Are Print Books Dead??

Remember the musical Oklahoma? Gordon MacRae singing to, of all people, Rod Steiger: "Poor Jud is daid, poor Jud Fry is daid..."

Well, the way folks have been talking lately, I'm waiting for the new musical, "Digital World," where a Gordon MacRae-esque editor will stand next to a book and sing out, "Poor print is daid, poor print books is daid, they're lookin' oh, so tattered and passe..."

Seriously, I keep hearing the rumblings:

Digital is taking over.
No one is buying print books.
Brick-and-mortar bookstores are closing every day.
The future of publishing is uncertain.
What does this mean for authors?
How will this change our contracts?

And on and on the questions go. The person sitting next to me on my flight to Nashville last weekend even asked me about this when she found out I was in publishing. We had an interesting conversation about it all, especially I heard some of these same doom-and-gloom thoughts from her.

I just smiled, and pointed to her lap. "What are you reading there?"

She held up her book--not her Kindle, mind you, her BOOK--and we talked about the author. Halfway into a sentence, she stopped, looked at the book, then at me.

And then she smiled.

"Now, look around us," I said. "How many Kindles do you see?"

She hopped up and, on pretext of heading to the oh-so-spacious bathroom on the plane, took an informal poll. Upon her return, her smile was even broader. "Two. On this whole plane, only two."

"How many books did you see?"

Smile shifts to grin. "Too many to count."

"So is print dead?"

She settled back in her seat, hands caressing the cover of the book in her lap. "I don't even think it's sick!"

Agent Steve Laube brings a voice of much-needed reason to the whole discussion. Be sure you read the comments, too. Good stuff.

So no, print's not dead. It's not even on life support. In fact, as my friend on the plane finally concluded, it's not even sick. Sure, things are changing. That's the one constant in life: change. But we authors and editors and publishers need not fear those changes. Far wiser to understand them, what's behind them, and how we can take them in stride.

Peace, all.

Karen

A New Publishing Model?

A friend sent me an interesting article from Forbes Magazine. Before you read on, hit the link now and read the article.

Crazy, huh? Who's got an extra $60K stashed away to get a book printed? Even so, I can tell you mainstream publishers are taking note of these kinds of successes. Why? Let's consider a few things:

• Nowdays, many publishers are (as a writer friend put it) "bleeding red ink" financially. No way around it: the tough economy has hit publishers. Hard.
• Advances for authors have already fallen. But then, there are those who say they needed to do so, that advances had gotten out of control and were based more on getting an author than on the belief said author's books would ever earn out. Which could explain some of the bleeding taking place now...
  
• Publishers' willingness to take risks, especially on unknowns, has taken a dive. Some say it's never been harder for a new author to be published--or for a midlist author to get a new contract.
• Readers' discretionary funds are dwindling, and while fiction readers in particular are still spending, book buyers on the whole aren't buying near as much as they did a few years ago.
  

So, with all that in mind--and with the success of Greenleaf's publishing venture--what do you think that means for publishing? Anything? Everything? Nothing? And how do you think publishing will have to change to not only survive, but thrive?

Enquiring minds want to know. :)

More Changes in the Publishing World

Ah, publishing, that glamorous world of 7-figure advances (8, if you're REALLY big); long lunches at expensive restaurants, all on the publisher's ticket; world-encircling book tours; and mongo book launch parties where the only thing more lavish than the food is the cost of the author's pen as he signs his books for the teeming masses...

Well...that's how it looks in the movies. And, to be fair, that's how it was--and is--for a select few. I confess, too, that in the 26 years I've been in publishing, I've done my share of wining and dining (okay, not literally "wining"!) authors, both prospective and those already on our list. Taking a group of authors to an expensive restaurant is just a way of showing appreciation.

At least, it was.

Several articles have been written lately about a new "austerity" in the world of publishing. Now, publishing has been called a lot of things, but austere? Hardly. Until, according to the NY Times and this site, now. As I read these articles, I couldn't help but wonder if this coming "austerity" wasn't actually more a coming back to reason. Just like the publishers who are stepping back from massive (or any!) advances--a move we started seeing in '07 among publishers such as HarperCollins and supported by, among others, Mark Taylor of Tyndale in his thoughtful, thought-provoking letter to ECPA Members. (I know this letter stirred a flurry of fury from agents and authors, but I can't say I disagree with Mark. Seems too many forget publishing is a shared-risk proposition, and books not being profitable doesn't help anyone. I know there's more to being profitable than earning out an advance, but it's a definite factor.)

So, where does that leave us? Acquisitions lunches at Burger King? Author dinners at Denny's? Nickle and diming ourselves, and our authors, to death? I can't see that happening. But here's what I do see: publishers are taking a far harder look at what it really costs to be effective in publishing. And while some may find it hard to believe, those I know in publishing are trying to determine what most benefits not just the publishers, but the authors and their readers. In today's economy, everyone is hurting, and we all need to tighten the belt. I see that as simple wisdom, so long as the decisions made are done strategically and with consideration for all parties. I don't want to see authors mistreated or devalued any more than I want to see publishers going under.

So I'm curious. What do you think? Where should we tighten the belt? What do you see as wise and strategic moves for publishers and authors in the face of an ever declining economy?

How can we make publishing a win-win proposition?

Can't wait to read your thoughts!

Karen

More Responses to YOUR responses

First, let me express my thanks again for the dialogue on this series on publishing. You've all made me think, challenged, me, and even made me laugh. I appreciate you!

In my last entry, I responded to about half of those who left comments on my 11/18 post. Here are my thoughts for the rest...

Mary Kay, I hear your frustration with editors and publishers being hesitant to take on a book dealing with deep issues, such as family violence or rape. I've turned some of those books down myself. But not for the reasons you may think. It's not because I, or my publisher, was afraid of the topic. It's that there wasn't anything, either in the treatment or voice, that presented the topic in a new or powerful way. If I'm going to put a book out there to help people facing such horrific things in their lives, I need to offer them something more than what's been said before. I'm not saying your books don't do that, I'm just saying there's a lot more that goes into deciding what we will and won't publish than sticking with the tried and true. I'll explore that more in a future post. You are right, though, that we all need to be talking about the books that have struck a chord within us. In fact, if any of you would like to list such books in the comment section, please do so.

