AmazonEncore

Ever feel, like me, that your book is outstanding, the reviews have been great, people seem to love it, but sales are disappointing? I believe that many small press authors share that same sinking feeling. Well now Amazon has launched a new program to increase visibility for those hidden gems.

From Amazon: "Even great books can be overlooked. Amazon customers raved over “Legacy,” a self-published novel by 16-year-old Cayla Kluver, with customer review titles such as “loved it, loved it,” “rich lyrical tapestry and story” and “breathtaking in scope and execution!” Despite winning several prizes from literary groups and accolades like this from readers, Kluver’s debut novel achieved only modest sales. Amazon.com, Inc. today announced a new program, AmazonEncore,” to help readers discover exceptional books from emerging authors, such as the program’s first book, “Legacy.”"

Read more information here: http://www.weberbooks.com/2009/05/amazon-encore-cherry-picking.html

Enjoy

Thanks For Your Support and Advice

I’m using today’s post to say a grateful thank you to all the wonderful people who commented on, and sent me emails, about my blog article posted yesterday about performing a reading at the National Queer Arts Festival.

This really goes back to what I said in my recent series about why I love writing, that is, the writers I’ve meet through this process of publishing and marketing my book have been the most supportive people I’ve ever known. It is such a brilliant feeling to know that so many people, really talented people, are pulling for me. There is no competitiveness among writers. When one wins, we all win, and I love that attitude. I received more than a dozen comments and emails with very helpful advice, and I’m planning on using much of it.

For those of you who have a fear of speaking in public, as I do, I’ll share some of the helpful comments:

1. Many people mentioned practicing reading the passage every day, and while reading to ignore everything else and become absorbed in the story. And if possible, read into a digital recorder so I can view my progress.

2. Several people mentioned gathering a group of friends, even some very critical friends, and read the chosen passage to them at least once, perhaps multiple times to different groups. (wish I had that many friends living close by)

3. Two different people offered to listen as I read the passage and to critique my ‘showmanship’. One is quite a distance away but still offered to pick up the phone charges. (Bryl, you are so, so sweet.)

4. Another, who has read Island Song, told me to simply stay focused on what a wonderful story it is. Focus on the story, not me, not the audience, but the story. It is a great story and I should feel proud to present it to people, like introducing your child to guests.

5. Enid mentioned putting a contest together to select the best scene to read. Nice idea, but the committee has already determined which scene they want me to read. It apparently is very structured.

6. I think the advice that rang truest for me was to stay in the moment and read from the heart, letting the passion of the story come through.

There were several more comments, and everyone who contacted me was both gracious and kind. Thank you all for your advice and support.
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Alan Chin will read at the National Queer Arts Festival

I’d like to share some, hopefully, good news. Starting May 31, San Francisco will host the month-long, 12th annual National Queer Arts Festival (see below), and as part of the venue, a group called GuyWriters will be presenting literary readings at the LGBT Community Center. They have asked me to attend and perform a reading from my novel, Island Song, on Friday, June 12th, starting at 7:30. I say “hopefully good news” because the first time I performed a book reading I became so nervous that I flubbed it up, big time.

So mark your calendars for June 12th if you’re planning to be in the foggy city, and drop in and see if I go 0-for-2 or managed to salvage my self-respect. Vegas is giving three-to-one odds on the former. The great news is that this gay writers group as also invited me to become an active member of their club. Guess someone there must have read Island Song and liked it.


The Queer Cultural Center Presents
The 12th Annual National Queer Arts Festival
May 31 – July 11, 2009 — San Francisco

San Francisco, CA… The National Queer Arts Festival (NQAF), now celebrating its 12th year, is a month-long festival of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, poetry, comedy, theater, and film featuring over 400 artists in 70 events and over 100 performances in 18 venues throughout San Francisco.

And for lovers of GLBT literature, GuyWriters returns to the National Queer Arts Festival on June 12th with a fabulous evening of poetry, prose and plays about love, relationships and community. Celebrating their fifth anniversary, this literary reading will be held at the LGBT Community Center in San Francisco and will feature a special guest writer to be announced.

More information on the National Queer Arts Festival is found here.
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Definition of Political Correctness

My good friend Victor Banis sent me this and it's too great not to share.

Sometimes you are encouraged about our country's future when you see something like this.

Specifically, there is an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term: This year's term was “Political Correctness.”

The winner wrote: "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
R. J. Wiedemann LtCol. USMC Ret

This guy has nailed it!

Why I Love Writing - Part VI

For the final chapter in my series on why I love writing, I will focus on the reader. After all, they are the reason we writers slave so diligently to get every word perfect, hone the rhythm of the prose and give our characters so much grief.

There are few things that give me more satisfaction than getting an email from a reader or reviewer who has read my work and taken the time to contact me to let me know how much they enjoyed it. Sharing with others is a blessing, and when they appreciate that gift, it fills me with a satisfaction that warms me to my marrow.

And the remarkable thing that happens when someone new reads my novel is that they filter what I have written through their own life experiences, and in so doing the story takes on different dimensions, unintended meanings, and changes to conform to their way of understanding the world. I love that the story is slightly different for each person that reads it, and that so many people have found meaning or beauty where I had never intended it.

This sharing that goes on between writer and reader, we offer them our creativity and they give back their appreciation, is one of the key things that helps me trudge on through those periods of doubt and those times when I wonder why the hell I’m working so hard to please a handful of people I’ve never met. All it takes is one fan letter and my doubts crumble. Readers are a rejuvenating balm. If I could bottle that feeling, I would be a very rich man indeed.

So to complete this series I’d like to share a sampling of letters I’ve received from readers. I believe you’ll see why I’m so enthusiastic about getting them.

