I don’t know about other writers, but my heart still races when I see that someone has reviewed one of my books. It’s a bit like opening a present from a complete stranger. You’re appreciative that someone has gone to the trouble to give you a gift, but you're a bit frightened of white it might be.
Every writer says it. Reviews mean a lot. The more you have, the more visibility your books get. And while I know some people think writing a review is as appealing as a middle school book report assignment, all a reader has to do is provide a star rating and a couple of sentences that describe what they thought. That’s it.
Every once in a while, you get a review that makes you nod and know that the reader really understood what you were trying to do. They don’t happen every day. When they do, I think they’re worth sharing.
Here are two reviews that had my heart racing this week.
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
The Bonding Blade is a work of urban fantasy fiction based around ancient themes, the second novel in the Desert Goddess Series and was penned by author M. L. Doyle. Written for mature audiences, but without explicitly graphic content, this dark tale of inescapable fate rests once more on the shoulders of our heroine, former sergeant Hester Trueblood. The soldier has been bonded to the Sumerian goddess Inanna for some time now, but that doesn’t make life any easier. Whilst keeping the literal demons at bay and learning to use her goddess-given powers, Hester finds one of her warriors struck down and suspects that something supernatural is at work in his injury.
High action, high drama, and high fantasy all meet in this superb mystery novel with plenty of historical content thrown in. The supernatural elements of the plot are dealt with amusingly and realistically as we see Hester struggle with the magical aspects of her life and the reactions of those around her. Author M. L. Doyle has created a relatable strong female lead, whose adventurous spirit and capable mind inspire readers from the get-go. The goddess elements and ancient Sumerian culture are well injected to give good flavor, but also bear a great deal of authenticity to pique the interest of historical fiction fans. I also really enjoyed the plot structure, which had some truly surprising but credible twists. Overall, I would highly recommend The Bonding Blade for historical, fantasy and mystery fans who enjoy successful genre mash-ups and full-on adventures.
*****High action, high drama, and high fantasy all meet in this superb mystery novel with plenty of historical content thrown in.*****
Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite
“In my previous life, before I’d become a soldier and deployed to Iraq, I’d never have imagined that I would be running around in caves searching for supernatural creatures. All of that changed when I picked up a shiny coin in the desert and became the living vessel of the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna. I know. It sounds crazy.” M. L. Doyle’s The Desert Goddess Series continues with Book II: The Bonding Blade. Quincy is ill, and the group finds out that it has something to do with someone from Inanna's past. A special blade may be the only thing that can save him, but Gilgamesh, for reasons he won't disclose, refuses to help obtain it. In the meantime, there's a series of deaths in the city that requires Hester's attention. Saving a dear friend's life, solving murders, facing unexpected enemies, family issues and complicated relationships, Hester's resilience is greatly tested.
Doyle’s The Bonding Blade has a slightly faster pace for its plot compared to its predecessor and there’s a lot going on for the human goddess vessel Hester Trueblood. At times it's slightly chaotic but not confusing. Her bond with the goddess Inanna is still peppered with disagreements but the tolerance between them has slightly improved. Quincy’s past wasn’t an easy read but it revealed more about himself including Inanna, particularly about the source of his predicament. Also, there's an interesting development regarding one of Hester's staff, Erika. There are unexpected losses that will further challenge Hester and her companions. All in all, Book II of The Desert Goddess Series is an exciting and commendable continuation from Doyle. Fans of the series will be pleased and look forward to the next book.
*****All in all, Book II of The Desert Goddess Series is an exciting and commendable continuation from Doyle. Fans of the series will be pleased and look forward to the next book.*****
When you sit in your writer cave, wondering if all the toil is worth it, every once in a while, you evidence that, yes. It is. It really is.
What a weekend! The Baltimore Book Festival was a bit overwhelming and a lot exhausting. As crazy as it was to get past the massive crowds and find a place to park, it was amazing to see so many talented authors of every genre imaginable all in one place. I loved the opportunity to meet and talk to other writers about their experiences, but by far, the best part of the weekend was the opportunity to meet and talk to readers. What a joy it is to watch a stranger purchase your work--people who don’t know me as a person let alone as a writer. People who don’t know the books and yet, they still take a chance and buy the work. It’s an amazing feeling.
I’ll write more about the experience soon. Until then, here’s a little gallery of photos from the event.
