Crystal Connor's new book The Darkness was recently published in Dec. 2010. The author is doing a blog tour and has stopped by to tell us a bit of getting the book to publication.
When I submitted my 1st manuscript last year my vision was blurry with illusions of fame, glory, seeing my name on bestseller lists, my work being translated into many different languages, book signings, movie deals, A-list rock star parties the whole nine yards…
Now that The Darkness is published my vision isn’t blurry, I still want that kind of writing career, but I find my self reflecting on something my publicist said and I dismissed: “Writing the book is the easy part.
Because writing is something that I do not struggle with, in my naiveté I though to myself, of course its easy...duh! I had no idea what “rework” meant, couldn’t have imaged the type “handling” and networking that’s involved into shaping and marketing a new writer and I get a headache thinking about everyone else’s “cut” of my profits.
I thought all you had to do to sale a bestseller was write a kick ass book…like I did. Boy what an eye opener last year has for me.
So as I reviewed paper choices, jacket covers and fonts; as I read and reread contracts and terms of service from both Amazon, Kindle and Barnes and Nobles Nook, and contemplate podcast vs. audio books, as I prepare for my upcoming two month tour, I feel like a hardened war veteran but its getting harder and harder for me to see straight….because my vision is getting blurry with illusions and thou I have dreams of grander and longevity, being this close to the start of my tour, it still feels like I’m dreaming and quite frankly I’m afraid that I’m going to wake up.
A couple of years ago my little sister made me a Dreamcatcher. The Ojibwa people believe that only good dreams are allowed to filter through; the bad dreams are caught in the net and are destroyed by the light of day and the good dreams pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper.
When I submitted my 1st manuscript last year my vision was blurry with illusions of fame, glory, seeing my name on bestseller lists, my work being translated into many different languages, book signings, movie deals, A-list rock star parties the whole nine yards…
Now that The Darkness is published my vision isn’t blurry, I still want that kind of writing career, but I find my self reflecting on something my publicist said and I dismissed: “Writing the book is the easy part.
Because writing is something that I do not struggle with, in my naiveté I though to myself, of course its easy...duh! I had no idea what “rework” meant, couldn’t have imaged the type “handling” and networking that’s involved into shaping and marketing a new writer and I get a headache thinking about everyone else’s “cut” of my profits.
I thought all you had to do to sale a bestseller was write a kick ass book…like I did. Boy what an eye opener last year has for me.
So as I reviewed paper choices, jacket covers and fonts; as I read and reread contracts and terms of service from both Amazon, Kindle and Barnes and Nobles Nook, and contemplate podcast vs. audio books, as I prepare for my upcoming two month tour, I feel like a hardened war veteran but its getting harder and harder for me to see straight….because my vision is getting blurry with illusions and thou I have dreams of grander and longevity, being this close to the start of my tour, it still feels like I’m dreaming and quite frankly I’m afraid that I’m going to wake up.
A couple of years ago my little sister made me a Dreamcatcher. The Ojibwa people believe that only good dreams are allowed to filter through; the bad dreams are caught in the net and are destroyed by the light of day and the good dreams pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper.
More than ever I need that Dreamcatcher, because I cannot stay sleep forever – and I don’t want this dream to get away...
Tour Stops
- Friday, January 28 Book Mark Your Thoughts
- Monday, January 31 Books and Things
- Tuesday, February 1 Notorious Spinks Talks
- Wednesday, February 2 Sol Searching
- Thursday, February 3 The Honeyed Knot
From Amazon: Artemisia, a scientist who also practices alchemy, is wealthy beyond imagination. She is one of the founding members of the Skyward Group, a privately funded, secret, research facility conducting experiments that erase what tradition has established as the boundaries separating the realm of man from the realm of God. Artemisia has everything she wants - money, fame, knowledge and power - except for a child. Inanna is a powerful and dangerous witch, also wealthy beyond imagination. Her powers are greater and more deadly than any in the long tradition before her. Inanna has everything she wants - money, knowledge and God-like power - except for a child. The Child has nothing. At three months of age, he knows only what he has experienced through the bars of his locked cage. He has nothing. He doesn't have a mommy. He doesn't have a daddy. He doesn't have a name. The scientists who created him do not handle him, because they know The Child is dangerous. In The Darkness, Two women clash in a vicious battle that has been fought since the days of King Solomon - the fight over a child. One woman unleashes the nightmarish arsenal of modern science while the other dispatches the weaponries of witchcraft. And as The Child grows up, his love for one and resentment for the other will change the fate of both these women, forever.
I can imagine that writing the book would be the easy part, I can't even begin to understand all the work that goes into getting a book published and then promoting it! The premise sounds fascinating on this one, so glad I stopped by so Melissa could bring it to my attention!
ReplyDeletePeople don't realize the hard work it takes to get a book on the shelves. Glad her dream is coming true!
ReplyDeleteNice post :)
ReplyDeleteI always did want a dreamcatcher
Thanks for hosting Melissa!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenny & Alyssa for the warm words of your comments. Your right Jenny writing the book IS the easy part but it's been worth it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Melissa for your time and hosting a stop for me today. I love your blog and am glad that Yolonda brought us together.
Have a good day you guys and don't work too hard,
Crystal
None of it seems easy to me, but wow, it must be an incredible journey, one in which you learn about yourself.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally on board with never giving up on your dreams. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a lot of work. :) I do hope all works out wonderfully for you. :) And keep reaching for those stars and the good dreams will filter through. ;) We have dream catchers here as well. It is a small part of my heritage, and it helped my son when he was younger to sleep at night. So they do work. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteLoveliest guest post ever :) I love that dreamcatcher!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking time to share your thoughts with us.
I hope you catch all the good dreams and that your book does wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing Crystal.
ReplyDeleteMissie, thanks so much for the comment you left and yes it incredible, not only do you learn about your self you also get to see the true colors of those around you. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my post.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, the dream catchers are part of my heritage as well =D thank you for your warm wishes for me, and I hope the same thing for you and your family as well. Does your son still use his dream catcher?
Samita, Wow. Thank you and thank you for spending a little time to read my post.
Thank you Stephanie and Petty =D
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteHe did use his Dream Catcher until we moved about two months ago. He still has it, but it's in a tote somewhere at the moment. But it really helped when it was desperately needed when he was younger. :) But we, or maybe I, will always cherish it. And even when he had to talk about something we pass down through the family at school it was what he did. :)