Samantha Combs's Blog, page 13
October 19, 2012
Welcome Musa Publishing Author Clarissa Johal as she talks about Writing the Paranormal
WRITING THE PARANORMAL
By Clarissa Johal
People often ask me how I began writing in the genre of paranormal. I’m not brooding or scary or running off to join the latest seance, which I think is what they expect. And my silly sense of humor oftentimes gets me into trouble, especially with my two daughters.
The topic of paranormal has always interested me because I moved around so much as a kid. It seemed we were always living in an older place and with those older places, came a ghost or two. Now, before you chuckle and roll your eyes (or not) let me tell you, I walk the line between skeptic and 100% believer. On the surface, I may be rolling my eyes with you, but inside, I believe in a plethora of things I won’t even begin to discuss until I’ve known someone a very long time. I know what I’ve experienced, and I know what my rational mind tells me. Believe me, there’s a lot of arguing in my head over those two things. We are a collection of what we’ve experienced in our lifetime, and since I’m as old as the hills, I’ve experienced plenty.
When I was 10-years-old, we moved to an island and lived for several months in a 30-year-old house. I’m an insomniac and have been since I was a kid. Consequently, being awake while the rest of my family slept was nothing new, though my mom would get quite irritated because I would roam the house at night and wake her up. One evening, and after hours of tossing and turning, I decided to stroll. While I sat on the couch trying to figure out what to do with myself, I heard singing in my ear. It was as if a woman was sitting right next to me singing, “Time in a Bottle.” I liked the song, it was popular at the time (and yes, that dates me) but I didn’t know the words. At that point, I did what any kid would do if they weren’t compelled to run away screaming, I politely sat and listened until she finished. Afterwards, I went back to bed and proceeded to have the worst nightmare. I dreamt that I walked into our bathroom and found a naked, young woman wrapped up in a shower curtain in our bathtub. She was blonde, had a bullet hole in her head, and was quite dead. It was a graphic nightmare for a 10-year-old; I never watched television and rarely had nightmares. I had it for weeks until we finally moved. Each time, it became more intense—it had gotten to the point where she was clawing her way out of the tub and trying to speak to me through the shower curtain. Needless to say, I was a bit of a wreck by the time we moved. Years later, I remember finding out from my parents that there was indeed, a murder at that house. They didn’t elaborate, but I always wondered of the details. Parents, tell your kids these things ahead of time, because if they ever experience anything, they will always wonder.
I was 13-years-old when my parents took a house by the ocean. They were able to rent it cheap and I was more than a little sad when we moved a year later. It had a garden, a tree-house, a large yard to do cartwheels in; everything a kid could want. It also had ghosts. I would lay awake for hours and watch a white cat walk through my bedroom wall. Over and over again. No explanation for that, it just was. I remember constantly seeing an old lady out of the corner of my eye. She would follow me down the stairs to the basement and back up again. She would follow me down the hallway to my bedroom. Sometimes, I would see her sitting in my mom’s rocking chair in the living room. I wasn’t afraid; she was just a presence I came to accept. It wasn’t until we moved from that place that I overheard my parents discussing the house and the fact they had both seen the shadow of an old lady there. They thought it might have been the lady that died in the house before we bought it. Well, that was news to me (and unfortunately, taught me the joys of eavesdropping).
So, back to the genre of paranormal. I began writing fiction when my kiddos were younger. While writing the second installment to my Pradee series, I was interrupted by two characters that truly didn’t fit. I kept setting them aside, but they would return, stronger than ever. Finally, I gave up on my young adult title and began Between, a story of the paranormal. While my young adult fantasy, took me ten years to complete, I had the rough draft of Between finished in several months and a year after that, the full novel was complete. Six weeks after I submitted, Musa Publishing offered me a contract.
The novel I’m working on now is also in the genre of paranormal. I have to say, I’m hooked. I like the freedom of writing for adults and I love presenting the paranormal in a new and interesting ways. Now, I know what you’re probably going to ask me. Do I write of my experiences or make stuff up? I’m a writer, I write fiction, and I know the difference between fiction and real life. I have to, I have kids. However, the best fiction is when writers “write what they know” and a little of what I know creeps into my novels from time to time. I hope you will enjoy reading them.Blurb:Since Lucinda was a young girl, she's been able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated, young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that everything can be saved.
When Lucinda is involved in a car accident that kills her fiance, she is devastated and moves to a small town to live a life of self-imposed exile. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. However, there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.
The spiritual activity around her intensifies as Lucinda is increasingly haunted by memories of the accident. As she is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she surprisingly finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.
Between will release under the Thalia imprint of Musa Publishing on December 14, 2012.
Website http://clarissajohal.com/Blog http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/Facebook http://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9 Twitter https://twitter.com/ClarissaJohal
October 16, 2012
Wise Words from Wicked Editors....Mystical Press tells all!
As an independent author, I am always excited and pleased to be able to showcase authors and other writing professionals like me, in like situations. Then on a blog I follow, Mystical Press, I read the best advice and information on the mystery surrounding the publishing process straight from the horse's mouth....the editors.
I contacted them and let them know I would love to spread their religion. Happily, they are allowing me. Please read on, for a great blog post from the wonderful (and open for questions!) Mystical Press:
5 Secrets to Increase Your Chances of Getting Published
As authors-turned-editors, we’ve learned a number of truths we wish we’d known when we were authors. Though this article is based on our own experiences as small press editors, many of our colleagues—Big 6 included—wholeheartedly agree with the following points.
However, not many of them are willing to share such information. They vehemently shake their heads and exclaim, “No! Don’t tell an author THAT!” When we ask why, they usually stare at us as if we’re daft. “Just don’t!” (AJ & Arial lean in… “Pssst! We’re going to reveal some of those secrets. Don’t tell anyone or we’ll be in big trouble! Shhh!”)
Secret #1—Editors Are NOT Rich
As authors, we thought all editors were paid via salary. At a minimum, we assumed they were paid a large chunk of money per book when the manuscript was contracted. Then we became editors—GASP! Most editors with publishing houses either get paid royalties—meaning they ONLY get paid IF the book sells—or a small flat fee based on word count. Example: a 30,000-word manuscript x 1¢ per word = $300…but the editor usually spends anywhere from 40-50 hours to put out a quality product. You do the math. We’re talking less than minimum wage. And though we editors may have anywhere from 5-50 authors under our belt, we’re usually only working on 2-5 manuscripts at a time due to our many other duties (See AJ’s article “Waiting For Edits… Tick… Tock…”).
So what’s the big secret that affects you? This is a KEY factor in getting your manuscript contracted and why it’s #1 on the list. The less time an editor spends on a manuscript, the more bang she gets for her buck. Editors are looking for stories that are clean, easy to edit, and worth spending time on. Remember…your job as an author is to learn your craft. Which brings us to the next secret…
Secret #2—They Don’t Call It the Slush Pile for Nothing
MOST of the manuscripts that come across our desks are CRAP! We are not kidding and this was a surprise to us, too. And we’re not just talking about the book. We’re talking query letter to synopsis to finished manuscript.
