I’m not dead, just buried under

(Quick! Someone send the St Bernard with the barrel of alcohol tied to his collar!)

Hello Journal! Long time no see, again. Sorry it’s been a quiet summer – I’m trying to dig out from a lot of self-imposed deadlines (and some not-so-self-imposed). I’ve spent every waking moment since Mid-July working on a spec project. You haven’t heard of it. It’s not contracted. But it was eating at my brain (much like a flesh-eating virus would) and I really wanted to get it done while I had some downtime.

(Cue laughter at the thought of ‘downtime’)

I did finish it, though! And then I got handed my copyedit for book three of the Succubus Diaries. Normally my copyedits are clean and pretty, and all I have to do is just write STET and go along my merry way. Not this time. Clearly my brain was half-dead when I turned in this manuscript, and I thank the lord that the copyeditor has such a good eye. I cannot keep eye-color straight, or clothing, and there were several plotlines that I dropped and never recovered throughout the book that I had to fix.

What have I learned from this? No more magical objects that characters can wear. Ever. EVER.

So now that that’s over and I can breathe a sigh of relief, I’m back to my spec project, reading for draft two. I thought the book was totally crap, but it actually turned out really well and I’m happy with it. So yay! In a few weeks I hope to have it polished up and off to my agent, and then I’ll probably be back to work on the next book in my series.

A few people have been asking me about the MIDNIGHT LIASONS book that is scheduled to come out next year. The only information on that is that I don’t have any information! The title is changing, the date it is coming out is up in the air, and I don’t even have edits on it yet. It’s still on the schedule, though. As soon as I have more details, I will share them here, I promise.

Blogging at Bitten By Books tomorrow!

Hey! If you’re not going to RWA this week, stop by Bitten By Books – you can win a copy of my book 2 (signed if you’re in the US, but still open to worldwide residents).

Just stop by here and RSVP: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=28084

Remy and Jackie will be answering questions, so be sure and drop by and ask something you’d like answered. No holds barred! (Well, maybe a few holds.)

Blah

I am having a blah week, but seeing this article helped!

http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2010/05/final_book_in_jean_m_auels_ear.html

The final Ayla book is coming out next spring! Woot! I read THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR when I was twelve, and the entire series was pretty much my gateway drug to romance novels. They’re awesome. I’m excited.

PS – I wrote fanfic for Ilona Andrews yesterday at Odd Shots.

On confidence.

I think confidence is one of the biggest tools you need to be successful in publishing, at least from the author side of things. And strangely enough, it’s one of those things that’s also hardest to hold onto, even after you’ve had a measure of success.

Because in publishing, the goalpost is constantly moving backward, right? Let’s say your goal is to finish a book. Goal met! Then get an agent. Goal met! Now you need to get a publisher. Goal met! Now your book needs to come out and do well. Then you need to hit a list. Then you need to hit higher on the list. Then you need to increase your print run-size while still hitting even higher in the list, and oh, can you pull in a bigger audience if they start targeting ads at this new demographic and…

You get the idea.

So where does confidence come in? All over the place, actually. It’s confidence that lets you work on the next project. Confidence tells you that the story is solid when you’re going through the copyedits, and then the galleys. Confidence lets you resist the urge to rewrite the ending in the 11th hour. Confidence lets you go to sleep at night, even after your publisher tells you the size of your print run.

And it’s really, really easy to lose the confidence. It’s easy to start a new book that you’re excited about and have it lying dead (like a really dead thing) on the page. It’s easy to get caught up in numbers or reviews or Amazon rankings. I’m the poster child for neurotic-things-we-shouldn’t-track-that-drive-us-crazy but I can’t help myself. Normally it doesn’t bug me enough to make me stop writing, but somewhere in the past few weeks I’ve…struggled. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the change of pace, or a switching of projects. Maybe it’s because I’m dipping my toes into a new genre and the water’s not very warm.

Whatever it was, I lost my mojo.

I didn’t realize it right away. Instead, I played video games. Read some books. Played more video games. Watched hockey with the husband. Got out of the house a lot. Surfed the internet a lot. Whined via email a lot. Went to sleep crabby and woke up crabby.

(Author’s note – there is NO one that is more difficult to live with than a crabby writer. NO ONE.)

