Leigh Talbert Moore's Blog, page 19
October 20, 2012
Special Birthday Post
We interrupt my usual Monday schedule for a very important announcement...
A few years back, I was introduced to Lenny Lee (link) , an eleven year-old boy who liked playing outside, raccoons, and writing, and whose icon was (and is) a happy sunshine. Lenny was dealing with health problems, and his family wasn't sure he'd survive them.
Fast-forward two years, and here we are celebrating--Lenny Lee is officially a teenager! Holy acne, he's thirteen today. And we're all just celebrating and doing the happy dance!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Lenny!!!
*throws confetti*
And many happy, angsty teen years to come. (Ha ha--just teasing!)
Have a great week-end, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
A few years back, I was introduced to Lenny Lee (link) , an eleven year-old boy who liked playing outside, raccoons, and writing, and whose icon was (and is) a happy sunshine. Lenny was dealing with health problems, and his family wasn't sure he'd survive them.
Fast-forward two years, and here we are celebrating--Lenny Lee is officially a teenager! Holy acne, he's thirteen today. And we're all just celebrating and doing the happy dance!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Lenny!!!
*throws confetti*
And many happy, angsty teen years to come. (Ha ha--just teasing!)
Have a great week-end, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
October 15, 2012
Napoleon Dynamite & One Direction
So I'm getting ready to release my second book ROUGE in a little more than a month, and I've been thinking about author branding and readers knowing what to expect from me.
The Truth About Faking is selling well, and a HUGE Thank You! To everyone who's bought a copy and taken the time to leave a review. I love hearing from readers, so if you liked it, shoot me a note (link)!
Anyway, ROUGE is not like TTAF.
TTAF is very classic young adult. It's sweet, relatively clean. There's romance, some humor, a little message tucked inside. You finish the book smiling and with a warm feeling inside. I love that book.
ROUGE is what you might call "edgy" or "mature" YA. It's not sweet. The main character's struggling to escape some pretty terrible things, she falls in love with someone who's impossible for her to be with, and then it just gets worse. It features more than one adult situation, and I'm not sure how readers will walk away.
And I love that book, too.
But it makes me worry about how shifting gears is going to impact my readership.
There's still a message tucked inside ROUGE. And I wrote it, so you'll still hear my voice. It's just my voice isn't telling you such a happy story this time.
It's a good story. At times, I wonder if it might be the best story I've written. (How can anyone ever know that?)
Will it hurt me that I've set readers up with TTAF to expect one thing, and then I'm going to give them something very different in ROUGE?
Luckeee!I was thinking about John Heder (a.k.a., Napoleon Dynamite). He did that movie, and then he did the movie Blades of Glory, and then he sort of disappeared. Maybe sometimes doing the same thing, only going in one direction, can hurt you.
But what hurts more?
I guess I'm going to find out.
Have any of my other writer-friends gone through this? What has your experience been like?
In the meantime, I'm formatting, preparing, working. Thinking about how blessed I am to have such great reader- and writer-friends.
Have a great week, guys~ <3
The Truth About Faking is selling well, and a HUGE Thank You! To everyone who's bought a copy and taken the time to leave a review. I love hearing from readers, so if you liked it, shoot me a note (link)!
Anyway, ROUGE is not like TTAF.
TTAF is very classic young adult. It's sweet, relatively clean. There's romance, some humor, a little message tucked inside. You finish the book smiling and with a warm feeling inside. I love that book.
ROUGE is what you might call "edgy" or "mature" YA. It's not sweet. The main character's struggling to escape some pretty terrible things, she falls in love with someone who's impossible for her to be with, and then it just gets worse. It features more than one adult situation, and I'm not sure how readers will walk away.
And I love that book, too.
But it makes me worry about how shifting gears is going to impact my readership.
There's still a message tucked inside ROUGE. And I wrote it, so you'll still hear my voice. It's just my voice isn't telling you such a happy story this time.
It's a good story. At times, I wonder if it might be the best story I've written. (How can anyone ever know that?)
Will it hurt me that I've set readers up with TTAF to expect one thing, and then I'm going to give them something very different in ROUGE?
Luckeee!I was thinking about John Heder (a.k.a., Napoleon Dynamite). He did that movie, and then he did the movie Blades of Glory, and then he sort of disappeared. Maybe sometimes doing the same thing, only going in one direction, can hurt you.But what hurts more?
I guess I'm going to find out.
Have any of my other writer-friends gone through this? What has your experience been like?
In the meantime, I'm formatting, preparing, working. Thinking about how blessed I am to have such great reader- and writer-friends.
Have a great week, guys~ <3
October 8, 2012
In Interesting Times
The cool thing about having a new book out and obsessively checking my Amazon numbers (LOL!) is I've discovered so many interesting, new indie books!
Seriously, go to Amazon and peruse the Top 100 lists for "Coming of Age" (link) or "Love and Romance" (link), and you'll find a virtual explosion of exciting, new indie authors creating a variety of books on the list.
It's truly a revolutionary time to be a writer.
I was telling a good friend of mine it feels like for the first time writers have the same opportunity as musicians or film makers. Now we can come out with new books in a fraction of the time it used to take, and it's up to the readers to decide if our product is entertaining or thought provoking enough to share.
The example I used was The Blair Witch Project. Remember that? (Just in time for Halloween!)
A group of kids made it with a camcorder then used the Internet to spread the word pre-release in all sorts of creative ways, and
Bam!
Indie blockbuster.
I don't remember if it was a blessing or a curse when someone used to say, "May you live in interesting times," but for writers, I'd argue it's a blessing.
Nowadays, if you follow the formula (great story + investment in quality), you really can find success. The only thing stopping you is you.
Will you invest the time to write a compelling story--your story? To hire an editor and copyeditor? To make the revisions needed? To create an eye-catching cover? To do the legwork it takes to get the word out?
If you will, it's completely possible these days for writing to be a true, sustainable career for any writer--not just the very lucky few.
How amazing. How blessed we are!
This week, I'm absolutely bursting with news... which has to wait (LOL!). But I can say, I'm working on Rouge again--cleaning out added content I didn't like, restoring it to my original vision, sifting through cover images--and by December, I can't wait to share it with you!
In the meantime, I hope you guys are doing fantastic. What's new with you? How do you see this revolution and our changing times?
I'm telling you, writer-friends, there is absolutely zero reason now to give up. Whatever you do, keep swimming.
