{"id":5112,"date":"2012-10-11T14:15:58","date_gmt":"2012-10-11T04:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zenashapter.com\/blog\/?p=5112"},"modified":"2014-04-28T21:57:30","modified_gmt":"2014-04-28T11:57:30","slug":"what-its-like-being-a-debut-novelist-at-pan-macmillan-harper-collins-momentum-books-indie-publishing-ticonderoga-publications-part-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/what-its-like-being-a-debut-novelist-at-pan-macmillan-harper-collins-momentum-books-indie-publishing-ticonderoga-publications-part-7\/","title":{"rendered":"What it\u2019s like being a debut novelist at Pan Macmillan \/ Harper Collins \/ Momentum Books \/ Indie Publishing \/ Ticonderoga Publications. Part 7\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the final part of my blog series asking: what\u2019s it like being a debut novelist? I love writing, publishing, and winning competitions with all my short stories<\/a>\u2026 Still when I go to sleep at night, I dream about the day my novels will be read by, you know, readers \u2013 and not just sat on my computer! But will the reality of becoming a debut novelist actually live up to my expectations?<\/p>\n

To find out, I’ve asked seven authors \u2013 all with debut novels releasing either this year or early next year. Over the last few weeks, I\u2019ve been featuring their answers here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to ask debut novelist Patty Jansen about her experience\u2026<\/p>\n

Part Seven: Patty Jansen
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Patty\u2019s novel Ambassador<\/em> will be released next August. Yay \u2013 congratulations Patty!<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

Patty Jansen<\/p><\/div>\n

Novel: Ambassador<\/p>\n

Release date: August 2013<\/p>\n

Published through: Ticonderoga Publications<\/p>\n

One-sentence description: After the murder of a high-profile politician, Cory finds himself on the wrong side of the political fence, desperately trying to stave off an interstellar war. Good ol’ space opera in the vein of the Miles Vorkosigan books.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hi Patty, and thanks for taking part in this series\u2026 Now let\u2019s get stuck in!<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most of the debut authors I know always look tired. What\u2019s been the hardest part of getting your novel ready for its release?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don’t have the edits yet, but I’ve been over this book so many times that I’m ready to offer Russ a carton of beer for every typo he finds. The hardest part about this particular novel has nothing to do with the production and writing of it, but with the emotional ride I’ve had with it. After an anonymous industry person ridiculed the manuscript on a public forum, I couldn’t bear to do anything with it for two years, even though I love this book, and the story, to pieces.<\/p>\n

\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When I hear debut authors talking about their publishing experience, they often sound relieved. Maybe you could share your timeline with us? <\/strong><\/p>\n

a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When did you first conceive the concept for your novel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In October 2007, I was talking on LiveJournal to a friend about the UN (as you do–hey, we’re writers!) and all of a sudden, I saw the character Cory Wilson (who, as a kid, is the main character in my kid’s novel The Far Horizon<\/em>) sitting across the desk from a high-profile leader talking about a job he was about to start. I often make notes that consist of characters talking to each other about the setting. Hint: these are usually rreeeaaalllyyy boring scenes that never survive into the finished novel. I was writing this when my brain decided that the scene was so boring, it had to throw a bomb in through the window. From that moment on, I needed to know who had done it, and couldn’t stop writing this book.<\/p>\n

b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How long did it take you to learn the craft of novel writing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In total, probably about 4-5 years.<\/p>\n

c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How long from final polish to publication?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>When it’s published, the first words will be six years old.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How many other publishing options did you explore before embarking on this particular one?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I started off with trying to get an agent for different books, because people tell you that you have to do this. I got a few semi-bites before the GFC hit and everyone in publishing proceeded to sit on their hands and never get back to me about outstanding manuscripts. I decided to concentrate on short stories for a bit and found them more satisfying. Less time spent writing each project and more chances of success with each submission. I won Writers of the Future<\/em>. I sold two stories to Analog<\/em>. I also self-published some novels.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What\u2019s been the easiest part of the process for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being asked to submit this book \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apart from editing your manuscript until your eyes bleed, what else have you needed to do towards publishing your novel? Read and sign legal contracts? Write and approve marketing materials?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I haven’t reached the editing stage yet. The contract was straightforward and easy, and the advantage of being with a small publisher is that you’re not part of a production line and it doesn’t feel so intimidating.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What promotional activities do you have planned to help launch your novel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There will probably be a launch of some description (Sydney, Perth, Canberra, all of the above? No idea yet, it’s still a long time to go), and I’ll do all the usual things that I do for my self-publishing releases. Plus being around for interviews, going to cons, things like that. I think promotion is about doing little things constantly, not about having a big binge and then nothing.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What aspects have you found most difficult this time around, which you don\u2019t anticipate will be so tricky next time you publish a novel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I won’t ever be anxious about selling a book anymore. Before you’ve sold, you feel like the world is going to end if you don’t sell, or if a contract falls through, as happened to me twice (different books). I’ll care a lot less about the stuff that doesn’t work out, because ultimately, you should only sign with publishers you like and trust. Having someone like Russ show his confidence in me is a morale booster that will help me not to sign deals I don’t like, if that makes any sense.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Which leads me to ask what\u2019s next? What will be your next writing project and how long will it be before its ready for the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m hoping to publish a hard SF novel before Christmas. This will be self-published and also submitted to publishers. Isn’t it wonderful that you can do that these days? Also, I have file with about 20,000 words of sequel to Ambassador<\/em>, which I’ll get stuck into once I have another project out of the way. I’m planning to complete two books a year, and am on track for that goal.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finally, if you had just one piece of advice for those of us still out here waiting to have our brilliant debut novels published, what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Write another book. That’s it! It doesn’t mean forgetting the present one, or your loved older manuscripts. “Maintain” them (= keep submitting, self-publish, edit according to your latest skills, in other words, love your finished works), but for crying out loud, write something new.<\/p>\n

Thank you, Patty!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks too to all the other authors who have taken part in this series: Nina D\u2019Aleo<\/a>, Susanna Freymark<\/a>, Kylie Scott<\/a>, Monique McDonell<\/a>, Bruce Lyman<\/a>, and Greg Barron<\/a>. Your journeys have been as fascinating to read as they have been varied.<\/p>\n

For my readers, I’d love to know which journey sounds most similar to your own to date. Let me know in the comments below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the final part of my blog series asking: what\u2019s it like being a debut novelist? I love writing, publishing, and winning competitions with all my short stories\u2026 Still when I go to sleep at night, I dream about the day my novels will be read by, you know,\u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,7],"tags":[166,262,282,430,468,475,655],"class_list":["post-5112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-australian-authors","category-writer-advice","tag-debut-novelist","tag-harper-collins","tag-indie-publishing","tag-momentum-books","tag-pan-macmillan","tag-patty-jansen","tag-ticonderoga-publications"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5112"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9107,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5112\/revisions\/9107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}