Several years ago I attended the SCBWI summer conference and one of the wonderful people I met was Rachel Marks. Super talented as both a writer and an artist, she had an incredible joy for life, due in part to being a cancer survivor. Rachel was rooming with Paige Britt and both of them had […]
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Blog: Write About Now (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Paige Britt, Rachel A. Marks, SCBWI, Uncategorized, publishing, new books, writers, SCBWI Summer Conference, writing community, SCBWI-LA, debut novels, writing inspiration, writing journey, writer's conference, good books, milestones, writer friends, New book releases, writing and publishing, encouragement for writers, good fortune of blogging buddies, author friends, awesome books, friends, writing, Add a tag
Blog: The Winged Elephant (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: debut novels, Farran Smith Nehme, Missing Reels, Add a tag
In The Awful Truth, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play a divorcing couple determined to frustrate each other’s attempts to find new love. In The Crowd, young John Sims sets out for New York City, determined to become one of those stars of the big city. In Love Affair, a French painter and an American singer, both already engaged, fall in love against all odds. All romances of some sort, these
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Friday Speak Out, funds for writers, novel writing, debut novels, writer inspiration, C. Hope Clark, Add a tag
by C. Hope Clark
Over lunch in a crowded cafeteria in a downtown federal building, a peer asked why I never wrote for myself. Stunned in mid-bite, I admitted I never thought of such a thing. As an administrative director for a small federal agency, I wrote thousands of words per week, tweaking congressionals, composing strategic plans, even applying spin to investigation reports, but creative writing never crossed my mind. The idea, however, piqued my interest.
After writing bad poetry and personal essays for several months, the concept of a mystery sat me up in bed one night. I'd been offered a bribe in my job years earlier, as a loan manager. The event shook my world, so why not craft it into a mystery? Two years later, the story made the rounds to professionals in the industry only to be soundly rejected. My fiction skills needed work. I tossed the stack of pages on a closet shelf, in a sealed manuscript box.
But the writing bug had bitten and left a swollen mark on my need to be other than a bureaucrat. I wrote anything anyone would accept, jumping into magazines and online sites with fervor. Nonfiction came easy. I understood how to research any topic in depth thanks to my government career. I began building clips.
While finding markets, I discovered contests; already knew grants from the day job. Then once some writers in Atlanta learned I knew such subjects, emails descended upon me. I turned answers into a newsletter, and FundsforWriters was born. From there I launched into a business, ecstatically proud about being thick in the world of words. Happy as a muddy fat pig in sunshine, I felt grounded . . . until five years later, when a published mystery author and I had dinner one night.
With several novels under her belt, she asked what I wrote other than FundsforWriters and magazine features, meaning, what was my dream. Déjà vu the government cafeteria. What was I doing for me?
I pulled down the old manuscript and all but gagged at its amateurish phrasing. Then I tossed the computer file so I wouldn't be tempted to cut and paste, and started from scratch. Four years later I completed a new version, landed an agent, and submitted the story to a few contests, placing in several. Two years later I held a contract. Today I hold Lowcountry Bribe that is every bit as beautiful as my first born son.
And I'm grateful for every road block, every rejection, and every second-guessing moment I had along the way, because the stumbles made me stronger. I'm blessed that a friend pushed me to write, and another pushed me to keep writing my dream. I'm doubly blessed that FundsforWriters attracted so many writers, who now can experience my dream project. It's amazing how the universe works. Coming full circle is a humbling experience, and I continue to marvel at the intense power of opportunity that lies before us as writers, if we take notice.
* * *
C. Hope Clark manages FundsforWriters.com, voted 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest for twelve years. She is now the proud mama of Lowcountry Bribe, A Carolina Slade Mystery, published by Bell Bridge Books, February 2012. www.fundsforwriters.com /
Blog: Kristi Helvig YA Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: lacey, victoria schwab, book recommendations, witches, friday, debut novels, Add a tag
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (August 2, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1423137876
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
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Seriously, go buy this book. It's so rich and timeless. Beautiful storytelling, with a setting as vivid as the characters. I could say a zillion wonderful things about it, but really, after reading that description, how could you not already want to read it?
Blog: WOW! Women on Writing Blog (The Muffin) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: humor, debut novels, older writers, Nayanna Currimbhoy, Add a tag
Recently, I realized that I was a bitter, old writer. Yes, me! When I look in my bathroom mirror I am neither bitter nor old (OK, maybe...mature...but definitely not old). But when I look in my magical writer mirror? Yowza! Bitter. Old. Really old.
