Pamela Desmond Wright's Blog, page 13

In this space, you will find answers to questions about w...

In this space, you will find answers to questions about what it really takes to become a published author with one of the “big houses”. Got a question? Email pamdwrites@gmail.com and I’ll answer it here in a future post.

First up: Did You Know writers have to “earn out” their advance before they are paid any additional royalties?

Yes. True.

For example, if you are offered an advance of, say, $1000.00 dollars, you will be paid that amount (minus your agent’s commission, if you have one). And unless your book earns back that amount, you won’t see another dime from the work. Again, that is correct. If your book doesn’t have a good “sell through”, chances are you won’t see another contract, either.

Don’t believe me? Well, here’s the scoop. All 4 books I wrote for Penguin/NAL never came close to earning out the advance. I never collected a cent past the advance for the 7 years they held the rights on each book. As I was paid a decent amount of pocket change, I accepted it for what it was and went on down the road. Once I received my rights, I re-edited and republished the books myself. Now, everything they earn is mine, minus Amazon’s cut, that is.

But wait. How do pubs make their money if books don’t earn back their advance? Believe it or not, they usually do. 

For a better breakdown of how that happens, read The Myth of the Unearned Advance

December 2021

Dear Readers,

Well, the first December update I did got eaten in a glitch with my webhost, so I am having to recreate it. I can’t exactly recall what I wrote, so here is the news:

First, Finding Her Amish Home is scheduled for a July 2022 release. It’s listed on Amazon now, and I can’t wait to see the cover. That’s always the best part of the book, seeing what the cover artists have come up with. I’ll share it as soon as I can. Meanwhile. I’ve turned over the proposal for Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart, title tentative, and I am just waiting to see what my editor thinks. Hate the wait, but hope she loves it. This will be book 2 in the Humble Blessings series.

Since I’m keeping this short, I’ll wish you all a happy holiday season. I’ll be back next year. Looking forward to 2022!

Peace and joy to all!

Pamela

 

 

December 2021~

Dear Readers,

As we walk into December 2021, I’m looking back on the last year and feeling so thankful about all that has happened since December 2020.

This time last year, I’d soon learn that Harlequin was buying my manuscript, which would be The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. When the offer came in, I was stunned to say the least. I was also terrified. I’d been away from publishing since 2021, and now here I was, about to embark on a new career in a new genre in which I was to debut as an unproven author. I wavered for days over whether or not to accept the contract. Yes, I’d wanted one and yes, I wrote the book with the intent of selling it to a publisher. But was I ready to go back into the demanding world of rewriting, editing, more rewriting and other pressing deadlines required to get a book onto the market? I wasn’t sure. I hovered on the brink of tucking in my tail and running away. I tried to tell myself an offer would be enough, that I had proven I could see a book in Inspirational fiction. Fortunately my fabulous agent was there to hold my hand through all the doubts, and I settled on accepting the contract. Was it easy? I won’t lie. It wasn’t. There were times when I was frustrated as I wound my way through the edits. Why did I miss this detail? How did I miss adding that one? Another typo??? Grrr.

I hammered myself unmercifully, questioning my ability to write a decent sentence…

But I got through it.

Time passed and release day rolled around. It was then I got the best news of my life. Not only were great reviews starting to trickle in, but the book had made the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list! I was over the moon with joy. All the hard work, angest, doubt and fear drizzled away and I knew then I had accomplished what I’d set out to do. I’d rebooted my career! Moreover, my agent old two more books in a new series! In that time, I finished FInding Her Amish Home and am waiting on edits. I’ve also turned over the proposal for Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart (title tentative) and am waiting to hear from my editor on its status.

So 2021 was quite a year. I’ve been so blessed to find a new path as a writer, one I intend to continue walking for many years. I am thankful for the many new friends and reads I have been in contact with, along with the people who support and advise me in my career. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten this far. And glory to God, who has watched over me, allowing me to survive my near fatal accident in August 2020. I am truly humbled.

To close, I will wish you all a joyous holiday season. I won’t post against until 2022, but I can’t wait to see what the new year brings. I hope you’ll all be here to share the journey.

Sending love and light,

Pamela

 

November 2021~

Dear Readers,

Hope you all had a happy Halloween and are ready for the holiday season. My, the month went so fast! In just a few more days the time will change and we’ll go back an hour. Be nice to get an hour back, though I am really not liking the fact it will be dark so early and that it’s getting so cold now.

So, on to the news…

I have a couple of exciting updates to share! First, I’ve gotten word my next release will be in July 2022! Her Amish Blessing, is now titled Finding Her Amish Home and is in the editing que as I type this. I am expecting edits sometime in November. I am particularly happy with this book, and loved writing Maddie and Abram’s story. I am also thrilled my editor liked it and it got to go straight into the production que. What is funny about this book is that I actually wrote it before The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. It was the first Amish proposal sent to Harlequin. Alas, it got a rewrite and revise, and was sent back.  I never knew what to do with it, so I set it aside to work on the book that would become my debut. After a year, I went back and rewrote it and sent it in again.  Second time must have been the charm! So Finding Her Amish Home will be the first book in my “Humble Blessings” series. I am currently working on book 2, Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart, and just turned over the first three chapters and outline for that book. While I am waiting on that one, I have been sketching out the next Texas Amish Brides book, which will be Rebecca Schroder’s story. I am excited about all the WIPS I have on my desk and just wish there was more time to write in a day. It’s going to take time, but I am working as fast as I can to get the books out.

