British Fantasy Awards 2010: the Longlist?

What? What? What?

British Fantasy Awards 2010: the Longlist

What? What? What?

Sue pinches self. Checks the alignment of the stars. Calculates PI *no not that PI*, sits at computer and checks to make sure she's not looking at someone elses inbox and finally traces letters on screen with finger to make sure thats HER book on the long-list!

What? What? What?

Just to demonstrate the impact this has had on me as a writer, "I DON'T CARE IF NO ONE VOTES FOR "Forever Richard." My absolute day and birthday has been made. Unbelievable. I'm . . . speechless.

Imagine what'd I'd be if it actually moved on to the short-list.

I may have to schedule a trip to the UK now to personally hug some people!!! ;D

By the way, Richard doesn't feel neglected anymore!

Do bookstores accommodate small press authors?

Do bookstores accommodate small press/self-pubbed/Indie authors?

Not to date.

Convincing a bookstore to order your books is simple enough for those who have an ISBN but why should we have to convince them of anything when larger houses don't have to? Their defense, "well, we like to make sure the author has an audience so their books will sell."

What? Of course they don't have an audience. How can they have an audience? Please save me from this ignorance. Not even the Independent Bookstores I've dealt with move far past this mode of operation.

And don't count on your local bookstores either. I had two relatively successful signings with my local B&N, meaning they allowed me to come in, set-up and sign, before the last disaster. I've yet to be paid for that event and received zero advertising from them. Not even the special sign in the door a couple of days before the event was to happen. We're coming up on a year now and it wasn't just me they didn't pay. I brought another author along with me and they've not been paid either. True, it's not a large amount of money they owe me but truth be told, it could be and it wouldn't matter.

How professional is that!

And to make matters more ridiculous. That same B&N still orders the hard copy of Never Ceese to sell instead of my POD published version even though they can get both and even though I've explained that I make no money of the hard copy. And of course that really doesn't matter much either because they stick the one or two copies in a hole somewhere so you'd have to ask where it is in spite of the category of YA Series or vampire or werewolf and in spite of the fact that I'm a local author whose first book was short-listed for a Bram Stoker award and second novel is long-listed for a 2010 British Fantasy Award. I'd say to them thanks for all the help but they're not singling me out. That's pretty much the way any author who isn't published by a large house is treated--every day--all day long.

Ahhh, ain't live grand!

What a productive weekend!

I must say I had quite an enjoyable weekend hauling part of Ridgeland High School's forensics team down to Hattiesburg and judging as well. What a nice treat to be able to catch up with long time friend and High School acquaintance Jamie L. O'quinn. How ironic that we'd meet again due to our daughter's being involved in the same high school activity but from two separate schools. At least that was odd to me. ;)

As a result of our meeting, Mrs. O'quinn has asked if she could add the link to this here blog to her Cool Links bar. And of course, since we both are so very cool, I said yes and I shall post a blog to point to hers and add hers to my sidebar. So here's a link to her fantastical blog that you need to click on. Rumor has it that Sue Dent (hey, that's me. ;)) may actually score an interview or something. But that is just a rumor. (I know I'm clever. Hopefully my tactic won't backfire on me. LOL) It is such a very "cool" site though. Go pay it a visit.

I am SOOOOO sick of Amazon!

Update: For the record Amazon has temporarily fixed the problem. LOL I heard nothing from them though. Just saw it was fixed.

Arrrrrrrr! I stayed after Amazon for months to change the book that showed up by default when my name was typed in as Never Ceese the hardback is no longer in publication and the paperback is. They'd eventually fix the problem only to "unfix" it a few weeks later. I've contacted them no less than five times on the matter and wouldn't you know it, they screwed it up again!!!!!!!!!

LEAVE MY PROFILE ALONE, once you fix it again that is. You're not helping anyone.

ARRRRRRR!

What is the point of Author Central if Amazon can arbitrarily change information at will? I already don't like you. Don't make me hate you toooooo!!!

It's bad enough you suggest buying books from a market that doesn't support authors such as myself along with my books. What is that about? If I could do anything to make Amazon stop listing books that come from discriminating publishers I would. Double ARRRRRRRRRR!

You can actually contact Author Central and I did, as usual. Here was my email to them:

Yes. I didn't get a message to inform me that you got my last message so I'm sending another. Author Central has screwed up yet again. They have Never Ceese the hardback showing up as the default book once more even after fixing it so the paperback shows up instead. This will be like the third time I've had to contact you to fix this. I will not wait seven days for you to fix it again either when it only takes Author Central ONE day to screw it up. The hardback is no longer in publication. The paperback is. FIX IT AGAIN. I'll now save this response as it seems Amazon can't do anything right for very long. ARGHHH!

