An Authoress Interview

I've been honored with an interview at Unplag.com.  Please do stop by and take a peek!

GO HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW.

Also?  I'm opening ONE SLOT for Premiere Critique this month -- first come, first served.

The Critique includes:

*detailed line edit of your first 75 pages
*editorial letter
*guaranteed 1-week turnaround

The cost is $260, payable via Paypal in 2 installments.

No first drafts.  (I mean it.)

Email me at authoress.edits(at)gmail.com if you're interested!

Author Interview: ADAM HEINE

This terrific guy is one of my favorite people.  Adam Heine is a talented writer and amazing dad whose debut, Izanami's Choice, is coming out THIS WEEK.  I am blessed beyond measure to have Adam for a critique partner (he is invaluable), and his sense of humor is the kind that makes me laugh out loud when I'm sitting in an empty room reading an email from him.

I'm delighted to offer you this exclusive interview!  And stick around until the end, because I've got a SPECIAL PRIZE FROM ADAM that's begging to be given away.


AUTHORESS: So, first things first. What was your inspiration for writing Izanami’s Choice?

ADAM: I had a lot of inspirations (as you might imagine from a story about artificial intelligence, retired samurai cops, and Meiji-Era Japan). The idea to mix genres in this particular way came from an occasional recurring series on the Penny Arcade webcomic called Automata, which combines sentient robots with 20's noir. Those comics were really the spark that catalyzed this whole thing. Other strong inspirations include Gibson and Sterling's classic steampunk novel The Difference Engine as well as James Clavell's fantastically detailed Asian Saga books. The first is a must-read for steampunk fans and the second for Japanese history nuts. Both are required reading if you want to combine the two.

AUTHORESS: Clearly you're both passionate and knowledgeable when it comes to Japanese history and the other elements of your story--steampunk, martial arts, etc. From where does this passion stem? Why write this particular story?

ADAM: Some of the elements you mention -- steampunk, martial arts, artificial intelligence, evolutionary programming, etc. -- are personal interests that get thrown into a melting pot of ideas until a story comes out. But the passion comes from the elements that are personal to me: fatherhood, fear of losing my own children (and how I might react if I did), exploring difficult concepts like prejudice, free will, what it takes to fix a screwed-up world, and whether that price is worth it. These elements make it into a lot of my stories.

As for why Japan? The easy answer is that Japan has always captured my imagination since I was a boy -- the culture, the history, the stories and worlds they think of that are so unlike the average Western tale. In particular for this story, Western and Japanese cultures have such different outlooks on machine intelligence. I thought it would be interesting to look at it from a new point of view (to Americans at least). I also chose Japan because I want to see more diverse books and as an author I have (a teeny, tiny amount of) control over that.

At the same time, I'm acutely aware that -- although my wife and kids lie along a spectrum from Asian to Asian American to Half-Asian American (long story) -- I am not on that spectrum at all. I love reading diverse books by diverse authors, and I love that we're seeing more of them, but I can only write books by me. So I choose to write diverse books, though only in areas where I feel like I have a chance of getting it right. And I will always strive very, very hard to get it right... and to learn from where I screw it up.

AUTHORESS: Well, I think you've gotten quite a bit right here! You know I've always marveled at your world-building skills, and Izanami’s Choice is no exception. Will you share an elevator pitch, and let us know why Itaru's story is so compelling?

ADAM: I'm flattered you think I got some of it right! So Izanami's Choice is a sci-fi story set in an alternate Meiji Era Japan. Instead of an industrial revolution, Japan has undergone a cybernetic revolution, importing advanced Western technology and adapting it as their own. Robotic automatons serve at every level, as laborers, soldiers, couriers, shopkeeps, personal servants, and more. Japan has embraced androids as part of life.

But Shimada Itaru frowns on Japan's reliance on androids, distrusting for rational -- but perhaps too personal -- reasons. A domestic droid called Gojusan shows up on Itaru's doorstep in the middle of the night asking for help. Before he can turn it away, though, they are attacked by military assassin droids, and Itaru finds himself on the run from assassins and the police. The only way to clear his name is to find out what really happened to Gojusan's dead master.

Of course, the truth is something neither of them expect.

AUTHORESS: I'm pretty sure the life you're currently living is something you never expected, either. Can you share some of this amazingness with us?

ADAM: Heh, the "long story" I mentioned, right? So my wife and I live in Thailand where we take care of "kids with nowhere to go." That means children with no relatives to take care of them, or in some cases the relatives that do exist would be genuinely dangerous for them to stay with. Right now, we have two biological children, one (recently!) adopted daughter, and seven foster children.

With all of our children, it's super important to us that they know they are loved and that they have a family. We are not an orphanage and do not consider ourselves a children's home (though legally that's what we are). We're a family. We strive every day to treat each of them as though they were our actual, natural-born children -- even supporting them after they've grown up and moved out. We'd like to adopt as many of them as we can, but this isn't as easy a process as one might hope (hence the single adoption so far out of eight).

AUTHORESS: And now my readers know why I have you on a very high pedestal.

So, no interview would be complete without letting us know a little bit about Torment: Tides of Numenera, which is yet another creative endeavor into which you pour pieces of your soul. Share a little about this exciting RPG and your involvement in it as a writer.

ADAM: Right! So Torment: Tides of Numenera is a single-player, story-focused RPG to be released early next year. It's a thematic successor to Planescape: Torment, which continues to be listed as one of the best RPGs of all time seventeen years after its release. T:ToN is a science-fantasy story set on Earth one billion years in the future, where people live among the ruins and detritus of inconceivably powerful civilizations that rose and fall before them. It's the embodiment of Arthur C. Clarke's famous quote, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

I'm the game's Design Lead, which means I'm in charge of system design, game rules, player stats, and stuff like that. I also got to do content design for about a third of the game (designing scenes, quests, and characters) and write several of the games conversations (of which there are a lot -- the game clocks in at over 1,000,000 words!). Torment is the main reason I've written only novellas and short stories these last couple of years.

(By the way, T:ToN is available now as an Early Access game on Steam. If you like role-playing games where dialogue and player choice is more important than action and stats, set in a weird and awesome blend of sci-fi and fantasy, you should totally check it out.)

AUTHORESS: Adam, it's been a delight, as always. Will you please let our readers know when and where they can grab their copies of Izanami’s Choice?

ADAM: Absolutely! Izanami's Choice will be released on September 1st, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon or directly from Broken Eye Books. (You can also ask your local bookstore to order it for you, if that's the way you like it).

Thank you SO much for having me here, Authoress. It's always a pleasure!

AUTHORESS: Thank you, Adam! Truly wishing you all the best with this debut.

And now for the contest!

If you PRE-ORDER your copy of Izanami’s Choice prior to this Thursday, you will be eligible to enter a drawing to win a 30-page critique from Adam.  Trust me -- YOU WANT THIS CRITIQUE!

To enter:

1. Pre-order Izanami's Choice from the online bookstore of your choice.
2. Forward your sale confirmation email to me at facelesswords(at)gmail.com.  NOTE:  Please change the subject line to ADAM HEINE CRITIQUE.
3. That's it!  On Thursday, I will enter all eligible email addresses into a random drawing and will announce the winner.

Good luck!  And thank you for supporting one of my favorite people/writers/superheroes. 

Release Day Interview: JM Frey

I've got another book birthday interview for you!  This time, we're celebrating with JM Frey, another of our success story authors and a multi-talented gal in her own right.

Enjoy!

AUTHORESS: We first met over TRIPTYCH, your award-winning novel that is truly one of the best time-travel stories I've ever read. Can you tell us a bit about how this story came to be and how it has propelled you forward?

JM: D'awww thank you! TRIPTYCH was the second novel I wrote, and the first I really thought about in terms of a book I wanted to publish. The first novel I never really thought was publishable, and I trunked it, but I really worked and polished TRIPTYCH because of that. I came up with the concept for TRIPTYCH on my mother's 50th birthday. I was living overseas at the time, and I was chilling in the local onsen and thinking about Mom; that was when I realized I was turning 25 that year, and that Mom had had me when she was my age. And there I was, not married, no kids, no career, living on the other side of the planet studying nihon buyo, seiyuu, and teaching at a high school. We had cone down very different paths. And then I wondered if 25 year old Mom would like 25 year old me. I thought we'd get along (I got my wanderlust from her). But of course, story comes from conflict, so I then I wondered... what if we didn't?

