 | 14 Jul 09 |
Live from DC…it’s Leslie Parrish! I’m in DC at the RWA conference where I’ll spend the week in the bar networking with industry professionals and good writer friends. So I’ve invited one of those dear friends to be our MSW guest today. I first met Leslie in 2000 — ouch, that was a long time ago. Our kids were close in age, our homes were close in proximity, and our careers were not really close at all – she was sold and soaring, I was anxious and impatient to join her. Along with another really good friend and Florida-based writer, Cami Dalton, our friendship thrived, nourished by similar experiences, lots of laughter, and a few hundred bottles of wine. Readers and writers know and love Leslie by her real name, Leslie Kelly, author of funny, sexy, brilliant romantic comedies. But now she’s writing some murder and mayhem, and doing it very, very well. Under the name Leslie Parrish, her debut romantic thriller, FADE TO BLACK, was released last week to some amazing acclaim and buzz. I’ve invited Leslie here to talk about her journey from light romance…to the dark side. 
Open a New Window by Leslie Parrish>
I am about to do something pretty embarrassing.
Most times, I embarrass myself quite by accident. As much as I hate to admit it, I am the world’s biggest klutz. (My nephew once told me somebody ought to just wrap me in bubble wrap because I am always tripping over my own feet.) This time, however, I’m not about to fall and literally break my tailbone in front of my editor and a bunch of writers at an RWA conference (that was Dallas.) Nor am I going to decide to use a pen knife as a screwdriver and nearly slice my finger off (Nashville, with the Plotmonkeys.) Or believe I smell smoke in the middle of the night, so that my roommates in a D.C. high rise think the hotel is on fire. (Still sorry about that, Rocki!)
No, today’s embarrassment is not physical. And it’s something I really couldn’t joke about for a while after it happened.
I’m talking about getting fired.
Well, I guess in this business, we don’t call it getting fired, right? We prefer to say, “The contract wasn’t renewed,” or “The option was declined,” or “I finally have the chance to explore opportunities with other publishers.”
I dunno. It sure as hell felt like getting fired to me. After 4 single title contemporary romances—one of which was an RWA RITA Award nominee—my publisher decided I wasn’t a good risk anymore and they dropped me, right in the middle of a series. (That was probably the most painful part—not being able to finish the series.)
As a businessperson, I totally get their reasoning. My sales were pretty good with book 1. Stronger with book 2. Then book 3 came along. The one with the kind of cover that gives even the best of us a twinge of schadenfreude if it’s on a competitor’s book, or makes us sob in despair if it’s on our own. The cover of book 4 was just as bad if not worse.
My print run sunk like a stone. Orders were half the previous books. Sales less than half of that. So, yes, the publisher was disinclined to renew our contractual arrangement. (How’s that for fancying it up?) By the way—I’m not saying it was the covers alone. Maybe the books sucked, maybe it was just bad timing…but those covers did not help.
Anyway, I found myself contract-less. As I said, I understood why. Don’t let anybody tell you any differently—it’s all about the numbers, baby.
That door was firmly closed. But, as with so many things in life, elsewhere, a window opened.
I’ll admit, it didn’t happen right away. The experience derailed me for a little while. I had come to think of myself as the writer of funny, sexy contemporaries and had the same kind of lovely fantasies of my future that every writer has—the Times list, a big contract, the freedom to slow down and write just 1-2 books a year. But after what happened, I knew the outlook for all of that was very grim. Bad numbers stick to an author like the paparazzi stick to Brangelina. Any new publisher I targeted would immediately check out those numbers. And even if they did decide to take a chance on me, they’d have a huge hurdle to overcome in trying to get booksellers to order the books.
My career certainly wasn’t over; I didn’t fear that. Fortunately, I was still publishing regularly with Blaze—which I loved doing. So I still had a toe wedged in that doorway. I knew, however, that it wouldn’t be enough to satisfy me creatively for long. I needed to write bigger, more in-depth stories.
My conclusion was this: if light, single-title contemporaries were out for me, something else would do just as well. And if the name Leslie Kelly was going to be poison on a single title book cover, well, she’d just have to go away, too.
Fortunately, I’m a voracious reader in a number of genres. Thrillers, horror and dark suspense are among my favorites. So despite how strange it sounded to some people, I made the decision to go from light, sexy, and funny to dark, bloody and brooding. 
I wasn’t sure it would work. Who ever is? All I knew is, I wanted to try again.
I thought about it, dwelled on it, then prepared a proposal and had my agent send it out. And within ten days, the window opened: A new publisher. A new contract. A new series. A breath of life in what I had feared was a dying career.
I spent the next fifteen months in a state of writing euphoria I hadn’t felt in a long time. The Black CATs books, which are being released back-to-back this summer, burst out of me, not necessarily with joy, but with immense creative satisfaction. When all was said and done, I knew I had produced three of the best books of my career.
Looking back, I’m incredibly glad that things worked out the way they did. Had it not been for the closing of that door, I might never have even looked for a window.
Much less flown right through it.
Roxanne St. Claire is a bestselling, RITA-Award winning author of twenty-four novels of romance and suspense. For the past several years, she's been writing a popular romantic suspense series called “The Bullet Catchers” for Pocket Star Books, featuring a cadre of bodyguards and security professionals. In 2010, she's launching a new series, "The Guardian Angelinos" focusing on an extended family of renegade crime fighters and investigators based in Boston. The first book in that series, EDGE OF SIGHT, will be released from Grand Central Publishing in November, 2010, with two more scheduled in 2011. In addition to the RITA, her books have won the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Daphne Du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best, the Book Buyers Best, The HOLT Medallion, multiple Awards of Excellence, and Borders “Top Pick” for Romance in 2007.
