SVRWA Gotcha Contest

Well, I got the results back from the contest...
Let me start by saying, when you save every draft of your WIP, make sure you label them by date. I accidentally entered my 1st/2nd draft of Let Us Prey, with extraneous crap, typos, spellos, and general garbage. So in other words, I wasted $25. Live and learn. From that, I'll just not go into the details of the very bad score sheets.
On the other hand, I sent in the first draft of Under 13 (now called Judge and Jury) on a whim. Though it received scathing remarks about my puntucation, grammar, and lack of physical attraction (I entered it in a romantic suspense category), I got great reviews on the story itself. One judge said, "The story is the star, not the characters." Well, duh, it was only the first 15 pages, and I wanted to draw the reader in. The details were so well written I was asked if I was in law enforcement. lol And (remember this was the very rough first draft) it placed 10th out of 37 entries. Just goes to show, you never know.
Alas, I'm working on polishing Let Us Prey, so J&J will have to be in line for a while longer.

Writing and Promoting your Book

I've come to realize that writing is only a small part of the publishing industry. As a writer, not only must you write a publishable book, you must promote the hell out of it. The amount of promoting the publisher does is directly proportional to the advance.
So it is up to the writer/author to not only write the next book (and the next, and the next), but to be his/her own public relations firm, too.
I've had plenty of background in public relations. I've written dozens of press releases, given interviews, and scrounged for free promotion. But I've done this as a jewelry designer. It's the reason I began writing articles, so I could put my web site link in by byline. They don't always include it, but at least they were paying me.
Back to writing. PR for a writer is a whole different animal. And believe it or not, the book signings aren't a huge part of sales (until you have a household name, of course).
I remember going to a signing for Steve Hamilton. It was his first book, and he was signing in San Francisco. Not much of a turnout, not bad, but not fantastic. He was so kind, corresponding with me via email. I bought 2 books. I still have one, and now that he's a bestseller, the book's worth a small fortune. But he struggled just like other first time novelists.
So with that in mind, we aspiring authors have to get the word out, become somebody, so when our first book is published, we have a following.
I plan to do just that. I want to encourage other writers, by putting out a newsletter for PR.
COMING SOON...

2008 - Renewal

I rang in the New Year with a low-grade migraine, so I didn't stay up until the ball dropped. But I did wake up and have a piece of cake for breakfast. You know, to celebrate.
I've spent the day updating my websites, to I'm whipped. I promise to keep it light, and keep the posts coming.
I purchased a PDA with WiFi, so I can update from just about anywhere. This should make it easier.
I have a few projects in the works, which I'll tell you about as the year goes on.
This has been boring, I know, but just you wait...

Jamie