Special Guest Blogger: Tori Carrington!
Some of you may not know this, so I’m going to tell right up front that Tori is a pseudonym for the dynamic husband & wife writing team of Tony and Lori Karayianni. I can’t remember when I first met T&L, but I can tell you that it was a magical day. I probably laughed until my stomach hurt. I might have smelled of cigarettes after hanging out with them outside. I certainly made two friends that I (and all the Plotmonkeys) cherish dearly!
Lori is a member of the 65′ers and Tony is just a hoot. Both are brilliant writers and amazing people. And they wrote the Bad Girls Club books with me and Leslie, so they’re cool.
Today, they’re here to share their hard-earned wisdom regarding this writing gig we’ve all got going on. They’re going to stop by for comments, so if you have any questions, please ask…they’ll answer!
Welcome, T&L!!!
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The Road Well-Traveled…
By Lori & Tony Karayianni aka Tori Carrington
I think most of us are familiar with the quote from the movie Field of Dreams, “Build it and they will come.” In a writer’s case, the phrase might be, “Write it and they will buy it.” Are these expressions reserved solely for Hollywood movies? We see Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder writing a guaranteed bestselling romance in her Manhattan apartment, rejection letters and agent hunts and revisions so not a part of her life. Or how about Jack Nicholson’s character in As Good As It Gets? Again we see a novelist in an expensive Manhattan apartment, only this time he’s a person no one can stand — including his publisher. And then there’s Bonnie Hunt in Cheaper by the Dozen where she’s swept off to NYC, all expenses paid by her publisher, to do talk shows and sign books.
Do any of these portrayals represent reality for us or for the majority of writers? No, wait. Don’t answer that. I’m (Lori) currently in dream mode and yearn for the day when feather boas and bonbons and an airy Manhattan apartment are reality. (Tony’s boa will be red and he’ll hog the bonbons.)
Did I hear a few snorts out there? How crass of me to mention writing and money in the same sentence! If this is your reaction, then you may want to stop reading this post here. Frankly we’re tired of defending ourselves to the “better dead than well-read,” crowd. Writing is like breathing to us and we can’t imagine wanting to do anything else. And the feather boas and bonbons and airy Manhattan apartment will be the ultimate proof of our being professional writers. Successful writers. So take your catty remarks elsewhere because we don’t have time for them. We’re too busy writing and striving to make sure writing is something we’re privileged enough to do for the rest of our lives.
For those of you still here…hello. Refill your coffee or tea cup, or fix yourself a frappe, curl your feet under you on the couch or office chair and let’s talk.
So what’s your take? Do you think, perhaps, that it’s because we fiction writers lead such isolated existences and have such vivid imaginations that we’re so thoroughly able to entertain thoughts of our latest book being bought for megabucks, hitting the NYT bestseller list, being made into a movie starring Hugh Jackman and Angelina Jolie, and maybe even being nominated for a Nobel Prize for literature? And why not? It’s all possible, isn’t it? (I was going to refer to the story of the 19-year old Harvard sophomore who got a half million dollar advance for her first two books, hit the NYT bestseller list and was featured on national talk shows, but, unfortunately, while her story was indicative of the possibility of all of us doing the same, it turned out that she didn’t write her books, rather she paraphrased passages from someone else’s books. Phhhht!)
While achieving this dream list of items is possible, well, it is also improbable. Do we know the ultimate in writing success is not going to happen to you? No. But we can perhaps ready you for the likelihood that it probably won’t. And help you find joy in being a professional writer anyway…while still holding onto The Dream.
Scene: Main city library, the head of 18 branches. Theatre seating for over 250. Teleconferencing equipment set up connecting us to another library branch including a 25-foot screen showing that meeting room. Tony and I in this type of environment for the first time to speak on publishing topics, shaking our heads. Probably twenty people will show up. Which means we’ll be in our element because it will allow for a more intimate give and take.
Instead a steady stream of people file in, nearly filling the theatre and the remote location. All attendees writers who don’t belong to either of the two writers groups in town (we asked), who had been up until they saw the coverage for our speech writing in a vacuum, completely unconnected to other writers around them. And we realized this couldn’t be all of them. That’s when a statistic I’d heard early on in our own writing career came back to me: that of only 1 in 10,000 manuscripts being bought from new writers in a year. Back then I remember thinking it couldn’t be true. But in that one moment at the McMaster Center, I came full circle and knew that it was.
And as we took the podium to speak, we paused for a heartbeat, looking into the countless hopeful faces looking back at us. Seeing hope. Glimpsing The Dream. We were them; they were us. Overwhelmed comes close to describing how we felt, but humbled closer. So much so that Tony cleared his throat and quietly asked that I speak first because he could not.
