Sara J. Henry's Blog, page 3

Publishing Is Not a Teeter-Totter: On Writing Novels and Not Writing Novels - and Asking Bestselling Authors to Stop Writing Because They've 'Had Their Turn'

There's a long and thoughtful article over at Medium.com by Emily Gould, worth the read if you've had a book deal or hope for a book deal or wonder about book deals or publishing or writers. But here's the big takeaway:

"It was miraculous, I wanted to shout into the wind, how much space opened up in your brain when you stopped filling it with a steady stream of other people’s thoughts!" - Emily Gould, "How Much My Novel Cost Me."

(Never mind the irony that I'm posting this somewhere that ends up on a Twitter stream and a Facebook account - I heartily recommend sectioning off your online life and occasionally turning it off entirely.)

And over on Huffington Post is a post that basically, well, tells a very successful female author to stop writing books. The writer, an author herself, writes, "You've had your turn. Enjoy your vast fortune ... But it's time to give other writers, and other writing, room to breathe."

Okay, we know this writer cannot expect that the VSF author being addressed will read the piece and say, Gosh, you have a point, I'll just go retire happily and steer all my erstwhile readers to you instead. Some folks like to rabble rouse; others speak/write before they think. Or want publicity, never mind at whose expense. (There's a reason I'm not linking to the post, although by just mentioning it I'm part of the problem.)

But I prefer to think (and I'm aware this is likely wistful thinking) that this is satire, that this author will soon stand up and say, Couldn't you all see I was joking!?! Hey, I said I never even read her books!

And very tired and jaundiced part of me wonders if this author would have aimed the same sort of diatribe at a male author. Neil Gaiman also stepped into the world of writing adult novels - part of this writer's point seems to be that, having 'conquered' one genre, authors should be polite enough not to step over to another genre.

But I'm still waiting for the Gotcha! response from the writer.

Two extraordinary books - at an extraordinary price: MY SECOND DEATH and UNTOUCHABLE

If you like intense, quirky, different, brilliant crime novels -  Tyrus Books has two that I particularly recommend. They're still on sale - just not the ridiculously low-priced sale of the last few weeks.

MY SECOND DEATH by Lydia Cooper - now $8.48 in trade paperback.
UNTOUCHABLE by Scott O'Connor - now $7.98 in trade paper

There are a bunch of other really good titles here: GETTING LUCKY, CHUM, and more. Buy one more book to total at least $25 and you get free shipping. Kind of can't beat that deal.

Yep, I know the publisher, Ben LeRoy, who's a really good guy, but he has no idea I'm touting his books here. These are astoundingly good books. (Mind you, if you like your crime novels cut-and-dried and with a straightforward and somewhat predictable plot, well, no, these aren't for you. But others on the list may appeal .)

Heading for Left Coast Crime in Monterey for March 20-23

Recently got my panel assignments for the Left Coast Crime conference in Monterey, and they're humdingers.

10:15-11:00 am, Friday, March 21:
When Setting Matters: Not Just a Pretty Backdrop for Murder
Caroline (Charles) Todd (M) - Timothy Hallinan, Sara J. Henry, Craig Johnson, William Kent Krueger

11:30 am- 12:15 pm, Saturday, March 22:
X-Factor: Responsibilities & Issues for Women Writing Women
Kelli Stanley (M) - Lisa Brackmann, Robin Burcell, Marcia Clark, Sara J. Henry

I know most of these folks and their books and in particular am friends with Marcia - these will be great panels. Here's the full lineup for the conference - you still have time to register.

And on Saturday night I'll be co-hosting a table at the banquet with my friend Chris F. Holm (love his books) and his charming wife Katrina Niidas Holm (who reviews books). Also looking forward to seeing my friends Jenn and Don Longmuir, who run part of the book room, and Catriona McPherson, who's up for two (two!) awards in different categories, and many more.

Yes, it's sort of like summer camp - except for grownups. In March. Hope to see some of you there.

Giveaway of signed copy of A COLD AND LONELY PLACE - to celebrate paperback launch week!