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
Seriously, go to Amazon and peruse the Top 100 lists for "Coming of Age" (link) or "Love and Romance" (link), and you'll find a virtual explosion of exciting, new indie authors creating a variety of books on the list.
It's truly a revolutionary time to be a writer.
I was telling a good friend of mine it feels like for the first time writers have the same opportunity as musicians or film makers. Now we can come out with new books in a fraction of the time it used to take, and it's up to the readers to decide if our product is entertaining or thought provoking enough to share.
The example I used was The Blair Witch Project. Remember that? (Just in time for Halloween!)
A group of kids made it with a camcorder then used the Internet to spread the word pre-release in all sorts of creative ways, and
Bam!
Indie blockbuster.I don't remember if it was a blessing or a curse when someone used to say, "May you live in interesting times," but for writers, I'd argue it's a blessing.
Nowadays, if you follow the formula (great story + investment in quality), you really can find success. The only thing stopping you is you.
Will you invest the time to write a compelling story--your story? To hire an editor and copyeditor? To make the revisions needed? To create an eye-catching cover? To do the legwork it takes to get the word out?
If you will, it's completely possible these days for writing to be a true, sustainable career for any writer--not just the very lucky few.
How amazing. How blessed we are!
This week, I'm absolutely bursting with news... which has to wait (LOL!). But I can say, I'm working on Rouge again--cleaning out added content I didn't like, restoring it to my original vision, sifting through cover images--and by December, I can't wait to share it with you!
In the meantime, I hope you guys are doing fantastic. What's new with you? How do you see this revolution and our changing times?
I'm telling you, writer-friends, there is absolutely zero reason now to give up. Whatever you do, keep swimming.
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
October 1, 2012
Big Thing Backwards
Last week I was tagged by
Hart (link)
and
Stina (link)
for the "Next Big Thing" blogfest. I'm to tell you what I'm working on and end by promoting something.
So I'm doing it backwards because I've got to tell you about a book I just finished: Never Gone by good bloggy friend Laurel Garver (link) .
It is so good. The writing is gorgeous, the story is haunting (literally!) and it ends just perfectly. (*BIG sigh*) It's the perfect fall-into-winter book.
Get it!Main character Danielle "Dani" has just lost her father in a horrible car accident. His body's been cremated, and she and his remains are being shipped off to England to stay with her paternal grandparents while her mother stays in the U.S. for work.
The problem is Dani keeps seeing her dad.
Her memories and her desperate longing to catch him, which leads to some risky behavior choices, will have you in tears. But also, her strained relationship with her mother, and all the things Dani discovers about her family just peel away like layers of the most delicious cake. (Yep, I wrote that--LOL!)
And the ending with Theo, and what he writes on her cast... (*swoon*)
OK, I'm stopping, but it's an impressive debut. Only a few times I was a little confused or concerned with how situations were handled, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
There's a good dose of theology in the book courtesy Dani's grandfather, who's a clergyman. But also Theo, Dani's love interest is struggling with his own spirituality. I don't mind such things, and Laurel and I are planning a cross-post on how both of us incorporated religious themes in our books on Oct. 29. It should be interesting!
The English setting is the perfect backdrop for all the good stuff inside. Run get it on Amazon today (link)!
Now for the NBT blogfest questions! (I'll answer these lightening-round style.)
What is the working title of your book?
Violet. I know that's cheesy, but it's the sequel to Rouge, and for now, I'm trying to get the story right. I'll worry about titles later. (I have to do this; I'm hopeless when it comes to titles.)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's the sequel to Rouge, and Rouge is Oliver! meets Moulin Rouge meets My Fair Lady. (I know!)
What genre does your book fall under?
It's light historical/theater romance. Rouge was written as YA, but S&S asked if I'd make it adult. I said yes, but the characters are still 19 & 20 years old. So it's light-historical New Adult romance. Set in a theater. (Yeah, baby!)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
BeauWhen I started writing, Lucy Hale was the inspiration for Hale; my daughter Catherine was the inspiration for Teeny; Rufus Wainwright was the inspiration for Roland; Beau was Henry Cavill; Freddie was the actor who played Freddie Einsford-Hill from the original My Fair Lady...
That was two years ago. They've all aged and changed--LOL!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rouge: Hale's trying to secure a proposal from Freddie so she can get Teeny (and herself) out of their cabaret-home that's growing more dangerous by the day; then she meets Beau.
(I can't talk about Violet without spoiling Rouge.)
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This book is part of a three-book deal w/Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I'm hoping it won't take me as long as Rouge, which took me three months. (*freaks out*)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Not sure yet.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I got super-selfish with this series. This is just the kind of lush escapism I love love love; so I wrote it for me. And I hope you all LOVE it, too--LOL!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I thought it was really cool that the television show Smash started after I finished Rouge, because that story is all about what happens when the actors are off stage. The drama of real life, and how it bleeds into their performances.
What are you currently PROMOTING?
(see above)
Everybody's been so fantastic in helping me get my debut YA The Truth About Faking off the ground, I'm trying to pay it forward as much as possible. Love you guys!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm going to be everywhere with guest posts and reviews. I'm trying to tweet and Facebook updates as I get them. Please don't get sick of me! <3
BIG P.S.!
OMG, I almost forgot! The whip-smart and super awesome Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn (link) has sold 10,000 copies of her book Open Minds (wow!) And to celebrate, she's giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and Free Books (WOW!), including The Truth About Faking!
Be sure and stop by her blog (link) tomorrow through Thurs. to enter, and good luck! <3
So I'm doing it backwards because I've got to tell you about a book I just finished: Never Gone by good bloggy friend Laurel Garver (link) .
It is so good. The writing is gorgeous, the story is haunting (literally!) and it ends just perfectly. (*BIG sigh*) It's the perfect fall-into-winter book.
Get it!Main character Danielle "Dani" has just lost her father in a horrible car accident. His body's been cremated, and she and his remains are being shipped off to England to stay with her paternal grandparents while her mother stays in the U.S. for work.The problem is Dani keeps seeing her dad.
Her memories and her desperate longing to catch him, which leads to some risky behavior choices, will have you in tears. But also, her strained relationship with her mother, and all the things Dani discovers about her family just peel away like layers of the most delicious cake. (Yep, I wrote that--LOL!)
And the ending with Theo, and what he writes on her cast... (*swoon*)
OK, I'm stopping, but it's an impressive debut. Only a few times I was a little confused or concerned with how situations were handled, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
There's a good dose of theology in the book courtesy Dani's grandfather, who's a clergyman. But also Theo, Dani's love interest is struggling with his own spirituality. I don't mind such things, and Laurel and I are planning a cross-post on how both of us incorporated religious themes in our books on Oct. 29. It should be interesting!
