Doreen Orion's Queen Of The Road

Polly,

Thanks so much for starting this thread!

I've been gone on book tour most of last week, had a fabulous launch party in Denver last night, so if my answers are not particularly well-written or coherent (I'm trying my best, people - really!) I hope you'll all forgive me.

Mollie Glick, my agent, was the 114th agent I submitted to. I've posted about this elsewhere on AW: I used the "query in batches method." I think I had a killer query as about a third of agents requested to see my proposal and sample chpts. The response I got most often was, "I love this. I just don't think I can sell it." Mollie was great, though. I talked to her recently about this, and she said, "That's funny. It wasn't something I agonized over at all. I knew I wanted it." (And PLEASE don't think she was my 114th choice. I'm basically lazy and at the time she only accepted snail mail queries.)

I mention all that because it's been very interesting to me, as a physician - so scientifically trained - how unscientific the whole publishing process is. SO many "experts" didn't think they could sell QUEEN OF THE ROAD, yet, Borders (which chose it as their June nonfiction bookclub selection) and Target (which chose it as a Breakout Book starting in August) and Anthropologie (which is going to carry it in their stores nationwide) apparently do. It's very bizarre, as people seem to be responding to the book no one thought they could sell: QUEEN OF THE ROAD is already in its 3rd printing (pub date was June 3rd).

Yes, the genre of memoir is a very hard sell these days. The whole platform issue was my biggest problem, I think.

And, by the way, I just want to say I'm SO grateful to AWers for helping me pick the right title and author photo. I really think the adorable title the publisher picked (that I resisted until AWers set me straight!) has contributed greatly to the book's success.

Yup. Several people on AW have PMed me to say I'm their inspiration. Well... I always reply I'd much rather be the poster girl for overnight success than perseverance!

Two years went by. And, PLEASE don't think Mollie was like my last choice. Nope. I'm just basically lazy and at the time, she only accepted snail mail queries, so she and the others I deemed philistines were at the bottom of my list. (Now she accepts email queries, and frankly, I think I may have seen the wrong posted info at the time.)

The batches were between 6-12. And, any feedback I got on my proposal/chpts, I considered, then if I felt was warrented, revised. As a result, when I finally got a deal, my editor liked the sample chpts so much, she said not to change them in any way. (Trying to find a silver lining here!)

I think the basic message is this: If you feel you have something people will respond to, keep at it.

First, a huge congratulations! How wonderful it is to see your book taking off like this!
Since your publisher didn't seem to expect all this attention, did the marketing campaign change when the book started to get this notice, and if so, how?

Thanks!
DeAnna

Polly - Thanks! It's really wonderful to hear that people laugh out loud when they read QUEEN OF THE ROAD. I knew even before we started the trip that I wanted to write a memoir about it. I just had NO idea just how hard getting published would be. It was hard enough for my first book 10 years ago, but now is MUCH harder. I didn't have too much of a schedule. I tend to think in terms of bunches of time, so for example, I had about 6 months to write it (I had already written 2 chpts) so gave myself 2 weeks/chpt, thinking that would leave some time at the end to step away from it for awhile. I was still working as a shrink during the days (although not full time), and there were plenty of days I didn't write. I probably did most of it on the weekends, actually. Currently, I'm doing a little bit of writing on my next book, but since QUEEN OF THE ROAD just published a week ago, I'm spending most of my time touring and promoting.

Deanna - Welcome to AW and thanks so much! I joke that "I'm only the writer," so in truth, I don't really know much about all the behind the scenes stuff at the publisher. I DO know that the more an author does, the more the publisher will do and it seems to me that was certainly true of QUEEN OF THE ROAD. It also seems like the more good stuff that happens for a book builds on itself... I just found out today that Borders selected it as their "Featured" book club pick for June, so it will be in the front of stores all the rest of the month! (Prior to this, it was "only" the nonfiction book club selection for June.)

Hi Doreen--and Polly!

Thanks, Polly, for starting this thread! And a big public thanks to you, Doreen, for your generous advice and support (public and private) as I've been on my own journey to publication.

Reading about your experience is so validating, because mine was so similar. My path to an agent was a little bit shorter, but still lonnngg and with an initial almost-wrong turn and then after that lots of rejections till I found the right agent. And then we had rejections from editors that were just like yours.