To celebrate the launch of A COLD AND LONELY PLACE in paperback - I'm giving away one signed copy - but only to someone else! So just tell me who you'd like to receive this book (US only, sorry, postage elsewhere is prohibitive). Enter in the comments or over on my Facebook author page - closes in 24 hours, or when I see an entry that bowls me over!

The paperback of A COLD AND LONELY PLACE to be featured at Target - beginning Nov. 5! (Release day)

I'm very happy to announce that the paperback of my novel, A COLD AND LONELY PLACE, will be an Emerging Author pick at Target stores across the US, beginning on the release day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. I'd love it if you could take a snapshot of the paperback in a bookstore or in Target (you can be inventive!) and email it to me! I'll feature them here and on Facebook and elsewhere.

You can call ahead to stores to see if it's in stock (and bookstores will order it for you). For those who shop online, it's also available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon - currently an absurdly, can't-last low price there - and other e-book outlets.

If you want a signed book, I almost always have signed books in stock at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont, and I think they'd be happy to mail them.

Appearances: I'll be at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon library this Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 pm, and will be at the Greece, New York, public library Nov. 16.

The paperback of A COLD AND LONELY PLACE to be featured at Target - beginning Nov. 5! (Release day)

I'm very happy to announce that the paperback of my novel, A Cold and Lonely Place, will be an Emerging Author pick at Target stores across the US, beginning on the release day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. I'd love it if you could take a snapshot of the paperback in a bookstore or in Target (you can be inventive!) and email it to me! I'll feature them here and on Facebook and elsewhere.







You can call ahead to stores to see if it's in stock (and bookstores will order it for you). For those who shop online, it's also available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon - currently an absurdly, can't-last low price there - and other e-book outlets.



If you want a signed book, I almost always have signed books in stock at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont, and I think they'd be happy to mail them.



Appearances: I'll be at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon library this Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 pm, and will be at the Greece, New York, public library Nov. 16.

Oops, it's September. Obviously I'm not blogging much the...

Oops, it's September. Obviously I'm not blogging much these days - but I've been busily going to events. Next up is Bouchercon in Albany, running September 19-22.



The big September news is that the Italian edition of LEARNING TO SWIM came out from Giunti Sept. 4, with a beautiful cover - the new title translates roughly to EVERYTHING WE DO FOR LOVE:









Next up is the Boston Book Festival, with an appearance Oct. 19 with a bunch of great authors.

Off to Burlington tomorrow!

I've been lax about updating my actual blog (which reposts here) - so, a quick update.

I will be at the South Burlington library tomorrow, Sept. 11, at noon as part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series - you can bring your own lunch or snack, and tea and dessert provided. I'm the entertainment! I can sign books, and will also have copies of both LEARNING TO SWIM and A COLD AND LONELY PLACE available for sale.

Then it's off to Bouchercon in Albany Sept. 19-22 - a wonderful, big fan conference for readers of any type of crime fiction. You can sign up for the entire event ($175), or for one day at a time. Well worth it - you get to meet authors as well as other readers and other publishing folks in attendance.

Here's the attendee list: http://bcon2013.com/attendees/

As always, if you're at one of these events, come up and say hello.

Where you'll find me in August (and how to sign up for my writing workshop) ...

Aug 1, Thursday - free library appearance - open to all

Belden Noble library, 2759 Essex Rd., Essex, New York, (518) 963-8079 - 7 pm



Aug. 5, Monday - free library appearance - open to all

Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main St., Haverhill, Mass. - (978) 373-1586 - 7 pm



Aug. 16-17: Friday and Saturday, writing workshop and appearance (tickets required)

Festival of Writers, Rensselaerville, New York. This benefits the Rensselaerville library, so there is a fee - per event or all-day. (518) 797-...

And now off to Booktopia in Bellingham

Off to this wonderful (I already know it will be wonderful) event called Booktopia, in Bellingham, Washington. There are three of these events a year - in bookstores across the U.S. - and every one I've attended have been great. Just look at this great list of authors (from the Books on the Nightstand website) we'll be meeting:



Peter Clines, Ex-Heroes

Peter Clines has written a “superheroes vs. zombies” novel that is
original, fun, and incredibly well-told. Much like Ready Player One,
this...