USPS smh

I’ve lost my notes. For 10 years I’ve been working on a 5 book fantasy story, and I’ve lost my hand-written notes. I have some backed up on the computer, but the bulk of it was in a three ring binder shipped to Texas with a bunch of books. Which is also lost…

Thanks USPS. You guys have been so helpful…

I guess my mother’s whole – place an extra copy of your address on the inside of the box advice wasn’t just paranoia. Apparently, the outside label can come off. Even when taped on like a protective seal. I stand by my theory that the label was cut off and someone stole the box because it was a heavy one.

Well, HA to them! Most of the books I had up in NYC were pre-sale copies – not for resale – written on the cover bitches. You’ll get no money from these books.

Not much comfort in the end though since ALL MY NOTES were in that box.

And yes, it’s been a few months at this point and the shock and anger has mostly worn off. But it still sucks for me.

Don’t get me wrong, after working on the same story over and over again for 10 years, you get to know it very well. So I don’t need the notes to complete the story, but for posterity sake it would be nice to have. Especially since the story has changed SOOOOOO much from the original version. If I chose to pick it up again and finish it, (which would require another total rewrite to work) it wouldn’t resemble the original very much.

But to be able to compare the completed story to where it started… that would be awesome.

The most frustrating part of this is the work I’ve put in to getting both my notes and my books back. I have a three page list of the title, author, publisher name, and type of book (hardback vs. paperback) that I created for USPS to help them find it. I even sent it to the loss prevention office or something or other. All I’ve gotten back in some Harry Potter books – replacements for the ones I lost. I know because they didn’t have my signature it them like all my books have.

THE BOX HAD TRACKING! I CAN SEE THAT IT MADE IT TO TEXAS BEFORE I DID! HOW DO YOU LOSE A BOX WITH TRACKING?

Stolen. Must have been.

I’m keeping an eye out for a 5 book fantasy series published in the next couple of years with an all too familiar plot.

In the meantime, keep moving forward.  SIGH. USPS smh.

Book Rants: "Graceling"

I just finished Graceling by Kristin Cashore and then went on Goodreads to read the reviews for the novel, because I’m backwards like that. 

Now - just so we're all clear I want marriage and kids. I see these things in my future, but I also recognize that not everyone is like that. And I think that an author whose character refuses to be married or have kids is … revolutionary. 

This may not be the first novel ever written with a strong female lead like that but it was the first one I’ve read. What makes this book even more awesome in its revolutionary ways is that it’s a young adult novel. So this message that you don’t have to get married and have kids to be happy, which seems to be in every other story, is getting out there to a younger audience.  

Not everyone seems to think this is cool. Many of the reviews I saw on Goodreads of this book rebel against Cashore for not giving Katsa (main character) a "happy-fairytale- ending". WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. 

Katsa still ended up with the one she loves so... why is this author and her character considered "man-haters"? Its 2012 people.

Am I right? 

I love this cover. It's so cool!

New York Bucket List

In my efforts to start over, I am leaving New York. This has nothing to do with the whole not getting a career in publishing and everything to do with not being able to afford living in the city any longer. The two may correlate but it’s not a cause and effect type thing. 

ANYWAY. I have an amazing friend who created a list of things for me to do before I leave the city.  The New York City Bucket as shown below is split into two sections: things you can do for free and things that require a little money. 

Free Stuff:

• Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
• Coney Island. Ride the Cyclone (which may cost money, but >$5)
• Eat every food sample in Chelsea Market
• Try to get seats for a live taping of the Daily Show, SNL or something
• WTC Memorial
• Karaoke party with everyone at a bar. On friends.

Money Stuff:

• Go to the Met and the Cloisters ($25)
  http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/hours-and-admission
• Go up the Empire State Building ($20)
• Eat at Wo Hop with our friend Archie because he won’t stop talking about how awesome it is
• Take a boat ride in Central Park ($14.50)
  http://www.thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/boats.htm
• Pier 25 Mini Golf ($5-10) http://pier25.com/mini-golf/
• Get a drink and tater tots at PDT ($20) http://pdtnyc.com/

All of this is, of course, things I haven't done in the city yet so... it musts be dones.

Addendum: 

A couple more things to do before I go -

• Picnic with close friends on a beautiful spring day
• Exploring the top half of Central Park

Starting Over

Ok, let’s start over. My last post was October 2011. It is now March 2012. That’s a big gap. So let me catch you up on where I’m at in this whole Worming my Way thing. 

I haven’t been able to secure a place in publishing and the more I research and dig in my heels about being behind the scenes in a publishing house the more things change around me. In maybe two years time, things are going to be so drastically changed in those houses- the jobs are going to be unrecognizable. And while I like the challenge of it all, I really want to keep my love of reading which I hear dies a rapid and painful death when working for “the man”. 

So I’ve decided that perhaps a career in trade publication is not for me right now. I don’t know where my life is leading me but the cosmos and pretty much all of NYC is telling me it’s not publishing. Not like this, not at this time. So I’ve steered my career path in a different direction and I’m going to go for a marketing position in an as yet undetermined industry. At this point, I’m going for a job that I like and don’t hate going to everyday. 

As for my journey into publishing, that is still happening, though maybe not in a way that I can foresee right at this moment. Here are the options I can see: 

1.                   I’m still working for a literary agency. I don’t read nearly the same volume for them that I used to, which has allowed me to catch up on my “for fun” books. But there is a particular project I’m working on with an author through this agency. The author pitched this book, and I really liked the idea behind it. It’s a Sci/Fi young adults that’s basically a mix between “Lord of the Flies” and the TV series “Lost”. That’s all I’m going to say about the plot though, because I really think this book will be published and become a cult classic in no time. 

