It Never Gets Old

On Thursday, Linda Wiken launched her first mystery A Killer Read at the Library and Archives (the young lovers above greet you on the front steps) and it was wonderful to see Linda's complete wonder and excitement. An author's first book making it to print is a momentous and joyous occasion that can take a lifetime to achieve. Linda owned Prime Crime bookstore and has been a founding member of the Ladies Killing Circle, a small group of Ottawa women who began their writing careers together and are still going strong. Linda wrote short stories and won awards for her work, but she said that getting a book of her own published was a dream come true. Like many authors, she has three unpublished manuscripts tucked away in a drawer at home.

Alongside Linda, Vicki Delany  launched Gold Mountain (Dundurn) her third book in one of her series . Vicki has been in the writing business for some time, but she also has maintained a love for writing and tirelessly crosses the country to meet fans and gain readership.  She is quite simply an inspiration and I tip my own hat (or fascinator) to both talented women.

So this week, I started the second book in my latest audlt mystery series. Tim Wynne-Jones said that the first chapter is the engine that drives the novel and it's important to get it right. I figure I'll be working on this chapter for a while. I also have to congratulate Tim for his Arthur Ellis nomination for YA novel of the year for Blink and Caution, a book that I couldn't put down. A well deserved nomination. Well done my friend.

I'm also getting my head around what I'll be saying to a roomful of lawyers this Thusday as Dave Whellams and I give our talk and read from our work. I'll let you know next week if I manage to get out of that without any lawsuits pending.

Also this week, I was invited to my first writers' festival, but sadly, I'm going to be out of the country touring around Italy. Well, not sad about the Italy part, but sad about not to be able to make the event.

And to come full circle, having just witnessed Linda Wiken's lovely glowing face on Thursday night, below is a photo of me during the launch of my first book Running Scared at Whispers pub in 2004. How happy was I?!

What's the Meaning of it all Anyhow?

Ted asked me last evening what my definition of success would be - number of books sold? Amount of money made? Adulation by booklovers everywhere?  (Stop . . . I like the sound of the last one:-)

Ted reminded me of the time several years ago when all I wanted was to have a book published. Now, I am up to number seven and eight - and still, I don't feel like I've 'arrived' for instance like Louise Penny or Michael Connelly. "It comes down to book sales," I said, "and those come from receiving good reviews and winning awards."

A hierarchy exists in the author world, and it is different, depending on the type of book written. Just like movie and tv stars, there's the A-list, the B-list and the group still waiting tables and trying for a break. How to crack into the A or even B list depends on a lot of things:  good writing, a marketable story, luck, publicity, people who believe in you, and more luck . . . oh yes, and perserverance in spades.

I appreciate my husband who likes to keep me focussed on the writing and why I do it. He keeps me grounded just like the Air Canada pilots. "Just think," he said. "Thousands of people you do not know have read your books. How great is that?"

And I have to say, "You're right. That is pretty darn great."

Well, I've finished all I need to right now for the adult manuscript that will be published fall 2013. The publisher returned a copy of the signed contract and the last round of editing is done. I'm now working on the plot for book number two and started working on the opening page last night. It's a frightening yet exhilerating time - like plunging out of a plane and hoping your parachute opens this time.

I just bought my train ticket to Toronto in June when I will meet the Dundurn staff and meet with Marta who is handling publicity for Second Chances, due out September 1st, a mere four months and change away. They've already sent out ARCs (advance reading copies) and talked to book sellers, book festival organizers and others in the business. I'm also going to TO to a luncheon for the Golden Oak awards. The Ontario Librarian Association shortlisted The Second Wife for this award, which is for adult literacy. It should be a great time all around.

One other event I've been working on this week with retired Justice lawyer and new mystery author Dave Whellams. We'll be speaking to colleagues on April 26th at work about writing and getting published. If you know any good lawyer jokes, please send them along . . . I'll slip them into my talk :-) Lawyers love a good lawyer joke, I'm sure of it.

And for those who wonder how the painting of the bedroom is coming along, coat number one is complete! Just under the golf season wire:

Easter Saturday

Well, I've completed a full edit and reduction of my manuscript, dropping from 98,500 words to 95,300. It was actually a great exercise to cut words and tighten up sentences. I could be onto something to use in future. I thought I was a concise writer, but this proved there is always room for additional brevity.

