tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post113887972215717068..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Love is Murder in ChicagoJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1139234398842847832006-02-06T07:59:00.000-06:002006-02-06T07:59:00.000-06:00One of the coolest people on the planet gave Joe a...One of the coolest people on the planet gave Joe an awesome endorsement a few days ago. If you haven't seen it already, check out Tess Gerritsen's blog post for 1/30/2006.<BR/><BR/>I just love it when writers support each other.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1139191418223896122006-02-05T20:03:00.000-06:002006-02-05T20:03:00.000-06:00Thank you for this post. I just signed up for my f...Thank you for this post. I just signed up for my first writer's conference (not this one) and I knew I needed business cards and a pitch, but not the booze, which I am more than happy to provide. What a practical list.Mary Tsaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224219568127146052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1139081166972877672006-02-04T13:26:00.000-06:002006-02-04T13:26:00.000-06:00I think Konrath meant "put out," not "hang out."Th...I think Konrath meant "put out," not "hang out."<BR/><BR/>This is, after all, a man who puts his shorts on display.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1139003280331253072006-02-03T15:48:00.000-06:002006-02-03T15:48:00.000-06:00J.A. wrote:"and hand out at the bar to talk to pub...J.A. wrote:<BR/>"and hand out at the bar to talk to published writers."<BR/><BR/>Look, I hate to be one of those annoying pre-menopausal types who nitpick the spelling of the sorts of writers who attend controversial pool parties, but... did you in fact mean to say "hang out"?<BR/><BR/>If not, please explain what exactly one should be handing out to published writers in bars, and is it legal.Legacy Userhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12964426007973340421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138998646160789112006-02-03T14:30:00.000-06:002006-02-03T14:30:00.000-06:00Sorry - I won't make it this year Joe - but I sure...Sorry - I won't make it this year Joe - but I sure enjoyed last year - and it was well worth the trip.<BR/><BR/>I'll be at LEFT COAST CRIME in Bristol in England in March and I believe I'll see you again at ThrillerFest in Phoenix, Arizona, in June. We're both ITW members and my latest thriller, BLOOD RED SQUARE, is on the Final List of ITW Award submissions. The 5 finalists in my category (BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL) will be chosen at the LCC in Bristol and the winner will be chosen at ThrillerFest in June ..<BR/><BR/>Anyway, enough of that. It's my understanding (from a well-positioned little bird in the inner sanctun of ITW) that I am having a night of fine beers with you - and you are picking up the tab!<BR/><BR/>Geez, you are so generous! I can't wait!<BR/><BR/>Slainte,<BR/>Pat.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01906967600042588567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138935534195893202006-02-02T20:58:00.000-06:002006-02-02T20:58:00.000-06:00See you there, Joe!r.j. baker said: " Well, I bou...See you there, Joe!<BR/><BR/>r.j. baker said: " Well, I bought business cards and $150 worth of booze. I'm ready. I'm set."<BR/><BR/>Party in R.J.'s room!! Wahoo!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04914329013690756540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138927780720989342006-02-02T18:49:00.000-06:002006-02-02T18:49:00.000-06:00Well, I bought business cards and $150 worth of bo...Well, I bought business cards and $150 worth of booze. I'm ready. I'm set.Confessions of a Starving Mystery Writer https://www.blogger.com/profile/00731772701795707624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138922863006594572006-02-02T17:27:00.000-06:002006-02-02T17:27:00.000-06:00Shame on you, Mark.You shouldn't insult John Belus...Shame on you, Mark.<BR/><BR/>You shouldn't insult John Belushi like that.<BR/><BR/>Just kidding, Bub...ah, I mean Joe.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138918311733547482006-02-02T16:11:00.000-06:002006-02-02T16:11:00.000-06:00Out of all the celebrities I could look like...Out of all the celebrities I could look like...JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138913907523010992006-02-02T14:58:00.000-06:002006-02-02T14:58:00.000-06:00"packed protein bars to avoid the costly lunch thi..."packed protein bars to avoid the costly lunch thing - and you do need something to counter all the alcohol."<BR/><BR/>Good call. Also, energy drinks. Red Bull is a con-goers friend.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138912940584503952006-02-02T14:42:00.000-06:002006-02-02T14:42:00.000-06:00After my experience of attending Harrogate Crime F...After my experience of attending Harrogate Crime Festival last July, I'd have to say this is great advice. I packed protein bars to avoid the costly lunch thing - and you do need something to counter all the alcohol.<BR/><BR/>Love the picture ja.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138911467641360322006-02-02T14:17:00.000-06:002006-02-02T14:17:00.000-06:00Great tips, Joe. Good to know, since this will be...Great tips, Joe. Good to know, since this will be my gearing up year for the book release.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138908631631911942006-02-02T13:30:00.000-06:002006-02-02T13:30:00.000-06:00Mapletree said:"My only disagreement with Joe's ad...Mapletree said:<BR/><BR/>"My only disagreement with Joe's advice is the sharing a hotel room thing. Personally, I couldn't do it. Glad-handing people all day is very exhausting and I really need to be alone in a hotel room for a while to re-charge."<BR/><BR/>I can't disagree more. I'm been to many conventions and I ALWAYS have roommates, usually more than one. I've shared with as many as four people--the more bodies you can get in that room the better (not to mention networking with them, finding out who my roomies met—had an impromptu pitch with—and who was buying what, and much more). I’ve paid as little as $19 a night for the main hotel. I usually come away paying less than $40 for a $150 room. <BR/><BR/>Sleeping is for after the convention. I usually get a couple of hours a night (but I make sure to nap during the day when things are slow, usually about 3 to 6 PM).Chesyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13932426233828274117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138905941037345642006-02-02T12:45:00.000-06:002006-02-02T12:45:00.000-06:00My only disagreement with Joe's advice is the shar...