What can you possibly say to so many? Do you give them facts? Tell them it took us thirteen and half years to sell our first book and that we still have 27 unsold manuscripts in the attic? Or do we let them know that in the past nine years we’ve contracted for over forty books – one of the latest available the third title in our hardcover SOFIE METROPOLIS series – and that writing is now happily our day job and has been for years? Do we share the countless rejection letters and the horrific editor and agent appointments we’ve survived? Or affectionately relate that we love our Forge and Harlequin editors, and adore our agent, who is truly a god among men?
Then I began, and we both went ahead with our prepared speeches, digressing often (like in this post), trying to tailor the talk to them, hand them the wisdom we’ve accumulated over the past twenty-three years we’ve been writing within the space of an hour.
And after we’d both given to the point of emotional exhaustion, hoping we’d accomplished our objective, we opened the floor to questions. The first one was, “Where can I find an agent?”
It’s then I realized that it isn’t a writer’s isolation that allows The Dream to flourish. Rather it’s the mere act of being on the road itself. One traveled by countless others before us. And the products of the Hollywood Dream Factory? While the depictions might not be our reality – yet! – they are someone else’s (Nora Roberts, Dan Brown and Danielle Steele come to mind). Kathleen Turner’s character? Maybe that book she wrote tanked. Jack Nicholson’s novelist? Perhaps it took him a decade to sell his first title. Bonnie Hunt’s portrayal…well, okay, this one we can point a finger at and laugh. While fluke-like occurrences like this can and do happen, they come with their own unique challenges. But we’ll let someone who’s gone that route communicate that angle (can you imagine what second-book syndrome is like for them? Yikes).
Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to convey is, that day we came to understand that no matter what we say, The Dream is alive and well in the hearts of every writer. And we believe the world is the better for it.
So let’s talk. About how we’re all connected as we stroll, race, or otherwise stumble our way down a road well traveled, yet a path distinctively our own. About how it truly is about the journey, yet not at the sacrifice of the destination. And perhaps help each other avoid a few of the potholes and deadends and crazymakers in our shared quest of making The Dream a little more of a reality…
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RT Career Achievement Award winners and two-time Rita nominated authors Lori and Tony Karayianni write as Tori Carrington. The third title in their Sofie Metropolis series, FOUL PLAY, is available now, along with their latest Blaze Extreme DANGEROUS, and their contribution to the mystery anthology QUEENS NOIR. They believe the greatest gift they can give fellow writers is friendship, understanding and encouragement. For more info on the authors and their books, visit www.toricarrington.net and www.sofiemetro.com.
It’s so awesome to have you here Tony & Lori! You’ve been greatly missed!
BTW, excellent post! Someday, I will be wearing a fluffy pink feather boa and eating See’s Truffles :giggle:
Comment by Janelle — December 8, 2007 @ 2:22 am
Wow. What am amazing post. Our jungle readers are so lucky that you two agreed to stop by today. (We won’t discuss why you don’t stop by on other days - we know, you’re too busy writing - so what if WE MISS YOU!?) But seriously. These are two of the most well liked people in the business and you can see why. They are funny … and humble … and warm … and talented … and funny … Anyway, thanks for joining us in the jungle.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Comment by Carly — December 8, 2007 @ 8:56 am
Welcome to the Jungle Lori and Tony (Can I call you guys that?)…I really enjoyed your post…it was very lively, just like your books and it was so REAL…I could listen to you guys talk all day…you guys are relatively new authors to me…thanks to the
, and I really love your work…picked up Dangerous on my last outing ( I was actually shopping for groceries in Walmart, but the books always get me first.) Your blog inspires hope in all of us, whether we are romance writers or not…thank you very much for sharing your wisdom…
Question, do you guys have any tips on marketing? I am trying to get as much input as possible…Carly and other monkeys please chime on this too…I would really appreciated any suggestions from everyone who swing in the jungle…I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday so far…will check back in later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 8, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Welcome to the jungle, Toni and Lori. Your post is amazing! Your books are even more wonderful!!!
For me, the dream must stay alive. I’m very fortunate to be a member of RWA and TARA, were I’m told the cold hard facts of the publishing world.
Does that mean I’ll stop writing? Nope. What it does mean is I’ll continue to learn and improve the craft. Listen closely to those who have gone before me and write. Always write.
I love what I do and yes, my dream is for that to be my day job. Until that day I consider myself working two jobs. The one during the day that pays the bills and the one as soon as I come home to be my goal.
Someone once told me if the only reason I’m writing is to be published then stop. I truly didn’t understand that comment in the beginning. I mean, duh, I love writing. Couldn’t imagine not doing it, but yes I also want to be published. It took me awhile to get it, though. This is a hard business. One that will knock you down many times as you crawl, walk, or run down its path. Yet I am still on the path, keeping my eyes toward the lights of others who lead the way.
What did I finally learn from the comment? Study the craft; don’t let publishing be the only thought in my head because more than anything I do not want to be a one-book wonder.
