Molly O'Keefe's Blog, page 18
May 10, 2013
The times they are a changing
So I loved Stephanie's post from yesterday, and how she verbalized so wonderfully what almost all writers want. Because success means readers loving your books and acknowledgment, proof that we are good writers.
And you really can't 100% percent go after something until you admit you want it, so that is the first step.
But the route there has become a lot more fluid, and it requires writers to be fluid along with it. We've been hearing for many years now about the death of the midlist, and for the longest time I'd hear that pronouncement and shrug, and think no way. I've read mid list authors my whole life and I'm not stopping now. But now I think it might actually be happening.
A writer on one of my loops asked about her New York published book, thinking maybe she'd missed some sales numbers, because she got her statement and it didn't make any sense, the numbers were too low. A few other authors have expressed astonishment with how low their numbers are with their NY published books, so I know this is a common complaint.
And part of this is the reduction of the number of book stores out there. Walmart and Target are reducing the number of titles they buy, and so the retail outlets for the mid list authors have greatly reduced. But as an author, if you're lucky enough to be one of the books chosen for distribution into all the majors, then you can almost be guaranteed bestseller status.
But then there's the rise of self-publishing which has created breakout bestsellers and something of a mid list, but where most authors are lucky to sell a few hundred books.
Promotion is now something done mostly by the author, unless again, they are one of the chosen authors, and from what I've heard, the authors doing the best financially, are the ones doing a cross of self-publishing and traditional publishing.
I know for many years, my idea of success in this industry was being chosen. By an agent, by a publisher, by readers and that is still a measure of success, a really important one. But some really smart authors have adapted, they have chased, they've found other routes and found readers and success and I'm really impressed at their ingenuity.
so the point is that as authors we need to know what our version of success is, because it varies. For some authors it's still being chosen, for others it's readers, or great reviews and for a few others, being on a bestseller list, and not all happen simultaneously. Not any more.
I'm trying to figure out my version of success right now and I'm honestly not sure what that is. I think it's readers, but that could change, because you can get readers and not make any money, as many self-pulished authors are discovering with books given away for free or priced at $.99.
What's your version of success? It is one thing, or a combination of all?
And you really can't 100% percent go after something until you admit you want it, so that is the first step.
But the route there has become a lot more fluid, and it requires writers to be fluid along with it. We've been hearing for many years now about the death of the midlist, and for the longest time I'd hear that pronouncement and shrug, and think no way. I've read mid list authors my whole life and I'm not stopping now. But now I think it might actually be happening.
A writer on one of my loops asked about her New York published book, thinking maybe she'd missed some sales numbers, because she got her statement and it didn't make any sense, the numbers were too low. A few other authors have expressed astonishment with how low their numbers are with their NY published books, so I know this is a common complaint.
And part of this is the reduction of the number of book stores out there. Walmart and Target are reducing the number of titles they buy, and so the retail outlets for the mid list authors have greatly reduced. But as an author, if you're lucky enough to be one of the books chosen for distribution into all the majors, then you can almost be guaranteed bestseller status.
But then there's the rise of self-publishing which has created breakout bestsellers and something of a mid list, but where most authors are lucky to sell a few hundred books.
Promotion is now something done mostly by the author, unless again, they are one of the chosen authors, and from what I've heard, the authors doing the best financially, are the ones doing a cross of self-publishing and traditional publishing.
I know for many years, my idea of success in this industry was being chosen. By an agent, by a publisher, by readers and that is still a measure of success, a really important one. But some really smart authors have adapted, they have chased, they've found other routes and found readers and success and I'm really impressed at their ingenuity.
so the point is that as authors we need to know what our version of success is, because it varies. For some authors it's still being chosen, for others it's readers, or great reviews and for a few others, being on a bestseller list, and not all happen simultaneously. Not any more.
I'm trying to figure out my version of success right now and I'm honestly not sure what that is. I think it's readers, but that could change, because you can get readers and not make any money, as many self-pulished authors are discovering with books given away for free or priced at $.99.