So how do you seriously stick out amongst the kah-kah and craft something sparkly clean? KNOW YOUR CRAFT! We cannot stress this enough. Never stop studying the craft of writing and find a good critique partner who will be brutally honest with you. And we’ll share two bonus secrets—the two biggest trouble spots in 99% of manuscripts submitted to us are show versus tell and unrealistic characters.
Herein lies the rub: If authors are getting form-letter rejections, how do they know what (or how) to fix their manuscripts? That’s where we come in. We have three classes that will help you overcome the above issues AND you will have one-on-one interaction with an editor to learn what you’re doing wrong—not just in these but in other areas, as well: Show versus Tell (SVT) Class Series, Crafting Believable Characters (CBC) Class Series (coming this fall/winter), and How to Write a WINNING Synopsis Power Class. If you’ve never been published, then this valuable interaction with an editor will shave DECADES off your learning curve. No joke.
Secret #3—We Are NOT Looking for an Excuse to Stop Reading
Several agents seem to give this same advice to authors. “Editors are looking for any excuse to stop reading. Your job is to not give them ANY excuses.” Though we clung to those words as if our life depended on it as authors, we were really offended to hear this as editors. We imagined an editor reading a query letter, getting to the part that didn’t appeal to her and collapsing back in her chair. “Oh thank GOD I can stop reading!” WRONG! Editors are NOT looking for any excuse to stop reading. We are BEGGING to find a good story! (Refer to Secret #2) We’re on your side! We WANT to find characters to fall in love with and worlds we can escape to and storylines that will keep us up all night, wildly flipping pages, dying to know what happens next! We don’t do this job because of the money (refer to Secret #1). We’re editors because we love to read and we love stories. Now…for the next secret you should sit down. This is going to be quite a shock.
Secret #4—Editors are NOT GodsWe’ll give you a moment to recover. (AJ and Arial pat your hand empathetically.) You okay now? Good. Editors are human beings just like authors so do not put them on a pedestal.
There are indeed some editors who enjoy the “Deity” status and therefore abuse the power. Yes, we are the gate keepers of your manuscript, but in all honestly there are editors out there who don’t know their tushies from a hole in the ground. We were surprised to find out how many editors—Big 6 or otherwise—really don’t know their job well enough to do it properly and consequently we cringe at some of the stuff we read. And make no mistake—we’re learning more every day, so we’re not perfect either. This is why it’s important to know your craft…so you know what to defend in your manuscript and can have an educated discussion with your editor when she suggests a change you feel is wrong. Authors are not dogs at the table, scrambling for scraps any publisher is willing to throw to the ground…even though that’s what publishing houses might want you to think. Why? If you think you are one of the very few select authors granted a rare audience through the pearly gates of publishing, you will value the tiny royalties you are paid.
Secret #5—You Can Afford to be PickyDo NOT settle for any publisher. Thanks to the digital explosion, the publishing industry is now in the hands of authors and readers. We’re about to reveal a dark secret that will probably get us black listed—but we are authors first, editors last. Because of self-publishing, publishers are losing talent left and right. True dat! Publishers’ release schedules are growing thin. Some editors are being hassled by their bosses for content, content, content! And they’re publishing almost anything. Contracts are getting tougher to get out of because publishers don’t want authors self-publishing their novels. You’re not off the hook, though. Editors are still trying to find the best talent. They still want a good and easy-to-edit story and they’re asking for short projects. Why? Because publishers get paid faster on short edits. Easier to produce and cheaper to sell. This means two things for us authors: 1. Choose publishers who appeal to you the most—beautiful covers, good quality products, and books that are high on the ranking lists with distributors. Do your research! Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble will let you download samples of any book to your eReader. 2. Shorter projects will not only increase your chances of getting published, you’ll be publishing more, thereby getting more stories under your belt. You’re Not Alone
Mystical Press Services primary goal is to help authors bridge the gap between the form-letter rejection and publication. Through our services and classes, we will coach you—one-on-one—through the problem spots in your manuscript. ALL customers receive a FREE consultation on their work and we’ll help you pinpoint what needs improvement. If you visit our site, be sure to tell us this blog article referred you so your hostess will be recognized. Prizes!!! We want your feedback. What surprises, if any, did this article have for you? How do you think knowing this information will change your writing or the way you submit to publishers? Are you motivated to self-publish? Why or why not? Or do you think we’re just full of hooey? Please be honest. We encourage you to share some of your experiences with rejection letters, self-publishing or the publishing industry. OR if you have any questions, ask away! If you leave a comment or question, we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $25 eGift good toward any services or classes at our website. Good luck and thanks for participating!
Editor Bios
Mystical Press is the culmination of two authors and professionally trained editors—Arial Burnz and AJ Nuest—who help authors bridge the gap between the form rejection letter and publication. In fact, we believe in this venture so passionately, our tagline is “Helping authors achieve their dreams.” Come dream with us!
http://www.mysticalpress.com/
I contacted them and let them know I would love to spread their religion. Happily, they are allowing me. Please read on, for a great blog post from the wonderful (and open for questions!) Mystical Press:
5 Secrets to Increase Your Chances of Getting Published
As authors-turned-editors, we’ve learned a number of truths we wish we’d known when we were authors. Though this article is based on our own experiences as small press editors, many of our colleagues—Big 6 included—wholeheartedly agree with the following points.
However, not many of them are willing to share such information. They vehemently shake their heads and exclaim, “No! Don’t tell an author THAT!” When we ask why, they usually stare at us as if we’re daft. “Just don’t!” (AJ & Arial lean in… “Pssst! We’re going to reveal some of those secrets. Don’t tell anyone or we’ll be in big trouble! Shhh!”)
Secret #1—Editors Are NOT Rich
As authors, we thought all editors were paid via salary. At a minimum, we assumed they were paid a large chunk of money per book when the manuscript was contracted. Then we became editors—GASP! Most editors with publishing houses either get paid royalties—meaning they ONLY get paid IF the book sells—or a small flat fee based on word count. Example: a 30,000-word manuscript x 1¢ per word = $300…but the editor usually spends anywhere from 40-50 hours to put out a quality product. You do the math. We’re talking less than minimum wage. And though we editors may have anywhere from 5-50 authors under our belt, we’re usually only working on 2-5 manuscripts at a time due to our many other duties (See AJ’s article “Waiting For Edits… Tick… Tock…”).
So what’s the big secret that affects you? This is a KEY factor in getting your manuscript contracted and why it’s #1 on the list. The less time an editor spends on a manuscript, the more bang she gets for her buck. Editors are looking for stories that are clean, easy to edit, and worth spending time on. Remember…your job as an author is to learn your craft. Which brings us to the next secret…
Secret #2—They Don’t Call It the Slush Pile for Nothing
MOST of the manuscripts that come across our desks are CRAP! We are not kidding and this was a surprise to us, too. And we’re not just talking about the book. We’re talking query letter to synopsis to finished manuscript.