I guess what I’m trying to say, is I love to hear about all the wonderful things that happen to published authors. But I also love to hear about how long it took them. The rewrites they do. The fact that their first draft has plot holes they have to fix. And perhaps the biggest thing was when I read one of my favorite authors (major multi-published) who wrote (paraphrasing here) “I’m in the middle of this wip and wonder why I ever thought I could be a writer.” To me, that said it all.
Comment by Vicki — December 8, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Awwww, thanks for the warm words, Julie. We love you, man! (Whatever happened to that guy? They should bring him back. He always cracked us up.)
Okay, we’ve stretched, we’ve done some deep breathing exercises and we’re ready for anything and everything y’all throw our way. Have at it!
xoxo
L&T :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 10:27 am
I hear ya, Janelle. I hear ya. Sigh. Don’t boas and bonbons sound fantastic right about now?
How we miss you guys! We’ve been sticking close to home for the past year or so. Partly because we’re trying to get a firm hold on our runaway biz expenses. Mostly because we’re in a state of flux and are at the tail end of what has to be the longest growth spurt of our career and our lives so far. I mean, geez! Why can’t any of this life stuff be easy, anyway? Not to mention writing? Where to go, what to do, what would you write if you could only write one more book, etc., etc.
We’re probably making this more difficult than it has to be. But we’re looking forward to emerging from the other side hopefully the wiser and happier for the experience.
Soon! PLEASE!
xoxo
Lori
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Welcome
and thanks for sharing great information. Several things came to mind as I was reading your post.
First, I think it’s great that you two can do this day after day and not kill each other. I read a short scene to my hubby the other day to ask him a technical question - When driving the Shelby GT500 will you ever really use 6th gear? His answer: The guy wouldn’t really look at her mouth and think about kissing her. He’d just do it.
That’s not what I asked and yeah, my hero would because he’s romantic…ever hear of it?
Another thought was the mantra my son and I have for each other: “Someone makes it.” He’s a musician and while he knows the odds of being the next Trent Resnor are slim he says, “Someone makes it” so we hold the belief for each other. Especially on days when its so tempting to chunk the whole dream.
And lastly, this summer my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. And while he had surgery and is doing great it was a huge wakeup call to me. If something happened to him I would have to go back to work. The whole thing makes me
. So, my writing has become a career instead of a hobby. I take every workshop I can, determined to learn the craft and not only become published, but to do it well. And keep reminding myself….it’s not just a job, it’s a adventure.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and thanks again, Tony and Lori, for sharing great info with us.
Comment by Jodie — December 8, 2007 @ 10:53 am
I guess I need to go back to second grade…that should be “aN adventure” :giggle:
Comment by Jodie — December 8, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Awww. Backattcha on the great words, Karen. Hope you and Phil and the girls are having a fabulous Hanukkah. (LOVE the card, btw! Gad, they grow so fast, don’t they?)
I gotta tell ya, we’re actually breathing a deep sigh of relief. Well, okay, *I* am. If Tony worries about anything, I’ve yet to figure out what beyond whether or not there’s any coffee left. I know these Saturday gigs are supposed to be about craft. But we…oh, all right *I* again…have moved away from telling anyone how to do anything because…well, I don’t have a friggin’ clue anymore.
Seriously. I swear, I’m still flicking away the damn evil editors perched ominously on my shoulder, you know, accumulated during the countless seminars and writing workshops we’ve attended over the years, conducted by well meaning fellow writers. Evil editors that poke ceaselessly at me with their sharp little pitchforks, undermining my confidence, calling everything I do, write or think into question.
There’s this quote from the late great Kurt Vonnegut…wait, I have it pinned up around here somewhere. Okay, here it is: “A lot of creative writing courses teach you how to counterfeit concern, how to counterfeit energy, sincerity and involvement. You should care about things.”
Simple, isn’t it? You should care about things…
Then again, Kurt probably burned more than a few brain cells on his way to and from the corner store, so what did he know?
Yeesh. It’s a little too early for the soap box. Hold on. I think I need another cuppa before I take another stab at this… There’s a point in here somewhere, I swear! And, by god, I’ll find it before the day’s done… Promise. I think. :pray:
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Feel free to call us anything you like, Paula! Just don’t call us late for dinner.
Thanks for the kind words about our post and our books. Unfortunately, Dangerous ended up being one of those books that fell far short of what we’d hoped to accomplish.
As for any advice on marketing…don’t make any assinine comments like the one I just made.
There you have it.
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Yikes! Sorry for the brevity of the previous post. Will get back to you on that, Paula. And to anyone else who’s posted. I just realized we have our local chapter Holiday luncheon today and I’m still in my pj’s.
