Somewhere Over the Sun

It’s been a while since I’ve given any updates about myself and what I’m currently working on, so this will be that kind of post. Those of you more interested in my writing than the person behind them, feel free to peruse my last few months’ posts, most of which are flash fiction stories.

While Somewhere Over the Sun continues to sell at the astonishing rate of one copy every couple of weeks or so, I’ve been busy with stuff that’s not yet published. Bright and Blue, my second novel, is currently on the back burner, awaiting another round of edits before I begin querying agents for it. The story follows Spout, a widower who decides to stay behind on Earth when almost all of humanity has left to inhabit a new planet inhabited by people so similar to us they may be our soul mates. You can read the first paragraph or so here.

I am simultaneously at work on two other novels. The novel taking priority comes with a bit of an unconventional situation. A few months ago, I was contacted by what’s called a Literary Development Company out in L.A. Basically, what they do is pitch ideas to writers, the writers produce the novel, and then these guys use their contacts and experience to pitch the work to publishers. They have experience working with film and television rights, too. If the book sells to a publisher, I get percentages from whatever money is made. If they can’t find interest, nothing happens. I, of course, get credit for all my work. It’s an interesting option, and at this point in my career, I figured there’s no way it’ll hurt. Worst thing that could happen is I spend a few months writing a book that no one buys. So, these guys pitched me an idea, I liked it and we signed a contract. They loved my general outline and decided to have me skip the detailed outline step of the process and just start writing the book. Chapter one is almost done at about 9,000 words.

The other book is currently at around 13,000 words, and I’m going to keep what it’s about under wraps, as usual. Suffice it to say, it’s literary fiction and contains some of what I believe is my best writing. I’m excited about it.  

I also have a few postcards still waiting to be claimed. If you’re interested, send me a message with your address and a writing prompt. And that’s it. The busy life of a writer. 

Oh, new feature on my site. I’ve got my quotebook up. Explore it, get to know me. 

To give you a sneak peek at the glamorous life of a career writer, here are some of the things I’m currently working on:

• Second draft of my second novel (still unnamed). After finishing the first draft early this month, I went through and made a few edits and gave myself notes. Now I’m working on fixing what needs to be fixed, both on a small sentence-to-sentence scale and on a larger character development and plot hole scale. So far, I only know what I think of the novel, which has made improvements a little difficult, since I’m having trouble identifying the manuscript’s overall strengths and weaknesses. Outside perspective is crucial for improvement. While I wrote Somewhere Over the Sun, I had the constant input of two brilliant editors, so the rewrites were easier: I knew what to fix. I do have a beta reader who’s working her way through the manuscript now and will share with me her thoughts hopefully by the end of the month.

• Query letter for the aforementioned second novel. No agent or publisher’s going to read a manuscript without being sold on the idea first. To all you aspiring young writers, the earlier you start honing your query letter skills, the better off you’ll be.

• A short story entitled, The Rabbi Sent an E-mail. Upon its completion, I’ll be submitting it to various literary journals and magazines. Increasing my publication credits and overall exposure is a good idea at this point in my career. Plus, I like writing shorts and haven’t given myself the chance to in the year and a half since I began my life as a writer.

• Portfolios for BookExpo America 2011. This four day event is the main focus of my travels this summer and will be crucial in determining the next few months of my life. I want to network with as many people as possible at this event, and I’m gathering some materials to be able to hand out to agents/publishers/editors/anyone at all in order to draw interest and take the next step into traditional publishing. These portfolios will include a cover letter (I’m trying to determine what would be considered appropriate content for a cover letter aimed at no one in specific, since cover letters are meant to be more specifically targeted; possibly a this is who I am, this is what I’ve done, this is what I plan to do kind of thing), the first ten pages of my second novel, customer and critic reviews of Somewhere Over the Sun, The Rabbi Sent an E-mail, and some other writing samples, such as the first two pages of The Ministry of Lost Hours, which will one day become my third novel. Speaking of which…

• Outline for third manuscript, The Ministry of Lost Hours. Still in baby phase, but occupying some mental capacity.

• Maintaining a blog, which is my main marketing tool as a writer. Any writer will tell you that the best way to sell books is via positive word-of-mouth. Any marketer will tell you that the hardest marketing tactic to artificially achieve is positive word-of-mouth. I can’t get people talking about my book unless they read it, and I can’t get people to read it unless I’m talking about my book.

• Since I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t take my own advice about taking books as lovers, I’m attempting to read 50 books this year. You can track my progress on Goodreads.

• And just for good measure, I’m communicating with my readers. I have this other brilliant marketing tactic/thing that makes me feel better. Quite a few of an author’s sales come from friends and family. Turn your readers into your friends and they’ll be more likely to want to buy your book. Added bonus: you have more friends! Approachability, that’s what I’m all about, dear readers. Speaking of which, would you like a postcard (I’ve already received a number of requests (thanks to all those who’ve messaged me their addresses/city requests!) and I’m very happy to add these postcards to my busy plate of things to write)?