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Good morning, Leslie! All I can say is, you really found your wings!
I was lucky enough to win ARCs of the Black Cat books. I want to be Leslie Parrish when I grow up! Holy moly and jiminy cricket were these books amazing. Dark. Real. True. I *know* these characters. Well…cops just like them.
Rocki and Leslie, I hope to see you both here in DC. Rocki, if you make it to the NRCA awards reception, I’ll buy your first round! Leslie, I’ll buy your first round whereever!
by Silver James July 14th, 2009 at 5:28 amSilver you are such a doll and I cannot wait to meet you in person!
by Leslie Kelly-Parrish July 14th, 2009 at 1:45 pmAs Leslie knows i am waiting for all 3 to be out before I read them. Unlike Silver who isn’t sharing either. ;}
I am still upset that the others series won’t be completed. I hope that at some point you will be able to go back to them.Covers aside, I loved them. They did that to Julie too, the rat b@st@rds.
Have fun this week.
by Ev July 14th, 2009 at 6:31 amlol Ev…you know, it really is just business, unfortunately. The midlist is such a tight squeeze right now. If a series doesn’t do well out of the gate, they really aren’t inclined to stick with it with the hopes that things will turn around.
by Leslie Kelly-Parrish July 14th, 2009 at 1:47 pmYou’re not alone in this decision. I know a LOT of writers who are currently in the same boat. Everyone is trying to decide what to attempt next. I think the creative boost you received is a good indication that you’re on the right track. Good luck!
by Jordan Summers July 14th, 2009 at 9:17 amLeslie, welcome to MSW! Your blog is so inspiring. I’m hearing great things about FADE TO BLACK and can’t wait to read it!
by Jen Lyon July 14th, 2009 at 9:20 amThanks Jen! (I actually commented too far down in reply to you!)
by Leslie Kelly-Parrish July 14th, 2009 at 1:47 pmI hate that your contract was not renewed on your funny contemporary romances, but as a reader, I’m so glad you had a reason to write your Leslie Parrish books. I love all 3 Black CATs books and really hope there will be more in the future. Of course, I’ll continue to buy the Leslie Kelly books too.
by Liza July 14th, 2009 at 9:35 amHi all–thanks so much for having me here today. Rocki, I really appreciate the invitation–can’t wait to see you this week!
I guess a lot of people are probably en route to RWA, as I will be tomorrow. Good luck to all of you meeting with agents or editors or attending spotlights to learn more about the publishers out there. Hope it’s a wonderful experience!
by Leslie Kelly-Parrish July 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pmLeslie, great to have you here and what a wonderful post!
by Debra webb July 14th, 2009 at 1:38 pmJen, thank you so much. If anything, hopefully it helps to reinforce the “don’t give up” mantra that’s an absolute must in this biz!
by Leslie Kelly-Parrish July 14th, 2009 at 1:45 pmI don’t know if I could make a career as a writer just because of the rejection factor alone (and not counting my lack of writing ability)! Glad to hear that you’ve been able to breathe new life into your career.
I loved Fade to Black and can’t wait for Pitch Black. Keep up the good work!
by Kristina July 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pmTomorrow is B&N, I must look for this book, it sounds just like I love to read. Congratulations on not only finding the window but being brave enough to fly through it.
by Jill James July 14th, 2009 at 3:25 pmLeslie, it is great to have you here! Sorry for the late welcome… but these books sound like books I *must* have, right now. I am annoyed I don’t have the first in my hands as I fly out tomorrow, but I will be ordering it! Fingers crossed for you and what a terrific lesson.
by toni mcgee causey July 14th, 2009 at 7:40 pmFunny how things work out. To many people take news like yours very badly and give up. You took advantage of the situation to take a new direction and it has worked out well for you. Good luck and may you have a successful writing future with the New York Times list and everything else.
by Patricia Barraclough July 14th, 2009 at 8:17 pmI’m so proud of you! I can’t imagine having the confidence to write again, much less finding another niche to fill. You are truly blessed.
by Karen Ingraham July 15th, 2009 at 7:01 amI’m so sorry that I couldn’t get on here yesterday and post a comment – am at RWA and found myself without access to wireless for the day. Anyway, Leslie handled the hosting duties quite well. Thank you so much for sharing your story, Leslie, you have no idea how many people you’ve inspired. At the conference there is already a lot of talk about name changing/genre changing/numbers reality, etc. This is so timely and so true.
Can’t wait to see the Black Cats series soar!!
xoxo
by Roxanne St. Claire July 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pmRocki
By talking about a painful situation you have helped us all. The good news is you made lemonade out of the lemons you received. Yes! Another strong woman. We’d love to review your books
by andrea July 15th, 2009 at 3:12 pmAndrea@armchairinterviews.com and give you some promotion.
Leslie, so sorry I’m a day late posting. I have the deepest respect for you and all the Plotmonkeys. You guys put your hearts out there every day and never pull any punches. I’m so proud of your tenacity, you willingness not to give up, to keep mushing forward. Damn the torpedoes!
I’m so glad you flew through that open window!
Take care and hope you and the Plotmonkeys are having fun plotting at National.
Cher
by Cher Gorman July 16th, 2009 at 9:44 am