KYRA DAVIS: They Like Me, They Really Like Me!

I just got my first review for Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights courtesy of Publisher’s Weekly and it’s pretty darned good! I hesitate to quote them quite yet since the issue won’t be officially out until next week and I don’t want to do anything to piss off the people who have taken the time to say such nice things about me so let’s just leave it at that: they said nice things about me!

Perhaps my excitement over this seems a little disproportionate seeing that this is just 1 review in 1 trade publication. After all, last year I hit the proverbial jackpot when my publicist extraordinaire, Susan Schwartzman, got me reviewed in Cosmo, Ebony, The Washington Post and a bunch of other fabulous publications and while not all the reviews were over-the-top-spectacular they were all what I would consider favorable. But two things make this review (and the impending reviews of at least three national publications that I’ll tell you about later) different:

1) This is my “sophomore” book
2) I now know how good I had it with Sex, Murder And A Double Latte

See, reviewers often don’t like an author’s second book. Think of it this way: say you want to go to the movies but the only film playing at a show-time that works for you is one that you know nothing about. You’ve never heard of the actors who star in it, the director is some kid who is new to Hollywood and if it’s been reviewed somewhere you haven’t seen it. You decide to go and surprise, surprise, it’s good! Now maybe you wouldn’t have liked it so much if you walked in with high expectations but that wasn’t the case. Then they come out with a sequel and you can’t wait to see it. You’ve been building this thing up in your head for months and you’re first in line at the theater and…it’s not as good as the first.

That’s not to say it’s bad, but it is a disappointment. Disappointment breeds resentment and resentment begets bad reviews. I’m not saying that the people at PW were waiting with baited breath to read my book but they did have certain expectations for it and I’m so thrilled that I was able to meet them.

Of course that’s just my theory. It’s entirely possible that I’m totally wrong and the reason that reviewers like to dis authors’ 2nd novels is because they’re bloodthirsty individuals who like to randomly dash people’s dreams; but somehow I don’t think so.

Okay, now for reason number two. As I’ve just explained, Sex, Murder And A Double Latte was my first book. I had no idea what I was doing when I wrote it and I had no idea what I was doing when I promoted it. Seriously, when I was in the middle of writing it I went to Borders to get a how-to-write-a-book book and found that there was a whole section for those suckers. My first thought? “Oh, I guess lots of people want to be authors, who would have thunk it?” That's how clueless I was. I have since discovered that 95% of the world wants to be authors. From minimum wage cashiers all the way up to highly paid lawyers, they all have a book idea. Many of them have explained to me that deep down they "really are writers at heart" which is all well and good. I am the first to acknowledge that many writers who are more talented than I am never get publish (another thing I didn’t know when I started this journey). But I do think that in order for someone to be a writer they have to…you know…write something! You’d be amazed by the number of “authors” who fail to grasp this concept.

But I digress. My point is that when I found out that PW was going to review Sex, Murder And A Double Latte I didn’t think much of it. I thought everyone was reviewed by PW. So not true. PW only reviews a handful of the God-only-knows-how-many books that are published each month. So just getting in there is an achievement. But the thing about PW is that getting in doesn’t mean that they’re going to be nice.

Well I got in and they were very nice to me so happy dance all around. And of course I’m delighted that the national magazines have expressed an interest! If it’s hard to get into a publishing trade magazine that dedicates several pages to book reviews each week it’s practically impossible to get into a fashion/lifestyle magazine that dedicates half a page a month to book reviews.

Plus I have fans now, honest to goodness fans! My publisher tells me that there have been people emailing them, demanding to know when and where I’ll be touring (a question I should have an answer to by the end of the month). And then there are all of you blog readers: my cheerleaders and confidants that I have come to love so very much!

What can I say? Life is good!

Kyra Davis
http://www.kyradavis.com/
Sex, Murder And A Double Latte IN STORES NOW!!!
Preorder Passion,Betrayal And Killer Highlights In Stores May 2006!
For The Love Of A Dog--A fun online read

8 comments :

AnonymousSunday, March 19, 2006 at 4:03:00 PM PST
Congratulations Kyra. I'm so happy for you. I found your analogy about sophomore books completely on the money. That's exactly how I feel when I buy a book from an author I've read before. And if they don't meet my expectations (which are so, so high) pouty time, here I come.

