About Cactus Rain Publishing's People

Years ago I was one of many moderators on an international writing forum (now closed). During that time, I content edited (for free) a ton of manuscripts.

What happened next was that the writer chose not to pay to have it line edited by a certified proofreader. (I am not a certified proofreader.) For whatever reasons, several of them put their manuscript in the hands of a pay-to-publish company or uploaded them to a free publishing online company.

They proudly sent me a copy of their new book and it was sad to see the poor quality of the end result. The formatting was horrible, the proofing appeared to not have happened at all, and the cover was butt-ugly.

Several of my friends encouraged me to set up a fee-to-publish company, since after all, there were tons of them on the internt, right?

I'm old school enough to value the traditional publishing model. The writer sends a query, someone vets it and likes it, and it goes through a horribly long process to get published. However, it was vetted and selected as worthy to fund.

So using the traditional model Cactus Rain Publishing was created in 2010. Considering the economy at the time, I chose not to get a business loan. It was and still is a pay-as-you go business.

Basically, since it is my money at risk and I have NO ONE to answer to about my decisions, I have total freedom to do as I see fit. We don't have a  million books in print, but what we have are exceptionally good.

Sometimes mss are turned down because, well, they are simply horrible. Sometimes I'll suggest that the author aim for a literary agent because their ms is that good.

We go with good writers who need their work dusted and polished a bit, and who are committed to marketing their book. (They would have to market their book with a pay-to-publish service, too.) CRP does some marketing, but the writer has to believe in their work enough to sell it.

Over the years (honestly seems like more than 5 years because of the years of content editing before becoming a business) ... over the years several people have offered to help vet mss because they like to read. Mostly the offer was because they wanted to earn a little extra money. Not one of them finished a whole ms because vetting isn't the same as sitting down and reading a book on a Sunday afternoon.

This is a business, not a charity. The mss have to be properly vetted.

Judith, my friend of 20+ years, came onboard and has been wonderful to work with. She checks out the mss before I do. That saves me so much time. We are a fantastic team. info@cactusrainpublishing.com

Someone who has worked with me since 2005, is Joyce. She is more than a web designer. She handles almost all things internet related for me and CRP. If you are looking for a fantastic web designer, check out Joyce at:
www.DesignbyJoyce.com. I highly recommend her.

Another member of the CRP team is Anita, our proofreader. She is a CERTIFIED proofreader, even though I call her the line editor half of the time. She is amazing. She knows grammar rules that I've never heard of (and those I know, too.). She has proofed 6 books for us now. We met at a writer's conference in Phoenix in 2005. I cannot imagine having anyone else proof the CRP books. Check out Anita at www.anitabeery.com

The newest member of the CRP team is Junior at Junior's Digital Designs. We have worked with several graphic artists, but Junior raises the bar high. What I like about working with Junior is that he understands the concept that I'm after and produces it in a few days. (And he doesn't tell me if he laughs at the concept sketches that I send to him.)
http://www.redbubble.com/people/FractalKing https://www.facebook.com/juniorsdigitaldesigns

I think these people are outstanding. If you want to do your own book, contact these professionals for help.  I highly recommend them.

Literary Agent Blogs

Rather than reading the trade papers for what's hot in the industry (yes, I do read them anyway) the place with the finger-on-the-pulse is literary agents' blogs.

 

Some things never change, for example, the nasty comments about really bad-bad query letters and the insane things people write in them. Note: A query letter is a business proposal, not a pen pal letter.

 

While Judith and I tend to be approachable and not terribly snarky with replies to query letters, that doesn't mean that I don't eye-roll on occasion. Sorry about that. I know "this ms" is important to you.

 

I love the sencerity when someone writes that their mum, 92 year old former English teacher, lover, or stranger they met at the dog park loves their ms and I will, too. Keep in mind that neither Judith or I are any of those -- especially not 92 years old!

 

A query letter is a business proposal that in the end is designed to get us to spend OUR money to make YOUR ms into a marketable book.

The first thing you are after is to get us to finish reading your query letter and the synopsis. Next is to get us interested enough to read the first three chapters that are requested as part of our submission guidelines.

 

You should throw a huge party if we ask for the full manuscript. We probably read the full manuscript on 5% or less of the submissions. I don't know if that is a normal per cent for the industry or not, but there are only so many hours in the day and very few of us to read mss.

There are no guarantees that an offer of a contract will follow a request for a full ms.

 

Most people get the middle of their ms going full steam. The beginning is the part I have trouble with, especially if there is a prologue. Yes, we have published a couple of books with prologues. That doesn't mean that I like prologues. I feel strongly that if that information is important to the story, then put it in the story. (Judith is a lot more patient with prologues.)

