This month’s singular BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will be a national book launch celebration on September 25th at Sunset Foods in Northbrook, IL. Boy, 9, Missing is the debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, to be released by Sourcebooks Landmark on September 20th. In the tradition of Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth, this suspenseful thriller explores the ramifications of revenge, justice, and the aftermath of a terrible night in the lives of two families. As we enjoy our free wine tasting, we’ll be discussing where inspiration comes from and how this book elevates its theme. As always, audience participation will be encouraged! Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.
October 1st is the deadline for submissions to the Missouri Review’s competition for the 26th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editor’s Prize. Prizes of $5,000 each for Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry. Winners receive publication, invitation to a reception and reading in their honor and a cash prize.
The Unbound Book Festival is looking for hosts to hold fundraising parties for next year’s event. The free Missouri festival aims to bring nationally and internationally recognized authors to Columbia, Missouri to talk about their books, their work, and their lives in interactive activities. Beyond the one-day event, organizers hope to raise funds and awareness to improve literacy standards throughout the State of Missouri.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will celebrate the national book launch of Boy, 9, Missing from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 25th at Sunset Foods in downtown Northbrook, IL. The debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, has been compared to classic thrillers Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth. The event, hosted by Book●ed, includes a free wine tasting, conversation with the author, book signings and more. Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.
The 13th Annual Best Book Awards entry deadline is September 30th. The i310 Media Group, organizer of the competition, says it is “specifically designed to not only garner media coverage and book sales for the winners and finalists but to promote awarded books to the publishing and entertainment industries.” Open to all books with an ISBN and published in 2016 (galley copies welcome). 2015 and 2014 titles are also eligible.
“Book Readings That Sell Your Book” is a workshop offered by Off Campus Writers Workshop on Thursday, October 13th from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, IL. Part of publishing a book today is performing readings and doing signings at bookstores, libraries… and, if you’re really lucky, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Actress, comedienne, and novelist Jennifer Rupp will shares practical tips for giving author readings that entertain, intrigue and help sell books. Jennifer invites attendees to bring three pages of something you’ve written for practice in a safe, supportive environment.
NORTHBROOK WRITES: Character Development with Eric Charles May, part of a series of free workshops for writers, will be offered by the Northbrook Public Library on Saturday, October 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. May, who was a BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ featured author in 2015, is an author, associate professor in Fiction Writing at Columbia College Chicago, and former reporter for The Washington Post. His workshop will address how to develop rich and engaging characters.
Note to Readers – Every now and then, I will re-post a blog entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. I choseKeep Your Day Job from October 2014 because every author I’ve met (a few whom I selected for BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™) faces the challenge of putting his or her book in the hands of readers … and profiting from the effort. This post explains budget factors for every writer to consider. Also, check myQuotable post for thoughts about publishing from notable authors.
Who doesn’t have the great American novel waiting to be written? Or maybe it’s a collection of poetry begging to spill on to pages of a book? Nearly everyone I talk to confesses at some point to harboring the dream of being a published author. Writing groups are gaining in popularity, with members ranging from the pure dreamers to ambitious authors who have prepared a manuscript and are searching for the path to publication. Are you one of these writers?
The dream of having your book published is accompanied by the expectation that it will be purchased to be read; that fortune will accompany fame, or at least cover your publishing costs. This hope exists whether your book is published traditionally or self-published.
With traditional publishers, production, distribution and related professional costs are born by the publishing company but authors have become more responsible for their own promotional efforts; and the book’s “life” is under the control of the publisher. Self-published authors bear total responsibility and costs but maintain total control of every step.
Whether you go the traditional route or self-publish, keep your day job. Until your book sells in the several thousands of copies, the only riches you will receive will be the knowledge that some people are reading your work. How can this be when hardcover books sell for $25 and up, a paperbacks sell for $15 and up, and eBooks run $7 and up? Where does the money go?
Welcome to “trickle down income” in the publishing world. If your book is published traditionally, you will periodically be paid a royalty for books sold after the publisher deducts all its costs plus its profit. If you self-publish, you pay yourself … after you pay anyone you employ to get your book into the hands of readers: editor, proofreader, technical formatter, cover designer, printer, (possibly) a warehouse, distributor, marketer, (maybe) a web designer, administrator.
Production is not necessarily the most expensive factor. Authors can expect a wholesale discount of 40 percent to be taken off the retail price by major book stores and big box stores. Libraries typically take a 20 percent discount. Distributors take 15 percent on top of those discounts. Sellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble act as both distributor and seller, taking 55 percent off your retail price. If you use an agent, expect 10-15 percent off the wholesale price to be collected for services.
Ongoing promotion is a book’s life insurance. Regardless of how a book is published, authors are expected to oversee this job. Maintaining websites, arranging book signings, giving talks and doing interviews are some of the recommended promotional activities.
Some expenses occur once while others will be recurring. Every responsibility you handle yourself rather than hire out is more money in your pocket … if you know what you’re doing and you don’t mind spending your time on it … time you could use to write your next book.
Scared? Don’t be. Knowledge is power. Empower yourself by learning all the aspects of taking your brainchild from start to a successful finish. But, at least for now, don’t quit your day job.