Becky, I hear your concerns, but, to use your words, horrors if you think editors think that's what it's all about. I'm afraid my not taking the time to explain all of our conversation in the workshop gave you a wrong impression. The editors' comments on format weren't a mistaken direction at all. I specifically asked them what kinds of formats we need to use to reach new readers. We'd already discussed craft and content. Believe me, editors are deeply invested in both. And they spend a great deal of time evaluating the books that work and learning from them. They'd be foolish not to, and if there's one thing these folks aren't, it's foolish. The editors in Christian publishing are bright, passionate, and oftentimes just as frustrated as you are. I'm sorry if what I wrote in my blog gave you any other impression.

Kristi, I hear you, but publishing on the whole is faster, more demanding, and harder than ever before. You're right, you do have to earn back in 12 months; 18 at the most. None of us can afford the long-term scenario you posed, especially in light of the advances being demanded nowdays. And so few books earn back...ever. You'd be amazed how much money publishers have to write off EVERY YEAR from unearned advances. More on that later, too.

Jlo, I appreciate your thoughts. I have to say I wouldn't be willing to publish a book with the F-word in it. This is just my vote--and we all get one--but I don't believe there's any context in which that word or other violent obscenities can honor God. Even so, I respect your decision to keep it in. You're the author. The final call on content is yours. (Yes, you all can quote me on that!) And I respect a publishing house's decision to not acquire a book, whatever the reason. It's vitally important for publishers to hold fast to who they are, and for books to find the right fit in a publisher. There are a number of manuscripts I loved, but knew, for whatever reason, that the books wouldn't be a good fit for my house. So the best thing I could do for the author was to let the book go.

Jamie, wonderful illustration and reminder. We can dialogue and brainstorm and wring our hands ad nauseum, and not accomplish a thing because we're trying to do it all ourselves. We've GOT to remember Who is in control, and do our best to serve Him in whatever role we have.Work hard, but rest in Him for the outcome.

Pammer, thank you, thank you for this: "as Christian publishers, we have to hold up to intense scrutiny. If we travel too closely to the world, why do we ask to be set apart? To be seen as separate or better? Because in a larger picture Christian fiction is still the new kid on the block and we are held to higher standards to prove ourselves." Absolutely right.

Marci, I could kiss you! Yes, yes, and yes. The retailers have a huge impact. They've been called the "gatekeepers" for a number of good reasons. Mostly, though, they are the ones in the trenches. They see, firsthand, the response of the readers. They hear the accolades; they bear the brunt of the angry reader slamming a book down on the counter and demanding an apology (and a refund). And with so many stores going under, the climate at Christian bookstores is, to say the least, tense. So yes, retailers and publishers and authors all need to be working together to find ways to do this whole publishing and selling books better. But even as I write that, I know we've all been trying. And I know the limited funds for making change. So what's the answer? Hmmm...watch for a future post to address this very thing!

Colleen, absolutely. As Pammer said, as Christians we're held to a higher standard. Not by the readers or retailers, but by the One who assigned us this task, be it writing or publishing. Writers need to express the range of life--the depth of darkness and the heights of light--without using the easy outs of graphic language, sexuality, violence, or preachiness. Publishers need to operate wisely and honorably.

Crystal, excellent points! Especially about these issues sometimes putting publishers and writers at odds with readers. Which is why the responsibility rests so heavy on the editors' shoulders to KNOW those readers and communicate who they are and what they want in a way the others in the house can hear and receive. I studied multiple languages in college (French for 12 years, Spanish for 4, Russian for 1), but none of that prepared me for speaking Sales', Marketing's, and Finance's languages. That's somethine editors need to learn. Well. And I'd encourage writers to learn them as well.

(BTW, Crystal, my hubby is an ISTJ, so I DO know where you're comin' from. And while I'm mostly Golden Retriever, I do think I have a smidge of Siberian in me, so no. I won't keep chasing the ball. In fact, you throw it too much and I'll sit there, looking at you with that, "You threw the ball. You want it, you go get it" expression I so often see in my Sibe's eyes.)

Again, wonderful comments all. Thank you so much for participating in this dialogue. You're helping me learn as we go, and I appreciate that a great deal. In fact, your thoughts and insights have convinced me to take this discussion back to my publishing house to see what they think of it all. So watch for thoughts from sales and marketing in my upcoming blog posts.

Peace to you all today.

Karen

Comments on Your WHO ARE YOU Comments

GREAT dialogue, all! You're giving me all kinds of confirmation and challenge for my next series of posts. In fact, there's so much in all you wrote that I wanted to give a few reactions/responses. I've split this into two posts, so if you don't see a comment on your response, not to worry. It'll be in the next blog post.

Photoqueen, Lynette, and C.J., concerns about sales are definitely a part of the equation. Okay, a BIG part. But not for the reason so many think. It's not about just making . It goes far deeper than that. I'll delve more into that in my next series of posts. And Kathy, I hear what you're saying, but the issue is more about fiscal responsibility than a comfortable bottom line. If publishers don't make a profit, they don't stay in business.

Lynn, I agree. Francine's books are the epitome of powerful fiction, Christian or otherwise. She delivers true-to-life stories with depth and TRUTH.

Nicole, most marketing teams really aren't ineffective. Every house I've worked at has had a cracker-jack team, B&H included. They've found ways to do great marketing with minimal funds. If you want to pinpoint a marketing problem, it's that: Minimal funds. I've said for a lot of years that the way publishing houses assign marketing dollars is backwards. Books selling like hotcakes don't need as much marketing. They're selling already! We need to put more substantial money behind new books to build them. And why do marketers get a way in anything? Because they know their segment of the market better than anyone. I WANT marketing on my team, helping make wise decisions. As for the chasm between pub boards and fiction readers, well...yes. But that's because it's not their job to be tuned in to those readers. It's the editors' job. We're the bridge for that chasm. With returns and refunds, though, you're right on the money. If a reader isn't sure s/he will like a book, pick it up at a library first. Retailers aren't lending books, they're selling them. And returns to publishers? Huge issue. Returns are killing some publishers...more on that later.

Kathleen and Courtney, great wisdom in this: build name brand trust, earn the right to take readers off the beaten path. That's what Francine did. By the time readers had finished her Mark of the Lion trilogy, they were ready to follow her anywhere. Gave her great freedom--and great responsibility--as a writer. Courtney, the beauty is that you can still let your voice come through loud and clear, even as you're building that trust in your readers. In fact, you need to do that. Because it's your voice, your true voice, that will touch hearts.

