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The Writerly Life

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Episode 13

The winter – and spring and summer and fall – of my discontent is over.

The Devil’s Waters, long adrift on the roiled seas of publishing, has found a safe harbor. And as is so often the case, the drawn out, trying and worrying wait has proven to be worth it.

Amazon – yes, Amazon – will publish The Devil’s Waters.

For those of you who don’t know, and that number will decrease at a remarkable rate over the next year, Amazon.com has begun to publish its own original books. They’ve hired dozens of publishing professionals, including top editors from well known traditional houses, to create the newest and most promising publishing entity in decades.

When I got the call from Luke Janklow, my agent, I’d had way too many months to rehearse it in my head. Each time I pretended that the news had come, to keep my spirits up and my writing hand moving, it was Amazon he told me about. When the real call came, Luke was appropriately excited and pleased. I did none of the gymnastics I’d imagined, I drank none of the champagne. I sat quietly, satisfied and vindicated. And relieved.

As Luke explained, the reason for the long wait is the same as the reason to be excited: Amazon’s newness. He’d felt unable to do any deals with them until several contractual issues had been ironed out. That took a while, trust me, especially when viewed as I was doing, a day at a time. But once things were smoothed out, while I was contemplating going elsewhere with my writing - movies, plays, and legal briefs - Luke submitted The Devil’s Waters. Weeks later we had a deal.

Here’s why I’m particularly eager to be with Amazon. I’ll bet right now you can’t think of the publisher of the last book you read. Can you? But you can certainly recall where you bought it. Therein lies the genius of Amazon’s leap into publishing. The traditional literary houses have lost their connection to readers. Think about it. How can they persuade you to read the new David L. Robbins book? How can they even let you know it exists? Book reviews? Newspaper review sections are in steep decline in number, cutting to a fraction the amount of free advertising from even five years ago. Author tours? A thing of the past, they take too much money and effort, both at a premium in the new economy. Besides, indy book stores that would host the tours have long struggled, and the giant bricks and mortar B&N stores dotting the country become more outmoded, staring at a declining and uncertain future, with every new e-book sold. So, how can a “legacy publisher” get the word out? They can’t, not to the level Amazon can. If Amazon decides you need to read my new book, and you have ever bought anything from them before (and you probably have hundreds of times), then they know how to find you and what to tell you. Millions upon millions of emails will go out to selected customers for my work. Amazon’ sales presence online is unprecedented and unequalled. Add to that, they’re now siphoning off writers like me who used to be the staple for the more established houses, adding to the decline of the former titans of the business.

And, consider this: since Amazon is both publisher and retailer, they have a double interest in selling my work, including finding ways to boost my growing backlist, from which they will also benefit. Clever.

I couldn’t be happier to be on this train that's headed into the future of publishing. I make no projections about what will happen to the rest of the literary houses, or B&N or bookstores, except that they have ahead of them much in the way of change. To be honest, I have the most confidence in the business model Amazon has in place. My task moving forward is to make them happy, sell a lot of books, and write more stories they want to buy from me and Luke.

Stay tuned. I have no news as to schedules and such. I can only say, finally, with confidence, that The Devil’s Waters will be published, and you will be able to read it. I will be able to write another one.

I’ve completed my research on a new novel, set during the French Revolution. For now, until I get deeper into the story, I’ll say only that for action, intrigue, fascinating characters, historical impact, cool human tricks, and yeah, blood, I haven’t found anything or any time more compelling to write about. I’m stoked, and I’m on it.

Also, I’m getting more thrilled every day as the date approaches for the world premiere of my play, the adaptation of Scorched Earth, at the Barksdale Theatre here in Richmond. If you’re in town, or close enough to come see it, please do. Here’s a link to the theatre for tickets:

http://tickets.barksdalerichmond.org/single/psDetail.aspx?psn=548

The best actors in the city, the best director, designers and producers, are at work on the show. Everything I’ve seen tells me this is going to be memorable not just for me but what’s looking like a big audience. My hope, too, is that the play will find other venues around the country then have a long and productive life. If this goes well, and all indicators are that it will, I plan to pen another play this fall, after I complete my French Revolution book. Then back to books, and I have a whopper of an idea (as co-creator and co-writer, but I’m staying mum on this for now).

I keep writing essays for Boomer Magazine. I mentioned before, they won for me 1st Place from the Virginia Press Association. They’re fun, often moving, I think. If you’re interested in a quick read of a 700 word chunk out of my head, here’s a link:

http://theboomermagazine.com/magazine/columnists/david-robbins.html

On the charitable front, The Podium Foundation keeps growing and getting better at what we do, provide platforms of creative expression for Richmond public school students and support/training for teachers of writing and the arts. We’re excited, too, to announce that after many years of planning and effort, we’ve launched our online literary and arts journal as a companion to our printed journal. Please see Podium-online.org. You’ll be blown away by the words, art, design, and energy of the experience. If you want to learn more about us, visit our home website at ThePodiumFoundation.org. Then, if you’re of a mind to support what Podium does here in Richmond, please hit the Donate button, with my thanks.

That's it for now, from a very excited and involved fellow here on the cusp of spring. Sailing and baseball are around the corner. So is my stage play. I have a new book to dive into, a new publisher to work with, plenty of health and friends. Richmond, my home, is a city I get to serve, among good and charitable people. I don’t think I’ve been the sort to lack appreciation, being of a blue-collar mold, but if I have ever in my life struggled to pause and honor my good fortune and the people who make it happen, please believe it will never happen again.

For you, I wish the same. Good work and health for you and your loved ones, and the more of them the better. As always, keep in mind those who are struggling to find their own way up. It’s not so tough to reach out, even down, to bring someone along and ease their passage. Believe it, then do it.

All best wishes, always,

David

—Posted 3.7.12