Since TOMORROW! Is THE OBVIOUS GAME's technical publication date (meaning you can finally buy it on NOOK and Kindle tomorrow on major booksellers' sites), I have been typing my damn fingers off for the past few months to spread the love around the blogosphere. (I am fully aware the entire Internet doesn't read my blog. Thank God. Some people on the Internet are super mean.)
Here are some guests posts and interviews that are already up, if you are interested.
The very lovely Neysa at B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E. let me guest post on her blog about making a character believable.
Here's an excerpt:
In the early drafts of THE OBVIOUS GAME, my main character, Diana, was too unlikable.Shewas all rough edges and whining. People would tell me that, and I wouldstruggle with that, because I wanted her to be realistic and goingthrough some really tough stuff, which in many cases does lead to pityparties.
Duringthe publisher querying process, my agent told me he thought the bookneeded to be funnier. I thought it ironic he wanted my anorexia novel tobe funnier, that it in fact might not get published because my anorexianovel wasn't funny enough.
Read the rest at B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E.!
Today I have a post up over at She Writes, which is a great community site for authors and writers. Here's an excerpt:
I am a writer who doesn't write every day.
There are very few of us, the writers who will admit publicly to notvaluing daily writing. Not just not doing it or scheduling it, but notseeing the point at all.
Let me back up. I know plenty of successful writers who are much moredisciplined than I am. They get up early or stay up late or tap awaywhile their kids leap around them. They have word counts and timelimits, and they produce good books -- even if they have day jobs-- at afairly consistent pace.
I won't do it.
Hi everyone-
There are a few giveaways running right now for THE OBVIOUS GAME. I thought I should tell you about them before they expire! I will most likely do another giveaway on Goodreads in a month or so.
Giveaway ends February 05, 2013.
See the giveaway detailsat Goodreads.
I'm headed out tomorrow to join my friend Erica at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Through a series of fortunate events, it's going to be an extremely inexpensive trip for me, so I figured why not? I really have no business being there, as I'm not a librarian, but it seemed like a good way to meet librarians. Librarians and book bloggers are about the best word-of-mouth referrers an author could ask for, and librarians often double as book bloggers, so, there you go.
Except I'm feeling shy.
I've been going to blogging conferences for seven years, and I haven't felt shy at them in six. I thought I was past shy.
This whole book thing has been such a roller coaster. I go from being excited it's finally coming out to worried nobody will read it to freaked they will read it and they'll hate it. I worry it won't sell and then nobody will buy my second book. Then I think publishing will probably change so much by the time that book is ready that the rules will all be different, anyway. It feels like the rules of publishing in some ways are changing on a daily basis and in other ways 50 Shades is still on the bestseller list, inexplicably to me, and nothing will ever change at all for the little guys.
This particular adventure is so personal to me -- it doesn't really matter to anyone else. I mean, it's nice and all, but my personal and professional lives have not changed just because my novel got published. That's what's so weird about the whole experience -- the anxiety I feel is mine and mine alone.
I remember walking around BEA last year when I was asked to speak at the BEA Bloggers Conference about book marketing because of my role in the BlogHer Book Club. There were hardbacks just stacked in the booths, free for the taking, and eventually I stopped taking them because they were so heavy to lug around and get home on the plane. I left someone's blood, sweat and tears in a stack on the floor because it was heavy, or because I didn't like the cover, or because I just wasn't in the mood.
When I go to the library now, I don't see shelves of books, I see shelves of dreams.
So I'm worried about tomorrow and this weekend, although I can't figure out why. I guess I have a few days to figure it out. I've been moving so fast for so long, maybe I'm just afraid of having time to think about what to do next.
Well, virtually anyway.
Here's a cat video. Kizzy never gives up. Feel free to write your own dialogue.
So I just ordered a book campaign from Goodreads' self-serve beta program. I decided to tell you about this because I'll let you know how well it works. I've heard great things about Goodreads' ads. It's going to run from whenever it gets approved until thirty days later. We shall see!
I also ordered some bookplates. This is a way to get a book signed when you're not in physical proximity to the author. Since I am going nowhere on my book tour that doesn't exist outside of Kansas City, Missouri (I'll be at The Writers Place on April 5, please come!) So if you buy my book and you want a signed bookplate, please drop me an email at ritajarens@gmail.com. I have no expectations for volume so this is either a brilliant or stupid thing to say. We shall see!
And next week I am going to the ALA Midwinter Meeting to meet LIBRARIANS. I love librarians! I can't believe that is next week, actually. I should really get my act together.
