INTERVIEW WITH
JENNIFER ASHLEY
JANUARY 2008
Your Opinion, Please?
Tracy and I are so excited to have Jennifer Ashley as our first guest blogger. Jennifer writes romance, mystery and mainstream fiction. Jennifer currently has nineteen published titles and uses several pseudonyms, including Allyson James and Ashley Gardner. Her most current releases include “The Queens Handmaiden” and “Immortals: The Gathering” by Jennifer Ashley and “The Black Dragon” by Allyson James.
Jennifer is a prolific writer but even better a really great person who is willing to share her experiences about ‘On the Road to Publication’. Thanks Jennifer for being here with us today.
T&L: We have noticed that quite a few new writers get an agent, get published, fire the agent, then return to the hunt for representation. Is it worth going through that process just to get that first book out? Or is it wiser in the long run to hold out for that magical agent who likes you? Really likes you?
Jennifer:
First, you don’t always need an agent to sell a book. You can sell directly to an editor via a conference pitch or through a contest in which the editor judged your entry and asks to see the full manuscript. BUT you need the agent for what comes next--negotiating the contract, being the go-between for you and the editor, and protecting your rights.
I think some authors part ways with their first agent because the author didn’t really know what he was looking for in an agent and signed with the first person who showed interest in him.
A relationship with an agent is like a marriage. It might seem rosy at first and then you realize you aren’t at all compatible. Or you have a rocky start then a wonderful relationship from there on out.
The best way to find an agent right for you is, unfortunately, trial and error. A good agent spells a good career for you, but sometimes it takes a few tries to find that agent. Don’t be afraid to sign with an agent (that you have done research on to make sure he/she is legit and actually sells to editors), but then again, don’t sign with the first one who beams at you.
On the other hand, I know authors who, twenty years on, are still with their first agent. You never know.
T&L: We have read that many agents love to say no to the slush pile. That they much prefer to have their writers introduced through personal avenues. How does someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and has no 'connections' get past this enigma?
Jennifer:
I have never, ever believed the old adage that “it’s not what you know but who you know.” If that was true, I’d never have become a published author! When I started I knew absolutely no one--no published authors who would enthusiastically recommend me to their agent, no cousin whose wife’s brother was an agent. I mean no one. I’d never even been to New York.
You can meet agents several ways that don‘t involve “connections:” Appointments at conferences, through writing contests, and through query letters. Each of these methods is a first contact with an agent who then may request your partial or full manuscript. Once you’ve made that contact, and they ask to look at your work, you need to wow them with your writing and storytelling. It really is what you know, or rather, how well you write something that is marketable, that gets you an agent.
Even recommendations to agents from their current clients only gets the agent to read your book (maybe). It’s still no guarantee he’ll like what he sees or think he can sell it.
I found an agent (both of them; I’m on agent #2), by writing query letters. Master the art, because it might be your only “in”(conferences are expensive and contests are a long shot). There are good books out there on how to write fantastic query letters, and I have a quick and dirty guide to them on my website: http://www.jennifersromances.com/writerstips.html#Queries
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?
Jennifer:
I made several:
1. Not realizing I had to make some marketing effort. I had no clue that I had to do anything more than put up a website and wait for sales to roll in. I quickly learned from other authors (who were generous with information and advice) that I needed to keep in contact with readers and booksellers and let them know I had a book out there.
I’m not convinced that self-promo makes a huge dent when you’re published by a big house and have a large print run. But you can still reach a small number of people who then might spread the word. Word of mouth is gold.
2. I also had no idea that I could say no to my editor, publisher, or agent. I really thought I wasn’t allowed to! I thought I wasn’t even allowed to talk to my editor about where I wanted my career to go. Or talk to them about anything at all! Fortunately, I have very personable editors who disabused me of that notion.
