Jenn Windrow

I’m a firm believer in writing what you love, not what you think will sell. For example, I write in two genres that have fallen out of favor with the big New York publishing houses…paranormal romance (PNR) and urban fantasy (UF). And not just any urban fantasy. Mine has the dreaded V-word…vampires. 

But did I let this stop me? Heck to the no! (Heck was not first word choice, but I am trying to keep this post rated PG so WITS might invite me back some day.)

I queried and queried with both of my manuscripts and received the same rejection over and over.

“I love your writing, the story, the characters, your voice, but unfortunately with the current market I am unable to sell that genre to the editors.”

Discouraging? Yes. End of my career? No.

And if you are getting the same response to the novel you poured your soul into, it doesn’t have to be that way for you, either. 

Your readers are still out there. People who love vampire books want their fang fix. Contemporary romance readers want their big city romances. Regency romance readers are always searching for the next Mr. Darcy. 

Just because the Big 5 don’t want you, it doesn’t mean you have to give up writing in the genre you love. You have other options and other ways to find YOUR readers.

Option 1 – The Small Press

This was my first toe-dip into the publishing world. While NY may see your genre as dead on arrival, there are many small presses and independent publishers that are still willing to take a chance on you. I entered a contest called Authorpalooza, put my queries out there, and received four contract offers for my PNR. After doing a lot of homework, I went with the offer that seemed the best for me at the time.

What I got: a book cover that I loved; three rounds of edits (developmental, line, and copy); the opportunity to have someone else hold my newbie hand through the publishing process without having to fumble my way through on my own; and the support of an editor who not only loved my book, but believed in me as an author. 

I published four books with them and was happy until I decided I wanted to move on to option two.

Option Two - Self-Publishing or Indie Publishing

While the world of the small press was a great place to start, I was still sharing my royalties and doing a fair amount of work when it came to marketing my books. I had done some research, and it turns out there are genres that excel in the self-publishing world.

According to Amazon these are the top categories that sell well in the indie world.

• Romance
• Mystery, thriller suspense
• Science fiction and fantasy
• Non-fiction

Both of my genres happen to fall nicely on that list. 

So instead of a toe dip, I dove head-first into the sea of self-publishing and have been swimming in the deep waters ever since.

Is there more work? Oh my lord, yes. Do I still have a ton to learn? So much my brain hurts. Is it worth it in the end? Totally.

And even though I was told vampires were out and no one wants to read them anymore, my vampire novels are my biggest sellers. I have gained rabid fans from that series who have then moved on to read my romances. When I sell and sign at book festivals, I barely spit the V-word out before they grab a copy and march to the cash register.

But let’s not just look at me, let’s look at some of the top selling indie published authors and see how well they are doing. You might even recognize a few on the list.

1. EL James – Fifty Shades of Grey
2. Amanda Hocking – Over 17 self-published books 
3. Beatrix Potter – The Tale of Peter Rabbit(Yep. You read that right.)
4. Joseph Malix – Dragon’s Tale

Just to name a few.

But, You Ask, Do You Sell Books?

Yes. Yes! And an even louder YES!

The readers are out there. They still read what they love. They want new material. New characters to fall in love with. New heroes to root for. New journeys to travel.

I guess what I am trying to say is that even if you get a rejection letter telling you no one reads [insert your genre here], it’s not true. It just means that the Big 5 aren’t looking to buy or invest into those genres anymore.

But readers? The ones who really matter? They definitely are.

So let’s discuss…

1. Would you be willing to write in a genre you weren’t passionate about just to be picked up by a Big 5?
2. Are you a reader who loves a certain genre and will read any book in said genre, no matter how it is published?
3. Are there any self-published authors you know of that have a huge following and fantastic platform?

*******

About Jenn Windrow

Jenn Windrowis the award-winning author of the Alexis Black Novelsand the Redeeming Cupid series. Her books include vampires, Greek gods, and a bit of freak show fun for everyone. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days as a stay-at-home parent/chauffer/referee to two teenage girls, binge watching Netflix and reading with her cat in her lap.

You can find her at:

Facebook| Twitter| Goodreads| Amazon Author Central| Bookbub| Pinterest| Audible

And if you sign up for my newsletter, you will receive a free Alexis Black short story collection called Premium Evil.

by Jeri Bronson

Disclaimer:  Some topics discussed may be a trigger for people. I do try to be as sensitive as possible, but proceed with caution.

I'm married to a coroner, which means that I have some conversations many other spouses simply don't have. Now that I'm a writer, our marriage is a conversational gold mine.

One day I came home from work and as I headed to the laundry room my husband called out to me, "don't open the washer". Of course any wife would be curious as to the mess their husband had gotten into, but I know better. When you're married to a coroner and he tells you not to look, you don't.

