Showing posts with label agent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agent. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas!
Sorry I've been quiet as of late...just enjoying the hustle and bustle of the pre-holiday season. I've had a wonderful year, and it's all because of YOU--my friends, family and fans--and I just want to say THANK YOU and let you to know how much I appreciate your support. Merry Christmas, or happy Whateveryoucelebrate to you and those you love. See you in 2015 with new things and exciting possibilities!
~Brenda
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Double Cover Reveal!
Yesterday
Rebekah Purdy (my agent mate) and Entangled Teen revealed the covers for LEGEND OF
ME, releasing in early 2014, and THE WINTER PEOPLE, releasing July 1, 2014!
I'm a day late to the party, but glad to be helping out. Check out the gorgeous covers, exclusive excerpts, and scroll down to the very bottom to enter to win an eARC of
each!
On to
the reveals!
About
the Book
LEGEND OF ME
Author: Rebekah PurdyRelease Date: Early 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Sixteen-year-old Brielle has grown up hearing tales
of a beast that kills humans, leaving behind only a scattering of bones and
limbs. Or so the village elders say. She thinks it’s just their way of keeping
children in line, though it doesn’t explain her grisly premonitions of blood,
claws, and severed heads.
When Lord Kenrick, Knight of the Crowhurst Order,
shows up asking questions about the legendary monster and Brielle finds a
mangled body in the woods, she begins to wonder if the grim stories are true.
Her attraction to the handsome knight grows as she spends time with him
searching for clues to the creature’s existence, and she becomes even more
determined to help him discover the beast’s location. But as her seventeenth birthday approaches, her nightmares worsen. If Brielle doesn’t figure out the connection between Kenrick, the monster, and visions of a ghostly woman in the woods soon, more people could die. Including those closest to her…
Exclusive Excerpt!
Brambles scratched my legs, snagging my
skirt. Gnarled trees bent in gruesome forms, while thick shadows splayed out
beneath them. A heavy gloom settled over the woodland as wisps of fog slithered
like snakes against the ground. I shivered.
Don’t think. I picked an animal trail to
follow, stepping over dead branches and forest debris. Blood pounded in my ears
and the hair on the back of my neck prickled. I twisted around to glance behind
me.
Nothing there. Only the trees. Urgency
gripped hold of me and I picked up my pace once more. As I scrambled through
the thicket, an overwhelming scent of rotten meat made me gag. I covered my
mouth with my hand and stopped running when a bright red piece of fabric caught
my eye. With hesitant steps, I moved toward it.
“Oh God.” I stumbled. There, sticking out
from beneath a barberry bush was a severed arm, its finger pointed at me in
accusation. My breath came in gasps as I scanned the rest of the clearing.
My foot nudged against something and I
looked down in horror to find the head of Liam Gatekeeper staring up at me.
I screamed, backing away as fast as I
could. All around me were pieces of his body scattered like breadcrumbs. I
shielded my eyes with my hands, until I bumped into something else.
With another scream, I whipped around
only to find myself faced with an oak tree covered in dried blood and deep claw
marks. My vision darkened and I prayed I wouldn’t faint, that I wouldn’t be
stuck in the woods. Because somewhere out here, a monster lurked. If I didn’t
believe it before, I did now. The beast was real.
About
the Book
THE WINTER PEOPLE
Author: Rebekah PurdyRelease Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1622663682
An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for
fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.
Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow,
the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted
by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she
hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she
has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But
when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of
maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must
be left at the back of the property.
Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s
tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and
beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed
with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions
with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to
decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or
Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the
darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance,
will kill her.
Exclusive Excerpt!
The sky darkened with ominous storm
clouds. Giant flakes fell onto my face, sticking to my eyelashes and cheeks.
Snow blew unhindered across the yard into what looked like small tornadoes.
Oh
God. It’s happening again. The frigid air. The creaking of the treetops beneath
the wind. Even the way the snow blew across the yard.
I only had one more feeder. Just needed
to toss the seeds in then I could leave. Be safe.
The pond water rippled, while the trees
bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see
the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind
chimes.
What had the shrink told me to do? Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit!
Panic stole my thoughts. I backed away
from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.
Then, I bumped into something—something
that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my
lips and I spun around to face my captor.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft
masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from
falling.
My gaze followed those long fingers, up
black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath
caught in my throat. I’m gawking.
But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair shot with strands of blue, his face pale
and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh
God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be
over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath an
unzipped jacket.
His mouth turned up at the corners as if
enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm.
