May 22nd, 2013 → 7:24 pm @ rldonovan
My first book was edited by five people. Not everyone has that luxury. I think it’s a luxury because you get to see your work through different eyes – and you get to make the final call by reviewing the options and choosing the ones that make the most sense for your plot and characters.
I can honestly say that all five of my editors contributed something meaningful to the final published work. Some of the editing was tedious, but I found the overall process invigorating and frequently enjoyable. It was extremely helpful to have them point out areas that warranted a second look. I would review the section in question to determine whether or not it would pass muster with a broader audience; in some cases a reference was too obscure or a joke too lame. I’m not sure I would have caught those weaknesses on my own.
My second book is not going as smoothly. So far I’ve had three editors, and they all seem to get caught up in their own lack of knowledge of my genre. They’re not contributing anything meaningful. It’s frustrating and it feels as though this book will never get out. I write comedic murder mysteries. They’re so hung up on making comments like “why would that character tell her so much when she’s not even a real detective?” Oh for god sake – get over it! Have you never read Agatha’s Christie’s famous Miss Marple? Did you never watch Jessica Fletcher solve every mystery on Murder, She Wrote?
Even under the best of circumstances editors can get under your skin. But a good editor is worth their weight in gold. Aside from the outlay of cash, the biggest potential risk to self-publishing is not making the effort to get good editors reviewing your work. I was convinced my manuscript was perfect on the first day it was submitted – it became so much better over the 18 month editing and proofing process.
Even though in hindsight I am so grateful for the editors of that first book, they still managed to frustrate the hell out of me. I think I shortened and lengthened the same sentences three or four times, and I know I moved commas out, over and back into the same places. Some of their comments were stupid and dated – but I knew enough to ignore those – albeit not without angst and bugging my publisher for permission. I think I was high maintenance!
As I look back on the experience of my first book – I would not trade the value my editors brought to the project even if I never had to move a comma. And even though my second book has not yet met with a successful editing experience, I still cannot emphasize the importance of good editors – now I just have to find some!
Donovan heads Bozell Books, a division of Bozell designed to help authors and budding authors from inception through promotion of their published work. She has authored a novel entitled: Is It Still Murder Even If She Was a Bitch? www.rldonovan.com, and the second in her Donna Leigh Mysteries series : I Didn’t Kill Her But That May Have Been Short Sighted, is currently being published.
February 20th, 2013 → 7:38 pm @ rldonovan
Last Saturday’s Author Fare at the Omaha Public Library was the best author networking event I’ve been to yet! I met authors, folks connected to libraries, a lovely woman with a radio show she’s willing to use to help promote authors, a student who is blogging about authors who use social media and a whole host of other very interesting folks, some of whom promise to be very beneficial to an author’s career.
Author Fare
As much as I enjoyed last year, when the library premiered the Author Fare event, it could not compare to the beneficial networking of this past Saturday.
I appreciate all of the folks at the library for pulling this event together! A special shout out to my WriteLife publisher Cindy Grady, for being instrumental in making this event happen and in supporting her authors so well!
I look forward to next year’s Author’s Fare – but I’m hopeful that the success of this event will inspire the library to host more author related events before then!
January 28th, 2013 → 9:55 pm @ rldonovan
We’ve already addressed three of the four basic categories that new authors tend to fall into: the I have an idea I’d like to share with the world group, typically consisting of business advice – an idea, the I have a story to tell group, often about overcoming adversity, and/or self-help advice and the I want to write a book and give my business, or personal brand, a boost folks. We’ve given these author-types some advice on the best way to get things started.
Let the creative juices flow!
That leaves our fourth and final category, consisting of the I love to write and I’m pretty good so I should probably write a book folks. For them the subject of the book is often secondary to their desire or even need to express themselves in writing.
At the risk of seeming immodest, that’s where I place myself. As an English major and a former English teacher, I have always wanted to write a book and I’ve never been shy about sharing that fact. When I finally got around to actually writing a manuscript there were those who asked “why did you wait so long?” And the answer is simple. I envisioned pouring my heart into my life’s work and spending the next decade receiving one rejection after another from heartless publishers who would ignore and overlook my brilliance, thus shredding my very soul.
