The Bestseller Dilemma

When I go on vacation, I take several books. This year, I took two from one of my favorite authors. I quickly read them. My cousin finished her book (only 1????) so we switched. There were several things that both books had in common:

Both were written by bestselling authors.

Both authors were world known.

Both authors wrote 30 books or more.

And they shared another aspect; the more famous the authors became, the less editing was done on their books. Both books had numerous repetitions; not just two, three times saying the same thing, but almost every chapter.

I find that so annoying. Being a bestseller shouldn't make you immune from good editing. What's required from new writers- conciseness- should be required from established authors. I have noticed this among other bestselling authors (no, I'm not going to name them and commit author suicide). It's like laws that the average citizen has to obey, but somehow politicians and the very rich think don't apply to them. Makes you mad, right?

I finished the books because one was a favorite author, and the other because I wanted to know the ending.

And after snorkeling, dancing, partyboating, dining, swimming, and sunning, what else was there to do?

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Till next time....

Char

Only The Story Matters

This past week, I packed up the last of my father's space memorabilia: brittle newspapers, photos, publicity papers, decals, etc. and shipped them off to a retired Air Force vet with a passion for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space program.

The last of my Dad's space stuff

He's putting together an exhibit on the West Coast because most of the major museums like the Smithsonian Air and Space (which got the bulk of my father's collection- you may be able to see some, labeled Donated in Memory of William P. 'Swede' Johnson), the Intrepid Air and Space, and Cape Canaveral are all here in the east. Mission Control in Houston is in the middle and there's little on the West Coast.

I posted on a Facebook group I belong to, Mercury Gemini, & Saturn/Apollo Program Era that I had these items and wanted to give them to someone who would preserve and cherish them, as my father had. While I hate giving up these treasures, it's more important that the history and records of our early space program be preserved, rather than sitting in a box in my office. The story of the men and women, the places and the companies, the failures and the successes, is more important than nostalgia. Only The Story Matters.

After contacting a museum which didn't respond back, I chatted with Michael. He not only had a passion for space, but a desire to preserve history. He was knowledgeable so I was convinced he was genuine and not someone who would want the memorabilia to possibly sell it. We chatted by email and I was surprised when he told me that he was not only humbled by my entrusting him with something sentimentally valuable to me but historically important, that he wanted to write a book. He was a bit afraid of such a big undertaking.

Being the author that I am, I gave him some basic writing advice, how to start, how to make the task manageable, etc. I also gave him several ideas on collecting his research. I was humbled that he thought so much of my advice that he asked more questions. To me it all pointed to not me, as the daughter of someone who worked on the Lunar Evacuation Module (LEM) who had lots of stuff, or to this retired Air Force vet who loved space, but to The Story. I'm not going to divulge the subject of his book, but suffice it to say it's important, it needs to be written. The author is not important, Only The Story Matters. I hope to help him not only with the process, but with whatever information I can collect about my Dad's days at Grumman; stories of the astronauts, the space program, the company that built the LEM which safely landed our men on the Moon- and brought them back.

It's bittersweet since my dad has been gone almost 15 years. He and Michael would have hit it off, trading stories. But the story will get told. And as an author, that's all that matters.

Char

An Author's Life, Part Two

Last week I did #AuthorLife where every day in February, an author posts about a given topic. This week I'm wrapping it up with Days 15-29:

Day 15 - Prized Bookish Possession:

My Lord of the Rings Collector's Edition. Best. Book. Ever.

Day 16 - Research:

Blonde OPS, for those of you who haven't gotten around to reading it (please do, ASAP, it makes this even funnier), is a novel about a 16-year-old named Bec who gets expelled for hacking her grades. Busy mom sends her to stay with a family friend, a magazine editor, who is on location in Rome. The First Lady is coming for a photo shoot, and 'accidents' start happening, so Bec uses her hacker skills to solve the mystery. The research for this book included First Lady, Secret Service, guns, hacking locks, hacking cars, etc. (You see where I'm going with this?). So the FBI sent me a little note...

A screen shot of the "hi there!" from the FBI- after they shut down my browser... numerous times

Day 17 - Dream Event/Retreat:

What could be greater than chatting up my books with Jimmy Fallon?

Day 18 - Teaser Tuesday:

I've already given you the first paragraph of my current work in progress, so what about a snippet from Sirenz 3- A New Trend? (I hope to set this up as an ebook- it's on the List of Things To Do)

            This is how I DIE?? Hit by a dirty black Scion Cube, in the red-light district?
            WHAT will my mother think?
           How much is this going to hurt?

