Malena Lott's Blog, page 16

da Vinci landed me a book deal

I have a big crush on Leonardo da Vinci - handsome, multi-talented, GENIUS - so I decided to reincarnate him as a main character in my next novel. I wrote it on spec, which means it wasn't under contract when I wrote it. I'd studied Leo for more than five years and new he would be a swoon-worthy hero and the perfect catalyst for moving on for my widow Ramona, who teaches English as a second language. I didn't write it as romance, but she is doing a dissertation on the Language of Love and is finally ready to find la dolce vita as the second anniversary of her husband's death approaches.
Two and a half years had passed since my first novel. What was different? What lessons can I pass along?
First, I had a bigger team at Sourcebooks than with my first novel, including a dedicated publicist who was savvy and connected with bloggers and reviewers so my novel got a lot more attention. V. very good. I still did a lot on my end, including securing an interview with our big state paper (thanks, Heather!) and even a video interview for their website. I also did trade for a digital billboard. But even all the publicity couldn't keep a thunderstorm from pouring down on the devoted friends who came out to my book launch party at a local indie. Seriously, I could've used some towels as door prizes.
However, the book party I scheduled at a local Italian restaurant was a huge hit. I promoted it as a Girls' Night Out, invited a life coach to speak and offered appetizers and a friend rang up the sales. More than forty gals came and I sold about fifty books that night. But, remember to stick to a two-drink minimum if alcohol is involved, or even none at all.
Tying in events, food, drinks and gifts to the theme of your book is a great way to get more interest in the book party and give you items to talk about on your blog tour. I recommend visiting at least a dozen blogs so try to set them up as far ahead as three months. Give them each fresh, new content. I tried to write one a day and then saved them and assigned them to the blogs I felt it would most appeal to.
The book launched in November, 2008 so print books and bookstores weren't going into a big decline then, although I was thrilled that a few months after my print launch, the ebook edition was ready.
Having a hook to your book is crucial. What's your one-liner? When you think you have it, show it to others, including your critique partners, agent, early readers. Do they go, "ooh, wow" or "oh, ok."
Having said that, I feel like I do that for each of my books, but that doesn't guarantee a sale. Though my publisher had first right of refusal on my next book, they wanted major changes, including considering changing it from first person to third, and rewriting it to focus more on one character instead of the point of view of three as I had done. They really wanted another dating da Vinci and something with more romance. I really, really should've pitched the whole story to them early on and sent in sample chapters even though at the time, I didn't want to. I waited until the whole story was written.
I respect editors' decisions. It's their business and if they like your writing but want a different story, you have a choice to make. I didn't want to rewrite the whole novel, so I didn't. I believe it's a great story and I could see self-pubbing it in the future if it doesn't get picked up later on. I didn't dwell on the disappointment too much. I decided to try something completely different.
We learn. We grow. We get better. We keep trying. We never give up.
In the next post, I'll share my thoughts on what it means to self-pub and what's easier and harder about the whole process.

First book babies and book tours...