<I>My only disagreement with Joe's advice is the sharing a hotel room thing. Personally, I couldn't do it. Glad-handing people all day is very exhausting and I really need to be alone in a hotel room for a while to re-charge.</I> <BR/><BR/>That, and my wife is really opposed to the idea.JD Rhoadeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123361739160525998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138905406559952692006-02-02T12:36:00.000-06:002006-02-02T12:36:00.000-06:00Those of us who go cling to the notion they're use...<I>Those of us who go cling to the notion they're useful, but there's nothing obviously, objectively advantageous unless you do a signing and sell 200 books. It helps with word of mouth, but by and large the same people go year after year.</I><BR/><BR/>That's better.<BR/><BR/>I'm a seasoned convetion goer in another industry. Two years ago I decided to try out a smaller regional conference. The first year I went, I made no sales. The second year, I made 3 to 5 bookings to people who attended, with all the same material. <BR/><BR/>If you seem familiar to people, if you have a chance to build a relationship with them, that's a wonderful opportunity.<BR/><BR/>My only disagreement with Joe's advice is the sharing a hotel room thing. Personally, I couldn't do it. Glad-handing people all day is very exhausting and I really need to be alone in a hotel room for a while to re-charge. <BR/><BR/>I think a lot of writers are introverts and if you are, be aware that a conference will add up to a lot of stress and you NEED to schedule time away from people. No-one wants to meet a grumpy author.mapletree7https://www.blogger.com/profile/15261672903705693449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138904573698500342006-02-02T12:22:00.000-06:002006-02-02T12:22:00.000-06:00I agree on the conventions, Joe. In fact, I belie...I agree on the conventions, Joe. In fact, I believe we met at WHC one year. My chapbook premiered and almost completely sold out at the Phoenix WHC.<BR/><BR/>New writers can learn a lot about the biz at these cons.Chesyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13932426233828274117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138903560307154132006-02-02T12:06:00.000-06:002006-02-02T12:06:00.000-06:00Joe's probably too modest to mention one of the ot...Joe's probably too modest to mention one of the other things I've seen him do: in addition to talking up your own book, be sure to say nice things to people about the work of other writers who you sincerely (underline sincerely) like, especially ones who are at the conference. <BR/>I was mightily impressed with the panel Joe was on when he made a great performance out of making the audience recite, in unison, the names and current books of the other authors on the panel. It was a classy move and long remembered. <BR/>You can't have too many friends in this business. <BR/>And if you ever get a chance to take in the Joe Show, do it. It's a hoot. <BR/>Sorry I missed Love is Murder this year, Joe...didn't even know about it until a few weeks ago. Maybe next year.JD Rhoadeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123361739160525998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138902658339275972006-02-02T11:50:00.000-06:002006-02-02T11:50:00.000-06:00Thanks again, Joe. I read the section on chapbook...Thanks again, Joe. I read the section on chapbooks in your tips file. Very informative.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138899637646472492006-02-02T11:00:00.000-06:002006-02-02T11:00:00.000-06:00Joe:You're right about conferences. After attendi...Joe:<BR/>You're right about conferences. After attending a local conference (Book Passage in Corte Madera),I finished my book and figured out how to get an agent. Some of the workshops are incredibly valuable (Lee Child on how to write suspense, Marilyn Wallace on editing, Amy Rennert on what agents want, etc.) No one's bought my book yet, but my agent is hopeful and I just finished Book #2. If you can afford one or two conferences, I think they are worth the money. Hey, I'll see you at the Backspace conference in July. <BR/>(This is Tammy--I met you last summer at M is for Mystery in San Mateo, CA plus sports bar afterward.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138898543437947572006-02-02T10:42:00.000-06:002006-02-02T10:42:00.000-06:00I explain chapbooks at www.jakonrath.com/tips6.htm...I explain chapbooks at www.jakonrath.com/tips6.html<BR/><BR/>Published writers can use them as give-away to promote their work, either sample chapters or short stories.<BR/><BR/>Unpublished writers don't need them. UWs should bring business cards, practice their elevator pitch for meeting editors and agents, and hand out at the bar to talk to published writers.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138895655808804552006-02-02T09:54:00.000-06:002006-02-02T09:54:00.000-06:00Jude I'm, so glad you asked, I was wondering the s...Jude I'm, so glad you asked, I was wondering the same thing.Jaye Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09407478042834459126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138894373063280902006-02-02T09:32:00.000-06:002006-02-02T09:32:00.000-06:00Thanks Joe!Just a couple of questions: What exact...Thanks Joe!<BR/><BR/>Just a couple of questions: What exactly is a chapbook? If it's what I think (a spiral bound sample of the first three chapters or so of a finished work?), would it make sense to put one together from something that hasn't been published yet?Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138890349067080912006-02-02T08:25:00.000-06:002006-02-02T08:25:00.000-06:00what other conventions are you planning to attend ...what other conventions are you planning to attend later this year? i'm hoping you'll come to the la times festival of books so i can meet you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1138884985755313972006-02-02T06:56:00.000-06:002006-02-02T06:56:00.000-06:00I'm going. Hope to see you there.I'm going. Hope to see you there.Confessions of a Starving Mystery Writer https://www.blogger.com/profile/00731772701795707624noreply@blogger.com