Comments on: Saturday Guest Blogger: Robyn Carr!

By: Cher Gorman

Cher Gorman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:54:17 +0000

Thank you for the reminder, Robyn about books hitting brick walls. I know it happens and it’s disappointing but it is part of the publishing biz. It’s as those times we have to remember why we started writing in the first place, otherwise, we’d all probably hang up our keyboards certain that we’ll never sell a book to anyone!

Thank you for your candor in telling us about your Virgin River journey. A friend of mine, Regina Brewer, told me something a long time ago that I’ve never forgotten…she said “Every writer has a different journey.” And boy is she right!

Take care and thank you so much for being here this weekend. The Jungle was truly blessed by your presence.

Cher

By: Robyn carr

Robyn carr — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:22:50 +0000

And Cher – I know you already know this, but I feel compelled to say it — the book you write can be totally wonderful and run into brick walls, so try not to let that discourage you =- it’s the nature of the beast. If you’re honest with yourself (and objective!) you’ll know! I’ve had books that didn’t sell that I realized, at least eventually, weren’t that good. I put them away! And I’ve had books that I really really believed in that had trouble selling. One of my all time favorites in a 30 year career was The House On Olive Street — I KNEW that book was good; I knew it in my bone marrow. But it took three years to sell! When it did, it began my career with Mira and HQ — something for which I am incredibly grateful! Dianne Moggy was just setting up Mira and bought it; you can ask her today, ten years later, and she’ll still say she loves that book. It not only did well — I bet we’ll see it back in print before long.

I completely wrote the first 4 books in the Virgin River series before I could get anyone to look at the first 100 pages! it was a series, for one thing — right at a time publishing was really suffering, and that kind of commitment was hard for someone to get. But I KNEW it was a good series with potential. I also KNEW I wanted HQ to be the publisher if at all possible, because they know how to publish ongoing romantic series very successfully. And I hung in there, using the time I waited for them to have time to look at it, to make a decision, to do everything I could to revise and make it better than it was.

Even with the best help available, at the end of the day the quality of the book is on you — do your best.

And thanks everyone — for having me and being so wonderful to me!

xoxoxoxo

By: Cher

Cher — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:37:35 +0000

Great advice, Julie. Thanks

The only thing we really can control is the quality of the book. We just need to write the best book that we can and hope someone buys it.

Cher

By: Julie Leto

Julie Leto — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:21:16 +0000

Cher, thanks for sending Talina in the right direction!

As for months…nothing is written in stone. December books have done well. But it’s a common sense thing…in December, women are shopping for everyone else and may not make as many purchases for themselves. They will buy established authors, but may not take a chance on someone new.

This is really a single title phenomenon more than category. In series, there really isn’t that much rhyme or reason. Summer books do well because more people read in the summer. Christmas themed books (which are actually released in October or November) generally sell very well.

And again, there isn’t much to worry about for an author…we don’t control release dates. Like Robyn said so sagely…control what you can and while it’s good to understand how things work, if you can’t influence it, don’t worry about it!

By: Cher Gorman

Cher Gorman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:41:25 +0000

You’re welcome, hope it helps

Cher

By: Talina Perkins

Talina Perkins — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Thanks Cher, I am heading over to HQ right now to check everything out. I am going to check out Outreach International after that. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. Have a great Sunday!

By: Cher Gorman

Cher Gorman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:37:15 +0000

Hi Talina On HQ’s homepage you will see Shop, Read, Talk Write toward the bottom of the page. Under Write you will see where you can click on Writer’s Guidelines. When you get to writer’s guidelines you will see the names of the different lines. They are all listed there. Just click on one and you can read their guidelines. Also they have Podcasts with each of the lines so you can listen to the editors talk about what they are looking for with each line. Lots of great info there.

If you aren’t a member of RWA and you write romance you should check out Romance Writers of America. http://www.rwanational.org There are also some good on-line only chapters like Outreach International Romance Writers that you might want to take a look at.

Hope this helps,

Cher

By: Talina Perkins

Talina Perkins — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:24:07 +0000

I am glad I stopped by here today. I thought I had missed all the excitment of talking shop. Everything I have read here today made up my mind that I will be focusing on HQ. Being a “first timer” I feel that may be my best bet.
I do have a couple of questions though. I have searched HQ for information on the series lines but I only come across the new series recently established. Where do I find information on the older, more established lines? And since I live abroad in Mexico does anyone have any suggestions on where I can go online to find a writers group?

I love reading how other authors go about accomplishing their work. I loved your blog post Robyn and love your books even more. I have read all your VR books and can’t wait for the next one!!! Thanks for loving your job!!!!

By: Cher Gorman

Cher Gorman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:25:16 +0000

I meant “months”…haven’t had enough tea yet…

Cher

By: Cher Gorman

Cher Gorman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:24:37 +0000

Julie,you mentioned the release month playing a role in royalties. What month’s are good and what month’s are bad for a book to be released? You mentioned December was a bad month, any others? And if December is a bad month for books to be released why do publishers release holiday themed books at that time?

Cher, sorry to bug you with all these questions…