Tricia and Cara, absolutely. We need to spill our hearts, and do so in authentic, well crafted ways. It's not easy, but it's so worth it! Michelle, yes, we need to speak our readers' language, and to be vulnerable. It doesn't help anyone to write books that don't address real issues in real ways. And Kelli, you're right: publishers ARE doing all of that now. They are putting out wonderful, highly crafted books that deal with real issues in honest ways. And publishers definitely are taking more risks than ever before--maybe not as much as we'd like, but it is happening. And backlist? Oh, Kelli, RIGHT ON! Backlist is what sets the Christian market apart from the general market. Backlist keeps us alive. So are we doing all we could with it? Are we being wise and strategic? Wait for a future post to see!

Rel, contrary to what you might think, bad press doesn't put publishers off. Shoot, I've seen sales and marketing people tickled all shades of pink by bad press. After all, you know what they say: Bad publicity is still publicity. And if it stirs up some controversy, all the better, because that means more and more media outlets will pick up on it. But if bad press is accompanied by poor sales...well, that makes it especially hard to convince the finance folks it's worth the risk. So the key seems to be jumping on whatever publicity we get and making it work for us.

Well, I think this post is PLENTY long, so I'll save the rest for the next one.

Peace, all.

Karen

Who Are You? (pt. 3)

So, there we were, a room full of editing professionals, faced with the question of whether or not we liked--or respected--our end consumer: the reader.

Editors are a freaky bunch. They love to think and debate and share ideas and dissect and explore. Get a whole room of editors going and nothing is sacred. At the same time, everything is. At their core, editors recognize--and love--the power of words. Spoken, written, sung from the rooftops--words contain the power to create and cultivate, encourage and empower...or decimate and destroy. These particular editors also love God and His Word. So their drive is work on books that impact lives rather than books that just entertain.

So, what did they say, these learned, insightful, imaginative folks? At first, nothing. They stopped--really stopped--to consider the answer. Editors are great at pondering.

I am, of course, an editor. But I'm also a writer. And I'm an ENFP, which, according to the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator, means I'm basically a Golden Retriever. So no surprise I can't ponder long. Or let others do so. My mind always bounces to the next thing to explore, and I find that's often how you discover answers. So as they pondered I turned back to the white board and wrote: "Who is your audience?"

Responses flew:

• Predominately female
• Age range: 34-80s
• Over 40
• Conservative Faith/Evangelical
• Most likely Republican
• Mother
• Mostly stay at home
• Some professional people
• Men, but not a lot
• Usually women bought for the male readers
• Very few in 18-34 age range

From there the discussion morphed into how to reach our current audience better, as well as reaching those beyond:

• the 18-34 demographic
• those who aren't overtly Christian but interested in spiritual issues
• men
• Post-moderns
• ...and on and on.

Again, ideas flew. From using technology better and more strategically (e.g., e-books, book readers, online downloads), to reconsidering format (imaginative use of packaging, layout, content), to allowing for open-ended books (e.g., story isn't all wrapped up at the end, leave some questions unanswered). Ideas fairly sizzled through the room.

As I listened, I had--you guessed it--this incredible feeling of deja vu. I'd been in this very dialogue already this year. Twice, in fact. Once at a retreat attended by nearly 100 published authors. The second time at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. Editors, writers, even readers...we're all struggling with the same issues.

Now, don't hear me saying there isn't a place for books that primarily encourage and entertain. Books that don't ask hard questions, but give the reader a wonderful, wholesome story. I don't think the majority of us want to eliminate those books. Not at all.

But in all these conversations I heard the same frustration of being held back, of not being able to write with authenticity. I'll never agree that Christian fiction--or fiction written to glorify God--should contain graphic language, sexuality, or violence, but I understand the frustration. Writers, editors, and--from your responses--readers want fiction that digs deep, that challenges and pushes as well as comforts and encourages. All of us want to be iron sharpening iron.

So, you say, why don't you all follow Nike's admonition and JUST DO IT? What's holding us back?

Before I answer, I'm curious what you think the answers are. What do YOU think holds publishers, editors, and writers back from writing the kinds of books they want to do? The kinds of books many of you have said you want?

Look forward to your insights!

Karen

Who Are You? (pt. 2)

So what were the editors' answers to the question "What makes a Christian book Christian"? Some answered as follows:

• Written from a Christian world view
• Story offers hope
• Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ

Similar to the things you all wrote in your comments (thought I think your responses went far deeper.) But I was also peppered with the following:

• It's safe
• It doesn't challenge the status quo
• It doesn't leave anything unsettled, everything's resolved
• Quality doesn't match that of ABA fiction
• Easy answers
• Doesn't make readers think
• Affirms readers beliefs and perspective
  

Notice a trend here? Now, before you get upset or think these folks are totally out of touch, let me point out that this view of the reader comes most often from what we hear from retailers rather than from the readers themselves. And, be honest now, there are some readers who fit those descriptions. But even more don't.

So listening to what was said, writing down their definitions on the white board, I came to a conclusion. I turned to those gathered and offered the following: "You really don't like this consumer much, do you?"

No response. But I could tell that, indeed, they weren't crazy about this person. This simplistic non-thinker who only wants books that offer a kind of pablum to the masses determined to hide in their safe churches and faith, never questioning, never facing real life.

Can't say I blame them, can you? I wouldn't care much for that kind of person, either. But here's the thing: I don't know many Christians like that. And I sure haven't met many readers like that. From the reader letters I get, it's clear those who read Christian fiction are looking for books that not only make them think, but that challenge them--even PUSH them--to go beyond themselves and what they think they know. In the letters and emails I receive from my readers, I've found people who are facing life's ambiguities and inequities full-force. Yes, they long for something to give them answers. But even more than that, they long for something to tell them, quite simply and honestly, they're not alone. They're not the only Christian out there who:

Doubts
Struggles
Wrestles with God and living a life of faith in an insane and hostile world
Doesn't appreciate easy or pat answers
Wants to KNOW God. Intimately. Even when it's scary or uncomfortable or painful. Which, as anyone who's walked a hard path knows, it is. Often.

Cool thing, though, about that workshop discussion is that it didn't end there. In fact, it led us all deeper. And I'll tell you how and where.

In a minute.