So how do you seriously stick out amongst the kah-kah and craft something sparkly clean? KNOW YOUR CRAFT! We cannot stress this enough. Never stop studying the craft of writing and find a good critique partner who will be brutally honest with you. And we’ll share two bonus secrets—the two biggest trouble spots in 99% of manuscripts submitted to us are show versus tell and unrealistic characters.
Herein lies the rub: If authors are getting form-letter rejections, how do they know what (or how) to fix their manuscripts? That’s where we come in. We have three classes that will help you overcome the above issues AND you will have one-on-one interaction with an editor to learn what you’re doing wrong—not just in these but in other areas, as well: Show versus Tell (SVT) Class Series, Crafting Believable Characters (CBC) Class Series (coming this fall/winter), and How to Write a WINNING Synopsis Power Class. If you’ve never been published, then this valuable interaction with an editor will shave DECADES off your learning curve. No joke.
Secret #3—We Are NOT Looking for an Excuse to Stop Reading
Several agents seem to give this same advice to authors. “Editors are looking for any excuse to stop reading. Your job is to not give them ANY excuses.” Though we clung to those words as if our life depended on it as authors, we were really offended to hear this as editors. We imagined an editor reading a query letter, getting to the part that didn’t appeal to her and collapsing back in her chair. “Oh thank GOD I can stop reading!” WRONG! Editors are NOT looking for any excuse to stop reading. We are BEGGING to find a good story! (Refer to Secret #2) We’re on your side! We WANT to find characters to fall in love with and worlds we can escape to and storylines that will keep us up all night, wildly flipping pages, dying to know what happens next! We don’t do this job because of the money (refer to Secret #1). We’re editors because we love to read and we love stories. Now…for the next secret you should sit down. This is going to be quite a shock.
Secret #4—Editors are NOT GodsWe’ll give you a moment to recover. (AJ and Arial pat your hand empathetically.) You okay now? Good. Editors are human beings just like authors so do not put them on a pedestal.
There are indeed some editors who enjoy the “Deity” status and therefore abuse the power. Yes, we are the gate keepers of your manuscript, but in all honestly there are editors out there who don’t know their tushies from a hole in the ground. We were surprised to find out how many editors—Big 6 or otherwise—really don’t know their job well enough to do it properly and consequently we cringe at some of the stuff we read. And make no mistake—we’re learning more every day, so we’re not perfect either. This is why it’s important to know your craft…so you know what to defend in your manuscript and can have an educated discussion with your editor when she suggests a change you feel is wrong. Authors are not dogs at the table, scrambling for scraps any publisher is willing to throw to the ground…even though that’s what publishing houses might want you to think. Why? If you think you are one of the very few select authors granted a rare audience through the pearly gates of publishing, you will value the tiny royalties you are paid.
Secret #5—You Can Afford to be PickyDo NOT settle for any publisher. Thanks to the digital explosion, the publishing industry is now in the hands of authors and readers. We’re about to reveal a dark secret that will probably get us black listed—but we are authors first, editors last. Because of self-publishing, publishers are losing talent left and right. True dat! Publishers’ release schedules are growing thin. Some editors are being hassled by their bosses for content, content, content! And they’re publishing almost anything. Contracts are getting tougher to get out of because publishers don’t want authors self-publishing their novels. You’re not off the hook, though. Editors are still trying to find the best talent. They still want a good and easy-to-edit story and they’re asking for short projects. Why? Because publishers get paid faster on short edits. Easier to produce and cheaper to sell. This means two things for us authors: 1. Choose publishers who appeal to you the most—beautiful covers, good quality products, and books that are high on the ranking lists with distributors. Do your research! Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble will let you download samples of any book to your eReader. 2. Shorter projects will not only increase your chances of getting published, you’ll be publishing more, thereby getting more stories under your belt. You’re Not Alone
Mystical Press Services primary goal is to help authors bridge the gap between the form-letter rejection and publication. Through our services and classes, we will coach you—one-on-one—through the problem spots in your manuscript. ALL customers receive a FREE consultation on their work and we’ll help you pinpoint what needs improvement. If you visit our site, be sure to tell us this blog article referred you so your hostess will be recognized. Prizes!!! We want your feedback. What surprises, if any, did this article have for you? How do you think knowing this information will change your writing or the way you submit to publishers? Are you motivated to self-publish? Why or why not? Or do you think we’re just full of hooey? Please be honest. We encourage you to share some of your experiences with rejection letters, self-publishing or the publishing industry. OR if you have any questions, ask away! If you leave a comment or question, we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $25 eGift good toward any services or classes at our website. Good luck and thanks for participating!
Editor Bios
Mystical Press is the culmination of two authors and professionally trained editors—Arial Burnz and AJ Nuest—who help authors bridge the gap between the form rejection letter and publication. In fact, we believe in this venture so passionately, our tagline is “Helping authors achieve their dreams.” Come dream with us!http://www.mysticalpress.com/
October 15, 2012
Musa Publishing Author Sloane Taylor joins us on the blog
My new standalone book is hot off the Musa Publishing e-press! With a gorgeous cover designed by Kelly Shorten and the unbeatable editing skills of Elizabeth Silver, that boosted the book to a level 4 Heat Rating, MASQUERADE brings true romance and all the delicious personal bits to life. Read on and see for yourself. Behind every mask is a fragment of truth. BLURB:Chicagoan Clancy Marshall has planned her dream vacation in Venice down to the last detail. From gondola rides to masked balls, and anything else that just happens along, she is determined to experience all pleasures. But those careful plans fly out the door when she literally falls into the arms of a masked stranger. Vittore Ricci comes from an old Venetian family that claims two doges in their lineage. A straight-laced Count and owner of a prestigious hotel, he never does anything without serious consideration. Until a sexy American tourist offers an opportunity no man can refuse. EXCERPT:Green eyes sparkling behind delicate shades of purple feathers held him hostage. Vittore thought he had recognized her the moment she walked onto the pier. When she spoke, he knew his search had finally ended. Determination and desire had persevered. The gods had delivered her into his hands and he wanted to learn more about this mystery woman with her gay laugh and quick wit, even if it was only for one night. Clancy opened her door, then switched on the entry light. At the bedroom, she glanced over her shoulder, the long plumes brushing her creamy bare shoulder. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be just a moment.” He wandered around the room, straightening the pillows on the sofa, adjusting a wing backed chair and, finally, the magazines scattered across the pecan desktop. It was there he found a handwritten note caught between the pages. A little guilt crept in for snooping, but he shoved it aside, eager to discover more about this sensual woman who intrigued him. Note to Self — Loving Venice 1. Ride in a gondola 2. Climb the Campanile in St. Mark’s Square 3. Attend a masked ball 4. Dance under the stars in St. Mark’s Square 5. Tour a professional kitchen 6. Buy one special piece of Murano glass 7. Fall in love—at least for the night 8. Hear a Vivaldi Concert 9. Attend an opera at the Fenice 10. Vittore reread the paper, paying close attention to number seven. He looked out at the waning moon and sent a prayer of thanks to Raphael the Archangel, the patron saint of happy meetings, for his good fortune.
