Sunday, December 30, 2012

E.N. Joy, Executive editor for Urban Christian and author stops by Grove Street. Writing tips and interview.

E.N. Joy


How long have you been writing and working in the literary industry?


I have been writing since the days of elementary journal and rainy day writings.  Writing has always been my escape in life.  For some it's chocolate or shopping. For me it's pen and paper. I used to enter writing and poetry contests all the time when I was in school. I even won a couple and still have the certificates to this day.  Over the years, as I got older, I wrote several short stories. It was 1998 when I decided to compile the stories and create my first work, Please Tell Me If The Grass Is Greener, which I self-published. A year later I self-published World On My Shoulders, which was a book of poetry.  I then went on to self-publish my first full-length novel, The Root of All Evil, which was eventually picked up by a major publishing house.  In the past 14 years I have self-published, published traditionally, agented authors, done freelance editing as well as work as an editor for publishing houses.  I'm the current acquisition editor for Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books in which the titles are distributed by Kensington Publishing Corp.  I instruct publishing workshops as well as children's works. I write songs and I do ghost writing and one-on-one literary consulting.


What are the names of your books?

I formerly wrote secular titles under the names Joylynn M. Jossel (The Root of All Evil, When Souls Mate, etc...) and JOY (Dollar Bill, If I Ruled the World, etc...). I have written a children's story under the name N. Joy (The Secret Olivia Told Me).  Since writing Christian fiction, I have written nine titles: She Who Finds a Husband, Been There Prayed That, Love Honor or Stray, Trying to Stay Saved and I Can Do Better All By Myself (all part of the "New Day Divas" series). I have also written And You Call Yourself A Christian, The Perfect Christian and The Sunday Only Christian (all part of the "Still Divas" series). My first Christian fiction title is Me, Myself and Him.


Was it difficult to transition from penning street literature to Christian fiction and young adult literature? Why did you make this decision?

As far as being able to pen entertaining, captivating and life altering projects; no, that
was not difficult at all. It was difficult to get my readers to make the journey from secular writings to Christian fiction with me. I knew from the moment I made a decision to write stories that glorified God that I would lose a great hunk of the readership that I'd worked so  hard to earn over the years. A writer always wants to please his/her readers.  That's exactly what I wanted to do, but first I had to please God. I wasn't born on the church pew, nor have I been saved all my life, but when I finally did turn my life over to Jesus, I couldn't do some of the things I used to do.  I couldn't go some of the places I used to go or say some of the things I used to say.  Ultimately, I couldn't write some of the things I used to write, which is why I made the decision to deliver God's word through the written word.

What do you feel are some of your most noteworthy accomplishments in your career?

I was ecstatic when I learned that a book I had written with New York Times Best selling Author, Brenda Jackson, titled An All Night Man, had received the best selling African American romance by Borders at the Romance Writers of American National Conference. Having my novel, Dollar Bill, appear in Newsweek and be translated to Japanese and sold in Japan was also a wonderful accomplishment.  I must admit, though, that my children's story, The Secret Olivia Told Me, receiving the American Library Association Coretta Scott King honor and then be acquired by Scholastic Books has been the icing on the cake.


As an acquisitions editor, what is a common mistake that many aspiring authors overlook when submitting manuscripts to you?

For me, the most common mistake is authors sending in manuscripts to be considered for publication without first having it edited.  I know-I know; publishing houses have editors that they use after they pick up your story.  Key words: "after they pick up your story." I understand that most manuscripts are submitted by first time, aspiring authors.  But an author who takes the time to invest and attempts to learn and hone in on the craft of both writing and storytelling is the one who catches the publisher's eye. Believe it or not, some authors don't even do spell check before submitting their manuscript while others don't write it in the correct format, which could be eliminated by simply picking up another book to see how it's formatted when it comes to dialogue, etc... This extra care-or lack of- that a writer puts into their submission gives the publisher an idea of what type of author they would be dealing with if acquiring the story.

Are there any do’s and don’t’s, when it comes to penning Christian fiction?

Some authors who write Christian fiction do not write for a Christian fiction imprint, therefore there are really no guidelines for how they must pen their story. I, in fact, do write for a Christian fiction imprint that has specific writing guidelines.  The do's and don'ts of penning Christian fiction really boils down to the publisher. So I suggest an author wanting to submit work in that genre do the research of the publishing house in which they are submitting their work to.  If the guidelines state "no cursing," then be mindful and eliminate any use of curse words (even if the words do appear in the Bible).