“You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the
tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?”
Bravo, that’s right, scare him off
with your bitchiness.
He chuckled. And it sounded like the low
song of the chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you
before, Salome.”
My name on his lips made my knees go
buttery. I groaned inwardly.
“You know my grandma?” I fidgeted with
the bucket still in hand.
He gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve known her for
years. But I haven’t seen you since you were a child.”
Warning bells went off in my mind, but I
pushed them aside. If he knew my grandma, then he must be okay. “Funny, I don’t
remember you at all.”
“Don’t you, Salome?” Strands of my hair
blew about my face. He reached a hand out as if to touch them then stopped,
dropping his arms back to his side.
“No. Grandma’s never mentioned you.”
He gave me another cocky grin. “Well
then, maybe we should be reacquainted.”
“Or maybe not.” I snorted. “I’m not sure
how you got on the property, Grandma keeps all the gates locked.”
He produced an antique-looking skeleton
key. “She gave me this. Like I said, Doris has known me for a long time.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a jerk
or anything, it’s just my grandma never mentioned I’d have visitors.” In fact,
I wondered why she didn’t ask this guy to watch her house instead of me.
The arrogance left his face and he stared
at me. “Perhaps, we can try this again.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m
Nevin.”
She
works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA
stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her
favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light
sci-fi, and some time travel.
She
also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch.
When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous
marriage, she had 2 and have 1
together. It’s a lot of fun though.
And
she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3
cats, and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t bore you all
with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked her into
it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo,
Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of her other hobbies include:
reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running,
camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and traveling.
She
belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you
guessed it they all write YA!
REPPED
by Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel.
And
that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.
Giveaway Details:
1
eARC of LEGEND OF ME International
1
eARC of THE WINTER PEOPLE International
Rafflecopter Link:
GO HERE TO PARTICIPATE:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTIzODliYTI4ZTEzMGVjODBhNzA2MmFmMTU3YWM3OjEyNQ==/
Saturday, November 9, 2013
CONFESSIONS OF THE VERY FIRST ZOMBIE SLAYER (THAT I KNOW OF) Cover Reveal!
Another fantabulous cover by Jolly Fish Press!
Spring is going to be a happening time in the Fish Tank. Today's reveal is for fellow Agent-Mate, F.J.R.Titchenell. This one has an Amazon Gift Card giveaway to it...hop on over to Ms. Titchenell's website HERE and enter!
First a bit about the author...
And a wee tad about her book:
Spring is going to be a happening time in the Fish Tank. Today's reveal is for fellow Agent-Mate, F.J.R.Titchenell. This one has an Amazon Gift Card giveaway to it...hop on over to Ms. Titchenell's website HERE and enter!
First a bit about the author...
| FJR Titchenell |
F.J.R. Titchenell is
an author of Young Adult Sci-Fi and Horror fiction. She is represented by
Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel and currently lives in San Gabriel,
California with her husband and fellow author, Matt Carter, and their pet king
snake, Mica.
The "F" is for Fiona, and on the rare occasions when she can be pried away from her keyboard, her kindle, and the pages of her latest favorite book, Fi can usually be found over-analyzing the inner workings of various TV Sci-Fi universes or testing out some intriguing new recipe, usually chocolate-related.
The "F" is for Fiona, and on the rare occasions when she can be pried away from her keyboard, her kindle, and the pages of her latest favorite book, Fi can usually be found over-analyzing the inner workings of various TV Sci-Fi universes or testing out some intriguing new recipe, usually chocolate-related.
The world is Cassie
Fremont’s playground. Her face is on the cover of every newspaper, she has no
homework, no curfew, and no credit limit, and she spends her days traveling the
country with her friends, including a boy who would flirt with death just to
turn her head. Life is just about perfect—except that those newspaper headlines
are about her bludgeoning her crush to death with a paintball gun, she has to
fight ravenous walking corpses every time she steps outside, and one of her
friends is still missing, trapped somewhere in the distant, practically
impassable wreckage of Manhattan. Still, Cassie’s an optimist. More prone to
hysterical laughter than hysterical tears, she’d rather fight a corpse than be
one, and she won’t leave a friend stranded when she can simply take her road
trip to impossible new places to find her, even if getting there means
admitting to that boy that she might just love him, too. Skillfully blending
effective horror with unexpected humor, this diary-format novel is a fast-paced
and heartwarming read.
Interested? Then now is the moment. Take a deep breath and scrooooollllllll down...
*
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TA DAAA!