Getting to know a publisher gave me the courage to take a shot. Once I’d made the decision to finally write the damn thing – I hadn’t a clue of what to write. A chat with this publisher helped to get me focused.
“What do you love?” he asked.
“I love comedy.”
“Then write your comedy and show it to me,” he suggested.
That was it. Next challenge – decide what funny things to write about. As a lifelong aficionado of murder mysteries – both serious and comedic – the old adage “write what you know” seemed applicable.
Once my genre was set I sat down to write. The first three chapters virtually wrote themselves. I packaged these up and sent them to my “publisher acquaintance” to await his verdict.
A few weeks later confirmation arrived. My chapters were of enough interest to warrant finishing the book. It was a bittersweet moment that juxtaposed the thrill of having a publisher’s interest and the terror of being clueless as to how to write a whole book.
For me, the next step was to continue writing while simultaneously creating a writing process. There are some who would say my journey appears to have been backwards. But it’s what worked for me.
Here are a few pointers for those of you raring to go:
Donovan heads Bozell Books, a division of Bozell designed to help authors and budding authors from inception through promotion of their published work. She has authored a novel entitled: Is It Still Murder Even If She Was a Bitch? www.rldonovan.com, and the second in her Donna Leigh Mysteries series is currently being published. Her next installment of FAQs on Authoring a Book will address the prospective author with confidence in their ability to write and how it impacts their process of “Getting Started.”
December 20th, 2012 → 8:44 pm @ rldonovan
First Novel
The origin of Bozell Books and Managing New Author Expectations:
The Bozell Books division was started as a direct result of my own personal need. I had just published my first book: Is It Still Murder Even If She Was A Bitch?, and I hadn’t a clue as to how to promote it. www.rldonovan.com.
I learned through glimpses of more experienced authors that promoting a book in this day and age takes an Herculean effort. I hasten to add that it has been something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember – and it has absolutely been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Promoting a book seemed so easy based on all the movies and TV shows depicting authors and their exciting careers. From my vantage point things looked dramatically different. In the movies and in TV, once your book is published you just sit back and let the world gather at your feet. Your publisher sets up reading/signing/speaking engagements and provides a stretch limo (complete with chilled champagne) to convey you from one glamorous event to the next.
Reality bore little resemblance to the glamour of fiction as the promotion of my book began. I felt extremely fortunate to have worked closely with an established author of Harlequin Romance novels before undertaking my own career as a novelist. At last count she has written and published 17 books and her painstaking experience in trying to promote them has helped to manage my own expectations.
I find that the most difficult part of helping a budding author is in trying to manage their expectations. There is at least a little part of all of us (myself included) that thinks “that’s you, but my work will be received differently.” It can happen, but it’s pretty rare.
The most difficult part of managing new author expectations is in getting the point across without going so far that it kills motivation. It’s a finely balanced art.
As challenging as it is to promote a book, the thrill of getting out into the public and sharing your work with new audiences is a rush like no other. A relative recently asked me in a somewhat sardonic tone “so, do you get the star treatment?” The first thought that flitted through my head was the backbreaking amount of work I was doing to promote the book; but my second thought took me right to that place where I’m in front of an audience comprised of folks that want to know any number of things about me and my book. “Yes,” I answered in all honesty, “there are times when I really do.”
Donovan heads Bozell Books, a division of Bozell designed to help authors and budding authors from inception through promotion of their published work. Her next installment of FAQs on Authoring a Book will address the age old challenge of “Getting Started.”
October 23rd, 2012 → 5:08 pm @ rldonovan
Check out Emily’s interview here:
http://creativejuicer.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/creative-careerist-robin-l-donovan/
October 14th, 2012 → 8:38 pm @ rldonovan
Bookdisplay
Wednesday, October 17th I’ll be at the WriteLife booth #451 from 10:30 – 12:30. Come on by and chat and see my book trailer.
Visit with me and all of the other WriteLife authors – up close and personal. This is a great chance to get to know who’s writing what you’re reading.