In June, 2006, my first book baby was born. She was a mass market paperback, published by Dorchester in their Making It imprint. This was on the tail end of the "chick lit" phase in publishing, started by the enormous success of Bridget Jones' Diary.
I won't bemoan my timing, poor or otherwise, into the publishing sphere. I was simply thrilled to be holding a book with my name on the cover with actual words I wrote inside. I'd been writing earnestly since 6th grade and had been working on this particular concept off and on since I was 25 and pregnant with my first child. My novel, The Stork Reality, began as For Emily Within, which had won a writing contest and helped garner interest with an agent. But it was a year later and a dozen revisions or so after that first query before Natasha Kern signed me as a client.
I learned a lot. A whole lot. And something to remember five years later is that you never quit. If you want something bad enough, you'll spend time, resources and energy to get it.
As a professional marketer, I technically knew what to do to launch a book - lots of publicity, book signings, contests, et al. Only...my eight-city book tour had only three successful stops: Full Circle in Oklahoma City & Best of Books in the suburb Edmond, a Barnes & Noble in Tulsa, OK and a Barnes and Noble in Wichita, Kansas. I learned a valuable lesson - even if a bookstore is crowded, they may avoid the stranger sitting at the table with a stack of books in front of her face at all costs. Well, unless they need to ask you where to find ANOTHER book or directions to the bathroom.
A couple of kids nervously skittered to my table for M&Ms then raced back to mama's hip.
The upside? Gas was cheap in 2006. And I like M&Ms. I did not become the next Helen Fielding, but I did make my dream of becoming a novelist a reality.
What memories and pearls of wisdom have I carried with me 5 years later?
-The very pregnant woman in Texas (twins!) who came early and bought 5 copies of the book to give as gifts to her preggo friends. Since it was one of my "ghost-bookstore" signings, I so appreciated her enthusiasm and sales.
-The power of hand-selling and great booksellers. While only about a dozen people showed at one local signing, the booksellers hand-sold all the other copies. Nearly forty or so! And in Tulsa, I'm sure the event was such a success because the bookseller had been promoting it all week to his female patrons. He asked them to come back for the book, and they did.
-The power of press. Five years ago the newspaper business could afford to keep their journalists on staff. I got some nice features. Even if the staff is slim, it's still worth finding unique angles and sending your book for review. If it only gets online, that's still great, because online it archives itself and still shows up in Google searches.
-Books need blurbs. At the time, I didn't know any authors and my publisher did not help me secure any blurbs. Go to conferences. Get to know other authors or aspiring ones. You'll need each other as you get published.
-Friends and family rock. They love you no matter what. They put up with my hours and hours of writing, and they will pimp your book with a smile on their face and buy extra copies for friends. Do host signings, talks and parties in towns where you know lots of people who will come out and support you.
In next week's post, we'll discuss speaking engagements, parties and the emergence of social media. The world changed drastically in two years.
Party favor of the week: I'm picking one fan on my FB author page on Monday, June 20th to receive a signed copy of The Stork Reality (now out of print). You can like it at www.facebook.com/MalenaLottBooks.

verbinize: edit

"My life needs editing."
- Mort Sahl
edit
remove unnecessary or inappropriate words, scenes or sounds from your life
Granted, the word EDIT is typically used for text and movies, but interior designers and organizational experts often use the word to describe editing (decluttering) your space. I don't know about you, but I much prefer to edit my space than to pick it up. Sounds poetic, doesn't it? For our purpose, we are using EDIT in the grander sense, to EDIT what comes out of our mouths, what goes on Facebook or e-mails, the scenes that are replayed in our lives and the space in which we live.
Yeah, this is one of those short action verbs with big consequences.
In 2010, I had the realization to sell our big house toward the end of the Daniel Fast. The 21-day fast was a way for me to cleanse my body and mind to grant space for awakening. I loved my house, but I realized a big part of my feeling overwhelmed in my life had to do with a) how hard it is to keep the big house cleaned and maintained and b) how much money the big house requires in mortgage and maintenance costs. I wanted to shift that money into something more meaningful: vacations with the family and more savings for our future.
While my a-ha moment didn't have a happy ending in the selling the house that year, it did force me to edit my entire life. I was forced to go through every cabinet, cupboard, closet and room to filter out what we no longer needed. I donated two truckfuls of furniture, toys and home accessories. Even still, my attic was full. Stuff weighs us down, not just physically, but emotionally. Stuff carries an energy and I felt so much lighter when the garage was in better shape, the rooms were staged sparsely and neatly for home showings, and I could concentrate on the pieces that mattered most.
The thing about editing is that you are never "done." Continue to edit in all areas of your life - including editing out people who are negative influences and drain your battery instead of recharge it. I did, and I'll never regret the decision. What could you edit to live a more purposeful life?
Verbalize: I will edit my life to remove unnecessary and inappropriate actions, words and things in my life.
Verbinize: I will declutter my space, keeping only what is essential and meaningful and review what I have written so that I do no harm in my e-mails, blog, or social media postings. I will not get into arguments, but shall respect the other person's opinion, even if it is the opposite of mine. I will ask myself, "how will the other person take this?" before I hit send or submit.
Verb aids: Peter Walsh, local organizational companies, life coach

verbinize: discover

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it."
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

discover
1. detect: discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact
2. learn: get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally;
make a discovery, make a new finding;
3. see the potential in another

