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What follows is a chronology of events leading up to publication. As you will see, patience is a virtue every published author needs.
January 3, 2000 -- Today, my manuscript has become a real, live book!!!! The day's mail included the 15 free author's copies agreed to in my contract. I can't think of a more exciting moment in the life of an author than opening that first shipment and seeing a book with your name on the cover. Only those who understand how long it takes to write, market, and publish a novel can understand the feeling. (I began this diary with an entry dated October 7, 1998, which is when I signed the contract with Genesis Press. Prior to that was a 6-month period of marketing the book to publishers. Before that it took me two years to complete the manuscript. Writing for publications is not for the patience-challenged.)
I guess this ends our Finding Isabella book-production diary. I hope you've found it interesting and useful for your own writing career. Good luck. If you are an aspiring author, I hope one day you get to experience the thrill of seeing your name on the cover of that manuscript you are currently massaging toward completion.
November 17, 1999 -- Today, I receive the final version of Finding Isabella's cover. It's a totally new cover, nothing like the one that Anne Marie (Genesis's cover artist) sent before (see below). Take a look. What do you see? How many people are on the cover? See answer below.
I really like it! Anne Marie thinks it's the best cover she's done. I haven't seen them all, but I agree it's terrific.
Answer: You should see 4 people. The couple walking on the beach at the bottom of the cover; and a man and woman about to kiss (recessed into the center of the cover.
November 15, 1999 -- In the past two weeks, I've done a mailing to the Book Review Editors of nearly 200 English- and Spanish-language newspapers. I was hoping to snag one or two reviews. Genesis Press's marketing director tells me he has already received five requests for an advance review copy (ARC)! When you're a no-name author, you rejoice over very small victory's.
October 30, 1999 -- The galleys will be available in another week. This is my signal to contact potential reviewers to see if they would like an advance review copy (ARC) of Finding Isabella. I've prepared promo fliers and a synopsis to send out. I have several lists of review sources that I've compiled over the last three years. Now it's time to swing into action.
Psychologically, I need to prepare myself. This is another of those moments when an author must deal with rejection. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't jump at the chance to review my book. The truth is, I'm not a big name author and have no built-in clout. I go hat in hand and say, "Please," hoping to snag a few good reviews here and there. But, I wouldn't have gotten this far if I gave up easily.
October 22, 1999 -- Received word that the final version of the book's cover is nearly complete. When I receive it I will create postcards and other promotional materials.
September 26, 1999 -- Today, the publisher needs to provide some professional information about me for the distributor reps who will soon be out doing advance sales to bookstore buyers. Naturally, I'm happy to cooperate. These advance sales help the publisher determine the initial print run.
This is the point when the ivory-tower author gears up to become a self-serving carnival barker, a phase that will carry through publication and into the future as long as there's a breath of life left in the old novel.
September 8, 1999 -- Now, did I really think everything was going to run smoothly? Today, we hit a minor problem. Genesis tells me that my disk files are not converting well into the typesetting program. We are working on several solutions.
Good news comes with the bad! Genesis's cover designer informs me that a preliminary cover design is ready. It isn't the final version yet, she says, but it's close.
August 31, 1999 -- I have finished the final editing and proofreading of Finding Isabella and am mailing it to Genesis Press today. One thing kept running through my mind, as I trimmed, reworded, changed punctuation, and sweated over this or that word, was that the final version of the story would be set in concrete, once published. I'm an addictive fiddler with my text, rarely satisfied that I "got it right." I'll get one more chance to proof the galleys before the book is printed. Only very minor corrections and changes are possible at that time, so I wanted to do my best with this final manuscript version. I'm sure that, after the book comes out, I'll read it and say, "Gee, I wish I would have used another word here" or "Why didn't I say it that other way?" Anyway, the ball is in Genesis's court now. Next tasks: Get my marketing plan in order; talk to the marketing department at Genesis; check in with the graphic artist who is working on the cover.
August 12, 1999 -- My edited manuscript arrives on my desk from Genesis Press with the inscription, "Great! Enjoyed it tremendously!" I'm truly grateful for my editor's comments and suggestions. They will help me produce a better novel.My revisions are due back to Genesis by September 6, 1999.
August 11, 1999 -- I am asked to submit a back-cover blurb for Finding Isabella--a 100-word grabber. Boy is that ever hard. I kept wanting to write a synopsis. Here's what I finally came up with, although there's no guarantee Genesis will use it in this form.
"Analisa Marconi has lost her family--for the second time. First, as a child named Isabella Maria Aguilada, when her birth mother gave her up for adoption. Then as a young woman, when her adoptive parents perish in a plane crash that she alone survives. Devastated, feeling lost and rootless, Analisa returns to her native Santo Sangre in search of her birth mother and siblings. But, these days, the tiny island nation is a dangerous place for young women who were born there, but escaped lives of destitution by being adopted. Thrust into this unwelcoming environment, Analisa struggles against life-threatening obstacles to find links to her past and future.
"Analisa must also make a difficult choice between two men, each touching a special chord in her heart. Father David Gallego, cherished friend, ever-faithful, torn between his two great passions: priesthood and Analisa; and international singing star and local icon Arturo Cristobal, a stranger Analisa recognizes as the mysterious comforter who appeared with Dave in a near-death vision as she lay injured at the crash site.
"A dangerous quest, a heart-wrenching decision . . . will they lead Analisa to peace of mind and her one true soul mate?"
July 9 -- I receive notification that my manuscript has been assigned to an editor for final review.
June 23, 1999 -- The graphic artist at Genesis Press notifies me that she has found a possible cover model for the character of Arturo Cristobal, but would like me to submit photos of other candidates. I tell her to "think Andy Garcia."
June 15, 1999 -- The publisher requests a one-page, typed, single-spaced synopsis for use by the distributor's sales reps, when they make their presentations to buyers from the bookstores. The editor emphasizes how critical this synopsis is. It will be the reps' primary selling tool in convincing stores to stock Finding Isabella, rather than the hundreds of other similar books coming out at the same time.
May 2, 1999 -- A packet, including a questionnaire, arrives from the graphic artist. She wants my input on the cover design.
April 27, 1999 -- The publisher's production editor calls to request my photo and a one-page bio sheet.
October 7, 1998 -- I sign the contract with Genesis Press, Inc. for publication of Finding Isabella.
What does an author do while waiting for his or her book to make its way to the bookstores? A lot. This is the time to outline your promotion and marketing strategy. A good and inexpensive resource to help with this planning is An Author's Guide to Budget Book Promotion, by Laura Lynn Leffers. You'll be way behind, if you wait until your book comes out before planning your marketing program. Consult your publisher's marketing department to coordinate your efforts with theirs. Publishers don't want their authors to preempt or duplicate their promotional projects.
The best way to fill the "wait time" is to get busy on your next book!
If you would like to contact me by e-mail, send to ajgarrotto@sbcglobal.net.
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