Thankful for Connections
by Sparkle Abbey
As we come to the end of summer and head into fall there are so many things happening in our lives and in the world. And so much going on in the publishing world. It’s hard to keep up with everything.
A new series is still in development but with happenings in our personal lives – family things, medical things, and life – things shift.
And wow, where do we even begin with changes in publishing? For us, a major change is that our original publisher is closing its doors at the end of the year. Which on the personal side makes us very sad and on the professional side means that we will soon own the rights to those first ten Sparkle Abbey books. Needless to say, we have a lot of decisions to make about what’s next for the Pampered Pets. It’s a different place than when we started and so many options to explore. And options that are preferable today may not be so attractive at the end of the year. Which is only three months away. Yikes!
In addition to the actual writing and the publishing part of things, it’s also a different world in terms of connecting with readers. Conferences are fewer but book signings seem to have picked up again. On the socials side, Facebook remains popular with our readers, Instagram has grown, Twitter is out, BlueSky is in. And BookTok, it depends on the day. Video is big, live is even bigger. And podcasts remain popular. Right now.
And then there’s AI and it’s impact on, well, everything.
There’s a lot of be sorted out. And while the ease of researching and gathering intel on the publishing world has become fast and easy, the reliability of the information you gather is harder to determine. Which is why we are so thankful for writing friends and the connections that being a part of the writing community brings.
We have each other here on The Stiletto Gang blog to rely on for advice and intel sharing. There are also a slew of connections via Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and people we’ve met there. As well as our local chapter and our long-time writing group. A wealth of information, education, and support that is truly priceless.
We’re not sure what the future holds but we know one thing for certain. There will always be change.
As we adapt to the latest trends, try new things, and keep telling our stories, we are tremendously thankful for the connections that make this rocky road easier and so much more fun!
Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.)
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Best of luck as you navigate your new reality. I’m sure you’ll find the right path. As one who was delighted to be free from my first publishing contract, I can testify that closing one door opens a world of possibilities.
Shine on!
Anita and Mary Lee, I’m right there with you. On one hand it’s sad; on the other it’s opportunity. As for AI , uggghh. The one constant is change.
Embrace the change. Whatever you decide, I know you will prosper. And I’ll be cheering for you on the sidelines!
I hope you land in a place that works for both of you. Publishing has never been for the faint of heart, but the last few years have really been challenging, and I’m afraid will continue to be so. Best of luck!
The changes and the challenges make writing more and more difficult – and yet we all stay because it “calls” to us. Wishing you the best in whatever path the two of you decide to follow. Good-health, happiness, and ….