HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Would YOU do this? Such an unbelievable journey. In every way. Reds and readers, you are about to hear a remarkable tale of persistence, diligence, passion, perseverance and…mileage. And I should also mention talent. Super duper supreme talent.
We are delighted, beyond delighted, to welcome the brilliant and fabulous Jenny Milchman.
Read on. And gasp. As I asked before: Would YOU do this?
The World’s Longest Book Tour Version 2.0
I had a very long road to publication. I wrote seven novels over the course of ten years before my eighth finally sold and became my debut.
Which is a story for another Jungle Red post because that book had been roundly rejected by publishers before being offered a deal from an imprint that had turned the same book down six months before. My novel, Cover of Snow, went on to win the Mary Higgins Clark award and be a finalist for two others, earn praise from the New York Times, and a big etc.. The lesson? If you’re receiving rejections, learn from them, yes—but also don’t necessarily assume they’re the last word. Other things can come into play.
Anyhoo. After that amount of rejection—and sheer time—you can believe I’d encountered a fair number of supporters along the way. People who’d kept me going through some dark nights of the writerly soul. And once I finally broke through, I wanted to meet them. Get out there and say thanks to those who had helped me believe I had something to say, and stories that would captivate readers, when my flood of rejections told me I didn’t.
So as the pub date for my “first” novel finally drew near, my husband and I did the next logical thing. We rented out our house, traded in two cars for an SUV that could handle Denver in February, and took our kids out of 1st and 3rd grades to “car-school” them on the road as we crisscrossed the country, meeting every bookseller and librarian and book club leader and even book bloggers who wanted to host an event. I worked with a terrific independent publicity firm that assisted in arranging many of the things I did out there.
And it was magical and wonderful and still the touchstone my family returns to now that those car-schooled kids are most of the way to grown and in college. Gulp. If you’d like to see what life on the bookish road was like, there are two fun music videos on my website.
And I do mean “like” as in warts-and-all-really-like. Watch each frame.
Another note about all the joy and some craziness in those videos.
I do not think, and am not recommending, that those watching at home should do the same thing. You don’t have to. The takeaway from my months of touring is that the face-to-face adds a unique and special component. A way to celebrate the huge accomplishment of your writing in a way that online simply doesn’t duplicate. A hundred Likes are not equal to one reader holding your book and pointing to the twist on p. 311 that blew her away. After which you sign her copy and she takes it back like she’s been handed a jewel.
So get out there in a smaller way. A more reasonable way. Ask your local independent bookstore or your library about holding an event. Reach out to a book club. Or get out of the bookish box entirely and think of alternative venues. Did you write a pet mystery? Maybe a local animal shelter would like to stage a gathering—the proceeds could go to support the shelter. A women’s fiction novel? Same approach for a women’s club in the area.
Or maybe you’re a little more all-in. You’ve read about what I did, wandered over to my website to see for yourself, and it looks kinda amazing. (IT WAS).
You still don’t have be multiple months all-in. Draw a radius around your house sufficient for a weekend or week-long getaway, then identify venues within it. A few bookstores, a library, one or two alternative sites too. Reach out to the people in charge, offer to appear or help put an event together—invite people you know in the region—and hit the road.
If you feel like you don’t want to turn back after your last event, I understand.
And conversely, if you feel wiped out and have no idea how—or why—I would’ve stayed out there, well, I understand that too.
Anyhoo again. Because after five books, and close to twenty months of touring, something cataclysmic happened.
First came the pandemic, which called a screeching halt to our bookish reindeer games. But since that’s a droplet compared to the tsunami of calamities the pandemic caused for so many, it should scarcely be counted.
With the world (partially, and only for some) on track again, my career was not.
I did not have a publisher for my sixth book. In fact, I didn’t even have a sixth book.
My career was at a crossroads, and both I and my agent sensed it. With much love and devotion, we decided the time had come for a change and parted ways.
I signed with a dream agent. That was the (mostly) easy part.
Now to find a publisher just as dreamy and excited about getting my career where it needed to go after a gap. After the world had changed, and me along with it in many ways.
Kids growing. The world reckoning with different forces. Other things too.
At about this point, a publisher approached my new agent. They were a fan of my work and wondered if I would have breakfast, a bookish talk.
