wonderful happened. I got an agent. Yay, right?

Right, but…

It turns out I jumped the social media gun a little bit. My agent (I feel like a giddy newlywed using the words “my husband” for the first time) didn’t think Jennifer Lynn was a good choice. Another well-known author writes erotica under the name J. Lynn and I wouldn’t want to confuse readers.

So…

Back to zero. I started my search for a new author identity. Do you have any idea how many authors out there use the first name Jennifer? When it’s not even their real first name? How very dare they? Nevertheless, with the approval of my agent, I found a new pen name. It’s a family name. It’s Cornish. It’s a mouthful. And I don’t know why, but I like it. Hope you do, too.

Jennifer Trethewey

Friend me on Facebook: Jennifer Trethewey. My twitter account: @jltrethewey

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Five Things I’ve Learned About Becoming a Writer

Five Things I’ve Learned About Becoming a Writer

1. Writers Write. Writing requires time and focus (and talent, but I’ll get to that). If you don’t have the drive to sit at your computer for hours and write, then you’re probably not going to write anything. And if you don’t write anything, you’re not a writer.

2. It’s Okay to Suck. I can’t count how many times I started writing a story and stopped because I didn’t think what I wrote was any good. Of course it wasn’t good. I hadn’t written enough to know anything about writing. I think I had it in my head that good writers are born. There is no such thing as “the writing gene.” When I finally realized it was okay to suck at writing, I started and couldn’t stop.

3. Get Gooder. Getting a Master’s Degree in English is a great idea, but I’m convinced the best way to learn the craft of writing is to join the community of writers in your area. Join Wisconsin Writer’s Association, Wisconsin Romance Writers, or a writing studio like Red Oak. Go to critique circles, workshops, conferences, and participate in write-ins. Talk with other writers, get their feedback on your writing, learn from them. I have found writers to be incredibly encouraging, inclusive, and willing to share what they know with others.

4. Take Criticism. Join a critique circle, find an on-line critique partner, or use beta readers. Then put your big girl pants on and listen to their criticism. Doesn’t matter who gives it—published author, unpublished writer, or reader (never underestimate the source). Listen to what they have to say. Assume it is a valid point. Take the note graciously. Always say thank you. See if you can apply it to your writing. Even if the note isn’t applicable, you will learn something new and your writing will improve.

5. Give Criticism. My mother-in-law used to say,

“She can see a fly on someone else’s nose, but she can’t see a horse on her own behind.” When you critique the drafts of other writers, you learn more about your own writing. I’ll see things in other people’s work and realize, “Oy! I’ve been making the same mistake.” Learn how to give constructive notes and take the time to read the work of other writers. Believe me, it’s time well spent.

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FQL: Fricking Query Letters

FQL: Fricking Query Letters

This is how I feel about fricking query letters: I’d rather move back in with my parents than write a fricking query letter. I’d rather run my fingers through Donald Trump’s comb-over than write a fricking query letter. I’d rather lick pencil shavings from Mel Gibson’s hairy ass than write a fricking query letter. Am I making myself clear?

In case some of you don’t know what a query letter is, it’s the letter you write an agent or editor asking them to please read your book about racially diverse penguins who roller skate and have meaningful sex with vampire robots while they save the world.

How do you summarize 70,000 words and several year’s worth of work into three paragraphs and make your story sound snappy, intelligent, marketable, different (but not too different), funny, moving, profound, and worthy of a Pulitzer? Writing query letters is the suckiest part of being a writer. And yet, a good query letter is more important than your fricking story. Seriously. No one will come to your peep show unless you dangle the right panties in front of his/her nose. Some like lacey pinks ones. Some like black silk. Some like crotchless. It’s a crap shoot.

Dozens of websites offer advice on how to write a winning query letter (I will list the ones I like below). Dozens of books and workshops offer instruction like hucksters selling snake oil. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill, no one way to write a query, but rather as many ways as there are agents and publishers because each individual will respond to something different. I can’t write your fricking query letter for you, but I will pass on a few things I’ve learned.

1. Write your bio. Write a 140-character bio for Twitter, a 50-word bio for your query letter, and while you’re at it, a 100-word bio for your author website. Then it’s fricking done. You only have to tweak it a bit when you publish or get an award.

2. Write your synopsis. Yes. It’s agony, but it’s the best place to start before writing your query letter. Write a three-page synopsis. Suck it in and then write a one-page synopsis. Cut off your right arm and then write a three-paragraph synopsis. Write well. Make no spelling errors. Have other people read it—folks who have read your fricking manuscript and folks who haven’t. Listen to what they tell you and make adjustments.

3. Do your research. Agency websites list their staff members and the genres they represent. Choose ONE from each agency. Then read the submission guidelines carefully. CAREFULLY! Follow the guidelines TO THE LETTER! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. But all agencies/publishers have slightly different requirements so fricking read them.

4. Stalk your targets (I’m fricking kidding you). Look up them up on social media. Often these folks will Tweet or blog about things that irritate them like: I hate when people send me pink lace panties when I only like black lace panties.

5. Query one person at a time. Customize your letter to each individual you query. And for Godsake, proof your fricking query letter. Have other people read it. Proof it again. Then proof it three more times.

6. Save it. Save a hard copy and a file on your computer for each submission (including the date, etc.). Four months from now you may not remember who Melissa Mussen-Touchit from Slap Me Silly Literary Agency is when she emails you. She might just say, “Send the whole thing,” and you’ll be like, “What the frick did I pitch her?”

7. Send it and forget it. Often a sense of lethargy descends upon you immediately after you send a query letter. You find you are unable to write and you start checking your email every 20 minutes. Don’t do that. Move on. Write some fricking new stuff instead.

Finally, if you plan to avoid the query letter by rubbing elbows with agents at a conference, think again. Sure, they’ll love you and tell you your stuff sounds amazing, but in the end, they will say to you, “Send me a fricking query letter.”

Good sites in order of their fricking goodness:

http://janefriedman.com/2014/04/11/query-letters/

http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/the-complete-nobodys-guide-to-query-letters/

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2010/10/05/the-pitch-is-a-bitch-but-dont-fear-the-query/

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/20-tips-on-query-letters-as-told-by-agent-janet-reid

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/query-letter-_n_2434095.htm

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