Andrea Cremer's Blog, page 13

Know Your Worth

There's quite angry (and occasionally bewildered) buzz afoot in the publishing realm due to one James Frey. For those of you asking "Who's James Frey?" He gained notoriety a few years back because of his memoir, parts of which were fiction, and over which he got into a big kerfuffle with Oprah and the publishing industry at large. The feud created enough noise to generate a South Park parody.

Frey has, however, has cannon-balled back into the writing world with his new book packaging scheme Full Fathom Five. The first book created by this machine is I Am Number Four, a YA book that will soon be a film.

Today's articles, however, are less about the book and film and more about the model Frey has created as a vehicle for his book/film/merchandise factory. He's recruiting young authors to write for him under a profit sharing model. The writers sign on for a $250 payment and then receive 30 – 40 % of the overall profits (if there are profits).

At this point I start to squirm, there's a lot to rant about but I don't really want to go there. You can read the articles in the Wall Street Journal and New York and make your own judgments about Mr. Frey's attitude and motivations. What I do want to say is this:

One of the most amazing things I've experienced as an author is meeting aspiring writers. Young, talented, creative people are so wonderful and full of enthusiasm. I am always honored to meet aspiring authors and to hear about their unique journeys.

The dream of being an author leads to a tough road full of waiting, rejection, and dejection. The part of Full Fathom Five that rankles me the most is that this publishing model targets hopeful young writers at their most vulnerable. Before you're published that goal is the most elusive, shining thing in the world. And most writers would consider selling their souls to reach that goal. It's hard to keep a reasonable perspective in that scenario. What Mr. Frey is doing is akin to offering moldy bread to a starving person. M.F.A. students want more than anything to be published, know that the scales are tipped against them, and they are likely drowning in debt. As one writer said, "It's a crappy deal but it's a great opportunity."

I wonder if it is (an opportunity, that is, because the contract terms are heinous). The hard climb from unpublished to published with awesome agent author is so difficult because it takes time to find the right place for yourself as an author – both in the case of finding the best agent to represent you and the best house to publish your work. I am grateful each and every day that I have incredible agents at InkWell working for me and I know that they care about my well-being as an author and as a human being. They are concerned about my craft and my development as a writer, not just how commercial a book I can produce. My publisher, Penguin, treats me with respect and are equally invested in my journey as an author. You can't put a price on those relationships; they are simply invaluable.

The book packaging model that Frey is touting as radical (I'm sorry, but since when is Fordism radical?) makes sense for someone who wants to become a juggernaut in publishing which is subject to the free market. That's fair enough. Mr. Frey wants to build an empire - that's literally his business.

What I want to say to young and aspiring writers (of all ages) is know your worth. I will honestly admit there was a time when an offer like Mr. Frey's would have seemed like a good bet to me because I was so hungry to be published. Now I know better, don't let your talent be exploited. Find agents and publishers who are invested in you and who don't just sell your ideas, but instead support your dreams.

You Guys are the Best!

I've had an amazing time in Chicago. Yesterday was a full day of school visits (thank you so much Lake Park and Pleasantdale!!) and a wonderful signing at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville.

Thank you so much to everyone who came.

I had a wonderful time meeting you!
Thanks especially to Katie who came in her Team Shay shirt (it even has the Elemental Cross on it - woot!)

Today: more school visits and the Tree YA Lit Cafe at Buzz in Oak Park. Can't wait!

Where I'll Be

If you happen to live in Chicago-land I'd love to see you at one of my book signings this week!

Tuesday, November 9 I'll be at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 10 I'm in Oak Park at the Tree YA Lit Cafe (Magic Tree Bookshop) hosted at the Buzz Cafe. This event starts at 4:30 p.m.

WOLFSBANE

Nightshade has barely been on the shelves but folks are already clamoring for book 2, Wolfsbane (hurrah!)

I'm thrilled that today is a big day for Wolfsbane: cover reveal day!!!
I can't begin to describe how much I am in love with this cover. Green is my favorite color. I love the way that Calla is in the wild, yet still caged by the vines. AND it is a perfect rendering of one of my favorite scenes in the book!!

And soon, very soon, there will be ARCs. And as soon as there are ARCs there will be contests. I'm thinking that the first Wolfsbane giveaway will reprise my favorite contest, so get your haiku skills sharpened up.

Happy Friday!

NYT

I am at an utter loss of what to write. All there is to say is THANK YOU!!!!! for making Nightshade a New York Times Bestseller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really am overwhelmed with gratitude so I'll let music do the talking for me. You guys are the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

How I Revise

I'm in a slump after last night's election results and am still waiting for some more pictures from the release party to come in, so I thought I'd post a less celebratory, more musing piece about revision.

One of the most frequent questions I get is "How long did it take you to write Nightshade?"

Seems like an easy question, right? It's actually pretty complicated. You don't just write a book. The process of going from idea to finished book is much more like baking bread (something else I love to do during the cold Minnesota winters).

The first draft is throwing together ingredients and mixing up a fabulous dough. Then you have to let the dough rest and rise. In writing terms, this is akin to taking a break from your first draft before you begin to revise. Trying to go in for revision right away will ruin the process - you need to take a little space from your work.