Y’all know by now how I feel about bookish talks.
OF COURSE I WOULD.
I couldn’t eat a bite even though the publisher kept graciously plying me with pastries.
And I love pastries.
The restaurant we met in was all art deco and gorgeous. It was one of those moments that make a writer really feel like a writer, or more accurately, like an author.
Who now had her first series to launch, because that’s what the publisher wanted to discuss. Whether I had ever considered writing a series character, perhaps one who made use of my first career as a psychotherapist. There are lots of incredible police and PI and legal procedurals, we mused at that breakfast. What about a psychological procedural?
And Arles Shepherd, rogue psychologist, was born.
Now the first in her series is out, THE USUAL SILENCE, which means things are going to change again. Change is the only constant in this writing life.
What will book touring, the events and face-to-face that I have such a love for, look like with my new publisher?
Where am I going now? Where will the next road, literal or figurative, take me?
The great E.L. Doctorow says writing is like “driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” It’s a great metaphor not only for completing a book, but for whatever comes after it is released.
I hope you will follow along to find out where the road goes for me.
And that your own headlights point you in all good directions.
HANK: Tolja. Amazing. I’m sure you have LOTS of questions for Jenny–I’ll start. Jenny, what do your kids say about your family adventure? And how about–are you tired of driving?
THE USUAL SILENCE
A psychologist haunted by childhood trauma must unearth all that is buried in her past in this twisting, lyrical novel of suspense by Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author Jenny Milchman.
Psychologist Arles Shepherd treats troubled children, struggling with each case to recover from her own traumatic past, much of which she’s lost to the shadows of memory. Having just set up a new kind of treatment center in the remote Adirondack wilderness, Arles longs to heal one patient in particular: a ten-year-old boy who has never spoken a word—or so his mother, Louise, believes.
Hundreds of miles away, Cass Monroe is living a parent’s worst nightmare. His twelve-year-old daughter has vanished on her way home from school. With no clues, no witnesses, and no trail, the police are at a dead end. Fighting a heart that was already ailing, and struggling to keep both his marriage and himself alive, Cass turns to a pair of true-crime podcasters for help.
Arles, Louise, and Cass will soon find their lives entangled in ways none of them could have anticipated. And when the collision occurs, a quarter-century-old secret will be forced out of hiding. Because nothing screams louder than silence.
Jenny Milchman is the Mary Higgins Clark award winning and USA Today bestselling author of five novels. Her work has been praised by the New York Times, New York Journal of Books, San Francisco Journal of Books and more; earned spots on Best Of lists including PureWow, POPSUGAR, the Strand, Suspense, and Big Thrill magazines; and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and Shelf Awareness. Four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Jenny's short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies as well as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and a recent piece on touring appeared in the Agatha award winning collection Promophobia. Jenny's new series with Thomas & Mercer features psychologist Arles Shepherd, who has the power to save the most troubled and vulnerable children, but must battle demons of her own to do it. Jenny is a member of the Rogue Women Writers and lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennymilchman
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennymilchman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennymilchman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4810211.Jenny_Milchman
JENNY: WOW is my first reaction to your writing /touring book journey.
ReplyDeleteAnd now congratulations to writing the first book in a series with a new agent and publisher!! A psychological procedural sounds very intriguing to me.
Are they gung-ho & supporting your past success on going on another indie road trip? How old are your children & do they want to go on the road again with you?
P.S. I get to post FIRST since I just flew into Vancouver B.C. tonight and it's 9:40 pm instead of 12:40 am Ontario time!
Early in this writing it states her children are now in college.
DeleteGRACE: So happy to hear that your travel to Vancouver is going well. I just returned home from a wedding in the Pacific Northwest, which is why I had not been able to comment here on JRW for a few days. And I love your questions!
DeleteFortunately, I arrived a day after an atmospheric river dumped over 190 mm/7 inches of rain from Friday-Sunday. A bit of rain in the forecast this week but not so bad for Vancouver in October.
DeleteHi first commenter! My kids are in college now, but interestingly so want to be on the road with us again that we're all taking a cross country Thanksgiving trip. It was really a magical time. My new book is out and no book tour as of now, but I am hoping for one in the future!