            As time slowed, the driver’s eye glanced up, probably from his cellphone. Just before he killed me, he’d know it. There wasn’t time for shock or regret or surprise to set in.

            I closed my eyes.
            If only I still had Hades’ picture, I could call out for help. But no, I had to spite him. I resigned myself to my pathetic fate.
            Annnnnd.... nothing. Was death instantaneous, and I was already a corpse? Well, that answered one question- we kept our consciousness. Fabuloso; I can spend eternity regretting my hubris. The Fates are probably smiling at that. Just think how cheerful my death will make Persephone. The bitch.

Day 19 - Background Noise:




That's right- NOTHING. I need silence when I write because otherwise I will sing along, or think about what the song means, or recall memories. Silence is golden...

Day 20 - Reader Love:

This was made by Melissa, when Sirenz debuted. So clever!

Day 21 - My Team:

Well, this changes as people move in and out of my life. Currently, it's my agent Sue, my friend Patti Petrone-Miller, my family, my critique group, the fabulous Kidlit Authors Club, and some SCBWI colleagues I always reconnect with. (I'd like to add Steven Spielberg, so call me Steven, 'k?)

Day 22 - Greatest Strength:

I'm rarely at a loss for words, which is good because I don't get writer's block, but has its drawbacks because sometimes I should just keep quiet...

Day 23 - Biggest Distraction:

Social media. It's a necessary evil for authors because we basically have to do all our own marketing (unless you're a celeb which, sadly, I'm not.) It's too easy to get pulled in too many directions with all the content out there.

Day 24 - Non-bookish Hobby:

Gardening.

My meditation garden; it helps me solve plot twists & gives me space from people.

Day 25 - Motivation:

Soooo many things give me motivation; simply going through life creates so many story ideas. I won't live long enough to write all the books I want. Too bad.

Day 26 - Prized Non-bookish Possession:

Without going into all the family drama, I love these pearls. Not very trendy now, but they were a gift from my mother-in-law, a wonderful woman whom I cherished. Now that she's gone, just wearing them makes me feel like she's nearby, listening to me.

Day 27 - Bookstore/Library Love:

This is a hard one; I have found that unless you're an instant bestseller or someone famous, bookstores and libraries don't really support author visits. I've had a few, but even my hometown library wouldn't host me, so... yeah. Book festivals (and some libraries host festivals) which aren't exclusionary are where it's at for most authors.

Day 28 - Acknowledgments:

This, too, changes with time. People come and go, not always under ideal circumstances. I have a different acknowledgment in each book for those people who at the time deserved a shout-out. The one constant has been my family, a perpetual source of not only material for my books, but 'motivation' for me to make us 'rich'. They have their Lamborghinis all picked out.

Day 29 - Weirdest Thing to Happen to Me:

I added this because this year is a Leap Year and I didn't want Day 29 to be left out. When my oldest sons were about 4 and 5, I took them to the Game Farm in Riverhead, NY. My mom had one stroller and I had the other. We toured the place, and stopped by the monkey cage where a worker was feeding the monkey orange soda. After chatting with him, not only did I learn that they fed junk food to the monkey (who was in too small a cage, it made me sad), but that the owner gave the animal cigarettes, and regularly beat and tormented the poor thing. Disgusted, I walked away. Not more than a few minutes later, we heard screaming; the worker had forgotten to close the cage and the two monkeys escaped, going on a rampage. People panicked and ran. My mother and I ran as fast as we could, heading for the nearest exit, rather than the cafeteria the park urged us to go to over the loudspeaker. A man with a rifle ran by, followed by others with those rope nooses they use to restrain animals. A woman started screaming because the monkey was attacking her son, then her. Then the shots rang out. My mother and I made it to the exit, shaking uncontrollably. I couldn't speed away fast enough. To my knowledge, the owner was never fined, although the game farm is gone.

So, that's an author's life for you. Sorry it's not more exciting, but there's always hope!

Char

The Author's Life For Me...

February is #AuthorLifeMonth. I missed out on the beginning because I was away in NC, then visiting family. I'm going to do it in two blog posts, so here's 1-14:

2/1 - Meet me:
Once a newspaper reporter, until Hollywood calls, Charlotte lives in NJ with her husband, sons, two needy cats, and sometimes a deranged squirrel. Her books include the middle grade trilogy, Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines, Simple Plans, Simple Lessons. She co-authored the Sirenz series: Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion, Blonde Ops, and two anthologies: Beware the Little White Rabbit and Scare Me to Sleep. Currently she’s polishing up several MG, YA and NA novels various genres.