The English setting is the perfect backdrop for all the good stuff inside. Run get it on Amazon today (link)!
Now for the NBT blogfest questions! (I'll answer these lightening-round style.)
What is the working title of your book?
Violet. I know that's cheesy, but it's the sequel to Rouge, and for now, I'm trying to get the story right. I'll worry about titles later. (I have to do this; I'm hopeless when it comes to titles.)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's the sequel to Rouge, and Rouge is Oliver! meets Moulin Rouge meets My Fair Lady. (I know!)
What genre does your book fall under?
It's light historical/theater romance. Rouge was written as YA, but S&S asked if I'd make it adult. I said yes, but the characters are still 19 & 20 years old. So it's light-historical New Adult romance. Set in a theater. (Yeah, baby!)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
BeauWhen I started writing, Lucy Hale was the inspiration for Hale; my daughter Catherine was the inspiration for Teeny; Rufus Wainwright was the inspiration for Roland; Beau was Henry Cavill; Freddie was the actor who played Freddie Einsford-Hill from the original My Fair Lady...That was two years ago. They've all aged and changed--LOL!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rouge: Hale's trying to secure a proposal from Freddie so she can get Teeny (and herself) out of their cabaret-home that's growing more dangerous by the day; then she meets Beau.
(I can't talk about Violet without spoiling Rouge.)
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This book is part of a three-book deal w/Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I'm hoping it won't take me as long as Rouge, which took me three months. (*freaks out*)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Not sure yet.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I got super-selfish with this series. This is just the kind of lush escapism I love love love; so I wrote it for me. And I hope you all LOVE it, too--LOL!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I thought it was really cool that the television show Smash started after I finished Rouge, because that story is all about what happens when the actors are off stage. The drama of real life, and how it bleeds into their performances.
What are you currently PROMOTING?
(see above)
Everybody's been so fantastic in helping me get my debut YA The Truth About Faking off the ground, I'm trying to pay it forward as much as possible. Love you guys!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm going to be everywhere with guest posts and reviews. I'm trying to tweet and Facebook updates as I get them. Please don't get sick of me! <3
BIG P.S.!
OMG, I almost forgot! The whip-smart and super awesome Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn (link) has sold 10,000 copies of her book Open Minds (wow!) And to celebrate, she's giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and Free Books (WOW!), including The Truth About Faking!
Be sure and stop by her blog (link) tomorrow through Thurs. to enter, and good luck! <3
September 24, 2012
Catching My Breath
Shew! A lot changes post book release.
For one, my visits to Goodreads have spiked like crazypants. How many people are reading it; how many people want to read it; is there a new review or rating... I've got to know! (Haha!)
And those reviews. So far they've all been pretty positive, which is super encouraging, but yanno. I'm bracing for the "not everyone's going to like your book" portion of the show. Talk about scary!
Up until now, I've been in the safe zone here with you all--where we always support each other and cheer each other on. Lift each other up when we're feeling down.
Post book release, though, I've had to leave the nest. I mean, if I'm serious about turning the writing hobby into a career.
As Dr. Q says, "You have to fish outside your backyard." (Awesome post on marketing, link.)
So for the last few weeks, I've been emailing, introducing myself to total strangers, and asking them if they'd like to read my book for review. It's pretty nerve-wracking.
But so far everyone's been really cool. Book bloggers really are the nicest folks.
And along the way, I've had these little pop-up shout-outs from you guys (Hart, Carolyn, Janet, Kari, Katie, Clarissa, Lydia, Angela, Mary, etc.) Those are the best surprises. It makes me feel like no matter what, we're still getting there. Figuring it out. Keeping each other going. ((hugs))
Get itWhile I'm sharing the love, oh, man. Have I got an awesome love story to share with you guys. I actually read this book about two weeks ago--literally in two sittings. It was just that amazing.
My Heart For Yours, by Steph Campbell and Jolene Perry. (link)
First, I love the dual point of view--each chapter is either Tobin or Delia talking or remembering. (I love those names.) And I love the whole setup of the funeral bringing these two kids back together after a pretty harsh split.
Their resistance to seeing each other, to letting any feelings try and creep back in... They totally lose that battle, of course. And how they do is so great to read. You'll just be... *sigh*
Mr. Original #1 HottieIt's New Adult, so yanno. Age 17+. And--best part--it's all set in south Louisiana. (Yeah, it is!) So I got my home fix.
I highly recommend this one. It's so good.
Y'all know I'm a classic movie buff. It reminded me of an old Paul Newman movie, Sweet Bird of Youth.
Oh, man. I watched that movie with my BFF Dara in HS, and my Paul Newman love affair began. (The movie's awesome, too.) So read MHFY and then go watch SBOY, and have a hottie fest.
Thank you guys so much for always being a safe place. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3
For one, my visits to Goodreads have spiked like crazypants. How many people are reading it; how many people want to read it; is there a new review or rating... I've got to know! (Haha!)
And those reviews. So far they've all been pretty positive, which is super encouraging, but yanno. I'm bracing for the "not everyone's going to like your book" portion of the show. Talk about scary!
Up until now, I've been in the safe zone here with you all--where we always support each other and cheer each other on. Lift each other up when we're feeling down.
Post book release, though, I've had to leave the nest. I mean, if I'm serious about turning the writing hobby into a career.
As Dr. Q says, "You have to fish outside your backyard." (Awesome post on marketing, link.)
So for the last few weeks, I've been emailing, introducing myself to total strangers, and asking them if they'd like to read my book for review. It's pretty nerve-wracking.
But so far everyone's been really cool. Book bloggers really are the nicest folks.
And along the way, I've had these little pop-up shout-outs from you guys (Hart, Carolyn, Janet, Kari, Katie, Clarissa, Lydia, Angela, Mary, etc.) Those are the best surprises. It makes me feel like no matter what, we're still getting there. Figuring it out. Keeping each other going. ((hugs))
Get itWhile I'm sharing the love, oh, man. Have I got an awesome love story to share with you guys. I actually read this book about two weeks ago--literally in two sittings. It was just that amazing.My Heart For Yours, by Steph Campbell and Jolene Perry. (link)
First, I love the dual point of view--each chapter is either Tobin or Delia talking or remembering. (I love those names.) And I love the whole setup of the funeral bringing these two kids back together after a pretty harsh split.
