Oh, frack! Polly P.I. tagged me with one of those chain letter things, that is, a meme. Got to be current and use the latest jargon so I don't sound hopelessly dull and boring even though I'm sure in answering these questions, I'll come across as just that plus moronic.
Just wait, Polly! Payback's a bitch.
Okay, here goes.
1 - Imagine it’s 2015. You are visiting the library at a major research university. You go over to a computer terminal (or whatever it is they use in 2015) that gives you immediate access to any book or journal article on any topic you want. What do you look up? In other words, what do you hope somebody will have written in the meantime?
First, I'd check to see if the diseases that have devastated my family have been cured or at least have had medication created to effectively treat them. I'd hope to read that peace had reigned in the Middle East for many years. Then I'd check out my kids, my writer friends, and me, of course, to see if we'd "made" it.
2 - What is the strangest thing you’ve ever heard or seen at a conference? No names, please. Refer to “Professor X” or “Ms. Y” if you must. Double credit if you were directly affected. Triple if you then said or did something equally weird.
Oh, boy. Could I write a book on this! I am one of those people that total strangers will walk up to and tell their entire life history, including the parts that should remain secret! Plus, I always seem to be a witness to weirdness. Even saw the Stones once in a New Orleans restaurant and one of the women with them spent a good hour under the table. Guess she must have dropped her fork.
Let's see, a couple of stories fit for public consumption? Well, this isn't the strangest but it always makes me laugh when I think about it. I was at a writer's conference and in the hotel bar late one night having a drink with a writer friend I see about once a year. In walks an agent (details censored upon second thoughts) and an editor (details also censored upon second thoughts). They get a table in a dark corner and proceed to get drunk and engage in what used to be called heavy petting--you know the stuff you used to see only in a parked car occupied by two horny teenagers. My friend and I nursed our drinks, stared, laughed, and talked about blackmail. The agent and editor were too preoccupied to notice their audience. Alas, I was too chicken, uh, that is, too much of a lady, to say anything about it the next day when I had an appointment with the agent.
At another conference there were two women, very pale, thin, and each with long, lank black hair. An editor there "hid" from them by talking to me at the cocktail party. He said they'd submitted a 1500 page hand written manuscript for a science fiction novel they'd co-written in which the hero was named Paramecium and all the other characters were named after bacteria.
3 - Name a writer, scholar, or otherwise worthy person you admire so much that meeting him or her would probably reduce you to awestruck silence.
Gosh, there are so many. Today though, since I just reread Lightning again, I'd have to say Dean Koontz. I think the man is a master at his craft. I love his books for the characters, the often lyrical prose, and deft manipulation of science fact with fantasy. He created the cross-genre novel with the puzzle of the mystery, the ideas of science fiction, the struggle between good and evil of fantasy, the dark moodiness of horror, and the intelligent love relationship of a good romance novel.
4 - What are two or three blogs or other Web sites you often read that don’t seem to be on many people’s radar?
Conversations About Famous People isn't an unknown to most women in the blogosphere, but maybe men haven't cruised by yet. It's hilarious. If you ever look in the mirror and go, "Yuk!" then cruise over to that blog and take a look at some candid photos of the "beautiful people." You'll feel better asap.
efoodie, the everyday gourmet What can I say? I love food--cooking and eating.
Diary of an Adult Runaway She's living in Paris! I adore Paris.
Okay, now I have to tag 3 other poor souls?
Distressed Jeans at Conversations
Kathleen O'Reilly
Natalie R. Collins of Stalking Kelly Ripa
How many writers in the U. S.?
Hmmm. I'm reading, rather belatedly, the feature article entitled "A Fascinating Look at Selected Reading and Publishing Statistics" in my Sisters in Crime June newsletter. Back in May, after having read statistics from a study done by the American Library Association about the reading habits of the United States adult population, I'd blogged about those depressing stats. I can sum up the results of that segment of the survey, as noted in my previous blog, in two words: rather pitiful.
Now the SinC newsletter gives more statistics--about the reading public, manuscript sales, book sales, and the number of writers in the U. S. All the stats elicit reactions ranging from curiosity to melancholy, especially for anyone concerned with the decline of reading, but the stats that struck me as most interesting were the ones about how many people in the United States defined themselves as writers.
In 2004, there were 15 million Americans who said they were writers. That's an increase of 4 million from a few years ago. I'd be willing to bet prior to 1990, the number of people who called themselves writers was a mere fraction of today's 15 million. Why? Well, prior to 1990, not as many households had computers. Now, most people seem to have one or at least have access to a PC at work, school, or in libraries.
There's always been a kind of unspoken belief in the general population that anyone who possesses the ability to read and write therefore possesses all the tools necessary to become a writer. That belief now seems to have become a reality.
