ABNA
What Happened To The Mid-List Author?
June 01, 2008 22:06
What Happened To The
Mid-List Author?
by Susanne O’Leary
Eight years ago, when my first novel, Diplomatic Incidents, was published, I thought: this is it, I am an author, my career has taken off and from now on, my books will be in the shops until I decide to stop writing. I thought I would be allowed to grow as a writer, building up a readership over the next few years and the next few novels, until I found my voice and wrote that break-through novel, which might be my third or fourth one. I expected my publisher help me nurture my career, trust me to improve and go from strength to strength. This belief proved to be a complete fairytale.
I didn’t think I’d see my very first novel on the bestseller list, nor did I think my publisher would expect it. The book did well and sold out the first print run, going on to be published in paperback the following year and, again, selling out several print runs. Not huge sales figures but quite respectable all the same.
My second novel, European Affairs, did not do as well, despite rave reviews and a lot of publicity, because my publisher could no longer afford to offer the huge discounts to bookshops, which is essential in order to get the book placed at the front of the shop and it went straight to the back shelves, where readers could not find it. Lesson 1: Place your book under the buyer’s nose or it won’t sell.
While I was writing novel number three, I got an agent, who thought I should leave my current publisher and try to get a bigger and better one, willing and able to offer those all important discounts to booksellers. They got me a two-book deal with a slightly bigger publisher in Ireland and my third novel, Fresh Powder, turned out to be my biggest seller so far. It was book of the month, due to my publisher’s very clever deal with a chain of bookshops in Ireland, which earned it top position in all shops countrywide for a month. Finally, I thought, I’m off! I eagerly awaited the publication of novel number four which, in my own estimation, was my best work so far. It would be ‘the one’. This, however, turned out be horribly wrong.
Finding Margo was published the following year (2007). My publisher’s marketing manager had by then left and a new, very inexperienced one had taken his place. As a result, even though he tried hard, there was no ‘book of the month’ deal and no other promotions and, even though the novels sold out the first print run in the first three weeks, it was left to ‘die’. The reviews were glowing, there were a lot of mentions in the press but stocks were dwindling and the oomph had gone out of the marketing. This could have been a huge seller, given the plot (woman leaves husband on motorway in France after row about her map reading and starts a whole new life) but it never had a chance. As a result, the publisher passed (OK, rejected) on my third novel, giving the poor sales figures (their failure, not mine) of Finding Margo, as a reason. I also managed to break up with my agent (through no fault of my own).
Here I was, with four published novels, great reviews and thousands of people reading and loving my books, with no publisher and no agent. I received and am still receiving letters and e- mails from people who have read and loved my writing, asking when my next novel will be out. People stop me in the street in my town, telling me how much they loved my last one and gallop up to me in the supermarket with full trolleys and children in tow, just to say, "Hi, Susanne, I loved your book."
And, despite all that success, I have to start from scratch, sending out queries to agents and publishers, printing out and sending manuscripts at huge effort and cost (you know the drill), so I can get my career up and running again. At the moment, having sent the first four chapters and synopsis of my fifth novel to two major UK publishers (who kindly agreed to look at my work even without an agent), I am waiting to hear from them after they both requested the full manuscript. And agent in London is also reading and I am waiting to hear from them too. I am not very hopeful, because I have learned that, even though the writing might be good, excellent or even outstanding, publishers are only looking for a potential bestseller. Not a good seller, or even an excellent one, but THE bestseller. It doesn’t have to be well written, or even written at all (a ghost writer is OK too), if it is a celebrity spilling the beans or parading as the ‘author’ of a steamy novel.
One publisher told me, and I quote: "you write beautifully- the narrative flows effortlessly –and your plotting is wonderfully labyrinthine. I also think you draw setting incredibly well.’ This was a rejection –or maybe a rave rejection?"
Ten years ago, or maybe even twenty, publishers were willing to wait for a writer to develop his/her career slowly and even accepted that some stayed ‘in the middle’, remaining as a mid-list author with steady sales figures and a loyal readership. But this is no longer the case. An author is expected to hit the bestseller list with the first novel. As a result, people who love good books miss out on some really good stories as publishers decide for them what they should and should not read. This is a great pity – for readers and writers alike.
