Sarah Gerdes's Blog - Posts Tagged "writer"
The finishing touches
Christmas is supposed to be the time for great food, good friends and lots of relaxation. Not so for me. Black plague-like sickness within the house wiped us all out for twelve days, roughly the day school got out and rog conveniently had a hockey game. We blame it on the hockey game, as Rog got it first, then me, then one of my daughters.
But I digress. This isn't really about death and destruction It's about finishing up the indexing and final review/approval for Author Straight Talk, the book that both my agent and editor is going to polarize me like Hillary Clinton.
That is not a good way to enter 2018. But here's the comments, directly from my editor.
"On one hand, editors and agents are going to hate you for writing this, because it takes the mystery out of the process. On the other hand, they will love you because you are making their life easier--if the readers listen and apply what you write, then I'll be getting better submissions on my desk."
I pondered this when she said it. Ok, I thought. I'm going to make them grumpy because the prospective author will be able to better negotiate for him/herself. This isn't to win me any friends, but then, I live in Idaho now. Moose are easier to find than friends.
Then she added this line: "aspiring authors may love and hate you as well, because you are giving your experience, across the board, instead of offering up a collection of others' examples.
Well, that's the point. No authors I know were willing to give up their financial figures, or go on the record about the ins and outs of the business, nor excited at the prospect of sharing their missteps or failures. The only person I could talk about was me--drawing in the examples of a few others who would go on the record but not always by name.
That's the beauty and the beast of AST. It's all I wanted to know when I was starting out that non one would talk about it. I might not always have listened, but at least I would have had the option.Author Straight Talk
But I digress. This isn't really about death and destruction It's about finishing up the indexing and final review/approval for Author Straight Talk, the book that both my agent and editor is going to polarize me like Hillary Clinton.
That is not a good way to enter 2018. But here's the comments, directly from my editor.
"On one hand, editors and agents are going to hate you for writing this, because it takes the mystery out of the process. On the other hand, they will love you because you are making their life easier--if the readers listen and apply what you write, then I'll be getting better submissions on my desk."
I pondered this when she said it. Ok, I thought. I'm going to make them grumpy because the prospective author will be able to better negotiate for him/herself. This isn't to win me any friends, but then, I live in Idaho now. Moose are easier to find than friends.
Then she added this line: "aspiring authors may love and hate you as well, because you are giving your experience, across the board, instead of offering up a collection of others' examples.
Well, that's the point. No authors I know were willing to give up their financial figures, or go on the record about the ins and outs of the business, nor excited at the prospect of sharing their missteps or failures. The only person I could talk about was me--drawing in the examples of a few others who would go on the record but not always by name.
That's the beauty and the beast of AST. It's all I wanted to know when I was starting out that non one would talk about it. I might not always have listened, but at least I would have had the option.Author Straight Talk
Swept Away with Romance Bundle starts in 3 days
Coming up in 3 days, the Swept Away with Romance bundle of eBooks, all books are 0-.99 cents. That means Made for Me is discounted from 6.99. One week only, and don't forget to sign up for a $50 giveaway. the link will be live in 3 days on my Facebook page (sarah gerdes author). follow me for immediate updates
Author 4 Aspiring Authors
Only kids ask point blank how much money I make, if I know Tom Cruise, what's it like to be stalked, and does another book need to be written?
Adults ask much more pragmatic questions like:
How do I get an agent? Do I really have to pay 15% commission and are four types of editors truly necessary to publish a book?
These questions and, oh, about 180 others are answered in Author Straight Talk: the possibilities, pitfall's, how-to's and tribal knowledge from someone who knows.
I promised myself if I ever got to the point of success that I'd pause long enough to put down everything I'd experienced in order to save another (potentially better) writer years of angst, money and rejection. Now I've done it. Yes, it took all summer and fall, but it was worth it.
I'll be running promos and magnets (links that allow free downloads) to get things rolling, but for now, it's out and available. And yes, I published it under my own imprint. The publishers were a wee-bitty pissed off (according to my agent) that I wasn't pulling the curtain back on the kimono. I essentially stripped the kimono bare...and that's the point. As one editor at a top five publishing house said to me: "You are going to make a lot of people mad, because it will be harder to negotiate with agents and authors now, but in the long run, you will make our (the acquisitions editor) lives easier, because the submitted manuscripts will be better and the author more educated."
My personal belief is that all readers are potential authors. If you know or suspect an author may be lurking amongst your friends or relatives, send the link along, or have them follow me here or on my own FB page so they can read the eBook version free. (reviews are always welcome and encouraged a'course).
Author Straight Talk
Happy Wednesday!
Adults ask much more pragmatic questions like:
How do I get an agent? Do I really have to pay 15% commission and are four types of editors truly necessary to publish a book?
These questions and, oh, about 180 others are answered in Author Straight Talk: the possibilities, pitfall's, how-to's and tribal knowledge from someone who knows.
I promised myself if I ever got to the point of success that I'd pause long enough to put down everything I'd experienced in order to save another (potentially better) writer years of angst, money and rejection. Now I've done it. Yes, it took all summer and fall, but it was worth it.
I'll be running promos and magnets (links that allow free downloads) to get things rolling, but for now, it's out and available. And yes, I published it under my own imprint. The publishers were a wee-bitty pissed off (according to my agent) that I wasn't pulling the curtain back on the kimono. I essentially stripped the kimono bare...and that's the point. As one editor at a top five publishing house said to me: "You are going to make a lot of people mad, because it will be harder to negotiate with agents and authors now, but in the long run, you will make our (the acquisitions editor) lives easier, because the submitted manuscripts will be better and the author more educated."
My personal belief is that all readers are potential authors. If you know or suspect an author may be lurking amongst your friends or relatives, send the link along, or have them follow me here or on my own FB page so they can read the eBook version free. (reviews are always welcome and encouraged a'course).
Author Straight Talk
Happy Wednesday!
A free book?
Hi blog followers,
I found five books of A Convenient Date, first edition--it has a few errors (like typos) as most first editions have...I'd hate to chuck them. (print versions are $14.95) If you are interested in a signed copy, drop me a line directly and I'll send it out:) (I always love giving the GR ppl first shot) Thanks!
I found five books of A Convenient Date, first edition--it has a few errors (like typos) as most first editions have...I'd hate to chuck them. (print versions are $14.95) If you are interested in a signed copy, drop me a line directly and I'll send it out:) (I always love giving the GR ppl first shot) Thanks!
Summer romance promo
Publisher promo starting Memorial Day---chance to win $400 and get deeply discounted or free Summer Romance books...https://mybookcave.com/retailer-group...
Included in this promo is Made for Me, book one in the Danielle Grant series, and one my playlists. Download the ebook and read along with the video on youtube!
Included in this promo is Made for Me, book one in the Danielle Grant series, and one my playlists. Download the ebook and read along with the video on youtube!