First, I want to know who you think today's Christian fiction reader is? Why do you think s/he reads fiction? What are you hearing from the readers around you about the books they're reading? And, if you care to share, what novel have you read lately that lived up to your expectations?

So share your thoughts...and stay tuned for Part 3.

Karen

Who Are You?

Well, ECPA PubU has come and gone, and I'm here in Illinois on vacation. Okay, it's supposed to be vacation, but I've spent a boatload of time dealing with work. Ah well, as I told folks in Twitterland, publishing waits for no (wo)man's vacation.

Anyway, though PubU is over, several of the conversations keep running through my mind. Questions. Posits. Debates. Explorations. So many topics floating around that caught my attention, only to be pushed aside by the next equally challenging--or troubling--topic. In some ways, publishing is in such a state of flux. In others, it's utterly grounded and unshakeable. Good and bad on both sides.

The final editorial community workshop on Monday was especially fascinating--and worrisome. Our first topic: What makes a Christian book Christian? The answers came fast and furious, but before I share them, I want to know what you think.

So, as a reader, what are you looking for in a book, especially fiction, from a "Christian" publishing house? What do you expect to find. What do you expect NOT to find? What makes a book "Christian"?

Please share your thoughts. And then I'll let you know how our conversation went...and what other questions it led us to.

Peace!

Karen

Live from the Airport in Minneapolis!

Well, ACFW is over, and I'm sitting here in the airport waiting for my flight to board (1/2 hour to go!). Can't wait to get home. Will only be there 6 days, but man! Am I gonna enjoy it.

I posted some pix from the MASSIVE author book signing at the Mall of America yesterday on my Twitter account, but thought I'd share them with you here, too. More than 100 Christian novelists loaded up into 3 school buses and took the Mall of America by storm. The Best Buy rotunda never knew what hit it! Tables were set up all around the stage in front of a tall column with two large screens. On those screens were pictures, information, and video trailers of the authors and their books.

Impressive, huh? Brandilyn Collins thought so, too. You can see the amazement on here face as she watches the show...

That's Judith Miller behind her to the right.

ACFW didn't just have us sign, though. They set up panels for all during the signing. I was on the first panel in the Best Buy rotunda with my buds, Angie Hunt, Jim Scott Bell, and Brandilyn. We sat right in front of those videos and pictures, which I thought was good. If we got boring, they could just watch the screens!

It was a blast, though, because not only were we talking to the folks seated in front of us, there were people peering at us from all four floors of the mall, And the tall matrix of escalators was right in front of us, so folks listened as they rode. I even saw a few people stop and try to go back down the escalator to keep listening as we talked. Very fun.

I enjoyed talking with all the people who stopped by, like this woman and her adorable little baby , and directing them to the amazing authors at the tables. I was seated between Jim Bell and Angie, and just down the table were Angie Hunt, Brandilyn Collins, and Susan Meissner. Talk about heady company!

Angie, Brandilyn, and fans

Jim Bell & Mama Ruth (Brandilyn's mom)

Karen and Susan Meissner, tired but happy!

Jim Bell & John Robinson, mugging for the camera

Karen & Brandilyn

People were so kind and excited. It made the two hours (on our feet, thank you very much) pass in a flash. By the time we herded back onto the school buses, I was ready for a nap, but I had 7 15-minute meetings with authors waiting for me, so settled for a LARGE cup of coffee and a handful of peanuts.

All in all, I think this was a brilliant idea on the part of ACFW. I know it was a HUGE amount of work for them, but they pulled it off. Beautifully. So if they ever decide to do it again, make sure you come. It was history in the making, folks. Besides which, it was flat fun!

Peace to you today.

Karen

Live from ACFW in Minneapolis...well, sorta

Oh. My. Gosh.

I'm sooooooooo tired. Did I mention I'm tired. Man, am I tired.

Okay, enough whining. Besides, I'm too tired to whine.

I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, attending the American Christian Fiction Writers' (ACFW) conference. I heard one person say there's over 500 people here. I can believe it. Since it's pretty much an all-day jaunt for me to get here, I flew in on Wednesday, arriving around 5 pm. Had a really nice dinner with my agent, Steve Laube, and even managed to talk him into letting me to into a few stores. (He, we were at the Mall of America! I mean, come on!) He handled it real well, too. I'm proud of him. Even walked into the women's clothing store with me.

The conference burst into full swing on Thursday, with attendees, agents, and editors all arriving from around the country. Had some folks, like author Wanda Dyson, who weren't sure they could get here from Houston, but they made it. Of course, Wanda has a tree in the middle of her house, but she said she figured she couldn't do anything about it, so just locked the door (which, when I heard that, made me laugh. I mean...there's a TREE that's fallen in the middle of the house. A locked door isn't going to secure it. But I figure God will, so no worries.)

I had a number of sobering conversations with published novelists who are struggling with a discouragement. Let's face it, publishing is only getting harder. People who've been writing for years can't see to get contracts lately. But Angie Hunt, in her keynote address, hit on so many of the issues I heard brought up...reminding us that dreams are important, but what's even more important is the One who gave us those dreams. We need to do what we're called to do, and leave the rest up to His will and timing. Focus on Him. The rest will follow as He chooses. Great words of truth from a woman submitted to His will.

The editors' panel last night was fun. I met Allen Arnold, from Thomas Nelson publishers. He and I seemed to be the only extroverts on the LARGE panel of editors, so we had fun tossing comments back and forth. I'd like to find time to sit down and talk with him about his views on Christian fiction. I'm sure we won't agree, but that's okay. I like to hear other people's thoughts.

Today was solid with 15-minute meetings with authors, lunch, and then a dinner tonight where I took my B&H authors out to Kincaids--a scrumptious restaurant. John Olson, Leanna Ellis, James Rubart, and the newest addition to our fiction line, ACFW president Robin (Caroll) Miller, spent the whole night laughing and telling stories. I'm amazed both Jim and John survived their college years. They each have harrowing tales to tell of experiences on mountains. I'm just glad God was watching out for them! My life would have been far less blessed without those two.

Forgot to bring the card reader for my camera, so I swiped this shot from Camy Tang's blog. From l-r, this is Steve Laube, Jim Rubart, Randy Ingermanson (who also is here) and John Olson. Great men, all!