AUTHORESS: I absolutely LOVE that the time-travel aspect of TRIPTYCH is derived from your mom-and-me soul searching!

So, you wrote it, and at first it didn't fly. Can you share a bit about your journey from first draft to sale?

JM: TRIPTYCH started life as a novella titled (Back), which I sold to Silverthought Press for online-only publication in 2008. I got a lot of really positive feedback from that, and most of it was some version of "And then what happened??" So I started thinking about what happened next, and seeing as I still had all the rights for (Back), I expanded the story into a full novel.

I wrote several drafts, working and rewriting constantly for a year. When I thought it was ready, I started querying agents and sometimes small presses. Every time I heard back, I tried to tweak and edit the book to address the notes or concerns the rejects included. (All in all, I logged 64 drafts between start and publication, and that included the ones I did with Dragon Moon Press. You read draft 64. But a lot of those drafts were alterations suggested after a rejection, like cutting a scene, or adding just a few lines for clarification in the midst of dialogue, etc.)

I'd had a lot of rejections by April 2009. I went to a SF convention in Toronto, as an academic guest, and after a panel I stopped by the hotel bar to hang out with some nerds I knew from the SPACE Channel here in Canada. There were some people I didn't know in the group, but at this convention especially, people are very friendly and welcoming. So when we all relocated to a room for beer and pizza, everyone was invited.

At that party, I was talking to some authors I know about my frustrations, and a woman came over to ask about the book I was talking about. So, having no idea who she was, slightly drunk and kinda bitter, I pitched her the book. I thought she was just being polite when she kept talking about the book, and then, strangest of all, she requested the full! I had no idea who she was!

Turns out she was Gabrielle Harbowy, acquiring editor at Dragon Moon Press!

I sent her the book that Monday, and a little while later got her response. She really liked the characters, but was rejecting it because she felt that there were issues with the structure of the narrative that was irreparable. Well, trust me to take that as a personal challenge.

I asked her if she would be willing to read it again if I revised, and she agreed (I am going to project a little here and say reluctantly agreed), and I spent the summer pulling it apart and rewriting large swaths of the book to address the issues she had pointed out. I returned the book to her that autumn and heard... nothing.

I was anxious, and then I was upset, and then I was devastated. Surly that meant she didn't want it and didn't feel the need to break it to me gently. Right? Wrong. Gabrielle later told me that she held off on reading it so long because she had really liked the characters and really didn't want to read the revisions and have to tell me that they were rejecting the book. Except, that when she finally did read the revisions, she liked them!

(Yay!)

I think, though I can't be certain, but I think I got the email offering publication sometime around Christmas? It might have even been on Christmas Eve.

We announced the sale at that same convention in 2010, and then launched the book there in 2011.

AUTHORESS: And the rest is history!

So now you're launching your second novel (with other goodies on the horizon). Can you tell us how THE UNTOLD TALE came to be?

JM: Well, after TRIPTYCH, I wrote another novel (THE SKYLARK'S SONG) and leveraged TRIPTYCH'S success to pitch to agents. I was actually approached by some too, and in the end I had three phone calls. I chose an agent, and we started working on SKYLARK. It was clear pretty quickly, however, that I hadn't made the right choice. He absolutely mangled the manuscript, had no idea what I was trying to do with it, and was extremely condescending. I regretted my choice nearly instantly - the good news was, one of the other agents regretted not pitching me harder. We met again a little later, when I was horribly upset with my then-current agent, and just chatting with her made me realize I had to fire the jerk.

So I fired him. I was worried that I'd completely screwed myself, and that I'd never be represented again, and that THE SKYLARK'S SONG was beyond saving now. The other agent heard I was free, and jumped on the chance. From what I understand, she invited Gabrielle out to dinner, and borrowed her phone to call me randomly out of the blue and offer representation. I actually missed the call, though, because I was busy being the Maid of Honor at my friend's Bachelorette party! She left a lovely message, though.

I decided that if I was going to go to Laurie, I wanted to bring her something that The Jerk hadn't touched first, before we began to work on SKYLARK. I wanted to do with Fantasy what TRIPTYCH did was Sci-Fi - that is, something left-of-center, something issue-laden without being issue-driven or issue-burdened. That was when the buzz for this new TV show started to fill the air - Game of Thrones. I'd never heard of George RR Martin, or read his books, prior to the series coming out. But it sounded right up my alley, so I watched.

It gave me a lot of ideas, but mostly what it really sparked in me was a kind of low-level resentment. It wasn't at the show per se, but at the guy friend I was watching it with. We had an argument about intended audience, and I couldn't get him to understand how much it sucks to not be the center. I mean, I literally couldn't get him to understand that Game of Thrones, while not horrible, was not made for me, but for people like him. White. Male. Straight.

I was so angry I went off to my office and wrote a scene where a female character yells at the hero of a standard fantasy series.

The next morning I reread it and thought... "I think there's something in this. This... anger at always being on the edge."

Turns out there was!

Laurie ADORED the book (only gave me three notes). We had a hard time shopping it though, because it's very self aware and some publishers thought it would be difficult to market. Everyone really liked the book itself, but in general the editors who read it weren't certain how to handle it. Last November, Laurie was giving a keynote at a conference and mentioned the book. As soon as she was finished speaking, she was cornered at the tea table by REUTS. And to borrow your phrase - the rest is history!

Though I was very surprised when they offered a three book deal. I had never intended the story to continue, but now that I have the chance, I really relish the ability to dig back in to this world.

And yes, I did finally bring SKYLARK around to a place I liked with Laurie, and REUTS snapped that up in a three book deal as well.

AUTHORESS: So, as a "self aware" fantasy, what kind of reader will THE UNTOLD TALE beckon to? What do you think the readers will find most surprising? Most challenging?

JM: I think the book will really resonate with readers like me, readers who love fantasy books but are frustrated at never seeing themselves in the books (or, if they are, as villains, exotic "others", or savages). I mean, it's no wonder the weird kids always fall in love with monsters, and bad guys, and mutant characters - it's the only place we see ourselves.

THE UNTOLD TALE points out that fantasy novels have, for a very long time, (And I'm talking The Epic of Gilgamesh here) have been power fantasies for straight males. And my book isn't saying "No, that's bad", it's saying, "Uhg, this is boring. Another one?" The heroes in these books are the side characters, the overlooked ones, the voiceless ones. That, I think, will be the surprise.

As for challenging, it is hard for us nerds to be told that something we have accepted as a staid fact of our reality is problematic. (I mean, #GamerGate/Sad Puppies are the perfect example.) Nerds and Geeks like us often internalize our favorite stories and base a lot of our personalities and self-worth on them. So when someone else finds fault with those stories, it can feel like a personal attack, even though it isn't. It's never a personal attack or an attempt to oppress. It's a question that says, "Don't you see how harmful these stereotypes can be? Not just for me, but for you too? Please, can we make room for everyone?" And I think the book might be challenging for those readers who've never had the flaws and problematics of classic fantasy novels pointed out to them before.

AUTHORESS: Wow, thanks for that very deep glimpse into not only your writer-mind, but your deepest self. Writing is so much more than simply "telling a story", as you've just made clear.

Thank you so much for this interview, and best of luck as THE UNTOLD TALE flies into the wild!

Go here for purchase info!

YA/MG Winners Have Been Emailed

Yes, the email just went out.  If you did not receive one (please check your spam folder), then, regrettably, your entry was not chosen as a winner in the MG/YA round.

And of course I want to thank you ALL, as always, for the privilege of reading your work.  Jodi and I particularly enjoyed reading the slush for this round because, of course, this is what we write, so it's near and dear to our hearts. 

The promised post on trends and THE BIG PROBLEM is forthcoming.  In the meantime, feel free to entertain yourself with THIS LATEST AUTHORESS INTERVIEW.  And thank you, Kristen, for the fun, outside-of-the-norm-for-writer-interviews questions!

An Authoress Interview

I am always arrested by the graciousness of these interviewers!  A big "thank you" to Amy at Chasing the Crazies for THIS INTERVIEW.

Once you've popped over, please take a moment to leave a comment for Amy.  Because everyone knows how good those comments feel, and I'd like to shower her with a few!

Writer Odyssey Wednesday -- The Illustrious Authoress

(Illustrious?!)

