Stomach in, chest out, and breathe!
In a few days time I'll be crawling into my suburu forester along with my two huskies and two cats and heading west, to southern California. This is a temporary relocation but it's for good reason. My baby girl is going to have a baby boy in a few weeks and I want to understand all the rules and regs to earn the title, Grammy Jo!
The fact that I'll be trying to write on the west coast and not from my cozy, loft office in the Rocky Mountains ... well, I'm a bit concerned about finding comfort in any "new writing spot." And then there's the other thing ... CA is a huge place and I'm a total unknown in any CA Hood. At least in the Rockies, my friends have ever been supportive of my writing habits, good and bad, and there are always a few friendly faces at signings. I hope the natives in southern CA are friendly!
I hope to hit the ground running (well, how about waddling) and join the local RWA chapter in Los Angeles, and approach many of the local libraries as well as bookstores. Hey, I used to sell Girl Scout Cookies and maybe my skills with mint cookie sales will come in handy. Naaa ... we all know mint cookies sell themselves. I've got it! I'll get myself lasered and lasicked and nail-polished and waxed and made over, and then maybe I'll get a library card or two, for starters.
I'll let you know if the Write Coast is Right for me. Tune in tomorrow ...
:-) Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
THE QUAKER AND THE CONFEDERATE-HEARTS DIVIDED
THE QUAKER AND THE CONFEDERATE-HEARTS PERSUADED
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "Going LARGE Isn't So Bad"
I just found out that my 12/08 release, THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER, is going into LARGE PRINT with Thorndike Press Historical Fiction, come April 15th! Bigger IS better, tee hee!
The primary market for my books sold to Five Star-Gale, an imprint of Cengage Learning, is the library market (BLESS THEM). If any of our books sold in original hardcover survive the numbers crunch, they have a chance to go into LARGE PRINT. These large print hardcovers (with Thorndike) are sold primarily to the library market as well. Most libraries have large print shelves and I'm sooooo happy that THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER will perhaps go on many of these shelves.
My second Five Star-Gale sale, A...MY NAME'S AMELIA, also went into LARGE PRINT, as a softcover with Wheeler Publishing. It did quite well for which I'm truly grateful. If I may add, the heroine in the book is deaf and I did the majority of my research at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind (CSDB). I happily was able to gift the school with a large print copy of AMELIA as well as donating the wall hanging I had made of The Manual Alphabet. I'm honored the school will display the wall hanging and put copies of AMELIA in their library!!!
So ... you can see why I'm saying that "going LARGE isn't so bad!"
:-) Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
The primary market for my books sold to Five Star-Gale, an imprint of Cengage Learning, is the library market (BLESS THEM). If any of our books sold in original hardcover survive the numbers crunch, they have a chance to go into LARGE PRINT. These large print hardcovers (with Thorndike) are sold primarily to the library market as well. Most libraries have large print shelves and I'm sooooo happy that THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER will perhaps go on many of these shelves.
My second Five Star-Gale sale, A...MY NAME'S AMELIA, also went into LARGE PRINT, as a softcover with Wheeler Publishing. It did quite well for which I'm truly grateful. If I may add, the heroine in the book is deaf and I did the majority of my research at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind (CSDB). I happily was able to gift the school with a large print copy of AMELIA as well as donating the wall hanging I had made of The Manual Alphabet. I'm honored the school will display the wall hanging and put copies of AMELIA in their library!!!
So ... you can see why I'm saying that "going LARGE isn't so bad!"
:-) Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "Everyone Needs Their Own Writing Spot"
As I'm about to Leave the Comfort Zone of my "old writing spot," I'm more aware than ever that we all need Our Own Writing Spot!
Where, When, Why, and How we write is what makes us unique, of course. Unique is good, is it not? It's what the agents and editors want and hopefully, what we want, too. I subscribe to the school of thought professing that every step in the writing process is an important one. Every step matters. How do we feel when we sit down at our computers, both physically and mentally? Is it a good day or bad? Are we writing under pressure, under deadline, or can our imaginations wander where they will? Some might be able to write, unfettered by outside distraction, but not moi`! Some write according to a fairly-set schedule ... which is moi`!
How many of us have heard people say that they'd love to write a book but don't have the time? (Of course, they never talk about any skill that might perhaps be involved.) I believe that those who want to write but say they don't have the time, are unwilling "to take the time" to actually sit down and write. Writing takes discipline. Writing, to me, means I have to set down a time and place to write and stick to that schedule no matter what. Of course we all have "push" moments when we have to get something done, but that's not what I'm talking about here.