BUY LINK
October 14, 2012
BOOKS of the DEAD PRESS: Are you a new writer? Read this.
I read an article posted on the Books of the Dead Press blog and loved it. I am posting it here in it's entirety because the information contained within is JUST THAT VALUABLE. I have said it may times, but the way it is said here bests anything I have ever done on the subject. Enjoy.
From Books of the Dead Press blog:
Yesterday I received an email that said: "I wrote a zombie poem and am kinda thinking of expanding it into a children's book. Would you be interested in helping me or point me in the right direction?"
Every month or so I receive an email like this. Someone new to the writing game is looking for guidance. I understand fully. In fact, I think asking a few questions early on is a smart thing to do. And I can help. I really can. So, if you're a new writer, hold on to your nutsack. This is me pointing you in the right direction.
Writing isn't about publishing. Writing is about writing. Repeat this statement over and over. Say it every day. Put it on a t-shirt. Tattoo it on your arm. Writing isn't about publishing. Writing is about writing. If you want to be a writer then sit your ass down and start writing. Do it everyday and don't think about publishing. Think about writing. A publisher doesn't want invest time, energy, or money into someone that wrote a book. Publishers invest in writers. A publisher wants to know that ten years after they've published your title, you're still out there, getting attention, writing new stories, making waves.
How does a publishing company know you plan on being around for a while? By looking at your history. What have you done so far? How many short stories have you published? Have you created a blog? How many blog posts do you have? Do you attend writers conventions? Do you have self-published books? Do you have unpublished books? Do you have a fanbase? What's your writing history? If you don't have a writing history, you are not a writer. At least, not yet. Right now you are a dreamer, and there's nothing wrong with being a dreamer. But publishing companies don't invest in dreamers. They invest in writers.
But let's pretend you can find a stupid publisher, one that thinks publishing an author's first attempt at a story is a good idea. Think about this: every single author on the planet, at one time or another, usually before they wrote their first book, thought, "I could write a children's book. That would be easier that writing a 'real' book." And because so many people have entertained this thought, a million children's books have been written, the market is completely flooded, and breaking into the children's market the hardest thing an author can do.
Here's another thing to think about: YOU SUCK.
I'm not being insulting, not being funny. I'm being honest. You suck. You suck long and you suck hard. If you're just starting, you're awful, and you need to know it. I mean, REALLY know it. If you've been playing guitar for a couple months, how good are you? Are you ready to play a gig? Are you ready to record an album? Are you ready to ask investors - a.k.a. record companies - to invest in you? No. Of course not. Why? Because: It takes five years to NOT SUCK. And even longer to get beyond 'average'.
With music, knowing you suck is easy. Because… you can't play your instrument to save your life, and it's obvious. With writing it's not so obvious because writing is a skill that most people have… at least to a certain degree. But it still takes five years to go from 'I learned how to read and write in school' to 'I'm starting to have an ounce of value in the entertainment industry'.
Oh yeah - there's something else to keep in mind.
Reading fiction is a form of entertainment.
Writers are in the entertainment industry. Can you ride a bicycle? Yes. Can you write a story? Yes. Can you ride a bicycle well enough that people should pay to watch you do it, because you're so unbelievably entertaining? No. Can you write a story well enough that people should pay to read it, because you're so unbelievably entertaining? No. So there it is.
Writing is about writing, not publishing.
Publishing companies invest in writers, not dreamers.
And until you've been writing for five years, you suck.
Like what you see? Please support Books of the Dead by purchasing one of their books. Thank you!
From Books of the Dead Press blog:
Yesterday I received an email that said: "I wrote a zombie poem and am kinda thinking of expanding it into a children's book. Would you be interested in helping me or point me in the right direction?"
Every month or so I receive an email like this. Someone new to the writing game is looking for guidance. I understand fully. In fact, I think asking a few questions early on is a smart thing to do. And I can help. I really can. So, if you're a new writer, hold on to your nutsack. This is me pointing you in the right direction.
Writing isn't about publishing. Writing is about writing. Repeat this statement over and over. Say it every day. Put it on a t-shirt. Tattoo it on your arm. Writing isn't about publishing. Writing is about writing. If you want to be a writer then sit your ass down and start writing. Do it everyday and don't think about publishing. Think about writing. A publisher doesn't want invest time, energy, or money into someone that wrote a book. Publishers invest in writers. A publisher wants to know that ten years after they've published your title, you're still out there, getting attention, writing new stories, making waves.
How does a publishing company know you plan on being around for a while? By looking at your history. What have you done so far? How many short stories have you published? Have you created a blog? How many blog posts do you have? Do you attend writers conventions? Do you have self-published books? Do you have unpublished books? Do you have a fanbase? What's your writing history? If you don't have a writing history, you are not a writer. At least, not yet. Right now you are a dreamer, and there's nothing wrong with being a dreamer. But publishing companies don't invest in dreamers. They invest in writers.
But let's pretend you can find a stupid publisher, one that thinks publishing an author's first attempt at a story is a good idea. Think about this: every single author on the planet, at one time or another, usually before they wrote their first book, thought, "I could write a children's book. That would be easier that writing a 'real' book." And because so many people have entertained this thought, a million children's books have been written, the market is completely flooded, and breaking into the children's market the hardest thing an author can do.
Here's another thing to think about: YOU SUCK.
I'm not being insulting, not being funny. I'm being honest. You suck. You suck long and you suck hard. If you're just starting, you're awful, and you need to know it. I mean, REALLY know it. If you've been playing guitar for a couple months, how good are you? Are you ready to play a gig? Are you ready to record an album? Are you ready to ask investors - a.k.a. record companies - to invest in you? No. Of course not. Why? Because: It takes five years to NOT SUCK. And even longer to get beyond 'average'.
With music, knowing you suck is easy. Because… you can't play your instrument to save your life, and it's obvious. With writing it's not so obvious because writing is a skill that most people have… at least to a certain degree. But it still takes five years to go from 'I learned how to read and write in school' to 'I'm starting to have an ounce of value in the entertainment industry'.
Oh yeah - there's something else to keep in mind.
Reading fiction is a form of entertainment.
Writers are in the entertainment industry. Can you ride a bicycle? Yes. Can you write a story? Yes. Can you ride a bicycle well enough that people should pay to watch you do it, because you're so unbelievably entertaining? No. Can you write a story well enough that people should pay to read it, because you're so unbelievably entertaining? No. So there it is.
Writing is about writing, not publishing.
Publishing companies invest in writers, not dreamers.
And until you've been writing for five years, you suck.
Like what you see? Please support Books of the Dead by purchasing one of their books. Thank you!