Interview: Peter Salomon, MSFV Success Star AND Super Guy

I'm delighted to present this interview with Peter Salomon, whose debut novel, HENRY FRANKS, is coming out on September 8 (a week from Saturday!) from Flux.

Peter is one of our MSFV Success Stories. He's a real, behind-the-scenes hero, because of the amount of time and effort he puts into organizing and communicating with our growing list of MSFV Success Story authors. In fact, EVERY TIME a new success story is announced, Peter emails the author and invites him/her to our Success Story Gang. (Yeah, we've got a oh-so-sekrit group on Facebook and everything.) Mind you, this whole thing was Peter's idea; not mine.

He's done such a good job, in fact, that I've invited him to officially take over the Success Story pages on the blog. Because, yanno, I haven't exactly been keeping up with those very well.

So, without further blathering, I give you An Interview With Peter Salomon:

AUTHORESS: Peter, I have an emotional investment in your success story! In a nutshell, will you share it for everyone?

PETER: I'd entered some of the earliest Secret Agent events at MSFV (though I missed a number of them) as well as some of the query critique sessions. It was actually so long ago that the query I sent in was for the book I'd written prior to writing HENRY FRANKS (a Young Adult action/thriller starring the children of Santa Claus...well, *I thought it was a good idea...). While I received great feedback, I didn't win but was able to take the constructive criticism from the wonderful MSFV community and use that in my writing. Then, there was a new Secret Agent contest and I felt that THE MEMORY OF HENRY FRANKS (that I'd just finished revising) wasn't quite ready to submit yet so I decided to wait. But something wonderful happened. The Secret Agent was so impressed with the quality of writing from the MSFV community that she decided she'd read queries from anyone who emailed her one with MSFV in the subject.

Well, this was an agent at an agency that was at the top of my 'dream agent' list so, even though I didn't actually have the query letter written yet I decided to email her. Literally, I threw the email together. I'd been sort of kind of in my head working on a query letter so I had some idea of what I wanted to say but I hadn't written anything (to put in perspective just how wrong I was about this, the bones of the 'query' I threw together is pretty much still, to this day, the blurb for the book on my website). One hour after sending the email to Ammi-Joan Paquette, of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, she responded that the idea sounded 'utterly intriguing' and could I send the full.

To say I was shocked, delighted and terrified all at once is an understatement.

So, I sent the full and the rest, as they say, is history.

All of those original emails, going back and forth discussing my book? Every single one of them had the same subject line: 'Miss Snark's First Victim (Query: The Memory Of Henry Franks).' The offer that Joan made to the community of MSFV made me the third Success Story and I am eternally grateful for that.

AUTHORESS: So tell us a little about HENRY FRANKS. In short, make us salivate!

PETER: Henry Franks is your typical high school sophomore: covered in scars, with no memories of his life from before the accident that killed his mother. For all he really knows his name isn't even Henry.

As he begins to doubt the stories that his increasingly erratic and distant father tells him about his childhood, Henry tries to piece together the truth before it's too late. And for Henry, too late includes a hurricane about to strike his island home, a serial killer that may or may not have anything to do with the strange nightmares he's been having, and the inescapable fact that he's losing feeling in parts of his body.

So, as his world is falling down around him the last thing he ever expected to find was the girl next door, seeing past his scars to the lonely boy struggling to answer the oldest question of all: Who am I?

AUTHORESS: And "Who am I?" is such a huge question for many of the teens who will be reading your book!

So, share a bit about the angst of having your title changed.

PETER: It's a little bit funny now, in hindsight. The original title was THE MEMORY OF HENRY FRANKS, which, in 2007 when I came up with it was a GREAT title idea. Fast forward five years and the 'cliche' of THE (BLANK) OF (BLANK) titles has gotten way out of hand...Flux, my publisher, was 100% against using the original title. I always thought it gave a sort of 'literary' feel to such a creepy, haunting type of horror novel. I actually spent some time coming up with alternate titles but Flux rejected most of them. Actually just calling it HENRY FRANKS was their first choice. Some of my suggestions were 'SCARS' (which I never much liked) and 'HENRY' (because for all the months that I was emailing back and forth with my agent about the book we would use 'HENRY' as shorthand for the much longer title so I was quite comfortable by that point referring to the book as 'HENRY').

I'm probably about 98.43% in love with the current title. That missing 1.57% still has a slight soft spot for the lost words: 'THE MEMORY OF'

AUTHORESS: Well, as someone who watched you walk through that particular struggle, I'd say you've come out on the other end just fine!

So talk a bit about your agent, Joan Paquette, whom I absolutely adore. Why is she "the right one" for you?

PETER: Great question! The author-agent relationship is an interesting one. It can be a tremendous source of support when it works. Joan is a joy to work with and EMLA as a whole is a fantastic agency (from the close friendships and support systems between the EMLA clients to the annual retreat, which I've yet to be able to attend, EMLA is a dream place to be). None of which, of course, actually answers your question!

When I first spoke with Joan right after the MSFV contest that lead to sending her my manuscript I fully believed that not only did she 'get' the book but that she 'got' me, as a writer. She saw the whole of the piece the same way I did but from a very different perspective that served to make the book so much better. That, plus she got my jokes (which is not a strongpoint of mine...I don't really 'do' funny). The comments and suggestions she made throughout the revision process, both before and after the sale, were incredibly helpful and her constant encouragement (which, I'll admit, I definitely need) helped far more than she probably realizes. Every time the whole process would get me down an email from Joan would pop up just cheering me on from the sidelines, even when there was no way for her to know that at that particular moment I really needed the cheers.

What a lot of people miss is that she's also a fabulous author, with picture books and a glorious middle grade novel (Nowhere Girl) published. That writer's background gives her a connection with and an understanding of her clients that is truly a wonderful gift.

AUTHORESS: I've gushed about NOWHERE GIRL before; Joan's writing is luscious!

Not every success story is fast and furious. Can you talk a little about the journey that led, finally, to the sale of HENRY FRANKS?

PETER: The journey, which was in the end completely worth it, seemed at the time to be never-ending. At times, it always seems as though the light at the end of the tunnel is really a run-away train heading right towards you. So imagine my surprise to discover that not only is it a train but it was actually stopping to pick me up.

HENRY FRANKS is my fifth completed manuscript (the first four were various degrees of 'bad'...actually, that's not 100% accurate. They all have different parts which are worthwhile and show promise, though the one I started in high school shows far less promise, for example, than the later ones). If you figure I first started writing (poetry mostly) when I was around 10 I've been on this journey for close to 35 years. A long time to travel before my debut novel comes out.

With HENRY, I started writing in 2007, squeezing moments to work on the book in between family and job. The actual writing of the first draft only took a few months ('only' being a relative term as it always seems to take forever during the actual writing). At that point the revisions began. I am a big huge fan of revisions. Just as I am a huge fan of constructive criticism/feedback. I firmly believe that anyone who takes the time to make suggestions is only doing so because they actually want to make the book better. Since I also want to make the book better, criticism is HELPING me. So I began revising. The revision process took years. It wasn't until I had revised the book all by myself that I turned to my Alpha reader, author Terri Molina (www.terrimolina.com).

For some reason, Terri edits my writing incredibly well. Terri and I went back and forth on the book for a long while, all the time improving the book until finally I felt it was ready to maybe think about querying. Which just happened to be, as previously mentioned, a really good time to be thinking about that.

Once I signed with my agent, there were still more revisions until, months later, Joan thought the book was strong enough to go out on submission. After that first round of submissions, I ended up revising the book yet again before sending it back out. At that point, a little over a year after signing with Joan, the book sold. Then, as always, there was another round of revisions, with the editorial letter from Flux. From the date of signing my book contract to the final version sent to press was a little over a year and during those 12 months, it was almost a constant state of revision to the book.

Thankfully, as I mentioned, I love revising. It has been a long journey and so many times I felt as though giving up was the best option. But I never quit believing that I'd hold my book in my hand one day. There's still a train heading towards me, there always will be, but I'm ready now to hitch a ride. And I'd be delighted and honored if all of you would join me on my travels.

AUTHORESS: Yours is a story, of course, of never giving up. Now that you're realizing your dream, what's next? What do you see in your future?

