April 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends & Fans:

I want to thank those of you reading TANGO’S EDGE, and especially those who’ve sent me e-mails, telling me how much you’re enjoying it. You can’t possibly know how much this means to me. How much your messages makes my day just a little better. Just know when you take the time out of your busy day to tell me my story has brought you even the smallest amount of pleasure, it fills my heart with joy.

You see, my self-confidence has flagged in the years since my last novel came out. The fact that I haven’t sold a book –or even found an agent who’ll represent me–since 2006 has done a number on me. Had me questioning my talent. Questioning why I was even bothering to write. Yet, I’ve somehow managed to keep writing, finishing the complete manuscript of LILY OF THE SPRINGS (and still searching for an agent to represent it) and now happily and eagerly working on INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS, my Vietnam combat nurse story. I knew, somewhere deep inside, that writing novels is what I’m meant to do—whether or not I’m successful at selling them. And now, your e-mails and comments on Facebook confirm that. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  Knowing you’re reading my books makes the rejections just a little less stinging.

Writers today know that the publishing world is changing, and whether or not it will be beneficial for them is still up for debate. It’s harder than ever to break into publishing with a traditional publisher. Just ask some of my author friends, ones who’ve had 50+ books published—and who now can’t sell, and like me, can’t even find an agent. Authors whose books have hit the NYT Best Sellers list with one book are finding subsequent books aren’t selling—not to the satisfaction of their publishers. You know what that means. Publishers dropping authors. I’ve heard rumors of some authors who’ve published with big NY publishers are now being published with small press—just to keep their books out there. I’m a prime example—started out with Forge Books, a New York house, and finally, with my fourth book, UNDERSTUDY, forced to go with small press so it would be available in trade paperback. But now, it’s almost impossible for a mid-list author like me to sell to small press even—because bigger name authors are also being forced to go with small press. It looks like in the future, the only books that will be published by major houses in New York are the mega-selling authors like James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Stephenie Meyer. So, more and more of us are turning to untraditional methods just to get read—thus, I’m posting TANGO’S EDGE online. Having you read my work reminds me that I am a writer. And not only that, my books are good—and they deserve a readership. Thank you for reminding me of that.  I posted Chapter 2 of TANGO’S EDGE this morning, and if you haven’t read the prologue and Chapter 1, they are available at:

http://tangosedge.blogspot.com/


Well, we’re off to Charleston for Easter to visit the grandsons. My daughter, Leah, allowed me to do the Easter baskets for them, so I’ve been having so much fun putting them together. I just got back from Charleston a few weeks ago, having spent a week down there with them. Luke, 2, and Zealand, 15 months are so much fun at this age. Luke is talking a mile a minute (and Grandma taught him to say, ‘Grandma, you’re cracking me up!) and Zea is such a sweet little cuddle-bunny. (I’m going to try to post pictures; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.) You know, I never imagined you could love a grandchild as much as you loved your own children (how stupid was that?) but you do—every bit as much. I’m praying like crazy that Frank will find a job down there and we can move there this summer!!! Is that too much to ask?

Anyway, I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter! Take care, and I’ll talk to you again next month!!!

Blessings,


Carole