Project to Published: Why Be An Author?

Sorry for the break in the Query Series but I am having computer troubles and only have so many of my files available and have only now been able to even post. I want to make sure that I have all of my links for you! Sorry and will do my best to have the query series continue next week!!!

Why Be An Author?

"Project to Published"

When I was working on another query letter earlier this year (42nd attempt), I was asked by a family member "Why be an author? It's not like you are going to make it or get rich by doing it!". My response was my normal one. I pleasantly smiled, told her that I understood her concerns and then I went to find a piece of chocolate while feeling frustrated.

More than half a year later, things are now a bit different. After my hundredth rejection, I began receiving those much-craved acceptance letters. I was accepted by a publisher and received my first proof copy. I received my first reviews - many positive and some negative. I had my first book signing and completely sold out every copy of my book that not only I had brought with me, but that my publisher had also sent. I also had the opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the finest YA authors in the field.

That very same family member was present at the signing and she congratulated me afterwards, telling me how proud she was of what I had accomplished. Then she asked me if I was rich yet. Bring on the pleasant smiles and chocolate...

I later shared with my fiancé how frustrating that question was to me and he smiled back, nodding at what I was explaining. I told him that I'm not in this for the money, I'm in it because I love to write. Then he asked me in that infuriatingly logical way of his why should that question bother me if I'm not in it for the money. That got me thinking.

I'm not in this for the money - I'm in this because I love writing. But I could have stayed merely a writer. So why did I become an author? Every step I have taken has been a large one, filled with difficulty, roadblocks and frustration. But every step that I have taken is one that managed to take and do so successfully. Writing that novel was hard - but it's published and sales are great. Querying agents were difficult - but I'm published and out in the world. Waiting to see bookstores have copies of my book made me anxious, but now my book is on shelves throughout the nation.

Getting here was not easy. It took work. A lot of work. But with each step I take, I'm slowly understanding the true difference of writers vs. authors - it's in what we want. Anyone can be a writer and write down what in their hearts. But to be an author, you have to be willing to share that writing with the world, letting thousands, if not millions, read your writing and have an opinion on it. You have to be willing to give your fiancé that wonderful doe-eyed expression as you try to get him to jump on a plane with you and fly half-way around the nation or world to promote your book, or be willing to just go yourself.

I know why I want to be an author. I want to share my writing with each of you and many others. I want to see dozens of other books that I write on the shelves and to know that I have touched the lives of others the way that certain authors have touched my own. I'm not in this for the money, because being an author is a career that takes time and effort, but I am ambitious and I intend to make my dreams and plans come true.

How about you? Why do you want to be an author?

Review: Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis (Please vote for The Thirteenth Chime at Blog with Bite!!!)

Hey everyone please stop by http://www.blogwithbite.com/ and vote for The Thirteenth Chime as the novel for November!!!!

Novel: Whisper
Author: Phoebe Kitanidis
Pages: 281
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy



I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

I really enjoyed this novel. Normally I stop reading a novel once I see any cursing... okay, maybe that is an overstatement. It makes me want to put it away but in some cases, like this one, it isn't enough to warrant not finding out what happens next! It had a very emotionally raw (in a good way) feel to it, not in terms of the writing style but in terms of the characters and their personalities. I am really happy I read this book and it was definitely a one sitting book for me. (Even if I was forced to take a break to sleep.) Overall, I think it is one of my favorite books of the year and am really looking forward to more from this author!



5 stars!



Would I suggest you read it:

Was definitely worth my time and something I would suggest to anyone. (As long as they are okay with minor cursing. I will admit normally it feels like it isn't needed which is why I don't like it but in this case it felt like it was needed in some ways for that part of the story. It was a natural response that went along with the realism of the story.)

Teaser Tuesday: Other by Karen Kincy

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

My legs crumble, and I crawl forward.

“Chloe?” I whisper. So faint that she wouldn’t hear me even if she could.

Other by Karen Kincy – page 140

Project to Published: The Query Series #1

The Query Series #1

Querying is one of the most frustrating, yet important, tasks that you will ever undertake during your transition from writer to author. Querying an agent can bring as much joy as it can consternation and feelings of rejection. I have met a very small group of authors who were fortunate enough to have their manuscripts accepted within the first five queries, but I'm afraid that this is the exception to the rule.

