Who wrote this drivel?!?

Many moons ago (ten years) I published my very first book, a novella, with a small press. I was sooooo excited! I’d made it! I can still remember dancing around the kitchen after receiving the acceptance email, laughing-crying, downright giddy. I could write and a person in the industry had just confirmed it! To paraphrase Ms. Fields, a publisher liked me. (My critique partners were encouraging but it’s different when praise comes from a professional editor.)

I dove into the publishing process and learned just how clueless I was. And, like many first time authors, I listened to my editor without question. She knew better, right? (She did know better about many things particularly when it came to my comma placement.)

I got the rights back to that novella late last year intending to give it a quick read-through, change location names so the story will fit in my new series, and hit publish. Wham, bam, well…ah…who wrote this lifeless drivel?!?

Now, I know my writing has changed over the years and my skills have improved (thank gods and goddesses), but my voice has remained consistent. I have journals from twenty years ago with the proof. Somehow during the editing of the novella, I got watered down.

Curious as to how it happened, I searched on my computer for earlier drafts. I discovered exactly where I messed up – and it was me, the newbie author, who did the messing. The editorial feedback had been good – tighten this paragraph, be sure to show and don’t tell, put the GMC on the page – all good stuff. My newbie self just went about fixing it in the wrong way leaving a tightly written, well-illustrated, flat piece of writing.

I’m pleased to say that editing of If I Win (new title to better fit the series) is progressing apace despite the global turmoil, and the new and improved novella will be launched next month.

And from now on I’ll compare the first, rough, messy draft of a story with the final version to ensure I haven’t “fixed” my voice out of the story.

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing spicy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her heroes and heroines, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and two spoiled cats.

Website ~ Bookbub ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author Page

Guess who’s moving in next door?

Nicole Bennett is used to bad luck—it’s kind of a family curse. She’s spent the past year stitching her life back together after losing her dream job. Well, it paid the rent. Now stuck working at her family’s grocery store while wrangling a demoralized dad and a spoiled-brat sister, the last thing she needs is for the man who wrecked her life to move in next door, even if it is for only three weeks. So what if he’s sexier than sin and makes her believe in fairy tale endings?

Ross Calvert’s life in the fast lane crashed when he lost his job and fiancée. All he’s got to show for years of hard work are a sleek sports car and a closet full of designer suits – minus the closet. Determined to salvage his relationship with his best friend, he trades in the corporate life for a brief stint as a caregiver. The decision was simple—until he discovers the tempting vixen he wronged lives next door. Maybe she’s what he needs to reboot his life.

What starts off as a no-strings fling soon veers into making promises that might be impossible to keep.

https://books2read.com/if-I-didnt-care 

If at First you don’t Succeed…

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

If at First you don’t Succeed…

Twenty- two years ago, my very first book was published. I’d been reading manuscripts (as a freelancer,) for years, and knew the series formula. But I’d always wanted to do something different, and as a result I took a chance to submit something that wasn’t exactly formula.

Back in the day, athletes and musicians’  didn’t sell well, or so the publishers told writers. Of course the hero and heroine of my first serious submission were just that.  My heroine was the lead singer of a girl band, and my hero was a rising basketball star. I took a chance, because this new line was actively looking to acquire manuscripts, and I thought what the heck.

Predictably, my first submission was rejected; albeit it was a good rejection.  When the editor declines, but asks you submit anything else you have for consideration, you’re on a roll.

While my first book was published by Kensington Publishing, one of my goals was to contribute to an anthology.  For those of you who don’t know what an anthology is, the story usually has a central theme, but each author in the series writes their individual story, introducing a different hero and heroine, or protagonist and antagonist.

Another first for me, was joining the ranks of writers selected, (and I attribute that to my background in the travel industry,) to contribute to the Mediterranean Nights Series. There were twelve books in the series, and each writer told their own story. The premise is that of a luxury cruise liner leaving the Mediterranean with a cast of crooked characters aboard. There’s a priest who is not a priest, and several other crew members all involved in nefarious acts.  

The ship ends it's crossing in the Caribbean and I wrap up the story and the mystery. Naturally good thrives over evil and, the couple resolves their issues. I honestly don’t think this opportunity would have happened for me had I not had the cruise line background. My book was titled “The way he Moves,” and my story was set in the world of the ballroom dancer.  This was a dance charter cruise. My temporary stint, ballroom dancing made me the likely candidate, and good fairy (editor) must have been well acquainted with my life. 

