Luree & Tracy

INTERVIEW WITH

ERIN GRADY

FEBRUARY 2008

Your Opinion, Please?
 

We are highly honored to have as our guest blogger Erin Grady the Award Winning Author of Web of Smoke, Echoes and Whispers which can be found on Amazon.com.  Be looking for Erin's newest title under her pseudonym Roxanne Alcaraz, The Book of Fennore: Beneath the Ruins.

Erin is a local Arizona author, a long standing member of the RWA and a volunteer for San Diego University Writer’s Conference.  Erin spent untold hours setting up the advance readings and consultation appointments with editors/agents for all of us attending in January.  She deserves an award for all her efforts!  Thanks Erin for taking the time to be with us today.
 

T&L:  If you don’t mind tell us a little about yourself.  When did you first know you wanted to write?   How long had you been writing before the first novel was published? 

T&L:  What is your sage advice on agent representation?  We've heard that a writer should have some sort of connection with their agent.  A mutual excitement over the work.  Would a friendly agent be considered a better fit for business than say an agent that seems more aggressive?

T&L:  Many writers mention they made mistakes in the beginning, but never expound on the actual lessons learned. Can you share with us some common mistakes new writer’s make and how to avoid them?

T&L:  How important is it for writers to attend conferences?  Are there ways to have the same opportunities on a smaller budget?
 

Erin:  Conferences are important for many reasons, depending on where you in your career.  For someone starting out, the opportunity to sit across from an editor and agent and have them tell you what they do or don’t like about your ideas is invaluable.  The chance to ask, “would it be better if . . .” and get an answer—again, priceless.  So much of the business is dumb luck that if you have a chance to get a solid answer—good or bad—take it. 

Another biggie in my personal book of reasons to go to conferences is the energy charge.  With the exception of a few, every conference I’ve been too has been turbo charged with people excited about their work, opportunities, etc.  Sometimes we need to step out of our solitary writing world and amp up on creative energy.  I quit writing for about 5 years after my first book was published and I couldn’t sell my second (which later became multi-award winning ECHOES).  I was so depressed that I just walked away.  But then I met a writer at the SDSU conference who was working on her first book.  She still had all the stars in her eyes and thought great things were going to happen and she convinced me to become her critique partner.  For the first year, I was very resistant.  I agreed to read so many pages and only if I received them in advance and on a schedule.  But through mentoring, I reconnected with my love of the craft and went on to re-writing ECHOES and selling it.  I might not have come back to writing if it hadn’t been for this experience.
 

And last but not least, for the author who has been publishing (and for those on their way) you can’t put a price tag on the advice someone higher up on the food chain might give you in the bar.  The guidance of other authors who have been there done that can change your career.

Erin:  Ugh, the contest question.  It’s a tough call on that.  I wouldn’t spend all my writing time on entering them, however there are some great perks that come with it.  For example, in a business where 90% of the news is bad news, getting something good like a finalist status or a contest win can really soothe the soul.  And we need that.  It’s also a message to you—you’re close.  You’re good.  Agents and editors aren’t going to make decisions on contest wins.  They won’t say, “she won the pink heart throb, let’s sign her today!” but they will say, “hmmm, okay, I’ll read more.”  When you’re starting out, getting them to read more is vital. 

Erin:  Editors are usually warm, friendly people.  They are excited to buy your book and they like working with authors.  I’ve heard stories of editors who have asked for changes on a book that the author didn’t believe were right, but I’ve never had the experience—I’ve always been lucky I guess.  The best way to look at your editor/writer relationship is s/he is your favorite customer.  Yes, I said customer.  You are the supplier, they are your buyer.  You have to make sure you deliver fresh, tasty products on time to keep them coming back for more and you have to listen to feedback and change your business plan to accommodate them.  Or, you have to find a new customer who likes the product you’re selling as it is.  It’s as simple as that.  You wouldn’t call your customer and waste their time, bitch about other suppliers, whine because your kids are bugging you or any of that.  Don’t do this with your editor (or agent) either.

You have to give up the idea that “I can only write when ___________” (fill in the blank.)  I can write WHENEVER.    Really, if I have 15 minutes to write, then I write for 15 minutes.  You can do whatever you say you can do.  Now (and I fought for this) I have a job where I work 4 10-hour days.  So I have one day a week that is mine to write.  My husband it always trying to get me to run errands on those days, but I flat out refuse.  I write.  From the time my kids leave the house until they come home.  Half the time I don’t even shower until 3:20.  And I write Saturday and Sunday mornings.  I have this whole routine where I light candles in my office and the kids (and hubby) know that if the candles are burning, it’s a “Keep Out” sign.

Erin:  You need to have a proposal ready to go when you sell the first book.  They generally do not offer multi-book deals unless you offer multi-book ideas.
 

T&L:  How important is a writer's ability to market themselves?  Do you have any suggestions for new writer's just starting out?

T&L:  If you would, tell us about your newest projects and when we can expect to see them in the book stores?
 

Erin:  My newest project is a trilogy centered around two mystical families and the legendary Book of Fennore.   As old as the earth and sky, the Book of Fennore is a dark entity with its own consuming desires and twisted needs.  Just touching the Book can give it access to the heart, mind, and very soul of those it seeks.  Its call is irresistible.  Its promises, unimaginable.  Its price, unthinkable. 
I can’t tell you a release date yet because I don’t know, but my guess is next year.  J

You can visit Erin Grady at:  www.eringrady.com   

Be watching for our next author interview in March as we continue our theme: On the Road to Publication.

If you would like to be a guest blogger please feel free to contact us at: luree_tracy@yahoo.com or visit our website:  tagates-lureevanderpool.com

Check out our book projects.  Vote on your favorite title or send us a blog message with comments or questions.  We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Tracy & Luree