Back in the Dark Ages, before computers, the idea of writing a book was daunting because even with a correctable typewriter, the task was arduous. The PC was the great enabler. Now, these self-defined writers can write their books and publish them in print or on the Internet. I've known several "writers" who published with what many of us consider vanity or subsidized publishers. They think they have credentials just as good as any author published by Random House et al. (I can well imagine how many lobbed rotten tomatoes that statement will earn me.)
Would these self-defined writers have even written a book if they'd had to do it with a typewriter? I think not. I say this because I know how hard it is to write a manuscript that way. I wrote my first book, which shall remain buried in my file cabinet, on a portable electric typewriter, and it was not a correcting typewriter either.
If there were 15 million self-defined writers in 2004, what will that number be in another few years? But that's not the real question. The real question is what kind of impact does this have on "real" writers who are struggling to break in or break out of mid-list? Do these millions of writers have an effect on the publishing industry? Oh, yes, they certainly do. Just ask any editor or agent who has to deal with the slush pile.
Now the SinC newsletter gives more statistics--about the reading public, manuscript sales, book sales, and the number of writers in the U. S. All the stats elicit reactions ranging from curiosity to melancholy, especially for anyone concerned with the decline of reading, but the stats that struck me as most interesting were the ones about how many people in the United States defined themselves as writers.
In 2004, there were 15 million Americans who said they were writers. That's an increase of 4 million from a few years ago. I'd be willing to bet prior to 1990, the number of people who called themselves writers was a mere fraction of today's 15 million. Why? Well, prior to 1990, not as many households had computers. Now, most people seem to have one or at least have access to a PC at work, school, or in libraries.
There's always been a kind of unspoken belief in the general population that anyone who possesses the ability to read and write therefore possesses all the tools necessary to become a writer. That belief now seems to have become a reality.
Back in the Dark Ages, before computers, the idea of writing a book was daunting because even with a correctable typewriter, the task was arduous. The PC was the great enabler. Now, these self-defined writers can write their books and publish them in print or on the Internet. I've known several "writers" who published with what many of us consider vanity or subsidized publishers. They think they have credentials just as good as any author published by Random House et al. (I can well imagine how many lobbed rotten tomatoes that statement will earn me.)
Would these self-defined writers have even written a book if they'd had to do it with a typewriter? I think not. I say this because I know how hard it is to write a manuscript that way. I wrote my first book, which shall remain buried in my file cabinet, on a portable electric typewriter, and it was not a correcting typewriter either.
If there were 15 million self-defined writers in 2004, what will that number be in another few years? But that's not the real question. The real question is what kind of impact does this have on "real" writers who are struggling to break in or break out of mid-list? Do these millions of writers have an effect on the publishing industry? Oh, yes, they certainly do. Just ask any editor or agent who has to deal with the slush pile.
The Halo Effect, a win-win for all
M. J. Rose is an author I admire tremendously, not just because she writes one heck of a good book but also because she's so darn innovative in her promotion ideas. Now, with her new book, The Halo Effect, she's using a medium you'll be seeing more and more--the vidlit (a literary video). Vidlit is an animated short film about a book.
M. J. has designed a "blog tour," asking other authors to blog about The Halo Effect between now and July 19 and to include a link to the short animated film for The Halo Effect. For each blog link made to the vidlit for her novel, $5.00 will be donated to the nonprofit literacy program Reading Is Fundamental.
Now that's what I call a win-win situation for all concerned: the author wins by getting an excellent book noticed by readers, readers win by getting to read an extraordinary book; bloggers who participate win by helping a deserving author and a deserving literacy organization. And Reading Is Fundamental wins in receiving, hopefully, the goal donation of $2,500.00.
So, M. J., here's my blog and my link. Thanks for the chance to participate, and good luck with The Halo Effect.
Readers, rush out and buy The Halo Effect by M. J. Rose. Here's the link again to view the vidlit or visit M. J. Rose for mor information.
M. J. has designed a "blog tour," asking other authors to blog about The Halo Effect between now and July 19 and to include a link to the short animated film for The Halo Effect. For each blog link made to the vidlit for her novel, $5.00 will be donated to the nonprofit literacy program Reading Is Fundamental.
Now that's what I call a win-win situation for all concerned: the author wins by getting an excellent book noticed by readers, readers win by getting to read an extraordinary book; bloggers who participate win by helping a deserving author and a deserving literacy organization. And Reading Is Fundamental wins in receiving, hopefully, the goal donation of $2,500.00.
So, M. J., here's my blog and my link. Thanks for the chance to participate, and good luck with The Halo Effect.
Readers, rush out and buy The Halo Effect by M. J. Rose. Here's the link again to view the vidlit or visit M. J. Rose for mor information.
