Author: LDS Publisher

I have always believed in the power of words to change people’s lives. I used to do a YM/YW presentation on the influence of the media, and one of my main points was how literature gives us more choices in our own lives. If we’re stuck in a situation and we don’t know what to do, we’re limited to the choices we can create from our own imagination and experience. But if we’re well read, chances are we’ve read many, many responses to a situation similar to the one we’re facing. We can add all those experiences we’ve read about to our store of knowledge to help us determine our own choices and pathways. Good literature changes the world, one reader at a time.

I feel very strongly about the potential influence of well-written LDS novels—particularly upon the youth in our culture. Take for example, peer pressure. There are many ways that peer pressure can be applied to our youth. For each of these, there are a variety of ways for our teenagers to respond to that pressure. For each response, there are several possibilities of outcomes and results. If you look at all these combinations, the number of books that could be written simply dealing with peer pressure is phenomenal. Add in other difficulties and choices our kids are facing, and the plot and story possibilities could keep all our current LDS authors writing for a lifetime. Add in clean fiction just for fun, children’s fiction, adult fiction and the possibilities become innumerable.

There is plenty to write about—and the good it can do to influence lives is staggering. Shining examples of good solid fiction that supports LDS values and beliefs is so needed in a world where fiction doesn’t sell unless there’s a racy scene or two; where the top selling novels targeted at teens promote and encourage pre-marital intimacy, rebelliousness against parents; alienation from family; and a rejection of traditional Christian beliefs and values. Even children’s books are sending the message that the evils of this world are simply alternate lifestyle choices.

LDS writers have a calling and a duty to let their voice be heard, to write books which entertain and captivate, but also support the values we believe in. We don’t need to beat our readers over the head with religiosity, but simply have our characters face difficult choices and either choose what is right despite the consequences, or face the consequences of their wrong choices. We need protagonists who act with courage and integrity despite the personal cost.

Can you see the potential we have for changing the world? I can. I believe God can. And unfortunately, I think the adversary can see it too.

Look at what is happening in the LDS publishing/book selling industry right now. We have a potential war developing between the two top publishers/resellers in our industry and everyone is lining up in camps, supporting one side or another. (Including me.) You have trusted book sellers being arrested for horrible things. You have independent LDS bookstores dropping like flies and small publishing houses closing their doors. Authors are facing personal challenges that are preventing them from writing the novels the Lord has placed in their hearts and imaginations.

I was talking to a colleague and friend the other day and she said, “I believe we are under attack.” I think she’s right. The adversary is working overtime to make sure we do not reach our potential. And I guess the question is, are we going to let him win? Are we going to be so distracted by what is going on around us that we allow our writing time to be eaten up by our fascination or our fear? Are we going to become so discouraged by rejections that we stop writing altogether? Or are we going to recognize our potential for good, recognize the attack upon us, and redouble our efforts to make a difference in the world?

I believe in the potential of LDS literature. I believe it is my life’s work to create, to write, to publish, to assist in publishing, to do whatever I can to put the stories that live in the hearts of inspired LDS writers into the hearts and minds of LDS readers. If the entire LDS publishing industry comes crashing down around me, I don’t care. If the company I work for goes bankrupt tomorrow, I don’t care. Somehow I’ll find a way to continue in my life’s mission. Even if all I can do is write about it in this blog, publish my own stories on my website, or tell them aloud in Primary class or around the campfire at Girls Camp, I can still change the world—one reader at a time.

If you are looking for the post that used to be here, I deleted it.

Since I first posted, I have received some other information in the ongoing Deseret Book/Seagull debacle. This information reminded me of something I thought I had already learned: Keep your mouth shut when you don’t have all the information.

Apparently, I needed a refresher course.

Bottom line: I still don’t have all the information on this. I don’t have enough to advise you on what to think or how to act. Originally it seemed pretty clear who the “bad guy” was, but now I’m not so sure.

So what I am going to do is to shop where it’s convenient, to purchase what I want where I feel like purchasing it at the time, and I’m going to let them settle their sandbox war without any comments from my personal peanut gallery.

The Salt Lake Tribune had a really short article on the Deseret Book/Seagull situation on their website today.

There is also a reply e-mail from Deseret Book posted on Six LDS Writers and a Frog.

