Bravo for Sourcebooks

I had heard on the 'net that small publisher Sourcebooks had reprinted some old Laura Kinsale titles under their Casablanca (romance) imprint. The first thing I did was go looking for these.

The info is a little confusing. Amazon lists the books as available but I'm in Canada so I'd rather not pay the shipping if I can help it. Amazon.ca lists them as available October 1/08, "available for pre-order". Imagine my surprise when I wandered into my local Chapters here in the 'burbs and found each of the books, two stocked copies of each!





Midsummer Moon - Here's the link




Seize the Fire - Here's the link




Prince of Midnight - Here's the link

This comes very timely for me, as I just listened to a workshop this morning on the RWA conference CD that sort of irritated me. It was an agent/editor panel, and one of them (I have no idea which) said she would not consider a Restoration setting because, paraphrased: "You need to be writing to the mass market. Your readers are buying your books in Walmart. If you're not writing to that person, no one will publish you. You have to write to the mass market."

Ah, the eternal conundrum. There are many fine books sold in Walmart, but Laura Kinsale's will not be among them. And there is no arguing with profit but it's refreshing, just once, to see something targeted to the discerning reader who is happy to spend her money on something she actually wants. I may not be the majority, but I do spend a lot of money a year on books.

So - thanks, Sourcebooks. And thanks, Chapters, for stocking these. A lot of us who have had no choice but to stiff our favourite authors by buying on Ebay thank you.

A suggestion, though: A mention on Casablanca's website wouldn't hurt. Actually, more content on their website altogether. Oh, and Kinsale's site appears to be un-updated since 2006.

'Cos this IS the digital age. Even if I am about to turn off my computer and go read.

Improving Your Craft

I really suck at those "word count goal" challenges. I should probably try harder at them, but sometimes word count isn't totally where it's at.

For the last few weeks, I have found myself doing various things that aren't really writing, and yet:

• I got the RWA Conference CD's and have been listening to a marathon of craft workshops
• I got a critique partner (Hi, M!)
• I've entered my writing in four contests in the past month and am prepping for my fifth
• I've been reading books on craft
• I've been reading some of the latest debut books on the market and rereading Austen
  

Most of all, I've been plotting and outlining. This is new to me - I "pantzed" my last two manuscripts, but this one was just calling for some pre-work. I saved myself a lot of time, actually, when I decided my hero wasn't going to be a spy (too overdone) and my heroine wasn't going to be a bitch (she was in danger of going that way). I carry my notebook with me everywhere I go and make cryptic notations as soon as the thought hits me ("mother sick??? poss later. must check ref.") Last week I came up with a scene that had me laughing to myself on the bus. Those are good days.

I'm ready to jump in now, and ramp up the word count.

Still, these beautiful spring days are the times when I'm glad I'm not a full-time writer. I do a little fussing in my notebook, then I go out for a bikeride or I watch the rabbits in my yard. 'Cos who cares?