For me, the allure of being a detective isn't solving the case, but following the clues to solve the problem. A scientist, an entrepreneur, an author, a parent: We all have to open our blinders to see the unseen, to pay attention to the details and be willing to go where we've never gone before. I love the third definition, because it says we will be aware of the greatness in others. If you're Oprah, that could mean seeing the potential in her students in Africa. For parents, it's paying attention to the interests of our children and guiding them and giving them opportunities to grow and channel their greatness. It's also giving us permission to do the same in ourselves!
Ever since we moved in to our new house, I've been fascinated with the birds. My curiousity about what I was seeing and hearing led me to pitch the idea for an article to our metro weekly, which meant I got to interview the president of the local audubon group and he referred me to several great books. My goal is to track the birds we see and make it a family activity. FOLLOW YOUR CURIOUSITIES.

Verbalize: I will discover the beauty in all things, in myself and in others by being aware, experimenting and experiencing.

Verbinize: Go out of your way to experience new things: Take a different route, go on a vacation to a new-to-you place, visit a science museum, read a magazine about a field of interest, snap more photos, engage your children in life.

Verb aids: maps, Google Earth, Discovery Earth, the bookstore

Verbinize: delegate

Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.
-Ronald Reagan

delegate
entrust a task or responsibility to another person
Most of us suck at delegating. Especially the CONTROL FREAKS. (Believe me, I used to be head of the line!) The ego wants us to do everything ourselves so we'll feel self-important and worthy. Yet trying to do everything ourselves leaves us stressed out and unhappy. This action verb will help us with the time management issues and all the others. Whether you are the CEO of a big company or a small family, learning how to delegate will change your life. I know moms will say, "It's just easier if I do it myself," but is that really teaching our children how to master skills? After three or four (or ten) lessons on folding clothes, the kids get it. And I've found that children as young as two can help with chores. They feel great about achieving something and making you happy! It's amazing how much time and stress I save by having the kids help out with tasks - from raking leaves to washings windows and everything in between. And honey-do lists are imperative for a happy marriage because modern marriages are about partnerships, right? Heh. And we'll bite our tongue to keep from nagging or belittling the way others did the task. (Re-read Reagan's quote.)
At work, the best thing we ever did was have a business coach suggest to us to swap the duties we didn't like with our co-workers. See, some people get off on organization and a clean desk. Others? Not so much. For me a file cabinet is just a box where piles of things go in order of how I received them with the bottom being oldest. So delegating doesn't have to be from the top down, but down, up and sideways. This works for the home chores, too.
Delegating means letting go, which is especially tough for Type A personalities, but it does help teamwork and reaching our goals - and serenity - a lot faster. Designing the life of our dreams calls for delegation along the way.
Verbalize: I will delegate responsibilities based on my time, expertise and priorities.
Verbinize: I will talk to my co-workers, employees and family members about what tasks they can take on and get agreement on how to achieve them, timelines and deadlines.

verbinize wk 6: dance

You may notice a month's time missing in between the last two posts. I haven't been stagnant, but more active than ever. My action verbs have been things like: move, lift, unpack, take ibuprofen (repeat.) We downsized to upsize our lifestyle and reduce stress. I firmly believe less is more when it comes to stuff and the lower mortgage will allow us much more freedom: to continue writing, to focus on Buzz Books indie press and promotions services, and travel with the family. Now that we're (mostly) moved in, I hope to verbinize with you each week, on schedule. Here's to you!

"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." ~Agnes De Mille
dance
move rhythmically to music
move in a quick and lively way
Albert Einstein called dancers the athletes of God. We dance all the time when we're kids. Babies hear a beat and start bopping up and down. It feels intrinsic, authentic. So why do we stop dancing as we get older? Oh, the time thing? Well, we've figured that one out, haven't we? Forget the rubbish about not having any rhythm. Dance in the dark. Dance alone. Just turn up the music and let yourself go. Dancing is great exercise, releasing endorphins to make us happy. (Helps whittle our middle, too.) Joining the local Y and taking zumba classes, a dance fusion exercise class, was one of the smartest decisions I made, and I "car dance" - a little shimmy, a little shake - and don't care how much my kids make fun of me. If you have kids at home, grab them for
Verbalize: I will make dance and music I love a part of my daily routine.
Verbinize: I will check out dance classes, such as ballroom or a zumba exercise class, go dancing with a partner on the weekend or just dance around the house and let go!

verbinize wk 5: conserve

Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe. - Robert Service
We must conserve our environment and pass it on to our children in as good or better condition than it was passed to us. - Mark Kennedy
conserve
prevent the harmful overuse of a resource
This week's traction verb tells us to move ahead by holding back. Conserve sounds almost grandmotherly, and in it's in that context that we can uphold that first definition: to not sweat the small stuff, to rise above petty annoyances and BE THE BIGGER PERSON. How much more peaceful would our lives be if that were the case?
In regard to conservation, let's not only look at our words (how often do we run our mouths about gossip or something that doesn't lift ourselves or other's up?), but also our homes and the environment. Conserving water, electricity, reducing waste, recycling, and only spending our money on things that matter can make us feel better about our ecological footprint and our economic standing.
Verbalize: I'll commit to conserving my energy, my money and my resources to the things that matter most.
Verbinize: I'll work to reduce the amount of electricity and water I use, monitor the amount of food I buy and make and eat items before they go bad and must be thrown away, re-use or repurpose items instead of tossing them out without a thought and withhold judgment or criticism and worry in the small things that bother me.
Verb aids: recycling programs, energy conservation consultants, shower timers, drapes to let natural light in, zen exercises

verbinize wk 4: calculate

"I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people." - Isaac Newton
calculate
1. determine the amount of something mathematically
2. determine by reasoning, experience or common sense; reckon or judge
How many times have we stood bewildered looking into the emptiness of our wallets? How is the money gone so soon? Or we schedule a week's staycation to get caught up on projects at home and in the blink of an eye the week is gone and our chore chart is half-done?
Calculation is key. Many people who live beyond their means don't have a budget, and if they do, it's hard to stick to it in our "gotta have it," society. We live in excess and rely on credit cards to keep our lifestyle humming while racking up ridiculous interest charges. If we stick to a budget, the wallet empties at the right time, or better yet, we have first put aside the savings so when emergencies happen (as they inevitably do) the money is there to handle it. I know I don't calculate how much money I spend at Starbuck's because a) I'd fall over in an early-age heart attack and b) it might force me to find a less expensive writing place.
For others, budgeting time is the issue. *insert cough* But the word CALCULATE is stronger than budget, because it says how we are going about it: by reasoning, experience or common sense. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. That goes for figuring our time and expenses, too. I really suck at sticking to a realistic schedule. I think I can accomplish way more than I actually can in a day, a week, a year. However, my assumption that I can does mean I get more done than if I had the attitude that nothing was possible. So, I need to find a happy medium that won't give me ulcers.
Verbalize: I will calculate the time and money I spend in my life to asses how to achieve sustainability and happiness.
Verbinize: I will sit down and do a budget (with my spouse if I have one) and keep the budget up to date. After three months, I will review our actual spending to see where we are still overspending or have excess funds and readjust. I will live within my means and stick to essentials. I will cut out time wasters to have more time for family and friends and time to achieve my goals, including suckers like social media. (Guilty.)
Verb aids: Suze Ormon, Dave Ramsey, a local financial planner, and a calendar and calculator to keep track of money and time managment