We Welcome Musa Publishing Author, Sara Daniels
by Sara Daniel (Samantha's note: Sara's new release is coming from Musa Publishing on 10-19-12)
Early this year when Musa posted a submissions call for a series called
Finally Ever After
, I jumped at the opportunity. The stories were to be short, happily ever romances about lovers who have loved each other and lost. Now, they have a second chance to create the happy ending they didn’t get the first time. I love characters with a past history, especially in a short word count. They have instant attraction and long-standing unresolved conflict—the perfect elements for a fast-paced, emotion-packed read.
Zane’s Art
had all these things coupled with a strong present conflict. The story flowed out of me so fast I knew it was meant to be! Here's little from
Zane's Art
for your reading pleasure.
A high school art teacher must choose between her students and the artist she never stopped loving. High school art teacher Julianne Truman's last chance to save her beloved art department from budget cuts is to sell the old sketches that her former boyfriend—and now famous artist—Zane DeMonde drew for her. But is she prepared to let go of his artwork and the last traces of him in her life? Desperate to save his artistic reputation from the exposure of his early works, Zane returns to the home town he wanted to forget. He accuses Julianne of profiting from his success and demands she take his art off the market and cancel the auction. Their high school attraction flares back to life, forcing Julianne to choose between the students who count on her and the man she never stopped loving. EXCERPT:“Cancel the auction.” Julianne Truman’s head snapped around at the hard male voice. The stapler fell from her hand and cracked open on the floor, as she caught sight of the extraordinary face that went with the voice. Her knees shook as she climbed down the ladder. She hadn’t faced Zane DeMonde in nearly fifteen years. At one time she’d believed he’d be part of every single day of her future. “Zane, I didn’t expect you to come.” She stepped toward him. His black hair was a little shorter than the last time she’d seen him, but at shoulder length it was still far longer than most men’s. Gone were the black hoodie and ripped jeans of his youth. Now he wore chinos and a sharply pressed blue button-down shirt, open at the neck. The dark storms in his cobalt blue eyes were exactly the same as the day he’d walked away from her. “Cancel the auction. The sketches and painting are not for sale.” She swallowed. “I own them. If I choose to sell them, that’s my business.” And it was breaking her heart to part with the only piece of him that she’d been able to hang onto all these years. “When they have my name on them and you’re getting rich off me, it’s my business.” Getting rich was so far from the truth Julianne would have laughed if her chest weren’t so tight. “It’s an honor to have you back in town.” At least her students would think so. Her brother would likely burst an artery. And she—well, she couldn’t even begin to process the mix of emotions she was feeling. “Do you have a minute to talk? I can explain what’s going on.” “I know what’s going on.” She hoped he couldn’t hear how hard her heart was hammering or sense how desperately she longed to wrap her arms around him and pick up where they left off fifteen years ago, as if he’d never left her. “Then you know that the arts are at the bottom of the school district’s priority list. To have supplies for the classroom, to restore the school mural, to give my students a chance to explore different mediums, the art program needs an alternate source of funding.” “You’re the Dentonville High art teacher?” She couldn’t help feeling defensive at his derisive tone. “Yes, and I love my job.” “Do you? Or have you never moved beyond your high school life?”
BUY LINK
To learn more about Sara Daniel and her work, please visit her
website
and
blog
. Stay connected on Sara's
Facebook
page and her
Sara Shafer
page. Remember, Sara is also only a
tweet
away. 
Early this year when Musa posted a submissions call for a series called
Finally Ever After
, I jumped at the opportunity. The stories were to be short, happily ever romances about lovers who have loved each other and lost. Now, they have a second chance to create the happy ending they didn’t get the first time. I love characters with a past history, especially in a short word count. They have instant attraction and long-standing unresolved conflict—the perfect elements for a fast-paced, emotion-packed read.
Zane’s Art
had all these things coupled with a strong present conflict. The story flowed out of me so fast I knew it was meant to be! Here's little from
Zane's Art
for your reading pleasure.
A high school art teacher must choose between her students and the artist she never stopped loving. High school art teacher Julianne Truman's last chance to save her beloved art department from budget cuts is to sell the old sketches that her former boyfriend—and now famous artist—Zane DeMonde drew for her. But is she prepared to let go of his artwork and the last traces of him in her life? Desperate to save his artistic reputation from the exposure of his early works, Zane returns to the home town he wanted to forget. He accuses Julianne of profiting from his success and demands she take his art off the market and cancel the auction. Their high school attraction flares back to life, forcing Julianne to choose between the students who count on her and the man she never stopped loving. EXCERPT:“Cancel the auction.” Julianne Truman’s head snapped around at the hard male voice. The stapler fell from her hand and cracked open on the floor, as she caught sight of the extraordinary face that went with the voice. Her knees shook as she climbed down the ladder. She hadn’t faced Zane DeMonde in nearly fifteen years. At one time she’d believed he’d be part of every single day of her future. “Zane, I didn’t expect you to come.” She stepped toward him. His black hair was a little shorter than the last time she’d seen him, but at shoulder length it was still far longer than most men’s. Gone were the black hoodie and ripped jeans of his youth. Now he wore chinos and a sharply pressed blue button-down shirt, open at the neck. The dark storms in his cobalt blue eyes were exactly the same as the day he’d walked away from her. “Cancel the auction. The sketches and painting are not for sale.” She swallowed. “I own them. If I choose to sell them, that’s my business.” And it was breaking her heart to part with the only piece of him that she’d been able to hang onto all these years. “When they have my name on them and you’re getting rich off me, it’s my business.” Getting rich was so far from the truth Julianne would have laughed if her chest weren’t so tight. “It’s an honor to have you back in town.” At least her students would think so. Her brother would likely burst an artery. And she—well, she couldn’t even begin to process the mix of emotions she was feeling. “Do you have a minute to talk? I can explain what’s going on.” “I know what’s going on.” She hoped he couldn’t hear how hard her heart was hammering or sense how desperately she longed to wrap her arms around him and pick up where they left off fifteen years ago, as if he’d never left her. “Then you know that the arts are at the bottom of the school district’s priority list. To have supplies for the classroom, to restore the school mural, to give my students a chance to explore different mediums, the art program needs an alternate source of funding.” “You’re the Dentonville High art teacher?” She couldn’t help feeling defensive at his derisive tone. “Yes, and I love my job.” “Do you? Or have you never moved beyond your high school life?”
BUY LINK
To learn more about Sara Daniel and her work, please visit her
website
and
blog
. Stay connected on Sara's
Facebook
page and her
Sara Shafer
page. Remember, Sara is also only a
tweet
away.
October 5, 2012
What if "No Power" Could Happen? I am Intrigued by a new tv show
I have been watching the new show on television called Revolution. In it, earth has lost all power, (we don't yet know how or why, a la "LOST") and we get to see when it happened, just after it happened, and more than a decade following the event. I was intrigued by the commercials and more than a few minutes long teasers, and I am absolutely enthralled with the actual show. Its the best validation of the saying, "What if...starts all the best stories."
