Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Mar 08, 2013)

Suzanne’s comments from the Ask Suzanne Palmieri group.

HA! I probably should have given you the credit for making me think of this question!!!!!!!!! I used to ache over waiting for a new Stephen king to come out. JUST ACHE.


Erica wrote: "You already know how much I hate waiting for a book to come out because I just told you.

Prior to Goodreads, I'd keep up with authors via their websites or with their publishers or whatever they h..."

Hello! So the next thing I was wondering about other writers and readers (and I'm both of those!) is how we feel about publishing and waiting. If you are a writer, and you choose traditional publishing as I have, it usually takes about 18 months from the accepted manuscript to end up on the shelves. While I wait, I write! What do you do? Also, for you writers who are still in the query trenches, are you waiting on news about your novel, or are you working on a new project?

This next question is for readers. When you've read a book and fallen in love with it, only to find out that the next book by the author won't be out for another year (or more...) do you forget about that author? Or are you just as excited when that next book comes out? I can't wait to hear your answers!

Aurora wrote: "I still haven't finished writing the story, and I'm not sure if I'm halfway done or not. I'm more of curious about trying to get the book published, what would I need to do and so forth. If you'd l..."
Hi Aurora! This is wonderful, that you are writing. I'm SO burried with revisions and new novels right now, I'm not even able to read for PLEASURE (which is killing me). But, I do want you to know something SO important when it comes to publishing. Don't write to get published. I know, I know... it's so easy to say from the place where I am, right? But I mean it. The second I said to myself (after many, many rejections....) "You know what? I'm going to write for the JOY of it and enjoy these stories... It would be wonderful to get published someday, but if I'm being honest? I'd write no matter what." That day? That's the day I began writing the book that got me the agent that got me the FOUR BOOKS SOLD IN ONE DAY. So, I guess I'm trying to say... do it for you. Do it for joy. Don't think about publishing until you think it's done. THEN? Then? Email me. XOXOXOXOXO

Adriana wrote: "This may be too personal, but I'll ask it anyway -- how much of the story is based on your own life? They say write about what you know, but how much of ourselves should we put into our stories? Wh..."
I don't think I knew when I was writing it, HOW much of my life was actually being explored. But now? I see my own Great Aunts and My Gram. I remember what it felt like to be pregnant and alone. Most fiction is real... and we have to draw from something. I'm certainly nothing like Elly... but the feelings are there. Does that make sense?

This is such a hard question to answer. It's a very individual thing. I don't think any of my books are ever ready. But, with each novel I learn how to write better... So, you just have to let go of it at some point and say "I'll try to fix that problem in my new novel. Now, about where to begin? First I need to know where you are!!!! Are you currently writing? Finished a book? Or do you want to write one and don't know how to start? Let me know!!!! I'll help you.

Interesting!!! I suppose the reason is that it wrote itself that way. But, if you think about it... It's really long. Mama and the family spent so many years worrying about it. Did this answer your question? If not, I'll give it some more thought. Great question!!!!

Hi!!! I will be in Florida over the summer... But so far no Texas events. If they happen I'll let you know!

John wrote: "Ah, awesome to hear! Clearly you're a fantastic writer if you got so much interest all along. :-)

And NOW, after all that, your release is only a couple weeks away!!!!"
It is surreal. And if I wasn't SO caught up in my current novel, I'd actually be sweating it! But we are always moving forward, getting better at what we do. Looking at the next story to tell. At least, that's how I'm looking at it!

John wrote: "That's an incredibly cruel answer. But okay, next question: tell us about your query woes! How long did it last, how many queries did you send, etc.?"

