The book market is tough right now. I mean really tough. Competitive, brutal, fling-yourself-on-the-floor-
and-scream-if-you’re-a-writer-and-you’re-not-Jennifer-Weiner sort of tough. It’s no easy task to get published in the first place, but “in this economy” (yeah, I know, I’m sick to death of that annoying phrase) it’s even harder. Cozy mystery authors who have had good success with a series are being dropped left and right if their books aren’t pulling in the numbers that a publisher needs, and I’m already missing a few of my favorites. Moving a series to a new publisher is next to impossible, and just because you’ve been published, pitching a new series or switching genres is still a challenge.
So one would think that among us “midlist” authors (that phrase feels so insulting, yet it’s the term we have to accept) we’d be full of evil thoughts regarding fellow writers. We must be busy hoping author X’s new book sells next to nothing! Maybe our own book will sell more? We’d love to see all other writers fail, right?
Not at all.
The writing community is one of the most amazingly supportive groups out there. And the Internet has brought us even closer. While we let readers and publishers battle it out over our books, we ask each other to guest blog, FB news about new releases and successes, and #FF each other on Twitter. Although I admit that I’m lame about Twitter’s Follow Friday because I can never remember anyone’s user name and I can’t keep track of who I’m following and… well, I suck at that. But I Facebook like crazy, so consider that compensation for my Twitter ineptness. But there’s something flattering about being re-Tweeted. Or re-Twittered. Whatever.
Right now I’m having the lovely and super-talented author Heather Webber read over an outline for me. I love her writing and think she is a total riot, so it’s thrilling to have her input into what I’m working on now. Authors generously and enthusiastically blurb each other’s books and I’ve been lucky to have Karen MacInerney, JB Stanley, Michele Scott, Leann Sweeney, Julie Hyzy, and Cleo Coyle, among others, do me the honor of praising my Gourmet Girl books. We lean on each other when we get a bad review, loudly shout obscenities when our pals are stuck with a crummy comment on Amazon, and rush out to buy the first book in an author’s new series.
Maybe tremendously bestselling authors are total jerks and refuse to say anything nice about each other. I have no idea. But I can’t imagine ever turning my back on an author; we know how hard this business is, and the support and encouragement we get from each other means the world. To say nothing of the amazing readers and bloggers who bless us with space on their pages. I belong to a number of Yahoo! cozy mystery groups, including cozyarmchairgroup and cozydiscussion, and the supportive atmosphere there has helped me get through bad writing days and plot hurdles, and members have applauded when I have good news to share. Lori from Lori’s Reading Corner has been such a fan and even has a countdown marker for the release of Cook the Books on her page!
So while there are no guarantees about getting published these days, there is a guarantee that if you are a writer, you’ll find unparalleled support from your comrades! Huge thanks to all my buddies—without you, I can’t imagine how I could have written five Gourmet Girl books!
Please stop by and visit a few of my pals! And remember, if you love an author’s books, please BUY their books! I know, it sounds obvious; but publishers care about numbers and sales are what keep us doing what we (and hopefully you) love. Libraries and book swaps are wonderful, yes, but the truth is that they don’t bump up our numbers. So think of your favorite author as we head into the holiday season. Why not put together a gift basket with a book series and accompanying goodies? The possibilities are endless…
JB Stanley www.jbstanley.com
Karen MacInerney www.karenmacinerney.com
Heather Webber www.heatherwebber.com
Leann Sweeney www.leannsweeney.com
Michele Scott www.michelescott.com
Cleo Coyle www.coffeehousemystery.com
Julie Hyzy www.juliehyzy.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cozyarmchairgroup/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cozydiscussion/
