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I know it's been forever since I've updated the blog. Believe me, I think about it all the time...but honestly, I've been in a bit of a funk. Not only have I not had anything fabulously interesting to say, but I just sometimes don't feel like talking...lol! (Those who know me would doubt that, I'm sure.)
I guess I'm just kinda weary of the Internetz. Between Plotmonkeys, 2 Facebook pages, Twitter, the Blaze Authors blog, and random other places I visit, I honestly feel burned out.
Promoting COLD SIGHT on a shoestring budget has been really hard, so I'm doing a lot of work intensive stuff rather than money intensive, and it's gotten to the point where I'm spending more time doing business and promo than I am writing! And that's just wrong--not only because I need to work because it's my job, but also because I really need it to thrive mentally. I get really depressed when I'm not deep in a writing project--and it's hard to get deep in a writing project when I'm really depressed. (My Dad would call that a vicious circle.)
Then, of course, there's LIFE. Kids, hubby, home, health issues...they do tend to distract.
Anyway, not here to make excuses, just wanted to pop in with an explanation. I am sure I will get back to this when I'm in a better frame of mind--or at least when I'm feeling better & more organized.
In the meantime, though, if you're stopping by...hello. Thanks for visiting, and please feel free to contact me via email, or Facebook or Twitter (links to the right) any time! I'd love to chat one on one.
And if you're interested in the latest doings on COLD SIGHT and my other Parrish books, here's my latest newsletter.
Best wishes to all!
Leslie
I went to see the movie Shutter Island this weekend and really liked it. Yes, it's very dark, yes it's very depressing, yes it's very Scorsese. That said, the very things that made it dark, depressing and Scorcese made it enjoyable for me as a movie-goer. I'm a big movie fan. And my favorite kind of movie is one that can creep into my mind, affect my mood, give me jitters or goosebumps or warmth and good humor. Shutter Island is definitely a creeping-in kind of movie. You feel something under the skin because of the music, the colors, the camera angles. From the first, you know something's...off...though you can't really say why. And of course, that's deliberate. Scorsese is a good enough filmmaker to keep building your tension. I love tension in a movie--I am sure I've I've talked about that here before. Or on Plotmonkeys. Anyway, this is a movie that really has you "on the edge of your seat" as the story builds toward its crescendo. The last time I felt this "tense" in a movie was during Inglorious Bastards. If you've seen it, you might recall the scene in the basement-bar, the card game. It was amazingly tense, I could almost feel sweat breaking out on my brow, just knowing something was going to happen--and it would be huge. When the climax came and all hell broke lose, I found myself holding my breath, and then gasping when it was over. Shutter Island was like that. Tense, almost from moment 1, which is why I so enjoyed it. Might not be best picture material, but it absolutely gave me the kind of experience I most enjoy in a movie theater: an edge-of-the-seat one. Oh, and, fwiw, I thought Mark Ruffolo did an amazing job with his role--he was SO in character every single minute. Again, if you have seen it, and you know what I mean, think back to his reactions, his watchfulness...he did a great job with his role.
You all already know I'm a huge Lost fan. But I have to lodge my one complaint about this show. No, it's not about the confusion, the twistiness--I LOVE all that! Love the characters (or at least love to hate them...like Ben. Or just hate them. I'm looking at YOU Kate!) But here, as a writer, is the thing that drives me crazy:Nobody asks the questions any real, normal person would ask. Okay, I know the writers/producers don't want the questions asked because they don't want to give the audience (not the characters) the answers. I get that. However there has to be a better way to accomplish their goals, rather than making the characters look like idiots, or just totally unrealistic. People are CURIOUS. They ask things. They respond when somebody says something like, "He was a better man than I am and I am truly sorry I murdered him." (Loved that line, love Ben!) But seriously? Not a single question? Not a, "You did?" Okay, Lapidus gets a great under-the-breath comment ("Strangest funeral I've ever been to.") But don't you think somebody would have had something else to say? Not on Lost. Nobody's curious on Lost. Jack and Hurley and Miles haven't once asked, "Who the hell are you?" to the people at the temple. Jack didn't say to stewardess Cindy, "Wow, how'd you get here?" Ben calls FLocke (faux-Locke) a monster, faux-Locke says that's not nice, but Ben doesn't then say, "Well what the hell are you, then, smoke-man?" he just lets it go. Nobody's ever looked at Richard and gone, "Just how long have you been here, and, dude, what's with the eyeliner?" Come on, that's lazy writing. You don't want to give the answers, okay, but at least make the characters react in a normal fashion--have them ask them! Then find out a way to have those questions not answered. Otherwise, hands down, best show I've ever seen. LOVE it and can't wait for the rest of the episodes. And for this summer when the fam and I have a Season 1-6 Lost Marathon and watching every episode, beginning to end! (DVR, don't fail me now!)
