Are you a published author wondering how many libraries carry your book(s)?

This link will tell you which libraries own what books.

If you’re looking for a book and your library doesn’t have it, ask your librarian about getting the book through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Most libraries charge only a small fee (about $2.50) to borrow the book you want from another library. The book will be delivered to your local library where you can check it out and return it.

The ILL program is good for fiction, non-fiction AND audio. Since audio is expensive, the program is particularly appreciated in this area!

1. Miss Snark’s blog Excellent, excellent website to study! Learn about the publishing industry from a real agent–how to get an agent, how to lose any chance of getting an agent, publishing etiquette, biggest mistakes, how to write a query letter and why it is so important, how to write hooks, synopsis’ and other inside industry techniques.Miss Snark no longer offers online, anonymous critiques, but past critiques are available in the archives and they are a gold-mine. You can read other people’s mistakes, and other people’s genius and learn from them.

   Miss Snark spent an enormous amount of time on this project. My hat is off to her!

 

2. Other agent blogs:Lit Agent X blog Agent Rachel Vater has excellent info for getting a feel for how the publishing world works. Updated off/on, when she’s taking questions, jump in!

   Agent Kristin Nelson has a great blog. She sometimes posts cover letters that she likes, offers info on standard contracts and just has great all-around information about the publishing world.

   Janet Reid has one of my favorite blogs–with writer tips, query letter critiques, general ranting and raving, a lot of love for authors and books.

   Brillig Blog Joshua Bilmes doesn’t always talk agenting, but he does talk books and the industry. There’s gems to be found in these pages.

 

3. Hey there’s a dead guy - a blog that includes two or three writers, a editor, a publisher and an odd character or two. Each person does an article once a week. Lots of learning opportunities here. The blog authors are very good about answering questions in the comment trail.Here’s a particularly good post for all writers from the site.

 

4. Baen’s Bar If you are looking for a critique group, a place to polish short stories (and submit to Baen’s Universe as an “Introducing” author) this bar is the place to go. I don’t like critique groups as a rule, especially the various online ones because you can get some nasty, uneducated comments. Not so, Baen’s Bar. It’s moderated and there are slush editors reading the entries to send the best ones on up the line.If you do participate in this or any other critique group–Please Do Your Part. Read and comment on the other stories out there. I’ve often been appalled at how many people post stories, but do not bother to even read ONE other story posted. The point of critique groups is participation. Yes, it is time-consuming, but you also gain a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill and insight by reading other stories and the comments about those stories. Learn by example and lead by example.

 

5. Science Fiction Writers Association Scam Check Good site to check for info on agent backgrounds.
   • Related scam check blog Just a lot of common sense posts and commentary on things going on in the publishing world.

 

6. Fantasy and Paranomal author Holly Lisle: Archives have excellent writing tips and useful info from this published author.

 

7. Thriller and mystery author J.A. Konrath: writer tips; marketing your book tips, very informative author blog. Here’s a link to a download that is basically an e-book of his publishing experiences, tips, advice, etc: Konrath Ebook

 

8. Fantasy author Jim C. Hines has a lot of writer advice, writer angst, news of the industry and every Monday he does a great LOL cover–where he inserts a new title of choice on various covers.

 

9. www.Ralan.com great website that lists most of the short story speculative fiction markets

 

10. Writing tips–bad writing, bad habits, do’s and don’ts

 

11. Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract by Jonathan Kirsch.This should be required reading for any author. Even if you have an agent, this book will really help you understand how contracts work, how much you can expect to be paid and how “rights” work. A must read.

 

I’m a big fan of libraries–as a writer and a reader. As a writer, there are things you can do to promote your work within the system–and sell more books not only to the library but to the public.

I’m going to do a series of posts on things to help sell into the library market, but remember the number one place to find out is–the library!

Libraries do have author events–and they will sometimes pay an author a small amount if the author gives an educational talk. The talk can be on writing techniques, submitting to magazines, short story writing, getting published, research or perhaps the subject matter covered in the book. Ask at your local library about opportunities. If they do have a budget to pay authors offer to accept an average of the last three events the library hosted. (This tip comes from author J.A. Konrath.)

Libraries do host book signings/sales, although they generally seem to prefer doing this after an author is established and has several books to sell to the public. Check with your local librarian about setting something up. The library generally puts up notices for you, signs people up (so you know about how many will attend) orders the books ahead of time, and handles the sales part.

Check with your librarian about being chosen for their “bookclub” choice of the month if they run such a program. This may mean the library will buy at least two copies of your book. It also means that those in the bookclub will either get your book from other libraries or will buy it.

Find out if your library has a “new releases” shelf. Most do. This shelf is often near the front of the library. For some patrons, it is the ONLY shelf they visit. They go in, get a few of the latest releases, and check out.

New books stay on the New Release shelf for approximately six months. You want your book there. You want it to get checked out as often as possible in that first six months to generate word-of-mouth. More importantly, if your book is checked out frequently, the library is much more likely to order your next release.

