Skip to main content

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

Advance Marketing and Sales Information

Captain’s Log, Stardate 05.24.2006

Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS by Cheryl Wolverton.
My Monday book giveaway is A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for ONCE UPON A CHOCOLATE KISS and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.

What Zondervan needs from me:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...

So here I was, thinking I’d never need to do a stupid one page synopsis ever again now that I’m contracted, right? Guess what they need by September 15th for the next book in the series:

** My current bio (no problem, I love talking about myself)

** A one or two-sentence summary (You mean like a pitch??? One of those 30-second things that I never thought I’d need to do again?)

** A completed Marketing Information Form (Okay, I just got this, and it’s a TON of stuff. A lot of character things—what they look like, personal items, temperament/personality, what they’d typically wear, all the inconsequential details filled out on my character charts somewhere...Then also back-cover copy and short blurbs for marketing to use for catalogs and website copy.)

** A chapter excerpt (My best chapter—which should be my first chapter—that introduces the atmosphere of the novel, the characters, the setting.)

** A one-page book summary for marketing/ promotional purposes (Wait a minute—you mean like a one page synopsis??? I thought my one-page horrors were over once I dropped from the contest circuit, because proposals are typically a 2-3 page synopsis, and an optional chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I am sadly disillusioned. The dreaded S-word never goes away.)

Some of this stuff is redundant with the Marketing Information Form—for instance, the MIF also asks for a short summary and a chapter excerpt. I’m thinking that the MIF and some of this other stuff might go to separate places, but don’t quote me on that.

Now, before Robin smacks me upside the head, I’m not complaining. This is really cool stuff. I just had some preconceived notions about what nasty things might go away once I had a house to develop me as an author. Haha. Silly me.

TMI:

Writing: Still revising. Had a great talk with Sue Brower on the phone today about my Marketing Info Form for my cover! Let me say right now, THAT IS SO WEIRD.

I’m not one of those writers who fantasizes about what her cover will look like. I just don’t want something that gives away all the good parts of the book, and that doesn’t look dark and gloomy.

It’s just strange to think about what I want for my cover. It’s like it’s now starting to sink in that this thing will actually be printed and bound.

And in a second I’m going to start panicking about letting Zondervan down. I just want to do my best so they sell a lot of books and justify all their time and effort in me. It’s in God’s hands, I know that, but I just don’t want to disappoint them.

Comments

Chaos-Jamie said…
Funny. I've totally planeed my cover, fully knowing that it will probably never be. How much fun are you having!?!
Sabrina L. Fox said…
Thanks, Camy, for keeping us in the loop. It's fun to hear all the inside stuff.
Unknown said…
Camy, thanks for providing this information.

As a book reviewer those blurbs help us determine what to include when we write our synopsis for your review. If there are things you want to save for your readers(red herrings other suprises,) we will notice it when we receive the blurb from your publicist. And won't give your darlings away.

It also helps me decide which books I want to accept for review, and which books might be a good fit for a specific magazine edition I might be writing for. For instance, Claudia Burney's book would be a great fit for our Male issue at Anointed Mag, because Jazz is such an awesome male love interest. Or like when Angela Benson wrote an article in Precious Times Magazine(another place I write) about church abuse for our Church issues edition.

When you can transcribe your story into a quick sentence or three, you have a better chance of getting more copy opportunities. Well, at least from me.

Happy writing.
Mary DeMuth said…
Oh man! So NOT fair! I'm laughing because I am writing synopses (yes, plural) for three books I haven't written. It's excruciating. It makes me want to hurl! (er, in a nice way?)

The truth? The hard work never ends. Thankfully, and I think I'm speaking for both of us, we LOVE what we do enough to endure marketing forms.
Anonymous said…
Oh, man! You burst my bubble, too. At least all the character profiles I do might come in handy some day.
Anonymous said…
It really must be a scary thing to get your baby ready to perform. I feel like that at any interview. I get so terrified that I flunked two interviews completely. And it can be very embarrassing, especially when you hear this young thing who's about half your age mimicking: "I want to help these immigrant women" as you go out the door. Actually, I almost turned around and said to her, "What are *you* doing here with that kind of attitude? Are you going to make fun of the women you're supposed to be helping?" By that time I was so furious I could have done bodily harm to someone. I knew I hadn't got the job so I really had nothing to lose except my dignity, self-respect and my witness for the Lord. So I got out of there as fast as I could.

God really helped in the next and last interview I ever had. I had to do an accounting test before the interview and I guess I must have passed that with flying colors because I got no weird questions and did not have to prove myself anymore in the interview. And believe me, I'll never go for another.

I think justifying your book's life must be similar to that. "How do you think you can benefit our company?" Only here it would probably be: "Why do you think people will enjoy your book?"

I'm so happy for you that you've got the proverbial "foot in the door" now.

That's what I hated too: doing synopses of anything but it can be a useful took for any essay; a little more difficult for fiction as I've found when I've reviewed books. Yeah, I can do that since I don't have to make up the story myself.

Are you working on your next book already? And do you know when this first one is scheduled to come out? You actually might have mentioned it but my mind is spotty right now. Too much stress.

Hugs and prayers.
Sharon Hinck said…
Hey, Camy.
I know, I know. The elevator pitch is still important (you use it when you do interviews or chat with customers at signings), the synopsis is still needed, back cover copy is needed....EVER so much like writing a proposal.

(I'd WAY rather write an entire novel than a proposal and synopsis).

