Monday, September 20, 2010

It's Monday! Meet Kate Richards

Blogging with Becca
Why Authors are Sleepy Most of the Time


After reading Valerie Mann’s inspirational blog the first week, with all the hunky guys and fabulous things that make her writing the rockin’ experience it is, I thought, as a bit newer writer than she and Becca, I would share what it’s been like so far.

It’s so exciting to join this world of storytelling. Everyone is so interesting and has imaginations that extend beyond the furthest reaches of space. It is a heady thing not only to be allowed to pal around with them, but also to become one of them. The stuff of dreams, for most of us. I waited all my life, and when Breathless Press accepted Finally, My Love, last spring I snoopy danced, sang and hosted a chat party, about fifteen authors and one reader (Hi Brandy). Okay, I could have advertised it better.

But as you learned last week from Clarissa Yip, most of us don’t just write. Noooo, that would be silly. We are critique group members, helping our friends as they help us in return, preparing manuscripts for the insightful eyes of publishers and editors. This goes hand in hand with beta reading, a little less heavy-handed form of critiquing. And reviewing…yes, many of us are reviewers as well.

 

Got Romance Reviews
 
Which brings me to owning a review site. Valerie Mann and I own Got Romance Reviews where we gather with a fabulous group of other authors and readers who read and review some of the best and the sexiest romances being written today. That’s also a fun part of my authorly life. Thank God for Val who is incredibly organized and makes spreadsheets in her sleep.

And editing. If you’re an author, and (like me) have an English degree, why not learn to be an editor. Since it takes a while to get known as an author, the money you make as an editor will give you the feeling you’re being a productive part of the writing community. Plus you get to read a whole bunch of great books in their early stages and watch them become polished and awesome. If you’re lucky, you do this for two or three presses!



Now, having a book accepted by a publisher has its own list of chores, as you are now the editee. You get to participate in picking out your cover and learn to promote your work. The authors that you know and love do these things and more. And most of them have day jobs, families, and do things for their community. So, if we seem just a bit tired, there’s probably good cause. If we didn’t love all of it so much, we wouldn’t do it. And of course, sleep is highly overrated.


PerfectPartners.com Excerpt:

I clicked.

The screen went wild. Golden confetti and silver streamers shot across the monitor like fireworks, and when it all settled down, a name appeared—this time in tall, electric blue capitals: QUINN EVERBY.

Quinn? Really? A remarkable name. I giggled. I guess I had asked for an extraordinary man, after all.
Buy Now
Too intrigued to stop, I scrolled down and found that Mr. Quinn Everby was a self-trained software designer, who spent his summers assisting on archeological digs in the Sahara and his winters bowling. He had indeed been born in China, where his parents were some sort of trade delegates. One by one, my stated preferences were met, and on the next page, I found a picture of a dark haired, sky-blue-eyed Adonis. Fantasies erupted, adding to my deprived sensuality.

Elbow on the table, I laid my cheek in palm and studied Quinn's sensuously full lips. How would he kiss? With great lips and a smile that lit up to those incredible eyes, I may have trouble keeping my hands to myself. We would have two children and maybe—wait, no. I sat up. Craziness.

One Night

Confessions

Great blog, Kate. I am glad you stopped by and I swear I have learned as much or more from you than you have learned from me. If nothing else, you keep me laughing, which I hear is a fantastic cure for fatigue.

20 comments:

  1. You're wonderful Kate! As one of the lucky writers who gets to call you their friend, I know how valuable your time is and how beautifully you use it to try to help others and make the writing community a better place to be!
    StephBeck

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  2. Thanks Steph! You're one of the authors who got me started being one myself! Steph's books sell like hotcakes and for good reason!

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  3. Hi Kate,
    Great article and oh-so-true! It's no wonder authors are exhausted:)
    ~Lisa

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  4. I know you guys know it too. The problem is I'm having so much fun I don't know I'm exhausted til I've been asleep with the laptop on my knees for ten minutes lol.

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  5. Howdy Kate,

    I am lucky to call you a friend and as a reader enjoy your books. You got me into reviewing and tolerate my slowness :)

    Thanks for sharing a bit with us!!! BTW It was a fun chat party, it was the 1st chat I'd ever been to!!! lol

    -Brandy
    brandyzbooks@yahoo.com

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  6. Hi Brandy!
    Got Romance Reviews is having a big chat weekend for Halloween, and we have all kinds of other fun stuff in October, so we'll get to play and have a good time then! And we don't care how slow a reviewer is, just that they read and care, which you do!

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  7. Hi Kate,

    Thanks, I will be watching for more info on the big chat. I am behind on my emails, my girls are keeping me really busy with school and sports, but I will get them in. I can't wait for the chat it sounds like fun!!!

    -Brandy

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  8. Yep, I can attest that everything Kate says is true. And I've fallen asleep with my laptop on my lap many times. I keep wondering when a picture of me slouched over the keyboard is going to hit YouTube. Kate is tireless, without her Got Romance Reviews wouldn't be here. And somehow she fits in being a small-business owner, wife, auntie to a bunch of nieces and nephews and author somewhere in there, too. Roosters, Kate!

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  9. Tireless...you mom/authors should get the award for that! I get to send the kids back when I'm done playing with them!

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  10. Great post! Now I feel like the only one that sleeps around here...But I do admire your ambition and momentum! Congrats on the new release! Happy sales and...get some sleep. ;0)

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  11. Don't forget...I know how much you do too Clarissa!

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  12. Kate, I'm thrilled by your successes and so happy to call you my friend. Thanks for catching so many of my homophone errors and looking for ways to help boost my visibility in the market. I wish you so much success and happiness.

    Margie
    www.romancewithsass.com

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  13. Hi Kate, sorry I'm late :) Lovely blog, but I expected nothing less from such a talented author. I expect to see big things from you in the future ;;)

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  14. Thanks Olivia! I have a vampire short for a contest headed your way in the next day or so... if you have time. With your vampire expertise I know you'll have some really helpful suggestions. After all, what does an Irish vampire do for fun on the Sunset strip?

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  15. I loved the excerpt and the post. Your voice is great. Rock on - Kate! (Maeve - the one who is always too lazy to find the link herself) ;-)

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  16. *Yawns* Yeah, us authors have it tough. Still, it's all worth the weight in gold!
    Loved your blog, made me feel, well, less alone :) in this crazy world of writing.
    And your excerpt was fun, slapping the book on my Good Reads to-read list now :)
    Good luck with all your future releases. Did someone say vampire? *looks around, wondering where her next fix is coming from?!* You must let me know when it's released.

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  17. thanks Maeve...and Margie I missed ya earlier.

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  18. Sure girlie, send the short my way :)

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  19. Well, I have an English degree but am still completely grammatically challenged. I do love the other hats I get to wear as an author, though. Helping another always helps my own writing, too. Congrats on your releases and LOVE gotromance!!!

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  20. Thanks Amber. With all you do to support other authors it's a lovely compliment!

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