- Alex Haley (Roots) -- age 55
- Annie Proulx (The Shipping News) -- age 57
- Bram Stoker (Dracula) -- age 50
- James Michener (Tales of the South Pacific) -- age 40
- Jeanne Ray (Julie and Romeo) -- 50s
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House series) -- age 65
- MJ Rose -- mid-40s
- PD James -- age 42
- Randy Susan Meyers (The Murderer's Daughters) -- age 57
- Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) -- age 57
- Richard Adams (Watership Down) -- age 52
- Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees) -- age 54
Blog: The Winged Elephant (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: giveaway, rhode island, debut novels, women's fiction, daughter of providence, julie drew, Add a tag
It's August--the perfect time to curl up with a great new novel. Enter DAUGHTER OF PROVIDENCE, the debut novel from Julie Drew, on sale today.
DAUGHTER OF PROVIDENCE is the story of Anne Dodge, raised by her old-money father in a small town in Rhode Island. When Maria Cristina, the half-sister she never knew she had, comes to live with them, Anne sets off on a journey of discovering truths about her family--and herself.
A wonderful read for book clubs or anyone looking for a beautifully written novel told by a character that Publishers Weekly called "a memorable heroine and narrator."
TO WIN ONE OF THREE SIGNED COPIES OF DAUGHTER OF PROVIDENCE:
- comment on our blog
- like or comment on our Facebook
- retweet or reply on Twitter
You can also find Julie at www.juliedrew.com and @JulieDrewAuthor.
Good luck! Winners announced next Thursday.
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Praise for DAUGHTER OF PROVIDENCE
"[A] terrific debut novel...a great summer read." --The Akron Beacon Journal
"Set in a decaying industrial town during the Great Depression, Daughter of Providence is an engrossing story of discovery, tragedy and redemption. Julie Drew is not just a skilled storyteller. She's an historian who creates a rich background of a city in the throes of unionism, class breakdown, and social and sexual upheaval. This is a book that stays with you." --Sandra Dallas, New York Times best-selling author of The Bride's House
"In real life, binding societal expectations take over the show. ‘Success' is first class, and the heart is second class. In this moving tale, Daughter of Providence , we get to see the first class price tag is paid with those hearts." --Carolyn Chute, author of The Beans of Egypt, Maine
"First novelist Drew draws a careful portrait of both social and family problems." --Kirkus
"With a dead body in the opening pages, the upward sweep of a family drama, and assured, lyrical prose, Julie Drew leads us deep into a time and place -- Depression-era New England -- and takes us through an unforgettable summer of loss and understanding. The story is brisk and compelling, channeled through Drew's magnetic protagonist, 24-year-old Anne Dodge, a charming, confident focal point for this exceptional debut novel." --David Giffels, author of All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-down House
Blog: Shrinking Violet Promotions (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: debut novels, sales expectations, Add a tag
Dear R. L.
My debut middle grade novel has been out for a few months now, and I must say, the initial numbers are discouraging. It makes me wonder if I had unrealistic expectations in the first place. What are reasonable expectations for a debut middle grade novel? Can you share some thoughts on what a successful debut might look like?
This is such a great question that I thought I’d talk about it here, because so few debut authors have any idea on what to expect, either experience-wise or sales-wise. This is made even worse by the fact that so much of official marketing and promotion is about smoke and mirrors: it’s about making the book look more popular and ‘must-have’ than perhaps it really is.
So how can authors possibly gauge how well their book is doing? As we've touched on in a couple of recent posts (one by agent Erin Murphy and another by Sarah Prineas) there are so very many expectations a publisher might have for a book, and how success is defined by your publisher (and therefore you, to some degree) will depend upon those.
Middle grade novels in particular, rarely come out of the gate with the same big splash potential that YA novels can engender. I’m trying to think if any middle grade debut novels have ever hit a bestseller list. J. K. Rowling did, and so have Rick Riordan and Jeff Kinney, but not right out of the gate with their first book. Their first books did get there eventually, but it took a while. Okay, I just quickly consulted the PW 2010 Kid's Book Sales list and there are two: Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce and The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angelberger.
