Well, about a month after I received edits that sent me into a mild tailspin, I am done. The book is back with my editor. She will have it for a couple weeks, and then I’ll get another round of edits, which are supposed to be very minor. I have learned through this process not to — Read More
Category: Publishing
On the influence of the editor
Since receiving a round of fairly extensive edits on my book, I’ve been thinking a lot about how most of the books I read are probably very different from their first drafts. And that gets me thinking about the creation of art in general. If a writer is heavily influenced by an editor, is the book — Read More
Publishing Journey: The Edits
So, the last time I touched my book was in October, about 8 months ago. In November, I got verbal (and email) confirmation that St. Martin’s Press did, in fact, want to buy my book (woohoo!). I didn’t actually sign a contract until January. The wheels on this publishing bus go ’round and ’round, but — Read More
On persistence
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently about how we only get about 10% of any one person’s story. We see only the parts they are willing to share–the happy parts, mostly. We shield others from our heartaches. If we do share, we share a small sliver. For example: On Facebook, which I consider an exaggerated — Read More
A simple way to help little-known writers
You should see my list of books to buy. It has hundreds of titles on it. I am always, always, always on the search for new writers to fall in love with. Sometimes, I just read a blurb about a new book and I put it on my list until my next binge buy. I love — Read More
Publishing Journey: Self-promotion (AKA @#%^!)
When I first envisioned a life as a writer, the Internet was not invented yet. So, I assumed promotion and marketing would be limited to a glamorous book tour. Oh, little did I know… These days, with Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr (I’m still not sure what that is, though I have an account) and — Read More
Publishing Journey: The Author Website
Back in the day, before the Internet, all a writer had to worry about was–brace yourself–WRITING. These days, it’s not that way. Writing should always be priority but, if you get a book deal, you will see that a big chunk of your time can (and probably should) be spent on marketing and–ugh–self-promotion. I don’t think writers — Read More
Best book covers of 2014
As I said in my last post, one of the most common questions I get asked in regards to my book deal is, “Do you get to design the cover?” This is a hilarious inquiry considering my artistic skill. At this point, the book cover is still a mystery to me. I’m assuming the publishing — Read More
Publishing Journey: Impatience
There is one word NOBODY will ever use to describe me: Patient. I don’t even aspire to be more patient because it seems like striving for something impossible, like wishing I was shorter (which I do, occasionally, because I’m 5’11” and gangly as all hell). My brain moves really, really fast, and my expectations move at that — Read More
Publishing Journey: The Book Tour
Back in my early twenties, when I first started daydreaming of being a published author, part of my vision was the book tour. After all, as a voracious reader and writer myself, I considered book reading events to be akin to seeing a favorite band perform, up close and personal. When my sister lived in — Read More