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Blogs by Pamela C Labud
After the Party 4/17/2005 2:13:29 PM
What life is like on the other side of publication. Hello gentle readers!
I just wanted to pop in for a bit and give an update of how things are going these days.
After a week of a killer cold and sinus infection, I'm finally getting back to the computer. I had fully intentioned to spend the next few weeks working diligently on my new novel, "If You Could Read My Mind," but fate and a nasty virus had other plans. I'm happy to say that with the help of cold medicines and antibiotics, I'm quickly on the mend.
I titled this entry, After the Party, because that's what it has been like. In a flurry of work, kids, job, and a fifth grade field trip with my daughter, "Sprited Away" finally saw its release date. Whew! What a thrill ride!
Like a roller coaster, there are definitely ups and downs. For the most part, folks, it's been ups, with only an occasional less than stunning review. But, to my credit, I've chosen not to dwell on those, except to see how I can use the comments to improve my future books.
But the ride has been fantastic, for the most part. It all started when Spirited Away received a four star review in the Romantic Times bookclub magazine. The reviewer compared my little ghost story to the movies "Ghost" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" which thrilled me to no end. Both are on the top ten list of my all time favorite pics.
Then came a Five star review from Cataromance. I am way excited about that one. I know people (meaning non-writing, non-romance reading people) often make light of category romance. They sometimes say very unkind things. The truth is, my friends, that category romance writers are the best in the business, and in fact, a lot of our New York Times Bestsellers started out as category writers. So there, nay sayers.
The truth is, writing category is probably the most difficult genre to break into. It takes a full knowledge of each line, not only word count, but content as well. Because there have been so many category books published since the genre started, there is a huge need for new, innovative ways to tell the story and yet stay in bounds of what each line requires. Don't kid yourselves, category readers are among the most discerning readers in popular fiction today. They demand the very best. In short, folks, 'it ain't easy.'
Yet, month after month, category authors shine with intriguing characters, plots, and settings that will knock your socks off. So, when my little single title book got rave reviews from CataRomance, I'm totally blown away by it.
A short blurb here for a few of my catagory romance pals, Kathleen O'Brien, Ann Evans, Katherine Garbera, Lori Harris, Kathleen Long, and Leslie Kelly. Check them out, folks. These authors are awesome.
Of course, as with all things, there will be people that just don't instantly fall in love with your work. Think about it, do you like every book you read? As a result, there are always some mean people out there who feel the need to say nasty and derogatory things about what they read. For my own self, if I read a book and don't like it, I just put it away, half the time not even finishing it. Yes, I've spent a whole five or six dollars on something I didn't like, but that's just life. Get over it.
Sooo, the moral of the story is, accept the negative, but embrace the positive. That's the only way I know how to deal with it. The best part of all of this has been the readers. I've had some incredible reader comments, on my website guestbook, on some of the message boards like RT reader board, and simply by word of mouth. My Supervisor at work actually brought me three people last night with money in hand ready to buy my books. Can you believe it? She absolutely raved about "Spirted Away " I can hardly believe it.
If I've only managed to give a few people an enjoyable read, I think I've done well. If nothing else, I've done what few others have. Not everyone can write, and so few of us are chosen to be published. I am constantly amazed by the men and women who continually risk it all by writing and publishing thier work. It takes a lot of courage to put your heart and soul on display.
If you'd like to read an interesting blog from a celebrity, David Duchovny, who just wrote, directed, and starred in his own movie, "House of D,"go the the movie's website at Lionsgate films and lookup his blog. This is a talented actor (whom I absolutley love, btw) who took a chance on doing an independent film. He's rich, famous, extremely good looking, and has a busy film and television career, but he felt compelled to create this wonderful story and risk it all by putting it out there. You can be assured, it takes a lot of guts to do something like this.
I also want to make a final note to thank everyone who has been so terrific to me through this whole experience. My husband and two daughters at the top of my list. Also, my critique partners, Marlene Noles and Linda Friar, and my editor Hilary Sares. Believe me, without these two ladies, "Spirited Away" would still be a dream of mine and not the reality that it is. Of course, my mom, Wanda Curtis, who taught me how to read and then shared her wonderful gothic romances with me when I was growing up. She really started it all. Also,the wonderful authors who've helped me along the way, all those mentioned above, and Melynda Beth Skinner, a wise and wonderful Regency author, who gave me the best advice I've ever gotten as a writer. And Esther Lutrell who is my screenwriting mentor and a terrific writer as well. And finally the ladies of the Central Florida Romance Writers, and RWA. I wouldn't have even taken my first step as a published author without them.
Before I go, one final word. If you want to read some really fabulous books, check out www.romanceunleashed.com for my fellow Zebra Debut authors. These are some incredible books, and if you love romance, you won't want to miss out.