What are your thoughts? Do you like? I love this one. Love the shadowy zombie in the back, and the 'Hello My Name Is' sticker. Nice touch.
Want to know more? Check out any or all of Fiona's links...
Website: www.fjrtitchenell.weebly.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FjrTitchenell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FJR_Titchenell
So...are you a Zombie lover? Let me know below!
Brenda
Friday, October 11, 2013
Tina Moss and Yelena Casale: A Touch of Darkness
Today on the blog I’d like to introduce Tina Moss and Yelena
Casale, two fabulous writers (and wonderful people) who will be releasing their
first book via E-Lit
Books this month! I’ve had the privilege of knowing this dynamic duo for a
few years now, and even met up with them for lunch on a recent visit to New
York City. Lucky me! (Chocolate for lunch...YUM). The three of us were part of an online crit group of five, waaaay back when, and they are also agent-mates with the wonderful Literary Counsel in NYC! Welcome!
***
![]() |
| A Touch of Darkness |
BD: Hello Tina and Yelena and welcome to my blog! Firstly,
congratulations on the upcoming release of A
Touch of Darkness!
TM: Thank you so much for
having us here! We are very excited for the release and hope the readers enjoy
reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.
BD: So, could you tell my readers how you met?
YC: We actually met at a
karate school, where we both came to train. Martial arts are our other passion
and we became fast friends and dojo sisters.
BD: When did you start writing A Touch of Darkness?
TM/YC: A few years into our
friendship, we realized that we both loved writing. Yelena wanted to start writing
again after a long hiatus, and Tina wanted to switch from writing children’s
books to adult novels. Just like that the writing team was born.
BD: Tell us a little bit about your process…from first words
to agent representation to publication.
YC: We started out with
little meetings at the dojo to talk about what we wanted to write and the
characters. The meetings quickly moved to a diner, where we would satisfy our
post-workout hunger and brain storm ideas. We would also parse out the chapters
for the week or two and review parts of chapters that were already written. Our
style of writing is very similar and it meshed well from the start. We would
edit each other’s chapters and use our respective strengths – Tina for dialogue
and Yelena for description – to make them even better.
BD: What are the pros and cons of co-writing a book? How
does it work?
![]() |
| The fabulous Yelena Casale and Tina Moss! |
BD: Can you tell us about any other projects you are working
on?
TM: Too many. My
newest project, Code Black, is complete and with the agents. It’s a paranormal
romantic suspense about a fire-wielding heroine and a hot-blooded shifter. The
sequel, currently titled Red Alert, is three-quarters of the way done. In
addition, I’ve got a paranormal romance outlined, an urban fantasy started,
secret project with Yelena, a possible YA contemporary/magical realism serial,
and another idea kicking around the old brain that won’t leave me alone. So…
Yup, way too many.
YC: Besides the
Secret Project with Tina, I’m currently working on two urban fantasy novels.
BD: Anything else you’d like to tell us about?
TM: We’ve been asked
about the sequel to A Touch of Darkness several times and the short answer is
we’ve started and stopped twice. We did originally have it planned for four
books, but decided to see how readers respond before jumping in a third time.
However, we can always be swayed by chocolate. Really. J
BD: Of course, CHOCOLATE! Who wouldn't? Okay on that note, non-writing questions… salty or sweet?
TM: I love both.
I’m a bit of a salt fiend which is not the best for my health, so I need to cut
back. Sweet is great too, but I’d take salted chocolate caramel over sweet
candy any day.
YC: Definitely
sweet, although I’ve been known to have salty and sweet at the same time.
BD: Dogs or cats?
TM: I actually
developed a cat allergy as an adult after having a cat for eight months, but I
still love the little buggers. That said, I’m pretty much a dog person. My
corgi, Chuck, is my website mascot.
YC: Ugh, that’s a
tough one. I love all animals. I used to be an all dog person, but I’ve had
cats now for about ten years and they are my babies.
BD: Tea or coffee? (VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION…no pressure
here…) J
TM: Team Tea!
BD: Nooooooooo!
BD: Nooooooooo!
YC: Tea all the
way!
BD: You guys are killing me! Gah! *covers heart and takes multiple deep, painful breaths*...
BD: You guys are killing me! Gah! *covers heart and takes multiple deep, painful breaths*...
BD: Sigh. Back to the interview. What is one of your biggest fears?
TM: Mirrors. Don’t
laugh. I have a horrible phobia and cannot be in the dark while looking into a
mirror. It’s bad enough looking too long into one in the light. I mean, they
are so freaky! They’re basically inverse reality and the thought of seeing
something that isn’t supposed to be there…ugh.