I look forward to seeing you at the Quest Center and chatting about the first book in the Donna Leigh Mystery series, I might even be persuaded to share some details on book #2: I Didn’t Kill Her, But That May Have Been Short Sighted.
September 13th, 2012 → 6:47 pm @ rldonovan
My book trailer just went up on the WriteLife YouTube channel today. Check it out:
June 21st, 2012 → 2:47 pm @ rldonovan
Check out the wonderful post that Erin Reel, The Lit Coach, wrote on her blog after interviewing me last week: http://thelitcoach.net/from-blog-to-book-with-robin-leemann-donovan/
From Blog to Book with Robin Leemann Donovan
by TheLitCoach | on June 21st, 2012 | 0 comments
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I love book titles that really get to the heart of what the book’s about. I also have a penchant for humor. When I was invited to attend a book reading/signing event for author Robin Leemann Donovan, I was only too glad to go – with at title like, Is It Still Murder Even If She Was a Bitch?, how could I not be entertained? And I was! In the decade I’ve been working with authors and their books, I don’t recall laughing quite so hard at a book reading. Totally refreshing.
The Lit Coach Interview
Donovan, a Managing Principal at Bozell, one of the top advertising agencies in the country, understands the vital importance of hook. At the urging of a friend, Donovan created Menologues, a blog devoted to helping women stumble less blindly through menopause. Her hook? Clearly humor but also authenticity – Donovan blogs, writes and speaks off the cuff, from the heart and with authority not just about menopause but about topics important to women 50+, who have largely been ignored in publishing and other media. That organic combo works for her. From my perspective, she’s on to something.
I asked Donovan for her three most important, need-to-know tips about writing and blogging. Here’s what she shared.
On Writing
Prepare for nothing happening as you would expect it.
Take notes on every chapter so you know where you’re going, where your loose ends are and when to tie them up (very important for mystery writers).
Get your work professionally critiqued and proofread. Friends and relatives are not your best beta readers, except my mother and I’ll loan her out.
On Blogging
Be specific. Stand for something.
Be relatable. Be authentic.
Be prepared. Do your homework. Discover and understand your market. Don’t touch on topics that everyone’s touched. Know what’s important and what isn’t.
Be open to the realities of the people around you and their unique experiences. Avoid stereotypes.
If you’ve had success creating a book from your blog, share your tips (and links!) here.
TLC
June 6th, 2012 → 9:13 pm @ rldonovan
Great audience at the Millard Branch!
Last night I had the distinct honor of kicking off the Millard Branch’s Authors Series. Attendees were wonderful and supportive! They asked some excellent questions and gave me some feedback that made it difficult to fit my head through the door as I exited the building! Every “talk” should be so much fun – for me!
I also appreciate being able to trot out an excerpt from the second book in the Donna Leigh Mysteries series, I Didn’t Kill Her, But That May Have Been Short Sighted! It really helped to be able to share my plot and characters with a new audience, and hearing the laughter was music to my ears!
I want to thank all of the wonderful folks at the Millard Branch for being so welcoming and supportive!
I recently had an acquaintance laughingly ask me if I really felt like a “celebrity.” And to his surprise, I was able to respond that there are actually a few people who treat me as though I’m a celebrity. I count the great folks at the Millard Branch and their wonderful audience as some of those few!
April 11th, 2012 → 4:00 pm @ rldonovan
We are delighted to welcome crime novelist Robin Donovan as our guest blogger today.
Robin’s new mystery is Is it Still Murder, Even if She Was a Bitch? (WriteLife November 2011 Trade Paperback), which introduces Omaha ad agency owner Donna Leigh … and has a pretty provocative title.
And that title is exactly what she’s writing about today. Robin is also offering one of our readers a chance to win a copy of her book! See below for details.
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When I first decided on the title for my murder mystery there was a lot of discussion. One of my editors hinted that the publisher would probably insist on a change; others suggested that using a word like “bitch” in a title could be self-limiting in a number of ways.
