October 25, 2007 • Print This Post
So I have a clear choice here. I can say lovely positive things or I can be me.
I pick… me. I think blogs are pretty interesting little vehicles of self expression. The posts I read from the Brava authors are fun and informative and upbeat. They share anecdotes, recommend books and authors, cheer each other on and the like. None of which you will get from me. I sit on the other side of the desk and most of the time I am in a fairly bad mood. Not a prime candidate for a blogger but you are stuck.
I am going to go to far fewer conferences next year. I can answer the most popular question out there without having to take my shoes off to get through airport security. And that question is, of course, “How long do I have to wait to hear back from you on my manuscript?”
Most of the time, I have a very good experience at conferences. I meet new and old friends, I see some of our authors and some agents I am cordial to, I hear great gossip and get terrific book recommendations (I love word of mouth). But then something not so nice frequently happens. And so I think in the interest of my blood pressure, I had better cut down.
This is not a rant about authors or anyone behaving badly. It’s more like a rationale for not doing my part. Like contests. I used to judge lots. Now, not so much. I saw the same material entered in many contests. I guess that’s the author’s way of saying, “I like it just the way it is.” Fine by me.
The Brava Novella Contest is the absolute exception to this. This contest has paid off so handsomely for Kensington, it is quite amazing. So I thank you most profusely, all you who entered. And to all you who are judging, I owe you. Big time.
I know you all juggle demands on your free time and that something’s got to give. So, for me, a little less travel is probably good for the romance cosmos.
Posted by Kate Duffy @ 3:00 am • Filed under: Kate Duffy
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Well I’m a reader, not a writer, and I’ve heard many wonderful things about you, Kate, from some of my favorite authors who truly respect you. At some point most of us face a difficult decision when it comes to prioritizing, and I say do as you please. We don’t want your blood pressure going up
Kate,
Can’t wait to read your blogs here on http://www.bravaauthors.com. I am an aspiring author and I’ve heard many wonderful things about you. As a matter of fact, everytime authors talk to me about you they add “The Great” in front your name. This just goes to show you how much respect the writing community has for you and your opinion on our manuscripts. I would much rather receive criticism than praise so I applaud you for choosing to be, well, you.
Take care.
Kate, I hope national will still be on your agenda. All of us at the Fog City Divas are eager to play hostess.
Hey, Kate — You do realize that no one really believes you when you keep trying to tell people how grouchy you are.
Outspoken, yes. Tell the truth without sugar-coating it? Sure. But that’s part of what we love about you.
I’m so with you on the travel thing. Although I quit going to most conferences years ago, I am showing up in San Francisco for RWA. Also, we’re moving to the Seattle area (Redmond) next spring/summer, so I hope you’ll consider the Emerald City conference in either 2008 or ‘09. It’s always so much fun to get together in the bar and swap war stories.
Glancing at this response, it occurs to me that there should probably be a 24-hour waiting period before being allowed to use smilies, but I’m leaving them in anyway.
Kate,
See, now I expected nothing less except for you to be you. And I completely understand the need to step away from conferences. Sometimes an author’s time can be better spent working on writing. And a little breather never hurt anyone.
I too had mostly given up on judging contents. But I really enjoyed reading the Brava novella entries. Short, and definitely not sweet, lol, they were great fun.
Morning all,
So Stacy, read anything wonderful lately that you might want to recommend? I just finished Lisa Kelypas and Victoria Alexander’s newest - both quite wonderful and one of our debut authors, MIDNIGHT EYES by Sarah Brophy which was unputdownable.
Leila,
Thanks for dropping by. People in Romanceland are very kind. And luckily for me, seem to have short memories.
The truth can hurt, I know, and generally it is just one person’t opinion. But as I said to someone, being published is neither a right nor a priviledge. It is a job and you can’t get that job unless you have the skills and talent to compete.
Good morning, Jill Shalvis, you had snow yet?
Kate
Waving hi Kate!
