| Author |
Message |
    
Dee Power
Awareness Member
Post Number:
11
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 06:13 pm: |   |
You know I've been so furious with PublishAmerica I didn't take the time to introduce myself and that was rude.
I write with a co-author, Brian Hill. He is also my business partner and life partner. Yes we're married but I kept my maiden name - don't you just love that outdated term - maiden name- because of professional reasons. We had a consulting company until we started writing full time. And it also looks better on a book jacket to have Brian Hill and Dee Power, rather than Brian Hill and Dee Hill, you know?
Currently we're working on "Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories From Top Authors and the Editors, Agents and Booksellers Behind Them," Dearborn Trade, March 2005. Fascinating research, we've interviewed over 30 authors including Nicholas Sparks, Catherine Coulter, Sandra Brown, Peter Straub, Brad Meltzer, Dr. Spencer Johnson, and lots more. We've interviewed editors from Random House, St. Martin's, Warner Books, just to name a few. This is going to be one of my favorite books to read, never mind write! One thing I've learned is that bestselling authors start out just like us, unpublished. And they keep working at their craft. Even Barbara Delinsky who has published nearly 70 books, she still strives to make the book she's working on now, the best she can.
We write a column, "Behind the Fiction" at myshelf.com, you can look for our June column in about a week.
We have a literary agent, Jacky Sach of BookEnds.
Getting an agent was a major achievement.
I found the publisher for our first book myself, and negotiated the contract for the first book and second. Talk about doing everything wrong. For our first book, it is nonfiction, I emailed the publishing house through their website and asked if they would be interested. One of the editors emailed back and said, send a book proposal. I didn't know what a book proposal was, so he phoned and told me very specifically what he needed to take to the editorial committee. Got the contract offer in two weeks! They were very interested in a book on the topic, so luck does play into it.
We've written
"Overtime," a novel, soon not to be published by PublishAmerica (couldn't restrain myself - sorry)
"Attracting Capital from Angels," John Wiley & Sons
"Inside Secrets To Venture Capital," 2001 John Wiley & Sons
We just finished a second novel "Inside the Crescent Moon" a romantic adventure. It hasn't been offered to any publishing houses just yet.
I love to garden, and have, at times, a beautiful flower garden and productive vegetable garden. Right now the sunflowers are going into overdrive and the tomatoes are just starting to ripen. I also am a very good cook, as is Brian, so all those tomatoes will be put to good use.
I have two favorite puppies, Patches who is in heaven, and Rose, a rowdy Irish setter who is only a little over a year old. She is Rose Bud when she's good and Rose Rat when she's bad.
Okay, now tell me about you.
Dee
http://www.BrianHillAndDeePower
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John Laurence Robinson
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
577
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 06:37 pm: | |
Okay, I'll give it a go. My name is John Laurence Robinson, and I've been posting here for a while (18+ months). My first book is called Sock Monkey Blues, and was printed by PublishAmerica in May 2002; as I'm no longer marketing it in any way, shape, or form, I'm presently trying to get the rights back. My second novel is called Until the Last Dog Dies, done with a traditional publisher, and is just now coming out in the stores. Anything else I'd have to say is just personal details, and as my life is quite unremarkable, I won't bore anyone with those.
John |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
3026
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 06:44 pm: | |
Hello again Dee. Good to meet you. I will say again what I said on another thread - you have an interesting publishing history.
I live in Nebraska. My first book - The Grass Dance - non fiction, was sent to PublishAmerica by my then agent. My second book - The Alley of Wishes - fiction, was self published and then picked up by Dandelion books of Tempe AZ.
It's under consideration for film rights and will be submitted for foreign translations soon. A third book is poetry and has been accepted for publication in the near future. I don't have an agent and doubt I will ever have one.
I review for Midwest Book Review, Pedestal Magazine, and Quill Poetry Review Quarterly.
My husband and I have been married almost four decades. |
Trina Green
Hunger Member
Post Number:
57
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 09:23 pm: | |
Hi Dee, nice to meet ya. Bored retired cop decided to write a book. Did so and had the unfortunate luck of submitting to PA, whom I found on believe it or not Preditors and Editors. Family Jewels was the first release. I'm a glutton for punishment, so I submitted a second book titled, Strained Relations. Both I no longer promote, nor will I ever while PA has the rights to them.
