AN INDIE BOOKSTORE OWNER TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH INDIE-PRESS BOOKS

Yesterday, I visited with the owner of an Independent Bookstore here in Boise. We talked about my book and the Indie-Debut 2010 Group. As I hoped, she had a lot of thoughts I hadn't thunk before.

1. She said working with Small or Micro-Press Authors has it's pros and cons. While she loves the passion and enthusiasm they bring with their book, she doesn't appreciate the ego that sometimes comes with it. Self-published authors especially have a hard time accepting 'no' for an answer if she decides not to carry their book. Another problem is supply. Small presses work with distributors to ship their books. The ease with which a bookstore can order copies (and whether they can return unsold ones) depends on the distributor. If the distributor is POD, ordering can be difficult and returns not allowed. For the Pacific Northwest, she recommended Partners West Regional. They put out a catalogue listing all the books they distribute. That's a plus too, since she can look through one big catalogue instead of a multitude of small ones directly from the publishers.

2. I presented our Indie-Debut 2010 Catalogue and she said there was a lot of info missing. Really? Like what? Little things like how to order the books! What the trim size is!! PRICES!! In our defense, a lot of that info isn't available yet. For books coming out in December, price points haven't been determined & ISBN's haven't been assigned. Her solution was simple. Don't call it a catalogue. She showed me a booklet Random House puts out called the Paperback Reader. It lists books available with a short summary, age range and sometimes a little about the author. That's what we have. So our Indie-Debut "2010 Catalogue" will now be titled "2010 Releases" and will be dressed up a little more.

3. She also suggested going to a tradeshow (like ALA, BEA, etc) which is an idea we've already been toying with. If you're a Pacific Northwest Author and you're considering attending tradeshows, she recommended the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. This year, it'll be held October 7, 8 & 9 in Portland. Publishers, authors, booksellers and librarians all attend and it's a great way to get your book in front of people.

4. Lastly, we talked about my book. I gave her the pitch and told her a little of the book's publishing history. She agreed it sounded like something she'd be interested in so I will take her an ARC when they're available and keep my fingers crossed. And if she says no, I hope I'm graceful enough to say, "Thanks anyway."

Now, I'm off to redesign our "2010 Releases" booklet...again. :)

MONDAY RAMBLES CONT'D.

1. Thanks to Harold Underdown, Jill Corcoran and everyone else for weighing in on whether to list SCBWI in queries. I feel I need to point out that Ms. Roth did not say not to-- she only tweeted that she didn't consider it a 'writing credit'. The concensus seems to be that membership in SCBWI is something worth listing in a query, so...case closed.
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2. Above you'll find page 2 of the Indie-Debut 2010 Book Catalogue. The catalogue is also available on the Indie-Debut website. If you haven't visited lately, you should. The site is full of GREAT writing tips, articles on the publishing industry and information about our Indie-Debut 2010 Authors and Books. Stop by today!
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3. We won our v-ball game last night...by forfeit. Not so fun, but at least we know we'll go into the tournament as the #1 seed. (It sounds like I'm a diehard volleyball player, but the truth is we're really bad. We play in the 'lower rec league' and the concept of 'bump,set,spike' is way beyond us.)
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4. I'm meeting with one of our local Indie Bookstores today to talk about my launch event in July and a possible event in March to celebrate Small Press Month (and Indie-Debut 2010 too).
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5. Lastly, I just want to give a shout out to Hank Phillipi Ryan. I met her through a contest last year and she has been encouraging me ever since. I emailed her for a favor for a fellow Indie-Debut Author and she totally came through. Six cheers for writers like her who really give back! And also, her books are great. If you haven't read Prime Time, Air Time, Face Time or Drive Time--put them on your TBR list!

MONDAY RAMBLES

1. Harold Underdown tweeted a "How Do I Get It Published" Quiz this morning. Sooo funny!

2. This morning, agent Elana Roth tweeted that in her opinion SCBWI is not a writing credit. I retweeted and asked if that meant we should NOT list it in our queries--and did all agents/editors feel that way. Jill Corcoran said she thought we should, that it shows we're working to learn more. I've always listed it on my query letters. What about you guys?

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3. Our final volleyball game of the season is tonight. By some wacky alignment of the cosmos, we are still in first place, so we will definitely go to the tournament. If we come in first or second in the tournament...we get T-shirts!! I so want a T-shirt!

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4. I spent all weekend finalizing the book catalogue for the Indie-Debut 2010 Books. Page 1 is posted above. Page 2 will go up later this week.

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5. I noticed that Curtis Brown now lists only snail mail submittal instructions. I wonder if they were deluged with submittals. The beauty of email is that it's environmentally friendly, cheap and easy. The down side (for the agents) is that anybody with a computer and a book ms can send it in for free, whether it's ready or not.

