If I’m reposting this article, then it means I just published a novel.
Very few things are guaranteed in the life of a writer. But one thing is for sure for me – I finish what I start. I don’t get tired halfway through a writing project and give up. When I start a novel, I will finish it. And that’s a big deal. Whatever happens to the book after that really isn’t under my control no matter how hard I work to market it to readers and hope for good reviews.
I once spoke to another writer who had a bottle of champagne chilling to only be opened on the day of her traditionally-published book launch. She didn’t even have an agent yet, let alone a publishing deal. It’s a nice idea to have the bubbly ready for when your book gets traditionally published…but what if that day never comes?
This kind of thing reminds me of Erma Bombeck’s essay entitled “If I had my life to live over”. One particular line always stuck with me for some reason. It was [if I had my life to live over] “I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.”
The point is – what are you waiting for?
As they say, tomorrow is promised to no one.
Well, today I published a novel. It’s time to celebrate. Now. Not when some agent or publisher or editor tells me it’s okay to celebrate. Not when I get a positive review from a reader. Not when I sell a bunch of copies. NOW.
And what if you wait until the book launch to celebrate and it’s not everything you thought it would be? If you think publishing a book means you’re no longer a struggling writer, you’re gonna be sorely disappointed. (reality check – – most published authors still have day jobs). I’m a big believer in celebrating every victory you can because they can be very few and far between in the writer life.
Instead of champagne, my drink of choice for writerly victories is peach schnapps. The main character in my debut novel drinks straight shots of peach schnapps, and now so do I. It’s funny. I’d never even tasted the stuff until Henry started drinking it…
Anyway, I keep a bottle of schnapps on hand only for special writing-related events. I drink a shot whenever I finish novel draft, get an especially good review of my book, or receive any other kind of good writing news.
I even have a special schnapps-only shot glass I made at a do-it-yourself pottery store…
(UPDATE on my Schnapps shot glass. It fell down the garbage disposal and got ground to pieces. I had always considered it my “good luck” shotglass, so that was not a good omen for my writing. Not gonna lie. I cried when that happened. Then my darling husband got me a new shotglass with my name engraved on one side and my publishing company name (Wannabe Pride) engraved on the other. Now the glass represents not only my writing business, but the love and support of my family. )
I find I really like the smell of peaches now because it smells like good news.
Another goofy tradition of mine is that every few months I like to settle down with a drink (okay, many drinks…) And watch one of my favorite movies – The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – – – just for funsies. It occurred to me that I also tend to publish a novel every few months, so I decided to put the two traditions together.
So now when I publish a novel, I like to settle in with my drink(s) and watch the movie. (Another family update to this article – my awesome daughter now joins me in my celebratory tradition!!) There’s even a scene where the queens say ”chuggers!” and take a shot, which is the perfect time to break out the schnapps. Priscilla is a really funny, feelgood type of movie (even more so when you’ve been drinking…), so it’s always such a fun way to celebrate finishing a novel. It’s important to me to take a little time to just be happy about finishing the book, because the next step is to send it out into the world. Maybe people will love it, and I will be filled with joy. Maybe people will hate it, and my heart will be broken. I just never know.
Here’s what I do know: I wanted to write a novel. So I did.
As you may be aware, there has been a terrible storm brewing in the Romance community of late.
An author named Faleena Hopkins has obtained a trademark of the word “Cocky” (additional litigation is still pending, and it is possible that the trademark will be rescinded).
This has had a horrible impact on many authors as they are being forced to pull their books (losing their ranking etc) and change their titles, covers, series names, and the like.
Ms. Hopkins has been unduly harsh in her efforts to enforce her trademark, resorting to leaving one-star reviews on other authors’ books (I have heard) and sending threatening letters to authors (this has happened for sure).
I am heartbroken at seeing what her malicious actions have done to other writers, and I’m dismayed to see her sales continue to climb despite her despicable behavior.
However, we are not helpless.
I am heartened at the Indie Community’s ability to band together in a spirit of generosity.
#ThisIsHowYouIndie has been trending on Social Media, as authors are recommending each other’s books and asking readers to do this same.
Here’s how YOU can help:
Give your favorite authors a shoutout on Social Media, using #ThisIsHowYouIndie and spread the love. Tell everyone what books you recommend.
You can help some of the authors directly by buying their books. Some of those books can be found HERE.
I am positively overwhelmed by the kindness of spirit I have seen displayed of late, from Romance Writers of America who are fighting for our rights, to the attorneys who have offered their services for free, to the cover artist who offered her services free of charge.
