2013—Looking Back & Ahead As An Author & Publisher
For the last several years I’ve made predictions about what will happen in publishing for the upcoming year, but I won’t be doing that this year. In fact, some people have noted that I’ve been very quiet on blogging about publishing and commenting on other industry blogs. And that will continue. A big decision we made at Cool Gus late in 2012 was that while we will continue to monitor and stay ahead of what’s going on with publishing, particularly the digital world, as we’ve always done, we see little benefit in adding our nickel to the conversation.
All our blog entries from the last three years are still at Write It Forward and most are still very valid (and free) for anyone interested in digital publishing. How We Made Our First Million on Kindle is a good primer (but not free) that Jen Talty and I co-wrote on our experiences as Cool Gus Publishing evolved.
Our motto at Cool Gus has been: Writers create the product and readers consume the product. Everyone is in between. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way. So we’re not engaging with those in between much any more and focusing on our consumers: the reader.
It’s the beginning of the year and it’s cloudy and raining here at Write on the River. I’ve been in TN less than two months and I’m very happy about the house, the location, the river, my writing, but most particularly my wife, my new grandson, my son & daughter-in-law, and yes, of course, Cool Gus & Sassy Becca. I launched my kayak the other day for the first time on the Tennessee River and had a blast. I’m looking forward to running some rivers (no white water for me, just lazy paddles—so I guess that’s negotiating some rivers rather than running) in the Spring. Has anyone done the Little Tennessee River below Fontana Dam? Recommendations?
In 2012 I realized I’d made an error with my strategic planning as an author. I put out new titles, but they were all stand alones, instead of part of my successful series, such as Area 51, Atlantis, Green Beret, Cellar, etc. While I’m very proud of The Jefferson Allegiance, I, Judas, Chasing The Ghost, Duty, Honor, Country: A Novel of West Point & The Civil War, it wasn’t the smartest business plan. I’m being up front here, for those of you trying to break out: series are KEY. Look at Bella Andre, Marie Force, Barbara Freethy, Jennifer Probst. They’ve all got great series. I’m fixing that.
As an author, Area 51 Nightstalkers was published in December, going with the idea of pushing forward a series (although technically Nightstalkers launches a new series with a new cast of characters) and has been in the top 25 in science fiction on Kindle since pub date. I’m finishing the second book in the series, Nightstalkers: The Book of Secrets for a July pub date. I love this series because my snark is back. My log line is: The Unit meets Warehouse 13, which means action meets snark meets weird stuff. Additionally, lesson learned, in the Book of Secrets, the Cellar from Bodyguard of Lies and Lost Girls makes its first appearance. Yes, Hannah and Neeley are back. Teaming up with Moms, Nada, Roland and the rest of the team. I’ve had a lot of people asking for more Hannah and Neeley and in July, you’ll get them.
I watched Loopers the other day and thought the concept was brilliant, the opening was good, it started to sag, then the ending was outstanding. My wife just finally watched Game of Thrones (she used to make fun of me watching it as she walked past—swords and naked women, or some such comment) but now she’s hooked on it and blazed through the first two seasons in a weekend. She’s now watching Life, which I watched a couple of years ago on Hulu and she’s hooked on that too. Same actor as Homeland, which we both enjoyed. What series have you watched lately, new or old, that drew you in when maybe at first you kind of thought it was dumb? And, anyone who comments will be entered in a drawing for a free Audio book. Jen will be collecting the commenters names over the next couple of weeks and announce the winner.
I label 2013 the year of writing. And that’s what it will be as well as the year Cool Gus breaks out as a leader in the publishing world.
Nothing but good times ahead as Cool Gus & Sassy Becca snore underneath my new desk, in new house.
Posted on January 3, 2013, in Write It forward and tagged Area 51, Bob Mayer, Cool Gus, Nightstalkers, The Future of Publishing, Write It Forward. Bookmark the permalink. 18 Comments.
Sounds like you’re making some smart marketing decisions. One of the things about this business is that things are shifting and you need to be flexible and shift with them. There is no primer for leading in a shifting paradigm, so write your own!
