February FREE BOOK!
I remember when my dream was to become a PUBLISHED AUTHOR, with READERS and even maybe, perhaps, possibly earning money for what I wrote. I am fortunate. That dream came true for me, but not until I had learned as much as I could about how the book business worked. What agents do; what publishers do; what authors are supposed to do. (I’ve still got a lot to learn!)
If any of you are pursuing that dream, in the midst of that dream or have achieved that dream you may be interested in our February Give-Away Book. It is JEFF HERMAN’S GUIDE TO BOOK PUBLISHERS, EDITORS, AND LITERARY AGENTS 2010. To be eligible for the drawing, simply post a question or a comment about writing, publishing, editors or agents on this Blog, January 19 through February 19. The book drawing will be February 20. I will notify the winner who will receive the book via USPS book rate shipping.
The February Book Give-Away is in honor of my brother Bob.
Good Luck! Sue
This is such a tough question, Ray. Altering your style is a very personal decision, and if it breaks your heart, it’s probably not the way to go. Jane Austen has gained a lot of popularity recently, and her fans are a dedicated group. The problem is finding a publisher that will take a chance on your stuff. You do have other options, such as writing in two genres, but using a pen name for one to avoid confusing your readers. Inner passion is so important in the art of writing. Whatever your decision, keep the passion!
Sue H.
Hey Sue,
You know how desperately I long to be published. We’ve discussed it on more than one occasion. My style, however, may be a bit out of touch with today’s readers. I love words, and I admire the writers who were masters at romancing the language. Jane Austen is, as you know, one of my greatest inspirations. It is a great struggle to alter the words in my head so that they will be acceptable to those reading my words on the page. I’m not sure if I should write what I know in the language that feels natural to me, and in doing so surrender to the inevitability that I will only ever have a small readership in a tiny niche market, or if I should alter my style. Perhaps a little of each? I’m not one of those “artists” who is unwilling to change. I just don’t know how effective I will be as a writer if I do change. The term “fish out of water” comes to mind. Time will tell I suppose.
Thank you, Ada! (But I have to disagree with you about your writing skills. You are a wonderful storyteller. You took us to England and your library and they were joyous visits!)
Sue
I have not been blessed with the gift of writing. But I certainly love to read! When I was nineteen, I left sunny California to follow the love of my life to England, and got married. One day while on the local high street it started to rain. So to seek shelter,I stumbled into a local library and came upon the Ivory Carver Trilogy. I read for three solid days with very little sleep. Who knew there could be such a breathtaking world of imagination and wonder!
Twelve years later, still married, and with two children under the age of five, I had yet again stumbled upon your books.This time is was The Storyteller Trilogy. Who knew by me taking my daughter to the library for pre-k story time, that I would once again fall in love with your books. I found myself back in that world of fiction I have so long missed!
Thank you Sue for such wonderful novels. The Storyteller Trilogy has made it to the top of my list of my most favorite books, that I have read to date.
Thank you, Sharyll!
Hi Sue,
I have been blessed to know you and RELATED!! I read all your books when I was a working woman and now I’m going to read them all over…always something to learn from them, and always time on the Sand Ridge. Sharyll
Hi Milly,
In a Post next week I’ll try to give you some websites and Blogs that will help you out. I think your request deserves a whole Post and not a quick answer on my part. Blessings, Sue
Congrats to Mary and Lon! Great question, Lynn. I’ll dedicate a Post to it in the next few days. Sue
Best wishes to U.P writers with their projects and sales! No words of wisdom here. I struggle with the same marketing challenges as noted above.
Writing and getting it published has been a dream come true for me. I think that since I was a little girl I wanted to write something and have it published. And so The Lost Road Home became a book because my husband suffers from PTSD due to Combat in Vietnam. Writing the book was easy compared to selling it. I am not a salesman and I need some help marketing this book and getting it outside of the Upper Peninsula. Any suggestions would be helpful to me. Thank you!
Hi Sue
Tyler passed along the information that you have the blog and website…so glad to see it. Thanks for past advice and we will be following your success with the new genre. Mary’s blog is http://www.mountainsskin.com and recently she has been accepted into anthologies, though no book acceptance yet. Lon is also working on a new manuscript. Question: One agent gave much praise and said the book need more editing than she had time for: Is editing, reshaping a book the job of an agent or an editor at a publishing company?