This is where "Our Own Writing Spot" comes in. If we have a place of our own and a time of our own to set down our thoughts ... viola` ... those thoughts actually come! Our unique story begins to unfold before our very eyes because we're snugly tucked in the warm, welcoming arms of our own writing spot, where we can trust our imaginations to soar!
Happy Writing,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Where, When, Why, and How we write is what makes us unique, of course. Unique is good, is it not? It's what the agents and editors want and hopefully, what we want, too. I subscribe to the school of thought professing that every step in the writing process is an important one. Every step matters. How do we feel when we sit down at our computers, both physically and mentally? Is it a good day or bad? Are we writing under pressure, under deadline, or can our imaginations wander where they will? Some might be able to write, unfettered by outside distraction, but not moi`! Some write according to a fairly-set schedule ... which is moi`!
How many of us have heard people say that they'd love to write a book but don't have the time? (Of course, they never talk about any skill that might perhaps be involved.) I believe that those who want to write but say they don't have the time, are unwilling "to take the time" to actually sit down and write. Writing takes discipline. Writing, to me, means I have to set down a time and place to write and stick to that schedule no matter what. Of course we all have "push" moments when we have to get something done, but that's not what I'm talking about here.
This is where "Our Own Writing Spot" comes in. If we have a place of our own and a time of our own to set down our thoughts ... viola` ... those thoughts actually come! Our unique story begins to unfold before our very eyes because we're snugly tucked in the warm, welcoming arms of our own writing spot, where we can trust our imaginations to soar!
Happy Writing,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Friday, January 30, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "Leaving Our Comfort Zone"
In writing, "leaving our comfort zone," usually means "leaving our established genre," and branching out into others, yet untried. While this is the mark of a talented author (one who can write in multiple genres) this is not the comfort zone I'm talking about. I'm talking about leaving one comfortable writing spot for another.
Events are uprooting me from my comfortable, familiar, loft office in the Colorado Rockies ... where I find solace and many an idea pondering each passing snowflake ... and transplanting me, albeit part-time, to a windowless office/closet a block off busy Pacific Coast Highway, with the ocean minutes from my door. Needless to say, I don't have an office window where I can gaze out each day to watch the tide roll in and out and ponder the flight of the pelican or gathering of gulls ... where I perhaps might find the solace and fanciful ideas left behind in my mountain home.
There is another comfort zone I'm leaving, too. I'm leaving behind the local libraries and bookstores in the mountains and on the front range in Colorado, where they usually say "yes" to author appearances, and "yes" to ordering my books. I'm leaving the "hood" where most of the folks in my writing groups are members. Granted, because I live a relatively isolated life in the mountains, I'm not a frequent attendee at meetings, but I do enjoy the e-mail, snail-mail, and up-close-and-in-person-when-I-can collegial, companionable acquaintances with other authors based in Colorado. I've had the good fortune of seeing some of these talented authors at conference and hope to continue this in the future. Good luck for me that conferences are scheduled all over the country and soooo ... I'll especially try to attend those held in Colorado and in California.
I look forward to "hooking" up with some of the writing groups in California and perhaps will actually attend a meeting once in a while. Duh! I also look forward to getting a rhythm going, much like the ocean tide, of writing in both Colorado and California ... wherever GRANNY DAY CARE takes me!
And so ... I raise my 3rd cup of coffee so far today ... to you in a toast to Expanding Our Comfort Zones!
:)
Jo(Anne) Gregg Sundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Events are uprooting me from my comfortable, familiar, loft office in the Colorado Rockies ... where I find solace and many an idea pondering each passing snowflake ... and transplanting me, albeit part-time, to a windowless office/closet a block off busy Pacific Coast Highway, with the ocean minutes from my door. Needless to say, I don't have an office window where I can gaze out each day to watch the tide roll in and out and ponder the flight of the pelican or gathering of gulls ... where I perhaps might find the solace and fanciful ideas left behind in my mountain home.
There is another comfort zone I'm leaving, too. I'm leaving behind the local libraries and bookstores in the mountains and on the front range in Colorado, where they usually say "yes" to author appearances, and "yes" to ordering my books. I'm leaving the "hood" where most of the folks in my writing groups are members. Granted, because I live a relatively isolated life in the mountains, I'm not a frequent attendee at meetings, but I do enjoy the e-mail, snail-mail, and up-close-and-in-person-when-I-can collegial, companionable acquaintances with other authors based in Colorado. I've had the good fortune of seeing some of these talented authors at conference and hope to continue this in the future. Good luck for me that conferences are scheduled all over the country and soooo ... I'll especially try to attend those held in Colorado and in California.