Regardless of the genre, it has been said that no story is wholly original. Each one has been told before in some form or fashion. Researchers at MIT recently demonstrated the truth behind the theory that one of only six core plots form the building blocks of complex narratives. You can read the MIT explanation at the MIT Technology Review.
Note to Readers – Every now and then, I will re-post a blog entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. Recently, I was aghast to see a room designed with a bookcase full of books placed backwards, spines hidden, to match the room’s white/beige color theme. As the Rev. Sidney Smith (1771-1845) said, “No furniture is so charming as books.” Clearly the designer of the white/beige room isn’t a booklover. But you are. Here’s what I wrote about the most important part of a book’s cover on July 27, 2014.
In a recent gathering of writers, the discussion turned to book cover design and, more specifically, book spine design. Even more specifically, how often book sales are lost because authors and publishers overlook this crucial part of a book.
As important as a book’s cover is, it’s usually the book’s spine that first greets us on the shelves of stores and libraries. It’s one thing if we’re looking for a particular title or author, another if we’re browsing. Truth is we’re browsing even when we’re looking for a particular title or author. This is why book spine design deserves at least as much attention from authors and publishers as they give to cover design.
Since shelved books usually stand vertically, the ideal direction for type on the spine is horizontal to make words appear as we normally view them. But this is problematic if the book is not fat or the words are long. Most books cannot support this design. Instead, letters are usually turned at right angles to the viewer’s eye, running along the vertical spine. Because this is not the normal way we view writing, it has to be even clearer than it would otherwise have to be.
In North America, the normal direction of words on book spines is from top to bottom; in Europe, it’s usually bottom to top. This is because in North America, books are stacked face up, while in Europe, they’re stacked face down, with no front covers visible at all. The result is that readers browsing the shelves in a European bookstore tilt their necks to the left, while those in North America tilt theirs to the right.
With spine design, simple sells. This may be one reason modern books titles are often only one or two words; a design choice as much as a literary one. Capital letters, having no ascenders or descenders, present more cleanly than lower case letters. Bold fonts work better than delicate ones. Colors need to contrast but not compete. The spine must attract attention, convey information and please the eye; a huge job for a relatively small plot of real estate on a book.
Next time you’re browsing bookshelves – in a store, a library or your own home – see which books attract your attention. Then consider the designs of the spines. You’ll notice trends that succeed but also be surprised when a rule-breaking design works.
Like people’s spines, book spines should be accorded the care and respect they deserve because their job is critical to everything that resides within the body.
The Chicago Writers Conference, a non-profit organization, is accepting registration for its three-day conference, September 23rd-25th. Conference Chicago at University Center includes workshops, panels and guest speakers.
The Midwest Writers Workshop at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, will be held July 21-23. It provides writers more than 45 tutorials to hone their craft, whether it’s writing poetry, penning dialogue or mastering the art of social media writing.
What kinds of books thrill you? They come in many varieties – science fiction, mystery, spy, sports, romance…. You get the idea. Thrillers are as varied as the people they thrill. Take any genre and you can turn it into a thriller by following a few standard rules. Or at least you can try:
• Create a protagonist the reader cares about. With a lot to lose. Up against a formidable antagonist (the antagonist can be a person, place or thing, real or imagined).
• Add complex, believable characters with relatable traits (be they good or evil).
• Surprise with twists and turns, like a roller coaster offering two possible tracks while building moments of tension and relief as the ride progresses.
• Pace the story to reveal something new and end each chapter leaving the reader questioning what will happen next.
• Show, don’t tell. It’s all about anticipation and action, even if it takes place in the mind.
• Relate to the reader’s own sensory experiences to make the action real and intimate.
• Have the protagonist grow from the experience.
• Leave the reader with a take-away after the story ends… so it lingers in the mind and heart.
You’ll always find new thrillers on the just-published lists. They’re popular for obvious reasons. One that burst on the scene last year and broke through the competition for glowing reviews is the best-selling Descent by Tim Johnston – featured at this month’s BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™.
An idyllic Rocky Mountain vacation turns into a heart-pounding page turner when a family’s teenage daughter goes out for a run… and disappears. Readers become enmeshed with the family as its members respond to events over time in this New York Times, USA Today and Indie National bestselling novel.
The Washington Post literary critic said, “The story unfolds brilliantly, always surprisingly . . . The magic of his prose equals the horror of Johnston’s story; each somehow enhances the other . . . Read this astonishing novel.” The Denver Post said, “What makes the novel unforgettable is its sense of character, its deliberate, unadorned prose and Johnston’s unflinching exploration of human endurance, physical and psychological.” NPR made this astonishing comparison: “Tim Johnston has written a book that makes Gone Girl seem gimmicky and forced.”
This month marks the expansion of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ to two venues and we are so excited that the occasion brings this award-winning author to the Chicago area: We’ll be at TASTE Food & Wine in Chicago on Monday, June 27th and Sunset Foods on Tuesday, June 28th. Great books and great wine. Ah, the thrill(er) of it all!
