Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Guest Entry: Scott Deitche, author of CIGAR CITY MAFIA
With the paperback release of Scott Deitche's runaway hit, Cigar City Mafia: The Complete History of the Tampa Underworld (Barricade, $14.95) only a few weeks away, I asked Scott to weigh in on the blog and share his experience as a first-time author. What follows is Scott's note:
I'm getting ready for the paperback release of my book, Cigar City Mafia, in the next couple of weeks. It's the latest chapter in a whirlwind year.
My book was released in hardcover on January 18, 2004, just in time for my first signing. I should have known something was up when about 80 people came to the first signing and the store ran out of books. Over the next year, I did over 30 signings, appearances, and talks (yes, you can actually get paid to talk about your book!). In addition, I was interviewed by all the local TV stations (I'm now the de facto Tampa mob expert), newspapers, two Florida magazines, radio, The History Channel and the Discovery Channel.
Quite a whirlwind indeed. Of course, I had to politely brush off the "Wow, you must be rich" and "When are you quitting your day job?" comments - both woefully out of sync with reality! I still work full time - I’m an environmental scientist/marine biologist for Pinellas County in Florida.
I did learn a few things from being a first-time author with a fairly successful book. The first was to get an entertainment lawyer to help with contracts and ancillary deals. The second was to pace myself better in the future. I got caught up in the excitement of the book's success and ran myself ragged with signings. My wife and daughter forgot what I looked like. My future signings will be better spaced apart.
A lot of really cool things came about because of the book. First and foremost were the stories. When I was writing the book I couldn't get anyone in Tampa to talk to me. After the book was published, I was swamped with people telling me their personal stories of Old Tampa. But the best stories have been those of the mobsters themselves. Seven have contacted me, including two who are in federal prison. All have stories they want to tell. The local mob boss has read the book, and I heard through a friend of his that he hated it. No surprise there.
Recently, I was a "prize" in a big fundraising event for Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. The winning bidder will have dinner with me and eight people at his house, prepared by a local celebrity chef. I think I'm going to be the winner that night!
Currently, I am working on a television project. I signed a development deal with a local production company, Tampa Digital Studios. Based on my expertise in organized crime, we developed a TV series idea- a crime show based in Tampa set in modern day. It was a lot of fun to flex my fiction muscle and we are currently preparing the pitch package for the networks. I'm realistic; there's a slim chance the show will come to fruition, but it was an offer I couldn't refuse!
So with the TV show, two current book projects, and a new batch of signings (June 4th at the Waldenbooks in Citrus Park Mall, Tampa is the first), I'm settling in for a busy summer.
I'm getting ready for the paperback release of my book, Cigar City Mafia, in the next couple of weeks. It's the latest chapter in a whirlwind year.
My book was released in hardcover on January 18, 2004, just in time for my first signing. I should have known something was up when about 80 people came to the first signing and the store ran out of books. Over the next year, I did over 30 signings, appearances, and talks (yes, you can actually get paid to talk about your book!). In addition, I was interviewed by all the local TV stations (I'm now the de facto Tampa mob expert), newspapers, two Florida magazines, radio, The History Channel and the Discovery Channel.
Quite a whirlwind indeed. Of course, I had to politely brush off the "Wow, you must be rich" and "When are you quitting your day job?" comments - both woefully out of sync with reality! I still work full time - I’m an environmental scientist/marine biologist for Pinellas County in Florida.
I did learn a few things from being a first-time author with a fairly successful book. The first was to get an entertainment lawyer to help with contracts and ancillary deals. The second was to pace myself better in the future. I got caught up in the excitement of the book's success and ran myself ragged with signings. My wife and daughter forgot what I looked like. My future signings will be better spaced apart.
A lot of really cool things came about because of the book. First and foremost were the stories. When I was writing the book I couldn't get anyone in Tampa to talk to me. After the book was published, I was swamped with people telling me their personal stories of Old Tampa. But the best stories have been those of the mobsters themselves. Seven have contacted me, including two who are in federal prison. All have stories they want to tell. The local mob boss has read the book, and I heard through a friend of his that he hated it. No surprise there.
Recently, I was a "prize" in a big fundraising event for Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. The winning bidder will have dinner with me and eight people at his house, prepared by a local celebrity chef. I think I'm going to be the winner that night!
Currently, I am working on a television project. I signed a development deal with a local production company, Tampa Digital Studios. Based on my expertise in organized crime, we developed a TV series idea- a crime show based in Tampa set in modern day. It was a lot of fun to flex my fiction muscle and we are currently preparing the pitch package for the networks. I'm realistic; there's a slim chance the show will come to fruition, but it was an offer I couldn't refuse!
So with the TV show, two current book projects, and a new batch of signings (June 4th at the Waldenbooks in Citrus Park Mall, Tampa is the first), I'm settling in for a busy summer.
Friday, May 20, 2005
They're Just Not That Into Them - And Neither Am I
Over at his blog, BookAngst, "Mad Max Perkins," a pseudonym for a senior editor at a major publishing house, airs the grievances of two authors - one previously published, one as-yet-unpublished - unable to sell their current projects.
