The HEA Cafe

Today is my day to blog, and I didn’t have a topic until I learned that Angela James of Samhain Publishing had her workshop on digital publishing rejected by RWA for the 2010 National conference set in Washington, DC this coming July. According to Romancing the Blog ( Read here) and the Galaxy Express ( Read here) there aren’t any digital publishing workshops on the ticket. This topic’s not yet hit the pages of Dear Author or Smart Bitches, but I imagine it will in the next couple of days.

RWA’s decision really confuses me. The mission statement of RWA is (and I quote straight from the website) “…to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy. RWA works to support the efforts of its members to earn a living, to make a full-time career out of writing romance—or a part-time one that generously supplements his/her main income.”

If the mission is to support members in their effort to earn a living via a full-time or part-time career, why would you refuse to put out as much information as possible for your members? Information that might prove valuable for all members, including those who state that the eBook royalties on their statements are a miniscule piece not to consider. If you hear rumbles that there might be layoff at your workplace, do you ignore them or do you work a little harder to ensure you keep your job. Simply because eBooks are a sliver on your statements doesn’t mean it’s good business sense to ignore them. You need to learn all you can about this small piece of the pie so you’re prepared for what comes when the pie slice grows.

When a workshop is submitted by a highly respected editor in the ePublishing world, you DO NOT just throw it out the door simply because the submitting editor works for an ePublisher. It’s also important to note that Angela James is not an editor at some fly-by-night ePublisher. Since Samhain opened its doors in November 2005, it’s become a force to be reckoned with in the ePublishing industry. So why reject a workshop that offers insight into the digital world? It’s most illogical as Spock would say (either reality you want to cite from).

Digital publishing has been around for quite some time, and in the past six years, it’s boomed. Is it about to take over the print medium? No, but its growth continues by leaps and bounds, whereas the print industry’s growth has been seen as lackluster. RWA says that the numbers from digital press only makes up a small slice of the pie. But whose pie are we talking about? The pie of RWA members or the pie of writers who do not feel the need to belong to RWA, or both sectors of writers. Either way, they’re only looking at data, and they’re clearly NOT looking too far down the road. So I’d like to offer up a real-world business example of how ignoring something new can bite you in the a$$.

Once upon a time, there was this WONDERFUL software called WordPerfect. It was customizable and there were templates for legal, writers, administrative workers, etc. People loved WordPerfect (including me). Then suddenly there was an underdog on the scene. Microsoft Windows for the PC and a word processing program called Word. At first Word wasn’t much to speak of, and in fact, it couldn’t even compare to WordPerfect in the customization or flexibility department. But it did have one thing that WordPerfect didn’t. It was mouse driven and on a pretty screen, which was easier to read than the blue WordPerfect screen.

But WordPerfect saw Microsoft and their word processing software as a fad. Something new that would die out and never really grow. So what did WordPerfect do? They ignored Microsoft Word. But Microsoft’s Word’s share of the market grew and grew until WordPerfect finally said, whoa! We need to put out a version of WordPerfect for Windows interface. Problem was, WordPerfect waited too long. The balance shifted and now Microsoft Word owns the world, and WordPerfect while still around is pretty much a piece of hair in world-wide soup called Microsoft.

While I agree that RWA cannot be everything to every writer, to ignore digital publishing in any way is not only short-sighted, it lacks vision. It also shows RWA isn’t putting the needs of its membership at the forefront. It seems to be kow-towing to a small portion of its 10K+ membership.

I am not advocating RWA should charge ahead and throw in every workshop out there simply because it’s about digital publishing. What I do advocate is that RWA provide as much information to the membership as possible. Even if it means providing information on a publishing segment that doesn’t pay an advance. RWA Board President, Diane Pershing herself said in the June 2009 RWR that “RWA is set to do its part, to be more and more proactive in offering better and more complete education to the membership.” And in fairness to Ms. Pershing, the workshop committee is responsible for selecting workshops. Not Ms. Pershing. However, one has to wonder why the message isn’t getting down the food chain. And while RWA insists they are concerned with members and their advances, fine. But at the same time, if you believe ePublishing isn’t good enough for your members because there’s no advance, why not educate them on that issue and let the member decide if its for them.

I easily see the day will come when a growing number of RWA’s members write for NY print and ePub simultaneously. Oh but wait! That’s already happening. Angela Knight, Jaci Burton, Lora Leigh, Lucy Monroe, Deidre Knight and many more are writing for NY and for ePub. Why put one’s eggs all in one basket. Good business models in so many instances are about diversification. To not offer up information to the membership sends the message that RWA doesn’t think the member has to worry about this segment of the market. All I can say to that is…I’m glad RWA isn’t writing my personal business plan. I want long-range planning and vision in my plan, not dismissal of a medium simply because it’s only a small piece of the pie at the moment. I don’t like playing catch-up. I’d rather be leading the charge.

