I’m going to start with the announcements, since I forgot about them yesterday. First off, I’d like to let everyone know that I’m participating in Michelle Pillow’s scavenger hunt. A download of Phantom Warriors: Bacchus is up for grabs along with a ton of other prizes. See the below info for more details.
LET THE HUNT BEGIN! ~ Contest begins May 2007!
or Alternate Contest Link
The next announcement is more of a reminder. I am participating in the Brenda Novak auction. Up for grabs from me are two ‘First 50 Page’ critiques. So wander on over there and take a look.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program. I am seeing a lot of blogs, discussing how little the authors got out of this RT Convention. Most of the authors saying this are at a point in their careers where they are no longer newbies, but far from established names. I mentioned yesterday that I noticed this at the conference, too. It’s not that everyone wasn’t having a good time. They were. It’s just that there comes a point where you have to begin to choose your conference registration wisely. You get more out of some conferences than you do out of others. I met a few booksellers, which was lovely and one reader’s group. (Waving to Elle & Kate.) Other than that, there wasn’t much to experience beyond companionship. A friend and I were discussing that it’s an awful expensive way to party with your friends.
There were a few other things that popped up at RT that had me concerned, so I need to make a few things clear. I had a LOT of people come up to me and congratulate me on my sales, which was very nice. 
The trouble is most of them seem to be under the impression that I haven’t sold anything in years, which isn’t the case. I’ve been selling and releasing books with Ellora’s Cave over the past two years. Three books to be exact.
Also, many people have taken my writing frustration that I’ve expressed on this blog and twisted it into me having major depression. I can assure you that I have NEVER had major depression (thank goodness) and I’m sorry that I’ve given anyone that impression here. I’m just venting. That’s it. I will choose my words carefully in the future.
I also need to explain one more thing, since it came up at RT, too. You can have the best agent in the world and still not have the right agent for you. Read that sentence again. I liked my old agent a lot. He’s a terrific agent. We were just not on the same page, when it came to what I wanted from my career. It’s sad, but that’s it. There was no falling out, no personality conflicts, etc. It would’ve been easier if that were the case, but it wasn’t. It was strictly a business decision on my part. I’d still highly recommend him to anyone.
Final thoughts. Readers are bored. They’re tired of the same ol’, same ol’. They aren’t as willing to plunk their money down as they used to be. People are done impulse buying in large quantities. They want a guarantee that the book they’re about to pick up will entertain them. The want to know that the book they’re about to buy is clearly represented on the spine. They’re gunshy due to one too many bait and switch reads. If we as writers are going to survive in this industry, we are going to have to stretch out of the boundaries set years ago. The editors are talking about how the genres are blending. Now is the time to spread your wings and create something unique.
May 2nd, 2007
Wow. I’ve never thought you came across as depressed. Thoughtful. Meditative. But not depressed. Neither have you ever bashed your former agent, and while you may not be publishing a book a month, you’ve certainly continued to publish. (I think a book a month would make my head explode. I’m starting to think that 2-3 releases a year is plenty.)
I do love the genre blending and I think it’s an exciting time to stretch and try new things!
by Charli May 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 amCharli, I didn’t think so either, but I obviously gave several people that impression. Also, people have a hard time believing that there was a valid reason to leave my old agent. It was really rather strange. I think you’re right about the frequency of releases. I think because I only released three books in two years that they completely slipped under a lot of people’s radar. My head would explode if I tried to write seven books in one year. *ggg*
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 amIve sensed some frustration in your posts at times; but making a living writing must be one of the most surrealistic occupations ever. The literature hierarchy pigeonholes authors, no matter their sales or popularity. The publics tastes change. Agents and Publishing Houses steer writing hither and thither with sometimes incomprehensible logic. In the end, the anvil falls on the writers head. I think youve been ahead of the curve with cross genre literature. Wouldnt it be nice if you could just think of writing as a story with romance and plot someone wants to read, rather than some goofy label made up by a literary peer who thinks Jude The Obscure was the best book ever written?
by BernardL May 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 pmLOL Bernard! Yes, that would be nice, even if it isn’t reality.
And yes, I have been frustrated in the past. I do believe that’s slowly changing. Now my frustration is more with myself than the business of publishing. I want to be better and fast. (wg) I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to my own writing. 
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pmI agree with everything you said. About confrences, agents, pushing bounderies. All of it. I also agree with Charli. You’ve never seemed depressed to me.
However, the biggest thing, it was a very expensive way to party with my freinds. LOL
*hugs*
by Sasha May 2nd, 2007 at 1:09 pmSasha, Good! I’m glad you guys understood that I was only frustrated.