I had an absolute blast judging the Brava entries. There were some really fantastic excerpts again this year.
Hi Kate,
You are an editor I highly respect and I applaud you for your decision to cut down the areas that are affecting your health.
I’m grateful Kensington offers the Brava contest and this year I’ve entered.
I look forward to one day having the priviledge of working with you and your staff.
All my best,
Tambra Kendall
Hi Kate. From my personal experience in working with you, I’ve found I ending up laughing so much that I often forget why I needed to talk to you in the first place. When I call you, I have to have notes to keep myself on track.
I enjoyed judging the Brava entries. I found a couple I thought were terrific.
Kate, summer was cold and fall was hot. Then last week we had three inches of snow and this week it’s 70 degrees. I think Mother Nature is toying with us. That or she’s having hotflashes, in which case I can relate.
Someone very close to me sat me down last summer and told me two very hard truths…
Liane, if you aren’t writing, its because you choose not to. (He almost wore my skillet over his head for that one, but it was true.)
He also said…It’s not how much you do in life that makes a difference. It’s that the things that you do choose to participate in are done with passion and vision.
Not bad for a real life alpha hero who I married for his muscles.
“So I have a clear choice here. I can say lovely positive things or I can be me.”
LOL, Kate. You just hit on the very reason my blog posts can be sporadic. As a relative newbie, I’ve kept the posts to when I’m in lovely, positive Lainey form. BUT I have the utmost respect for all the talent authors out there who generously share information and tell it like it is.
And, as several people have already pointed out, I’ve heard very positive things about you and the respect your authors have for you.
Nice to have the opportunity to thank you and the judging authors personally for this contest. I hadn’t written a novella before, but now I have two and am a good part of the way through my third and love the freedom to fatten up the short stories I’ve been writing without the confines of feeling like I have to aim for 100K!
Thank You!
“So I have a clear choice here. I can say lovely positive things or I can be me.”
LOL, Kate. You hit on the very reason my blog posts can be sporadic. As a relative newbie, I only post when I am in lovely, positive Lainey mode. But I have the utmost respect for the many talented authors who are generous with information and tell it like it is.
As many have mentioned, I’ve heard terrifically positive things about you and the respect your authors have for you.
Nice to have the opportunity to thank you and the judges for this contest. I hadn’t written a novella before, and now I’ve completed two and am fleshing out a third. Very much enjoyed diving into something meatier than the short stories, but not as daunting as feeling compelled to hit 100K.
Thank you!
Liane — What a cool hero you have! Over the years I’ve noticed that so many romance writers are fortunate to have supportive men in our lives. Maybe that’s partly why we write in the genre we do?
I loved the “it’s not how much you do in life but doing it with passion and vision.” A very wise man!! A keeper!!
Ack! Sorry about the 2-fer.
It tossed me and then double whammied me.
Guess I really mean it to say it twice.
Hello Kate,
I have friends in the publishing house for whom I write who also write for Kensington, and you in particular. Without exception, each one sings your praises.
Years ago, 1997 to be exact…in Orlando, I “presented” to you in a group appointment. You were blunt but not rude, which I have always appreciated since I, too, am blunt. I try not to be rude.
Thanks for being here. Your insights are invaluable.
Hi Kate! :::waving::: to you from sunny AZ.
I’m happy to have you here and looking forward to reading more of your posts. I’m sure they’ll be awesome.
Hi Kate, You probably remember me from the way I clam up whenever I’m near you
I totally understand the need to cut back on certain things at certain times. For me it’s often the loops–yes, they allow me to promote my work, but they suck time and sometimes they draw me into emotional discussions with folks I’ve never even met. Better to spend my emotions in my writing! That said, I hope I’ll still see you at Retreat?
Jill, Where do you live that you had snow already?!
Dawn Oliveri
Liane!!!
You really did marry a hero. Maybe one day I’ll find mine.
Tambra
Hi Kate,
You mentioned looking for something new to read. I have three recently published short, hot romances out. Two are paranromal, one a humorous historical.
