What’s in a Name

I have been working fast and furiously trying to get everything ready to launch my new eBook. It occurred to me that I can’t go any farther until I settle on a title for the book.

Here’s where you can help. On the left sidebar is a poll offering you three titles to choose from. Select a title, vote, and then tell me in the comments why you chose that particular one. Or if none of these suit you, write your own in the comments and tell me why this one is better.

It would probably help you to know a little bit about the book. It takes place in the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Kandake is the youngest daughter of King Amani. All she ever wanted was to be a Nubian warrior, but her grandmother has chosen her to be the next ruler of Nubia. The story is about her struggle between her grandmother’s choice and her desire.

Follow this blog to keep tabs on the poll to name the book and find out what I decide, with your help of course.

Slow Down

I have been trying to get so much done, lately--finding a designer for the book cover, making a costume for the cover model, looking for a formatter, looking into the price of printing and posters. I have so much to do and I’m trying to maintain my writing schedule at same time. There is such a thing as attempting to do too much at one time. I need to slow down.

The other day I was working on a new story for my website. It was a very short piece with an uncomplicated plot. I read through it (or so I thought I had) and the sent it off to a writer friend, Lynn Kelley, to critique. She is the sweetest and really good at catching mistakes and making suggestions.

As usual, she sent it back full of corrections and suggestions. When I reviewed her edits I almost fell off of my chair. What I had sent her was a story that made no sense!  It made about as much sense as the script in the picture, for me. My brain was so tired that what I thought I had written was definitely not what was on the page.

I really need to slow down, take some time to rejuvenate, and hopefully my writing skills will return.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh my gosh…Since I made the decision to e-publish my manuscript, my mind and my desk started looking like this. There are so many things for me to do. I’ve decided on the designer for the cover art. I’ve nailed down what I want the costume to look like. I’ve even engaged the photographer. And that’s only the beginning.

Next is making the costume. Then I have to get the pictures to the designer and find a formatter. As soon as the cover is done I have to get posters made.

All the while, I’m walking through the manuscript one last time to be sure there are no errors and it reads smoothly. I also have to line up reviewers (I’m open to one or two extra if you’d like), set up school visits and book signings. Because the book ties-in neatly with Black History month, I will be launching it at the beginning of February. I have a little time, but not much.

On top of all of this I have to maintain my schedule for the other novels I’m writing. I also have to make time to create the flash fiction and short stories that I’m uploading to my website. Take a look.

I feel buried, but it’s a good feeling!

Hard Work Ahead

I have begun the process of getting my book ready for publication. I’m taking a long slow walk back through the manuscript to make sure it is all that it can be. At the same time, I am searching for a designer for the cover and a formatter for the text.

You wouldn’t believe how many artists are out there. I’m talking about the ones with a reputation for good work. Sheesh! I have gone to countless websites and searched through portfolios looking for a style and passion that I want for the cover. There are so many choices. I have settled on one whose work has the feel I’m looking for.

The model I have chosen for the cover is a beautiful and brilliant young teen whose eagerness and determination totally embodies my main character. Because she is a minor I will not release her name until the project is closer to completion.

Now on to the costuming. I am scouring the internet and history books for just the right garment. I want to choose/create several so that I have sufficient options for the photo shoot. Once that is done, I’ll have to coordinate the schedules of the model and her mother, the photographer, and myself to set a date for the photos.

Then it’s on to the formatter and planning school visits and appearances. Oh My Gosh! There’s so much to do. That brings me to the tie-in of the picture. This is a Wee Spoon. The Wee of Africa award this spoon to a very industrious woman in honor of her hard work. By the time I get everything done, I will have earned my own spoon!

I'll be Taking the Left Fork

I have decided to publish one of my favorite manuscripts (ms) as an e-book.  The decision was not an easy one. I have been working to get this ms published through traditional channels, but I keep coming up against roadblocks.

It is not the quality of the story or the writing that has been the problem. It is more of a business/investment issue. The traditional publishers and agents have a difficult time seeing this as more than a niche-market item and they're looking for something that is more of a sure thing for the mass market.

At first the rejections didn’t make sense. How could they say that the ms is a very good story, or extol the characterization, dialog, or even setting and not take it. Then I started researching the whys of publication and things became more clear.