My fans soooooooo rock!

Update: Well it was bound to happen. The Mass of Myer Mongrels LOL have ended Never Ceese's reign as number one on the Listopia I found and knocked Forever Richard out of the top ten. Still a good showing for a virtual unknown author doing all her promotion. Like throwing pennies to the poor (or myself. LOL)

End update.

Yes. The best fans in the world!

My Monday is complete. ;P

A Listopia on Goodreads!

I'd like to thank all those who never read my work and voted. LOL I'm glad to know you like me that much! I try. ;)

Pssst. Richard's feeling neglected. ;)

Richard's feeling neglected and thinks he doesn't like being next to William Shakespeare. Maybe you could help him out. ;)

If you already have then thanks. If you haven't, make his day . . . and mine. ;)

All the Books That Everyone Read

Love ya'll!

A superb Good Reads review.

Evan Day posted his review of Never Ceese. Doesn't get much better. ;)

One comment he makes is that because of some light swearing, alcohol and tobbaco use my work won't show up in Christian bookstores. I'd like to say that this statement is inaccurate. My books have been approved for distribution to the Christian market and can show up in Christian bookstores. The reason they won't be found in larger Christian bookstores is because these bookstores are affiliated with CBA and only carry books produced by CBA affiliated publishers. That's not speculation. That's a sad fact.

Now for the review. ;)

A somewhat off the radar book. A kind of Christian fiction vampire/werewolf novel aimed at the YA crowd.

A vampire and a werewolf meet up and try to contact a few scientists that may have a cure for their condition. The problem is that the vampire is somewhat apathetic about ever being human again, the werewolf has been in wolf form for over 70 years and doesn't quite get modern civilization, the scientists are being manipulated by an evil stem cell researcher looking to use the vampire curse to achieve immortality...and most of the characters seem ready to strangle each other. The result is more humorous than horrifying. Richard, the vampire and Ceese the werewolf clash constantly, and the result is mostly funny. They share a connection which is heavily hinted at but only revealed in the very end. The resolution seemingly wraps things up but the author adds a few loose ends to set up for the sequel.

Oddly enough although Sue Dent has said she doesn't consider herself a "Christian author" and indeed, some light swearing and the use of alcohol and tobacco by some of the characters (ironically, perhaps more than the vampires and werewolves) ensure this won't be in many Christian book stores. But Christian faith plays a very explicit role in this book The vampires and werewolves are genuinely cursed, and the curse unquestionably evil in nature. For the characters to speak or even think of anything holy causes them great pain (one character tries to recite John 3:16 at one point, and it nearly kills him). The great fear of the protagonists, ultimately, is that they will face damnation in their current state.

I'm not here to theologically break down the book, but I will say it was a nice read with a very neat redemptive conclusion. And in a market full of vampires and werewolves who either embrace their baser natures, treat their curse like a superpower, or endlessly brood in hopelessness, it seems downright refreshing to see a tale where the curse is genuine evil but redemption is accomplished triumphantly.

(more at goodreads)

I'm so loving this.

And Just when I think no one is paying attention.

Hello Westerfield and Meyer. Meet Sue Dent. :) Scarey, I know. More like amazing to me. Absolutely amazing.

A goodreads Listopia.

Ya'll go make me more happy and vote. Cuz we all know it's the little things in life that make the difference. I think. ;)

Independent Artist Network

So here's your official/unofficial invite to the Independent Artist Network. Good information to be found here for FREE everyday all day long for any aspiring author or Independent artist. Just go to FaceBook (yeah, it's free too) and join the group Independent Artist Network . . .or don't. Your loss or gain. ;)




I've posted a few discussions already.

Publisher's Weekly review?

Well I have to tell you when The Writers' Cafe Press picked up Forever Richard I was excited and so were they (they are friends first and foremost.) Moving up from a small Indie press to a Mid-range press (in regards to sales that is. Non-monumental sales but sales none-the-less) surely meant more respect from first-line reviewers who get most of the attention when they review books (good or bad.)

I tried to get a review of Never Ceese from PW when it first came out but learned, oh my, you had to send them an arc well in advance of being published. Okay. No problem. Forever Richard would certainly meet that criteria. Oh and then there's this criteria.

An accompanying letter should contain a description or synopsis of the book, and any pertinent publicity information, including the author’s previous titles, blurbs, or previous reviews. Book club, paperback, audio or movie rights sales, author tours of 5 cities or more, a print run of more than 10,000 or an ad/promo budget of more than $30,000 should be noted.