What's your version of success? It is one thing, or a combination of all?
May 9, 2013
I Want More....
Have you all seen that commercial? Where the guy asks the little kids if two is better than one and more is better than less. And the little girl tries to explain why more is better. And it basically boils down to… I want more…I want more….That’s what I want for my writing career. The other night I tried to think about what that meant. Is it money? Sure. Who wouldn’t want more money? Is it fame? I don’t know about fame, but I do like the idea of respect. Of people being able to see my name and recognize that I’m a writer. Is it popularity? Maybe. There is this idea that there is a club of writers that everyone knows and you want to be in that club.
I remember last year going to the RITA/Goldenheart reception and seeing all these crazy talented writers sitting together at a table and thinking… wow, I don’t really belong here. But instinctively I wanted to feel differently. I wanted to feel as if I could sit at that table.But really at the core of what “more” is… I just like the idea of more people reading my books. Lots of readers who read them, hopefully enjoy them. Maybe even talk about them.
I was thinking about how that is … I don’t know…. selfish, or self-indulgent or obnoxious. (Because as women we have this crazy mechanism that tells us being ambitious is somehow unladylike… read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg if you don’t believe me.) But then I realized that no, wanting more people to read my books is completely normal. Because I’m a storyteller. Not all people in the world are storytellers, but the ones that are out there want to tell stories and more importantly we want listeners/readers to hear our stories, to read our stories. So I want more…. More readers to read the stories I make up. I wouldn’t be a writer if I didn’t want that.
What about you as writers or readers… what “more” do you want?
May 8, 2013
Exploring the dark side through unlikable characters
Eileen posted about one of my favorite topics yesterday. And it's one I realize I'm slightly hypocritical about as an author vs a reader.
And since I'm not decisive enough to pick a "best movie ever" (but I was considering doing something controversial like Clueless) I decided to continue on with yesterday's topic.
As a reader, I love books featuring protagonists I wouldn't necessarily want to meet or talk to in real life. I find it interesting to try to understand how the mind of someone works, even if I wouldn't like them.
To use one of Eileen's examples, as disgusting as Humbert Humbert is as a character (and I agree that he is), I found Lolita a pretty fascinating book, and that novel helped me to understand, not only him, but also Lolita and her mother. I can't imagine liking any one of those three people in real life, but I found them fascinating to read about in a book (or watch in a movie).
Maybe that's one of the many things I like fiction. Whether it's reading or watching movies or TV shows, fiction lets me gain insight into people, without having to actually meet them or talk to them. It helps me gain insight into the uglier parts of human nature.
On the other hand, I can respect and appreciate that not every reader wants that kind of experience from books. I think my personality type strives to understand others and fiction helps me fulfil that need/desire/interest and I think that's why I enjoy difficult characters in fiction.
But, and here's the hypocritical part, I've spent a LOT of time as a writer trying to figure out how to create and introduce characters that readers will like. It's something I struggle to do better.
That said, I don't think I'm going to apologize for that... The kind of stories I've been writing, at least the last, um 5 or 6 of my books, are stories that require protagonists that readers can get behind and root for. I think it's particularly important in plot-heavy stories which often have less emphasis on character growth. (Character growth/change still has to be there... but it's often not what the book is about.)
I'm trying to think of other examples of books about characters I pretty much hated... Maybe the main character from the Shopaholic books. I didn't *hate* her but I think I'd be too aggravated with her to be her friend in real life, even though I enjoyed reading about her and laughed a lot.
I'm sure I've read others, but right now I'm coming up with more characters from TV than books. Like Tony Soprano (or Carmella, for that matter), Dexter, Dexter's sister, Don Draper, Carrie or Brody from Homeland, just about anyone on Son's of Anarchy, and even Schmidt from New Girl. All people I love to watch on TV, but I'd never want to hang out with in real life.
Can you think of any books you've loved with an unlikable protagonist?
