Alas!

I forgot to add this snippet of info. Alas! My agent was forced to step back due to his major health issues. Though it's a bummer, I only hope he gets better! 

I started that ever so daunting task of querying again. Having an agent will probably give me a good boost in acquiring another one.

The publishing industry is achingly slow, so the best thing to deal with the wait is to keep writing!

I'm already outlining my third book (the second in a planned trilogy starting with my second book. Sounds confusing right?). However, I'll probably hold actually writing the second installment in case the first one does not sell. If the first in the trilogy doesn't sell, why would the second?

Of course, I could make the second book a stand-alone, but then I would have refocus on introducing all the characters, which were explored in the first one. I might do that, to be honest.

However, I also love writing short stories. This may sound arrogant or stupid or both, but I find writing short stories easy. I wrote the one I just sold in under two hours, not counting the editing afterwards.

I'll post later about why and how short stories come more naturally to me. 

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

So, since one of my short stories will be published soon, I decided to shamelessly promote it. Though, I can't really say anything about it...besides it being a Lovecraftian Horror story. Sold it to a great small press, Innsmouth Free Press...they print Lovecraftian stories????

For those of you who don't know, the press takes its name from H.P. Lovecraft's novella, "The Shadow Over Innsmouth."  It's actually a great story that has even been made into a movie. Stuart Gordan directed  the film, Dagon. Gordon actually has a deep fondness for Lovecraft. He directed "From Beyond" which was another awesome Lovecraft story and Re-animator. He also directed the episode of Masters of Horror called, Dreams in the Witch-House. Good episode though I felt he strayed too much from the original story.

Anyway, nearly all Lovecraftt's stories involve what's called, Cosmic Indifference. In medieval times man thought the Earth was the center of the universe and thus everything revolved around us. WE were kind go a big deal. Cosmic Indifference is the exact opposite. The human race is an ant on the floor of a universe filled with gods, demons, and creatures so vast and great they barely pay attention to us. Do we pay attention to ants on a regular basis? No.

So, at the end of almost every Lovecraft story...the protagonists lose. They go insane, die, or left not "insane" but emotionally shattered to the point that they are a shell of a person. And people love this! There are whole books, philosophies, and debates about Cosmic Indifference and the "mythos" H.P. built.

I say, "mythos" because in actuality Lovecraft never really intended to set down a defined multiverse. Like the great writer he was, he winged it. He didn't follow any rules, he just wrote a specific story and used the same names and/or concepts. Basically, he didn't want to constrain himself to follow anything but his own imagination.

And that's the point of this post (or now it forms the point)...don't constrain your imagination. Write whatever you desire.

Blog post end.

A Lay Guide to Publishing Avenues

My cousin, a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) sent me a nifty little cheat sheet about the various means of becoming a 'published' author. I use the quotations, because she pointed out to me that many organization do NOT consider you published or professional unless you've received at least a $1,000 advance. Makes sense, because a publisher who has already dolled out money for you will want to make that money back! This leads to more aggressive marketing of your book. I have to note, I have no knowledge of that from dealing with publishers, but a degree in business gives even me some basic insight! :)

So, on to some of the publishing methods:

Traditional: The top of the line method that we all dream about. Huge advances (not so much anymore), your bool in every Barnes & Noble, or as my agent calls them "The big boys and girls in NY."

Upside

     -You get to work with top notch team who will handle editing, art/cover design, and marketing
     -A major advance
     -Large print runs to start
     -Availability in stores

Downside

     -You need an agent 99.99% of the time.

     -Kill or be killed = publish or fail

     -Sales record counts...sell 1 copy and say goodbye to that next advance or the publisher themselves

Self-Publishing: You publish your own work. Online or in print through an insurmountable number of channels. (Online channels: Smashwords, Createspace, Barnes & Noble, etc.) I'm not going to list channels of self-publishing in print, because they're everywhere.

Upside

     -Anything goes...you can publish a picture of a monkey eating a banana on 375 pages and call it the True Story of King Kong...you get the idea.

     -You get to run everything, track sales, decide how to market it, and you can get a royalty rate of between 35-70%.