I was seriously avoiding working on projects. And so I wrote a ficlet or two, just for kicks, for no one to see. And it was…really fun. And when I brainstormed a new idea with my agent last week, I put aside the old, frustrating project and started the new one. It’s always hard to start a new project, but after I got two pages in this one, it just kind of…flowed. I ended the writing happy with what I had.

And today? Today I am confident again. I am in a great mood despite it being Monday, and a deadline week at work. And it’s all thanks to having a good writing day and getting my confidence back.

And sometimes that makes all the difference in the world.

Where you won’t find me

I’ve had a couple of people ask me about my Goodreads account recently. I’m there, I check it every day, and I actively participate at Goodreads – I tag my TBR list, mark books I’m excited about, review the ones I’ve read and enjoyed, etc. I chat with people about reviews I’ve left on other books. There’s a major caveat to my participation, though.

My books get reviews or ratings almost every day. As an author, I love this and find it terribly exciting. People love my stuff! (sometimes!) People are talking about my stuff! But I don’t comment on any reviews or threads. I read the comments (even the unpleasant ones) and I NEVER, EVER, EVER PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MY OWN BOOKS.

The same thing goes for Amazon and B&N and review forums, etc. I poke around – absolutely. I’m nosy as hell. But I don’t participate in the conversation. A couple of people have asked me why, so I thought I might explain.

If we chitchat on Twitter every now and then and you post a review of my book on your blog, I will probably pop over to thank you for reviewing it. If you comment on my journal or at Odd Shots, I do my best to answer your comment, I really do (and if I’ve missed you, I’m sorry!). But I don’t participate on the Amazon forums or on Goodreads or anywhere else that they talk about my books.

Those reviews aren’t for me. They’re for other readers. NOT ME. And I believe that me showing up and commenting or trying to explain something about my books, or why I chose to do things a certain way…it influences the conversation. It makes some readers downright uncomfortable.

If it was me and I was talking constructively about a book, and the author stopped by to comment? I’d hate that. I’d clam up. I don’t want to do that to other people. You should be free to talk about my stuff in public without fear that the Authorbeast shall descend upon you and Explain Her Book And Show You The Error Of Your Ways.

So that’s why I don’t participate in discussions on Goodreads (for those that asked). If someone point blank asks me something, I might respond, but it’s just as easy to email me (my inbox is always open). It’s something that I feel fairly strongly about — and I know other authors don’t necessarily agree with me. But that’s how I feel. Maybe this will change later, but for now, I prefer that people have an author-free zone to discuss my stuff. And if it gets to the point that there’s enough traffic to warrant a forum for fans (oh, what a glorious day that would be) I’d throw one up on the website.

But you are free of me on Goodreads and Amazon.

Just the FAQs, ma’am

Hey everybody! It’s Friday – WOOOO!

I think the majority of my blog tours are over for the moment – and I have to say that while it was fun, I’m glad to be able to give myself a little mental R&R for a few days! At least when it comes to blogging.

I did see a few of the same questions pop up repeatedly, so I thought I’d answer a few of them here so you don’t have to fish for answers.

Q: When does book 2 come out?

A: It’s out now! Honest! It’s available on Amazon and at Borders and anywhere you can imagine! I’ve even heard it’s at Kroger. Heck, I have SEEN it at Kroger. And it’s a pretty, pretty cover.

Q: Who’s on the cover of the first book? The 2nd?

A:  Noah is on the cover of the first book – the hair’s longer than I pictured for him, but the model is so pretty that I can’t even be disappointed! Zane is on the second cover.

Q: This is a series, right?

A: Yes it is! Same characters, multiple books. Book 2 can be read without book 1, but it’s a lot like watching a TV episode and missing the pilot. You’ll catch on, but it might take a commercial break or two.

Q: When does book 3 come out?

A: Very very early 2011. I haven’t heard the official month yet, but probably January 2011.

Q: Why so long?

A: Because my publisher releases two books a year for their authors and both of mine came out back to back! (btw, I <3 my publisher for the back to back)

Q: Why does your journal suck so much lately?

A: I know. Sadface! The thing is…I’m crazily busy. December was ridiculous, and January is turning out to not be much better. I have a day job and we’ve been at crunch-time and will be until March 1st. And that is also conveniently when book 3 is due to my editor.

