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September 18 Book news....jpg) Well, I got a small package in the mail two days ago from my publisher. They sent me releases on both BLINDSIDED and THE RAT to sign. They are putting them both in the Out-Of Print category. That's kind of a bummer psychologically, but actually it is going to be a good thing. Now I will own the rights to both of my titles again. I have been looking into the Print-on-Demand publishing anyway and will probably re-print THE RAT with my own cover and under the title of A Rat Among Us, like I wanted to originally. I am currently writing a sequel to THE RAT anyway and when it is done, then I'll look into re-issuing THE RAT. In the meantime, I can go ahead and put out "Tasting The Wind" myself.
The thing that urks me about this whole business is that the Publisher, SterlingHouse, never gave me the least indication this was going to happen. In fact, I haven't heard ANYTHING from them since they turned down "Tasting The Wind" (because they didn't handle Historical Fiction), before Christmas last year. What is worse is that if I don't buy up their backstock of these books, the books will be destroyed (or donated---they say) by the 25th of September---that's only a week from yesterday. I am buying up the last few copies of THE RAT, but I still have lots of BLINDSIDED left, so I will have to let those extras go. I only hope they ARE donated and not destroyed.
Just so you know, I've never had any royalty checks from either book from the Publisher. Any money I've made is from my own sales here. So, I've asked for an accounting from them as to how many books they've sold and a final check, no matter how small. After talking at length with other authors around here, I find it's not unusual that the publisher doesn't do much marketing for you. They expect YOU to do it all and at your expense. So, there is NO reason for them to get any rights to any of my future manuscripts.
And when I finally hit it big with one of my books, I hope they regret their treatment of me. November 13 Small update! In addition to that, my ex-agent also said that with all the upheaval at the Publisher's, that they should have everything straightened out by spring and that the CEO might re-offer me a contract then. I'm not holding my breath, but rather than burn any bridges, I told her "thanks", but I'll be looking for a new home for my manuscript sooner than that. So, it ain't perfect, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I'll keep you all informed as the process starts again---to find an agent. It feels weird to have to start the looking process once again. I feel like that Star Trek beginning narration: Space, the final frontier....
Received this Ha-Ha in the mail today:
Big Question --E.T. Thompson According to the Internet: Students in a Harvard English 101 class were asked to write a concise essay containing four elements: religion, royalty, sex and mystery. The only A+ in the class read: "'My God,' said the Queen, 'I'm pregnant! I wonder who did it.'" November 12 No 2nd printing! The owner read my new manuscript, TASTING THE WIND, and said it was "very well written" but that they couldn't offer me a contract because they are fading out the imprint that it would fall into, being an historical fiction instead of a mystery. SO, I've sent off a letter to my past agent (who is employed in a managerial position over there at SH) to see if there are any agents that she knows of who would handle it. If not, I will have to beat the streets for a new publisher on my own or look for another agent. My best bet is to try for another agent, as most of the big publishing houses won't look at any manuscripts unless they come from an agent. I have great hopes for TASTING THE WIND as it deals with a still controversial subject, so that should help marketing the book. Anything controversial hikes the ratings and sells.
So, I'm still hanging in there. If there are any agents out there or publishing houses interested in a brilliant new historical fiction dealing with the "first to fly" controversy between the Wright Brothers and Gustave Whitehead, September 15 Old Time Bluegrass Festival We, at the Lake County Writers group, displayed our books and DVD's, as hundreds wandered by.
So, next year, if you happen to wander through Lake County (that's just north of the Napa Valley) in September, plan to be here for our next OLD TIME BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL. You'll have a footstompin' great time! September 12 Meet the author! Also, one more footnote: MY BOOK, THE RAT, IS GOING INTO A SECOND PRINTING!!! This is big news for me---this means that people are buying so many books, they need to make more. No, I don't have any official numbers yet, but they should arrive soon. I talked to my publisher, SterlingHouse, and they said they sent off the final box to a book dealer last week and will order the second printing for next week. WAHOO! People actually are buying it!!!! You don't know how I've waited for good news like this. Every time someone asks me, "How's your book coming?" I have to answer glumly, "I have no idea..." Until now!