YC: Being buried
alive.
BD: Last one. Favorite place to visit?
TM Oh this is
tough. I’ve been very fortune to learn early in life how to travel on the
cheap. The most beautiful places I’ve ever been are Bora Bora and Hawaii.
Ireland owns a piece of my heart. Italy and Turkey are incredible, but I’ve got
to go with Japan hands down. The culture, the people, the land are all amazing.
I’d go back any day.
YC: Any place
that has a lot of history. So far Rome and Paris are the current faves. Kiev,
the city I was born and spent my childhood in, is an ancient beautiful place
that I would recommend visiting. Unfortunately, I haven’t been back there yet.
![]() |
| L to R: Me, Yelena, Tina at Max Brenner's in NYC |
BD: Thank you so much for stopping by, Yelena and Tina! You
guys are awesome. Best of luck in the coming months. When can we do lunch
again?
TM: Thanks for inviting
us. And lunch at Max Brenner – anytime!
BD: I'm there!
* * *
More about Tina: Tina Moss is a writer of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense. She lives in NYC with a supportive husband and alpha corgi, though both males hog the bed and refuse to share the covers. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching cheesy horror flicks, traveling, and karate. As a 5'1" Shotokan black belt, she firmly believes that fierce things come in small packages.
You can find Tina here:
website/blog: http://www.tinamoss.com
Twitter: @Tina_Moss
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tina-Moss/126390774082870
Twitter: @Tina_Moss
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tina-Moss/126390774082870
More about Yelena: Yelena Casale is an Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance author. When she is not writing, she loves to read, watch TV with her husband (and without), take long walks and cuddle with her cat Bones. She is a second degree black belt/Shotokan karate instructor, and archaeology, history & art enthusiast.
You can find Yelena here:
website/blog: http://www.yelenacasale.com
Twitter: @Yelena_Casale
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yelena-Casale/253292294718229?ref=hl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yelena-Casale/253292294718229?ref=hl
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Dream Come True
(Drum roll, please...)
***GUESS WHAT?***
I am EXTREMELY excited to announce that my Adult Fiction, DEPENDENT, has...
FOUND A PUBLISHER!
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
![]() |
| Me, signing my contract! |
DEPENDENT is the story of a military spouse--a story of love, loss and inner-strength. It's raw, emotional and very real...very different from anything I've ever written. After 8 years of slowly picking away at it, it took only a few weeks to find a home! My agents at Literary Counsel are THE BEST! I'm so excited to work with Christopher Loke and Jolly Fish Press in bringing this story to the world. It's going to be a busy and exciting year.
See? Dreams DO come true!
Brenda
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Quick Update
Hi fabulous followers et al!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter/Passover/Spring Break or whatever you celebrate!
Sorry I've been so quiet on the blog as of late, but life has been very busy with a new day job (which I love), crazy edits (which I'm, ah-hem, learning to love), chats with my agents (who are AMAZING), book signings (so much fun!) and the regular day to day insanity that is the life of a working mom, writer, and military spouse. Things should be quieting down for a few weeks, and I'm hoping to focus on getting some new words down on at least one of my projects.
I spent Easter at home with family, and managed to fit in a few book signings at Westminster Books in downtown Fredericton and at Chapters Regent Mall. I had a great time, met some wonderful people, chatted with some potential young authors and even sold a few copies of TREASURE! It's truly rewarding to hear the feedback from readers, and I had several people pop by just to tell me how much they loved reading my book.
One of the biggest compliments I've recieved--and now I've heard it twice--is that reading TREASURE was not only enjoyable, but that it encouraged the reader to read OTHER BOOKS. That reading my book gave them so much pleasure, it made them want to read more--to "get back into reading". Now THAT is a compliment! So happy to reunite readers with the wonders of a good book!
My PR guy has been working overtime, and I've also been in several papers in both the Ottawa area and the Fredericton area over the past few weeks. My favourite was an interview for the EMC. You can find a link to the story here.
One quick note: I've had a couple of people comment that when they go to a Chapters store, my book comes up as "0 copies in this store" on the store computers. TREASURE is IN STOCK at the Chapters stores listed on the tab above. Self-published books do not show up on their computer system because they are stocked differently. Go to a store clerk/employee and ask them. They'll help you find where they are! If you have any other problems, please comment below, and I'll happily connect you with a copy.
Have a great week! Brenda
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter/Passover/Spring Break or whatever you celebrate!