Here’s a peek into my writing process – I write the draft at night, after work. It comes out in a flurry of words that are usually crap words. Like, I don’t give snippets a lot because they are WOAH BAD. I read a sentence aloud to my husband the other day to ask his opinion, and this is how the conversation went:

Me, reading sentence: Blah blah blah blah blah sentence stuff that I can’t share because it is spoiler-iffic. So what do you think, honey?

Him: Erm.

Me: Erm?

Him: That’s not…the finished sentence, is it?

Me: Well, it’s staying in here for now. But this is a rough draft.

Him: But that’s an awful sentence. Like, really bad.

Me: I KNOW BUT IT’S ROUGH DRAFT.

Him: You’re going to rewrite it, right?

Me: I didn’t ask your opinion about the sentence. I want to know about the PLOT.

Him: Is your whole book written like that?

Me: You know what? Nevermind.

Him: Do you need my help writing it?

Me: … I’m done here.

Heh.  So, first draft is badbadbad. But I never turn in a first draft! I go back through the book immediately after I finish it and begin to do a second draft of things I couldn’t squeeze in to the first draft. Things like uh, plot points I forgot, personality for characters, etc. Then once that’s done, I print the entire thing out and edit it again.

The book is due March 1. I am um….still not done with the rough draft. Normally the rough draft ends at about 80k, and after all clean ups, it ends at about 87k or so – a nice, sensible size for a book.

Book 3 (Which I am now calling THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SUCCUBI because I am weird like that) is currently 85k. And I still have at least 10k to go. Which I really need to write this weekend.

So – deadline crunch for Jill! The good news is that if you’re waiting on book 3, it’s going to be meaty and chock full of story, and longer than the last two books.  The bad news is that my brilliant journal will probably be less brilliant for the next few weeks while I try to squeeze all the brilliancy into my book.

So…I hope I hit everything pressing! If you have something else you want me to answer, leave a comment and it’ll give me fodder for additional posts.

The Final Stop on the Blog Tour – Holly Root!

(Late to post, but just a quick note that yesterday’s blog tour stopped over at Market My Words by Shelli Johannes Wells – we discussed marketing and pseudonyms.)

Thank you to everyone that has followed along on my blog tour across the interwebz! It’s been so much fun and I have loved seeing all the comments – even if I haven’t had a chance to stop by and reply to all of them!

(Tiny confession – I thought I would have more free time than I have. Ulp! Mea culpa!)

We’ve tallied ALL of the comments that you’ve been leaving and the final tally was well over 400 comments! Awesome!

The winner of the Holly Root Query Critique contest is Laura Pauling.

Laura left this comment on 1/02/10 at Dorothy Windsor’s journal:

laurapauling.wordpress.com
2010-01-02 04:04 am UTC (link) It’s so encouraging to hear that others have gone through the waiting process. I’m so glad you made it to the other side! Enjoy your blog tour. It’s cool.

Congrats, Laura Pauling! Send your query letter to my email address at jillmyles AT gmail.com and I will send it along to Holly on your behalf. For everyone that didn’t win, I’m sorry! But here is a small interview with the fabulous Holly Root to tide you over.

Holly Root

1) If I had to pick a factor as to what sort of client is ‘right’ for the ‘Holly Root Client List’, I’d say Voice is the #1 thing. Am I right? And if so, what really makes a voice stand out for you? Anything in particular?

You are correct! I am very much a voice agent, which doesn’t always mean super-chatty and conversational. While I do tend to like first person-when done well, I love that close perspective-I definitely have third person and even prescriptive nonfiction clients that I would describe as every bit as voice-driven. For me it’s about an indelible point of view, that sense of a character whose vision of the world is real and absolutely authentic to them, as well as a confidence to the storytelling. That confidence is the
real “know it when I see it” element-it’s a sense of being in good hands as a reader.

2) What’s the best part about being an agent? Worst part? (Is there a worst part?)

Best part is watching an author’s hard work pay off in the form of a published book, and watching that book connect with readers the way it did with me. Worst part is definitely the books that don’t work the way everyone hoped they would, the ones that don’t find their audience.

3) Is there one thing in particular you are tired of seeing? Vampires? Portals to another world?  Vampires with portals to another world?

