A.H. Kim's Blog, page 6

MY EVENING WITH JACQUELINE AND JASMINE

My parents will proudly tell you I have always been a good student. They never had to tell me to do my homework. They never worried if I studied for the test. If I got anything less than a perfect score, they never said a word — I was already obsessing about what I got wrong.

Even though my book’s not due to be published until July 2020, I’ve been assiduously studying how to be an author. I’ve been following writers and bookstores on Facebook and Instagram. I’ve joined a community of Bay Area-based writers, The Writers Grotto. And I’ve attended book readings to see and hear authors in person.

This past week, I went to a reading by Jacqueline Woodson, four-time National Book Award finalist, four-time Newbery Honor winner, and bestselling author of more than two dozen books — in short, a literary superstar — talking about her latest novel, Red at the Bone. Jacqueline was joined in conversation by Jasmine Guillory, NYT bestselling author of The Wedding Date, The Proposal, The Wedding Party and Royal Holiday. Like me, Jasmine is a Bay Area lawyer-turned-writer; unlike me, she has achieved enough success an an author to finally cut the legal cord.

Expecting a standing-room-only crowd, I made sure to get to the bookstore extra-early. I was relieved to see there were plenty of chairs open, and I settled into one in the second row. (As good a student as I was in school, I’ve never liked the front row. It always feels a little too Hermione Granger.)

As the minutes ticked by and the room remained less than half-full, I started to feel anxious for Jacqueline and Jasmine: will they be disappointed by the sparse attendance? And then I started to feel anxious for myself: if these two rock stars of publishing can’t fill a room, what chance will I have? (Audio cue: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Mis.)

Despite the small audience, Jacqueline and Jasmine couldn’t have been more delightful and engaging. Jacqueline told us her book’s short length meant every word was intended to be savored slowly, almost like poetry, and she enthralled us with her lyrical readings. Both Jacqueline and Jasmine entertained the audience’s questions — and yes, like Hermione, my arm shot up more than once — with grace and humor.

By the end of the evening, I felt like I had been given a gift — two, in fact.

First was the gift of these two authors’ time and attention. When they were talking, they really engaged with one another and with the audience. When I asked my questions, they listened to me attentively and responded with sincerity. Although they could have just “called it in,” they didn’t. They were fully present.

Second was the gift of realization — the realization that it doesn’t matter if the room is full. The reason I started writing is because I wanted to share my thoughts and words with others. I am now privileged to have that opportunity. Even if I’m only speaking to the bookstore staff as they dust the shelves, I will try to emulate the generosity that Jacqueline and Jasmine showed to the few — we lucky few — who trudged out to the Booksmith on a quiet Thursday night.

P.S. As I uploaded the photo to accompany this post, I laughed out loud at the book title in the background, right above How to Read Nancy. I wonder how many people attended their book readings?

WORDS WITH AUTHOR FRIENDS: CHRISTOPHER DELORENZO

One of the first hurdles I had to overcome in my quest to become a published author was my fear — abject terror would not be an overstatement — of sharing my writing with other people. The person I credit with helping me get over this hurdle is my dear friend and writing coach Christopher DeLorenzo.

By day, Chris is an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco where he teaches undergraduate writing, but I got to know Chris as the gifted and compassionate leader of the Laguna Writers group. Unlike traditional creative writing classes that focus on criticism, Chris’ writing workshops are based on the Amherst Writers & Artists philosophy that seeks to create a safe environment for writers to experiment, learn, and develop craft. As I said in my very first blog post, “Mr. Watson, Come Here” (June 8, 2019), it was in Chris’ safe and supportive living room that I wrote the first words of A GOOD FAMILY.

Chris and I recently met for brunch at 20th Century Cafe, a charming bakery/cafe in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. I chose the location very intentionally. First, it’s known for its fabulous food, and if there is one common theme to Words with Author Friends, it’s my love of good food shared with good friends. Second, it’s particularly well-known for its pastries, and Chris is himself a phenomenal baker. (Editor’s note: I am convinced Chris’ Beautiful Blondies are a “good luck” charm, as my son’s high school swim team won both his final regular season meet and the all-league championship — for the first time in 16 years! — after I brought those deliciously decadent bars as “snacks.” I can’t wait to try more recipes from Chris’ memoir/cookbook to see if they carry the same magical mojo.) And last but certainly not least, the cafe is located around the corner from the apartment that our mutual friend Merijane lived in for many years before her untimely death in 2017. All of us who love Merijane feel her absence still.