We finally caught up on True Blood last year by borrowing the first few seasons. It’s much better than I thought it would be. Now I can’t wait for next season! We’re catching up on old seasons of In Plain Sight. We loved it, but lost track of it.
Fascinating comments and also up-beat and sweet. How long is each of your ‘series’ stories? I’m just about to e-publish my first book, and perhaps it’s a mistake that it’s not a series, but it’s my passion, and I love the characters and the story, so I’m shrugging my shoulders and thinking, “go for it.” Next time, maybe a series. :+) Enjoy TN and your handsome doggies. Downton Abbey is the TV series that my man and I enjoy most. Cheers!
I like the mellow tones and the obvious focus – bravo!
Hugs to you & Jen,
LT
Write on the river looks blissful! We called East TN home every summer when we spend a month or two on the lake. Have you tried SUP boarding? That looks like the perfect place for it. I rode my SUP board all over Douglas Lake (Dandridge, TN) last summer.
As for a series, my husband and I fell in love with Dexter. I did not think I would like that at all but we are addicted! We also really enjoyed Game of Thrones and I didn’t think I would.
Enjoy your new home and focus. It sounds wonderful.
I’m amazed they’ve managed to keep Dexter going this long. Downtown Abbey is quite engrossing.
Love all the shows that everyone is mentioning. I tried watching Being Human last year, but wasn’t interested. Started it again, and have watched the first 3 seasons over the holidays and was totally loving it until this morning. I watched the first episode of Season 4 and besides they did a very frustrating thing…I’m so confused. But will keep watching. FYI, this is the UK version.
I’m totally addicted to reruns of Friends and NCIS. I watch them when I’m cooking or folding laundry.
Downtown Abbey is fab.
Another show that I love to watch is an old show called Absolutely Fabulous. An agent friend got me hooked and its laugh out loud funny!
Hi Jen, I’ve been promised the loan of the Downton Abbey box set, and as an Ab Fab fan I can relate to your enjoyment! Eddie, Patsie and Saffy’s relationships are just brilliant. Every time I watch the repeats, I too laugh out loud. Good for dark winter nights.
To get my vote, all you really have to do is post puppy pictures.
Love to see Hannah & Neely guesting in the new(isn) series. TV? How can you sit still long enough to watch a show all the way through?
More writing is always good!
The whole family is hooked on Elementary and Vegas. A fellow geek got me started on The Walking Dead. But if you want something that sounds really stupid but is surprisingly hilarious is the web series The BAMF Girls Club.
Best wishes to Bob and Jen for 2013!
Suzan, we are completely addicted to Elementary in our house too. Have you also seen Sherlock from PBS Masterpiece Theatre with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (?) who plays Bilbo in the Hobbit? Brilliant!!
Hi Ginger! No, I haven’t seen the PBS Sherlock series yet, but I’ve got a friend who nags. ur, urges me about checking it out. LOL Guess I really need a Netflix subscription. The only time I have to watch TV is one or two in the morning.
The new Sherlock is excellent.
I agree that a series is the way to go! Although I’ve only published books one and two of my own series, they are each selling the other! My stand-alone is not doing as well as I’d hoped! It isn’t true, I guess, if readers like one of your books, they’ll like them all! I, too, enjoy a series so I should go with that…I feel I am a “typical reader” not just a writer! One particular series that I enjoy watching is filmed in Canada and I can only watch it on line…Being Erica. I just love the concept of reliving past events to fix a current problem! And I adore Downtown Abbey as well. Best of luck to you in this great new year!!
Oh– forgot a hilarious series on Showtime, I believe. Episodes. Matt LeBlanc playing Matt LeBlanc. Sounds blah, but the writing is great.
Bob and Jen, you’ve done a great job educating the rest of us. I’m glad to see you both taking time for your creative process. Thanks for all the knowledge. And I am totally hooked on Arrow.
Definitely right about making a series. I’m working on my new trilogy now. Glad to see more Game of Thrones and Sherlock fans. I love the shows and G. R. R. Martin’s books! Gus and Becca look like they’ve got it made!
I thought Duty, Honor, Country was the beginning of a series – still hoping so, loved it. Was thinking about it last night when I saw the movie Lincoln – the moment when Grant and Lee meet at Appomattox, and their West Point history.
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