I have been enlightened to my dependency on electricity. I was recently sick for two days, and when I returned to work I had a record number of voice mails and emails. And that's just for two
days. So, I got to thinking...what would my life be like without power?
A Day In The Life With No Power:
First, I wake up late because I have no alarm. I take a shower but I can't blow dry my hair so I look like crap. That's okay though, because without power, there are no supermodels. Score!I make the kids breakfast with NO microwave and they still miss Eggos in the toaster. Which now just stores notebooks.I ride my bike to work since I only work three miles away. It still kills me. Also, I have not been able to get the car out of the garage since the power went out. I use the van for an extra closet now.At work, there is no coffee machine so everyone has their own thermos full of the sweet elixir. Sometimes two thermoses look alike and there is a fist fight in the lobby. It breaks up the monotony of the day and a break from handwriting everything.Paychecks still come on Friday, but they are in scrip. I pedal like a maniac to the store to get fresh kill for supper. On the other side of town, Husband is pedaling like mad too. Whoever gets there first doesn't have to heat up water for the kids baths. And drag it in buckets upstairs.Weekends we take turns guarding our stockpile and laugh about shows we used to watch, especially Coupon Clippers and Honey Boo Boo. Then we stop laughing when we realize, we live a LOT like Honey Boo Boo now.I know there are other modern conveniences we would miss, but these are the ones that readily come to mind. What POWERful extravagance would you miss most?
I have been enlightened to my dependency on electricity. I was recently sick for two days, and when I returned to work I had a record number of voice mails and emails. And that's just for two
days. So, I got to thinking...what would my life be like without power?
A Day In The Life With No Power:
First, I wake up late because I have no alarm. I take a shower but I can't blow dry my hair so I look like crap. That's okay though, because without power, there are no supermodels. Score!I make the kids breakfast with NO microwave and they still miss Eggos in the toaster. Which now just stores notebooks.I ride my bike to work since I only work three miles away. It still kills me. Also, I have not been able to get the car out of the garage since the power went out. I use the van for an extra closet now.At work, there is no coffee machine so everyone has their own thermos full of the sweet elixir. Sometimes two thermoses look alike and there is a fist fight in the lobby. It breaks up the monotony of the day and a break from handwriting everything.Paychecks still come on Friday, but they are in scrip. I pedal like a maniac to the store to get fresh kill for supper. On the other side of town, Husband is pedaling like mad too. Whoever gets there first doesn't have to heat up water for the kids baths. And drag it in buckets upstairs.Weekends we take turns guarding our stockpile and laugh about shows we used to watch, especially Coupon Clippers and Honey Boo Boo. Then we stop laughing when we realize, we live a LOT like Honey Boo Boo now.I know there are other modern conveniences we would miss, but these are the ones that readily come to mind. What POWERful extravagance would you miss most?
October 2, 2012
So You Think You Can Write Contest
You have heard me speak here of my newest completed project, a dark YA Paranormal called The Deadlies. Well, I am trying new things out with this one, same as i did for both my adult horror collections, just to see how things work. With The Deadlies, I have entered both a pitch and the first chapter in a contest being run by Harlequin. They are actively scouting for new authors and came up with this cool way to find them.
I entered a couple weeks ago, and as of yesterday, my pitch became live. You can go to the site and vote for mine or any others you enjoy. because of the dark nature of my story, I chose to pitch for the Harlequin Nocturne line. I would have gone for the Harlequin Teen line, but they weren't part of the contest.
I value the opinions of most who frequent my site, so I am asking not only for your vote, but your critique and opinion as well. Go here: http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/the-deadlies/ and read my work and see if you like it enough to vote for it. An agent will be selecting the manuscripts she wants to read based on the pitches on this contest.
And if you have a pitch, get on in there! There are more than enough agents and manuscripts to go around!
Thanks!
I entered a couple weeks ago, and as of yesterday, my pitch became live. You can go to the site and vote for mine or any others you enjoy. because of the dark nature of my story, I chose to pitch for the Harlequin Nocturne line. I would have gone for the Harlequin Teen line, but they weren't part of the contest.
I value the opinions of most who frequent my site, so I am asking not only for your vote, but your critique and opinion as well. Go here: http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/the-deadlies/ and read my work and see if you like it enough to vote for it. An agent will be selecting the manuscripts she wants to read based on the pitches on this contest.
And if you have a pitch, get on in there! There are more than enough agents and manuscripts to go around!
Thanks!
September 27, 2012
The Best Kind of Changes
When I was getting ready this morning, I walked into my closet and gazed longingly at my boots. My winter, to-the-calves, completely-inappropriate-for-summer boots. Three pairs, all colors, black, grey and tan. I wished I could wear them.
I got dressed, and only then did I look outside. And smiled. It was cool outside! Overcast! Dare I say, even dank! I was thrilled. Immediately yanked off my stupid skirt and top and gleefully slid into a pair of stretch pants, a sweater dress, and BOOTS! Okay, true confession is I didn't wear the boots, since my other flats looked way cuter. Whatever. The point is the simple change in the weather validates that we are in the middle of change and for the first time in at least a couple years, I am embracing all of it.
Our country is about to change, my life has dramatically changed since I started my new job nine months ago (I don't think I can still keep calling it "new" nine months after the fact, but it still feels so shiny!), and I believe my writing is changing. It all makes me kind of giddy.
Now, let me explain how monumental this is. I don't exactly embrace change. I'll give you a couple of examples: I never change my mind after I choose my outfit for the day. At certain restaurants, I have the same exact thing off the menu every single time. See, I appreciate structure, discipline, control. I'm a Scorpio. We may be passionate, yes, but we also crave order. So, if you were describing an author like this, certainly she would be a plotter, right? Nope. You would be wrong.
I have published seven novels and in each one I was a "pantser" of the highest order. Flying by the seat of my pants, I had NO CLUE at all where the story would start, arc, and finish until I opened the laptop. My muse, Musina, has tolerated this "blinders-on" attitude for a couple of years, while waiting for me to come to my own understanding with my control, or lack-of-control issues. Most of this came about due to the unstable nature of my personal life. Unemployed, bummed out, and financially stressed, writing was an outlet. I could be as free as I wanted and boy, was I. I love the stories I wrote during this period; they are indicative of my desire to escape, in a way. But, as I mentioned, change is in the air, and I have been breathing deeply and craving the koolaid.
My most recent manuscript, and even the one just published this month, are an indication of that change. With Waterdancer , published the first week of September, I found for the first time, I needed a character roster. Then I wrote a few "notes" on my iphone to which I referred periodically. With the current manuscript I am shopping, The Deadlies, I had a character roster, "notes", and even a couple of story arcs written down. I think there is a correlation to my new found stability and my level of trust in myself. The Deadlies is different than anything I have written and I am desperately proud of it. I trusted myself enough to go outside my comfort zone and I am truthfully chuffed with the result.
