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Zane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 10:49 am: | 
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A lot of people have made comments that I put out too many books too quickly. Personally, I do that because I refuse to have a ton of books collecting dust on my hard drive and I made that clear to my publisher before I signed my first of four contracts for eleven books in less than one year (the 11th one hits shelves in June 2004). It has amazed me that so many people seem to have a problem with it; even though it has nothing whatsoever to do with them and as long as my books sell (and they do) the industry will not have a problem with it either. A lot of people have dubbed me the AA Nora Roberts but I am nowhere near it. One day, though, because I will write under numerous names. In fact, some of the legal thrillers I do have collecting dust will be coming out shortly under a new pseudonym. For those who don't realize it, Zane does not actually exist. She is but a small part of me and the name I do my "recreational writing" under.
With all of that said, I wanted to get the reaction of some of you on the following article. As you can see, Nora Roberts is definitely "The One." There is another white female author that is also a New York Times Bestselling Author under two names and two genres. I will not mention her name here because I don't think her situation is a commonly known fact. However, now Nora is making a bold move and publishing her next book under both of her names. I think it's cool. What do you think?
Peace,
Zane
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Roberts' co-author - herself
By SHERRYL CONNELLY
DAILY NEWS FEATURE WRITER
Wednesday, September 17th, 2003
Her fans call her "The Nora," while in publishing she's "The One." Nora Roberts has published 169 novels, had 86 best sellers and there are more than 200 million copies of her books in print.
The books are published under two names - her own and the pseudonym J.D. Robb.
Now, her newest novel, "Remember When" (Putnam, $25.95), the first to be written under both names, is rolling out with a confident first printing of 540,000.
Under her own name, Roberts writes romance every which way, from stand-alone romantic suspense novels to historical series.
As Robb, she has written 17 futuristic mysteryromances featuring police Lt. Eve Dallas.
"This book was something of an editorial brew," Roberts says from her home in Keedysville, Md. "My publisher came up with the suggestion of combining the two, but I don't do something to be cool. I have to have an idea. The right idea."
She went with a jewel heist. In the novel's first part, the owner of an antiques store in a small Maryland town is threatened by criminal associates of her father, after he disappears with part of a haul of diamonds worth $28.4 million.
In part two, set in 2059, detective Dallas must serve and protect the woman's granddaughter, whom thieves believe is still holding some of the sparklers.
It was also at her editor's suggestion that Roberts first took a pseudonym in 1995.
She was simply putting out too many books a year to write under one name. Publishing in both hardcover and original paperback, she produces between six and eight novels a year.
"This is my job, and I take my job very seriously," she says. "I am very disciplined. I was taught by nuns." She writes five days a week, eight hours a day.
Her start as a writer is legendary in romance circles. As a 28-year-old mother, she was snowbound with her two young sons for days by a blizzard in 1979.
To "save my sanity," Roberts started to write a story. Previously, she says she was addicted to macrame and the like, but found turning out one novel after another so much more satisfying.
"Writing is such vicious work that if you didn't love it, you'd kill yourself."
Her first novel, "Irish Thoroughbred," was published by Silhouette in 1981.
Calling herself an "obsessive-compulsive personality," Roberts says she doesn't keep track of how many novels she writes a year, though there is a stack of completed manuscripts awaiting publication.
She is also a self-described homebody, who says her husband "has to drag me out of the house to get me to go anywhere." And while, "I certainly enjoy my success," she sure didn't see it coming.
"All I wanted to do was write a book," she says. "Then all I wanted to do was sell a book."
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ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 01:16 pm: |
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Zane,
I do not immediately disqualify a book from having merits simply because the author has completed the opus in a fairly short period of time. However, even the most talented people have their creative limits. So if an author is able to continue such prodigious output over a period of +5 years, I might begin to wonder, whether the author has actually written the book or whether he or she is in fact profitably using his or her fame to market ghost written books.
And you may be impressed by the literary alacrity of Roberts, but Baby, she can't hold-a-candle to the "Dame" listed below:
"Queen of the Romantic Novel dies aged 98
London - The Associated Press [May 2000]
Dame Barbara Cartland, the world's most prolific author and Britain's queen of romantic fiction, died in her sleep on Sunday, her family said. She was 98.
Critics generally ignored Cartland's work, but a legion of fans snapped up her novels about feminine virtue and manly ideals.
Sales of her 723 books exceeded one BILLION worldwide in 36 languages. The Guinness Book of Records lists her as the world's top-selling author.
