Another Successful Project—What a Year!

This year has been amazing. Not only have some of my favorite authors published new books in 2013, but some of them have been my clients, too.  You've heard me talk about Gayle Carline's wonderful From the Horse's Mouth: One Lucky Memoir which was such fun for me to work on—being a grown-up "horse girl." Her next mystery (with horses this time!) is coming out early next year so stand by for more on that. Gayle's blog, "On the Edge of the Chair of Literature" is also great—witty, well-written, and often painfully candid—you can find a link to it on this page, since I follow it.
One of my other blogger-writer friends, Loraine Paige, continues to amaze me with her ongoing heartfelt "Dear Rita Mae Brown" series of letters (you can find her blog, "From Paige to Page" here). Loraine must be up late every night, and early each morning, writing her second novel as she does rewrites on the previous one (which I'm also editing), America. More on that series in future posts.
Another writer whose work I got to read before publication this year is Claudia Whitsett. Her latest contribution to the "Samantha Series" is called Intimacy Issues and it's every bit as funny and hard to put down as the previous book, Indentity Issues, was.
Now, to cap off this spectacular year, my inspiring "Pitch Witch" partner Marla Miller has gone the indie publisher route, too! Her e-novel Deadly Little Secrets officially came out on Dec 1, World AIDS Day, which was perfect in a number of ways.
First, the book is set in 1985, when AIDS was still something that the average person could largely ignore (sad but true) and which our own government was still ignoring (even sadder, but still true). Second, that health crisis turned out to be one of the most fatal epidemics in recorded history; we owe it to ourselves to know more about AIDS, and to not begin ignoring it, or simply "indicting" those affected by it, yet again. Lastly, the world lost a great playwright and I lost a dear friend, James Lee Hansen, two decades ago on World AIDS day, so this book coming out that day was serendipitous.
I'm also working with another writer who is starting his own online publishing business--Social Publishing House. I met Brian Gilb at SCWC in Newport and was struck by his enthusiasm and sincerity. The start-up business has already gained focus and support in 2013, and promises to develop in exciting ways in the new year, too.
My life is made so rich by knowing these amazing writers, who care so much about the world and their place in it, who give their time, daily—as writers, teachers, and entrepreneurs—to help illuminate the way for others coming up the path behind.
So glad I can be part of their projects and help them share them with the world.
hasta pronto!

Gratitude, Acknowledgements and Thanks

Are these three things—gratitude, acknowledgements and thanks—all the same? Not exactly. I think of gratitude as, you guessed it, an attitude; a daily stance, if you will, or angle, a way of looking at the world. Not just thinking, "Gee, I'm so lucky to be alive" (which we should all be!) but looking around at all we have been given. I am happy, healthy, and gifted with some helpful skills. Now it's time for me to give back.

Acknowledgements are the shout-outs, the spotlight we can shine on someone else's good works, good policies, or all-around goodness. Also, acknowledgements can overlap with thanks, when they are there to acknowledge particular favors given or assistance rendered. I'd like to acknowledge Michael Steven Gregory and the entire staff of the Southern California Writers Conference. I've received so much from being a part of your multi-talented "family"—from the many friends I've made, to the myriad connections I have forged, both at the conferences and in the online Facebook SCWC "salon." I'll continue trying to return the favors.

Last but not least:

Thanks are more focused—of course you can say "thanks mom!" in your Oscars speech or your Superbowl moment—but "thank you"s are generally said, or sent (remember thank-you cards?), to a person or persons to mark a specific favor or good deed…

So, this Thanksgiving, I'd like to say a big thank you to: My wonderful husband/collaborator/partner, Russel; our business partner David McClendon; my whole wonderful, funny, and fabulous family; my great circle of long-time friends, the amazing women of my writer's group; Judy Reeves and the other gurus of SDWriters, Ink; and my newest writing friends, like Gayle Carline, Drusilla Campbell, Brian Gilb of Social Publishing House, and the always-inspiring and ever-encouraging "Pitch Witch" partner Marla Miller.

gracias y hasta pronto!

Schmoozin' and Improvin'

Another conference coming up for San Diegans! Check out the upcoming weekend conference from San Diego Writers, Ink at their new digs in Liberty Station. Fall for Writing is a 3-day event with up to 10 classes for only $100! Plus there are drop in events for those who can't make the other days. I'm teaching an editing class on Sunday night the 27th at 6pm until 7:45. My class is preceded by a novel-writing class by the amazing Drusilla Campbell, and will be followed by the final reading and closing ceremony.
If you haven't been to the new Ink Spot in the bountiful Liberty Station, then here's your opportunity... Come on down...Hope to see you there.
Meanwhile, I've just finished editing a book that I'm so excited about. The memoir has everything I know that publishers look for--epic settings, exciting adventure, and life-changing events--not to mention darn good writing...The author recently sent her manuscript to a prestigious literary agency, so my fingers are crossed. I won't jinx it by mentioning names, yet.
Another of my writer friends is the hard-working and witty Gayle Carline (readers may remember that I edited her last book, the wonderful From the Horses' Mouth: One Lucky Memoir). Recently Gayle wrote an excellent post about what a writer needs to do to make sure her manuscript is CLEAN and ready for an Editor and her Beta readers--not necessarily in that order. Her process is invaluable...Here's her post on editing. And no, editing is NOT for wimps.
hasta pronto!