Another ponytail day, I guess…
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Jodi, I LOVE this: “Someone makes it”
:fourturkeys:
Comment by Janelle — December 8, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Hi, Lori & Tony. I’ve missed you both at Celebrate Romance, as you always brighten up the room. Any chance of you making the next one, 2/29/08 at Columbia, S.C.?
I hope this is not out-of-line (& I don’t mean it to be), but, do you have any idea how many (%) of your long-time Temptation/Blaze readers are reading (& buying) both the Sophies & the Blazes? Personally, I always find it hard to move to a different genre, that I really don’t like to read, because a fave writer starts writing it. I understand the economics of it, their wish to write something different, & I want to support their efforts, but, there’s so many Romances on the TBR shelf that I’d rather read. I’ve always wondered how much a move to a new genre hurts writers with their longtime readers. Any thoughts you’d care to share (or not)–LOL?
In any event, great hearing from you again. Be well.
Patricia
Comment by Patricia — December 8, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
First, good morning Plotmonkeys and all.
Okay, I don’t usually call people by their first name until I’ve met them and gotten to know them first because it’s the way I was raised and my mother told me it was rude until you’ve met them and gotten to know them first.
But you guys are so warm and wonderful I’m going to jump head first into the deep end and say, “Hi Lori and Tony”.
From now forward I will refer to you both as Lori and Tony instead of Mr. or Ms. Karayianni…hope that’s okay. Yikes! Don’t tell my mother!
I confess I hadn’t read you guys until recently–”Taken” was my first Tori Carrington book. All I could say while reading it was WOW! Why haven’t I read them before? I must be stupid or perhaps I had a major brain farkle!
It was a FABULOUS Blaze. I am hooked, hooked, hooked on your writing. I will be reading everything you guys write until the end of time! Literally! You are amazing! The only downside to this is that since reading this book and having read the Plotmonkeys as well, you guys make me ashamed to call myself a writer. Which is kind of good actually because it will make me work that much harder. And of course, I have to read ALL of your backlist too!
It warms the little cockles of my heart that you have experienced a lot of the same struggles and trials and clawing your way up the seemingly impossible craggy cliff of the metaphorical writing Everest. If I weren’t afraid of heights and could get up there I would climb up on my roof and shout, “I’m not alone!”
Lori and Tony, I also must confess that I’ve heard a great deal about the two of you from Brenda and she loves you guys and all of her writers by the way. The two of you are writing role models for us all but from what I’ve heard you’re also role models of decent, compassionate, warm-hearted human beings as well. I hope to be able to meet you in person one day.
When you mentioned that quote from Kurt Vonnegut I thought I would share one with you and the rest of the jungle crawlers that I have framed and on a shelf in my office–right next to my picture of the plotmonkeys. :-) It is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt and it goes like this.
“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Greetings and Kudos to you both. Have a wonderful day swinging from the canopy here in the jungle and of course, Happy Holidays!
Cher
http://www.chergorman.com
Comment by Cher — December 8, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Hi,
I love your books, both Blazes and Sophie too… though they are quite different, I always admire authors who can change styles!!
Hope you will continue being so successful and you will bring us much more great books!
Comment by Nathalie — December 8, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Cher - I love that quote!
Comment by Jodie — December 8, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Excellent post!
I enjoy reading your books.
Comment by Estella — December 8, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I love the Sofie series. I won it in a contest and got hooked. I’m glad you stopped by and blogged. I’ve missed seeing you both around and hope to see you blogging (again) or in another chat, soon. :cold:
Comment by ThatBrunette — December 8, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
I am a reader with no thoughts of becoming a writer! Since your monthly email newsletter said you would be here today I just wanted to say “Hi” and thanks for all the good books you have written. Dangerous is still on my TBR shelf but I will get to it! So many books!! I hope you & your family have a wonderful Christmas season. Enjoy! :elf:
:menorah: :santahat: :wreath:
Comment by Donna M — December 8, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
One additional thought for Lori & Tony: it was because of your Bad Girl series that I discovered the writing of Leslie & Julie, &, for that, as well as for themany hours of wonderful reading you two have provided, thank you.
Patricia
Comment by Patricia — December 8, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Wow, Cher and Jodi…I love both of those quotes!!!
Comment by Vicki — December 8, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Hi Lori & Toni.
Just wanted to let you both know how much I love your books. I’ve even got the 1st Sophie book in my tbr pile(good to know there are 2 more out there to read when I finish the first).
Comment by Liza — December 8, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Lori & Tony!!! I am SO SO SO glad you came today! Sorry I wasn’t here to gab but we’ve been out doing shopping & holiday stuff as well as dropping mucho bucks on car repairs…do they ever end?
Your comments were SO dead-on, I’ve thought about the same things myself many times. This is one hard business and honestly one of the best parts is getting to know and befriend other writers–like you! Miss you guys lots…come visit us in MD soon!