3. I think the biggest mistake I made was not to have a coherent plan about where I wanted my career to go. Before I published I tried many different genres, trying to find my voice and my style. Well, I got published right in the middle of all that, before I could sit down and say, “ok, I’m going to write this kind of series in this genre, and I’ll write two books a year, all under the same name.” I suddenly had three different names and four-five different series that I’ve had to scramble to keep up with. If I’d been able to go in only one direction (instead of four or five) I might have been a bestseller after five books instead of fifteen.
A big BUT--Publishing in different genres under different names opened up a lot of opportunities I might not have had if I’d stuck with one series, one name, one genre. And if that one series hadn’t worked--I’d have no career at all. Even though I scrambled in too many different directions, when certain books or series didn’t do as well, I still had other books and series that did *very* well to keep me from having to start all over again. So who knows? Maybe what I did was perfect! But I’d have felt better with a plan.
T&L: What are you feelings on how useful and important websites and blogs are to writers? If you do feel they are important, do you have any tips for new writers on how to make them successful?
Jennifer:
You should have either a website or blog or both--the choice is really up to you and your personality). I myself like a website with lots of info and visuals and a blog I update every so often as opposed to a chatty blog, because I never know what to chat about. That’s just my way--other authors do fantastic with chatty blogs.
No matter which way you go, remember that your website/blog is your billboard to your readers. When a reader reads one of your books, chances are they’ll go to your website to find out what else you’ve written or what you’re working on now. You need your site (or blog) to be very up to date and give them everything they need to know--book titles, publisher, and pub dates; what is already out; what is forthcoming; and a little bit about you personally. Book covers should have a direct link to a place the reader can buy the books.
I’ve been compiling my stats for last five years, and the most hit pages on my sites are (other than the home page): forthcoming books, current books, and bio. Everything else is hit only half as much as those three. I keep other stuff so readers can have fun, but mostly they want solid information.
If you’re not published yet, make your site look like a published authors’ site anyway. List the books you’re working on and any contests they’ve won or finaled in. Keep the blurbs short and professional--don’t give away the store. And no grumbling about how hard it is to be published or how much you hate such-and-such editor for rejecting you. Your site is open to the world, including that editor who just rejected you.
Very important--keep your site and blog updated. I update my website at least every month or so, my blogs at least once every two weeks (I try to do more, but twice a month is my minimum). Nothing bores me faster than looking up an author and finding her website hasn’t changed in eight months! Even if she doesn’t have another book coming out soon, I want to know what’s going on with her!
T&L: You give a lot of yourself to other writers. You share information on your blog and by doing interviews such as this. Are there other ways that you have found that we as women, as writers, can be more supportive of each other?
Jennifer: Thank you. I try to “pay forward” because when I first started (remember, I knew no one and nothing), I got the brush-off more times than I could count. If I met an author and tried to talk about writing, she’d change the subject or effectively say, “get lost, kid, don’t bother me.” (And I was always very polite, never rude and pushy, I swear). Fortunately for me, I found many books in the library that helped steer me in the right direction. I determined that when I got published, I’d answer questions honestly. It doesn’t take much effort to point someone to the Writer’s Market at the local library.
Other things we can do: Critique partners can help each other write better and lend support when rejection happens or when our spirits are low. Attend an author’s book signing (and buy a book!) when you can--book signings can be very hard for authors to get through (especially for shy authors). A personal thing--keep envy and jealousy to a minimum. Really publishing isn’t an “I win, you lose” scenario. Someone who sells a book exactly like yours and does very well with it will only increase the demand for your book. And karma works, too. Giving to someone else means increased bounty for you somewhere down the road.
T&L: We all know rejection is part of the path to publication. The process can become very discouraging. Especially when you read books that are simply not well written. How did you keep yourself motivated before those rejections turned into book deals?
Jennifer:
I know all about rejection!! My rejections have ranged from long, thoughtful and helpful letters to the words “Not for me” scrawled in pencil across my returned query letter.