Cartland's preferred method of work was to recline on the sofa in the afternoons, dictating 6,000 to 7,000 words to a relay of secretaries. Novels were often FINISHED WITHIN A WEEK." |
Zane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 01:47 pm: |
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ABM,
Thanks for the post. I have never heard of Dame Barbara Cartland and I always thought Agatha Christie was listed in Guinness so I have learned something new and will definitely check out some of her work.
Do you wonder about her writing all the books? Then again, if she was 98 when she died, she had a long time to write.
I think all authors should write at their own pace and enjoy what they do or it isn't worth doing it. If that means a book every ten years or a ten books a year--which I think was about Donald Goines pace for the few years he wrote before he was murdered--the author should be content.
Peace,
Zane |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2003 - 06:59 pm: |
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Well, Zane, you seem to be a shining example of a prolific author, "prolific" being an adjective that spurred quite a dicussion on the board last week. |
anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 03:22 am: |
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I still say Zane is "typing" and not writing anything that other writers would want to read.
She's a money making modern day Harold Robbins Jackie Collins sellout who made herself a multi-millionaire by owning her own trashy label Strebor books (pulp fiction for AAs) and by pumping out mass market bestsellers for Simon and Shuster where she makes her real money. I HOPE she's bought a pair of decent shoes by now and fixed that overbite.
I'm shocked she's still floating around here with her hands on her hips and her belly poked out like she's really saying something earth shattering or even mildly intelligent. She sounds like an overly sensitive Wal-Mart shopper sniffling on and on about her credibility when the fact is---she has none!
For crying out loud, Zane, what is going on with you that you've got time to type up 4 sex books a year, 3 legal dramas and still drop into Thumper's place to drool and burp? Husband got fat off your money and not coming to bed lately? Sounds like inspiration for a new tome, wouldn't you say? He got cute new blond mistress, Zane?
Talk about something other than your mesmerizing ability to put out 3 telephone books worth of meaningless crap each year.
Don't you have ANY good gossip about people in the industry or anything??
Which of your male authors have you bedded? Couldn't be Earl Sewell because he looks like he's startled by the sound of a door opening. Is that mayonaise at the corner of his mouth in his author photos or spit?
Yada yada tada
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Zane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 09:31 am: |
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Anonymous,
Thanks for the morning laugh. Your post is so pathetic that there is no need for me to say anything. You must have been up at 3:30 in the morning (while I was lying in the bed next to hubby) working on a book that you obviously can't get published and decided to take your frustration out on me. I don't mind at all. I'm used to it. You are one funny kid. You should write a comedy and submit it to me at Strebor.
Peace,
Zane |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 11:41 am: |
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Anonymous.
Now you know you are wrong.
First of all, how do you know Zane didn't have books already written before she even got her book deal. So your statement about her typing is off the wall and is purely hateration to the utmost. I can tell you have tried your hand at writing and I can also tell that you are a snob who doesn't know the first thing about putting a storyline together. If you did, you wouldn't be thrown'n rocks at a sister-who is the only sister in the country for that matter who has her own imprint with a major house. Zane is also the only sister after becoming a household name is giving back to authors who she feels has a voice. Where are the other household authors with imprints? They don't do it because they don't care if anyone else gets a book deal or not. And more importantly-they don't want to put up with fools like you who enjoy taking shots at them when their intentions are all good.
And why are you attacking her so personally? Did you have too much haterade or something and can't even get over the fact that you yourself-woke up with your hands between your legs this morning with no one next to you to help you feel satisfied or..... is your morning breath and lack of success and talent as a writer keeping you away from what you so covet--and that is someone to enjoy your life with and a steady paycheck instead of the food stamps that you won't get for another few weeks.
Anyone, who can be so blatently disrespecful is full of it and will never be successful. Zane pay no attention to this fool. You have what he wants and something he will NEVER GET. He spends too much time on the board hating and wishing someone would publish his twenty word count book.
Annonymous-get off it. You can't bring a good woman down. But you can stop the bull.
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visitor
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 12:09 pm: |
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Please explain imprint. Thanks |
Lurker on the Loose
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 01:07 pm: |
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Imprint is the logo of a publishing company and it appears on the title page of a book. |
Nadine
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 03:38 pm: |
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Hi Zane,
I would like to say that I am so proud of you! I know you don't know me, but it's amazing to see someone be able to take the high ground and not sink to someone else's depths when they are so very insolent.
This "anonymous" person is certainly unremarkable. If his/her comments were worth anything at all, they wouldn't be submitted anonymously now would they?