Individuals interested in writing are invited to attend Writers’ Week Workshops on a non-credit basis at a cost of $30 per session, or $100 for all four sessions, including the Saturday box lunch for July 16 and July 23. Register as a non-credit participant below or by emailing CASWRITERS@nl.edu or calling National Louis University at 312.261.3010. One semester hour of graduate credit, or two quarter hours of undergraduate credit for Writers’ Week Workshops, awarded through the College of Professional Studies and Advancement to students in any NLU or other university program, can be earned by registering online or in person for LAE 486B at the special rate of $360. Inquire about registration for credit by emailing Joanne Koch, director of the Master of Science in Written Communication Program at jkoch@nl.edu. Complimentary box lunch with the authors will be held both Saturday, July 16, 1-2pm and Saturday, July 23 from 1-2pm for all those who register for workshops on either or both of those days. All workshops will be held at the Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue, in the second floor atrium.
The timing was perfect. I just finished a leisurely (meaning, as time allowed) reading of the 1978 National Book Award winner, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Scott Berg. I had been telling everyone how I loved this great book about the best editor ever. It captured time, place and personalities to perfection.
And there it was: a news item announcing the opening of Genius, adapted from Berg’s book. Impressive cast: Colin Firth as Perkins, Jude Law as Thomas Wolfe and Nicole Kidman, Wolfe’s long-time paramour. Another favorite, Laura Linney, plays Perkins’s wife, Louise. Throw in portrayals of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway for good measure. Delicious ingredients for a tasty movie, selected to compete for the Golden Bear at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
Coincidence on coincidence: I’d be in the city beloved by me and Max Perkins – New York — when the movie debuted in the U.S. I hastily re-arranged my busy schedule to see the movie on its opening day.
And then the reviews came in. On the downside of “mixed”. Fans of Thomas Wolfe may be entranced but, reportedly, the handsome production quality of the film isn’t enough to hold up the wordy script and Law’s over-acting. Despite the stellar cast, one wonders why the leads are Aussie and English when there are so many equally excellent American actors who could portray the epitome of American literary genius.
The clips I saw in promotions didn’t impress me (and, boy, did I want to be impressed!). My great balloon of excitement and anticipation rapidly deflated. I’ve re-categorized this must-see-now movie to the when-it’s on DVD-and-I-have-time list .
If only the screenplay writer and director had the spirit of Max Perkins in them, we might have gotten the film adaptation Max Perkins: Editor of Genius deserved. Fortunately, we still have the book.
Authors would be wise to go behind the numbers of this year’s BookCon to see why Chicago should be part of any book tour.
Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of BookCon as well as BookExpo America (which ran in Chicago May 11–13), reported that consumer attendance was 7,200 for the 1-day BookCon on May 14. The 2-day BookCon in New York in 2015 drew 18,000 attendees, and the first BookCon in 2014 attracted 10,000 readers over one day. However, attendees this year were more interested in the books, rather than just looking for celebrity authors, as was often the case at the past two NYC shows. Moreover, the audience in Chicago skewed slightly older and was more inclined to buy books.
Publishers reported that they ran out of their most popular free items – books, tote bags and T-shirts — quickly. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group said its signed copies of John Grisham’s The Litigators were gone in less than five minutes, and the same held true for the 10th-anniversary edition of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Galleys that went quickly included those of Carl Hiassen’s forthcoming novel Razor Girl and Nathan Hill’s The Nix. Abrams Books said its children’s titles sold “like hot cakes,” and that some adult titles also “sold briskly”. W.W. Norton & Company called the Chicago event “great”.
The biggest complaint from consumers, many of whom came from different parts of the country, was that BookCon wasn’t long enough.
What all of this should suggest to authors and publishers is that there is a hungry, healthy market of readers in the Midwest. Properly chosen venues and well-crafted publicity can pay back in strong book sales while building reader loyalty for authors who head to Chicago.
Because of the strong Midwest market, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will expand to a second venue next month. Authors and publishers are invited to check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events in the greater Chicago area at the Book●ed website.
Don’t be confused by the blurring lines between memoirs and autobiographies in recent literature. They differ in several ways. Autobiographies have more constraints in their structure, needing to be chronologically complete, detailed and factual. Memoirs are allowed personal and artistic liberties in determining what and how to tell about selected moments of one’s life.
In Gore Vidal’s memoir, Palimpsest, he defined the two genres this way: “a memoir is how one remembers one’s own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research, dates, facts double-checked.” By this comparison, you might assume an autobiography reads more like a dry textbook while a memoir is more like a rousing novel. Truth is that the success or failure of either format falls squarely on the writing. That’s what will turn you on or off to the person at the heart of the story.
There is a hybrid today that goes back to memoirs typically seen in the 1800s-early 1900s, wherein they were usually about someone’s relationship with someone else of equal or greater renown. Only in the late 20th century did people start writing memoirs about themselves — and labeling their works as “memoirs” in their titles.
In the past two years, I’ve been involved with two such hybrids: Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power by Romina Power and The Baron of Mulholland: A Daughter Remembers Errol Flynn by Rory Flynn. Two accomplished women writing about their even more famous fathers. Their access to people, documents and information about their famous fathers allowed them to effectively infuse the memoir/biography hybrid format with information, photos and personal opinions that previous books and other media couldn’t approach.
Although the hybrid concept was the same, Romina and Rory approached their books differently. Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power uses more historical information to show the origins of the Power theatrical legacy and interviews with people who lived with or worked with her father. She uses memoir to explain how she came to learn about her father. Photos, divided into three segments within the book, support the chronology of generations of the family with the primary focus on the life of Romina’s father (one of several successful Tyrone Powers over the centuries).