Presently I'm working on two other books both incomplete, but definitely better than my first two. I am a artist as well and when I'm tired of writing I paint. I have two sons, both grown and a crazy husband of twenty some years. I stopped counting after twenty and stopped having birthdays long ago.  |
Gary Midge
Awareness Member
Post Number:
14
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 12:44 am: | |
Hi Dee,
I'll make this brief because it wasn't too long ago I introduced myself to folks here and don't want to put them through the meat grinder too often. I write western fiction under my pen name, Will Garret, and am a member of Western Writers of America. Also do freelance work under my real name, primarily national trade publications targeted toward business. Welcome.
Gary |
Teena Haywood
Awareness Member
Post Number:
40
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 03:22 am: | |
Hi Dee:
I am a retired customer service manager with far too much time on my hands (lol)and the mother of two grown sons. I reside in Fort Wayne, IN with my husband and best friend (of 39 years) Ted. I've written as long as I can remember. I wrote for a long time (without my husband's knowledge). Since it's his nature to be nosey, he discovered several of my manuscripts and highly suggested that I have them published.
So-o-o, I chose one of my children's books "Doris The Polka Dot Tortoise" for publication and sent the manuscript to (you guessed it) Publish America. Since I have a very strong personality, I chose not to believe all the negative things that were appearing across cyberspace about Publish America...and yes, I sent them a second manuscript "Doris The Polka Dot Tortoise~Book Two." After receiving those large royalty checks ($21.00-$3.69)for my first book, a light bulb finally came on! When my second book was released, I decided not to promote it in any way.
BTW, I also write poems, read and collect Unicorns. Earlier this year, I finished a 617 page novel which is now in the hands of a New York agent.
DEE...
hang in there and stick to your beliefs. Everything is going to turn out alright for you. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts on this board as well as other boards. Nice meeting you. |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1253
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 02:14 pm: | |
Hi Dee,
I've been a writer for probably 20+ years. I live in Calgary, AB Canada (Go Flames Go), and I've been posting at Mindsight for a couple of years now.
I'm a licensed practical nurse, recently turned nurse-manager of a busy walk in clinic. I write romance... all sorts of romance! My first novel was a PA release, and I've since gone on to two other novels, with another set for a July release--holy smokes, that's coming soon!
I can totally understand your frustration with PA and can tell you from experience that moving on is the best thing for you. Sounds like you're on the right track! Here's your cookie.
Jenn
Jennifer Lynn
www.jenniferlynn.ca |
Stephen Paul
Awareness Member
Post Number:
9
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 04:38 pm: | |
Hi Dee,
My first novel, a thriller, called Can Horses Cry?, was published by a small publisher out of Kansas. Mine is his fourth book published. Return policy but no promotion to speak of. I've been a cop, a deputy sheriff, fire fighter for the BLM (years ago) and am a shift supervisor for an oil refinery. Yeah, yeah, lower than a used car salesman right now, right? I'm also a member of the Western Writers of America and am being involved in a booksigning put on by them during Frontier Days this July, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I've made about a quarter of a thousand dollars selling some short stories and have a couple of WIPs in progress. I've been writing around two and a half years now and my better half and I have been married over 30 years. |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1760
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 04:54 pm: | |
Hello, Dee
I've been writing since '95. I wrote a book on nutrition for seniors quite some time ago, but my first novel was published by PA in October of 2001. It is being republished by Winterwolf Press. I was just offered a series deal for my supernatural mystery series from Zumaya Press. Another novel is under consideration from a different publisher. My newest novel is undergoing rewrites and will go to my agent when the work is completed.
I have been a book reviewer for several years. I started out with The Charlotte Austin Review and am now with MyShelf.com where I write a column for writers. I am proud to say that Victoria Strauss is a part of my column. I also write book reviews for a large Kansas newspaper.