PETER: I've spoken about this 'future' idea with other debut authors and I'm pretty sure we all have the same secret wish/hope/dream in our heart of hearts after signing that first book contract: signing the second book contract before the first book is released. Since the timespan between sale and release can be up to 2-3 years long this seems to be a good rule of thumb for hopes about the future. Unfortunately, with release only a little more than 2 weeks away (as of the day I'm answering this question), time seems to be running out on that particular dream. This isn't, of course, the worst thing in the world. After all: it's still only a little more than 2 weeks away from the release of my book!! It's hard to be sad at such a time, no?

While HENRY was out on submission I wrote two manuscripts, both YA (a Dystopian and an Action/Adventure sort of story), and have been busily revising and editing in the months since. The Action/Adventure one (codenamed HTRASH) is currently with my agent to see if it's ready for the submission process. Fingers crossed here. In addition, I've been working on two picture books, one of which is currently out on submission. So, the future is, as always, more writing, more revising, more editing. Always more. And it's wonderful. It's taken quite a long time to get used to being an 'agented writer.' It's taken just as long to get used to having a book coming out. I'm not sure how long it will take to get used to being a published author. But I'm certainly enjoying the journey!

AUTHORESS: And from where I sit, you have been making this journey with grace and aplomb.

Any words of wisdom to share with aspiring authors?

PETER: Thanks!!  Words of wisdom? So much of this journey I've been on, since the age of 12 when I first started writing angstian poetry (and why is that still not a word?) through the years of learning to write novels, the one constant was my grandfather. He was a true renaissance man, a truly gifted writer as well as an all-around brilliant man. He spent most of his adult life as a Professor (and founded his own private school in the early 50s) and then as the Public Relations Director for the city of Miami Beach (back when he believed Miami Beach, with its crumbling art deco hotels had something special to offer and spent years promoting the city through a number of Mayors. What Miami Beach is now, with South Beach and it's international destination status, traces back to the job my grandfather was doing. Which is an odd sort of legacy to leave. I actually used to have a very impressive certificate declaring my birthday, Nov. 3, as Peter Adam Salomon Day in Miami Beach. Of all the things I've lost and misplaced over the years that certificate is probably at the top of the list). And throughout all of that work, he never stopped writing. Unfortunately, after being rejected for a novel when he was a much younger man, a rejection that basically said his novel was 'too intellectual for the contemporary American audience', he never submitted again. He died unpublished.

But for my entire life, he encouraged my writing. He supported me, defended me. He made the writer I am today possible. I used to listen to his stories of studying poetry with Robert Frost. Robert Frost! My grandfather lived long enough to meet my soon-to-be-wife (but not to attend our wedding) and one day Anna and I sat with him in his Miami Beach home on one of the islands off the Venetian Causeway as he spoke for hours about poetry. It was an impromptu master class and was absolutely captivating. My one big regret is not videotaping it.

And in all those years of his encouragement and support he told me the same thing so many times it became something close to a mantra: Just write.

Nothing else matters. Just write. Keep writing. If there's nothing on the page, you can't improve it. A blank page is 'potential' so fill it. You can always fix it, make it better, but only if there are words to fix, words to improve. So just write. Don't stop writing. No matter what. Just keep writing.

Words of wisdom? Write. As simple as that. The moment you stop writing, you've given up, admitted defeat. Just keep writing.

And whatever you do, whatever the rejection, whatever obstacles pop up, the only way to be a writer is to write.* 

AUTHORESS: What a beautiful legacy. Peter, it's been an absolute delight chatting with you. I wish you all the very best in your upcoming-and-very-long career!

*Read Peter's tribute to his grandfather HERE.

Announcing: THE MSFV SUCCESS STORY BLOG HOP!

I am THRILLED to let you know about a wonderful blog tour that begins TODAY and will run through August 15.  The lovely JM Frey (one of our success story authors) has organized a blog hop featuring 15 of our MSFV success story authors.  Each day will bring an interview with one of these authors.

Now's your chance to get to know our very own MSFV authors!

GO HERE TO READ THE BLOG HOP SCHEDULE.

And here is today's offering:  An interview with LEIGH MOORE.

I truly hope you'll join us over the next 15 days.  Who knows?  You could be THE NEXT MSFV SUCCESS STORY!

*grin* *grin* *grin some more*

'Til We Meet Again

You know I couldn't leave without saying good bye (3 cheers for Blogger's schedule-a-post feature).

Know what would make me happy?  If you'll just start up a conversation in the comment box and keep it going while I'm gone, it would be an amazing thing to return to.  There is so much life in your words to each other (and sometimes laugh-out-loud humor).

You could, yanno, start a serial story.  Or discuss your plans for taking the book world by storm.  Or cheer each other on.  Or take wild guesses about Authoress's real identity.  Or chip together to buy me a small Caribbean island close to Johnny Depp's.

Anyway.  I love you.

One more thing:  Long-time community member Kirk Kraft has graciously interviewed me on his blog.  You can read the interview HERE.

Have a wonderful couple of weeks!  I'll see you when I get back.

Amazing Author and Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette

By now, it's no secret that Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Agency is an amazing and successful agent who just so happens to lurk here regularly, scooping up fresh clients like handfuls of flowers.  But she's also a brilliant author, and I so fell in love with her prose that I wanted to share it with the world!  Or at least with my wonderful blog community.  

And so, without further ado, I give you this delightful interview with Joan, one of my favorite agents and an all-around lovely person!

AUTHORESS: I got to know you as an agent before I discovered, to my delight, that you were also an author. For you, which came first? And why?

JOAN: The journey definitely began for me as an author. I started writing with a serious eye toward publication in 2003. My mom had recently passed away and I think subconsciously this broke something loose inside me as far as pushing me on the path toward making that dream a reality. There would still be many false starts and uncompleted books ahead before my first novel was published (NOWHERE GIRL, in 2011!), but it’s quite moving for me now to see that the first one to make it all the way through ended up being so very personal in its themes and subject matter. It’s amazing what a circuitous path life takes!

Erin Murphy became my agent in 2008, and it wasn’t until the following year that a shift in my job status got me seriously pursuing exploring the idea of agenting—a desire which had lurked at the back of my mind for a long time. After a number of exploratory conversations and early steps, I began working as an associate agent with EMLA in 2009, and I have to say it’s one of the best changes I’ve ever made. I can truly say that I enjoy every aspect of this wonderful job, and feel so privileged every day to be able to do what I do.

AUTHORESS: And it's equally a privilege to watch you in action!

I think what amazes me most about your author/agent combination is the creative energy that needs to go into your own work as well as into the work of your clients. How do you find balance? What's your method for separating "Author Joan" from "Agent Joan" on a day-to-day basis?

JOAN: Balance, hmmm. Good question! I think it can be hard sometimes for me to maintain my writing persona, because my agent work is so vast and all-consuming, and it’s also made up of these myriad phone-letter-email-manuscript-contract bytes that are each tagged with an individual deadline and each clamoring for attention. By contrast, setting aside the creative time to work on my own writing is much easier to put in the “later” stack. But at the same time, I do value the change in energy I get from switching between the two. Each job is satisfying in its own way, and I love that I get to toggle back and forth between them. So… not really a method so much as just taking each day as it comes, and doing as much as I can do in the time that’s given me? Does that count? *smile*

AUTHORESS: Yep, it counts!

So let's talk about NOWHERE GIRL, with which I've recently fallen in love. What inspired you to write a story set in Thailand? And how all-consuming was the research that must have gone into this?

JOAN: The idea for NOWHERE GIRL first came after I read a news article about a young boy who had grown up with his mother in a Thai prison, so the location came along with that initial story idea. The fact that my character is of American parentage, and has brought up in this very sheltered way, gave me a little flexibility with her portrayal—but research was definitely a big part of the process. I really tried to come at it from every available angle: I researched country details at the library; I went online and read voraciously; I watched YouTube videos on specific events or experiences which I wasn’t familiar with; I read novels set in Thailand to get the tone and feel for the characters and setting. I also sent the manuscript, and the language excerpts in particular, to various friends and acquaintances who are Thai or live in Thailand, which was extremely helpful. It sounds like a lot of work, and I suppose it was, but there’s also something really freeing about working within a structure of that type: the more I explore specific constraints within my writing, the more avenues open up for fresh and original ways to make the various plot turns work. And as a result, I think the story ends up feeling richer and more complex.

AUTHORESS: Well, your research paid off; I felt totally immersed in Thai culture as I read.

Do you have anything else in the works that you can talk about?