Sorry I've been so quiet on the blog as of late, but life has been very busy with a new day job (which I love), crazy edits (which I'm, ah-hem, learning to love), chats with my agents (who are AMAZING), book signings (so much fun!) and the regular day to day insanity that is the life of a working mom, writer, and military spouse. Things should be quieting down for a few weeks, and I'm hoping to focus on getting some new words down on at least one of my projects.
![]() |
| At Chapters Pinecrest, Ottawa. A great day! |
One of the biggest compliments I've recieved--and now I've heard it twice--is that reading TREASURE was not only enjoyable, but that it encouraged the reader to read OTHER BOOKS. That reading my book gave them so much pleasure, it made them want to read more--to "get back into reading". Now THAT is a compliment! So happy to reunite readers with the wonders of a good book!
My PR guy has been working overtime, and I've also been in several papers in both the Ottawa area and the Fredericton area over the past few weeks. My favourite was an interview for the EMC. You can find a link to the story here.
One quick note: I've had a couple of people comment that when they go to a Chapters store, my book comes up as "0 copies in this store" on the store computers. TREASURE is IN STOCK at the Chapters stores listed on the tab above. Self-published books do not show up on their computer system because they are stocked differently. Go to a store clerk/employee and ask them. They'll help you find where they are! If you have any other problems, please comment below, and I'll happily connect you with a copy.
Have a great week! Brenda
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Hello from New York!
![]() |
| New York City skyline |
Yesterday I was lucky enough to meet the fabulous Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel...AKA my agents!
![]() |
| L to R: Jennifer, Me, Fran |
Brenda
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Be Prepared
I was thinking about advice last night after a chat with the Twitter #writersroad folks. I've been at this for a while now, and though I don't count myself an expert, I've certainly got a bit of experience in the world of writing. So if I were to give advice to someone just starting out, just getting their feet wet, what would I say to them?
Be prepared.
Novels do not give birth to themselves, magically springing forth onto the earth. Sure some people have lucky rabbits feet surgically attached to their forehead, writing full novels in 25 days and walking into contracts with Big Six publishers after their first drafts, but it is very, very rare. It takes a lot of guts to work through the mechanics of writing a novel. And a lot of perseverance. Pushing a novel through to success is not an easy task, whatever route you take--self published or traditionally published. Be prepared for a long road ahead.
1. Be prepared to work. Writing a novel is work. Long hours at a keyboard. Emails. Phone calls. Networking. Reading. Research. Editing. Editing. Editing. Numb hands and sore butt cheeks. Sweat, tears and more editing. Writing is a 'profession' for a reason. You have to work at it to be successful.
2. Be prepared to learn. When I started writing--really writing--about eight years ago, I thought I knew everything. Sure, I'm smart. I'll just pop a few words down on paper, send 'em off, and voila! I'm an author! Wow, was I an idiot. My education began then and it is ongoing. Every day of this journey I learn something new. How to format a manuscript for submission. How to get my self-published book into Chapters bookstores. How to build a platform (still working on that!). The dos and don'ts of writing--don't start with a dream, a prologue, a mirror, a purple frog...oh my goodness there are a lot of don'ts (my self-pubbed novel starts with a prologue! Oh horrors!)! The dos and don'ts of querying (made tons of mistakes there, too...). How to make an em dash on Blogger (how the heck do you do that anyway??). The learning does not end. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. Each step is another door to learning. Embrace it.
3. Be prepared to spend money. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a superskilled and generous friends, a rich spouse, or an inheritance big enough to pay the bills and then some, don't give up your day job. No matter how skilled you are sooner or later you will need to cough up money to pay someone for their professional services, especially if you are planning to self-publish. Good books take money to produce. If you skimp, it will show. HOWEVER, there are also a whole lot of people out there willing to take your money for sub-standard work or fraudulent reasons. Before you give anyone your money, do your research.
4. Be prepared to step WAY out of your comfort zone. The first time external eyes looked at my first manuscript I was an emotional wreck. My first radio interview was insanity (can you believe I used to aspire to be a TV journalist?). And surprisingly, what I view as my best writing so far was also the hardest to write, because it was an expression of some of my deepest fears and required me to take risks. Stepping out of your comfort zone opens your writing to new possibilities. Take a deep breath and go for it!
