15 Gail Carriger: The Business of Writing

I have a friend at work who reads a lot of the same books I love. We're constantly trading book recommendations. One day, I stopped by her counter and she had this new book: SOULLESS by Gail Carriger. I read the back and couldn't wait to read the whole thing. It's an amazing comedic blend of Victorian steampunk and fantasy (think werewolves and vampires, out in society, winning wars for the crown and influencing fashion). I was hooked. I wasn't the only one: it was a NYT Bestseller, won an ALA award, and forced debut author Gail to learn a lot about the publishing industry, like NOW.

On this call, she shared her knowledge with us, for when it's our turn. Some (but not all, by a long shot) highlights:

• It is still possible to be plucked from a publishing house slush pile.
• Pick an agent who can help you negotiate a favorable contract, and who has time for you on her client list. (Gail's agent is Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency. Kristin also blogs at Pub Rants.)
• Pick a publishing house with an editor you can trust to be professional, and with whom you can relate (Gail's publisher for the SOULLESS series is Orbit Books).
• Your publisher's marketing efforts will likely correspond to the size of your advance.
• There are a lot of things an author can do to market her own books--calling in favors is often involved.
• Blending genres is cool, but can be confusing to marketing departments, bookstores, and other industry professionals. Be prepared to explain your book, but you might get to help design your cover. :) (Well, at least Gail did.)
• If you perform well in public, your publisher will give you more opportunities to do so.
• Publishing money comes in stages: upon signing, upon delivery, upon publication, upon winning of awards, hitting benchmarks, out-earning advance, etc. Don't expect a big fat check all at once.

Gail stayed extra long to answer caller questions and to make sure we knew everything she thought we should. Plus, she pointed us to this post on her blog, where she talks in detail about her post-sale events and marketing efforts. Be sure to check it out!

You can access the MP3 by clicking here, or you can listen to the call below.

10: David Farland- How to Sell Your Novel

Tonight, we took time for a word from our Sponsor, David Farland. Dave shared with us five key factors an aspiring author or newly published author must have for a novel that sells. Those five factors are:

1. Make sure your novel is as good as it can be stylistically and grammatically before you try selling it.
2. Research prospective agents and editors for your work.
3. Crafting well written query letters.
4. Where (and how) to best meet agents and editors who will properly market your work.
5. Personal persistance and tenacity, how much is too much?

Dave took ample time to field questions from our Forum members. If you desire to astound the world with the brilliance of your prose, amaze humanity with your heart-rending flights of literary fancy, why haven't you stopped reading and started listening to what Dave had to say?

You can listen to it here on our handy-dandy player:

Or, you can listen to it on your computer's Window's Media Player by clicking here.
(If it's not downloading, switch to Internet Explorer.)

5: The Six: Writing Groups and Breaking Into Publishing

Sara, Kimberly, Bree, Emily, Valynne, Brodi
(picture by Michelle Sallay Photography)

Tonight we heard from The Six, a long-standing writer’s group, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two are published and poised to release their sophomore novels. Three are currently under contract. Four have agents. Five have finished at least one novel. All Six are made of awesome and chock full of advice for newbie authors about how their writing group works and how to break into publishing.

Over an hour and a half (yeah, we had a bit too much fun), The Six answered such burning questions as:

·         How did you know when your group had the right balance of crazy?

·         How do you critique (/rewrite) each other’s stories?

·         What do you do at writing retreats (besides writing)?

·         How do you ever get any writing done with 5 of your best friends around all the time?

·         Do you find threats or writing contests more motivational?

·         How do you approach scary-powerful agents and editors at writing conferences?

·         How many queries does it take to land an agent?

·         What is the appropriate wardrobe for receiving news of a book sale?

·         How many days should you wait before talking to your editor about their recent revision letter?

·         Can published authors still be fangirls?



The Six, in order from least to most crazy, are:

#6 Sara Bolton has a degree in journalism, years of professional editing experience, and has written and published hundreds of non-fiction articles and product advertisements in newspapers and magazines. She is currently working to finish her first novel, a YA Historical Fantasy that explores chivalry and knighthood from the perspective of a female knight.



#5 Kimberly Reid used to be an editor for the FRIEND magazine, and is the author of hundreds of articles published in the FRIEND, NEW ERA, ENSIGN, and LIAHONA magazines. Her picture book THE CHRISTMAS MEMORY QUILT won a Moonbeam Award in 2007. Her agent is currently submitting her first novel, a YA contemporary about a small town threatened with extinction after the death of a five-year-old.



#4 Valynne E. Maetani works professionally as a script editor for educational stories. She has worked as a film producer and has edited several screen plays, including MY LITTLE WAR IN JUAREZ, the winner of the 2010 Creative World Award. She has completed two novels and will soon be seeking representation for her latest book, THE ROTTEN ONES, an abnormal romance set amid horror flicks and bouts of petty espionage.

#3 Bree Despain is the author of the THE DARK DIVINE, in which Grace Divine, a pastor's daughter, must unravel the secrets behind her foster-brother's sudden return after a mysterious three year absence, and why her real brother wants her to have nothing to do with him. The second book in the trilogy, THE LOST SAINT, is scheduled for release on December 28, 2010. Her release party will be at The King’s English in Salt Lake City at 7pm that night.

#2 Emily Wing Smith is the author of THE WAY HE LIVED, which won the Utah Book Award in 2008. In her next book, BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE, Joy takes a road trip to visit her abruptly-departed, possibly-ex-boyfriend… with his former-best-friend riding shotgun. It is set for release on April 28, 2011. Emily will also be teaching a beginning YA class at the upcoming Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers on June 13-17, in Sandy, Utah.

#1 Brodi Ashton just sold her first book, EVERNEATH, to Balzer and Bray (Harpercollins). EVERNEATH tells the story of a girl who just spent six months or a hundred years (give or take) in a version of Hell, and now has six months to spend with her family and her boyfriend before going back… this time forever. It is set for publication in the Winter of 2012, with two more books in the series already contracted.

If you missed the call, you can listen to it below. (Turns out Brodi is quite technologically savvy, as well as being an awesome writer. Thanks, Brodi!)

You can also download the MP3.