In light of rising concerns about the coming Zombie Apocalypse (I believe it’s time to capitalize the ZA, so those of us in the know can cut to the chase), I’ve had several discussions with people about what one should do. Hunker down? Head to a designated homestead where you can band together with preselected friends and family to battle the ZA together? Head out on your own (your family and friends might already be infected) to a remote place, take the high ground and wait it out? Or something else?
And for you skeptics out there, even the CDC prepared a guide to help families prepare for the ZA, so read up on the lists and preparations your government suggests.
In my own preparations, since I work on a military installation, one suggestion I heard was that I should just stay here. What could be more secure than a federal military reservation stocked with food, fuel, weapons and lots of people who know how to us them? Not to mention being surrounded by dedicated and brave service men and women.
Oh contraire, I am told by others. Get as far away from that military base as possible. The masses will ALSO think a spot behind the secure fence line is just the place to be. The hoards of victims of the ZA will flock here, looking for safety. All military reservations will be mobbed. Overrun. The walls will only hold so long and once they fall … well, it’s that slow shuffle walk, decaying flesh and wordless moaning for you. ---
Someone put together this map of where seemingly related incidents took place to illustrate the growing evidence that now is the time to plan for the ZA. What do you think? Military base, or no military base?
There’s nothing more exciting for a new author than to see her first novel in print. That dream recently came true for a member of my writing group, Cindy Young Turner. Her novel, THEIF OF HOPE, is an engrossing, entertaining and complicated fantasy page
turner. She paints a dark world where there is no black and white or good or evil. One minute, you think you understand about the evil Guild, the next minute, you question the rebels as unwitting tools for the nobles who only want their power back.
The book has already received multiple five star reviews on Amazon.com and several rave reviews in writing and fantasy magazines. I spoke to Cindy about writing and, more importantly, the business of marketing her writing so that people can learn about the great work she has produced.
Q: Where did the character and story that become THEIF OF HOPE come from? What was your inspiration?
A: My parents had a record of the “Oliver” soundtrack that I used to love listening to as a kid, and then I adored the movie. A musical with pickpockets--how cool is that? Plus they fared much better in the movie than in the book Oliver Twist. I’m also going
to out myself as a geek and admit that I used to play Dungeons and Dragons in college, which really got me interested in fantasy, and yes, I had a character named Sydney. I loved the character and started thinking about backstory and writing about her and creating a world, and thus a novel was born. I also liked the idea of a story about fighting oppression and the commoners vs. nobility makes for an interesting dilemma, which is complicated by the Guild. I hope the story speaks to a number of levels, in addition to being a good fantasy adventure tale.
Q: How long did it take you to get to the final version that made it into print? Did you ever think that you would not finish the book?
A: Ha, I’m not sure I want to admit how long it took me from start to finish. A LONG time. More than 10 years (off and on) and numerous rewrites. And yes, there were quite a few times I despaired of ever finishing it and thought about just chucking the whole thing. My critique groups have been incredibly helpful and encouraging and kept me on track. The actual editing process after it was accepted for publication took about two months, and that was pretty intense.
Q: How many people did you get to read early drafts and how much of their input do you accept or reject?
A: I’ve been in two really amazing critique groups since 1999, so they’ve been reading drafts of the book since then, multiple times. (I guess that indicates how long I’ve been working on it!) I do take a lot of their input. They have provided a lot of good advice on how to write a novel, things like plot arcs and story narrative, which I didn’t fully understand when I started writing. In fact, the major rewrite of the book came out of a suggestion from someone that at one point the plot just didn’t make any sense.
I thought about it for a while and realized maybe that was why I kept getting stuck. So I took a completely different approach and threw out much of the book. It was a bit scary, but I think in the end it worked. Not that I take all of their advice, though, but I’d say it’s probably about eighty percent.
Q: How long did your agent shop the book around before you found a publisher? How many rejections
did you get before you found a home for the book?
A: It took a little more than two years to find a publisher. There were lots of publishers that just didn’t respond. A couple of the more established but not major ones asked for the whole manuscript, so I had hope that I was on the right track. It didn’t take long for Crescent Moon Press to respond to a query, request the whole manuscript, and then express interest in publishing the book.
Q: What advice would you give an unpublished writer about rejection?
