Happy 4th of July & We'll See You On The 6th!

Have a happy, safe, and healthy 4th of July!
Don't drink and drive, watch out for the currents if you go rafting, and when you jump out of that airplane skydiving, make sure you take your parachute with you!

~grins~ We're taking a few days off to enjoy the summer so we'll see y'all on the 6th as usual.

Yasmine, Linda, Lisa, Terey, Candy, Kate, Annette, Maura & Cathy

Candy's Writing

I have a new book, "Dragons Prefer Blondes," coming out Tuesday, July 7, and I'm having a bit of freak out. As much as I planned for the promotional tour for this book, it still came around much faster than expected. I feel like a hamster in one of those wheels and I'll never catch up. :-)

Not that I'm complaining. Really, I'm not. In fact, having a book come out is pretty darn exciting. I've already received some emails from early reviewers who loved it, and that's the sort of thing that can make my day/month/year. I don't think my readers have any idea just how much their lovely emails mean to me. I try to tell them, but I think only another writer really gets that feeling.

What we do is art, and can be interpreted in so many way. For me, it's exciting that people get my books on different levels. I write them that way. Someone can pick one up and it's a good, fast read. Another person sees the comments I'm making on society. They are both right, and I appreciate one's opinion as much as the other.

Those letters are what help me during this freak out period when I'm worried about book sales, and if I've done enough to get the word out. So this is a thank you, to those of you who do take the time to write. I love and adore you all.

And I'd like to hear what you do to keep yourself from worrying about things you can't control.

By commenting here TODAY ONLY on my post you are automatically entered into a contest to win an Amazon gift certificate and other prizes. I’m also running a treasure hunt and you can find all the details at www.candacehavens.com.

Cathy's Journal --- PUBLISHING: Who's on first?

Authors who write or follow the romance genre have probably started to notice online discussions on their favorite loops, Twitter, Facebook and other places. Last weekend, I joined a group called "Romance Writers for Change." Well, okay—last week it was called something different, but it turned out it was a trademarked name, so we changed it. The fabulous agent/author Deidre Knight started the discussion and the group as well (presently a Yahoo group, but probably changing to another format).

For those who aren’t members of Romance Writers of America (RWA) none of this really matters. But for those who are members, it’s a HUGE issue . . . one which defines an author at their core.

After reading and posting on various sites, I think I’ve got the issue narrowed down to three points of contention:

1. Ebook authors who are members of RWA feel they’re being treated unfairly by the organization, because they’re excluded from certain events and contests sponsored by RWA. One is the RITA contest. For those who don’t read romance, the RITA is the equivalent of the Hugo or the Daphne in the genre. It’s the most widely recognized contest (by editors and agents) in the romance world. A book that wins a RITA (or is even nominated, like our own Yasmine Galenorn!) says the author is on their way to the big time. Doesn’t always HAPPEN that way, of course, but it’s one goalpost. Now, the major issue is that ebook authors are presently betwixt and between. They’re not considered "published" enough for the RITA contest, but too published for the unpublished RWA contest, called the "Golden Heart." It’s a long and complicated reason why. But obviously, to have a book that is excluded from BOTH published and non-published contests simply isn’t fair.

2. Many Ebook publishers are likewise excluded from RWA sponsored events because they don’t offer "national distribution" of their books (although I fail to see how the internet isn’t "national" for the definition. It’s worldwide, IMO) and most don’t offer authors an advance against royalties. That, unfortunately, means that a lot of the smaller ebook publishers aren’t allowed to participate at the RWA National conference. They can’t present workshops, talk about their company to entice authors to sign and, basically, can’t join in on the fun. Also seems not fair.

3. Ebook authors feel that RWA, even though the organization is founded on the concept of educating members about becoming published (which is really a LOT to learn) is failing them by not educating about electronic publishing contracts, the different kinds of methods of publishing and such.

This morning, I had one of those interesting insights into what part of the problem is—which is why I’m posting this here. Since ebooks came into being, they’ve been relegated to the position of a "secondary" or "subsidiary" right in a print book contract . . . similar to an audio book, or a foreign language translation or even a movie deal. But suddenly, it’s the PRINT book that’s the secondary right. Ebooks are on first base. They’re the primary right, and it’s confusing the hell out of everyone. Print authors are just blinking at the ebook authors and wondering why they feel slighted. I mean, simply sell the print rights and bingo! You’re entitled to all the marbles.

