Today as part of Eleni-fest I have special guest, the lovely Anna Hackett, author of Nocturne Bites stories 'Savage Dragon', 'Wind Kissed, Fire Bound', and her October release 'Taken by the South Wind'.
Welcome Anna! Thanks for joining us and talking about Nocturne Bites & writing organisations.
Take it away... (I'm experiencing a slight sense of dejavu *grin*)
Big thanks to Eleni for having me here at Eleni-fest. When I asked Eleni what she wanted me to blog about, she suggested talking about writing for Nocturne Bites and about returning to the Aussie writing community after several years in the US.
At first I thought I’d have a split personality blog with two very different subjects...until something struck me…the two subjects actually have something in common: big versus small.
RWA – members: 10,000
RWAus – members: hundreds but not sure of exact no.
(EK - 710 members according to last AGM report)
Nocturne – 75K words
Nocturne Bites – 15K words
How do the big things compare with small? Some people think bigger is better. I say neither is better, they’re just different and offer different experiences.
When I started writing I was living in the US, so I joined the Romance Writers of America. I found this fabulous organisation a great fountain of information with loads of chapters offering all kinds of writing contests, conferences and opportunities. I also joined my local chapter in Denver and made some wonderful writing friends.
I can say exactly the same things about the Romance Writers of Australia. In the year I’ve been a member, I’ve found it organised and doing a great job of informing its members. I also find the online community at RWAus extremely active and very friendly.
So is bigger better? Nope, they’re just different. RWA offers a huge range of resources and yes, RWAus’ resources are a little smaller but still high quality. I love my monthly RWR magazine and I can’t wait to read my monthly Hearts Talk. I also went to both organisations’ conferences this year and enjoyed them both.DC was huge, packed with authors, agents and editors and with so many workshops I didn’t know where to go first. The Brisbane conference was smaller, more intimate and while there were less of them, there were still published authors and industry guests. I left DC exhausted but exhilarated and I left Brisbane having made friendships and feeling welcomed to the wonderful Aussie romance writing community. For me, being a member of both groups offers me different things—the best of big and small!
Right now I write for Silhouette Nocturne Bites. I started out writing full books targeted for Nocturne, but when I saw the chance to pitch a paranormal short story online for Nocturne Bites, I saw it as a great opportunity to get my toe in the door at Harlequin. What I found was that I love writing short stories as much as longer books.
Bites are intense bite-sized stories that pack a sensual paranormal punch. I now love reading them as much as writing them. With our insanely busy lives, I find I don’t always have enough time to immerse myself properly in a longer book (especially ones with a complex paranormal world). That’s why I love reading and writing Bites—I get my taste of the paranormal and a HEA in a quick and satisfying read.There are plenty of other great things about Nocturne Bites. Nocturne authors use them to introduce a new world, to tell the story of secondary characters from full Nocturnes and one author even did a follow up story on the hero and heroine from a Nocturne.
So are short stories better than big ones? I think you’ll guess my answer! Nope, they’re just different. Sometimes I want a short read and sometimes I want a longer one. Writing them is the same—sometimes the story needs more words and sometimes less.
I’ve been lucky to write a Bites-only series, the WindKeepers. Each Bites is a standalone story but there’s an over-arching story running through all of them (about some very evil winds, the Venti Tempesta, and some sexy heroes who each control one of the cardinal winds). I have a free download of my second WindKeeper story, TAKEN BY THE SOUTH WIND, to give to one lucky commenter.
So, do you prefer big or small—in your writing organisations and/or your stories? Anyone been to conferences big and small and want to share which you prefer? Anyone love their stories short and sweet or do you need a longer book to sink your teeth into? Or like me, do you like what each has to offer?
Comments Now Closed. Congratulations Joder!
Good luck!
You can see a blurb of Taken by the South Wind on Anna's site or on the right hand side column of my blog (I have a widget there).
Anna also has a competition running until the end of October for spreading the word for this title. See this blog entry for details.
~yia~
~yia~
32 comments:
Ooh! am I first?!
Huge congrats on your Nocturne Bites releases, Anna! The concept sounds awesome! Like you, I love reading both big and small and although I've written a couple of short stories, I've discovered I love exploring the worlds in depth so for me writing longer is working out better at the moment!!
Sounds like a great story no matter the size. As long as a story is unique and engaging with strong characters then I'll be reading it.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
The DC conference must be a tad overwhelming compared to RWAus or RWNZ but it would be worth experiencing at least once, eh?
As for whether I prefer big or small stories it all depends on the amount of time I have available to read. I hate starting a large book and then have to put it down unfinished. I do enjoy being able to read cover to cover once I start something. So I go by the amount of time I have and pick accordingly. :-)
Hi Anna! Firstly, congratulations on your Nocturne Bites. They sound fantastic. I love the way that you're slightly sitting on the fence between big and small. Yeah, the individual stories are short but you've got an overarching story - I think that's mighty clever! I love getting the best of both worlds! Great blog. I really enjoyed meeting you at the Australian Romance Readers Convention in Feb and then we've run into each other since in DC and in Brisbane. We're old pals now! Like you, I enjoy both experiences of reading big and small. Each has something wonderful to offer.