JOAN: My newest release is another picture book: THE TIPTOE GUIDE TO TRACKING MERMAIDS (Tanglewood, 2012). Marie LeTourneau has done wonderful illustrations for this book, which is really an exploratory journey along the seashore. The mix of magic and nature should entice mermaid-lovers and beachcombers of all ages :)

I'm also in the process of revising a YA science fiction novel, PARADOX, which will be out from Random House next spring. It's very different from anything I've written before, and the research is leading me in all kinds of brain-boggling directions. Plus several other projects still further out!

AUTHORESS: It's truly amazing that you can accomplish all this while simultaneously agenting a talented bunch of writers -- several of which (6, last count!) you found here on Miss Snark's First Victim.

I first got to know you when you were a Secret Agent back in January, 2010. Since then, you've become my number one "lurking agent". So, what's the draw? Why do you think you've had so much success finding clients here? Is there a common thread?

JOAN: I am a huge fan of your blog, and I think it appeals to me for two reasons. The first is because, as our agency is closed to general slush submissions, my actual incoming pile at any given time is a good deal smaller than the average. So I do have more time to flit around and allow things to catch my eye. And the second is because, well, your readers and posters are kind of exceptional! I really think that the community and critiques and information sharing helps to bring up the level of material being sent out. Of the clients whose work has come my way through MSFV--whether from contests, or lurking, or from the "open query call" which I put out here a couple of years ago (and which I just might do again one of these days!)--all but one so far has sold. And that last is someone I just signed, so... I'm sure there will be more good news soon to come!

AUTHORESS: It's an honor for me to have played even a small role in your clients' success stories--which are, of course, your success stories, too!

Since you've been outed as an avid MSFV "lurker," can you let us know what you're particularly looking for right now?

JOAN: Hmmm, as always I'm really just looking to fall in love. I will say that I'm especially eager for YA material right now, as I find myself with a strong MG list. I could be swept away by something epic these days; I love tight, fast-paced plots that make me think and keep me guessing; extra points for throwing me off-balance late in the game and making me question everything I thought I knew. Psychological thrillers, smart literary projects that take risks, something that feels strong and new and fresh. Shall I go on? *smile*

AUTHORESS: Something tells me you'll find what you're looking for as you continue to lurk over the next few months. *wink*

Your wonderful balance of creating your own stories while expertly championing the stories of others is inspiring. What words of advice and encouragement can you offer, from an agent's as well as a published author's perspective?

JOAN: Write with passion. I think that's my best advice. The world has millions and more stories; what will make yours stand out from the crowd is infusing it with that unforgettable spark that only you can bring. What moves you? What makes you laugh, cry, rage? What are you most afraid of? To write a truly unforgettable book, you have to tap into that deep part of yourself that you are pretty much too afraid to show anyone else. Let it out of the dark for the world to see. That's all--easy, right?

AUTHORESS: You have certainly made it seem so!

Joan, thank you for this glimpse into your dual-career world. I will always be one of your biggest fans!

JOAN: It's been my pleasure! And the feeling is mutual :)

---

(Run--don't walk!--and buy your copy of Nowhere Girl today.  When you're finished reading it, pass it along to your favorite middle grader.  I cannot remember when I have last read such lush, lyrical prose written for this age group.)

A Release Day Interview With Jodi Meadows

I couldn't be more pleased than to offer you this interview today.  Jodi Meadows is my writing soulmate. She's walked through my dark valleys and giddy mountains, and I've walked through hers.  She has made an indelible mark upon my writing and upon my life for which I will never be able to fully express my gratefulness.

And having watched INCARNATE's journey from idea to finished, beautiful book, I am as excited as can be for this very special release day.  So without further schmoopy blubbering, I give you INCARNATE -- and a delightful interview with author JODI MEADOWS.

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.


AUTHORESS: Of the myriad interviewers who have graced you with their questions, I have the unique perspective of having shared this journey with you from the very first sentence. Literally.

At what point of your writing journey were you when you wrote INCARNATE'S (then ERIN INCARNATE'S) Very First Sentence? Professionally, emotionally, mentally?

JODI: Just before I started working on INCARNATE, I was in a really rough place. I'd been writing full time for almost six years by then, and written more novel-length manuscripts than you can count on both your hands. The responses I consistently got back from agents were consistently complimentary, but still rejections, so over the course of 2009, I slid deeper and deeper into believing my dream was a bust.

In the Fall, I decided that I quit. I quit trying to be published, anyway, and whatever I wrote next would be for me. I wouldn't even try to get an agent with it. (Obviously I was lying to myself!) I started working on worldbuilding and characters for INCARNATE, and I was really enjoying the process. It was new to me; I'd never done so much pre-writing work before. By the time I let myself write the first line, I was in a different place than I'd started out. I felt hopeful.

AUTHORESS: In October, 2009, in the midst of your newfound hopefulness, you sent me the first few paragraphs of your fledgling story. I was hooked! And soon (very soon, really, because you work so fast), ERIN INCARNATE was born. Can you tell us a bit about the querying process? How was it different than the many that had gone before? And what was it like finally hooking up with the delightful Lauren MacLeod?

JODI: Well, I wasn't going to query. Not until I finished the book, realized I loved it above all other books, and . . . suddenly there were queries in my outgoing email. (Because I am Like That, I actually wrote what would be my query letter before the book was finished.)

I queried a handful of agents I liked and thought would like the book. I got lots of requests, a couple rejections, and -- I couldn't believe it -- two offers. I connected with Lauren instantly, and she seemed to get my book and see it in the same way I did. Signing with her was AMAZING.

AUTHORESS: Why, yes, I have your written-before-the-book-was-finished query letter, too!

Talk some more about how the amazing Lauren "got" your book, and what that first, early-morning phone call felt like. What process did the two of you go through in order to get INCARNATE ready for submission?

JODI: Well, let's start with what she did to me. She knew that, at that time, I had a weird sleeping schedule and it wasn't always safe to call me. So she stalked my Twitter feed, waited until I said something, and called. I'd been awake for about two and a half minutes.

I said, "Hello?" in that grumbly just-woke-up voice. She, of course, was adorable, peppy, and had been awake for several hours already. I almost fell out of my chair when she said she loved Erin Incarnate and wanted to represent it. We agreed to talk more the next day, after I'd raised my caffeine levels.

One of the things I loved about talking with Lauren was that she had the same vision for the story as I did. The themes and events that were important to me were also important to her. We saw the story in the same way. She had a few revision notes, so when I said yes (and she said, "WAHOO!"), I got to work. Most of that revision was clarifying sentences, making sure what I saw in my head was also on the paper. As far as revisions go, it was pretty light. We were confident that an editor would love the story, even if it ultimately needed more revisions. (And they always do.)

AUTHORESS: Naturally! And Sarah's revision request was admittedly a bit of a stretch for you at first. Can you talk a little about the changes she wanted you to make, and how you approached those changes?

JODI: Yep. Originally, the book had two points of view: Ana and Sam's. One of Editor Sarah's requests was to remove Sam's POV. Admittedly, this stung a little. I'd put so much work into it! He had taught me so much about the world, and offered a different view of Ana.

But like most writers, my first reaction is always "No no no, my precious book!" Once I get over that, I can think about the comments without sounding like Gollum in my head. And since Sam only had only a few scenes, I decided it wouldn't be hard to try taking out his POV. If I liked it, hurrah. If not, I didn't have to stick with that version of the book.

Ultimately, removing his POV made the book much stronger. When I reread the draft before sending it back to Editor Sarah, I was incredibly pleased with the result.

AUTHORESS: I agree that the book is much stronger from Ana's POV!

So, it's been a remarkable journey since then. Can you share with us what the past roughly-year-and-a-half has been like, as you've gone through the process of signing to edits to copyedits to ARC to release? Has it been the "fairy tale" it must seem to those on the outside looking in?

JODI: The last year and a half has been amazing! Seeing my cover art for the first time, the page design, ARCs and final copies -- it's been truly fantastic to work with such a thoughtful and enthusiastic group at KT Books. I couldn't be more pleased!

But the hard work doesn't stop once the contract is signed. I'm constantly amazed by how much other stuff there is, like taxes (ew), interviews, posting promotional materials. It's rewarding work (except for the taxes -- ew), and while I knew all this was coming, I don't think I really understood how much work it is. I imagined sitting in my PJs all day (okay, I totally do that), writing book after book. And . . . some days are like that. Those are weekends. Most days involve a lot of work email, too.

