BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--ROMANCE WRITING IS MURDER FOR GRACIE ELLIOTT

Author Lois Winston sometimes takes a break from creating havoc in my life to turn her attention to a second mystery series, The Empty Nest Mysteries, about wannabe romance writer Gracie Elliott. Even though Gracie has lost her job, Lois is quite a bit kinder to her than she is to me. Dead bodies aside, Gracie’s biggest problem is her inability to sell her romance novel, collecting a stack of rejection letters. And in Literally Dead, the second book in the series, Gracie discovers that writing romance can be murder—literally.

Like many other authors, Lois also received her share of rejection letters before selling her first book, then received more before she sold Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book about me. What she learned from all those rejection letters is that books are often rejected not because of a lack of storytelling skill but because the right book didn’t land on the right editor’s desk on the right day. And because taste is so subjective, what appeals to one editor may be a quick rejection from another.

Take Gone With the Wind, for example, or as I call it, Clueless in Georgia. I have no idea whether or not Margaret Mitchell acquired any rejection letters on her road to publication, but had I been an editor who received that manuscript, I would certainly have rejected it. Why? For one thing, Ashley Wilkes needs to grow a pair. What woman in her right mind would fall for such a wimp? Especially someone like Scarlett O’Hara? The only reason she pursued Ashley was because he and Melanie were betrothed. Scarlett always wanted what someone else had. She’s the classic petulant, spoiled brat from the first page of the book to the last. Fiddle-dee-dee! I envision my half-brother-in-law Ira’s twin daughters Melody and Harmony winding up just like Scarlett if he doesn’t wise up and grow a pair.

However, instead of sending Ms. Mitchell a form rejection letter (because I know from listening to Lois how disheartening they can be), I'd take the time to offer a few suggestions. First, I'd make Melanie Hamilton the heroine of the story. I'd tell the author to rip the rose-colored glasses from her face and get rid of her goody-two-shoes attitude. Have her recognize Scarlett for the "B-Yatch" she is. As for Mammy, instead of taking all that crap from Scarlett and the rest of the O'Hara clan, I'd have her hop on the Underground Railroad and head north to freedom.

So while Gracie and I were talking about rejection letters, Lois told us about Jerzy Kosinski. He won the National Book Award in 1969 for Steps. Between 1975 and 1977, a freelance writer by the name of Chuck Ross decided to test a theory. He set out to prove that novels by unpublished authors have little chance of ever getting published. He retyped Steps under the pseudonym Erik Demos and sent it off to more than two-dozen editors and literary agents. All of them rejected the manuscript, including an editor at Random House, the original publisher of Steps, who not only didn’t recognize the book as their own but sent “Demos” a form rejection letter.

Timing is everything. Luckily for both Margaret Mitchell and Jerzy Kosinski, their books landed on the right editor’s desk on the right day, and the rest is history.

Literally Dead
Book 2 of the Empty Nest Mystery Series

An homage to Dashell Hammet’s Thin Man movies with a modern day spin on Nick and Nora Charles 

After her last disastrous episode as an amateur sleuth, Gracie Elliott is back. The budding romance writer has spent the past year crafting her first novel. Her hard work and determination pay off when her manuscript wins the Cream of the Crop award, a contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the Society of American Romance Authors. First place entitles her to attend the organization’s annual conference, normally open only to published authors.

With husband Blake in tow, a starry-eyed Gracie experiences the ultimate fan-girl moment upon entering the hotel. Her favorite authors are everywhere. However, within minutes she learns Lovinia Darling, the Queen of Romance, is hardly the embodiment of the sweet heroines she creates. Gracie realizes she’s stepped into a romance vipers’ den of backstabbing, deceit, and plagiarism, but she finds a friend and mentor in bestselling author Paisley Prentiss.

Hours later, when Gracie discovers Lovinia’s body in the hotel stairwell, a victim of an apparent fall, Gracie is not convinced her death was an accident. Too many other authors had reason to want Lovinia dead. Ignoring Blake’s advice to “let the police handle it,” Gracie, aided by Paisley, begins her own investigation into the death. Romance has never been so deadly.

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FAVORITES, FAILURES & FRUSTRATIONS--GUEST AUTHOR LEA WAIT

We’re always happy to have return visit from author Lea Wait, here today to talk about her newest Antique Print Mystery and one of her biggest frustrations. Learn more about Lea and her books at her website where you can also find a link to a prequel of Shadows on a Morning in Maine.

