Author Happenings

Hey folks,

There are some great happenings going on with a couple of Variance family members.

First, tomorrow Paul Byers will be doing a book signing at Snohomish High School, Snohomish, WA, for his book Catalyst. This is an important signing to attend as it is in support of the high school's "Night of the Arts" which showcases the student talents in the visual and performing arts. He will be there from 5-8pm - show up, get a great book and help a worthwhile cause.

Next, Steven Savile has been on the move again in the web world. He has revamped his website, www.stevensavile.com, started a new blog, and even plans on sending out a fan-only newsletter - which if you are a fan of Steve, it is worth your time to sign up for as you could get your chance at winning the first ever signed copy of his Arthurian novel, The Black Chalice. He has also been on a few blogs over the past few days talking about his rebranding and the success of his UK Silver edition (as it reached #3 on the amazon.uk.co charts!). The first is at IndieIQ, the second at 1001 Secrets of Successful Writers. If you haven't pick up Silver yet... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Find the Variance edition here on Kindle and in Hardcover.

If you sign up or attend anything, be sure to let us know! Enjoy.

Promotion: Be Humble

With Blogger back on board, let's get this turkey farm gobblin'.


In a world where being humble and having integrity seems to be lacking, now is not the time to jump on board. Always be thankful for what you have and never forget where you came from. Everyone starts out by putting words on paper, or electronic paper now with the advent of computers, tablets and smartphones. There is nothing worse than meeting someone who feels that they are entitled to your praise because they reached the NYT bestsellers list, or gained some prestigious award. Remember - as fast as it came, it can all disappear.

Here at Variance, we are very blessed to have grounded authors. I’ve met some who aren’t so, well, nice. It’s extraordinarily unfortunate when you read their books, see them as modern-day literary heroes, and come to find out that in-person they leave a terrible taste in your mouth. One realizes that you have found success, but it doesn’t need to be flaunted like tomorrow’s winning lottery numbers.

I was doing a signing at Christmas time when a woman walked in with her four children and we started chatting, while we were talking, she brought her daughter over who I guess was about six. She looked to her daughter and said, “Look honey, this man is a real life author, and he writes books.” Her eyes lit up and she looked at me like I was Santa himself with a bag full of toys just for her.

On their way out I signed markers for all her kids. As they left, the little girl looked at me again and exclaimed to her mother, “Mommy, I met a real life author!”
I was awed, flattered and humbled by that little girl’s reaction to something that I did. That encounter right there has made me decide to continue to do book signings even when I get to the point where I don’t have too. Never get to big to remember where you came from.
-- Paul Byers, author of Arctic Fire and Catalyst.

Is this why when people go to signings, so many fans seem stand-offish? As though they are afraid to get too close for fear of losing another author to poor people skills? Perhaps it’s the feeling of being ‘untouchable’ as well, but if you make your fans feel as though you are anything but an astral projection of a human, you will be accepted all the more. Remember, they put their pants on just like you do. They could be what you find fascinating, in fact they could be your hero (soldier, firefighter, etc).

It may seem so basic, but just always show respect. A thank you, a smile, a handshake. In a time where texting and acronyms rule the world, just remember KISS: Keep It Super Simple. It’s funny how success and money, the two things we crave to feel accomplished, always make things more difficult. Stephen King, one of the most well-known writers of our age, with books and small and large screen movies and fansites and more, is one of the most humble people I’ve ever heard of. My relatives lived a few miles from him and he was always giving back to his community - buying the kid’s baseball teams their uniforms, other supplies, and even coaching. That’s what success is all about.

Now, “Stan,” you’re saying, “who are you to tell people how to spend their time and money? We live in a capitalistic society where ‘more power to the money-maker’.” Absolutely. Congrats on your success! If you’ll have me, I’ll be the first on your doorstep to shake your hand, pat your back, and the like. But when times are tight as they are, and you are more than able to provide for your family, giving back to your community - the place where we all started back eight weeks ago - not only will establish you as someone community members feel as though they can trust, but will also give those looking for one, a role model. What’s more rewarding than that?