AUTHORESS: Now that you've embarked upon your Writerly Dream, what words of encouragement/wisdom/affirmation/warning/complete nonsense can you offer to aspiring authors who are hanging on your every word?

JODI: Yep!

Keep going. Keep reading, writing, and trying to improve your craft. There's always room to improve, and if you don't reach your goal with this manuscript, get started on the next one.

I know that's pretty standard advice, but it really is some of the most important to keep in mind. Because even when you've reached one stage of your dream, you'll discover there's more beyond that, whether it's an award, reaching a bestseller list, getting great reviews, or just plain staying published. All the hard work leading up to getting published prepares you for what lies beyond. (More hard work.)

AUTHORESS: Jodi, you are one of my favorite people in the whole world and I wish you the GREATEST SUCCESS, not only with INCARNATE but with everything you do for the remainder of your writing career (a.k.a. life).

I love you, Jodi Meadows!

You can order INCARNATE today at any of these locations:

IndieBound  Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Book Depository  Books-A-Million  Powell's

Author Interview: NANCY BILYEAU

I'm honored to bring you the following interview with Nancy Bilyeau, author of THE CROWN (which comes out TOMORROW!) and sister client of Josh Getzler at Hannigan Salky Getzler.

AUTHORESS: Nancy Bilyeau, you have a book coming out tomorrow! Give us the details.

NANCY: Yes, on January 10 my debut novel "drops" in North America. I love using that word--drops. It's called "The Crown," it's a historical thriller set in Tudor England. The main character is a Catholic novice who breaks the rules by running away from her Dominican Order to go to Smithfield, where her cousin is to be executed for treason in 1537. That sets in motion the story of my book, which is about murder and longing and betrayal and a dangerous quest to find an object of enormous mystical importance.

AUTHORESS: Of course, I've read it and and LOVED it, which makes this interview especially enjoyable!

I'm a huge devotee of Tudor history, so the setting of your novel is one of my favorite things about it. How do you approach the level of research required to pull off a successful historical? How much time do you spend researching versus the actual writing?

NANCY: Oh I love that you love it--you have no idea. When you said, "You have to write a sequel just for me," it was hard for me not to say, "I will! I will!" The truth is, I was two-thirds done with the sequel when you emailed me that. :)

OK. The research has a lot of different levels to it. First, I've been interested in Tudor history since I was about 11 years old. I've enjoyed reading historical fiction, biographies and nonfiction studies of English history my whole life, with a special place in my heart for the Tudors. So when I first thought about writing a novel, I instantly decided it had to be set in the 16th century. I went into the creating of the story with a solid base of knowledge. For my first book I couldn't have picked a time period unfamiliar to me--that would be too hard, to research from the ground up. But that was just the foundation. When I was actually writing it, often I'd have to break away and spend a half day or a few days or more to do spot research. What would Smithfield look like during an execution? Which tower would Joanna, my main character, be imprisoned in at the Tower of London? What did nuns and novices "do" in the priory? In my second book, I spent a full week doing intense research just on medieval astrology. Still, I know this is not the usual thing, that what other novelists do--Dan Brown or Ken Follett, for instance--is research for a year or more FIRST and then start the writing. That's not for me. I research as I go. Then when I had the first draft done, I went back and dove deeper into areas in which I wanted more details. Also I "interviewed" experts, such as a historian familiar with Malmesbury Abbey, the curator at the Dartford Borough Museum, an intern at the Tower of London. I bought or checked out many, many books. I have 45 books in my bibliography.

AUTHORESS: Which, to me, is truly amazing. And is what I believe sets historicals apart. (I mean, plotting AND that level of research?? That's a remarkable sphere of existence!)

So you've got your well-researched setting and a cast of likable characters. How do you go about plotting a thriller that keeps a reader turning the pages (aside from becoming utterly invested in one Brother Edmund, that is!)?

NANCY: The plotting is the aspect of my work I am least able to explain. I do keep the conflicts and obstacles coming because I learned screenwriting before thriller writing (I have three unsold screenplays to my name). If you want to be a screenwriter you embrace early on that there must be conflict on every page. The other thing I learned from scriptwriting is something called "set up and pay off." That is not exactly like clues. It is when a seemingly unimportant line of dialogue or action us "set up" early in the story so it can pay off later. You've read my book, Authoress, so you know, for instance, that there is a reason I bring up the Dark Ages nunnery on the hill outside Dartford Priory and keep coming back to it in subtle ways.

But...plotting. I am not one of those writers who plans everything on 3x5 cards or outlines extensively. I know basically where I want to go, but I allow for surprises. Extensive outlining kills the creative pleasure for me. I just "feel" that my plot has to do this or that. My gut instincts guide me. Now before you think I am some sort of mystical sage, I have been reading mysteries and thrillers for years and I am obsessed with mysteries on TV--I adore Brother Cadfael, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Inspector Dagliesh, Monk, and, most recently, a delicious series set in Rome called "Zen." Because I'm so saturated with the genre I love, I feel like "THIS should happen now--and then THAT." I am very good at solving mysteries, too. My husband is always impressed with how quickly I solve, or at least he pretends to be.

But it is from the grand masters of the thriller genre--people like Dan Brown and Barry Eisler and Katherine Neville and Douglas Preston--that I learned end-of-chapter hooks. I know from reading them how much I like to be socked in the stomach with a shock or twist. So I just make it happen. I often know what twist I want to reveal at the end of the chapter and I work toward it. But from Point A to Point B, I allow for some small surprises.

AUTHORESS: Your answer, of course, supports my long-held conviction that in order to write well, one must read well.

So, how did you make the leap from screenwriting to novel writing? Might there be more screenwriting in your future?

NANCY: I started writing screenplays two years before I began "The Crown." I've finished three scripts. Two of them have won some competitions, and I have a manager. But I've never sold any of them. They are the sorts of screenplays that would require a big budget. I relate to George RR Martin, who wrote scripts first and was told they were too expensive. Once he was told, "You can have a castle or horses in your movie, but not both." So he went on to write the "Game of Thrones" novels. When I wrote "The Crown" I didn't have to worry that, for example, I was writing an extensive section set in the Tower of London in 1537. It's my world--and welcome to it. LOL.

I find it easy to jump back and forth between screenplays and novels. It's storytelling. I use some of the techniques I learned in scriptwriting in my fiction. Such as keep the obstacles coming. That is important in movie writing, to keep the tension level at a certain point.

I love both and I want to keep writing screenplays. They are a whole lot of fun. And who knows? Maybe the world will decide to finance my ideas. It happened to George RR Martin!

AUTHORESS: Clearly I'll have to ask you to write the screenplay when Josh sells my first movie rights.

Speaking of which -- tell us a little about how you hooked up with the imitable Josh Getzler. And what makes yours a heavenly match!

NANCY: I tried two other agents before I signed with Josh. As a magazine editor I had met them and thought they could represent me. But the first one said that while she thought I had talent she didn't think she "could sell it in today's tough fiction market." Ha! The second agent said she was not taking new people and sort of retiring. Everyone says use your contacts, referrals, etc. There is a big problem with that--people you know or have a connection with might not have any interest in in your kind of book. An agent who sells a lot of celebrity tell-alls or nonfiction health books or chick lit is not going to be much good with a historical thriller. The agents are hooked in with various editors whose tastes they know. I thought, "I have to find an agent who likes MY kind of novel." So I went on Publishers Marketplace and did some searching. I fed in "thriller" and "historical" and one of the agents who popped up was Josh Getzler. I loved his website, I thought he sounded fun. He wrote that he loved historicals--"send me your devious doges and impious cardinals." That turn of phrase made me send him an email the next morning. I told him a little bit about my book and attached five pages, which is what he requested. He got back to me same day. In no time we were joking in emails about the Showtime series "The Tudors" and people getting "the chop." It turned out that our sons were in the same school a few years previously and we probably met at that time but I didn't remember him and he didn't know I was a writer. After reading the pages, Josh requested the whole book the next day--by this time it was Thursday before the Fourth of July weekend. He called me on the 4th and said he wanted to represent me. I felt he "got" the book and I said yes. I was joking with one of his other clients on Facebook the other day--we are the slush pile writers, we agreed. Because yeah, at the time I was the deputy editor of InStyle magazine but I was slush. I didn't use a referral or anything; he didn't meet me at a conference. I just took a shot based on his website.