I’m convinced that being an author is, by definition, one of the most frustrating jobs in the world. (And – yes – it is a job.)

When I was writing my first book – a mystery rejected by forty of the best agents around – I would have said repeated rejections were the major frustration.

When my first book (Stopping to Home) was accepted by a major publisher (yippee!) I was frustrated that it got fantastic reviews but didn’t sell more copies, let alone (yes, I was fantasizing) win any awards.

By the time that first mystery (Shadows at the Fair) was published, despite positive NY Times reviews, I was frustrated by conflicts between writing two books a year (they want my books!) and caring for my mother 24/7. (She repeatedly told me I should “stop playing with that computer” and start doing whatever it was that she needed or wanted me to do.) A no-win situation.  

After she died, I had more time – wonderful! I married the guy I’d loved for more years than anyone can believe. Life was perfect.

But my publisher wanted me to do more appearances, in more places. That took time – and money. (No – publishers don’t pay for travel or promotional items or conference expenses for most authors.)  I went into debt promoting my books, which were doing fine, but not “breaking out.” An investment in the future,” I told myself. And, after all, Simon & Schuster was publishing two of my books a year. I was really an author!

And then within a few months it all ended. My mystery editor retired, and my series was discontinued. Historical novels for children went out of fashion.

I was beyond frustration. And, yes, tears were involved.

But I kept writing.

No one wanted to continue my mystery series, so my agent suggested I write an historical mystery.

It was rejected.

I wrote two more historical novels for children (I’m stubborn) that were rejected. So was my contemporary mystery for ages 8-12.

And the nonfiction book I wrote for teachers.

And I won’t even mention that dozen manuscripts that were researched, partially written, then dropped because my agent said selling them would be “doubtful.”

I changed agents. More than once. It didn’t make a difference.

Yes, I’d had eight books published in under six years. But then – for another six years – nothing.

Frustration? Oh, yes. And – an important side effect of frustration: publishers may not know this, but authors are addicted to housing and food, too. I was in debt (that book touring and promotion that was supposed to pay off) and, to top it off, the market crashed. I looked for a day job but couldn’t find one.

And then … gradually … the clouds began to part. A small publisher on the west coast decided to pick up my Shadows series. The fourth book in the series (Shadows at the Spring Show) was published in 2005. The fifth, (Shadows of a Down East Summer) in 2011. I was being paid a tiny fraction of what I’d previously earned, but somehow my readers found me. Hurrah! The eighth in that series, Shadows on a Morning in Maine, was just published.

A small Maine publisher decided to take a chance on Uncertain Glory, one of my historical novels for children. It was published in 2014.

And through a writer friend who knew an agent (not mine) who knew an editor, I was offered a contract for a new mystery series. Much less money than my first series but more than the small press. The fourth in my USA Today bestselling Mainely Needlepoint series (Dangling by a Thread) will be published in November. It will be my eighteenth published book.

So—is my life perfect?  Not exactly. Yes, I’m back to writing two (or three) books a year that are being published. I have supportive friends in the writing community. I now know my story isn’t unique – authors have “down years.”

I’m working with a credit consolidation firm. I’m doing few appearances out of my home state. My husband and I don’t eat out often, don’t travel, and keep the temperature in our home down in winter. It will take another four or five years, I estimate, to work our way out of debt.

But my (new) agent is excited about a project I’m working on. I’m hoping my Mainely Needlepoint contract will be renewed. I do a lot of library and craft show gigs, to let people know about my books.

I think -- I hope -- there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

But now I’m a realist. I know how rewarding being an author can be. But also how frustrating.

And – by the way – my wonderful supportive husband understands, because he’s an artist. Don’t get me started about the frustrations of that job!

Shadows on a Morning in Maine

Antique print dealer Maggie Summer's making big changes in her life. She's taken a sabbatical from her college teaching job and moved to the coast of Maine to run an antique mall with Will Brewer, her significant other, and is finally hoping to adopt the daughter she's been hoping for. However, the troubled girl referred to her doesn't want any part of the plan, showing affection only for harbor seals, which remind her of her "real mother." Maggie's distraught when someone starts shooting the seals -- and the a young fisherman is murdered. When Will then confesses a secret from his past, she begins to wonder if moving to Maine is the biggest mistake of her life.

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