Interview with Michelle Houts

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em! Even more special - this is a WoW! Edition of the SAT - We're Ohio Writers! Yeah - cause we grow 'em here.

Michelle Houts lives and plays on a family farm in West Central Ohio. She shares her days with her three children, the famer of her dreams, some cattle, a whole lot of barn cats, a golden retriever, and a goat who believes he’s a golden retriever. She enjoys reading, cooking and hiking any place that has hills because where she lives it is very flat. An eternal student, Michelle has degrees in special education, early childhood education, and speech-language pathology. THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY  (Delacorte, 2009) is Michelle’s first novel for middle grade readers. It received the 2010 IRA Children’s Book Award for intermediate fiction and was a finalist for the 2010 Buckeye Children’s Book Award.

Michelle's SAT will revolve around her non - traditional approach that landed her a contract.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I think I'm a planner. To a fault, maybe. I'm sure there are times that I spend too much time thinking about what to write and not enough time actually writing!

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

I have a lot of rings in my life's circus right now. More than three. Many more. So, my writing time varies greatly from month to month. Generally, I allow about 4 months for a first draft. After that, the real work begins.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

I only work on one novel at a time, although I am by nature the multi-tasking type, and I'd love to have the freedom to just get up each morning and follow whatever whim my heart desires on that day. Since I'm not there (yet) I have to be disciplined enough to finish a project before moving on to another. That being said, I do always have several novels in various stages, but once I've committed to one of them, I have to finish it. I will, however, indulge in some picture book manuscript creation or revision even while working on a novel because I find that a good way satisfy that need to multi-task!

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

Mostly the fear of anything over 500 words. I never saw myself as a novelist until a family friend (who happened to be a retired English teacher) told me I should give it a shot. I dreamed of being a picture book author. But it was a novel that got me published.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

I guess I've temporarily quit on two novels that have been put away to... ripen or decay? Not sure yet. Either or both could see the light of day again. Or not... Mostly, I put them away because I had a better idea and had decided to go with it. So the new book, which turned out to be THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY, took over the space on the top of the desk while the others went into hiding.

Tell us about your non - traditional approach to success.

I was blessed to do what some say is impossible and I sold my first novel to Random House through the Delacorte Dell Middle Grade Contest. It didn't win. No one won the year I submitted. But it did get noticed and passed on to an editor who called and said if I was willing to work on it a little, they might be willing to offer a contract. I did. And they did. And that was the beginning.

So you think contests are a great way for aspiring writers to get their foot in the door?

I think aspiring authors need to explore all avenues toward publication and be careful not to rule out anything. Entering a contest worked for me. It was a way to get into a house that was otherwise closed to unsolicited manuscripts.  But I also attended conferences, joined SCBWI, and learned how to be my own best advocate.

Do you think you’ll want an agent for the next go-round?

You bet. Don't get me wrong. My experience with the folks at Delacorte was fantastic, but I don't really wish to repeat it. I have too many unanswered questions, and I felt a little alone in the big, strange world of publishing.

How did it feel the first time you saw your book for sale?

I live in a rural area and I did a lot of book signings and launch parties and school visits where a local retailer hand-sold my books because a person would have to drive for miles to buy one themselves. So the first time my daughter and I went to a major metropolitan area and I walked into a bookstore and saw it there on the shelf, face out, right next to HOWLIDAY INN (Houts, Howe - see how that works?!) I thought I might wet my pants. I took a picture instead. Much more appropriate.

How much input do you have on cover art?

Funny you asked. Remember I didn't have an agent to help me wade through that manifesto of a contract I was given. So, what do you think stuck out to me? Section 7. The one that says the publisher will design the jacket and select the cover art and I will not. Maybe that's because it was one of the few sections written in verbage I could understand. I might have been signing away rights to my dog's first litter of puppies, but I wouldn't have known it. Section 7 I understood. And it filled me with dread. These publisher people were in New York City. My book was about cattle. Beef cattle. What if they put a big old dairy cow on the cover? I panicked and prayed until the jpeg of the cover arrived. Then I danced. I loved it. No udders anywhere! And the best part? Everyone, and I mean everyone, thinks the girl on my cover in my daughter. What a hoot!

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

I remember a time when my editor and I weren't agreeing on one aspect of the book. She saw it one way. I saw it another. I got her editorial letter with her suggestion and I crumbled. I thought it was the end. I figured: they are a major publishing company and I am just a farm gal from Ohio. Who sounds more powerful in that duo? What surprised me was that when I called my editor and explained my grief over the direction she'd ask me to take, she quickly backed off. I'll never forget her words: "Your name is on the cover of this book, Michelle. Everything that goes in it has to ring true to what you want to say." It wasn't the end. No one was going to strong-arm me into making the book they wanted. I was permitted to own the material. What a happy surprise.

How much of your own marketing do you?