"We like the story, like the writing, but just don't think we can sell it." I got a bunch of those.

Now, in my case I can understand. "Accordion Dreams" is a little bit of a quirky book, part memoir and part music studies. It's a little esoteric, and could be seen as destined for a niche market. (You know, all those other middle-aged women who fall in love with the Cajun accordion!) And I've ended up at the perfect place for a book like mine.

But "Queen of the Road"? Difficulty selling it??? Come on! Now that I have started the book, it is even harder to understand an agent or editor having reservations about marketability.

It's hilarious! You have this irreverent smartass self-deprecating voice, laugh-out-loud moments abound, even the occasional slightly raunchy bits (like that ringtone . But also touching, without being heavy-handed or preachy. It has "popular book" written all over it. So broadly appealing. And who doesn't have an "on the road" fantasy?

There has to be some satisfaction in proving the doubters wrong. ("The Queen's Revenge"!)

But I continue to wonder how so many could call it wrong.

Oh, I guess I should ask a question! So, do you have any more thoughts about that, besides the general uphill climb memoir faces? Do you think it's possible that there is some subtle anti-psychiatry bias going on? (Oh, forgot to mention, for those who don't know: I'm a psychologist.)

Lots of luck at the CA signings--sure wish I could be there!

Blair

Thanks for being you and writing about it!

Hi Doreen,

I just started Queen of the Road a couple of days ago and have already spotted a few things about it I'm going to call brilliant in my essay about it.

I love the midlife crisis aspect. Many of us boomers, coming up upon "that certain age" are going to be curious to read your take on it. I just wrote in my draft that any publisher who turned this down really didn't understand what people read. I had do idea about your 114 agent story and your instant success out of the gate. Hah! Congratulations!!

And yes, I've laughed out loud several times since I started.

Oh, here's a question. How long have you been working on a comedic writing style, and what sorts of workshopping and feedback do you use to polish your timing?

Thanks for being accessible on AW. Your comments and presence are a great inspiration for the rest of us.

Jerry

Hey Blair -

Sorry it's taken me awhile. Just got back tonight from 2nd (?) leg 'o tour. Had an especially fabulous time in Portland at the ultra-fabulous Powell's. If anyone wants to see my AM Northwest interview, feel free. The hosts are really, really fun. They started the hour talking about a nude bike-riding protest in Denver, so by the time we got to my naked karaoke at the nudist RV park story, it felt kind of tame!

As to your question: I really, REALLY don't think my difficulty finding an agent had anything to do with a bias against psychiatry. First of all, the vast majority of agents I queried are in NY, so by definition, have been in therapy themselves . But, seriously, I truly believe my loooong search had to do with that pesky platform issue we've all posted on ad nauseum elsewhere on AW. I was even asked by a few, "What bestselling authors can give you blurbs?" Well, duh. As agents, don't they tell all their authors not to read uncontracted ms? (Probably a better term for this, but I'm in "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium" mode.)

Squire Jerry -

Thanks so much! I'm usually rather querulous (just ask Tim), but if you want to call my book "brilliant" really, who am I to argue? (If you keep going, there just might be a Duchy in this for you.)

As for any comedic style... that's a great question and like all great questions, one I have never pondered. But, I'll try (again, forgive me if I ramble. The middle-aged brain - scratch that - MY middle-aged brain on little sleep and jet-lagged is not a pretty sight): When I decided I wanted to concentrate on comedy in my screenwriting 10 years ago, I started challenging myself to be funnier in "real" life. I really do think like most knacks or talents, it is something that gets better with practice. So, I did. The feedback I got was mainly from other people not getting my jokes (or in some cases getting ready to punch me). I also took a lot of screenwriting workshops which helped a lot.

Prior to leaving on our "bus thing" I took a memoir writing workshop with Kathryn Black and stayed in touch with her. This didn't necessarily help with the comedy or timing per se, but rather with more general aspects of writing in the genre.