It is a very expensive way to see friends. Julie and I were talking about setting up a night at RWA for all of us to go out and party.
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 1:34 pmFor me it was the exact right time to go to RT. My book was out, and talked about all over the place. So for me, it rocked that the readers had a face to go with the name that was being passed around. Perfect timing.
Unfortunately, it’s not always goign to be that way. I too will be picking my conference carefully and wisely for the future, because damn straight that IS an expensive way to party. I think all writers have to way the pros and cons of any conference and what their goal is at the conference.
by Vivi Anna May 2nd, 2007 at 1:41 pmVivi, Good point. I do think that having a release near the conference time helps a lot. And I agree, writers do need to take a close look at their needs before they start registering for conferences.
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 3:06 pmI’ve been a lurker for some time but I’ve always found I could relate myself to you and have always LOVED reading your blog, Jordan. You speak from the heart and truthfully and I adore that!
Your insight is wonderful and when it’s “conference” time for me I’ll be sure to pick wisely. Of course I’m DYING to go RWA this summer so maybe that’s a good start . . . =)
by Red May 2nd, 2007 at 3:27 pmRed, That’s kind of you to say.
I wish I were going to RWA this year, but I chose RT instead. If it wasn’t so expensive to fly, I’d go in for a couple of days to see my editors and agent,then buzz out. I just don’t think it’s going to happen though. :/ I think you’ll have a great time at RWA, if you choose to go. 
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 3:29 pmI’ve just always felt you spoke with blunt honesty, which I found refreshing, Jordan. I love coming to your blog. Never change.
by Patrice Michelle May 2nd, 2007 at 3:34 pmThanks Patrice. I don’t know how to speak any other way. Snort. For me, the only option would be to be quiet. *g*
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 3:41 pmHere’s a belated ‘welcome back!’ Jordan. And thank you for the great post-op posts. *g* As everyone else has said, you’ve never come across as depressed to me either, just seemed that you were at a crossroads for a bit there and thinking about your next step. I also didn’t get that there was a falling out with your then agent, just that moving on from him was part of being at that fork in your career path
by jaq May 2nd, 2007 at 4:29 pmJaq, Thank you.
That’s actually good to hear. You’re absolutely correct in your assessment. 
by Jordan May 2nd, 2007 at 5:12 pmI’ve always taken your posts as being touched with confidence and direction. As if you know where you are going and what you want to do and are willing to wait on the right move. I admire that:)
The fastest sale is not always the best career move but this is a scary biz. Do we dare go slow? Do we dare go fast and make the wrong move. DANG IT! It’s hard to know what will make the big career!
by Lisa May 3rd, 2007 at 7:53 amThank you, Lisa.
I’ve gotten to the point where I have to control the speed of my career. I have tried the ‘rush’ version and although it was good at getting my name out there, it’s not sustainable for me. I have to dare to take my time. It may not pay off in the end, but it makes me a hell of a lot happier. 
by Jordan May 3rd, 2007 at 10:34 amIt’s disconcerting to think anyone would interpret what you write here as a result of depression. Since when did being thoughtful = rolling in the doldrums? But, on the bright side, no one thought you were dead (that’s the weird assumption they make when you disappear from the internet for a year.)
Your RTB post has got my gears spinning now about the ‘tween career stage. Off to think and theorize.
by Lynn May 3rd, 2007 at 6:46 pmLynn, Yeah, it freaked me out, too.
They thought you were dead??? :-O Yikes! That blows. Glad the RTB entry got you thinking. I like doing that. (wg)
by Jordan May 3rd, 2007 at 9:19 pmGreat having you in the scavenger hunt, Jordon!
Strange that they didn’t know about your books, I hear you name a lot and see the titles coming out at EC.
by Michelle M Pillow May 4th, 2007 at 10:08 amMichelle, Thanks for letting me join.
I’m not sure why people haven’t been aware of the books. They sold well, so someone obviously heard about them. It may be because they weren’t released by a N.Y. publisher. Who knows? It’s just one of those things.
by Jordan May 4th, 2007 at 10:18 amI’ve always thought you addressed writing in very honest terms and sometimes it’s about frustration, sometimes it’s about being down and sometimes it about celebration. It’s a long road and I’m glad you share it. You never came off as depressed to me.
by Lauren Dane May 4th, 2007 at 11:51 amLauren, Good to hear that’s the overall impression that I’m giving people. I really didn’t want anyone thinking that I was depressed.
by Jordan May 4th, 2007 at 12:52 pm