In my life now, as compared to a year ago, there are daily revelations reminding me of how blessed I am. I wrote a post before this about waiting on my agent. I think I may have given the wrong impression. If I NEVER get an agent, that will be okay. I write because I love it, and the entrance of an agent in that equation won't change that. It may enhance it, but it won't change it. My life has slowly, in the last year, stabilized. My marriage is back on track (unemployment and depression can smack the hell out of a marriage), my personal relationships are blossoming, and for the first time in maybe a decade, I am letting people into my circle. I have new friends who are very, very important to me. And I am writing characters about whom I feel the same. I am learning to trust myself and my craft. I think it is okay to say I am a good writer, and not laugh right after I say it. With trust comes confidence.
Musina knew all that all along. She wanted to tell me, but I was mentally unprepared for such revelatory information. Might have killed me, frankly. Not so much anymore. Because I am embracing change. And right now, I am experiencing the best kind...not things that want to change me, but changes I am accepting and want to make. Trust me, there is a difference. The lesson I think for me, for 2012, is the best kind of changes are the kind you never expected. And isn't that the best part of life? The unexpected? I finally believe that's true.
I got dressed, and only then did I look outside. And smiled. It was cool outside! Overcast! Dare I say, even dank! I was thrilled. Immediately yanked off my stupid skirt and top and gleefully slid into a pair of stretch pants, a sweater dress, and BOOTS! Okay, true confession is I didn't wear the boots, since my other flats looked way cuter. Whatever. The point is the simple change in the weather validates that we are in the middle of change and for the first time in at least a couple years, I am embracing all of it.
Our country is about to change, my life has dramatically changed since I started my new job nine months ago (I don't think I can still keep calling it "new" nine months after the fact, but it still feels so shiny!), and I believe my writing is changing. It all makes me kind of giddy.
Now, let me explain how monumental this is. I don't exactly embrace change. I'll give you a couple of examples: I never change my mind after I choose my outfit for the day. At certain restaurants, I have the same exact thing off the menu every single time. See, I appreciate structure, discipline, control. I'm a Scorpio. We may be passionate, yes, but we also crave order. So, if you were describing an author like this, certainly she would be a plotter, right? Nope. You would be wrong.
I have published seven novels and in each one I was a "pantser" of the highest order. Flying by the seat of my pants, I had NO CLUE at all where the story would start, arc, and finish until I opened the laptop. My muse, Musina, has tolerated this "blinders-on" attitude for a couple of years, while waiting for me to come to my own understanding with my control, or lack-of-control issues. Most of this came about due to the unstable nature of my personal life. Unemployed, bummed out, and financially stressed, writing was an outlet. I could be as free as I wanted and boy, was I. I love the stories I wrote during this period; they are indicative of my desire to escape, in a way. But, as I mentioned, change is in the air, and I have been breathing deeply and craving the koolaid.
My most recent manuscript, and even the one just published this month, are an indication of that change. With Waterdancer , published the first week of September, I found for the first time, I needed a character roster. Then I wrote a few "notes" on my iphone to which I referred periodically. With the current manuscript I am shopping, The Deadlies, I had a character roster, "notes", and even a couple of story arcs written down. I think there is a correlation to my new found stability and my level of trust in myself. The Deadlies is different than anything I have written and I am desperately proud of it. I trusted myself enough to go outside my comfort zone and I am truthfully chuffed with the result.
In my life now, as compared to a year ago, there are daily revelations reminding me of how blessed I am. I wrote a post before this about waiting on my agent. I think I may have given the wrong impression. If I NEVER get an agent, that will be okay. I write because I love it, and the entrance of an agent in that equation won't change that. It may enhance it, but it won't change it. My life has slowly, in the last year, stabilized. My marriage is back on track (unemployment and depression can smack the hell out of a marriage), my personal relationships are blossoming, and for the first time in maybe a decade, I am letting people into my circle. I have new friends who are very, very important to me. And I am writing characters about whom I feel the same. I am learning to trust myself and my craft. I think it is okay to say I am a good writer, and not laugh right after I say it. With trust comes confidence.
Musina knew all that all along. She wanted to tell me, but I was mentally unprepared for such revelatory information. Might have killed me, frankly. Not so much anymore. Because I am embracing change. And right now, I am experiencing the best kind...not things that want to change me, but changes I am accepting and want to make. Trust me, there is a difference. The lesson I think for me, for 2012, is the best kind of changes are the kind you never expected. And isn't that the best part of life? The unexpected? I finally believe that's true.
September 20, 2012
Waiting on My Agent
So, I don't have an agent. I have been happily publishing my books with the assistance of two dynamic publishing houses, Astraea Press and Musa Publishing for the past two years. I hope to publish many, many more. But I would lie if I said I didn't want an agent. I, like, REALLY want an agent. This desire takes away nothing from how fortunate I feel to be with my current publishers. My issue is the marketing. And the time.
Before I wrote my first book, Spellbound, I wasn't even on facebook. Had no idea Twitter existed and even now, got no clue about Tumblr or Pinterest. But a very smart marketing rep at one of my houses told me I was insane if I was writing and not on anything resembling a social network. "Oh my God, you have to at least have a BLOG!" she wailed at me in emails with all caps. So, I started one. And I really have to admit, I enjoy it. But the rest? Time-suck sometimes.
Facebook gave me an amazing start and a wonderful base of great author friends and people I call fans (and then blush). I'm very grateful. But, I'm very tired too. I have a great base of support online, but I think it would be neat to have that one person who really believed in me and got me. Okay, to be fair I have that. I'm talking about that one person who does all that and ALSO knows some New York publishers.
With that in mind, I confess, I have sent my recent manuscript, The Deadlies, out to the agenting world. A dark, YA paranormal, set in the South, about catty girls possessed by the demons of the seven deadly sins, I am very proud of this one. So I set it free in the deep end of the pool. Two agents from the shark tanks have swum up to me, shown me their teeth, and asked for pages. I sent them. I was too scared not to. Now I wait.
One agent wanted the whole manuscript and one wanted my first 100 pages., which is really the first third to a half of the book. Now, I am wondering...how long is reasonable to be waiting for a response? I don't want to look like a newbie, but....I kind of am. I've only had two requests for pages before, when I was even more of a newbie, and tried my hand at my first story. One agent and Harlequin Teen requested pages, then ultimately passed. Quickly. So, is it a good sign when it takes longer?
Agents must be busy. There are, by my count, eleventy-billion of us trying to get one, and only, like, a handful out there to get. You do the math. They are only human. Is it unreasonable to hear back from one in two months? Four? Eight? How long is too long?