2/2 - My Books:

Missing is the ebook, 'Scare Me to Sleep' 

2/3 - Writing Fuel:

Chai latte in my Patriots mug! 

2/4 - Biggest Fan/Mascot:

Mink and Casey

2/5 - Show a Shelf:

My favorite library shelves!

2/6 - Inspiration:
So many things inspire me: fairy tales, horror stories, people, places, bits of conversations, weird dreams... you name it. I wish I could live long enough to write all the stories in my head...

2/7 - Swag:

Just some of the swag from my books...

2/8 - My WIP:
(First paragraph from my tween novel which involves a continuation and a twist on a horror classic...)

With an easy finger, I stroke Rogue, the 8^th grade science room hamster, softly on her head. Leaning over, I let her whiskers tickle my nose before I gently place her back in her fun house cage. She burrows deep into the pine bedding and disappears. My teacher, Mr. Gogi, only lets me feed the animals. He says I have a ‘way’ with them. Maybe I understand how they feel; they’re stuck in a cage or tank while I’m stuck in middle school prison. They want to be free as much as me, but none of us  are.

2/9 - Fashion:

I don't dress 'out there' except I have a thing for funny socks...

2/10 - Bookish Bucket List:
*NYTimes Bestseller list
*multi book deal
*appear at event with several authors I admire
*have my screenplay produced into a TV/movie
*have a famous author tell me they read 1 (or more!) of my books!
*be an SCBWI keynote speaker

2/11 - Goals Accomplished:
*been pubbed several times by traditional publishers
*fans told me how much they loved my books
*signing event at Book Expo America where 300 people showed up to get a signed book
*successfully did NaNoWriMo several times
*given numerous workshops and classes on writing
*been asked to give presentations

2/12 - Other Fave Media:
Instagram! I see a different side to people aside from writing and it's a chance to make friends out of the author circle. I can 'chat' with celebrities, see places I'd like to go, and learn about things going on in different places of the world.

2/13 - Writer Friends:

Just a few of my many author friends! Wish I could fit you ALL in! 

2/14 - Treat Yourself:

Reading poolside... doesn't get much better (unless I'm in the Caribbean!)

So that's #AuthorLife in half a month. Next blog post, days 15-28.

Char 

The Vacation That Pays...

Yep, I was absent last Monday but again, I have a good excuse.

Oak Island, NC. Alas, too cold for a swim, but we saw dolphins! 

I was on vacation.

I was spending quality time with the 'rents.

As my parents age, I feel an almost desperate drive to see as much of them as I can, to spend time with them. And that means sacrificing writing time.

As a writer, I struggle with abandoning my writing for 8 days, but as a daughter, I say, "Screw that, I can write day and night when I get home."

And that's the way it will be this week.

But there was an advantage to getting away from writing. I relaxed, did some fun things, shared secrets with my mom.... and resolved a plot issue for a rough draft I'm working on. I'd written it years ago and put is aside when I realized there was a plot issue- one that wound its way allllll through the book.

Now? Not a prob.

That's a vacation worth having.

Now I'm back to the grindstone. Plotting, planning, purging, and preparing.

Keep writing, or doing whatever your passion is,

Char

Rocks and Hard Places

You know what that saying means; I'm stuck between two unpleasant places and neither one is appealing. Here's the sitch:

I wrote an MG story based on a literary classic, which brings said classic into the contemporary world (no, no more Jane Austen, I promise). I wanted to stay true to the classic written by Robert Louis Stevenson (that's all the clue I'm going to give you). But when I presented it for a critique by an editor out of one of the large publishing houses, while she liked the concept, she said it 'enabled white male rage.' She made other points, most of which I thought valid and could easily incorporate into my manuscript. But how to address the social aspect of 'white male rage', i.e. a main character, yes, who's white because that's how the classic was written almost 200 years ago, who messes around with science which changes him and not for the better. The editor saw this as an excuse for his behavior- he can't help himself from being violent. Now I see she has a point; white male character goes on rampage but it's not his fault. However, while I have it that my character's a violent person, all through the story is woven that he must take responsibility for his actions. The parent explains it like this; it's like being left-handed in a right-handed world. Yes, my main character, a boy, is different than almost everyone, and his condition makes him struggle, but he, ultimately, has the control and responsibility of his condition. He has to adjust, not the world. (And changing the race would only get me labeled racist because I'm white, so don't even go there.)