Let's face it - agents are in a business and they are forced to make, albeit not always the most informed, difficult business decisions. Just because they like or dislike a book is not grounds for the decision-making process - it's all about whether the concept will sell on the market of today. For those of us who have 'been there, done that', it was a grueling process, filled with heartache, trials and imaginary book ideas in our heads about agents.

Writing a manuscript can be difficult, but the query process is akin to building your very own Great Wall of China. It takes time, patience, understanding, and in most instances, a great deal of luck. The best advice I, just as others before me, can give you is to not give up. Keep climbing, keep fighting and keep revising.

There are many forums and websites throughout the internet that boast advice on how to create 'the perfect query letter'. Just remember that the 'perfect' one doesn't exist. The manuscript you wrote came from inside of you, and now you must bring forth your future query letter in much the same way. A query letter that is written for one agent might bomb, but it might also be the opening of a door with another.

You must also keep in mind that agents are not 'mass-produced cyborgs' that are intent on destroying your dreams. They are your first hard look at what someone might say about your manuscript. You need this - trust me. They will let you know if the idea will work, what might need revising and what you personally can do to help make your book sell. They are not perfect and they make mistakes just like everyone else. So don't begin to think that your manuscript will never see the light of day because I received over a hundred standard form rejections before I received my first yes, and my last major book-signing completely sold out.

Don't randomly query agents. Get to know who you are querying and what they are looking for in a potential book. Listen to what they are trying to tell you and make your querying attempts based on this information. I know querying is frustrating, prone to heartbreak and it's hard to get past. However, if you take the time and effort to do it properly, and that great deal of luck is with you, you'll find the success you're hoping to get.

Series continued over the next three " Project to Published":

Query Series #2: 
How to format your query letter/ What you will need
Query Series #3: 
Important links and websites that can help with your queries and finding the right agent for your work
Query Series #4: 
Once you have found the agent your want/ What research you will need

Is there anything else about query letters you would like to see included in this series or in future posts?

Sincerely,

Emma Michaels

Follow My Book Blog Friday!!!

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - whatbookisthat.com

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

What book are you reading?

Happy Follow Friday!

NEW! Follow it up with your twitter address if you want to get that one out!

*********

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Novel: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 374
Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy/Dystopia)



Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.


(I will not be posting any spoilers! Only opinion for the sake of those of us who love to have our first look at a book be untainted by foreknowledge.)

I LOVED it. Interesting concept that leaves you wanting more, romance that isn't just about the good or the bad but about something more substantial and a whole lot of heart stopping, perfectly gasp worthy moments where you sit reading rapidly just trying to keep yourself from screaming out to the characters or crying silent tears. It was wonderful. I can see why so many people enjoy it! It has the adventure side of it but the main characters are still very sensible and level head. It has the mystery that leaves you hanging and wanting more. Most importantly, it has an amazing plot written out in an elegant writing style that is straight and to the point, something I find very refreshing. I would definitely suggest it to anyone, especially fans of dystopias!



5 Stars!



Would I suggest you read it:

I would definitely suggest this novel to almost anyone. It does have teens killing one another so there are some I would not suggest read this novel but overall, it is insane, adrenaline pumping and gets you so emotionally invested that you can’t help but wonder what will happen next. Let me say, what will happen next just might surprise you! So I say if you want to read The Hunger games, go for it!

Project to Published: NaNoWriMo

Project to Published

“NaNoWriMo”

As some of you may already know, I will be participating in NaNoWriMo this year. I had heard so many amazing things about it from friends and aspiring authors so decided to look into exactly what NaNoWriMo is. For those of you who may not have heard of it, NaNoWriMo is the National Novel Writing Month, which runs from November 1st to the 30th. The goal is to try to write 50k words in one month! I think it is a great idea. Here is a little explanation from the official NaNoWriMo website:

“National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

In 2009, we had over 165,000 participants. More than 30,000 of them crossed the 50K finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.”

See why I like it? For those of you who have been yearning and waiting, trying to find the right time to start, why not take advantage of a little competition with your peers. Many authors feel that the first novel you write is a practice novel, so why not just have fun with it and let yourself go! You can write about anything and make it as random and fun as you want because as you read above, it is all about quantity not quality. I personally will be joining in with one of my next official novels because I just love the competitive spirit to this event! Let’s all let NaNoWriMo make us better authors and who knows, you may discover the opportunity that you have been waiting on.

