Susanne Dunlap's Blog, page 5

Publishing Trials, Tribulations, and Thrills

Photo credit: Stacie Kent

What strikes me first is how much the publishing process has changed since 2012, when my last book was published. Granted, that was with a mainstream publisher (Bloomsbury USA Children’s), with all the support and systems in place an author could expect. What I’m saying is how many more variables there are out there, and how crowded the field. And how working with a small press makes the publishing trials and tribulations—and the publishing thrills—that much more app...

Listen to the Wind blog tour!

It’s all getting very real. I’ve been doing the kinds of things I probably should have done with my books published by big publishers. But who really knew then? For instance, I’ll have a blog tour for Listen to the Wind in May. Because that’s what’s hardest for an author with a book brought out by a small publisher: getting it into readers’ minds, hearts, and hands.

A blog tour is perfect for writers like me—with day jobs!

The reality of life for most writers is that writing does not pay the...

So, how’s it going with the publishing?

It occurs to me that people out there might be interested in reading about my journey as an author whose books are being published by a small press So I thought I’d give a quick run-down concerning this method of publishing—a middle ground between self-publishing and landing a contract with one of the big 5. So far, it’s an enlightening experience, and I can’t say enough about how supportive Bellastoria Press has been. That said, it’s definitely a lot more work for me, most of which I actuall...

Big news!

Something great will happen in a couple of months. Something I honestly didn’t think I’d ever see. The first volume of my medieval trilogy will be published by Bellastoria Press! That is big news for me.

This is a project I’ve worked on (with breaks) for thirteen years. I resigned myself to the fact that it simply wasn’t commercial enough to attract a publisher in this tough publishing climate. I’ve researched self-publishing and hybrid publishing and pretty much thrown my hands up in despai...

Happy New Year to All!

A little late, but at least it’s still January! Why is it that turning the page on the calendar feels so significant? For me, a new year is an invitation to new beginnings. I suppose that’s obvious, but the symbolism of it is very powerful. It’s a challenge to adjust my thinking and get out of my own way.

It’s a new year, but unlike many people, I haven’t made any resolutions. I’m just planning to keep going forward the way I’ve been for the past six months, which means focusing on the writ...

The Importance of Connecting

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these posts, mostly because I’ve been head down writing my new WIP. This project is all absorbing, because I am very excited about it and very scared that I can’t do it justice. But I haven’t just been writing. I’ve also been connecting the dots, filling in blank spaces, in my writing and in life.

Connecting to craft is a process that never ends

There may be writers for whom craft comes as easily as breathing, and I know I have natural storytelling...

Books I’m reading

Yes, that’s right. Books. Because, you know, reading one book at a time just isn’t cutting it these days. I need books to make me think, to read before bed (so short snippets at a time because…sleep), research books, craft books. You get the picture.

A good book is often one I want to put down.

Sounds preposterous, but as soon as I start to read something really good, it makes me want to write. I go “Aahhh!” when I notice something extraordinary, whether it’s a remarkable turn of phrase, a re...

The important writing stuff

Why do I write? Why is it important for me? Is it important to anyone else? Is it IMPORTANT WRITING?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I embark on research and start writing another historical novel. Historical novels aren’t selling all that well these days, in case you hadn’t noticed. Established authors who have a readership keep cruising along, publishers willing to keep putting out the products of their imaginations because it’s not too much of a risk. And there are always hot...

The lies of memoir

Writers of historical fiction consult many sources to try to get as complete a picture as possible of the time, place, customs, and characters in their novels. And primary sources are the gold standard when it comes to research. But there is a caveat, and that has to do with memoir. Why? you ask. Isn’t a historical character’s own story of her life the most reliable? On the contrary. It can be full of lies.

Autobiography is about controlling the narrative

Imagine you are a famous person about...

Treasures of the Internet

It seems every day, even when I’ve thoroughly researched a subject or a person and am in the middle of writing about it or her, a simple session of Internet research turns up new sources and resources that at the very least enrich, at the most reinterpret what I’m doing. This is a blessing and a curse.

The Internet research rabbit hole is tempting

I love the research, as I’ve said elsewhere on this site. Once upon a time, when all we could use were books and original sources from archives, th...