And since I'm not decisive enough to pick a "best movie ever" (but I was considering doing something controversial like Clueless) I decided to continue on with yesterday's topic.
As a reader, I love books featuring protagonists I wouldn't necessarily want to meet or talk to in real life. I find it interesting to try to understand how the mind of someone works, even if I wouldn't like them.
To use one of Eileen's examples, as disgusting as Humbert Humbert is as a character (and I agree that he is), I found Lolita a pretty fascinating book, and that novel helped me to understand, not only him, but also Lolita and her mother. I can't imagine liking any one of those three people in real life, but I found them fascinating to read about in a book (or watch in a movie).
Maybe that's one of the many things I like fiction. Whether it's reading or watching movies or TV shows, fiction lets me gain insight into people, without having to actually meet them or talk to them. It helps me gain insight into the uglier parts of human nature.
On the other hand, I can respect and appreciate that not every reader wants that kind of experience from books. I think my personality type strives to understand others and fiction helps me fulfil that need/desire/interest and I think that's why I enjoy difficult characters in fiction.
But, and here's the hypocritical part, I've spent a LOT of time as a writer trying to figure out how to create and introduce characters that readers will like. It's something I struggle to do better.
That said, I don't think I'm going to apologize for that... The kind of stories I've been writing, at least the last, um 5 or 6 of my books, are stories that require protagonists that readers can get behind and root for. I think it's particularly important in plot-heavy stories which often have less emphasis on character growth. (Character growth/change still has to be there... but it's often not what the book is about.)
I'm trying to think of other examples of books about characters I pretty much hated... Maybe the main character from the Shopaholic books. I didn't *hate* her but I think I'd be too aggravated with her to be her friend in real life, even though I enjoyed reading about her and laughed a lot.
I'm sure I've read others, but right now I'm coming up with more characters from TV than books. Like Tony Soprano (or Carmella, for that matter), Dexter, Dexter's sister, Don Draper, Carrie or Brody from Homeland, just about anyone on Son's of Anarchy, and even Schmidt from New Girl. All people I love to watch on TV, but I'd never want to hang out with in real life.
Can you think of any books you've loved with an unlikable protagonist?
May 7, 2013
Main characters: do we need them to be our friends?
Thanks to awesome short-story writer and new Facebook friend Valerie Fioravanti, I saw this interview with Claire Messud about her new book The Woman Upstairs.
I love a lot of things that Messud says in the interview. I love what she said about illuminating a particular human experience and what she said about women and anger. I relate to what she said about how we feel when our life hasn't taken the shape we thought it would.
It's her response to the last question, though, that really struck me. The interviewer asks if Ms. Messud would like to be friends with the main character of her book. Messud replies that the question itself is irrelevant (and maybe a little stupid).
Unfortunately, in the world of romance and women's fiction, it isn't irrelevant. We're always told that our characters must be likable and relatable to the point where they become bland sometimes. I can't tell you how often I feel my secondary characters take over a book because they're allowed to flaws and do bad things. Messud's answer made me want to stand up and cheer. In fact, I might have jumped up in my living room and yelled something about speaking truth to power.
Here's the ugly truth, though. As much as I love what Messud said, I still want to have someone in the story that I can relate to somehow. She lists a couple of heroes of stories in her reply and I have to admit that I've never understood why anyone likes the book Lolita. I think Humbert Humbert is disgusting. There has to be something redeemable in that person whose eyes I'm seeing through and whose shoes I'm walking in to get me into the story. Otherwise I lose interest. Or in certain cases start hoping the main character is going to get killed which is also not good. So I love what she said, but feel a little bit hypocritical about it in terms of what I like to read.
Do I have to want that person as a friend? I don't think so. I would not want to be friends with Carrie in Homeland. She's exhausting. Do I love her as a heroine? Absolutely.
So what do you think about it? Is the question irrelevant? Do you have to want to be friends with the main character?
I love a lot of things that Messud says in the interview. I love what she said about illuminating a particular human experience and what she said about women and anger. I relate to what she said about how we feel when our life hasn't taken the shape we thought it would.
