Sunday, April 29, 2007

I'm scared of my editor, THANK GOODNESS!!

A mostly new author, my fist book was published in 2005, I'm amazed at so many things about the publishing business. One of the biggest things is the hardly seen editor.

After a book is accepted by a publisher, the editor assigned can make or break an author. Seriously! It sounds melodramatic and pompous. It's so true! I'm currently thinking of renaming my EC editor, Supreme Empress Goddess of ________ I donno what, but I'm working on some magnificent word to slip in there.

Why is this a huge deal you ask? Lovely, that's what I wanna explain!

The public sees a stinker of a book and rightfully paints the author as a poor writer. Not wrong at all. Overlooked is the fact that the book should never have made it past a responsible editor. Editors have the hard job of telling authors the manuscript submitted is OR is NOT publishable. I know it's not easy to tell a hopeful author the work is not good enough, BUT IT'S PART OF THE JOB OF BEING AN EDITOR.

Editors who refuse to "edit", for whatever reason, are the cruelest creatures of all. They throw unsuspecting, usually new, authors into "the lions den". That's right, when a book is published its fair game for the public to judge. So if the book is poorly written it will come under fire for all its faults.

What is more cruel than a public forum being the first time a writer's faults are discussed? In that harsh light every little blemish is exposed and ridiculed. The public has a perfect right to do this, the book was offered to them.

This is why I'm unbelievably grateful to the woman who gets a manuscript from me and picks it apart like an Avenging Angel stamping out sin. Her zeal and dedication are my greatest defense, my armor when I hopefully offer a new book to the public. That fierce editor, Mary Moran, has saved me from certain death over and over again.

So, the cautionary tale is: Young Writer, hope for the scariest, most demanding editor possible. You want an editor still steaming from stepping out of Hell’s Gate to welcome you to the publishing world. If your editor is the toughest sell, you'll probably survive publish day.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

First Review for INTO HIS KEEPING

I am over the top proud of the review Two Lips Reviews gave INTO HIS KEEPING. It received a RECOMMENDED READ AWARD!! I'll post my fav. part, but here is the link to read the whole thing.

http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1434&Itemid=36

Tara Renee at Two Lips writes:
"I waited impatiently for months for Into His Keeping to be released and I worried it would not live up the expectations I had created for it in my mind. Reading the newest offering from the extremely talented Gail Faulkner brought me to my knees. This book is so intense, so powerful, that I am not sure if I will able to do justice to it in my review. The concept of a man whose every action, every thought for the past 15 years is focused solely on finding the one woman he loves makes Into His Keeping a must-read. Coupling that concept with eloquent love scenes Gail Faulkner has a transformed a simple love story into a work of art."

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Reality in Romance

On another blog I read how a very vocal blog reviewer realized she often demands more "reality" from a book, but doesn't want the raw reality a male author injects into his heroes. I laughed and agreed with her. When I read for entertainment, escape is my goal. Not facing the ugly facts.

It seems men have a whole different view of entertainment time. They want to face the ugly facts when seeking entertainment. The uglier and rawer the facts are the better. Action movies are a great example. War movies. In fiction they want to know volumes of material that are of almost of no interest to a romance reader. Like how do you build an exploding paperclip? Okay, that's a stupid example, but you know what I mean. Those huge books that spend pages on details of how a thing works or is built. I don't care how the "thing" is built. I want to know what the "thing" does to plot and characters. LOL

I wonder why men need those lengthy explanations and construction scenes? Is knowing the author can build a nifty thing proof that he's a real man and one can continue reading the book without fear of "pansy" behaviour? How do guys even know the "build it" scene is real? That seems to matter to them. The author must "sell" them on the fact that all those details are correct.

Well, they laugh at us when we clutch the "girly" novel and sniffle back tears while reading the end. We can laugh at them for needing to snort in agreement when their hero creates a bomb out of mouthwash, bleach and super glue.
Happy reading.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Writing an Agent is the same as...

I probably should not fill in that blank. It'll come back to haunt me. However, I'm struggling to write a query letter. After much research I've come to the conclusion this document must be a miracle of creative writing. I stand in aw of all those who've mastered this form.

I've avoided the query process so far. My first manuscript I didn't know I was supposed to query. Luckily Ellora's Cave personnel actually looked at the manuscript sent in by the obvious fool. They gave it to an editor who has earn her angel wings over and over again. She wouldn't let me give up on that story. Since then I've learned a thing or two. I can't say I'm happier for knowing how fantastically lucky I was. Mostly because one can not expect the lightening of luck to follow at our heals like a puppy.

So I get to bleed ink now. Writhe in pain over the puzzle of what is a good hook and what isn't. What to include in query letter, what not to. How does a synop actually tell the story and still be riveting reading????

