SHALLA CHATS romance novelist Jennifer Blake
"Writing Best-selling Romance”
by Shalla DeGuzman
First of all, who’s Jennifer?
Jennifer lives on a lake in northern Louisiana with her husband. Her next book, TRIUMPH IN ARMS, final title in her six-book Masters at Arms series, is due out in February, 2010. Her 1983 New York Times best seller, ROYAL SEDUCTION, will be released in August, 2010 as part of Sourcebooks, Inc.’s special “Re-launch of a Classic” program. |
Jennifer Blake has been called a “classic” romance novelist, a “pioneer of the romance genre,” and an “icon of the romance industry.”
A New York Times best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of both the RWA and Affaire de Coeur Halls of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds numerous other honors, including two Maggies, two Holt Medallions, the Frank Waters Award for Literary Excellence, and a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine.
She has written more than 60 romance novels with translations in 20 languages and some 30 million copies in print worldwide.
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Shalla: Hi Jennifer, it’s so nice of you to join us here. We’ve got so many questions.
For one, please tell us about your eReads. Are they e-books you self published or PDF files readers can purchase?
Jennifer: It’s a great pleasure to be here with you, Shalla. Thanks much for the invitation to chat.
My books listed on the eReads web site are all titles originally published by mainstream print publishers before 1989. The right to publish them reverted to me, and I then licensed their production in electronic media to eReads. They are available for purchase in several formats and from many sources other than eReads, including Amazon.com for print-on-demand copies and downloads for the Kindle, also from Mobipocket, Scribd, Fictionwise, Connect, Baen, and Sony.
Shalla: I’m looking at a list of your books and it looks like you’ve been writing a lot. What is your writing schedule like?
Jennifer: I normally write about six hours per day, from around 9 am until 3 pm, five days per week. This is in addition to getting up at 3 am and working for a few hours if I can’t sleep or if an exciting idea strikes. And of course any semblance of a schedule goes out the window when I’m on deadline.
Shalla: Do you write with a pseudonym? If so, why did you decide on using a pseudonym? Is it for more privacy?
Would you recommend that writers, especially romance writers, use a pseudonym?
Jennifer: I began my career using my real name, Patricia Maxwell, and kept it for 8-9 Gothic novels. When the market declined for that genre, I was asked to write a historical romance under a pseudonym since my real name was associated with books that were out of favor. I choose my grandmother’s maiden name of Blake and added Jennifer for its soft, romantic sound—and now automatically answer to either name.
I’ve also used pen-names for writing other types of books, including Maxine Patrick for contemporary romances, Patricia Ponder for a mystery, and Elizabeth Trehearne for collaboration on a Gothic.
Writers often use pseudonyms to avoid confusing the reader about the type of book appearing on the shelves or when they want to reinvent themselves after a career disaster. All the books written under my various pseudonyms have since been reissued as Jennifer Blake titles.
There are advantages to using a pseudonym, two major ones being the privacy you mentioned and the freedom it gives prolific authors to write for different publishers or in different genres at the same time. There are also disadvantages, particularly these days when providing identification is a necessary part of air travel or staying in a hotel. If I had it to do it again, I probably would not use a pseudonym.
Shalla: Where do you get your story ideas from? Or does your editor tell you what type of books she’d like you to write?
I was just watching She-Devil, where Meryl Streep is a very successful romance writer and she talks about filling her days/evenings/her life with happy, romantic thoughts and activities. She says it helps her write romance novels better, because then it just flows. What are your thoughts on this?
What inspires you to keep on writing?
Jennifer: Story ideas come from everywhere and everything: I’ve had ideas while researching minor events in history, while walking down the streets of unusual places, while talking to friends or just while staring out a window. They often grow out of putting two story elements together, such as a time period and a setting, a character and a setting, a situation and a character.
I’m always six or seven book ideas behind, have more than I’ll ever use. My editor seldom knows what kind of book I’ll be writing until I send in a proposal--though I’ve had requests in the past to write novellas on special subjects such as cats, quilts and the Christmas season. Recently, my editor asked if the New Orleans-set trilogy I had proposed could be transferred to an English setting, but this was unusual.
Deliberately constructing a romantic atmosphere isn’t something I do, though I keep scented candles on my desk, often write to classical music, and certainly appreciate romantic gestures when they come my way. I believe having a good romantic relationship is an advantage for a romance author since it acts as a stabilizing force in this crazy business.