The Baron of Mulholland is a handsomely produced coffee table format book, filled with personal photos and reproductions of Errol Flynn’s handwritten personal correspondence. The emphasis of Rory’s book is her parents’ relationship and her own recollections of her father. She also devotes considerable space to her famous brother, Sean Flynn, a noted photographer who died while on assignment in wartime Cambodia.
Through a similar hybrid concept but using different storytelling approaches, Romina Power and Rory Flynn deliver very personal stories about very public men. The Baron of Mulholland will be on sale when Rory Flynn appears at BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on May 16th and at the Pickwick Theatre on May 17th.
Note to Readers – Every now and then, I will re-post a blog entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. I chose Mark My Words from February 2015 because a friend recently sent me a “Happy Springtime” card that contained a handmade bookmark. I was reminded how special bookmarks can be and why they make such lovely gifts for holidays, celebrations or simply as a gesture of caring. Come enjoy the fascinating journey of the bookmark.
What happens when your reading is interrupted before you’ve finished? If you’re like me, you grab whatever is handy to mark your place. The result is a plethora of markers where you live and work. If a book or magazine is lucky, it has a real bookmark in it; otherwise, a paper scrap, piece of string, paper clip or something more inventive is recruited to service.
Recently, a woman I was in touch with because of my work on Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power, sent me a lovely handcrafted bookmark, part of a line she creates for sale in select stores. Her thoughtful gift, gracing the book currently on my nightstand, got me thinking about bookmarks.
Bookmarks of some sort must have been employed since ancient times when the written word was on scrolls that stretched 130 feet or more. Historians can date bookmarks back to medieval times when books were rare, extremely valuable and vulnerable to damage. Some of the earliest bookmarks, usually made of vellum or leather in various shapes (some quite inventive), date back to the 13th century, often used to hold the place in religious books. One would not dare lay a book on its spine or turn down the corner of a page.
The evolution of bookmarks mirrored advances in printing. In the 16th century, the most valuable books continued to be religious and the reader’s place was kept by “bookmarkers”. Accordingly, designs were exquisite, using valuable materials. The Royal Museum of Brunei displays an ivory bookmark that was made in India in the 16th century, embellished with a geometrical pattern of pierced holes, which was used in illuminated Korans. In 1584, the printer who held the sole rights to print the Bible in the British empire, presented Queen Elizabeth I with a fancy, fringed silk bookmark.
Taking their inspiration from the Queen’s bookmarks, books of the Edwardian and early Victorian eras commonly had narrow silk ribbons bound into them at the top of the spine, long enough to project just past the lower edge of the page.
Commercially-produced, machine-woven detachable bookmarks began to appear in the 1850s. Silk was a favorite material, frequently designed to celebrate special events. Young ladies in the Victorian age were taught embroidery, often showing their skill by producing elaborate bookmarks as gifts for relatives and friends.
As books became more widely available by the 1880s, bookmarks made of stiff paper saw a dramatic rise. Their popularity was helped by companies producing attractive bookmarks as promotional giveaways to advertise their brand. Specialized companies manufactured bookmarks of such diverse materials as gold, brass, bronze, copper, celluloid, pewter, mother of pearl, leather and ivory. Many were shaped like knives or swords, to be used as paper cutters because books in that period often contained many pages that were not completely separated.
Contemporary bookmarks continue to be made in all variety of materials (celluloid has been replaced by plastic) and are as popular as ever. They are such a fixture in our lives that even in the Internet era, we use the term “bookmark” to denote a page or location we want to easily refer back to.
Everyone can use and appreciate a bookmark. If you’re an author, consider giving people bookmarks that promote your books. If you’re looking for a gift that’s always the right fit, you can’t go wrong with a well-made bookmark. Mark my words!
April 30th will mark the second annual Independent Bookstore Day across the U.S. Followers of the Book●ed Blog know I’m a longtime big supporter of indie stores. Last December, I re-ran a post that first appeared in March 2013, titled Guilty as Charged. Little did I know, three years ago, the important role independent bookstores would play in the success of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. There are more reasons than ever to check out your local independent bookstore. You are likely to be very pleasantly surprised by the changes taking place.
Because they are not bound by the corporate strictures of chain stores and large discounters, independent bookstores have freedom to be creative in the way they serve their customers. Their hallmark has been personal service. Now they’ve expanded in-store events to feature local and self-published authors, along with nationally known ones.
Some stores have created ongoing programs to instill a love of books among children from toddlers to teens. Others have added cafés or bars, becoming social gathering spots for booklovers. Independent bookstores make it possible for libraries and clubs to bring in authors for speaking engagements, as well as support community events, by handling book sales at those venues.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that bookstore sales increased 2.5 percent from 2014 to 2015. The American Booksellers Association, which represents independent sellers, reported 1,712 member stores (in 2,227 locations) in 2015, up from 1,401 (in 1,660 locations) in 2009. It has been reported that 421 independent bookstores in 48 states will participate in this year’s Independent Bookstore Day. Eighty percent of last year’s participating stores saw a sales increase, and those stores saw an average sales increase of 70 percent compared with the Saturday the year before. Will you be part of the fun?