I was looking at the from the  wrong perspective. I had personalized something that was simply business with monetary goals. Essentially I had not realized we have different ends we are attempting to achieve and it has little to do with my skill as a writer or choice of subject matter. Publishing companies are in business to make money. They have a lot of ‘mouths to feed’ and limited investment capital to with which to do it.

I, on the other hand, am looking at the ms from a needs perspective. I originally wrote the story for my granddaughter so that she could have a princess that looks like her. From there it grew to be a story of girl empowerment and endless possibilities. So I guess the argument comes down to this: monetary needs vs. social needs.

Once I arrived here it was a short jump to realizing that I need to publish it myself. It occurred to me that I was upset about someone else’s choices about their own investment. What I realized is that if I truly believe in the ms and the need for it, I should be willing and able to invest in it myself. Will it be an easy do? No. Will it cost me financially? Yes. Will I do it anyway? ABSOLUTELY!

Choosing the Right Road

I have come to the fork in the writing/publishing road and must make my next move. I have made a decision to e-publish one particular piece of work. This manuscript has had great difficulty finding a home. Agents and editors, alike have given it great feedback, but don’t think it’s ‘right for their list’ or ‘not a big enough book.’ So I have decided to turn it into an e-book.

Will I do this for every manuscript? I’m not sure about that. There are stories that I have written that fit the current market and do not present the same dilemma.

Having said that, the publishing industry and its reshaping to become a part of the digital age may change my view of what I want for my work. There is much to consider. Granted, there is considerable prestige to be had in following the tradition publishing route. Will that always be the case? That remains to be seen.

For now I will make that decision for each manuscript based on its own merit. What about you? What are you choosing?

Decisions

I am on the precipice of a decision, as they say. I must decide whether or not to go ahead with an e-publishing choice. The manuscript I am choosing is one that attracts a lot of attention from the industry, but it isn’t one they believe will sell big enough to take a chance on.

I’m wondering how they determine what will sell big and what will not. Or, what does it mean to sell big. It’s easy to point to the success of the Harry Potter or Twilight series, but who could have predicted their success? Both authors received multiple rejections and then a couple of savvy agents and editors took a gamble. And as you know, their gamble paid off bigger than anyone could have imagined.

How often does something like this happen in publishing? The answer is, not very. If we look at the more popular authors like Stephen King, John Grisham, or even Nora Roberts, we don’t see that instant meteoric climb to the top. They are at the top all right, but they worked and worked to get there.

Please don’t misunderstand. I am in no way suggesting that Rawlings or Meyers didn’t work hard, because there is not any doubt that they did. I would say that they each worked very hard. But what has happened for them does not happen on a regular basis. Unfortunately authors, agents, and editors appear to be searching for the elusive ‘it’ that will bring them this kind of success.

I don’t know if a manuscript of mine will ever make such a mark, but that’s not what I’m aiming for. My sights are set on writing a story that will leave the reader satisfied, but also have them yearning for more. Right now I I have a completed manuscript that works on several different levels (as stated by the industry professionals) and could be a commercial success. The problem is that they don’t believe that it is the blockbuster they’re looking for.

So here’s the decision part. Do I wait for them to come around, or do I go it on my own? Your input is very welcome.

The Love of Reading

  I have always loved to read or to be read to. This could very easily be a picture of me. I read everywhere and everything.

In the morning, getting ready for school, my mother would prompt me (a nice way of saying she fussed) to stop reading and eat my breakfast. In the evening, she would tell me I couldn’t bring my book to the table. I would sneak and read books at my desk in school when I should have been listening to the teacher. Maybe that’s the reason math takes me a bit longer.

In any case, I read every chance I got. I still do. Sometimes there's a war within between reading a new book or writing a new story. When the book wins, I justify it by telling myself, this will help me to be a better writer. And that is the reason this post is late.

What am I reading? It’s a wonderful YA entitled, Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu.

Sunrise on Easter

Good Morning! Sunrise and new days are rich with fresh starts and second chances. It’s Easter morning and there’s nothing that exemplifies this better than today. Tradition has us decked out in new clothes, big dinners with family, and the all-important egg hunt. All of this is followed by stuffing ourselves with great treats.

For me the best treats in the world are time with family and friends (especially grandchildren!) and quiet time for a good read. These usually do not happen at the same time. I find it difficult to laugh and tell wild stories and read all at once.

So today I get a second chance to spoil my grandchildren, again (their parents would say I never stopped the first one), another opportunity to appreciate the ones I love and those who love me, and more time to write more stories.

