For the first time since we moved to Maine, one of our pipes froze last week. It was -28 when Richard took the kids to school that morning. He was pretty grumpy when Ali reported her car wouldn’t start because that meant he had to get out in that cold. I, of course, expressed my deepest sympathy…before rolling over, pulling the quilt under my chin, and going back to sleep. Heh…
There aren’t too many things that frustrate me during the course of a day. If Mason potties on the floor instead of making it to the toilet, that frustrates me. When my computer shuts itself down before I’ve saved my current document, that frustrates me. And, when somebody asks me to Google something for them, when they obviously can very well do it themselves – and faster than it took them to email me – that frustrates me. The people that frustrate me the most, however, are the ones that send me emails like the one below.
Good Morning Angela,
That article is an eye opener. Thank you for that information, I will be sure to read contracts very, very carefully. I have a background in business management and accounting, so I’ll understand any business jargon they can throw at me. This comes at a good time for me, I’ve had some nibbles on my hook (book) and I don’t want to get too overjoyed as yet. Any articles to keep writers alert are a service to your readers and much appreciated.
Sincerely,
AD
Everyone loves to peek inside the lives of the successful, the intriguing, the ones who made the world spin to their whim. That’s why interviews are great cash cows for those freelancers who can spot a personality and turn him into a neat guest spot in a feature. Name a magazine that doesn’t accept a snappy interview?
I have a question, in a guideline I received it said that the submissions should be in “AP” style. I have looked all over the place or places and I can find no reference to AP style. Do you know what that means? Please help!!
If you plan to publish any type of book, you must have a plan to promote it. If it’s not in the public’s eye, sales won’t escalate. Books sitting in a box on a shelf don’t sell themselves. It’s like winking at someone in the dark – no one can see it.
Just after Christmas, while feeling jealous that all the relatives got to see my new nephew while I haven’t yet met him in person (I did meet him when he was still in my sister’s tummy), we planned a trip to Virginia to see their family. I even convinced my mom to fly there and meet us. We would have a grand time, my sister, my mom and me, along with the boys (her baby and husband, and my hubby and the two youngest boys). I was so excited! We made our hotel reservations and my mom bought non-refundable plane tickets.
In the meantime, we’ve been waiting for a few months for the judge to make a decision in our lawsuit against Amazon. We were alerted this week that the court has requested oral arguments from our side and from Amazon.
Last week, I wrote about the new trend of authors who “just want to sit at home and write” and who don’t want to market their own books. Many hopeful authors mistakenly believe a traditional publisher is going to pour marketing bucks into their book. This just doesn’t happen.
I wrote, “I’d love if some of you who have traditional contracts would contact me and tell me what your publisher did or didn’t do to promote your book vs. what you had to do to promote your book. It’s rare to meet an author who feels their publisher has adequately promoted their book.”
Of all the responses I received, only one author claimed he was happy with his publisher’s marketing efforts.
Here are some of the emails I received…
This week’s letters have been published in Angela’s article on authors who don’t promote their works. Click HERE.
Like many writers who can’t break through the exclusive ceiling of agents and large blockbuster-thirsty commercial publishers, you might be forced to change tactics. You query smaller houses until you receive every author’s dream – a book contract. The publisher pays royalties and claims not to be a self-publisher, POD, or vanity press. They invite you to ask questions, making you feel safe. You can’t wait to sign while the stars of potential royalties romance your head. Some of the terms seem a little vague, but your hunger for publication convinces you not to expect much with a first published book. You’re grateful to be one of a chosen few while the publisher seduces you to join their sacred family. You surrender to your appetite and sign. Having your first book published is worth almost any risk, right? Sadly, writers who buy into this deceptive myth may face dire consequences. Welcome to Vampire Publishing.