Okay, I'm not officially part of the Dean Winchester Day committee, but when I heard about it, I knew I'd have to express a little Dean-love, too. Want to know how much I love Dean (and the show Supernatural?) Well, "Dean" was originally going to be the name of the hero in PITCH BLACK. (Heroine's name was Sam.) But I figured it might be just a little to slash-y for most people, so I made Dean the hero of FADE instead...lol!I have to defend myself here: I'm not a pervy old lady with a crush on a hot young actor (well, maybe a little.) It's just that I LOVE the character he plays! The super-sexy, flirtatious bad-boy has always been my favorite type of hero to write and he really fits the bill. Plus Supernatural is one of my very favorite shows and it's entirely due to this young man:
HAPPY DEAN DAY!
A couple of years ago, I read the book The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I absolutely loved it, was deeply affected by it and recommended it to everybody I knew. I was among those waiting to hear what her next book would be about. (I was hoping it would be called The Time Traveler's Daughter!) But when I read that it didn't have anything to do with the first story, I didn't race out to the bookstore. Bruce got me the book, Her Fearful Symmetry, for my birthday, and I read it this week. I am now sitting here with my jaw hanging open and a "Huh?" look on my face. I really can't say much about it without giving away huge spoilers, but I have to say, despite the lyrical writing and the loveliness of some of the descriptions, this was one of the wackiest, strangest books I've ever read! I mean, just strange! The main characters are these 21 year old twins who look like they're 12 (that was emphasized again and again) held hands all the time, slept together, dressed alike right down to their patent leather shoes. And all I could see when I read about them was the creepy dead twins from Stephen King's The Shining! Anybody else read it? If so, what did you think? Am I alone in having rolled my eyes about 984 times while reading?
I have been following some conversations about how authors demand too much of readers, and don’t give much in return, etc. etc. And for the life of me, I am left scratching my head, wondering what I “demand” of readers. What do I want from you? What am I demanding?
It came down to one thing:
Give me a fair shot at entertaining you.
That’s it. A fair shot. That’s what I reasonably expect from a reader. When you open one of my books, do it with an open mind and let yourself consider the possibility that you’re going to be entertained.
What else can I demand? I mean, what else can anyone “demand” of their audience? I don’t expect you to do my promotion for me or sing about my books from the rooftops or post blogs or reviews, etc. I never “demand” that readers go out on release day to buy the book, or that they only buy it new. I don’t tell anybody who writes me a fan letter that they should go post a great review on Amazon. (FWIW: I also don’t go ranting on readers or reviewers who give me bad ones. I just don’t. It’s tacky and unprofessional.)
Would I like it if readers did nice things like posting reviews and buying early? Well, of course I would. Have I asked them to, even? Absolutely! But do I demand it? No. Do I expect it? No. Do I get mad when readers don’t do it? No.
Because all of that is gravy.
It’s like buying a lottery ticket. I pays my money and I takes my chances and if I come up a winner, well, coolio and I’ll be tickled pink. But I certainly don’t expect it or consider it a given. Authors (including me) might mention these things and ask that if you already really love our books that you recommend it to somebody else you think would like it too, or talk about it to other romance readers. I have definitely done that and I'm not ashamed of it. (Hey, in this business, word of mouth is just about the only thing that can make or break a career.) But demanding it? Expecting it by right? Considering it part of our “reader/author relationship?” WTF?
Honestly, I don’t know a single author who really thinks it’s a reader’s “duty” to go out there and make sure our books do well. That’s nuts!