Monica

Monica Burns – http://www.monicaburns.com
Mirage, Now In Print 4.5 Stars, RT Top Pick RT BOOKreviews
2008 Reviewers Choice Award Nominee| 2009 EPPIE Best Historical Erotic Romance
Kismet, Berkley, 01/10 | Untitled, Berkley, 05/10

It’s late, my brain is focused on pain meds and a looming deadline. So I’m doing a rehash, because I’m betting there are more people who visit this blog than who visit mine. Why? Because I’m not popular and RWAOnline is! LOL

This post is about my ongoing experiences and process of  me as a new-to-NY author, and the process that happens from the time a book is contracted and put on the shelf. So all my posts are STRICTLY my personal experiences. Others may have different experiences.
RECAP

Two weeks ago I talked about the transition to NY from ePub. Here’s a brief recap

ePub – contract offers come in email. Contract runs about five pages. Simple straightforward contract with XX percentage on sale of eBooks off publisher website, X percentage on distributor sales and a different percentage if your book goes to print. Overall process with the contract takes just a few days.

NY – the editor calls with an offer to either the agent or the author (if the submission is from a contest, etc.) Once the offer is made, negotiations begin for final monies

However, NY contract negotiations are much different from receiving an offer via email with a contract attached. The contract is generally twice as long, with terms related to foreign rights, trade paperback, mass-market paperback, hardback, eBook rights, etc. The agent reviews and makes changes in the best interest of their client then the contract is sent to the writer. Once the writer, and then the publisher sign the contract, a check is cut and sent to the agent. The agent then cuts a check to the writer, minus the 15% commission.

This is simplified, but it’s pretty much the whole process with regard to the contract and the advance. An important difference in a NY contract is the breakup of the advance. I can’t say for sure, but my guess is that depending on the author’s selling power plays into how much of the advance you get up front. I’m not for certain though, and all I can attest too is what I’ve experienced.

I thought about working out a scenario of a fictional advance, but that didn’t seem to work well when I was trying to figure it out, so I thought maybe percentages of my deals will provide a decent picture without talking actual monies (per my agreement with Deidre). Because each contract is different, (both of my Berkley contracts are structured differently payout wise) and you don’t always get the same amount of money or distribution percentages. Keep in mind that this is my personal experience as it’s happening and not compiled scenarios of what goes on with other people. The data shown here is strictly to give you an idea about how the advance might play out.

Next Step – Show Me The Money

Explaining how an advance is paid out is difficult because every publisher and contract is different. For example, the breakout percentage wise for my two-book deal is different from my three-book deal.

Unlike I always thought, the advance is not paid out all at once. You get a certain percentage of the advance at different stages of the game. Below is an example of how my contract is paying out in terms of time frame and percentages

Contract signing paid – roughly 40% of the advance, paid about 4-6 months after initial offer
D&A Book 1 – roughly 17.5% of the deal, paid after the editor is satisfied with the final product
Publication Book 1 – 10%
D&A Proposal Book 2 – 5%
D&A Book 2 – roughly 17.5%
Publication Book 2 – 10%

Remember these are percentages of the overall agreed to advance paid to me for two books. So say the advance is for $100K.

That means the author would get $40K at contract signing, $17,500K on D&A, $10K on publication of first book, $5K for D&A Book 2 proposal, then $17,500K for D&A of Book 2 and $10K for publication of Book 2.

On my three-book deal, the allocation of the percentages are different in a screwy way, and I’ve NO CLUE as to why they’re different. An interesting point to note is that in my contract, if I miss a deadline, the publisher has the right to demand the advance back, and make me pay court fees if I don’t pony up the money. EXCELLENT incentive NOT to miss a deadline.

One More Step Forward

My first deadline was March 1st. I beat the deadline by a week. It’s my goal to do that consistently. I think it will be a great professional behavior to exhibit and it will also make it easier to keep ahead of the writing game. If I can finish a book at least a month before deadline, then I’m able to edit it and refine it in two to three weeks.

I was going to post from this point back, and then I realized a couple of things had happened. So I’ll add a bit more.

With Kismet turned in, I was chewing nails worrying about edits. Cindy emailed late last week and said she’ll only have line edits and that she loves the book. Whew!