After the break, you need to go back in ruthlessly. I find bread-baking a great stress reliever because of this step: you get to punch down the dough! That's right - after letting it rise you smash your first into and start all over again. You have to approach your manuscript with the same determination. It's not ready yet, you're still in the middle of the process. Writers often speak of "killing their darlings," and it's accurate to view revision as a brutal process. It's hard to let go of the words and scenes you put all that labor into. But like with the bread, you also need to know that it's a lot of excess air that you need to get out of there.

Then it's time to shape the loaf. Instead of just punching out the unnecessary bits, it's time to refine and get the manuscript to where you want it. Then you let the loaf rise again - and this time, if you've done your work, it's rising into the shape you want it to be. [image error]

I'm at this stage with Bloodrose - in the final revisions. Woo hoo!

From there it's onto to baking getting all the finishing touches in. (For me this is copy edits - meaning the manuscript is pretty much out of my hands and the work has gone to the oven. Hi copy editors, I hope it's okay that I just compared you to my oven).

Baking a great loaf of bread takes time and a lot of steps. As much as I can drill through a first draft, that's only the beginning. Time and refining get the novel where it needs to be.

A Day with Shay

The best things in life are often unexpected. 2010 will go down as my favorite Halloween weekend on record because I was surrounded by family and friends at the Nightshade release party. I'll do full-party blogging soon (I'm waiting on all the pictures to come in), but I wanted to do a Halloween post about joyful surprises.

I was shocked by the number of people who drove long distances to come to party. Dear, dear friends came to surprise me including my high school English teacher, Mrs. Heisler, who always encouraged my writing dreams.

One of the best surprises of this entire experience, however, have been the new and wonderful friendships I've made through Nightshade. My awesome teams at InkWell and Penguin - the amazing YA authors I've met at conferences. And then there's Shay.
Actually he's Will Browning - the actor who brought Shay to life in the Shadow Days webisodes. Getting to know Will has been awesome because not only is he incredibly talented, he's also one of the loveliest people I've ever met.

I was honored that he came all the way from Florida to attend the Nightshade party. And (bonus!) he spent the weekend hanging out with my family and friends.

We took a tour of Minneapolis and St. Paul highlights and he took lots of pictures.

We carved pumpkins
and named them Bateman and Sebastian.
And he stayed up until 3 a.m. with me watching Labyrinth.
As an author, I thought there could be nothing better than having a talented actor portray one of my characters. I was wrong. What's even better is meeting a kindred spirit and making a friend for life.

Thanks for everything, Will!

Wishing all of you a Happy Halloween full of more treats than tricks!

Who Wins Mister Wolf?

Heidi Zweifel! (@hmz1505) Thanks for giving Mister Wolf a new home :)

Thank you so much for all the fantastic pictures of Nightshade in the wild and for going out to hunt for your copy of the book. I will never be able to express how much it means to be that you guys are reading about Calla and her pack!

Some more awesome news: I have an essay appearing in the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog about sex, censorship and young adult literature.

And tomorrow is the big day - the official Nightshade release party. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I'm thrilled we're celebrating Nightshade on the weekend of Samhain and having a costume contest.

I'd love to see you at the Red Balloon tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Tomorrow morning I'm picking up "Shay" from the airport. How cool is that?

Thank you again for making Nightshade a success!!!

In the News

So Nightshade has been in stores for about a week and for five days of that week I was at home with the flu. I'm finally making my way back into the world and getting to see and hear fun book buzz.

I had my first television appearance on KARE 11's Showcase Minnesota. And the St. Paul Pioneer Press featured Nightshade in their Sunday Life section.

I've been getting wonderful emails from readers - thank you so much for sending them. And I just learned that a Nightshade fan site is being created!!!

Check it out: http://nightshadenexus.com/

I've also had the chance to do some stock signings so if you're around Minneapolis you can find signed copies of Nightshade at Bookcase of Wayzata, the Borders at Rosedale, and Barnes and Noble at the Mall of America. I'll be signing stock at Borders Woodbury tomorrow.

Remember you have two days left to send me photos of Nightshade in the wild to be entered in the Mister Wolf prize pack contest.

And this Friday is the big day - Nightshade's official launch party at the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul at 7:00 p.m. featuring a costume contest with special guest Shay Doran! I got my costume today and I am super excited about it - I think it may be one of my best ever!!! (Won't reveal what it is 'til after I have pics from the party.)

Continent Wild

I've been delighted to have reports of Nightshade captures from coast to coast! How exciting!

Here are pictures of Nightshade on the Upper West Side of Manhattan

And in New Jersey

Here's a picture from Los Angeles (Nightshade is in 3 places in this picture! Can you find all 3?)

Nightshade is not only running wild across the country, I've just heard the news that it will be published in Korea (Random House) and Hungary (Egmont) that brings us to 20 foreign territories!

And I'm thrilled to announce that Nightshade is today's book pick on Entertainment Weekly.

Hurrah!

Remember to tweet or post in the comments your encounter with Nightshade in the wild to be entered to win the prize pack featuring Mister Wolf! Entries will be taken through Wednesday, October 27!