But what if the ebook author NEVER intends to go to print? "Um . . . well, but no. That won’t work. Readers READ books in their hands. They buy them in a bookstore." Not any more, and there’s the trick.

What occurred to me this morning was that I was watching an ad for the new iPhone. They were talking about apps to download music and I thought, "What will happen when an AUDIO book becomes the primary right?" Straight to audio download, with NO stopping at the print version of Go--not even as an ebook. Since the technology exists right this minute to take a DragonNaturally Speaking audio file and download it to a Word or WordPerfect (if I choose to), why shouldn’t it be able to compete for a RITA (or an Hugo or a Daphne) against print books?

So too are ebooks. The book is the first right, primary right and, in many cases, the ONLY rights sold to the manuscript. Does that make it less of a book? I don't think so.

To me, it all comes down to the money. No advance from a publisher doesn’t necessarily mean no money to the author. Yes, it’s the method used in the industry right now (and I’m grateful, as an author)—but how many PRINT publishers could handle the financial burden without a list of investors or a conglomerate in the background to pump out the money? I’d LOVE for ebook publishers to offer advances. But try as I might, I can’t figure out how they’d manage it until 5 or 10 years down the road when there’s sufficient capital.

The ebook publishing model is a new animal, like the Kindle or audio books or whatever next comes down the pike. I hope RWA will recognize that it’s time to start to look at, not the future of publishing, but the PRESENT of publishing.

Anyway, that’s my opinion. What’s yours? Where do you think the future of books is going? How many of you read ebooks? Do you read them EXCLUSIVELY or just buy those that are favorites?

Punk me this! Writing a "punk" genre...

I write both steampunk and cyberpunk in addition to my paranormal and erotic romance stories but when I tell people that, even other authors, I'm often met with a confused look and a request to explain just what those genres are.

So, here's my own personal attempt to explain what they are in my own eyes. Keep in mind that there is no one true definition and some people may agree with me while others may not. So Your Mileage May Vary.

What are the "punk" genres?
The "punk" genres share a few things in common. One of these is that they are based on a technology or aspect of a technology that has been developed beyond where it ever was in the past or is currently. In steampunk, this means steam technology. In cyberpunk, it's computer and nano technology.

Steampunk is the most commonly found example so I tend to use it. In a steampunk world, the internal combustion engine may or may not have been developed. If it was developed, it wouldn't have taken over technologically. Instead steam engines would have been further developed, perhaps miniturized, etc.

The "punk" worlds also have in common the idea that form is as important of function. This is, in essence, the opposite of the common "beige box" computer. The aesthetics of the technology are important.

In steampunk, this often takes the form of fantastical machines or ones where the functionality of the machine is exposed to view. This can go as far as an almost Rube Goldberg contraption but can also be as simple as elegant finishing and engraving on a boot jack.

In cyberpunk, the aesthetics often take the opposite form. Instead of big fantastical machines that demonstrate their function, it tends to have disguised function. So think of a cybernetic arm where much of the function is hidden to look like a flesh and blood arm.

The other aspect is the richness of detail that makes or breaks the "punk" story. The charm and draw of the world is its minutia. Things are often described in detail and because it's a genre where you are writing about a world the reader doesn't know, it requires description in detail.

These really are the three basic ideas of a "punk" genre. There are things that are typically done with them like steampunk is often written as a historical. Cyberpunk is often written as a futuristic or science fiction. But I don't believe that is actually what makes the genre and it isn't a rule.

What does it take to write a "punk" genre?
Research. Really. If you hate to do research or don't want to do it, please reconsider taking on this type of story. Because the world depends on detail and if you cannot create a world where the reader believes in the technology or at least believes it might be possible, you will fail right out of the gate.

A richness of world building. If you hate to create big worlds with lots of detail, don't take up a "punk" genre. A good amount of success is that "punk" world.

Any "punk" genre also requires a descriptive voice. That same detail that makes the story a "punk" story has to be conveyed to the reader to draw them into the richness of the world. This can be quite difficult to balance with the other story aspects but shorting the reader on it will make the vibrant world go bland and flat.

A really good "punk" story requires a willingness to take chances. Chances with your world, your plot and even your characters. Don't just do what has gone before and has been labeled steampunk, cyberpunk, etc. Take the rules and play with them.

So that's my personal take on the various "punk" genres and writing them.