Gearing Up for 2012 With Women's Fiction Writers

Before the Hanukkah-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year’s Eve-winter break-travel frenzy envelopes us one hundred percent, I wanted to look back at the past nine months of Women’s Fiction Writers.

First I’ll say…

WHOA, BABY!

and then…

WATCH OUT 2012, HERE WE COME!

What started as my hopeful attempt to reach women’s fiction writers and authors has become a full-fledged destination blog where the craft and business of women’s fiction is discussed and its authors and books are featured.  Where the other people chiming in with a guest post or an interview or in the comment section, get it.  Where we have rallied around a myriad of definitions for women’s fiction and sometimes agree to disagree.  Where we learn from those who came before us and try to teach those who are a few steps behind.  Where the information is targeted whenever possible — to the folks who are writing women’s fiction in one of its many forms — but who are not writing romance novels.  Nothing against romance novels, they sell like paper and digital hotcakes, but we’re focusing on women’s fiction — not romance.  You know the drill.  No heroes, no zombies, no high heels.  (I think I need a mug that says this. Will add to to-do list.)

Big thanks must go out to Karen Dionne, who wrote the internationally published eco-thrillers Freezing Point and Boiling Point.  She’s also one of the founders of Backspace (bksp.org) and she is not only my Backspace “boss” but a dear friend and mentor.  When I was hanging out with Karen one day I asked her how and why she started Backspace.  She gave me the abridged version and I told her how I’d been searching for months and months for an online spot for women’s fiction authors and writers.  How thriller writers and mystery writers and romance writers and YA writers and MG writers and sci fi writers all have their spot, their group, their posse — but how I couldn’t find mine.

And you know what she said?

Start it yourself.

And after six more months of trying to find what I was looking for, I realized she was right.  If I wanted it, I’d have to create it.

And here we are nine months later.

Another big thanks goes to the published authors who wanted to be part of this effort — and continue to be involved.  I approached it differently from the get-go. Being on this blog is more than publicizing a book or books or a career. The authors not only understood that — they embraced it. When 2011 ends Women’s Fiction Writers will have featured 43 published authors.  I don’t usually preview who’s coming, but since it’s such a busy month and I know you won’t want to miss out — here’s who’s coming to WFW in the next three weeks:

Liz Flaherty

Jessica McCann

Therese Walsh

Tamar Cohen

Holly Robinson Cookson

And 2012 is already knocking on my door!  Twenty-five women’s fiction authors are already scheduled for next year!  And I’m planning to get into the nitty gritty of some writing craft specifics with some of them — give you that extra bit of women’s fiction advice you can’t get anywhere else.  Remember, you are always welcome to send me suggestions for debut or multi-published women’s fiction authors.  Some of the best interviews are here because of your recommendations.

I’m also thinking about a contest or two for 2012.  I don’t want to get into the business of giveaways, but the business of helping and encouraging women’s fiction writers? You betcha.

And of course, a novel-size thanks goes to all the readers — and there are many of you!!! Thank you from the very bottom of my beloved keyboard for finding Women’s Fiction Writers (what you Google to land here can be quite interesting) and for sticking around for the first nine months, for commenting here and on Facebook and Twitter, for emailing, for spreading the word, for your support when I announced my book deal and for some of the overall best writer banter online.

2011 has been amazing, and…the best is yet to come!

xox

Amy

P.S.  The paperback edition of Meg Waite Clayton’s THE FOUR MS. BRADWELLS will be available December 20th and part of my interview with Meg from Women’s Fiction Writers appears in the Reader’s Guide in the back of the book.  And just as exciting? The book also includes a chapter from Meg’s next book, THE WEDNESDAY DAUGHTERS.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher, so how could I resist?