If you’re new to self-publishing, it may be hard to imagine that someday you might have actual fans – people who really love your work and are excited to read more. It will be really exciting when some of those fans are passionate enough about your work that they actually reach out to you, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or even in an email.
It may tempting for you to play it cool. You might be jumping up and down with excitement that you’ve actually got some fan mail, but perhaps you decide not to answer, preferring instead to act like you’re too busy and too important to answer back.
I don’t recommend that course of action.
As a self-published author, one who had spent over twenty years wallowing in obscurity, I treasure each and every sale that I get. It makes me so happy when someone buys my book, or even downloads it for free. I’m honored that people take the time to read my books, and if a fan contacts me, I’m more than happy to write back.
As authors, we’re always bombarded with so much information on marketing and social media. Ya gotta advertise on Facebook! Tweet five times a day! Use Pinterest and Linked in! It’s easy to forget the SOCIAL in social media. It doesn’t work for me to have you throw marketing in my face and walk away. If I’m a true fan (which is what you want, after all. That’s why you’re marketing), I might want some kind of personal response.
My advice is, if a fan writes to you, write her back. You can wait 24 hours if you don’t want to appear overeager. Of, if you’re fortunate enough to have lots of fan mail, write back but make your responses quick. Even if a fan writes you a ten-page love letter, you can still write back with only a few sentences, and you don’t have an obligation to keep the conversation going after that. Fans should understand that you’re busy, but it’s not too much to ask to get some kind of response when they send you a nice message about your work.
Sean Platt, one of the authors and self-publishing gurus behind Write, Publish, Repeat (a great resource for indies if you haven’t read it) wrote me back and answered my question about publishing middle-grade fiction. It really meant a lot to me and I never forgot it.
And guess what? I never would have plugged his book as I just did if he’d ignored me. I wouldn’t hold a grudge I guess, but I would have been disappointed and wouldn’t go out of my way to promote his work.
I had a similar situation with an indie author whose books I LOVE. I’ve only read two so far, and I couldn’t put them down. They were just the type of book I love to read – sweet, sexy, tender romance with an excellent plot. I loved her first book and made it a Book Pick of the Week on my blog. I read her second book and did the same thing again. I loved that book so much that I deliberately read it slowly so that it wouldn’t end. I said this on Twitter and tagged the author. To be fair, she did answer back on Twitter to say thanks.
She has a Contact Me email address on her website, so I did. I wrote her a nice email and told her how much I loved her books, and how I admired her for her success. I told her she was an inspiration to me. She somehow managed to get a review in The New York Times of her self-published book, and I asked how she managed such a great accomplishment.
As you can probably guess, she never wrote me back. I’m not gonna lie; it kinda broke my heart. I really don’t have the enthusiasm for her work that I once had. I loved her books – she was really my favorite author – but now when I see her books, it kinda bums me out. I’m not trying to be petty, but I just don’t have much interest in reading her stuff anymore. So I haven’t read any more so far.
I’m sure it’s no big deal to her if I don’t buy her books, but this loss of sale(s) could have easily been avoided. If she had taken the time to write me back- even two sentences – that would have been enough for me. As my readers know by reading Romance Novel Addicts Anonymous, I have a real passion for helping other authors. I really feel that we need to look out for each other. If you’re ahead of me on the success ladder, I hope you’ll reach down, give me a hand, and help pull me up. It’s what I would do.
I also feel it’s a little unfair to encourage your fans to Contact Me if all you want is for us to tell you how great you are. Even with traditional publishing, gone are the days where the publishers do all the publicity for you. YOU need to be your own best advertising advocate. Taking your fans for granted is just not wise, no matter how successful you are.
Okay – one more rejected-by-an-author story. Through an acquaintance, I’ve met a traditionally-published Young Adult author. I’ve met her once in person – when I attended a book signing of hers – and we’re friends on Facebook. I’ve responded to several of her posts on Facebook. They were posts about writing, and I commented about my own experience. She never answered back, even though there were usually only one or two other comments on the thread. I definitely got an “I’m better than you” vibe from her, though I could be wrong. After all, I drove to her book signing, listened to her talk, and bought a copy of her book (and not the Kindle version, either). This woman knows who I am and knows I have self-published books, but she really doesn’t bother to give me the time of day. It’s frustrating, because if the shoe was on the other foot, I would have been excited to see what I could do to help her. Kinda annoys me, too, when I think of all the literary agents who will only consider a new writer if he/she is referred by a published author. So what happens when published authors treat you like garbage?
She has a three-book series out now. Guess how many I bought after the book signing? Again, I know I’m small potatoes, but a sale’s a sale. And she’s lost mine, and any other publicity I might have given her.
One last story. I promise.
