 | 31 Jul 06 |
I’m feeling a little like Dorothy today, very glad to be home! The Romance Writers of America Conference in Atlanta Georgia was wonderful but exhausting.
I was so pleased to meeting in person Allison and Karin. I only got to talk to Karin for a few minutes as we literally passed one another at the bottom of the stairs to the bar. She’s beautiful and I could have talked with her for hours, but I had an early morning meeting. My only disappointment in the entire conference was when Karin called and invited me to join her and some others for dinner but I had another commitment. Rain check, okay Karin?
Allison was charming. When we walked up to say hello to her after the Kiss of Death party, Allison was helping a woman refine a pitch right there on the spot. It was such a nice thing to do. She was surrounded by people wanting to talk to her, or ask her advice, and she was very generous. She’s just like she seems on the blog.
Jake (J. Carson Black) is hilariously funny. Watch out, she will make you choke on your drink! We bonded instantly, and it’s probably a good thing we didn’t spend the entire conference together or we’d have gotten into some serious trouble. As it was, at the Kiss of Death Awards Party for the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence (that I still think Jake should have won, not that I’m biased or anything!), we were getting some “looks” for our uncontrollable laughter. I brought two of my friends, Dennis and Marianne Donley, and they loved Jake too. The four of us were having way too much fun, and all without alcohol. Jake and I weren’t sure we could navigate high heels and alcohol…
Toni MaGee Causey joined us in the bar, and it was a pleasure to meet her in person and chat. Toni is very savvy about the publishing business and taught me quite a bit about the Hollywood connection. She’s both beautiful and smart!
We were joined by my friends (who often hang around the blog) Louise Knott Ahern, Michele Cwiertny and Dana Diamond. These three women are so beautiful and smart that we’ve taken to calling them “Charlie’s Angels” in my local chapter. Dana, Michele and Louise are tremendously talented.
Man, I am so outshined by all my friends! Have I forgotten anyone? Did I mention how much we all missed Deb and Natalie?
I know I’ve rambled on, now I’m going to talk a little bit about what I learned. Please keep in mind that my notes are incomplete and I may even be (gasp!) inaccurate.
From Levy Book Merchandiser:
1) Their market is non-traditional book stores like Wal Mart, Target, K-Mart etc.
2) Their goal is to get as much space as possible in those stores and will do
everything in their power to hold onto it. If the space if very small, it goes to the big names (Nora Roberts type). Extra space goes to the rest.
3) Average book buyer that Levy targets through the retailer is 25 to 35 years old, married and college educated.
4) About 50% of what they stock is romance titles with Romantic Suspense and Historical Romance being the most popular.
5) Erotic is hot, but harder to get into the family value chains (think Wal Mart).
6) A newer market is the Military Bases.
Panel on changing publishers and/or agents:
1) Have specific goals. Is your goal money? New York Times List? Publishing a title every six months?
2) Agent’s advice is important but remember that agents are in the business to make money, they MAY go after the money when that’s not your goal.
3) Money does not always follow getting on the NYT list. You have to stay on the list to get real clout. (Depressing as heck to me!)
4) Real solid success takes time, a long time.
5) Do your own market research before changing publishers. The four authors on this panel all recommended subscribing to Publisher’s Weekly.
6) Another source of income can be a position of power. In other words, if you are NOT desperate for money, you’re in a stronger negotiating position.
7) Do not burn your bridges. Publishing is notoriously small, and the editor you just left today may be your new editor’s boss next year.
Whatever is happening in your career—do not spiral into hatred. Always be professional. (It’s easy to fall into negativity and blaming when things are going wrong).
Advice from an editor and sales representative from a NY Publishing House:
1) MySpace.com is a great place to promote. The editor suggested getting your own page.
2) The sales rep and editor said they do rely on author websites both for considering offering the author a contract and selling the author to the bookstores. Update!
3) They talked about trade sized paperback (where my next book will be so I paid attention). Trade paperback is flourishing, and they believe Oprah was a big influence on that. Trade is for upscale women’s fiction, and hot sex is also doing really well in trade. But merchandizing hot sex is tricky for the Wal Mart type stores.
4) When asked if an author’s looks matter when they are considering if the authors is able to do her own promotion, the editor said as long as they brush their teeth and comb their hair, looks do not matter. Basic manners and a reasonable level of social skills seemed far more important to them that appearance of the author.