Downside

     -Anything goes...people can print books such as the True Story of King Kong...and if I find someone did publish it, I will sue you, because it is MY great and hilarious idea :)

     -You CAN make a lot money, but you won't. Those who say they have are the exception to the rule, not the rule themselves. Watch...I can't remember the movie right now, so if you made that movie please know I'm giving you credit even though I forgot what movie it is that you made.

     -You HAVE to do all the work, marketing, etc. unless you're rich, in which case you can pay people to do that for you.

     -There's no advance, and bookstore staff will probably give you a funny look when you ask for placement on their shelves...and THEN when you leave, laugh at you with their friends. Sad I know, but that's how the cookie crumbles. That's what I would imagine on my way out after they said no in a polite fashion.

E-Publishing (Electronic Publishing): E-publishers are EVERYWHERE. I can't tell you how many there are. These aren't bad, per se, or at all. It just depends on what you're looking for. These are usually small presses, though they may have as many as 20 authors (I've seen it), but all their books are published online. MANY claim if a book is successful it will go into a limited run or become POD (Print-on-demand). This would be something to ask them about before signing a contract.

Upside

     -Much easier to have your work accepted, whether you're agented or not.

     -SOME provide an advance, but to be honest after pouring over pages of them, I've only seen one offer an advance, and that was one that did do print, not just electronically. 

     -You get to work with staff, which I would call so-so quality (A LOT better than me, but nowhere near HarperCollins staff)

     -You'll get more staff attention as it is a small press with a limited amount of authors

     -The press may already have loyal customers who will purchase your book just due to the publisher.

Downside

     -Rarely given an advance, and when you are, they're small!

     -You do have to or rather SHOULD do marketing yourself as the press will have limited means to help you. You should use, of course, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, LinkedIn, etc. etc.

     -You won't have much contact with many of the "big boys and girls in NY" as my agent says! Always make me laugh and smile :)

     -Your book will likely not reach any form of print.

VANITY: Don't use this. They may make you pay, or only sell your book to you alone. Don't do this. Don't do it! GO check out pred-ed.com. A FANTASTIC site about scammers and the "big boys and girls". It's run by Dave...something, but it is an INVALUABLE tool. USE IT!

Now for the citing of sources, as I don't want to get sued or be assassinated for misusing/plagiarizing someone. 

Source: November 2011 RWA Magazine, Article, by Virna DePaul

And a special thanks to my cousin, Leslie Carroll for making sure I never fell prey to any scammers!

So, Farewell,  keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

Responses from Publishers

Before acquiring my agent I had queried several small presses for publication. A few rejections, but an overwhelming number of offers. Quite frankly, I'm astounded at the number and the speed at which they came in. In a week-and-a-half period I literally had FIVE offers. It's pretty staggering considering some criticism I've had by a one or two people I let read some. They weren't publishers, or agents or anything of that sort, but one was an editor. Anyway, before I actually started to delve into the 'business' I used what is called head-hopping. If you're reading this blog you probably know what that is.

Most people have told me it's not confusing, some have, and honestly I like it. Having read numerous books with 'head-hopping' I find it a great way to learn all the characters, and how they interact with each other, and how they truly compare and contrast each other.

Anyway, four of the five publishers were great to communicate with, all very professional, and though one contract was outlandishly poor, I passed. My agent is currently shopping it in NYC, and I have full faith in his advice and abilities. He's a big timer.

One publisher that I passed on replied with a scathing remark. I must use the word "astounded" again. I inquired about an advance, and was informed by this publisher: 'No, advances are given on an author's merit and ability to sell."

So...you want to publish my book, but don't believe I have any merit or ability to sell? I found it rather silly, and honestly a bit rude. Mind you I had asked politely...sort of I guess..."What type of advance can I expect?" Nothing too insulting, I think.

There were some other passive-agressive comments made, but I don't want to get into that, nor name this publisher or the email's sender.

I'm a newbie to the business, and maybe I was out of line?

All the other small presses were very easy to deal with.

I guess my point is that though our books should be written with marketability in mind, write what you want. My second book I've opted not to use head-hopping, but I still think it's fine.

This is the end of my ramblings :)

So, Farewell,  keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

PS My cousin is up for the Good Reads Choice Awards for the Best Historical Novel, BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE so, everyone should go vote for her at this address!