UPDATE

Update to original post regarding deadlines – I’ve another deadline coming up and I’m running frantic. In fact, it’s so close, I don’t dare name the day in the event it scares the hell out of my muse and she disappears! Hence, the delay in the post as my new boss keeps me hopping where before I had time to do a little blog prep. *sigh* Suffice it to say, I think I’ll make it, but that incentive is definitely scaring the hell out of me.

My editor emailed me late last week and said she was getting ready to discuss covers with house artists. I’m thinking GOOD LORD it’s just March! But, the sooner I have a cover the better. Cindy asked what I thought about Susan Johnson’s new cover and if I was open to something like it for my book. O. M. G. Hell ya, baby!! I love Susan’s cover, so now I can’t wait to see mine. If it’s half as good that baby will fly off the shelves!

This week, Cindy emailed me with blurb copy. O.M.G. I LOVE the tag lines. The blurbs however need some work. The first thing that had to go was the line, “Until a Sheik rides in from the desert…” First thought? Blazing Saddles and the Sheriff riding into town. Umm…nope, I don’t think so! LOL I reworked the copy some and sent it back to Cindy, agreeing with the suggestion she had and offering up my own. She emailed back saying that she was sending it back to the copywriters. I now understand why Claire Delacroix said to be sure and write a detailed, exceptional synopsis.

If you’re interested in reading more about the process, visit my blog or myspace blog every week or so as I record my experiences.
Monica

Monica Burns – http://www.monicaburns.com
Dangerous, Available Now 4.5 Stars, RT BOOKreviews
Mirage,06/09 | RT Top Pick | 2009 EPPIE Best Historical/Western Erotic Romance
Kismet, Berkley, 01/10

I think it was the fabulous Clair Delacroix/Deb Cooke who once told me that writing is a job. I sort of believed it then, but not as much as I do today at this particular point in my career. I remember when writing was fun, exciting, joyful, passionate and EASY. So what happened? Where along the way did writing become less of these things.

While, I don’t think I’ve lost the excitement, the joy or the passion of writing, I now understand far better the words of wisdom that well-establish writers have handed down to those of us who haven’t hit certain levels in our career. But, the writing has become more of a job and these things I’ve always associated with writing seem a bit out of reach at the moment. I don’t know if it’s because I took a step up the career ladder or if it’s because I’m putting extra pressure on myself to do more than I’m capable. Super Writer syndrome as it were. Maybe it’s the holidays, but I feel like I’m in the Foreign Legion with my back to the wall and I’m smoking my last cigerette.

Why am I feeling this way? Part of it is my October contract with Berkley for a three-book paranormal series. Writing paranormal is new to me, so as Yanni says, “A little bit of fear means your are doing something worth doing — you are stretching — you are going outside your immediate grasp. Out of my immediate grasp? Can we say outside the atmosphere and I’m scared spitless? A three-book historical series would be easy. I know that world. But creating a new one definitely makes me stretch. And it’s scary as hell!

Another monkey wrench that’s been thrown into the mix is that I’m trying to market my newest release Dangerous, which comes out the end of January. I’ve got advertising in place, but I’m already planning for Mirage’s release in June!  I need to hire Baby to help me out. Problem is she’s just 11, and she’s not savvy enough to do it without me guiding her, and if that’s the case, it’s easier to do it myself. So I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. If only Oldest were more computer savvy and eager to help.

Then the week before Christmas, I landed my second contract with Berkley, this time for two historicals. One of those books is written (THANK GOD) but I have to write a new one. I’m over the moon about another NY sale, but OMG, my scared spitless monitor just went through the roof. I’m now facing deadlines unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my entire career. Normally deadlines excite me. Right now, I’m asking myself, “WTF were you thinking you idiot! Three and half books in 13-14 months???”

All of these things mean I’ve got writing deadlines, proposal deadlines, marketing deadlines and then the actual marketing of the releases. Maybe this wouldn’t be so daunting if I didn’t have to work a day job, but like most struggling new writers, I have to work the day job to keep a roof over our head.

So perhaps you can see where I’m wondering what happened to the days when writing was fun, exciting, joyful, passionate and EASY. I think those things are still there, I just don’t see them as well as perhaps I once did. It was much easier when there weren’t deadlines to deal with. I’ve always submitted completed books, now I’m selling on proposal, and the books ARE NOT written. Then there are the craft issues to include at the editor’s request, learning the technical and financial business aspects of the publishing industry (I’m a VERY SLOW learner) and this or that business piece to comprehend. And for the newbies reading this and thinking, “I don’t know what she’s whining about, she sold.” All I can say is, my Mom used to tell me you’ll understand when you grow up. She was right, damn it.