Hi :)
Thank you for the excellent post!
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo
I like both long and short stories, depending on my mood.
I have never been to a conference.
Hi Anna,
lovely to meet you at the Brisbane conference - I have yet to go to a US one but imagine it really would be overwhelming! I write both short and long but probably prefer writing short at the moment. I love reading both, just as long as the story is fascinating and the characters believable! =)
Christina - that's the benefit in being in WA - you get to see posts before you go to bed :) You know I loved your shorter stories, so can't wait to read your longer ones.
Joder - I totally agree with you.
Kylie - I used to have to try and read a book quickly but life gets in the way and so I can pace myself now, but I'm going back to reading shorter tales and it is wonderful reading a story in one or two bursts.
Anna C - I love the idea of an overarching story with the WindKeepers Bites.
RK - It IS an excellent post isn't it. Anna has talent, no doubt.
Estella - I think mood does play an important part in what you feel like reading. And hopefully one day you can get to a conference.
Mel - yes I think the US one would be overwhelming but still what an experience. Have fun writing your next short.
Great to see so many people so early on a Saturday morning (um yep for me it's early-ish).
Anna - so lovely to see you here. Like you I have a foot in the big and small world. I am a member of RWAmerica and RWAus. I too love them both for the different things they bring. And I also write big and small - with Single-Title and short erotica with Harlequins Spice Briefs (so does that make us short sisters?)
I loved catcihg up with you in Brisbane, it's great to see your stories coming out. I have the first 2, must get the latest soon. For those that haven't read them - they are a great short read.
So high five to the big and small of romance writing. and High five to you.
Eleni - this is a great month - thanks for bringin it to us. Mwah.
Hi Christina!
Thanks for the congrats and I heard the same are in order for you on your recent sale!
I completely understand exploring a world in a longer story – I’m finishing revisions on a full right now and it’s lots of fun to spend more time torturing my characters (-:
Hi Joder –
You hit it right on the head, as long as the story is unique and engaging, it doesn’t matter how long it is.
Hi Kylie –
I’m the same as you, I HATE having to put down a longer book I’m really enjoying. That’s why I love reading Bites when I know I only have an hour or so to read.
I had a blast (a whirlwind, exhausting blast, but still a blast!) in DC but it’s definitely worth experiencing. I’ll be back at a RWA conference again some time in the future.
Anna, I'd never considered the opportunities the Bites offered... carrying on the stories for h/h, secondary characters! That's a great idea because I know I often what to know 'what happened' after the book I've read has finished.
And thanks for sharing your thoughts on the two RWA's. I attended my first conference in Brissie this yera, and loved the fact it was small and intimate. While I'd love to get to a USA conference one day, at the moment I feel it would be a little overwhelming.
Hi Anna –
Loved your inspirational post the other day! It was wonderful to see you at AARC, DC and Brissy!
You mentioned a great thing about conferences – you see some of the same authors multiple times over the year and you do feel like old pals. Come to think of it, I’ve seen you more this year than most of my family and friends (-:
I guess I am sitting on the fence with my Bites series – not big, not small but medium. It has been lots of fun to write these complete short stories but have the bigger story running through them.
Hi RK –
Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the post.
Hi Estella –
I’m like you, it really depends on my mood if I want to read or write a short or long story. It’s great to have the choice.
I highly recommend conferences to all writers, they’re a wonderful experience to further your writing and meet other like-minded writers.
Howdy Mel—
It was great to meet you too! You’ll have to get to a US conference some time – we’ll have to get an Aussie contingent together to go!
I love my shorts as well – nothing like getting to THE END in a week or two rather than months (-:
Hey Eleni –
Thanks again for having me and for holding Eleni-fest. It is a fab idea and lots of fun. You're going to be one exhausted writer by the end of October (-:
Hey Tracey –
We both have the best of big and small! Short sisters...I like it (-: I’m so pleased Margie suggested I track you down at AARC and that we got to catch up in Brisbane.
I’ve been reading a lot more Spice Briefs lately (I ran out of Bites!) and yours is still one of my favs. High five back to you and I can’t wait for the next Dark Brethen book!
Love the short sisters Tracey! :)) And aw shucks. But you know without you wonderful authors, it wouldn't be so much fun - so thank you to you all!!
Anita - what a great first conference to attend. Really was well done.
Anna H - it's my pleasure having you as my guest. You wrote a fantastic post. And yep, I'm going to sleep for a month after this.... oh, wait, it's NaNo month - no way I can do 50K words. Be happy with just a few pages ;)))
Hi Anita --
Yep, the Bites offer some great opportunities!
