How to Be a Poet

Because I am in awe of anyone who can write poetry (I, sadly, lack that skill), and because Wendell Berry is one of my favorite poets, I give you:

How to Be a Poet

(to remind myself)

By Wendell Berry

Make a place to sit down.

Sit down. Be quiet.

You must depend upon

affection, reading, knowledge,

skill— more of each

than you have— inspiration,

work, growing older, patience,

for patience joins time

to eternity. Any readers

who like your work,

doubt their judgment.

Breathe with unconditional breath

the unconditioned air.

Shun electric wire.

Communicate slowly. Live

a three-dimensioned life;

stay away from screens.

Stay away from anything

that obscures the place it is in.

There are no unsacred places;

There are only sacred places

And desecrated places.

Accept what comes from silence.

Make the best you can of it.

Of the little words that come

out of the silence, like prayers

prayed back to the one who prays,

make a poem that does not disturb

the silence from which it came.

Using Q & A's and FAQ's to Your Advantage

One of the least expensive ways to promote your novel or non-fiction book is to create a Q & A or FAQ and ask bloggers to post it on their blogs and websites. These postings can be coordinated to appear at certain times/dates (this is known as a blog tour), or you can approach individual bloggers and ask that they list your information in future posts.

It's easy to create Q & A's or FAQ's -- use simple questions that all readers want to know about writers, and write brief, sincere responses to them. Examples of commonly asked questions include: What was your inspiration for this novel/book? How long did it take you to write? Who are your favorite authors and why? What is your next novel/book about?

Once you have a list you like, send it with a jpg of the book cover art, an author photo, and other information about your book (ISBN number, ordering information, links to websites, etc.). It's good protocol to follow the blogs where your information is posted and to include links to that blogsite or website on your own sites. Also, don't forget to thank those who agree to post information about you and your book after the post has run.

Here is a sample FAQ I use for my own novel, Coyote Heart:

Coyote Heart by Paula Margulies
ISBN: 1-933794-16-X
Publisher: Kirk House Publishers, April 17, 2009
$15.95
www.amazon.com
www.kirkhousepublishers.com
www.paulamargulies.com

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long have you been writing fiction?
I started writing fiction about nine years ago, when I was in my mid-40’s (kind of a mid-life crisis, I suppose). I was an English major in college, but I studied composition and teaching, and had never taken a creative writing class.

2. Where did you learn fiction-writing?
In 2001, I took an Intro to Creative Writing course at Mesa College. I wrote a few short stories that won some awards, and took one of them to the San Diego State Writer’s Conference in 2003, where it won the Editor’s Choice Award from Brenda Copeland, who was then an editor at Simon and Schuster. She suggested that I try writing novels instead of short stories, and I decided to take her advice.

3. Where did you get the idea for this novel?
I had the idea for a short story about a married woman who falls in love with a Native American man. I don’t know where this idea came from, but I kept seeing the image of the husband, who I imagined had been in an accident of some sort, sitting in a chair with a rifle in his hands and his arms raised up in an Indian victory gesture. This image haunted me so much that I began a story about it, and that evolved into the novel, Coyote Heart.

4.How long did it take you to write this novel?
One and a half years.

5. How long did it take to get the book published?
I began Coyote Heart (then called Bow and Arrow) in 2003 and finished it in 2004. In January 2005, I took it to the SDSU Writer’s Conference, where it won an Editor’s Choice Award from Shaye Areheart, an editor at Crown Publishers. I met my agent, Bob Tabian, at the same conference, and in 2008, I was offered a royalty contract by Kirk House Publishers.

6. How did you find your publisher?
After the book made the rounds with the bigger publishing houses from 2005 – 2007, I submitted it to some university and smaller presses. One of them, University of Nevada Press, held it for one year and almost took it (it made it through internal and external reviews, but the editorial staff passed on it in a final publishing meeting). Kirk House was one of the small presses originally approached in 2007; they extended an offer in 2008.

7. Do you have a favorite character?
I read somewhere that an author should love all the characters in her novel, and I feel that way about this one. They are all flawed and all have suffered some kind of loss, which makes me feel for each of them, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be the husband, Everett Weedman. He is a rational man, who likes order and logic in his world yet, at the same time, he has a deep love of nature and he’s willing to sacrifice for what matters.