Friday, April 20, 2007

I got Nothin

Honestly, nothing of value to say. I'm very busy losing my mind waiting for next Wednesday to arrive and don't have time for actual constructive thought processes. You know how anticipation is sometimes sweeter than the thing you're waiting for? Well, that's not the case for an author.

But what's worse is waiting to hear what people thought after the book is out. I had no idea what interacting with an author really is until I became one. I thought fan-mail was almost pointless. HA! I was an idiot. I love seeing reviews, but the notes from people who have read the book are priceless. I can't express that dynamic. Perhaps it's best I can't. Leave it a mysterious mist moving between the author and reader that has no correct form, it simply is.

The people who've left short, abrupt missives like, "WRITE FASTER!!", which is a direct quote, are just as wonderful as the ones who bless me with a detailed expression of their reactions to the book. Honestly, just as powerful a response. I am always amazed and moved. Sometimes I laugh, a few have moved me to tears but all have made dang happy I do what I do.

For having nothing, I've sure talked a lot. LOL
hugs

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Less than a WEEK!!!!

Akkkk...I am so excited about INTO HIS KEEPING being released. I can't say it was a difficult book to write, but it is an intense one. It's hard waiting to see what people think of it .

I had no idea how stressful it was to be an author. First the angst while writing, then the endless editing. At some point I concluded every word in the first draft had been changed. Now there is the suspense to see how it's received. This is what makes us neurotic, weird, twitchy looking writers.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Heaven has a new Class of Angels

The events at Virgina Tech radiate across this country with an unspeakable sorrow. Each life taken wounds family and friends in ways that can not be healed. Life lost so young is a crime every time. Hearts broken forever by these savage acts carry ravaged souls to their own graves. Time will bring some distance to the pain, but it can not erase it. May God be with you as you find a way to carry on for sons and daughters who no longer have that choice.

Live hard. Live strong. Make a difference. Heaven has new a new class of angels.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Release date for WANNA PLAY!!

WANNA PLAY, Ghost Unit will be released from Ellora's Cave July 6. Here is the blurb.

Wanna Play
Gail Faulkner

Ghost Unit, Book Three

Even her walk made him swallow. The stroll of a huntress, a little arrogant, a lot dangerous. Damn, he loved danger. He’d never seen menace so perfectly packaged in a woman. Wanting her was intoxicatingly forbidden and totally pagan.

Jas watched the beast try to look harmless as he entered her world. Testosterone-enhanced confidence rolling off him spoke of a deadly animal. He was muscle and guile below the face of a naughty angel. Summoned by someone she trusted to solve her problems, Jas wanted to trust him and, ohhh baby, she wanted to play with that beast. Too bad they wouldn’t have time.

It would have been Blaster’s pleasure to take care of whatever threatened her, but earning her trust required respecting her right to combat. What drove him crazy was she wouldn’t let him be the shield at her back as she did it. That *@*!!#!-crap had to stop.

An old enemy had shaped her into a living weapon. Now it was coming again. Making the threat deadly to her family was a huge mistake. Bad Guy needed to bring his A Game, she was playing for Final win.

Reader Advisory: This is an action novel with two short instances of violence that may not be for the faint of heart.

Gail
www.gailfaulkner.com
HURTS SO GOOD Simon & Schuster April 3
INTO HIS KEEPING Ellora's Cave April 25
JAMIE'S CHERUB in print May 5
WANNA PLAY Ghost Unit- Ellora's Cave July 6

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Anniversery!!!

I just realized that my first acceptance email is dated April 13, 2004. You would not believed how freakin shocked I was that day.

My first attempt at writing a book turned into my first manuscript and it was accepted by the first publisher I submitted it too. I pushed the send button in February; April 13 I received an acceptance letter.

I'm so organized that of course this revelation comes a day late. LOL

Friday, April 13, 2007

Words of Wisdom

Do not put the EMPTY ice tray back in the freezer. Resist the urge to forward that mass email. It's impossible to enjoy my own lunch while the person across from me is eating with their mouth open.

These are a few of the things that make me crazy. What's an everyday sort of thing that drives you nuts?

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Wait a minute!!

I think this is working! It's just a test. But dang it, after five hours of trying to manage finding one of these, I'm stepping of the "speical buss" and doing it simple.

Stuff I'm excited about!

WOW! The Art Dept. at Ellora's Cave comes through again! Look at the lovely new cover they've done for printing JAMIE'S CHERUB!! If I could figure how it insert the visual here I would. I'm thrilled to offer JAMIE'S CHERUB in print for the first time with this lovely cover.




WANNA PLAY,Ghost Unit Book 3 has a comfirmed contract and I should being getting the publish date next week. Reciving the final copy from my sweet editor, -Goddess of the Corned- I posted a new excerpt for WANNA PLAY on the website, go have a look. Still waiting breathlessly to see what the cover will look like. I'm gonna need a paper bag to breath in soon.