FFL – How should I publish my Regency?

First Friday Lunch – The Courtesan of Constantinople

This month I’m talking about the process of querying, rejections and why I chose a small press for this project.

Tina’s Touring – Darla M. Sands

I’m over at my fellow Writer Zen Gardener and friend Darla Sands today talking about my book, “Finding Your Path to Publishing”.   Please join me.

http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/

Tina’s Touring

Today I’m over at Amber Daulton’s Blog talking about my new book, “Finding Your Path to Publishing”.

https://amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/2018/12/book-spotlight-finding-your-path-to.html

Come over and join me:

The Wait is the hardest part

So I’ve finally started submitting The Courtesan of Constantinople to Publishers.  I’d spent six months looking for an Agent and didn’t get feedback – positive or negative steering me in a direction that required changes to the manuscript.

I got a lot of letters saying, “I like this and that, but don’t feel I’m right for this project.”  So started to wonder if I missed the boat on Steampunk.   Hard to say.    I did a couple Twitter parties and nothing there either.

While I submitted to Agents 5-10 at a time.  I was doing large batch by January. 🙂   For Publishers, I only do about 3 at a time.   I don’t expect to hear back from any of them until May. Because they are larger houses I may not hear back at all. I think I’ve been spoiled by the almost instant responses of small presses  🙂

In the meantime, I’ll work on Alchemists of Archangel and maybe Ryder Hard if I get blocked, just to keep moving.  Also, I have this book about writing I want to do, so plenty to keep me busy while I hurry up and wait.

Writer Wednesday – Put a Fork in my novel, I’m done.

There comes a time when you have to quit editing and declare a project done.  Move on to the next one.  I’ve reached that point with Courtesan.

I’ve done all I can with the novel.

I’ve layered and cut producing a novel of 54,333 words.

Does it mean there aren’t corrections to make?  Of Course not but I need another set of eyes at this point.  I’ve asked for some BETA help, to get that big picture feel, but I can’t continue edits without wrecking voice.

The good news.  This is ready to get looked at by an agent or editor.  In my opinion, any changes that need to be made will be to satisfy the readership, not me.  And that’s okay, I’m used to working with editors to make appropriate changes.    That’s part of meeting reader expectation.

Now its time to move on to Book 2: The Alchemists of Archangel.

Hopefully, The Courtesan of Constantinople doesn’t sit too long on my virtual shelf, trying to find a home.~Tina

 

 

Writer Wednesday – The importance of options

Since starting my Agent Quest at the beginning of September, I’ve sent out 11 queries and received 5 rejections and 1 No response (although the website said if I don’t hear from them in 3 weeks, it was considered a pass).   I’ve only had one agent request a partial, all others have been rejected simply on Query or the first few pages. I currently have 5 queries out there and am prepping another letter to send off, as I like to have 6 queries out at once, since this is a time-consuming process. 

I admit I wish I was getting more feedback, like “we aren’t searching for a Steampunk Romance”, or “No one is looking for this,” or “You’re writing needs work specifically in these areas.”   Unfortunately most have simply been, “we are going to pass on this project.”   

“Why?  Why are you passing?” I wonder. 

Last week, I talked about my looking for Beta Readers and this is why.  So I can find out if its something in my writing that isn’t working.   My concern is that the writing is fine, and I’ve missed the market on Steampunk.  If that’s the case, even if I decide to go direct to the publishers, I may have a difficult time finding a home for this manuscript.   It makes me question if I should write something saleable for NaNoWriMo or work on the next book in this Steampunk series.   

I have been researching Indie publishing for the very concerns I listed above regarding the market for Steampunk.  I personally love the genre mixed with romance and feel there aren’t enough books, but maybe I’m in the minority on this one.  Although by all accounts, this seems to be a loyal fan base if you get “it” right, and there is a significant amount of self-published (indie) books in the genre.  I feel if I did go the self-published (Indie) route that I’d at least have a chance to succeed (or fail) based on readers. 

But I digress as this post was about Options.   Even though this process has been long and tiresome, I do still have a good portion of my agent list to work through and then after that my editor list.  I’ve decided to give my agent search until January and then I’ll be querying publishers directly.  That list is pretty long too. 