War Stories: Pam Mellor
Recently, I wrote an article In Their Own Words: Authors Talk About First Sales and was struck by not only the enthusiastic response from so many authors who wanted to tell their story but also by the inspiration I gained from hearing those stories. An author may make many sales throughout a career, but the first sale stands out. Details of that event are engraved in a writer's memory.
Since I'd been thinking about adding a regular feature (hopefully something to appear at least once a month) to Sling Words, I thought stories about an author's first sale might be a good addition. In fact, I touted this as First Sale Stories. In thinking about it though, I decided War Stories was a more evocative--and more accurate--title for the series. Why? Oh, let's just say that we writers often feel as if we're engaged in a war. Each manuscript we write is a battle fought until The End signals a truce. With each submission we risk rejection, a war wound. I know a lot of writers who are so battle-scarred they should receive an Authorial Purple Heart! Yet, on and on we fight. So what better title for an article about someone who has fought the good fight and triumphed?
So, Sling Words welcomes you to War Stories.
Poor Pam Mellor--uh, that is--lucky Pam Mellor was asked to be my first victim--I mean guest. Fortunately, Pam, in the flush of victory, was more than gracious and charming and agreed to give it a go.
Pam: Okay, here goes.
Sling Words: When did you sell and how?
Pam: I signed with my agent, Sha-Shana Crichton of Crichton & Associates Literary Agency, after she'd emailed to ask if my trilogy of erotica novellas was still available. I said yes and was told she would get back to me very soon. A few days later, she called and offered representation. That afternoon, she called and said two big publishers were interested in the trilogy. One day less than three weeks after I'd signed with her, she called and told me we had a contract. But wait! The other publisher wanted us to wait to accept the contract until that Friday. When Friday passed with no word, I tried to be positive. Then Monday, June 27, my agent called and asked what I wanted to do. We decided to take the Kensington contract, with a few stipulations.
Sling Words: What's the title of your book, genre, pub date if you have one?
Pam: The title is Pleasure Beach, and it's actually three novellas in one spine--and they let me keep all of my original titles! Pleasure Beach was my title, as well. As for genre...it's a totally "new" genre--humorous erotica. One of my old critique partners said: "Leave it to you to create a new sub-sub genre!" I take no credit for the "creation." I suspect it has been lurking for years, and Kensington was just smart enough to see the viability of a market for it. BTW, the line has yet to be named, so therefore no actual pub date has been established. I've been told early 2006--January, February, or March most likely.
Sling Words: Okay, give us a comment about how you felt when you made the sale.
Pam: You know, that's interesting. I had a call back in October from an editor at Harlequin who loved my romantic comedy--two weeks after I'd mailed the requested manuscript to her, Harlequin announced the demise of their humor line...just my luck!--and didn't want to just send a rejection letter. She said she'd tried for something like a month and a half to find a line at Harlequin or Silhouette where it would fit and had even asked them to reinstate the humor line for my book (They refused.). After her call, I remember punching my fist in the air and having a permanent smile--all because I'd finally "hit" an editor who "got" my humor and loved my writing and wanted more. I felt somewhat like that after I signed with my agent. So...it was a shock to not feel that euphoria multiplied when my agent called and said we had a contract. I thought it was because we still did not know with whom. But even after she called me--yesterday, in WalMart, while I was reading vitamin labels--it didn't happen. All of my friends and critique partners were jumping up and down and amazed at how calm I was(okay, maybe I wasn't all that calm, since I went into a dialing frenzy). But I still wasn't "over the moon." Know what I mean? But...then my editor(MY editor! I actually have a real, live, editor! EEK!) called to introduce himself--suddenly it was real. We had a nice conversation--although I'm not totally sure what was said, but since I'm "the mouth of the South" I can converse on auto-pilot. Thankfully, years of education also clicked in and I seem to have taken notes--they're in my chicken scratch, so I can only assume I wrote them. BTW, I couldn't stop smiling all night long.
Sling Words: How long have you been writing?
Pam: Is that a trick question?(ha,ha) I always said since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Before that, if you count the tall tales I entertained everyone with--my cousins will swear to you to this day that I could read at 3 (I'd memorized the books and/or embellished with how I thought they should be written!) But for publication? Maybe 10 years. Seriously for publication? More like less than 5 years. Life kept getting in the way and then, just when I was really starting to ACTIVELY pursue publication, my father became ill, had a lengthy hospitalization and died. Mother sank into an abyss of depression and held pity parties for herself until she became ill, 2 years later and died. That was in February and for a while there, I felt as though I'd fallen into the grave with her or, at the very least, developed adult-onset ADD. She passed in February and I couldn't do more than walk in and check my email and walk out until about May. It was a horrible period in my life. I credit my wonderful agent for saving me. I mean it! Had she not called and offered representation and affirmation at a time when I so sorely needed it, I would still be attending my own pity parties. For that alone, I am forever grateful. Selling my book was icing on the cake!