I also found your story of getting published a hoot. Yes, it's amazing how many people want to be a writer without actually, well writing. Amazing.

Your story about being completely clueless about the publishing industry and getting published (and being successful) gives me heart. Good writing really does triumph. Since I'm getting close to submitting my novel (Feb 2007 is the deadline) I need all the good stories I can string together to give me courage.
kyradavisSunday, March 19, 2006 at 10:02:00 PM PST
anra pajalic--Yes, the months leading up to submitting a novel are always nerve-wracking. I’m trying to finish up my third Sophie book and although I wish I could tell you different, the anxiety doesn’t get better. On the flip side I think it’s important to remember that although great reviews are…well friggin’ great there will always be people out there who don’t like what you write and some of them are destine to be in decision making positions. When I was submitting Sex, Murder And A Double Latte I just kept reminding myself that Grisham couldn’t get his first novel (A Time To Kill) published when he first submitted it. He then went ahead and wrote The Firm. After that runaway success getting the rest of his novels published wasn’t a problem. My point being that if Grisham and J.K Rowley can get rejection letters the rest of us shouldn’t give up hope when and if we get a few in the mail.

Mon---While I’m incredibly flattered that you were able to enjoy my novel while you were in pain I’ve got to think that the drugs were more of an asset than a determent when it came to finding humor in your literary entertainment ; )
MyshkinMonday, March 20, 2006 at 12:26:00 PM PST
Kyra- my friend and I are a couple of the people you mentioned that are anxiously awaiting info about your book tour 0-:) I loved the first book & while i do have expectations for how much I'm going to love your new book, I don't think I will be let down. Your book was nearly impossible to put down- i was constantly laughing and turning the pages trying to find out what happens to Sophie next! Good luck w/ the rest of the reviews. :)
kyradavisMonday, March 20, 2006 at 3:51:00 PM PST
lamalasolo---I'm so glad you and your friend enjoyed Sex, Murder And A Double Latte! As for my touring info...well let's just say that I'm rather anxious to find out about that myself. Ah well, I'm sure they'll tell me when I need to be where any day now.

tmactexas--I don't know...I think that if you're cooking hard boiled eggs you're more a chef than someone who's never taken the time to write so much as a paragraph of the Great-American-Novel that they claim to have stored in their head. I don't want to discourage anyone who dreams of writing but if you're constantly thinking up stories all that means is that you have a wonderful imagination (which is nothing to sneeze at). But if you're going to claim to be a writer you need to create something that can actually be read.

But I will keep doing what I'm doing...I assume you mean writing not stressing out about meeting my deadlines or happy dancing over this last review, right? Doesn't matter, I plan on doing all three for at least a few more months ; )
ShoeGirl CornerWednesday, March 22, 2006 at 3:33:00 PM PST
What makes you so loveable is how honest and unpretentious you are! You really crack me up! You really didn’t know that you were about to embark on such a coveted and all at the same time frustrating career?

I’m so happy for you!
kyradavisThursday, March 23, 2006 at 12:13:00 AM PST
Well thank you shoegirl! And you’re right, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. No one did. I recently went out with three of my girlfriends who I originally got to know during the period of time when everything in my life was falling apart. At one point in the evening one of them said, “This is really amazing. Four years ago, did anyone here think Kyra was destine to become a critically acclaimed published author?”

There was a pause at which point one of the other women said, “Four years ago I thought Kyra was destine to become an alcoholic.”

Funny how things work out.
Molina Sias FamilyThursday, March 23, 2006 at 9:31:00 PM PST
Kyra,
That is great news about your first review for your second book!! Thanks for posting Chapter One on your website. I looovvveee it!!!

Pinche Gata
kyradavisThursday, March 23, 2006 at 10:22:00 PM PST
Thank you pinche gata for telling everyone what I keep forgetting to tell them! My website has been updated and I've posted the first chapter of Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights for all to read and enjoy!

I'm so glad you enjoyed it pinche!