Behind the Book with Bridget Hodder

 Tell us about something about the making of a book that most people don't know.

A new author has so much to learn. I confess that, despite reading, networking, and educating myself on the publishing process before I sold, most of the "behind the book" stuff on THE RAT PRINCE came as a complete surprise to me!

For example, I wasn't sure what to expect from copyedits...or how a book's cover and/or illustrations were created...or how many rounds of edits my manuscript might require...or how far in advance of release I might be hearing from the in-house publicist...and many more things.

On each and every one of those issues, I needed counsel directly from my editor, Margaret Ferguson, or my agent, Eric Myers.

At first, I couldn't help feeling kind of ashamed that I didn't know these things already. Why, after so much diligent study of the topic, was I so ignorant about it? I was embarrassed, in spite of my agent and editor's reassurances...until I finally realized something I want to share with you right now, to spare you the trouble of worrying:

You can never know all the ins and outs of your personal publishing journey beforehand, because the details of how a book gets from manuscript to finished product vary widely, not only between publishing houses, but between editors-- even at the same house.

Let's look at just a few concrete examples, so you can see what I mean. I gathered these from the collective experiences of my 2016 debut group, The Sweet Sixteens.

*Different publishing houses might refer to the same documents as "galleys" or as "first pass pages"; or they might refer to bound uncorrected proofs differently, as "ARCs" or as "Bound Galleys".

*Some editors use Word documents with "track changes" for revisions; others prefer to do it on paper, by hand, and will send you successive versions in package form.

*Some copyeditors use a light touch, correcting only grammar, alignment issues on the page, spelling, and factual details (such as your hero driving a car that wasn't manufactured until 10 years later than the setting of your book). Others take a broader editorial approach, and may return your manuscript with comments about theme or plot development!

*Some editors will ask for authors' input on cover art, and even incorporate some of the author's suggesions. But it's far more standard practice that authors are not involved in the cover design process.

*Some editors are involved in promotion and publicity, tweeting their authors' milestones and helping suggest and brainstorm marketing opportunities; but this is not part of their job description. It's a matter of personal style. So if your editor doesn't happen to do those things, it doesn't reflect a lack of commitment to, or enthusiasm for, your book!

This is just a smattering of the ways in which your book's creation can differ from anyone else's.

So it's worth repeating what these examples demonstrate: Each publishing house has its own internal culture. And within those separate cultures, each editor has her or his own way of getting things done.

Add to this the fact that like any business, publishing is subject to random change, and to the ebb, flow and crash of market forces. Editors move on to other presses. Publishing houses are acquired by larger conglomerates. The market for a certain genre could dry up overnight. So ultimately, no one at your publishing house can predict what will happen. Not your publicist, your editor, the head of your imprint...no one. (Not without a crystal ball, anyway.)

What, then, is a newly sold author to do? Give up before s/he gets started? (You know the answer is "no", don't you?)

I'm certainly not an expert, but here are two things that really worked for me:

**Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask in a professional way about things you don't understand. Just follow ordinary business protocols, be considerate of your agent and editor's time, and respect any working parameters that have been set between you.

**Network and find author friends. Many of the shifting grey areas in publishing can be explored by a group of  caring, confidential connections. There are a variety of ways to build a network with other debut authors, but be sure to earn and verify two-way trust before you get to a deep level of sharing, particularly if you met these connections via social media. You'll want to be certain that you connect with folks you feel genuinely comfortable with... in terms of their core belief systems, as well as the things they write about, and how they write them. Proceed with caution in the beginning, and don't commit to supporting someone's work until you've read it. Once you've established a network you can feel sure of, make sure to be a contributor to, as well as a recipient of, support. Respect and reciprocity are the keys to any good networking relationship.

So, why does publishing seem somewhat mysterious to outsiders, and even to insiders? Because it is, in fact, somewhat mysterious.

Let's all embrace the mystery together.

Group hug!

Bridget Hodder

Bridget Hodder was an archaeologist, then an autism specialist, before she became an author. She bakes triple layer cakes, makes vanilla pudding from scratch, and gives her home-made fudge and toffee as holiday gifts.

Connect with and learn more about Bridget . . .

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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BEHIND THE BOOK with Janet Sumner Johnson

All books, no matter the genre, have some reality in them. Some truth that called to the author, and pushed them to write the book.

When I was 19, I found myself at a weekend retreat with a bunch of college friends where everyone had paired off but me. Talk about awkward. I wasn’t a writer then, but I have always loved writing, so I begged some paper and a pen and sat down and wrote.

I started with stream-of-conscious about how I was feeling, but soon I found myself telling the story of Annie and Jason and their exploration of the “Great African Jungle.” I was entranced. And during the time it took to write it, I relived my childhood and those carefree days of easy friendship as I wrote about my childhood best friend and I. Of course, none of it had really happened. But it could have.

I didn’t come back to that story for another five years, but when I stumbled upon it, I was drawn to it. At the time, I don’t think I recognized it for what it was, but I was struggling in the face of becoming an adult. I was a semester away from completing my Masters’ and knew that an era of my life would be coming to an end. Plus, I’d recently gotten married. I didn’t admit it at the time, but my future felt so limited. A long line of all work and no play. Of being serious and responsible.

I needed that story I had written. I needed that carefree feeling. That joy that comes from spending time with someone who means the world to you. And I needed more of it. So that’s what I did. I wrote a series of stories from my childhood. Not all of it is true, and of course, gads and gads of it were changed and formed into something that suited the larger story, but many of the events in my book really happened. Often not in the way or at the time that it happens in the book, but it happened nonetheless.

So today, I wanted to share just one event from my book and talk about the truth behind it. But rest assured there are many, many more.

