Friday Funk
So I'm trying to finish TOUCH OF POWER and revise it, but it's going slow. Usually when I get to the big climax/ending, the words just pour out. Perhaps it's the distraction of promoting OUTSIDE IN or the effort to write/finish a short story for an anthology that was rejected! Can you say bruised ego? ;>
And to top it off - I finally received sales numbers for INSIDE OUT - they're dismal, horrible, terrible...take your pick. For those hoping for a third book - I doubt my publisher will continue with this series unless my #s go up. And it explains why many bookstores aren't carrying copies of OUTSIDE IN :(
Spring is almost here and with it spring school sports. Which means I turn into my children's private chauffeur. Yes, son is 16 - but just, it'll take 6 months for him to get his license. On a happy note - he had a blast at his surprise party :) Boys are so easy - they played outside for 4 hours, inhaled pizza and drinks, played inside air hockey and foose ball for 2 hours then went home.
I'll stick with the happy note - perhaps it will get me out of my funk.
Some links to contest, interview, and reviews:
http://mrsboswellsbookbag.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway-inside-out-series.html
http://unlockedproject.blogspot.com/2011/02/interview-with-maria-v-snyder.html
http://ems-reviews-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-outside-in-by-maria-v-snyder.html
And to top it off - I finally received sales numbers for INSIDE OUT - they're dismal, horrible, terrible...take your pick. For those hoping for a third book - I doubt my publisher will continue with this series unless my #s go up. And it explains why many bookstores aren't carrying copies of OUTSIDE IN :(
Spring is almost here and with it spring school sports. Which means I turn into my children's private chauffeur. Yes, son is 16 - but just, it'll take 6 months for him to get his license. On a happy note - he had a blast at his surprise party :) Boys are so easy - they played outside for 4 hours, inhaled pizza and drinks, played inside air hockey and foose ball for 2 hours then went home.
I'll stick with the happy note - perhaps it will get me out of my funk.
Some links to contest, interview, and reviews:
http://mrsboswellsbookbag.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway-inside-out-series.html
http://unlockedproject.blogspot.com/2011/02/interview-with-maria-v-snyder.html
http://ems-reviews-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-outside-in-by-maria-v-snyder.html
*runs off to recommend book even more*
ReplyDeleteI hope the happy thoughts ease the funk and that things start looking up with the book sales. For what it's worth, I thought they were both fantastic books, and the reviewers that I keep in touch with agreed.
Sorry about the Friday funk... no fun at all. I am sad the #s aren't great for Inside Out, I really enjoy that series and want it to keep going! I guess I will just have to go get a handful of copies to pass out so other ppl can get hooked too! haha. I hope everything is looking up for you soon and good luck on Touch of Power! The synopsis sounds great and I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I really enjoyed Inside Out, which I only got e-reader edition but fully intend to get the hard copy when I can purchase Outside In! However I will do my best to recommend both books to those around me!
ReplyDeleteI hope the good thought help get you out of the funk!
AWW! I hope it goes up! I really like your books! Even though, Inside Out is not even out yet in Australia.
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked! You are an auto-buy for me, and I loved Inside Out and Outside In, and so did all my fellow reviewers...hmm I'm with Ems, gonna have to plug them puppies some more. I think some friends are about to get birthday books!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for you, but even if I loved studies and glass series, I'm not very attracted by the series IN and Outside, it's too futuristic for me. I read the summary and I'm sorry but that doesn't make me desire. However I adore you and I await with impatient Touch of Power. Still sorry… don't lose hope, you're the great, great, great writer.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry! I have 2 copies of Inside Out and 2 of Outside In. I know all my Poison Study friends are out there buying. I wonder what has happened.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the well wishes! You all are so sweet. Thanks for continuing to spread the word about the books - that's more effective than any marketing I could do :)
ReplyDeleteBoth books have gotten great reviews and lots of buzz around the blogosphere - it's really odd and was quite a surprise to me that the sales numbers were so low.
Helene - thanks for being honest - I completely understand. The books aren't really futuristic - they're just set in a world that's contained. If you like to read the first chapter on line - here's a link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/books/InsideOut.php
It's intersting for the books -some readers think it's set in the future and others think it's set in our past :)
I actually haven't made it past the first few pages in Inside Out. As much as I LOVE your other books, I can't seem to get into it. But don't give up, you are an amazing writer and Touch of Power will be ever more successful than you imagined!
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for these two books to come out in Australia for ages! I can't wait to read them!!
ReplyDeleteIts sad that your numbers arent high enough. I love your study and glass series and have just found your new books, from reading an excerpt alone im hooked, so that adds 2 more to your numbers...every little bit counts right :D
ReplyDeleteMaria,
ReplyDeleteI have to say bruised ego for you is more like a gee she's not perfect moment for me. ;) I know you are not perfect and it sounds like you need some help. I tell ya what girlene when I have an issue with my muse muscle I go to two places.
A favorite book and the beginning. Go read something for fun. Even a little digital short in the 5-15 K is a great pick me up. I should know I write and read them. As for the beginning... What started this story? What event's got me on that thought path? Sometimes we are so quick to write when we get that spark of inspiration that we write ourselves in a corner. Maybe on all those spring errands you're doing for the kiddos just jotting down notes will keep you from going into the corner.