So what else is new? We’ve got kittens! 6 of them, to be exact. Of course, we always welcome kittens. But we were not expecting that many, and you can bet that mama cat is on her way to be fixed soon.  It’s going to be a full house for awhile, but we hope to find homes for them when they are old enough to go. It’s been many years since we’ve had kittens and it’s going to be interesting to see how the rabbits like having them around.

Thanks for checking in. Wishing you all a lovely Thanksgiving and can’t wait to catch up with you all in December!

Sending love and light~

Pamela

 

November 2021

Dear Readers,

Hope you all had a happy Halloween and are ready for the holiday season. My, the month went so fast! In just a few more days the time will change and we’ll go back an hour. Be nice to get an hour back, though I am really not liking the fact it will be dark so early and that it’s getting so cold now.

So, on to the news…

I have a couple of exciting updates to share! First, I’ve gotten word my next release will be in July 2022! Her Amish Blessing, is now titled Finding Her Amish Home and is in the editing que as I type this. I am expecting edits sometime in November. I am particularly happy with this book, and loved writing Maddie and Abram’s story. I am also thrilled my editor liked it and it got to go straight into the production que. What is funny about this book is that I actually wrote it before The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. It was the first Amish proposal sent to Harlequin. Alas, it got a rewrite and revise, and was sent back.  I never knew what to do with it, so I set it aside to work on the book that would become my debut. After a year, I went back and rewrote it and sent it in again.  Second time must have been the charm! So Finding Her Amish Home will be the first book in my “Humble Blessings” series. I am currently working on book 2, Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart, and just turned over the first three chapters and outline for that book. While I am waiting on that one, I have been sketching out the next Texas Amish Brides book, which will be Rebecca Schroder’s story. I am excited about all the WIPS I have on my desk and just wish there was more time to write in a day. It’s going to take time, but I am working as fast as I can to get the books out.

So what else is new? We’ve got kittens! 6 of them, to be exact. Of course, we always welcome kittens. But we were not expecting that many, and you can bet that mama cat is on her way to be fixed soon.  It’s going to be a full house for awhile, but we hope to find homes for them when they are old enough to go. It’s been many years since we’ve had kittens and it’s going to be interesting to see how the rabbits like having them around.

Thanks for checking in. Wishing you all a lovely Thanksgiving and can’t wait to catch up with you all in December!

Sending love and light~

Pamela

November 2021~

Dear Readers,

Hope you all had a happy Halloween and are ready for the holiday season. My, the month went so fast! In just a few more days the time will change and we’ll go back an hour. Be nice to get an hour back, though I am really not liking the fact it will be dark so early and that it’s getting so cold now.

So, on to the news…

I have a couple of exciting updates to share! First, I’ve gotten word my next release will be in July 2022! Her Amish Blessing, is now titled Finding Her Amish Home and is in the editing que as I type this. I am expecting edits sometime in November. I am particularly happy with this book, and loved writing Maddie and Abram’s story. I am also thrilled my editor liked it and it got to go straight into the production que. What is funny about this book is that I actually wrote it before The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. It was the first Amish proposal sent to Harlequin. Alas, it got a rewrite and revise, and was sent back.  I never knew what to do with it, so I set it aside to work on the book that would become my debut. After a year, I went back and rewrote it and sent it in again.  Second time must have been the charm! So Finding Her Amish Home will be the first book in my “Humble Blessings” series. I am currently working on book 2, Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart, and just turned over the first three chapters and outline for that book. While I am waiting on that one, I have been sketching out the next Texas Amish Brides book, which will be Rebecca Schroder’s story. I am excited about all the WIPS I have on my desk and just wish there was more time to write in a day. It’s going to take time, but I am working as fast as I can to get the books out.

So what else is new? We’ve got kittens! 6 of them, to be exact. Of course, we always welcome kittens. But we were not expecting that many, and you can bet that mama cat is on her way to be fixed soon.  It’s going to be a full house for awhile, but we hope to find homes for them when they are old enough to go. It’s been many years since we’ve had kittens and it’s going to be interesting to see how the rabbits like having them around.

Thanks for checking in. Wishing you all a lovely Thanksgiving and can’t wait to catch up with you all in December!

Sending love and light~

Pamela

October 2021

Dear Readers,

Is it really October? Where did the month of September go?  It seems like summer was in high swing, and then all the sudden it got cold and now it’s getting dark so early. In another 4 weeks the time will change! Definitely won’t be happy when it gets dark at 4 pm. Definitely going to have to start winterizing and put the bikes in storage.