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6. Busy week ahead! Among other things, I'm meeting with my local indie bookstore to talk about my launch event in July and the Indie-Debut 2010 Group. We're hoping to promote our books during March's Small Press Month activities at Indie Stores across North America.

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WHOOPS! 7 (added late) Be sure to check out Indie Deb Author Carla Mooney's blog today for an interview with Jo Ramsey, author of Connection!

Indie-Debut Interview: Jo Ramsey

I have the immense pleasure of being a 2010 Indie Debutante with young adult author Jo Ramsey. Today, we're sitting down to a cupcake (funfetti with chocolate frosting) and Mt. Dew (she--a small, me--a bucket and a straw) and talking about her new book, Connection.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your novel...how long have you been writing? what else do you do for a living? give us a quick blurb about Connection.

I've been writing since I was five years old, and I'm 39 now. From middle school through college, I wrote 20 young adult novels, all in longhand in spiral notebooks. I still have most of them. Since late 2004, I've written another 45 young adult novels, most of which are still first draft. Connection's my first published YA. As for a "day job," I don't have one currently due to health issues.

A blurb about Connection: Shanna Bailey believes nothing in her life will ever change. Her home life is terrible, and school isn't much better. When she starts high school, she expects more of the same, but when she meets Jonah Leighton, everything changes. Jonah teaches her things that completely change her perception of reality--and of herself. But when a demon tries to possess Kaylie Sturbridge, the most popular girl in school, can Shanna trust herself enough to help banish the demon?

2. Please fill in the blank for this sentence: "If you like ________(young adult novel), you will love Connection!"

I'm really drawing a blank on this, so I'm just going to say, "If you like paranormal novels, you'll love Connection."

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?

For YA, I really like Laurie Faria Stolarz's books. DJ MacHale's Pendragon series is excellent also. When I was a teen myself, my favorite author was Susan Cooper, which is probably why Shanna's reading one of her books in Connection.

(Ed. note: Susan Cooper rocks!!)

4. What benefits did you find working with a small press?

Personal attention from the publisher. Also a quicker turn-around time from acceptance to publication.

5. Fries, tator tots or onion rings? (very important question in Idaho!)

Can I have all three, with plenty of ketchup, please?

Yes, you can have all three, but you'll need more Mt. Dew! Now, everyone share the ketchup while watching the trailer for Connection. Enjoy!

INDIE-DEBUT NEWS

There's a great interview with author Jo Ramsey over at Dancing With Dragons Is Hard On Your Shoes. (Incidentally, if you don't follow this blog, you should! Writing tips, reviews, funny things no one ever told you...Miriam runs a great site.)

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Drop by and have a virtual cup of coffee with Miriam and Jo, and hear all about Jo's FORTY BOOKS! And be sure to drop in tomorrow when I host Jo here on my blog. We'll be having cupcakes, of course, and Mt. Dew.

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You might also want to check out Jo's interview on Book Bites for Kids on Blog Talk Radio. She's a lovely person with great tips for writers. She's also the first release of our Indie-Debut 2010 Books. Show your support for Small and Indie Presses by checking out all our authors as they release throughout the year. Jo's book is available in e-version now and in print version Friday, January 29th. You can pre-order the print copy and both are available here.

Things on Tuesday

Another week of hard work ahead. But I worked all weekend so at least I'm not behind. Yet.

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1. My Managing Editor's budget is due tomorrow. Hopefully after that, she'll be able to look at the proposed cover art for The Invisible Sister and let me know if it's a go. I hope so. The art is GORGEOUS and I really want to show it to you!!

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2. I received a request for a full last week on a query I sent over a year ago. So if you're waiting on replies--don't give up!! Even if you're not waiting on a response, but staring at a rejection, remember Winston Churchill's famous quote: Never, never, never give up.

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3. March is Small Press Month and the authors at Indie-Debut are busy working on blog events, interviews and fun giveaways to celebrate our own independent publishers. More info to come as plans unfold.

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4. How I know I'm a writer, #1. Setting: Family game night.

Trivial Pursuit Question: What meter was invented in 1935.

Me (thinking): Oh geez. Some poet came up with a new one in 1935? That's kinda late. Who would that be? What poets were around then? e e cummings? Is that even the right time frame?

I'm just about to say, "Let's go with Iambic Pentameter" because that's all I can remember, when my teammate says:

I'm pretty sure it's the parking meter.

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Indie-Debut Author Interviews

Click over to Write About Now to read all about our awesome Indie-Debut Authors, their books and what it's like to work with a small press! Go!

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Wicked Week

That margarita is what I plan to have very soon. I totally deserve it. Most of you know I have a day job--running my own architecture firm. Usually it works out nicely--when I'm busy, I architect; when I'm not, I write.

2010 is a different animal. With my book coming out, I have too much writing/ marketing/ editing to wait for a time when I'm not busy. And anyway, I'm super busy. Since the beginning of the year, I've picked up two new residential projects. I took this week away from writing so I could get a big set of construction documents out of the way. At least, that was the plan. Here's what happened...

