Books and the Economy

“Wear the old coat and buy the new book.” – Austin Phelps

Over a year ago, I signed my book contract with ArcheBooks thinking I’d be a published author by now. During this long wait, the gas prices have gone crazy and the housing market tanked. I can’t help but wonder what this economic mess is doing to book sales.

I tried to find out. However, when reading facts with lots of numbers, percents and words like ‘compound growth,’ I tend to glaze over. So my interpretation of a recent report by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) http://www.publishers.org/main/IndustryStats/indStats_02.htm may be skewed in an effort to make myself feel better.

According to the report, in 2007, U.S. publishers’ sales increased by 3.2 percent from 2006. I quote, “…the strongest growth in this category came from adult hardback books whose sales rose 7.8 percent last year…”

Did you hear my loud sigh of relief?

I hope this means that people are turning back to books as a way of escaping, even if only for a few hours, into alternate scenarios full of unforgettable characters. After all, the insanities of today’s world, the wars, the politics, and the reality shows will still be here when we read that last page and close the cover.

During 2008 do you plan to buy more books, the same number or fewer than you did in 2007? Will the books you buy be hardbacks or paperbacks? I’d like to hear your answers.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton


Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, AAP, Austin Phelps, economy

May is Get Caught Reading Month

During this month celebrities will appear in ads to remind people of the joys of reading. I visited the site, http://www.getcaughtreading.org/ and viewed some of the posters. Though the photography is nice, the book titles were not always visible. It made me wonder what authors actually read.

The Gardiner Public Library in Maine has an online Celebrity Reading List at http://www.gpl.lib.me.us/wrwind.htm. Started in 1988, the list features authors, TV personalities, movie stars, politicians, and athletes. I thought it would be fun to check out what a few authors liked to read and/or recommended.

Stephen King –Fifth Business by Robertson Davies and Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Jodi Picoult – The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
R. L. Stine – Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Jeffrey Archer –Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Robin Cook – A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Ray Bradbury - The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West
Mary Higgins Clark -The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
Janet Evanovich - Comics featuring Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck, and Uncle Scrooge
Ken Follett - The Tale of the Fierce, Bad Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Sue Grafton - Snobs by Julian Fellowes

One of my all-time favorites is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving because I can remember laughing and crying all the way through the book. Owen was described by Irving with such expertise that I still have a vivid picture of him in my mind.

The book I’d currently be ‘caught reading’ is The Boxcar Kid by ArcheBooks author Dick Miller.

What are your favorite books? And, what book will you be ‘caught reading’ this month?

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton


Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Stephen King, Picoult, Evanovich, Grafton, Boxcar Kid, John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany

Brontë and Shakespeare

My edits are complete and the The Ride is once again back at ArcheBooks waiting on the next step. If this foray into the publishing world has taught me anything, it’s that patience is a very valuable asset.

So as I sit patiently waiting for my book’s release, I sometimes enjoy flipping through Chase’s Calendar of Events.

Did you know that last Monday (April 21) was Charlotte Brontë’s birth anniversary? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t either until I came across the entry. It’s been a long time since I read Jane Eyre, and I honestly can’t remember if I liked it or not. But I know it has to be an important book simply because the name “Eyre” appears in almost every crossword puzzle I’ve ever worked. What would puzzle constructors do if she’d had named the title character Jones or Smith?

I also read that Charlotte and her sisters, Emily and Anne, published a collection of poetry together under assumed names. According to Wikipedia, only two copies sold. Obviously, marketing wasn’t her cup of tea either.

In the preface to Jane Eyre, Brontë wrote, “Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last.” I believe that passage, written in the 1800s, is equally significant today. And that qualifies her, in my humble opinion, as a talented writer.

Speaking of talented writers of timeless works, last Wednesday (April 23) was the birth and the death anniversary of William Shakespeare. What are the odds of dying on your birthday? I only hope he had a chance to enjoy his cake and ice cream first.

Readers, I also hope you’ll leave a comment on whether or not you’d recommend that I reread Jane Eyre. Or post a comment about your favorite or least favorite works of Shakespeare.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton


Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Chase’s Calendar of Events, Bronte, Jane Eyre, Shakespeare

Update

I’m back! The past three weeks have been a roller coaster ride—but nothing to do with my book, The Ride.

Hospitals and rehab centers have been the focus of my attention during my 87 year-old mother’s road to recovery from numerous medical problems. At the same time, Arkansas was deluged with rain and storms. A tornado stuck within a mile from their home, where my husband, sister, and I were staying. We were without power for about eight hours. More tornado sirens sounded a couple of days later, but fortunately none touched down. We also moved my parents and 91 year-old uncle to a retirement home – not an easy thing to do with one person in the hospital and her 89 year-old husband too worried to help with any of the planning a move requires.

That is my excuse for not blogging.

Now for news about The Ride. I decided I wanted to have a copy-editor go over the manuscript, even though it may delay my release date. My Archebooks editor, Vickie, concentrated more on content.

I used a friend that I met through the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Martha Jeffers, also known as the Grammar Granny. I’m so glad I made this decision. She has a terrific knowledge of English usage and noticed the smallest of details. I’ll forever be indebted to her.