Why Go to a Writers Conference?

Aspiring authors often ask me whether they should go to a writers conference--after all, it is an investment of time and money. I have many reasons that writers should attend conferences, but for the purposes of this post, I'm limiting the list to five.

I could write about going to conferences in general, but instead I'm going to write about going to the Southern California Writers Conference (SCWC), coming up Sept 20-22 in Newport Beach, California (and San Diego, Feb 2014). 

Partly this is because I know this conference the best (I've been teaching workshops there for years), but also because I like the way it's run--the casual, fun vibe of it--and because I've seen it actually work for people, year after year, in so many different ways.

Here's 5 Reasons you should go to SCWC:

#1. Great Workshops/Excellent Teachers

The weekend is full of great workshops--on everything from writing and editing your manuscript, to pitching, selling, & marketing your book. All the workshop leaders are either published authors, working editors or agents, or publishers (some are even all three!). They ALL have something to teach you. Soak it all up!

#2. To Get Feedback

No matter how wonderful your writers group and Beta readers are, it's good to get some more eyes (usually ears, actually) on your project. Go to Read and Critiques and read--and listen... Find out what works, and what doesn't. You might find some Beta readers, too.

#3. To Network with Other Writers

Writing is a solitary sport--it's good to meet others who sit in rooms and type for days on end…You will meet others who share your interests, and some who will introduce you to new ways of writing, thinking, and thinking about writing. After all, these people are your TRIBE. 

#4. To Meet Industry Experts

Even if you don't have Advance Submission slots set up, SCWC gives you plenty of opportunities to meet literary agents, editors, and publishers, not to mention successful published authors. Have a glass of wine at happy hour or dinner or sit down and visit over coffee or lunch. Take time to talk--not just pitch your project--and listen!

#5. To Hang Out in a Cool Place

I probably don't need to explain this one...Come on, it's Southern California. Perfect weather, fabulous setting. You are allowed to have FUN in life, after all--even before you finish your book or get published. Invest in yourself!

I think I've said it all...Hope to see you there.

hasta pronto!

"Hippie Homeschooling" Has More Spirit Than "American Spirit"; A Double Review

"American Spirit," the debut novel by Dan Kennedy, has gotten lots of press this year, plus plenty of air time on NPR; I assume this is because Dan is the host of the excellent "Moth" storytelling series and a popular radio host. I like his humor and his style so I thought I might like his writing. I bought the book (as a Kindle e-book, for those who care) and read it...
Oddly enough, though I did appreciate Kennedy's writing, I can't recommend his book. It's funny, but the story takes way too long to get going, I never cared about the protagonist, and the humor is so "dark" as to be, well, depressing.
Everyone over the age of 30 (probably even 20) has hit bottom emotionally at one time or another, and depressed people often turn to drink and drugs to "solve" their problems. The protagonist of "American Spirit" does this and we get to watch him wallow at the nadir of his young life--in a passive-aggressive stoned way--for much of the book.
Booklist called the novel "surprisingly beautiful at times..." I really hate this kind of review, since it sounds like one thing and turns out to be, instead, a book that is tedious (un-beautiful, if you will) with a few surprising moments of lovely word-smithing.
As I said, there are moments of humor in "American Spirit", but not as many as in the average Jon Stewart monologue. And the author often goes to lengths that seem quite fanciful to tie up events in the story. Seriously, if dark humor is what you want, and you feel drawn to yuppie angst, there are better books out there.
However, if you'd like to take a journey with a new writer who is not only funny but writes truthfully--and yes, often beautifully--about the times and places we contemporary Americans live in, I recommend the new novel, "Hippie Homeschooling" by Carlton Smith. (Here's a link to the book on Amazon). Set along a western road trip from San Francisco to (among other places) the Salton Sea, Lassen, and even the Four Corners, this novel delivers the goods.
Jerry is an alcoholic whose self-destructive tendencies have landed him in rehab. Once sober, he sets off searching for his runaway son, and soon finds himself traveling with a runaway teenage girl, Lily. Soon Lily's mother joins the misfit travelers on their journey, and the resulting "trip" (and it is trippy, in all senses of the word) is funny, poignant, and true.
Smith has a master's touch for describing locations, even those places we normally whiz on by without a second glance. He also spends time in getting to really know (and let us get to know) the kinds of people that most of us would similarly "whiz on by," dismissing them as "lost causes" and thereby letting ourselves off the hook.
The road trip novel has been done many times, but this author finds new ways to explore the territory--as well as finding actual geographic territory that has seldom been explored. All in all, it is well worth going along for the ride.
"Hippie Homeschooling" was published by Blue West Books, a small publisher I had never heard of before. I'm certainly going to look at their upcoming titles with interest, and I'm quite pleased to hear that Carlton Smith is already at work on a second novel.
There's still time and a few spaces left for those who want to register for SCWC Newport  (Sept 20-22) where I'll be teaching two new workshops and doing the ever-popular "Pitch Witches" workshop with Marla Miller.
hasta pronto!