Please, excuse me if this is considered improper. However, if you are interested, I’m more than happy to get one/all to you.
Tambra
*who hopes she is not committing career suicide by her offer*
Tambra,
Thanks but I was looking for some reader recommendations but thanks for the offer.
My lunch date is an hour late. I think I’ve been stood up.
I’ll go to RT and RWA and Harper’s Ferry anytime I am asked. Oh and Madeline Hunter and I promised to go to visit either Savannah or Charleston and do not ask me why I keep getting those two cites confused but there is an email around here somewhere that will give me a clue.
Thanks so much everyone for dropping by to say such nice things. And now I think I will go hunt and gather on my own.
I’ll be back, Kate
Kate, cutting back on the wild and woolly world of conferencing, huh? This can only make you more in demand, of course. Truly, it’s not fair to make us go cold turkey, withholding from us your wit, wisdom and general smartness.
On that recommended read thing: THE THIRTEENTH TALE, Diane Setterfield. (Sorry, not even close to a Brava :???:) My bad . . .
Edna (too ofen a little on the grumpy side herself)
Welcome to the blog! And, look at that snazzy photo. That is not the smile of a grouchy woman.
HelenKay Dimon » Blog Archive » Land Of The Lost Says:
[...] Brava editor (my editor) Kate Duffy is blogging at the Brava Authors’ website today. She’ll be there every month. It’s a fabulous opportunity to say hello, ask her [...]
Dawn, I live near Lake Tahoe on the California side. And I’m a total clam myself, nice to meet another.
Hi, Kate! Well, since you are cutting back on the conferences (something I completely understand), then I feel very fortunate that I got the chance to say “Hello!” to you in person at the RT Convention in Houston.
Ditto what Jami Alden said, Kate. Hope to see you in San Fran next year.
HelenKay, I can feel the snark. That is the smile of a grouchy women who is thinking, “I hate getting my picture taken so much, I would like to drive a #2 pencil through my cranium.”
Well, my lunch date, the lovely and effervescent Brenda Novak did arrive and we had a quick sandwich with her charming daughter Ashley. Seeing all the Fog City Divas who have dropped by here and in person is most enjoyable and I look forward to seeing you in San Francisco.
Edna, my sweet, you? Grumpy? I will never believe it and thanks for the book tip.
See you all in a few,
Kate
>and get terrific book recommendations (I love word of mouth).<
As far as book recommendations, I just gobbled down Charlaine Harris’s “An Ice Cold Grave” and 3 Michelle Scott wine mysteries and am now in the middle of the third Dresden Files novel by Jim Butcher.
Dawn
Kate, thanks for blogging. I’ve heard wonderful things about you, but the two words that stand out are “tough but fair” and your post sounds just like you.
I understand about the conference decision. Think of all the work you could be doing instead of traveling. You know, getting those submissions looked over.
I’m entered in the Brava Novella contest (there! I said it!
) I think it’s an honor to even have my entry looked at in the first place and thank you Kate for being a part of it. 
Hey, Kate! Good to see you on the Brava blog! And really glad to hear that you’ll still be coming to Nationals. I’d really miss seeing you there!
But you so often say lovely, positive things. In my opinion, you are unsurpassed in your ability to make an author feel good about their work.
I love that about your editorial style.
Sylvia
Ditto.
Sylvia, I am so impressed you know how to do that quoting thing. Obviously I don’t.
Well, I do think you authors perform miracles every day, creating something out of nothing. And the impact of your work on your lucky readers is one of the best aspects of your presence on the planet.
I am fond of saying, “Nora Roberts got me through my divorce, JoAnn Ross got me through my dad’s death and Lisa Kleypas got me through Tuesday.”
Kate
I’m a techno geek, I’m afraid.
I’m so excited you’re going to San Fransisco, JoAnn! I look forward to seeing you again.