I decided early on that it would be well worth it to invest a portion of my advance back into marketing the book. I know some would shake their heads and say it is the publisher's job, but I knew that there would be a limited amount of resources dedicated to promoting a first-timer. So, I had my
website and blog set up. I got into Facebook and spent a few dollars on nice, color postcards, business cards, and school visit flyers. I lined up all my own bookstore appearances including a four-city Ohio mini book tour. It's been well worth every penny.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

I believe it has helped me connect with readers. Usually I get "friended" or emailed AFTER someone has read the book, but readers are more likely to feel a kinship with an author that they've been able to communicate with. So, it may well be helping me build a fan base for that next book.

Interview with Cinda Williams Chima

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em! Even more special - this is a WoW! Edition of the SAT - We're Ohio Writers! Yeah - cause we grow 'em here.

Todays guest is New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima.  Chima began writing romance novels in junior high school. Her HEIR CHRONICLES young adult contemporary fantasy series includes The Warrior Heir (2006), The Wizard Heir (2007), and The Dragon Heir (2008), all from Hyperion, with two more books forthcoming.

Chima’s best-selling YA high fantasy THE SEVEN REALMS series launched with The Demon King (2009), followed by The Exiled Queen (September, 2010) with The Gray Wolf Throne scheduled for fall, 2011. There are four books planned.

Chima’s books have received starred reviews in Kirkus and VOYA, among others. They have been named Booksense and Indie Next picks, an International Reading Association Young Adult Choice, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, to the Kirkus Best YA list, and the VOYA Editors’ Choice, Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, and Perfect Tens lists.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I'm a pantster. I've tried outlining ahead and it just doesn't work for me. Of course, that means there's always lots of revision to be done.

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

Depends on what you include. For a first draft, maybe seven months. For everything, a year. I've been publishing a book a year since 2006.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

Before I sold my first novel, I wrote feature articles and essays as well as novel-length fiction. Eventually, I made a conscious decision to focus on fiction and cut back on my freelance work. If you publish a book a year, you are almost always working on two or three things at once--writing the first draft of your next book, editing your previous book with your editor, and the marketing piece, of course.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

Well. I was in third grade and I had a lot of other things to be scared of besides writing. Like monsters under the bed. And dying young. And snakes.

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

Hmm. Well, The Warrior Heir was the first book I finished as an adult, and it was published. However, I do have a humongous high fantasy series that I never finished called THE STAR MARKED WARDER. My current series, THE SEVEN REALMS, is set in that world. So nothing is wasted. And I may yet go back and rework SMW.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

See above. I quit because it hadn't sold in a year, and my other series HAD sold, and I needed to buckle down and write another book in the series that was selling.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them?

I have had three agents. The first two I found through the query process and my current agent inherited me when my previous agent left the agency. It definitely wasn't through industry connections. I do think conferences can be a great way to meet agents and decide who you want representing your work.

How long did you query before landing your agent?

I went through two different agent search processes. The first time it took me four years to find an agent. The second time was relatively quick. On my last go-round, I sent out 25 letters to targeted agents and had positive responses from two.

Any advice to aspiring writers out there on conquering query hell?

The biggest mistake that I see writers make is focusing too much on the query process and not enough on craft. At the end of the day, it's all about the book. So before you start attending sessions on query letters, marketing, etc., make sure your work is where it should be. I think it took me four years to find my first agent not because my query letters were lacking, but because the work wasn't ready for prime time.
I included the first four pages of my manuscript because I hoped my writing would win them over. And, in this case, it did. Plus the agent that took me on was new to the business. I don't think a veteran agent would have signed up a 250k debut novel. When she wasn't able to sell that, she shopped THE WARRIOR HEIR, which did sell.

How did that feel, the first time you saw your book for sale?

I went out with my critique posse to a bookstore on the on-sale date and found out my book was still in the back room. We made them get them out and put them on the shelf. I've attached a photo of me on that day.

How much input do you have on cover art?

My editors have always asked me for suggestions as to what could go on the covers, and they run the artwork by me in its various stages. I don't have veto power or anything, but they've always responded to my input. I think the key is to be able to make a case for why you want what you want.

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

The most surprising thing was that all my troubles didn't end when I found an agent. And the second surprising thing was that all my troubles didn't end when I found a publisher.

How much of your own marketing do you?

My publisher's involvement in marketing has grown as my books have gained momentum. Early on, they were great about sending out review copies to librarians and bookstores. They printed advance reading copies and took them to conferences to increase the buzz. More recently, they've arranged appearances at venues like Book Expo and Texas Library Association. For the last two books, they've sent me on tour, which is awesome.

I do as much as I can myself. I have a website and a blog and pages on Facebook for The Heir Chronicles and The Seven Realms series. I don't Twitter--from what I can tell, most of my readers aren't on Twitter, though many of my colleagues are.

I also do school visits and library/conference appearances that I arrange on my own. I think of all the things I do, the website and the social networking pieces are key.

When do you build your platform? After an agent? Or should you be working before?

I think you have to decide upfront where your talents lie and how much time you have for this. Some authors will build a platform by hosting a writing/publishing related blog. I think it's critical to have all that up and running when you publish your first book, but until then, your first priority is sharpening your writing skills. I've always had very challenging day jobs, and I was already getting up at four a.m. and falling asleep on the keyboard at night. I didn't have time for massive platform-building. If you sell a book, you'll usually have about a year's lead time for building that puppy.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

Yes, I do. I don't have any data to support that, though. I think it develops a relationship between you and your readers and helps keep you front-of-mind between books. Plus I enjoy interacting with readers.