I was also asked to submit cover ideas. What do you look for in a cover? What attracts you to pick up one book over another? If you notice, the bigger the author, the bigger their name on the cover. Some authors' names take up most of the space with a small title. So far, I have not reached this marker of success. At a recent talk by local author Linda Wiken, she reported that her publisher's research showed that outdoor scenes sell better than indoor for adult mysteries. There's also debate over photography vs drawings - my publisher goes for photography, which I prefer. I looked at some covers by bigger-selling mystery authors and noted that few have people in them, and if they do, the people are outlines or darkened figures. Kids' book covers are another matter - lots of colour and cartoony kind of art for the younger set.

I've heard of authors being mortified by the cover design. There again, some publishers involve their authors in the decisions while others do not. Dundurn is open to author input, another good thing, in my opinion. A cover can make or break sales, we all know that, just as a title can fizzle or detract. And if you read the cover blurb, know that the author probably wrote it unless the publishing house has an in-house marketing group that handles it. I've written every cover description so far for my books.

Easter long weekend - like you, I've been running around getting food, wine, napkins, chocolate for the family get-together, which will be tonight. So, speaking of being brief, I'm about to get at some of the preparations. I wish each of you a wonderful Easter as we hop into spring.

Word Reduction Exercise

Tuesday evening at Ben Franklin Place in Centrepointe was a packed house for the Awesome Authors contest award ceremony. Every seat in the auditorium was filled with people, and others standing and kids sitting on the floor up front. It is great to see all the interest in writing by these kids, aged nine to seventeen, not to mention the talent. All of their stories and poetry will be in an Ottawa Public Library publication entitled Potpourri, which will be on sale through the library. Here's a photo with some of the winners in the English short story contest.

I continue to edit my adult mystery, now entitled Cold Mourning. I've edited out 1000 words so far and have a few thousand more to go. Actually, this is a great, although time-consuming, exercise. I have to decide if sections or parts of sentences can be removed or reworded in fewer words. I signed the contract and sent it back to Dundurn earlier this week - I've been asked to start thinking about cover ideas!

It's an odd thing in this writing business. You spend about a year on a manuscript and send it off to the publisher. Then, you begin a new project and a year or so later, the previous manuscript comes back for editing and tweaking. By this time, you've moved on, sort of like to a new boyfriend, and have to reacquaint yourself with the story and characters. I remember hearing an author say that they hadn't reviewed their novel before appearing on a radio show and they'd forgotten the plot and characters because so much time had passed since they wrote it. A brain can hold onto only so much detail . . . I'm trying to remember if I ate breakfast this morning.

So back to manuscript with my big red pen, or in the computer age, delete button. Luckily, it's still cold enough outside that I won't be tempted to play hooky. Easter and spring are carrots for when I get this work done. This year's tulips will soon be looking like this:

 . . . And I'll have time to hang out in a shoe:-)

In Between Projects

It feels like summer has come and gone. We were in the sunny, humid high 20s most of the week and have now dropped down to seasonal temps. Just a few days ago, we were sitting on our neighbour's veranda before supper, wearing shorts and t-shirts and drinking a glass of wine. Back to reality today with a bump. (At least no snow like some unfortunate places - Cold Lake, for example :-)

The contract arrived in the post from Dundurn for my recently accepted adult murder mystery. I'm about to read it over, sign and mail back. I have to trim my manuscript by about 4000 words and have started, already cutting 500. It's actually a good exercise to get rid of any extra words that do not add to the plot. I tend to be rather concise in my writing anyhow, so this is proving to be a challenge. Once the editing is done, I'm going to start working on the next in the series.  I've missed writing this month, but a break has been good.

This Tuesday is the Awesome Authors awards presentation evening at Ben Franklin place in Centrepointe. I've got my presentation and winners all typed up and am ready to do my part. It's a fun night with an auditorium full of young authors and their families in attendance. Lots of excitement and happy kids - I always enjoy the energy.

So, cleaning up a few chores on my to-do list. I finished getting everything in order for the accountant that does my tax return. As an author, I can write off some stuff, but it means keeping track of expenses and receipts - I'm learning that it's better to keep a running tally all year. That way, memory isn't strained to the breaking point and hair doesn't get pulled out in frustration.

Two book launches coming up in April - Dave Whellams' first novel, Walking into the Ocean on April 4th at Collected Works; Linda Wiken and Vicki Delany are having a joint launch on April 19th at the Library and Archives. I plan to attend both and will stock up on some summer reading. When I first started at the Department of Justice, Dave was the criminal law policy lawyer who signed off on some of my work - small world, all in all. We're actually going to put on a workshop at Justice the end of April about how we got started writing and how we found publishers. l'l be sure to steer clear of lawyer jokes.