Their resistance to seeing each other, to letting any feelings try and creep back in... They totally lose that battle, of course. And how they do is so great to read. You'll just be... *sigh*
Mr. Original #1 HottieIt's New Adult, so yanno. Age 17+. And--best part--it's all set in south Louisiana. (Yeah, it is!) So I got my home fix.I highly recommend this one. It's so good.
Y'all know I'm a classic movie buff. It reminded me of an old Paul Newman movie, Sweet Bird of Youth.
Oh, man. I watched that movie with my BFF Dara in HS, and my Paul Newman love affair began. (The movie's awesome, too.) So read MHFY and then go watch SBOY, and have a hottie fest.
Thank you guys so much for always being a safe place. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3
September 17, 2012
Review: The Mormon Diaries
First, HUGE Thanks to everyone who has (and is) helped(ing) me spread the word about my new book! (see sidebar)
Last week was bananas, but in the middle of it all, I read the most amazing new memoir.
Mormon Diaries is a collection of essays by a good writer-friend that chronicles her life-altering decision to leave that faith.
The essays first appeared during the A-Z Challenge last spring when I had to take a break to write/edit, and apparently they caused such an uproar, she had to disable her comments.
I missed it then, but this book should not be missed now. It's powerful.
First, the writing is gorgeous. In perfectly chosen language and passages, Stone describes her early feelings of doubt. Then as she matures, we experience her fear at questioning her faith, her struggles to be more devoted to her family and deny herself, and ultimately her break.
I'm telling you, the tale of Stone's journey is so evocative, despite my not knowing much about Mormonism, I had tears in my eyes reading.
For the uninitiated, she explains what certain practices mean and why they're significant. Religion can be so entwined in every aspect of our lives that change can be a huge risk. In Stone's case, her decision might ultimately cost her everything--mother, father, siblings... husband, children...
I won't give away the ending, but I will say you're left rooting for her. More importantly, you're rooting for all of us to find a place where it's safe to question entrenched belief systems. Where it's acceptable to have an experience with God that's different from your parents' or even your spouse's.
I highly recommend this book. Despite the title, it's more than a Mormon story. It's a story of how true devotion and true seeking can ultimately lead to real and lasting faith. It's a story of encouragement for anyone looking for answers.
Here's where you can get it:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
And if you have questions, Stone has set up an account on Twitter. Follow and ask Sophia Stone @ask_a_mormon.
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'll be around~ <3
Last week was bananas, but in the middle of it all, I read the most amazing new memoir.
Mormon Diaries is a collection of essays by a good writer-friend that chronicles her life-altering decision to leave that faith.The essays first appeared during the A-Z Challenge last spring when I had to take a break to write/edit, and apparently they caused such an uproar, she had to disable her comments.
I missed it then, but this book should not be missed now. It's powerful.
First, the writing is gorgeous. In perfectly chosen language and passages, Stone describes her early feelings of doubt. Then as she matures, we experience her fear at questioning her faith, her struggles to be more devoted to her family and deny herself, and ultimately her break.
I'm telling you, the tale of Stone's journey is so evocative, despite my not knowing much about Mormonism, I had tears in my eyes reading.
For the uninitiated, she explains what certain practices mean and why they're significant. Religion can be so entwined in every aspect of our lives that change can be a huge risk. In Stone's case, her decision might ultimately cost her everything--mother, father, siblings... husband, children...
I won't give away the ending, but I will say you're left rooting for her. More importantly, you're rooting for all of us to find a place where it's safe to question entrenched belief systems. Where it's acceptable to have an experience with God that's different from your parents' or even your spouse's.
I highly recommend this book. Despite the title, it's more than a Mormon story. It's a story of how true devotion and true seeking can ultimately lead to real and lasting faith. It's a story of encouragement for anyone looking for answers.
Here's where you can get it:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
And if you have questions, Stone has set up an account on Twitter. Follow and ask Sophia Stone @ask_a_mormon.
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'll be around~ <3
September 10, 2012
News & A Celebration!
You've probably heard what happened mid-last week. But if you didn't...
I released my debut YA romantic comedy THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING!
Y'all this has all come together so fast, my hair's still upside my head. Today, I'm being hilariously interviewed on hacky-sack buddy Janet's blog (link) . Stop by and win a free copy of my book!
Also I have shout-outs from the lovely Kari (link), the talented (also lovely) Jolene (link), AND the sneaky (and lovely) Carolyn (link) ! Please visit.
And Thank you! To Laura, Katie, Elle, and all who've posted reviews and shout-outs already.
I tell you, this has been the most exciting, nerve-wracking publishing stunt I've pulled yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, if you're looking for my book, it's everywhere. Print will soon be available as well. I'm on Goodreads (link) , and links for purchase are here:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords
Now for the Celebration! (*throws confetti*)
One of my sweetest, longtime bloggy friends
Sheri Larsen (link)
just signed with Literary Agent Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary!
And because our literary community is so freaking fabulous and generous, she's having a Bigger-Than-A-Shopping-Mall GIVEAWAY!!
The giveaway consists of:
two separate Rafflecopters with multiple giveaways and one grand prize Rafflecopter giveaway - to enter for the grand prize, you must enter either giveaway #1, #2, or both. There's only one mandatory entry. Everything else is up to you!!
The giveaway is open until September 27th. WINNERS will be announced on September 28th. (Entrants may win more than one prize!)
Thank you so much for entering and celebrating with Sheri (& me)!
List of Rocking Participants: Lenny Lee, Colene Murphy, LM Preston, Darby Karchut, Joanne Brothwell, Patti Larsen, Christine Fonseca,Catherine Stine, Jessica Bell, Kelly Hashway, Leigh Moore, Christine Danek, Alex Cavanaugh, Katie Mills, Matthew MacNish, Beverly McClure,Marcy Hatch, Jennifer Million, Nicole Zoltack, Christina Lee, Kris Yankee, JL Spelbring, Sharon Mayhew, Candice Granger, Dianne Salerni, Lisa & Laura Roecker, Elana Johnson, Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, Susan Kaye Quinn, Lydia Kang, Julie Musil, Natalie Agurrie, Talli Roland,Medeia Sharif, Kelly Polark, Angela Brown, Sarah Fine, Stina Lindenblatt, Lynda Young, Susan Fields, PK Hrezo, Shannon O'Donnell, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Theresa Brown Milstein.