I look forward to "hooking" up with some of the writing groups in California and perhaps will actually attend a meeting once in a while. Duh! I also look forward to getting a rhythm going, much like the ocean tide, of writing in both Colorado and California ... wherever GRANNY DAY CARE takes me!
And so ... I raise my 3rd cup of coffee so far today ... to you in a toast to Expanding Our Comfort Zones!
:)
Jo(Anne) Gregg Sundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Friday, January 23, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "If you DON'T have the self-confidence gene, what really helps in writing is ..."
...to keep writing and keep selling! It's that simple and that complicated.
There are writers out there who are prettier, thinner, smarter, richer, more poised, more well-spoken, better at time management, listed in top 10 book sales throughout the land, agent-represented, signed on for speaking events at every conference, more savvy at working the Net, and far more expert in social and writing networking than moi`.
OK, that's a given. No danger in that whatsoever. I, for one, celebrate everyone's success. It's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell. Why do I insert "danger" into my narrative here? For good reason.
There's a fine line between celebrating the success of other writers and comparing ourselves to them -- setting ourselves up in some kind of phantom competition. Yes, to me that's dangerous AND whittles away at our self-esteem and self-confidence. We, none of us, have time for this nonsense.
It's critical to stay focused on our own writing and our own networking and our own place in today's writing world, doing our utmost to improve at every turn of the "crafting" page. We have only to learn from other writers, and if we're lucky enough to know writers who are also editors ... kismet! No better writing-self-confidence-builder!
Self-confidence for this writer, comes from writing and selling. I know I'm not the prettiest, the smartest, the most well-spoken nor the most talented, but darn it ... I'm selling to a fantastic publishing house and my books are selling to a fantastic library market ... and sometimes beyond. Because I know "it's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell," and because my books are selling ... I'm happy in my writing shoes and ever grateful to own a pair. A good fit builds self-confidence. It's that simple and that complicated.
A more confident `09 to us all!
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
There are writers out there who are prettier, thinner, smarter, richer, more poised, more well-spoken, better at time management, listed in top 10 book sales throughout the land, agent-represented, signed on for speaking events at every conference, more savvy at working the Net, and far more expert in social and writing networking than moi`.
OK, that's a given. No danger in that whatsoever. I, for one, celebrate everyone's success. It's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell. Why do I insert "danger" into my narrative here? For good reason.
There's a fine line between celebrating the success of other writers and comparing ourselves to them -- setting ourselves up in some kind of phantom competition. Yes, to me that's dangerous AND whittles away at our self-esteem and self-confidence. We, none of us, have time for this nonsense.
It's critical to stay focused on our own writing and our own networking and our own place in today's writing world, doing our utmost to improve at every turn of the "crafting" page. We have only to learn from other writers, and if we're lucky enough to know writers who are also editors ... kismet! No better writing-self-confidence-builder!
Self-confidence for this writer, comes from writing and selling. I know I'm not the prettiest, the smartest, the most well-spoken nor the most talented, but darn it ... I'm selling to a fantastic publishing house and my books are selling to a fantastic library market ... and sometimes beyond. Because I know "it's darn hard to write and darn hard to sell," and because my books are selling ... I'm happy in my writing shoes and ever grateful to own a pair. A good fit builds self-confidence. It's that simple and that complicated.
A more confident `09 to us all!
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Saturday, January 17, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "The Self-confidence Gene"
`Suppose there's a gene test for self-confidence? In writing, especially?
If so, one could make the argument that BEFORE one pursues a writing career, one might do well to get that gene test for self-confidence. If you have the gene, GREAT ... write on! If you don't have the gene, NOT-SO-GREAT ... but write on if you dare.
With four books to my credit, from Five Star-Gale, I'm not there yet in terms of self-confidence but I'm building up immunity against FEAR in the FACE of MARKETING as I go. With each book I'm realizing that I have to be doing something right to get published in this tough industry; especially in today's "tough" financial market. Despite the fact that I'm fortunate, indeed, to be published with such an accredited publishing house, and despite the fact that I've received national reviews for all of my books in release ... I still hem, haw, and shake in the knees during book talks, signings, and speaking appearances.
I'm remembering Stephen King's sage advice now, in his book, ON WRITING, where he advises us to turn all of our negatives and our rejections ... into positives. Because I was born without the Self-confidence Gene in "all things marketing" I, more than most, need to heed Mr. King's advice. Which I do. Uh, which I try to do.
Most importantly, I tell myself that every day tons of other writers are out there marketing and they can't all be GREAT AT IT! I do feel there's a support group out there, with many in the membership just like me, and needing to turn our fears into motivation and use all of that adrenalin for GOOD ... OUR OWN GOOD! I relax then, knowing I'm not alone.