It's her response to the last question, though, that really struck me. The interviewer asks if Ms. Messud would like to be friends with the main character of her book. Messud replies that the question itself is irrelevant (and maybe a little stupid).
Unfortunately, in the world of romance and women's fiction, it isn't irrelevant. We're always told that our characters must be likable and relatable to the point where they become bland sometimes. I can't tell you how often I feel my secondary characters take over a book because they're allowed to flaws and do bad things. Messud's answer made me want to stand up and cheer. In fact, I might have jumped up in my living room and yelled something about speaking truth to power.
Here's the ugly truth, though. As much as I love what Messud said, I still want to have someone in the story that I can relate to somehow. She lists a couple of heroes of stories in her reply and I have to admit that I've never understood why anyone likes the book Lolita. I think Humbert Humbert is disgusting. There has to be something redeemable in that person whose eyes I'm seeing through and whose shoes I'm walking in to get me into the story. Otherwise I lose interest. Or in certain cases start hoping the main character is going to get killed which is also not good. So I love what she said, but feel a little bit hypocritical about it in terms of what I like to read.
Do I have to want that person as a friend? I don't think so. I would not want to be friends with Carrie in Homeland. She's exhausting. Do I love her as a heroine? Absolutely.
So what do you think about it? Is the question irrelevant? Do you have to want to be friends with the main character?
May 6, 2013
Why Field of Dreams is the best movie ever
Beaches is fine. I cried. I cry every time I see it. I remember the first time I saw it at Jennifer Wolfe's house and how I had to go hide in the bathroom to sob. Terminator was the first really delicious mind-game movie. A complicated twisty idea boiled down into something so delicious, so action-packed and dark - how could you not love it. But Sinead and Steph are both very wrong. Field Of Dreams is the Best Movie Ever
1. Kevin Costner in worn Levis. I sort of feel the argument begins and ends there. If you are not a fan of Costner in worn blue jeans, you're missing out on one of the best parts of the movie.
2. It romanticizes sports, fatherhood and manhood in a way that makes me want to hug all the men in my life, stroke back their hair and tell them to go have a catch with their father. This might be because the men in my family are guys who play sports. And the sports they play is how they bond to other guys, it's how they work through their stuff. For my father and brother - it's how they talk. I know not every family is like this - but mine is. Mine totally is.
3. Amy Madigan owns that movie. She's perfect as a wife and mom. The realist and the dreamer. She was perfect. "Shut up you Nazi cow" is something I LONG to say to someone.
4. James Earl Jones. James Earl Jones and the "They will come, Ray." speech. "Memories so thick they'll have to brush them away from their face." It's stunning writing. Nostalgic and dreamy, but delivered in that voice? It's like a creedo. Who would argue with him?
5. It absolutely cements my belief that no matter what is wrong with you, what damage you carry, even if it's not that much. Even if for the most part you are totally happy, whatever causes you to make bad choices or selfish decisions - almost all of it has it's roots in your childhood.
6. Ray Liottas eyes - the first time wide-spread audience saw them. Blue like ice. Like a chlorinated pool.
1. Kevin Costner in worn Levis. I sort of feel the argument begins and ends there. If you are not a fan of Costner in worn blue jeans, you're missing out on one of the best parts of the movie.
2. It romanticizes sports, fatherhood and manhood in a way that makes me want to hug all the men in my life, stroke back their hair and tell them to go have a catch with their father. This might be because the men in my family are guys who play sports. And the sports they play is how they bond to other guys, it's how they work through their stuff. For my father and brother - it's how they talk. I know not every family is like this - but mine is. Mine totally is.
3. Amy Madigan owns that movie. She's perfect as a wife and mom. The realist and the dreamer. She was perfect. "Shut up you Nazi cow" is something I LONG to say to someone.
4. James Earl Jones. James Earl Jones and the "They will come, Ray." speech. "Memories so thick they'll have to brush them away from their face." It's stunning writing. Nostalgic and dreamy, but delivered in that voice? It's like a creedo. Who would argue with him?