Enjoy your second chances. Happy Easter everyone!

To Write or Not to Write, There is no Question

This picture reminds me of my journey to become a published author. I work to improve my craft. I get good ideas. I paint their picture in words. Then with the help of my critique group, I revise and revise until finally it’s ready to submit.

I search among the agents, whose numbers rival the stars, for the ones that seem a good match for the piece. I dredge up the confidence to send it out and then I wait. And wait. Until finally I hear from them and this is what they say, paraphrased of course.

I great story, but it’s not for me. I no longer represent this type of story. Wonderful characterization, great emotion, believable dialog, but… There is always a ‘but’. This piece would be better suited to someone else. I’m just not in love with the story. You deserve to be represented by someone who…

So there I stand in the desert of publication waiting for that final, refreshing drop of…I think this is great, I’d love to represent you and your work. One day it will come.

The Making of a Story

I am often asked where I get ideas for a new story. The answer is, they come from everywhere. I can see a dog digging a hole. Most people think that the dog is digging up something it has buried, or some small animal disappeared down a hole and the dog is going after it. Not me.

I think about the dirt flying through the air and see small universes being scattered, or I wonder if something from the center of the earth will escape into our realm through that hole, or I wonder if the fleas have taken control of the dogs mind and that they are giving him an alternative to scratching them.

All of these things, and more, roll around in my mind and smolder like this volcano until they grow into a plot line and erupt into a story. Everything I see is grist for the creative story mill. So the next time you catch me staring, beware you could end up in one of my stories.

Dark No More

I have been dormant for far too long. I could list a million reasons (eg, I moved out of state, my husband retired, weddings, showers, births, etc), but the fact would still remain that I have neglected you. Well, no more! So here is my first offering in a very long time.

I've decided to explore the world of short stories and flash fiction. I have found that I really am enjoying it. One of the reasons is that I get a new idea and I can get to the end within a few days! I am not abandoning the world of novels, instead, I am adding this new love. I decided to start posting them on my website www.stephaniejefferson.com  I'll keep you up to date when I post new stories. You can read Swan Song

There will be more to come, here and on the site.

Discipliine

I've been working on maintaining a writing schedule. It's been over one month now and so far so good. I'm writing everyday and loving it.  The change of mindset has helped me tremendously. I'm working on another book about ancient Africa and revisions on the first one.

It's amazing to me the things I thought worked, but really don't. Revising has shown me the difference of how I wrote then and what my work is like now. What's got me worried is if I thought that was good writing, what will I think of how I write today a year from now.

I must continue to remind myself that the important thing is that I grow as a writer. Every story will get better each time I create one, or so it should. At the end of the week, I will print out the revised book and read it through. On the one hand, I am looking forward to seeing what it has become. On the other hand, I'm hoping all of the changes work and that it flows the way it is supposed to.

As the saying goes: the proof is in the pudding. We will see what we will see.

Really Doing It

I have been back from vacation for 4 weeks now. Everyday I have made good on my commitment to treat my writing like I would a job. So, every morning at 10AM you will find me in front of my computer writing away. And doing it happily.

It's funny, for years I have heard that to be a successful writer I need to be writing everyday. I guess I never believed it. I thought that if I wrote on a regular basis that would be enough. I have found that writing everyday is a far cry from writing on a regular basis. I guess I would have to admit that they were right.

What I have noticed in this short time is amazing. My writing has dramatically improved. It has even affected the my recognition of problems within the piece.

I'm not completely sure why I never did it before. I used excuses like I'm too tired after coming home from work. Or, I need to wait until I get inspired. And there's even the excuse that I have to wait until I can figure out what happens next. Unbelievable. Now that I can see the difference in my writing for myself, I am determined to continue this practice.

Yesterday a friend sent me an email about a writing contest for YA writers. It's being sponsored by Guide to Literary Agents. In order to submit to the contest they ask that you mention the contest in your social media, so I'm doing it here and on my Facebook page. The prizes are: a critique by literary agent Tamar Rydzinski and a free one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com. I'm game. How about you?

It's Good to be Home

I just got back from my critique group. It's been a long time. Being with a group of incredible writers feels wonderful. My vacation was great, but I missed being with them. I missed the learning. I've come to love the comments they make on what we all write. I so appreciate the time they take with my work.