 

Even so, I think the end is the most important piece of the whole work. That's the bit that props open the reader's mind and won't let the door close on the characters. They linger. They come into one's thoughts, they provoke thought, they are real people.

 

If anything, the lack of a satisfying ending has been the cause of several missed contracts.

 

The point of all of this is that when asking someone to fund your project (book) then you have to let go of the title, this bit and that bit, and be willing to do rewrites.

If you're unwilling to change any part of the submission, then we probably aren't the right publisher for you. We will "kick the tires" and if they need air in them, we will want you to do that; put air in them. (Email me if you don't get what kick the tires means. Tire=tyre.)

 

As the unpacking for the move last year moves forward at such a slow pace that it is unnoticeable, I came across an article that I printed from the internet in 2005.
http://hollylisle.com/revision-requests

 

To get you started reading literary agent blogs, here is the link to one of many good ones.
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

 

Knowledge is power. Learn everything you can about the industry, about writing, about submissions.

Fresh Start: MS Word

Before discussions about plot, character development, and pacing, let's start with the software. If you are serious about being a writer you have to hone your computer skills.

 

Way back in the beginning, computers had punch cards. I don't personally remember those days, but I have seen the punch cards. It is basic. Binomial. A collection of zeros and ones in groups of eight or sixteen. (I'm going on memory on this. Research it if it interests you.)

 

Fast forward to today. If you learned to use a typewriter (boy, are you old!) before you transitioned to a keyboard, you need to throw out most of that knowledge except for the letter placement on the keys.

 

Computers use codes for their instructions on character placement. You don't have to learn coding, but you do have to understand the functions of the software. Remember the saying: garbage in, garbage out?

 

If you want to center the title, use the center function. Do not use the spacebar or tab key to eyeball where the center mark is on the page.

 

The same is true with indenting the first line of a paragraph. Do not use a random number of spaces (spacebar), use the tab key.

 

The same is true with the end of a line of text, let it wrap to the next line. Do not use the enter key. Set the line spacing to double spaced lines.

 

The same is true with starting a new page for the next chapter. Do not use the enter key to go down the page until you reach a new page. Use the page break function.

 

Unless you use the correct procedure to center, indent, or start a new line or page, you can expect the results to be fluid. If you want them fixed in position, you have to use the correct function. I want them in fixed rather than floating/fluid positions.

 

If you don't know how to do these things, then take the time to learn them. One way is to go across the menu bar and see what each item on the dropdown menu does. Watch YouTube tutorials. Buy a book and follow the instructions on your computer.

 

I prefer mss that come from a computer, desktop or laptop, rather than from a tablet (any brand, but expecially not those that require converting the file into MS Word).

 

If you expect Cactus Rain Publishing, any reputable publisher, or literary agent to take your work seriously, fund it, and add it to their catalogue (reputation) then you have to be serious about the format of your work.

 

It is that simple. Write right. Have fun.

Polish and Dust your MS before Submission

When sending a query to a literary agent or a publisher who doesn't require a lit agent, make sure it is your best presentation. I can't stress this enough, however, it amazes me that I need to mention it at all.

 

Trust me on this, a query letter isn't two lines long that basically says "go look at the attachments" with an attitude that you are doing me a favor. You aren't doing me a favor. Seriously, you're not.

 

There is tons of information about writing a synopsis on the Internet and I've mentioned how to write one many times on this blog.

Out of idle curiosity, I might look at a synopsis even if the query is lacking, but I won't look at the sample chapters if the synopsis doesn't grab me. (A word to the wise on that.) I think Judith is better at looking at sample chapters that I wouldn't bother to read. In the end, if we both don't love-love your work, then we cut bait and move the boat.

 

We request that submissions are sent in MS Word. The first thing that I do is turn on the "show/hide" feature to see if you know how to use the software. This isn't a typewriter, so don't tab or spacebar the title to the center of the page; use the feature that centers the line. It is basic that there is only one space between sentences. Paragraph indents are made with the tab button, not a random number of spaces.

 

The sample chapters cannot read like a first draft. While I can content edit and fix any ms, I don't want to spend that kind of time on a sloppy ms. Whether it is true or not that a sloppy ms reflects on the nature of the writer, I think that it does.

 

We get enough good queries that we don't have to accept messes.

 

A query is a business proposal for Cactus Rain to fund your book. CRP is not a charity. We are a business. Our kids don't cop an attitude and we don't work with people who do. It is that simple.

 

If you believe in your work with a writer's passion, we will notice. Make yourself proud, present your best work. Good luck and write right.