I'm married (for 31 years)with one son who is a year away from getting a degree is graphic design. He has designed most of my book covers. My "real job" is with the local housing authority and the Department on Aging. I coordinate a HUD program for them that serves the elderly and disabled living in city-owned, low-income housing.
I'm also president of a volunteer group - Wichita Homebound Outreach. We host monthly events for those living in congregate housing (also low-income elderly and disabled) in an attempt to get them out of their apartments so they can socialize and build friendships.
I love the mystery genre but am thinking about venturing into the YA market.
Happy to meet you.
Nancy
www.nancymehlbooks.com
www.myshelf.com |
Jeffrey S. Callico
Awareness Member
Post Number:
1
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 07:41 pm: | |
I'm a recent PA author. I did have some difficulty in getting the editor they assigned to me to understand my corrections--most of which were no-brainers and should have been caught already--but other than that, during pre-publication at least, I didn't have too much trouble.
But then it happened.
I got my 2 free author's copies and, while I was scanning through it, I found that in one story (it's a short-fiction collection), there was copy missing--crucial to the piece making any fucking sense. Of course I wrote them, and of course they say they have corrected it. But when I asked for 2 corrected copies for myself, the, uh, FUCKING AUTHOR!, they refused. My mother had also ordered 10 copies just before Mother's day, one for herself and others for friends/family. I requested that PA send her another one as well. No response on that--which likely means a big fat fucking NO.
Oh well, I won't ever deal with them ever again.
A semi-satisifed first-time author.
Oh, the name of my book is Fighting Off The Sun: Stories, Tales and Other Matters of Opinion. If anyone wants to order, do so on the PA site, because the others sites it's on don't yet have the corrected copies, and won't until they first sell the fucked-up ones.
JSC |
Perry Comer
Unity Member
Post Number:
1372
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 07:46 pm: | |
Welcome Jeffrey
Yep, sounds like the people I used to deal with. I do hope you can get things worked out with them.
Are you working on something new? I hope so. Now that you have your feet wet (so to speak) keep writing and you will be surprised how many other publishers there are out there who will consider your work.
Again welcome 
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Jeffrey S. Callico
Awareness Member
Post Number:
2
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 09:24 am: | |
Thanks!
No nothing new right now, at least not anything BIG. Do you really think that having a book on my resume (with PA) is a good thing? I'm concerned that the PA stigma might kick in.
JSC
(Message edited by wiredwriter on May 26, 2004) |
Perry Comer
Unity Member
Post Number:
1375
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 09:41 am: | |
Having it on your resume is good in that it shows you finished a story. It will not give you any milage with agents or publishers but then, nothing does except the quality of the story they have in their hands.
From everything I have seen and read in the last five years, if you have published with a traditional publisher, your previous work gets you a look from an editor or agent but nothing more. If the query doesn't sell them in thirty seconds, they pass.
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Frances Blake
Awareness Member
Post Number:
5
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 03:03 pm: | |
Dee,- I really loved your short autobiography, you are a very talented lady. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits.
As far as myself, I've had a lot of poetry published, but I don't write that any more. I'm trying children's now, unfortunately, I handed over my first one to the wrong place. I have three more out to the right places and hope I get another chance.
Something occurred to me this am that I hadn't remembered,( maybe you didn't either), that my contract didn't state that books in bookstores ( like they really would get there) would not be returnable. Boy, I wish I would've known that.
Good luck, If I can help in any way,let me know.
Fran |
Mary Erickson
Awareness Member
Post Number:
14
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 10:37 pm: | |
Hi Dee: I've been getting your newsletter for awhile. Can't remember how I got on your list, but it's very informative. I had a suspense novel, Ten Times Have the Lilies Blown, published in 2002 by Publish America. I learned a lot about the publishing industry from this experience, enough to know I didn't want to use them next time around. The experience wasn't all bad, because I met a lovely lady, Lynn Price, through them. My next book, also a novel, but quite different is being published by Behler Publications, Lynn's and Fred's company. This book is based on my experiences working in law enforcement some years ago. Today, my careers are writing and painting. My hobby is hiking with my husband. We live in Western Colorado in some phenomenally beautiful country.
I'm a fairly new member here myself. Welcome.
Mary |
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