Links to Rafflecopters:
Giveaway #1 - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2 - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grand Prize Giveaway - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations, Sheri!!! So excited for you, and I can't wait to see your books on the shelf!
There's so much awesomeness going on right now. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3
I released my debut YA romantic comedy THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING!
Y'all this has all come together so fast, my hair's still upside my head. Today, I'm being hilariously interviewed on hacky-sack buddy Janet's blog (link) . Stop by and win a free copy of my book!
Also I have shout-outs from the lovely Kari (link), the talented (also lovely) Jolene (link), AND the sneaky (and lovely) Carolyn (link) ! Please visit.
And Thank you! To Laura, Katie, Elle, and all who've posted reviews and shout-outs already.
I tell you, this has been the most exciting, nerve-wracking publishing stunt I've pulled yet, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, if you're looking for my book, it's everywhere. Print will soon be available as well. I'm on Goodreads (link) , and links for purchase are here:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords
Now for the Celebration! (*throws confetti*)
One of my sweetest, longtime bloggy friends
Sheri Larsen (link)
just signed with Literary Agent Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary! And because our literary community is so freaking fabulous and generous, she's having a Bigger-Than-A-Shopping-Mall GIVEAWAY!!
The giveaway consists of:
two separate Rafflecopters with multiple giveaways and one grand prize Rafflecopter giveaway - to enter for the grand prize, you must enter either giveaway #1, #2, or both. There's only one mandatory entry. Everything else is up to you!!
The giveaway is open until September 27th. WINNERS will be announced on September 28th. (Entrants may win more than one prize!)
Thank you so much for entering and celebrating with Sheri (& me)!
List of Rocking Participants: Lenny Lee, Colene Murphy, LM Preston, Darby Karchut, Joanne Brothwell, Patti Larsen, Christine Fonseca,Catherine Stine, Jessica Bell, Kelly Hashway, Leigh Moore, Christine Danek, Alex Cavanaugh, Katie Mills, Matthew MacNish, Beverly McClure,Marcy Hatch, Jennifer Million, Nicole Zoltack, Christina Lee, Kris Yankee, JL Spelbring, Sharon Mayhew, Candice Granger, Dianne Salerni, Lisa & Laura Roecker, Elana Johnson, Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, Susan Kaye Quinn, Lydia Kang, Julie Musil, Natalie Agurrie, Talli Roland,Medeia Sharif, Kelly Polark, Angela Brown, Sarah Fine, Stina Lindenblatt, Lynda Young, Susan Fields, PK Hrezo, Shannon O'Donnell, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Theresa Brown Milstein.
Links to Rafflecopters:
Giveaway #1 - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2 - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grand Prize Giveaway - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations, Sheri!!! So excited for you, and I can't wait to see your books on the shelf!
There's so much awesomeness going on right now. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3
September 3, 2012
Announcement, FLASH Reviews, & A Happy Place Gets Ugly
Happy Labor Day!
I don't know about you, but this time of year always feels really busy to me. Since school started Aug. 6, I've edited four books, read two, and I've started the process on what will be my Big Announcement...
I'm going to self-publish a book. (I know!)
In 2010, I wrote a book that got me my first offer of representation. I went with a different agent, who ultimately couldn't sell the book, but she liked it so much, she actually encouraged me to self-publish it.
So with much nail-chewing and hand-wringing, I'm doing it! And I can't say thank you enough to my writer-friends Susan Quinn (link) and Jolene Perry (link) for encouraging me, answering too many emails from me, and basically pulling/pushing me through my nerves.
These two ladies are not just excellent writers and amazing critique partners, they're the best kind of friends. AND they have excellent resources for indie authors on their blogs! I strongly encourage you to get to know them.
I'll show you covers, give blurbs, etc., as it evolves. My goal is to have it out in the next month or so, and of course, I'll give you all the play by play as the process unfolds. And as I have serious karmic payback to do, ask me questions! I'll try to answer them.
Now for the Flash Reviews!
In the middle of all that, I could not stop reading two books, so you know they're awesome.
STAY by Deb Caletti (link)
I discovered Deb (it's like we're friends) back in 2010 when I was working on my soon-to-be-indie book, and fell in love with her writing. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart had me laughing and crying by like Chapter 3. (The church sign? The dad and the carseat?)
But I also had issues with her stories. I didn't care for The Secret Life of Prince Charming very much, so I was slow to read Stay. Mistake! This book was almost impossible to put down.
From the start, it's magnetic with Clara seeing Christian in the gym. But it's told "after the fact." Something bad has happened, and she's hiding out with her dad at the beach, shell-shocked and paranoid.
I love all the characters in Stay, and though (again) I had an issue with how a certain situation was handled, I highly recommend reading this one!
KNEE DEEP by Jolene Perry (link)
This is the first book I've read by my good friend Jolene up there, and I picked it up because we were talking about Stay, and she mentioned she'd written a book about an abusive relationship.
I wasn't sure I wanted to read it just yet because, well, bad boyfriend overload! But I got it, thinking I'd just dip into the beginning and if it got too intense, I'd put it aside and recover with a Sweet Valley High book or something.
I started reading and could not put it down.
Ronnie's first boyfriend is her neighbor Shawn. He's her first "peanut butter kiss" (love that), he's runaway trips to the beach... but his family moves away. The two keep in touch through letters and occasional family trips, until he moves back.
But a different guy seems to have returned from the one who left. Shawn's family is troubled, and he's picked up some bad (and painful) habits. Ronnie can't seem to let go of the boy she remembers, but she has to before it's too late.
Knee Deep had me smiling, crying, angry, but I had to find out what happened. Awesome characters, fantastic chemistry, great writing--you will love this book.
Finally, what's this about a happy place turned ugly? Well, it falls under the heading, "Say It Isn't So."
In my self-publishing research, I've uncovered an issue that has shocked, angered, and kind of scared me. In the past year, I've heard some of my indie-writer-friends talk about reviewers on Goodreads. And I've seen warnings along the lines of "never engage with reviewers."
Good or bad?At first I was like, "Yeah, that's true. If you get a negative review, you just have to take your lumps with grace. It stings, but not everybody's going to like your book."
Lately, I've heard something more sinister is happening. I've been told there's this cabal on GR targeting authors and basically killing books (and careers) with low ratings and nasty, sometimes ad hominem reviews.
And I've been told it can be over things like giving a low rating to one of their friends' books.
Is this true, writer-friends? Have any of you bumped into this?