The blurb from my story reads like this, and the book is still available on Amazon, here  https://amzn.to/331Txe8:

Serena d'Andrea doesn't believe everything she sees. As the
only heir of an affluent Argentinian publishing family, she's
been finding it increasingly difficult to trust that the men she
meets can see past her wealth.


But on a Rhythm Dancers Cruise aboard Alexandra's Dream, Serena's attention quickly turns from rumbas to romance when  she finds a pendant that's said to bring whoever wears it luck
in love. From the moment she puts it on, though, she's beset
by a rush of mishaps that make her wonder if someone may be
watching—and following—every move she makes…on and off
the dance floor.

Writing mainstream was also something I lucked into.  I’d submitted outlines and three chapters to several publishers, and gotten favorable responses but no contract. The publishers didn't seem to have a  problem signing me on for  two novellas, but getting a bigger book contract evaded me.  Then along came Harlequin's Sepia Line, and I was fortunate enough to realize my dream. Books like Jade, This Way Home, and  Shattered Images, made me realize that mainstream women’s fiction was where I wanted to be.  I  really enjoyed exploring the ups and downs of male/female relationships, and in a deeper way than any category romance, (smaller book) would allow me to. These aren't always happily ever after stories though they do have promising endings.

As the the title of  this blog  suggests, if at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again!  For every writer and reader there is always a first!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her mailing list.

My Writing Dreams Started with a Dream...by Kristin Wallace

The August topic is “My Writing Dreams”. Ironic since my writing dreams literally started with a dream. It happened in high school. I had been a voracious reader from a young age. The Little Golden Books, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Nancy Drew, the Chronicles of Narnia, Sweet Valley High, you name it, I would read it. 

I eventually found romance novels as a teenager and would read them all the time. Then one night I had a dream. We all have them, of course, but usually we forget it the minute we wake up. This dream was different. It was really vivid and appeared like a scene from a book or movie. The dream stayed with me after I woke up, so I wrote it down on paper (by hand…I didn’t know how to type back then). Then I just kept on writing, sort of like Forrest Gump when he starts running and then doesn’t stop for 2 years. I had no idea what I was doing, of course, and I certainly never thought about making a career in publishing. It was just something I did for fun. 

I started writing a number of stories in the years after that, but I never finished anything. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I had the "great epiphany" that I was supposed to be a writer. Even then I couldn’t figure out how to make that a reality. It took 10 years before I got my act together enough to join a writer’s organization (Romance Writers of America) and seriously pursue publication. 

The first book

That was in 2005, but I still did not realize the “dream” of publishing a novel until 2013. In between, I experienced A LOT of rejections. There were plenty of “close calls” where editors loved my writing and my story…“but”. As in “but our schedule is full”, “but we don’t know how to market this book”, “but we just signed another author with a series about wedding planners”. Oh there were so many ways to say “but…we’re still rejecting you”. Then I finally got a “yes” from someone, a small digital publisher. That first book was MARRY ME. Then indie publishing came along and I was finally able to make my own publishing dreams come true. (Although I will say that the time I spent getting rejected and revising and learning was not wasted.) 

Five years later, I now have 14 books published with two more on the way this fall. The indie world is tough and I still haven’t achieved the kind of success I want, but every book is a chance to try again.

  

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She has three series, Covington Falls Chronicles (inspirational romance), Shellwater Key Tales (sweet contemporary romance), and The Heiress Games/Palm Cove Tales, a sweet contemporary series that sees three very different women competing for custody of a pampered pig…and a $120 million fortune. Buy the books individually or download the Complete Heiress Games Box Set.

The Year of What's New!

by M. L. Buchman

I have this thing that I do each year, I label the next year:

• 2013 - The Year of Transition. Crossing over into being a full-time writer. It was a leap of faith, deeply motivated by my inability to find a job at the tail of the recession.
• 2014 - The Year of Production. It probably should have been named the year of terror. My hybrid writing career was taking off, but would it be fast enough? We'd made a huge gamble, dumping a large portion of our savings into giving me a shot at a writing career. Thanks to the faith of my wife. It paid off in 2015.
• 2015 - The Year of More Production. But I'll also call it the year of relief. We paid back our savings account.
• 2016 - The Year of Transition. A different transition this time: from hybird to full indie. Could I make it on my own? Well, the numbers of my prior three years spelled that out clearly: ~70% of my writing time went to my traditional books, but they accounted for just 17% of my income. Still there were doubts. Were my indie books held up by my traditional ones? 2017 would answer that with a resounding NO. My indie income grew, despite having to abandon most of the money-making series snarled up in my traditional publications. 
• 2017 - The Year of Marketing. At least that's what I labeled it at first. Except it didn't really work out that way. Instead, it turned out to be The Year of What's New. For the first time in a decade, I attended two national conferences as well as a pair of UnCons (top writers getting together and just talking business for a few days). That was on top of my normal networking, co-teaching a week-long Master Class on the Oregon Coast, hiring a consult or two, and four or five other events. Let's just say that my thinking evolved immensely.

