Skip to main content

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7 annotated edition

Earlier I had posted that you can now buy Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7: Spinster  on my website. But I forgot to mention that for a limited time, if you buy the eBook  or the paperback , you’ll also get the annotated edition eBook with Easter Eggs, behind-the-scenes tidbits, research notes, and random author commentary FREE. Once the book goes into Kindle Unlimited, I can no longer offer the annotated version on my website, so be sure to get it now before the book goes up on Amazon. 10% off coupon code for ALL BOOKS I finally got all the Lady Wynwood’s Spies regular paperbacks in my store, and if you use the coupon code website10 , you can get 10% off all the eBooks and paperback books in my shop! NOTE: If you’re waiting for the Special Edition paperbacks, those will be available in my Kickstarter  later this month. Get 10% off https://camilleelliot.com/shop/

Z stuff

Captain’s Log, Stardate 08.11.2006

Blog book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway is MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE by Allie Pleiter.
My Thursday book giveaway is RELUCTANT BURGLAR by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE and post the title for another book I'm giving away.

Of not much interest to anyone else except writers...
While I was at RWA, I got the back cover copy and bio that will be on my books. I apparently had to approve them. They were written by Z’s marketing staff, I guess. Have a gander:

[Brief summary]

Lex Sakai never had time for dating until her crafty grandmother insists she bring a date to her cousin’s wedding. The always-in-control Lex uses Ephesians to compile a huge list of traits for the Perfect Man … but God seems to have a much more unlikely candidate in mind.

[Back ad]

Will Lex Sakai be able to surrender her “perfect man” list and give Mr. All Wrong a chance?

Lex Sakai’s family is big, nosy, and marriage-minded. When her cousin Mariko gets married, Lex will become the oldest single cousin in the clan. And that makes her a moving target for Grandma Sakai, who insists that Lex bring a date to her cousin’s wedding.

Of course, Grandma Sakai has some perfect candidates for Lex. Too bad they don’t speak English! And Lex herself has used her Bible study class on Ephesians to compile a huge list of traits for the perfect man. But the one man she keeps running into doesn’t seem to have a single quality on her list. Aiden Young is not her type. He’s not a jock, he’s not employed, he’s not a Christian, and he was just dumped by Lex’s cousin, Trish. It’s only when the always-in-control Lex starts to let God take over that all the pieces of this hilarious romance finally fall into place.

CAMY TANG grew up in Hawaii, and worked for years as a biologist/researcher until she felt God’s call to return to the writing that she had loved as a student. She now writes “romance with a kick of wasabi” and, with her husband, is a staff worker at the youth group of the Santa Clara Valley Japanese Christian Church. Solo Sashimi is her first in a series of four romance novels about the single cousins in the Sakai family.

US $.99/UK £.99/CAN $.99
FICTION / ROMANCE / HUMOR
ISBN 0-310-

Camy here: Like how it’s priced at 99 cents? :)

They seem to be marketing it more as romance, which is fine with me. However, I’m realizing that it hopefully won’t look too romancy on the cover or else it might not appeal to my main demographic—20- and 30-something singles, chick-lit lovers.

I also recently received a “writer’s welcome package” of sorts from Z. “The materials accompanying this leter are designed to give you an overview of the editorial, marketing, and sales efforst that will go into successfully publishing your title.”

Cooooooool.

I have an Author Information Form to fill out and send back, and I also have to include a headshot AND the photographer’s written permission to use it. Hmm. Since I don’t have that for my current headshot, I guess that means I have to get another photo done.

They gave me a copy of THE CHRISTIAN WRITER’S MANUAL OF STYLE, which I know is a standard used in most publishing houses alongside THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE. I think I got a copy of THE CHRISTIAN WRITER’S MANUAL OF STYLE because it’s published by Z.

I also got this nifty handbook that tells about Zondervan and a few of their departments like Marketing and Sales. It also talks a bit about their Bibles, Zonderkidz, and Inspirio.

There’s an FAQ section that has mostly stuff I already know—no-brainers like “Will you be giving my manuscript a new title?” (Hell, yes, because the I absolutely suck at titles), “Will every bookstore carry my title?” (Dream on, babe), and “How long will my title be kept in print?” (As long as a certain number of people keep buying it each month, duh.)

I also got a really neat Royalty Reference Guide that shows a sample statement and deciphers the Greek. However, I still can’t keep straight in my head whether “net” or “gross” is retail price and which is wholesale price.

In all, a nice package to get, but also more things for me to do. Gotta find a photographer who will give Z written permission to use the photo.

TMI:

Diet:
I exercised five times this week so far! The past few days I mixed things up a bit—I did only one Denise Austin program and then the Power Yoga program. The yoga was quite challenging but also very relaxing with all the stretching.

However, I have apologize to my husband, Captain Caffeine, because I did yoga on Thursday, which was abs and back, and I overdid it. My back was a little sore for the rest of Thursday, but it was fine on Friday.

So I can’t say anything about him complaining his back and then not doing yoga with me. He might have been doing himself a favor.

Comments

PatriciaW said…
First, Camy, way to go with your focus on exercising. If you're not healthy, you can't do any of the other things that God has ordained for you to do, or at least not do them well! Okay, guess that makes it my turn to get going!

I think your series is going to do very well. New niche and your the first one out of the gate, I think. Does Z sell much chick-lit? Maybe their more comfortable marketing romance than chick-lit. If the cover art doesn't target the market appropriately, you might have to push back a little...gently.

Educate me, the aspiring author. They're not really going to sell your book for $0.99, are they? This is just a placeholder/default until the final stages?
Unknown said…
LOL.....I told you it was awesome at RWA! You SO rock. And so does the book. But I'm still holding out for the 3rd....that character's my fav! :)
Sheryl said…
Camy,
This has got to be so exciting for you :-)

Thanks for giving us a glimpse of the behind the scenes of what an author (yes, that would be you!) goes through in publishing her book.

I know I can't wait to read the whole series :-)

Blessings,
Sheryl
Camy Tang said…
hey're not really going to sell your book for $0.99, are they?

LOL no, they're not going to sell it for $0.99, that's just until they decide on the price.

Camy
Anonymous said…
I enjoy all the behind-the-scenes, too, Camy. Way to go on the book series, girl. Can't wait to read it. You're getting that exercise done, too--what's your secret?:-)

hugs & blessings,
Vicki
Ronie Kendig said…
Way kewl, Camy! Thanks for sharing all that. It's fascinating to hear about it. I noticed they didn't say anything in the blurbs about Grandma's proposed boob job. :-D
Anonymous said…
Very exciting new development. Must feel more official with each new stage in the process! As for that photo, you can find tips on how to have a great photo shoot on
"My Blog". Or next time I'm in town, I can take your photos for you!
Shirlee McCoy said…
You're on your way, Camy!

I'm so excited for you!

Shirlee
Ruth said…
I love hearing all of this "behind the scenes" news! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous said…
How exciting, Camy! I can't wait until your book comes out. :)
Way to go on the exercising. I've been doing a yoga DVD and man does it stretch you out. :)

Popular Posts

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...

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...

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...

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

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...

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...

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

A List of my Free Blog Reads

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...