Several other blogs and forums are buzzing about it too–mostly about what this will mean to Deseret Book and Seagull. Will this decrease DB’s sales? Will they pinch Seagull out of the market? Will Seagull pull their books from DB? Will it be a fight to the death or will DB reconsider at some future time?

I say, Who cares? Let’s get to the really important question: How will this effect me–uh, I mean, YOU?

PUBLISHED AUTHORS:
Since Deseret Book will still sell Covenant titles, I would expect Covenant authors to continue to sell as you have been.

Deseret Book authors will experience a drop in sales, at least until the consumer realizes that they have to shop at DB to get your books. If you’re an author with high consumer loyalty, it shouldn’t take long for your sales to come back up. You will, however, lose the impulse sales from Seagull customers.

If you’re a DB author without name recognition, it will take longer for your sales to rebound because loyal Seagull customers will not know to come looking for you.

If at some point DB decides to stop selling Covenant books, or if Seagull decides to pull their books, then Covenant authors will experience the same drop in sales as DB authors. However, it might take longer for them to recover simply because of the Deseret Book name recognition which pulls in more customers and therefore more impulse buys.

UNPUBLISHED AUTHORS or LESS WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS SHOPPING A NEW BOOK:
How much this effects you will depend somewhat on public outcry. If the public gets ticked off, they may temporarily stop shopping at either DB or S, or both. That won’t last long, but both companies might temporarily lower their acceptance rate or postpone release dates, just until they can see which way the wind is blowing. Or not. Maybe they’ll up their publication quota and hit the market even harder with stellar books that people will happily go out of their way to purchase. (That is what I would do.)

But you know, Deseret Book and Covenant aren’t the only two publishers in the industry. I’m secretly hoping many of you will be so put off by this that you’ll decide you don’t want to go with either company and you’ll give ME a shot.

But no matter who you submit to, when something rocks the boat even a little bit, it becomes even more important to submit your very best work. So quit reading all these blogs. Pull out your manuscript and get cracking!

Disclaimer #1: I have yet to see confirmation by the parties involved of the various rumors flying around concerning Deseret Book and Seagull. And until I do, I’m leaving open the possibility that this furor is exactly that—rumor. But I am also not so ignorant as to stick my head in the sand and pretend I didn’t hear it. I’ve spent some time thinking about this, and how it might impact my company and my decisions.

Disclaimer #2: I am not a business analyst so I may not have thought of every possibility or eventuality. Also anything I post here is just conjecture based upon my own personal brand of common sense. (Which has been called into question, but nevertheless, I blog bravely on through the muck and the mire of irrationality.)

Assuming that at some point, Deseret Book were to stop selling product through Seagull (and/or vice versa), of course it will impact the industry. These are the two biggest power-houses out there. There will be a reaction. Some people will respond with anger and fear. Others will roll their eyes and ridicule. Still others will feel nervous and insecure about how this will impact their future.

I’m not going to blog my whole point of view on all this, because 1) I don’t have that much free time; and 2) You don’t have that much free time.

So if you’re interested, ask me questions, either in the comments trail or send them to my e-mail address. I’ll do my best to answer them. If I don’t get any specific questions, I’m going to move on to other topics.

I refuse to eat the “toe” of the hot dog (that is that last little end bite). My husband tells me it’s no different than the “head” of the hot dog (the first bite at the beginning). But I know better. I do not eat toes.

I know a woman who will not put her underwear in the same hamper with the rest of her dirty clothes. She says the underwear contaminates the other clothes. On wash day, she washes the underwear and clothing all together in the same wash load, dries them all together in the same dryer, folds them and puts them all together in the same drawer. This, apparently, does not contaminate the clothing. It makes no sense to me, but it makes perfect sense to her.

I know another woman who won’t buy a book if it smells funny. She goes to the bookstore and sniffs the copies of the book she wants to buy until she finds one that smells right.

I know a man who comes unglued when lights are left burning in an empty room because it’s a waste of money and energy. This same man will open the fridge door, take out the orange juice, walk over to the sink, pour a glass, drink it, rinse the glass, then walk back to the fridge, put the juice carton back in and THEN he’ll shut the fridge door.

The Point: We all make choices and decisions based upon our world view and past experiences. We all make choices based upon what we think is best. Because we all see the world just a little bit differently, and because “best” is a subjective determination, what makes sense to one person or group of people may not make sense to others.