Should submissions always be edited first?

I strongly believe that an author should turn in the best manuscript possible.  If that means hiring an editor, then by all means they should do so.

Do you require submitting ideas through an agent?
Urban Christian does not require that an author submit their work through an agent.  I'll give you a little tip though: represented manuscripts get moved to the top of the pile to be reviewed!

 What is one important thing an experienced author without a book deal can do to grow his or her career?

As an author who has written under many names and many genres, I am often asked advice from both aspiring authors and seasoned authors as well. Even as a seasoned author, there is still always so much more to learn and it is always a blessing to be able to engage in the quality of sharing among other authors. With that being said, I'd like to share what I think is the most valuable advice an author could ever receive:  "KNOW AND GET YOUR AUDIENCE BEFORE YOU EVEN FINISH THE BOOK!"

I know; sounds like hustling backwards, right?  Sounds like creating a hype for something that doesn't even exist, right?  Sounds like fraud-a scam, right?  WRONG!

The most valuable thing an author can ever do is to generate a fan base-have tons of people sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for a book to come out.  Think about it; doesn't Hollywood do it all the time when it comes to movies?  Doesn't the Lifetime Movie Network have the ladies setting their DVR months in advance for a movie with all those teasing previews they show?  Or the huge wrestling events have men doing pay per view months in advance? Shouldn't the same go for the literary world?

I say yes, and that authors should stop selling themselves short by not considering their product to be something so worthy that folks need to mark their calendars for its release...pre order, etc...  Hustling backwards is creating a product, filling your warehouse, garage, dining room, etc... with it, and then trying to figure out who would want to buy it and how to get them to buy it.

The minute a person knows they are going to write that book and they have that title engraved in stone, they should create a cover.  Even if it's just a mock cover with a black background and the title is in a large white letters, create a visual to give people.  Begin promoting it.  Begin teasing people with a synopsis and one liners from the book.  Create a website giving the release date.  Have no idea when the book will be done?  Then just say "Coming Soon."  Once there is a concrete release date, begin taking pre-orders.  Please be realistic with that release date.  There is nothing worse than having a reader sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for a book to come out, and then the release date comes and goes, especially if they have pre-ordered it.  By that time they have moved on to the next author and no longer trust that the book will ever come out.

Every chance the author gets, they should tell people about their forthcoming title. Get all their friends and family to tell people as well.  Create a social networking page.  Take out ads with literary promotional companies like Sormag.  Get book marks, postcards, etc...  Even send book stores information about the forthcoming title.  Of course the author needs to do all of this while writing the book, but as I always say (and any author will tell you), writing the book is the easy part.  Selling it is the killer.  But I strongly believe if an author generates their audience first (and knows who their audience is...who the book will appeal to), do some marketing and promoting before the book is ever even written, it will make the task of selling the book once it is released that much easier.



You can visit Joy by clicking this link.

Would you like to read more interviews like these? http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/bloggertime

Just write the book!

So many people discuss wanting to write a book. However, writing it entails rewrites, revisions, edits, test reading and more. The most essential step is getting a draft down on paper. No one can help or consult with an aspiring author if there's nothing to review. Finish the draft. The first won't be your last. It's a process that takes time. I say begin to outline your thoughts, then get started. I know this is a basic premise, but it's important. I've also served as a ghost writer who worked with publishers. Why did they use me contractually? Authors who did land a publishing deal hadn't finished their books.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Grove Street's next issue is almost complete!

The final version is being proofed. I'm excited about the high-quality guests.
An acquisition's editor shares insight regarding what she looks for in a winning submission. More authors share tidbits of their lives and work. A celebrity baker offers mouth watering pictorials. An intellectual property attorney chats about the business side of implementing ideas.


Each issue will offer a different perspective of the writing life. Please be sure to go to Issuu.com. The key word is Grove Street. I'll post here as well. I appreciate your interest and support of the ezine; I truly do!

Losing my legacy. Alex Haley's son died this morning.

In my ear, I still hear my cousin calling me Baby Girl. Bill Haley was Alex Haley's son, and also my cousin. Another relative notified me of his passing. I heard that he was scheduled to release several books about his life with his father, the impact that Roots had on America, and share some lost pages of history. However, that will never be. One little-known fact about our family background is that my grandfather, Simon, was the impetus for so much interest in genealogy that inspired my uncle to explore who his mother's relatives were.