Sure. Yeah. Right. Who in the heck are they talking too?

They were sent an arc of Forever Richard with all the information associated with my previous book and wala--nothing. Oh yeah. They get a lot of books. Give you one guess who gets reviewed and it ain't the small presses or self-pubbed authors.

What's my point?

What? I have to have a point?

Sorry. Didn't really have one. ;)

The Christian Publishing Industry vs. The "Christian" Publishing Industry

The Christian Publishing Industry vs. The "Christian" Publishing Industry. Readers don't get this distinction and therefore don't understand the significance of making the distinction clear. Because of a comment I left on a book review (hey, I was nice. I always am)done on OBS by a reviewer who admitted that they weren't aware that "there were publishers who produced fiction with a religious lean!" *gasp* I get to "edumacate" them at their request. "Yes," they said. "I'm looking forward and am excited to read more." :) *Note: that's not an exact quote but it's close.*

Keep your eyes peeled for that article.

BTW, OBS did a resounding interview and author bio and chapter by chapter review of Never Ceese back in October of 2009. You should go take a look at it. ;)

For free! I know, right?

So read on:

Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc, author of magnificently twisted horror and practicing witch and suprisingly saintly Sue Dent whose horror has been approved for distribution to the Christian market, (undeniably the oddest pairing of authors to join forces to date,) have arrived on the scene to help YOU, free of charge without any obligation based on our experiences to date, (which oddly enough seem to be EXACTLY the same.)

Take advantage of our little free offer to give you advise and you'll undoubtedly succeed on some level. Ignore us and we go away. Truly though, are the two of us that easy to ignore! I think not.

Here's the link to my first discussion. Make or break. Do join in!

Your salvation to being published or recognizing what it means to be published.

Curious?

What do twisted horror writer (and practicing witch) Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc and Saintly horror writer Sue Dent, whose writings have been approved for distribution to the Christian market, have in common? Well, just wait and you'll find out. *and whistle the "Odd Couple" theme while you're waiting.* If you don't know the "Odd Couple" theme . . . well . . . google it.

And now for part 3 of my interview with the Christian Examiner.

Part 3 of my interview with Christian Examiner is now up here. Thank you Shelly Ring for giving me the time of day when so many don't. With people like you helping get the word out, I just might swing making a living as a writer. Time will tell I suppose. 

I don't want to mislead anyone though. Appealing to the audience CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers serve has not helped me at all. If anything, it's made things much more difficult. I have to explain to my main audience that I don't write for this group, that they just happen to enjoy my work otherwise general market readers won't touch my work at all. And to top it all off, CBA market readers who do read my work can't even find my stories where they shop because I don't pay to be affiliated with CBA or ECPA. 

It's slightly devasting when an author and publisher has so little control over how their work is categorized. So once again, I don't write for the CBA or ECPA market though I love each and everyone of their readers who've enjoyed my work. I wouldn't mind writing for a CBA or ECPA affilaited publisher but they have all turned me down. And since they do produce work for a very tight niche market of Christians and not all readers of faith, I dare say something would have to change before I'd accept a contract from them should one happen to fall out of the sky and hit me on the head. *Sue is so not worried about this happening she doesn't even look up or cover her head. LOL*

But yes thank you Shelly Ring! You so rock!

Infatuated with this review!

I've been blessed with so many wonderful reviews in spite of not having the sort of following an established author would have that it's always exciting to get a review from an author who is established. Jon Guenther is just that and then some. I would elaborate but his newly designed I-hate-you-for-being-so-talented website at www.guenfire.com says it way better than I can. ;)

Okay, Sue so why so infatuated with this review?

Because Jon Guenther helped answer a lot of questions I had. See, I thought that if I simply waited a little longer, earned a few more grand reviews from high profile authors, sold a few more books that maybe those larger publishers and specifically CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers, since their audience seem to enjoy my work so much, would actually respond to my queries with something other than, "I'm sorry. You're not what we're looking for right now?"

So how did Jon answer your question?

Well, I'll tell you. This grand and established author's agent at the time, got him a book deal with the founding publisher of CBA itself, Moody Press. Wow! Now we're talking, right? Nope. Shortly before the book went to press, Moody called agent Jon's agent and backed out of the contract. No reason but they did let him keep his advance.

So Jon did what he had to do to keep his story alive. He self-published through Amazon's POD Create Space. So now instead of flooding every CBA/larger Christian Bookstore with the absolutely best book since The Shack (actually better) it sits relatively unnoticed in POD hell. I know, right?

So welcome to the ranks of the unsung writers Jon. Thank you for giving this relatively new author a reason to keep writing.