8. What is your next novel about?
I am working on an historical novel called Favorite Daughter, which is about Pocahontas, who tells the story in first person, in her own point of view. I recently read Sena Jeter Naslund’s novel, Abundance, which tells the story of Marie Antoinette in her own voice and was fascinated by the way it dispelled so many myths about her character, while showing us who she really was as a person. I’m trying to do the same thing in Favorite Daughter, by telling the story from Pocahontas’s perspective and letting her show us the true nature of her relationship with John Smith and how she came to play such a significant role in American history.

Factors to Consider When Plotting a Novel

Over the years, I’ve had some fabulous writing instructors here in San Diego. Some of the classes were taught at the UC San Diego or San Diego State University extension programs, others were at local community colleges or writing organization meetings. A few of the wonderful teachers I’ve had include Drusilla Campbell, Carolyn Wheat, Bonnie Zobell, Mary Balogh, and Diane Dunaway – all talented writers, in addition to being great instructors.

I recently came across notes from some of these classes and thought I’d share a few of my favorites. Many of these changed my life as a writer; in fact, I considered the following list so important, I pinned it to the wall above my computer while I was writing my first novel, Coyote Heart.

The following notes came from a course on novel writing, taught by Drusilla Campbell. I send deep thanks to Drusilla for sharing these tips and for her wonderful insight and instructive wit.

Here is a list of factors to consider when plotting your novel:

▪ Characterization is key.
▪ The story will demonstrate your character’s growth, her change from one kind of person to another.
▪ There will be a back-story influencing the current story.
▪ The story is about something that matters (a strongly-held belief).
▪ The story will not be predictable.
▪ The story will be full of conflict, tension, and suspense.
▪ The story will be rich with emotion.
▪ The story will be detailed and sensory.
▪ There will be a major inciting incident that will take the main character out of her comfortable state and put her in trouble.
▪ After the inciting incident, the major character has a goal, which can be put in the form of a question.
▪ The goal is always something tangible, though it may represent a spiritual or moral goal.
▪ There will be mystery in your story.
▪ Your plot will constantly generate questions in the reader’s mind.
▪ There will be a mix of good and bad characters, and no one will be either too good or too bad.
▪ Every character will always be fully motivated.
▪ Opponent(s) will thwart the view point character’s goal.
▪ The story will be about an active hero.
▪ There will be a darkest moment for your heroine.
▪ The hero and his opposition will confront each other at the end.
▪ Your story will follow the patterns of cause and effect, stimulus and response.
▪ Any flashback will move the story forward and deepen characterization. PROMISE.

A Unique Idea for Promoting a Year-old Book

One of the best parts about being a book publicist is that I learn so much from the creative and hard-working authors I meet. In addition to being great with plot, dialogue, and characterization, many writers are also gifted artists and marketers, coming up with some truly original ideas for promoting their books.

An idea I found particularly clever (and enjoyed being a part of recently) is author Paula Brown’s pay-it-forward travelling road show for her one-year-old nonfiction book, Fur Shui. Fur Shui explores the principles of chi, or energy, used in the traditional Chinese practice of feng shui and describes how to use them to create healthy and happy environments for animals. An animal communicator and graphic designer, Paula Brown came up with the idea of celebrating her acclaimed book’s one year anniversary with an exchange program she calls The Tour de Fur.

To kick off the tour, Paula sent out eight copies of Fur Shui to pet owners who wrote in by email offering to participate. After the first eight readers received their books, Paula asked them to pass the books on to other pet owners and animal lovers across the globe. Those who receive Fur Shui must take a photo of themselves and the book; the book and their animal(s); or just the book in their geographical location. Paula asks that they email a copy of the photo to her, sign and date the book, listing what city they’re in, and then pass it forward.After six months, Paula plans to call in the eight copies and see “just how full of love and signatures” the books will be. She provides instructions inside each copy for where to send it when it’s full, and also offers a free animal chakra reading to each pet owner who forwards a copy to another person.

