F³A: One Year Anniversary

I realized that yesterday was the anniversary of my debut novel, Never Eighteen. I only realized this because my friend Gae Polisner (who's a terrific writer), pointed it out to me. How could I forget that? Easy. Stress, Drama, Frustration...I could probably go on.

Don't get me wrong, having my novel debut is probably the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me since Thing 1 and Thing 2. But the debut year isn't easy by any stretch of the word. Now, that's not true of everyone, but for me, yes.

It started even before the book came out, setting up a website, continuing to blog and vlog, writing guests posts for bloggers, making a trailer, basically doing all the things I needed to create a buzz before the book came out. I also joined the Class of 2k12, which was awesome. Did it help my book? Yes I definitely think so. I would recommend collaborative marketing for any debut author, and beyond.

Then there was planning the party. I needed a venue, food, and dessert. Luckily the Tacoma Public Library offered to host my debut. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication between me and the library director as to who was supposed to contact him, so I didn't have one. He was nice enough to send a money box though and my mom took the role of book seller.

 January isn't exactly a banner month where the weather is concerned here in the PNW, so things didn't go exactly as planned. Can you say snow? That didn't stop people from coming, but it did stop one box of books from showing up. Luckily I had my own box of books in my car. We still ran out.

It also stopped one of my actors from coming. Two young actors offered to read a section from my book for the party. The boy was a no show so the library director took his place. It was fine, but a little awkward to have this teenage girl and this 50 something library director reading an intimate scene (not sexual intimate, but an intimate conversation).

I hosted two more private parties after that for friends and family. Those went very well also. My friends Gae and Annmarie came from New York to help me celebrate as well, and we had a sleepover with fellow writers and friends, all I met either through ABNA or Facebook.

Then there's after the debut. I did hire a publicist for about six weeks to help me out because I really didn't feel comfortable asking people to host me and crap. She's already got me two radio interviews and a newspaper interview. I had a big spread in our entertainment section. There were also school visits, library visits, bookstore visits.

The first few weeks went pretty well. The books was selling like crazy. They say your book only has a shelf life of about 6 weeks. Mine lasted longer. I know it's because after the publicist was done working with me, I gained the confidence to continue to get myself the school, library and bookstore visits. And I've made some great contacts for the future.

Then there was the writing. I was already struggling with finishing a book, I needed to revise two more that were finished. Once the former was finished, I sent it to my agent. No go. Sent her the 2nd. No go. Sent her the third. At this point she said if I wanted to find another agent to represent my future work, feel free. This means I don't have an agent anymore. That was in June. Which turned out fine, because she was closing her business by the end of last year anyway.

I sent my novel Dissection straight to my editor because I had an option in my contract which states they get right of first refusal on my next YA book. No go. My editor also wanted to read my football book. It needed a complete rewrite. So I started working on that.

While I continued to market Never Eighteen, I began querying agents. Many of them asked to see part of the book, but no takers. Mine you, I really wasn't trying too hard, but I was trying. There was one who liked it enough to read a rewrite, which I haven't done yet.

Never Eighteen continued to sell, but slower and slower. That's okay. A couple months ago, I decided I was done marketing the book. I wanted to move forward and focus on future books, rewriting, writing a new one, etc.

Then there's NaNoWriMo. I started a book, got to 30k, but didn't complete Nano. I felt good about what I did accomplish though.

I'm still doing sporadic events. Events I'd already planned, or ones I think are worthwhile. I also finished my rewrite of my football book. That went to my editor a couple days ago. I've entered Dissection into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. And now I wait. Well, not exactly wait. I got stuck on my NaNo project, so I set it aside yesterday to work on a dystopian fantasy I'd started a while back. It's actually a major rewrite of the first book I ever wrote, Dena Powers: Superhero? Now it's called, Revelation: Book One of the Divinity Chronicles. I'm excited about it. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you can read a little snippet I put on my personal page.

So that's my debut year in a nutshell. If you have a debut novel coming out, just know it's not that easy, especially for a mid-lister like me. All in all though, it was amazing, even if difficult. I mean, I have a book out by one of the big publishers, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Someone liked my book enough to publish it. That in itself is an accomplishment.

I almost forgot it's Friday, here are my Scribbles.

Next Pandora Song:  Skeleton Song by Kate Nash (Fun station)

Book of the Week: Um, IDK. I suppose the Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook. It's all I've read this week. lol (yes, WW again.  7 lbs gone so far)

Netflix of the Week: Lost Season 4. I never finished the series, so now I am. And I've stayed away from hearing how it ends, so please don't comment any spoilers.

Quote of the Week: “Your debut year will put hair on your chest, turn the hair on your head gray, or cause you to lose hair. Either way, your hair will never be the same.”  ~ Corrine Jackson , Fellow 2k12er and author of If I Lie and Touched.