In terms of writing comedy, whether screenwriting or QUEEN OF THE ROAD, what greatly helps me is to read everything out loud, in voices. It's amazing the sense I can get of what works and what doesn't, just from taking it off the page. Since my writing tends to have a bit of an "edge," the few things that seemed a little dicey, I'd get Tim's or Kathryn's opinion on. Maybe that's why my mother's biggest objection to what I'd written about her was, "You made fun of my furniture." Whew!!!!!!!

Really, honest, and a follow up question

I often wonder if seeing brilliance around me is just another excuse for sycophanting, but then the people I call brilliant never seem to mind.

Since you have clearly put so much energy into studying writing, you've inspired a followup question. Do any of your fellow psychiatrists or your family members look at you like you're crazy for putting so much energy into learning such a complex skill and then actually trying to succeed at it, when you are already successful in something as prestigious?

Jerry

Prestigious? You must be of my generation. I promise you, we're the last to think being an MD is anything special. When I go into bookstores to sign stock and introduce myself to the staff, their eyes actually light up because they've met a real, live author! It's an incredible kick for me, and I guarentee that's never happened because I'm a doctor.

My family knows I've always loved writing. I started as a kid, just never thought I could make a living at it. So, what was a Jewish only child to do? (Besides marry a doctor, which I also did.) Why, go to medical school, of course.

As for my psychiatrist/doctor colleagues... most of them want to write books! I guess being an author is the new doctor...

Author is the new doctor, cool!

Prevostprincess said:

Prestigious? You must be of my generation. I promise you, we're the last to think being an MD is anything special. When I go into bookstores to sign stock and introduce myself to the staff, their eyes actually light up because they've met a real, live author! It's an incredible kick for me, and I guarentee that's never happened because I'm a doctor.

My family knows I've always loved writing. I started as a kid, just never thought I could make a living at it. So, what was a Jewish only child to do? (Besides marry a doctor, which I also did.) Why, go to medical school, of course.

As for my psychiatrist/doctor colleagues... most of them want to write books! I guess being an author is the new doctor...

Click to expand...

Thanks for your response, Doreen. So I guess we're getting into origin stories here. There is something very powerful about wanting to be a doctor - even if it's not prestigious anymore, or doesn't make good party talk, the fact of going to school for up to 24 years (!) is astonishing, and definitely not for the faint of heart, not only requiring ridiculous amounts of tenacity and money and the willingness to postpone gratification but also requiring high and continuously firing mental wattage.

As it turns out, becoming a successful writer requires just about as much life energy, so maybe it's fair to say writer is the new doctor. Hopefully you have some good jokes about all this in your book. I'm still pretty close to the beginning.

Jerry

Okay, I've finished "Queen of the Road" and it's great, of course! Don't want to fall into "sycophanting" (great word, Jerry!!) so I won't go on and on about it here. But anyone who is interested can see the review I just posted on Amazon (just follow the link in Doreen's signature) or a slightly longer and more personalized one on my Red Room blog (link below.)


Blair

Sorry, here's the correct link to Amazon reader reviews:

www.amazon.com/review/product/07679...iewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Thanks so much for the lovely review and I can't wait to read your book, soon! (Note to AWers who do read QUEEN OF THE ROAD - first of all - thank you! And, if you would, please post a review on Amazon like Blair did. It's incredibly important these days for authors to have loads of Amazon reviews. I'm blessed with having quite a few already, but the more, definitely the better. Of course, if you hate the book, just forget I asked.

I'm heading out for next leg 'o tour tomorrow... Phoenix! In June! (My publisher must hate me.) On my way out, I'm going to do a signing at the Denver airport in full queen regalia. Should be fun and I'll be posting pictures and impressions on my blog. And, btw, I just posted an entry on my first leg 'o tour, why authors need media escorts, as well as some insider tidbits from Janet Evanovich's media escort who I was lucky enough to land in LA.

You are welcome, Doreen!

It was a little long (and nobody seems to have rated it "helpful" just yet

What I wanted to underscore in the review was the aspect of the book that particularly "spoke" to me: it's a serious story about unexpected personal transformation at midlife. Mostly, of course, Queen of the road is: hilarious, a tartly observed memoir, a wonderful portrait of a marriage--not to mention a great compendium of martini recipes! (But all those other 5 star reviewers made that part abundantly clear

So I figured I (a shrink, prone to take everything too seriously) could gently remind folks of the serious message that is delivered in such a light-hearted way!