This is in large part because the end user isn’t the one buying the books, and is, in fact, not very plugged into the information streams along which books news travels. It takes a while to get word out to the gatekeepers, and then passed from the gatekeepers on to young readers. Younger middle grade novels can take even longer to find their audience because they’re niche is so specialized (emerging, independent readers) who stay at that reading level for only a short while.
Some publishers know this and actually plan for it, knowing there will be a slow-but-steady build for a given title. Other publishers, however, do still acquire books intending to use the Spaghetti Against the Wall approach. (throw a bunch of stuff out there and see what sticks.) Which is one of the reasons you hear so many insistent voices saying that the authors themselves must promote, promoted, promote. And why others insist that authors write such a kick @ss book that the publisher will be compelled to do something different.
Part of your expectations will have to do with the size and nature of your publisher. Some publishers are big, bestseller producers, some are more backlist builders, and others are small independent publishers trying new things. This is where the advice and knowledge of an agent can be invaluable—recognizing what sort of book yours is, then matching it to the right type of publisher.
With middle grade especially, the first book is about laying the groundwork for your career. Because middle grade builds much more slowly, there are less flashy initial expectations. Especially when in hardback, the biggest initial consumers for these books are libraries and schools, an
Blog: Kristi Helvig YA Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: 2011, valerie, debut novels, Add a tag
So you already know I'm a book junkie, but did I you know I have an extra special place in my heart for debuts? This year is so exciting for me because so many of the authors whose journeys I've been following are debuting. Some of them (like Michelle Hodkin) I remember from contest entries, and now they're real live books! So here's a few of the YA author debut books I can't wait to read this year!
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis (debuted 1/11/11)
ANGELFIRE by Courtney Allison Moulton (debuts 2/15/11)
THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker (debuts 3/1/11)
BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton (debuts 4/26/11)
DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (debuts 5/3/11)
HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire debuts (5/24/11) (No cover yet!)
POSSESSION by Elana Johnson (debuts 6/7/11)
IMAGINARY GIRLS by Nova Ren Suma (debuts 6/14/11)
BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris (debuts 7/12/11)
WILDEFIRE by Karsten Knight (debuts 7/26/11)
THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab (debuts 8/2/11)
THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin (debuts 9/27/11)
What debuts are you looking forward to?
Blog: Kristi Helvig YA Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: authors, werewolves, debut novels, new release, yalit, Add a tag
Author Shannon Delany just might stop by my personal blog today to answer any questions or comments about her debut novel, 13 TO LIFE: A WEREWOLF'S TALE. Stop by and comment for her!
http://ljboldyrev.blogspot.com/2009/12/k
Blog: Kristi Helvig YA Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: new release, yalit, authors, werewolves, debut novels, Add a tag
Author Shannon Delany just might stop by my personal blog today to answer any questions or comments about her debut novel, 13 TO LIFE: A WEREWOLF'S TALE. Stop by and comment for her!
http://ljboldyrev.blogspot.com/2009/12/k
Dear Little Debut Novel,
This is an ode to you.
First, your author submitted you to agents. No one quite got you.
Finally, an agent thought maybe she got you. She needed your author to make some significant changes.
Your author totally rewrote you, and sent you back to the agent.
The agent took you up and went out with you. She was a good agent, because even after you were rejected by sixty million companies and imprints she kept trying, every time she met a new editor.
Finally, she ran out of editors. But she put you on her side table and asked your author to maybe work on something else.
Your author was sad. You were her heart and soul. She didn't think she wanted any other book. She wasn't sure she wanted to write anymore.
Finally, your agent, who hadn't quite gotten the hint that you were a failure, tried one last place. The editor there had misgivings about you, and passed on you. She liked you a lot, though, but thought you needed some major work.
Your agent pleaded and kicked and stamped her feet. You needed an editor to work with you on your development, she said. Think of what we could make together.
The editor went to her publisher, who agreed to make an extremely modest investment in this book that everyone else in the world turned down, and which still needed a lot of work.
You worked really hard, little debut novel. No one was giving you any credit for being anything other than a very little very debut novel, but you didn't mind. You went chugging along.
Then the galleys went out, and people started to talk about you.
Then the rights sales started coming in.
Then the sub rights bidding wars started.
Then the reviews started coming in. You were, they declared, a work of crazy daring genius.
Suddenly, everyone wanted you.
Suddenly, everyone was repackaging and repositioning you as their lead title.
Suddenly, all those publishers who had rejected you initially were coming back with subrights offers that were (literally) exponents of what you actually sold for the first time around.
