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Laura Major |
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18Q |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? The writing profession chose me. I tried to hide from it for years but denying writing was like denying a part of myself.
I have a BA in English from Arizona State University, and several credits toward an MBA in Finance. I have worked in the Online Higher Education sector for nearly seven years. I also dabbled in Finance as a registered representative. I spent two years as a finance proofreader and quality assurance supervisor. All along, I managed to incorporate writing in these jobs. I drafted email templates, edited SEC filings, edited admission catalogs and wrote chiropractic catalog copy.
I realized I was a writer I stumbled upon a table of romance writers at a chocolate fair. I had been estranged from writing with the exception of the writing projects I could find at my different jobs. When I saw those women sitting there signing their published works, I thought. 'These women look ordinary...they look just like me.' It was at that moment that I realized that maybe I could truly pursue writing, because it had never truly left me no matter how hard I tried to leave it behind.
My writing is humorous and sarcastic. It is contemporary and explores the impact of multiculturalism. It definitely focuses on love, but I am interested in more than just romantic love. So my writing traces all of a character's love relationships. Love of self, others both romantically and in terms of friendships and family relationships. I strive to create environments where all ethnicities, lifestyles and persuasions are represented.
In terms of generating ideas, most come from real life stories. I am generally a quiet person but people seem comfortable telling me things about their lives with little or no prompting on my part. I also read plenty of magazines and Internet articles. I never take what I find and use it verbatim. I always push it to the extreme or add an element that might not have been explored in its original context. It is to the point, that subconscious level I am constantly thinking how encounters and stories can be adapted to a story I could write. As far as my writing, I write in terms of scenes. I am very visual, so I picture what I writing as I am writing it. It's like I am watching a movie as I write. As a result, snippets of dialogue and sharp, witty comebacks pop into my head all the time and I often create a scenario that would call for that smart comment to be used.
I've been in Romance Writers of America for over three years now. So while they really don't focus on ethnic writing, I gained a lot of useful knowledge and managed to stay abreast of market trends. It took me three years from concept to publication of my first novel, only because I kept losing confidence, which resulted in long breaks here an there. I finally finished it in September of 2006 and took a year to edit it. During that time I also shared it with test readers to help with the editing process. I started querying the project in the October of 2007. I was remodeling my house at the time so I only had time to send it to agents and editors who accepted online submissions. I sent it to two e-publishing editors and two agents. I also had planned to hit the writers conference circuit in the Spring of 2008 where I was guaranteed at least one editor or agent appointment. After three rejections, On December 10th, 2007, I opened an email from Amira Press and it was a contract offer. I had a good feeling about Amira and contacted some of their authors before deciding to sign on. The editing process and cover-design was a whirlwind and my book came out much faster than even the publisher had anticipated. It came out in February of 2008 first as an eBook and was then re-released in print in May of this year.
Believe it or not, my favorite self-marketing idea has been MySpace. I have met so many other authors and even some book promoters that be provided me with great opportunities. I met one book promoter who was launching a blog and eMagazine. She posted a call for writers on MySpace and I became her lead writer. It wasn't a paying gig, but I have gained tons of exposure and met so many people in the industry, especially from a multicultural perspective. I have even bonded with other interracial romance authors and it provides an element of camaraderie that RWA does not.
The diversity of writers and readers is the biggest surprise I've encountered. I was never a big romance reader, I tend to lean more toward comedy and literature, but the writers are so diverse, there really is a subgenre for everyone. This truly excites me as a writer because I have a lot of directions I can take to help my writing grow. As a reader, it has struck a strong desire to experience the imagination of others. Another surprise has been the faulty perceptions of romance writers specifically and the writing arena in general. Most people that there are only two kinds of writers, The Nora Roberts/Stephen Kings or the hobbyists i.e., wannabes. It's so not true. There are many successful writers out there who don't command the dollars and worship that Nora and Stephen do, but they are still successful and valuable in their own right. I've also learned in this industry, you never know you who you will encounter and who is sitting next to you.
I am very analytical, so anything that triggers a pure emotional response inspires and fills my reservoir of creativity. It could music, a funny story, a television show with an unexpected or witty conclusion. I get a lot from news magazine articles too.
I was at a writer's conference sponsored by RWA. When readers and authors alike, would ask what I would write, I get the usual intrigued glances and pleasant comments. "Oh, that's interesting" or "that's actually cool". But when one group of middle-aged women asked me the same question, one blond-haired conservative looking lady took particular interest. She started asking more questions much to the confusion of the ladies she was mingling with. Finally, she said "I am very interested in your book. My daughter would be too. You see she's black. I dated a black man in the '70s and we had my daughter. As you know, it wasn't very popular back then. As a matter of fact, it's not that easy now. My daughter faces quite a bit of racism." I had finally met my audience face to face. My books don't beat you over the head with instances of racism and stereotypical occurrences, much like real life these days, it is very subtle and I try to change those perceptions in my books. We talked more and she shouted out, "Oh my God, this book is about my life! I can't wait to read it." After the conference was over, she even emailed me to thank me again for telling stories that don't often get told.
Write the kind of stories you wish were available. Write the kind of stories you enjoy reading.
While I read my contract several times before signing it, I am a bit embarrassed that I didn't negotiate for more free author copies of my novel. Since it was coming out in eBook first and a certain goal in sales had to be reached before a publisher would consider a print run, I didn't pay much attention to the fact that if it did go to print I would only get one free copy. Silly me, not only did it go to print, but I had to buy extra copies for book signings and such. I did get a deep discount but free would have been better!
Keeping track of all the places where I am advertising. Also determining the value of different advertising options. My books target a specific kind of reader. Not just women but women who are open to the idea of multicultural relationships. As a result, I had to think twice about advertising in some venues because while I would reach a lot of romance readers there wouldn't be enough in my specific niche.
Believe in that "pie in the sky" scenario, because even if you fall a little short you are still farther ahead than if you had assumed the worse.
I love Internet networking. I am quiet by nature. I tend to just observe and make the occasional sarcastic comment. Networking online makes you put yourself out there. I also love reading and movies. I am a huge dramamentary buff. I love shows like L&O Criminal Intent, Forensic Files, etc. I love learning about the dark recesses of the mind.
I love literature. I also love comedy. I am a big PG Wodehouse fan. Believe it or not, I am very contradictory. While I enjoy writing romance, I'm not real well-read in it. Which might explain why my books are not straight romances. There has to be other things going on.
Don't let go of that story you are passionate about. I have had a lot of people tell that my story wasn't plausible. These same people had nothing to say when the book was published and the consistent feedback has been... "what a great story idea".
I am working on another interracial romance. This story is a little different in that the heroine goes after what she wants, motherhood, but leaves her relationship behind in order to get it. Of course she stumbles on love again when she finds it in the disposition her baby exhibits. An interracial baby who was conceived with the help of a sperm bank. She goes on a quest to find the donor. |