Quick background on the nature of the job:

Coroner job duties vary from county to county and state to state. Some have medical examiners, some only have transport people and if it's a really small town, the police handle investigations. My husband investigates mode, manner and causes of death. Determining if a death is a homicide, suicide or natural and whether or not detectives should be called in is his first step. 

The coroner controls the scene. All police, fire, detectives etc. have to listen to him before anything else can be done. He does NOT pick up the body.  It really irks him when people assume that's all his job entails or ask if he's like CSI. You will get another big eye roll when that happens.

My husband has been on the news more times than I can count, investigating cases from a serial killer to a bombing, but let's talk about the How, Why and What of being a coroner.

How does someone do this job?

You have to be able to see things from all possible angles. You definitely have to be able to see what's not even there sometimes. You also have to have a level of medical detachment.

My guy was a paramedic prior, so he knows how to read people. This doesn't mean he’s cold or detached—quite the opposite. Even though someone has passed, the coroner is still serving them by being caring, compassionate and respectful. Using all these skills could be the key to solving the ultimate puzzle like a murder.

Why would anyone want to do this?

The coroner gives people closure by answering questions they could spend a lifetime wondering about.  Although a coroner encounters people in the worst possible situations, in the end those people are grateful. A coroner can help them in a way no other person can.

Example: my husband once solved a decade-old cold case with just a jaw bone that was found in the riverbed. He scanned the missing person's database when things were slow in the office, looking at this jawbone. Sure enough his "vision," as I call it, saw this lady even though the picture was transposed. He still knew it was her. Crazy right?

In many ways, that’s what a writer does, right? We take the bones of an idea and flesh them out into a character.

What...

I guess I'm here to answer the What, because it's what I've learned from the most. Marriage to a coroner has taught me to see things from every angle, when I used to be a linear thinker.

As a writer I've learned that no matter what I think is a unique scene, reality is stranger than fiction. There are many variables to consider when you are committing dastardly deeds. 

You have to consider a person's purpose, their mental state and even the weather in some cases. Also, don’t forget—location, location, location when considering all the factors of your scene. Time is the enemy in working a case. Toxicology takes 3 to 6 months to come back, but they have a new Rapid DNA system that can provide answers in 3 days. Hopefully other tests will get faster as well.  

One big thing I've learned is you have to think outside of the box to do this job. I think its best if I illustrate by example.

Years ago, my husband had to do a death notification for a family member in Japan. The Sheriff's Department didn't have a translator but my ‘outside the box’ thinking husband called over to Disneyland, which is nearby. I'm sure you're asking how can talking to Disneyland help in a death notification. Turns out Disneyland has a direct line to Japan and they have translators on hand at all times, so they were nice enough to translate for him. I'm sure it was an experience that translator won't forget.

Honestly, I could go on forever. Perhaps I will do another post. But here is a glimpse into some of the things I've heard over the years.

My husband has always worked nights, so we have to conduct a lot of communication over the phone. Keep in mind, this daily life is just routine to him. (I still hope the NSA never listens in to our conversations!)

Coroner Conversations

1. I hate Summer. It's decomp (decomposition) season.
2. I don't know why the lifeguards didn't want to keep those life preservers. They still work. A little bleach and its all good. (We had 2 of them that have since be re-homed.)
3. I got to play with the arson dog tonight.
4. The FBI does not have a sense of humor when you give them a name suggestion for a serial killer.
5. I called Interpol tonight.
6. Do not open the washer!
7. Don't touch my uniforms in the red bio hazard bag on the laundry room floor. (They were covered in poison ivy)
8. I'm going to be late picking up the kids from daycare. Transport can't find a hand. I have to go back and help.
9. I’m going to work early. I have to stop and get blood from the hospital by the house.
10. I hung out with NCIS agents tonight, and almost got sprayed by skunks.

My life is like the TV show, Castle, except more graphic. I guarantee not many people have the conversations I have on a daily basis.

I hope this has given some of you some new book ideas or helped to answer questions. Thanks to the ladies of Writers in the Storm for having me here today. It was an honor.

Do you have any simple questions for Jeri? She can't go into great detail here, but can answer quick ones. She'll ask her husband, if she doesn't know!

About Jeri

Jeri Bronson lives with her husband of thirty years in Southern California. They have two children, a grown daughter who just graduated college and a son in his last year of high school. Ten years as a Human Resources manager has given her a greater understanding of people.  Ten years as a substitute high school teacher, has given her the dialogue and perspective for her Young Adult novels. She is currently working on a Romantic Suspense trilogy (because she has the perfect resource). In her spare time Jeri is a tennis fanatic sometimes watching matches when she should be writing... but hot guys on a tennis court, well, let’s just call it inspiration.

You can find Jeri's debut YA Contemporary Novel, Seeking Perfect on:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can follow Jeri at the following Links: Facebook | Twitter

Christina Delay

Authors are in a frequent state of change. In today’s world, we must flow and shift and sometimes do some fancy footwork as the season demands.