Note: Ask the library to order your book before the release date so that your book arrives as quickly as possible. Most libraries will not put your book on the new release shelf if it is already six months old–ie the New Release shelf is stocked by the publication date, NOT the date the library recieves the book. Some libraries will not put paperbacks on the new release shelf either, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!

Libraries often have “Theme” shelves. This is good once your book is off of the New Release shelf. Like the New Release shelf, it is a special shelf or section. The books are picked from the rest of the library masses and put on display so that they stand out. Libraries do themes such as: crafts, Christmas, fall, spring, winter, science fiction, cozies, thrillers, oldies but loved mysteries, etc. Talk to your librarian about where your book might fit. Come up with themes or reasons that it DOES fit. Books picked for themes see more check-out traffic.

There are many, many activities in the summer for kids. If you have YA or children’s book, talk to your librarian about performing a reading or giving a talk during the summer when kids are available.

In the next post, I’ll talk about some of the promotional items you might want to send to libraries to help them notice your books!

If you are an author hoping to use your local library to promote you book, check with your library before you design and order your promotional material. Each librarian has specific needs and tastes! What’s more, most librarians will be happy to show you samples of other promotional material they have received and this material might give you good ideas.

Here are a few things to consider:

Libraries may or may not want to give out your bookmark. Check with the library before you print 500 extra. Most will be more than happy to give out bookmarks, but some have rules against it. I can tell you for certain that bookmarks that appeal to children get picked up more often than anything too formal that contains only basic book information.

Each purchasing librarian has a preferred way of receiving information about books. Check with your local librarians to find out if they prefer post cards, a letter, colored flyers or envelopes stuffed with all of the above. Here’s the feedback I received when I asked:

• For the best overall cost and most preferred: Send an oversized postcard. Make sure that there is a color picture of the book on the front. Include the Title, author name, ISBN for hardback, soft cover and audio if available. Include the author website! Make sure the words/fonts are easy to read!!! If your postcard is the front cover of your book, leave white space for the basic information about your book. Librarians will look up review information before ordering, but if you have positive reviews, you might include a quick list on the back with quotes from readers.
• If you are going to the expense of a large envelope stuffed with PR materials, the librarians I interviewed said they love “freebies.” This can include: pens, bookmarks, coasters, temporary tattoos or stickers (they might use stickers for kids activities). Overall, the response was: “Make it worth my time to open the envelope. Too much information is a waste of paper. I need the basic information, and I need it in a font that is easy to read. I’m going to look the reviews up, so including the entire review in the package isn’t useful.”
• Most librarians did not like photocopied colored sheets with long book descriptions, althougth this works better for a non-fiction book. I saw some samples–the photocopy was of poor qualilty, no color picture of the book and nothing but text. Keep it interesting and short–lots of pictures, quick lists of reviews, quick list of quotes and sign it personally.

Finally, be aware of when your local library budget is approved. You want to make sure to get your book on the order list when the library still has money allocated for books. Very often, towards the end of the budget year, there may be no new books ordered for two or three months–the money for books is gone for that year. If you know when this happens in your local library, you can work with them to make sure your book gets ordered at the best time possible.

One other note: Libraries prefer hardback books because they last longer. They can rebind paperback books to help them last longer. If you have extra copies of your cover, offer libraries an copy or two (these are often used by authors as PR tools.) The library may rebind your book as a hardcover with the appropriate artwork before it ever sees the shelves. This will ensure that it is read often and well. Be aware that if your book is somehow damaged or destroyed before it has been checked out much, it will not automatically be reordered.

Libraries can be one of the most welcoming places in the world for authors. Take advantage of them!

After you’ve worked with them–here’s a link so that you can find out how many libraries carry your book: www.worldcat.org

Anyone that knows me or that reads my blog now and then may figure out that I don’t make my living from writing. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in money matters or how much writers make or even money management; in fact quite the opposite. There’s a reason I link to www.BearMountainBull.com, my husband’s investment blog (and where I contribute).

When I started writing, hanging out at the occasional conference and talking to other writers, I noticed pretty quickly that very few writers had a business plan. Money management? Taxes? Not high on the conversation list.

Today I ran across a couple of posts that discuss money and what writers get paid. One such article is on Jim Hines blog–he’s a successful writer–three books published with a major publisher, many published short stories, and more books on the way–but Jim Hines doesn’t make his living writing. Another is John Scalzi–an even more successful writer, at least by writing income standards. And do note that he makes money writing fiction and non-fiction. He’s been freelancing for a lot of years. He has a plan; he’s a professional.

Hines’ article is very interesting because you’ll learn what a lot of authors may make when they have three books out. John Scalzi’s article covers not only basic finance, but has some info that is specific to writers. It should be required reading–and not just for writers.

Here’s a small sample of Scalzi at the top of one rant:

But you want that 42-inch 1080p TV! I understand; I want it too. What you do is save for it. When you save for something, it’s like you’re making a payment on it, except that you don’t have an evil credit card company charging you 19% for the privilege. I realize it’s condescending to put it that way, but, look: If people actually knew this, they wouldn’t have thousands in credit card debt, now, would they? And yes, it’s true that while you’re saving for that HDTV (or whatever), you don’t have it, and we as a nation are no longer used to the idea of not having what we want now now now now now. Well, get used to it, you insolvent jackass. Otherwise some bank owns your ass well into the next life. Really, that’s all I have to say about that.