Susanne O’Leary was trained as a fitness teacher and taught aerobics and general fitness while on postings abroad and in Ireland. She has published two books on health; Look Great, Feel Great for Life and The Life in Your Years. While writing her fitness books, she discovered a love of writing and decided to try her hand at fiction, drawing on her experiences as the wife of a diplomat. Her first novel, Diplomatic Incidents was published in 2001; European Affairs followed in 2003. Susanne is also the author of Fresh Powder (2006) and Finding Margo (2007). Her manuscript Where the Heart Is was recently an entrant in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Susanne has finally been able to realize her childhood dream of owning a horse, and she rides every morning in the beautiful countryside of County Tipperary. Find out more about Susanne and her writing at www.susanne-oleary.com
by Susanne O’Leary
Eight years ago, when my first novel, Diplomatic Incidents, was published, I thought: this is it, I am an author, my career has taken off and from now on, my books will be in the shops until I decide to stop writing. I thought I would be allowed to grow as a writer, building up a readership over the next few years and the next few novels, until I found my voice and wrote that break-through novel, which might be my third or fourth one. I expected my publisher help me nurture my career, trust me to improve and go from strength to strength. This belief proved to be a complete fairytale.
I didn’t think I’d see my very first novel on the bestseller list, nor did I think my publisher would expect it. The book did well and sold out the first print run, going on to be published in paperback the following year and, again, selling out several print runs. Not huge sales figures but quite respectable all the same.
My second novel, European Affairs, did not do as well, despite rave reviews and a lot of publicity, because my publisher could no longer afford to offer the huge discounts to bookshops, which is essential in order to get the book placed at the front of the shop and it went straight to the back shelves, where readers could not find it. Lesson 1: Place your book under the buyer’s nose or it won’t sell.
While I was writing novel number three, I got an agent, who thought I should leave my current publisher and try to get a bigger and better one, willing and able to offer those all important discounts to booksellers. They got me a two-book deal with a slightly bigger publisher in Ireland and my third novel, Fresh Powder, turned out to be my biggest seller so far. It was book of the month, due to my publisher’s very clever deal with a chain of bookshops in Ireland, which earned it top position in all shops countrywide for a month. Finally, I thought, I’m off! I eagerly awaited the publication of novel number four which, in my own estimation, was my best work so far. It would be ‘the one’. This, however, turned out be horribly wrong.
Finding Margo was published the following year (2007). My publisher’s marketing manager had by then left and a new, very inexperienced one had taken his place. As a result, even though he tried hard, there was no ‘book of the month’ deal and no other promotions and, even though the novels sold out the first print run in the first three weeks, it was left to ‘die’. The reviews were glowing, there were a lot of mentions in the press but stocks were dwindling and the oomph had gone out of the marketing. This could have been a huge seller, given the plot (woman leaves husband on motorway in France after row about her map reading and starts a whole new life) but it never had a chance. As a result, the publisher passed (OK, rejected) on my third novel, giving the poor sales figures (their failure, not mine) of Finding Margo, as a reason. I also managed to break up with my agent (through no fault of my own).
Here I was, with four published novels, great reviews and thousands of people reading and loving my books, with no publisher and no agent. I received and am still receiving letters and e- mails from people who have read and loved my writing, asking when my next novel will be out. People stop me in the street in my town, telling me how much they loved my last one and gallop up to me in the supermarket with full trolleys and children in tow, just to say, "Hi, Susanne, I loved your book."
And, despite all that success, I have to start from scratch, sending out queries to agents and publishers, printing out and sending manuscripts at huge effort and cost (you know the drill), so I can get my career up and running again. At the moment, having sent the first four chapters and synopsis of my fifth novel to two major UK publishers (who kindly agreed to look at my work even without an agent), I am waiting to hear from them after they both requested the full manuscript. And agent in London is also reading and I am waiting to hear from them too. I am not very hopeful, because I have learned that, even though the writing might be good, excellent or even outstanding, publishers are only looking for a potential bestseller. Not a good seller, or even an excellent one, but THE bestseller. It doesn’t have to be well written, or even written at all (a ghost writer is OK too), if it is a celebrity spilling the beans or parading as the ‘author’ of a steamy novel.
One publisher told me, and I quote: "you write beautifully- the narrative flows effortlessly –and your plotting is wonderfully labyrinthine. I also think you draw setting incredibly well.’ This was a rejection –or maybe a rave rejection?"