Sling Words: What do you think led to this first sale?
Pam: My wonderful writing, of course!
Sling Words: Got any PR details you want readers to know, i.e., your one-sentence blurb, web site, blog URL, P.O. Box, or whatever?
Pam: Once you visit Pleasure Beach, you'll want to return again and again.
Sling Words: Hey, that's good! Anything else you'd like readers to know?
Pam: I hope they all will run out and buy Pleasure Beach as soon as it is available! And, no, alas, I did not do extensive research for the erotic scenes.
Sling Words: I didn't even think to ask about kinky sex research, darn it! Would you elaborate on something? What was the order of the selling manuscript--first, tenth, or what?
Pam: I say I have been pursuing publication for almost ten years--seriously pursuing it for less than half that amount of time. :) My selling manuscript was #8, #9 and #10...I think.
Sling Words: Thanks, Pam, for participating. Great answers. Do you have some way for readers to check back with you?
Pam: No web site yet--I have no idea as to when I will acquire one. Sigh. So much to do! Makes me tired, just thinking about it.
Sling Words: Thanks again, Pam. We here at Sling Words wish you great success with Pleasure Beach! (Sounds like a place we'd all like to visit. Wonder when the next boat leaves?)
Okay, Readers, there you have it. Next year when you're looking for a comic
erotica, remember Pam Mellor and Pleasure Beach.
Coming attractions
I've been thinking a regular interview feature would be fun to do. So I tried to figure out something that would be inspiring and interesting and, hopefully, something that could be repeated at least once a month. What met all those requirements? How about First Sale Stories?
Drop by Monday, July 11, for First Sale Story: Pam Mellor. You'll meet Pam Mellor who just sold her first book to Kensington.
Yay! Yippee! Hurrah! Brava!
Don't miss Pam's compelling story. See you Monday!
Hell in a hand basket
My grandfather used to say: "The world's going to hell in a hand basket." If he'd still been around since 9/11, I'm sure he'd be convinced of that fact.
The people in London suffered yesterday. Whether it was because of the G8 conference or the fact that they're allies to the U. S., the tragedy was a heinous act by terrorists. Anyone who harbors terrorists or gives them support in any way should be banned from civilization. Better yet, let their victims decide the murderers' fate by majority vote.
Then, today, I read on several blogs about Joseph Duncan, who had raped 13 young boys by the time he was 16. He's the one who apparently bludgeoned Shasta's older brother, mom, and the mom's boyfriend to death before kidnapping Shasta and her other brother who is probably dead and may by this time be identified from the remains of a child found recently. Sent to prison at 17, Duncan is now 42 and has taken the innocence and the lives of too many children.
Why was he ever released from prison?
Why is he even walking around and breathing?
What was the death penalty created for if not for him and people like him?
When will people learn that men like him can NEVER be changed?
On a smaller, more personal note, I read that Evan Hunter/Ed McBain died. What pleasure his books brought me over the years. I know he had more stories to tell. I'll go watch my DVD of one of the many movies made about the 87th Precinct. The one I've got stars Dale Midkiff. It's a pretty good flick, but I've never seen any of the movies as good as the books.
The people in London suffered yesterday. Whether it was because of the G8 conference or the fact that they're allies to the U. S., the tragedy was a heinous act by terrorists. Anyone who harbors terrorists or gives them support in any way should be banned from civilization. Better yet, let their victims decide the murderers' fate by majority vote.
Then, today, I read on several blogs about Joseph Duncan, who had raped 13 young boys by the time he was 16. He's the one who apparently bludgeoned Shasta's older brother, mom, and the mom's boyfriend to death before kidnapping Shasta and her other brother who is probably dead and may by this time be identified from the remains of a child found recently. Sent to prison at 17, Duncan is now 42 and has taken the innocence and the lives of too many children.
Why was he ever released from prison?
Why is he even walking around and breathing?
What was the death penalty created for if not for him and people like him?
When will people learn that men like him can NEVER be changed?
On a smaller, more personal note, I read that Evan Hunter/Ed McBain died. What pleasure his books brought me over the years. I know he had more stories to tell. I'll go watch my DVD of one of the many movies made about the 87th Precinct. The one I've got stars Dale Midkiff. It's a pretty good flick, but I've never seen any of the movies as good as the books.
5th of July
I designed this graphic for products at my cyber shop The Write Way and think it's a nice thought for the day after Independence Day. So declare your own Independence!
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