Online communities and happy writers

I've had a lot of great discussions about the valuing art post I did, and I have to say, I love the online writing and reading community. Even when we disagree, we can have lively discussions. Oh, sure, all online communities have their nutballs, but I do love being able to talk writing and books and be the introvert I am.

Though if you tell my wife I'm the quiet, sweet one, she falls over laughing

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Julia

Just call me Sneezy

writing day! yay

Can't breathe, boo

Day off walking the dogs! Yay

Dogs very sad, boo

I like the new Dr Who, yay

I still haven't watched the Matt Smith seasons, boo

House is clean, yay!

Yard is a mess, boo

And now, for a random picture

Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of JUNE

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Julia

Valuing our work, or how romance writers get a little screwed

So, I was sitting at a reception at the UU church today, where I unexpectedly met a woman who runs a relatively well-known literary conference. She gets guests such as Gloria Steinem and Tracy Chevalier (Girl with the Pearl Earring). She handed me and BA card when she heard we were writers, but when we mentioned we were mostly e-published romance authors, the first thing out of her mouth was, "Oh, that .99 to 2.99 bundle crap? Or do you do anything high end?"

I get the .99 bundle. I really do. As an long-time ebook industry professional, I know that if you can offer the first book in a series, or a 20K short in an otherwise series full of novels, as part of a multi-author bundle, it will get a bunch of new folks exposed to your work. Hell, I buy bundles happily. For the reader they make the book budget stretch and allow us to try new authors with little commitment.

Still, I can't help but think of an old professor I had in college who doubled as an art and English professor. He often talked about devaluing art, about how people would exclaim, "My dog could do better work than this!" and about how damaging that statement was to the arts in general.

See, maybe the dog could do that. Maybe anyone with a PC and a Harlequin formula guide can write a romance.

The thing is, though, that it takes practice, persistence, and nerve to make art, literature, or music, whether classical or popular, and to share it with the world. So, we have to place a value on it.

Do I believe we should charge 15.99 for an ebook because that's what we charge for a paperback? Heck, no. But I do cringe when I see someone complain that they paid 1.99 for a lousy 5000 word story. Ouch. I mean, I wrote it. I didn't think it was lousy. Neither did the reader. They loved the story, but doesn't that author know they can get a bundle for .99?

So many people already question the validity of writing and reading romance. As a genre, we get the pats on the head, the sorrowful chin waggle. Our local indie bookstore here in Albuquerque has a mystery section. Horror, sci fi. Not romance, even though we account for fully a quarter of all books sold in the world every year.

So, I have to wonder. If we don't put a higher value on our genre, on our work, how will anyone else?

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Julia

so tired

and freezing cold. I think my stress levels are just up too much and hormones are nuts

what does a girl have to do to get a sponsor?

I was playing around on Twitter with Jenny Trout, a writer I quite admire, who recently got a box of clothes from Modcloth, a wonderful retail site that carries all sorts of stuff, including the cutest plus sized dresses ever.

I was teasing her about having an official "designer", and said I needed to get a sponsorship from Old Navy, since I wear their yoga pants everywhere.

In all seriousness, y'all, this is a great idea. I warm to the topic. I wear their slub hoodies all winter long. The thin ones that you can wear as another layer, the ones that you can wear to bed and not be to hot. I wear their long, best fit tank tops every day under my other shirts to smooth out the bumps and lumps of my middle aged spread.

I love their holiday pig banks.

So, I think Old Navy should sponsor me since they do pride t-shirts every year and I'm a GLBT author.

My only other option really is Chocolove or something...

What do y'all think?

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Julia

The Queen City and Julia or AAD in Charlotte

Hey y'all

It has taken the better part of a week to recover from AAD. I did 6 panels, a bunch of parties, and a ball, all on a torn up ankle and about 4 hours of sleep a night. There was madness and rushing around and laughing like loon.

I can never list all the people I got to see and love on, but Kiernan Kelly, TC Blue, Bronwyn Green, Kris Norris, Jenny Trout, Elise Hepner and Joey w Hill were among the many authors who made the week amazing. Readers, I shout out to all, but Jackie had my glasses!

I presented at the Bookies and got to give an award to Desiree Holt. How cool is that?

No Bookies for me this year, but BA won best hero in a romance for Brett, from Alpha Call.

I thought Pride had the best tables at the Sins and Virtues ball thanks to Andrew Gray's decorating prowess. What do y'all think?

We had a blast, and there was so much swag. I got BA to get a signed copy of Joey Hill's Rough Canvas but the booksigning was so busy I didn't get to get up and buy books from anyone else.

Here's a few more pics.

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Julia

I have to talk about all of the things!

okay, y'all.

I know all promo all the time is bad, but I have so much going on!

I have Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC August 6th through the 10th. That's Wednesday night through Saturday. Wednesday I'll be hosting the opening party with Kiernan Kelly and BA Tortuga. That's at 4pm. We're all presenting at the Bookies Thursday night. I'm on a metric shit-ton of panels. On Saturday I'll be at the big booksigning, signing both Designated Bottoms and Midnight Rodeo. Come see me!

One-Eyed Jack's story is out at Changeling Press. The third elemental ops book is called Found, and it's all about analyst Lane and Ops second in command Jack. Find it here!

Dragons!

Oh, and Designated Bottoms is out this week! OMG y'all. Me, BA Tortuga, Kiernan Kelly, Shannon West, Katey Hawthorne and KC Wells. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this. Find it here!

Some men are bottoms by birth, others by choice. Whatever the reason, a designated bottom is someone who’s happy to surrender, to submit, or just catch instead of pitch!

My story, Faster Bobcat, is also available as a single here.

I'll have DB at Authors after dark, and Shannon, BA and Kiernan will all be there to sign!

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Julia