So, here I sit with 150 published works (and 2 more due this month): 54 novels, 57 short stories, collections, 23 titles also released in "sweet" versions, and 10 titles in audio (with more coming soon). This doesn't count third-party bundles which number around a dozen.

Here are two particularly cool ones running at the moment:
An amazing Christmas Bundle of novels and three anthologies:

https://storybundle.com/christmas

And an awesome collection edited by Blaze Ward:

https://bundlerabbit.com/b/sins-of-the-fathers

With all of this published work, you think that I'd have a good grasp of what was going on in the industry. I can only say that I was utterly and totally gobsmacked at how much new I learned this year. Here's just a few choice pieces:

• Focus 2016 version: That was the year I tried to do everything. I released an entire small-town contemporary series set on the Oregon Coast. (http://www.mlbuchman.com/eagle-cove/) as well as novels in four different series:
• Firehawks
• Night Stalkers
• Night Stalkers White House
• Delta Force
• Might have thrown in a little science fiction while I was at it.
• A few collections.
• The 13 short stories that year covered 9 different series across 4 different genres.
• Focus 2017: I narrowed that down and will continue to do that even more. I'm going to stop supporting the series that my traditional publisher still controls, because every time I write a story in those series, I make them more money, but not me. Am I abandoning my fans? Not even close. Focus is essential in order not to confuse your fans. See my next point for why.
• The Fan Guide: No, it's not a book on how to get more fans. It's using them as a guide. What are they drawn to in my writing? What is less successful? What may sell a little less at the moment, but gets me an overwhelming fan mail response? This is any writer's single most important (and perhaps underutilized resource). I've started working very hard on thinking about my fans, much more than I did a year ago.
• The Importance of Estate Planning: I started in on this one as a way to help my wife and kid better understand what they'd inherit someday. By the time I was done, I think this may be the most important work I've ever done for them. Intellectual Property belongs to me and my heirs until 70 years after my death. If poorly managed, it will equal zero (or soon enough). However, well managed, it could be supporting my great-grandchildren, even though my kid isn't even married yet. 
• Key elements include:
• Organizing it.
• Protecting it.
• Explaining it so that my heirs can understand it (even if they aren't publishing professionals).
• Setting them up for success (which is far more in my control than theirs.
• To this end:
• I wrote a book. Estate Planning for Authors: Your Final Letter (and why you need to write it now)! http://www.mlbuchman.com/books/estate-planning-for-authors/
• I presented it at a variety of conferences.
• I even made it into an online course: https://mlbuchman.teachable.com/
• I've spoken on a variety of podcasts about it and there will be more:
• With Joanna Penn: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/12/04/estate-planning-for-authors-with-m-l-buchman/
• With Kobo: https://kobowritinglife.com/2017/10/24/kobo-writing-life-podcast-episode-095-estate-planning-for-authors-with-m-l-buchman/
• The importance of having fun. I somehow had lost sight of this one. Because, trust me, if I'm not having fun while I'm writing, my fans won't have fun while their reading. That's why on December 30th, I'm launching a brand new series called The White House Protection Force. It's the most fun I've had writing in quite a while! Sign up for my newsletter to make sure you don't miss it: www.mlbuchman.com/newsletter

I'm thinking of calling 2018 The Year of Fun!

M.L. Buchman started the first of over 50 novels and as many short stories while flying from South Korea to ride across the Australian Outback. All part of a solo around-the-world bicycle trip (a mid-life crisis on wheels) that ultimately launched his writing career.

Booklist has selected his military and firefighter series(es) as 3-time “Top 10 Romance of the Year.” NPR and Barnes & Noble have named other titles “Top 5 Romance of the Year.” In 2016 he was a finalist for RWA's RITA award. He has flown and jumped out of airplanes, can single-hand a fifty-foot sailboat, and has designed and built two houses. In between writing, he also quilts. M.L. is constantly amazed at what can be done with a degree in geophysics. He also writes: contemporary romance, thrillers, and SF. More info at: www.mlbuchman.com.