Flow. Shift. Dancing. That sounds a lot like change. Change is scary. Don’t worry, stick with me. We’ll get through this together.

How do we know if the change we’re making is the right change? Or if it’s the right time for a change? How about the how of making a decision we can be certain of?

My kids are still young, so we watch a lot of Daniel Tiger. One of the biggest things the show impresses on children is if something is scary or if they don’t understand or are unsure of something, they should talk about it.

We’re not children. But we still deal with scary unknowns and uncertain outcomes.

So let’s talk about it.

An Author’s Fancy Footwork

What kind of things can authors expect to change, not over the course of their career, but perhaps over the course of first draft to polished manuscript? 

Oh boy. 

Where to start, where to start. 

*takes a deep breath*

• Editor Wish Lists
• Agent Wish Lists
• Reader Tastes
• Genre Trends
• Marketing Tactics
• Facebook Algorithms
• Amazon Algorithms
• Writing Styles
• Taboo Topics
• Social Media Platforms
• Popular Hashtags
• The Disappearance of Hashtags
• Self/Indie Publishing
• Traditional Publishing
• New York Publishing
• Small Press Options
• Cover Trends
• Audiobooks
• Big Box Store Closures
• International Data Collection Laws
• Copyright Laws
• Policy Changes by Vendors (Mailchimp, Facebook, etc)
• Not to mention a personal life...

*big exhale*

I’d keep going, but I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. And a lot of what I just covered are big topics within which live a myriad of changes and decisions to make. It would take a year to explore each variable and by the time we were done, it’d all be out of date. Such is the publishing world we live in.

With all that going on, how are we supposed to know what the correct dance steps are? 

Decisions, Decisions

It can be really hard, not just to make the right decision, but to be certain of your path after you’ve made your decision.

Recently, I made a couple of tough decisions. One of the biggest is taking Cruising Writers on an extended vacation break after this year’s November cruise. Cruising Writers will be back in a couple of years, once my patooties are a little more self-sufficient :). But if you want to cruise with us anytime soon—this year is the year.

Another tough decision I’ve made is to go hybrid. My pen name, Kris Faryn, indie publishes supernatural suspense and fantasy. 

Both of these decisions took place over a long period of time, but the following is ultimately what helped me make those decisions. Perhaps some of these ideas will help you gain comfort around scary decisions that lead to change.

Meditation

Meditation is a great way to shut off that noisy logic jabber-jaw voice in your head and instead, listen to the quieter voice of your heart. Start your meditation time with a question you want answered, and let your subconscious do the rest. Will you have an answer by the end? Maybe. Or maybe just a stronger push in a certain direction.

Pros and Cons Tables

For the more analytical of us, a pro/con list can be a great way to let the logic jabber-jaw voice have its way for a bit. The more unbiased you can get in your approach to this exercise, the better chance you’ll have of looking at your situation with a realistic perspective.

An Honest Look At Goals

It’s easy to get distracted by the newest shiny thing or idea. But where is your drive? Why do you do the things you do? Why do you write? Why do you want to be published? What kind of career do you honestly want for yourself? And is this next decision, this next change, going to move you toward that goal or away from that goal?

On my to-do list, I often write (in big letters—purple pen) “To What End.” It helps me manage my list and judge the worthiness of the tasks I add to it so I can always be working toward my end goal.

Envisioning the Different Paths

Another meditative practice, but one fiction writers are exceptionally good at—daydreaming. That’s right. You have permission to daydream. But do it with focus. Imagine the result of each of the choices before you. Which is most aligned with your goal? Which do you want most?

Shift and Flow

Maybe for you, these decisions involve whether to get an agent. Or get a different agent. Knowing when your book is ready to publish or be sent out. Deciding to self-publish or go traditional. Contacting a critique group for the first time. All of these choices and decisions require dancing the complex footsteps of the publishing landscape.

It’s scary. Change always is. We’re hard-wired to fear change.

But that doesn’t make change a bad thing.

“Things may change and, that’s okay! Today we can do things a different way.” ~Daniel Tiger

 

About Christina Delay

Christina Delay is the hostess of Cruising Writers, as well as an award-winning author of Young Adult Fantasy and Adult Suspense. She may also have a new series out under a pen name. When she's not cruising the Caribbean, she's dreaming up new writing retreats to take talented authors on or giving into the demands of imaginary people to tell their stories.

About Cruising Writers

Cruising Writers brings writers together with bestselling authors, an agent, and a world-renowned writing craft instructor writing retreats around the world. Cruise with us to the Bahamas this Novemberwith Alexandra Sokoloff of the internationally-renowned Screenwriting Tricks for Fiction Authors, Kerry Anne King - Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author, and Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary.