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#AuthorsCafe Interview with Rebecca York
December 27, 1998
<Fawnn> Well, so we don't all sit here twindling our thumbs, I think I'll start w/some explanations
<Fawnn> Please follow protocol and wait to be acknowledged before posing a question or making a comment (beyond LOL, etc.).
<Fawnn> Protocol =
<Fawnn> ? if you wish to ask a question
<Fawnn> ! if you wish to make a comment
<Fawnn> GA (for Go Ahead) when you complete your question or comment.
<Fawnn> Our award-winning guest tonight, Ruth Glick writing as Rebecca York, is the author of more than 70 books, 11 of which are cookbooks.
<Fawnn> Recent books are for Harlequin's 43 Light Street Series. Her many awards include a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series and a Career Achievement Award for Romantic Mystery.
<Fawnn> Those books include:
<Fawnn> Simply Italian: 100 Zesty Italian Favorites Ready to Eat in Minutes
<Fawnn> The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book
<Fawnn> and, of course!!!,
<Fawnn> Shattered Lullaby, Ruth Glick, writing as Rebecca York, 43 Light Street,
<Fawnn> Harlequin Intrigue (January 1999)
<Fawnn> AND
<Fawnn> Shattered Vows (reprint) in Escapade, Harlequin (January 1999)
<Fawnn> Welcome, Ruth!!! Anything you'd like to say before we begin firing questions at you? GA
[21:09] <RYork> No, GA.
<Fawnn> I'll break the ice: Had you worked as a professional writer before selling your first romance? GA
[21:10] <RYork> Yes, I started off writing newspaper and magazine articles. My first novel was a kid's science fiction book called THE INVASION OF THE BLUE LIGHTS for Scholastic.
[21:10] <RYork> GA
<Fawnn> Would you care to share how that sale came about? GA
[21:13] <RYork> OK. I was taking a class at a local community college, where people read what they were working on. As I sat and listened to people reading chapters of novels, I wanted to try one. I figured a kid's novel would be shorter than an adult novel. I read the book to the class, revised it, and sent it out. I got 4-5 rejections, then an editor at Scholastic liked it enough to write a 2-page letter telling me what was wrong with it. When I got the letter, I told myself I'd follow her suggestions. I revised it, and she bought it.
[21:13] <RYork> When I sent it back, she bought it. GA
<Fawnn> How did you make the transition to romance? GA
<Fawnn> (If anyone else has a question, keep in mind all you have to do is type a "?" into channel. Quotation marks optional.) ;)
[21:15] <RYork> During the early 80s, there was a big boom in the romance market. One of the people in my critique group asked me if I wanted to try writing one. (more)
[21:16] <RYork> I'd never read one, but I liked them when I did. Now this will blow your mind-- (more)
[21:16] <Outlander> ?
[21:17] <RYork> CLIFFHANGER. I asked three other people if they wanted to try writing a romance novel with me. Four of us wrote a novel together and sold it!!! We used the pseudonym Alyssa Howard. That's how I got started--if you can believe that.
[21:17] <RYork> GA
<Fawnn> Outlander GA
<Fawnn> (And WOW! re the huge writing team!)
[21:18] <Outlander> How has the market developed now as compared w/ the boom in the early 80's? <more>
[21:18] <Outlander> Is it still a field where new talent can break in fairly easily or is it more difficult now? ga
[21:18] <RYork> Outlander: Well, it's a lot harder to break in and a lot harder to keep selling. You've got to work really hard to stay in the market. GA
<Fawnn> What type of hard work do you do to stay in the market, Ruth? GA
[21:19] <RYork> You can break in, but it's not easy. I have a critique group, and we got a new person I really thought was a good writer. We worked with her to make a manuscript that was already pretty good saleable. It took two years to sell it. GA
[21:20] <Emeric> ?
[21:20] <katykat> ?
[21:20] <RYork> Fawnn: I write the best book I can every time I write one. For me that means revising and revising. I'm never satisfied, but I finally have to turn it in. GA
<Fawnn> Emeric GA
[21:20] <Emeric> For you, what is the most difficult aspect of writing, and/or the profession of writing?
[21:21] <Emeric> GA
[21:21] <RYork> Emeric: The most difficult aspect for me is staring at a blank page. I hate it. I try to write fast, then revise and revise. I'd much rather work with something than nothing! GA
<Fawnn> katykat GA
[21:22] <katykat> what books on writing have you read/used..or have you? And what books would you recommend to writers?
[21:23] <katykat> gA
[21:23] <RYork> Katykat: Gee, it's been a long time since I used books on writing. The best for me recently was WRITING THE BLOCKBUSTER NOVEL, by Al Zuckerman. A long time ago, I read NOTES TO A SCIENCE FICTION WRITER, by Ben Bova, and liked it very much. GA
[21:23] <boise> ?
<Fawnn> boise GA
[21:24] <boise> How hard is it to break into the cookbook market, and do you have any recommendations? GA
[21:25] <RYork> The cookbook market is hard too, I'm afraid. I guess my recommendation would be to have a specialty. Mine is making lower fat food that tastes wonderful! GA
<Fawnn> How much time do you estimate that you spend in pre-planning ... plotting, character development, etc. before you actually start writing a novel? GA
[21:25] <boise> ?
[21:26] <RYork> I spend a lot of time thinking about each book and letting it simmer in the back of my head. Then I try to force myself to come up with a more-or-less complete outline--that I'm going to tear to shreds when I start writing. (more)
[21:27] <Outlander> lol
[21:27] <Outlander> (sounds like me...only I never make mine get better)
[21:27] <RYork> I write a novel about once every six or seven months, which means I don't have wads of time for pre-planning. However, with a suspense novel, you have to know where it's going. GA
<Fawnn> boise GA
[21:28] <boise> I've had a couple of cookbook writers tell me lately that if they had it to do over again, they would self publish... more
[21:29] <boise> mostly because they made so little money from their cookbooks. (more)
[21:29] <boise> Has this been your experience? GA
[21:30] <RYork> Well... I want to spend my time developing recipes or writing books. I hate promoting. If you're gonna self-publish, you've got to be out there selling the book some way. (more)
[21:30] <RYork> And let me tell you, when you're selling cookbooks, they expect you to bring food!!
[21:30] *** Joins: Lurquer
[21:30] <RYork> GA
[21:30] <Outlander> lol
<Fawnn> You mentioned you have a specialty as far as cookbooks. How did establish yourself as an expert in that specialty and get started in cookbook writing? GA
<Fawnn> hi Lurq!
[21:30] <boise> lol
[21:31] <Lurquer> Hi =) Sorry I'm late =)
[21:31] <RYork> I got started in cookbook writing because I wrote food articles. When the National Academy of Sciences published its landmark recommendations for changes in the American diet in the early 80s (more)
[21:32] <RYork> I thought everybody would want recipes showing them how to do it. Unfortunately, nobody was much interested. But I got my first cookbook out of it--DON'T TELL 'EM IT'S GOOD FOR 'EM, published by Times Books. (more)
[21:33] <RYork> So I got into the healthy food field early. I have a good agent who "sold" me that way. The SNACK, MUNCH, ... book conforms to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association--very precise stuff! GA
<Fawnn> What *do* you do in the way of promoting your books? (Since you prefer not to cater.) GA
[21:34] *** Joins: SnoCrashr
[21:35] <RYork> Well-- I go to book signings if it's a group signing--and I think the store might promote it. I've been trying to be very active on the Web. I give talks at libraries and sometimes at bookstores. GA
<Fawnn> Do you use the same agent for your cookbooks and your romances? GA
[21:36] *** Quits: Outlander
[21:36] <RYork> Yes. GA
[21:36] <boise> ?
<Fawnn> Ruth has an excellent Web site, too, btw. (Speaking of promotion!) Linked from where we'll be posting this interview at http://www.blueroses.com/authors/
<Fawnn> boise GA
<Fawnn> (short answer caught me off guard LOL) ;)
[21:37] <RYork> Fawnn: My DH keeps the web site for me. He's great! GA
[21:37] <boise> How do you mean active on the Web, and have you been able to tell that that helps sales? GA
<Fawnn> Yes, he is!!!
[21:37] <boise> ah. :)
<Fawnn> This interview would fall w/in "active on the Web," I'd think. ;)
[21:38] *** Joins: Outlander
[21:39] <RYork> Keeping up the Web site is a big part of it. Making sure I have all kinds of links. Making sure other sites don't have the wrong info about me (which happens more often than you might think). Being active on Amazon--writing author comments about my books. Participating in chats! :.) Being on bulletin boards. GA
<Fawnn> Has that increased sales, Ruth? GA
[21:42] <RYork> Boise, I'm not really sure if I can tell what helps sales. I've been looking at the rankings of my books on Amazon, but I haven't really been able to decipher them! On the other hand (and I forgot this earlier), I've been doing a number of radio interviews for the two recent cookbooks. By "a number" I mean about 30!! The ranking for the MUNCH, NOSH ... book seems to have done very well in the rankings as I did more interviews. GA
[21:42] *** Quits: Outlander
<Fawnn> You mentioned critique groups. How early do you share your writing? And how did you go about finding your critique partners you could trust? GA
[21:43] *** Joins: Redox
<Fawnn> (trust also encompasses knowing you could value their opinion, etc.)