How Sweet It Is

by M. L. Buchman

I had a curious "sweet" experience this month that I thought I'd share...because I found the results so fascinating.

It started because I was looking up an author (as I'm prone to do from time to time). She had six books out, except she didn't...she actually had twelve. Why? She had a sexy and a sweet version of every title.

To some folks this isn't news. To me it was a real, Hunh! moment.

I started poking around and discovered that a number of authors do this. Then I thought about my wife's knitting group. They had commented that they loved my Small Town Oregon romance series, and not just because of the knitting circle that runs throughout. However, they were unwilling to pass them on to their friends--many of whom are elderly or quite religious. My series have varying degrees of sexuality (mostly in the mild-to-medium range), but my characters do tend to take a free hand with the English language.

Eagle Cove

"So," I wondered. "If I were to offer a sweet version, would folks be interested?"

I decided to ask my newsletter fans. Now these are people who already read my books and like them enough to sign up for my newsletter so that they don't miss anything. They are pre-filtered, if you will, for already accepting the level of heat and language that I write. With that in mind I asked a single question anyway, wondering if I'd even get a 10% "yes" response:

The "heat" in a romance novel is rated from "sweet" to, well, you know. If everything else was exactly the same (emotional story, plot, characters) would you be interested in the addition of a "sweet" version of my contemporary romance books as well?

The response was overwhelming! With almost 25% of my subscribers responding, 48% answered "Yes Please" vs. "No Thanks." To say that I was staggered is an understatement.

I was puzzled until I started reading the comments (I'm so glad I added that option at the last second). Fans begged me to not change my writing for them (other than a few stray comments calling for BDSM, menage, inspirational, etc.). However, the comments consistently showed that they weren't comfortable giving the books to parents, teenage daughters, friends at church, and so on. Okay, that made sense.

The next challenge was how to change a "standard" version of a novel to a "sweet" one. I came up with a word list, tinkered around with how to present it on the cover, in the blurbs, how to load it onto retailer sites, etc. Then I faced down altering the sex scenes to have the same emotional and plot content but without any graphic moments. I tend to wind my character emotions into those moments, so it took some doing. Overall? It took about five dozen hours to convert a 60k-word novel. And courtesy of Vellum and their new ready-for-print capability (which is utterly amazing, even if I had to buy a used Mac to run it), it took under five minutes to actually produce a second version once I had the text figured out. I released them simultaneously.

This validated the process for me, because the effort wasn't too heinous and I now had a new product for my fans. But would it sell?

The answer two weeks later? A little bit. The sales of the "sweet" version are trickling out the door but not in any 48% tidal wave. I think there are a couple of reasons behind this:

• My fans have to read the book first (and they would tend to buy the "standard" version) before they decide if they want to give it to others. This would make "sweet" sales lag well behind.
• I have only a single title, so potential new fans wouldn't even know to look. Therefore, we're in the process of adding sweet versions to all of my contemporary romance series (of which there are now four: Where Dreams, Eagle Cove, Henderson's Ranch, Love Abroad). We'll be rolling these out over the next several months.

One of the amusing thoughts that I mostly keep to myself about this? The difference between what we're willing to give and what the receiving party wants to read. I have a friend whose grandmother was bedridden after a bad fall and she enjoyed reading romances. So my friend spent hours vetting titles to make sure that they were acceptable for grandma. Finally her grandmother protested, "Don't they write romances with sex in them anymore? Bring me some of those! The steamier the better!"

But there is a broad interest in "sweet" versions and that gives me a new channel into which to market my books. In addition to being a writer, I am in the business of selling books. So far, it's looking good. And I love having my wife's friends now being comfortable passing my books on to others (even if they themselves say they intend to keep purchasing the not-so-sweet versions for themselves).

Love Abroad B&B

Love Aboard B&B - sweet

M.L. Buchman started the first of, what is now over 50 novels and as many short stories, while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.

All three of his military romantic suspense series—The Night Stalkers, Firehawks, and Delta Force—have had a title named “Top 10 Romance of the Year” by the American Library Association’s Booklist. NPR and Barnes & Noble have named other titles “Top 5 Romance of the Year.” In 2016 he was a finalist for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award. He also writes: contemporary romance, thrillers, and fantasy.

Past lives include: years as a project manager, rebuilding and single-handing a fifty-foot sailboat, both flying and jumping out of airplanes, and he has designed and built two houses. He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife and is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing and receive a free starter e-library by subscribing to his newsletter at: www.mlbuchman.com

A Funny Thing Happened...? #writing #publishing

Hi, I'm Pippa Jay, author of scifi and supernatural stories to engage your emotions. And this month's topic is a funny thing happened on the way to publication. Well...

