"So photograph it, the milky way. It spills into the hand and dries."

[greygirlbeast]

Not a bad day yesterday, though I didn't get as much work done as I needed to do. I did finally get The Red Tree off to my agent at Writers House and my editor at Penguin. But, first, I had to make one MS Word file out of three files (one for the "editor's" preface, another for Chapter One, and a third for the remainder of the novel). Then I had to compose a longish email explaining all the ways that the novel is not quite finished. I also sent it to Sonya (sovay) and to Spooky's dad, as both had volunteered to read this rough draft. Okay. It's not that rough. It just hasn't been proofed, and is full of typos and continuity errors and broken things I've not yet gotten around to fixing. Anyway, now it's in NYC (and Boston and Saunderstown), and here is the cover that Roc will be using (behind the cut):







I am not entirely pleased with the cover, but Penguin did make a couple of changes that I requested. This version is better than the original. I'd have preferred something a lot more subtle, but the people whose job it is to sell my book are certain this cover will help to move the novel, so there you go. The woman on the cover would be Constance Hopkins, the painter who comes to live in the attic above Sarah Crowe in the old farmhouse near the red tree.

Also, a great deal of time yesterday was spent just talking to Spooky about the story I'm about to begin, which hasn't quite come together in my head. I think it's going to be steampunk, but I'm not yet entirely certain. This isn't for Sirenia Digest, but for an anthology. And we also talked a great deal about Joey Lafaye, where it might go and what it might become.

Later, we drove down to Newbury Comics in Warwick. A chilly and thoroughly overcast day, the trees still brilliant in the last throes of autumn. Spooky found a used copy of Strawberry Switchblade's The 12" Album (1985; this is a copy from the Canadian re-release). Heading back into Providence, there was a marvelous fog. We did the Kindernacht thing and watched Mike Newell's adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). Neither of us had seen it since the theatrical release, and I still think it's really very, very good. Alfonso Cuarón's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban remains my favorite of the Rowling adaptations, but Goblet of Fire is a close second. Oh, and have you heard the rumors that Daniel Radcliffe may be chosen to play the Eleventh Doctor? I think that could work quite nicely, though I'll hate to see David Tenant go.

Yesterday, a reader wrote to ask my advice regarding self publishing. As I said very recently, i don't like dispensing writerly advice. And I'm not exactly the most market savvy person. So take what I say next with that caveat in mind. Based on what I've seen and heard and been told over the years, by agents, editors, and other authors, it is generally a very bad idea to go this route, especially if you ever want a shot at being published professionally or trying to make a living off your writing. Myself, I would avoid the POD option like the plague. I would suggest that if you are a good enough author to warrant publication, then you also need to find an agent and a real publisher. This will take time and tremendous patience. You'll be rejected over and over. It might well take many years. Meanwhile, you will become a better writer. I think the POD thing lures in a lot of impatient young people who desperately want to be published, but who cannot imagine enduring the long trial of rejection and concession that is usually necessary to achieve publication. I still have the mountain of rejection slips that were lavished upon Silk. It sucked, but, eventually, the book found a home and has managed to stay in print for a decade now.

As regards self publishing, one must also consider distribution. If you do it yourself, how will you get the books to your readers? It's hard enough getting decent distribution when you have one of the big New York publishing houses behind you. And no, I don't think that Sirenia Digest is relevant to this conversation, as I was already an established author when I began it, and would not have been able to launch without the support of Subterranean Press. In the end, my advice, which I am reluctant to give, is to be patient and stick to the traditional road. When you know that you are good enough, find an agent, and the agent will find you a publisher. Persevere and hope for a lucky break. It will be hard, and, yes, truthfully, you'll probably fail, because most authors fail, regardless of merit. But if the only alternative is POD, it's not much of an alternative, beyond whatever private rewards vanity press has always brought. POD will, almost certainly, make you less attractive to actual publishers, should you ever approach them. For better or worse, it's preferable to have no publishing credits than a string of self-published POD novels.

And I'm only saying this because I was asked my opinion.

And now, I go to the platypus.

Comments

[timesygn.livejournal.com]

From the peanut gallery, this: I like the cover for THE RED TREE. It's got a spooky/goth-romance crossover feel. (And the woman kind of resembles Sarah Silverman's evil twin. But in a way that works.)

Am glad to hear the JOEY LAFAYE conversation is happening and that the creative gears are grinding in that direction. The SIRENIA excerpt is even better the second time through. I think there's so much you could do with this story. Add my vote to those who can't WAIT to see more.

(And as regards Boomers, I am unsympathetic. They monopolized the cultural conversation for decades, undercut the early Gen X'ers at every turn, warped the laws governing retirement and social security to give themselves an early bailout while raising the retirement age on us to 70, all the while lecturing everyone on how morally bankrupt they were. Puh-LEASE ...)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

(And as regards Boomers, I am unsympathetic. They monopolized the cultural conversation for decades, undercut the early Gen X'ers at every turn, warped the laws governing retirement and social security to give themselves an early bailout while raising the retirement age on us to 70, all the while lecturing everyone on how morally bankrupt they were. Puh-LEASE ...)