Sylvia
Hello Kate,
I had the great fortune of having you hear the first page of my manuscript in the American Author contest at Harper’s Ferry this year, and then pitching the whole project to you later that day. After meeting you, I heartily agree that everything I have ever heard about you is true — you are kind, funny, professional, and a straight-shooter.
Whether you like the requested partial I’m working on or not, I’m very grateful for your input. Your advice to write the best book I can by writing the book I want to write, in my own way and voice, has guided me in the revision process.
From all of us, unpublished and published authors alike, thanks for all you’ve done.
Kate, you’ve no idea how many times your generous comment has gotten me through some rough writing times.
Nothing generous about it at all. Your books gave me a place where I could feel better. Now that’s a force for good. Many thanks, my friend.
Thanks, Donna. Take no prisoners.
Kate
Hi Kate!
Am looking forward to your posts.
Kate,
Thank you for your kind response earlier.
If anyone is looking for a funny contemporary, be on the look out for Christie Craig’s December release, Divorced, Desperate and Delicious. It’s a great, fun read.
Otherwise, I’m about to start Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter.
Tambra
Sylvia, I’m looking forward to seeing you again, too, sweetie! Hopefully, when I’m back on the west coast, we’ll run into each other more than once a year.
Since people are recommending books, I just finished Rachel Gibson’s Tangled Up in You and had to slow down my reading at the end to try to make it last longer. It’s a lovely, fun escape book, yet with a very serious conflict, which takes a real talent to pull off.
Also, I may be the last person on the planet to “discover” J.R. Ward, but on the recommendation of a friend, I’m midway through the first of her Black Dagger books and am really enjoying the fantasy.
Oh, and for thriller/mystery readers, James Lee Burke’s recent The Tin Roof Blowdown is one of his best. It’s amazing how many seemingly disparate threads he weaves together in this one. And no writer can beat him for atmosphere!
Well, my fiends (and that is not a typo), I must away to watch my Red Sox. It has been a treat visiting with you and I will see you here soon.
All best wishes, Kate
I am way late to the party having been offline enjoying the sunshine all day (and then Ugly Betty and Grey’s), but I have to recommend Kristan Higgins’ October release from HQN, CATCH OF THE DAY. I’ve been recommending it everywhere I go. I read it in one sitting. Just stunning. I laughed and cried and all that stuff that’s supposed to happen when a book is that unbelievably good. Go. Buy. Now.
Kate, I don’t know if you like fantasy romance, but I’m reading C.L. Wilson’s “Lord of the Fading Lands” and I just love it. It’s really got me excited about reading. Then I’m going to read Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust”, Sylvia Day’s “Passion for Him” and maybe some erotic romance from Lacey Alexander. I’m all over the place right now. I have Lisa’s book but haven’t been in a historical mood lately. Thanx for the heads-up.
Damn, those digests! Didn’t see the posting about Kate’s “debut” until this morning. Well, better late than never. I wish I had known there was a Brava Novella contest underway–how did that not make it to any one of the fifteen million yahoo loops that announce every contest, class and promotional item imaginable? I LOVE following that contest! Must find my way there.
And Kate, while I’ve only met you once (at VRW meeting two winters ago), you were a hoot and I have such fun shooting the breeze with you at lunch.
Books: I want to read Neil Gaiman’s Stardust after seeing that movie, which was awesome. If you love Neil Gaiman–and this is SO not romance–check out Good Omens. It’s hilarious. And Kate, I have two other fabulous books to recommend though both are not romances. But they’re snarky, and somehow I get the impression you love a little smart aleck every now and then…One is PUFF by Bob Flaherty. It’s set in 1970’s Boston following the blizzard of the century, when two Irish-Catholic 20-something brothers head out in their dead father’s Econoline van masquerading as Red Cross workers to score a bag of Colombian Gold. Laugh out loud funny. The other is EVERYTHING CHANGES by Jonathan Tropper. Rather than summarize I’ll tell you it begins with the protagonist’s long-absent father showing up with a Viagra-induced hard-on at his doorstep. He is a tremendous writer and funny as hell.
