Authors, Single-Book or Multiple-Book Deal? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T13:35:29Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:49173?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A49322&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI have written one book and s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-05:537324:Comment:1619732008-10-05T23:00:24.576ZBeverly Edwardshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BeverlyEdwards
I have written one book and self published it but now I am seeking a major publisher. I have other book titles in the can and I want to way the pros and cons for doing multiple book deals. There is much legality in these decisions. Good to dialog with those who have already been down that road.
I have written one book and self published it but now I am seeking a major publisher. I have other book titles in the can and I want to way the pros and cons for doing multiple book deals. There is much legality in these decisions. Good to dialog with those who have already been down that road. That is fascinating. Yes, ind…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583522007-07-27T17:39:31.225ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
That is fascinating. Yes, indeed. Women can be sneaky devils. They've had to learn how to cope with male domination. I suppose I also chose a male protagonist because most female authors write about women. And I like men. They make good heroes because they are single-minded.<br />
At the moment I am contrasting a brother and sister: the male is the idealist and the sister the realist. I'm having a lot of fun working out their equally biased views of the world while an assassin stalks them.<br />
Thank God…
That is fascinating. Yes, indeed. Women can be sneaky devils. They've had to learn how to cope with male domination. I suppose I also chose a male protagonist because most female authors write about women. And I like men. They make good heroes because they are single-minded.<br />
At the moment I am contrasting a brother and sister: the male is the idealist and the sister the realist. I'm having a lot of fun working out their equally biased views of the world while an assassin stalks them.<br />
Thank God we both love what we do. You are nice. Thank you. I'm…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583512007-07-27T17:31:25.119ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
You are nice. Thank you. I'm a long way from California, alas. And I have been weaned from thinking that people find my talks on Heian Japan as interesting as I do.<br />
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This is the first review for IoE and thus the first star. (I've had a couple on earlier novels). Now I'm working on matching Olen's double stars for his latest. :)
You are nice. Thank you. I'm a long way from California, alas. And I have been weaned from thinking that people find my talks on Heian Japan as interesting as I do.<br />
<br />
This is the first review for IoE and thus the first star. (I've had a couple on earlier novels). Now I'm working on matching Olen's double stars for his latest. :) Congrats on the starred revie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583252007-07-27T13:57:51.712ZNaomi Hiraharahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
Congrats on the starred review! Is this your second star? Most excellent.<br />
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I.J., have you spoken to Japan Societies? They would be your natural audience. Come out to California if you can and I'll introduce you to a bunch of folks.
Congrats on the starred review! Is this your second star? Most excellent.<br />
<br />
I.J., have you spoken to Japan Societies? They would be your natural audience. Come out to California if you can and I'll introduce you to a bunch of folks. You have to write what you fe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583242007-07-27T13:55:11.764ZNaomi Hiraharahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
You have to write what you feel called to write. It's funny--I was very deliberate in choosing to write about a male protagonist because so many Asian American female writers write about women and how they can't understand their parents and their old country ways. Because I am bilingual and spent some time in Japan, I thought it would be interesting to flip that around and write from the parent's perspective. And since I've interviewed mostly men at the newspaper (and am an old cranky guy in my…
You have to write what you feel called to write. It's funny--I was very deliberate in choosing to write about a male protagonist because so many Asian American female writers write about women and how they can't understand their parents and their old country ways. Because I am bilingual and spent some time in Japan, I thought it would be interesting to flip that around and write from the parent's perspective. And since I've interviewed mostly men at the newspaper (and am an old cranky guy in my heart of hearts), it was very easy to capture a man's POV.<br />
