The Ever Changing Publishing Industry

Change scares people. I know it scares the hell out of me. I hate it. I want things to stay the same. I like the comfort of always knowing what's going on. But let's face it, living like that is like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand. If I can't see you, you can't see me. If I bury my head against change then it won't affect me.

We all know that can't happen.

And I think we've all heard the doomsayers when they claim publishing is changing and will never be the same again. I suppose that's true. The internet and the promise of immediate gratification is intoxicating. People want books now--hence the reason ereaders were the hot item this past Christmas. On the flip side, authors want their products out there immediately--hence the rise in indy publishing.

But as much as things change, things also stay the same. Readers still want their paperback books. There will always be those hold-outs who refuse to embrace change. As an author I appreciate all those different types of readers.

I was ecstatic when I heard Amazon sold one million Kindles a week during the month of December. One million! A week! Each of those four million Kindles will need books. Possibly hundreds of books. That bodes well for me where most of my sales are ebooks.

So what does all of this mean for authors? I think this is the best time ever to be an author. There are so many more avenues open to us. No longer do we have to rely on the big NY publishers to decide if our book fits into their schedule. So many epublishers have filled the void, realizing there were so many good books out there for readers looking for something a bit different. And now we have indy publishing--authors striking out on their own without a publishers backing. I'm in a critique group with an author who has done amazingly well in indy publishing. Better than a lot of established authors with big publishers.

The field is wide open for not only us but for readers as well and I think that's wonderful.

But one thing hasn't changed. Whether indy published, paperback published or epublished, a reader is still looking for a good read. Something that will take them away from their everyday life and into a different world. Regardless of what publishing format an author chooses to distribute his or her book, the book still has to be well-written. In the end, nothing has really changed when it comes to actually writing the book. We all still have to sit down to a blank page with a blinking cursor and create a world in which people want to go to.

Wishing you all happy reading in 2012.


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New Contract!

I rarely get the opportunity to make posts like this, where I get to announce that I've signed a contract for a new book. Partly because I write so slow and partly because it's a tough market out there. Especially when you write so slow :). But last week I did sign a contract for a new book with Samhain that has been a long time in the making.

My second novel with Samhain was Survival of the Fairest, a fairies-in-Vegas romp featuring an AWOL fairy princess, a human stage magician who didn't believe in magic, a vengeful waitress, and flesh eating gnomes. The sequel to Survival of the Fairest will be titled One Thousand Kisses. Here's the current blurb, which is sure to be improved after it runs through the Samhain Magical Blurb Machine:

Embor Fiertag, Primary of the fairy Realm, has three goals. Get reelected, capture the rogue agents who tried to murder him, and improve his love life. His foretold bondmate is Anisette Serendipity, a Court trainee, but he hasn't precisely shared the prophesy with her. How do you inform someone she belongs with you when she's not only dating your chief political rival but doesn't seem to like you at all?

In fact, Anisette has always been intimidated by the stern, serious Primary. He has good reason to disapprove of her--her sister almost got him killed--yet he always seems to be monitoring her progress. Not that she's making progress. Long-standing Realm customs have destroyed her upward mobility and trapped her in a deceptive relationship. If she drops out of Court, would that make her an official failure or just a failure her own mind?

When an unsavory political strategy gone all too right turns most of Court against Embor, the two of them, plus a pesky magical feline, are forced to flee to humanspace. There they'll have to find the courage to share their vulnerabilities and their hearts if they're to have any hope of saving the entire fairy Realm.

I'm so glad this novel will eventually be seeing the light of day! And I'm so glad I finally got to make another "sale" announcement.

Jody W.
www.jodywallace.com

13 Things Editors and Agents Want When You Query

Is it time to throw your spaghetti against the wall and see if it sticks? If you're in the process of submitting your work to editors and agents, I'm sure you've heard the advice about checking -- and following -- each agency's or publisher's guidelines before you submit. That being said, here are 13 things you're likely to find that editors and agents want when you query, so be prepared!

1) No attachments

2) An attachment of your first 30 pages and maybe even another of your synopsis

3) 5 pages pasted on the bottom of your query

4) 20 pages pasted on the bottom of your query

5) 1-2 page synopsis

6) Chapter by chapter outline

7) Your sales history

8) New writers welcome

9) No emails--please query only on paper

10) No paper--please query only via email

11) Where you see this book fitting into the market; what authors are you "like"?

12) For the writer not to compare herself to other writers

13) Most importantly -- a fresh voice!

***

Though guidelines are often contradictory, the fact is, it's almost as easy to follow each set of guidelines as it is to disregard them and piss people off. Sure, they'll possibly remember you if you 'forge your own path' (eg ditch their stupid rules because they don't apply to your awesomeness), but they won't remember you fondly and they won't remember you with an eye to acquistion.

Sincerely,

Jody W.
www.jodywallace.com * www.meankitty.com