Fresh Fiction Blog | Lynn Cahoon | Lessons from the Fun House

Remember walking through the fun house at the state fair? The path twisted and turned, the floor shook and changed under your feet, and once you could see the end, the trail turned you around, back for more fun.

Welcome to the world of a newly published author.

This March I signed my first contract with a new publisher. Not just new to me, new to the world of romance. My book, THE BULL RIDER'S BROTHER released June 4^th as part of their launch into this venture. Yep, three months to get my feet under me and figure out all the must do's an author in 2012 has on their daily to do list. Three weeks after signing the first contract, I sold a second book to a more established e-publisher. (Note - for you who are still looking for your first contract, spacing them a little better than I did is highly recommended. Between edits, and promotion, and filling out publisher forms, I was swamped.)

Now, six months later, I'm still learning. I've signed a second contract for THE BULL RIDER'S MANAGER, a book I wrote during this time and submitted a second book to my second publisher. And the world of publishing has gone crazy. E-books, losing Borders, new publishers popping up, old ones disappearing, and the self-publication path exploded. The fun house path just took a new twist.

So what have I learned? Am I making the right decisions? Have I choose the right publishers? Should I buy advertising, blog more, tweet more, self-publish? What about branding? One series I write is about cowboys and small towns. The other, witchcraft and secret covens. Not an easy co-relationship to brand. I don't know the answers. All I know is I am striving to make each book I write better than the last. And I get to tell my stories. Isn't that what we all want?

And to stay upright in the fun house.

Comments

I've been dying to read a cowboy book! This one seems like it will make me fall in love with cowboys all over again! I love a sizzly romance to top it off & what better than a bull rider! OUCH! What a tough life! ;) I hope I win, but I wish everyone lots of luck!!

Quetzi
(Quetzi Fernald 2:29am August 12, 2012)

I never enjoyed fun houses. Too scary. This sounds like a great book but I will leave the fun house behind.
(Kathleen Yohanna 2:57am August 12, 2012)

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing about publishing your first book. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Tamsyn Takamiya 3:03am August 12, 2012)

Interesting...very helpful, thank you so much for your viewpoint
and thoughts!
(Samantha King 3:14am August 12, 2012)

Really love romances, looking forward to this one!
(Nancy Gallagher 7:55am August 12, 2012)

@Debbi - I hope you enjoy The Bull Rider's Brother.

@Quentzi - what's not to love about cowboys. (grin)

@Kathleen - we were at the state fair yesterday and I passed
by the fun house. But I thought about it.

@Tamsyn Thank you so much - I love this book,and the second,
The Bull Rider's Manager was fun to write as well.

@Samantha - The writer community is all about the pay it
forward. Glad it helped.

@Nancy - I hope you love BRB. :)
(Lynn Cahoon 8:33am August 12, 2012)

I love to read cowboy books and can't wait to read this one.
(Bonnie Capuano 8:39am August 12, 2012)

Wow, I'm on the exact same path! Trying to decide which direction to go in is all part of the fun and challenge, I guess. Cowboys and horses, witches, goddesses, demi-gods and fantasy. Love writing it all! Great blog post!
(Ceri Hebert 9:14am August 12, 2012)

Ceri - Thanks for stopping in. Finding your way thorough is
part of the fun - I hope. LOL Good luck with your writing.
(Lynn Cahoon 9:22am August 12, 2012)

I like stories set in small towns, so I think I'll start with that. Good luck with it all, Lynn.
(Michelle Donaldson 9:54am August 12, 2012)

I would love to win!! Western romance is great!!
(Brenda Leon 11:06am August 12, 2012)

@Betty - I love cowboy romance too.
@Michelle - there's something about the small town that
drags me in to the story.
@Brenda - Good luck and if you don't win, I hope you take a
chance on BRB.
@Rhonda - Awe, thanks. I hope you love reading about
Shawnee as much I loved writing the books.
(Lynn Cahoon 11:47am August 12, 2012)

Love cowboy books. Would love to win. Thanks.
(Donna Parker 11:49am August 12, 2012)

I haven't gone to the state fair in years---but do have some great memories. Cowboys and romance---what a great combo.
(Sue Farrell 12:02pm August 12, 2012)

Sounds like you're on a fun adventure. Enjoy yourself as you learn what compliments you best and continue to have fun.
(Leni Kaye 12:25pm August 12, 2012)

You seem to have done well finding a place for each of your genres. In this market that is very good. Congrats.
(Pam Howell 1:08pm August 12, 2012)

Sounds like a great book... I love cowboys.
(Colleen Conklin 1:41pm August 12, 2012)

Sounds like life!
Nothing sexier than a bull rider so I would imagine that a bull rider's brother would be sexy simply by genetics. Looking forward to reading The Bull Rider's Brother.
Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 1:50pm August 12, 2012)