5. It absolutely cements my belief that no matter what is wrong with you, what damage you carry, even if it's not that much. Even if for the most part you are totally happy, whatever causes you to make bad choices or selfish decisions - almost all of it has it's roots in your childhood.
6. Ray Liottas eyes - the first time wide-spread audience saw them. Blue like ice. Like a chlorinated pool.
May 3, 2013
Why The Terminator is the greatest movie ever....
Ok, so Stephanie threw down a bit of a gauntlet yesterday with that whole Beaches fiasco. Sure the power of friendship and love and blah, blah, but really, if we were to think this through, there are other, better movies. Movies like Alien and Aliens, but for the purpose of the Beaches comparison, I'm going with the Terminator.
So here's my list
1) It is really suspenseful. Watching Linda Hamilton fight off a seemingly unkillable machine kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire movie.
2) It teaches us to be really careful about the technology we develop - killer robots seem like a bad idea.
3) It has a really touching love story. Reese was a lovely hero, respectful, resourceful and well - doomed - but while he lived, a great hero.
4) It's the best use of Arnold Schwarzenegger's acting skills ever - he plays killer robot really well
5) Great character arc of innocent, somewhat regular girl into strong, resourceful action heroine
6) Really interesting backstory woven into the current story - except the backstory is the future... let that one twist your mind for a while
7) Time travel told simply and well
8) It you take away the hairstyles and clothes, it doesn't look dated, which is pretty amazing
So there you go. I'm putting forward Terminator as a better movie than Beaches, because well beaches are great, but killer robots are better.
So here's my list
1) It is really suspenseful. Watching Linda Hamilton fight off a seemingly unkillable machine kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire movie.
2) It teaches us to be really careful about the technology we develop - killer robots seem like a bad idea.
3) It has a really touching love story. Reese was a lovely hero, respectful, resourceful and well - doomed - but while he lived, a great hero.
4) It's the best use of Arnold Schwarzenegger's acting skills ever - he plays killer robot really well
5) Great character arc of innocent, somewhat regular girl into strong, resourceful action heroine
6) Really interesting backstory woven into the current story - except the backstory is the future... let that one twist your mind for a while
7) Time travel told simply and well
8) It you take away the hairstyles and clothes, it doesn't look dated, which is pretty amazing
So there you go. I'm putting forward Terminator as a better movie than Beaches, because well beaches are great, but killer robots are better.
May 2, 2013
Why Beaches is the Greatest Movie Ever...
I got sucked in last night. Start to finish. From the crazy that is Mayim Bailik looking exactly like Bette Middler as a child, to the end where you just cry and cry. And as I was watching it I was wondering what it is about this movie in particular that gets to women. I think it’s all the lessons that women seem to learn along the way throughout their life.
1. Sometimes you can be more talented, but the pretty girl will get the part.
2. Sometimes if you’re pretty people don’t take you as seriously as they should.
3. Sometimes you are jealous of your best friend.
4. Sometimes you fight with your best friend.
5. It doesn’t matter if you go five, ten or twenty years, if that person was really a friend they will still be your friend after all those years.
6. You have to laugh a little.
7. You have to lose a little.
8. You have to even get the blues a little.
9. Because that’s the story of and the glory of life.
10. Also, if you have to die… you should do it in a beach chair looking at the ocean.
I’m sure there are many more lessons but these are the ones that stood out to me last night. What about you? What did you learn from Beaches? And are you like me where you just can't NOT watch it when it's on? My eyes are really puffy today.
May 1, 2013
COMPLIANCE Cover Reveal Giveaway!
To celebrate my cover reveal, I'm giving away 2 copies of DEVIANTS. Signed if you live in North America, unsigned if you don't. (Sorry... often mailing a book overseas costs $35-$40 and I just can't afford that. But I will send it to you from The Book Depository.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm starting to get excited about this release... I can't believe it's May already!!!