AUTHORESS: And the rest is history!  (Wow. Bad pun...)

I've seen SO MUCH good press about THE CROWN over the past few weeks.  How has social media played a role in this?  Do you feel your approach to social media promotion has made a difference?

NANCY: I think social media helps a lot. I've been a Facebook addict for about four years, and in the last year I've grown to love Twitter. At first I just couldn't get into Twitter because I didn't see why I needed it. But a very smart friend, Bret Watson of Watson Adventures, gave me some advice: create an identity that has something to do with your book. So I came up with tudorscribe--no one else had it--and it has proved to be a really great way to "meet" other historical fiction writers and people who are passionate about history. You wouldn't believe the playfulness on Twitter when it comes to Tudor England: You've got "Elizabeth" flirting with "Leicester," and "Henry VIII" issuing bellicose threats. LOL.

All of my activity on Facebook, twitter, and goodreads has raised my profile and helped me meet fellow writers and experts in my area. But it didn't get me a review directly in print media. That came because I was a magazine editor for a number of years and I've met some of the editors who oversee books. We sent out advance galleys of my book with handwritten notes from me. That helped a lot in getting reviews.

I think some of the bloggers are aware of my Facebook page or my tweets as Tudorscribe, and while that doesn't automatically lead to a positive review, it's good that there's awareness. Everything helps!

AUTHORESS: So, any final words? A delectable quote from Brother Edmund, perhaps? (Yes, I'm shameless...)

NANCY: You don't know how much I love the fact that you have a hankering for my Brother Edmund Sommerville, the sensitive, learned but tormented Dominican friar who helps Sister Joanna solve the mystery of The Crown. I will remind you of the passage of the book where they stand in the entranceway of Malmesbury Abbey. Inside are the secrets they've traveled so far to learn. Monks sing Vespers within the ruined abbey--they must follow the singing. But before they cross the threshold, Brother Edmund stops her to make a certain confession to her (can't give it away here) and then says, "I am a very weak man, you and I both know this. Yet it is your faith and your belief in me that have sustained me these many weeks. I pledge to you, with my life, that I will never violate your trust."

There--you just got your Brother Edmund fix!

Ah, Authoress, as I hover on the brink of publication, all I can say is the word that perfectly describes my state of being is the one I learned from our mutually beloved agent a couple of weeks ago: schpilkes. I had never heard it before, and you know me, I had to research it. A Yiddish plural noun, meaning "pins." Schpilkes means impatience and nervousness before an event--like sitting on pins.

Wish me luck getting through the schpilkes.

AUTHORESS: You will make it through the schpilkes with flying colors!

Thank you for the Brother Edmund fix and a delightful interview!

You can order THE CROWN HERE and HERE or at your local indie.

Three Questions for Authoress

Our own Peter Salomon (MSFV success story and soon-to-be-published!) has graciously interviewed me on his blog. His "three questions" format gives a fresh spin on the traditional interview, and was certainly fun!

READ IT HERE.  Then leave a kind word or two for Peter.  He's a wonderful, behind-the-scenes guy, maintaining a mailing list for all the MSFV success story folks, and welcoming each newly-announced person to the growing gang.  I'm thankful for his kind heart and people-personness.  (Yes.  That's a real adjective. Because I said so.)

Thank you, Peter!

A Fun Critterly Interview of Authoress!

I must tell you how endlessly gracious Mary Baader Kaley has been while waiting for my answers to her interview questions.  I sort of stopped halfway, saved the email as a draft, and...forgot about it.

Thankfully, she nudged me a few months later.  I'm so glad she did!

READ THE INTERVIEW HERE.

And thank you so much, Mary!

Tiny Authoress

I love what many of you shared in the comment box on Friday.  It's interesting to note the different phases of our lives during which someone spoke "good stuff" to our writer selves.  Most intriguing are those early life touches--the ones we don't think about at the time, but that prove to be strong seeds that grow over the years.

Like my third grade teacher, whom I mentioned on Friday.  She's the one who pursued getting me interviewed by the local paper, which developed into a full-spread article, complete with a (rather large) photo of wee Authoress wielding a pen (and rather stylish V-neck vest) and several of my poems and drawings.

Wanna read it?

(And since I'm all anonymous and everything, I can't give proper credit to the newspaper or the journalist. I do not, however, take credit for the following, and once I unveil I will come back and fill in the deleted bits. I promise!)

TINY AUTHOR'S WORK SENSITIVE, BUT LIVELY

By [deleted]

A little girl who transforms her daydreams into sophisticated poetry and song is Tiny Authoress, 8.

A 3rd-grade pupil at [deleted] School, [deleted], she has composed a book of poems and stories which will be placed in the school library. The typewritten pages carry her own crayon illustrations.

The slight, blonde-haired, blue-eyed author sank limply into the depths of her rocker. "I told my teacher, I'm drained - simply drained," she said with a theatrical sigh.

Gauging the effect upon her listeners, she began to giggle. The chair's movement accelerated to a brisk tempo as she told what fun it is to write and draw and paint.

Filled With Creations

The third floor of her [deleted] home is filled with Tiny Authoress's creations. Drawings adorn the playroom bulletin board. Liquid crayons, pen, ink and paper stand ready near the kitchen table where she works. Much of her time is spent there, or at the piano, where she makes up songs.

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Authoress, she has been writing and illustrating at home for two years. "But it's her teacher, [deleted], who has been the greatest encouragement," her mother said. "Tiny Authoress began to work seriously this fall."

Not every hour of the little girl's day is filled with earnest pursuits. Her favorite day is Saturday when she and her sister [deleted], 5, give their fancies full rein. "The best time of all is about 2 in the afternoon," the young author said with a smile. "Then we play dress up."

Tiny Authoress also enjoys interests of most girls her age. She rides a two-wheeled bicycle with friends in the neighborhood and goes to Brownie meetings with schoolmates. Recently, she began reading the Nancy Drew mystery series. In school her favorite subject is art.

Excellent Grades

"She earns excellent grades," said her father, a mail carrier with the [deleted] post office.
Describing Tiny Authoress's work, Miss [deleted] writes, "Her thoughts are sensitive, spontaneous and beautiful. Even when writing stories she injects a mature poetic thought. Her form and imagery are those that even ... a `seasoned school teacher' like myself do envy."

An Authoress Interview on Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire

Take a wee break from the critting and pop over to author Mindy McGinnis's blog, WRITER, WRITER, PANTS ON FIRE, to read

THIS INTERVIEW.

You may just find out something about me YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE.

Or not.

And be sure to say hello in Mindy's comment box!

Interview with Helene Boudreau

Have you read it?  She's one of "our own," you know.  As in, hers is one of our indirect success stories (which I still haven't posted...because it's, yanno, time-consuming).

Read it on the WRITE ON! blog now!  ON MERMAIDS, VOICE, AND THE WRITING LIFE: HÉLÈNE BOUDREAU

Friday Fricassee

Happy last-Friday-of-January!  Not that I'm excited to get the heck to the end of winter or anything.

I've spent the last several days thinking out backstory for my WIP, and my brain has pretty much liquefied.  As such, I don't have a lot to say.

Well, I always have a lot to say.  It just wouldn't be coherent this time.

So it's a good thing I have a fun link to share!

Katrina Lantz honored me with an awesome, out-of-the-box interview on Operation Awesome:

AUTHORESS: DEMYSTIFIED (SORT OF)

Go read it and leave her your happy comments.  They run a great blog over there!

And have a joyful weekend.

Author Interview: DENISE JADEN

It was my great pleasure to interview Denise Jaden, author of LOSING FAITH and one of our MSFV "success stories."

AUTHORESS: Can you share with us how your participation in Secret Agent contests played a part in your ultimate success?

DENISE: I believe I entered 3 secret agent contests (with 3 different novels) which all helped me along for sure (and I won the first secret agent contest with Holly Root – unfortunately she was super busy and wasn’t able to get back to me in time – that’s why I ended up going with Michelle). I had entered LOSING FAITH in a secret agent contest, but ended up pulling my entry when I signed with Michelle before the entries went up. It was so useful to me to see how my first paragraphs were perceived ( line by line) by not only the secret agents, but also by multiple readers. There is simply nowhere else to get feedback like that, and as an author I know that often times my perception of my own work can be off.