I don't know that my path to publication was funny in the humorous sense. More like nothing I expected and rather twisty turny. There are some things I can look back at now and chuckle, though I didn't find them amusing at the time. Like the fact that when I initially looked into publication, I naively contacted an infamous vanity press. Luckily that opening inquiry was as far as I went when I discovered what they were, so despite their many phone calls attempting to contact me (and even emails full of typos and grammatical errors FIVE YEARS LATER!), I had no further dealings with them. *shudders*

At least I learnt from that mistake. I spent the first year submitting to UK literary agents via snail mail (the very few who would consider SciFi or specialised in it - about a dozen in all). I remember one submission came back the very next day after I sent it with just a 'No' scribbled on my submission letter - I'm surprised it didn't have scorch marks on it from passing across the agent's desk in time to make the post back, considering the sluggishness of Royal Mail! There was also the almost completely illegible feedback scrawled on another query letter (at least they gave me feedback!). Another submission asked for a reading fee - big red flag!

Or maybe more of a laugh at the time I sent in an email submission and completely forgot to attach my query letter and manuscript. Oops! Luckily the publisher was kind enough to forgive my newbie slip up and allow me to resubmit. >_< Or the fact that I had to re-read my first acceptance a dozen times before I even realized it *was* an acceptance for a change, before collapsing in a sobbing heap. :P

via GIPHY

And even after that first acceptance and with my debut novel (something I later learned is a rarity - acceptance on a first book from an author), there were still rejections through the years since. Back then, the plan was to release each of the five books of the series for that debut over the next five years, which would have taken me up to May 2016. Boy, did that not happen! Even now, and after many twists and turns, and bumps in the road, I've only released book two of the series, but have twelve published works in all, so while they might not have been the plan I certainly haven't been idle on the story side. That's kind of funny as I remember panicking about running out of ideas and books *eyes bulging Plot Bunny Storage Facility nervously*

I also remember before my debut was even contracted, I got into a somewhat heated discussion about self publishing. I considered it vanity to self pub (yeah, I was that dumb back then). I'm pleased now that another writer put me straight about my views. After losing three publishers in three years, seeing the Ellora's Cave debacle, and even the very recent All Romance eBooks closure, and how even SFR authors with agents have struggled to get books accepted by trad publishers, self publishing has become my preferred method of publication. In June 2016 the rights to my last book tied to a publisher reverted to me, giving me full control of all my work.

Gethyon

A Scifi Adventure Novel

Goodreads | Webpage

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Smashwords

Print:
CreateSpace
Amazon | B&N

So here I am, almost six years on from my debut and a fully independent author. That certainly wasn't in the plan, but then things never do go quite how you expect...

Change Is Coming

Hi everyone! I am YA author B A Binns , writer of contemporary and realistic fiction for teens. My tagline tells you what I am about - Stories of Real Boys Growing Into Real Men - and the people who love them. 

Everyone, readers, authors and yes, even publishers and agents, know the publishing world is in a state of flux. Change has been, is, and will continue to be the norm for the foreseeable future. While changes can be frightening, they often bring about something wonderful.

Change brings choices.

When I was young dinosaurs roamed the earth and hardcover books filled bookstore and library shelves. Books, period. There wasn't even a separate YA section way back then, just Adult books and children's books. Now people have trade and mass market books, eBooks (including enhanced eBooks), and audio books.  Borders may be gone, but Amazon is poised to open physical bookstores.

Choice is good.

That's why I celebrate another change occurring in the publishing world.  There are many adults who self-identify as non-readers. There are children who are classified as "reluctant readers" or who have trouble getting interested in books as an alternative to other activities.  And there are eager readers of all ages who devour books and wish for something different int heir reading.  All of these groups can have their reading pleasure kindled, and even enhanced, with additional choices. Especially young readers. Whether eager or reluctant, the lives of children can be changed when they find books that take them to other lands or help them see the world, and themselves, through other eyes. This includes books about people outside the mainstream majority in America, written by members of those diverse populations.

We Need Diverse Books is not only about having young readers from marginalized groups seeing themselves on a page. It's also about kids from the majority group seeing other faces on a page.  This is a long overdue change, delayed mainly because so many of the gatekeepers in both publishing are white, heterosexual, female, and cisgendered. Consciously/unconsciously they look for manuscripts they understand. Things that appeal to them, stories that resonate to them and that they feel they can fight for in editorial meetings.  That means many stories by authors who are different from them, who see the world differently and write differently, frequently get passed over for publication and for review.