So, if you are anywhere near my neck of the woods this weekend, come to the Festival and stop by to say HI. We'll be there Saturday and Sunday! See you there! March 24 THE RAT book signing I chose to read I was grateful to Wild About Books for putting an article in the local paper in three places telling about the signing ahead of time. All but one of the folks that came were strangers to me, which is a good thing. This weekend was, perhaps, not as lucrative because it is a holiday weekend and people are gone, so I didn’t expect a huge crowd. I was delighted with the turnout and the fact that so many folks bought both of my books. Everyone seemed to have a good time and the store was still bustling with activity when I left almost two hours later. March 19 Book Signing on Saturday! I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamed that I was having my book signing in a big auditorium that was filled with people. I don't remember the presentation but afterwards, I took a stack of bookmarks with information about the book and started throwing them into the crowd, telling people that if they got one, to call me and I'd put a character based on them in my next book. Then I started running after certain people and giving them a bookmark and telling them to contact me. They all looked at me so strangely, and seemed surprised that I was a writer. What an ODD dream. So, you experts out there, what does THAT mean??? December 12 The Rat news!I guess Jennifer had sent me three e-mails that never made it here, so I'm sending her multiple email addresses so that won't happen again. There has been another major upheaval at the publishers staff-wise as well, so things are not running as smoothly as they like. Hope they get it all straightened out soon.
Tomorrow I shall put out another episode of "Not Lost" for your amusement. So, stay tuned and have a great day! September 14 Promo Copies of THE RAT THE RAT (promotional copies) are here!
 Yes, they finally arrived and I understand that the actual first printing will be out at the end of October. The Promotional copies are FREE to people of stature (noted authors, book reviewers, etc.) who can offer positive comments back to the publisher so the comments can go inside the book or on the back cover. PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THAT FITS INTO THIS CATEGORY, give them my e-mail address: suealehman@hotmail.com so they can contact me for their free copy, OR send me their name and address and I will contact them about getting a copy. These Promotional copies are designed to help let people know the book is out there and worth the price!!!!Wish I'd had the chance to use Promo. copies with BLINDSIDED! If you want to preorder your copy of THE RAT, please click on the picture of the cover (on the right side of this space) and Amazon will take your order and get it to you when they are available!
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP ME PROMOTE
THE RAT
July 15 You can PREORDER it now! It's already available for preorder:
Wow, it's not even out in print, but they have it available for preporder through Amazon (see the link under the pic at the right under "What I'm Reading"), WalMart (you can check this online) and Barnes and Noble. I don't know how many more places it is up for preorder but I do know you can also get it through the publisher at www.sterlinghousebookstore.com if you type in my name (Sue A. Lehman) under "Authors" on the left side of the page. It will take you to both BLINDSIDED and THE RAT. However, since I won't have extra copies to autograph and send to you, if you want THE RAT autographed, you will have to mail me your copy along with enough postage for me to return it and I will be happy to do that--or if you live near San Francisco, simply come to one of my booksignings in the fall. The book is supposed to be available to buy in October, but we'll have to wait and see if that actually happens. May 14 First Book Signing! BLIND SIDEDWow! I had my first Book Signing last Friday at a small bookstore in a nearby town. It went really well, but only a small handful of people showed up (thanks mostly to the ad in the paper). It was especially exciting to shake hands with STRANGERS who ended up buying the signed copies. It's one thing to have your Friends show up, and quite another to have people you don't know come. I read a small scene (4 pages) from my book, BLIND SIDED, and fielded questions about its history and the timetable from start to sale. People are always amazed at how long it takes to get a book out to the public. For those of you who are in the vicinity, on May 23rd, I will be signing more books at Copperfield Books in Calistoga, CA at 7:00p.m. Come one, come all! And a special thanks to all of you who have already bought and read my book. February 13 BLINDSIDED on AmazonWell, it's finally available online! A friend ordered my book BLINDSIDED from Amazon and said they will ship it the end of March. After having talked with my publisher on the phone, I am sure it will be out before that. I should have some new copies soon (before March, I hope) so I can provide AUTOGRAPHED copies for those who wish them. Be sure to visit my site, http://www.suealehman.com as I have updated it and changed some things. AND if you DO read the book, PLEASE go to Amazon and leave a review there on the page for BLINDSIDED. Happy REading!!!!!