Guess that means more time to write, right? As for writing, I’ve gotten started on Healing The Amish Widow’s Heart (tentative title), and have one chapter and the outline kinda done. Well, it’s better than nothing right? I plan to have the proposal for the second book in the “Humble Blessings” series done by beginning of November. Knock wood that I can do it. It’s always hard starting a new book. The old characters have to move off my mind’s stage, and then new ones have to move in. I’m just getting to know them. This is Lavinia and Noem’s book. Lavinia is introduced in Her Amish Blessing, and we meet her almost 2 years later as a young window.  I am looking forward to delving in to this book.

Other news: Bunzilla got a friend. Officially her name is Violet (she came with it) but we call her HipHop. She’s still learning the litter box, but seems to be settling in. She and Bun are getting to be good friends. She is a Dutch, and quite small compared to Bun, who is a Californian. Since he is neutered, they can’t make any little bunnies. I will get her fixed as soon as I can find a vet who does female rabbits.

That’s about all there is going on right now.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Keep warm and keep on reading~

Pamela

September 2021

Dear Readers,

Where has summer gone? Is it already time for Fall? Hard to believe we’re already in the 9th month of the year. Back at the beginning of January, I was hard at work on the edit of The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. Then, it seemed like the release date was years away. Skip forward to late August and the book released! But that’s not the only exciting news I have to share. I’m pleased to announce that my Harlequin Love Inspired debut made the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list!

Wow, oh wow! Was I surprised. Given the difficulties I had when writing this book, I never would have imagined it would be published – much less go on to debut as a bestseller! But as you can see by the screenshot, it is indeed true! I am now a PW bestselling author!

More good news, too. I’ve just completed Her Amish Blessing. I will be sending it in to my editor next week. This book, too, has had a long journey. And it still has a ways to go, as there will be edits, rewrites, and more rewrites. I’m hopeful this time around will be a bit easier than the first one was (knock wood). I’m looking forward to it, though, and have my coffee and chocolate ready. (Gotta have strength and energy to tackle all that red ink, LOL).

Meanwhile, I’ll be heading into the next book, which I have tentatively titled Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart. As always, titles are placeholders until the editor chooses what the final will be.

That’s about all for now. Got get back to work, and back to writing.

Sending many blessings your way!

Pamela

September 2021 Update~

Dear Readers,

Where has summer gone? Is it already time for Fall? Hard to believe we’re already in the 9th month of the year. Back at the beginning of January, I was hard at work on the edit of The Cowboy’s Amish Haven. Then, it seemed like the release date was years away. Skip forward to late August and the book released! But that’s not the only exciting news I have to share. I’m pleased to announce that my Harlequin Love Inspired debut made the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list! Wow, oh wow! Was I surprised. Given the difficulties I had when writing this book, I never would have imagined it would be published – much less go on to debut as a bestseller! But as you can see by the screenshot, it is indeed true! I am now a PW bestselling author.

More good news, too. I’ve just completed Her Amish Blessing. I will be sending it in to my editor next week. This book, too, has had a long journey. And it still has a ways to go, as there will be edits, rewrites, and more rewrites. I’m hopeful this time around will be a bit easier than the first one was (knock wood). I’m looking forward to it, though, and have my coffee and chocolate ready. (Gotta have strength and energy to tackle all that red ink, LOL).

Meanwhile, I’ll be heading into the next book, which I have tentatively titled Healing the Amish Widow’s Heart. As always, titles are placeholders until the editor chooses what the final will be.

That’s about all for now. Got get back to work, and back to writing.

Sending many blessings your way!

Pamela

August 2021

Dear Readers,

Hard to believe we are already in the 8th month of the year! Wow, 2021 is going fast. But it’s an exciting month because The Cowboy’s Amish Haven will officially release on August 1, on the Harlequin website (it also releases wide on 8.24.21). I am so excited the book will be in reader’s hands! And I am thrilled with the 5 star reviews that have begun popping up on Goodreads.  I am dying to know what you all think of the book, so keep them coming!!

Been busy trying to get Her Amish Blessing (book 1, Humble Blessings) done. I fell a little behind in July because of roof issues. We had a lot of rain and a lot of leaks showed up. Hopefully, those are dealt with and I can get back to finishing the book this month. At least, I hope to. It just keeps getting longer and longer, so I will definitely be cutting it down to word count before I send it in to my editor.

As for riding the bikes…August is my accident month, so I am being extra careful. In 2017 I was in a motorcycle wreck. In 2020, I shattered my spleen in a freak accident. Sooo, for this year I am going to be extra careful and try and not go to the hospital for any more emergencies. I am DONE with that (knock wood, LOL).

Gotta get back to the book. Meanwhile, I hope you all like the fresh redesign of my website. I’m learning Elementor, and it’s been a bear to work with (grrrr.)

Blessings to all~

Pamela