As for the Nora Roberts article -- I think she is highly overrated. I've read her books over the years and I've read other authors that tell much better stories, but just weren't lucky enough to find themselves on the path to becoming "The One".
I've read several of your titles, Zane, and I think that you can definitely break into the mainstream at anytime and command the readership of a Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, or Danielle Steel. The key, I think, is that you have to appeal to more than just the African American audience, primarily, right?
What do you think? I think the use of pseudonyms is overrated. Why start from the ground up under another name, when you already have a HUGE enough readership that may very well embrace a new style under Zane? The key to making it a success would just be in the way it's marketed, I think.
All best,
Nadine
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Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 03:49 pm: |
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Lurker on the Lose.
An imprint at a publishing house is just like a label at one of the big record companies. Like Puffy's Bad Boy. When he first started he had his own label working through the record company. Zane on the other hand has her own Imprint (Strebor Books) that is distributed by Simon & Schuster which is a hell of an accomplishment. |
Voice of Reason
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 04:18 pm: |
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First, we had to witness the vicious underhanded attacks on Kola Boof, which led to her losing control and being barred from the board. I had agreed with Kola that it was because she was an outsider with very non-American views, even though myself, ABM and others appreciated many of those views.
What is the excuse now with Zane? Is she an outsider, too?
Now we have to read these assinine evil attacks on Zane, a perfectly unique writer with a lot of style and originality.
Why is it that every time a female author comes here and speaks honestly, she gets ripped to shreds and dumped on? I'm embarrassed to even admitt that I read this board. This is so childish and unnessary and it's pure jealousy I tell you!
And Cynique if you make one more flippant remark to Zane, I'm going to track you down in Illinois and have a Priest perform an exorsism! Why can't we appreciate hearing from the authors themselves and show a little respect.
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 05:46 pm: |
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What flippant remark did I make to Zane? "Mr. Immigrant" accused me of being paranoid, and maybe I am, because my Kola radar is always on the alert and the "voice of reason" sounds more like the voice of none other than the one and only KOLA THE BOOFA. You give yourself away everytime, Snake Girl, because you cannot refrain from losing your cool, and citing details that only you consider important. LMAO!
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Voice of Reason
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 08:27 pm: |
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Cynique,
I give up on you. You insist on accusing anyone who doesn't agree with you of being Miss Boof, for whom I had a great degree of respect despite her rowdy ways--I can't say it enough, but my last word is this....would you and In Print and some of these "Anonymous" cowards please cut it out and treat people with respect and give them the benefit of the doubt?
As I recall, many months ago when Kola posted about how she and Thomas enjoyed Zane's work so much, you tore into her like an alligator finding a wounded rabbitt! You accused her then of not knowing what real literature is and you trashed Zane's work back then. So please, we've all heard your spiel, get over it and quit with the sarcasm.
As our show downs always go, and unlike Kola, I don't have the wherewithall to argue you down. But please be nice to the guests. You win, OK? And believe me, I'm not picking on you, I've seen everyone from Thumper to Susan to In Print to yourself and others be totally nasty, dishonest and territorial where this board is concerned.
One more time as God is my witness:
I've seen everyone from Thumper to Susan to In Print to yourself and others be totally nasty, dishonest and territorial where this board is concerned.
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Anonymous # 99
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 09:08 pm: |
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So, is Voice of Reason your real name? I guess, you're as cowardly as the rest of us, huh? lol |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 10:41 pm: |
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Well, KB, you obviously didn't read the civil exchange Zane and I had on the board. But, anyway, I'm guessing the "flippant" mark you have reference to is when, after reading one of her posts which was particularly long, I wrote "shades of Kola Boof." Dat's how I know it's U, Snake girl. Now, get off Thomas' computer before he catches you, and go back to writing your invisible books. LOL
BTW, Zane is doing a very adequate job of holding her own against her detractors (of which I am not one) So she doesn't really need you to grab on to her coattails and inject your name into your self-serving defense of her. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 05:59 am: |
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It REALLY saddens me to read threads like this as I have an issue with trying to understand why a person would be so cruel to another person. I just don't get it. Typing Anonymous next to it is even sadder. :::sighing:::
Zane, I am but one reader, but one who has enjoyed your work, your spirit, and your commitment to give back to others. You've made some major accomplishments and should be proud of them. There will be naysayers, "haters", and those who may not enjoy your work, but on the flip side, there will be just as many or more who love your work, support you, and wish you continued success.
You've done some impressive things in the short time you've been in the industry and I look forward to even more! Hang in there and remain true to yourself.