Being published is every writers dream. But on the journey to making a living by doing what you love, which at times is unconventional, many seem to forget that the publishing industry still requires the professionalism and courtesy that any other career requires, and perhaps even more so considering it’s one of the toughest industries to break into. Many writers come off of months and in some cases years of honing their craft, polishing and editing their manuscript, convinced that it’s the best book in the history of time. But regardless of the quality of work many writers must remember to be humble when trying to sell and promote their work. Here are a few key points that I’ve come across over the years:

- Value other people’s time as much as your own. Today’s society is fast and selfish. Slow down and remember that other people have their own lives to live, and they will get to you when the time is right.
- Listen more than you talk. There’s nothing more irritating than a “know -it-all.”
- It’s ok to be wrong. Apologize and move on. As much as you might feel judged, being true to yourself is the most important thing you can do.
- Give credit to others. Having been in the industry long enough to see things come full circle, burning bridges is the last thing you EVER want to do.
- Don’t be afraid to use the phrases; “it’s my pleasure” and “I’d be honored.” You be surprised how often people forget to be courteous.
- Avoid explosive reactions and try to understand where the other person is coming from. No good ever comes from negative emotions. If you don’t know where the other person is coming from, ask them.
- Know how to accept praise and say Thank You. This gets you further that you might think.
- Seek wisdom wherever and from whoever you can. After all, you are probably speaking or working with someone who is drawing from a vast amount of experience

We all understand that it’s hard to come out of such solitary work, where you have only yourself to hold accountable. But when it comes to being a public figure, realizing that it’s now about other people goes a long way.

-- Rachelle Gagne , Writer/Producer, Invictus Films & Chief Reviewer for TheNovelBlog.com

Don’t forget about those who are starting out then where you are now. It goes without saying that the biggest perk to having experience is being able to give back to those trying to get there with you. I cannot speak enough praises to people like James Rollins who always seem to make time for newbies.

Following suit, I would like to thank you all for following along. Without you, this blog would mean nothing - and I hope I make that clear on a consistent basis - your readership is so very appreciated. All of my friends and groups on Facebook and Twitter who help spread the word, you are all priceless and your friendship means the world. I thoroughly hope you gained some knowledge from these posts. I know a few of you have shared that with me, and through those comments you make this segment completely worth it. Thank you.

Musical Impact

Hey folks,

Just a fun post today, I'm looking for what music you listen to when you write... or even when you read? What sets the mood for you? Movie scores? Classical? Metal? Let's hear what your favs have been!

Me:
Batman Begins and The Dark Knight soundtracks (hope the third is as good as the first two)

An Epic Fantasy Adventure

Welcome back to the work week! I hope all you mothers had a great weekend.

When I got asked to create this new cover I was a bit weary. A fantasy...? Those covers are way beyond my potential - illustrators like Steve Stone and Erik Hollander with more talent in their little finger than throughout my whole body. But with some help and input I was led to create this:


Description:

What if the only hope of saving a magical world depended on an ordinary boy?

Peace is not easily found in the divided kingdom of Taelyon; its mortals distrust anything magical; its wizards are indifferent to the suffering of others, and hate infects everyone. The battle for dominance is never ending. Yet, there is hope. A boy named Torrein. When magic is denied him, he's chased from his own village by those he once called friends. Torrein doesn't understand that his destiny is far greater than any he could have achieved if magic had been granted him. Who wants a destiny soaked in blood? All Torrein wants is what he can't have - to be with his family and friends.

To claim his rightful power, Torrein must calm his fears and reveal the real evil working to destroy Taelyon. It will be a fight till the end of the age to reclaim the freedom they’ve all been denied, and though it's hard for him to accept, it’s up to Torrein to protect those who have been deceived, and to make sure the evil in their midst doesn't kill them all.

This is a coming of age tale in an epic fantasy world filled with dragons, skeletons and sirens. If you enjoy fantasy and adventure, this is a title worthy of your review. Let's hear from you fantasy readers? Does this sound interesting to you? Let us know what you think. Non-fantasy readers, I'd love to hear from you too. Does this sound like an exciting read? One lucky commenter will get a free e-copy of Kristina Schram's The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Prophecies - a fantasy of another type... but still fantastic! Get those comments in by 5/13/2011 at 5pm EST.