Interview with Kirsten Miller

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em!

Kirsten Miller is the author of THE ETERNAL ONES. The sequel, ALL YOU DESIRE will be coming Fall 2011.  She also has a major fan who happens to be one of my students, and Kirsten gamely agreed to answer a few extra questions that an inquiring little mind wanted to ask.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I’m a panster by nature, but a planner by necessity. My books are too long, labyrinthine, and plot-driven to “wing it.” I learned that lesson with my first novel. These days, I compose very long outlines before I write a word. It’s a process I despise, but in the end, I’m always happy I took the time.

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

A first draft typically takes around six months. Revising and editing can take anywhere from an additional three to six months.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

I would rather not multi-task, but it’s unavoidable. The rent must be paid! I’m often editing one book while I’m writing or outlining the next. This will change the minute I win the lottery. Ha.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

I still have to overcome countless fears every time I sit down to write. Self-loathing is a big part of my process. Kidding. Sort of. It took me a long time to realize that writing is—and SHOULD BE—work. Nothing is ever perfect the moment you put it on paper. Every sentence must be tweaked and every paragraph revised. It takes a great deal of patience, which is not a virtue with which I was blessed at birth.

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

None. I always considered myself a short story writer until I wrote my first novel. I do have lots and lots of terrible stories hidden deep in my hard drive. I keep waiting for someone to hack into my computer and expose my secret shame.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

I haven’t “quit,” but I once scrapped over sixty thousand words (200 pages) of a manuscript and started all over from scratch. I just didn’t like what I’d done. (You’ll know the feeling the moment you experience it.) In this business, you’re never going to please everyone. (Believe me.) So it’s very important that YOU are happy with what you’ve done.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them?

My agent is Suzanne Gluck at WME, the greatest agent in the history of mankind. My career would not be possible without her. I knew one of her clients, and she very kindly agreed to look at an early manuscript of my first book. She loved it, and the rest was history. I thank the universe every single day for that incredible piece of luck.

How long did you query before landing your agent?

See the answer above. And try not to hate me. I don’t experience that kind of luck on a regular basis. I swear.

Any advice to aspiring writers out there on conquering query hell?

It’s a good time to grow a very thick skin. You’ll need it as an author. Just keep in mind that (almost) every single person who has written a book has experienced soul-searing rejection and criticism. From agents, publishers, and readers. But you will eventually find people who love your work, and it will make all the pain worthwhile.

How did that feel, the first time you saw your book for sale?

Terrified. And thrilled. And terrified. I avoided bookstores for a while. Can you tell I’m just a wee bit neurotic?

How much input do you have on cover art?

I’m going to answer this question and the next at the same time. I was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) to discover that authors have very little control over the cover art for their books. If you have wonderful publishers and editors (which I do), then you will be invited to express your pleasure or displeasure. However, it is the publisher’s decision, and there’s not a whole heck of a lot you can do about it!

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

See above.

How much of your own marketing do you? Do you have a blog / site / Twitter? 

Most YA authors must tweet and/or blog, I’m afraid. It can be a lot of work. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. My Twitter handle is @Bankstirregular. (I really need to tweet a bit more.) My blog is also called Bank St. Irregular. 

I do love blogging. My blog reflects my (bizarre) interests and (many) eccentricities. And I enjoy corresponding with the people who visit the site. It’s the best part of being an author.

When do you build your platform? After an agent? Or should you be working before?

I don’t think it’s ever too early to start building your own “brand.” It might even help you attract an agent and publisher.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

I’ve heard a range of different opinions on this subject. I would say yes, but you really have to put in the time and effort. A blog post or tweet once a week isn’t going to do much for anyone.

Questions from My Student! 

When you were little, did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I always knew I wanted to write, but I never dreamed I’d get published. I figured one of my great-great-grandchildren would discover my scribblings locked away in a dusty old trunk—and hope the compulsion to write weird stories wasn’t a hereditary disorder.

What books did you read growing up?

Anything and everything. YA literature didn’t really hit its heyday until I was out of college. There were good YA books when I was a kid, of course. (The Westing Game, Lord of the Flies) But there weren’t quite as many. So I read a lot of Stephen King, and I STILL sleep with a light on.

Did you draw any inspiration from your own experiences when you wrote The Eternal Ones?

This is a question that might get me in a whole heap of trouble. Ha. I grew up in a tiny town in the mountains of North Carolina. Unlike Haven, however, I had a fabulous childhood. I did “borrow” a bit from my hometown. Eden Falls, for example, is based on a real place. But while there are many Appalachian hamlets that are much like Snope City, my hometown doesn’t happen to be one of them.

At seventeen, I got the bright idea to move to New York for college. I guess I must have been much braver (or more foolish) back then. One day, just like Haven, I packed up and left the South for good. I’ve been in New York ever since.

Unfortunately, I’ve never uncovered any proof that I’ve lived other lives. I’m waiting!