Good luck on the next leg o'tour!

Blair

Well, I'm certainly going to rate your review "extremely and supremely helpful."

I appreciate you're appreciating that within all the humor, I did want to deliver a serious message, Blair.

Got back from Phoenix Thurs afternoon (112 degrees. I didn't know humans could survive in that - with traffic, yet!), then straight over to Tattered Cover for another reading/signing and royal shtick. There was quite a nice crowd, including the fabulous Bella Stander (who lives just a few doors down from Tattered - convenient what with her being an author consultant, and all).

In Phoenix, I did an event at Changing Hands which was named best indie bookseller by PW last year. I can see why: I know no one in Phoenix, but they had rounded up over 30 people, many of whom had already read my book! (One lady even emailed me beforehand to ask if she could bring her fabulous standard poodle! Is she kidding? Any bookstore that allows that, is tops with me. Beauregard seemed to be my biggest fan, BTW.)

I think the very best part of this entire, exhausting process (and I don't mean the writing at all - that was comparatively easy) has been meeting people who have enjoyed what I wrote and even been a little inspired by it. It's wonderful getting emails after events thanking me for the laughs and inspiration and the same from readers enjoying my book. When my first book came out, not many people were on email, so this is a new experience for me and one that I am truly extremely thankful for.

I won a copy on Book Roast! Squeeee! Hi, Doreen!

It's good to hear there's a message with the humour. I don't think I could stand laughing ALL the time. I'm not ready for Depends... yet.

Hi Chumplet!

I thought I told you not to get so excited, just in case you hate the book?
Geez.

I'll do my best to keep calm. Squeee!

I'm off to New York this weekend, mainly to visit family, but while I'm there, will be meeting my agent, Mollie Glick, for the very first time! Since she's queried by quite a few AWers, I'll post about it.

I've gotten quite a few PMs of congrats re QUEEN OF THE ROAD. Thanks to all! I think my first inkling that the book was doing all right was when I emailed my publicist to tell her I would be in NY and would love to stop by to finally meet her and everyone else at the publisher face-to-face. She got back to me saying she, the marketing manager and my editor (the fabulous Stacy Creamer, who was just promoted to Editor-in-Chief of Broadway Books) wanted to take me and Mollie to lunch.

Now, I've got to find something to wear.

Here's a tip that may be useful for some of you: See if you can partner somehow with a local company. I did an event at Celestial Seasonings yesterday - it was incredible. (I'm going to blog about it later today.) I did my reading/signing/royal shtick for their employees (the company bought 300 books and gave them to employees and their families), then had me do a signing at their store, where we sold an additional 50 to the public, while Tim gave tours of our bus in their parking lot.

All that and we got a catered lunch (and a private tour of the factory - Project Nerd, aka Tim, was in heaven) too!

Asked for ID when signing stock!

Yep. You KNOW I'm in NYC!

Finally Met Our Own Polly Kahl As Well As My Agent.

Got back from NYC a few days ago. Just wanted to report that I not only met my agent, Mollie Glick, and my editor and other Broadway Books ladies for the first time, but our own Polly Kahl. For pictures, see this blog post.

It was a really fun trip. I went to a lot of bookstores, did some radio and am now just getting to the thank you notes. (That's another marketing tip - send a thank you card, hopefully one with your book's cover on it - to EVERYONE.)

As for what I wore to my big lunch with the Broadway ladies? A QUEEN OF THE ROAD shirt, of course!

Jonathan Kellerman Contacted Me

I just want to say that when we're all mega-bestselling authors, and we come across a book written by an unknown, hopefully we'll be as wonderful as Jonathan Kellerman.

He just contacted me to say that he read my book on vacation (I have no idea how he found it, maybe in an airport - I've posted about how I got into airport booksellers) and laughed out loud so much, his wife gave him funny looks.

Of course, I asked him for a blurb. This is what he said:

“A charming, insightful and – most important – hilarious book that evokes the best of Bill Bryson and David Sedaris, but spotlights the unique voice of a gifted memoirist"

I mean, really. He's a prince of a guy, no? (And coming from a Queen, I know what I'm talking about.)