Okay, here’s a caveat, there is one thing I’ve ranted about, and that’s piracy. But even then, my rant was primarily about people pirating books that weren’t even in stores yet. I know piracy isn’t going to be stopped but it is truly irritating to see people who are “dying to read this book!” begging for somebody to put it up on a file-sharing site on release day. That author rant I’ll cop to, but I don’t consider it my “right” to demand that it stop. People who do it ignore the fact that it’s illegal to violate copyright, so why on earth would they pay any attention to me?
While we’re on that subject, let me add this, too: I have never once said a word about e-book readers being somehow predisposed to piracy—I loved having one of my Blaze novels given away for free on the Kindle, it’s been one of the greatest boosts to my career I've ever had. I have given away prizes on Plotmonkeys that are good only for e-books. So stop telling me that all authors consider e-readers potential thieves and don’t like e-books. Because it’s bullshit.
Okay, back to the point. All that said—what should you reasonably demand from me?
I think there are two things readers should demand from authors.
1. Their best work. If you’re going to lay down the money, and spend the time to read my books, you absolutely deserve the best book I am capable of producing. I’m not saying it’s going to be the best book ever written, but, darn it, you should get the very best I can give you.
2. Truth in advertising. I think readers have the right to have a good idea what they’re getting. If a romance-reader doesn’t get a HEA in a book billed as a “romance novel” they should be ticked-off about it. If somebody who only likes rich historicals gets tricked because of the author name or the cover into laying down good money for a light contemporary, yeah, they should be really annoyed. This is exactly the reason I chose to use a pseudonym for my new romantic suspense career. As Leslie Kelly, if my name is on the cover of a book, I’m promising you a sexy, light, fun book. If I had slapped that name on a book filled with serial killers and torture, you’d have every right to be angry and call me out on it, because I’d be breaking the inherent promise that all 30+ Leslie Kelly novels have offered.
Beyond those two things? Honestly, I don’t think I “owe” the reader anything. I love meeting readers, I love interacting with them online and in person. I count my online relationships with some readers as real friendships…but do I owe people those things? No. I don’t. I don’t “owe” anybody free books—yet I give away books by the boatload. I don’t “owe” the reader books about specific characters or situations. If I haven’t written it, or don’t intend to, chances are it’s because I can’t sell it, or I just can’t get engaged by the idea. I can’t force myself to write about a character or story that doesn’t engage me. (And if I did, I’d be breaking rule # 1 because I wouldn’t be able to do it well! Just read my Forrester’s Square book if you doubt me. Ugh. That book sucks!)
As for schedules, and how long readers have to wait for books in a series, or book pricing or stuff that’s pretty much beyond my control, I’m not going to take the responsibility for that, at least not at this point in my career. Very few authors have control over those kinds of things and I sure ain’t one of them. As long as I get the books delivered in time to meet the publisher’s schedule, I’ve done my job.
So, to sum up:
YOU owe ME: A fair shot at entertaining you.
I owe YOU: The best book I can write, and truthfulness about what you’re getting.
Beyond that…everything else is gravy. Sometimes it’s delicious gravy, sometimes it is jump-up-and-down-at-that-great-review gravy.
But it’s still just gravy.
I read a great article today on MS-NBC about how the whole "mid-life crisis" thing might be a myth. Since I turned 45 a few days ago, I really liked what this article had to say. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35105712/ns/health-aging/One of the most interesting parts was talking about how when you are 50 you are, statistically about half-way through your "adult" lifetime. Just as much ahead of you as there is behind you. And the question is what are you going to do with it? I like that concept. 25 years ago, I was only 20 years old. That seems like forever ago. Yet 25 years from now, I'll only be 70, which really doesn't sound that old to me anymore--(not like it did when I was a kid, that's for sure.) Maybe it's because my father's in his late 70's and all his sisters lived into their 90's. (My Mom was killed in an accident at far too young an age, so I obviously can't base it on her life span.) My point is, 70 really doesn't seem that old. So another 25 years as filled with excitement and challenge and lots of wonderful, happy moments with my amazing husband and delightful children sounds damn pretty good to me. Yes, I'm taking a positive outlook...this article came at just the right time for me. If you have a minute and are so inclined, go check it out!