Ten years ago, or maybe even twenty, publishers were willing to wait for a writer to develop his/her career slowly and even accepted that some stayed ‘in the middle’, remaining as a mid-list author with steady sales figures and a loyal readership. But this is no longer the case. An author is expected to hit the bestseller list with the first novel. As a result, people who love good books miss out on some really good stories as publishers decide for them what they should and should not read. This is a great pity – for readers and writers alike.
Susanne O’Leary was trained as a fitness teacher and taught aerobics and general fitness while on postings abroad and in Ireland. She has published two books on health; Look Great, Feel Great for Life and The Life in Your Years. While writing her fitness books, she discovered a love of writing and decided to try her hand at fiction, drawing on her experiences as the wife of a diplomat. Her first novel, Diplomatic Incidents was published in 2001; European Affairs followed in 2003. Susanne is also the author of Fresh Powder (2006) and Finding Margo (2007). Her manuscript Where the Heart Is was recently an entrant in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Susanne has finally been able to realize her childhood dream of owning a horse, and she rides every morning in the beautiful countryside of County Tipperary. Find out more about Susanne and her writing at www.susanne-oleary.com
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Gifts of the ABNA
March 02, 2008 00:07
Gifts of the ABNA
by Jeff Fielder
When Valya approached me and asked if I’d write the inaugural column for ABNA Books’ first month, initially I was excited and incredibly honored. But as I lay in my nightly insomnia-induced coma, stewing over the words I’d write, the things I’d say, it hit me like falling rocks: What in the world am I doing? What in the world am I going to say? I’m supposed to write something hundreds of other authors can read. Authors who can write circles around me in their sleep, mind you.
My stomach twisted in knots. Had there been a mirror near my desk, I think I would have looked a bit froggish.
At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because I remember waking up. But I certainly didn’t feel rested. I’ve been in a stupor all day, thinking and over-thinking.
ABNA Books. What a great concept. Valya with her marketing genius has given us a place to keep the dream alive. If statistics prove anything, most of us will not be published. That’s just the nature of the beast. No one sits down hoping to write a book no one will read. When we all sit at that keyboard turning thoughts, and dreams, and words into a cohesive story, we’re not thinking, “Man, I sure hope my bleeding pen and sleepless nights are for naught!” But that’s a sad reality of this business. Most don’t make it.
We do this for a reason. We want people to read our stories. We want to connect with people who we’ve never met and reveal a piece of ourselves that all too often remains guarded and hidden. For most of us, we are much better writers than orators. By opening our literary veins and spilling something akin to blood on paper, we are able to somehow be the people we really are inside.
The beauty of this contest is that our words were actually out there for literally millions (billions?) of people to read. For most of us, it was a chance to connect in ways we’ve never had, and to realize our dreams that, sadly, would not have come true any other way. Think about it: 836 novels, 836 people putting it all out there for public scrutiny. Here I am. Rip it all apart and show me how to put it back together.
It’s enough to drive anyone closer to that creative cliff.
Only one author wins the prize, but in the end, we all won. How many reviews did you get? How many amazingly positive things did you hear about your words (your babies)?
Beyond all that, beyond all the pats on the back, how many friends did you make? For me, that’s the biggest prize of all. I can go to any major city in America and meet up for a drink and conversation with people who before this contest didn’t exist in my world. Doesn’t that just boggle your mind? It does mine.
The forums were our silly little playground. We talked about everything and nothing, and in the end, we connected. That is a truly amazing gift. Top prize $25,000? Chump change. I made a friend. Or maybe two.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Valya for her efforts. She’s put a lot of work into this site. She’s an amazingly talented and selfless writer. She’s a gift.
For the rest of you (us), good luck. No one gets published without perseverance and determination, and yes, a pocket full of four-leaf clovers certainly helps. There is no recipe for guaranteed success, but there is one common ingredient:
Keep writing.
Jeff Fielder is the author of Life & Death. After serving six years as a Russian Linguist in Military Intelligence, Jeff earned his degree in Journalism from the University of North Texas. Today he is a graphic designer and freelance writer and photographer in Kansas City, Mo. He is also the author of a non-fiction book, Reflections: A Folklore History of Lewisville, Texas. You can reach Jeff at jfielder13@yahoo.com