Comment by Leslie — December 8, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Lori, I like you…I don’t mind the brevity of your comment, I took it all in stride. Some levity is needed at times, so I get what you are saying. You are too funny and Tres Real…I like that about people…no mincing of words…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 8, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Cher, that is a wonderful quote you posted…it really speaks to all occasions…as I was reading it, I was reflecting on my time as a soldier and the people who talked bad about my choice to serve…they really don’t understand what one goes through, but they are resident experts…I copied that one…I will post it in my classroom…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 8, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
“Someone makes it” I love that Jodie…its very similar to what I tell my husband when he shakes his head at me every week when I buy a Lotto ticket…”Someone’s got to win” I’m also known to say “dream big”
Truth is, as much as I would love to be published I’m ok with being a work in progress, I write for me and that’s ok, I’m a very loyal fan
Lori & Tony thanks for being here today!
Hope everyone has a great weekend! :cold: :happychanuk:
mastree: :snowmanhead:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — December 8, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Greetings, Vicki. And bravo! Well said. As a reader, there is nothing more satisfying than devouring a great book. As a writer, that same great book can send you into a reflective funk for days (one time, weeks), wondering what ever made you think you could be a writer.
This is part of the process. It’s also a part of life. The endless seeking, reaching and striving toward a better understanding. Of ourselves. Of others.
Then comes acceptance. That you can only be you. Perhaps a better you, but you. You’re unique. You’re beautiful. You’re…you. And that makes you different from everyone else.
And also makes you the same.
Did that make sense?
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Sorry it took us so long to get back, guys. After the three-hour holiday luncheon at a fantastic Italian restaurant a half hour away, we returned home to find an old neighbor who moved years ago on our doostep, dropping by to say hello. And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, the word “brief” really doesn’t exist for us. We milk and savor every moment for all it’s worth. Hours can pass before anyone even thinks to look at their watches.
These stretches of time outside of time are truly special, aren’t they?
Although they can be frustrating for those you leave waiting.
xoxo
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Swinging back to a previous branch (Tony’s actually making monkey noises and mock scratching his armpits. A Greek monkey — yeesh), what do you mean by marketing, Paula? Marketing in selling your a manuscript to a potential publisher? Or marketing in selling a published book to readers?
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
LOL, Jodie! Your post cracked us up. I love, love, love these little icons! Too bad we can’t use them in our books. Would make life easier, wouldn’t it?
Yeah, Tony and I are very lucky that we can combine our personal and professional lives. As you can imagine, not many can think about working with their spouse without feeling the sudden urge to hurl.
I dunno. I guess we’re very fortunate in that we both hit that “what in the hell is life all about? And just what am I supposed to be doing with it?” stage at exactly the same time. And when we came out the other side, we did so with a shared dream of writing. And never looked back again.
We’ve been writing partners for nearly as long as we’ve been a couple. And our being a couple has seen us through some rough times in our writing, and our writing has helped us work through a few speed bumps in our relationship.
It also doesn’t suck that we get to travel together for work related purposes.
I’m happy to say that Tony’s my best friend with many, many benefits. After nearly twenty-five years together, we can stay up all night talking and never run out of things to say to each other.
Ah, yes. I feel very privileged to be on this journey with him by my side.
L
P.S. Hugs on the tumor. I take it your dh came through everything all right? Our sons’ aunt (this throws everyone off. I’m their stepmom, although you wouldn’t be able to tell if you saw us), died of liver cancer last week following a four-year battle with various forms of the disease. (Breast cancer — remission. Skin cancer — remission. Lung cancer — remission.) She was only 58 and at the end she went very quickly. Never smoked, lived a stellar life and…well, it’s been very hard on our boys. Discussions of life and death and fair and unfair loom large at our dinner table lately. And hopefully inspires us all to do that little bit more. Try that much harder. Be that much more aware. So hugs, sweetie. And hold that chin high.
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
LOL! How many whips are in the choice of icons? Oh, okay. Just the two. But then there’s the frying pan, and the mooning, the violin…gad, what have we gotten ourselves into over here? Omigawd! Is that really a Loser icon? Too funny!
If I had to pick one for Tony, it would probably be
For me…hmmm…
Ohhh! There are a bunch of great couple ones. How do I see Tony and I right this minute?
Naw. Just joshin’. Let’s go with 
Bleech. Too sweet. :giggle: 
Okay, that probably covers it more accurately, although they’re two different icons.
But I digress…
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Thanks for getting back…marketing in selling a published book to readers…My poetry book is ready for distribution, and I am trying to figure out how to get it out there…I have some things in the works, like press release, post cards, business cards and bookmarks, as well as a lof of my own running around to promote, but I was wondering if there are other ways I could use…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 8, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Hey, Patricia! Far be it for a CR alum not to shoot from the hip. Yeesh.
LOL No, seriously, it’s one of the things we love about attending CR conferences. And hate. 