Once we settled into our cozy seats, Chris and I tried to pace ourselves and shared the cafe’s handmade pierogis with sour cream and plum jam (yummy) and bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese (also yummy). My loved ones know that I’m partial to savories not sweets, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to partake of 20th Century Cafe’s famous multi-layered Russian honey cake. Chris and I savored every delectable bite of the criminally thin slice. As Chris and his family would say, the cake was EVIL.

If you are an aspiring writer in the Bay Area, be sure to check out Chris’ website and sign up for an eight-week workshop or one-day writing retreat, or perhaps warm up by reading his blog and using his prompts as inspiration. And if you have a craving for dessert, you couldn’t do better than ordering something from Chris’ side-hustle, DeLorenzo Desserts. Champagne cake was Merijane’s favorite.

Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Name: Christopher DeLorenzo
Book title: Kitchen Inheritance: Memories and Recipes from my Family of Cooks
Favorite book(s): Precious (Originally published as Push), by Sapphire
Favorite local bookstore: Green Apple Books in San Francisco (mine too!)
Favorite (or notable) quote: Brenda Ueland, "So you see the imagination needs moodling—long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering . . . . in a queer way, you are afraid of it."
Where and when do you write: In my weekly workshops and retreats, at home, at my desk, on long flights. During the school year, I try to reserve time every weekend, and also at least one evening during the week. In the summer, I work at it as often as I can!
Favorite thing to do when you’re not writing: Bake, or read recipes and food magazines
How did you get your agent: I haven't yet! Can you recommend someone?
Why did you decide to self publish: I decided to self-publish because I knew if I had to write another non-fiction book proposal, I wouldn't ever get it done!
What advice would you give an aspiring author: Write with others if you can. Find a community to support you and inspire you.
What surprised you the most as a new author: How people I had never met wrote to me or talked to me and shared their personal stories.
What are you working on next: Working on a second cookbook, and returning to a novel manuscript
What are you reading now: There, There by Tommy Orange and White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
In the movie version of your life, who would you want to play you: Chris Colfer, from Glee
Any final thoughts: When you feel like you can't write, read!

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

In my July 14 post “Chasing the Dream,” I said the original title of my book was FALSE CLAIMS. It was the title I had in mind the whole time I was writing the book. It was the title I used in my query letter to my agent, and the title we used when we sent the book out to publishers. It was the title my editor and I repeated over the months we polished the book into final form, and the title I spent many dreamy hours imagining on the glossy cover of my debut novel.

Then one day, my editor told me the publishers wanted to change the title. Apparently they felt that False Claims was too difficult a title to market and to create a cover image for. They needed me to come up with something else.

I have to admit this news hurt like a punch in the gut. I felt like I had been carrying this baby for over three years and all that time, I was whispering to it, “I can’t wait to introduce you to the world, False Claims. I’m so proud of you, little False Claims.” And just as I was about to squeeze the little darling out, the doctor announces to me, “You have to change its name. How do you feel about THE WHISTLEBLOWER?”

Wha—at?

After going through the five stages of grief, my agent and I brainstormed alternative titles. Spousal Privileges, Perfect Privilege, The Price of Privilege, The Rules of Privilege, The Secrets of Privilege, Losing Privilege, Lost Privilege, Broken Privilege, Shattered Privilege, Wasted Privilege, Privileged, The Sister’s Secrets, The Sister’s Sacrifice, Lies My Sister Told Me, The Sister in Law, My Sister in Law, Serious Side Effects, Adverse Side Effects, Prescription for Privilege, Guilty Pleas, Her Guilty Plea, Prison of Privilege.

My agent shared the options with my editor, who in turn shared them with her colleagues. She got back to us with the verdict: everyone at the publishers, from editorial to marketing and sales, loved THE RULES OF PRIVILEGE. We were back on track. It was the title I used when I created this website. The title I posted to my author Facebook and Instagram pages. The title that appeared unexpectedly one day — OMG!! — for pre-order on Amazon and Target and Barnes and Noble. I couldn’t wait to see the cover image for this new title.