When I first started writing I dreaded critique. I thought everyone was telling me what I was doing wrong. In some crazy way I thought they were criticizing me. Man, was I all wet. Now I know they are telling me how to make each piece better. I look forward to seeing how this group of talented people will help me polish my work.

Today there were ghost stories and stories about vampires. After all it is that time of year. There were also stories about Christmas, historical issues, and even a visit to a bog.

I am stoked! Let's see what I can turn out this week.

Time to Head Home

It's time to go  home. This is our last night on the road. We've been traveling so long that I'm having difficulty remembering the day and date; although I have to admit it doesn't bother me one bit. It's been pleasurable and exciting. We traveled to places I've never been and spent time with friends I haven't seen in a long while.

Our last stop has been Arizona. It's hot, but no humidity! Now I have a really good reason for not moving east of New Mexico. Visiting is fine but I don't think I could live there. After all, I do enjoy wearing clothes that aren't sticking to me all the time, and dry hair is a definite plus. I have no idea how my friends do it. I've asked them. All they say is 'you get used to it.' Used to it? Why on earth would I want to do that?

So we're relocating here, Prescott, Arizona. It's small enough that things still move slowly, but large enough to provide all of the amenities of the larger cities. It reminds me of my home in Twin Peaks, but not as secluded.

Now I have to plan the move. The worst of it is going through all of our belongings to decide what things we'll take with us. OMG! I can't believe we have so much junk! A lot of it is good junk, though. We have some cool stuff; a potter's wheel, a very large air compressor, a drawing table, bookshelves, and books. I have hundreds of books. Parting with them is going to be really hard.

I guess I could donate them, but that means I won't have them to read anymore. I don't know if I can part with them. So what if I've read most of them, I could always read them again. I've read some of them two and three times. And what about the ones I haven't read yet? Do I donate those, too? Decisions, decisions.

Humidity

Oh my goodness, the humidity is almost as bad as the toll booths. It never occurred to me how the country maintains its lovely green fields as we travel across the states. There are no sprinkler systems. Nor are there huge rigs spread across the hillsides keeping things green. IT'S THE HUMIDITY!

I have often complained to my friend in Iowa that her lawns are green without her having to do much of anything to keep them that way. In California I have to use lots of water if I want my lawn to stay lush and green. Not to mention the juggling act I have to keep up between the drought and the home-owners association. The water company says to stop watering because of the shortage and the association says we have an obligation to keep the grass green and attractive. It's crazy making.

If we lived in any of the states we've visited, we wouldn't have that problem. The water for their lawns comes right out of the air. That brings me right back to the problem of humidity.

How on earth do the people here make it. It's hot, sticky, and I feel like I'm going to drown with every breath. What makes it worse is that when you walk through open markets or the entrances to shops they have misters spraying the air with even more water. What is that about?

I get that they're trying to make it cooler, but it only increases the water content of the air. Sometimes I have to go into a shop just to be able to breathe. I feel like I should get a rebreather just to make it down the street. There must be a trick to breathing here. I haven't figured out, yet. Maybe I should ask somebody. I wonder if they have gills, or maybe there's some other secret they're not telling me about.

Oh, well, I heading back toward the desert, now. It's hot there too, but at least I'm not in danger of drowning.

Thoughts and Writing

I've been traveling across the US with my husband since the beginning of August. We're due home by the end of September and we're enjoying all of the in between. While we were in Charleston, NC we attended a jazz festival. The music was great from start to finish. As usual it began with the lesser known/beginning artists and moved up the chain of experience and fame to the headliners, Spyro Gyra. This group has been playing since the 1970's. That's over thirty years of experience and it definitely shows in their music.

I was blown away by their talent, composition, and showmanship. It started me thinking about my own writing and the career I hope to have. It all comes down to time; time spent learning the craft and practicing the craft.

When I question my success it leads me to important questions: What is the extent of my commitment? Am I doing all I can to grow and improve? What is my resistance to greater commitment? Am I willing to pour my all into my writing?

It would be easy to say, 'yes', but would that be the truth? Looking at the time I've spent writing while traveling I'd have to answer, 'no'. So what am I willing to do about that?

I think what I need to do is sort out what I'm willing to do and take a long hard look at what that means in terms of the success and goals I want to achieve. The concert was very helpful in bringing me to this place. I've been here before, but not with such clarity about who I am and where I need to go from here.

