Jenna Harte

Category: Writing

  • Deadly Valentine: Updated – 2200+ Downloads

    Deadly Valentine: Updated – 2200+ Downloads

    I got new edits of Deadly Valentine posted this weekend and Tuesday offered the book for free for one day at Amazon. Being a new indie author, I don’t know what constitutes good stats when it comes to free offers. I suspect my numbers aren’t stellar because I didn’t promote the free offer as I should have. Still, I feel good about 2200+ in a single day. Yes, the book was free, but people still have to be intrigued by the cover and blurb to make the effort to download and read. The book (at last check) had reached number #6 in free Kindle mystery books involving women sleuths and #141 in free Kindle books overall. Again, I don’t know if those are great stats, but I feel good about them. It gives me something to strive to beat the next time.

    While I’m happy about the results, I’m terrified by them as well. Initial reviews are good, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all be good. I’m worrying about what people won’t like. Will they still find typos that were missed and be distracted by them? Will they like the dialogue (which an agent said was my strong point)? Will they find the story believable? Will they like Tess and Jack? Whoever said that writing requires bleeding on the page is right because when you send it out into the world to be enjoyed and judged, you feel raw and vulnerable. I’ve told myself that not everyone will like the book and may take the opportunity to tell me so through a review. It’s a part of writing. Even the most celebrated writers get negative reviews. So I’ll have to try to keep it all in perspective and hope that more people enjoy the book than don’t.

    And as stressful as this whole process is, I’m back for another helping as I work on the third edit of Old Flames Never Die, book two in the Valentine series. I hope to have the book available this fall (Sept/Oct).

     

  • Do Roberts, Grisham or Evanovich Write Blurbs?

    Do Roberts, Grisham or Evanovich Write Blurbs?

    You may find this hard to believe, but writing blurbs — the information on the book that tells what it’s about — is harder than writing the story itself. At least it is for me. First of all, a good blurb is crucial to sales. It’s the next thing readers look at after the cover. That’s a lot of pressure! Second, you have to fit the plot of the story into a few lines of text. But it’s not just the plot that needs to be explained. You also have to convey they tone of the story and the personality of the characters.

    Example of a bad blurb…

    Tess left Washington, D.C. after a betrayal. She’s rebuilt her life and her law career in a small central Virginia town. All is well until she is invited to a dinner party where her date abandons her, a man from her past, Jack Valentine, shows up and the host ends up dead. Tess doesn’t like seeing Jack, but she doesn’t think he’s a killer and so she agrees to represent him. As they investigate the crime, they learn about a 30-year old crime and grow closer together. But when her life and career are threatened, will Tess take a chance on Jack.

    That’s the basic story of Deadly Valentine, but it doesn’t give you any information about whether or not the story is noir, funny, or serious, or any clue to what the characters are like.

    Below is blurb I eventually pulled together..

    Better Blurb:

    Tess Madison walked away from her two-timing fiancé, a multi-million dollar trust fund and a cushy corporate law job to pursue the single life indulging in chocolate and fancy French underwear. But her newly reordered life comes unraveled when she reluctantly accepts an invitation to a dinner party and stumbles upon the host’s dead body. Now Tess is the middle of a murder investigation pitting her wannabe-boyfriend police detective against Jack Valentine, a man from her past with blue-green eyes and sinful smile that causes her to rethink her self-imposed celibacy. Tess has many reasons to avoid Jack including the fact that he’s the prime suspect in murder. But Tess doesn’t believe Jack’s the murderer and with an honest attempt to keep her hormones in check, she agrees to represent him. With Jack’s help, she uncovers a 30-year-old secret someone is killing to keep hidden and discovers sensual delights that don’t include chocolate or French underwear. But when her professional and personal relationship with Jack threatens to ruin her career and end her life, Tess has to decide if Jack is worth the risk.

    Professional authors/publishers would probably have critiques of the better blurb, but you can’t deny it’s better than the first.

    So now I’m working on the blurb for Endangered and I’m stuck. I’ve got a bad version, but am having a heck of a time beefing it up. As I work on it, I realize that I’m going to have to write a blurb for every book I publish and I couldn’t help but wonder if the mega-authors write their own blurbs. And would I have to be a mega-author to get someone else to write my blurbs?

  • Writing What You Love…Even Across Genres

    Writing What You Love…Even Across Genres

    I once heard M.J. Rose talk about how she couldn’t get her book published because no one could figure out its genre. It had suspense, sex, psychological thrills, etc. So she sold it herself, garnered tons of fans and now has a publisher.