Inspiration for me comes mainly from the story evolving in my head. I see my characters in my mind’s eye as they live in the settings I give them. I’m there with them as a spectator, hearing them, watching their movements, feeling the wind, rain or sun; sensing the emotions that move them and the thoughts in their minds. When a story is going well, I’m so caught up in it that that I can’t wait to get to it every morning, to find out what my characters are going to think or do next. After it ends, I often have the feeling that they carry on somewhere in the world I’ve created for them.
Shalla: By the way, how did you get started writing and getting published? There are so many writers out there hoping and praying that their novel gets published (finally!) and would love to hear about your journey from an unpublished to a successful novelist.
Jennifer: Getting published was a slow process covering about seven years. At 19, I had a dream so vivid that I decided to write it down in story form. Afterward, I began to write poetry and small stream-of-consciousness pieces while reading everything I could find on how to write. I took a short correspondence course which gave me feedback from an instructor and introduced me to Writer’s Market, a publication that lists publishers who accept submissions from freelance writers.
Eventually, I started sending out things, and sold several poems, newspaper articles and a short story. I wrote 40,000 words of a novel, but shoved it into a closet because it had so many problems. Because of the sales, I became eligible to join the National League of American Penwomen. The local chapter of the group was compiling a book on Louisiana historical landmarks at that time, and every member was asked to research and write essays on two of them. It was while walking through an old antebellum mansion not far from where I lived that I had the brainstorm to do a Southern Gothic novel.
I wrote it in longhand, typed it, wrapped it up and mailed it to the first of five paperback publishers I’d listed in alphabetical order from Writer’s Market. It came back unopened because I’d not sent a query letter—this type of advance letter was just coming into use then. Since I had no idea how to write a query, I sent the book to publisher number 2 on my list, Fawcett Gold Medal.
Two months later, I receive a letter saying the book was too short for their list, but if I could add 30 pages, they would accept it. I did the work, and the book was published as THE SECRET OF MIRROR HOUSE in January, 1970. Though I collected quite a few rejection slips for other things, the first editor to read the first book I submitted actually bought it.
This unusual publication history came about, I think, because I served what amounts to a seven-year apprenticeship in the art of writing. So many people think they should be able to sit down and whip out a publishable story without any advance preparation. That doesn’t make sense.
Writing is a profession that requires intensive study and practice; talent isn’t enough. A musician doesn’t expect to play to a sold-out crowd at his first gig, nor does an artist think he’ll sell his first sketch; they know they must work to reach the highest level of their profession. So it is with writing. You have to learn the inner workings of story and practice the art of putting readable words on paper. There’s no other way.
Shalla: How are your book titles chosen? Do you choose them or are they decided upon by publishers or editors?
Jennifer: I’ve chosen most of my titles. All those in my Masters at Arms series are mine as they are loosely based on elements of the duel: CHALLENGE TO HONOR, DAWN ENCOUNTER, ROGUE’S SALUTE, GUARDED HEART, GALLANT MATCH, and TRIUMPH IN ARMS. Now and then something I’ve used will need changing because another book coming out around the same time has a title too similar or else it isn’t commercial enough. What happens then is that I’ll be asked to submit a list of alternates.
I sometimes discuss titles with my agent who has a knack for them. It was he who suggested the title for the first book in my new trilogy due for publication in 2011. As it’s set at the court of Henry VII--that’s really Henry 7, not Henry the 8th--and follows sisters known as the Three Graces who must marry at the king’s command though their fiancés always die, he suggested I call it BY HIS MAJESTY’S GRACE. I loved the idea, so that’s what it became.
Shalla: What would you say are the important, basic things romance writers should know? Should all romance writers know about Romance Writers of America, for example, and join it? Should romance writers all have a literary agent? If so, any literary agents you would suggest querying?
Jennifer: Anyone who wants to be a romance author should study the many how-to books written for the genre. If they are not long-time fans of romance fiction, they should also read several dozen romance novels since there are tenets for the genre that are difficult to grasp any other way. Joining Romance Writers of America is the next logical step. The aid and support gained by attending chapter meetings and conferences are invaluable. Moreover, the majority of writers who have had their first romance novel published in recent years managed it through appointments with editors or agents at RWA conferences.