Paula’s set up a new blog at http://furshui.blogspot.com, to track her books’ adventures and show off the photos that she hopes will come in from all over the globe. Check out her blog and her website at www.furshui.com to see what’s happening with this creative author’s first birthday celebration for her imaginative book, Fur Shui.

Selling Books at Fairs and Festivals

It’s that wonderful time of year when local neighborhoods and specialty organizations begin holding their annual street fairs and festivals. Authors should try to take advantage of the festivals in their areas, as they offer great opportunities to meet readers and sell books. Many festivals attract thousands of attendees and provide excellent selling opportunities, especially for unknown and self-published authors who are not as likely to draw big crowds at book store signings. Selling books at fairs and festivals is also a smart idea for more experienced or well-known writers, who are looking to augment their book tour schedules.

Listed below are some tips if you plan to sell your book at a street festival or book fair this year:

1. Promote ahead of time.

If you plan to sell books at a festival, be sure to do all the footwork that you would normally do for any book signing. Send out a press release, list the event in print and online calendars, and use your email lists to notify readers that you’ll be selling books at an upcoming festival or fair. Be sure to include the date, time, and street address for the festival, as well as the location of your particular booth, in your promotional material.

2. Share expenses.

Some festivals charge quite a bit for booth space. If you find the price too prohibitive, consider splitting costs by sharing space with one or more other authors. If you are going to rent a booth at a specialty fair, invite other authors who have books in the same genre, or share with someone who sells something related to your book. Be creative – if you have a book with a Native American theme, share space with a historical author at some of the Indian pow-wows in your area. If you are a nonfiction writer with a how-to book, you may want to attend some of the local craft fairs and festivals that occur in the spring and summer months. Shop owners and local artists are often looking for opportunities to sell their wares and may be interested in sharing space at festivals. Also, watch for specialty events – children’s book festivals, African American festivals, Italian or Greek festivals, and library events, etc., where your book might fit in.

3. Come prepared.

Make sure you have the following items with you before you head out to man your booth:
Books – consider how many people will be attending the event, and plan accordingly. If you drive to an event, you can always keep extra books in your car, in case you sell those you bring with you to the booth. Be sure to bring “Autographed Copy” stickers if you plan to sign books at your booth, and determine what price and the appropriate tax amount, if applicable, you’ll be asking before the booth opens that day.
Giveaways – like any trade show, you should plan on giving out freebies to attract individuals to your booth. Bookmarks, candy, pens, etc., all work well as giveaways that will attract readers to stop by your booth. One author I know creates small booklets, with the first five chapters of her young adult fantasy novel, as a giveaway to use at book fairs. She hands them out to kids as they pass by, and urges them to ask their parents to purchase the book online or at a bookstore if they want to read more.
Set up items – make sure you have a table, table covering, chairs, canopy, cooler with food and drinks, sunglasses, sunscreen, a jacket for cooler weather, book stands, and signage or posters. Bring scissors, tape, and any other items you might need for setting up displays. Stash set-up items in a piece of carry-on luggage to easily roll them out to your booth. If you’re going to be outdoors, bring paperweights or heavy items to hold down any flyers or papers that might blow away on windy days.
Tax permits and change – some festival and fair organizations require that you have a business license or tax permit before you can sell at a booth and will ask that you bring those with you while you’re exhibiting. Also, be sure to bring change with you in correct increments: nickels, quarters, dollar bills, etc., so you can make a sale if someone hands you a $20 bill or higher. If you are set up to accept credit cards and checks, be sure to have the processing equipment with you (if you accept PayPal and have access to electricity, bring your laptop or PDA).
Pitch – plan a quick, one-minute pitch to use with individuals who stop by your booth. Outline your spiel in advance, and practice it so it seems natural and friendly when potential buyers approach you.

4. Practice proper booth etiquette.

If you’re sharing a booth, it’s important that you be considerate and polite to the authors you’re sharing space with, as well as the neighboring sellers on either side of your booth. When sharing booth space, arrange how you’ll handle customers ahead of time, so that you’re not jockeying for attention when individuals approach, and be sensitive to customers who are listening to your booth buddies’ pitches. Try to engage your customers before they buy; take the time to ask them what they like to read, if they read books similar to yours, etc., and really listen to their answers – although people will be interested in your comments about your book, they also like to be heard, so use your listening skills to help make the sale.