Lovers of history, mystery and great wines: If you’re in Chicago, stop by Taste Food & Wine between 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 25th for BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Certified Wine Educator Phoebe Snowe will be pouring some great wines while Susanna Calkins, author of the just-released A Death Along the River Fleet, talks about the latest in her popular Lucy Campion series.
April 26th is the final day to get your discount registration for BookExpo America, to be held May 11-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago. BEA is North America’s largest book industry event. I’ll be there; will you?
There are just a few days left until the highly anticipated Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). You can read an excerpt from the book at Criminal Element.com. The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.
And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rory speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.
Just two weeks to go until the Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.
And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rori speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar.
I first wrote about the importance of “hearing” what we read in my July 28, 2013 post, Test-Driving Books—On the Road. Since July 2015, myBOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™events have been taking booklovers on some of those test drives. It’s a great way to decide which literary rides to hop on. Here’s why:
We tend to think of creative writing as something to read, to ingest through the eyes. But most of us hear voices in our head when we read. Our brains translate what our eyes see into words we hear internally.
Writing that is meant to be spoken (think of speeches) is approached a bit differently from writing that is expected to be read with the eyes. Speeches that sound good also read well. But what seems good in print doesn’t always sound good when spoken. You can test this yourself by picking up a handful of novels and randomly reading passages aloud. See if the writing holds up when you speak it.
The best writing, in my opinion, satisfies when read and spoken. This is why writers are advised to read their work aloud, either to others or in solitude. That exercise often turns up awkward, unrealistic dialogue, repetitive verbiage or other weaknesses that need improvement.
One way for readers to test the satisfaction quotient of a book before committing to it is to attend a reading by the author. Increasingly, authors are arranging readings from their latest book as a way to market their work. These events are usually free and open to the public — at the public library or neighborhood bookstores. Sometimes venues require a reservation and a fee – a secluded room in a restaurant, a literary conference or an arts retreat. BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ was created to provide a very accessible, convivial way for readers to meet authors and hear about their books as well to enjoy sample readings.
Large or small, free or with a fee, bare bones or full menu, there are opportunities to hear authors read their work throughout the year. You can find out about these events by checking your community newspaper, your library’s schedule of events, your neighborhood independent bookstore’s newsletter, literary periodicals that carry event news, or simply Google “author readings”. Those in the greater Chicago area can check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ by following the weekly Book.ed Blog, checking the Book●ed website (click on the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ tab), or liking Book●ed on Facebook.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ kicks off Season 2 on April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago. Our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.
The Chicago Tribune placed The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George, #2 on their Chicagoland Best-Sellers list this week. I’ve had the book since last May, when I picked it up — free — at BookExpo America (BEA) in NYC. It was one of several free books I was able to get during book signings and giveaways at North America’s largest publishing event. This year, BEA is coming to Chicago’s McCormick Place May 11th-13th. Free books are the bonuses to an event filled with useful workshops, fabulous exhibitions, author appearances and countless networking opportunities for anyone involved with the book industry. Who knows – you may come home with next year’s best sellers.
Come on, admit it. You’ve imagined yourself portrayed in a movie. By a favorite actor. Lookin’ good. Inspirational even. Because in your mind, you are the writer, director and producer. But what happens if someone else writes, directs and produces your story?
Whether you’re famous or not, it’s more likely than ever that someone, somewhere will decide your life, or a piece of it, is worth writing about. Maybe in a non-fiction work with detailed footnotes. Maybe as the inspiration for a novel, from which you may or may not be recognized. Your story might be written by another family member, one who knows you or one yet to be born who decides to write the family history after you’re dead. You could end up being remembered for things you never said or did, simply because an author did sloppy research or took artistic license.
Three examples:
1. A world-famous actor died unexpectedly at a young age. Twenty-one years later, three books were published about him. One was purely about his career, thoroughly researched and handsomely produced. One was a very detailed and compassionate biography, told as honestly as the author could support with retrieved facts. The third was a salacious, unsubstantiated exposé that was largely debunked. But it’s the third book that sits on a shelf in my local library. Fortunately, the library bookshelf now has another book – one I edited and helped publish – that provides a more accurate recounting of the actor’s life.
2. A best-selling book that was made into an Oscar-winning film delicately unfolds a love story that was inspired by real people who lived a century ago. Artistic license was taken but the real names of the couple and the arc of their potent love story remains. I think the people who inspired the novel would be quite satisfied with its portrayal. But who knows? While the book and film have garnered excellent reviews, I’ve heard and read negative misrepresentations about the real people since they’ve gained a global audience. And they’re not alive to respond.
3. A former child star whose classic movies are still popular had a remarkable chiaroscuro life, pinging back and forth between rags and riches, joys and sorrows. A person of great achievement and a highly regarded inspirational speaker, he had rejected many requests to write his autobiography. I convinced him of the value publishing his story as a biography, autobiography or memoir. He decided only an autobiography would do. During the process, however, I learned some details few people know about the dark parts of his history. The untenable pain of retrieving certain memories made an autobiography impossible. Moreover, he couldn’t face the inevitable interviews that would rip through deep scars. We left the project with the idea of having the manuscript taken as far as possible, then safely stored where his wife could retrieve it if needed in the future after he was beyond its reach. In this way, he kept control of what was uniquely his.
