Anya Bast

I don’t have anything specific to say on the new requirements for publishers that RWA has implemented that knocks all epubs from being recognized and therefore exempts them from any special considerations at National.

I’ve seen all kinds of theories about it. I know some think that this is an “old girls” ploy to keep the ebook authors out of their club. There is cause to think that, judging by some of the intolerant and superior things I’ve heard voiced at times by NY print authors about ebook authors. So I’m not surprised this is a theory. However, I think it has more to do with what recently happened at Triskelion than anything else. That said, I do think the RWA has not properly handled the situation, not by a long shot, since the language they’ve used basically relegates all ebook authors into the realm of the self and vanity pubbed, which just isn’t true. Actually, “not properly handled the situation” is putting it too mildly. They’ve handled it like a bunch of drunk monkeys on a ferris wheel.

By the way, I’m not looking down my nose at self or vanity pubbed authors when I say this. I think for some authors the self or vanity publishing route is the best course. To my way of thinking, all is choice. I’m not going to judge yours, please don’t judge mine. The thing is, relegating some of the epublishers into self/vanity press land–like Ellora’s Cave–is simply incorrect. A vanity press is a publisher that publishes a book at the expense of the author. Ellora’s Cave is not that. Even though Ellora’s Cave does not pay me any advance for my books, I make excellent money with them, more than a lot of midlist NY authors. A diligent author can actually support herself at EC and that is a rare thing…even at the big pubs. So the language that RWA has used is wrong and is just plain bad.

Now…if RWA is trying to protect authors from future Trisks, and I believe they are, that’s admirable but not realistic. It’s up to us, as authors, do our homework before signing with a pub. It’s up to us to monitor how our publishers are doing. Even so, Trisks will happen. That’s unfortunate, but we are all ultimately responsible for our careers. And each of us have different standards for success within those careers. Money may not always be an author’s measure. It might be creative freedom, for example. Maybe money means nothing to particular author and her ability to write what she wants means everything. Therefore, I’m not seeing the need for RWA to dictate which publishers are “approved” over others. Ultimately, I think it falls to the individual to make those choices.

To sum up (what I never had any intention of writing when I started this post), I think the RWA has good intentions but they executed it…very badly.

I am an ebook author. I started at ImaJinn Books (print) and EC (ebook) in the same week, but the overwhelming bulk of my career has been played out so far on the ebook stage. So, going back to my original point, before I got all tangenty and offered an opinion I never meant to offer, here’s what I have to say to ebook authors who now feel marginalized (again)….

Do not let others define you. Define yourself. Some may try and make the ebook author feel inferior and say hurtful things about this medium, but the only way those things are true is if you let them be true by believing it yourself. You can’t control what others think or say about you, so define yourself as authors of merit…because you are. Really, it’s just that simple.

I just removed a cat related cliche from The Darkest Kiss. Now, how come people always refer to cat’s paws as silent? Because I have eight cats and all hardwood flooring, and none of my cats are particularly silent when walking upon it. Their little claws go click, click, click.

Uh. Of course, that could be because my cats are so fat well-fed, I suppose.

I am TTless today. Have writing to do, and the shlepping of people to various places, and errands to run and other what not. Oh, and writing! Whee! Progress is going fine on The Darkest Kiss, I’m pleased to report.

I do have print book news, however. And Lady Makes Three, the anthology I did with Nikki Soarde and Ashley Ladd, sold out of its print run and had been out of stock for quite some time. Ellora’s Cave has reprinted it and given it a puuuurdy new cover.

Yummy! I like this cover better because the last cover was a bit too contemporary to be representative of my story, (the woman was wearing sunglasses). My contribution to the anthology is a novella titled Twilight, and it’s an historical fantasy romance.

The dark, the light, and one to merge them.

Nico and Dai have searched for years for the third member of their Sacred Triad. Their combined energy, released in a sexual ritual, will drag their reality back from the Encroaching Darkness, a mystical force that threatens their world.

But Twyla has been emotionally damaged by an event in her past and has lost her magick as a result. It will take all of Nico and Dai’s deep love to help her overcome her fear and give her the sexual healing she so desperately needs.

~*~

Books I’ve read lately….

Rises the Night, bu Colleen Gleason. I love this series and eagerly gobble up every new installment. This one made me cry, though. *sniffle* I can’t say why because it would be too much of a spoiler. I’m upset at Ms. Gleason for making us wait for the next book, though. I want to know what happens now. *stomps foot*

Put me in the room with the ten gajillion other people who loved Slave to Sensation, by Nalini Singh. I’ve got the next on order from Amazon.com. Excellent, imaginative story. Wonderfully well drawn characters. All in all and enjoyable way to spending some reading time.

I have 18 books on order right now. I’ll post a picture of my incredible TBR pile once they arrive.

Since Witch Fire’s release, I’ve learned a whole lot of publishing industry things I never knew as an ebook author, like what Bookscan is, and how the bestsellers lists work. I’ve also learned some far more personal things too.

After a month of stressing about how my book would do, I have learned it’s more important than ever to follow my bliss. I can’t allow stress to take away the enjoyment I get from writing. Because the first time I allow my joy to be choked by market concerns is the first time I turn out a book I can’t be proud of.