In 2015 the Diversity Baseline Survey was run with publishers and reviewer who voluntarily agreed to respond. Results are available at : http://blog.leeandlow.com/2016/01/26/where-is-the-diversity-in-publishing-the-2015-diversity-baseline-survey-results/ 

 These numbers illustrate why the publishing monolith is slow to change regarding book diversity. But it was also slow about eBooks (I remember when traditional publishers considered them just a fad something to worry about in ten or fifteen years and noticing almost too late that the fad had grown to s tsunami). Ditto about indie authors whose ranks are growing daily, even sweeping some mainstream authors away from their established houses into roles where they can write with fewer restrictions. worlds. Many publishing professionals talk about diverse books not selling as if that were dogma.

But change comes.

Diversity in the the next faces hired in publishing is as important as seeing the next books with Native American, Latina/o, Asian American, African American, disabled or LGBTQIAP authors. He who controls the pen controls the story.

For this month I want to showcase one of those change agents, fellow children's author, Christine Taylor-Butler

In June 2015, I was asked to appear at a predominantly white middle school in Colchester Connecticut to talk about The Lost Tribes. [Her 2015 release] It was clear I was a Black woman. It was equally clear the characters were likely minority. I'd shown a black illustration of a boy as Spiderman along with other multicultural illustrations having nothing to do with the characters in my examples. The day after my appearance the librarian contacted the publisher and said the students were lined up outside her office with money and could they send more books for the kids to by. This fall, when the semester was in full swing, the librarian tweeted that the book was the number one circulating title at their library. I think there is hope that students are more open minded about reading than adults give them credit for.

 

In a similar vein, I ran a challenge. Five puzzles in five days. The winning entries that solved all five challenges would be put in a drawing for a SKYPE visit and a set of autographed books. There were 1250 hits on the site nationwide. The winners were a young boy, and a fourth grade class in a rural Kansas town. Our SKYPE discussion about the book ran over.

The question is - when publishers imply white students won't read books with diverse characters, I often wonder if it is because they fail to publish the types of books that attract those students in terms of intriguing content (adventure, mystery, etc) and, instead, default to urban, civil rights and slave stories as low hanging fruit meant to appeal.

The Changing Market

Here are some trends in publishing and marketing which hit "big" in 2014. Will they still work going forward? Yes. Until the next "big" thing knocks them aside!

Ebook Tricks on Amazon:

• Permanently free ebooks: This is still touted as the best way to drive traffic to your additional books.

• 99-cent ebook collections/boxed sets: These are intended to accomplish two things. First, hit the New York Times bestselling list, and second, to get readers to sample your writing. Sometimes it works; but the super-cheap pricing also leads to…

• Book Hoarding: People have literally thousands of free or cheap ebooks on their Kindles, because they can. Most are never read.

Trends Based in Amazon Algorithms:

• Shorter books, with a maximum of 50,000 words. Not all of us want fluff, but there are enough readers who do.

• Publishing a new book every month. Yes. Every month. These can be new books, re-releases, compilations, bonus material, etc. The point is, Amazon likes active authors because they sell more books. Gone are the days when having new books releasing a year or more apart are the norm for success.

Major Shifts in Industry Attitudes:

• Submissions to editors & agents are down, and for two reasons: First, because new authors are scared of rejection, so they self-publish, generally prematurely. Second, because new authors think self publishing is so "easy."

• As a result, editors and agents are interested in talking to successful self-publishing authors. And not only about new works, but already-published works as well. Why? Because the authors have already done the work.

Reader Events:

• These are popping up EVERYWHERE.

• They can be genre specific, or even sub-genre specific.

• They vary from one day to five days.

• The best ones offer extended intentional face-time with readers.

• They are a wonderful chance for authors to spread word-of-mouth advertising.

• www.TheDreamsConvention.com You're welcome.

Random Feedback from Other Authors and Readers:

• All media are taking fewer risks as they lose revenue in the shifting trends. So, they'll publish the same stuff or remake the same movies but won't take a risk and try something new.

• Publishers are buying out other publishers.

• Indie publishing and e-books are giving readers so many new choices, and new authors a chance to shine. We no longer have to read what big publishers ALLOW us to see.

• We create a consumable product and have an insatiable audience. Therefore, we should help each other.

Exciting Day!