Love the cover and love the cowboys! Im always looking for new authors.
I would love to read this.
(Kim Cornwell 2:04pm August 12, 2012)

This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for giving us a chance to win it.
(Anna Speed 3:27pm August 12, 2012)

Congrats!
State fair is coming up next month in my area.
(Jan D 3:30pm August 12, 2012)

I love fun houses! at the State Fairs or not. Your book sounds really good. I like
reading about cowboys.
(Joy Isley 3:57pm August 12, 2012)

I JUST LOVE COWBOY ROMANCES THEY ARE THE GREATEST. I CAN'T
WAIT TO RED THIS ONE IT SOUNDS MARVELOUS. LOVE TO WIN.
(Shelly Caggiano 3:59pm August 12, 2012)

I think your experiences in getting published would be just as
interesting to read as your book sounds :)
(Denise Carlson 4:00pm August 12, 2012)

Wow - guys - Took a nap and watched HP (one of my guilty
pleasures) and the blog exploded. Love this - so glad you
guys are loving cowboys.
(Lynn Cahoon 4:35pm August 12, 2012)

Sounds like a really good fun read! Thanks for the chance to win!
(Natasha Donohoo 4:42pm August 12, 2012)

Good luck on your series!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 5:42pm August 12, 2012)

I absolutely love cowboy romances...they're especially good stories, and my favorite to read about and enjoy the State Fairs, bull-riding, and small towns in the mix. Sounds like your off to a great start with your writing!!!!!!
(Rich Cook 5:45pm August 12, 2012)

Very interesting. I just finished reading a post about street teams and the issues with them. I would imagine that it's hard to decide how and when and where to market your product. Afterall, you want to hit the correct audience. And that doesn't even take in to account picking the correct publisher! Thanks for the chance to win you book.
(Jennifer Beyer 7:33pm August 12, 2012)

I like stories about cowboys, I'd love to read this one.
(Wilma Frana 8:27pm August 12, 2012)

Congratulations!! I have a feeling that I'm going to love your book!! I'm sorry that you don't exactly love your contract, but it sounds like you have the story line down, so that is half the battle. Who doesn't love a cowboy or the cowboy life anyway?? I think the cover is beyond words. It took my breath away!! The scene said it all, and I just stopped, paused, and stared at it as soon as it showed up on my screen. Kudos to the art department. I can't wait to get my hands on the book!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:38pm August 12, 2012)

wow! way to go,Lynn!!! love the cowboys---always a winner!
(Barbara Studer 9:40pm August 12, 2012)

I love that you write what you want and what you are good at no matter that the two genres don't mesh! You go girl!
(Angie Lilly 10:19pm August 12, 2012)

@Jennifer - Street teams are an interesting concept.
Finding your audience is hard.

@Peggy - Contracts are fine - it was the spacing I didn't
realize how much work there is after you sign on the dotted
line. (all the published authors reading this are laughing
at me...) Thanks for the love on the cover.

@Angie - I like to try new things. My friend says I have
bright and shiny disease. So I write in different worlds.
Sometimes switching takes me a while to settle though.

Love that you guys love cowboys!
(Lynn Cahoon 10:28pm August 12, 2012)

I enjoyed the comparison. I wish you well with your writing.
(Mary Preston 11:25pm August 12, 2012)

Thanks for the chance to win your new book. It sounds like a great read.
(Carol Woodruff 11:47pm August 12, 2012)

I've never been in a fun house. I just have always
been what my sibs called a "fraidy cat." No way you
would find me in a spooky fun house! Looking forward
to reading about your cowboys!
(Patricia Cochran 11:58pm August 12, 2012)

Thanks for giving me a chance to win your book. also love cowboys.
(Linda Hall 11:59pm August 12, 2012)

Hmm...fun house? Never found one! Went to a state fair...didn't
have a fun house. Being a Texas girl, I love cowboys and bull
riding. Give me that 8 second ride ;)
(Samantha King 9:30am August 13, 2012)

Good luck with the fun house....never really liked those things! Lol
(Stacy Wright 12:55pm August 13, 2012)

The last fun house I was in had to be about fifty years ago!
I remember getting lost in it's maze-type paths and unable to find my way out coming to dead-ends and running into mirrors that made you look distorted and goofy. Finally, upon seeing daylight (after being in the darkness), upon exiting, a big gush of forced air shot up your butt! That's the last and only time I've ever been in one. I didn't like the weird-looking clowns inside either (eerie, actually). Do fairs still have those (county & state fairs). I haven't seen them anymore??? Even so, I'll stay away from them and even the "spook houses". But, I do LOVE my COWBOY books!
(Linda Luinstra 4:20pm August 13, 2012)

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