Jodi Picoult is an internationally-renowned, traditionally-published, New York Times bestselling author, who has had several movies made based on her books. If you send her an email, she usually sends you a brief yet very friendly response within 24 hours.
Do you want to be a classy, humble, appreciative author, or play it cool and aloof, even when it means losing followers?
Be cool, man. Make sure your readers know you appreciate them.
Linda Fausnet
Join the Romance Novel Addicts Anonymous Email List HERE.
Rayne Davidson is perfectly happy fading into the background. Her mama’s antics garner enough attention in their small Southern town for the both of them, but when Rayne catches the eye of all-star quarterback, Preston Howard, she’s enamored with the possibilities. Too bad Preston doesn’t make her heart thump—his brother does.
Gage Howard doesn’t mind the town’s stares because he doesn’t get them. Growing up in his older brother’s shadow, Gage shrugs off the endless parade of girls Preston brings home—until Rayne.
But there are unwritten rules that shouldn’t be broken, like cheating on your boyfriend or betraying your brother. Rayne and Gage deny their growing attraction, neither willing to hurt Preston—until the town finds out.
They think overcoming the gossip will be the hardest obstacle.
They’re wrong.
Rayne’s mama has a secret, and its revelation could divide the town, the families, and the new couple.
When Union and Confederate soldiers march by eighteen-year-old Maureen’s Sharpsburg farm, she must choose where her loyalties lie. Will she stand with family or country?
After the Battle of Antietam, Maureen decides to listen to her heart and volunteer as a battlefield nurse. But her father forbids it and demands she stay home to help care for the farm. The young soldier who loves her fears for her safety. Danger and disease follow her every step of the way.
Illness and a tragic turn of events threaten to derail Maureen’s mission. When the young woman finds herself a patient in her own hospital, burning up with fever, she questions whether she can go on. In these, the darkest of days, Maureen struggles to summon the strength she needs for the work she is called to do.
What I Loved About this Book:
Divided Loyalties is the perfect title in that this story explores the heartbreak that resulted from having friends and neighbors fight on opposites sides of the Civil War. The book also provided an interesting perspective from an immigrant family who left Ireland to avoid the famine and found themselves wanting to defend their new country. I enjoyed the bravery and strength of the main character, Maureen, who served as a nurse during the war despite her father’s well-meaning but fierce objections. She also defied her would-be suitor, Patrick, who made an ill-fated attempt to dissuade her from helping the wounded soldiers. Though this book is characterized as a historical romance, the romance is essentially a minor subplot, and I wouldn’t necessarily call this a romance novel. That being said, it is still an excellent novel and well worth the read.
Training men to be ruthless soldiers is a skill at which Highlander Teàrlach MacGregor excels. He can kill three men with nothing but a sword and a couple of daggers. After he rescues a ward of the king, the beautiful Lady Madeline Crawford, the fierce warrior begins to yearn for a cottage of his own in the Highlands, with the sweet, delicate Madeline as the mother of his bairns.
Madeline begins to see a side of Teàrlach that nobody else has witnessed. The strong silent Highlander takes her to her first fair, teaches her to read, and bestows upon her a passionate kiss—her very first. But Madeline is informed that she is betrothed to another with the blessing of the king, making her and Teàrlach’s love forbidden.
Teàrlach, the famed fighter, vows to make Madeline his even if that means bringing down her corrupt warden, and Madeline knows that she must defy the king if she hopes to claim her Highlander.
What I Loved About this Book:
This was the first time I can remember reading a Medieval Romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It features my favorite romance novel guy – a swoon-worthy protective hero. Who doesn’t love a sexy highlander?
Madeline is an uneducated yet smart and strong heroine. She started out as fairly meek and with good reason. Her father was a brute who oppressed her horribly and refused to let her learn to read. She was illiterate through no fault of her own, but she was also inquisitive and highly intelligent.
The hero, Tearlach, recognizes and admires her intelligence. He even teaches her to read. How swoon-worthy is that??
Madeline certainly came into her own at the end, which I really loved. Naturally, women were supposed to be meek and mild in that time period, but Madeline proved she was no shrinking violet when it came to choosing her own destiny.
Sexual Content:Lots of sensuality and some actual sex.
Overall: I enjoyed this sweeping romance from beginning to end and would highly recommend it!
Lady Grace imagines escaping her cruel husband and miserable life. A portal into the past offers her so much more than she bargained for. Including meeting the man of her dreams whose life is at risk. Can she save him? Can he rescue her?