So, in response to several e-mails I’ve gotten over the weekend, no, I’m not taking sides and I’m not commenting one way or another. We’ve got more important stuff to focus on here, such as writing a good query, pitching a novel and understanding contracts.

Besides, I’m too busy picking the toes off my hot dogs.

If the editor noticed the eye color change at all in the first read, then they were reading carefully. I can pretty much guarantee that if everything else in your manuscript was spot on, you would not have been rejected for unexplained changing eye color, even if it was unintentional. The editor would have simply instructed you to go back and fix it.

However, if there were multiple places where your writing was vague or sloppy or not working for some other reason, they may have assumed this was just one more piece of evidence that the MS needed more work and stopped reading before the explanation of the eye color change was given.

No, I would not suggest that you contact the editor to explain yourself. If the eye color change was too subtle for your editor, it will be too subtle for most of your readers too–and you wouldn’t be able to call each of them and explain yourself. And if your MS requires an advance explanation that this is not a mistake, then your published book would require the same advance explanation.

So, use this as a learning moment. Go back and do some foreshadowing so that when the reader hits the first eye change, they have a clue that something unusual is going on. You don’t have to give them the whole explanation for the change, but they need to have enough information that they know it is not a mistake. If you pop something entirely out of the blue at the end, the reader feels cheated or taken advantage of. But if it’s well prepared through subtle, but recognizable hints, then when you unveil the surprise at the end, it resonates and they are more likely to accept it as plausible and think that you are a really cool writer.

First Place: Marcia Mickelson
with Pitch #6

She got all 7 points for including the info I asked for in 90 words. It’s romance, which sells well and should continue to do so. And I thought it had some extra meat to the storyline, given the subplot of the controlling father, the political conflict and backdrop, and the issue of a mixed race romance.

(Marcia, you didn’t tell me which LDS paperback novel you wanted. Please e-mail the title and author’s name to me.)

Runners Up:
Melanie Goldmund with Pitch #5.
(Melanie and Marcia actually tied on points from me, but since Melanie has won the Readers Choice award, Marcia won the tie with me.)

Anonymous with Pitch #3
(A shy one, like me. But anonymous, you really have to get over this if you’re going to publish. You need to develop a very thick skin—or perhaps use a pen name.)

First Place: Melanie Goldmund
with a total of 6 votes for Pitch #5

Runners Up:
Scott Blair with a total of 4 votes for Pitch #7

A 2-way tie, with a total of 3 votes each:

Marcia Mickelson with Pitch #6

Anonymous with Pitch #3

Way to go!

(Melanie, I’ll get the book off to you first thing next week.)

You guys are great! I appreciate your participation in this contest and hope that you will return often and participate in future contests. I am very open to suggestions for future contests—let me know what you think will be fun and helpful, as well as the frequency you’d like to see a contest done.

I hope that if you’ve enjoyed this as much as I have that you will continue to come back to this site regularly and comment on the posts, send me questions to answer and queries to critique, and that you will spread the word about this site. (I recently changed the settings to allow you to easily e-mail posts to your friends. Just click on the envelope at the bottom of the post.)

Now, on to how I chose my winner.

The purpose of this contest (other than just to have some fun) was to practice getting the most important info into the smallest amount of wordage, ergo, the three sentence limit and the 90 word bonus. You got one point for each of these conditions.

The absolutely most critical info I need to gain from a pitch is a feeling of whether or not I can sell it, ergo, the specific details I asked for in the contest.

Genre: Is it in a genre that is selling well now and that I expect to sell well a year from now when the book is released? (1 pt)

LDS: Would LDS readers enjoy this? Would they go into their LDS bookstore looking for something like this? (1 pt)

Name and Age of Protaganist: This indicates the gender (usually) that it will appeal to, and the age range of the target reader. (1 pt each)

Plot: A short description of what I can expect to happen in the novel (1 pt)

Most of you got all of these points.

Subjective: Then there were another 6 points awarded for things like if I’d ask for a partial based on the pitch, if it was unique—something I hadn’t seen/heard before or a new twist on the usual (this was the hardest one to do, given that you only had 3 sentences), if I personally would want to read it, and other totally subjective factors like did I smile when I read it, did I laugh out loud (in a good way), did I go “awwww…” etc.