Oh! And the Spanish version of DEVIANTS (LOS INDESABLES) was recommended on what my publishers in Spain tell me is the most important cultural TV show in Spain! They made it sound like this was the US equivalent of being featured on Entertainment Tonight, or something. So, Yippee!
Here is the video. My book's mentioned at about minute 20:50 and it's easy to scroll ahead.
Página 2 - Héctor Abad Faciolince Ver vídeo
Página 2 - Héctor Abad Faciolince
And if you'd like to pre-order COMPLIANCE, here's some linkage.
Pre-order Compliance here:Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon UK Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo IndieBound
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm starting to get excited about this release... I can't believe it's May already!!!
Oh! And the Spanish version of DEVIANTS (LOS INDESABLES) was recommended on what my publishers in Spain tell me is the most important cultural TV show in Spain! They made it sound like this was the US equivalent of being featured on Entertainment Tonight, or something. So, Yippee!
Here is the video. My book's mentioned at about minute 20:50 and it's easy to scroll ahead.
Página 2 - Héctor Abad Faciolince Ver vídeo
Página 2 - Héctor Abad Faciolince
And if you'd like to pre-order COMPLIANCE, here's some linkage. Pre-order Compliance here:Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon UK Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo IndieBound
April 24, 2013
Covers!
Here is the cover for COMPLIANCE coming out June 4, 2013. I think it captures the idea of the book really well. And I think the red on navy color scheme is very "now". At least I keep seeing it everywhere.
Pre-order Compliance here:
Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo IndieBound
And here is the cover for the Spanish version of DEVIANTS, aka LOS INDESEABLES.I have to say, I kind of love this cover. The back is cool too.
You can order the Spanish version here: (sorry, I don't know any other Spanish retailers)
Amazon Spain
April 23, 2013
Living Up to Expectations
I really cannot count the times that I've read rave reviews for a book, been super excited to read it and then been really disappointed. It's especially embarrassing if I've talked my wonderful book group into reading it and then hate it and have to apologize to them.
Case in point: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. People were rapturous about this book. A man popped out between shelves in a bookstore to tell me what a fabulous book it was when I was thinking about buying it. He didn't even work there. He was just a guy. It was a good book. It wasn't a great book. Or I simply didn't totally get it. It meandered. It was confusing. It was an enjoyable read, but not life changing.
Kate Atkinson's Case Histories is another one. I liked it. I would even recommend it. People went nuts about that book, though, and I don't really know why.
Which brings me now to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. It shows up on a bunch of top 10 lists. Reviews raved. I talked my book club into reading it. I just got it from the library and started it last week.
It is freaking awesome. Awesome sauce on awesome ice cream with a fabulous cherry on top. Maybe even whipped awesome.
The story is moving and timely and thought-provoking. The language is gorgeous. I find myself rereading sentences because they're so terrific. I feel elevated just by reading it. Amazing.
What's your experience been? I'm betting everyone has a few books that haven't lived up to expectations. How about some of the books that have lived up to your hopes and dreams?
Case in point: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. People were rapturous about this book. A man popped out between shelves in a bookstore to tell me what a fabulous book it was when I was thinking about buying it. He didn't even work there. He was just a guy. It was a good book. It wasn't a great book. Or I simply didn't totally get it. It meandered. It was confusing. It was an enjoyable read, but not life changing.
Kate Atkinson's Case Histories is another one. I liked it. I would even recommend it. People went nuts about that book, though, and I don't really know why.
Which brings me now to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. It shows up on a bunch of top 10 lists. Reviews raved. I talked my book club into reading it. I just got it from the library and started it last week.
It is freaking awesome. Awesome sauce on awesome ice cream with a fabulous cherry on top. Maybe even whipped awesome.
The story is moving and timely and thought-provoking. The language is gorgeous. I find myself rereading sentences because they're so terrific. I feel elevated just by reading it. Amazing.
What's your experience been? I'm betting everyone has a few books that haven't lived up to expectations. How about some of the books that have lived up to your hopes and dreams?
