Today is an extra-special day here at The Dandridge Estate -- not only are we giving away Godiva Chocolates and Bath Junkie Bath Salts, but one lucky Winner will also receive a copy of Kerri Nelson's Vegan Moon!
When a vegetarian werewolf falls for a celebrity chef, will his appetite for her cause him to stray from his vegan ways?
Santiago Salazar is a reformed werewolf living in sunny Beverly Hills, California. When he catches sight of celebrity chef Gabrielle Connor on television, he’s soon drooling in his tofu burger.After they meet at one of Gabbi’s book signings, Santiago is thrilled to discover that the attraction is mutual. The two hit it off in a major way but when the night takes a dark turn…Gabbi must decide if she can live with the new world that she’s discovered and Santiago must ultimately answer to the werewolf code of conduct.
Take one hungry werewolf and mix with one lonely chef, stir in some hot sex and Vegan Moon delivers a tasty treat that will keep you coming back for more.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race?
By: Kerri Nelson
I was thinking about the children’s story of The Turtle and The Hare and how it relates to being an author.
Are you the turtle or the hare?
The parable teaches us that “slow and steady” wins the race. So, if we apply this to our writing careers…some might think that we should focus all of our attention on one manuscript. Pour our heart and soul into it. Languish over every plot detail day and night and edit it inch by inch until it is pure perfection. Then we should search for the perfect agent submitting query after query and wait until the perfect contract is offered by the perfect publisher. Right?
Huh.
Guess I didn’t learn much from that parable after all.
In my writing career, I’m much more like the hare. Not that I believe it should be a race or that I should brag about being the best (like that pesky rabbit did in the story). But I don’t believe that slow and steady is ultimately the best tact to take when it comes to publishing. I believe that you should write, get published, and strive to STAY published.
If this means selling a shorter work (a novella versus full length novel) in order to get your name out there and start to build a following, then so be it.
If this means selling to a small or mid-size publisher versus a “traditional” New York publisher, then so be it.
And, yes, even if it means doing all the work yourself and self publishing in order to get your voice heard sooner and in your own way, then so be it.
Maybe this will work for you and maybe not. But all I can tell you is that based on my personal experiences—if I had written this parable—the hare would be sitting at the finish line counting his royalty checks while the turtle waited for yet ANOTHER agent rejection. Perhaps one reading, “this just doesn’t work for me.”
As authors, shouldn’t WE be the ones deciding if and how our voices are heard?
As a reader, would you prefer to wait a long time between novels from your fave author if it meant a longer book or would you prefer more frequent releases but shorter in length?
© Kerri Nelson 2011
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and three adorable children. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Celtic Hearts Romance Writers , Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, and Outreach International Romance Writers.
Read more about Kerri’s books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com
Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com
I've taken a lot of snark and jabs from online folks about being a tortoise but we each choose our own paths. There's room in the race for all of us.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I would think slow and steady is better to develop something. But true, when an idea comes to mind, you gotta run like that hare to write it down while it's fresh.
ReplyDeleteI think it all depends on the idea, some need slow and steady.
ReplyDelete:)
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ReplyDeleteI think it can be interpreted different ways, and maybe people who tend toward one side can benefit from acting like the other. I'm more of a tortoise, and I have to remember that things can't be perfect, and I have to move on. However, someone who sends things out before they're ready (or never even finishes them to begin with) could stand to act a little more like a tortoise.
ReplyDeleteSuz~~Forget about the snarks and jabs. You've found a method that works for you. Obviously. So, rock on my turtle dove. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJulie~~I hear ya. I have to get my thoughts down and saved before they disappear. So many ideas, so little time! Thanks for stopping by.
Lindsey~~A lot of folks would agree that the turtle is the wise and patient one. I never claimed to be either. :-D Nice to see you.
BusReader~~So true. Who says we can't be a little of both, eh? I appreciate the comment!