Rejections made me think two things (after the initial grief and anger): 1. What I’m working on now is much better, and it has a better chance of selling; and 2. “Oh yeah, Ms. Editor, you think my writing is wooden? Well watch *this*!!” I basically took rejection as a challenge to do better and keep going. What got me to publication was dogged determination more than anything else.
You will always come across published books that aren’t well written, but realize that something in that poorly constructed book spoke to someone somewhere, perhaps to many someones. Try to find out what that something was. If you still can’t find the magic in it, don’t read it, because you’ll either get frustrated or start believing you have to write that too--and there’s nothing more depressing than thinking you have to write what you hate.
Instead, find books that make you smile and feel warm or excited or ones that wrench your heart or kick you in the gut--and write that.
T&L: You have mentioned before that writing contests are a good way for new writers to get noticed. Can you recommend specific contests or resources that unpublished authors may be interested in and why these contests may be useful for unpublished authors?
Jennifer: The best contests are publisher sponsored or sponsored by good writing groups and have agents and editors for judges. Romance Writers of America chapters have excellent contests that get your writing in front of editors and agents. You don’t always have to be a member to enter the contests (you pay a slightly higher fee for the ones that let non-RWA members enter), but if you make the finals, your work gets in front of an editor or agent. These are for romance novels, of course, but many have young adult or mainstream novel categories.
St. Martin’s Press does an annual contest for first mysteries--the prize, a publishing contract. Dorchester Publishing does a yearly contest looking for new single-title romance authors. Harlequin runs contests when they’re looking for new authors to write for a line they’re starting or expanding. I’ve seen other publishing houses run them periodically--check publisher websites or Writer’s Digest magazine for them. Even if you don’t win these contests, editors are reading your entries, and they might offer a contract even if you don’t win or place in the contest. I think that’s worth forking out the postage to send in your manuscript.
T&L: Have you been able to successfully cut back on your manuscript out put? And how do your fans help you keep on keeping on?
Jennifer: I laughed when I read this question. No, I haven’t cut back. I have four more full-length books and a novella to write this year, before Dec. 1. That will include doing revisions, looking over copy-edits, and proofreading for each book after I turn it in, not to mention marketing (interviews, signings, conferences, etc.) .
My readers do help by being so enthusiastic about my books. I get tons of email from readers begging me to do the next book in a series or to keep on writing no matter what it is. It’s bolstering on the days I think I can’t write another word! So please, readers, keep those emails coming. I appreciate every one.
T&L: If you would, tell us about your newest projects and when we can expect to see them in the book stores?
Jennifer: Oh so many things!! My next Jennifer Ashley book is Highlander Ever After, out in April 2008, which is a historical romance with paranormal elements. After that comes the fifth book in the Immortals series in September 2008, Immortals: The Redeeming, which is urban fantasy/romance.
Allyson James books this year include a novella in an anthology called Private Places--Robin Schone is the headliner for that anthology. That will be out in August 2008 from Berkley. After that, the third book in the Dragon series, Fire Dragon, will be out in November, also from Berkley.
I’m currently working on a new historical romance series, a new paranormal romance series, an Immortals novella, and continuing an e-book series from Allyson James. I’m also hoping to slide in another Ashley Gardner mystery. We’ll see if I can do all this!
All my upcoming projects are listed here: www.jennifersromances.com/forthcoming.html
T&L: Thanks you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to be our guest. As always we are looking forward to seeing your next book in the bookstores. We highly recommend checking out Jennifer’s web sites and blog at:
www.jenniferonwriting.blogspot.com and www.jennifersromances.com.
Jennifer does a wonderful job sharing useful information for aspiring authors!
Thanks for having me, ladies!!
As always, Tracy and Luree invite you to visit our web site at:
www.tagates-lureevanderpool.com and vote for the project that you would like to see published first.
Our on going theme is ‘On the Road to Publication’. If you would like to contribute to our blog by doing an interview that aspiring authors would find helpful. Please contact us at luree_tracy@yahoo.com. We would love to hear from you.
Tracy & Luree
