Writer Unboxed

If you missed part 1 of my interview with novelist and fab human being Randy Susan Meyers, click HERE, then come back.

Randy’s debut, The Murderer’s Daughters, is a compelling read, a fascinating character study of two girls and the choices they make into adulthood following the murder of their mother by their father. I’m not the only one who thought so:

“Meyers’ empathetic, socially conscious debut considers the burdens carried and eventually shed by two sisters, survivors of domestic violence . . . with affecting moments and insights.” —Kirkus Reviews

“. . . psychologically complex characters make Meyers’s debut a satisfying read.” —Publishers Weekly

“Much like Janet Fitch’s White Oleander or Jacquelyn Mitchard’s The Deep End of the Ocean, her book takes readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Readers, get out your handkerchief and prepare to care.” —Library Journal Review

“Randy Susan Meyers’s sensitive story about the legacy of domestic violence is painful to read at times, but unforgettable. Meyers delivers a clear-eyed, insightful story about domestic violence and survivor’s guilt in “The Murderer’s Daughters.” It’s an impressively executed novel, disturbing and convincing.”—Boston Globe

“Meyers, in a remarkably assured debut, details how the sisters process their grief in separate but similarly punishing ways.”—The Denver Post

Feel the tug of Meyers’ writing from the first page in this excerpt (PDF), and enjoy part 2 of the interview.

Interview with Randy Susan Meyers, part 2

Q: You’ve mentioned that you have a few books “in the drawer,” and that now—with the passage of time and your own growth as a writer—you understand why they were never published. Can you share with WU readers why you think they never caught a publisher’s attention? What did you learn from each book?

RSM: I have three books in the drawer (not counting half-hearted starts, odd-ball attempts, and a co-authored near-miss.) One of the three is from many, many years ago and I would be terrified to open it. After I finished that book, someone convinced me to show it to their ‘connected-published-cousin-in-law’, who, after he read it, told me directly that it was awful and a waste of his time. His particular tough-love sent me away from the keyboard for years.

My second book-in-the drawer I think of as part of my trilogy:

Book One: The book in which I learned proper techniques for sharper writing and characterization, but forgot about incorporating sub-plots. I carry much tenderness for this book, for the characters, and am still in love with my opening paragraphs. I got an agent with this novel (not my current agent.) While this book was out on submission, I began writing my next one, which I quickly saw was a better book. This was:

Book Two: The book where I learned multiple points of view and how to weave major and minor plot-points, but where I didn’t learn that tiptoeing and/or being polite can weaken a book. I still had a reader-over-my-shoulder with this one. (I’m still attached to the story and the characters.) While this book was out on submission (former agent and I having made the decision to pull Book One in favor of Book Two) I began working on Book Three. In the midst of all this, my agent (who was concentrating on YA) and I amicably parted ways. Soon after I finished:

Book Three: The one where I became published: The Murderer’s Daughters. After all my downs and downs, this book sold quickly. As the long publishing process unfolded, I began my next book. Why did I choose to begin a new work and not return to my previous novels? First, I had a new story bubbling to get out. Second, I needed to be certain I could do the proper surgery needed to resurrect either novel.

Q: You just used an interesting phrase: reader-over-my-shoulder. Can you elaborate?

RSM: “Reader over the shoulder” is that invisible third party who can serve to choke your writing. Everyone has someone, right? For some it’s their husband, for others, it’s their children whose opinion they fear.

When we let the ‘reader’ act as a censor, we tighten up and our writing becomes less honest, less passionate. I believe the best writing comes from our most authentic place. In order to dismiss my reader over the shoulder, I choose topics where I can be write freely.

Q: We were recently on a panel together in New Jersey—which I enjoyed thoroughly! —and you mentioned two books that helped you after the book deal came through. Can you name them for WU readers, and explain what made them so valuable?

RSM: The first is The Forest For The Trees by Betsy Lerner. This book I call ‘an instant shrink for writers’ as it’s like a best friend holding your hand and a wise therapist-teacher. Agent, former editor, and writer Lerner explains the back story of what goes on while your book is wending its’ way towards the bookstore. A new version of this book is coming out soon.

Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb combines craft-wisdom with step-by-step advice for all parts of the publishing process, from querying an agent, to managing expectations after it sells.

Q: What was the editorial process like for you? How much did the story change once you had a home for The Murderer’s Daughters, if at all?

RSM: I had a 100% positive experience with my wonderful St. Martin’s Press editor. She had a sure and light hand. Her ideas were wise—most I took, some I didn’t. The story changed very little. The copy-editor? I thank her daily in my prayers.