Tooting the Horn Tuesday: Interview with Amy Holder

Today I'm posting an interview I did with, Amy Holder, the author of, The Lipstick Laws.  This is her debut novel, slated for release April 4, 2011.  Want to know what it's about . . .

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life as easily as snapping her perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. 

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. With zero friends and nothing close to a boyfriend, April is so unpopular, kids don't know she exists. That is, until Britney notices her. One lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. 

But Britney's friendship comes with a price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

1.Tell me about The Lipstick Laws? Personal experience, or pure fiction?

The Lipstick Laws is 99% pure fiction, but there are some influences from personal experience. I definitely shared some of the same feelings about wanting to be accepted as the main character (April) when I was a teen.  And the whole story is actually set in a fictional town around the very real town that I grew up in.  The mall in the book was a stomping ground for me and my friends when we were in high school.

 

2.Were you a bra stuffer back in high school like your main character, April?  Or did you harbor some other humiliating secrets?  Are you willing to share?

 

Hmmm...If I had been, I'm not sure I'd admit it.  Honestly, though, I was never a bra stuffer, but I’ve been known to wear a push-up bra or two (not at the same time). 

 

And do you really think I'll admit to any other humiliating secrets publicly like this?  Are you crazy?  Don't worry, I have plenty of them... but they're for me to know and you to imagine.

 

3.Did you know people as awful as Britney when you were a teenager?  If so, how did you handle them?

Thankfully I didn't know anyone quite as bad as Britney as a teenager.  However, I wasn't completely immune to the oh-so typical cattiness of high school girl drama.  How did I handle it? I made sure my nails were extra sharp for the catfights.  I'm talking razor blade sharp fingerclaws.  Okay, I wasn't ever in any real catfights...but it sounds so much more interesting than saying I tried to ignore it, doesn't it?

 

4.Do you have one favorite line from your novel?

I have a couple of favorite lines for different reasons, but one of my favorites is at the end when April says: "Smiling to myself, I realize that it's definitely better to be wanted than to be the one wanting." 

 

I like this line because I think it shows character growth and strength that she didn’t have in the beginning of the book. I can’t explain why without giving away spoilers…so I’ll just leave it at that.  

 

5.Where is your favorite writing spot?

My favorite writing spot is at my desk in my office because I love my comfy chair and widescreen computer! The only problem is that it's attached to the internet...and I have a TV tuner... so it's very easy to get distracted.  Now I understand why some writers choose to write longhand in quaint cottages in the middle of nowhere.

 

6.If you could choose one writer whose brain you could pick over, dead or alive, who would it be?

J.K Rowling!  I'm a huge Harry Potter geek and would love to pick over J.K Rowling's brilliant imagination!  Although I'm not sure if I'd trust myself with that privilege...because I might be tempted to run away with her brain.

 

7.What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?

I've always loved art, so in my spare time I enjoy doing anything creative and artistic. Creative energy makes me feel happy and peaceful.  It's so much better than math energy, in my opinion. 

 

8.Is there a word you always misspell?  And what is it?

Art u nutz? I nefer mispit wordes. 

Truthfully, I'm a spell check addict!  I wish I had a spell check switch in my brain. One word that I always used to misspell when I was little was beautiful.  I always forgot the A in it... and I'm pretty sure it drove my elementary teachers crazy.  When my fourth grade teacher saw me years later as an older teen, she joked with me about it and asked me to spell beautiful for her.  And I'm proud to say that I spelled it beautifully!  Oh, and I even added a snippet about this particular misspelling inside joke in The Lipstick Laws. 

 

9.What are you currently reading?

I just finished an ARC of The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski, a fabulous Class of 2k11 classmate of mine.  It's deliciously sweet!

 

10.Who is your celebrity crush?

If the cards are in my favor (fingers, toes, hair, eyes and elbows crossed), I hope to marry Henry Cavill from The Tudors.  Unfortunately I'll probably have to live in reality and just be satisfied with drooling over him on TV.  Henry, if you're reading this, call me. *wink, wink*

11. What are you working on now? 
I’m currently working on a couple projects for various age groups, but the one closest to completion is a contemporary YA manuscript with a paranormal twist.  I’m hoping it will be my next book to hit the bookshelves…but a Lipstick Laws sequel may also be an option.

Read my review of The Lipstick Laws by clicking here.

About Amy:

Amy Holder is a writer, artist, and animal lover.  Her educational background is in Psychology, but her heart remains loyal to her love of writing and the creative arts.  She has worked in the early education, social service, and freelance writing and design fields prior to being published.  Other than writing, some of her interests include art, animals, reading, shopping, photography, pop culture, theater, nature, and spending time with family and friends.  Originally from Upstate New York, Amy currently resides in the Philadelphia area with her many adopted pets.