Later today, I will post a summary in the comments trail of each pitch stating my opinion on what you did best, where you lost points, what would strengthen the pitch and whether or not I would ask for a partial/full.

P.S. Winners are free to use their bragging rights in any way they choose. However, it might not impress a publisher/editor if you include it as part of your query.

P.P.S. Those of you who did not win are free to post your identity in the comments trail of your pitch if you want. I will not be doing so. You may also politely explain how I so clearly missed the point of your pitch, if you want.

I want to know if the time has come to seriously consider publishing LDS speculative fiction, specifically, science fiction with an LDS backdrop. So please answer these questions in the comments trail.

1. Would you, as an LDS reader, purchase and read a science fiction novel with an LDS backdrop, published by an LDS publisher?

2. If no, why not?

3. Would you specifically be interested in the following plot line: Religious people exercising their faith and being blessed for it (miraculous healings, inspired to build a space ship, etc.)– on another planet?

4. Why or why not?

Oh, I can give you a real clear answer on that one–I don’t know!

Seriously though, let’s look at in two segments: national and LDS.

National: Does “Left Behind” ring any bells for you? This is a clear indication that there is a market for speculative fiction with a Christian backdrop and a strong message of faith. Also, Orson Scott Card’s Homecoming series, especially the first two, have spiritually based characters, if not straightforwardly Christian. I don’t think they sold as well as his Ender series, but they made it to the Sci-Fi book club. I’ve read lots of other sci-fi books that were faith based, but not necessarily Christian faith based. So in this context, does your basic plot fit in with what is being published nationally–maybe.

LDS: The fact that Pitch #5 in my contest is currently in first place tells you something. (Unless the writer bribed all their family & friends to go vote for it.)
Also, look at the view count on your bio. It has had 1,854 views. I don’t know how many of those have come since you started talking about sci-fi but I would guess a significant portion of them have. So in this context, would your plot intrigue an LDS publisher–maybe.

Let’s see if we can get a better idea of the interest level. See “Poll” in my next post. Also, I am going to contact a collegue of mine and see if she will set up a poll at the latterdayauthors site for me, because I am genuinely interested in the answer to your question.

P.S. The poll is now up over at latterdayauthorsDOTcom. It’s in the Writing Fiction section under the thread “Has Sci-fi’s Time Arrived?”

(Let me just say that some people are big whiny babies and I didn’t pinch her that hard!)

(Also, I have perfectly legitimate reasons for not revealing my identity and none of them have anything to do with being a “chicken-liver,” as she so eloquently put it. BTW, if that’s the best she can do…)

This was posted over on latterdayauthors.com. Yes, I frequently lurk there, among several other places. But I can’t post there because you have to register first and I’m shy and want to stay in the shadows. 🙂 So someone who reads this, go over there to Melanie Goldman’s topic under Member Bios, and tell her I’m talking about her comments over here. Please.

Let me clarify a few things. First, let’s not mix apples and oranges. There are several distinct areas that are all getting lumped together under the category of LDS Speculative Fiction:

1. There is fiction written by LDS authors but have nothing else to do with the LDS culture (Orson Scott Card, Anne Perry, Shannon Hale, etc.)

2. There is national fiction that mirrors LDS teachings but non-LDS readers would not recognize it as such (Card’s Homecoming & Alvin Maker series).

3. There is national fiction published by LDS authors in which LDS culture is referenced, but not a main focus (Card’s Lost Boys–I think the family is LDS, but it’s been awhile since I’ve read it)

4. There is fiction published by LDS publishers and sold mainly to LDS audiences but that does not include direct references to LDS lifestyle, membership or theology (Leven Thumps).

5. There is fiction where LDS culture and theology is a major focus (The Believer; also Card’s Folk of the Fringe collection of short stories, several of which I found very fascinating).

6. Then there is fiction where LDS culture and theology is mixed together with fantasy devices and sci-fi events that are in direct contrast with LDS core principles and teaching.

All of these are lumped into one big category: LDS speculative fiction. What I say about one of these areas does not always apply to the others.