 December 30 IT'S FINALLY HERE!Yes, it's finally here! BLINDSIDED came in the mail yesterday, so I have copies in my hands at last. What a weird and wonderful thing to see your name and picture in print and to see your words come alive on the pages! They changed the cover slightly but it is still OK and they added some artwork on the back cover too. I hope you will check out the link on the left of this page to find WHO has it available or go to my site: http://www.suealehman.com If you email me at suealehman@hotmail.com along with a check for $15, I will gladly send you an autographed copy! December 17 Bookfinder link for "BLINDSIDED"Seasons Greetings all! Just updated my "BLINDSIDED" link on "What I'm reading now" list. If you click on the book title, it will direct you to the bookfinder4U website which lists all the places you can buy "BLINDSIDED" online. It appears it won't be available to ship until January 1st, but you can preorder it at any of these sites. I'm thrilled to see it will be available overseas as well as I have a few British friends and such who are interested in it. Hope you all have a great holiday this year and good health and happiness in the New Year! December 15 RELEASE DATE!FINALLY a real release date for my book, BLINDSIDED!!! Yes, folks the time has come at last, almost. JANUARY 1, 2007, the book should be available to buy at most online stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, etc. You can actually preorder it now or go to my website: http://www.suealehman.com and order it through me and get an autographed copy. OR you can wait until it is released and simply click on the cover off to the left side of this blog. That will take you directly to Amazon.com. It's so EASY to get, so keep me in mind, Please???!!! Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!  November 15 Check this site out... Wow! I just stopped in at the site of my publisher: http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com to see if their new site is up and there was a note saying it will be in service on November 22! There should be a whole page advertising my new book BLINDSIDED along with a bio about me. So, the time is getting close when my book will be released (they said sometime at the end of November) and I am getting really anxious. Hope you all check out this site and my book on November 22! August 19 On the net!Wow! You won't believe it! But if you go to http://www.pembertonmysteries.com you can see my book cover on their heading --- BLINDSIDED is way at the right end! Although my name is barely visable, it is still THERE! So, check it out! It is way cool!
 November is getting closer! July 20 RELEASE DATE!NOVEMBER!!!
Yeah, it's a ways off, but it'll be here before I know it. So much to do yet.  Aha! I finally managed to get the cover copied. Sorry it is so small, but at least it gives you an idea of what the cover will look like. Please tell me what you think of it. Would you buy it from just the cover?July 16 Preparing a Press ReleaseMy publisher, SterlingHouse, received the proofread galley back from me and sent me a questionaire I have to fill out and return. They are preparing a PRESS RELEASE to be sent to any and all newspapers in my area and anywhere else I want. Wow, it all begins! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it's all really happening until I get something like this to do. I still don't know what the release date will be but you will be the first to know! As soon as I get things set up in my old website (allegropiano.org), you will be able to ORDER my book, autographed of course, directly from me. I'll look forward to hearing from all of you when it all happens.  July 04 The Galleys are here!Well, I finally got the Galley in the mail from my publisher! The Galley is the manuscript in as it will be seen in the book itself. Although it is done on regular paper, the print is all single-spaced and the perimeters are the same as it will look in the book. Now, my job is to proof-read them and mark in red all the errors: such as too much space between words or characters, misspelled words, typos in general, etc. I'm surprised at how many mistakes there are! I have to initial each page if it is OK and mark with a sticky note the pages with flaws. Then I have to make a copy of it before I send the original back to the publisher.
After all the errors are corrected, they will have to send it back to me for approval at least once more before the final printing.
But at least now it LOOKS like a book!!! It's getting there! |
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