Duma Key and Me

I recently attended the monthly luncheon of the Southwest Division of the Florida Writer’s Association (http://www.floridawriters.net/). As always, I enjoyed being a part of this group of interesting and diverse writers in all stages of the craft. Michelle Weston, author of A Prophesy Forgotten, (http://www.elysianchronicles.com/MBWeston.htm) gave a hilarious as well as informative talk based on her personal experiences of what to do and what not to do during a road trip for a book promotion. If you ever get I chance to hear her speak, don’t pass it up.

At this same meeting, Robert Gelinas, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, announced that ArcheBooks (http://archebooks.com/) would be releasing The Ride, as well as Henry Hermann’s novel, Beginnings, soon.

I’m not allowing myself to get too excited because I have come to understand that ‘soon’ is a relative term. However, all the books on the production list up to The Ride, have either been released or are in the very last stages prior to release, leading me to believe that the ‘birth’ of The Ride may actually happen.

While exciting and what I’ve been waiting almost a year for, the revelation stirred up all my anxieties about the marketing aspect of a writer’s life. So I haven’t figured out if it’s a coincidence or downright eerie that this week I also happened to be reading Stephen King’s latest book, Duma Key, and identified with something one of his characters said.

King’s character, Edger Freemantle says, “When I was painting I felt filled up and fully realized in some basic way I had never understood before coming to Duma Key. But when I thought about the show at the Scoto and all the stuff that went into making an exhibition of new work successful, my mind went into lockdown. It was more than stage fright; this felt like outright panic.”

If marketing can panic a Stephen King character, what chance do I have of remaining calm?

Obviously, I’d substitute ‘writing’ for ‘painting’ and there’s some comfort knowing that by replacing ‘painting’ with singing, acting, sculpting, or any creative endeavor many other people can probably also identify with Edgar Freemantle.

Still, I’m not sure if it is scarier to think about identifying with a Stephen King character or to think about marketing; I have a feeling they’ll both give me nightmares.

I hope to be able to announce the winner to the ‘when will The Ride be released’ contest soon. By ‘soon’ I mean my definition of the word, not a publisher’s .

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, Florida Writers Association, Michelle Weston, A Prophesy Forgotten , Robert Gelinas, Stephen King, Duma Key, : Henry Hermann, Beginnings

Modern Technology

In my June 8th blog, (http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007/06/question-will-books-as-we-know-them-be.html), I asked, “Will books, as we know them, be extinct one day?” I never dreamed that ‘one day’ would happen so soon.

Later that same month, ArcheBooks came out with their first mBook , A Prophecy Forgotten, by Michelle Weston , (http://archebooks.com/mbooks.htm). An mBook is one that can be downloaded to an MP3 player for your listening pleasure, much like your favorite song.

Now Amazon has come out with the Kindle, which allows you to download and read books, newspapers, and blogs on a handheld device that is smaller than most books.

I can understand listening to a book during road trips or while exercising but I’m not sure I can see the point of reading one on a small screen. Obviously, however, many people differ with my opinion as the product sold out quickly. I noticed the reviews run from one to five stars. My guess is the one-star ratings come from lovers of old-fashioned books with pages of paper.

Keep in mind, I am the person who over twenty years ago, while living in Taiwan, asked, “What do we need one of those for?” referring to the Apple-like copy of a computer my husband bought home from work one day. Within a week, I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever written a letter in longhand.

I even avoided using a cordless phone for years. With the cord, I felt somehow attached to whoever was on the other end. Now, as I wander all over the house talking on a cordless phone, I can’t imagine being tied down to one spot.

I balked at the very idea of email and now it’s like a lifeline.

In other words, I seem to have a technology phobia. I am unable to adjust to new technology quickly or without a lot of whining. Fortunately, my husband is the complete opposite and forces me to keep somewhat in step with modern society.

Therefore, I’m not saying I’ll never ever own a device like the Kindle; I’m just saying that I just can’t see the point—today.

Can you see yourself reading a book on a Kindle? Or, listening to one on an MP3 player? I’d love to hear your responses.

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/

Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, eBook, A Prophecy Forgotten , Kindle, Michelle Weston