So here I sit, now, absorbing all that happened today, weary but content. I love this world, this universe peopled by those who are often more comfortable in their created worlds than in reality. I mean, where else can you hear people talking at one end of the hallways about the best way to kill someone and dispose of the body, and at the other about the kind of vegetation that exists on a planet where people are oppressed by a race of clones? God has given us such a gift with imagination.

And I'm delighted and honored to get to play here.

Blessings to you!

Karen

ICRS Thoughts

As promised, here are my thoughts about the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). As many of you know, ICRS is a trade show in which publishers and music and gift companies present their products to retailers. The show started out as a way to bring all the retailers together and place the majority of orders for the year. Last few years, though, there have been fewer and fewer orders placed at the show, which makes it less effective--or profitable--for publishers to attend.

In recent years, the show's grown to the point that it was one of the largest trade shows in the country. That being the case, locations for the show were limited to those with convention centers large enough to accomodate all the exhibitors: Denver, CO; Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; and this year's location, Orlando, FL. Now, looking at those locations you might think, "How cool! You can combine it with vacation." Yeah, well, not so much. Because the show is held in July. And if there's anything you can count on, it's that Atlanta, Orlando, and Anaheim will be HOT in July. Denver's not so terrible. I like going to Denver. But Orlando this year? Torture.

Happily, the Orlando convention center is a beautiful building. And they have these beautiful sculptures of the Florida panther to greet you as you enter the building.



Inside it's spacious and beautifully decorated with trees and flowers, and lots of windows gives you the sense that you're outside (though the facts that you're not passing out from heat or suffocating from the humidity prove you're not).


Thankfully, we spent almost all of our time in air conditioning. The show was, as always, a blur. My then-boss, David Webb, and I spent Monday and Tuesday doing back-to-back half hour meetings with authors and agents. It was loads of fun, but exhausting. We did reserve time to walk the floor, and I was amazed at how different it was this year from last. For one thing, there were fewer exhibitors--most notably, Thomas Nelson wasn't there. And many of those exhibitors who came had far smaller booths.

There weren't near as many big books written by big names being touted, and the number of books signings were down. But at the B&H booth, we actually saw something exciting: we had LONG lines for our fiction authors' signings! Last year I had to go out amongst the crowds and draw people in. This year they were lined up and circling the booth before the signings started. Very encouraging. And it made for broad smiles on our authors' faces. Always nice to see that!

The most dramatic change, though, was how few retailers were there. Normally at ICRS, you have to fight your way through the press of people in the aisles.


This may seem a busy scene to you, but as compared to previous years, it's almost empty. Normally, you wouldn't be able to see the carpeting for all the people crowding the hallway. This year it was so quiet it was almost...peaceful. On one hand, that was nice. I'm not real big on crowds. On the other, it doesn't bode well for ICRS.

I know, I know, I'm the one who said ICRS wouldn't be going away. And I still don't think it will. Not right away. But what I saw--and more important didn't see--at the show this year tells me changes have to be made. By everyone. Because publishers can't keep spending the massive amount of money it takes to attend ICRS if the retailers aren't there to make the investment pay off. So what does the future hold? Good question. One for which I don't have an answer. But I am watching new developments with great interest. Developments such as the new Christian Book Expo coming up in 2009. I think it's going to be very effective, and I'm doing my best to talk B&H into taking part.

So overall, my impressions from this year's ICRS are that if attendance continues to fall, the future for this show may not be too rosy. So change is in the air, on many fronts. It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out, that's for sure. But I believe this: Christian publishing will go on, regardless. Because God is using it--and the authors and their wonderful books--to bring His truth to a weary world. So we'll see where it all goes in the next couple of years, but this much I believe: we're not going away.

Peace to you today.

Karen

ChiLibris Novelists' Retreat pix, at long last!

Okay, I promised I'd give you pix from the ChiLibris retreat, and here they be:


The wonderful Susan May Warren. She's almost as crazy as I am!

Mark Mynheir--a real sweetheart of a guy--and Kathy and Paul Herman

Terri Blackstock and Francine Rivers, getting tickled!

Look who got the color memo! The "Green Girls": Me, Neta Jackson, and Robin Lee Hatcher

Mugging for the camera: Angela Hunt, yours truly, and Francine Rivers

One of my all-time favorite authors and people:

Randy Alcorn

Creston Mapes watching Neta Jackson set her inner imp free

Terrific mystery writer (and my roomie), Gayle Roper

Speculative fiction author Sharon Hinck with Cara Putnam's baby girl, Rebecca. I got to sing Rebecca to sleep during one of the sessions when she got fussy. Cara has dubbed me the "baby whisperer." How cool is that? I wasn't sure she'd let me keep the name, though, when I told her how I did it: by stroking the same spot on Rebecca's face that I stroke to put my Siberian puppy to sleep!

So that gives you a peek into the great fellowship we got to enjoy. In my next entry, I'll give you a glimpse of what happens when we're turned loose on our hotel for a race to see who can be most creative in the least amount of time--so stay tuned.

Peace to you.

Karen

The World of Christian Publishing

I just got home from a trip to Orlando, Florida, where I attended two publishing events:

1. The ChiLibris retreat, where published novelists gather to talk, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by a host of others who are equally crazy

and

2. ICRS, the Internation Christian Retailers' Show, which is the trade show for the Christian market.

The ChiLibris retreat was, as always, informative and as fun as a barrel of Siberian husky pups! There were around 70 of us there. I flew out a day early, as I usually do when flying coast to coast. Good thing, too, since I ended up with TEN HOURS of delays. Rather than arriving at 4 p.m. as my itinerary stated, I finally got to the hotel at 4:30 a.m. AAHHHH! Happily, I was able to sleep in, since the retreat didn't start until dinner on Thursday.

My roomie, marvelous mystery writer Gayle Roper, showed up around 3 pm, and that gave us a chance to get caught up before the gang streamed in. I gotta tell you, when the hour approached for folks to arrive, I was wide awake and so excited to see friends I was almost dancing. There are few things I enjoy as much as this retreat, especially when everyone first arrives. It's such fun to see the hotel lobby crammed with published novelists--and believe me, the chatter meter went off the charts as more and more of us arrived. When Gayle and I arrived in the lobby, some of my first hugs came from Terri Blackstock, Angela Hunt, Colleen Coble, Kristen Billerbeck, and Susan May Warren (whose personality is so like mine that I've decided she must be my long-lost twin! Okay, a cuter, younger, slimmer twin...but still!) Before long we got more hugs as we were joined by Francine Rivers, Jane Kirkpatrick, Wanda Dyson, James Scott Bell, Brandilyn Collins, DiAnn Mills, Mindy Starns Clark, Randy Alcorn, Dave & Neta Jackson, Deb Raney, Tammy Alexander...and on and on the list goes.