I loved the Brisbane conference for the intimate feel too. You really got to meet and talk to authors and industry guests and even have a drink in the bar with a few. In DC you were lucky to brush up against some of them in the crush (-:
Anna, great post. I agree it depends on what one is in the mood for regarding length of story. I also find the short stories are a good way for me to bring myself into the world of e-reading. I like the length of the shorter stories when reading off a screen. Still not convinced it's my cup of tea but your books are helping bring me round.
Conferences are amazing places to go to. I've only been to ones about the size of the Brisbane one. Years ago helped organise one that size & shudder to think of what it would be like to organise one the size of some of the conferences in the US (DragonCon manages to nudge the tens of thousands for theirs)!
Was fantastic to meet you (along with many others who have commented here *waves hi*) in Brisbane & look forward of years to criss-crossing at conferences (I was also at ARRC - small world isn't it).
Nicky - I've thought of those huge conferences or Cons and wonder how they can get those organised. I suppose careful planning. Still the mind boggles at tens of thousands!! Didn't ComicCon have to stop at the maximum capacity because of fire safety restrictions?
Hi Nicky!
It was wonderful to meet you in Brisbane. Didn’t know you were at AARC – we probably passed in the hall and never knew it.
So pleased to hear my Bites are bringing you round to ebooks. I don’t like reading on the computer either – you have to get an eReader! I couldn’t live without my Kindle and since I got it, I haven’t bought a single paper book (big step for a huge book collector with the boxes and bookshelves to prove it). But I’m a convert now.
I shudder at the thought of the planning involved in conferences. I also shudder at the thought of the Cons – way too many people in one spot for me.
Interesting comments on the advantages of big and small Anna. You sound like a Libran!
I was also at ARRC but didn't make it to the RWA. I found the small size great as it gave you a chance to talk to authors. A big one like RWA America would freak me out.
I haven't tried to write short yet but am happy to read them. They seem to require a lot of dscipline to make the story tight but satisfying.
As far as ebooks go, I'm different, I like reading them on my laptop.
Anna do you only write Paranormal?
Alison
Eleni - I think so re ComicCon - mind you they were like capping at 60,000 - that's the size of small towns! Egad.
Anna - The 'ink' technology for the Kindle is the one my other half thinks would help convert me over more readily. (So of course now he's discovered they're bringing Kindles to Oz....I'm still holding out *lol*).
Re ARRC I was staying in the Jasper itself too - had the 'purple/lavender' floor - which imho was not as scary as some of the other floor colours!
ARRC was the first con I introduced myself as an aspiring writer (promised my mentor to NOT say reader). Was weird. I attended primarily because I had discovered I read way more romance than I realised and also it worked out much cheaper to fly to Melb than the US to meet Sherrilyn & MaryJanice. Final ARRC trivia (you may not have noticed/seen) I was the one in the purple corset at the dinner (that too was a 'coming out').
Hi Alison –
Nope, I’m a Leo! My head tells me I should like bigger, but experience has shown me otherwise (-:
You’re right about the discipline required for writing short stories. They need a different set of skills to longer stories. I’m finishing off an article for Hearts Talk on writing short stories today actually! Glad to hear you like reading on your laptop.
I also write Romantic Suspense but titled toward action-adventure. I LOVE action movies and love reading Matthew Reilly. So I combined my love of romance and action. But that’s on the backburner right now while I work on some more paranormal stuff.
Nicky –
Seriously, once I start reading on the Kindle I forget it’s “electronic” and the ink technology means I can read it outside. It’s nothing like reading on a computer. What I love is I can carry hundreds of books on one small device (my husband loves that when we go away now my suitcase doesn’t weight a tonne!) I can highlight and make notes on books and I can send my own manuscript to the Kindle for proof reading. I was SO excited to see the International Kindle released last week.
I didn’t go to the AARC dinner! I didn’t know anyone and hubby was with me (we went for a romantic dinner for two). Sorry I missed it though – a purple corset! You go, girl!
Nicky - 60 000 - OMG!! Umm a tad too big for me.
Glad you introduced yourself as an aspiring writer at ARRC - yay for you.
I'm slowly getting into ebooks but have an iPhone now so will probably be reading on that.
The problem with readers is you can't lend books out to friends and can't swap which is what I did on the weekend. I'm getting friends hooked onto Keri Arthur and then I'll get them to read more of our fab authors!!
I also think with technology you have to keep up with it. Like my old files on floppy disc - need to convert and keep up with it. But I'm not a 'no' against readers. It also depends on the screen and my tired eyes. I can read on paper better than a screen but I'm sure the technology will improve.
Anna - good luck with the Romantic Suspense (well when you get back to it).
Hmmm...with Kindle being released internationally, i'm sure more e-readers will be made available here. And it would be good to walk into a store and look at them.
Congratulations Joder - you have won Anna's Taken By The Wind!!
Please send an email to
eleni-fest@ elenikonstantine.com
with your email address. Thank you.
Thank you once again Anna for joining us and for your generosity. And for making us think about the big and small of the writing life. :)
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