<Fawnn> hi Redox!
[21:43] <Redox> Hi, all!
[21:44] <RYork> The critique group I'm in started from the class I took twenty years ago. We're still together! Most of us are published authors. I read the first chapters of novels and then only scenes where I'm having problems. (more)
[21:44] <RYork> Sometimes I've polished a lot before I read. Sometimes it's much fresher. GA
<Fawnn> How do you feel that's helped you? GA
[21:45] <RYork> Well, it's always good to get someone else's perspective on your work. They see things you don't. Also, interestingly, the very process of reading your own work aloud makes you hear things you missed. GA
<Fawnn> True!
<Fawnn> I'm SURE that anyone who has written (AND PUBLISHED!!!) 70+ books has some time-proven time-management tips. Would you share some of yours? GA
[21:47] <RYork> I don't think of myself as a very disciplined person, but I guess I must be! My most basic tip is, don't start writing an 80,000-word book a month before it's due! I try to write a little bit every day--even if I don't feel like it! I wrote 5 pages today. (more)
[21:49] <RYork> Five pages is about the minimum I shoot for. I really spend most of every day sitting at the computer--writing. I consider that my main job. Cookbooks: I break for dinner and test recipes. And if I hadn't gotten my 5 pages in, I go back to the novel. (more)
[21:50] <RYork> I also try to make sure I don't push myself too hard, since I've heard too many stories about writer's block. So I try to make myself walk or lift weights almost every day. And I make sure I do things that are fun! GA
<Fawnn> With all of that recipe testing that needs to be done, who gets to do the grocery shopping? GA ;)
[21:51] <RYork> My DH does the grocery shopping. I also hire cooks to come in and test recipes I've already tried once. Getting someone else's perspective is very helpful--were the directions clear, were the ingredients correct. (more)
[21:52] <RYork> Actually, as I get old and tired, I try to delegate more work. As I said, my DH does the Web page, and I have a publicist. Also, my librarian daughter is coming in a couple of days a week to fix my office files so I can find stuff! GA
[21:53] *** Joins: HorrorBiz
<Fawnn> A full-family operation then! ;)
<Fawnn> Based on what you said above about going back to your writing to make sure you get your 5 pages in for the day, it sounds like you are somewhat flexible. I'm wondering though if you have specific parts of your day that you use for writing and other parts for promotion? Or does it vary day to day? GA
<Fawnn> hi HB
[21:53] *** Joins: Balboa
<Fawnn> hi Balboa!
[21:54] <Balboa> yo fawnie
[21:54] *** Joins: geeta
<Fawnn> hi geeta!
[21:55] <RYork> Hi, all the new people! Fawnn: I start off in the morning trying to write, but there are sometimes things that impinge--like getting stuff in the mail, writing articles that people ask me to write. (more)
[21:56] <RYork> When my publicist is working on a project, I usually have stuff I do with her. For example, I give out little notebooks as promotional materials, we're designing a new cover right now; and if you're writing actively, your press kit changes all the time. So I have to be involved in stuff like that. GA
<Fawnn> Anyone else have any questions? ? if you do! GA
<Fawnn> Could you give us an idea of what you include in your press kit? GA
[21:57] *** Joins: Outlander
[21:58] <RYork> In my press kit I have a bio with my picture (a different press kit for novels and for cookbooks). Then I have reviews of my books, articles about me, awards, a list of my books, review quotes, frequently asked questions. GA
<Fawnn> I have a curiosity question: How is your writing office different today (besides the computer system) than what you used as an home office when you wrote your first novel in the early '80's? GA
[22:00] <boise> ?
[22:00] *** Quits: Balboa (http://www.angelfire.com/ga/deaddogs/)
[22:00] <RYork> I have a nice big office in the basement. In fact, I just added an addition to my house that made the office significantly bigger. However, I do a lot of my writing upstairs with a laptop, so I can sit in bed with the cat! I've always liked writing while sitting on a bed with my legs stretched out, so the laptop is my chief machine. I also take it on trips. GA
<Fawnn> boise GA
[22:01] <boise> What is your url?