I will be joining in NaNoWriMo meet-ups throughout the nation and I hope you will be going to your local meet-ups. I know I will be! I hope all of you will join in the “Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!”

Will you join me in participating next month?

Sincerely,

Emma Michaels

Follow My Book Blog Friday!

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - betweenthecoversblog.net
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!

NEW! Follow it up with your twitter address if you want to get that one out!

"When you read a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?"

I stick it out until the end if I can. I believe that every novel deserves a chance and you never know what novel just might redeem itself later on.

Here is my novel, The Thirteenth Chime:

Teaser Tuesday: Spider's Bite

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

“A man’s face flashed in front of my eyes. Chocolate skin, curly hair, a dimpled smile, and black eyes that were even colder than mine.”

Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep - Page 228

"Project to Published" The 5 P's of Publishing

“Project to Published”

(almost) Every Sunday

The 5 P's of Publishing

Recently, I headed down to California and had a signing at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, which is why, for the first time ever, I missed my “Project to Published” post last week. After I was done with the signing (I sold out of copies of The Thirteenth Chime!) I started adventuring out and interviewing fellow authors, asking them what advice they would give to aspiring authors. I received many wonderful answers that I will be sharing at a later date (I am working on the video interviews I did that day!) but the reoccurring themes I continued to hear really inspired me so I have created the new Project to Published P’s:

1. Practice
2. Perseverance
3. Patience
4. Proactive
5. Precious

Practice

The more you write, the better of a writer you will become. This is true for any muscle you work or exercise you undertake - the more you do, the better you become. Write every day, even if you are busy. I have found that I really look forward to the time I spend writing each day.

Perseverance

One of my favorite quotes of the day was “You can’t give up. As soon as you do, you aren’t an author anymore.” I was asked many times at the book festival how I became a published author. Each time I answered the same way - don't give up. Becoming a writer is easy, but becoming an author can take years of hard work.

Patience

The publishing industry is a hard market to get into, filled with strong competition, elusive opportunities and a large literary mountain to climb in order to reach the top. In many ways, writers are a lot like mountain climbers in that we each have to struggle to reach that next ledge, knowing we have come so far and yet have so far to go. Just remember that once you reach the top, you will have an extraordinary view waiting for you.

Proactive

No matter how you say this (early bird catches the worm, never giving up, going for the gold, etc.) the point is to not wait and go for it! Think of the tortoise and the hare - why did the tortoise win? It took the tortoise a long time to finish the race, but the hare waiting ended his chances.

Precious

The life of musicians and actors have been open to public awareness and scrutiny for decades. Musicians and actors are always on the road, going from place to place, gig to gig, job to job. However, few know of the author's life, or what he or she goes through during a literary career. Writing is easy - being an author is hard. It's hard because the initial challenges that we're faced with, involve writing the book and getting published. But once there, the true journey begins, taking an author throughout the nation and at times the world. Just remember - your writing is something precious and unique. Always keep it that way!

The journey of becoming an author begins with a decision to go for it. Never give up and keep trying - you will get to the top!

OCCBF and Follow My Book Blog Friday!

OMG! The Orange County Children's Book Festival was a blast and went perfectly! The Thirteenth Chime SOLD OUT!!! It was so amazing and I met so many amazing people! Including these two beautiful women Becca Fitzpatrick and Heidi R. Kling:

 Maria V. Snyder, Nancy Holder, T. K. Richardson, Lisa Desrochers, some absolutely amazing bloggers and more! I also took some videos you will get to see later hopefully and got signed copies! YEAY! Can hardly wait to tell you more about it!!!

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - seducedbybooks.blogspot.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!  
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!
NEW! Follow it up with your twitter address if you want to get that one out!

Add your linky on the original hosts site.

The Blog Hop question for today: What's your favorite beverage while reading or blogging, if any? Is it tea, coffee, water, a glass of wine, or something else?

 If I am not drinking my normal water then I normally am having tea! I LOVE Green Tea or Earl Grey!

My Question: What would you like to see authors do at their signings? What swag do you hope they will give away that you don't see very often?

 

Sincerely,

Emma Michaels 
P.S.- Did some fun image editing: