Part of the review read:
When I got this book, I had no idea there was BDSM in it, but the premise sounded so good, I took a chance. I’m happy to say that it’s light BDSM, and the heroine was the one being introduced to it. I actually liked how the author presented it, explored it between her characters and made it about emotions, trust and other positives that helped Barclay and Molly’s relationship grow. Because the lifestyle is a tad unconventional, the author used it as part of the internal plot conflict. It worked.
For the Love of a Fireman is truly delightful. It’s sexy, funny and warmhearted with just the right amount of external conflict to keep a reader engaged and fascinated. I had an awesome time reading this novel and have no problem recommending it to other romance readers. The story is that good."
Most of you realize I'm known for writing with the bedroom door wide open, if the characters even make it to the bedroom. To me, this is real life. I'd wanted to try a bit of Domination and submission, or D/s in my story. So I did. I didn't go into it heavily. I approached it more philosophically and with strong doses of humor. Most readers liked it. A few reviewers said they didn't. Such is life.
This was also a book that was never edited. I emailed it to my editor at HarperImpulse and she sent it on through the pipeline. Two weeks before release, I was frantic waiting for my edits to arrive, so I emailed her. "Where are my edits?"
"Your books are always so lovely, I didn't feel the need to edit, I just sent it on through." GASP! Lovely? Nothing I write is lovely or grammatically correct or plot hole free. Dear Lord, help me, I'm going to have an unedited book floating around out there. The final book of the series was never edited either! *bangs head on desk*
All that aside, I got an email from LASR on June 30th. For the Love of a Fireman is up for Erotic Book of the Month. Erotic! But I don't write erotic! All I did was sprinkle in some references to Domination and submission. Okay, so they may have been some hot sprinkles, but we don't need to go there.
Won't I be pleased as punch to promote the upcoming vote? The winner of Erotic Book of the Month will be announced tomorrow. Honestly, I don't know how I get myself into these messes. I'm not fit to be left alone.
Take the past couple of weeks, for example. My editor at Random House and I have been going round and round about a single title she wants me to write based on Calvin's and my experience traveling home from our granddaughter's wedding. Our flight was delayed, then changed to another gate in a difference concourse, and finally cancelled. My mind got to working...two strangers in an airport, eager to get home...their flight gets cancelled...they start talking...and then. By the time Calvin and I got to our hotel room provided by the airline, I'd had chapter one roughed out in my mind. Chapter two was formed by the time I'd showered and collapsed between the sheets. The story was flowing out. A great sign, right?
I sent my editor the first three chapters. She "said" she loved it and passed it onto her boss who said she had some concerns. My over-the-top descriptions, for one. My humor, secondly. My use of polysyllabic words. Couldn't I "dummy it down"?
My humor and over-the-top descriptions are part of my voice. As for using polysyllabic words, how many times have we all looked up a word in the dictionary? Our vocabulary levels are enriched by the experience. But I know not all readers have a dictionary, much less one nearby or on their eReaders.
So I toned down my descriptions. I removed most of my humor. I used simple sentences, avoiding compound and complex ones. I used words I felt everyone should know. I sent the dummied version back.
It was returned.
They didn't like my title. No problem. I've had nearly every title I've chosen changed. It's not my strong suit. I accept that. They didn't like my characters' names down to the dentist the heroine worked for and told me what to use. I could feel my undies bunch and twist. Choosing names does not come easily for an author. My description of the heroine's hair frizzing like Marge Simpson's had to go. I loved the visual. I still had too much humor. Then they changed my plot. Grrrr! They wanted the abusive ex-boyfriend to approach the heroine, give his smarmy apologies and promises, and for her to vacillate between the hero, who's treated her well and the jerk. I couldn't see writing about a smart, sassy woman for three-fourths of the book only to have her turn into an easily conflicted, indecisive woman. Surely the reader wouldn't buy it.
I was livid.
I wrote an email stating what I would change and what I wouldn't. I told them what my characters' names would be AND my plotline. I left it percolate for two days, taking a little of the venom out each day. Meanwhile, the publisher had evidently put the book on their release calendar. I sent a calmer version of my original email. My editor replied that all was good, giving me the date I'd need to have the manuscript to her and it's release date. "Oh," she wrote, "Make sure it's erotic."
Erotic Dead Faint
For the Love of a Fireman is on sale for .99 -- https://amzn.com/B00PV4YCXG
15 comments:
LOL, Vonnie. Your editor is an idiot. Take out your humor? That's the best part of your writing. Dumb it down? That's plain dumb. I learned vocabulary by reading books with multi-syllable words. Erotic, huh? Okay. Whatever works...I guess. Good luck.
