Help Meeeee! I’m In the Success Trap . . . A Plea From Gini Koch

A Rare Glance into the Wacky World of an Up and Coming Novelist

Gini Koch is a highly esteemed member of my local Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America, and she is a dynamic and focused woman who also writes a damn fine book.

Among her many, many accolades (check out Gini’s website to read others) is this one from Pearls Cast Before a McPig, who says:

“This is a great book! It has witty humor, gorgeous aliens, a heroine I could really relate to and a fast paced story packed with lots of action.”

What more could a reader want? Well, maybe more books?.  Exactly what fans are calling form and Gini is scrambling as fast as she can,  And she desperately needs help. Read more to find out why.

Gini's Offer, Which Someone Won't Be Able to Refuse , , ,

I’m a published author. By April 5, 2011 I’ll have five books in print, with at least a sixth on the way. Awesome, right? Yeah, it truly is.

But here’s the thing -- I need an assistant, in the worst way…and I can’t pay for one.

Why not? Because I literally don’t have the money. These books are just releasing. I’ve gotten advances for the four that are in my novel series, and I’ve gotten paid for the two that are short stories in anthologies. But royalties? Um, well…maybe I’ll see a little money in October -- but my agent says it’s rare when a debut author sees royalties in the first statement.

So what, right? I mean, why should I need an assistant if the books are sold, written, etc.? Because promotion is a killer -- if you don’t do it, your book dies. If your book dies, you don’t get new contracts for more books. And promotion is a full time job, and then some.

I’m not complaining about being in this position. I’m thrilled to be in this position. But each book has to be promoted -- on Twitter, on Facebook, via blog tours, promotional items, speaking engagements, guest blogs, supporting those blogs that support you, and so on. And each book has to be promoted differently, too, dependent upon a variety of factors.

I have fans. (I have fans!) This still thrills me, every single day. But I need to stay in contact with them via my subscribers newsletter, send others requested free promo items, fulfill orders for merchandise, keep an inventory listing, keep my regular subscribers list updated, check my P.O. box, check my email and all the social media outlets regularly, run and fulfill contests, and more.

All of these activities take time and they take it away from what actually pays me -- writing and editing. But if I don’t do them, all of them, then the books will not sell well enough to ensure I continue to earn money from writing and editing.

So, what’s a girl to do? Beg for help. I’ve been told that unpaid interns are all the rage in this business. That half of the agents out there, as well as many of the publishers, are using unpaid interns. That tons of authors have at least one, maybe more, unpaid interns on staff. That people will kill for the chance to get to work with me, in my home, with my pets and husband underfoot, all for the chance to learn how a real author does it, make contacts, learn the business, and have access to my “Crack” Cokes up from Mexico.

But, I hear you ask, what will you get out of this generous use of your free time? A lot, actually.

If you’re interested in any aspect of the publishing business -- being an author, editor, agent, PR/promo/advertising person, or salesperson -- then you’ll learn about what happens and what it takes, pretty much firsthand, or as firsthand as you can get without being the novelist yourself. You’ll learn how to research markets, deal with fans, handle promotional opportunities, request and garner speaking opportunities, edit, make marketing decisions, utilize social media, and then some. You’ll see what it’s like to be on the frontlines of this business, as well as learning the realities of how authors get paid, when, and how much (by selling things, slowly, and not nearly enough, but that’s only the high-level view). And you’ll make industry contacts it could take you years to garner on your own.

Per the experts, after this sales pitch, the offers to be my unpaid intern should be pouring in, requiring another unpaid intern just to go through them all and find the right person or persons who match my particular idiom and idiosyncrasies.

Is this true? Let’s find out…if you’re in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, and want to prove that the Myth of the Unpaid Intern is indeed a reality, send an email to gini@ginikoch.com. I promise to only cry a little if I actually find someone to help me.

Gini Koch lives in the American Southwest, works her butt off (sadly, not literally) by day, and writes by night with the rest of the beautiful people. The first book in her Alien series, Touched by an Alien, released April 6, 2010 from DAW Books, receiving a starred review from Booklist as well as other excellent reviews. Touched by an Alien has also been named by Booklist as one of the Top 10 adult SF/F novels of 2010. Alien Tango releases December 7, 2010, and Alien in the Family releases April 5, 2011, with Alien Proliferation following later in 2011.

Gini speaks frequently on what it takes to become a successful author and other aspects of writing and the publishing business. You can reach her via her website, www.ginikoch.com or via email, gini@ginikoch

I expect someone out there will be putting together a win/win deal with Gini and meanwhile, back at the ranch,  check in at the Bootcamp.  Coming Up is Sparkling Dialogue and Cathi McDavid's Killer Synopsis Spotlight.

Until then,
Connie Flynn
Co-Founder, Bootcamp for Novelists Online
How do we teach writing?  Step by step!