I was stunned by the number of mistakes that Vickie and I missed. I’m embarrassed by some of my grammatical errors (such as always using towards instead of toward) and simple punctuation mistakes (comma splices). In my next life, I’m going to pay attention in English class!

I hope I’ll be finished making the corrections in the next day or two. But in the process of fixing one mistake, I may have made others. If you find a goof when you read the novel, I take full responsibility.

Also, I want you to know that I have not forgotten about the publication date contest. Those of you that sent entries for May through July are still in the running.

Thank you all for stopping by. I look forward to seeing you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Martha Jeffers, Grammar Granny, Gulf Coast Writers Association

No Blog

Because my mother was admitted to intensive care this week, I needed to make an unplanned trip to Arkansas and have had no time to think about blogging or my manuscript.

I am happy to report that her condition is improving and it looks like I’ll be back in my own little writing corner by this time next week. I hope you’ll stop by then.


Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http:/www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Meme

I was tagged for a “meme” (rhymes with dream) this week by my friend and fellow author Tina Murray. I’m going to assume that I am not the only one that had never heard that term.

I looked through my approximately 2500 page, Second Addition, Random House Unabridged Dictionary, shocked that meme was not listed, (it’s never let me down before).

From my ‘research’ on the web, I learned the word became popular in 1976 when mentioned in the book, My Selfish Dream by Richard Dawkins.

The Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=meme), defined meme as: an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media).

Or, in blogspeak, meme is an idea that is spread from blog to blog.

In this case, it’s a set of questions. So okay, I can be a good sport and play along. Here goes:

Getting Away With It (I’m not sure what this title has to do with the questions)
1) If you could live for a month in one world or time period from a novel you've read, which would you choose?
Because I like modern conveniences such as nice bathrooms, dishwashers, computers, etc., I wouldn’t want to go back in time. I haven’t read any futuristic books lately and since it would only be for one month, I’m going to select the elite world of the rich and famous of Naples, Florida, from Tina Murray’s soon to be released novel, which I was lucky enough to preview, A Chance to Say Yes.
2) If you could be one character from a comic book or fiction series, who would it be?
Wonder Woman. All those super powers could sure come in handy, she can fly without getting on an airplane and she does have a fantastic figure.
3) Where (in the real world) is your dream vacation spot?
Sanibel, Florida (I know, I seem to be hung up on Southwest Florida but it is Paradise)
4) Name a celebrity or TV personality whom you would like to have lunch with.
I’d probably pick Stephen King, but if George Clooney insisted on joining us, I wouldn’t turn him down.

Okay, now I’ve participated in a meme and it reminds me of a chain letter, so I think I’m probably done with them.

I only have a few additions to the blog list.
http://lakesparkfortmyers.blogspot.com/
http://sandylender.blogspot.com/
http://sirjohnnyray.blogspot.com/

Here are the participants so far (that I know about).
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
http://www.mbweston.blogspot.com/
http://oldavonladysorders.blogspot.com/
http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/
http://www.greetingsfromthepolebarn.blogspot.com/
http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/
http://www.achancetosayyes.blogspot.com/
www.alisonkent.com/blog
http://wokandpan.blogspot.com/
http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/
http://willifordblog.com/

If you're not on the meme list of participants above but you want to get in on the game, visit http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/2008/03/meme-to-take-you-away-orthe-dragon.html for Sandy’s instructions. It’s easy.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton




Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, meme, Richard Dawkins, My Selfish Dream, Random House Dictionary, Urban Dictionary, Getting Away With It, : Tina Murray, Sandy Lender

Celebrations

The next step for a manuscript (MSS) after editing is the galleys (prototype of the book to show how it will look when printed). Because changes are easier before formatting galleys, my editor, Vickie, asked if I’d like to go through The Ride one more time. I groaned and said, “I don’t really want to, but I probably should.”

Tweaking, I’ve discovered, is like a compulsive disorder and once started, there’s no stopping. I don’t know that my minor modifications actually make the story any better; I just know that I had to make them. When I sent the changes back to Vickie, I asked if she thought it was possible read a manuscript without tweaking something. Her reply was, and I quote, “It is physically impossible to Not make changes to a MSS. Well, you might be able to do it, but it will cause hives. ;-)”

Now, I’m back in the relax mode and ready to celebrate. According to the 2008 Chase’s Calendar of Events, March is a great time to do just that because it is:
International Mirth Month - to encourage more mirthful moments
National On-Hold Month - to recognize everyone who has been placed “on-hold” and the businesses that make that time more enjoyable
Optimism Month – to encourage people to boost their optimism
International Expect Success Month – to make good things happen, you must work like there is no other option.
National Umbrella Month – dedicated to the use of, purchase of and conversations about umbrellas
Irish-American Heritage Month –declared by a Presidential Proclamation and how appropriate since March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day.
Small Press Month – honoring independent publishers for publishing unknown authors

So pop the cork on a champagne bottle, go out for an expensive dinner or treat yourself special in whatever way makes you happy, because, regardless of the day, there is obviously something to celebrate.

I am quite excited about it being Small Press Month, so I am going to treat myself to an extra large slice of key lime pie. How will you be celebrating this month?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, galleys, Chase’s Calendar of Events, Mirth Month, Optimism Month, Expect Success Month, Umbrella Month, : Irish-American Heritage Month, Small Press Month