DeleteAwww, that's so nice that your college-aged kids want to do another big road trip with you! I will search for your new book online.
DeleteThank you, Grace! I hope you like Arles :) We feel very lucky our kids want to travel with us
DeleteGrace, yes, we feel so lucky about that. And thank you! I hope you like Arles :)
DeleteYou are in a time machine! Love, love, love this! Welcome, darling Grace… And I think your questions are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jenny, on your new series [and new book] . . . it sounds amazing and I'm looking forward to meeting Arles.
ReplyDeleteYour book tour/road trip is absolutely incredible . . . I'd never, ever contemplate such a trip, mostly because driving is not on my list of things that I even remotely enjoy doing and I simply cannot imaging doing that much driving . . . .
But I have to ask: how did the Little Ones feel about leaving school [and their friends] for such a long time???
Great question! I met them on the road, during this adventure, and we all had dinner together. The kids were amazing — and it was obvious the family was having a terrific time.
DeleteThat was such a wonderful, memorable dinner, Hank! Still a high point. Joan, the littles had a great time of it, BUT, that said, when we asked if they wanted to return to school the following year they said basically: When's our first day? :)
DeleteJenny, I remember hearing about your road trip when you were on it and thinking, "That woman is brave!" On all that driving with little kids in the back, for one. Did you all camp or stay in hotels? Was your husband trying to work remotely?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on on the new book, new publisher, new series. Will you share who your dream agent is?
I very much practice the write-into-the-headlights method, and so far it's working for me.
Great questions! Interesting, thinking about this—this was before the pandemic. So working remotely was not the thing it is now. Hard to believe.
DeleteEdith, your questions are wonderful ! I remember thinking that Jenny is brave too when I read about her family traveling across the country.
DeleteHi Edith and Diana! We did some camping, but mostly it was Airbnb back in the day when it was new and really a disruptor. We loved it--hacienda in New Mexico, yurt in Idaho. And the agent I'm now with is Victoria Sanders!
DeleteWhat a good story about your writing journey, Jenny. Thanks for the look into your life and book tour and your philosophy about writing. Congratulations on your news series! I'm off to find it now.
ReplyDeleteMy question is: What was your favourite snack food during all that driving time?
Oh, that's so fun--what would be YOURS?
DeleteLove it, Amanda! Baked goods. Yes, even despite the crumbs. We hit a bakery in every town. And thanks so much for discovering Arles! I hope you like her.
DeleteWhat an amazing book your. So glad you hung in there. And so glad you found a new dream agent and publisher. Your series sounds like a fascinating twist on sleuths. All best luck.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteThank you, Elizabeth! That twist on sleuths was the genesis for me :) Great way to put it
DeleteSigh. That was book tour, not your.
ReplyDeleteDid you sell enough books to pay for gas and lodging for your family of 4 ? Did you just sleep in the car? Did you take time to see any sights along the way?
ReplyDeleteI can see you are planning a trip of your own! (HA!)
DeleteNot one night in the car, Brenda--though we came very close in North Dakota. In terms of money, I always say, book tours may not make dollars and cents, but they do make dollars and SENSE. I can honestly say that even if our expenses didn't wind up even, that tour is one way I stayed alive in the industry long enough to reach this point. It had a radiating glow.
DeleteHank I cannot tell you how many spreadsheets my husband would have for a trip like that!
DeleteCongrats on the new book, Jenny. You know I'm a fan.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am, too! xx
DeleteWhy did I think Jenny and Liz were the same person?
DeleteThank you, Liz!! And interesting that we are twinsies to some :)
DeleteWow Jenny, what a story! It's so cool that your whole family was "all in" on a lengthy road trip book tour. I imagine your kids learned so much just seeing so much of the country! Your book sounds great. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteGillian, I kept saying the whole country was their classroom
DeleteYes, that is such a reassuring answer!
DeleteCongratulations Jenny, what an astonishing journey! Love all the questions the Reds are asking. I have one more. Where do you think you'd fall on an Introvert to Extrovert scale?
ReplyDeleteLucy, that is a great q. I am an extreme extrovert who is also happy living as an introvert--head down, just writing--for...a while. Then I really want to come out and see you all!