So, my post today is more of a call for help. Like a call for submissions, I need you. If you are one of my blog followers and you have a tad bit of insight into this mystery....could you clue me in? The myth and mystery of agents reminds me of the same one surrounding the elusive and unknown "underwriter" who decided my hubs and I's fate when we were buying our first house. One guy, one person, who held the key to my future. Would it be a two story colonial with a yard for the kids? Or a double wide in a questionable part of town with occasional hot-and-cold running water? Will I get the agent who gets me? Or always be one of the eleventy-billion.
Before I wrote my first book, Spellbound, I wasn't even on facebook. Had no idea Twitter existed and even now, got no clue about Tumblr or Pinterest. But a very smart marketing rep at one of my houses told me I was insane if I was writing and not on anything resembling a social network. "Oh my God, you have to at least have a BLOG!" she wailed at me in emails with all caps. So, I started one. And I really have to admit, I enjoy it. But the rest? Time-suck sometimes.
Facebook gave me an amazing start and a wonderful base of great author friends and people I call fans (and then blush). I'm very grateful. But, I'm very tired too. I have a great base of support online, but I think it would be neat to have that one person who really believed in me and got me. Okay, to be fair I have that. I'm talking about that one person who does all that and ALSO knows some New York publishers.
With that in mind, I confess, I have sent my recent manuscript, The Deadlies, out to the agenting world. A dark, YA paranormal, set in the South, about catty girls possessed by the demons of the seven deadly sins, I am very proud of this one. So I set it free in the deep end of the pool. Two agents from the shark tanks have swum up to me, shown me their teeth, and asked for pages. I sent them. I was too scared not to. Now I wait.
One agent wanted the whole manuscript and one wanted my first 100 pages., which is really the first third to a half of the book. Now, I am wondering...how long is reasonable to be waiting for a response? I don't want to look like a newbie, but....I kind of am. I've only had two requests for pages before, when I was even more of a newbie, and tried my hand at my first story. One agent and Harlequin Teen requested pages, then ultimately passed. Quickly. So, is it a good sign when it takes longer?
Agents must be busy. There are, by my count, eleventy-billion of us trying to get one, and only, like, a handful out there to get. You do the math. They are only human. Is it unreasonable to hear back from one in two months? Four? Eight? How long is too long?
So, my post today is more of a call for help. Like a call for submissions, I need you. If you are one of my blog followers and you have a tad bit of insight into this mystery....could you clue me in? The myth and mystery of agents reminds me of the same one surrounding the elusive and unknown "underwriter" who decided my hubs and I's fate when we were buying our first house. One guy, one person, who held the key to my future. Would it be a two story colonial with a yard for the kids? Or a double wide in a questionable part of town with occasional hot-and-cold running water? Will I get the agent who gets me? Or always be one of the eleventy-billion.
September 15, 2012
Guest blog on A Dragon's Love
Guest Post - Samantha Combs
Write it Down
My stepmother is writing her memoirs. In fact, she is not just writing her memoirs, she is actually reliving some of the best moments of her life and loving every minute of it. Mind you, this may never be a publishable product, but it doesn’t matter. She will always love it, her daughter will always love it and she will have it forever. And the stories from her life will have a voice.
I’ve never written a memoir and I have a deep, abiding respect for anyone who does. There are some amazing moments in my life, sure. My wedding, my children’s births, etc. But there are those times in my life I would NEVER want to relive. Being dumped, having a car accident, the death of a friend by suicide. Yeah, not sure I want to write about THAT stuff just now. But it doesn’t mean I never will. Just as my experiences are important for my kids, the knowledge and experiences of my parents has become so much more valuable to me.
For instance, I have lost all four of my grandparents. I never knew my maternal grandfather, he having died shortly after my parent’s wedding. But, by all accounts, he was a multi-layered and fascinating man. From my mother I have learned he was a pugilist in her native England. From my father I learned that he ran the equivalent of a numbers racket in their London hometown. I knew my maternal grandmother, Nanny, since forever. She was funny and opinionated and my favorite story, she carried about two ridonkulously large purses. Because she needed to lug around so much crap, one bag couldn’t hack it. And she smoked cigarettes and constantly let the ash elongate with the threat of dropping on the carpet. From an early age, we learned to say, “Nanny - Ash!” before it tumbled to the ground. She would make a face and when the ash dropped anyway, we would cackle like maniacs. I miss her.
On my father’s side, I knew both grandparents. Grampa, as I remember, was curmudgeonly. He drank seven and sevens and smoked prolifically. My fondest memory is of him sitting in the worn-out armchair (think, Archie Bunker) with one hand around the ubiquitous highball glass, and the other just dipping into his breast pocket for his pack of smokes. When I got older, he didn’t move much from that seat, or any seat he chose, but it didn’t matter. Any family gathering sort of orbited around him. Like, he was the center of our universe and we were inexplicably drawn to him. And if you are thinking he was our rock, you’d be dead wrong. Grandma was.
Grandma was nothing short of amazing. She bore nine children on a farm in North Dakota. She raised them all with good humor and Catholic values. My father was the oldest. She watched all five of her boys join a branch of the armed service, and all four of her girls marry military men. In the late fifties, early sixties, those were the ways you got off the farm. She sent three of her boys to Vietnam, welcomed all of them home, and started collecting grandchildren early. She never forgot a birthday, she loved all nineteen of us grandchildren equally, and her favorite thing to do, back when we were all older and BIG drinkers, after hearing us all stumble in at an ungodly hour, giggling furiously, was to get up out of bed, storm into the kitchen, and throw the most enormous breakfast together we had ever seen. Those drunken, loud, unruly breakfasts are my most favorite memory of her. Oh, that and her ants on a log. (giggle if you know what I’m talking about).
But I digress. I want to make a case for the memoir. Right, so I’ve never written one, but I know the value of one. Since all my grandparents are gone now, their stories went with them. I don’t want that to happen again, so last Christmas I gave both my mother and my father blank life journals. I am encouraging them to write their life stories down. I want to know them, and share them with my children. Every family is different. Most think that their family is the most dysfunctional. Prove it is! Prove it isn’t! Just write it all down. I think, it’s possible, your kids may thank you for it. I know I will thank my folks. If I ever get them back. Um, excuse me now, I have a couple phone calls to make.
Samantha Combs, AuthorCheck out all 6 of my books!SPELLBOUND http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Samantha-Combs/dp/1463787936/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1336187025&sr=8-13EVERSPELL http://www.amazon.com/Everspell-Spellbound-ebook/dp/B006Z0LKLC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187120&sr=1-1GHOSTLY http://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-ebook/dp/B005ONM5RE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187148&sr=1-1THE DETENTION DEMON http://www.amazon.com/The-Detention-Demon-ebook/dp/B0077DTQHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187185&sr=1-1TEETH AND TALONS http://www.amazon.com/Teeth-Talons-Horror-Anthology-ebook/dp/B006X51I4S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336187215&sr=1-1WAY PAST MIDNIGHT http://www.amazon.com/Way-Past-Midnight-ebook/dp/B0088DXFP8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338755543&sr=1-1
Coming in September from Musa Publishing: WATERDANCER, a new YA paranormal
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