I pondered her comments. I switched the gender of the main character to female, thus breaking away from the classic, but it was a new twist and that can be a good thing. But that change was problematic all through the story. Maybe it's my own prejudices, but a girl would react totally different in almost all the conflicts. I managed to address most of the issues, but it was a domino effect which made the twisty ending, which I loved, improbable and clunky.

It is no longer my story, but someone else's. And I didn't feel their love or connection to the story; it seemed more like a 'PC run amok' story.

Here's the rock: I don't like the new story, especially the weaker ending.

Here's the hard place: Based on the editor's comments, it seems everything has to go through a PC filter or it won't get pubbed.

Hollywood seems to be the only place where this story could thrive. But, if I can't get this story published, it will die a lonely death in my drawer.

And just like Wiley E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner, here's the boulder that falls on top to completely squash me: it's part of a classics revitalization trilogy. While the connection to the next book wouldn't be too problematic, if I can't get editors past the first book, the other two are just cumbersome piles of paper to be recycled.

Friends and colleagues have weighed in and it comes down to this:

• Write your story.
• They probably wouldn't pub it as is, so make the changes.
• You can make this work.

It all comes down to writing a story I don't love, which generally doesn't work out well for writer, agent, or editor. Talk about impossible barriers. Or, keeping the basic storyline with the other suggestions the editor gave me. Finally, just chucking the whole story and starting the trilogy with the next book, featuring a female protagonist. 

I'll have to mull this one over. It disheartens me because these stories are a bridge between the classics I love to a contemporary time and place. As an English major and a former substitute teacher, this kills me that my brainchild must be so bastardized that it can pass PC filters which leaves the story barely alive.

Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

What to do, what to do...

Char

A Good Book is a Good Book- No Matter Who Publishes It

I've read a few Indie books that were just awful. Likewise, I've read some books that were traditionally published and I didn't get beyond several chapters; one I could read no more than a paragraph, yet a big name publisher spent millions to pub it. When all is said and done, it's not only that a book is well-written; it's about commercial, editorial, and market appeal. Before you (*looks at industry and rest of the world) turn your nose up at Indie publishers/books, here's a list of books that were self-pubbed:

Photo courtesy of Suzy Hazelwood, Pexels. 

Christopher Paolini. The creator of the Eragon dragon series was initially self-published by his parents. You know the rest of the story.

Richard Kiyosaki. Rich Dad, Poor Dad sales for this must-have personal finances have been astronomical.

Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is perhaps one of the top classic children's stories.

Richard Bolles. What Color is Your Parachute. A career and employment-seeking breakthrough work.

James Redfield. The Celestine Prophecy. This psychological and spiritual adventure made it from being sold out of his trunk to Hollywood screen.

Walt Whitman. One of the premiere and successful American poets, he published Leaves of Grass and its many subsequent revisions.

Irma S. Rombauer.  Still popular today, The Joy of Cooking was originally published by Irma herself.

Marcel Proust. Swann's Way was a part memoir, part fiction story told by two narrators. It has since become an institution.

Mark Twain. Who doesn't know The Adventures of Huck Finn. Both controversial and classic, this tale of the South was published by Twain and his nephew under their own publishing company.

Other books: Margaret Atwood. Yes, the author of The Handmaid's Tale and other phenomenal books self-published one of her books of poems. e.e.cummings. This great and innovative American poet self-published his third book of poems. Edgar Allen Poe. Now it's one of the rarest books (actually, a pamphlet and under a pseudonym) in American literature, Tamerlane and Other Poems. William Strunk, The Elements of Style, which is a must have for any writer, was originally written by Prof. Struck for his Cornell University students. After he died, E.B. White revised it for Macmillan.

So yes, there are successful Indie writers, some, like the above, which have moved over to traditional publishing, although these cases are extremely rare when one considers the total amount of books published each year. Not all Indie books are bad (hence, above) and not all traditional books are good (we can each cite a book we thought was horrendous and wondered why anyone would publish it). As a hybrid author having both traditionally and Indie published books, all we want is for readers (and agents and editors) to keep an open mind. Don't just automatically turn up your nose. Publishing is highly selective and personal to editors and agents, it doesn't mean that automatically an Indie book is bad and a traditional book is great. As Charles Dickens said,

There are books of which the backs and the covers are by far the best parts.  (Charles Dickens)

Try to be open-minded. 

Char