5. Be prepared for curveballs. This one became very evident to me last month. After self publishing TREASURE, and months of flogging my new manuscript SKIN to anyone who would listen, I was disheartened and on the verge of going the self pub route with that too (and not because it wasn't good enough...but because I hadn't found the right agent yet). As you now know, I took one last chance at the encouragement of my CP friend Tina, and was thrilled to be offered an agenting agreement with Jennifer Mishler at Literary Counsel! Whodda thunkit? Thanks to my 'why not?' attitude, I made what could potentially be my most valuable publishing connection yet (Yay, Jenn!)! Writing is like that. Sometimes the unplanned is the magic.
6. Be prepared for criticism. The most well-known writers are also the most highly criticized. There are people out there who make a living criticizing writers. If you publish anything, in any way, people will comment and not all comments will be good. Those comments will hurt, but keep going. Highly polished manuscripts go through draft after draft of revisions. My self pubbed novel went through at least six drafts, and probably could have gone through more. Be ready to hear bad things about your writing.
7. Be prepared to SHINE! Conversely, the BEST part about writing is having someone read your stuff and tell you they like it! I am a praise junkie. I eat it up. Every single bit of praise fuels me to write more, do better, learn more and work harder. It's even better (and somewhat shocking) when a complete stranger comes up to me and says "I read your book in an afternoon! I loved it! Please write another!" I grin ear to ear and want to shout out to the world--"DIDJA HEAR THAT? She liked it! She really liked it!" What a wonderful feeling!
Most important of all...If writing is your dream, do not give up. Believe in your writing. Be realistic, and ready for the unexpected, but keep writing. Believe in yourself.
And that, my lovely writing friends, is what it is all about.
Brenda
Be prepared.
1. Be prepared to work. Writing a novel is work. Long hours at a keyboard. Emails. Phone calls. Networking. Reading. Research. Editing. Editing. Editing. Numb hands and sore butt cheeks. Sweat, tears and more editing. Writing is a 'profession' for a reason. You have to work at it to be successful.
2. Be prepared to learn. When I started writing--really writing--about eight years ago, I thought I knew everything. Sure, I'm smart. I'll just pop a few words down on paper, send 'em off, and voila! I'm an author! Wow, was I an idiot. My education began then and it is ongoing. Every day of this journey I learn something new. How to format a manuscript for submission. How to get my self-published book into Chapters bookstores. How to build a platform (still working on that!). The dos and don'ts of writing--don't start with a dream, a prologue, a mirror, a purple frog...oh my goodness there are a lot of don'ts (my self-pubbed novel starts with a prologue! Oh horrors!)! The dos and don'ts of querying (made tons of mistakes there, too...). How to make an em dash on Blogger (how the heck do you do that anyway??). The learning does not end. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. Each step is another door to learning. Embrace it.
3. Be prepared to spend money. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a superskilled and generous friends, a rich spouse, or an inheritance big enough to pay the bills and then some, don't give up your day job. No matter how skilled you are sooner or later you will need to cough up money to pay someone for their professional services, especially if you are planning to self-publish. Good books take money to produce. If you skimp, it will show. HOWEVER, there are also a whole lot of people out there willing to take your money for sub-standard work or fraudulent reasons. Before you give anyone your money, do your research.
4. Be prepared to step WAY out of your comfort zone. The first time external eyes looked at my first manuscript I was an emotional wreck. My first radio interview was insanity (can you believe I used to aspire to be a TV journalist?). And surprisingly, what I view as my best writing so far was also the hardest to write, because it was an expression of some of my deepest fears and required me to take risks. Stepping out of your comfort zone opens your writing to new possibilities. Take a deep breath and go for it!
5. Be prepared for curveballs. This one became very evident to me last month. After self publishing TREASURE, and months of flogging my new manuscript SKIN to anyone who would listen, I was disheartened and on the verge of going the self pub route with that too (and not because it wasn't good enough...but because I hadn't found the right agent yet). As you now know, I took one last chance at the encouragement of my CP friend Tina, and was thrilled to be offered an agenting agreement with Jennifer Mishler at Literary Counsel! Whodda thunkit? Thanks to my 'why not?' attitude, I made what could potentially be my most valuable publishing connection yet (Yay, Jenn!)! Writing is like that. Sometimes the unplanned is the magic.
6. Be prepared for criticism. The most well-known writers are also the most highly criticized. There are people out there who make a living criticizing writers. If you publish anything, in any way, people will comment and not all comments will be good. Those comments will hurt, but keep going. Highly polished manuscripts go through draft after draft of revisions. My self pubbed novel went through at least six drafts, and probably could have gone through more. Be ready to hear bad things about your writing.