For example, Stephanie Black’s The Believer is wonderful. I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t hard core sci-fi, but it was futuristic and speculative. If Covenant dropped her, I’d snap her up in a heartbeat–assuming of course, that I don’t already work for Covenant, in which case I’d throw an absolute fit if they dropped that series.

I also personally enjoyed Scott Card’s Homecoming series (although I felt the quality of the writing and the storyline lacked somewhat once they left their planet and headed back to “home.” Also, I think the little creatures fighting each other was done to death in his Ender series and I’m tired of it already.) And I really liked his Alvin Maker series. He wasn’t rewriting the Book of Mormon and he wasn’t doing a biography of Joseph Smith. He started with some basics and let his imagination take it from there to spin an entirely different story. I know some LDS readers who were offended by this, but I wasn’t. (The sex and violence bothered me, but the fact that he started with “Joseph Smith” did not. If Card offered me that series, I’d have to turn it down unless he toned it down.)

I think there is a market for good, solid speculative novels written in a way that supports LDS values and beliefs, but that do not neccessarily contain direct references to LDS culture and theology. I, as an LDS pubisher, WOULD be very interested in seeing some of those. But the story has to be compelling and very well written.

A story loosely based on Zoram’s experience, but set on a different planet, in a different universe would be fine. But a story about Zoram (his literal self) going to a different planet, or Zoram (his literal self) being told by little green aliens that one night soon he would meet a man who would offer to take him from Jerusalem and that Zoram should follow him, and then voila, 48 hours later Zoram (his literal self) meets up with Nephi (his literal self)–no. No! NO!!

But then there are some gray areas–like Pitch #5 posted as part of my contest. I haven’t decided how I feel about that yet. The sci-fi fan in me would like to take a look at it. The publisher who needs to run a profitable company is highly skeptical. In this gray area would also fall stories about missionaries sent to other planets, or a “Left Behind” type of story using LDS theology, or a variety of other speculative themes and plots. A lot would depend on how it was handled. I would take a look at it, but it would have to have a killer plot and substantive writing for me to take the risk of publishing it.

What I absolutely am NOT interested in are stories where the power of the gospel and other sacred things are minimized by fantastical devices or science. For example, time travel where modern day kids make sure the gospel stays on track. To me, that says God isn’t powerful enough to run His on business. I also will not entertain a bishop or RS president who uses magic, or anyone who dabbles in anything bordering on the occult as a way of living the gospel. I also will not look at Primary children who make all their problems go away by …whatever. Can’t think of an example right now, but you get the idea.

Now, would I be interested in a newly baptised vampire family, written entirely tongue in cheek and purely for entertainment? Personally, uhm, I probably would. Professionally, I just don’t know. I guess I’d have to make that decision when and if it ever shows up in my slush pile.

Anyway, the point of this whole thing is to say that I agree with Karlene and Stephanie (other posters in that topic string). I think there is a market out there and I’d like to support it because I am a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan and the number of authors I can trust to write a compelling, yet clean, story line is rapidly diminishing. It’s only a matter of time before LDS readers start demanding this genre of the LDS publishers, the same way that they’ve demanded clean LDS romance novels.

So, if you write LDS speculative fiction–if that’s where your heart is, WRITE IT. The readers will come…

Submissions to contest now closed. Please vote for your favorite(s) between now and midnight, Friday, July 7th, 2006. Check back on Saturday, July 8th for announcement of winners.

With the nation frightened by the deadly effects of a new hemorrhaging ulcer, Jaysen Dupray, a 34-year-old tribal lawyer, tries to forget the hemorrhaging death of his own wife until he makes a shocking discovery–the American government has been poisoning the people. Now with people dying, government records being altered and someone sending brutal e-mails, Jaysen sees the horrifying truth: latter-day prophecy is being fulfilled and he’s at the epicenter. Understanding now that his life and the lives of the American people depend on the safety of the buffalo, Jaysen battles to find a way out of the fatal maze even as someone in the government wants him dead. (110 words)

At age 28, Confederate Sergeant Eli Slater is in charge of a group of Rebels trained to assassinate President Lincoln and his top advisors in one devastating blow; but their plans are jeopardized when he captures the daughter of a general they are assigned to kill. When she discovers their plans and learns of Slater’s involvement in an assassination plot on Brigham Young, everything is threatened. Now with spies on both sides of the line, the sergeant makes a bold move and takes her North–into the camp of her father. (90 words)

Someone just asked for an extension due to weather related power outtages and the inability to get to the internet to post. Since power was out here too, I am agreeable. You may continue to submit until midnight (MST) on July 5th.