Being a book lover, book reviewer, former journalist, and founder of a book club, I can't believe this is happening--or being allowed to happen. One of my favorite things is talking books, freely and openly. And I still want to believe that if a book's really good, no amount of meanness can kill it.
But I'm new. And I have no reason not to believe the source of this information.
It makes me wonder if I even want to be on GR, and that's just sad. GR can be such a useful tool. And it's really impossible for an author to avoid--anyone can make a GR page for your book.
If this really is happening, can anything be done? Are any of my writer-friends taking steps to guard against it? What? and Why or Why not?
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! Time to hit it. <3
I don't know about you, but this time of year always feels really busy to me. Since school started Aug. 6, I've edited four books, read two, and I've started the process on what will be my Big Announcement...
I'm going to self-publish a book. (I know!)
In 2010, I wrote a book that got me my first offer of representation. I went with a different agent, who ultimately couldn't sell the book, but she liked it so much, she actually encouraged me to self-publish it.
So with much nail-chewing and hand-wringing, I'm doing it! And I can't say thank you enough to my writer-friends Susan Quinn (link) and Jolene Perry (link) for encouraging me, answering too many emails from me, and basically pulling/pushing me through my nerves.
These two ladies are not just excellent writers and amazing critique partners, they're the best kind of friends. AND they have excellent resources for indie authors on their blogs! I strongly encourage you to get to know them.
I'll show you covers, give blurbs, etc., as it evolves. My goal is to have it out in the next month or so, and of course, I'll give you all the play by play as the process unfolds. And as I have serious karmic payback to do, ask me questions! I'll try to answer them.
Now for the Flash Reviews!
In the middle of all that, I could not stop reading two books, so you know they're awesome.
STAY by Deb Caletti (link)
I discovered Deb (it's like we're friends) back in 2010 when I was working on my soon-to-be-indie book, and fell in love with her writing. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart had me laughing and crying by like Chapter 3. (The church sign? The dad and the carseat?)But I also had issues with her stories. I didn't care for The Secret Life of Prince Charming very much, so I was slow to read Stay. Mistake! This book was almost impossible to put down.
From the start, it's magnetic with Clara seeing Christian in the gym. But it's told "after the fact." Something bad has happened, and she's hiding out with her dad at the beach, shell-shocked and paranoid.
I love all the characters in Stay, and though (again) I had an issue with how a certain situation was handled, I highly recommend reading this one!
KNEE DEEP by Jolene Perry (link)
This is the first book I've read by my good friend Jolene up there, and I picked it up because we were talking about Stay, and she mentioned she'd written a book about an abusive relationship.I wasn't sure I wanted to read it just yet because, well, bad boyfriend overload! But I got it, thinking I'd just dip into the beginning and if it got too intense, I'd put it aside and recover with a Sweet Valley High book or something.
I started reading and could not put it down.
Ronnie's first boyfriend is her neighbor Shawn. He's her first "peanut butter kiss" (love that), he's runaway trips to the beach... but his family moves away. The two keep in touch through letters and occasional family trips, until he moves back.
But a different guy seems to have returned from the one who left. Shawn's family is troubled, and he's picked up some bad (and painful) habits. Ronnie can't seem to let go of the boy she remembers, but she has to before it's too late.
Knee Deep had me smiling, crying, angry, but I had to find out what happened. Awesome characters, fantastic chemistry, great writing--you will love this book.
Finally, what's this about a happy place turned ugly? Well, it falls under the heading, "Say It Isn't So."
In my self-publishing research, I've uncovered an issue that has shocked, angered, and kind of scared me. In the past year, I've heard some of my indie-writer-friends talk about reviewers on Goodreads. And I've seen warnings along the lines of "never engage with reviewers."
Good or bad?At first I was like, "Yeah, that's true. If you get a negative review, you just have to take your lumps with grace. It stings, but not everybody's going to like your book."Lately, I've heard something more sinister is happening. I've been told there's this cabal on GR targeting authors and basically killing books (and careers) with low ratings and nasty, sometimes ad hominem reviews.
And I've been told it can be over things like giving a low rating to one of their friends' books.
Is this true, writer-friends? Have any of you bumped into this?
Being a book lover, book reviewer, former journalist, and founder of a book club, I can't believe this is happening--or being allowed to happen. One of my favorite things is talking books, freely and openly. And I still want to believe that if a book's really good, no amount of meanness can kill it.
But I'm new. And I have no reason not to believe the source of this information.
It makes me wonder if I even want to be on GR, and that's just sad. GR can be such a useful tool. And it's really impossible for an author to avoid--anyone can make a GR page for your book.
If this really is happening, can anything be done? Are any of my writer-friends taking steps to guard against it? What? and Why or Why not?
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! Time to hit it. <3
August 27, 2012
EASY Review & interview with Tammara Webber
Awesome writer-friend
Jolene Perry (link)
told me about
Tammara Webber (link)
's mature YA/New Adult novel EASY back in July, and I ran and got it at once. I knew Jolene and I share a similar taste in books and a crazy-love of contemporary YA.
Get it!What I didn't know is that EASY is an indie book, and since July it has become a New York Times bestseller! Rock On, Tammara!
It's well-deserved. Not even a pending beach trip could tear me away from this book. JRM arrived ready to load up the car, and I looked like the cat who'd eaten the canary. I'd spent the entire morning clicking at lightening speed and hadn't packed a thing. I couldn't stop reading!
EASY is exciting, romantic, H-O-T!, heartbreaking, it has a great message... It's so good, I sent a silly, fan-girl email to Tammara, and she's just as cool as you'd expect.
Here's the Brief Summary: Jacqueline follows her high school boyfriend to the college of his choice, and then he dumps her, basically so he'll be free to bang coeds. (Loved that line!) Then leaving a frat party one night, she's attacked and almost raped until a mystery guy shows up and beats up her attacker. (Nice.) She's pretty shook up, then she realizes her "hero" Lucas is in one of her classes. Ultimately, they start talking, then they run into each other out, then they swap telephone numbers...
But Lucas has a few secrets of his own that could seriously throw a wrench in their budding romance.
I'll say no more. Except here are the links where you can buy it for $3.99 (a steal!):
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBookstore ~ Kobo ~ Book Depository
And I'm so excited to have Tammara here today. Now for our Interview!
1-So I discovered EASY via word of mouth, but this is not your first book! Tell us a little bit about how long you've been writing and your other books.