I am writing a short blog today.  Because today is the day that Sarah Raplee, Judith Ashley and Diana McCollum become published authors.

We've all worked very hard to bring these six stories together and make them available for purchase.  I've personally learned so much on this journey.  The last two days I spent in Portland with Judith and Sarah putting the stories into a template for uploading to Jutoh and Windtree Press

I left Portland on the bus Thursday afternoon heading for Bend and home.  My fellow cohorts were still wrestling with the template  when I left.

I am pleased to say they completed the task and our Anthology will be available today at  windtreepress.com


Anthology Stories:

ONCE UPON A TIME……in worlds where talismans wield power, spells enslave or protect and troublesome ghosts are captured for humane relocation, three intrepid authors spin mystical stories of romance. Alongside strong, daring heroines you’ll fall in love with an enchanted prince intent on holding onto his humanity, a tough cowboy who has locked away his wounded heart, a spirit-hunting geek whose motto is Ghosts Are People, Too! and three more irresistible heroes.

"Love & Magick", Mystical stories of Romance, contains six unique short stories.

"Enchanted Protector"  by Sarah Raplee

"Curse of the Neahkahnie Treasure"  by Sarah Raplee

"Grandmother Moon"  by Judith Ashley

"Sarah's Ankh"  by Judith Ashley

"The Crystal Witch"  by Diana McCollum

"Ghost of a Chance"  by Diana McCollum


"Love & Magick" is now available for purchase through Windtree Press.

We are publishing our first book of love stories on Valentine's Day!

What are you doing for Valentine's Day?

Overheard on. . . NPR

“Four score and seven years ago…”

November 19^th marks the 150^th year anniversary of Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg. America was, at that point, at about the midpoint of the war, which was waged from April 1861 to April 1865. This destructive war, which claimed an estimated 750,000 deaths, also solidified our country’s principles of freedom and equality for all.

Lincoln’s Eulogy at Gettysburg was intended to frame the horrible deaths being suffered, not just at Gettysburg, but across all of the battlefields, in terms of the cause the soldiers were dying for. But no matter how much Lincoln or anyone might wish it different, revolution is messy. And, even when a war has been ‘won’, people do not somehow magically agree with the other side’s views. In fact, at Gettysburg itself, only a few years after the war, a distinct cemetery was created for black Civil War veterans because of segregation policies still in effect (more on Gettysburg here).

As we look toward December the Genre-istas will be spotlighting some amazing guests who will discuss the changes occurring within the publishing arena. And, while not nearly as weighty as the Civil War, these changes do form a messy revolution. Do not expect clean lines and simple solutions. Do not look for clear winners and losers. Do not hope to avoid casualties. These are all a part of the experience of great change.

If you look to the right of this blog post you will see the guests who will help us understand this revolution. And while I am looking forward to hearing their perspectives, as we recognize that the best fictional characters have great depth, with that comes complexity and disagreement. The methods for waging this revolution, the players involved, the sacrifices being made: all of these can be debated and discussed.

So come back in December and add your two cents. A war of words, whereby we civilly discuss the problems and reach agreement, has far few casualties than a physical revolution.

Cheers,
Deanne

www.deannewilsted.com
Journeys Inspired by Love

Celebrating Becoming an Author - Or How My Life Took a Right Turn

I never thought I would be an author; that possibility never crossed my mind. I went through my life, changing careers as circumstances demanded. High school teacher, stay-at-home mother of four, food service, travel agent, teacher again. The kids grew. The end of college bills were in sight. Now was my chance!

I could do whatever I wanted to do with my next career. But I had no idea what that would be.

I didn't know I wanted to be a writer. I started on a whim, inspired by Diana Gabaldon's statement that "the best way to learn to write a book is to write a book." That sounded like a challenge. A fun one.

So I bought a laptop and began writing my first manuscript on August 1, 2006. And that's when my life took a hard right turn.

The words flooded out like I had turned on a faucet. The characters emerged, three-dimensional and suitably flawed. The plot had twists. And the story turned out to be a trilogy, following the same couple for three years.

Over the next four years, I learned how to write "right" for today's market. I rewrote the rewriting. Again. I won over an agent. Eventually I self-published, and after that a publisher offered a multi-book contract for one of my ongoing characters. Five books, so far.

Along the way, I began to see how my previous experiences could help me in my new career: art background for graphic design, event planning from running proms -- plus countless other Student Council events, using my speaking and teaching skills to help others do what I have learned to do.

Everyday I celebrate that very fact: I am using all the various skills I have acquired over my lifetime in this, what is possibly my culminating career.