Mad Max responds:
As an editor, as a member of the industry about which both examples are ranting, I found myself reacting unfavorably - even (I confess) unsympathetically - to the Rants and their authors. My first impulse was to walk on by - neither respond nor to post them...It's not that I disagree with them wholly, or that I can't see merit in their respective perspectives. Yes, there are obstacles (lots) to access; yes, the publishing industry, like the culture generally, is disposed toward youth, hipness, currency, platform, etc., sometimes to the detriment of those with more experience and perspective but less likely, say, to win a guest-host's squat on OPRAH.
On the other hand, if these represent the ways in which (some) writers reach out to the publishing industry, and if said industry (represented by Max) is put off by the strategies these writers employ, then these strategies aren't working...And maybe (I'm not certain, but maybe) this justifies my turning the bright lamp of the Rant back upon its creators.
Funny, my first impulse was to rant myself - has either of these authors (or their agents) even considered submitting his or her proposal to an independent publisher??? Their rants left me with the impression that they hadn't. Or are they so hung up on "hitting it big" with a major house that they'd rather their latest work remain unpublished than stoop to the level of publishing with a smaller independent?
For a moment, I thought: should I try and contact these authors (I was particularly interested in the plight of the previously published author, and truthfully, the topic on which he or she writes) and offer them a chance? But no, ultimately, I'm just not that into them either. For now, I'm tired of ranting and raving about the many strengths of independents -the intimate working relationship, substantial author input in all aspects of the publishing process, no such thing as "mid-list" authors (at least at Barricade), agents welcome but not a necessity, etc. (Note to Ranting Unpublished Author - some independents actually make time to sort through slush! I know because I used to read unsolicited submissions as a Barricade intern, and, in fact, still do sometimes)
Anyway, I think we're moving closer and closer to the time when authors and their agents will get wise to this on their own.
- Jen Itskevich
Mad Max responds:
As an editor, as a member of the industry about which both examples are ranting, I found myself reacting unfavorably - even (I confess) unsympathetically - to the Rants and their authors. My first impulse was to walk on by - neither respond nor to post them...It's not that I disagree with them wholly, or that I can't see merit in their respective perspectives. Yes, there are obstacles (lots) to access; yes, the publishing industry, like the culture generally, is disposed toward youth, hipness, currency, platform, etc., sometimes to the detriment of those with more experience and perspective but less likely, say, to win a guest-host's squat on OPRAH.
On the other hand, if these represent the ways in which (some) writers reach out to the publishing industry, and if said industry (represented by Max) is put off by the strategies these writers employ, then these strategies aren't working...And maybe (I'm not certain, but maybe) this justifies my turning the bright lamp of the Rant back upon its creators.
Funny, my first impulse was to rant myself - has either of these authors (or their agents) even considered submitting his or her proposal to an independent publisher??? Their rants left me with the impression that they hadn't. Or are they so hung up on "hitting it big" with a major house that they'd rather their latest work remain unpublished than stoop to the level of publishing with a smaller independent?
For a moment, I thought: should I try and contact these authors (I was particularly interested in the plight of the previously published author, and truthfully, the topic on which he or she writes) and offer them a chance? But no, ultimately, I'm just not that into them either. For now, I'm tired of ranting and raving about the many strengths of independents -the intimate working relationship, substantial author input in all aspects of the publishing process, no such thing as "mid-list" authors (at least at Barricade), agents welcome but not a necessity, etc. (Note to Ranting Unpublished Author - some independents actually make time to sort through slush! I know because I used to read unsolicited submissions as a Barricade intern, and, in fact, still do sometimes)
Anyway, I think we're moving closer and closer to the time when authors and their agents will get wise to this on their own.
- Jen Itskevich
Thursday, May 19, 2005
A Touring Author's Thoughts on Book Tours
Having wrapped up the publicity tour for the paperback edition of his book, Crossing California, author and Book Standard columnist, Adam Langer, offers some interesting suggestions regarding how to improve book tours, in particular, and the book industry in general:
#2 Develop an Interactive Regional Book Source. It would be quite convenient for authors, readers and industry types to have a resource where they could click on a specific bookstore and learn not only which author would be appearing there in the future, but also who had read there in the past, what they read, how many people showed up, etc. Publicists and authors on the road could contribute in a style such as:
Date- May 6
Place - Kishnev, Wisconsin
Attendance - zero
Overall vibe - 1.5 (Sucky)
After a while, one would have a pretty good idea of the venue, its customers, and its events.
Amen to that!
Langer's earlier dispatches from the road are also available on bookstandard.com.
- Jen Itskevich
Publicity Director
#2 Develop an Interactive Regional Book Source. It would be quite convenient for authors, readers and industry types to have a resource where they could click on a specific bookstore and learn not only which author would be appearing there in the future, but also who had read there in the past, what they read, how many people showed up, etc. Publicists and authors on the road could contribute in a style such as:
Date- May 6
Place - Kishnev, Wisconsin
Attendance - zero
Overall vibe - 1.5 (Sucky)
After a while, one would have a pretty good idea of the venue, its customers, and its events.
Amen to that!
Langer's earlier dispatches from the road are also available on bookstandard.com.
- Jen Itskevich
Publicity Director
Monday, May 02, 2005
What Gives, Adam Moss?
Has anyone else noticed that the last four or five issues of New York Magazine have featured a solitary, white male on the cover?
What's up with that??
- Jen Itskevich
What's up with that??
- Jen Itskevich