Having an agent is necessary if you are directing your work toward mainstream publishing houses. Editors at these often state that they do not accept non-agented manuscripts. It’s less important when writing for Harlequin, though agented manuscripts are always read before those submitted by authors without an agent. Another benefit of RWA is the list of accredited agents posted on their web site. Members have access to this list after they sign in with their password. Though I can’t recommend any particular agent, I can tell you that agents actively looking for clients often attend both RWA conferences and Romantic Times conventions.
Shalla: So how long do your books stay on inventory? Are there ways of keeping them out there longer?
Jennifer: My books, like those of most authors, stay on the shelves of regular bookstores for only a few months. They are available indefinitely, however, from online sources such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble—the paper copies for as long as the publisher has them in stock and the download versions for years. They become absolutely immortal, of course, when put into the eReads program. One of the great advantages of electronic media is that books available in that format can remain in print forever.
Shalla: And I was wondering about book contracts. After your book is published, and after a certain amount of time, can you publish that book somewhere else if you choose? Or does the original publisher usually have the rights to publish it again?
Jennifer: Most book contracts specify that the right to publish the work remains with the publisher until the title ceases to be sold or goes out of print. The point at which these things happened was once fairly easy to establish. A title that showed no earned royalties on its statement for two or three accounting periods was obviously no longer selling, of if a bookstore ordering the title was told no copies remained in the warehouse then it was undeniably out of print.
Being offered remainder copies of your book at deep discount was also a dead giveaway! At that point the writer, or their agent, had only to send a written request for reversion of rights, and this was usually granted. Electronic publication of mainstream titles in conjunction with normal publication has skewed this scenario. A book can never really go out of print in a traditional sense if it can be printed on demand or downloaded at will. This makes it difficult for an author to have rights reverted these days. One thing I’ve seen with e-publication is a contract clause which sets a strict time limit on the publisher’s right to produce the work. This seems a reasonable solution.
Meanwhile, the only way an author can offer a previously published book for sale to a different publisher is if they have a written letter of reversion from the legal department of the original publishing house. Should the author determine that his/her book meets the criteria (as set down in its contract) for being available for reversion, then he/she—or their agent— should immediately send a registered letter formally requesting reversion of rights. You should know, however, that publishers often have up to 18 months after receiving such a the letter to put the book back into print. If they decide to do this, then reversion must wait until the new edition is out of print.
Shalla: Finally, questions for the already published.
Any suggestions on the best ways to promote a book? Your website at http://www.jenniferblake.com looks terrific, but are there other ways to get an author’s work/name out there?
Does an author have to attend book conferences after book conferences, and signings and appearances to promote their books that, I’m wondering, how can author find the time to actually write their next novel?
Jennifer: A good web site has become one of the most important tools for promotion of an author’s work. Blogging, whether on your own site or at other online venues, is also highly recommended. Others opportunities include social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
Placing an ad for your book in, “Romance Sells,” the RWA sponsored booklet sent out quarterly to librarians and booksellers, is a good value for the money, though membership in RWA is a requirement. You can also place an ad in RWR, the monthly publication of RWA, or in Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine. And sending out a monthly e-newsletter may also make sense once you develop a following.
On the other hand, no one has been able to prove that mailing book announcement cards or spending huge amounts for giveaways such as printed pens, notepads, bags, key chains, etc, is cost effective. Bookmarks to tuck into an autographed book are a nice gesture, but have little measureable affect when sent out by the handfuls to conferences; they just get lost among all the others.
Common sense should prevent anyone from spending more than 10-15% of their advance on promotion—and, in fact, money spent advertising a first book is usually wasted. Accepted wisdom says it’s much more useful to promote your author name or body of work rather than any single title.
Finally, my first agent told me years ago that the best promotion a writer can do is to write another good book as soon as they finish the last one. I’ve come to think he may have been right.
And yes, you’re correct, Shalla, about the time drain caused by promotion. Attending book signings and making appearances at conventions and conferences can be fun, but seldom have any noticeable effect on net royalties. I’ve often complained that I spend so much time being “Jennifer Blake, Author” that I don’t have time to be me, the writer!
Shalla: Writers have so many questions, thanks for sharing your expertise. Best to you and to your latest projects! For more on Jennifer Blake, please visit her website http://www.jenniferblake.com
It’s been a pleasure, Shalla. Many thanks for the good wishes, and the best of luck to you with Shalla Magazine.
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