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I'm mining a different side of me in these women's stories. This current mystery is pretty domestic. Yet working in this confined space is creatively challenging as well. I've always felt female wars are more complicated and nefarious than male wars. Really fun and scary stuff. Reading pulp fiction written by women in the 1950s has helped immensely. Oh, Naomi, that sounds very g…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583132007-07-27T13:23:04.068ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Oh, Naomi, that sounds very good. Women's literature sells. My problem is that I've been fighting the gender thing all along (male protagonists and initials). I did a historical novel that focused on a woman (12 th. Japan). It did not please the editors who found the history confusing (the Heike wars!). I shall rewrite this and kill off the female protagonist. Who needs her? That'll show them.<br />
The current book is a thriller (it has an assassin) set in 18th century Germany. It's about 1/3 done…
Oh, Naomi, that sounds very good. Women's literature sells. My problem is that I've been fighting the gender thing all along (male protagonists and initials). I did a historical novel that focused on a woman (12 th. Japan). It did not please the editors who found the history confusing (the Heike wars!). I shall rewrite this and kill off the female protagonist. Who needs her? That'll show them.<br />
The current book is a thriller (it has an assassin) set in 18th century Germany. It's about 1/3 done and will be shorter than most of my books. I have a notion that readers will also be uninterested in German history and this history is, if anything, even more confusing.<br />
My agent says I'm shooting myself in the foot by ignoring women's literature. She's a very wise bird. Right. I've been at it since…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:583122007-07-27T13:14:59.890ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Right. I've been at it since 2002 and was in for a rude awakening. I read somewhere recently that most book sales come from a handful of authors. These are the ones who receive all the publicity.<br />
To my utter dismay, even winning awards (in my case a short story Shamus -- and in Naomi's the recent Edgar) and getting starred reviews had no influence on getting people to buy my books. Generally, nobody knows about these things because there is no publicity. I'm about to demonstrate the same thing…
Right. I've been at it since 2002 and was in for a rude awakening. I read somewhere recently that most book sales come from a handful of authors. These are the ones who receive all the publicity.<br />
To my utter dismay, even winning awards (in my case a short story Shamus -- and in Naomi's the recent Edgar) and getting starred reviews had no influence on getting people to buy my books. Generally, nobody knows about these things because there is no publicity. I'm about to demonstrate the same thing again: ISLAND OF EXILES will get a starred review from PW I'm told). How's the standalone going, I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-27:537324:Comment:582012007-07-27T02:26:23.365ZNaomi Hiraharahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
How's the standalone going, I.J.? I'm working steadily on mine--more of a women's mystery but I think that's fine. Mas has a cameo; I think after this book, I'll be ready to return to the series again.
How's the standalone going, I.J.? I'm working steadily on mine--more of a women's mystery but I think that's fine. Mas has a cameo; I think after this book, I'll be ready to return to the series again. I agree with you, Angela. It'…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-26:537324:Comment:581392007-07-26T23:15:23.335ZNaomi Hiraharahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
I agree with you, Angela. It's tougher than ever. Just in the short time since my mysteries have been print (2004), I've seen book reviews sections cut dramatically and small presses going out of business. I think that the large publishers will further streamline their business. An increasing number of authors will definitely have to maintain day jobs while writing. I predict during the next decade we will see great transformations in this business due to new technologies. So hold on for dear…
I agree with you, Angela. It's tougher than ever. Just in the short time since my mysteries have been print (2004), I've seen book reviews sections cut dramatically and small presses going out of business. I think that the large publishers will further streamline their business. An increasing number of authors will definitely have to maintain day jobs while writing. I predict during the next decade we will see great transformations in this business due to new technologies. So hold on for dear life. I've had two books deals (bot…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-07-26:537324:Comment:581352007-07-26T23:11:04.230ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I've had two books deals (both books already written), and I prefer one-book deals for the future. But then I've switched to stand-alones. A series needs too much support these days. And an author has too much invested in it. This is a "hit and run" sort of business.
I've had two books deals (both books already written), and I prefer one-book deals for the future. But then I've switched to stand-alones. A series needs too much support these days. And an author has too much invested in it. This is a "hit and run" sort of business.