DeleteI love this q, Lucy! I would say extreme extrovert. But also I can introvert it, head down, writing, reading, eating for a good long time too.
DeleteNow that's a road trip! What a memory for your family, Jenny--especially all that undivided attention. Driving somewhere with my daughters, singly or together, has always been my favorite way to connect with them. They can't get away in a car, bwahaha! It also occurs to me what an amazing example this was to your children, to show them how to achieve a goal, and in such a creative way.
ReplyDeleteIsn't driving into the headlights pretty much how life is? And doesn't this kind of book tour blitz, this election season, sound a little (or a lot) like being on a campaign trail? The old-fashioned, whistle stop variety, minus the red/blue nonsense. Face-to-face is a very powerful way to connect with people.
Congratulations on the new book, and new series!
Karen, that's exactly how I felt all of us snug in the capsule of our car. As for the politician analogy--I guess that may be one thing that's harder than trying to break out as an author? :)
DeleteI know so many young people when in their 30's and or 40's left the traditional routine (house, kids in school, parents at work...) to travel for a year in a foreign country or the US with their young kids in tow. This provides such a wonderful experience for families. My daughter and her hubby did two family trips when their kids were young. One time to Greece and a second to Bergen, Norway where her husband taught at the university then they traveled in Europe for a year. Travel is the best way for kids to learn so many valuable life lessons.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely become a thing, especially with working remotely! Your grandkids are lucky to have had that. I'd love to see both those countries someday.
DeleteHi, Jenny! I remember that first tour as you were on it and being awestruck. (I also remember my very first panel at Malice Domestic was with you!) Congratulations. I can't wait to read the new book and continue to follow your journeys.
ReplyDeleteI remember that Malice, Annette! And MLB too. Good times. Thank you for discovering Arles :)
DeleteAnnette, I loved that Malice and MLB too! And thank you! I hope you like Arles :)
DeleteAnnette, I loved that Malice and also MLB! Thank you for reading--I hope you like Arles :)
DeleteJenny, congrats on all levels--surviving and thriving on that incredible book tour, finding a new agent and publisher, and for sharing your new series with us. This sounds like a series I will want to spend some time with! And for the E.L. Doctorow quote. So encouraging!
ReplyDeleteFlora, here's to headlights illuminating the dark!
DeleteHere's to headlights illuminating the dark, Flora! And thank you for discovering Arles :)
DeleteCongratulations, Jenny - I remember hearing about that road trip. Sounded amazing and it's certainly paid off. -- You're so brave to have gotten past that more recent "gap" (abyss?) and even more to share the experience.
ReplyDeleteHallie, I'd say "abyss" is about dead on right.
DeleteAbyss about nails it, Hallie :0
DeleteAbyss is totally right, Hallie!
DeleteCongratulations, Jenny! I remember reading of your first tour and feeling amazed and cheering you on for doing it. Looking forward to reading The Usual Silence.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kait!! I love your blogs and I have been seeing you on Instagram lately? If I'm right, ur posts are terrific.
DeleteThanks, Kait--I would love for you discover Arles :)
DeleteJENNY: Welcome back to JRW! I remember a while ago reading about your family traveling across the country by RV? And going to book events Before the pandemic. Your novel sounds intriguing! I want to read your novel. Congratulations! There are several questions that I wanted to ask. Apologies in advance if any of these questions are tough to answer.
ReplyDeleteSeveral questions ….
May I ask if you had a mentor in the book world or publishing world?
Or was the long road to publication all part of learning process for you?
Did you rely on the phone for marketing your novel or was it mostly by letter writing / snail mail or by computer / social media?
Diana, these are terrific q's. We traveled by SUV--no housework! No joke, that time saved helped me to do 1, 2, occasionally 3 events daily while taking car of our kids. My husband worked remotely--I think someone else may've asked that, and I hope I didn't miss answering.
DeleteI didn't have one mentor in the book world, but I did connect with literally hundreds of readers, writers, authors before I broke in, like through listservs such as DorothyL. One author ultimately helped me get published by giving my ms to her editor. This long road is for sure how I learned--great insight. I would not have been ready in the same way had it happened earlier.