If an accurate recounting of your life or character is important, you should write your own story. Make it an autobiography, complete and detailed. Or form it as a memoir in which you choose what to share. It doesn’t matter if your story is printed as a single text, if it is self-published in small quantities for a select audience, or it is released to a mass market. It is your story, told in your words. Let others say what they will, your voice will also be heard.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ launches its second season on April 25th from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine in Chicago. Back by popular demand is author Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death at the River Fleet, the latest in the Lucy Campion mystery series. Reflecting themes in the book, the wine tasting will feature a Spanish Verdelho, a French Riesling and a California Claret. Books will be available for purchase from the Book Bin. Bonus Buy tickets will also be available at the event for extra goodies. For a glimpse of what we’re about, check out the little BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ video announcement we did last year.
Note to Readers – Every now and then, I will re-post a blog entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. When I learned that my friend Tina Schwartz would be the guest speaker at the March 24th Off Campus Writers Workshop, I took a look at my interview with her that I posted in February 2014. Today, “A” is for Agent is as relevant as ever.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the only route to getting a book into the hands of readers was through major publishing houses, book stores and libraries. Online booksellers, self-publishing and eReaders have turned that approach on its ear. With so many changes in the publishing industry, often discussed in previous Book●ed blogs, authors might be wondering what the role of an agent is today.
I sat down recently with agent Tina P. Schwartz, author and founder of The Purcell Agency, to talk about the role of agents in today’s literary marketplace. Prior to becoming a literary agent, specializing in Young Adult literature, Tina worked in advertising for many years. She negotiated and sold broadcast time, a skill that she found could transfer to publishing. Tina is a published author who sold 10 books of her own and who helped another eight friends get published before formally establishing her own agency in July 2012; since then she has sold 14 manuscripts. Here are excerpts from our conversation:
EED: What do literary agents do and why do authors need them?
TPS: Some of the things agents do for authors are research appropriate editors and publishers for the manuscripts, build relationships with editors and publishers, polish or rewrite queries and proposals, and help edit manuscripts with the authors before they are ready to be submitted. Agents negotiate contracts to be in the best interest of author (often a better advance and royalty agreement than an author might get on his or her own). Agents are often like coaches to authors, looking out for the author’s best interest.
EED: How do you and authors find each other?
TPS: I am listed on PublishersMarketplace.com, I have a company website, I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and I and speak at various conferences and writing groups, which is how I find most of the talent that I represent.
EED: How has publishing changed since you started as a literary agent?
TPS: Self-publishing has become much more accepted, whereas in the past it was looked down upon Now, even some of the most successful authors have chosen to self-publish. Another thing is that many more publishing houses are closed to authors without agents.
EED: What is the biggest mistake made by new authors when trying to get their book published?
TPS: They don’t spend enough time on their query letters. The query letter deserves the proper time, given that it may be the only impression that an agent or editor gets of an author. Also, they may not research appropriate houses or agents to submit to.
EED: What are your three best tips for aspiring authors before they get published?
TPS: 1. READ! Read as much as you can in the genre you write. See what’s been published, what is popular, how the books that have been published so far are written. Notice pacing, characterization, story arc, etc. for fiction, and notice the Table of Contents and Index for non-fiction.
2. Spend enough time on your query letter and researching appropriate publishing houses or agents (go to conferences when you are able to and meet some of these people in person!).
3. Join a critique group!!! You need feedback on your manuscript more than just friends and family can supply. You need other authors’ opinions on what works and what doesn’t.
EED: What are your three best tips for aspiring authors after they get published?
TPS: 1. Celebrate! Not everyone can say they are in the Library of Congress, and as a published author, you are one of those people. It may have been a very long journey to publication, so take a moment to congratulate yourself.
2. If possible, create a “platform” for your book. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, what is the topic of your writing? Find the core of your story and promote it as your expertise. Why did you write the story you wrote, what were your experiences that you drew from when researching or writing the book?
3. Do as much as possible to get publicity for your book. Arrange signings whenever possible, promote your book to any and every group that may be appropriate, from your children’s schools, to local newspapers or cable channels, to all the public libraries within a 10-mile radius. Arrange to do author visits to promote your book’s “platform”.
For authors who want to go the traditional publishing route, a literary agent is more important than ever because many houses today want “Agented Authors Only”. For authors who choose the Self-Publishing route, an agent can offer valuable experience to maximize success. Don’t simply select an agent because of a pretty face or a pretty website. Find out who the agents were for books and authors you admire. Talk to your colleagues in the field for referrals. If your book is your brainchild, make sure that “child” has quality people helping to foster it.
Literary agent Tina P. Schwartz welcomes queries at The Purcell Agency. She will discuss Top Five Questions Writers Most Frequently Ask at the March 24th Off Campus Writers Workshop.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ launches its second season on April 25th from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine in Chicago. Back by popular demand is author Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death at the River Fleet, the latest in the Lucy Campion mystery series. Reflecting themes in the book, the wine tasting will feature a Spanish Verdelho, a French Riesling and a California Claret. Books will be available for purchase from the Book Bin. Bonus Buy tickets will also be available at the event for extra goodies.