As luck would have it, we were just talking up the next event and hopefully have two chapter buds set to check you out (Denise Lynn is with H Historical, and Beth Vaughan has her fantasy Warprize series going like gangbusters). We’re considering comin’ as well. It’s been much too long since our last one.
As for your question…interesting you should bring up the romance v. all other genres debate. We’re three books into our Sofie Metropolis series and are finding that a good portion of our romance fans are passing on it (not enough sex), and a large number of our growing list of Sofie fans want absolutely no part of our romances (too much sex). So to say this has been a challenging and eye-opening few years would be the understatement of the decade.
Having said that, we wouldn’t have done things any other way. Just as our reading interests are varied (on the heels of reading the great romance Commanded to his Bed I picked up The Ha Ha, a book as far away from romance as you can get, and Tony’s currently reading the nonfiction Fair Game), so are our writing interests. From friendship sagas and Christian mythology, to techno thrillers and Greek tragedy, there are countless genres we’d love to write…and have, to a certain extent, as the twenty-seven unpublished — and untouched in a decade — manuscripts in our attic prove.
There is one collection of short stories I’m dying to write set in pre- and post- WWWII Greece, inspired by my relationship with Tony’s parents and Greek culture as a whole. A way of life and thinking that’s quickly coming to exist only in old sepia photos from the past. (Our sons don’t get that their father and his siblings only have their parents’ word on the day of their birth, because the recorded date reflects only the date on which their parents traveled the twenty or so miles either on foot or by mule to officially record their births. And since they were illiterate [the wisest people I've ever been blessed to know], they had no way of knowing what had been written down. Which goes a long way toward explaining why Saints Name Days are celebrated in the old country, not birthdays.)
Personally, I’ve always enjoyed Asimov’s Black Widower mystery series over his Sci-Fi titles. Stephen King’s Richard Bachman tales over his straight horror. Linda Howard’s lighter fare over her darker.
I dunno. I think our writing other genres actually allows us to return to romance with a fresh eye and genuine love for what we’re writing. I don’t think there will ever come a time when we won’t want to write romance. But we’re definitely products of our multi-tasking generation, and hope to add a few more tasks to our repertoire before all is said and done…our voice being the tie that binds them all together.
Hmm…what was the question again?
Just joshin’. Hope this answers it…
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think some yoga or chi is in order. Thx a lot.
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Greetings, Cher! And, ahem. There’s no possible way we can be all that. But do you mind if I print out your post so I can refer to it when I’m having a bad day?
Love the Roosevelt quote. I have a whole slew of quotes pinned, taped and strewn around. Can never have too many sources for inspiration, I always say.
On Brenda, isn’t she the best? She can be a competitive little shrew every now and again, but she’s one of the most loyal people we know. And she bends over backwards to make sure all her authors feel loved. Damn her fair little soul.
Having said that, if you’ve gotten Brenda’s stamp, you definitely have ours. She’s a great judge of character and talent (outside of ourselves, of course). As if the Plotmonkeys weren’t proof enough of that! I don’t think we’ve met a Brenda author we haven’t loved, as people and writers.
Btw, we’ve great things about you, as well. And very much look forward to the day our physical paths cross. Welcome to the Fam!
xoxo
L&T
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Aw, thanks, Nathalie! Okay, where’s the smooch icon…?
Oh, and the same goes for Estella. Thanks so much for posting!
xoxo
L&T :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Victoria! So good to see you.
Yeah, I know, as you can tell by Karen’s earlier post, Tony and I have a habit of going MIA for long stretches as we contemplate life’s many mysteries at large and more specifically try to figure out what we’re going to do next, how we’re going to make this book different, and generally disappear into the fascinating lives of our characters. But we’re going to make a concentrated effort to get out more, figuratively speaking, now that the days are shorter and the nights so long.
We’ve just reactivated a give-and-take blog of our own at http://toricarrington.wordpress.com (nuthin like here, mind you! What a great place, huh?), and the other day went live with our http://myspace.com/toricarrington page, and are determined to visit our friends like the incomparable plotmonkeys more often.
Feel free to remind us of this should we go into hermit mode again.
xoxo
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Donna! Thanks for comin’ out! We don’t even currently have a book on the shelves, so to speak, so this visit is more about friendship than anything.
Backattcha on the Holiday wishes! Don’t you love this time of year? So festive.
mastree: :menorah:
xoxo
L&T :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Big, wet smooches on the Bad Girls post, Patricia! Hey, wait. Are you *that* Patricia? Damn good to see you, sweetie! How’s life treating you? We hope well.
L&T
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Hiya, Liza! Read the first Sofie first before you go talking about the others. Ouch! Tony just twapped me. Yeesh. As you might guess, he and I subscribe to different promo beliefs. I’m of the school of “hey, you might not like it and if you buy the next two books then what the hell are you gonna do?” Tony’s…well, I think you can probably tell where he comes from.
