Originally Posted By JohnS1 Or should I have said - update on my novel? A "novel" update would be a unique update, wouldn't it? But this news is sort of unique, I guess. Anyway, as you recall, I had written this novel with a 15-year old protagonist that made publishers of adult books leery about publishing it, but the young adult publishers say the writing is too high a level for YA audiences. Plus it's a long book, a "sweeping saga of America" as they used to say, so it was too long for YA publishers. So I was thinking maybe I'd try to publish it online, even though I'm not a big fan of online books myself...sort of hard to curl up next to your fireplace with a big computer monitor in your lap! So, as I was editing a manuscript on Mark Twain for a fellow writer, it flashed into my mind that Twain, as well as Dickens and other Victorian writers, frequently wrote their books as serial novels - published in weekly installments in newspapers. So I started to wonder if maybe I couldn't run one chapter each week on my web page. Then I bagan to wonder if anybody would read it in that form, so I emailed Dan Webster, the book/entertainment writer at the Spokesman Review and I asked his professional opinion as to whether the reading public would read an online novel presented in weekly installments. All I was looking for was advice. But he wrote back saying he not only thinks it's a fantastic idea - sort of a reading experiment as you will - but, even better, he wants the Spokesman to be a part of it by running the weekly installments on their web page as part of their online book club, running promotional blurbs in the paper itself, and maybe having a local voice read the chapters as a podcast (whatever that is). So, I have a meeting next Monday to discuss the specifics, but if it works out, you'll all have something to start reading online before too long and I would hope you would give me feedback if you do read it! I will update everybody as I learn more myself. Thanks for listening! er...reading, that is.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <Or should I have said - update on my novel? A "novel" update would be a unique update, wouldn't it? But this news is sort of unique, I guess.> LOL Cool, John...very exciting! Man, if only I were in your area...I would love to lend my voice narrate your book.
Originally Posted By PlainoLJoe <<Man, if only I were in your area...I would love to lend my voice narrate your book.>> PSST: you could get the manuscript e-mailed and just do the recordings from home. Aint the intrnet nifty? John, keep us updated. I want to read this book.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Well I did so some volunteer book recording at a place here last summer...that was fun. I loved sitting in my little "radio booth" with big ol' headphones on and talkin' into the big mic...but alas, I haven't done that in months. It turns out ya *can't* do everything at once! Then there's my karaoke machine which I've had *way* too much fun with on past projects, lol.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins Great news. Evidence of creative problem-solving! You're our artist-in-residence on the community boards.
Originally Posted By MissCandice Keep us updated, John. I'd love to read your sweeping American saga. Novels about housecleaning are interesting, in their own way
Originally Posted By JohnS1 Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I do want you to all know that these are not easy times for me, however. I am thrilled to have opportunities coming my way and want to share with all of you because I think of you all as my friends. But as friend to friend - I am struggling financially right now, so that's why all these little bits of good news are all the more exciting to me. Still, like so many writers, I will likely struggle for a few more years before resuming a reasonably comfortable lifestyle. Thank God I enjoy the work that I do, because the pay is often sorely lacking. (-:
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Missed this the first time around. Does sound exciting John. Exciting is usually scary too. Hang tough and take care. I totally do not mean to sound trite but I really, really believe in the old adage "do what you love and the money will follow." Well, that and "keep your powder dry." Wish you the best, man.
Originally Posted By JohnS1 Thanks to all of you once again! Tomorrow morning is my meeting with the Spokesman "Entertainment Section" folks. Wish me luck and I will report tomorrow night if I know any details about this project!
Originally Posted By Ursula Oh, good luck to you!!! The money will come. I should know. I've read one of your books.
Originally Posted By JohnS1 Well, I had a great meeting at the Spokesman, although it was strange in that the representatives from the marketing department and the IT people could hardly contain themselves with all the possibilities, whereas I was the one suggesting they read some of the book first to see if it's the sort fo thing they want to do online. Leave it to me to always try to calm everyone down and suggest they move slowly, etc. Nothing mentioned yet about any remuneration, but until they actually read the book, outline what the concrete proposal is, I can wait to ask those sorts of question. If I get continuous publicity every Sunday for a full year, plus notices about my Death Valley book and my forthcoming Scablands book, I will consider that to be a priceless amount of publicity I couldn't get otherwise. But if they want to pay me a token stipend or publication fee, I won't argue. More to follow as I know more myself!