verb week 3: brighten

"How blessings brighten as they take their flight." - Edward Young
brighten
1. Make something more attractively colorful
2. to be more cheerful and happier
Wouldn't you love to be the type of person people say brightens their day? You walk in to the room and they smile. Maybe they even say YOU light up a room. Usually these people are attractive (or attractively charming) with big smiles, a positive attitude and a certain joie de vivre.
That got me to thinking perhaps my yoga pants/sweatshirt/ponytail ensemble isn't exactly screaming, "success." I get that dressing like you are a success can attract success, it's just so darn damn comfortable to be sloppy! Thanks to comfortable cotton and knits and denim, it is possible to dress comfortably and well, all at once. Too often, we are afraid of color and dress as if we're trying to camoflouge ourselves in our neutral and black wardrobe. Let's play with color. Find out what colors suit you and bring them into your wardrobe. I made a pact with myself to stop buying black clothes. When I wear a color such as red, I act more confident. I also don't get compliments when I wear solid black. If I add a colorful scarf? Compliment. It's not rocket science, but it does work. Color carries energy, so wear that color and voila - you will feel it and act it.
Now, look up. Describe how the room you are sitting in makes you feel. Is it light and airy or dark and dismal? Does it have a personality? If it's your home, does it reflect your best self? What about your office or work environment? A space has the power to BRIGHTEN your mood. Color evokes powerful emotions, so choosing the right color palette means everything in setting the tone for the space. Each room in my house is colored for function and feel. My office was apple green for creativity. My dining room red for evoking drama and appetite. My bedroom, a soft green gray that tells me to "relax, chica, it's time for sleep."
And hardest of all: look within? What's that space inside your head look like? Times have been tough. Have you been a beacon in the storm or the storm itself? I know it's cliched, but it's true that attitude is everything. Joy is a choice. One of my favorite sayings is, "I shall not let circumstances dictate my joy." It's hard, but it's doable. When I catch myself thinking like the Wicked Bitch of the West, I take a deep breath and flip the thought.
Verbalize: I will brighten my interior and exterior self and space.
Verbanize: Review your closet and donate old or unflattering clothes. Do the same for your house. Goodwill will gladly accept that sofa your grandmother passed down that you've always hated. Go shopping for clothes and home decor that fits your personal style. Head to the paint aisle and look at the thousands of color choices available. What color do you want to reflect? Finally, if downer thinking gets in your way, wear a rubber band on your wrist. Every time your thoughts go dark, give it a snap. It brings awareness to your thoughts so you can keep your emotions and actions in alignment.
Verb aids: Nate Berkus, HGTV, interior designers, fashion-forward friends, style consultants, life coach and author Martha Beck.

verbinize week 2: ASK

"You are important enough to ask and blessed enough to receive back." - Wayne Dyer


ASK:
1. say something to find out information or seek permission
2. request someone to do or give something

When I was a child, my grandmother used to say, "it never hurts to ask," and, "you never know unless you ask." Yet as adults, we get into a routine and the routine can make us feel stuck, and we forget that sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to a) ask for help and b) ask ourselves how we got stuck in the first place and what we can do to get unstuck.

Think of the big "asks" in our lives: jobs, raises, marriage proposals, baby-making proposals, home loans, business loans. But there are small asks that can change our lives, too: asking for favors that would make our schedules work in favor of our forward momentum as we seek to live authentically and with purpose.

I think because my grandmother gifted me the "ask worm" early in my life, I've never had a problem asking for things, and as a result, I have much of want I want in life and have regular "ask conversations" with myself on what I can let go of and what is missing. Now I'm asking you to do the same. See how that works?