The first jazz group was good. I enjoyed their music and would listen to them again. The second performer was Euge Groove, a very talented young man possessing great showmanship. He included the audience in his performance, gave the listeners what they were hoping for. I would definitely buy his CD. The last group, Spyro Gyra, was beyond beyond. Their music took me on one journey after another. My emotions were slammed. Their sound had color and texture.

How does this relate to writing, more importantly, my writing? It was clear to me that each performer was in a particular stage of development. I would say that I'm almost to the level of the first group. Again they were good, but not great. Euge Groove can be compared to the up and coming writer with a few books out there on the shelves, but clearly working on their craft and getting better with each new work. And Spyro Gyra, they're at the pinnacle of what is possible to achieve.

Each has invested considerable time and energy to get where they are and will likely continue. What about me? Will I?

The Toll Booth Saga

You all know that I'm on a massive road trip. We've been to Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, and we're now in New Jersey. Visiting with friends has been lovely; getting to them, not so much.

The jaunt from Arizona to New Mexico was enjoyable. I looked forward to visiting with family friend I hadn't seen in over ten years. It was great, we just picked up where we left off. After several fun-filled days we left New Mexico and headed for Iowa.

Things were going fine, great weather, clear roads. Then we reached Kansas. Entering the state we went through a toll booth and accepted the little white piece of card stock with the magnetic information strip on the back and thought nothing of it. We later pulled into a KOA for the night. I should have known that the bold, bright red lettering across the top of the campsite map indicating the storm shelter was an omen for things to come.

Oh, the weather was fine. not a cloud in the sky. We even spied a gaggle of geese on the way out of the campgrounds the next morning. We got back onto the highway without any problems. Traffic was good. Off in the distance we could see another of those toll booths. No worries, right, we'd just pull up to the window insert that ticket we received the day before, pay the toll, and be on our way. Ha! No one told us it would cost us $23 to leave the state! OMG, $23 just to drive through!

We paid it and went on to Iowa. The scenery along the way was beautiful. We arrived in Iowa with little trouble and spent a week with another wonderful friend. At the end of the visit we started out for New Jersey.

We traveled through Indiana, another pleasant drive. We paid a small toll in Ohio and made it all the way to Pennsylvania and spent the night there. The KOA was great. They even had a small petting zoo, two goats and a cow, well, technically he was a bull.

We left the next morning and encountered another toll booth, because the last one we encountered in Ohio had charged so little we thought nothing of it. We accepted the ticket and traveled on. Little did we know this would be more of a Kansas experience.

Leaving Pennsylvania we arrive at the booth at the state's border, inserted the ticket and waited for the total due. $32!!! We they kidding? We had to pay them $32!

Now we were wary of any toll booths that loomed on our horizon. We arrived in New jersey and were making our way to the place we would store the RV during our visit. We missed our exit and had to travel through another toll booth to get off the highway and turn around. Considering our recent experience, we approached it with a bit of anxiety. The toll wasn't that bad compared to what we'd paid in Kansas and Pennsylvania. We exited, made a U-turn and got back on the highway. Can you believe it? They charged us to go back through even though we'd paid them less that ten minutes before. After a small discussion we paid the toll and headed back in the other direction.

No one told us we couldn't take the exit we needed from that direction, so off we go, make another U-turn, and get back on. What do you think was standing right there between us and the exit we needed? You guessed it, another toll booth. Do you think they would let us through considering we've now paid them a whopping $30? Noooo. We has to fork over another $15 to get where we were going. That makes $45!!!! OMG.

Now we know how they're planning to resolve the national debt---TOLL BOOTHS.

Getting Ready to Hit the Road

Where has the time gone? It's August! That means it's the end of summer and time to leave on the massive road trip my husband and I have planned. So now I'm packing furiously and trying to remember everything that we'll need. My biggest struggle is figuring out how to maintain a writing, critique, and blogging schedule.

I've managed to put some things in place, like mobile WiFi, getting a wireless printer for the RV, and arranging to swap manuscripts and chapters online. I think the most difficult part will be putting a writing schedule together and maintaining it; along with exercise.

I would love to visit some independent bookstores while I'm on the road. Here's my itinerary, if any of you can think of a bookstore I should stop by in one of the areas I plan to visit, please let me know. We're going to Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida, Maine, Indiana, and probably more places.