I've been writing forever, but I didn't attempt a novel until age 19. I wrote three "shelf novels" (including that first, not-quite-finished novel) before I wrote Between the Lines (link). I went the typical querying/pitching at conferences route with that manuscript, and was unsuccessful.
In the meantime, I wrote a second book in the series. At that point, I decided I didn't have anything to lose by self-pubbing through Amazon, which I was urged (read: nagged endlessly) to do by my best friend, who isn't a writer. Eventually, I added Barnes & Noble, then iBookstore, and most recently, Kobo. There are three books in the Between the Lines series, and I'm writing a fourth (final) book that should be out in spring 2013.
2-EASY deals with a tough topic--rape, or in this case, attempted rape--and the story incorporates teaching girls to protect themselves through the main character's search for ways to protect herself. What made you decide to tackle this subject?
I've spent most of my adult life on a college campus, so I'm more aware than the general public seems to be about how prevalent this type of rape is. It is seldom reported, and when it is reported, it seldom makes it to prosecution. Of the instances I know of, not a single person reported. In every case, this was because the victim believed that she was at fault, when really, at most, there was faulty judgment.
There is no excuse, ever. I want girls and women to stop blaming themselves (and worse, each other) for something that is the fault of the perpetrator alone.
3-With EASY, you've become a New York Times bestselling indie author. And I say Super-congrats to you! I know you have an agent now to handle your foreign and subsidiary rights, but tell us about going independent. Would you recommend it? Any big tip(s) for those considering it?
The reasons for indie publishing vary from author to author. What works for one might not work for another. I used Amanda Hocking's experience as a sort of guide, but the landscape of indie publishing has changed a lot in the 2.5 years since she began publishing her books online. I had to tailor what had worked for her to the different landscape I encountered a little over a year after she'd done it, and authors now can use what I did loosely, but it has changed since then, and is constantly changing.
TammaraThere's luck and timing involved, too, and those are difficult or impossible to nail, even with careful planning. I would say be prepared to work hard, to change what doesn't work for your book/books, and to invest what you can to produce a professional product. Don't assume that because you don't have the same resources as traditionally published authors or because you charge less, you can get away with a lesser product. Readers don't care. They just want good books.
4-There's been heaps of debate recently over the changing face of publishing. Commentators like to note how bestselling indies like Amanda Hocking end up signing traditional contracts once they "make it." What are your thoughts on all this and that? Do you see yourself going traditional now or in the future?
As for traditional v. indie, I seriously doubt that Amanda Hocking was the first to accept a traditional contract after self-pubbing. She's just the first to get a major publishing contract. I've never, ever been on one side of this debate or the other. The point is to create a career for yourself as an author however you see fit and in whatever way is comfortable for you. For me, that means any and all combinations as I see fit. Standing staunchly on one side or the other is shooting yourself in the foot, in my opinion. The key is that there are now options -- and how cool is that?
Yes, Amanda Hocking got a seven-figure advance (and her agent got a cut of that). Everyone seems to forget that at the beginning of her career, she obviously wanted to see her books on a bookstore shelf. She queried like crazy, and like most writers, she couldn't get a taker. But she was smart enough to compromise when it looked like it was self-publish or nothing. The first "compromise" she made WAS self-publishing. The best part is that before she got that big contract with St. Martin's, she'd already made an amount of money equal to that contract all by herself! THAT is her biggest success. It's awesome that she was able to say to a Big Six publisher, "Oh, now you want to pay me seven figures to give me what I wanted a couple of years ago? Okay."
Publishers haven't survived as long as they have without gaining enough market savvy to figure out the value of a writer who is capable of finding a willing, paying market without the backing of a publisher. What they do after finding and retaining that someone is the do-or-die point. Successful indie authors play with all sorts of factors. We change covers, descriptions, price. We know that what sells books is word of mouth. We use those factors, along with good writing and good presentation, to our best selling advantage, hopefully.
When publishers take over the product, they must be careful of messing too much with what is working. If they change the cover, revise the story, and increase the price too much, all the product recognition the author has worked for -- successfully -- is tossed out the window.
Very awesome information, and great advice. Thanks so much for stopping by, Tammara! And best to you in your continued writing career!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
Get it!What I didn't know is that EASY is an indie book, and since July it has become a New York Times bestseller! Rock On, Tammara!It's well-deserved. Not even a pending beach trip could tear me away from this book. JRM arrived ready to load up the car, and I looked like the cat who'd eaten the canary. I'd spent the entire morning clicking at lightening speed and hadn't packed a thing. I couldn't stop reading!
EASY is exciting, romantic, H-O-T!, heartbreaking, it has a great message... It's so good, I sent a silly, fan-girl email to Tammara, and she's just as cool as you'd expect.
Here's the Brief Summary: Jacqueline follows her high school boyfriend to the college of his choice, and then he dumps her, basically so he'll be free to bang coeds. (Loved that line!) Then leaving a frat party one night, she's attacked and almost raped until a mystery guy shows up and beats up her attacker. (Nice.) She's pretty shook up, then she realizes her "hero" Lucas is in one of her classes. Ultimately, they start talking, then they run into each other out, then they swap telephone numbers...
But Lucas has a few secrets of his own that could seriously throw a wrench in their budding romance.
I'll say no more. Except here are the links where you can buy it for $3.99 (a steal!):
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBookstore ~ Kobo ~ Book Depository
And I'm so excited to have Tammara here today. Now for our Interview!
1-So I discovered EASY via word of mouth, but this is not your first book! Tell us a little bit about how long you've been writing and your other books.
I've been writing forever, but I didn't attempt a novel until age 19. I wrote three "shelf novels" (including that first, not-quite-finished novel) before I wrote Between the Lines (link). I went the typical querying/pitching at conferences route with that manuscript, and was unsuccessful.
In the meantime, I wrote a second book in the series. At that point, I decided I didn't have anything to lose by self-pubbing through Amazon, which I was urged (read: nagged endlessly) to do by my best friend, who isn't a writer. Eventually, I added Barnes & Noble, then iBookstore, and most recently, Kobo. There are three books in the Between the Lines series, and I'm writing a fourth (final) book that should be out in spring 2013.
2-EASY deals with a tough topic--rape, or in this case, attempted rape--and the story incorporates teaching girls to protect themselves through the main character's search for ways to protect herself. What made you decide to tackle this subject?
I've spent most of my adult life on a college campus, so I'm more aware than the general public seems to be about how prevalent this type of rape is. It is seldom reported, and when it is reported, it seldom makes it to prosecution. Of the instances I know of, not a single person reported. In every case, this was because the victim believed that she was at fault, when really, at most, there was faulty judgment.