Promotion: Put Your Best Book Forward

There is always something to be said about putting your best book (or product) forward. It lets people know you are serious, that you’re in it for the long haul, and that you know you have a good product. The cliché ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ should be true, but is rarely taken seriously. How often do you overlook something that doesn’t appeal to you? As I said before, things in flashy packages always look more appetizing. But you can’t let it stop there! Let’s go over some of the most important points to putting your best book forward.

COVER - You can’t deny that a cover created by a professional cover artist gets more hits and creates more noise in the industry than one created in Microsoft Paint all by your onesies. You can get professional cover art from anyplace starting at $400, all the way up to $3500+! While everyone thinks that the cover should be what costs the most since it is your first line of defense, it is only one part in a team… and there is no I in TEAM, right? (Yes, I know, but there is an M and an E.)

The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is true. While we may have crafted the greatest thousand words ever written, we still have to get the readers to notice us. To me, the cover has to be every bit as good as the writing inside. It has to convey the story and capture the reader’s imagination right away. They say to never judge a book by its cover… I would disagree.
– Paul Byers, author of Arctic Fire and Catalyst.

EDITING - Just as important as a cover, paying for editing (or if you know someone personally who is excellent and may be willing to work for peanuts, that’s always nice too) is an absolute must. Mistakes happen, things get missed, we all understand that, but it should be few and far between. Not only do you not want a complete embarrassment of a book getting out there, but if people buy your book and can’t finish it, that doesn’t translate into more sales from them purchasing your next title.

Key point: I remember I traveled for a friend’s wedding. I entered the hotel and waited for the check-in clerk to come to the front desk and noticed a letter in a stand to the guests staying at the establishment. Upon reading the few hundred words they typed up and "rushed out the door", I noticed a hefty handful of errors that just reflected so poorly upon that establishment. Your mind begins to wonder, if they don’t proof their first impressions, what is the rest going to look like? Thankfully the room was nice, the place was quiet, and overall everything else was good. I told the woman who took my info about the failed attempt and professionalism, but have to wonder if she ever passed it on to her boss... and at that, how many times had that been seen and said - or if it was ever changed?

Seriously: whether you are in publishing or not, edit your stuff.

Another point to keep in mind, if you feel you don’t have the money to pay for editing, go to or contact your local college and see if anyone there would be interested in proofing your work. Set something up with the English program chair and see if this is already in place in the event you aren’t the first to inquire.

LAYOUT - Once again, you want something that is visually pleasing to the eye. Trying to smush 150k words into a 300 page trade paperback will just look bad. If you are going to do it yourself, find a book that you thought looked the best, read easy and wasn’t too much black-to-white on a page, and mimic it. Adding images to chapter headers is a nice touch - it lets the left and right brain work together in unison. Once again, more pleasing… but don’t let that pict distract the eye from the words, there needs to be balance.


While most publishers already do these things and this is more geared toward self-published folks, it is something to make sure you are on top of and have a knowledge of for your own benefit. If you are doing this on your own, think about the cost and the benefit:

Cover = $500
Editing = $400
Layout = $350
____________
$1250

Avg profit on book = $5

1250/5 = 250 books

While these are minimum prices you might find out there, they are available, I’ve seen them from folks over the past few years. If you don’t think you can sell 250-300 books, you unfortunately are going about this all the wrong way. Perhaps that sounds blunt, but if you just wanted to get your written word out there you could blog - a free source for you to write and for people to read your work. When you start charging for something bound, you obviously are looking to make a profit, because well, there is no overhead to cover for words rolling around in your head. Of course, as you spend more, you have to opportunity of getting better quality - within reason. There are some places out there that charge way too much for what they offer. Be sure to get samples of their work if they aren't already posted on their website. That said, with the promotions I’ve been sharing, you should be able to sell thousands, if you are diligent. Of course, more over time as you put out more titles and get a bigger footprint.

The benefit: They’ve all been stated previously. Professionalism. Appealing. Sales. Return customers. Success.