[22:01] <boise> GA
[22:02] <RYork> The URL is http://www.rebeccayork.com . GA
[22:02] <boise> (That question sounded suspiciously like What's your sign?) lol
<Fawnn> lol
<Fawnn> Sorry for the out of sequence: Going back to your press kit info, how do you determine who gets the kit? Who gets the whole shebang? Do you vary what's sent aside from book topic ... meaning amount of content? GA
[22:05] <RYork> I guess I send the press kit to media people who request information about me. I also take it to conferences. SHATTERED LULLABY was the 500th Intrigue, which I thought was worth publicizing. So my publicist and I wrote a press release and sent it to about 40 local media people. (more)
[22:06] <RYork> OK, the reason I say "my publicist and I" is because I always have to stick my finger in it. I could just send her off to do it, but I know I'll like the result better if participate. GA
[22:06] <HorrorBiz> ?
<Fawnn> HB GA
[22:06] <HorrorBiz> First of all Hi :)
[22:06] <RYork> Hi HB!
[22:07] <HorrorBiz> Um, I don't know if this has been asked but what is your favorite book and movie ? Also who would you say are your influences in the writing field ?
[22:07] <HorrorBiz> GA
[22:08] <RYork> Well, I just saw the new Star Trek movie and liked it. I think one of the big influences on me is Ken Follett. When I read his KEY TO REBECCA, I said to myself, "That's the kind of book I want to write." (more)
[22:10] <RYork> I don't have one favorite book. Right now I'm rereading THE WOLF'S HOUR, by Robert McCammon, 'cause I liked it a lot. I like Dick Francis, Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, Nora Roberts, Maggie Osborne, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, John Sandford, William Caunitz. GA
<Fawnn> Ruth: Our hour is up already! Do you wish to continue? GA
[22:10] <RYork> Sure, I can stick around. GA
<Fawnn> Does anyone else have any questions? ? if you do. GA
[22:11] <HorrorBiz> ?
<Fawnn> HB GA
[22:11] <HorrorBiz> :)
[22:12] *** Quits: Margery
[22:12] <geeta> ?
[22:12] <Lurquer> ?
[22:12] <RYork> HB, I didn't see your question. GA
[22:12] <HorrorBiz> I haven't read many romance novels but I do know from personal experiences that writing love scenes is rather hard because they're easy to screw up. Have you ever written something that made you go "Oh Gawd" then roll your eyes ? :)
[22:13] <HorrorBiz> GA
[22:13] <RYork> Of course! I hope it didn't appear in print. GA
<Fawnn> LOL
<Fawnn> geeta GA
[22:13] <HorrorBiz> hehehe
[22:14] <geeta> i'd like to know if there was a perfect time in your life when you thought .."well...this is it...i am ready to start writing now"...or did it happen at random?
[22:14] <geeta> did you feel the need to 'gather' enough to happen and know...GA
[22:15] <RYork> I always wanted to be a writer. I'm really dyslexic, and I can't spell, and I had teachers who made me feel like an idiot, so I thought I couldn't be a writer. Then I said "The heck with it!" and started doing it. I was about 30 at the time. (more)
[22:16] <RYork> Geeta: I have a very vivid imagination. That's all I need!! GA
<Fawnn> Lurquer GA
[22:16] <geeta> hmmmmmmm...i have that too..;-)
<Fawnn> And, good for you, Ruth!!!
[22:16] <Lurquer> Ruth, as writers, we all know that it's not a cakewalk, so to speak (And no, I'm not trying to make a pun on the cookbooks.) But are there any aspects to the writing business that you see as being negative?
[22:17] <Lurquer> go ahead (sorry!)
[22:18] <RYork> There are LOTS of negative aspects. Like, it would be nice if most writers could earn a living at their craft. That's hard. I wish I could devote more time to the writing and less to the "business," but I have to do both. GA
<Fawnn> If you ruled the (publishing) world, what would you change? GA
[22:20] <RYork> Actually, I can say more about the negative aspects. There is a lot of pressure now to write books that will "sell big"! So writers are being asked by editors to write stories based on editor/publisher ideas. It would be more satisfying if we could just write what turns us on. I'll give you an example. (more
[22:20] <RYork> I really love romantic suspense with paranormal elements, and I've written books like this in the past. Right now, my publisher isn't buying any. GA
[22:21] <Outlander> ?
<Fawnn> Outlander GA
[22:21] <Outlander> sounds like my kinds of books - what titles were they?
[22:22] <RYork> Fawnn: I just saw your question. If I ruled the publishing world, I'd give more of the money to authors, and I'd let them follow their imagination rather than the market. (My DH, who is sitting here, says I wouldn't be a publisher for very long! :)) GA
<Fawnn> LOL
[22:23] <Outlander> rotfl!