There is no excuse, ever. I want girls and women to stop blaming themselves (and worse, each other) for something that is the fault of the perpetrator alone.
3-With EASY, you've become a New York Times bestselling indie author. And I say Super-congrats to you! I know you have an agent now to handle your foreign and subsidiary rights, but tell us about going independent. Would you recommend it? Any big tip(s) for those considering it?
The reasons for indie publishing vary from author to author. What works for one might not work for another. I used Amanda Hocking's experience as a sort of guide, but the landscape of indie publishing has changed a lot in the 2.5 years since she began publishing her books online. I had to tailor what had worked for her to the different landscape I encountered a little over a year after she'd done it, and authors now can use what I did loosely, but it has changed since then, and is constantly changing.
TammaraThere's luck and timing involved, too, and those are difficult or impossible to nail, even with careful planning. I would say be prepared to work hard, to change what doesn't work for your book/books, and to invest what you can to produce a professional product. Don't assume that because you don't have the same resources as traditionally published authors or because you charge less, you can get away with a lesser product. Readers don't care. They just want good books.4-There's been heaps of debate recently over the changing face of publishing. Commentators like to note how bestselling indies like Amanda Hocking end up signing traditional contracts once they "make it." What are your thoughts on all this and that? Do you see yourself going traditional now or in the future?
As for traditional v. indie, I seriously doubt that Amanda Hocking was the first to accept a traditional contract after self-pubbing. She's just the first to get a major publishing contract. I've never, ever been on one side of this debate or the other. The point is to create a career for yourself as an author however you see fit and in whatever way is comfortable for you. For me, that means any and all combinations as I see fit. Standing staunchly on one side or the other is shooting yourself in the foot, in my opinion. The key is that there are now options -- and how cool is that?
Yes, Amanda Hocking got a seven-figure advance (and her agent got a cut of that). Everyone seems to forget that at the beginning of her career, she obviously wanted to see her books on a bookstore shelf. She queried like crazy, and like most writers, she couldn't get a taker. But she was smart enough to compromise when it looked like it was self-publish or nothing. The first "compromise" she made WAS self-publishing. The best part is that before she got that big contract with St. Martin's, she'd already made an amount of money equal to that contract all by herself! THAT is her biggest success. It's awesome that she was able to say to a Big Six publisher, "Oh, now you want to pay me seven figures to give me what I wanted a couple of years ago? Okay."
Publishers haven't survived as long as they have without gaining enough market savvy to figure out the value of a writer who is capable of finding a willing, paying market without the backing of a publisher. What they do after finding and retaining that someone is the do-or-die point. Successful indie authors play with all sorts of factors. We change covers, descriptions, price. We know that what sells books is word of mouth. We use those factors, along with good writing and good presentation, to our best selling advantage, hopefully.
When publishers take over the product, they must be careful of messing too much with what is working. If they change the cover, revise the story, and increase the price too much, all the product recognition the author has worked for -- successfully -- is tossed out the window.
Very awesome information, and great advice. Thanks so much for stopping by, Tammara! And best to you in your continued writing career!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3
August 22, 2012
Old Schedules and Old Attitudes
Hey, so I'm still knee deep in editing, but I realized when I looked at the calendar... Summer's over!
That's kind of sad. But it means I'll have more time to write, make the rounds, and I'll be returning to my usual (old) blog schedule of Monday posts.
I switched to Wednesdays for the summer so I could take part in The Kindness Project, led by awesome bloggy friend Carol Miller (link) .
TKP is actually on the verge of an interesting transformation that I'm excited to join, but for now, I'll be back to Mondays with some good info, some new authors, some thoughts, some randomness.
In the meantime, I was thinking about all the hullabaloo over Sue Grafton's comments about indie authors (link) . Basically, she compared them to amateur pianists who learned Five Easy Pieces and then expected to be allowed to play Carnegie Hall.
She was coming down on the side of traditional publishing, talking about learning the craft, and pretty much saying indie authors had no validity in the literary world.
I used to have that (old) attitude. I used to think self-publishing was for people who didn't know what they were doing, who didn't understand the importance of editors and quality control, and who just wanted to skip the dues-paying and go straight to the head of the class. I used to think it didn't "count."
I don't feel that way anymore.
I've read too many really good indie books in the past year, and I know too many indie authors who are smart, who are committed to craft, who are hiring editors, and who are invested in putting out quality products.
They're also making a living, and they're remembering why they love what we do: getting their books into the hands of readers.
A few writer-friends and I were chatting yesterday, and we discussed how novel writing seems to be the one creative field that punishes the independent artist. In music, movies, painting, etc., indies are praised as revolutionary. Visionary. Somehow more creative than their traditional counterparts.
It's interesting. Our world is evolving. What do you guys think?
See you Monday! Have a great weekend, reader- and writer-friends! >
That's kind of sad. But it means I'll have more time to write, make the rounds, and I'll be returning to my usual (old) blog schedule of Monday posts.
I switched to Wednesdays for the summer so I could take part in The Kindness Project, led by awesome bloggy friend Carol Miller (link) .
TKP is actually on the verge of an interesting transformation that I'm excited to join, but for now, I'll be back to Mondays with some good info, some new authors, some thoughts, some randomness.
In the meantime, I was thinking about all the hullabaloo over Sue Grafton's comments about indie authors (link) . Basically, she compared them to amateur pianists who learned Five Easy Pieces and then expected to be allowed to play Carnegie Hall.
She was coming down on the side of traditional publishing, talking about learning the craft, and pretty much saying indie authors had no validity in the literary world.
I used to have that (old) attitude. I used to think self-publishing was for people who didn't know what they were doing, who didn't understand the importance of editors and quality control, and who just wanted to skip the dues-paying and go straight to the head of the class. I used to think it didn't "count."
I don't feel that way anymore.
I've read too many really good indie books in the past year, and I know too many indie authors who are smart, who are committed to craft, who are hiring editors, and who are invested in putting out quality products.
They're also making a living, and they're remembering why they love what we do: getting their books into the hands of readers.
A few writer-friends and I were chatting yesterday, and we discussed how novel writing seems to be the one creative field that punishes the independent artist. In music, movies, painting, etc., indies are praised as revolutionary. Visionary. Somehow more creative than their traditional counterparts.
It's interesting. Our world is evolving. What do you guys think?
See you Monday! Have a great weekend, reader- and writer-friends! >
