In May, the U.S. Census released statistics for bookstore sales. In March, they rose 1.1% to $931 million.

For the first quarter, bookstore sales were up to $4.03 billion. That’s a 2.2% increase over the first quarter of 2012.

Compare that to the 2.6% rise across the entire retail business, and you realize that books are as important to today’s buyers as designer jeans and bling. Go, books!

Please take a moment to view the new website for Writer’s Resource at WritersResource.us. The blog posts to this site too so if you’re traveling and can’t access your email for the RSS feed, you can go directly to that page and view the latest tips and tidbits.

Authors suspect that the self-publishing revolution has changed the face of publishing but getting information on what has changed–and what is still changing–can be tough. Part of the purpose of this blog is to keep you updated about what’s happening right now. 

Self-publishing is a role that many more authors are considering. Bestselling authors are turning away from traditional houses to go that route. But they have built-in fan bases that make it easier for them to succeed. First-time authors should still closely consider the traditional publisher as part of their team. Build for a bit then reconsider self-publishing.

One of the big ways self-publishing has changed things is the understanding that traditional publishers don’t always see the light. They know that a work has quality but might not understand how to market it…or even believe there is a market. Self-publishing something means you can approach publishers later with proven sales figures noted in a query and book proposal.

Unfortunately, self-publishing has also means a lot of people whose goals are better suited to publishing traditionally go the self-pub route. They spend too much money on layout, cover art, setup fees, distribution and marketing efforts only to sell a handful of copies. Knowing which path is best for you–and when to pursue both traditional and self-publishing at the same time–comes from knowing the market, your own goals, trends across publishing and the broader entertainment field, knowing what e-books and print books and even magazines and newspapers are doing, and a host of other things. Writer’s Resource constantly tracks these arenas. No matter when you need to make that decision, call or email for a consultation. Launching on the right path will help you meet your career goals more quickly!

A few weeks ago, I heard that a client I’d ghostwritten a series of juvenile grade books for had signed with an agent. That’s great news, especially in a market where publishers are trying all kinds of new things to recreate their business models.

To make your work as appealing as possible to agents and publishers, follow these steps.

First, make sure your work is the highest quality possible. Get feedback from readers in your audience, revise and edit each draft until the work shines.

Second, hone your query letter!

Third, write a book proposal. Even fiction authors should take this extra step because at some point, agents and publishers will ask them to put together the information in a standard proposal. Juvenile authors writing for children’s audiences through preteen can use a shorter submissions packet; young adult authors should go with the more detailed standard book proposal.

The next step is to research the agents and publishers who best fit your needs. Check out the posts in this blog under Agents and Submissions for information on select places to send your work.

Finally, be persistent! Passion will take you far in this game. The only people I’ve ever known who have failed as authors are the ones who gave up trying.

Here’s a quote from a client. We went through a round of editing on his novel followed by the creation of his query letter and book proposal.

Laine, I’m writing to thank you for all your outstanding work. Five stars!!! As you know, competition is fierce in the writing business. It’s war. I attempted to do what you do. It didn’t work. Thanks again!

Here’s a list of 105 awards with deadlines on or before mid-February…so get hopping!

Recently I posted on my Next Big Thing, the novel I’m currently working on. I tagged Leah Griffith in there. She has posted on her own novel-in-progress, a follow-up to her award-winning Cosette’s Tribe.

David Halperin, author of Journal of a UFO Investigator,  tagged me for a blog hop called “My Next Big Thing.”  David posted on his current project, The Color of Electrum, which is the sequel to Journal.  Check out his full blog post by clicking here. 

Everyone in the blog hop answered ten questions about their latest projects.  David’s is a continuation of the coming-of-age story started in Journal. He describes Electrum as: 

Danny Shapiro, college freshman and former “UFO investigator,” finds himself caught up in the late 1960s world of drugs, sex, and would-be revolution–while mysterious, deadly fires, timed according to the Biblical Book of Ezekiel, come striking ever nearer to him.