Happy Monday to you all! I’m so glad to be home and back on the Internet to hang with all of you!
© 2006 – 2009, Jennifer Lyon. All rights reserved.
Award winning author, Jennifer Lyon, always wanted to be a witch. Since her witch-powers never materialized, she went onto Plan B and now she creates magic in her books. In her new series, the author of the acclaimed Samantha Shaw Mystery Series (written as Jennifer Apodaca) introduces the Witch Hunters, legendary men who must overcome a curse to team up with witches and fight evil.
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Jen, glad you are safely home. Finished Batteries Required. Great story, can’t wait to read more of your stories. Sounds like Atlanta was jumping.
by Amanda July 31st, 2006 at 8:50 amOK, Jen, and who was the one wearing the slinky (and-so-to-die-for-that-Michele-will-never-EVER-be-able-to-wear-it-and-look-as-amazing-as-Jen Apodaca) red dress? And talk about talented! I learned so much about the business from you all weekend.
I also truly enjoyed meeting Allison, Karin, Jake, and Toni. You are all so gracious and giving and I hope we get to meet again soon.
Love this post, Jen. Such great information and advice here. Thanks!
Michele
by Michele Cwiertny July 31st, 2006 at 9:27 amHi Amanda. I’m so glad you liked the book! Atlanta was great, but it’s always nice to be back home. We’ll all have to meet up at another conference…maybe a MurderSheWrites Conference
That would be a blast!
Michele, stop that! I can hear your evil laughter because you know outrageous (and ridiculous) compliments make me squirm. No one called me Charlie’s Angels! You could too wear the red dress, but you looked beautiful in your sleek and sophisticated black! I learn just as much from you as you CLAIM to learn from me! By the way, who was the one who had the impromtu brainstorming session with that awesome editor? Hmm? She spotted your talent instantly.
by Jen July 31st, 2006 at 9:46 amWhat an informative post! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together.
by romblogreader July 31st, 2006 at 10:34 amgreat post Jen, and so glad everyone is back home and blogging, far too many conventions last weekend. Us non-writers got lonely.
by Cele July 31st, 2006 at 10:54 amGreat post Jen. Now I’m going to go sulk, because I feel left out….
by Natalie July 31st, 2006 at 11:07 amRomblogreaders, you’re very welcome! It was actually an easy post, right off my notes. One of the great things about conferences is all the shared infromation.
Cele, I’ve been “left behind at conference time” before so I can relate.
Natalie, don’t sulk, we missed you and Deb! Besides, Karin and I were all by ourselves during ThrillerFest!
by Jen July 31st, 2006 at 12:09 pmJen, you looked killer in that red dress. I just posted over at Jake’s place that Allison was given explicit instructions to keep you and Jake at that bar until I got there or pay with dire consequences. I gave up the opportunity to meet and *touch* Mathew McConaughey! It’s a long story. But! I made the right choice. Can’t wait to see you again. The conference was fab, and Nora rocked Saturday night at the ceremony. She more than made up for the debacle last year. Now, I have a gazillion things to catch up on, the first being a nap. I’ve been up since 4 am and only on an hour’s sleep (made the mistake of taking a really good book to bed with me).
by Karin July 31st, 2006 at 1:18 pmKarin, what???? You gave up a chance to meet and touch Matthew McConaughey? Say it isn’t so! Although I’m so glad we at least got a few minutes to talk. You are just as lovely, smart and fun as I expected!
by Jen July 31st, 2006 at 2:17 pmThat was too much fun! I sure ended up with a wild crowd.
Jen, you were gorgeous and you’ve got to know it. The mysteirous lady in red. You and I have to figure out what big bash we’re going to next, and hope we don’t get thrown out by the bouncers!
Karin, next time – trust me on this – STICK WITH MATT! Heavens, girl, what’s the matter with you?
And Karin sure picked the right person to round us up in Allison. That girl could’ve been a cutting horse, she cut us from the herd so smoothly! It was so much fun talking to all of you guys – Dana, Michelle, Louise, Toni – hope to see all of you again soon.
And when I fly out to see you, Jen, I’ll need something to read on the plane. (The lady next to me said to the flight attendant: “I’ll have what she’s having”.
by Jake July 31st, 2006 at 2:38 pmJake, I’m telling you we should have a big Murder She Writes conference, and we’ll get Karin will bring Matt!