L
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
Leslie! How in the hell are they hangin’, babycakes? No apologies needed, sweetie. It’s just damn good to see you all.
It’s funny, Tony and I nearly crashed your Halloween goings on. Actually, it’s an annual question mark for us. “Should we?” And now that you guys are so much closer, don’t be surprised if we show up on your doorstep bearing baklava and ouzo one Oct 31st.
So much of this biz really is transient, isn’t it? It’s almost guaranteed that the moment you hold up something as the God’s honest truth, the next you’ll be proven unequivocally, shamefully wrong. What is it with that, anyway? God(dess)’s cruel joke on humanity, I think. But it definitely keeps us all on our toes. And reminds us what’s truly important.
Give the Bruster and the girls our love, ya hear? We miss you guys!
xoxo
L&T :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Tina, we should be saying thanks for tolerating us! We’re having a blast.
Happy Holidays!
L&T :> :>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Whew! You guys are an active bunch, aren’t you? I was just about ready to call it a night and promise to be back to respond to any unanswered posts in the a.m., but I see that we’re done for now. Yeah! A glass of wine sounds really good right now.
But first, to one last piece of unfinished biz…
Paula, warm congrats on your book of poetry! Here’s wishing you much success and happiness in all your endeavors.
Unfortunately, this is one genre with which we are very unfamiliar. I mean, we read poetry, but how to go about marketing it…
Hmm…
Do you subscribe to Poets & Writers? I did for years for but finally had to let my subscription lapse because I’d gone like six months without cracking an issue of the mag open. Probably they’d be able to offer some more genre specific help and give you some ideas.
Sounds like you’ve made a solid start. Is the book a hardcover? Local, regional and state libraries are a good place to go. Offer to speak one Saturday morning.
Gad, I’m drawing a blank at what other advice to offer. I think it has as much to do with it being after nine p.m. EST as it does with the fact that promo and how much or how little to do is currently at the top of Tony and my discussion list and has been for awhile. Why? Well because we purposely didn’t do much promotion-wise this year…and sold far better than we had when we poured untold financial and time-sucking resources into selling ourselves.
I dunno. I’m coming to believe that the laws of yin and yang/karma/Murphy’s Law — your pick — may apply in this instance. Well, okay, probably every instance. But, anyway, do you find that the more desperately you want something, the farther away it moves from your grasp? I think it’s only when you let go, accept that you wield absolutely no control over events, that the item you seek floats right into your palm.
Moral of the story? Yes, do promote yourself, get the word out, get your name out there — within reason…but never forget why you wrote the book in the first place. And never forget where you come from and who you are and, whatever you do, don’t ever let the outside world define you.
Now go out and let your light shine, sweetie. And the best of luck and love to you…
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
‘Kay, guys, we’re gonna call it a night. We just wanted to say a hearty THANK YOU to the Plontmonkeys for having us over for a visit. Julie, Karen, Janelle and Leslie…you guys ROCK! Totally! (Have I said how much we miss you? Sigh. Yes, I guess I have.)
And thanks to everyone else for coming out, both the ones who posted, and those who didn’t. We’re gonna try to get back tomorrow morning to see if there are any follow up posts. But if a response is slow in comin’, please do come visit us at http://toricarrington.wordpress.com, http://myspace.com/toricarrington, as well as http://www.toricarrington.net and http://www.sofiemetro.com. Oh! And we’re running a drawing for a great Greek Isles calendar at .net as well, so be sure to enter!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, everyone!
mastree: :menorah:
xoxoxo
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
LOL! Ahem. Okay, it’s a good thing Tony’s on the ball because I completely forgot that we promised a book to one lucky duck. So those of you who haven’t posted who might be interested in winning a copy of one of our books, any book, say hi and be automatically qualified to win. You have until midnight, I guess. Oh, all right. How about until around nine a.m. tomorrow morn’? That should give us an op to drink half a pot of coffee and make a bit of a dent in the Times. Just pray AMC doesn’t have a Bette Davis or Cary Grant or Clint Eastwood or Katharine Hepburn movie on, or it may take us while longer…
L&T
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 8, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
L&T, Yeah, I guess I am *that* Patricia, longtime reader from the NY Literacy Signing & CR/Chicago. I’m doing pretty well (thanks for asking), but, life has added another challenge for my sweet daughter with over a year of Ulcerative Colitis to add to her other medical problems. I’m hoping she’ll be well enough for me to make the CR ‘08 trip. Hope all’s well for you & family.
Best,
Patricia
Comment by Patricia — December 8, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Lori (and Tony!) I’m so sorry I wasn’t around all day…kept reading posts between dashing in and out though and THANK YOU for coming. You are missed and we’re all really hoping you’ll stop by here more often!!!
Love to you both!
