Monday, January 28, 2008

Some Q&A

Do I need an agent?
And
I've heard of a publisher that print one copy at the time on the order of a customer, though its name eludes me at the time. What's your opinion on the matter?

Good questions, both, and I hope I don’t sound snarky when I say my opinion should be pretty self-evident. I have an agent. I have a traditional New York publisher who pays me for the right to print and sell and profit off my words. As much as this still thrills (and floors) me, I know that paying someone to do that for me is not only bad business sense, but yanno, morally wrong. (You want me to create the work and then pay you to publish it? Um…would you like my first born, too?) My agent made sure this never happened. I would have never gained said publisher – or sold my books in the UK and Russia and Germany – if not for her. There are many reasons for this, but the best is this: the likelihood of my ms ever reaching my editor’s illustrious, messy desk without an agent was not something a Vegas bookie would ever take bets on. Another reason: any publisher printing one copy of a book at a time doesn’t really have the time, inclination, or resources to pimp my pages all over the globe. And that’s what I wanted: someone to love it, to buy it, and to get other people with cool accents to love it and buy it, too. That way I might just get a chance to make a long-term career of this scribbling thing.*
Of course, there’s neither any immediate gratification, nor any guarantees when you do it this way. But good books find homes. (Er…some bad books do, too.) So what if it takes time? While you’re waiting you can write more books. The writing is the only thing you can control anyway.

So I guess my answer is to look inward to what you want. If that’s a POD (print on demand) press that prints one copy at a time, then don’t let anyone sway you from that.** (And talk to some POD authors to get accounts of their experiences and opinions as well.) It’s really that simple.

Oh, and I can’t forget what, in my mind, is the most important thing: finish a book. The questions of agent/publisher/world rights/royalties and so on are all moot if you don’t do that. Until then (and even after that), this should be your only concern.
Hope that helps!

*Actually I’d come to the decision that I was going to write for the rest of my life whether anyone bought my work or not, if only because that’s how I process the world around me, how I make sense of my own thoughts, and how I stay sane.

**My only caveat here would be this: take into account the foibles of human nature. Upon reaching any given goal, no matter how fulfilling or happy that might make a person at the time, it is inevitable that one will set the bar higher, and naturally strive for more. Mere contentment is not what moves this world.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Happy Hour in Saturn's Orchard

So I’m headed to Cali for some weekend fun, but before I go I wanted to spread some good cheer via my first posted cocktail recipe.* My girly, Lyndsay, sent me this one, and I thought it would be fun since it was created here in Vegas … and I actually have all these ingredients. {G} If (you’re of age and) you happen to try it, let me know what you think! Oh, and as Lyndsay points out: Look at all the ingredients with antioxidents in them! Your body will thank me!

Rosy Pom

The Rosy Pom was created for the Erotic Café inside the ZUMANITY Theatre at New York-New York in Las Vegas. Zumanity is a provocative cabaret-style production with a Cirque du Soleil twist. This playful cocktail, made with SEX Vodka and rose nectar, is the perfect drink to get you in the mood for a sexy show.

1.5oz Sex Vodka.
5oz Sence Rose Nectar.
5oz Cointreau
1oz Cranberry Juice
Splash of POM pomegranate juice

Combine ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a rose pedal.

(Note from Vic: personally I’m skipping the rose pedals, since I think they meant to say PETALS, and I don’t endore drinking and driving. And not to be a grouch or anything – especially in light of such a great recipe – but I don’t care how sexy your show is… don’t evah tell me what kind of vodka to drink. Kay, thanks.)

*Cover flats to be given away next week. Priorities, yanno! {G}

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

For Writers...

Listen up!

I admire, respect, and adore my editor. She makes my work better - keeps me from looking like an @ss, truth be told* - and there is no one whose opinion I value more than hers when it comes to writing.

So if you want to know what an editor is looking for - if you want to know what a Senior Editor at a big house is looking for - she's giving a virtual lesson over on Eos' blog. Here is the entry detailing what hooks an editor (and reader, because that's what she is: a really good reader) and here's her talking about what hooked her about Mario Acevedo's first book, THE NYMPHOS OF ROCKY FLATS (which you should probably buy just because of the ballsy title, but I digress). She'll be continuing her series through {mumble, mumble} so catch it while you can.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Vicki

*In as much as is possible.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Latest News

Well, clearly the big news around here are my new digs.

Do ya likey?

I have to praise Dawn from Austin Design Works for taking the tangled ball of yarn I handed her, in the form of a massive amount of new (and used) content, and running with it. She overhauled my site and created this new look within five days of my hiring her.

My closest friends/readers/stalkers will note that there is no long-promised forum up as of yet. ("And for my next trick..." ) but I'm going to be posting here regularly and am always free to answer questions. I promise to work on getting something else going before THE TOUCH OF TWILIGHT release in June.

For now, I'm going to give people a chance to find me here, and at my site (www.vickipettersson.com) and to celebrate my new decor I'll be giving away a signed cover flat of the June release. Mind, sales hasn't even seen this yet, so you'll be the first in the know. Details on that coming this week!