So ... that's what I've done so far other than social media. My publisher has arranged a lovely cover reveal tour and some festivities for the release day, which is February 7. I arranged one event locally and bought bookplates, author business cards and a small online advertising campaign. I've written a ton of guests posts and done a bunch of interviews and spent $200 of my own money to buy physical copies for book bloggers who agreed to review it. Oh, and I've committed to buying books to give away on Goodreads and a few other places that haven't launched yet. All in all, this is not a lot of money and is mostly sweat equity.
I write this out because I know there are going to be a lot of authors now and in the future who are either self-publishing or publishing with small presses or are with Big Six presses but don't have a very big marketing budget. I want to figure out what works in book marketing -- besides, you know, writing a book people want to read.
What do you want to know? I'll do my best to be transparent in this process. I so appreciate all the support I've received here and elsewhere on the Internets. Word of mouth, baby -- I really, really appreciate it.
Today my interview with my publisher is up on their website, InkSpell Publishing.
My favorite part of the interview is the reveal of THE OBVIOUS GAME playlist. The chapter titles are actually all album titles from the late eighties and early nineties for no reason other than it's my book and I wanted to and the novel is set in 1990 and nobody ever either a) figured out they were album titles or b) told me that was hokey and ridiculous and I had to take it out. I haven't actually pulled this playlist together on iTunes yet, but dammit, I should do that.
The Obvious Game Playlist
Chapter 1: Pride by White Lion (1987) – When the Children Cry
Chapter 2: Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses (1987) – Welcome to the Jungle
Chapter 3: Scarecrow by John Mellencamp (1985) – Small Town
Chapter 4: True Colors by Cyndi Lauper (1986) – True Colors
Chapter 5: Can’t Hold Back by Eddie Money (1986) – Take Me Home Tonight
Chapter 6: Hysteria by Def Leppard (1987) – Hysteria
Chapter 7: Nothing’s Shocking by Jane’s Addiction (1988) – Jane Says
Chapter 8: Just Like the First Time by Freddie Jackson (1986) – Have You Ever Loved Somebody
Chapter 9: Use Your Illusion by Guns N’Roses (1991) – November Rain
Chapter 10: Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf (1977) – Bat Out of Hell
Chapter 11: Head Games by Foreigner (1979) – Dirty White Boy
Chapter 12: Faith by George Michael (1987) – Monkey
Chapter 13: Cuts Like a Knife by Bryan Adams (1983) – Straight From the Heart
Chapter 14: Double Vision by Foreigner (1978) – Hot Blooded
Chapter 15: Disintegration by The Cure (1989) – Fascination Street
Chapter 16: Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe (1990) – Poison
Chapter 17: Achtung Baby by U2 (1991) -- Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?
Chapter 18: Nevermind by Nirvana (1991) – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Chapter 19: Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael (1990) – Something to Save
Chapter 20: Out of Time by R.E.M. (1991) – Losing My Religion
Chapter 21: The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby (1986) – Mandolin Rain
Chapter 22: Infected by The The (1986) – Out of the Blue (Into the Fire)
Chapter 23: Strange Fire by Indigo Girls (1989) – Strange Fire
Chapter 24: Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos (1992) -- China
I put a three-book giveaway on Goodreads. If you use Goodreads, go enter! And if you don't use Goodreads, consider using Goodreads, because it's such a great way to discover new authors. And friend me there so I can see what you like. I think my username is Rita Arens.
Giveaway ends February 05, 2013.
See the giveaway detailsat Goodreads.
And, I've been writing a ton on BlogHer and forgetting to tell you about it. I bet you won't spot the theme!
I'm so excited to show you the cover for my young adult novel, THE OBVIOUS GAME, which will be published on February 7, 2013, two days after my thirty-ninth birthday.
Those of you who have been reading me for a while know what a labor of love this book was. While there was an awful lot of pain and sweat I didn't write about, I think you saw enough to know there were many days I didn't know if this would ever happen and many days when I really, really wanted to just throw down.
I'm glad I didn't. Not only is this book finally finding its way into the world, my publisher has generously offered to donate a portion of the proceeds of the book (I don't know how much yet) to the Eating DisorderFoundation, which was recommended by my friends at the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. It's my greatest hope that this novel will not only be worthwhile as a novel but will also help parents and families understand and feel compassion for someone suffering from an eating disorder and offer hope for a full recovery to those who are in the grip of it. UPDATED 1/14/2013: My publisher has informed me they have been unable to get in contact with the charity and are putting this plan on hold until they can hammer out details.
This novel was so much harder than SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK was, and I thought that was really hard. But the novel was so much more personal and so much a combination of craft that I had to learn on the job and inspiration and revisions and rejection and more revisions and hours I could've spent doing something else. I know a lot of writers talk about the pain of the writing process. For me, there is actually never a blank page because I don't sit down to write without a lot of couch time first in which I figure out what I want to say and visualize the scenes in my head. So I guess maybe I'm "writing" when I'm not writing, but that works for me, because I have so little writing time (as does everyone -- how many novelists don't have day jobs?) I have to be getting thousands of words out every time I schedule a 9-midnight with myself after my daughter goes to bed. Usually on Mondays. I seem to be more tolerant of flogging myself on Mondays, not sure why.