I don't know if I will ever do anything else, and I say that for two reasons. First, I was already 53 when I started, and I will turn 60 in September. Secondly, I am having more dang fun than should be legal! Don't get me wrong, I'm working my fanny off about 60 hours a week. But I can't see a reason to ever quit writing and publishing.

No one ever told me as I grew up, that who you are today will be different than who you are tomorrow. Each day our experiences mold us. I don't think we ever finish that process. Our future is always new uncharted territory. We can always try a new path.

Now THAT'S a reason to celebrate!

Control

Hi everyone.
B. A. Binns here, back for a December round with the genre-ista's.

In honor of RTG's focus on self-publishing this month, I thought I would share the highlights of my 2012 journey. Two years ago I would have sworn I would never self-publish. My debut novel had been picked up by a traditional publisher. Pull was published in Nov 2010, won accolades including a National Reader's Choice award, and won spots on School Library Journal's 2011 Top Picks for Youth in Detention and YALSA's 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists.  But sales were not what the publisher expected. I never found out their target, only that my book did not meet that target.

Still, by the end of 2011 I was still determined to stick to the traditional publishing route. My publisher was no longer accepting new manuscripts, and preparing to close up shop. My agent could not find anyone interested in my next three manuscripts because of the less than stellar sales of the first one. I began thinking about self-publishing, but still felt it was something for my far-distant future.

Then, early in 2012, by publisher declared Pull out of print, and, after some goading, returned my rights. Yet, people were still asking for the book. I received inquiries from a school who wanted copies for one of their classes, and from a Library Services Wholesaler who said they had orders, could I fullfil them.

So I became a self-publisher. For me, that meant going into things full-throttle. I chose CreateSpace as my printer and as one of my distribution channels. I do not consider them the publisher and purchased my own ISBN's to ensure the company I created, AllTheColorsOfLove, would be listed in Bowker and Books In Print as the publisher of record. When my attempt to purchase rights to the origional cover from the former publisher were ignored, I rolled up my sleeves, purchased a new photo of the same cover model to preserve continuity, and taught myself Photoshop. With a few tries (okay, lots of tries) I created my own new cover. By the end of October, I was up and running. Since then I have sold paperback copies on Amazon, eBook copies at Amazon's Kindle store and on Smashwords, sent copies to that classroom, and fulfilled three orders from the library services wholesaler I signed a contract with.  And it's only December 12.

Then I grabbed a number of short stories I had written, and bundled them together in a new book, Die Trying and other stories, used my new Photoshop skills to create a new cover, and self-published that in mid-November. Die Trying has sold on Amazon and Smashwords. Last, but certainly not least, I have a local bookstore carrying physical copies of both books, just in time for Christmas Shopping.

I couldn't forget marketing, even though I am lousy at it.

• I put together a Facebook page for my publishing company, please LIKE me at Facebook/allthecolorsoflove. There you can find information on a contest giveaway for Die Trying on Goodreads. Three winners of autographed copies will be selected on December 20, so enter soon.
• Being God is now in the hands of a final editor that I hired, and will be available once final changes are done. You've heard the saying, the quality goes in before...  My name will be on that book, it will be the best I can make it.
• I have updated my website with a new page just for teachers, librarians (and any other interested parties) and access to teacher's guides  for Pull, something my old publisher promised, but never delivered on. Both the guide for Pull, and now for Die Trying, can be downloaded for free from the site.  I would love having teachers and librarians and parents give me feedback on the contents.
• I am trying my hand at creating a newsletter. Wish me luck, I truly don't know what to say, but I want it out this month.
• I am arranging a book tour for next spring to publicize these books. So far, that includes judging a teen writing contest in Illinois and providing a workshop for students, presenting at an RWA conference in Luisiana, conducting two workshops on Diversity and Multicultural Books at a conference in Ohio, and speaking on Reluctant Teen Readers at the American Library Association's convention in Chicago. (I'm ehausted just thinking about next year) I'm on the lookout for other locations, stops, and potential blog-hops.

My follow-up books are no longer gathering dust. In addition to the tour I am finalizing the third book, Being God. While I have ARCs printed and going out to reviewers now, the final book will not be available for sale until the end of January, 2013. I really wanted it out this year, but it's still in the hands of an editor I hired to take one last look.  As the old saying goes, the quality has to go in before...

And my name will be on that book.

It's a name I want readers to remember in a good way. Because I have already started book number four, Minority Of One.

My life grows more full every day. And I'm loving it.

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