Our retreat was a wonderful blend of singing, worship, and talking through all the crazy aspects of this publishing world and living a life of faith. We tackled tough issues (e.g., Why is it so much harder these days to get published?, What will happen if we lose the Christian retailers?, How can we keep creativity alive when faced with looming deadines?), and spent time just talking and laughing together. One evening Randy Alcorn, Susie Warren, Angie Hunt and I discussed the source of evil. As in, where does it come from. The depth of wisdom from those friends was invaluable, and helped me find an answer that finally made sense to this argumentative brain of mine.

Then there was the fun night on Friday, when we broke into teams and ran around the hotel taking creative pictures to represent the book titles of those attending. Can you guess what 6 out of the 9 teams came up with for my book title, What Lies Within? Little boats or toys or plastic people floating in the toilet. Siiiiggghhhh... Our team was more creative, thanks to Marlo Schalesky, who is pregnant. We all pointed at her belly! Now isn't that better than a paper boat floating in a toilet?

Anyway, it was a truly enjoyable few days, and the perfect prelude to the nonstop pace of ICRS, which I'll tell you about next time! And I'll post some pix for you to enjoy, too. As soon as I find my camera, which is still buried in the suitcase I haven't had time to unpack.

Peace, all.

Karen

Christian Women Online

Have you discovered this delightful online magazine? If not, you've got to go check it out. Now would be a good time, because they have this really beautiful woman on the cover. Someone you'll all love to read about. Take a look...

Okay, Okay, I'm being funny. But that fits because this was a fun interview to do. And they put in fun pix, too. So go ahead and click on the cover. That will take you to the magazine. In addition to the interview with yours truly, there's a lovely interview with my buddy, Robin Jones Gunn. There are also columns on beauty, cooking, faith, and all kinds of things for women. So have at it, and have fun!

Speaking of Robin, the CWO interviewer opens with this comment: "Talking with Robin makes you feel like you are sitting in a coffee shop sharing a latte with a friend." She's right on target. From the first time I met Robin, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit and a lifelong friend.

Robin and I were together this year at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference (if you're interested in writing, get thee to this conference! It's fabulous!), and I was practicing taking promo shots with my handy-dandy Sony Cybershot camera. I told Robin, "Let's take a shot making funny faces." Yuh-huh. Here's what she did.

Oh great! There's dumb ol' Karen with a goofy face and dear Robin, as beautiful as ever. Brat! So I told her one more time, and this time behave! I took the shot and...

Vengeance! Ain't it sweet? Finally, I told her okay, once more, and this time just be pretty. It took a few minutes of laughing and teasing before we settled down, but here's the final shot of me and one of the nicest, most gracious, most impish women you'll ever meet, the wonderful Robin Jones Gunn:

Don't you love having fun with friends you've known a long time? Me, too. So here's to a day for each of you filled with friendship and laughter--and good friends who can tease you with impunity.

Karen

A Peek into The Editor's Mind

While I was at the Northwest Christian Writers' Renewal a week ago or so, I was struck, as I always am when in the company of writers, by the power of the right word used in the right way. On the first day of the conference, I had group meetings with the writers. This is where a group of writers come in, sit at a table together, and each takes a turn pitching his/her book to me to see if B & H Publishing Group would be interested in considering it for publication. I had six groups, each lasting a half hour, each with anywhere from 5-7 people each. So folks had a total of 3-5 minutes to engage me in their project.

How's that for pressure?

The cool thing is, a good number of those who came had such a strong understanding of their project, and of the market, that they were able to hook me in the first few words. Now that's doing your homework! For example, one woman told me right off the bat her book was romantic suspense, what the main story line was (in a sentence), and what the conflict and spiritual takeaway were. That took about 45 seconds of her 4 minutes, so from there I asked questions about the story and focus and she was able to relax and just talk. I ended up asking her to send me the proposal. Don't know if we'll pursue it--the writing is what tips the scales, of course. But I was impressed with her well chosen descriptions. And if I'm considering two manuscripts and all things are basically equal, I'll always go with an author who is, first and foremost, teachable, and then able to communicate the heart and soul of her story quickly and effectively.

So if you're a writer, spend some time thinking about the following:

What's the main theme (or themes) addressed in my story.
What's the nonfiction hook I could use to stir interest in media outlest (e.g. radio, where they generally don't have a clue what to do with novelists)
What genre is my book? Are there any best-sellers or movies that I can compare my book to that will position it quickly for ________ (fill in the blank. E.g., editor, reader, marketer, interviewer, retailer, reviewer)? For example, my book is Die Hard, Live Free meets Nancy Drew. (Okay, not a perfect example, but you get what I mean.)
Can I describe my book in:
* one sentence
*25 words
*50 words
*200 words
(At different stages in the process of seeking publication, you'll need to be able to do all of the above!)

That's enough to get you started. So hey, go for it! And if you want to try and pitch something to me here as a test, feel free. I'll let you know what I think.

Peace to you today.

Karen

The Sky is Falling, Part Deux

Okay, my thoughts on what's happening lately in the world of Christian publishing.

ICRS--It will go on. At least for awhile. The problem, though, is that it's EXPENSIVE for publishers to participate. And we've been finding that we're not seeing the kind of sales we used to see, which made it cost effective. So if that trend continues...well, who knows. CBA--the Christian Booksellers' Association--sent out a strong response to Nelson's decision.

Publisher shows: Frankly, though this would be a lot less expensive for the publishers, I'm not convinced it will happen. For one thing, the beauty of ICRS--which is geared to serving the retailers, remember--is that retailers get to meeting with all the publishers in one fell swoop. Are retailers going to want to attend half a dozen little shows? Hardly. And you can't bring all the retailers in. Nelson focused on their top 100 retailers, but that leaves out a boatload of stores.