Website Improvements

It's time for spring in Arizona. It is warming outside and things that grow green are setting on buds. Winter here is not a deep sleep; it is a power nap.

 

In a crazy mix of first of the year "fresh starts" and spring cleaning, we are dusting and polishing the Cactus Rain website.

 

Check it out and see what our web designer has been doing. Click on the links because some of them lead to different locations than they did previously. Come back a couple of times -- we aren't finished yet.
www.CactusRainPublishing.com

More of the SAME

Tax season seems to last longer than the monsoons. Actually, it is all year long and I kick myself if I fall behind in the spreadsheets.

 

But this time of year is more than collecting figures for my wonderful tax guy -- Mr. CPA. (Don't google that, it isn't his real identity.) It is also the time to get this year's spreadsheets dusted so that none of that afore mentioned kicking happens next year.

 

I've spent the weekend setting up new spreadsheets, adding 'this and that' to the items tracked. It goes well to do this on the weekend when it is quiet. My cell phone doesn't work at the office -- yes, I know it is time to change providers. Texting works and I can use the office phone, if needed.

 

Working on the weekend goes something like this: Call oldest son and ask how to fill repeating formulas down the column in Excel. Take lots of notes from my geeky-smart kid. Get back to work.

 

Clean out my email address book. Back to work.

 

Delete photos that I shouldn't have kept in the first place. Back to work.

 

Organize my computer files and delete a lot of old stuff that I haven't used in years. Back to work.

 

Figure out how to change my photo on this blog. Back to work after not liking several photos that seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

Let the cat out -- not my cat. Sit on the patio and watch the cat do cat things. Collect the cat and come inside. Back to work.

Look at the ms that Steve sent. Get stuck reading for a bit. Back to work.

 

Try this 'focusing technique' if you get writer's block -- not. Alright, back to working on the next Great American Novel. Enjoy. Write your best work.

Tax Season

Just a reminder to the new writers among us, be sure to talk with your tax preparer about your writing business. Yes, business. Unless this is a hobby and your writing is never going to see the light of day, it needs to be treated as a business.

In addition to making sure you don't screw up your taxes and have 'Uncle Sam' at your door, you also need to check into state and local business requirements, business licenses, retail licenses; if you plan to sell books at a book signing event you may need a license from the city.

It's complicated and I don't dare say more than do your research.

The same is true regardless of where you live, even outside the US, ask an expert and get set up correctly, then get back to writing the next Great American Novel.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes to each of you.
We hope that you have a healthy and happy 2015!

First off, it always surprises me how many queries we receive because CRP does no advertising, none. We are not on social media. (Oh, the sin of not being uber connected in such a way.)

 

The constant stream of queries points to the talent and skill of our web designer and the meta tags or whatever else she does that I don't fully understand.

 

Nonetheless, www.CactusRainPublishing.com must be quite search engine friendly, because we certainly get more than enough queries to keep Judith and me on our toes and more or less out of trouble -- not that I'm complaining! Oddly too, we are getting much better works submitted to us. Thus, we are requesting more full mss and rejecting fewer mss.

 

It seems that this year quite a few writers decided that 2015 would be the year their ms would be published. In the last month, we've had a ton of queries.

 

Sadly, one person mentioned that their publisher is requesting fees after the ms was accepted. That made me think about how different Cactus Rain is from some small publishers. These thoughts are what this post is about...

 

It's a new ballgame to enter the query phase of the writing process. Querying is a bit like saying, "I love you." You can't take it back once it is out there. You are sharing a personal part of yourself with a stranger and hoping for acceptance, and at times, fearing rejection.

 

There is a lot of time spent searching for a literary agent or perhaps a small publisher who doesn't require a lit agent; it is an investment. It can be discouraging. That is why I usually make an effort to explain why an ms was rejected, so it doesn't feel like a personal rejection.

 

Cactus Rain only publishes fiction. We don't have the resources to fact check non-fiction. We most often pick up mid-list mss from not-quite-ready-for-prime-time writers. We look for great stories, and for writers with heart rather than attitude.

 

We don't have a huge catalogue, but what we published is very [very, very] good. We believe in the mss enough to put our money into them. We take the time to explain why we want the changes that we request, in the hope that our writers learn to be even better writers and go on to bigger publishers in the future.

 

We don't work with stubborn know-it-all writers. Once the ms is under contract, it is our property, as it is with any other publisher. That said, we are careful not to change the voice of the work. About half of the time we change the working title. It is all about marketing. If the title doesn't appeal to readers, they aren't going to purchase the book.

