Q&A (and brownies) with J.J. Murray discussion

Here follows what could be some unpleasant truths about the publishing industry.

I sent in The Perfect Gift for my editor's approval, hopefully approved in time for some holiday money to come my way. His reply:

I probably won’t get to it until the end of the year. What’s up your sleeve for the next novel? No rush, we have plenty of time. But if you want to toss around ideas, I’m here!

Saddened that I will see the money long after Christmas, I "tossed" him an idea:

I've been thinking about doing an "Island" series with exotic, steamy, hot locales like the Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands ...

And he tossed this back:

I have to be honest, I am NOT loving the idea of doing something in an island setting, let alone a series. Those types of books never seem to do well for us. I think you’re better off sticking with a US setting. Of course, I’m willing to hear your ideas, but you’re really going to need to wow me. The last thing I want is a book that isn’t going to sell for you.

Hmm, he thought, sighing deeply. What say y'all? I suppose I could start the book in the Islands and finish it in NYC.

I think that's a good idea. How about the characters are reserve the male lead is African American and the female character is Caucasian. Its just my opinion it doesn't mean anything. I still love your books

Every time I read about the ugly truth of publishing I wonder why I am trying to crawl my way in. Another author had a series I thought was fabulous; she ended her sixth book with the expectation of writing the seventh, the publishers cancelled it. I am sure they gave her reasons but as a avid fan I was upset.

I also understand about the holiday money. It has happened to me, the expectation of getting cash and then nothing.

I say that your idea to start the book somewhere warm and move it to NYC is a great compromise. It gives you and your editor what you both want.

I am very late because for some reason I did not see these posts.

What is the big deal? So many, so many, so many romance novels take place in the islands. How can that not work? I mean, seriously, how can it not work? There are so many opportunities when someone is on an exotic location and dealing with an exotic person--exotic to them that is. I think if the authors avoid "island romance cliches" (love scenes at the waterfalls or the "native" is a poor waiter working at the hotel where they meet and they end up on the standard beach, or worse, the steamy reggae party dance scene when the lovers do the island dance thing, stuff like that, it can work. If the author can use the exotic setting and culture to create a really beautiful setting, and an exciting fresh, story, your readers will definitely get caught up in the fantasy. I mean what romance reader doesn't want to get caught up in a good fantasy?

It is obvious the money of side of publishing don't agree. As for cliches sometimes they can be fun, if written well one cliche in a story can't hurt. When you listed the few in your message all I could think about was the movie Dirty Dancing. That was a getaway story not just to the Islands.

Humph...the well-known How Stella Got Her Groove Back proves that right, Jo. Yes, the novel was about an older woman/younger man concept, but if I remember it was also about "ISLAND LOVE" lol. I haven't read it in a long time but I remember, it wasn't T.M.'s best writing, cause there was something choppy about the narrative voice (Stella), lots of cursing, tons of sentences without punctuation--maybe to show Stella's excitement and confusion? Maybe it was the stream-of-consciousness they make u write papers on when you're an English major at NYU. Who knows with Ms. M. Anyway, the point is, I don't think in that story--that multimillion-dollar novel-turned-movie that people fell in love with the writing style or the characters (cause Stella's voice was a bit annoying to be honest). I think people liked the fantasy. The idea of someone going somewhere different for some excitement is always popular, even if their life is just fine back home, like Stella's was. Yes, T.M. did many of the island love cliches, but she made it different because the island concept was not even highlighted as much as the relationship itself, because in that book, the island was boring to Stella until Winston came along. She didn't even focus on the island setting, the culture, or Stella learning anything from that experience. However, TM did have Stella return to Jamaica to really get their romance going.

Why am I bringing this up? Because it annoys me what those editors told JJ. In a romance, I don't think a fantasy can be hindered just cuz u take it to the islands. It's about the relationship, the passion, the conflicts/tension, and the dialogue (which I have learned from JJ Murray novels and JJ Murray the author in all these discussions). If he has a vision of Trinidad vs, say...hmmmm Roanoke, will it matter? JJ Murray is still gonna write characters that shine. I mean what is the big difference between JJ writing characters in the woods of Canada in She's the One but not on a sunny tropical island?

Say word. Come on man. The setting is the backdrop to what's going on between the dude and the chick. That's what keeps me up at night crying and yearning...(which is absolutely what a good romance novel is supposed to do to its reader, darn it!)

AND...AND (forgive me, I am on a roll...)

So, I'm Your Girl, one of my favorites, ends up in Jamaica. Personally I always wanted more of that...how Jack and Diane related to one another away from all the distractions of their lives in VA. But it ended *tears*.

It's just that many, many books start in the islands and end up in the US...or start in the US and go to the islands.

But how many are based in the islands? That would be different.

Sorry, it's kinda scary how the publishing people--non writers, mind you--decide on a formula for the artist but seem to try to hinder the artist from letting his/her work grow. Shouldn't they be supportive of his vision because JJ is the one with the vision?

Just saying. But don't mind me. I can be a real rabble-rouser.

Okay, so maybe start them in Canada or US and move them to a not-often-used setting like Trinidad. I only say Trinidad cause Bahamas and Jamaica is always used, Bermuda (I've been there) felt a bit corny (no offense), and expensive and British-run and dare I say "snooty?" Just like the Caymans, which was eerily just like Bermuda. No one really ever does the other islands--Aruba, Trinidad/Tobago, Dominica, or no-island Caribbean places like Belize. And if the series happens, it ain't like they can't visit the US or other places. Dag.

Either way, we will love your work, JJ, cuz it's "Da Truth" as the youngins say here in Noo Yawk.

I agree I will like the story no matter where it is b/c JJ is a fabulous writer.

It is true Bermudians are snooty, My sister lived and worked there for 6 years. They took in to much British HRH.

I don't want to say much about the fame of How Stella Got Her Groove. I didn't read it due to a weird quirk I had at the time. I don't like reading books that are too popular. I think every time I got on the train back then, several ppl had a hard cover copy of it. I have listen to T.M. talk about it b/c of the scandal and divorce that followed. She said this is a paraphrase, "I wrote the book to justify what was going on in my real life; however it was finished and off to the publishers before Jonathan came to the U.S."
Valerie Wilson Wesley wrote the Tamara Hayle mysteries. Her third or fourth book was based in Jamaica. It was written very well, not only did her protagonist get fun and sun, she ran for her life and solved a murder.

Conflicts like these are the reason ebooks and self publishing are very popular.