7. Be prepared to SHINE! Conversely, the BEST part about writing is having someone read your stuff and tell you they like it! I am a praise junkie. I eat it up. Every single bit of praise fuels me to write more, do better, learn more and work harder. It's even better (and somewhat shocking) when a complete stranger comes up to me and says "I read your book in an afternoon! I loved it! Please write another!" I grin ear to ear and want to shout out to the world--"DIDJA HEAR THAT? She liked it! She really liked it!" What a wonderful feeling!
Most important of all...If writing is your dream, do not give up. Believe in your writing. Be realistic, and ready for the unexpected, but keep writing. Believe in yourself.
And that, my lovely writing friends, is what it is all about.
Brenda
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
BIG NEWS!
I have...BIG NEWS!
So I've been dropping a few hints here and there, and it's been killing me to not share what's going on at the Dunne writing factory. A few weeks ago, a critique partner friend of mine (the terrific Tina Moss) suggested I might want to send one of my finished manuscripts to her literary agent. She had lots of positive things to say about the agency, and Tina and I have similar views on the publishing world, so I thought, 'Why not?' and sent it off.
Well, the agent--the lovely Jennifer Mishler--liked my manuscript. She really liked it. She liked it enough to send me a contract...which I SIGNED TODAY!
WOOHOO!
And so...
It is with great pleasure that I announce I am now represented by Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel agency in New York City! How exciting is that? I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of the fabulous team there. Jennifer and Frances Black of Lit Counsel are exactly the team I was looking for. I can't wait to see what the New Year will bring!
Brenda
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Produce, Print, Sell.
Before I say anything...I'd like you to read this article. It's a long one, but well worth the read.
I read it a few weeks ago, while working on the final touches of my (ah-hem) JUST RELEASED self published ebook, and it struck a chord with me. I think Mr. Vinjamuri hit the nail on the head.
As you probably already know, I've been slowly bumbling along my own journey in the publishing industry, finding my way in the crazy roller-coaster world that goes beyond the act of putting words on a page. I've queried, workshopped, edited, conferenced, tweeted and networked with hundreds, if not thousands of people over the past five or so years, and I've learned a few things and made a few mistakes. And when I decided to self pub, it was a long, looooooooong agonizing decision. It makes me kind of grumpy that it had to be that way, but there are so many factors at work here...the biggest being the stereotype (perceived or otherwise) that self-published authors are cop-outs, cheats and worst-of-all...poor writers. Sue Grafton is not alone in her inflammatory comments. She has thankfully since retracted them in a nice apology statement. But there are many, many others in influential places who feel the same way.
I still want to be traditionally published. Who wouldn't want the creative and financial backing of a big publisher behind them? All of those wonderful professionals working to make my art successful? It would be like an actor with their first starring role, or a painter with their first commission. The writing jackpot, so to speak. So why risk the stereotype and self publish?
Because I want you to read my book. Because I think my book is worth sharing. And because I wanted to figure out how to do it myself.
Self-publishing TREASURE IN THE FLAME is a huge risk for me, but I'd like to believe that it's less of a risk than it used to be. We all know publishing is changing, and I'm of the camp that thinks the change is for the better.
The Oxford Dictionary definition of the verb 'to publish' is this: 1. produce a book, newspaper, etc., for public sale. 2. print something in a book or newspaper.
That's it...produce, print, sell. There's no qualification on who prints, who sells. In it's basest form, publishing actually starts with the author selling her work.
In all other art forms, as Mr. Vinjamuri so eloquently reminds us, there are no gate-keepers of creativity. No one to filter what gets sold and what doesn't. If you paint a picture, and want to sell it, you put it in the local cafe and hope someone buys it. If you produce a demo CD, there's no reason why you can't sell it at your brother's bar. In fact, some of the coolest music and art can be found in back alleys and indie shops. It's how a budding artist gets their start. Someone likes their work, they tell someone else, and so on, and so on...
Conversely, if your work sucks, no one buys it. You move on and become an accountant.
So why is the art of writing different? The proving grounds aren't in the publication process. The proving grounds are in the purchase process. In the sell, so to speak. I know that some traditional publishers out there have already figured this out, and self-publishing makes it so easy for them. The budding artist/author does the groundwork and the start-up, tests the waters, and sinks or swims. She sells her stuff, or she doesn't. No matter what the traditional publisher thinks of the actual artistic merit of the work...a sales record will speak volumes to a smart talent scout.