 

We do not pay an advance and many publishers are getting away from advances because they are borrowed against the future earnings. Advances are sometimes subject to repayment. We think that advances slow the process of getting royalties into the writer's hand.

 

We are supportive of authors who want to self-publish. Learning all the things needed to publish successfully is quite a task. We applaud them. Sometimes we buy their book for our library.

 

We are cautionary of pay-for-publishing situations. However, I know a few people who have been quite successful with that route. And yes, we buy some of those books for our library, too.

 

Writing is a craft and an art. Write your best work. Aim high.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. God bless us, everyone. (Dickens)

 

In this time for renewal, reflection, and joy, we wish everyone joy and peace -- now and forever.

Book Marketing

There is a lot of information on the Internet about book marketing. If you have your credit card paid off, in a matter of hours, you can charge thousands of dollars on paid marketing services and other stuff that you really-truly [don't] have to have.

 

In general, book marketing companies do much better with non-fiction than with fiction. Depending on the topic, the non-fiction audience can be quite large and sometimes long-term.

 

Since Cactus Rain Publishing is only interested in fiction, I'll focus on fiction.

 

Anyone looking into marketing ideas for fiction, especially those who self-publish their own work, really needs to put a sticky on their monitor with the question "How does this apply to fiction?"

 

As best as you can, do a cost effectiveness study; how many books would have to sell to recoup that money? Can you do something less expensive and smaller that would be more likely to recoup the expense (quicker)? Does this marketing plan fit your personality (Are you really going to follow through with this idea?)?

 

Over the past 10 years, I've realized that the best marketing tool is an enthusiastic author.

 

Number One on my list, and this is simply my list, is to arrange reading/book signing events. It is not uncommon for book stores to charge hundreds of dollars for a one hour slot to sign books in their store. And there is a lot more to it than simply showing up in your limo with a supply of good pens. However, there are plenty of venues that are free for readings and book signings.

• Practice on your friends and family. Put together a gift basket for the hostess, have her get her friends and family together and away you go... Oh, and take books with you to sell and sign on the spot.
• Libraries will sometimes host author events.
• It is more effort to find them, but reading/book clubs sometimes host author events.
• If you live in a setting that has a clubhouse or a newsletter. Talk to the person in charge and see how you can utilize these resources.
• Get business cards with the book cover and your contact info on them. I like them to be in vertical (portrait) format. Keep the contact info simple.
• Give out at least three business cards at a time saying, "One for you and a couple for your friends." Don't be annoying, but get those cards out there.
• Use the business cards as bookmarks. That saves buying two items -- business cards and bookmarks.
• Check into opportunities to be featured in a local newspaper or television show. That item might not sell many books, but it can lead to other opportunities, such as speaking to writers groups, clubs, and who knows what else.
• Attend local or web marketing seminars. Watch the cost of these, though.
• Basically be creative and stay alert to inexpensive opportunities to market, read, sign your book.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): (When you think of  techy people, I'd better not be the top of your list or you are in big trouble.) There are rumors that lit agent and publishing house interns spend the day on the Internet looking for the next bestseller to take to their boss. Probably not.

• I'm a fan of having a website. I've been fortunate to have a great web designer for 8 years. I've learned a lot from her, such as spiders (the things that crawl through website looking for content for the search engines such as Google, Yahoo, you name it...) only read text, not images. I learned about sitemaps on webistes and I have some hidden content on one of my websites that I access with the sitemap. She stays on top of things, such as changing the copyright date after the first of the year. Anyway, a good web designer is worth their weight in gold. I love this website, which was also done by my web designer: (see below)
•  http://www.dianekrobertsonbooks.com/ (I do love my site as well.)
• If you have a website, give a great deal of thought to your domain name or consult a web designer before you select and purchase the domain name.
• Blogging is free and gets you on the map. Take some time and think about the topic and the name of the blog; make sure you are attracting people who might have an interest in your book as well as your fabulous blog.
• Twitter and facebook are linked together in my mind. They are two things to consider to attract a crowd. I find them time consuming and don't do either, but about once a year there is a story about a writer who skyrocketed their book by using social media. If you can commit to building a web presence and stay focus on that when you are on social media, then go for it.
• I liked this article on SEO, but there are lots of others. (see next line below)
• http://www.businessinsider.com/10-basic-seo-tips-everyone-should-know-2010-1?op=1

Give a great deal of thought and do a cost effective annalysis before spending money. Regardless of the amount, spend wisely. 

 

I hope this was helpful to the person who asked me about marketing. It is only the tip of the iceberg. Leave your ideas and experiences in the comments section below.