And Sylvia–do tell how you get the inset quote? I’m always just amazed if I can get my actual post to happen, let alone and fancy tricks along the way..
I’m way late to the party.
Kate,
I’m an aspiring author. I tend to sit back and watch things from the sidelines. But, I had to come in and say, I don’t see how the one person so many writers would give their right arm for you to read their manuscript can call themselves grouchy.
I’m serious, it seems writers will go to any length or enter any contest that you’re judging. I think that says something about you as a person.
It’s good to slow down. Not everyone sees that until it is way too late. Enjoy your down time. (You wear shoes to the airport? I hate shoes and wouldn’t wear any if I could get by without them.)
Oh, oh, oh can I say how extremely jealous I am of your plans with Madeline Hunter? She’s one of my favorites. Not that I wouldn’t mind going to Charleston or Savannah, or wherever it is you’re going with you too, but I’m afraid I’d be hiding behind a potted plant the entire time shaking in my knickers.
Hi, Kate! I’m a little late chiming in because I just found out you were blogging here, but it was a great post, & I completely understand why you’ll be cutting back on conferences & judging. They can be draining when you commit to too many. Like Maureen, tho, I’m glad to hear you’ll still attend RWA & Harpers Ferry on a regular basis so I can still run into you a couple times a year & say hello.
Take care,
Heidi
Kate - you should have known Brenda would NEVER stand you up - she’s waayyy too nice and considerate to ever do such a thing
I am ashamed to have doubted her.
Thanks for all the great book tips. And Barnes & Noble is just 2 blocks away.
Kate
Well, Kate,
Since you and I always seem to meet up in the Baggage Claim area of airports either going or coming from conferences, I completely understand what you mean about too many conferences. I swear with every flight delay or $80 taxi ride from the airport
that I am cutting back….
BUT, that being said, I would highly recommend the Lowcountry retreat — that might be the one that you referred to in Charleston? — it is so laid-back and wonderful. If you get a chance, do that one…Skip others!
Have a great day!
Terri B
To get the quotes, surround the quoted text with these tags:
< blockquote > insert quote here < / blockquote >Remove the spaces around the brackets. They’re only there in order for them to show up in the post and not actually turn into blockquotes.
Sylvia (hoping this works and doesn’t come out funny!)
Hi Kate,
I hope you’ve had a terrific day today.
Also, the book recommendations you ladies are posting about sound great. It seems Neil Gaiman is going to the top of my TBR pile, because his name keeps turning up lately. LOL
Happy writing and reading,
Tambra
Thanks Sylvia! I’m testing now:
Neil Gaiman has an amazing online journal, and then there’s the fact that he’s hot.
Thank you, Alison! I’ll look for the journal.
Tambra
No Way! I thought he was sorta old-ish! I guess not! He’s pretty damned clever and creative, that’s for sure! Hot is an added bonus
Damn…you’re right, Alison. He is hot.
Tambra
Well, sorta old-ish can be hot.
He’s got two kids out of college and a daughter around 13 who’s recently blogged with him from the set of . . . argh, can’t remember the movie . . . filming in Prague.
So he’s seasoned, mature, all good things LOL. And he and I have the same cool blue sunglasses!
Hmm…his daughter must be on the set of the Brangelina film, eh? Though I guess it’s only Angelina and Brad wasn’t in it…
I wish they’d make Good Omens into a movie–that was PERFECT for a film.
LOL Alison. I’m 43 and my son’s are 23 and 24 years old.
I found the journal very interesting. Thanks for posting it.
Tambra
It was a Guillermo del Toro project, but I don’t remember what it was!
Tambra - I’m in my forties still, heh, and today am playing grammy to my 6 month old grandson! (And boy are my arms feeling it, LOL!)
Alison,
My grandson, Peyton will be a year Dec. 28th.
Brandon (my oldest) is stationed at Fort Hood, so they aren’t close to Houston. But, I get to see them Christmas!
Tambra