Here's my thing. I wasn't really defending the Boomers. Yes, they are directly responsible for the shortcomings of the generation they produced, just as their parents were responsible for them. And I'm no more sympathetic to one generation than another, really. I just can't stand the default Gen X mindset, even though I understand the forces that produced it. I can still hope that someday there will be a remedy, just as I can hope that someday there will be a remedy for my misanthropy (and I do hope that).

[cause-catyljan.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, we'll definitely be able to sell that...

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

'I am not entirely pleased with the cover, but Penguin did make a couple of changes that I requested. This version is better than the original. I'd have preferred something a lot more subtle...'

Here, exclusively for the first time: Penguin's first cover design for The Red Tree!

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Here, exclusively for the first time: Penguin's first cover design for The Red Tree!

Beautiful!!!


I'm forwarding this to my editor and publicist immediately.

[humglum.livejournal.com]

I think you just killed me.

[lokilokust.livejournal.com]

yay!

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

XD

There was indeed a LOL at that. Your mind and your Photoshop skills are impressive. Most impressive.

Stay bent.

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

So fun.

sorry

[smallpinkfish.livejournal.com]

I know I should keep my frigin' mouth shut. But it hurts. Your my favorite author and I think this cover is way too genre-fiction. I don't judge a book by it's cover so maybe I'm wrong, but it pisses me to know that I could come up with a better cover and I can't sell shit. It is probably serving the opposite purpose in that your readers are not only saddened by the fact that such beautiful words are wrapped in something so misleadingly two-dimensional, but that the audience that you have yet to reach will be limited to the sf-fantasy section of Barnes & Noble, instead of on the fiction shelves where it belongs. At least it's on a shelf period. I know you have to make a living and I will buy it no matter what cover is on it. But shit. Very sorry- I know this is your page and you have enough shit to worry about, but I have a big mouth and you have a good book.

Re: sorry

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

At least it's on a shelf period.

Yes.

Re: sorry again

[smallpinkfish.livejournal.com]

I guess I see things from a visual standpoint in that I used to have to shelf books and I think this cover will blend in with all the other stuff I would pass over if I was looking. Which is probubly a good thing and means more people would be inclined to pick it up and check it out. Pre-teens will like it because it's cool, boys will like it cause she's pretty flagrantly seductive, and proto-gothy popular culture will eat it up with candy and popcorn, You of all people really do deserve to be able to make a living because when all those people actually read the book they will never go back to reading their usual tripe again. I hope.

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

It's one of those weird things. The most powerful covers for handselling often don't appeal to the die-hard fans of the author because they're meant to appeal to the people one niche over who might try a new author if the cover looks like what they want. The die-hards are often presumed to be buying the book no matter what they slap on it.

Plenty of gothic classics were repackaged with women on the cover running from houses when the 70s gothic boom was in effect, which is slightly similar. And there's a chick lit cover for Flowers in the Attic which worked quite well, if one means "was bought by people who hoped it was a touching and tender love story involving fashionable footwear."

[corucia.livejournal.com]

While the covers to most of your regular press books haven't been exactly my cup of tea (readingthedark's explanation seems likely), I will admit that they are all of a kind. I can see that they therefore might be more recognizable to a casual reader, as they look like they belong together, and each one is also likely to attract the same type of reader. I think it's a net positive - it indicates that there's some thought and even possibly long-term planning on Roc's part. I'd like to think that planning and forethought trumps clueless randomness...

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

hmmm... the cover is a lot gothic romace to me, but i do think that the people at penguin are probably right that it will help with sales - it reminds me of some of the covers for kim harris etc which may draw you some new readers

that said, i'm really looking forward to the red tree and a is for alien

thanks for continuing the struggle to bring us so many wonderful things to read

[kazdreamer.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I can certainly understand your reservations over the new cover, but as someone who reads very widely (inc. more 'mainstream' urban/contemp fantasy) I know this cover will sell copies. I'm now the romance/fantasy buyer (alongside Trisha Telep) at Murder One, and I would display many copies of this with confidence.

So, yeah... Sales = A Very Good Thing. :)

p.s. May I post the cover art on my blog? I'll also forward it to Urban Fantasy Land - they regularly post new cover art, but may not pick up on yours.

[talgot.livejournal.com]

My first time here, I just finished reading Daughter of Hounds. Lot of good stuff in this post, thank you for the advice on POD, I was tempted. I'm more likely to learn and refine my writing style until someone publishes me, now. The cover looks fine except She is too well defined in contrast to everything else in picture like two photos badly shopped together by an amateur like a bad celebrity nude fake where the resolution on head is better or worse than on rest of body. [exaggerating to explain what I mean] I'm sure they will fix/tweak before print as I'm assuming the above cover is a draft. Thank you for this blog, your books, and for being one of us. Looking forward to more works from you. You are on my 'got to read' list now.