Hey…tell Tony I made my first recipe with phyllo a few weeks ago and I didn’t flub it up–I think I’m ready for baklava. I’ll need a good recipe though!
Comment by Julie Leto — December 8, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
Lori and Tony, thank you for spending some time with us…I do subscribe to Poetry & Writers, but I need to renew my subscription…thanks for the advice…I am going to my alma mater as well as a local bookstore to see if they would be interested in selling my poetry…I will also try to work out a booksigning at my alma mater as well…I will try my hardest to not the outside world influence my and my work…don’t worry, I will never forget why I wrote the book in the first place…It was a necessary step on my road to recovery and I want to share my experiences, feelings, etc with others who have gone through or are going through what I did…thanks again for all your advice and support…
Thank you Jules for enabling Lori and Tony to join us today…I hope you all have a wonderful evening and see you tomorrow…
Have a Merry, Merry and a Happy, Happy…
mastree: :menorah:
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 9, 2007 @ 12:07 am
hi tori and tony ,great to see u here, congrats on all your acheivements./
:elf: 
Comment by kim h — December 9, 2007 @ 2:02 am
Oh, Patricia. Sorry to hear about your daughter’s current problems. You both have been through so very much.
Yes, we hope she’s well enough to travel to CR as well. We’d love to meet her. And see you again. It’s been much too long.
xoxo
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Sorry for the delay in posting this a.m., guys. We actually slept in until 8:30, which is very unusual for us. The alarm wakes us all week at 6:25, then on the weekend we normally get up at around 6:00 (I know, backwards. But I guess our internal time clocks combined with our weekly ‘us’ time inspires us to get up earlier instead of later). Not this morning, thou.
And, of course, we woke to find an icky ice storm rolling in. We gulped down a cup of coffee and then ran to the grocer for a few things before the roads got too bad (garlic roasted chicken and the works on tap for dinner this afternoon).
Anyway, here we are, as promised. And just as soon as we check out the rest of the posts, we’ll draw a name…
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Hey, Jules! Thank YOU for having us, sweetie. We had a blast. (Don’t worry about not posting. You guys work hard at keeping this place fun and we were more than happy to chat with everyone so y’all could take a breather. They certainly kept us on our toes!)
xoxo
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Oh! Congrats on the successful phyllo based dish. What did you make?
As for a great baklava recipe, there’s one for Tony’s Famous Baklava on our sofie site. Go to http://www.sofiemetro.com/recipes.htm. There are a few other Greek recipes listed as well, so take a look around. I’m looking at expanding the list. I just have to remember to start measuring ingredients.
Always something.
xxxooo
L&T
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
No, thank *you*, Paula. We love blogging and chatting because of the warmth and generosity of spirit we always come across. It was a true pleasure exchanging posts with you.
Here’s blowing a bit of faery dust your way, sweetie.
L&T
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Warmest wishes,
Lori & Tony :> ;>
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Okay, names going into Tony’s fav Kangol hat (friends say he looks like a Guardian Angel when he wears it)…
Around and around they go…and out comes a name…
Vicki!
Congrats, Vicki! Go ahead and go to our site at http://www.toricarrington.net and have a look around. Pick a book, any book, then drop us an email at toricarrington@aol.com including your snail mail addy and we’ll get your choice right out to you.
Okay, guys, I guess that’s it. So with one final THANK YOU, we’ll wish y’all a very fond farewell.
Till our cyber paths cross again…
Truly yours,
Lori & Tony Karayianni aka Tori Carrington
http://www.toricarrington.net
http://www.sofiemetro.com
http://myspace.com/toricarrington
http://toricarrington.wordpress.com
Comment by Lori & Tony — December 9, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Hi Lori and Tony,
Sorry this is a day late. Yesterday was filled with holiday and family stuff. By all means print out my post. Every word was true about you guys. You’re fabulous!
I’m glad you enjoyed the quote. I read it often because it gives me a much needed boost on those days when I think everything I’m writing is total crap.
Brenda is amazing isn’t she? I just love her and feel so incredibly blessed and lucky that she is interested in me and my work.
I hope that whatever you’ve heard about me has been “all” good. Thanks for the kind welcome. I look forward to the day when I can announce I’ve sold to Blaze AND meet you guys in person.
Take care,
Cher
mastree: :wreath: :stocking: :snowmanhead: :cold: :menorah:
Comment by Cher — December 9, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Paula, I’m glad you liked the Roosevelt quote. How people can diss our men and women in service is beyond me. I shared Thanksgiving dinner with a colonel and his family. He had just returned from Iraq. My mother-in-law had been sending him care packages for months while he was deployed. He brought her the flag that was flown over their camp in Iraq and a beautiful certificate in regard to their division as a thank you. I can’t tell you what I felt as I looked at that flag in the display case… What an honor!
Take care,
Cher
Comment by Cher — December 9, 2007 @ 1:45 pm