Well, time to get that manuscript opened on my computer and my delete button warmed up. The problem with cutting words is that I normally want to add more. Writers are funny that way.

Here Comes the Sun

I have great news to share this week. The editorial board at Dundurn has decided to publish the first in an adult murder mystery series that I submitted a few months ago! (This is the manuscript I've been working on all year.) Word came to me late Thursday and I have the go ahead to start working on the second in the series. This current submission has a spot in the fall 2013 roster. So, quite satisfying news.

This week, I also received a couple of advance reading copies (ARCS) of Second Chances, which I read through and have to say, like even after labouring over the text for so many months. I didn't even find any errors - kudos to my editor Allister Thompson - ususally there's one or two that slip past our magnifying glasses. I'm going to drop the copies off today at Collected Works and Kaleidoscope bookstores. Dundurn sent copies to reviewers already . . . and this brings me to the fun stuff . . .

I've booked the launch for Saturday, September 22nd from 2-4 p.m. at Collected Works (Wellington and Holland) in my neighbourhood. It's early days yet, but I hope each of you can mark it on your calendar and will come out to raise a glass and help me celebrate. Councillor Katherine Hobbs will MC the event, and I might even read a snippit.  The cover has a quote from Tim Wynn-Jones, award-winning author and fabulous writer:

"The plot of Second Chances crackles like summer lightning . . . Chapman skillfully weaves together a story, sensual and taut, that is a slow burn from the very first image."

I might even read the first sensual image :-)

I dropped in on Robin Harlick last Saturday and purchased A Green Place for Dying - I sure do like that title. Here we are in Chapters Pinecrest:

I also attended the Capital Crime Writers' meeting on Wednesday where Linda Wiken talked about her road to being published with Berkley in the U.S. She has a three book deal and the first, A Killer Read (another great title) will be released next month. She's launching with Vicki Delany at the Library and Archives April 19th - all welcome.

So much going on.

But I know what you really want to know if whether we have paint. Not yet, but the room is being readied . . .

All good things come to those who wait.

Great week to everyone as summer weather slips into the Ottawa Valley. Might be time to find an outdoor patio and do some people watching in the bright sunshine. It feels like it's been a long time coming.

Flying Pigs and Other Events of Note

Awesome author entries judged and results sent in. Check
Comments on each entry written. Check
Manuscript edited and off to Sylvia. Check
Next manuscript with my reviewers Lisa and Katherine for feedback. Check
Paint bought for the small bedroom project . . . uh, not yet . . . but there has been talk about buying it.

It's been a busy week heading into March. My next task, and one I put off every year, is compiling all my paperwork for tax time. I have a company do my tax return because they know the ins and outs of what a writer can claim as part of a small business. I have a stack of receipts spilling across my desk behind my computer screen all waiting to be recorded and filed. I can hardly wait to get started (and pigs really do fly).

Dundurn also e-mailed me that they received the ARCs (advance reading copies) of Second Chances and will be sending them off to reviewers. Many of the reviewers want the books well in advance of launch in order to have their review coincide with the publication date. Young adult books do not as a rule have the same reviewers as adult books - different markets and different ways of assessing the books. Different top-selling authors too.

Some new books launched this spring by local authors. Robin Harlick had a launch a few weeks ago that I missed but Katherine Hobbs and I will be going to her signing at Chapters Pinecrest this afternoon. I love the title of her latest Meg Harris - A Green Place for Dying. You can stop by and get a signed copy between one and four today. 

Linda Wiken, who owned Prime Crime bookstore, will be speaking at Capital Crime Writers monthly meeting on Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Library and Archives on Wellington. A Killer Read is Linda's first book written under the pseudonym Erika Chase - check out her blog Mystery Maven Canada for lots of information about new mysteries and local authors. Better yet, come to the meeting on Wednesday and meet Linda in person. New members are always welcome. (It might be time you out-of-towners moved to Ottawa.)

So, what to do with my break from writing?  I stopped in and picked up some wine on my way home from work yesterday and am settling in to watch the Brier men's finals. (Go Ontarioooooo!) I'm letting my battery recharge before starting another project.

Oh yes, and their is that upcoming trip to Italy to dream about, not to mention plan for. Spring and the Easter bunny are just around the corner . . . .