• The drawings-- about 80% done.
• Got a request for the full manuscript on a query I submitted in January of LAST year. I printed, packaged and shipped it off.
• Volleyball Monday night.
• Managing editor requested an inventory of all the marketing materials I had and what more I would need for the beginning of this year.
• Interviewed for ANOTHER new architecture project Tuesday night.
• My step-daughter arrived for a week-long visit.
• Got calls on two MORE new architecture projects.
• Sized 49 beams for construction documents.
• Discussed with a colleague how our structural program has a lot of odd glitches. Scary.
• Sent off an agent query.
• Set up meetings next week for new projects.
• Decided against becoming a board member for a local NFP. (too busy)
• Created Indie-Debut Book Catalogue.
• Coordinated virtual launch party for our first Indie-Debut release! YAY JO RAMSEY!!
• Traded emails with local indie-bookstore regarding a launch event for my book in July.
• Updated promotion schedule for The Invisible Sister.

ahh....it goes on and on. The point is that I can't do all the stuff I have on my plate. Architecture alone is enough to fill each and every day. But I can't stop writing...not after I finally have something coming out!

so....I can't believe it, but...I think I have to hire somebody. Now, I just have to figure out which tasks to farm out: cleaning and house stuff? structural calc's? That would make my projects about 1/4 as time consuming and carry 3/4's less liability. Or do I need someone to do admin stuff? Or marketing stuff?

Unfortunately, I don't have time to think about it right now. I think I need someone to think for me.

tOo MuCH!

Me no bloggy this weeky.

Friday Favorite!

Image courtesy of http://www.freefoto.com/images/11/52/11_52_12---Glasses-Spectacles_web.jpg

Today's Friday Favorite will save me a lot of money in the future! I've worn glasses since I was 18 months old and over the course of my life, I shudder to think how much money has poured into my eyes in the form of frames, lenses and contacts.

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But no more!

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Check out my new favorite eyewear website. Full sets of glasses (frames AND lenses) start at $8. Yes, I said EIGHT DOLLARS! And this includes anti-scratch coating and UV protection. There are a lot to choose from and prices to go up. I found a pair I really loved, but they were expensive...$19. [wink]

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So go forth and glass up, my friends! You can probably afford to get a couple pair. One to match silver jewelry and one for gold.

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Surprise!!

photo by The Boy

Do I seem a little sideways?? Here's why:

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I received an email from the managing editor of PM Moon yesterday. Among the various deadlines I have coming up, I was informed that The Invisible Sister will not be published in September, as we'd been planning all along.

Instead, it will come out ... THIS JULY!!!



I've got some work to do! In addition to fulfilling all the deadlines I was just given, I have to completely redo my marketing plan and release party ideas. And, I have two less months to get it all done!

**SQUEE** SOOOO EXCITING!!

Plug-In

Wow. What a break that was! I didn't realize how much I needed to unplug myself. I think I'll be doing a blog break every month this year...at least for a few days.

To ease myself back in, I'm not going to tackle anything too esoteric. I'm going to talk about miscommunication. I've seen a lot of it lately, between scheduling our trip to Ecuador and my daily life with one/sometimes four nine year-olds. Here are a few tidbits I found funny...

From Newsweek:

• "It is as throughout all Alaska that big wild good life teeming along the road that is north to the future." --Sarah Palin

From websites of Ecuador hotels:

• The departure time gives the room it is by day at 12 o'clock.
• The breakfast is served up to 11 o'clock he/she gives the tomorrow.
• This forbidden one the entrance gives alcoholic drinks to the facilities of the inn. (This is my favorite)
• The reservations are only for the day and pointed out hour should reconfirm their reservation in the moment that leaves toward the city of Cuenca.
• When making a reservation you will have to settle 50% of the amount to pay, the other 50% was canceled the day of entrance in the inn. (I think Sarah Palin wrote these).

And just this morning, I found this comment on my last blog post:

歐美潮吹影片歐美模特兒寫真影片欣賞歐美模特兒寫真歐美影集歐美影片歐美整形外科歐美潮吹影片歐美模特兒寫真影片欣賞歐美模特兒寫真歐美影集歐美影片歐美寫真歐美辣妹寫真集歐美貼圖區歐美貼圖片區歐美貼圖歐美絲襪美腿歐美無碼歐美猛男歐美情色貼圖歐美情色歐美素圖歐美素材歐美美女歐美洋妞美女圖片歐美性愛女郎歐美性愛歐美刺青紋身圖片歐美亞語文中心歐美亞歐美男同志歐美免費影片欣賞歐美免費影片歐美免費a片歐美色情影片歐美色情歐美自拍歐美成人影片歐美成人歐美幼幼

I think it means HAPPY NEW YEAR!!