ReplyDeleteI prefer to write at my own speed. Sometimes I write a lot in a short amount of time, sometimes it's more of a struggle. But I have to be true to myself, that's the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteI'm both. I start slow and painful through the first 5 chapters then speed up to a hare after that.
ReplyDeleteI gotta say that this whole writing thing seems to have more pathways than there are ways to skin a cat. My pathway seems to have a LOT of dead ends, but I'm getting to enjoy a lot of great scenery along the way!
ReplyDeleteI love that concept - vegetarian werewolf!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a hare right now!! I think it's important to get your name out there with books as often as you can to establish a fan/friend base, then write that long novel. The only downside to ebooks is that longer ones are a little harder to read. So, for someone starting out with an epub, you might build a better fan base with a novella than a full length novel.
Book sounds great!!
Kim
I am the slow and steady kind simply because I don't have a lot of confidence yet, BUT I can see that I have developed a good voice now and I am ready to send my stories out. Actually, I will admit that I've read your posts about how you have sent your work out there and I admire you so much for that, that you have been the catalyst to get me off my duff. I have three stories I can send out and another one that must be updated to where my writing skills are right now. I've been taking classes by some great teachers and am excited to see how it is received. You are an awesome roll model, Kerri, and I thank you for the push out the door. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a hare. Mainly because I worry too much and get distracted by my kids. I write exceedingly slowly.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have more stories out there and am trying to follow your wonderful example. :)
Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by, and for Kerri for the post and giveaway! When it comes to short stories, I can be a hare -- longer works, definitely tortoise. But it's different strokes -- it would be boring if we were all the same...
ReplyDeleteNicoleZ~~It is totally all about the method that works for you. I don't like sitting around waiting for those "big projects" to go through so I spend my waiting time writing "small projects" it keeps me feeling productive. :-)
ReplyDeleteShannan~~Very interesting. Most people seem to have those "mid book" slumps. Interesting that you speed up as you go along. Thanks for stopping by!
Teri~~I like the way you think. Nicely said.
ReplyDeleteKim~~Thank you so much for the compliments. Lovely to hear. I'm a mother of 4 children (3 small ones) and I have limited time to read these days. Novellas are my new obsession. Both as a reader and a writer for this very reason. TIME. Glad you stopped by!
Paisley~~Awe shucks. Thank you so much for your kind words. I just believe in you and want you to do the same for yourself. I know you're extremely talented--it is time to share it with the rest of the world. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteBeth~~You can do it! My kids distract me constantly and you know that the interruptions will come on a daily basis. But I know that you'll succeed. I'm rooting for you. Good to see you again.
Nikki~~Thank YOU for hosting me today. I've been having some computer issues so just now getting caught up on all the wonderful comments.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know who the winner is when you draw and I'll get them a Veggie Wolf immediately. ;-)
Big hugs and LOVE LOVE the blog. xoxo
Good interview. As a reader I want to read my favorite authors but I am willing to wait until they have a good--make that excellent--book available. If it means I don't read them as often, that's okay. Quality over quantity. Plus it will give me time to re-read their older works.
ReplyDeleteTo me I think it depends on the situation in some cases you need to fast in others going slow is the best way
ReplyDeleteHmm, I think time and length doesn't matter at all. It's the quality of the story. If that takes you a week or a year, so be it.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer myself, I view this turtle and the hare thing different. Will I make this chosen career support me really soon after little work or is it only going to happen after years of lot of hard work. But I think that's the commerical part of me fighting with the creative part of me. The creative part is just happy to be writting and isn't worried about the details (silly creative side :) ).
She~~
ReplyDeleteBless you for having patience. I'm one of those folks who feel as if I'm constantly in a "hurry up and wait" phase. So, the fact that you have such a positive attitude about waiting it out is to be commended. Thanks for the comment!
Denise~~
I appreciate the comment and hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
David~~
The old "quality versus quantity" thing is always a good stand by. Then again, some people do brilliant things in a short time and some people write total garbage after years of effort. So, who knows? Just something to ponder. But best of luck with both your creative and commercial sides. Thanks for stopping by!