Linktopia
I’d like to introduce you to my cover! A writer friend of mine declared that I had been visited by the cover-art fairy–the good one who spreads joy throughout the land–and I couldn’t agree more. Those vivid colors, the model’s beautiful pose, the cool glow around the text. Love. Everything. I’ve known about it for a month now but had to wait for permissions to filter in, etc… Now that the image is up all over the ‘net’s many book sites, my editor and I figured it was fair game to post it here, too.
I can’t believe how fast time has moved these last few months. Copyedits are behind me, and now we’re waiting on galleys. Hot on the heels of galleys will be the ARCs, when I’ll be able to hold something resembling the final copy of the book in my hands. Very cool.
But for all this coolness, I still feel–often–like I have a lot to learn. Maybe I’ll feel less awkward once I’ve been through the entire circuit once: idea to finished product in my hand. Until then, I’m tripping my way along the path. I’ve joked with my agent that there should be a Publishing Basics for Dummies book.
This weekend, I think I actually found one.
Read MoreFirst, my happy news: The Last Will of Moira Leahy was involved in a four-way book auction in Germany, and sold to the highest bidder! Foreign sales can be important because the advance that foreign publishers pay to your US publisher goes against your US advance (unless you retained foreign rights, which we didn’t). Put another way, it’s that much less you have to sell here in the US to “earn out” your advance. And in any case, cool.
I’m still researching website designers, and I found this NYT’s article on websites and book trailers to be very interesting. What do you think? Does a well-made website or well-produced book trailer influence you into buying a book (or at least intrigue you into learning more)?
I’m also still enjoying Facebook and recently leaped into the Twitter pond. If you Tweet, too, you can find me HERE. Not sure if I’ll stick with it, though.
Other interesting blabbles around the web and blogosphere:
* Allison Winn Scotch blogs about how to use book reviews as critique in your next works.
* Writer’s Digest’s annual writing competition is underway. Details HERE.
* JA Konrath offers one of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever read:
Kath and Therese want to take a moment to share some of WU’s recent mail.
First, from Writer Mama, Christina Katz, who’ll be doing an interview with us in the near future: the Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway begins on Monday (that’s today). There are a HUGE number of writerly books in this contest. The giveaway list is HERE.
Second, from Publishers Weekly spokesperson Nicole Bruce:
In a full-day seminar, experts from Publishers Weekly will guide aspiring writers through everything they need to know about the business of getting their books published. With the help of top agents, authors, editors and marketing professionals, PW will show writers the way to get published. The seminar will take place on Monday, September 22nd at the NYU Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 from 9 AM to 6 PM.
In advance of the seminar, PW will collect and read proposals, or a piece of a manuscript. One lucky writer selected by PW’s deputy reviews editor and staff will be profiled in an upcoming issue of PW read by agents and publishers. Submissions are due by September 5, 2008. Submission guidelines and details can be found at
Read MoreKath and I are groggy from our re-entry into the everyday world, but we wanted you to know about a few links:
Writer’s Digest published a fascinating interview with Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants, HERE.
Interested in checking out the BackSpace Writers Conference, where you can learn from and mingle with editors, agents and published authors? Members of the Mystery Writers of America receive a $50 discount off registration. More,
Read MoreLast week we blogged about Emmy Cherry, an eleven-year-old girl tragically killed when a tornado ripped through her home in Arkansas. Emmy was a big fan of former WU contributor Victoria Holmes‘ massive YA bestselling series WARRIORS, which she conceptualized.
I’d been thinking about Emmy all week, as I have a daughter her age who loves books as much as Emmy did. About fate, for one thing. And about loving stories so fiercely they almost seem real. How that love can transform others.
As many of you know, Vicky is honoring Emmy in the next Warrior’s story by creating the character of Brightspirit, who will be Emmy in the book.
Lynn Wiman of Vintage Books, the bookstore owner who first reached out to Vicky to alert her to Emmy, shared with us this story about Emmy’s grandfather Jim.
I wanted to share it with you.
“Jim, Emmy’s Grandfather has dealt with this very silently. He has not wanted to hear about her (Emmy) being in the books, he has not wanted to hear about the Warriors. Even when Emmy came to the store every week, he would wait in the truck outside for hours for her. He loved Emmy but he did not like books, and thought it was silliness. Last week, Kay and Elaine invited my husband and me to dinner, and Kay insisted that he come. At dinner he just listened.
Read MoreSweet salmon mousse on a cucumber, it’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these. I could make all kinds of excuses about it, but I should come out and confess: I’ve been hooked on reality elimination shows lately. Thank gawd Top Chef is over. Now I can stop trying to whip up purslane and huckleberry scallops, and other stuff my family won’t eat.
Tidbits from around the blogs lately:
Our writer buddy Elena Greene over at Risky Regencies is currently residing in Plotting Hell, but we have no doubts she’ll climb out of it with her usual aplomb . . . . Editorial Anonymous, an entertaining blog I should read more, gives writers hope that editors can change their mind about a project . . . . Bryan Catherman lists the top 10 banned authors of the 1990’s . . . . Media Bistro features a nice interview with Jane Friedman . . . Elegant Variation posts a good rundown about the process of getting a book ready for publication . . .