So Claire, and any other writer I ever dismissed for telling me it was hard, my apologies for my arrogance. It is easier to sell than it is to keep up with the results of selling. However, the one thing in my favor is my stubbornness. I’ll make it just to have the pleasure of saying I made it. *grin*

What do you do to keep deadlines and everything else from driving you insane?

Monica
Monica Burns | http://www.monicaburns.com
Dangerous, 4.5 Stars Romantic Times
“…a pretty good read.” MrsGiggles.com
Master of Sin, Berkley 03/10

Microsoft, Thy Name Is Mud!

This weekend I switched my Office 2003 out to Microsoft’s Office 2007. I’m not sure if it’s a mistake or not yet, but I really hate it when they change things and yet they don’t include code that allows the user to decide whether to use the new view format or to revert to the old, more comfortable, more customizable one. I think I should have a choice as to what I want to use on my personal computer and how I want to use it. The other thing that bugs me about their new design is that it’s not disability friendly. It’s very mouse usage dependent, and for people with fibromyalgia or carpal tunnel syndrome, we’re talking some major issue.

Expectations with Romance Books

With all that said, the same thing could be said about romance books. I want to read a certain type of book. In fact, when I shop online for a book, I select generally from standard fare where I’m fairly certain what I’ll get. For instance, if I buy a Berkeley Sensation book, I know the sex is going to be pretty hot, although there are varying heat levels even with this imprint. If I pick up a Bethany House book, I expect it to be an inspirational read where faith is at the core of the romance relationship.

But what happens when you don’t get what you expect? Sometimes it can be a really good read. Passion by Lisa Valdez was that way for me. It wasn’t what I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Then there’s Kresley Cole’s Dark Needs at Night’s Edge. It’s a completely different type of paranormal read for me, and I’m enjoying it as well. But what happens when you read something that you find is quality writing, but it just doesn’t catch your attention.

What Happens When Expectations Aren’t Met

I encountered this just a couple of weeks ago. The books just didn’t resonate with me. They read like all the other books I’ve read in the past. They didn’t hook me and this was from NYT bestsellers to newly published authors in print and eFormat. So what does this mean? I’m not really sure. It could be the author just didn’t sell their characters to me well enough in the first 20-25 pages. Maybe my own writer’s hat interferes with my ability to just enjoy the read anymore. But I do know that I’m getting harder to please, and I’m more particular in my pursuit of the good read, and that means something to me as a writer. It means I have to keep stretching my writing and reaching for that bar that keeps rising when it comes to each book that I write.

So what do you think a blah reading means to you as a reader, a writer or both?

Monica Burns – http://www.monicaburns.com
Dangerous – 4.5 Stars RT BOOKreviews | “A pretty good read” — Mrs. Giggles
Mirage, Top Pick RT BOOKreviews
Come Enjoy a Paranormal with that Ahh…Sensation

Historicals are my passion. If there’s any one thing that I love the best about romance, it’s a great historical. Some of my favorites include A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught, Lord Scandalous by Loretta Chase, Whitney My Love by McNaught and the list goes on. One of the things I love the most about historicals is their magical quality. As I’m flying across the country this week, I’ll be revising my latest historical romance in preparation for submission to houses. The resurgence in publisher interest in historical romance is really wonderful for me as I love bringing stories like Mirage and Dangerous to readers.

For me, historicals are magical, I mean I know they’re fantasies, but that’s what I love about them. They transport me to another place and time where chivalry and honor are romantic, despite the realities of the time period. And I’m sorry, but tight buckskins covering hard thighs, a white shirt opened to reveal just a hint of a well-muscled chest—well, for me there’s nothing more seductive!

With the RWA convention in San Francisco this week, there will be a number of big name historical authors who will be present. If you’re familiar with Michelle Buonfiglio’s Romance by the Book blog, you know that she’s a huge romance fiction advocate. This Friday at the convention, she’s doing a radio show with several of Avon Books top name historical authors like Sophie Jordan, Lorraine Heath and Elizabeth Boyle and others.

Michelle’s Radio Show is set for Friday, August 1, 3:30 pm PDT If you’re on the East Cost, you can catch the show after work because we’re three hours AHEAD of folks in San Francisco (6:30 pm EDT). Click here link directly to the radio show where they’ve got this COOL reminder feature that you can set so you get an email prompt! Means you won’t forget. How sweet is that?

So dial in and ask some questions about historicals!! Besides, think about how cool it will be to be on Internet radio!