On the last page of each issue of Publishers Weekly is the Soapbox, a feature that allows anyone to write in with an observation about publishing. Inevitably the article ties in with an author’s book just going on sale (funny how that happens,) but there is usually a good insight thrown in on how to survive and thrive. I would recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

Editor stuff – Band of Sisters

The book continues to reorder and we’re now contemplating going back to press again. Kirsten has been working incredibly hard doing signings, interviews and other events which keep generating positive articles and overall awareness. I don’t know how well this translates for fiction, but Kirsten’s radio foray has paid huge dividends.

Author stuff – Iron Elves Series: A Darkness Forged in Fire

Originally, it was going to launch around the same time as another series giving Pocket a one-two punch next summer. The other series has been delayed, however, so Pocket’s foray into the SFF world will launch with mine. The result is my book will be getting a bigger push, just hopefully not off a tall cliff! They’re going to send me on a Canadian tour to take advantage of my foreign roots and fly me to the San Diego Comic Con next summer followed by a bit of a tour in California. I’ll also be attending Comic Con here in New York next April, but that’s just a short commute on the subway. Now if I can just talk them into doing a European leg…

I had a look at my agent’s website the other day and was happy to see my name now on the client list. It’s unlinked, however, because I don’t have a website yet to link to. Before I take the plunge and build a website (well, have someone build it for me) I am searching out interesting websites to get ideas from. If you have any that you think are really well done I’d love to hear about them.

Thanks,

Chris

There is a perception out there that they’re elitist, perhaps because of their location in the heart of NYC and close proximity to the big New York houses, but I found them engaging and eager to hear more about the company I work for (most certainly not a big New York house.) We talked about the fall list, promotions, articles, reviews and more. In this crowded marketplace it’s not easy to get your voice heard, so having the chance to sit down face to face with them was well worth braving the Hades-like conditions of the subway today to go downtown.

In other news I had a breakthrough on my YA novel while riding the train to Pennsylvania earlier this week. In fact, enough synapses fired that I found myself jotting down notes for both it and the second book in the Iron Elves series. It was a productive few hours.

Oy! I think, perhaps, I have finally muddled my way through how to create a link. If you can click on THIS and find yourself at Publishers Weekly then Huzzah!, I’ve fallen ass-backwards into the 20th century. Special thanks to Steve, Charlie and Deb for on and offline help with this, and in so doing, preventing me from hurling my laptop out the nearest window.

Kirsten is going to be interviewed on two national radio programs – The Story on NPR and The World on BBC Radio (or BBC World Radio…something like that.)  I know that equates to hundreds of radio stations, but the key, as always, will be in determining what kind of bump we get after the shows.  The really neat thing is that these came about through that mystical, magical stuff known as word-of-mouth.  It’s worth remembering that every interview granted, every signing attended, every reading at your local library and even every blog entry isn’t just for those in the room.  You are potentially auditioning for something else.  The bookers for one show watch the others.  Someone sees you at a local bookshop and mentions it to a friend of a friend who works at a network.  I’m not saying to rent an RV and travel the country, but when you do have the chance to talk, in whatever forum, it’s worth doing right.  You never know who’s listening…

Front of store – We’re charting trends and noticed that one chain was outperforming another.  Turns out the slower of the two had not fully implemented the front of store promotion.  The discrepancy was quite noticeable.  This is never really the call of the author, but wherever and whenever possible getting your book front of store is absolutely going to sell more copies.  Why, the consumer asks, would a book be piled six high at the front of the store unless it’s good?  Well, they ask that because they don’t know about co-op, but you do, and so will your agent. 

As for me, I continue to research the second book in the Iron Elves and revise the YA novel.