Lynn’s Comments (group member since Mar 19, 2010)

Lynn’s comments from the Q&A with Lynn Kilpatrick group.

Milton wrote: "Lynn there are so many books out there on market, an additional one doesn't get noticed. it is also upon us writers to network so that I buy your book you buy mine and get the sell going. I'm also ..."

I agree, Milton, that it is up to writers to network and to promote great books by small presses. Thanks for telling me about your book. Mine is available at Amazon as well, but also through the FC2 website (fc2.org).
Thanks.

Thanks for the question, Annabel.
For me, it was mostly about getting it published & getting people to read it. I think with a small publisher, the sales are going to be small, but that said, I feel it's my job to get people to read it. FC2 is associated with the University of Alabama press, so they do have a marketing department, they send out readers' copies, etc.
I've heard many different things about marketing at bigger houses. I think with short stories, it's never going to be a huge seller, unless it gains some kind of word-of-mouth marketing.
I also think that big publishers choose a few books to market aggressively and the rest are on their own. At a smaller publisher, you have a better chance of being their big release, instead of just being one of many mid-list releases.
I also think it depends a lot on what your book is, if it can find a kind of niche market, and that kind of thing.
Hope this is helpful.
Lynn

Donna wrote: "Lynn,
Thanks for your recommendations on some books/authors that have influenced you. I wonder if by warping the idea of domesticity in your book, that you may actually be changing the way domesti..."

Hi Donna.
I think you're right, that I want readers to have a new perspective on the domestic, or perhaps to revisit the domestic and see the same issues (women, children, houses, routine, etc.) in a new way. They are experimental formally, which I think invites a new perspective. Some of them are experimental in the way they present point-of-view as well. I'm not sure how readers will perceive the "experimental" nature of the stories. Many of them are pretty traditional. Maybe you can weigh in on that once you've read them?
Thanks!!
Lynn

rae wrote: "As you know, I am thrilled about your book! I cannot wait to get it in my hands. One thing that bothers me greatly both as a writer and reader is the ghettoization of women writers into women's wri..."

Hi Rae!! I think that is always a concern, but perhaps you are right, that in this collection experimental form trumps subject matter. But also I think in this collection my depiction of the domestic is somewhat warped (i.e. the prevalence of knives...). But in general I think you are correct, that writing by women is perceived as writing for women only. I think short stories aren't really popular enough to be pigeon holed, mostly they are ignored!
Let's hope that doesn't happen to this collection.
Thanks for the question!!

Corey wrote: "Lynn, congratulations on the book. From my research, before I self-published my first 2 collections of short stories, I found it hard to find a publisher that didn't actually want me to pay them, t..."

Hi Corey.
FC2 books are actually published through the University of Alabama Press, and they took care of everything, including copyright, editing, etc.
Self-publishing is certainly an option, but there are a lot of small presses who publish stories, and you don't have to pay for it. It does cost to enter contests, but it is a small amount compared to the cost of publishing.
Thanks for your interest, Corey.

Eileen wrote: "I like hearing of people's success from small presses. The same goes for the independent book stores.

Do you know how many queries you sent out? Do you have an agent or need one? Congrats! Ei..."

I do not have an agent. With my collection of short stories, I mostly sent it to contests, such as Sarabande, university presses, AWP prizes, those things. I know some people have published story collections with big presses, and for that you need an agent. My collection is more experimental, so I only really targeted small presses.
FC2 was my first choice, so I am very lucky. But I made a list of small presses (mostly by looking up small presses online), and I had a list to work through if the book was rejected by FC2.
My main suggestion is to find books like yours, and try the press that published it. Then, find presses that publish similar books and try them.
Most small presses work without agents, so you can send your book directly.
I also recommend contests, especially for story collections or more eclectic books. Many presses sponsor contests.
I probably submitted it, in various versions, 15 times, to contests. I was a finalist in the Sarabande contest the year before FC2 took my manuscript.
The key, I think, is not to give up. And don't be afraid to play around with the manuscript if it's not being accepted in its current form.
Good luck!
Lynn

I'm very excited that my book was published by FC2, which is a very small press. You can read more about them here: http://fc2.org/.
I imagine that many readers are also aspiring writers. I'd love to answer your questions about publishing and small presses.

Many people are interested in what authors I love, and who has influenced my style.
It's difficult, sometimes, to see who has exerted the most influence, so for now I'll just choose two.
My favorite writer, in terms of the short story, has to be Lydia Davis. She just published her collected stories. My favorite of her collections is Almost No Memory. What I love about her is the way her stories focus on language. She's a very expository writer, and I love how her version of telling turns into obsession. I also love how she plays the line between fiction and nonfiction.
My other favorite writer is Denis Johnson. His collection, Jesus's Son, is one of my favorites. I love his writing because he also uses beautiful language, but he also constantly undercuts the narrative authority by using unreliable narrators, or having them question their own version of events.
The influence of both of these writers can be seen in my own collection. Many of my stories are expository, and many of the narrators are unreliable, or question their own accounts of events.

I'm excited that my first book, a collection of short stories, In The House, is available. The book collects stories I wrote over several years, but they have a common theme: the domestic. Most of the stories are about women in houses. Some of the stories have a dark feel, meditating on violence and anxiety; some of the stories are funny.
I'd love to answer questions about any aspect of this collection. I look forward to your questions!