I’m tired of seeing everything pitched as “Buffy meets whatever”, from romance to YA to nonfiction. I completely get the urge to have a strong, take-charge heroine (though I personally am very tough on these characters because they’re easy to make stereotypical) but the Buffy comp is way overused.

4) How do you go over projects with your client list? Do you like to work on it with them from inception, or do you prefer to just have a completed manuscript handed in?
It’s different with every client. Some people need and want my input on what to work on next; others just go away and cook stuff up and then share. Ultimately, I can tell you what idea sounds big or marketable to me right then, but the intersection of art meets commerce means that sometimes that “big concept” just won’t be the book you can write right now for any of a million reasons, and if you try to do it in spite of that it’ll just sound off. So final call is always down to the person doing the creating.

5) Is it true that you make every client rewrite the end of his/her book?

Pretty much, yes. I’m a pretty editorial agent; the competition is so stiff these days that I can’t imagine not being that way. There’s definitely a point where you just have to put it out and let the market speak but if I see a way to make a ms that much tighter, why wouldn’t I jump on it? As for why it’s always the ending-I have a slew of authors whose initial phone calls with me went “I love it, it’s amazing, I know just where to sell it, now go redo the back third.”

When you’re working with people who are exceptional storytellers the middles tend to be pretty tight, but getting in and out is where an outside eye can help. And honestly, when it’s the beginning it’s often tougher to get into the ms enough to get to the point where I’d offer representation, even with the request for revision. Tough fact but true, not just for me but for editors too.

6) Barbara Poelle – rumor has it that you’re friends with her. Is there some sort of blackmail involved?
No blackmail required! Our agencies used to share office space; our husbands are both working actors; our only choices were to become inseparable or go West Side Story on one another. Fun though a dance-off would’ve been, we took the high road.

This is a good point, though. Most agents have lots of agent friends; some of them are simply more social acquaintances but with others, I have a stronger sense of their taste and lists. Every now and then something will come across our desk that seems right for one of those friends and I’ll refer it along; if you get one of these, it’s the realest of real referrals and is very much a Good Thing.

7) Name something we don’t know about Holly Root (but should!)

I tried and tried to think of something dishy or exciting but I am just deeply devoid of mystique, I guess! Sorry.

(Aww, I forgive her.)

Thanks, Holly! And thank you to everyone that has stopped and commented along the way. Special thanks go out to my Blog Tour peeps and especially Gretchen McNeil, who kept the entire motley mess organized. Gretchen = awesome.

Tomorrow…

Is the big day (at least, it’s exciting for me).

I’m…so tired I could fall over. Seriously. Next time I have a book release, remind me not to have it in December or January. Or BOTH.

Just a quick reminder that you have a few hours left to enter both my Goodreads contest and my blog contest to win a free copy!

I was also over at Dear Author today for the First Sale letter, and Mandi at Smexy Books reviewed Gentlemen Prefer Succubi.

There’s a little something cool launching tomorrow, brought to you by a group of the most supportive people ever…so stay tuned.

ETA – AAAAH! My counter says 2 hours until my book releases.

No writing tonight. My eyes are crossing. Hopefully tomorrow.

Author copies! Win a free signed copy!

SO PRETTY! I’m so excited – it’s beginning to feel real!

And before anyone asks – they’re all pretty much spoken for (that didn’t take long, eh?).

To celebrate getting in author copies, I’ll give away two signed copies right here. I’ll even throw in some matching bookmarks. Just comment either here on my website journal or on my LJ and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy (continental US only please). You have between now and 12:00 noon on December 29th (release day!) to comment.

ETA — I’m also going to give away two copies on Goodreads (what the hell, right?) so if you have a Goodreads account, sign up to enter over there too! The URL isn’t up yet, but I’ll post it when it is. Good luck!

Wanna win a free book?

Heads up! My publisher is giving away TEN copies of Gentlemen Prefer Succubi — and will ship to anywhere in the world! That means if you are in Europe or Australia or Canada or wherever, you can play too.

Head over to Bitten By Books to RSVP & enter. I’ll be doing an afternoon-long chat on Friday that gives you more chances to win. And you can ask me anything. ANYTHING. Well, almost anything.

Woohoo for free books!