Retailers: If ICRS dies, things will definitely be different. But retailers can order books whether there's an ICRS or not. That's what publishers' sales teams are for, right? The hard truth, though, is that Christian bookstores, especially the independently owned stores (those not a part of Family Christian Bookstores or other chains), are struggling. More stores close every year, and that's sad. Why? Lots of reasons. For one, places like B&N and Borders have forever changed the face of shopping for books. They've created havens for book buyers, where we can sit and soak in the wonder of all the words around us. And get great coffee to boot. For another, Christian bookstores, in general, can't buy in the volume places like CostCo can, so they have to charge more.

The good news is a number of stores throughout the country are making wonderful changes to keep up with the times, to create the same kind of atmosphere in their stores that you find in places like Barnes & Noble and Borders. They're even adding the coffee shops and soft, cushy chairs. And lots of stores are going the coupon route, to help offset the higher retails prices. All of which helps.

But here's the deal. When a Christian bookstore closes, it isn't just about the stores, its about the customers, too. Too many of us (and I admit I'm part of this camp at times) prefer to buy our books online or through places like WalMart or CostCo/Sams. The benefit? We get lower prices. The loss? NO ONE gives you the care and customer services of a Christian bookstore. I don't think you're going to find folks at CostCo listening as you talk about your struggles or joys. But at the Christian bookstore, that happens all the time. I know this because a good friend, Deb "DJ" Note, works in our local Christian bookstore. She listens, she cares, she prays for folks who come in. And she knows the products in her store inside and out. When you go into WalMart or online, you have to figure out what fits your needs best yourself. At the Christian bookstore, people are there to direct and help you.

So what am I saying? Does it make us rotten people if we don't shop at Christian bookstoes? Nah. It makes us normal. People are growing more and more frugal as our country takes more and more economic hits. But as with all consumers, we vote with our dollars. So all I'm saying is think about it next time you want to buy a book that you know will be on the shelves are your local Christian bookstore. And consider dropping in.

All of this, though, leaves things feeling...unsettled. For all concerned in the arena of Christian publishing. So am I worried. Nah. This is all a part of what makes publishing so fascinating and unpredictable. Publishing, like life, goes in waves. We've got flush years, and tight ones. We're up, we're down, we're doing the loop-de-loop. But through it all, we know Who is in control. So we need to just keep on keeping on, doing the tasks He's given us, and trusting Him for the outcome.

That, and learn to like riding rollercoasters.

Peace to you today.

Karen

The Sky is Falling!!

Well, the Northwest Christian Writers' Renewal is a wrap, and it was a lot of fun. (I've got some cool pix to share, but forgot to bring my card reader along, so will post them as soon as I can.) My workshop, on Demystifying Publishing, was a lot of fun. Had just under 50 in attendance (I now this because I printed 50 handouts and only two were left in the pile), and we spent a little over an hour immersed in fun, intense, honest discussion. I LOVE doing workshops like that, where folks just throw out questions and we all wrestle 'em (the question, not the people) to the ground. Cec Murphy was the keynote speaker and he was an entertaining and informative as always. Mostly, though, it was great just to talk with the people who were there.

Tell you what, If you live in the Northwest and are interested in writing, I highly recommend this conference. Shoot, I recommend it even in you don't live in God's country! (Yes, I'm just a little prejudiced about the Northwest. So sue me.) Great faculty and staff, and a good group of writers, ranging from beginners to those who've been around almost as long as I have.

Yeah. The reaaaaaally old ones.

I had a good time reconnecting with some of the faculty. Mick Silva, an editor for Waterbrook Multnomah Group, for example. I've always respected Mick. He's passionate about writing--fiction in particular. And about communicating Truth though story. We found a little time to sit down and just talk--something editors don't get to do very often--about what's been happening in the Christian bookselling/publishing industry, the changes and shifts, the worries and blessings. There's a lot happening now, what with all the technology changes and publishers changing the way they're doing business.

On the technology front, things like the Kindle have folks wondering if books are going the way of the Dodo. My vote is no, because I think readers will always want the feel of a book in their hands as they read. (Hey, remember on Star Trek Next Generation, how Captain Picard always read from a book when he was relaxing? Yeah, yeah, that's not real life. But I'm thinking we're not that far off these days...) Anyway, I've heard that people are buying electronic versions to read on the Kindle and other devices, but when they find books they LOVE, they go out and buy the actual book to keep. What do you guys think? Will books go away?

As for publishers, things have really been hopping in the last few years, and especially in the last few months. Which, in case you were wondering, is why I titled this blog entry what I did. Remember good ol' Chicken Little? Some in Christian publishing are looking at the changing landscape and fearing the worst. Understandably so.

So what's the problem? Well, for one thing, some publishers have been cutting their lists, meaning they're cutting back on the number and/or kinds of books they're going to publish. I've even heard of one publisher that's decided not to offer advances anymore. And one of the largest Christian publishers has had yet another wave of employee layoffs, and is among those cutting the number of books they're putting out. (The one list not affected? Their fiction line. Yet more confirmation that Christian fiction is still going strong and growing.) They've even said they're going to focus on publishing only midlist and higher authors, which means the newbies are out of luck, at least with this house. (Happily, there are a number of houses out there still determined to find new voices and work with new authors.) What's more, that same publisher pulled out of the two major trade shows, ICRS (the Christian bookseller's show, where publishers present books to retailers--used to be where publishers sold the majority of their books) and BEA, the trade show for the general market. So how are they reaching retailers, who, as you know, are publishers' first customers? This house, Thomas Nelson, brought in their top 100 retailers, all expenses paid, to their own little "convention." So questions abound. Is ICRS dying? Will other publishers follow Nelson's example and host their own little shows? What will retailers do if ICRS dies?

My vote on these questions? Well, you'll have to tune in to the next blog entry for that!

Talk with you soon.

Karen

Learnin' to Pitch!

Well, it's been a long time since I've tried to pitch a product to anyone. In fact, I don't think I've actually ever done so! Not even with my first book project. Lisa Bergren, then editor at Multnomah, called and asked me to consider writing for their Palisades romance line, and that was the beginning of my writing career. So when it came time this morning to practice our pitches to the producers, I realized I was on new ground.

I mean, COMPLETELY new ground.

You know something? It was a blast. It helps that I'm here with authors who are good friends: Gayle Roper, Terri Blackstock, DiAnn Mills, Sharon Ewell Foster, Yvonne Lehman and others. So that gives each of us a built-in cheering squad. And the gal who taught us how to pitch--Kathy Mackal--was wonderful. She had such a gift for honing in on the perfect hook for our projects.

