Putting Together A Novella Collection Play-by-Play

Good moooooorning, Seekerville!!!!!!

The first thing Jen from the Killion Group said to me when I approached her about pricing a "boxed set" image for a novella collection was "Ruthy, great! Everyone's doing them!"

Now a person can take that two ways: First, that we're woefully behind and should have thought of this years ago!!! What's the matter with us, anyway??????  (Dire sigh for sound effects here)

OR.....

Oh my stars, now we're going to be RIDDLED WITH COMPETITION!!!! AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!! How are we supposed to survive in these author-infested indie publishing waters?????? Are we strong enough? Savvy enough? Talented enough?????

OR.......

Bring it.

Contemporary Collection Link Here!!!

Now I bet you've already guessed the Ruthy-response because I'm pretty sure I was born wired to take the dare.... And while that might have an occasional down side, mostly it's just a riot of fun and that's what putting together these first two Seeker collections was: Great fun!

Step by step for those of you eagerly awaiting the TEACHING side of a Ruthy post, and be prepared to read quickly because my teaching moments pass like the #4 train barreling into the Fulton Street Station on a rainy Monday in Manhattan. In the dark, btw.

1. Gather authors
2. Make them write.
3. Give them deadlines.
4. Make sure the first deadline has wiggle room.
5. Authors must find their own editors
6. Find cover ideas and confer.
7. Agree on cover ideas.
8. Anyone who doesn't agree is scoffed at.
9. Contract covers
10. Gather novellas like grain on an autumn day.
11. Have novella collections formatted (We used Jen at The Killion Group and Kim Killion did our covers.
12. Each author reads through their final version, sends changes to the Ruthinator
13. Ruthinator enters changes into formatted document
14. Send formatted collection back to Jen just to make sure I didn't totally mess anything up.
15. Upload to Amazon.

HOW STINKIN' SIMPLE CAN YOU GET? And the chance to do a Christmas collection with some of my best buds????  How delightfully wonderful is that???

A glorious Nativity scene in St. Patrick's Cathedral last December... I love NYC at Christmas!

Amazon added a pre-order feature this year, but this is a tricky business if you're a procrastinator. I am not a procrastinator, so I jumped into that and we got everything uploaded and done with six days to spare because there's an ELEVEN DAY WINDOW on the pre-order. Which means you need stuff done two weeks early or Amazon PULLS THE BOOKS. There is a self-protective reason they do this because there are scads of authors out there who will think they're going to finish a book and get it edited/proofed/uploaded and then they don't... and all those pre-ordered people are disappointed. Everyone knows the key to continuing sales in any venue is Happy Customers. Amazon doesn't want to make folks mad. Neither do we!

But we got it done with great authors and Jen's help, and you're scratching your head right now saying, WHY PRE-ORDER, RUTHY????? 'SUP WI' DAT????

Contract stipulations. Several of us have "no compete" clauses in our contracts, and while my indie novels have brought me a big increase in readership and publishers recognize that, you don't want your indie books competing with release dates for traditionally published books, so we had to respect those dates and wait until November to release the collections...

And they're selling beautifully!

We're so stinkin' excited!!!!! When we came up with this idea we knew we didn't want too many authors in one collection (personal preference because too many variant styles can defeat the purpose of gifting readers and getting new readers!) AND... we wanted a decent price, nothing that would break the bank, but still something to cover the costs and promote our writing. We also realize now that the "look" of the collection is reduced if there are too many authors, so we plan to keep upcoming collections a similar size. (WAIT!!! RUTHY SAID "UPCOMING COLLECTIONS LIKE IT'S A DONE DEAL!!! IS IT??? REALLY??? WILL THERE BE MORE?????)

I'm glad you asked!!!  (big grin here because my teeth are too big for my mouth) Yes, we're planning a spring collection and some other surprises to follow!!!!! Yayayayayayaya!)

And if anyone tells you that getting paid for what you do is wrong when you're an inspirational author/singer/songwriter/actor, just smile and nod. And then pay your bills like normal folks do. I gladly pay Toby Mac and Mandisa and Casting Crowns and K-Love because I love their work. Creative folks have to eat, too!

Max Lucado's "The Crippled Lamb" one of my favorite stories for the little ones... and me.

I've always loved anthologies because they give the reader a glimpse of an author's style/voice/talent at a nominal cost. Reader satisfaction at all levels is important to us as a group and as individual authors. We want readers happy with content, price and an "aww...." level that makes them smile... and sometimes cry.

Now I expect some of youse have already gotten this collection, but I'm giving you a couple of links anyway, just in case! And I'm a-okay with youse spreading the word because that just means the world to us. It truly does and I hope you know that.  HISTORICAL COLLECTION LINK HERE

Notice how obvious I made the links? No one has ever accused me of being subtle, more's the pity! And I have I mentioned how much fun it is to write historicals????? "A Town Called Christmas" was more fun than I ever imagined when I first came upon the historical nuggets that led me to the story... how a wave of English immigration to the far west, especially Idaho, began a whole new style of rugged.... which gave life to my British Cowboy Hero Who Didn't Like People "Edward Stillwell"... I LOVE THIS GUY!  Laughing, because he had no idea what he was getting when he signed on the quiet woman in dire straits... Oops.  :)

Hey, I've got copies of holiday favorites to give away today! Three paperback copies of "Love Finds You in the City at Christmas" the beautiful duet I did last year with the amazing Anna Schmidt.... You get to read "Red Kettle Christmas"! I love that story to pieces!

And three Kindle copies of "Try, Try Again" my 5-star rated indie novel that's made thousands of folks smile, sigh and realize that marriage can be rekindled... and renewed! God is good!

And a copy of each novella collection, Historical and Contemporary "Hope for the Holidays"!!! (See, Jenny and Marianne???? I listen to youse!)

Let me know in the comments if you have a preference! We aim to please! Coffee's on and I've got fresh apple pie waitin' on the sideboard for you!

Ain't nothin' like it nowhere else!

Ruthy