I just have to write and be happy doing it. The rest simply follows. 🙂

Learning things is always good.

So yesterday I worked my part time job. It was a “dead” writing day because of that, (I make up the lost word count on the other days of the week), but I did get some plotting done on the next two Elemental Witch books. And I have titles! They’re maybe not good titles, maybe not titles Berkley will want to keep, but at least they’re something for me to work with.

Drumroll please… Witch Heart and Witch Fury. I don’t know how much I like the second one, but it’s fine for now.

Lastly, are you familiar with Free Will Astrology? If not, hie thee. New ones come out every Wednesday. Even if you don’t believe in astrology, they’re interesting to read.

Over at the Bradford Bunch today about meeting deadlines and setting writing goals. Go on and take a peek. There’s all kinds of interesting stuff over there.

27,000 / 85,000 (31.8%)

Progress on The Darkest Kiss.

It’s the first day of the challenge, so I thought I’d post where I am and where I’m going. I’m working on The Darkest Kiss, deadline at the end of September. I usually chart my progress by word count, rather than page count, so I’m figuring out my daily writing commitment this way.

One page = 320 words (on average with my font and page set up)

The Sweaty 70 requires between 4 and 6 pages a day, which means between 1,280 and 1,920 words a day, but my word count goal is actually 3,000 words a day and I’m sticking with that one. 🙂

Today I’ve written 700 words so far. Only 2,300 more to go!

I might occasionally post snippets or quotes from the ms. Here is today’s: “Blood hunger stirred within him, restless for a drink that had nothing to do with the imported bourbon in the glass he held.”

I’m doing it. You should too!

I will be writing The Darkest Kiss (the title might change) for the challenge. It’s a futuristic vampire romance. Yes, this is a new one! My agent and I just accepted an offer from Berkley Heat for this one. 🙂 It will be out in 2008. Squeeeeee!!!!

Between getting The Darkest Kiss finished and completing the proposals for the next two books in the Elemental Witches series, I have my hands full. But that’s good!!

Just FYI —

I love Gail Dayton’s series originally published by Luna. The Compass Rose and The Barbed Rose are the first two books. So I was very, very bummed when Luna decided not published the third book in the trilogy — The Eternal Rose.

Luckily Juno Books picked up the third and it’s out next month! You can pre-order it at Amazon.com now.

Just spreading the word.  I already have my copy ordered. 🙂

Thirteen CDs I Can Listen to All the Way Through (without skipping any tracks)

It’s rare to find a CD that you can listen through from beginning to end without running to the stereo to press “skip”. I managed to think of thirteen.

1. Sting — Nothing Like the Sun
2. Liz Phair — Whitechocolatespaceegg
3. Aqualung — Strange and Beautiful
4. Galactic — Coolin’ Off
5. Velvet Revolver — Contraband
6. The soundtrack to Singles
7. Mary Chapin Carpenter — Partydoll and other favorites
8. U2 — Rattle & Hum
9. Wolfstone — The Half Tail
10. Elizabeth Mitchell — You Are My Little Bird (This is actually kid’s music, but she does it in a way that appeals to adults too.)
11. Evanescence — Fallen
12. Maroon 5 — Songs About Jane
13. Pearl Jam — TenLinks to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Rhian

2. burntofferings

3. Tempest Knight

4. Tink

5. Delicious Darkness

6. Seeley deBorn

7. Sparky Duck

8. N.J. Walters

9. tvaddictgurl

10. Ann

11. Marissa

12. Lauren Dane

13. Susan Helene Gottfried

14. Lisa Andel

15. spyscribbler

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

This is something I’ve been wanting to blog about for a while. I’ve noticed in recent years on lists and reader’s boards talk of the TSTL heroine. TSTL stands for Too Stupid to Live, btw. 

I have encountered the TSTL heroine many times in my reading life. I know her when I see her. She’s the one haring off without a care, endangering herself, and needing to be saved by the hero. But once in a while I’ll run into someone saying that a particular heroine is TSTL just because, say, she didn’t get permission from the hero to do something.  This has always made me go hmmmm. I’ve talked about this on my discussion board at length.

Here’s the deal, characters have to have the proper motivation to do dangerous things.

For example, if the heroine is in a darkened, tumble-down mansion at midnight and hears something clunking around and groaning in the basement, she would be TSTL if she just flounced down the stairs asking, “Who’s there?” without waiting for the hero (who, I dunno, was out taking a walk or whatever) to come back and accompany her. 

She would not be TSTL if her baby brother was somewhere in the basement, being held captive by whatever was making the clunking and groaning sounds. In the second scenario, she has the proper motivation to venture into the dark by herself (hopefully she takes a weapon!) because someone she loves is at risk. 

I don’t think the heroine in a romance novel always needs the permission or presence of the hero in order to make big decisions that may endanger her life….as long as she has the proper motivation. This goes for the hero, too. (I wonder why we never hear of heroes being TSTL?)  This behavior might make the heroine stubborn or over-protective, but I don’t think it necessarily makes the heroine stupid. The thought that the heroine always needs the approval of the male character to make these decisions kind of bugs me.