AUTHORESS: What did your journey look like before LOSING FAITH's success? How many novels had you written prior to the "one"? And what do you feel makes LOSING FAITH different than its predecessors?

DENISE: Prior to LOSING FAITH, I had written one novel for the adult market (which I’m still hoping to revise to YA one day), one other YA novel and one middle grade novel. My earlier YA novel is now with my agent and I hope to be able to sell it soon. And as I mentioned, I still also have high hopes for that first novel. I’m a big believer in putting writing aside for long stretches of time and coming back to it with fresh eyes. I think by the time I wrote LOSING FAITH, I had become better at finding flaws in my work and solutions of how to fix them. I also have a much more suitable network of critique partners, and they deserve a great portion of any glory my writing ever receives.

Since writing LOSING FAITH, I have written two other YA novels, which are in different stages of revision.

AUTHORESS: So, every aspiring author loves to hear stories about "the call." Can you share yours with us?

DENISE: “The Call” is such a fun topic to reflect on! I assume you’re talking about the agent call (my editor deal was actually through email) so I’ll go with that.

I actually received more than one offer of representation. My first call came when I was sitting at my kitchen table, in the throes of my latest work in progress. I heard the phone, and as I always do, I let it go to the answering machine. I guess I didn’t have the volume down though, since seconds later my recorded message started babbling through the house. I considered going to turn down the volume, but instead figured I’d just listen to who it is quickly and then get back to work.

Well…as soon as the agent said her name and agency name, I froze in place. She went on to say she’d read my manuscript and loved it (the first time I’d ever heard an industry professional use the “L” word about my writing) and she wanted to offer representation. I did not rush to pick up the phone, as I could hardly breathe at the time. After she hung up, I started to shake and cry and hyperventilate for a few minutes. I wrote a little freak out email to a couple of critique partners and finally called her back. The rest, as they say, is history!

AUTHORESS: So my first reaction is, "Huh? You still have an answering machine?" :D But what a fun "first contact."

Is your agent a hands-on, editorial type who required lots of grunt work prior to going out on submission? Or was your manuscript pretty much "ready to go?" How did it feel to watch your baby fly into the (scary) yonder?

DENISE: Yes, we still have an answering machine. We’re very old school (aka – my husband doesn’t like change). I do have voicemail on my iPhone.

When first chatting with my agent, I asked her about whether or not she’s a “hands-on” agent. She assured me that yes, she is, but that LOSING FAITH, in her opinion, needed very little work. She did a line edit on the manuscript for me and then we sent it out. It wasn’t until I sent her my NEXT book that I got to see just how hands-on she really is! She sent me back a thorough editorial letter with eleven points of very large changes (including re-working the entire last section of the book). She definitely has a keen eye for what is working and what isn’t, and a great ability to communicate it in a way I can understand.

I’m still in the process of watching my baby fly, and to be perfectly honest, I think it gets harder every day. At first I was nervous if I knew agents were reading it. Then my nerves hit a new level when I knew it was being scrutinized by editors. But on all these levels, I think there is still a reasonable level of respect between professionals. Now that my book is hitting reviewers, and about to hit the public, people willing to speak their minds without reserve, my nerves are in full force. I know that people will be honest and tell me if “my baby is ugly,” or “a babe only a mother could love.” Reading is very subjective, and I think I’ve prepared myself for all possible reactions, but it is still scary.

AUTHORESS: You have such a good attitude about the reviews and subjectivity. This is something all authors must embrace!

DENISE: Yes, well, I think it’s probably easier to have a good attitude BEFORE the reviews start rolling in. But thanks. :-)

AUTHORESS: It's an undeniable truth that authors must be willing to self-promote/market. What is your approach? Is this something that's difficult for you? If so, how are you overcoming the quintessential "author introversion"? If not, share the secret of your strength!

DENISE: I think it’s unfortunate that authors are expected to be excellent at so many things besides writing. To be honest, I’ve been a performer since I was very young, so being in the public eye doesn’t really bother me. But I am still a bit of an introvert, especially when it comes to speaking in front of people.

I think one thing that has made the promotion/marketing endeavor a little easier on authors, though, is social media. When I first started to seriously pursue publication, I also started to dabble in all kinds of social media—blogging, twitter, facebook, youtube. I’ve always hit every area of marketing with the idea that I’ll give it the good ol’ college try, and if after a few months it really feels wrong or difficult or like I’m constantly working it, I’ll drop it and pursue something else. I must say that none of the social media has turned me off so far. In fact, it’s often something I have to restrain myself from.

AUTHORESS: As a die-hard Twitter addict, I hear ya!

So tell us a little about the story! Tantalize us.

DENISE: Tantalize? Yeah, no pressure or anything. :-)

Losing Faith is about sixteen year old Brie Jenkins. She’s the black sheep of her religious family, until her older, angelic sister dies in a fall from a cliff. Through the process of grieving, Brie discovers that her sister Faith had a dark and twisted secret… a secret that may put Brie’s own life in danger.





AUTHORESS: Yay! I absolutely want to know what the dark and twisted secret is.

So, what are you working on right now? How do you envision your long-term career? Are there different genres you'd like to explore? And how has having an agent and signing your first deal affected the way you approach your work/perceive yourself as a writer?

DENISE: At the moment, I’m working on another YA contemporary, called PERFECT AIM. It’s about a teen archer who shoots way off target when she tries to unite her family, and instead instigates family war. And in the midst of all that, she slips into the wrong crowd and falls for the wrong guy. She has a pretty big mess to pull herself out of!

As far as my long-term career, I probably approach this differently than most authors. Most of the time, I don’t really think of my writing as a career as much as a hobby. This is not because I wouldn’t LIKE it to be a career, but I just feel this attitude gives me a bit of sanity. So much of this business is out of my control, and the idea of it being my hobby takes some of the pressure off, at least for me, and helps propel my creative side.

Most of my story ideas fall into the category of YA contemporary. I think that’s just the way my brain works. If I explored any other genre, I think it would be dystopian, though still with a very solid real-world bent.

At first, having an agent and then selling a book were huge confidence boosters. Now that the dust has settled, however, I don’t think I see myself much differently than before. I still remind myself regularly that I write primarily for me, and if my critique partner or agent or editor doesn’t like what comes out of me, it’s not the end of the world. I think I have learned a big lesson in subjectivity through the whole process, though. I only hope I can retain it!

AUTHORESS: I'll admit that your outlook is unique--but obviously working!

So what about the non-writing bits? Aside from your "hobby" (hee!), what else do you pour your passion into? Where might we find you on a sunny afternoon? A wintry evening?

DENISE: Aside from writing, I’m also a professional Polynesian dancer, which I love. I’ve danced since I was eight and the troupe I dance with is a group of very committed and passionate individuals. It feels so great to work hard at something as a team and make it excellent.

I’m also a homeschooling mom. My son is six, going into second grade, and for the most part, we both love doing school together. We spend lots of time figuring out “field trips” where we can learn on the fly, and this can also be almost a full-time job at times.

On a sunny afternoon, you’d probably find me at my computer writing, as you would on most afternoons. Regardless of the weather, I’m pretty committed to writing every day, and it usually works out best in the afternoons. I love being outdoors though, and try to get out there, to the park or for a bike ride, as often as possible.

On a wintry evening, you’d most likely find me at home with the fire on, watching a movie with my husband.

I also spend about 5 mornings per week in the gym, and have done that most of my life. Many years ago (in what feels like another life), I used to compete in fitness and strength competitions.

AUTHORESS: All this, and you WRITE, too? What a unique and fascinating life!

So share with us, please, your words of wisdom/inspiration/encouragement to aspiring authors who are still in the trenches.

DENISE: Read a lot, write a lot. Don’t allow rejections or bad reviews or harsh critiques to alter what you’re passionate about and who you are. Only you can tell the stories that are inside of you. Don’t compare yourself with others, no matter what stage of the process you’re in. Even with the same editor or agent, it’s really all apples and oranges, and comparison is just one big recipe for crazy-making.

AUTHORESS: Denise, it's been wonderful getting to know so much about you. Thank you for your time!

DENISE: It was lots of fun doing the interview with you too! Thanks again for hosting me – I hope it will be something others enjoy reading.

Denise Jaden is represented by Michelle Humphrey from the Martha Kaplan Agency. LOSING FAITH releases from Simon Pulse / Simon & Schuster TODAY!

LOSING FAITH at Borders

LOSING FAITH at Chapters