Then one day, my editor told me the publishers wanted to change the title. Again. Apparently, they were having the same troubles with the new title that they had with the old. My editor said they had another title for me: A GOOD FAMILY. In addition, the publishers wanted to push back the release date from January 14, 2020 to July 14, 2020.

By this point, I was resigned to whatever title the publishers wanted. Like a pregnant woman well past her due date, I just wanted the excruciating waiting to end. “That’s fine,” I said. “A Good Family is fine.” (Truth be told, The Rules of Privilege was hard to pronounce and always reminded me of Jane Krakowski’s indie film THE RURAL JUROR from 30 Rock.) And while July 14 feels like a long time away, there’s a certain charm to the date for a Francophile like me.

The good news: the design folks at the publishing house were able to come up with an image to go along with my new — and hopefully final — title. Like a mother seeing her baby’s face for the first time, I think it’s absolutely beautiful. What do you think?

WORDS WITH AUTHOR FRIENDS: ANGIE KIM

Ever since I got my book deal, I’ve been on the search for opportunities to support and interact with other writers, particularly debut authors. In May, I attended the Bay Area Book Festival in downtown Berkeley, where I had the good fortune to hear Angie Kim, Chia-Chia Lin, and Lauren Wilkinson talk about their debut novels. I’ve since read all three books, and they deserve every bit of acclaim they’ve received.

I researched the authors in advance of the book festival and was instantly drawn to Angie. We share the same last name, Korean heritage, and immigrant status. We both went to Harvard, worked as lawyers, and are mothers of sons. But what really sealed the deal was the excerpt she chose to read from her book: an affecting piece told from the perspective of the Korean immigrant father about the reversal of parent-child roles when you move to a new land and are unable to speak the language fluently. (It’s on page 163 of the U.S. hardcover edition.) It spoke to my heart.

After the reading, I made a beeline to the book signing table to chat with Angie, and she couldn’t have been more warm or welcoming. Recently, Angie was gracious enough to meet me for lunch at L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, Virginia, a hidden gem of a restaurant that both of us love — yet another thing we have in common. Even though we had only met once before, we chatted easily and discovered we had even more people and experiences in common. It was like the best first date ever.

Words with Author Friends was supposed to be about friends who also happen to be authors. With Angie Kim, I’m happy to introduce you to an author who I’m now privileged to call my friend.

Name: Angie Kim

Book title: Miracle Creek

Favorite book(s): Jennifer Egan's A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD & Tim O'Brien's IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS

Favorite local bookstore: Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C. (where I got the idea for Miracle Creek, while sitting in the cafe)

Favorite (or notable) quote: "I hate writing. I love having written." -Dorothy Parker

Where and when do you write: In my tiny writing nook (closet in the corner of my bedroom), sitting on the floor. Whenever I have time. No set time.

Favorite thing to do when you’re not writing: Eating, drinking, reading, marathon-watching TV shows

How did you get your agent: Sent out query letter and was discovered through slush pile (yes, agents do actually read their slush piles!)

How did you get your first book offer: My agent sold through an auction

What advice would you give an aspiring author: Write and polish short fiction (or essays) and submit, submit, submit

What surprised you the most as a new author: The sheer number of great books that are published on a weekly basis!

What are you working on next: My second novel

What are you reading now: The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern (out this November)

In the movie version of your life, who would you want to play you: Yikes! No one! (That would be a little creepy to have a movie version of my life!)

Any final thoughts: Thank you for reading Miracle Creek!

CHASING THE DREAM

One of the first questions I get from my writer friends when I tell them about my forthcoming book is: how did you get an agent?

For anyone who’s tried to get published, you know that agents are the gatekeepers. Most traditional publishers will only accept agented submissions. No agent, no book deal.

The internet is replete with articles and blogs about how to write an effective query letter. If you need a good way to procrastinate, I recommend you read them all – I certainly did. Personally, I do best when someone provides me an example to follow. So, with a boatload of caveats – every agent is unique; different rules apply to non-fiction and other forms of writing; I’m definitely not saying this is a perfect or even particularly good example – here is the query that landed me an agent, annotated with the lessons from the internet that I applied to write it.