Ok, enough about books. How awesome was it that Hung won Top Chef? He was kind of a pill, but clearly he had the skills and the drive necessary in a Top Chef. I also grew very fond of his dismissive manner toward the “peasants” who didn’t understand his type of cooking. Characters like that don’t come around every day. I’m going to try and mine some of his mannerisms in a future project.
I was saddened by Casey’s implosion at the end; I really thought the competition was hers for the taking. Either the altitude got to her, or plain old-fashioned nerves, but I was a little worried when she selected pork bellies as her main protein. I guess if you’re a true foodie, pork bellies is a sublime meal, but to most folks, the gut of a pig sounds pretty gross. Still, last year’s ultimate Top Chef Ilan served pinwheel worms on toast and the judges raved about it, so what do I know.
I’m also rooting for a Dale t.v. cooking show. His bon mots were priceless.
Read MoreYou might live in lovely North Carolina or California, or reside in some picturesque beach house in Hawaii or New Zealand, but we WU mamas (Kath and Therese) live in dreary upstate New York. And it’s been cold here. And rainy. And snowy. And cold. Did we mention cold? Where in this world, exactly, does March goes out like a lamb? Because we’d like to find that lamb and snarf its wool to make a new coat. Still, because we’re true troopers, we’ve donned our best rain gear and gathered some good linkies for you. (Sneeze.) Here ya go:
Nathan Bransford’s blend of agently wisdom and fun pokes at pop culture (yo, Tyra!) make him a daily must read for us. Check out his post on awkward dialogue if thou dost not want to appear dimly lit in thoust skullest. While you’re there, chime in on his latest if you have an opinion about creative writing schools.
Agent Rachel Vater posted on a cool new contest (Fangs Fur Fey). Send in your hook, and if it’s dubbed The Best, Vater will critique your manuscript’s first 50 pages plus synopsis. Window for submissions runs from April 13th through the 15th. Get all the details HERE.
Speaking of contests…
Read MoreSurfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
It sounds like a plot lifted from a John LeCarre novel, but the real-life poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, ex-FSB (morphed out of the old KGB) agent and vocal critic of the Putin administration, is a real-life thriller waiting to be solved by an intrepid counterspy, or something or other. Didn’t death by plutonium go out with plaid pants and white belts? R.J. Hillhouse thinks so too (h/t Confessions). At any rate, I can’t wait to read the novel when it comes out.
We’ve added a few new blogs to the sidebar: Lee Carlon, the0phastrus, and Grovesnor Square. Do check them out when you have a few moments, they are great blogs.
Ray’s beginning the subbing process of his latest finished wip . . . . AC Crispin has a fascinating account of one of the worst scammers in the biz getting her just desserts in court . . . . GalleyCat has tidbits from NYTBR Science Fiction reading series.
Finally, I find this both ineffably sad and uplifting. Dave Cockrum, creator of the X-Men comics (among other accomplishments) died last week in bed, peacefully, wearing his Superman jammies.
That’s how we should all go out, imo. Write on.
Read MoreSurfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
I’ve rounded 6,000 words this first week of NaNo, which is pretty good considering I couldn’t work on my WIP this weekend. So I’m jiggifying in celebration. Here’s Emo giving his best impression of me after two hours of hard work:
Blogs are quiet this week due to NaNo-ing and the American election, but a few tidbits are to be had.
In case you missed it on Halloween, Cobwebs of the Mind gave WU a favorable blog review that brought us some new visitors and a nice injection of warm fuzzies. You may read the review HERE . . . . Absolute Write is changing hands, but we’re sure this valuable resource will be left in good ones . . . . Victoria and A.C. repost the classic “Lies Scammers Tell about Us” . . . . the writing war between Nienke and Melly is going smashingly well . . . . . checking in with Bookdwarf, who has read a lot more in a few months than I read all year . . . . found another amusing blog, Weekend Stubble, worth a visit for its mildly deranged humor . . . . everyone loves a good mystery, and the identity of hot new author Lucy Jackson remains cloaked. Who’s going to be the first to out this “well-reviewed literary author who wants to do more commercial work”? . . . . GalleyCat muses about the death of the celebrity book trend . . . . NaNo gears stuck? Check out this writing prompt from WriteOn Right Now . . . .
And finally, the new writers’ horoscopes are up at Publisher’s Marketplace, complete with retrograding Mercury and so forth.
Write on.
Read MoreSurfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
Well, let’s all do the happy dance, for this comes as welcome news (NYT, free reg. required). After two years of hearing about publishers bemoaning their plummeting sales, the forecast for this fall is improving due to a crop of reliable big name authors and a rosy holiday outlook. It’s a nice change from the “death of midlist” stories we’ve read all too often.