A: Don’t give up. You will get rejected, probably many many times. It will be frustrating. It’s completely subjective and there’s nothing you can do about it. Don’t be afraid to try the smaller independent presses. Honestly, you’re not likely to make much money (but there’s hope), and you may have a much better shot with a small press that will actually value you as an author.
Q: Describe the feeling of holding your first book in your hands? How did you celebrate the accomplishment?
A: It was very surreal. I kept looking at the book and thinking, wow, this is my book. These words on the page are the ones I’ve
slaved over on my laptop, and here they are in an actual book. I guess I haven’t really celebrated yet. I’m still on pins and needles about reviews. I have two good ones so far. Once I get a few more, then I think I’ll allow myself to celebrate.
Q: Marketing your book and earning money from the sales are far different than the work of actually writing. How do you feel about the marketing side of book publishing? Are you disappointed by that aspect of the business?
A: I have to admit, I really dislike marketing. I always wanted to be like JD Salinger, a recluse writer and hide out in my cabin and
write. Sadly, that doesn’t sell books, and just publishing the book is the first step. My publisher has offered quite a few marketing opportunities, but still, a lot of it falls on me if I want the book to succeed.
Q: Are you considering making a book trailer? How much do you think a book trailer might contribute to book sales?
A: I think book trailers are cool and it’s definitely on my to do list. Will it help sales? I’m not sure. There are so many marketing
avenues out there and it seems dubious how much they will actually lead to more sales. I think every little bit helps, though.
Q: Aside from fantasy, what else do you read? What are you reading now?
A: I have eclectic tastes in books. Recently I’ve read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Gunslinger by Stephen King, and The Eyre Affaire by Jasper Fforde. I’m currently reading We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch, a harrowing look at the genocide in Rwanda, and Eternal Investigations, by Nancy M. Griffis, a fun paranormal read, which is an odd combination.
Q: If your book was made into a movie, who would play Sydney? Who would play Willem?
A: Of course I’ve thought about this. What author hasn’t fantasized about the movie version of his or her book? The only problem is that I rarely see movies these days so I don’t know any actors who are the right age. I always thought Heath Ledger might be good for Willem, but unfortunately that’s not going to happen. I have no idea about Sydney. Someone unknown would
be best, I think. Can I request that Peter Jackson direct the movie version? Surely he’ll need a new project after he finishes The Hobbit. (LOL)
Q: If you could be any character in one of your favorite books, who would it be?
A: Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. Woman warrior who gets tokick some Nazgul butt!
Several weeks ago, I sent two projects to the printer for pick up later. One project, my first novel, had taken almost two months to rewrite from start to finish. The second project was the memoir I’d been ghost writing for almost eighteen months. After work, I went to the printer to pick them up and was handed a large box of more than six hundred pages -- six hundred pages that equaled countless hours of interviews, research, writing group critiquing and plain hard work at the keyboard.
I put the pages in manuscript boxes, took the boxes to the post office and mailed them to my agent. Then I went back to work.
It felt a bit anticlimactic.
I did make a post to my Facebook page, and I emailed a couple friends. “I’m Finished!” the emails said. Aside from that, I didn’t much talk about it, didn’t celebrate it, didn’t even feel much like I’d accomplished something significant. I’d put the finishing touches on two books. I’d sent two books to my agent. Now, all I had to do was wait to see if she could sell them.
Still, weeks later, I’m feeling a bit alarmed at my lack of reaction.
How do you feel when you’ve finished a project? What do you do to mark that completion?
Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli, with her then-husband Jim Trupin founded JET Literary Associates in 1975. Together, they have a substantial client list and recent publications, as well as films and current options on film rights. She has been in the industry for thirty-seven years, beginning in the contracts department of the New American Library. From there, she moved to Fawcett Books’ school division, Premier Books. From there, she worked with an established agent who needed expertise in the paperback market. Today, she is co-owner of JET Literary.
I met Liz over email with a query letter and sample chapters. Since then, she has patiently and enthusiastically shopped my novel around to big and little publishing houses. So far, I’ve received several rejection letters that continue to offer hope. The letters never say no. They usually offer encouragement, suggestions for minor tweaks and offers of regret that it’s not the right fit. While we haven’t found a home for the mystery series, the rejection letters prove that her submissions are respected and read by editors with influence – exactly why having an agent is so important.
