February 20, 1999 Program
At our February meeting, we had the privilege of spending an hour with multi-published, award- winning author, Julia Quinn, asking any question we could think of about publishing and writing. Here are just some of the words of wisdom that those in attendance gleaned from a conversation with Julia.
Promotion
* Don't target readers, it's not cost effective. Target booksellers. For the cost of
reaching one person you can sell 10 books.
* The only effective tool to reach readers is a website. It's worth the money to invest in a well- designed website.
* Don't buy ads, fliers or bookmarks. It's not worth the time and money compared to ARCs or a good website.
* Decide how much money you can afford to spend on promotion. Figure out how much it will cost to send out one ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) to a bookseller. Don't forget to include the cost of the copying, paper, envelope and postage. Multiply this cost until you reach your budgeted amount. Then mail out that number of ARC's to romance friendly bookstores.
* Mail at book rate.
* ARC's are a photocopy of the galleys of your book. They should include your name, the name of the book and the publishing date and ISBN. You should also make sure they say: “Advanced Reading Copy. Uncorrected Proofs. Not for sale." Single-sided is easier to read, but double-sided is so much cheaper, and most of the stores you send them to will understand your cost considerations. Do not staple; bind with a rubber band.
* Find romance friendly bookstores by contacting published authors you know and asking for recommendations. Target independent booksellers, not chains. (Did I say that? I have a lot of chain stores on my list---JCP)
* Romantic Times has a service that mails to romance friendly booksellers.
Websites
* Spend the time and money to make them look professional. The site represents you and
your writing.
* Include excerpts of your work, market news and upcoming booksignings. Readers also enjoy hearing what books you recommend.
* Give the site a cohesive look - make the pages similar so people know they are still on your site.
* Monthly or quarterly contests work well. They draw people back to your site.
Agents
* When picking an agent, think about what you want/need from them. Do you want them to
edit your book? Do you want them to specialize in romance? Do you need to be
"nurtured" or are you comfortable with a more businesslike relationship? If you
are clear about what you need as an author, it will be easier to pick an agent that works
for you.
* An agent that does not return your phone calls and is too busy promoting the "big star" might not be for you. On the other hand, a powerhouse agent may have considerably more clout with the publishing houses. An agent who is building her list may be more hungry for new authors.
* If you are aiming for single title houses, you really need an agent. Very few single title authors negotiate their own contracts. An agent will free you from talking and arguing about money with your editor. Instead, you can concentrate on the writing. But if you are aiming for category lines, you might not need an agent. Category contracts are pretty standard and usually non-negotiable.
* Bottom line: An agent gets you more money at contract time.
Editor Appointments
* Don't talk about your book. Just give them a snappy, quick hook and then move on and
talk about yourself.
* Editors won't remember your cowboy story - they've heard a dozen proposals just like it. But they will remember you!
* This is a conversation, not a monologue.
* Be cordial and pleasant.
* Identify your style of writing. Are you humorous? Dark and mysterious? Let the editor know what to expect from you.
Publishing Houses
* Which houses are buying? Berkley is always starting new lines. Harper is rebuilding
their author base. Avon is pretty well inventoried for their historicals, but their
contemporary line is taking off. Kensington is buying for their Bouquet line again.
* With your first contract, try to get as much as you can. Once something is in a contract, publishers find it hard to negotiate it out.
Writing Tips
* Read dialogue aloud to see if it sounds natural.
*Sneak description into action sentences. The pace of your book will increase.
* Don't sweat the small stuff. The "rules" can bog you down and stifle your voice.
* Be diligent about your writing, but have fun too. If it's too painful to write, maybe you should do something else.
Julia Quinn's writing has quickly earned a reputation for warmth and humor, and her dialogue is considered among the best in the industry. Each year brings more accolades; in 1997 Romantic Times Magazine nominated EVERYTHING AND THE MOON for Best Regency Historical, and the Bookstores that Care networked nominated BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN for Best Historical Love and Laughter.
Julia currently lives in Colorado with her husband (Paul) and two houserabbits (Rutherford B. Rabbit and Betty Bunny).
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