Booksquare asks a good question: why would anyone go to a publisher’s blog? . . . our own Therese has participated in Ray’s first online critique workshop. Was it worth it? . . . Everything old is new again in the world of crooked agents scamming authors . . . .legit Agent Kristin holds forth on form queries . . . Cavan blogs about how academia has influenced his writing . . . THIS is a good idea: a writing war. Melly and Nienke came up with this motivational gem . . . .
Slushpile muses on why NYT literary critic Michiko Kakutani never seems to like anything published by Knopf . . . found a new blog, the Syntax of Things, wherein there’s a good post about 2006’s Best Nonrequired American Reading . . . . Eric has come up with an elegant way to explain exploring creative ideas, much nicer than mine, which I call “bumbling around the draft” . . . . Random Reading is working through P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files mysteries. I tell ya, this website is a great resource for writers who can’t read all the books we want because we’re–ahem–working on our own, BUT we need to keep atop publishing trends . . . . Holly Lisle is auctioning off original manuscripts for three of her novels to fundraise for a friend in need. Please help if you can . . . . over at Riskies, Elena Greene decodes contest judging . . . . MJ Rose adds a sixth “P” to marketing your books . . . . OK THIS rant is why I love reading Paperback Writer.
One week until NaNo. Until then, write on.
Read MoreSurfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
Forget nuclear fallout in North Vietnam. The bomb dropped last night when Jeffrey won this season’s Project Runway. The judges went gaga over his zippered confection which I thought looked like the awning of a Pizza Hut, but what do I know. I’m a Laura fan, which means I like potty-mouthed elegance.
NaNoWriMo discussions continue apace. Over at Risky Regencies, Elena Greene is ready to take the plunge (with encouragement from WU) as is Nienke and Melly . . . . Naomi Novik’s dragon-laced Napoleonic novels will be brought to the big screen by Peter Jackson! (h/t Jason Pinter) . . . . over at Slushpile, venom is directed at ‘exclusives’ and the eternity it takes for some pubs to get around to rejection . . . . Sarah over at Confessions has the latest deals in crime fiction. Will Superhero sleuths be a new trend? . . . . Evil Editor is being eee-vil again, but this query needed help . . . . the October horoscopes for writers are out, and more retrograding of planets is in the forecast . . . . Alphabet Girls have a really nice post about writing stories no one seems to want right now . . . . read about when blockbusters fizzle despite insane promotional budgets, courtesy of GalleyCat (h/t Booksquare).
Write on, friends.
Read More[Note: Cute comic courtesy of Inkygirl Debbie Ohi.]
Surfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
We’re all NaNo all the time here at WU. Whatever it takes to get the book done, right?
Here’s a little inspiration: the names of the National Book Award finalists. A graphic novel made the list for the first time, which is sorta exciting. MJ Rose offers his perspectives on national writer’s awards.
Agent X is back from vacation and blogging again . . . . Allison Brennan offers some good advice on writing flashbacks . . . . Burning Void reviews Novelist’s Boot Camp. Therese is currently road-testing this method as well, and we’ll keep you posted on how effective it is . . . . Ray, as always, shows us the way. This time it’s on effective openings . . . . over at Quantum, Eric, a NaNo veteran, blogs about creative constraints and how they will help your work.
My apologies to the Blogspot blogs, but Blogger seems to be down right now. I’ll try to do an update when it comes online again. Until then, write on.
Read MoreSurfing the best of the writers’ blogs so you don’t have to.
Therese and I are reading the entries for our first Writer Unboxed contest, and man, it’s going to be hard to choose a winner. We’ll announce soon.
In the meantime, the gals over at Risky Regencies have a contest of their own to announce. Fans of regencies and historical romances need to check this one out . . . Paperback Writer’s contest invites readers to come up with their best opening lines. The prize is pretty cool, too.
Chatter is up over the writers’ blogosphere regarding Harlequin’s decision to retool their LUNA imprint. The story broke over at Smart Bitches and quickly went viral on the romance blogs. Scuttlebutt indicates that the powers over at LUNA want to move away from the Celtic-inspired, folkloric fantasy stories toward grittier urban fantasies. I asked my own agent about LUNA’s retool, and she says that pubs and agents have known about this for awhile. So while it’s heartbreaking for authors who have had three-book deals have the contract for their third book canceled, it’s opportunity for others like Jeri Smith-Ready. Here’s another lesson in why chasing trends is a fool’s game.
Folks, it’s been a while since I’ve read a blog and loved it so much I picked through the archive, but that’s what I did when someone mentioned I should check out Rachel Vater’s Agent X blog. It’s fascinating . . . . Agent Kristen on cover blurb etiquette . . . Victoria and A.C. muse over the coincidence that many scam artists are themselves failed writers . . . . Melly blogs about fear of writing a one-dimensional character . . . MJ Rose has a must-read post up about writer overload . . . . if you think your writing sucks, never fear. The Irish are hosting a festival to honor their “worst writer ever” . . . oh, those Irish (wipes tear); they have the best AND the worst writers of the English language. Somehow, that doesn’t seem fair . . . .
Back to the contest. Write on, folks.
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