I've noticed that even some savvy agents have caught on to this and are using Twitter to mine for good writing. In the past week I've seen at least two tweets requesting Twitter users recommend their favorite indie writers. What a super idea! And then this morning I hear that one of my favorite self-pubbed authors (Tammara Webber) has inked a BIG book deal with Penguin UK. Coincidence? I think not. She has unknowingly been my mentor in this process. Her covers, formatting and WRITING are impeccable. She's my self-publishing hero. Good writing, smart publishing choices and sound marketing will win in the end.
So as I step out on this crazy adventure of self-publishing, I can only hope that I'll be one of those with solid writing and smart choices. It's my goal to provide written entertainment in my own unique way. It's an exciting time for self published authors...and I'm excited to say I'm one of them. The producing part is finished, the printing part is happening...and the selling? Well, that's up to you.
What are your thoughts on the evolving publishing industry? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you think!
Brenda
P.S. Only a few more days til TREASURE releases in paperback!
I read it a few weeks ago, while working on the final touches of my (ah-hem) JUST RELEASED self published ebook, and it struck a chord with me. I think Mr. Vinjamuri hit the nail on the head.
As you probably already know, I've been slowly bumbling along my own journey in the publishing industry, finding my way in the crazy roller-coaster world that goes beyond the act of putting words on a page. I've queried, workshopped, edited, conferenced, tweeted and networked with hundreds, if not thousands of people over the past five or so years, and I've learned a few things and made a few mistakes. And when I decided to self pub, it was a long, looooooooong agonizing decision. It makes me kind of grumpy that it had to be that way, but there are so many factors at work here...the biggest being the stereotype (perceived or otherwise) that self-published authors are cop-outs, cheats and worst-of-all...poor writers. Sue Grafton is not alone in her inflammatory comments. She has thankfully since retracted them in a nice apology statement. But there are many, many others in influential places who feel the same way.
I still want to be traditionally published. Who wouldn't want the creative and financial backing of a big publisher behind them? All of those wonderful professionals working to make my art successful? It would be like an actor with their first starring role, or a painter with their first commission. The writing jackpot, so to speak. So why risk the stereotype and self publish?
Because I want you to read my book. Because I think my book is worth sharing. And because I wanted to figure out how to do it myself.
Self-publishing TREASURE IN THE FLAME is a huge risk for me, but I'd like to believe that it's less of a risk than it used to be. We all know publishing is changing, and I'm of the camp that thinks the change is for the better.
The Oxford Dictionary definition of the verb 'to publish' is this: 1. produce a book, newspaper, etc., for public sale. 2. print something in a book or newspaper.
That's it...produce, print, sell. There's no qualification on who prints, who sells. In it's basest form, publishing actually starts with the author selling her work.
In all other art forms, as Mr. Vinjamuri so eloquently reminds us, there are no gate-keepers of creativity. No one to filter what gets sold and what doesn't. If you paint a picture, and want to sell it, you put it in the local cafe and hope someone buys it. If you produce a demo CD, there's no reason why you can't sell it at your brother's bar. In fact, some of the coolest music and art can be found in back alleys and indie shops. It's how a budding artist gets their start. Someone likes their work, they tell someone else, and so on, and so on...
Conversely, if your work sucks, no one buys it. You move on and become an accountant.
So why is the art of writing different? The proving grounds aren't in the publication process. The proving grounds are in the purchase process. In the sell, so to speak. I know that some traditional publishers out there have already figured this out, and self-publishing makes it so easy for them. The budding artist/author does the groundwork and the start-up, tests the waters, and sinks or swims. She sells her stuff, or she doesn't. No matter what the traditional publisher thinks of the actual artistic merit of the work...a sales record will speak volumes to a smart talent scout.
I've noticed that even some savvy agents have caught on to this and are using Twitter to mine for good writing. In the past week I've seen at least two tweets requesting Twitter users recommend their favorite indie writers. What a super idea! And then this morning I hear that one of my favorite self-pubbed authors (Tammara Webber) has inked a BIG book deal with Penguin UK. Coincidence? I think not. She has unknowingly been my mentor in this process. Her covers, formatting and WRITING are impeccable. She's my self-publishing hero. Good writing, smart publishing choices and sound marketing will win in the end.
So as I step out on this crazy adventure of self-publishing, I can only hope that I'll be one of those with solid writing and smart choices. It's my goal to provide written entertainment in my own unique way. It's an exciting time for self published authors...and I'm excited to say I'm one of them. The producing part is finished, the printing part is happening...and the selling? Well, that's up to you.
What are your thoughts on the evolving publishing industry? Let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear what you think!
Brenda
P.S. Only a few more days til TREASURE releases in paperback!
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