Jake, Jake, Jake, what the heck were you reading on that plane??? It can’t be one of my books (please try to picture me looking innocent here, and no laughing at the idea of me being innocent!).
Okay, you all are embarrassing the heck out of me about the red dress. I don’t know what to say except that most days I look like the Housewife Special–jeans, t-shirt, no shoes and seriously stressed about writing.
Allison is a great multi tasker! She got Jake and I rounded up while being very gracious to her many fans.
by Jen July 31st, 2006 at 2:53 pmcome to think of it, it was more like team-penning!
by Jake July 31st, 2006 at 3:32 pmA cutting horse? LOL.
Jen is GORGEOUS and Jake is one of the nicest people I’ve met. Okay, they’re both nice and I really didn’t have to pay them much to say nice things about me . . .
I was at the Levy workshop and Jen is right on the money. I learned SOOOO much, and then after went up and talked to the Levy people about the bus tour and how decisions are made for Target and Kmart, etc.
by Allison July 31st, 2006 at 4:54 pmGlad all of you are back safe and sound! Thanks for posting the notes, Jen. Great recap.
by Deb July 31st, 2006 at 5:06 pmAllison, wasn’t that workshop interesting? I should have gone up to talk to the Levy people, but I might accidently promote myself and then where would I be?
Oh yeah, successful
Thank you for saying such nice things about me. Obviously I’ve been paying people a lot of money for the compliments!
Deb, we missed you! I hope to meet up with you in person soon. Natalie tells me wonderful things about you!
by Jen July 31st, 2006 at 5:22 pmIt was great seeing Allison again, and meeting Karin, Jen, Jake, Michele, Louise and Dana! And Jen, you really did rock that red dress.
(um, how much do I owe you for that description of me? I forgot how much we’d agreed on for bribes.)
I can’t believe I missed the Levy seminar. Sounds pretty terrific. Karin and Rae’s seminar was terrific, too — and Karin’s handout was very helpful to me already. Great job!
by toni mcgee causey July 31st, 2006 at 11:36 pmFWIW and it might not be much, I have seen the first Avon Red title (the antho) in Target–and a ton of Zane books (next to the YA no less) amongs a ton of *drumroll please* trade paperbacks
by Cece August 1st, 2006 at 7:02 amToni, it was so fun to meet you! No cash required, you’re beautiful and charming so how could I not mention it? The Levy seminar was really interesting.
Cece, you brought up the exact point that the editor did about erotica! Thank you for reminding me! She said that the Wal Mart type stores will not stock the books UNLESS they are super popular like Zane. So there you go–hypocrisy in the retailers, who knew?
by Jen August 1st, 2006 at 7:41 amJen YW and I forgot to say thanks for the great post
by Cece August 1st, 2006 at 8:45 am[...] Anyone wanting scoopage on the conference happenings should check out Blogging National. TONS of links of all the various bloggers doing recaps, photos, etc. Since I was in Atlanta as a non-member civilian, I only attended public events, so have no firsthand reports of anything beyond what I’ve mentioned, and have spent the last couple of days doing a round of my own through the blogosphere. Saw one blogger reporting a panel saying paranormal was still the reining subgenre, saw another reporting a panel saying it was dead. All depends on the viewpoint I guess! Most interesting tidbit I saw when out and about? Advice from an editor and sales representative from a NY Publishing House: [...]
by Alison Kent » Blog Archive » Randomosity August 1st, 2006 at 9:38 amAccording to the BGI buyer I had lunch with Thursday, paranormals are on fire.
by Karin August 1st, 2006 at 11:53 amToni, Michele and everyone else I met, it was a good time had by all. Can’t wait for Dallas next year.
Jen, I loved this info! Thank you so much! Okay, you and Weez make me want to dig into my notes and post what I learned. (Yeah, I did go to a workshop and took some notes after all.)
And puh-lease! I can only speak for myself, but I am *so* outshined by *you*! But, hey, I’m learning to take compliments too so I’ll shush up now.
And thank you for introducing us to Jake and Alison. (Hi girls!) They are just as cool and fabulous as they seem online. (While I barely got to talk to Toni and Karin, I agree, they *are* beautiful. Hopefully we’ll get to chat more next year.)
Natalie, don’t feel left out! You seem awesome too. I hope I get to meet you one day!
d
by dana August 4th, 2006 at 9:55 am