April 26th is the deadline for an early bird discount registration to BookExpo America (BEA) — North America’s largest publishing event — coming to Chicago May 11th–13th (with BookCon on May 14th).
Mystery Writers of America will host its Edgar Symposium in New York City on April 27th.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators — one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators in the world — will hold its 2016 Wild, Wild Midwest Conference at the Chicago Marriott Naperville April 29th – May 1st.
In its 27th year, The Sewanee Writers’ Conference will convene its workshops in Poetry, Fiction and Paywriting from July 19th-31st at the University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee. Fellowships and scholarships are available.
Lots of excitement building for Season 2 of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, which begins April 25th. We’re returning to TASTE Food and Wine, named the best place for wine tastings in Chicago by Foursquare, moving the events to Monday nights from 6-8 p.m. as part of TASTE’s popular semi-weekly wine tastings. The more the merrier!
The always entertaining Phoebe Snowe, a certified wine expert, will be pouring great wines paired to the themes of the books we’ll be featuring. TASTE is known for its vast selection of excellent wines that you won’t find in big box stores or through discounters. You’ll be surprised and delighted how competitively priced the wines are.
This year, we’re pleased to partner with a great independent book store, The Book Bin to handle our on-site sales. The Book Bin is “Not a Superstore… Just a Super Store!”
We’ll continue to bring in best-selling and award-winning authors representing various genres but we’ll bring them in just as their books are being published or they are making their first book tour in the Midwest.
Back by popular demand are the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ Bonus Buy tickets. While our wine tasting events are free, these optional tickets will offer all sorts of rewards that will vary from event to event.
Lots more surprises in store – including celebrity appearances, fundraisers, raffles and more — so keep following our weekly blog posts on the Book●ed (you can sign up to receive them automatically) and on Facebook (please Follow us).
Invitation to authors: If you have a book coming out this year or are planning a Midwest book tour, I’d love to hear from you to explore a possible BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ appearance. Contact us via our website or a personal message via Facebook.
Note to Readers – From time to time, I will re-post a past entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. I chose Pardon My Gender from September 2015 because newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that female authors helped American bookstores increases sales for the first time since 2007. The top three U.S. bestselling authors were Harper Lee, E.L. James and Paula Hawkins. Listen up publishers!
Curran Bell, Acton Bell and Ellis Bell may not be names you recognize but what if I were to say Charlotte, Anne and Emily Brontë? In the 1800s, the famous Brontë sisters had to don male names in order to get their writing published after England’s poet laureate Robert Southey responded to 20-year-old Charlotte’s selection of poetry with, “Literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life.” Other noted female authors of the same period who disguised their gender in order to get published include George Sand (Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin) and George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans.)
A century later, Nell Harper Lee dropped her first name for the more androgynous Harper Lee. Nora Roberts, a bestselling author of romance novels under her real name, became a bestselling author of detective fiction using the pseudonym J.D. Robb.
Perhaps the best known contemporary female author to neuter her name is J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. Her UK publisher, Bloomsbury, felt that replacing her first name (Joanne) with initials would make her book more appealing to boys. Without a middle name of her own, she used her grandmother’s, Kathleen. “They could have called me Enid Snodgrass,” Rowling told The Telegraph in an interview. “I just wanted it [the book] published.”
As long as women have written, they have had to contend with bias in the publishing industry. While some are hopeful that the growing number of female authors with successful books will open doors for more women, statistics suggest that traditional publishers still view women primarily as writers and readers of romance novels.
Two 2011 studies prove the point. They showed that The New York Review of Books reviewed 71 female authors, compared to 293 male authors; The New York Times reviewed 273 women and 520 men. Only Crown published a similar number of male and female authors; the others clearly favored men.
Women authors are not the only ones battling discrimination in the publishing world. Minorities are also largely underserved, much to the loss of booklovers. But women are not a minority, which is why I highlight this sorry aspect of the publishing world.
The emergence of self-publishing is resulting in some hugely successful female writers (see Footnotes) but traditional publishers need to step up to the plate. It makes good business sense. Car dealers, real estate marketers and political parties have awakened to the potential women offer, not only as consumers but as producers. It’s time for the white male bastions of the publishing world to make way for diversity. Let it begin with women authors.
There’s a new TV commercial that makes me want to scream at the screen. You may have seen it. It’s from a company that claims it will publish your book and get it into book stores. Wham bam thank you ma’m. A little research into the company shows they are a scam, intent on hooking naïve writers with great dreams.
Until now, such misleading sleazy sales pitches to authors have been limited to the internet and some magazines. These shysters used to be referred to as Vanity Press but now hide under the growing umbrella of self-publishing services.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in self-publishing. In fact, I helped a friend of mine self-publish a collector’s quality limited edition book in 2014 that was enthusiastically received. There are excellent self-publishing services from reputable companies. A growing number of established authors have moved from traditional publishers to self-publishing and found it lucrative. Conversely, some wildly successful self-published authors have gone on to impressive book deals with major publishing houses.
Here’s the issue: If you don’t know what you’re getting into with self-publishing, you can easily fall into one of the many sinkholes that dot the landscape. Unfortunately, you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s why I regularly write about the business of publishing, including self-publishing. As I always say, “There’s good news and bad news for authors and that news is the same: Today, anyone who wants to get published can get published.” Doesn’t mean your book is going anywhere… unless you get serious about the business side of writing.