    Writing what you love, but not being able to get published because the book doesn’t fit into a neat category is frustrating. I enjoy romantic suspense, but prefer series over stand-alone books. This creates a dilemma for my writing because many mystery readers don’t like too much sex in their books and most romances don’t have series that are focused on the same two characters. But that is what I really want to write — a mystery involving two characters who are in love and do what people who are in love do.

    The first manuscript of Deadly Valentine had all the mystery and romantic elements, but I toned down the “good bits” because I know most mystery readers don’t want explicit intimate scenes. I thought by watering down the love scenes I would increase my chances at getting published.

    After making a few rounds and being told I have a “page turner”, “a great writing style” and “it could make a great romance if you elaborated on the intimacy”, but not getting an agent, I’ve decided maybe it’s time to just do what I want. So I’ve added the heat. It’s still a mystery, but offers more than a little cozy. One could consider it a romance, except that I have completed drafts of two more books in the series. Each has a mystery while also continuing Jack and Tess’ romance. I’ve done the same with the Delecoeurs; a happily-married, sophisticated, bantering couple ala-Nick and Nora Charles who often find themselves embroiled in murder and mystery. They also find time for passion.

    That’s not to say I’ve gone all “Fifty Shades of Gray”. Although I don’t have anything against explicit sex scenes, I much prefer intimate moments that focus on emotion and sensation over tactical details.

    I’ve discovered that many e-publishers are open to books that don’t necessarily fit within one genre, and I’m hopeful one will take a chance on Deadly Valentine.

  • Is it Envy? The Incredulous Success of Fifty Shades

    Is it Envy? The Incredulous Success of Fifty Shades

    I love rags to riches stories, especially about indie writers. There is something satisfying about hearing about a writer rejected by traditional publishing, who delivers the ultimate payback…success. But in the case of Fifty Shades of Gray, I’m stumped.

    In theory, I should be excited that the Twilight fan fic turned published book is such a phenomenon since I got started by writing fan fic. What perplexes me is the quality of writing, not for fan fic, but for a traditionally published book. Fan fiction readers are so happy to read stories about their favorite characters, that they are forgiving of things like typos and quality of writing. But when a book is picked up by a publisher, it seems like editing for quality should be a part of the process. It doesn’t feel like that happened in the case of Fifty Shades of Gray. Didn’t the editor find the overuse of some words (i.e. “inner Goddess” and “holy….”) annoying? Or the sex scenes a little too flowery ala bodice rippers of yesteryear? I’m not criticising the the bondage or erotica, I’m talking about the over-the-top language like “…pushing higher and higher into the castle in the air” or referring to a part of Christian’s anatomy as a popsicle. Are these adults or teenagers? I was expecting to read things like “trobbing love thruster”.

    Is it jealousy or sour grapes on my part. Maybe, though I don’t think so. As I mentioned in the beginning, I’ve enjoyed seeing the success of other indie authors finally getting noticed by traditional publishers. But maybe I need to view the success of Fifty Shades of Gray as a good sign. Maybe other readers, not just fan fiction readers, don’t care as much about the quality of the writing as the story. Or maybe its just readers who like titillating reads. That must be it. After all, people who like porn don’t pay too much attention to cinematic style or quality.

    While I found Fifty Shades of Gray an annoying read, ultimately I have to congratulate E.L. James for her success. Afterall, what every writer wants are readers who love the story and that is what E.L. James was able to achieve.

  • Book Three in the Valentine Series is Done…Sort Of

    Book Three in the Valentine Series is Done…Sort Of

    Although books one and two are not published, I have completed book three in the Valentine series. Granted, it’s a first draft only. There is still much to add and probably even more to cut. But the foundation is there.

    So far the only book ready for publishing is book one, Deadly Valentine, although I keep thinking of things to add or cut. Still, if one of the agents that I have sent a pitch to responded with “Send me the book”, I’d have no trouble sending it to them.

    Book two, Old Flames Never Die, is in it’s first draft form as well. After finishing book three, I determined it was time to edit book two. Boy does it need work!! But again, the bones are there. I just need to flesh it out.

    Although much work is needed, I’m proud that I’ve completed three full-length novels. I’ve written over 200,000 words…over 600 pages.

    I’m still vacillating on whether or not I want to self-publish or not. I suppose I’m hoping one of those four agents that have my pitch will help me make the decision (preferably by wanting to represent me).