Voting however will end as previously scheduled.

I just realized that when I copied and pasted from the e-mails to the blog, some of them came through without spaces between some of the words. I have corrected it and will watch for it in the future. If any of you withheld votes for a particular pitch, thinking the author was careless (and therefore undeserving of your vote), please note this was a software transfer glitch and consider voting again.

The nation of Israel stands though perhaps not for long after her second king, David, is chased from the throne and almost killed by his son Absalom. As years pass Israel’s enemies take advantage of the wicked Absalom’s reign to weaken the borders and take Israel’s cities from her. Despite having lost his chance at exaltation because of the murder of Uriah, David attempts to reconcile himself with his traitorous son, regain his throne to restore peace, and endure living the commandments of God to the end of his life. (90)

When 23-year-old Sarah finishes her mission in Guatemala, she returns to Utah to help her Democratic brother, Robert, in his congressional campaign, much to the disdain of their Senator father whose conservative viewpoint endorses Robert’s opponent and opposes Sarah’s friendship with a Black campaign manager. As her father attempts to mold Sarah into the woman he thinks she should be, she fights for independence to create her own pathway to happiness. Can she survive her father’s machinations and their opponent’s deceptive methods and in turn find the love she seeks? (90)

Having lost her voice and no longer able to sing praises in the temple, 32-year-old Ruhama feels that she’s been rejected by the Lord and her life is over. But when a member of a strange cult which claims to have the fullness of the gospel comes to re-possess a precious artefact from the temple, Ruhama is caught up in the forced exodus of these Apostates. Travelling to another planet on a huge spaceship, Ruhama grows to realize that what she perceived as rejection was really a blessing in disguise. (90 words)

Slightly revised at request of author. Since this is just for fun, I’m agreeing to post the revision. However, keep in mind that were this a real pitch, there would be no second chances. 🙂

At 21, Jennifer Smart’s heart is broken by a Dear Jane from high school sweetheart, Travis Kellerman. Leaving heartache behind, she transfers to BYU and meets dashing Donovan Montgomery. The day after Donovan proposes, Travis shows up wanting her back and pulling her heart apart. (45 words)

At the Scout overnighter, 11 year old twins Matthew and Marc stumble upon a secret meeting in the woods where four men are plotting murder. Known for their tall tales, when they get back to camp, they find no one will believe them, not even the bishop (who is also their dad). Can they foil the murderous plot without becoming one of the dearly departed themselves? (66 words)

Suzie Johnson, a thirty-something divorced mother of four, finds herself feeling alienated from the Church because she no longer fits the “forever family” mold, and with no desire to ever date or marry again, until the bishop gives her a blessing promising that she will marry in this life and that her new husband will “treat you like a queen, in the way Heavenly Father intends all his daughters to be treated.” Only weeks later, she finds herself trying to choose between two suitors—Alexander, a handsome, rich and also divorced Elders Quorum president in her new ward, and James, also handsome but not so rich, never married, and a non-member. How does her heart decide? (116 words)

Sixteen year old Kiley Robinson thinks the Church’s stand on body piercing is old-fashioned and out of step, until her belly-button ring is exactly what attracts the attention of a crazed religious zealot looking to add to his harem of new young wives. Kidnapped and locked in solitary confinement, Kiley has plenty of time to reflect on her life choices. Prayer, repentance and a strength gained from knowing God loves you no matter what happens in your life, give Kiley the courage and ability to endure and finally to escape. (90 words)

I’ve already got some pitches. That was fast!

Bonus Word Update: Also, please note the updated Bonus word count. The bonus is now set at 90 words, not 45.

If any of you have already submitted a pitch that is 45 words (there’s one so far) or less and you’d like to resubmit with 90 words, go ahead. I’ll post both and see what gets the most votes.

Voting Clarification: Also, YES, you can vote for yourself, but only once per pitch. And just so we don’t end up with every pitch having 1 vote, vote for a couple of others too.

Word Count Addition: Also, please put your word count at the end of your pitch. It will save me time. Word count does not count as part of your word count. 🙂