Writing A Book is the Fun, Easy Part:

Just got word a couple of days ago the first of my Maryvale series books (The Devil in Maryvale) has been moved up in the publishing schedule from 2010 to this year - 2009! That's the good news. The first three of my Maryvale series are reprints so, the Bad News is: when I got notice of the move-up, I also got three pages of instructions and wanted information for the ancillary material from log line (10 words at most) and all the thumbnails and synopsis lengths in between plus all the other pre-publishing material from cover to cover. Guess what I've been doing for the last two days? Yep, pushed everthing else aside and started on it. All the requirements from guidelines on differ from one publisher to another. It's not just the genre, it's all the ancillary info and requirements from acknowledgements and blurbs to a prologue if you have one. The bad news is when we (their really excellent executive editor and I) get through with all this and the book is ready to go to the printer, we will probably have to start on the next one since it will be out in (early I hope) 2010. The good thing is after the first rush is over, I can have plenty of time to write since they are going to publish a new Maryvale mystery each year nd they have three in hand plus another I had just finished.
If anyone is having trouble or has comments about 'what comes after the contract is signed' I'd love to hear your (horror or happy) tales about our common struggles. In the meantime, I've e-mailed my material and am typing with my fingers crossed hoping the editor is just crazy about it (and doesn't ask for more or complicated changes - heaven forbid!)
Break's over!
Jackie

Hollywood calls!

Here's the thrill of 2008 I promised you. A Hollywood studio got in touch with one of my publishers about one of my books they published and asked me to contact them. I did. (big thrill - everyone tells me not to get my hopes up - naturally - I did LOL) Anyway. They wanted to ask about 'possibly working up a pitch for a TV series using my book and characters.' Sounded good to me, they even bought their own book :-) so I was hoping I'd get an option. Heard from them once, they were still reading my book. Also heard from a lot of fellow writers about what to do, what not to do, what to expect, and most interesting, about the experiences they had had. It all got to one only positive thing. It ain't over till it's done and the check's in the bank. This one doesn't have a happy ending like my books. They liked my novel but did not offer an option. My editor laughed and said, "welcome to hollywood, Jackie." She thinks I shot myself in the foot having my characters get married. "Look what they're doing to Ghost Whisperer" she said. Well, that's life. Anyway, if any of you get a 'nibble' about 'a possible pitch for a TV series,' DON'T let your characters get married. LOL.
BTY, the book the studio liked was ONCE BURNED and it's available on Amazon, my web page and can be ordered from bookstores etc.... (and all the libraries around here have my books too so anyone who is curious can check it out.)
I'm finishing up a novel and proofing, proofing, proofing - more on what's happening and being scheduled next time.
Break's over!
Jackie

2009 Networking!?

Even on days when I'm drowning in spam and 'forward this' e-mail it's great people entertainment. People watching in the summertime, surfing the NET, and just exploring cyberspace in general are fascinating things for me. Of course, being a writer, it's 'meeting' fellow readers and writers that is my very most favorite thing. Of course, there's not always enough time to wade through the stuff that is obviously a Sell it TO YOU Land ploy - I delete those. Even some of the interesting ones offering another place to list my books get deleted, and a $ sign on the note beside my keyboard means - THIS COSTS MONEY. So that gets the proverbial gate too. But the ones who ask quesions or need information or maybe just sympathy for getting their novel turned down, I'm here for them. (Having been through that myself.)

I haven't had time to decide on my New Year's resolutions yet, but there are so many places where there's room for improvement, I don't see it being a problem at all. First on the list of course is keeping in touch with all the readers and writers I've met by e-mail, blogs, and other electronic goodies.

One resolution that's going to be near the top is to update my blog more often. So whether you want to know about it or not, there's going to be frequent episodes of the Adventures of Jackie Griffey. I'll start with my Big Thrill followed by my Big Disappointment when a Hollywood Studio contacted my publisher about one of my novels. In the meantime, if you have anything you want to share, need sympathy, or just want to share a laugh, let me know. If there are any writers reading this as you ponder your next step, I've made so many mistakes I'm probably a good person to ask if you feel you might be on the verge of one. On the other hand, if you haven't made any mistakes, you're probably not working hard enough LOL!

Break's over!
Jackie

And also, please, if you visit and have time, your comments are always welcome too. Please neaeh mr