DJ over at her blog tagged me with a bunch of writing questions. So here are the answers:

What’s the last thing you wrote? Working on my WIP–the second book in the “Under Witch Moon” series. Here’s a brief description of the first book.

Was it any good? Nah, the stuff I’m writing now is just draft level. I throw out paragraphs–maybe some dialogue, description, etc, but it is far from finished prose and will need editing several times. As the book takes form, it may get moved and lots will change as I fit it into other events and the overall timeline.

What’s the first thing you ever wrote that you still have? Wow. I probably have some old starts to novels on my hard drive…no, I think they are actually on diskette. I think one of them is actually in txt format, pre-Word days!

Write poetry? Never. Wrote a few greeting cards for friends that might have had some loosely-related poetry form.

Angsty poetry? Nope. Angst, whiny writing for sure, but not poetry.

Favourite genre of writing? This is tough. I’d say cross-genre; mystery/fantasy, but I write cozies that have no paranormal elements, and I have written fantasy that has no relation to the real world.

Most fun character you ever created? Another tough question. I really like Sedona (link to excerpt) but I also like Max Killian (star of the short story over at www.TheTownDrunk.org). Then there’s Adriel, the star of “Under Witch Moon.” She’s a really great kick-ass character. I guess I love them all!

Best plot you ever created? I’m hoping that is yet to come, just an ever-improving cleverness…

How often do you get writer’s block? Never, really. I get writer’s laziness, I get stuck on plot details, but ideas aren’t usually the bottleneck in my writing.

Write fan fiction? Nope.

Do you type or write by hand? All computer, although when I started, I wrote by hand and typed it in. I liked sitting outside and writing or writing curled up in a chair (this was eons ago). I’m slightly more disiplined these days.

Do you save everything you write? No. I delete entire paragraphs and have been known to delete a few very early versions of a novel. But keep in mind that as I get close to “finishing” the novel, I’m usually on about version 19 or so. The earlier versions don’t contain all the chapters. I don’t houseclean often either, so most of what I write is on the hard drive.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it? Yes. Especially short stories. I’ll get an idea, jot it into the computer, maybe even write a few paragraphs–a scene or two. For various reasons, I may put it down for months. I may end up using the idea with different characters or sometimes, I just don’t know where I want that particular character to go with the idea, so I let it sit.

Do you ever show people your work? Yes, but I’d probably rather not. Showing my work is work also. I’m also impatient. Sometimes it takes weeks for a friend to finally get around to reading and letting me know what they think.

Did you ever write a novel? Sure. Six or so.

What’s your favourite setting for your characters? Move them around. But I do tend to set things in the mountains.

How many writing projects are you working on right now? Really only one novel. During the coming months I may take a break from it and write a short story or two.

Have you ever won an award for your writing? “Secrets in the Sand” was fourth place in a Writer’s Digest contest in 2003, and “Soul of the Desert” placed in the Crime Writer’s Associate Dagger Debut also in 2003. My Palo Duro story received honorable mention in the Writer’s Work Contest.

Ever written something in script or play format? Nope.

What are your five favourite words? I’m not sure I have favorite words, but if I had to pick, I’d probably say, hope, love and faith.

Do you ever write based on yourself? I’m not quite sure what this means…of course my experiences color my writing, so in that sense, yes, but the characters are obviously not me. As I write, their personalities take on a life of their own, growing and changing. I’ve written male characters, animal characters, and female characters.

What character have you created that most resembles yourself? Probably Sedona (Executive Lunch) and Adriel (Under Witch Moon). But then there’s the little old lady in “Toil, Trouble and Rot” coming out at www.CoyoteWildMag.com this year…she’s a wizard and a gardener…and I’m definitely a gardener!!!

Where do you get ideas for your other characters? Out of the blue.

Do you ever write based on your dreams? Nope. My dreams are like wisps of smoke. Even if I wake up thinking I have an idea from a vaguely remembered dream…I can’t ever really pull it together into a story. In the daylight, it loses its power and turns into the mist of remembered emotions.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers? I completely favor happy endings, although I have written a cliff-hanger or two.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen? No. I’m not a visual person that way. I can and do write based on places I’ve been, especially if I’ve hiked an area and breathed it, lived it, and heard the sounds–experienced it. I love art for the emotions it brings, but that doesn’t translate to an idea for me.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write? Yes. I didn’t use to be, but I’ve found it saves me time if I just try to do it correctly the first time.

Ever write something entirely in chatspeak? Nope.

Does music help you write? I love music and it helps me with ideas. I like to ride in the car with loud music on a country road, just thinking and letting thoughts pop about. But when I write, silence is my best friend.

Quote something you’ve written. From my short story, Around the Bend, over at www.CoyoteWildMag.com:

I hadn’t driven the road after dark, because it was so small. The first night I tried it, I realized that maybe it still wasn’t all that safe. In a spot about halfway to the new intersection, a milky-pale presence flashed across my rear-view mirror.

I hit the brakes.