Suddenly, bookstores were quintupling their buy-ins so that there would be much more of you available on their shelves.
Suddenly, full-page articles about you and your author were running in major national publications.
Whoda thunk?
Actually, the funny thing is... in retrospect, it seems so obvious. Like no other outcome was ever possible.
Go you, little book. Sure, you had a team of awesome people (ahem) working for you. But you also clearly rocked all along. Go you, for not giving up.
Blog: ThePublishingSpot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Publishing Spotted, Steve Bryant, The Sopranos, Jeff VanderMeer, Add a tag
Why is freelancing like prison? Jeff VanderMeer has the answer.
VanderMeer was one of our first Five Easy Questions guests, and his freelancing advice still stands the test of time--get plenty of exercise to cope with the stress and isolation of the writing life.
The Work-in-progress blog of novelist Leslie Pietrzyk offers some tough-love advice for writers. How To Tell When To Stop Writing Your Novel. Just listen to this: "Many years after getting my MFA, I returned to my alma mater as a returning 'visiting writer,' and I shocked a huge room of MFA students (and some profs) by announcing that my thesis was crap and that I was happy now it hadn’t been published." (Thanks, Maud Newton)
Steve Bryant riffs off the Sopranos finale, exploring how television has changed the way we remember stories: "In dramatically cutting the action mid-scene, David Chase created modern television's first un-Tivo-able moment. There is nothing -- literally nothing -- to see." When you finish reading his essay, go dig on the Top Five Pulp Fiction Endings to remember how people told stories before Tivo...
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Blog: ThePublishingSpot (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Pulp Fiction, endings, The Sopranos, Add a tag
As everybody, and I mean everybody, is talking about this morning, The Sopranos ended last night. America's most critically-acclaimed television show ended in the middle of an uneventful supper at a greasy spoon diner in New Jersey.
The Washington Post declared that the show's unfinished ending was "a classic now, and one that will live on for years." Salon.com asks, "Is Chase brilliant for so thoroughly subverting our expectations, or... is he just an asshole?"
I don't have cable, so I missed the show. But I love, love, love talking about unexpected endings in pulp fiction novels. Readers come to the end of any book with a huge pile of expectations, and pulp fiction writers came up with some genius methods for subverting those expectations.
Off the top of my head, here are my five favorite endings--narrative tricks and riffs that every writer should study. Don't worry, no spoilers...
1. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler. The master of the private detective novel ended his career on a sad, lonesome note, letting the title come back and haunt the reader.
2. The Pick Up by Charles Willeford. A last minute twist takes this alcohol-fueled tragedy into the dark heart of race relations.
3. The Getaway by Jim Thompson. This book begins like thousands of other pulp fiction novels, with a daring bank robbery. The twisty plot will take you straight to hell, a hell you've never seen before in any kind of book.
4. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. The first private detective I ever read. The ending taught me volumes about darkness, existential despair, and private detective narration.
5- I, the Jury by Mickey Spillane. The most despicable ending in this list, this crazy writer took revenge and dragged it out to its most ugly forms. Instead of feeling vindicated, you feel like you need a shower.
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OMG! I relate to your post so much, Hope! Thank you. :) When you were sitting in that restaurant with your published mystery author friend, asking yourself what you were doing for YOU, I felt like you were speaking directly to ME. I've recently decided to refocus on my novel writing, and it feels great.
BTW, I've ordered your book, along with a lot of books recently that I've been meaning to read! Darcy's open letter post reminded me of what it means to be both a writer and reader, and your post opened my eyes again to the importance of tending to my own creative needs.
Congratulations on the success of your first born! I'm sure it's the start of a long and fulfilling career. :)
Angela,
Oh yes, we can get so sidetracked trying to fill needs, build platform, and respond to others that we forget about our creative personal interests. Whether we're doing websites (like WOW and FFW) or tending families, we often neglect our muses. They need nourishment, too, for us to be our full selves.
Thanks so much for ordering Lowcountry Bribe. I believe I'm prouder of it than anything I've ever written.
Hope
I once shared an office with a man who wrote ebooks long before they became popular. He inspired me to try writing. That's what friends do.
Hope--
What a thrilling story of your path to publication!
Darcy
Hope--
What a thrilling story of your path to publication!
Darcy
Yay, Hope! You've spent years helping other writers, now's your time to have fun. Congrats and best wishes.