14-Mar-2004
JERRI CORGIAT’S NEWSLETTER
March 2004
www.jerricorgiat.com
CONTENTS:
News: New Web Site Feature/Appearances
Feature Article: CELEBRATING A RELEASE
Recommended for Other Writers
Best Book(s) I’ve Read This Month
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NEWS:
New Contract
I’ve just agreed to write two more books for NAL, and I’m thrilled! The first will be the third book in the O’Malley sisters’ series. The next... who knows? When my muse pipes up, I’ll clue you in!
New Website Feature
I’ve changed the former “Guestbook” page on my web site to “Your Page!” Each month (or thereabouts), I’ll suggest a topic or ask a question. Please visit and post a response.
Contest Ends at Noon, March 31
If you haven’t yet entered the contest I announced in the last newsletter, please visit my site for a chance to win a trio of wonderful soaps from Caswell-Massey!
Information, please!
Many of you who have entered the contest have asked me to provide more information on my personal life. To tell you the truth, I’m rather at a loss why you’d want to hear about it , but I’ve added a monthly column to “About Me” on my web site where I’ll try to keep you up-to-date on my goings-on.
Rising Stars of Romance
I’m a member of the above organization, and we have a wonderful new site designed by Lauren Royal’s (fellow NAL author) son. Visit the new site at www.risingstars.novelauthors.com.
Interview
Romance Junkies (www.romancejunkies.com) interviewed me last month. You can see the interview at http://www.romancejunkies.com/artman/publish/article_1196.shtml. (Please copy and paste in your web browser—I’ve yet to figure out how I can get HTML tags into my newsletter.)
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FEATURE ARTICLE: CELEBRATING A RELEASE
(As you know, to enter my current contest, it’s necessary to suggest a topic for a series of upcoming newsletters. While I wait for all votes to be in at the end of March before I launch that series (whatever it is), I thought I’d answer a question that popped up in my e-mailbox from Teresa H.
“(How do you) celebrate a new release or a book being published?”
With a huge sigh of relief. :o)
So far, my deadline for book submission has been approximately one year prior to the publication date. Between that point and the day the book actually appears on the shelves, there are a number of steps: revision (based on my study of my editor’s suggestions), waiting for approval on revisions (yikes—that’s an anxious time!), contributing my ideas for back cover copy and front cover (if and when asked which isn’t always), preparing an excerpt from the next book, reading through the book word-for-word upon receipt of the copy editor’s version, again reading through the book word-for-word upon receipt of the typeset galleys, and a lot of promotion I do and pay for myself.
At the same time, I have to be knee-deep in writing the next book to meet the next deadline. As that approaches, I’m usually burning the midnight oil to either write the newest or show up at an author “chat” to promote my latest or... to work on this newsletter.
Any wonder that my idea of celebrating a new book is taking a day off to sleep? :o)
For the launch of my first book, SING ME HOME, in February, though, my husband was having none of that. He took matters into his own hands and surprised me! (And I’m not easy to surprise.) Thinking we’d simply have a special lunch together, followed by a visit a bookstore, imagine my shock when we arrived at Borders, and he pulled a sheet cake emblazoned with “Congratulations Jerri Corgiat!” out of the trunk of our car.
He had contacted the bookstore’s management—they’d given their approval to allow him to serve it in their coffee shop. Inside, I was greeted by several of my dearest friends. They’d used their noon hours to come mark the occasion! I can’t begin to tell you how touched I was.
And, lest you think the half dozen or so of us had to consume that massive sheet cake by ourselves, my husband rounded up enough customers that we demolished most of it before we left. (And we sold out Borders stock of SING ME HOME to boot!)
That was much more memorable than a day spent sleeping... and I think my husband’s a keeper, don’t you? Thanks for asking, Teresa!
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RECOMMENDED FOR OTHER WRITERS:
I belong to several writer e-lists, and recommend them for garnering information on the publishing world, as well as the comeraderie (especially if you’re just getting started). You can visit www.yahoogroups.com to search for lists by topic.
But a caveat: You’ll hear seasoned writers say “publishing is a small world.” And they are absolutely right. Writers talk to other writers and agents, who talk to other agents and writers, who talk to editors, who talk to...
Be careful what you post! Although almost every e-list has rules prohibiting the copying or forwarding of other people’s posts, it happens regularly. On public lists, it’s impossible to tell who might be “lurking,” and it’s impossible to know if a member is using his or her real identity when posting.
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BEST BOOK(s) I’VE READ THIS MONTH:
SUBURBAN RENEWAL, by Pamela Morsi—The author traces the twenty-five year history of a marrage against a backdrop of current events. I loved this book! (And don’t let the “romantic comedy” cover fool you—while there are humorous moments, the book is much deeper than the cover might imply.)
HOME BEFORE DARK, by Susan Wiggs—Half-romance, half-family saga. A page-turner!
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Once again, many thanks for all the letters you keep sending my way with praise for SING ME HOME. The book is garnering more and more sales, has received mostly :o) excellent reviews, and I’m thrilled.
This month, I’m ducking my head to do some power-writing on the third book in the O’Malley sisters’ series. Gotta meet that deadline, you know! I do love hearing from you—please don’t stop!—but do be patient while I work my way through replies to your wonderful letters.
Happy Reading!
Jerri
