How much should you compromise when writing?
My lead character was once in a basement, until my editor convinced me otherwise...
Four more months until WHERE ARE YOU ECHO BLUE comes out and I am shocked really. It will be my third book, but my first adult novel. I never thought this would be my life - where I would get to write about an obsessed journalist and a problematic Hollywood starlet.
In my mind, this book is “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” meets “Misery.” And I tried to give Goldie, the obsessed journalist, the Misery treatment. Really. In the first draft, Goldie ends up locked in a basement, writing a blog about Echo Blue.
But my editor didn’t love it. Too dark, she said. I had been reading so many books about women going down into a deep madness like “Looker” by Laura Sims, “Animal” by Lisa Taddeo, “Eileen” by Ottessa Moshfegh and “The Pisces” by Melissa Broder. I wanted to really dive into darkness. I did worry of course that some people would take it as a negative statement about journalists. But at the same time, when I was writing that first draft, I pushed myself to the edge, to a place I hadn’t done before in my fiction writing and it was thrilling.
Alas, my editor did not and she was the one who was giving me the book deal. This doesn’t mean you should just agree with your editor because you want a contract. But I weighed my pros and cons. Was it possible that putting my lead character in a basement wasn’t good for my story? Could I show her dark side in other ways? And so I did.
Goodreads, Goodreads, oh Goodreads.
I want to tell you that I’m not checking Goodreads, but of course I’m checking Goodreads because I’m fucking human! So far, I’m getting good reviews, which is exciting. There are actually a few people who seem to get the book. And as one mentor once told me, “If you believe the good reviews, you have to believe the bad.” But, hmm do you? Okay, fine.
Echo has a Spotify Playlist
Yes! Echo Blue has a Spotify playlist of moody songs I listened to when writing the book, but they’re also songs from the ‘90s when the book takes place. A lot of Hollywood songs like “You’re so Vain” by Carly Simon and “Venice Bitch” by Lana Del Ray. Also, who can forget “Blue Hotel” by Chris Isaak?
Where Are You Echo Blue meets Where Are You Kate Middleton?
My marketing department made this cool Echo Blue is missing TikTok that reminds me of a search for a certain royal…
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Pre-order my book!
If you like me and if you read this newsletter will you, and yes, I’m begging you here, pre-order my book? It means so much to authors if you support them in this small way.
That way booksellers and librarians know there’s some interest, and then the marketing department of my publishing company can see sales are coming through. The sales are counted in the first week which is my greatest chance of getting on a best seller list. Guys, if you care at all about me, here’s your chance to show it! We can do this?! I think?
If you don’t want to pre-order, I understand. Books ain’t cheap. Even better, request that your local library or bookstore carry it. That will make me just as happy.
But if you feel like pledging your undying loyalty to me, here are links:
Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores!
Libro.fm is just like audible but for audio books!
Amazon, if you absolutely must, but I swear there are better options!
Who wants Q & A’s?
I’d love to answer some of your questions about the publishing world, about my process or anything at all about my books. Please shoot me some Q’s and in my next newsletter, I’ll write some A’s!
Thanks for reading!
xo
Hayley