<Fawnn> More money would = great "product," imo! ;)
<Fawnn> You've now reached the enviable status of having your romances reissued. Before that, (or even now), were you/are you bothered by the short shelf life? GA
[22:24] <RYork> Outlander: NOWHERE MAN and PRINCE OF TIME and TANGLED VOWS and HOPSCOTCH and TRIAL BY FIRE are 43 Light Street examples. IN SEARCH OF THE DOVE was another--one of my Peregrine Connection books. GA
<Fawnn> (I apologize for the out of sequence question.)
[22:24] <Outlander> k, thanks...now comes the fun...*finding* them <g>
[22:25] <RYork> I hate the short shelf life. I think Amazon is wonderful for remedying this, since they are making books available longer. GA
<Fawnn> Is the 43 Light Street series pretty much worldwide distribution? Or have you had other foreign market sales? GA
<Fawnn> Yes, re amazon!
[22:25] <Outlander> ?
[22:26] <RYork> Try Amazon for old books. They have a search service. In fact, there are several used book search services on the web. GA
[22:27] <RYork> Fawnn, I've been translated into 17 languages. Not all the Light Street books make every foreign market. GA
<Fawnn> Outlander GA
<Fawnn> (And Congrats on the translations!)
[22:27] <Outlander> Was wondering about pseudonyms...what made you decide to use one?
[22:29] <RYork> Rebecca York was the last name on a list I submitted to Dell--for the Peregrine Connection books. They picked it. I love the way the name sounds, but it's not so great on the bookshelf--in the lower righthand corner! GA
[22:29] <Outlander> lol
<Fawnn> lol
<Fawnn> Anyone else have a question?
[22:29] <HorrorBiz> ?
<Fawnn> HB GA
[22:30] <HorrorBiz> Are there any legal/copyright problems to using a pseudonym ? I use one and was wondering. GA
[22:30] <RYork> A bit more on pseudonyms. Romance publishers used to demand pseudonyms--so they could own the name. Rebecca York came to Harlequin from Dell, so they don't own it!! I can take it where I want. GA
[22:30] <HorrorBiz> I like Rebecca York too by the way. Sounds good :)
[22:31] <RYork> Not that I know about. I copyright the pseudonymous books in my own name. GA
<Fawnn> anyone else?
[22:31] <RYork> Thanks, HB! GA
<Fawnn> Do you have any parting words, Ruth? Anything you'd like to add? GA
[22:32] <RYork> I've really enjoyed talking to you. This was my first "chat." If I have any advice about getting published, it would be--Keep Writing; You have to do it all the time to be successful. GA
<Fawnn> Remember, we'll be posting a transcript of this interview on the #Authors Web site, http://www.blueroses.com/authors/
[22:33] <Outlander> lol ... less chatting, more writing! <g>
<Fawnn> nahhhh ;)
[22:33] <geeta> lol Out :)
<Fawnn> balance 'em both ;)
<Fawnn> Thank you so much for you time and consideration, Ruth! We're so glad you could join us tonight!
<Fawnn> one final question:
[22:33] <Outlander> thanks, Ruth!
[22:33] <Lurquer> (Clarification - the pseudonym thing came out a few years back when Janet Dailey wasn't happy with the way Harlequin was handling her books. She threatened to leave if they wouldn't change. They wouldn't, and she did, and took something like five million readers with her. Harlequin then implemented a policy whereby ALL books were to be published under pseudonyms. This seems to be reversing itself, though.)
<Fawnn> Did you enjoy your first full-fledged official chatting experience, Ruth? GA ;)
[22:35] <geeta> thanx Lurq, for the info and stat :)
[22:35] <boise> Thank you so much, Ruth! :)
[22:36] <Lurquer> Thank you, Ruth! It was wonderfully educational. =)
[22:36] <RYork> Yes, Fawnn, I did enjoy it. Thanks for inviting me. Lurquer: I'm not sure about the Janet Dailey story. I think she left Harlequin because she wanted to write bigger books--and look where it got her. (more)
[22:36] <geeta> ~~ Happy New Year ~~ Ruth :))) and thanx
[22:36] <RYork> Several years ago, I wrote "straight" romances for Harlequin under my own name--Ruth Glick. There was no problem with this. GA
<Fawnn> Thanks again. Ruth: It's up to you if you have time and wish to stick around to chat. You've been more than generous already, so if you must leave, we understand! (And you're very welcome re the invite!) GA
[22:36] <HorrorBiz> thanks ruth :) have a happy new year :)
[22:37] <RYork> I can stay for awhile if people still have questions. GA
<Fawnn> open chat. The moderator is officially off duty and you're on your own. (Thanks Ruth!!!) Informal commences NOW! ;)
Copyright © 1998 by Blue Rose Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
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