At the bottom of this post, you’ll see the writers I’ve tagged. Hop along to read about more great works!

1.  What is the working title of your novel-in-progress?

Buy Light and Purple Blooms

2.  Where did the idea for this novel come from? Some years ago, I read a very short article buried on page 10 of a well-known newspaper about a pregnant woman who’d been murdered. The unborn baby had been cut from the womb. I wondered how it could be that our society had reached a point where such a horrific crime was only worth a few inches in the paper.

I began working with the concept. It didn’t take long to realize that the theme of the book is betrayal. That theme works out on many levels: Betrayal of spouses in what is supposed to be love for each other; the betrayal of organized religion against congregants who want to mature beyond dogma; and of course the ultimate betrayal of a mother-to-be.

3.  What genre does it fall under, if any?

You might say I’m breaking new ground by creating a new category, women’s thrillers. That is, the story is primarily a woman’s story yet it has some of the same elements as thrillers…strong characters, and pacing that clips along quickly enough. And, of course, the protagonist is a woman!

If that’s too out there for you, think women’s fiction with an edge.

4.  Who would you choose to play your characters in a movie?

Tilda Swinton would likely hold the lead. She’s really representative of women nowadays…independent, able to be fierce and loving according to the situation, and not so glitteringly Hollywood that everyday women can’t connect to her.

5.  A one-sentence synopsis of your novel-in-progress:

After Lana Crossfield divorces her husband and her church, she must help a community of women survive a horrific betrayal when a pregnant friend is murdered and the unborn fetus is cut from the womb.

6.  Will your book or story be self-published or represented by an agency?

Last year, my agent, Jack Scovil, died. He began representing me in 2003 after my first novel, Message Stick, won the James Jones Literary Fellowship. Jack was one of those fantastic old-school agents you hear mythos about but rarely encounter…he’d been around forever, loved literature, and was always kind even when my work needed revisions. Now I’m seeking an agent for a finished manuscript as well as the novel-in-progress. So I’m looking forward to establishing another working relationship with a new agent in 2013!

7.  How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It’s still in progress. I’ve written nearly 600 pages…and yes, by hand. My handwriting is fairly small and the journal I use is fairly large, so the handwritten page compares well to the typed page. Several revisions lie ahead before I can consider sending this out, of course. Since Buy Light represents a major shift in my voice, I’ve been working on this for nearly two years now, longer than my previous works took on average.

8.  What other book would you compare this story to?

We Need to Talk About Kevin hits it right on the head. The work has a pace and voice that inexorably moves readers toward the conclusion. Quiet yet emotionally resonant.

9.  Who or what inspired you to write this book or story?

Although the idea for the story came from that few inches in the newspaper, the idea only generated the seed concept. The inspiration for this work has always been the new roles women are playing in the world. Lana tangles with her church upbringing and beliefs because that’s part of many women’s emotional maturation…to answer questions about what they believe and how they’re going to live. It also is an important part of how women step into their power day by day.

10.  What else about the book or story might pique the reader’s interest?

Although the book enters the world of midwives and doulas, Lana is childless. Her journey is very much about the world of mothers and children; it’s also about women, single and married, who remain childless.

Garrison Somers, author and Senior Editor of The Blotter Literary Magazine, blogs on PineappleChili.com.

Leah Griffith, author of Cosette’s Tribe, blogs at Eating Life Raw.

Lots of inspiration in this blog post from BookBaby:

I am an independent writer.

This year I will:

* embrace my limitations, since they make me unique.

* be brave enough to show my work to others.

* write something every single day — even if it’s only a single word.

* create my own definition for “success.”

* write as if no one else will ever read it.

* take risks in my writing that make me uncomfortable.

* be patient and not rush to finish something that isn’t ready.

* not endlessly revise, but revise towards an ending.

* solicit feedback and actually listen to people’s criticism.

* submit my work for publication, knowing the odds are against me.

* do one thing every day to market myself.

* celebrate the small victories.