Dear Mr. Kim:

I previously queried you about a YA novel, which you declined in such a kind way that I have been a fan ever since. Given your legal background, I'm hopeful you may have greater interest in my latest work, an adult novel titled False Claims.

Make it Personal. Some people recommend querying a bunch of agents at the same time to maximize your chance of success. I disagree. Agents are people, and people generally want to be treated as individuals. Research your agent and tailor the greeting and opening paragraph to them. (If I had it to do over again, I would’ve said “domestic thriller” instead of “adult novel,” which makes my book sound like erotica. And yes, my agent is also named Kim — and no, he’s not my dad.)

Beth Lindstrom is a beautiful pharmaceutical exec who has it all: a handsome husband, two adorable daughters, a designer wardrobe to kill for, an English Tudor mansion in Princeton and a custom-built NYT Sunday Styles-featured weekend home on the Chesapeake. But after Beth enters Alderson Federal Prison Camp, sister-in-law Hannah Min slowly discovers that the seemingly perfect Beth also has a closetful of secrets that could choke a clotheshorse, including the mystery of who might have conspired to file the whistleblower lawsuit that tore Beth’s world apart.

Keep Your Summary Short and Snappy – and in Your Book’s Style. I struggled with this one. How do I condense my 300-page book into one short paragraph? I suggest you write the summary, walk away for a day or more, edit mercilessly, share with a trusted friend, and then edit again. Repeat until you can’t stand reading it any more. And then repeat one more time. Think to yourself: if I read this summary on the back of a book, would I buy it? (If I had it to do over again, I’d pare down the details of Beth’s luxurious lifestyle – OK, we get it, she HAS IT ALL.)

False Claims combines equal parts dysfunctional family satire (The Nest) and alternating POV domestic noir (Gone Girl, Girl on the Train), observed with a gimlet eye and garnished with the zest of Orange is the New Black. Be careful because this fizzy cocktail goes down so smooth that you won’t realize what a wallop it packs until the end. You’ll have to read it twice for maximum effect.

Know the Market. I struggled with this one too. (What didn’t I struggle with?) Some helpful tips I learned along the way: Don’t compare your book to one published 20 years ago. Don’t compare it to a book no one has ever heard of. Don’t compare it to a book that got a lot of buzz but didn’t sell. Don’t compare it to a movie. If you don’t know the market for your book, then you need to do your homework and read more.

They say you should write what you know. The premise for False Claims came to me as I was writing my 100th letter to my sister-in-law, who is serving time at Alderson. We weren’t close before she went to prison, but over the past four years, we’ve come to appreciate our shared experience: hard-working immigrant daughters turned high-flying lawyers, doing our best to balance career, marriage, and motherhood.

Unless You Have Something Worth Mentioning, Keep Your Bio Short. I utterly failed on this one, but to be fair, I panicked. I don’t have an MFA. I don’t have published stories. I don’t have any artist residencies. If you have any of these, be sure to mention it in your query. Lacking any such qualifications, I wrote this paragraph out of desperation. I’m lucky my agent was forgiving.

False Claims is complete at 87,000 words. Per your submission guidelines, I have included a synopsis and the first ten pages directly below. I appreciate your consideration.

Follow the Rules. Every agent has their own query rules. Some want the first chapter, others want the first five or ten or 50 pages. Some want a synopsis, others want to be surprised if and when they ask for the full manuscript. Some want you to fill out a form with all sorts of information, others are fine with a simple email. Research your agent and do what they ask. Like I said above: No agent, no book deal.

Keep your query to one page. The shorter, the better. In the words of PT Barnum, leave them wanting more.

You may be wondering: “False Claims? I thought the book was called The Rules of Privilege.” After working for over a year on my manuscript, another six months trying to find an agent, and another full year revising the manuscript before sending it out to publishers, I was asked to change the title.

But that’s a topic for another blog entry.

WORDS WITH AUTHOR FRIENDS, INAUGURAL EDITION: KELSEY CROWE

There is a line in my book that my friends and family will recognize as true: “I’ve always hated being the center of attention, even on my birthday.” In this case, perhaps that line should be edited to read “even on my own blog.”