We are a community of people. The fiber of understanding and appreciation for diversity should bring us together, not pull us a part. I am a relative hidden in the cracks of a family tree that is dwindling with each generation. I aspired to write on a higher level that would elevate my lineage. However, not one solid opportunity has found me yet. While penning tales of urban culture, my heart longs to celebrate who I am--a descendant of a mulatto slave woman whose story could be anyone's descendant's saga.

My heart is heavy with sadness because the very family that was used as a template for identity is losing that very thing. How I have been treated as an author aspiring to climb the ladder of success is woeful. I don't complain publicly; my journey is akin to any artist's who wanted to share creativity with the world.

In a world of bloggers and social media, I find myself wondering if we become desensitized to passion and skill. Do all words seem the same to editors and decision makers? How do they decide whose talent is worth nurturing?

I have yet to figure out where I will land in this confusing microcosm, as the member of another generation. What I do know is that I do what I can to help fate along. If you dream of doing something, grab your thoughts tight, do your due diligence to make things happen, then simply do something.

In life, everyone won't embrace us. For some, our journey may take longer to walk. Even if you don't know where you will end up, celebrate your passion. Take a daily step to build the best dream that you can manage.

As I type on my phone, I consider how many of us forget to employ the resources that we have. What we don't shouldn't dominate our thinking. How can we be powerful today? How can we build a legacy for our children, our community, and ourselves?

Keep hope in your heart, fire in your belly, and God's grace in your thoughts. That's what keeps me striving to unlock the door of purpose as much as I can manage.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Staying motivated in a tough industry.

There are frustrating days when am author like me can question the journey. My Uncle Alex autographed this picture, after visiting the university where my grandmother, his stepparent, worked. I understand that reviews are a part of penning anything, but when readers really want to encourage writers to write better and more, feedback can be golden. I hope the universe still values us. I truly hope my ezine will spark something good. I am trying my best to say thank you to readers who cheer on writers who are struggling to uncover amazing moments. Please see my very first post, if you would like to connect through Grove Street.

What I'm thinking at 5:51 AM. The importance of customer service.

I was researching a potential story about a nameless place that serves food that is good for us. I took a look at Yelper's opinions. Many liked the food itself but complained about customer service and cleanliness. The marketer in me says, regardless if someone is selling a book, food or fly traps, customer service is essential. As consumers, we communicate through social networks online and in person. I now own a startup marketing company, after being booked as independent contractor. I worked on high-end campaigns from Remy Martin to Cadillac. Anyone who couldn't represent the client's brand with excellent customer service would risk getting hired or black listed by the marketing company. During many assignments, we had to deliver a small with brand messaging in heels, never being allowed to sit down for the duration of the day. Moonlighting as a spokesmodel helped me to fill in financial gaps, when writing life slowed, and HR people didn't select me. My adventure to learn all about branding and promotions is a long story, but it reminded me that there's no use in spending money and time marketing anything if a person can't meet the demand if consumers respond, and if customer service is poor. Impressions are lasting. I personally remember my experience with every author that I've ever met. Attitude is as important to me as what a person is selling. Well, enough typing on my phone this morning. May this Friday be good to you!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

The sour turned sweet today. :)

I met a publisher of a local newspaper. His assistant nearly made me regret following up. I know an assistant's job is to screen people, but her attitude wasn't my favorite. I plan to toss out his business card as a reminder to focus on a yes. I hear no daily. However, the upside was another assistant who is coordinating my first celebrity interview. I am excited to feature this person in the ezine. Not everyone is the same. Life is a combo of no, yes, maybe, and don't ask for nada until your name is banging in everyone's ears. So, that's my take on the sweet and sour of trying to get my mojo back.

I pitch until I'm purple.

My son is screaming in my ear. It's difficult writing while parenting a toddler alone, but God gives me the strength. My little bundle of energy and I compete to use my laptop. He already loves books. Before I can fathom publishing a children's books, my current manuscripts need homes. Pitching is a long process that depends on having the right thing at the right time. Oh, and sending it to an editor who is willing to read it. I just pitched my first romance novelette. Where it goes, who knows. I've turned from purple to blue from writing so much. I plan on turning all of my latest manuscripts into digital books. Yes, it has come to this. Getting another deal seems impossible. Maybe I should make a deal with myself.

Another issue is coming soon.

If you want to get published, need motivation, or simply want to keep informed about literary happenings, the next issue will be posted next week.

I am excited about having more quality participants.