But I wouldn't do it if I didn't like it. I love it. I feel energized by it. I love thinking about what I'm going to write next. This is fun for me. Otherwise, I would never put myself through the rejection.
If you're working on a novel, take heart -- everyone feels the way you do on your darkest day sometimes.
“Everyone trusted me backthen. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice atfirst.”
Praise for The Obvious Game:
"Lovely, evocative, painful and joyful all in one ... much like high school." -- Jenny Lawson, author of LET'S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED
“I couldn’t put down THEOBVIOUS GAME. Arens perfectly captures the hunger, pain and uncertainty ofadolescence.” -- Ann Napolitano, author of A GOOD HARD LOOK and WITHIN ARM'S REACH
"THE OBVIOUS GAME is afearless, honest, and intense look into the psychology of anorexia. Thecharacters—especially Diana--are so natural and emotionally authentic thatyou’ll find yourself yelling at the page even as you’re compelled to turnit." -- Coert Voorhees, author of LUCKY FOOLS and THE BROTHERS TORRES
"Let’s be clear aboutone thing: there’s nothing obvious about THE OBVIOUS GAME. Arens has written amoving, sometimes heart-breaking story about one girl’s attempt to control theuncontrollable. You can’t help but relate to Diana and her struggles as youdelve into this gem of a novel." -- Risa Green, author of THE SECRET SOCIETY OFTHE PINK CRYSTAL BALL
"THE OBVIOUS GAME explores the chasms between conformityand independence, faith and fear, discoveries and secrets, first times and lastchances, hunger and satisfaction. The tortured teenage experience is capturedtriumphantly within the pages of this unflinching, yet utterly relatable,novel. - Erica Rivera, author of INSATIABLE: A YOUNG MOTHER’S STRUGGLE WITHANOREXIA
Book Information:
Publisher: InkspellPublishing
Release Date: Feb 7th, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9856562-7-0(ebook), 978-0-9856562-8-7 (Paperback)
Paperback Price: $13.99
Kindle: $4.99
To be available at all majoronline outlets: Amazon, B&N, The Book Depository
Pre-order now at InkspellPublishing Website at a special discount of 30% on both paperback andebook!
Website/blog: http://www.surrenderdorothyblog.com or http://www.ritaarens.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaarens
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.arens
BlogHer: http://www.blogher.com/member/rita-arens
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=4048495&trk=tab_pro
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/ritajarens/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002KRLEHE
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1371209.Rita_Arens
And here's a short excerpt!
Prologue
1987
When we were in seventh grade,Amanda and I snuck out of her house one foggy Saturday night to meet herboyfriend, Matt. We spent more time planning our escape than we did actually conductingit.
We’d made a list while pretendingto do our homework:
Wrap flashlights with blackelectrical tape. (check)
Make fake bodies out of pillowsto hide in our sleeping bags. (check)
Booby-trap her bedroom door withstring across the threshold so we could see if her mom had tried to check onus. (check)
Assemble all-black outfits,complete with stocking caps, so we would blend in with the shadows as wewalked. (check)
Arrange the rendezvous pointahead of time with Matt: the third-grade playground at the elementary school.(check)
It wasn’t until we’d successfullyshimmied down the fence, jogged the four blocks up the street, and seen Mattsitting there alone on the seesaw that I realized I had nothing at all to dowhile they giggled and kissed. I’d been so caught up in the planning portion ofour escape that I didn’t notice how pathetic my part in it seemed.
I twirled on the swings acrossthe playground and out of view, once again pretending to be totally cool withit. The thing was, though, I wasn’t cool with it. I felt about as important asthe guy who wrote the cooking instructions for Pop-Tarts.
We probably would’ve stayed therefor hours if I hadn’t finally strode over to the jungle gym, coughing andkicking rocks as I went. Amanda poked her head out.
“What’s up, Diana?”
“Can we go soon? I forgot tobring a book.”
Her expectant smile turned sour. “Okay,”she finally said, disappearing in the darkness. “Just five more minutes.”
I wandered to the edge of theplayground, thought about turning back on my own, letting her get caught outthere by herself. But I wouldn’t. That’s what friends are for. She knew it. Iknew it.
Everyone trusted me. Good olddependable Diana. Which was why most people didn’t notice at first that I wasin trouble.
It's really happening! Huzzah! Let's bring out DJ Nibbles.