Liz continues her search. Somewhere in the process she happened upon a ghost writing opportunity for me that eventually led to the publication of, I’m Still Standing, From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen – My Journey Home. That project published by Touchstone, and her continued support as I work on another memoir, are why I feel privileged that I have an agent who has faith in my talent and is looking out for my interests.
I asked Liz a few questions about the current publishing market for new writers.
Q: As a literary agent, what types of authors do you represent and why?
A: I represent all fiction except sci-fi and fantasy. I also will take on narrative non-fiction, memoir/biography, parenting, some reference, some business. Basically, I represent books that I would like to read and therefore can evaluate properly from the perspective of reader appeal. I then couple that with my understanding of the market.
Q: As an agent in today's publishing market place, have you changed the way you
approach editors with a new author?
A: I don’t honestly think I have changed the way I approach editors with new authors. When I agree to take on a new author it is because I have fallen in love with the project and I am therefore approaching each submission with a high level of enthusiasm. So just like in the good old days, I prepare a pitch that will also convey my enthusiasm. I generally tell new clients that as an agent, I am a matchmaker: I must find the right lover for his/her work in order for it to get published.
Q: How much more difficult is it to sell a new writer to a major publishing house?
A: It’s very difficult to sell new writers right now to the major commercial houses because of the heavy emphasis on platform and crunching the numbers to show a favorable sell-through, even though the projected sell-through numbers are pie-in-the-sky until the book hits the shelves! The pressure on each and every editor is to find the next big bestseller. That’s a daunting burden and explains why some very good books slip through the cracks, while other copy-cat stuff gets published, and then bombs.
Q: What is your opinion of publish on demand (POD) and ebook publishing and how have those types of publishing options changed the industry?
A: The new platforms have really shaken up the industry. But ultimately, I think they will be what save the industry, particularly ebooks.
Q: Considering the major changes going on, is this a good time or a bad time to be
a new, unpublished author?
A: I don’t think we should assign good or bad to this time. It has never been easy to be a writer trying to get published for the first time. But if you want to consider the “bad” side of this time, then I would point to what I said about some very good books slipping through the cracks. On the other “good” side is the emergence of electronic publishing and the opportunities it is now providing for writers who have run through the gauntlet of commercial houses and come up with near misses but no contracts. Those writers now have more options to consider and are sometimes able to establish a reader base that the publishing houses take note of and then viola! – the tables are turned.
Q: What advice would you give to the new author?
A: When I attend conferences, I generally ask how many of you can imagine a day without writing? Yes, getting published is what everyone is aiming for, but the bottomline is that you will keep writing, no matter what happens. It’s who you are. Pay attention to what the market is all about and how your work fits in. Attend conferences and try to meet the professionals in the industry – workshops and critique groups are also helpful for a lot of writers. Establish a presence, if possible, online.
Q: Anything else you want to add?
A: Yes, I must tell you that I have definitely changed the way I prepare new authors for the reality of the current submission process. The average turn-around time in the good old days used to be 4 to 6 weeks – agents could pretty much depend on that. Things are more complicated now and that timeframe has gone out the window. I don’t want to get too tangled up in this explanation, but here is what typically happens: I send a pitch letter and an attachment of the manuscript or proposal out to a carefully selected list of editors. Within a few days/weeks I may receive a rejection or two based on the fact that the project doesn’t “grab” the editor, i.e. s/he has read the first chunk of the manuscript or perhaps the whole proposal (for a non-fiction book) and did not feel compelled to proceed (to either read the full manuscript or pursue the proposal). Editors who have read the opening chunk of a full manuscript sometimes email to say they look forward to reading the submission and then it can take a while to hear back from them because of the avalanche of submissions they are facing, even as they go forward with the manuscripts they have already bought! So extra time must be factored into the waiting period. Writers need to know that the length of time does not indicate indifference toward either the writer or the agent – it’s just a fact of life. Let’s say the editor reads the manuscript and now contacts me to say s/he wants to pursue it. Now the editor has to get a back-up positive reading from another editor and probably will also give a chunk to a marketing person in the hopes of support – all of this takes more time, but is moving the process closer to the final point: presenting the book to the pub board for the definitive yes or no.
I think if writers become aware of the reality of the submission process they can avoid a lot of negativity that might seep into their heads…and hearts!