I'd been planning to start my pitch with the first book in my suspense series, Shattered Justice, but when I told her about my novel The Breaking Point, which is about a couple on the brink of divorce whose truck goes over the edge of an Oregon mountain in a blizzard, her eyes lit up and she insisted I start with that one.

Turns out she was right on the money. Don't you love it when God gives you good counselors?

First, let me describe what we found when we walked into the room where we were to pitch. We'd been warned it was going to be a bit like speed dating. We'd get roughly 3 minutes with each producer. Three minutes TOTAL. Good thing I can talk fast. If they wanted to know more, they'd ask for materials (plus we were all eating dinner together after the pitch session, which was nice). So in we troop to find table after table set upl, the producers sitting and waiting--15 in all--with little numbered cones on the corner of each table. The plan was to have everyone choose one producer, sit down, do the pitch, then move on to the "next number up." So I sat down at table number 5, which meant I'd move on to #6, and so on until we all made it through all the tables.

Well! Someone should have told our poor organizers that getting novelists to follow directions was like herding cats. I want you all to know I was obedient. I went from my table to the next, and the next, and so on. But I kept running into people who were doing more of a pinball pattern. And then there were those who started out right, but went to the next number down. It got to be pretty funny after awhile. Fortunately, everyone was laid back and relaxed, so we ended up just having fun.

I was especially pleased to get to talk with Ken Wales, the producer for Amazing Grace, the wonderful movie about William Wilberforce and the originator of the TV show Christy. Ken was gracious and kind. He liked the sound of two of my books, Reunion and The Breaking Point, and asked me to send him copies of both. As nice as that was, just being able to sit and talk with him was even nicer. I told him as soon as I sat down that one of my good friends absolutely loved Amazing Grace (Lori Benton, to be exact). So much so that she'd seen it multiple times. He was delighted and said to tell her thanks. (So hey, Lori...Thanks!) He's showing Amazing Grace tomorrow night (we have movie premieres and showings every night), after he gives a brief talk about it, then sticking around for questions. I'm looking forward to it.

A number of producers were interested enough to ask me to send them books. And Ted Baehr, of MovieGuide.com fame, gave me an A+ on my pitch for The Breaking Point. Too fun!

So here I sit in my room, all the images and conversations from today floating through my mind, reminded yet again that God is in control. Don't know if any of this will go anywhere, but even if it doesn't, it's been a wonderful education. And such fun to get to thank folks who are making things happen in the world of film and TV.

I'm here for two more days, and will check in as I can. Hope you're all doing well!

Karen

More Notes from the Road

Wonderful, wonderful Palm Sunday service here. It's been a bit cold, but we sat outside anyway. I snapped a shot to show you what it looks like where we were sitting, at the back of the auditoriumand realized I caught Robin Jones Gunn, Patsy Clairmont, and Jan Silvious sitting there on the second bench/pew from the back (Robin's peeking behind Patsy to grin at me, Jan's on the other side of Patsy). (Okay, okay, the picture's so small you can't tell it's them. Trust me. It is. Really!) Anyway, it was nice outside. We could hear everything from inside the auditorium, and we got to listen to the wind whispering through the Redwoods all through the service. At one point I looked up and the tops of the trees seemed to be dancing as we lifted our voices in songs of praise. What an amazing setting for thanking God for all He's done for us.

Now, you notice the blue sky in the background? First day we arrived here, Dave Talbott, the conference host, warned us that bad weather was on it's way. Not just cold, but by Sunday we'd be clobbered with hail! Were we worried? Not on your life. We just said we'd pray the bad weather away. Mount Hermon has that effect on people. All this beauty in nature around us reminds who is really in control. So we determined to pray the bad weather away. The temp dipped, but every day so far here's what we've seen:


We've had blue skies and even some sunshine. Not a single hailstone has shown up. Yay!

I'll fill you in on more of Mount Hermon later. For now, let's get back to our adventures on our way to the conference grounds. As I said, Robin and Marion were coming in a day later than planned, so Julee and I stayed another day with Francine, Rick, and dear ol' Shabah. So Wednesday dawned bright and early, bringing another call from Robin. The doctor told her she was in no shape to travel, so she couldn't come to SanFran to play with us. After some weeping and wailing and whining on our part, we told Robin of course she should stay home the extra few days to gain strength before coming to the writers' conference. We promised to take good care of Marion, rang off, loaded up the car, and hit the road for SanFran.

On the drive down Julee, who'd met Marion when she went to England last year with Robin, regaled me with stories of Marion. "You'll love her! Just watch for a pixie of a woman with a crown of white hair and a lovely smile."

An hour or so later, we'd arrived at our hotel, The Stanford Court, which was ensconced on Nob Hill. With an hour or so until Marion's planned arrival, at which time we'd hie ourselves across the street to tea at the Fairmont hotel, Julee and I went to check the lay of the land. The cable car stop was right on the corner, so we hopped aboard (I kept waiting for the Rice-a-Roni song to start!), and rode down the hill to the financial district. Happy day, there were Starbuck's galore! So we stocked up on coffee, walked around a smidge, then back on the cable car to go await Marion.

Well, her arrival time came. And left. An hour past the scheduled arrival, I went to cancel the tea. I mean, sure, Marion would probably be game to try and make it. After all, she's English and tea is always welcome. But Julee and I talked it over and we figured after the storms, delayed flights, possible turbulence on the LONG flight over, she just might prefer a bit of a rest.

As I was turning from the concierge's desk, in walked someone who fit Julee's description to a 'T' walked in. It was Marion, and she was all Julee has said and more. Fun, in a far better mood than I would be after all she'd endured, and game for an adventure. So once she was settled in her room, we made our way back to the cable cars and went on to Fisherman's Warf. We walked and talked and soon felt like fast friends. Dinner was at Bubba Gumps--Yummy!--and then we grabbed a cab back to the hotel. Now, I must confess that the cab was...well...okay, let's be honest. DISGUSTING! I don't know what the stains on the seat were, nor did I ask. But short of levitating, there was no way to avoid sitting on them. Once we got back to the hotel we agreed. No more cabs! Some adventures just didn't deserve repeating.

I'll share more tomorrow, but the night is wearing on and I lead early morning worship here at Mount Hermon. Which means hitting the hay far earlier than usual to ensure I'm at least somewhat coherent at 7 a.m.

Blessings to you!

Karen