Do you not have a critique partner who can help you with the flow? Sometimes just a few suggests here and there get the juices flowing again.
Good Luck Maria...it will come together. Chin up.
Bri
Maria,
ReplyDeleteI just came over to tell you how much I enjoyed Inside Out which I finished last night- only to find this blog post. I'm not a huge dystopia fan but if they were all like this book I'd enjoy them more! Personally, I liked this more than Maze Runner et al. and Mockingjay. Great characters, unique location, and fabulous writing- the pages melted away and when I wasn't reading this I was thinking about it. I'll start spreading the word and see why my library district doesn't have these (they have your others!). Thanks again for giving me a great escape.
You need to get rejected once in a while to keep you human and on your toes. Read something fun, and listen to some quality music while you write to set the mood.
ReplyDeleteI read a library copy of Inside Out -- better than I was expecting, to be honest. I have bought all the others and recommend them to everyone who asks for a book recommendation.
We all love you no matter what.
I just finished reading both books (like within the last week!) and have been recommending them to several people already! I loved them and was *really* hoping for a third in the series cuz I have some unanswered questions. :P Sorry things aren't going as well as you hoped, but hopefully we can get the word out! Love you and love your books. :)
ReplyDeleteGood lord, I just don't understand how Outside In couldn't have a high selling rate. I for one pre-ordered my copies :) CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK so please be persuaded out of your funk with these sweet words of everyone who loves your writing so we can read some more :) :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the numbers are bad because book stores shelved Inside Out in the teen section when all your other books are usually found in the adult SFF section. I would never have known about the book if I hadn't wondered when you're next book was coming out one day and googled your name to get to your site.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this series and am half way through Outside In which was quite difficult to obtain. None of my local bookstores carried it and I had to order it online. The store didn't even have it in a nearby warehouse and it had to ship to me half way across the country.
Here's hoping for better numbers!
I'm so sorry to hear about the low sales for Inside Out. It was the first book of yours that I read (I know, where have I been?) and I thought it was amazing. Outside In was also just as brilliant - I've been raving about these books since December!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely be helping to spread the word :)
Thanks to everyone who posted!! Writers tend to go in and out of funks and something like a low sales #s & rejection can deepen it.
ReplyDeleteLOL - I am not perfect - just ask my family :) Funny story about that - I was writing to a soldier in Iraq (a local man) who enjoyed my books and he had this image of my life as glamorous, with limos, gowns and pearls. When he returned from Iraq, I invited him and his wife over for dinner. When he showed up, I answered the door in a gown - it was great fun :)
Thanks for the advice - I do have a critique partner to help me, which she has in the past when I was really blocked while writing STORM GLASS (I was struggling with Kade and Ulrick - and wanting to avoid the whole love triangle thing, which I don't like - yeah - my characters do NOT listen to me - and who knew Devlen would.... I didn't!).
I also had a local book signing on Saturday. My book signings aren't packed, but I had a nice steady flow of readers and interacting with them ALWAYS improves my mood - just like your comments.
So...thanks for the pep talk :)
I have all of your books (read half and LOVED them) and I'm so surprised that Inside Out hasn't been doing well. It's one of my absolute favorite books!! I seriously waited a year for Outside In and it didn't disappoint!! I was so happy to see more of Riley and Trella and would definitely love to read more about them in another sequel. *crosses fingers that there will be more* I guess I'll have to go out and buy a couple more copies to donate to my school. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Maria! I'm so sorry to hear that you've been in a funk =( As another reader said: You're an auto-buy for me! You're writing is beautiful, and I loved Inside Out so much. I keep recommending your books to all my friends, and they're all so happy to discover you! I really hope you will be able to continue the series...2 books about Trella are just not enough!
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear that about book three! I love this series and was so thrilled to see the Aussie covers last week. Maybe if we give it a great big push down here there will be a third!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your Australian tour. Will the Melbourne leg (if there is one) coincide with the Melbourne writers festival in August?
We NEED book 3. I just finished Outside In last night. I have to be able to know what happens. I adore this series. It's just not fair, those marketers are buttheads!!
ReplyDeleteEEK! I loved the first book and just started the second. I came running here to find out when the 3rd book was coming out. I hate when publishers don't let a series have to chance to finish up and tie up the dangling plot lines... Julie Kenner's "Good Ghouls" comes to mind. Maybe you can wrap things up in a short story or novella and sell it on Amazon IF the 3rd book doesn't come into fruitation.
ReplyDeleteMaria,
ReplyDeleteI really do hope you end up writing a third book!! I read both Inside Out and Outside In within a few days and they were absolutley wonderful!
I'm really hoping for a third book I'm like half way through the second one! and that seems ridiculous that the numbers were low! i saw outside in in my book store and instantly thought it was awesome! and when my cousin started raving about the books i new i had to read them! I've gotten my friends addicted to other series before (because we like to all read the same series then talk about the books at lunch like our own mini book club) so i will get them to read these books! we must have a number 3!!
ReplyDeleteI thank for your time of this wonderful blog read about cleaning!!! I definitely enjoy every little bit of it and subscribed to check out new stuff of your blog a must read blog!
ReplyDeleteSpring cleaning Sydney
End of lease cleaning Paddington