Lines are blurring between what an author may get from a traditional publisher or a self-publishing company. Caveat emptor! Buyer beware! Whichever route you take, you need to understand the entire process. What was once dessert has become the appetizer. The end goal is no longer just getting your book produced. There are also distribution, marketing and public relations considerations, with side orders of copyrights, contracts, price points and profit margins.
Most authors prefer to spend their time writing rather than tending to business. There are people who would be happy to handle the business end for authors … for a price. Traditional publishers cover copyrights, distribution and some degree of marketing but the effort varies from contract to contract, which is where a good agent and literary attorney are your best allies. I have many author friends who have excellent relationships with the major houses that publish their books, no doubt established through a good contract.
With self-publishing, you have more of an a la carte menu of services, although you may be offered a prix fixe package. You don’t need an agent or a literary attorney to be self-published; you do have to understand what is required to succeed, decide who will handle those requirements, how to get reliable, reasonably priced services and what to expect.
Begin your education by going to trusted resources that have no financial interest in your book. I like Writer’s Digest and Poets & Writers to keep me current on changes and opportunities in self-publishing (they also do a great job on traditional publishing). Attend major conferences, workshops and retreats offered by trade such education and trade organizations as AWP and BEA (and specialized groups based on genre, geographical region, etc.). Books on the subject are helpful but may not be current in the ever-changing publishing world. The best source is a guide who is thoroughly familiar with the industry and understands your particular needs and wants; a source who will keep you based in reality as you make your choices.
A friend of mine, whose earlier books were traditionally published but decided to go the self-published route with her latest book, chose a well-known company that would get her books distributed nationally and internationally, through brick and mortar bookstores as well as through Amazon. Until she found that they couldn’t get into brick and mortar stores. They have posted her book on Amazon but have not created any publicity to draw people to her title. Thousands of dollars into her investment, it is now up to her to find every book store and other venue to carry her book or host a book signing, to seek her own promotions. I could have told her this would happen but she never asked. I wish she had.
Two events of interest to writers in the Chicago Metro area are coming this spring:
April 29th – May 1st: The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will hold the 2016 Wild, Wild Midwest Conference at the Chicago Marriott Naperville. SCBWI is one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators in the world. It is the only professional organization specifically for those individuals writing and illustrating for children and young adults in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia.
May 11th – 13th: Book Expo America, North America’s largest publishing event, is moving from New York to Chicago this year. Organizers promise “access to what’s new, what’s next, and everything exciting in the world of books.” Discounted early bird registration is being accepted through April 26th.
Remembering author Umberto Eco, who we lost the same day we lost Harper Lee:
I love the smell of book ink in the morning.
Books are not meant to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry. When we consider a book, we mustn’t ask ourselves what it says but what it means….
To survive, you must tell stories.
All the stories I would like to write persecute me when I am in my chamber, it seems as if they are all around me, the little devils, and while one tugs at my ear, another tweaks my nose, and each says to me, ‘Sir, write me, I am beautiful’.
When the writer (or the artist in general) says he has worked without giving any thought to the rules of the process, he simply means he was working without realizing he knew the rules.
Loyal followers of my blog know I’m a fervent supporter of independent book stores. They provide opportunities and services to authors and booklovers that Amazon, big chains and discounters cannot.
On an even more personal level, book clubs also benefit authors and booklovers. At first glance, the benefits are obvious: readers share the reading experience and authors whose books are selected potentially see group sales (read more in my April 27, 2014 post, Ace of Clubs).
Imagine my surprise, then, to discover an ongoing controversy over the value of book clubs (which camp are you in?). Some people adhere to the belief that reading should always be a solitary experience. If you’re in that camp, you can stop reading here … but I hope you won’t.
There are many types of book clubs to choose from: Single title – every member reads the same book; Multi-title – every member is reading a different book at any given time but each book makes the rounds of the members; Library – usually librarian led with books made available by the library; Online – a variety of formats for how books are selected and information shared; Broadcast – example: Oprah’s Book Club; Book reading – using audio books or members taking turns reading aloud from the book; Author led – includes the author of the current book as part of the discussion; often concludes the discussion with a live conference call or webinar.
Some clubs center meetings around social activities while others focus on the book discussion. Like any club, a book club’s success depends on its leaders and structure. Camaraderie or discord among members, and each individual’s experience, will flow from that. Like choosing a new pair of shoes, you seek out a certain style but you have to try it on for fit. Choose well and you’ll meet interesting people (possibly creating enduring friendships beyond the club), read good books you might not otherwise have chosen, expand your view of books through other people’s insights, maybe even eat some great food. Most of all, you’ll have fun!
Author bonus: Starting or participating in a book club offers extra benefits to authors. Obviously, reaching out to existing “author led” club gives you a platform to explain your work and build a loyal following for your future work. Another benefit of joining a book club is the likelihood you will sometimes read outside your comfort zone; genres and styles that are different from what you usually read can inform what you write. Whether the group reads your books or others, discussion and analysis give you insights from readers that will improve your craft. Reading With Purpose: Four Reasons Why Every Writer Should Join a Book Club provides more thought on this subject.
