"The Dog Year" by Ann Wertz Garvin

Ann Garvin is a wonderful person, a great writer and a very funny lady. Her new novel, "The Dog Year", is being released on June 3, 2014. I was lucky enough to get a pre-release review from the ever-awesome Joelynn Drennan. So, check out Joelynn's review and then pre-order "The Dog Year."

 

In her second novel "The Dog Year" author Ann Wertz Garvin addresses the subjects of loss and recovery with light and humor. Set in small-town Wisconsin, the story revolves around the gradual unraveling of Lucy Peterman, an accomplished surgeon and emergent criminal, as she undergoes a personal crisis brought on by the tragic deaths of her husband and unborn child. Suspended from her position at the hospital for stealing medical supplies, Lucy is remanded to the company of a dysfunctional cast of characters among whom she finds acceptance, support, and an inimitable brand of serenity. 

As someone who seeks any opportunity for humor when addressed with the darker aspects of life, I welcomed the dichotomy of emotions Garvin so effortlessly weaved throughout "The Dog Year". The dialogue is funny and incredibly realistic. I found myself reaching for my own husband when Lucy tries to recapture the last words with hers, and I laughed out loud when she says, “If I know Richard, it was probably, “’Fuck!”’ 

The character relationships are well developed and multifaceted. From Lucy’s gay brother Charles, to Sara a troubled young addict, to the ever-lovable Little Dog, each supporting character helps to reveal certain aspects of Lucy’s personality—some of which come as a shock to Lucy herself. In less capable hands, Lucy and friends could have been typecast for a Lifetime Original movie, but Garvin’s talent for creating engaging and dimensional characters keeps them right on track with her sprinting narrative and twisting plot line. 

What I love about "The Dog Year" is its simplicity. There is no pretension in Garvin’s storytelling or in her writing style--it is clear, concise, poignant and always witty. "The Dog Year" will be officially released on June 3, 2014. It is definitely worth the read, I encourage you to pick up!

Joelyn Drennan holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a diehard Yankee living in Memphis, Tennessee where she teaches writing at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

The Dog Year is being released June 3, 2014 and you can preorder it at Amazon by clicking here: "The Dog Year"

Check out Ann Wertz Garvin's website for more information on "The Dog Year"

And follow Ann on Twitter at @AnnGarvin_ , because she is one funny lady! You'll be glad you did.

The Right Way to Publish a Book

I recently, finally, signed a publishing contract for my Southern noir crime novel, They Call Me Crazy.  I say finally because it has been two years since I finished the book, which by the sands of a publishing hourglass, I hear, is no time at all. But, I work hard and fast on everything, and for me, two years was a long, long time. So now I have a publishing contract, and a year from now, I should have a book.

I'm not going to tell you to keep working, keep going, keep trying---it's not my job to motivate anyone in this business because honestly, it's a hard business to stay positive in. It's filled with rejection, self-doubt, and in most cases, very little return on your creative investment. But I am going to tell you this; there is a 'right' way to publish a book, and finally,  I know what that right way is.

As writers, we have choices. We can self publish, go with a small, independent publisher, work with a medium press, contract with a bigger press or one of the Big Five. We can choose to query agents to help in this process, we can rely on our attorneys to read contracts or we can simply go it alone. We can query by email, we can go to conferences and meet people 'in the know', we can incorporate the services of book cover artists and editors, or again, we can do all of these things ourselves. We can even choose not to publish at all.

With all of these options, how can I possibly say there is a 'right' way to publish? I almost self published and changed my mind when the business side of it began to overwhelm me before it even began. I queried some publishers on my own, then found an agent who queried more, then made corrections, adjustments to my manuscript and queried again. Basically, I used the Hot Oatmeal Method: throw it at a wall and see if it sticks.  Is that the 'right' way? Well, it worked...

I have friends who are happy and successful in self publishing, small press publishing, hybrid publishing and traditional publishing.  What do they all have in common? At some point, they sat down and thought about what they wanted, what they needed, from this thing called publishing. They were honest with themselves and with others about their needs, their time expectations and what they were willing to do to promote and publish their own work. As individual as their manuscripts, they had a plan, based on their goals and their work.

 Had I been a bit more informed about all of these options and had I been a tad more in touch with what I really wanted for myself and my work, this process would have been more  streamlined than it was. I'm certain I would have found my way to the exact same destination, contracting with a smaller press as I have, but I also feel like had I taken the time to really evaluate my goals and my work, the journey would have been less stressful than it was.  Had I not listened to those that tried to tell me the 'right' way to do this I might have realized that everyone has their OWN way.

The 'right' way is your way. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

It really is that simple. And that difficult. 

They Call Me Crazy--coming soon from Red Adept Publishing