-Tee |
NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 06:49 am: |
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Zane,
Keep doing what you're doing. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 12:06 pm: |
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Tee, you are the one consistent presence on this board. You stay above the fray and I know when I read one of your posts it will always be upbeat and positive. You're cool. |
Zane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 09:25 pm: |
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Thanks for all the posts of support but I'm cool. In fact, I just read over the post by Anonymous again and I am about 99.9% sure that I know who wrote it. People make it easy when they start giving up TMI (Too Much Information). It just went from being mildly funny to straight-up hilarious. The only sad part is that the person who posted it actually has published a book. The sorry descriptions and shabby writing are easily identifiable. Thumper, I take back what I said on the other thread. There is definitely such a thing as bad writing. Anonymous, how are your book sales going?
Peace,
Zane |
solomonjones
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 10:12 am: |
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Zane -
Thanks so much for supporting my work. I've seen the reviews on amazon, and I'm grateful that you took the time to write them.
I have come to appreciate and admire your market savvy, and your obvious understanding of the industry. I'd like to see you stretch your wings and fly, because I know that there are many subjects you can explore as thoroughly as you've explored black sexuality. I look forward to reading your legal thrillers.
As far as "Anonymous" is concerned, I'd really like to see her (must be a woman, 'cause brothers ain't that vicious) try to learn from what you're doing, and apply it to her own work. Perhaps then, she can experience some success as well, and not waste time on frivolous, counterproductive criticism.
- Solomon |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 12:50 pm: |
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All:
Re being prolific--one of my writing heroes, Maxwell Grant, turned out two 60,000 word novels a month for about 10 or 12 years--he said he did some of them in four days but found his best results was when he did it in ten or eight. He would use three typewriters, claiming that after he had pounded out so many words on one it went "stale" and he had to go to another one. He once typed so much he had blood on his fingers.
This, by the way was in the 30's and 40's--manual typewriter, carbon paper. One time his editor lost a whole book, he had no carbon he had to retype the whole thing from memory.
He wrote for the pulps--the novels were about the pulp mystery hero "The Shadow"--so essentiallly it was the same novel over and over (he had a little outline that he followed, no outlining, first drafts or that nonsense, when he ripped the last page out of the typewriter it went in the box was mailed off and he started the next one.
The closest we have today is Stephen King--one does not realize today how much work one could turn out if he just did 1,000 words a day like King does--or did--that 200,000 a year if one takes off on weekends a little over 3 of those 60,000 word novels. And if one is sure of where one is going and fast-well.
I guess this is to say that I cannot dismiss something just on the grounds that it was done quickly--Robert Louis Stephenson is said to have written Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in three days--there are other examples of literary writers who sat down and blazed stuff out.
The end result is what matters and its effect on the audience. |
Lurker on the Loose
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 12:11 am: |
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Similarly, Marcel Proust just laid around and wrote all day long. What he had to say was apparently effective because his massive tomes are considered classics. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 01:46 pm: |
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LOL, I'm a few days late, but thank you Cynique.
Chris...nice post and informational. I've never heard of Maxwell Grant, so I'll have to check him out. I'm not sure what pulp mystery is either...but in the searches I found via search engines, it sounds interesting. <wink>
-Tee |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 02:03 pm: |
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Tee C.
His real name was Walter B. Gibson. Pulp Fiction flourished during the 20's-40's and pulp heroes are Doc Savage, The Shadow, G-8 and his Battle Aces, etc.
If you don't like movie serials of the 30's and 40's--Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Captain America, Captain Marvel, etc. it probably would not be your cup of tea. The characters are wooden (and where there are black people, stereotypical) the coincidences outrageous the heroes impossibly square jawed, and plots fantastic and the romance of the hero kisses the horse variety--though they say there were romance pulps during the era. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 03:56 pm: |
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Chris, you sound like you might be a fan of the old Thin Man movies, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Dashell Hammett wrote the detective series on which these movies were based and they have such style and wit and are so typical of 1930s film making. I love em! |
Amitenejah
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 11:39 pm: |
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hahahahahahaaha, woaahahahahahaahaha, this is great, I never knew 'book' boards could be so funny, I love this stuff.
That rip was so deep that it had Zane dazed for the whole day.
Our people are just too much, and who ever thought that rip could have come for a man (at least a real man) is crazy, that came from a WOMAN, regardless of its validity, it was funnnnneeee
ahahahaahaaaaa,hahahahahahahaah.......[no sit-ups needed today] |
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