20 Comments
User's avatar
LindaAnn LoSchiavo's avatar

This post made me laugh - - NOT in a good way - - because I noticed names of writers I once asked to blurb my books. They REFUSED. Angela, you have been much luckier than most. Blessings.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

Sorry that is a negative experience for you, LindaAnn. I will say I’m not sure any of the names I shared ever blurbed on of my books either. Blurbing a book takes a lot of time to do well because the book has to be read, considered and then the write up. When I say each of them was a mentor, they took the time to guide me with advice that was crucial. I never actually ask anyone for blurbs because I don’t want to put anyone on the spot. I just post an offer/request on my social media.

Blurbs are starting to be a thing of the past I was reading, with some of the Big Five not bothering anymore. They are lot of time and work for everyone from blurber to author, and they almost never boost sales. I’ll try to find that announcement (I think) from Simon & Schuster.

Expand full comment
LindaAnn LoSchiavo's avatar

No need to hunt it down - I had read it. But being published by Simon & Schuster, FSG, W.W. Norton, Random House, etc. = an endorsement right there, yes? (smile)

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

Yes, but I think it depends what you are after. I don't think either benefits actual sales based on what I've heard from Big Five authors. It always comes down to us marketing ourselves. You have that down.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

Oh, Bert Cush did write me an introduction for one of my collections, but he had the time because he isn't a writer for his day job ;D I read a lot at night, so if you ever have a book coming up you need blurbs for, I volunteer. It's actually easier/better to ask newer writers. They tend not to be as busy, and getting their name out in a blurb helps both ways.

Expand full comment
LindaAnn LoSchiavo's avatar

Angela, thank you for volunteering a blurb for my next poetry book. I really appreciate it.

Expand full comment
Laura Kester Duerrwaechter's avatar

Mentoring does not contain an aspect of luck. It is a deliberate manifestation of

Intention given and received.

Expand full comment
Denise Dumars's avatar

nonsense.

Expand full comment
Denise Dumars's avatar

I have been a mentor but have never had a mentor. If I had found a mentor in my early years I would be much better off than I am today. I'm extremely bitter about it. Can you tell? In my day it was the young cute women who sought mentors among the dirty old men--and found them. Not my cup of blood.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

I'm so sorry that happened. I think it's never too late. When I interview you for the Space and Time history book (I will be contacting you soon) let's talk about how we can get you a mentoring boost.

Expand full comment
Karen Bayly's avatar

I did get some advice from Joe Mynhardt once which I’m still experimenting with, but other than that, I haven’t had a mentor. I always thought they were people you needed to apply to and pay for!

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

No, the HWA has a great program. I’ve been mentored twice and mentored I lost count.

Expand full comment
Karen Bayly's avatar

I thought you had to apply for that with the possibility of being rejected?

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

You wouldn't be rejected, you would just have to wait for the next round if we didn't have enough.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

You do have to apply for it, and we don't always have enough mentors for every mentee that applies, but I don't think anyone is rejected.

Expand full comment
Rachel Aukes's avatar

I've been fortunate in my career to have been mentored by F. Paul Wilson, Heather Graham, and Jonathan Maberry. All are phenomenal leaders in their own rights and all guided my career in their own way. Paul spent hours talking with me about my writing career, and it's a treasure I'll hold dear for the rest of my life.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

I think I sat next to F. Paul Wilson at one of my first mass author signings. If I remember, I think his signing spot was missed or something, so we crowded up together in the same spot. He was so nice. I believe he gave me a copy of his book. There was a lot of laughing. I think that might have been on the Queen Mary.

Expand full comment
Al Sirois's avatar

I was sort-of mentored by Mark J. McGarry for a while years ago, and vice-versa, but basically I've had to do my own heavy lifting.

Expand full comment
Angela Yuriko Smith's avatar

I think even with mentors we wind up doing a lot of heavy lifting, but any little boost helps. Very cool that you guys had a mutual mentoring partnership.

Expand full comment
Al Sirois's avatar

It was a good match. We even published a couple of co-written stories, and assisted each other on solo works. At the time we began, Mark had been doing better with sales, but I subsequently caught up and by this time have surpassed him. Of course, he's ill with Parkinson's now, and essentially unable to write.

Expand full comment