Oh yeah, that's why I'm infatuated with this review! ;) 

Soul Runner is about Christians under persecution. Some irony don't you think.

So pleased with these interviews. :)

Shelly Ring of the Christian Examiner posted part two of her interview with me just now. When you get a chance do go read it.

The link.

With Never Ceese being self-published, I need all the help I can get getting out there. Thank you so much Shelly.

Case in point.

Okay. I brought up the matter of making a living writing on my last blog and to show you just how long one might survive (or in my case not survive LOL) here's my sales report totals for this year from Lightning Source--you know, since January. Get ready. You will be amazed.

Total Sales since January: *drum roll please* ONE fantastic book

Total returns: TWO

So now let's do the math. $1.50 profit on the one book. $11.66 loss on the two returned. That means I made a total of -$10.16!

And you wonder why I had to make my books non-returnable. Sadly, it doesn't take effect until after 180 days so the bookstores will surely take me under before that happens. Keep in mind, these are bookstores returning these books not readers.

I like to report on sales because looking at all the sites that say they have Never Ceese the paperback for sale, you'd think I was rolling in it. I'm rolling in it all right. ;) LOL

And please no suggestions on marketing. I'm right where I should be. It's just that reaching the next level, I believe, is what makes or breaks a small press author.

For interested publishers.

Disregard this blog. LOL It suggests that larger publishers actually see blogs from a peon like me and . . . well, that just isn't the case. I apologize for taking up cyber space with the ridiculous suggestion that they might. ;)

For interested publishers (I realize there are no interested publishers but I did want to get the info out there) I'll entertain all offers should anyone be interested in making one. My current publisher is wonderful yet hard times seem to affect us all. I need help promoting. The distribution my current publisher offers is grand, (and traditional so that rocks,) but it takes more than that to get the attention of readers. On my own accord I continue to promote and to take chances in hopes of hitting pay dirt or to simply just make a living writing. Yes, I'm having some success, a drop in the bucket as far as that goes. I love writing and will continue providing stories to those interested in reading them. However, I will reconsider the "making a living writing" mentality if no help is offered soon. Please do not read this as a call for sympathy, it's not that. Just letting anyone who might be interested know that any offer will be entertained. ;)

Oh yeah, you can use the e-mail associated with this blog. Now don't all ya'll respond at once!

Wow. I found this mind boggling.

I saw an author asking for votes on their book for CSPA (Christian Small Press Association) book of the year. I rushed over to see about joining this association as I'd forgotten about them and thought I might find some help here with promotions or what not. I went to their FAQ page and read this:

What do you define as the “Christian Marketplace”?

CSPA defines the Christian Marketplace as that marketplace that is served by CBA member retail stores – mainly individuals who hold to Catholic or Protestant beliefs and doctrines.

I wonder if they know that no small press can get their Christian books in a CBA member retail store because most all small press books are non-affiliated. They can't afford to pay nor do they meet or want to write within CBA and ECPA's strigent, restrictive guidelines put in place to protect their core market readers.

Amazing that this is how they define the Christian Marketplace. And CBA member stores only recently started allowing "some" Catholic publishers to become members.

Makes you wonder if there is any real help for small press Christian publishers. Based on this, I'd have to say no. How depressing! 

Technically the Chistian marketplace is defined as those books approved for distribution to the Christian market by Spring Arbor. This includes way more books than just those produced by publishers who serve the closed market CBA and ECPA serve. 

Richard, a Bishie! Hmmm. . .

Richard, a Bishie! Okay. I confess. I had to look it up when I saw the comment but I'm not gonna tell you what a Bishie is if you don't know. You can go to this thread a fan started for my Thirsting for Blood Series at CAA(Christian Anime Alliance) and figure it out for yourself. 

HA! I learned something new today.

Christian Fiction examiner interview!

So nice when those who normally only report about happenings in the affiliated market of "Christian" fiction ask me for interviews or give a review. As a writer of horror/fantasy for the general market (Christians included,) I couldn't be more honored.

That being said, Shelly Ring is posting an ongoing interview with me on her Christian Fiction Examiner site. Do keep in mind that while anything Christian Fiction oriented is usually representative of what CBA and ECPA produce, I still do not belong to either of these affiliations. The work they produce is designed to appeal only to a very specific market of Christians and I write for the general market.

But I do "loves" having a LOT of their fans.

Thanks Shelly!!

Here's da link!

Also my work is still not actually Christian Speculative Fiction. That's just where many of my readers place it. It's general market Young Adult/horror/fantasy for the most part. You don't get short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award writing for a specific market of Christians. LOL