Anyway, the author is still writing it. So I’ve seen the pitch, the outline, and the first eight chapters. AND as I’m reading it, I have all these questions that help the author to clarify stuff or think of something new to add. Too much of this and it’s probably not a good thing, but as this is a somewhat complex story, with something like 40 characters (centering around one. Also, many get killed off) things can get confusing. 

So I’m helping him out as a pre-editor if you will. If this goes well, perhaps there will be more opportunities like this in the future and I can do freelance or something. This is option one, work my way into what I want to do by just doing it for free for a while until people love me and want to pay me for it… risky but…it’s a way in.

2.                   I get back into my own writing. I’ve been writing stories since I was in eighth grade. I was working on a series for over 10 years and have recently shelved it for the sake of my sanity. I’m persistent yes, but when something you love doing is no longer fun, I know when to stop. So now I have another story I want to write, and I started it, but I really haven’t been writing like I want to be, and I mainly blame the job search.

Anyone who has searched for a job, no matter how long they were at it will tell you it’s difficult. In this economy it’s even more so, but more than that it’s depressing. And I’ve been so focused on trying to find a job that I haven’t felt like writing anything. I know, I know. That’s when it becomes more important to write. And I have… technically… been writing things, but they aren’t my stories. 

(sigh) SO, my second option for getting into the publishing industry becomes using the contacts I’ve made up here in NYC to my benefit for my own writing. 

I’ve got to say, the second option is my favorite.  But who knows where I’ll be in ten years.  

What does that mean for this blog Lisa?? You scant few readers may ask – if you are still out there…

Well, that means that this blog becomes less about what I know about the industry. 

It will become a true recounting of the JOURNEY. I will have months where I won’t write a single thing of whatever story I’m working on. I know me. And there will be posts that have nothing to do with publishing or writing or well anything of any importance. Except it WILL be important because -

Well –

The most important thing about books is the stories they tell and the places that those stories can take you. And the best stories out there are ones in which you cannot predict the ending. 

So here I go. Starting over. Page one.

July Book Numbers

I know I haven't written in a while, that doesn't mean that I don't keep abreast of the situation in publishing today. This is the latest report by AAP. They are basically saying that ebooks and audio book numbers are up, while all others (with the exception of adult hardcover books which had a good month) are down for the month of July. you know it takes awhile for numbers to be gathered and analyzed and such... that's why these are the latest numbers and it's already October... there's a process to these things!

Anyway, I just wanted to use this to reinforce what I have said in the past. These two areas need a little more attention. Audio in particular. There's a lot of good data out there about who the target market for audio books are currently, but I think with the right kind of marketing that can be changed. I mean, Kindle does audio, how many use it? I don't think I have once seen someone on the train with headphones plugged into a kindle. I myself have not tried it yet, but that is due to a lack of good headphones. Regardless, more marketing in these area can help increase sales further. There. Done. Good Day.  

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/49120-e-book-sales-doubled-in-july.html

So Close

Well, I almost had it. I almost had that one job that changes everything. It would have been perfect. Not only would I have learned more about trade publishing from a literary agent who represents some fantastic authors (I know I read samples and added them to my list of books to read. The stories were intriguing, well written, and I read them so quickly ice cream wouldn't have melted before I was done - the true sign of any good book). But I would have also been working on expanding and increasing her e-book business. I

have been trying for so long to get into this, and I really don’t report how many times I have come so very close, only to fall on my face because, well, that could get depressing. But I WAS SO CLOSE. It came down to the fact that another applicant already had the experience I was hoping to gain. I can’t fault the woman I interviewed with; it was a smart move for her business. However, I know I learn quickly and my passion for this industry would speed that learning further. Anyone who has ever met me will tell you that I go out of my way to understand things better. I put myself into my work 100% and always try to go the extra mile. 

Some things are just not meant to be. Keep moving forward. Sigh… so close. 

Tangible Loss

Borders closing down was inevitable. The business was poorly managed and I truly believe that a business not focused on its employees first is almost sure to fail eventually. A writer for the publishers weekly put it very nicely in this article:  http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/48165-fatal-mistakes.html

I am deeply saddened by it, but I’m not surprised. I have ever enjoyed going to Barnes and Nobles over Borders anyway. However, I do hold fond memories of high school group meet ups at the Borders in Winter Park Village, the most center location for all my friends. We would hang out by the graphic novels, or sometimes in the new age sections, I’m sure once or twice we even managed to get a group of tables. We read our respected things, and talked and laughed, and then we’d head out for the movies or some food. It didn’t matter, we were in high school and we were with each other.

I can now add one more Border’s memory to my list before the doors close forever. After moving to NYC a year ago, I placed a ban on buying books for myself. As much as I love them, and there is a growing list of books I want to read versus books I own and are able to read, I couldn’t afford them and sometimes sacrifices must be made in order to eat.

I broke that ban recently, and I forgot what it felt like to actually purchase a book. I knew of a Border’s nearby my workplace, on 33^rd and 7^th and since I knew they would be liquidating their assets, I decided to take advantage of their sales. I bought two books. Just two. But they were books high up in my want-to-read-but-do-not-own-yet list. I was ecstatic. I bought them on my lunch hour and had about fifteen minutes before I had to go back to work and I spent the entire time, grinning like a madman, one book in each hand, staring at each book respectively trying to decide which to start first. It was the hardest  decision I made that week. I didn’t come to a decision until later that evening. Both have been read now and are very happy in their new homes on my bookshelves.

As much as I love my kindle, the feel of a book in my hands, the excitement of waiting for that book to be out in the bookstore, finally getting it, and the greedy lust for words that has you reading it before you get out of the stories a feeling that will be sorely missed. In a world of instant gratification, does anyone think about what we are missing?