During the hunt for the buried treasure, Annie and Jason come across an actual ‘X’ scratched into the rock. They frantically dig, certain they have found the treasure, only to find nothing but an old, broken Miss Piggy Alarm Clock. An item from Annie’s long-since past. One night, when she was 5, her mother served pork chops for dinner. Annie asked what pork chops were, and her mother glibly answered, “Pig. We’re eating Miss Piggy!” Properly horrified, Annie buried her beloved alarm clock with the help of her best friend.

This really happened to me! When I asked my mom what pork chops were, that is how she responded. Even she can’t explain that momentary lapse of judgement. And for the record, I do not like pork chops to this day. I had a Miss Piggy alarm clock that I loved, but I didn’t bury it. I wish I would have thought of that, because I would have totally done it! Poor Miss Piggy.

I don’t have time to tell more, but I am offering all of you the chance to win a one-of-a-kind annotated ARC in which I note many of the stories behind The Story. Thanks for dropping in, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Janet Sumner Johnson 

Janet Sumner Johnson lives in Oregon with her husband and three kids. She bakes a mean cinnamon twist and eats way more cookies than are good for her, which explains her running habit. Though her full-time occupation as evil tyrant/benevolent dictator (aka mom) takes most of her time, she sneaks in writing at night when her inner funny bone is fully unleashed. The Last Great Adventure of the PB&J Society is her first novel.

Connect with and learn more about Janet . . .

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

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Five Questions with Marieke Nijkamp of DiversifYA

Marieke is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, and proud-to-be geek. She wants to grow up to be a time traveler, holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies, and is more or less proficient in about a dozen languages.

In the midnight hours of the day she writes young adult stories (ranging from contemporary to fantasy) as well as the occasional middle grade adventure, and all her stories have a sprinkling of wonder to them. Website ~ Twitter

1. What is DiversifYA?

DiversifYA is an inclusive community where people share experiences and stories, all sorts of diversity and all marginalized experiences, in the hope that all of us who write will realize the world is much bigger than our little patch of earth. That we are diversity, that diversity is reality, and that one day our stories will reflect that.

2. What do you see as the solution? Is the burden on editors, marketers, or authors?

I believe it's a burden on all of us. Authors, editors, readers, marketers, agents, booksellers... basically, anyone involved in books. It's on authors to consider why their stories, if not diverse, are straight, white, able-bodied, middle class. After all, none of us live in completely homogeneous communities, so why should our characters? There's the, frankly rather disgusting, belief that books about marginalized characters are only for people with the same marginalized experience, whereas books with white/straight/able-bodied characters are somehow "neutral" and for all. We need to keep challenging that.

It's on the industry to actively seek out diversity, be willing to take risks, and recognize the privilege of the system. It's on librarians and booksellers to recognize that the readers are there and they to deserve to find themselves reflected in stories. It's on readers and on all of us to buy the books. Buy the books. Order them for your library. Spread the word. Support the authors. Tell bookstores, librarians, publishers that you want more. There is no louder message than that of actual sales.

This is also one of the reasons why We Need Diverse Books, of which I am proud to be one of the VPs, recently incorporated to become a non-profit. We were fortunate enough -- right place, right time -- to be able to amplify this diversity discussion, and we are set on creating real change, by offering book selling kits of bookstores and librarians, by organizing the US's first Diversity Festival, and by many, many more activities we'll be rolling out over the coming months.

3. A lot of people equate diversity with race specifically. How would you define it?

I would define diversity as including (but not limited to) LGBTQ*, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, social, and religious minorities. We absolutely need more racial diversity in our books, but we also need more bisexual characters, characters in wheelchairs, genderqueer characters, indigenous characters, and so on. And I truly believe that in this discussion we are stronger if we stand together, and be as inclusive as possible.

4. You recently spoke on a diversity-themed panel at BEA. What was that like?

Oh my goodness, it was the most magical experience! BookCon itself was overwhelming enough, but to see people line up for our panel an hour before it started and filling the room to the extent where we had to turn people away because we simply couldn't fit them in... it was beyond anything I'd dared hope for. And at the same time, being able to share a stage with so many AMAZING writers and diversity activists was a fantastic experience. And the energy in the room... Oh, I wish I could've bottled it for the darker days :) It was truly spectacular!

5. What would you say to an author who wants to add diversity but is worried about inadvertently offending people with the disability/of the race/in the community s/he is writing about?

You are going to offend someone. Deal with it. Learn from it. And do better next time.

Truth is, I see this comment a lot, and while I understand where people are coming from, I think we need to acknowledge that being able to say things like that is a privilege. Because frankly, it's not just about offending. Sure, I've read portrayals of queer or disabled characters that made me want to hurl a book across the room, but those are not the worst scenarios. It's a lot trickier having to deal with the real life consequences of bad portrayals. Having to explain to people that yes, you actually do have feelings, despite the fact that 90% of popular media portrays autistics as emotionless and that's their own frame of reference.

So if I can be blunt? Do your job. Do your research, and research extensively. Not just by reading the theories, but by talking to actual people, by asking them to read portrayals if you're worried about them. By reading first-person accounts. And by acknowledging that one experience is still not going to be more than one experience. You can't expect us to speak on behalf on our entire group anymore than you can. Someone else may, and most likely will, feel differently. But you can try hard and do your best.

And even then, you will offend someone.

Deal with it.

Learn from it.

And do better next time.

About the Author :

Jen Malone is a middle grade and young adult author who spent a year traveling the world solo (favorite spot: Nepal), met her husband on the highway, and went into labor on Stevie Nick's tour bus. She's repped by the fantabulous Holly Root at The Waxman Leavell Literary Agency and her debut AT YOUR SERVICE is available from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin MIx with more titles soon to be released. 

Connect with Jen . . .
Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

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