But the good news is that you KNOW this is all going to support your ultra-cool novel. :-)

Hugs, Sharon
Angie Poole said…
Camy,

As the four year old says,

"Sit in peace podition, and belax."pb
Catherine West said…
Ha. hahahahhaha....
Okay, mean laughter done - I really love you and I am so glad you are going through this in order to warn the rest of us what may lie ahead. :)
Of course, it's enough to 'almost' make me glad I'm not published. But not really.
God allowed you to get to this point, so He will give you the grace, patience and all the sushi you need to get you through filling out that form and writing those synopses.
You can do it!!
'Go, Camy, Go, Camy, Go Camy - woot woot!!'
Does that help???
Lynette Sowell said…
I'm laughing, and smiling. SURE, we authors just get to WRITE the books, huh? For me, the MOST fun has been writing the dedication page. :)

The synopsis is still painful, but it's my road map with occasions for (short) detours.

The back cover/inner cover copy is also a kick in the butt. Which is why they always say to learn to condense your book into a sentence, then into 50 words or less. And SAVE that info. You'll need it.
Lynette--
who is still giddy after getting her case of AUTHOR COPIES in the mail. :)

Popular Posts

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Camille's Writing Progress

Join my newsletter to get regular updates in your inbox!

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Camy’s Worsted Cotton Comfortable Skirt with Lace Edging knitting pattern

I made my original Comfortable Cotton Skirt with a simple eyelet round at the bottom, but this one has a simple antique garter stitch lace edging, “Edging to Trim the Body and Sleeves” on page 43 of the book New Guide to Knitting and Crochet , published in 1847. You can download a free ebook copy of the book here . The edging was originally to trim a Baby’s Knit Body, but I have no idea what that is. :P If you do, please do leave a comment. I also changed the hip increases to 4 distinct darts rather than 8 sections, but if you prefer the hip increases from my original Comfortable Cotton skirt, you can substitute that. Like the original Comfortable skirt, this one is cotton for summer, and loose for casual wear. It has a little positive ease and is only slightly flared. The waist is drawstring rather than elastic so that I can loosen it on my fat days or after pigging out at my favorite restaurant. This pattern/recipe is for my size, but there are instructions at the bottom for

One-Skein Pyrenees Scarf knitting pattern

I got into using antique patterns when I was making the scarf my hero wears in my Regency romance, The Spinster’s Christmas . I wanted to do another pattern which I think was in use in the Regency period, the Pyrenees Knit Scarf on pages 36-38 of The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work, volume 1, by Jane Gaugain, published in 1840. She is thought to be the first person to use knitting abbreviations, at least in a published book, although they are not the same abbreviations used today (our modern abbreviations were standardized by Weldon’s Practical Needlework in 1906). Since the book is out of copyright, you can download a free PDF copy of the book at Archive.org. I found this to be a fascinating look at knitting around the time of Jane Austen’s later years. Although the book was published in 1840, many of the patterns were in use and passed down by word of mouth many years before that, so it’s possible these are

The Robe by Wes King

Captain’s Log, Stardate 01.07.2006 I’ve been developing the spiritual theme for this current project for a while, and I think I’ve finally nailed it down. This song has inspired me in my own walk, but then it occurred to me that it communicates the emotional theme for my WIP very well, too. The Robe by Wes King Anyone whose heart is cold and lonely Anyone who can't believe Anyone whose hands are worn and empty Come as you are Anyone whose feet are tired of walking And even lost their will to run There is a place of rest for your aching soul Come as you are For the robe is of God That will clothe your nakedness And the robe is His grace It's all you need Come as you are Anyone who feels that they're unworthy Anyone whose just afraid Come sinner, come and receive His mercy Come as you are For the robe is of God That will clothe your nakedness And the robe is His grace It's all you need Come as you are From the album: The Robe c1993 Emily Boothe, Inc. (BMI)/Careers-BMG Mus

Grace Livingston Hill romances free on Google Books

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci

Cleo’s Drawstring Purse knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks CotLin

Kari Trumbo is one of the twelve authors who participated with me in the Christian Contemporary Romance anthology, Save the Date . Kari’s novella in the anthology is titled January Hope . In celebration, I wrote a knitting pattern for the lace drawstring purse used by Kari’s heroine, Cleo. (In case you missed it, here are the links for my interview with Kari part 1 and part 2 . Tomorrow I’ll post an excerpt of one of Kari’s other books, Better Than First .) This is a pretty and practical little bag used by the heroine Cleo in Kari Trumbo’s novella, January Hope . Knit in a cotton/linen blend yarn, it’s just large enough for a cell phone and a small wallet. In the book, Cleo’s bag was a coral shade, but the bag I knit here is a chocolate brown color. The lace pattern is the Double Rose Leaf stitch pattern originally published on page 195 in The Lady's Assistant, volume 2 by Mrs. Jane Gaugain, published in 1847. ( You can download a scanned .pdf of the book from Archive.

Ashlyn's Yoga Bag knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks Dishie

Jaycee Weaver is one of the twelve authors who participated with me in the Christian Contemporary Romance anthology, Save the Date . Jaycee’s novella in the anthology is titled Braver With You . In celebration, I wrote a knitting pattern for the yoga mat bag used by Jaycee’s heroine, Ashlyn. Update 2022: The Save the Date anthology is now out of print, but Jaycee’s novella is available individually on Kindle! (In case you missed it, here are the links for my interview with Jaycee part 1 and part 2 , and an excerpt of one of Jaycee’s other books, Whatever Comes Our Way .) This yoga mat bag for Jaycee Weaver’s heroine, Ashlyn, is both pretty and practical. I made the base of the bag a little large, so that it will fit a variety of lengths of mat, and my husband (who does yoga every week) says that a larger base helps protect his mat a little better when he has to walk or bike with it to his yoga class. My husband’s mat was extra-thick so it was a slightly snugger fit than my o