Even writing an infuriating experience is humorous from you. Erotic humor? Why not? Good luck, but I feel your frustration.
Vonnie, one of my first rejection letters shot me down for using big words AND semi-colons. Can you believe it? Still those rejections have an effect...they stifle our creativity and whack away at our confidence. The point is, I'd do an Erotic Dead Faint, too. Funny that the most horrifying part is they didn't edit your book. I CAN'T IMAGINE! I enjoyed your Love of a Fireman, Vonnie. I thought it was funny and instructive :-) I would not call it erotic...in fact it is more about how a couple mutually manages the sexual dance, especially with one rather innocent and the other quite knowledgeable. Good sexual heat in it, but not erotic. Good luck trying to teach these people, Von. They sound slow and inept!
Every time you write about your publishers, I get pissed. Not editing is just sheer laziness. Lame. Lame. Lame. You were right to dump them. But telling you how to write a book makes the hair raise on the back of my neck. I had a taste of that with my very first book in my first series with Kensington. My editor wanted me to turn my rebellious teen who got a tattoo and did a bunch of other stupid stuff into a little sweetie with a pink bow in her hair. They wanted me to remove the visit to the bitchy ex-mother-in-law and turn it into a shopping trip. I flat out refused. My agent wanted me to do what I was told. (The kiss of death for our relationship.) I told everyone I'd be happy to back out of my contract and take my book elsewhere. They believed me because I wasn't kidding. They also backed down. Since then, I get a few suggestions and no demands. And they asked for a second series. Then a proposal for a third. We have a great relationship now based on respect. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down! (Shockingly, they don't ditch us when we stand up for ourselves!) Good for you for standing your ground.
Oh, Diane, to take out my humor is like cutting off my freckled nose. It's so much a part of who I am. Calvin says one of the things he treasures about me is my humor. We do a lot of laughing in this house. I write the way I talk and think...off the wall.
Brenda, I often wonder why a publisher takes a writer on and then tries to change the writer's style and voice. Makes no sense to me.
What I hear from them, Rolynn, is "write to the market." I know how some frustrated teachers feel about the philosophy about "teaching to the test." Same principle. Right now the biggest market is the Millennials who want instant gratification and a plot that deals solely with the couple. This will be hard for me since I enjoy my secondary characters and the humor they provide.
Isn't it odd, Jannine? We strive to get in with the larger pubs and only end up with larger problems. Larger royalties, to be sure, but at my age that's not the issue. Being proud of what I write is. What provokes me is they've already decides my wounded warrior series is not going to sell well even though book one has not yet come out. They're basing their decision on pre-orders. Although they did give away 500 copies through NetGalley. Gee, thanks. They might not want book three. So, I've had to stop writing it mid-stream until we see how sales go. By then I'll have forgotten what I was going to say...
Asking you to take out the humor? What are they, nuts?? And no editing and deciding your series won't sell well before the first book comes out? I don't understand your publisher, truly. Your editor is lucky you do have that famous sense of humor. Some writers might be tempted to make her an offer she can't refuse. (OG has been re-watching The Godfather epic this weekend. LOL.)
Oh, Alison. I do shake my head in wonderment. Yet their books sell. More shaking of head. I read those books to see why. Gnashing of teeth and shaking of head. It almost escapes logic.
Unbelievable demands and 'reasoning' from two publishers, and still you find a way to smile. (To say 'laugh it off' seemed a bit strong.) One editor I had who wanted the entire last third of my first book re-written did me a huge, huge favor and helped me so improve the final product. It sounds like these editors you've run into lately are just messin' with you. I have a feeling your sense of humor is of the quantity and quality that it will shine through no matter how hard these 'experts' try to prevent it.
Oh, Margo. I hope you're right. I told my editor whatever humor I put in stays. Ha! We'll see how that goes. But I've learned a few tricks along the way. When I get the copy edits from the copy editor, I slip in things my story editor did not want. Not much, but enough to keep my voice. One has to learn to be sneaky.
I'd probably explode from frustration, Vonnie. I love your humor, and your use of polysyllabic words. :-) I've used a few myself, and readers have told me they enjoy learning new words (like I do!). Sneaky can be a good thing. :-)
Explode, Leah? Oh yes. And fume and pout and threaten to go completely Indie. This last time was really bad. Poor Calvin. He had to hear it all. The man has the patience of a saint. No wonder he was such a good teacher. He slowly helped me see that being positive was more powerful than being negative. We never discussed the "sneaky" part.
Vonnie, I think you need new editors...maybe a new publisher LOL Oh, and, btw, I had a similar experience to you and Calvin at the airport recently--it will be told here on July 8.
Post a Comment