5. Have ordering info ready if you run out of books.

Be sure to bring extra info, such as business cards or flyers, to can hand out if you run out of books and giveaways. If sales are slow, you can lower prices, but doing so often means that you might sell out. Be prepared to make use of your remaining booth space time by having ordering information or contact information readily available for those who may want to buy after the event is over.

6. Follow up afterward.

Like any networking event, fairs and festivals provide ample opportunity to network with other authors, potential clients, and readers. Be sure to follow up after the festival: send promised books to customers, get in touch with networking contacts, and send thank yous to festival organizers, so they’ll invite you back next year.

7. Book early for next year’s event.

Some festivals are really popular and only allow a limited number of vendors. To ensure that you aren’t shut out of key festivals and fairs, research the ones available in your area and be sure to book them ahead of time whenever possible.

A great list of links for book festivals throughout the United States can be found at: http://www.thegritsbookclub.com/Content/Events.html

Happy selling!

Stop by and See Me in Booth 212 at the L.A. Times Festival of the Book!

I’ll be exhibiting with Coyote Heart at the Los Angeles Times Festival of the Book on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26 in Booth # 212 in Section B. If you’re planning on attending the festival, please stop by and say hello!

Details:

Los Angeles Times Festival of the Book
Saturday – Sunday, April 25-26, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
UCLA Campus
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Why I've Been Seeing Coyotes in My Sleep

As many of you already know, my first novel, Coyote Heart, was picked up at the end of last year by Kirk House Publishers, a small press in Minneapolis, and is coming out this month (publication date is April 17). The book is now available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Coyote-Heart-Paula-Margulies/dp/193379416X/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238788055&sr=8-13

For those of you who know me well, this has been a long time coming -- I started writing the book in 2003, signed with an agent in 2005, and after it stayed for consideration with some houses for a very long time (some for over a year!), Coyote Heart finally found a home at Kirk House. I'm honored that this press is willing to take a chance on an unknown writer like me, and hope you'll order a copy to show your support for my kind editor and publisher.

Following is a brief description of the story and some endorsement reviews. I'm grateful to all my writing friends, reviewers, and, especially, my patient family, for their ongoing encouragement and support.

If you're able to buy the book, pass along this information to readers who might enjoy a San Diego love story, or even write a review on Amazon, I'll be eternally grateful!

All best and happy reading, Paula

Coyote Heart tells the story of Carolyn Weedman, a forty-year-old librarian trapped in a troubled marriage with a disabled husband. After a chance encounter with a widowed Pala Indian professor, Carolyn finds herself drawn into an unexpected love affair. Torn by conflicting feelings, she discovers a secret about her husband’s past that forces her to confront her divided emotions and choose between the two men that she loves.

Set against the simmering backdrop of local politics on the Pala Indian Reservation, Coyote Heart explores the intricacies of illicit love and marriage, the strength that comes from sacrifice, and the courage to forgive the injuries of the past. The novel calls on several San Diego landscapes, including the Rancho Penasquitos preserve and the Pala Indian Reservation, to give the story a unique local flavor. Written with haunting natural imagery and lyrical prose, Coyote Heart tells a compelling tale of love and modern Native American culture.

"A graceful story of love and redemption, Coyote Heart is a gift for all of us who grapple to understand the complexities of relationships.”
-Patricia Santana, author of Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility and Ghosts of El Grullo

“With Coyote Heart, Paula Margulies uses lyrical, yet restrained prose to take us into a world where the usual definitions will not fit—where the personal and the political, even the human and the animal, become increasingly difficult to differentiate. This novel bravely explores the difference between a relationship that bends and one that breaks; it even suggests that a healed fracture is stronger than what was originally whole.”
-Peter Rock, author of My Abandonment, The Bewildered, and The Unsettling

"Redemption is a destination we all hope to reach. Coyote Heart takes us on a wonderful journey, crossing cultural boundaries, toward that great human place."
- Mark Trahant, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Pictures of Our Nobler Selves, a history of Native Americans in media

Coyote Heart
$15.95
ISBN 10: 1-933794-16-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-933794-16-7
Kirk House Publishers