What I Loved About this Book:
I do love a good time-travel story! Pierce is a sexy, good-guy Pirate who falls for a woman who has traveled back in time via a magic portal in her home. Grace is a terrific heroine who is understandably a somewhat weak character in the beginning. She is abused and tormented by her husband (include off-page rape, which was glossed over a bit too easily I thought. Grace didn’t seem to suffer all that much trauma from being sexually assaulted, and that didn’t really ring true for me). By the end of the book, Grace really came into her own and became a fighter, which I loved. I also really enjoyed her friendship with Edward, her young time-traveling companion. The romance between Pierce and Grace was sweet and sensual, and worked well for me.
What Could Have Been Better:
This couple had a serious case of insta-love. They pretty much took one look at each other and decided they couldn’t live without each other. Individually, their characters were so well-developed that I would have liked to have seen more detail concerning their blossoming romance.
Sexual Content:Some hints of sensuality, but that’s it.
Overall: A sweet, sensual, and romantic time-travel story.
Alice Hall is a thirty-two-year-old writer at The Daily Chronicle. When Mr. White pays a visit to her boss and insists she visit Wonderland on assignment, Alice believes it to be a cruel joke. She soon discovers that Wonderland is nothing like what she read about as a child. The owner of the Queen of Tarts invites Alice inside, feeding her delightful sweets in hopes that Alice’s article will focus on her pastry shop. It is not only dessert that the owner of the Queen of Tarts feeds her but also stories of Baylor, the owner of the local pastry competitor, The Mad Batter. He may be hot and single, but he also has a reputation for having a secret club catering to special “Littles” hidden within town.
Will Alice be able to get an invitation to the secretive club and find the story that she desires to write? Despite the dangers, she is determined to satisfy her curiosity. Will her investigative skills be enough to keep her out of trouble, or will she find her bottom bared?
What I Liked About this Book:
This was quite a different read for me. Don’t be fooled by the innocent-looking cover. This is an age-play romance (something I have never heard of), and involves role-playing romance between “littles” and their “papas”. Though this was decidedly not my cup of tea, it was a well-written story with intriguing characters and a good story. This was also a spanking romance (which I have heard of but have never read before). Alice is a reporter in search of story, and gets more than she bargained for when she visits the town of Wonderland. She discovers that the owner of the Mad Batter bakery shop owns a secret sex club where adults can live out their fantasies of either being little, being both pampered and punished, or being a Papa or Mama, and remain in control at all times. If you’re in the mood for something highly imaginative, and perhaps slightly out of your comfort zone, you might want give this one a try!
What Could Have Been Better: This was a well-written story, but definitely not my kind of thing. Still, I’m I gave it a try!
Sexual Content:And how.
Overall: This was a fairy Tale with a helluva twist!
Title:Call It Chemistry: A Golden Grove Series Small Town Sweet Romance
Author: D.J. Van Oss
Genre: Small Town / Sweet Romance
Synopsis:
Is it ever too late for a second chance? Kate Brady never thought she’d set foot in her hometown again. After all, Golden Grove was the scene of the biggest embarrassment of her life, back when she was “Katie Braces,” the high-school art nerd. But if she’s going to climb the corporate ladder at her demanding Chicago design firm, she has to take on a re-branding job for Nitrovex, the big (and boring) chemical plant on the outskirts of her Iowa hometown. And to do that, she’s going to need the help of her old next-door-neighbor, Peter Clark, the cute guy she’s never really gotten over.
Before he lost his dad, Peter Clark had planned on a prestigious career as a chemical engineer doing cutting-edge science. Now here he is, still stuck in his small hometown, teaching chemistry at his old high school. The last thing he expected was seeing his childhood crush, Katie, back in Golden Grove. But when one trip turns into multiple visits, he wonders if this is a chance to heal old wounds – and maybe more.
Will Kate be able to get the job done while enduring all of these heart-thumping distractions from Peter? And will Peter take a chance on finding love with the girl he once let get away?
What I Loved About this Book:
The plot involved actual chemistry, which I thought was rather clever. Katie and Peter were engaging characters with fully-developed stories and backstories. Former friends and nearly high school sweethearts, the two connect years later when Katie returns to her hometown on business. Peter is a high school chemistry teacher and is the perfect person to help Kate with her important advertising account for the town’s chemical company. The side characters were engaging, too, if slightly pushy and annoying. Then again, haven’t we had pushy and annoying neighbors and other characters in our lives??
What Could Have Been Better:
I found the plot engaging and enjoyable to read, but this was one of those books where the central plot was set up in the beginning without much new information being introduced. Perhaps it could have benefited with a little more conflict or maybe some new developments being scattered throughout.
Sexual Content:None. The book is billed as a clean romance, and delivers on that promise.
Overall: A clever, engaging story about romantic and actual chemistry.