Alan
I finished Island Song and wanted you to know how much I enjoyed it. I felt that I had read something that didn't underestimate me as a reader. The use of language not only in descriptions but as a descriptive of the beauty of the language. (I know what I mean but of course I'm having trouble explaining!). The writing is beautiful.

I was afraid that as I generally read mysteries and sci fi, that I would be disappointed in the story. But in some ways Island Song is sci fi - you create an entire world, a mystical world. I'm glad I found your writing through the GWR list.Eric

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Hi Alan,
Well, I found and purchased 'Island Song' on fictionwise and I've just finished reading it. WOW!!!!....what a brilliant, brilliant novel! I'm totally in awe of your writing and creativity. I haven't even fully processed the novel (or the many emotions it drew out of me), but even though I've just finished it, I'm very eager to go back and read it again.
I truly hope you will be writing more and look forward to reading anything, and everything you come up with.

Congratulations on a true masterpiece,
Heather

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Alan,
All I can say is...WOW! I want more!!WOOHOO!! I'm proud of you and excited too because I truly LOVED your book!

I have to tell you, I am honest in my reviews, and if something is not 'good', I'll figure out a way to say it, believe me. Your book, Island Song is one of the most Inspirational stories I have ever read. I don't know for the life of me why you shelved it under Paranormal Erotic Romance. I found it not erotic at all, which is NOT a bad thing...I can encourage many more of my friends to read it now, and I am so impressed with your style and the way you're able to be highly descriptive without being boring (I don't often find that, let me tell you.)! I'm not even sure I would have labeled it Paranormal. I loved the way you approached sensitive issues and pertinent life lessons without preaching. To me, your book was THE INSPIRATIONAL ADVENTURE of a lifetime.

I wish you much success in your future endeavors, and for god's sake, get me another freaking book ASAP!!! Beautiful, beautiful story!

Sincerely, and from one that is Not easily impressed,Bryl

Why I Love Writing - Part V

Today I’d like to continue my week-long discussion of why I love writing by focusing on the end product. All the long hours and months and sometimes years of work all lead to a competed book that you can hold in your hands, feel the texture, see the print, smell the ink and read the prose. It is such a brilliant feeling of accomplishment, like no other. Although I would hardly consider it a pinnacle in my life, holding my novel for the first time gave me a feeling of such intense delight that I’m sure I had never experienced that feeling before that moment. Other authors tell me that you feel those intense emotions with each new book, and I can’t wait to find out if that is true.

Earlier this year I stopped off for a few weeks in Japan on my way back from a four-month trek through Southeast Asia. While in Japan, I exhausted my reading material. The only book I had left that I hadn’t read on the trip was a copy of my own novel, Island Song. So I took it to a park in Tokyo and, snuggled amid the blooming cherry trees, I read my novel. It was the first time I had ever read it without trying to edit the prose or change the story. I read it for the simple pleasure of reading a story that I love. I’ve heard from several writers that they never read their work once they have finished with it, but I found a quiet elation in rereading my novel. It had been a year since I had last proofread it, so I had forgotten much of the details. Some of it surprised me that it was written so well, and I often had a tinge of fear that my next novel, due out in September, will not measure up to Island Song. But the marvelous thing is, the book is there on the shelf and I can revisit the story and get reacquainted with the characters any time I wish. I love that.

When I look at that book now, what I see is something that will survive me. Perhaps it’s simply a trick of my ego, but I envision, long after my death, people picking up my work for the first time and finding a small joy in what I’ve left for them. I like to think my work will survive, and that means that in a minute way I will survive also, because so much of me has spilled onto those pages.

Why I Love Writing - Part IV

Unlike yesterday, I had a very productive morning. I started by catching up on all my email, moved right into contacting my security software provider to fix a problem with my system’s firewall, which they repaired in under thirty minutes, and by 9 a.m. I was editing the novel I’ve been nurturing for the past several months. The novel effectively managed to pull me into the story while still paying close attention to editing the prose, which brings me to today’s topic of why I love writing novels.

In addition to spending time with my husband, there are two pastimes that I very much love – traveling to foreign countries and writing stories. I love those two activities for the same reason, they allow me to immerse myself in an alien culture and allow me to interact with diverse and sometimes strange people. The advantage writing has over traveling is that it’s way cheaper and it allows me to control every aspect of the journey. I control who lives and who dies, what they do, every word they speak and how the world reacts to them. And if I don’t like the tangent that my characters have gone off on or the new twist in the plot or a million other details, I can rewind and do it over. In fact, what normally happens is that I keep doing everything over and over until I think I can no longer improve it (which is a trick of the ego because stories can always be improved). In my stories I’m God, and it’s fun playing God.

But one of the interesting things about long fiction is, once I set all the parameters, define the main characters, the story’s direction and established the pacing, a funny thing happens: even though I’m God and have the final say, my characters begin to make decisions on their own, regardless of my original intentions, like Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. Once the characters and storyline establish themselves, they take on a life of their own, and I’m there going along for the ride. That’s another joy of writing (like traveling), that feeling of discovery. I, of course, can overrule my characters and keep them on the straight and narrow, but I’ve learned to listen to my characters, to let them tell their stories, err … I mean my story … or is it their story?

The funny thing is, that’s when I know the story is good, when it comes to life. So I keep adding my two cents, but I also try to keep my ego in check, so that my characters can find their own way.

No matter what I’m doing, there is always a little back and forth tussle going on in my head between me and my characters. They whisper to me, I argue back. They insist, I stamp my foot. They plead, I give in. It’s that dance I was talking about in an earlier post, the dance with Creativity. It doesn’t only happen when I’m sitting in front of the computer composing prose. It goes on all the time, and I love it.