Photo provided courtesy of
Robin Donovan
In all honesty, when I first came up with the title: Is It Still Murder, Even If She Was a Bitch? it was kind of a joke. I had started my novel determined to create an amateur sleuth, Donna Leigh, whose adventures were compelling enough to warrant sequels. If I succeeded I wouldn’t need a title; I’d need a series of titles. In the grand tradition of Grafton and Evanovich, I would need a catchy play on numbers or something that would take me from A to Z.
Initially I was intent on seeing if I could write a story that would even appeal to an audience; there was no time to focus on devising the perfect title formula. I just threw Claire’s Murder at the top of the page for a placeholder, more than anything. I didn’t want to commit to a title until I was convinced that it would maximize marketing potential; having worked in advertising for many years what else would you expect? I researched characteristics of “successful” titles, but held off on making a commitment until I was sure of what would be needed.
As my writing progressed, selection of a title almost became a reward in and of itself. If I could get far enough in my work to be convinced of its efficacy, I would permit myself to bestow it with a title. Nearing that point, the opportunity to discuss the title strategy with my business partner, a marketer I admire enormously, presented itself. I shared my theory on the importance of “the right approach” to the title or “series of titles” challenge. Her response was immediate and to the point “not on the first book, don’t even worry about that on the first book.” Well, that was it. She had freed me from title prison.
By this time the finished book was in its first round of edits, and I was extremely pleased with the manuscript. With time on my hands and the freedom to select a one-book title, I sat down and started to noodle around on a piece of paper. Almost immediately I wrote: Is It Still Murder, Even If She Was a Bitch? I dismissed it almost as immediately.
It was too long; I would offend people with the word “bitch;” It shouldn’t be two clauses; I had a long list of reasons why it should be scrapped. But it made me laugh. So I replaced Claire’s Murder at the top of the page with my new, but not seriously in contention, placeholder and I started getting some very interesting feedback. It got my attention.
The more people I talked to the more determined I became to leave this outrageous query as the title of my book. I work with talented writers; it made them all laugh. Coincidentally, I was in the process of filling a senior writing position at the time. Consequently, I had the pleasure of meeting many incredibly talented writers from all over the country. Many times the conversation turned to personal interests as we tried to size each other up as potential colleagues, and many times they talked of their own published works.
Each time my book title was mentioned the reaction was precisely the same, dead silence, a muffled laugh building to an enthusiastic guffaw, the spontaneity of which assured me that I had caught them off guard, robbing them of their finely honed ability to elicit a carefully guarded and measured response. That laugh was always music to my ears; it was far more rewarding for me than any of the accolades that inevitably followed!
As I labor to promote the book, I am still always elated by the strong reaction to my title. Not everybody loves it, but nobody ignores it.
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Robin Donovan was born and raised in New Jersey but lived and worked in Connecticut for a number of years before moving to Nebraska in 1999. Starting her career as a high school English teacher, Donovan moved into advertising in the early 1980s. She is the author of the blog, Menologues, a humorous yet informative look at the trials and tribulations of menopause by someone who’s been there. For more information about Robin, visit her website at RLDonovan.com.
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About Is it Still Murder, Even if She Was a Bitch?:
How does one react to the shocking news that a former colleague has been brutally murdered? Worse yet, you realize that your vitriolic relationship with the victim could land you squarely on the suspect list. That’s exactly what happens to Donna Leigh, the energetic and somewhat sardonic owner of an Omaha ad agency, who jumps right in to the investigation – despite annoying menopausal symptoms – in order to keep the wolves away from her door. She manages to amuse as well as impress with her effective but unorthodox sleuthing.
As Donna and her colorful colleagues work feverishly to solve the case, they leave a trail of unintentional destruction in their wake; from injured police officers to collapsed buildings. Donna and her team stir things up enough to make the murderer nervous; after Donna receives a threat to “back off” things take on a more serious bent for her, but not for her ever vigilant colleagues who continue to animatedly bungle their way through the investigation until the murderer is behind bars.
For a chance to win a copy of Is it Still Murder, Even if She Was a Bitch?, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the “Robin Donovan: Is it Still Murder, Even if She Was a Bitch?” contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (3901) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends April 18th, 2012.)
http://www.omnimysterynews.com/2012/04/please-welcome-crime-novelist-robin.html
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