Q: I know you hired an independent publicist to supplement the efforts of your in-house publicist before The Murderer’s Daughters was released. Can you explain to WU readers why you made that decision? What did your independent publicist do for you, above and beyond what you might have received with your in-house publicist? If you had it to do over again, would you?

RSM: There were a few factors I considered. First, I researched and was led in the direction of the firm I chose by seasoned authors whose judgment I trusted. Second, I had one and only one chance at being a ‘debut’ novelist, and I wanted to give my book every bit of help possible.

I’d already met my St. Martin’s publicist and had total faith in her, but I also knew that with cutbacks, etc, she had a large number of clients. Clearly, my book could only be her priority for a limited time. When I discussed using an outside publicists (an in particular my chosen one) with my editor and with the marketing and publicity staff at St. Martin’s, they were quite positive about it.

A wise agent once said at a conference: No one will care about your book as much as you. No one. I took her words and her emphasis to heart and decided to put every card in my favor.

Writing is a craft and an art. Getting your book in front of reader’s eyes is a business and I chose to invest in that business end. It’s not so much that outside publicists will necessarily do more than your in-house person, or even do it better, but they will have more time to devote to you on an exclusive basis.

What can they do? Get the book in front of the people you want to reach—the gatekeepers to reviewers, radio, television, bloggers; they have the lists, the contacts, and the know-how. They will follow-up with phone calls and emails. They should write reports to you on a regular basis.

I was incredibly pleased by the synergy between my publicist at St. Martin’s Press and my outside publicist from Goldberg McDuffie. It seemed to add up to more than the sum of its parts.

Q: Following publication, what were the five best things you did to further your career?

RSM: 1) Learned how to use social media in a way that I felt I could be authentic.

2) Honed my essay-writing skills by writing posts in my blog. I think this helped when I got a chance to try out for a Huffington Blog spot.

3) Teamed up with other writers so we could support each other in a promotion support group.

4) Teamed up with other writers to produce a multi-writers blog.

5) Listen to the good advice offered by my editor, agent, and publicists, even when it seemed counter-intuitive to my beliefs (such as limiting readings in favor of writing posts and interacting with bloggers, etc.) Not saturating my local events schedule unless I personally knew enough people to get them out to all the locales. As an unknown author, I had to build up a resume.

Q: Tell us a little about the MacMillan/Amazon situation – how you were personally affected by it, and what you’ve learned from it.

RSM: Macmillan and their imprints (mine being St. Martin’s Press) were pulled off the virtual shelves of Amazon 12 days after my book was released as the two fought over eBook pricing. This lasted for over a week and was horrifying for me—especially as I’d had terrific pre-sales and early sales on Amazon.

At first I absolutely broke down. Book launch in an emotional time—it’s the post-partum of writing. One becomes incredibly self-centered and one’s entire world centers on THE BOOK. I became amazed when I’d encounter folks who didn’t know that Amazon and MacMillan were battling. It’s me-me-me 24-7.

What I learned is that only I could do something positive about the situation. Screaming and yelling and crying wouldn’t help. My editor and agent were helpless. So I wrote what I hoped was an interesting post, about the situation from the point of view of the innocent author caught up in the war. This post traveled to the Guardian UK and was linked in many places, including the online Christian Science Monitor.

My actions brought me positive publicity and I learned, once again, about making lemonade from lemons. Look for the places where you can pull out the positive no matter how bleak something seems. A great example is this terrific book trailer where Brad Meltzer makes fun of himself (after getting awful book reviews.)

Q: What are you reading now? (OR – What’s on your keeper shelf?)

RSM: I’m about to open The Stormchasers, Jenna Blum’s new book. Of the books I read this year, one that truly took my breath away was Joan Wickersham’s memoir, The Suicide Index, her story of trying to make sense of her father’s suicide.

Q: From where do you draw inspiration? How do you fill the well?

RSM: Books are my inspiration, my relaxation; the constant loves of my life. Though this has been a wonderful year, it hasn’t been restful, so I look forward to grabbing some time this summer to attack the stacks of book next to my bed.

My family and friends are my greatest source of strength. I am planning a week with my daughters and granddaughter so we can be completely ‘us’ in that way one can only be when laughing with family.

Q: What’s next for you?

RSM: I’m finishing up my next book and hope to zap it off to my agent shortly.

Thanks so much, Randy, for a fantastic interview! Readers, you can learn more about Randy and The Murderer’s Daughters–including purchasing options–on her website.

Therese Walsh co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006. Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, sold to Random House in a two-book deal in 2008, was named one of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2009, and was a Target Breakout Book in 2010. She's never been published with a lit magazine, but LOST's Carlton Cuse liked her haiku best on Twitter, and that made her pretty happy.

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