HA! Sorry... okay. I wrote my first novel in 2008. I queried 200+ agents (over time. I didn't blanket query) I was solidly rejected, even though now, in retrospect I had a lot of luck. Many agents asked for partial and full MS's of that novel. Two (quite good) agents asked me to revise. But in the end, I was already on another project so I put that book in the "Trunk". THEN with my second novel I queried 170+ agents. Again, carefully. I don't think people realize how many agents are out there. I had good luck with that novel. Many wonderful agents read and gave feedback. I got an offer, and signed a contract.
Book wasn't right. I felt funny. Terminated contract. Started over. On Jan 31st 2010 I sent out 11 queries to agents who had asked to see future work. Almost all of them asked for full MS's. Multiple offers, one agent. Anne Bohner. She ended up (in September of 2011) selling FOUR novels in one day. (Two, two book deals--not series-- to two publishing houses) Those, love, are my stats.

Never give up. Write the story that sings to you.

Hi! So, there is a place here to list events, but I have to do it manually and it's like... hard. My publicists over at Saint Martin's Press have put together, here on Goodreads and elsewhere, a list. Here is the link. Most of these events are in CT, but all over the state. Some nearer to NYC, some nearer to the Providence, Boston, (RI Border). And all you Floridians? Keep checking in because I just got word that I'll be having a signing or two on the Gulf Coast of Florida this summer!
http://www.goodreads.com/event/list_a...

If you have any questions about these events, (Or authors? Any tips? Let me know!)

Samantha wrote: "Suzanne! You can't leave me hanging like that! What did they find in the house?"

I can't tell you! It's a spoiler! (18 days from now, the book comes out!)

Hi! Another question I've gotten is about my other novel debuting this year (May 28th). I co-wrote it with When that book is about to launch, we will have our own group. BUT feel free to ask me any questions about writing under a pen name, or co-writing. OR even working under TWO contracts for two different publishers at the same time. FUN! That pic, by the way is of Loretta Nyhan. I thought her name would post with her beautiful picture.

Oh look at you, John! Wanting ALL the secrets.... ? How about I dole them out bit by bit (This group is active for a month....)

I'll give you TWO:

The time I spent in the Bronx while getting my MA at Fordham. It was... hard. But I have such amazing memories of the neighborhood and all the people that lived there.

and

A newspaper article about a decade ago about two quiet, spinster ladies (sisters) that died and the people that moved the things out of their house found something decidedly creepy there. (ooohhhhhh...)

Here's the funny thing. No. I am an only child. Like Eleanor more than the sister's Amore in the novel. I have a wonderful little brother who is a product of my father's second marriage (to a wonderful woman) but he grew up in the deep south. That's where the other half of my family is from. The sisters in this novel grew out of two things:
1) My DESIRE to have them!
2)Watching, my whole life, my gram and her sisters... and then, when I got married, my husband's great aunts. Being from an Italian American family (half of me, anyway) I longed to be a part of those tight, sometimes HARD relationships. But I was always the observer. Writing about these women made me feel less lonesome for them, if that makes ANY sense!

Many people have asked about my personal life. How do I balance teaching, mothering, being a wife, and being an author.... I will answer those questions here. Also, what people MAY not know is that I spent some time as an unwed, young mother on welfare (social entitlement programs). I hadn't finished school and I was struggling. I am very open about that time in my life, so if you are interested, go ahead. Ask away! (I don't discuss religion, politics, or... you know all that.)

Would you like to know a little more about traditional publishing? Would you like to ask something you have not found on blogs or in all the books published on the topic of writing and publishing? Ask away!

This discussion is for questions about my novel, The Witch of Little Italy. Ask me whatever you want. BUT to all you wonderful people who read (or won!) ARC's of this novel, no spoilers! Also, don't let ME spoil anything! There are some mysteries in here that should not be given away! (is that a tease? I hope so...)

What a wonderful question! Please remember, everyone, that each writer does things differently. I sent THE WITCH OF LITTLE ITALY out a bit thin... meaning I KNEW I needed to grow the story, but really wanted editorial input from an agent. I sent it out at 70k. When my agent and I finished editing it, the novel was about what it is now, 82K. The process is always individual, but for this book, that's how it worked. Thank you for asking!

Thank you for joining the group! Please feel free to ask any questions that are not spoilers about my novel: and/or questions in general about writing, finding an agent, getting published, or anything at all!