I’ve promised that this blog will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a debut author, but that would make this blog all about me. (Cf: paragraph above.) So I’ve decided to introduce a recurring feature: Words with Author Friends. As I roam the country shamelessly picking the brains of my friends who happen to also be authors, I’d like to share their insights and wisdom with you.

First up, my dear friend Kelsey Crowe. Kelsey and I worked together for several years on the all-volunteer board of a breast cancer non-profit. Widely recognized as an “empathy expert,” Kelsey collaborated with quirky greeting card superstar (four words that don’t often go together) Emily McDowell to write a much-needed book about how to help a friend or loved one navigate through grief, loss, illness, or other difficult situation.

Kelsey and I talked at her charming home in San Francisco, devouring an array of pastries from award-winning bakery Arsicault and soaking in the sunshine on her flower-filled patio. Yes, it was as idyllic as it sounds. As smart and sympathetic and funny as Kelsey seems in her book, she is ten times more so in person. I’m supremely grateful to call her my friend and very happy to introduce her to you.

Name: Kelsey Crowe

Book Title: There is No Good Card for This: What to Do and Say when Life is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People you Love

Favorite Book(s): Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon, and Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed (one of my favorites too!)

Favorite Local Bookstore: Dog Eared Books in the Mission, San Francisco

What advice would you give an aspiring author: Don't be afraid of an editor.

What surprised you the most as a new author: The exhaustion of the marketing phase, the constant asking for help in networking your work, and most of all, the amazing feeling of others being excited by your work.

What are you working on next: Another kind of difficult conversation among those in families with political differences.

In the movie version of your life, who would you want to play you: My daughter :)

Any final thoughts: So long as we don't harm others; so long as we offer people curiosity about their lives, and mindfulness about our own, then there is no need to compare our stories.

MR. WATSON, COME HERE*

I was on vacation with my family when I picked up a copy of John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars. I’ve always been a fan of children’s and YA literature, and the book was getting tons of buzz. By the time I finished, I was a blubbering mess. After wiping my eyes and catching my breath, I was left with one very clear thought: I wanted to write a novel. And because that wasn’t crazy enough, I decided I wanted to be published by the time I was 50.

I had three years to go.

Until that moment, it had never occurred to me to write fiction. Sure, I’ve always loved books and reading, and I do lots of legal writing as part of my job. But becoming a novelist? Well, that felt simply beyond reach, like aspiring to swim at the Olympics or sing at the Met.

Once I start on a project, however, I become obsessed. My husband can always spot when it happens. “You’re in one of your frenzies right now, aren’t you?” he’ll say. After more than 25 years together, my husband has witnessed many of my frenzies.

After working all day, eating dinner with my family, and putting my school-age boys to bed, I’d sit in front of my computer and start writing. The story flowed from my imagination like magic, and in less than a year, I was done with my first book: a YA novel about a Korean-American girl coming of age in 1980s suburban Pittsburgh. (Hey, they say write what you know.)

What I didn’t know was that writing is the easy part of becoming a novelist. I spent the next year-plus researching and querying agents, revising the first five pages, and drafting synopses, but to no avail. No one wanted my book.

When I shared my frustrations with my friend Merijane, she suggested reaching out to her longtime writing instructor Chris, but I was too insecure to show my manuscript to a stranger. Instead, I decided to sign up for one of Chris’ eight-week writing workshops.

It was in Chris’ safe and supportive space that I wrote the first words of what would become my debut novel, The Rules of Privilege. The domestic thriller — think Big Little Lies meets Orange is the New Black — has details drawn from real life including my experience supporting my brother and young nieces while my sister-in-law served time in Alderson Women’s Prison. The book is due to be published by Graydon House in January 2020 — four and a half years past my deadline.

Better late than never.

In this blog, I’ll tell you what it’s like in the months leading up to the release of a debut novel. Once the book is out, I’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a debut novelist — the ups, the downs, and everything in between. I’ll also look to your comments for suggested topics of interest. Please join me on this journey to publication and beyond — I’d love your company.

* These were Alexander Graham Bell’s first words on the first telephone call. Unlike Mr. Bell, I’m not sure there’s anyone on the other side of this blog to hear me. Please let me know you’re out there!