Sooooo ... I take a deep breath, chin up chest out and all of that sort of thing, and remember that I've indeed achieved a lot, with four books published, and I owe it to myself, my publisher, and my stories to turn my chief negative --- my lack of self-confidence --- into positive motivation and go out there in Marketing Land and grab a bit of that elusive brass ring of self-confidence for myself! There should be plenty to go around on the merry go round of book promotion, right?
Let's all grab that Brass Ring of Confidence together,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
If so, one could make the argument that BEFORE one pursues a writing career, one might do well to get that gene test for self-confidence. If you have the gene, GREAT ... write on! If you don't have the gene, NOT-SO-GREAT ... but write on if you dare.
With four books to my credit, from Five Star-Gale, I'm not there yet in terms of self-confidence but I'm building up immunity against FEAR in the FACE of MARKETING as I go. With each book I'm realizing that I have to be doing something right to get published in this tough industry; especially in today's "tough" financial market. Despite the fact that I'm fortunate, indeed, to be published with such an accredited publishing house, and despite the fact that I've received national reviews for all of my books in release ... I still hem, haw, and shake in the knees during book talks, signings, and speaking appearances.
I'm remembering Stephen King's sage advice now, in his book, ON WRITING, where he advises us to turn all of our negatives and our rejections ... into positives. Because I was born without the Self-confidence Gene in "all things marketing" I, more than most, need to heed Mr. King's advice. Which I do. Uh, which I try to do.
Most importantly, I tell myself that every day tons of other writers are out there marketing and they can't all be GREAT AT IT! I do feel there's a support group out there, with many in the membership just like me, and needing to turn our fears into motivation and use all of that adrenalin for GOOD ... OUR OWN GOOD! I relax then, knowing I'm not alone.
Sooooo ... I take a deep breath, chin up chest out and all of that sort of thing, and remember that I've indeed achieved a lot, with four books published, and I owe it to myself, my publisher, and my stories to turn my chief negative --- my lack of self-confidence --- into positive motivation and go out there in Marketing Land and grab a bit of that elusive brass ring of self-confidence for myself! There should be plenty to go around on the merry go round of book promotion, right?
Let's all grab that Brass Ring of Confidence together,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Friday, January 9, 2009
HEART 2 HEART - "Book Cents"
With the New Year underway and in the midst of marketing my third release from Five Star-Gale, trying to juggle time needed for completing manuscripts and time needed for well ... the rest of the "to-dos" in life ... I made a resolution to have better BOOK CENTS this year!
Yep, I "also" made a resolution to be a better blogger, too. Time will tell.
What do I mean by BOOK CENTS?
I mean that every minute of my day that goes toward writing should be a minute well spent.
I mean that every word keyed toward my WIP should be a word well put.
I mean that time and effort involved in Virtual Blog Touring should not be time wasted.
I mean that every marketing avenue pursued, should have a positive exit plan with projected sales numbers in mind.
I mean that I will try to get "booked" in stores for signing events that will showcase my latest release to best advantage.
I mean that I will work on getting out there ... whether on the Net or in Person ... and do my best to engage and interest more readers in my historical romances.
I mean that I will do my best to "dance and chew gum at the same time." I will do my best to write, while at the same time market, while at the same time, book appearances at stores and libraries.
MOST OF ALL, I mean that I will continue to value my relationships with acquisitions agents, editors, fellow writers, and readers, ever listening to their sage advice and following their guide.
Makes good "BOOK CENTS," don't ya think?
Jo(anne)Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
Yep, I "also" made a resolution to be a better blogger, too. Time will tell.
What do I mean by BOOK CENTS?
I mean that every minute of my day that goes toward writing should be a minute well spent.
I mean that every word keyed toward my WIP should be a word well put.
I mean that time and effort involved in Virtual Blog Touring should not be time wasted.
I mean that every marketing avenue pursued, should have a positive exit plan with projected sales numbers in mind.
I mean that I will try to get "booked" in stores for signing events that will showcase my latest release to best advantage.
I mean that I will work on getting out there ... whether on the Net or in Person ... and do my best to engage and interest more readers in my historical romances.
I mean that I will do my best to "dance and chew gum at the same time." I will do my best to write, while at the same time market, while at the same time, book appearances at stores and libraries.
MOST OF ALL, I mean that I will continue to value my relationships with acquisitions agents, editors, fellow writers, and readers, ever listening to their sage advice and following their guide.
Makes good "BOOK CENTS," don't ya think?
Jo(anne)Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER
MEGGIE'S REMAINS
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