And yes, at first it was actual paper and snail mail! The first agent to offer me rep *asked if I had email*. Because not having it was a thing! So I got it. I am bad at the social media side. I love connecting with people, so I try, but to me it feels very distant.
This is a fascinating and impressive story, Jenny--holding out and writing on until you were finally published, followed by your extraordinary family book tour, and then, five books later, your change of agent, publisher, and type of mystery. You are a brave and determined person!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. It kind of felt...predestined. Like I was following a path, kind of like with each novel I write. But brave is a nice thing to say :)
DeleteI appreciate the brave, Kim!
DeleteThanks for the brave, Kim!
DeleteThanks for the "brave," Kim!
DeleteSuch a great story! Just added to my TBR! ~ Sharon Bishop
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Sharon! I hope you like Arles :)
DeleteThank you, Judy! I really hope you like Arles :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, I remember reading about your family trip back when your first novel was published. I thought it was a great idea! As you went on to have more books published, did you use any of the material from your unpublished novels?
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Deb, interesting, I have not done that yet! But the premise for Arles Shepherd #2 has been kicking around in my head for 10 years!
DeleteI remember seeing you on tour, Jenny, at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale. What a wonderful way to combine family and career. I love it. Congratulations on your new series. That's thrilling! (pun intended).
ReplyDeleteJenn, that was great--I love the Pen!
DeleteThank you, Judy! I hope you like Arles :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, I remember your tour and being so impressed. What a magical thing to do and so wonderful and life changing for your kids. I can't believe they are already in college!
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations on the new series--i can't wait to meet Arles!
PS just wondering how you chose her name?
Hi Deborah, good to see you again! I can hardly believe it myself. As for Arles...her name just kind of came full form. I can't even explain it.
DeleteJenny, I am so impressed with your determination and openness to the possibilities of life on the road with your family to promote your writing. I am not familiar with your writing but have remedied that by placing one of your books on hold at my library. I am quite excited to see how your new series unfolds and where it leads your writing career. Best wishes for all good things to flow your way. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Victoria! And I really hope you enjoy the book :)
DeleteAs you can see--Jenny is such a trooper! Blogger started eating her comments, and so she kept trying, and then she tried AGAIN..so when I went in and upspammed them, they all showed up! Jenny, you are the best!
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha hope no one minds triple replies if the ghosties start reposting! I couldn't imagine what Blogger was up to :) Thanks, Hank! And thanks to ALL the Reds for a wonderful conversation and thoughtful ideas.
DeleteAnd I keep imagining/remembering your wonderful children==They had so many wonderful experiences, not only geographically, but with new people and circumstances and obstacles and teamwork--so fabulous! .
ReplyDeleteHank, my kids still remember that dinner, in part because it was the latest they'd ever gotten to stay up! And in part because it was juts such fun :)
DeleteThat is incredibly lovely! You are so sweet. I remember it well, and you all were absolutely charming, engaging, and marvelous.
DeleteAnd staying up late is the best. For a while :-)
DeleteAnd the winner is: JOAN EMERSON! Love this! Email your address to hryan@whdh.com Hurray!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Joan!!
ReplyDeleteJenny, that's serious commitment. Just two little kids in a car roaming the country got me. I have three daughters and I couldn't imagine doing that. What's your favorite memory from that trip regarding family and the tour itself? I'm working on my debut thriller novel after working for "America's Most Wanted" TV for twenty years. I keep saying Draft 1 is close to done. You are a true inspiration, and kudos to your husband and kids for celebrating your victories.
ReplyDeleteCindy, congrats on writing your debut thriller! Best kind of book to write though I may be biased :) Now onto your q. My favorite memories come down to the glorious meetings with greats that we had on the road, Hank being one, and also people like Nancy Pickard, Richard North Patterson, and so many more. They met us in roadside cafes, took us to dinner, gave us a tour of their bookstore. It influenced my kids to this day--my older will be at Cannes film festival this spring working with greats in HER field!
DeleteI will tell you that we always said if we'd had three, we probably couldn't have done it. Somehow two and the two of us made the amount of work juuust manageable.
A PS--if I can help as you go along the road to your debut, please feel free to call on me. Advice for next steps, perhaps your publisher is looking for blurbs if I'm a fit, please wave a hand and good luck!