To give myself options when I go to find either an agent or publisher I make an excel spreadsheet of what they are looking for and what is important to me, so I can expedite the list, so really when I can the rejection I’m not so dejected. 

I admit my experience with publishers (especially digital presses) is that they know exactly what they want and the turn around on query, and usually the manuscript is much faster.   Many publishers now take the full manuscript so there is very little waiting.  

Well I should write that next query letter, so I can hurry up and wait. 🙂 

~Tina

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer Wednesday – Request

Last week, right after I posted my rejection post.   I received a request for an additional 50 pages from another Agent.   The Universe must have a plan.  

I had met this agent at an RWA conference a couple of years ago when the manuscript was just getting started in my head and on paper.    She had given a talk on agents and how they help you in the business.  That talk made me look at querying agents for this book that was an idea in my head.     Especially since what I had written was such a bit of a departure from my current work.   

I will still have to wait a few more weeks before I hear back, but this is exciting news.  I remember listening to her talk, and getting a good vibe.  

As you read this, I’m heading to the airport to go on my annual retreat with the WZG Founders.   And plotting my next book.   More on that next Wednesday. 

~Tina

AuThursday – Your name here

We are getting to the end of the year and I’ll be looking for Interview Candidates for 2017.  

If you think this is something you might be interested let me know. 

I post Interviews every Thursday and Excerpts on Saturday.  I’m thinking of adding some new items like Wednesday Writer Space – More on that to come. 

I don’t do reviews or blitzes, as I want the readers to get to know the writer and what makes them tick.   

Reader make-up seems to be a mix  of Fans, Aspiring Writers, Actors and Veteran Writers.  This page if  viewed more as informative and educational rather than promotional. 

I’ll post the Clog Blog Results at the end of the year as I have in the past.   

Stay tuned next week for more writers. ~Tina

 

 

AuThursday – Colleen S. Myers

Please welcome Colleen S. Myers to the Clog Blog.  Colleen, what is your latest news?

I am so happy to announce the second book in my Solum Series is coming out June 6^th, 2016.  Available everywhere in eBook and print!

Q:  If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

This may sound odd but I don’t feel I had one mentor, I had dozens! Every author I have read help make me the writer I am. Plus, I was a Harlequin Teen junky when I was little.

Q:  What is your process for writing a book? For example, are you a plotter or a pantzer? Do you start at page 1 and write your book sequentially or do you skip around? Do you start with your characters or the plot?

I always have a basic Idea for a plot before writing. Sometimes I do free write to stimulate ideas but right now I have 5 separate series in my head so it has been a while since I have done that.

After I get the idea, I generally plot it out and organize it in Scrivener.  My first draft is in scrivener, then I do all my editing in Word once I have the plot ironed out.

Also while in scrivener, if I am having trouble writing scenes or characters, I tend to do Point of Views or little excerpts about the characters so I get to know their motives.

Q:  What inspired you to write your book, MUST REMEMBER?

I love fantasy. In real life I am a doctor which can be very stressful and very grounded in reality. I like to imagine what it would be like elsewhere sometimes and thus Must Remember was born.

Q:   Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learn from everything I do in life.  Even if you fail, you have learned something!

Q: How did you deal with rejection letters, if you received any?

I take everything with a grain of salt. Not everyone is going to like everything I write, just like I don’t like everything I read.

Q:   Would you tell us your story of getting “the call?”

Oh, well I totally missed mine!  My husband was sick that day so It went to voicemail and they didn’t talk to me, they just left an email, so mine is pretty anti-climatic.

Q:   What was the most exciting thing that happened to you after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a published author?

Getting my first fan, someone who is completely separate from my family who told me how much she liked my book.

Q:  Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I am currently working on the third book in the Solum series over halfway done. I am also working on a Contemporary romance novel dealing with a wounded veteran finding love with his high school sweetheart after coming home from Iraq with a missing limb.

Q:  Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

Social Media links:

Website:  http://www.colleensmyers.com/

BLog: http://www.csmyersmusings.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenSMyers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColleenSMyers

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/csmyers3637/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csmyers3637/

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114862374558510360435/posts

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-myers-883a66b6?trk=hp-identity-name

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Colleen-S.-Myers/e/B016XCBKA2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14553363.Colleen_S_Myers

Join me on Saturday when we read an excerpt from Colleen’s