Tag Archives: Mr. Nice Spy

Writing Life, Works

Why novellas rock

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I’ll be honest: even at 99¢, my novella never sold as well as my novels. (At free, of course, it soundly beats them in numbers.) While lots of people out there are very excited about the apparent revival of shorter or mid-length fiction in the e-reader revolution, I’m still MrNiceSpy_CVR_LRGskeptical. I wrote my first novella because I wanted to be able to launch with more than one book, and because I wanted to be able to give away a freebie.

Um, that sounds pretty mercenary of me.

It’s worked, however—to an extent. I’ve given away thousands of copies of Mr. Nice Spy. Obviously I don’t know how many of those free books have actually been read, and what fraction of those readers went on to buy my novels, but . . . it hasn’t seemed like a ton have.

So why did I bother writing another novella?

I almost didn’t.

But the story really intrigued me. As soon as I knew what type of circumstances Elliott and Talia met under, I wanted to know the full story. Because it sounded like fun. I desperately needed fun.

SpyNoon_CVR_LRGSo I blocked out some time—crazy short time— and sat down. And the story just flowed.

I’m a plotter by nature, but I went really really loose for this outline. Like, “In chapter 4, we have a chase of some kind. Or not.” And yet with such a short piece, the threads came together really quickly. Within just a few days, I had a really solid first draft—and possibly my best-ever spy plot.

Another advantage? Editing is so fast. You can change major story elements just by editing a few scenes. You can hold the whole story in your head really easily and jump around as needed. Beta readers get back to you super fast. Proofreading takes one morning.

As an indie publisher, I get to set my production schedule, and I set the bar too high last year (and quite possibly again this year). And yet I still managed to squeeze in this story in a day here and a weekend there.

Will I write another novella? I have one more prequel novella bouncing around in my brain, and now I think it really needs to be shared. But only if I can have fun with it 😉 .

What do you think? Have you ever written a novella? Why or why not?

Today’s Tour Stops

Go visit Jae Randall & Rebecca Shelley!

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Works

I, Spy bonus features!

Every month on my newsletter, I try to share a bonus feature or two from I, Spy and/or Mr. Nice Spy. Personally, I love seeing what went into a book: deleted scenes, the character creation process, the inspiration, everything! So I try to share that with my friends and readers.

I, Spy coverOf course, I totally neglected to mention that stuff on the blog (whoops), so here’s my apology (sorry!) and links to that awesome content (so far):

The Very First Line! (audio)
I recorded the first line and some notes for the first chapter of I, Spy about two weeks before I started writing. Check it out!

The Original I, Spy Pitch
A video I made as an example of how to pitch a book to an agent—or the very first draft of the back cover copy 😉 .

Ask a Spy Novelist Videos
If you followed along with the blog tour, you’ve probably seen these, but as part of the blog tour, I solved readers’ problems using spy skills I’ve learned in my research. Fun, funny, silly—but (mostly) real stuff!

Mr. Nice Spy Planning Sheet
I always plot on paper for the tactile feedback of pen to paper. Here’s a shot of the first half of paper version of the novella plot line. Good luck reading my handwriting!

The Evolution of Elliott
One of the main characters of I, Spy, Elliott, changed a lot in the revision process. Check out why and how he changed, with a before-and-after comparison!

There are a few more features on there that I’ve already mentioned on the blog (and several guest posts and interviews I need to get linked up!), but if you want to keep up with all the updates you should probably join my newsletter. Just sayin’ 😉 .

What kind of bonus material do you like to see for a novel? Do you have bonus features, or are you saving material for them? What do you think?

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Works, News & Contests

Have you entered the I, Spy song contests?

Whew! What a fun week with the blog tour! We definitely need to celebrate, and what better way than with my chocolate chip maple pecan pie, as featured in I, Spy?

Have you pieced together the clues to find the inspiration songs for I, Spy and Mr. Nice Spy yet? There’s still time to enter the contest to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

As a reminder, there are TWO SONGS to guess (and each song contest has a $25 prize). The clues are found at the blog tour stops:

I, Spy clues

Monday

Renae Mackley* (Also: using your spy skills to convince someone the car you’re driving isn’t stolen!)

M. R. Buttars (Also: using your spy skills to escape annoying relatives!)

Tuesday

Donna K. Weaver (Also: using spy skills on a desert island!)

Bonnie Harris (Also: an I, Spy extra inspired by Bonnie!)

Jinky is Reading* (Also: a giveaway!)

Wednesday

Kathleen Brebes

Rhonda*

Thursday

Me, at Jami Gold’s blog

Tressa’s Wishful Endings* (Also: a giveaway!)

Friday

Lindzee Armstrong (Also: using your spy skills while in labor!)

Christy Dorrity

* = also includes a review

Mr. Nice Spy clues

Monday
Julie Coulter Bellon (Also: using your spy skills to enjoy sweets without having to share with your kids!)

Tuesday

Carolyn Frank (Also: using spy skills with time travel!)

Wednesday

Cami Checketts*

Marnee Bailey, Romance Writers’ Revenge (Also: using your spy skills to figure out what your kids are up to!)

Thursday

Lisa Swinton (Also: spy skills to escape from . . . a cat?)

Chris Jones (Also: the spy skills of a dad!)

Friday

Emily Gray Clawson (Also: figuring out whodunnit)

Andrea Pearson

* = also includes a review

Thanks again to everyone who helped with the tour!

Other blog reviews

I don’t want to leave out some great reviews at non-tour blogs last week!
Debra Erfert’s Windows on Writing

Tamera Westhoff

Whit’s Book World (And she also reviewed Mr. Nice Spy!)

The contest

Remember, you have until 11:39 PM MDT on June 13th (Thursday) to enter the contest! Email your guess to contest at jordanmccollum.com to be entered in the drawing. (Full rules) Now go use your spy sleuthing skills to put together this puzzle!

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News & Contests

The I, Spy inspiration song contest!

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Friday, I shared the story of how a song inspired my novel I, Spy (out this week in case you missed it! 😉 ). This week, as part of the blog launch tour for I, Spy and Mr. Nice Spy, I’m holding a contest to guess the song behind the novel (and novella)!

How to enter

At each stop on the blog tour, I’ll share one clue about the novel or novella’s inspiration song. You will most likely need more than one clue to figure out the answer.

Use your spy skills to piece together the clues to figure out the song and artist, then email me at contest (at) jordanmccollum.com with your answer! Entries must be received by 11:59 PM MDT 13 June 2013.

Every correct entry will be entered in a random drawing—one each for the novel and novella—to be announced on my blog June 14.

The Prizes!

The winner of each drawing (one for the novel and one for the novella) will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Rules, etc.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN GIVEAWAYS. A PURCHASE WON’T IMPROVE AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHANCE OF WINNING.

1. You can’t win both prizes. Sorry.

2. Open internationally—if you can get on Amazon, you can use the prize, so you can win the prize. (Gift card amount is in US dollars.)

3. A limit of one entry is allowed per e-mail address, per contest. You may not enter each contest more than once, whether or not you use a different e-mail address. Subsequent entries determined to be submitted with the same email address or from the same individual using multiple email addresses may be declared ineligible. (So you can enter both contests one time each, but not more than one entry in each contest.)

4. A prize number will be assigned to your entry upon receipt of your entry. A winning number will be generated using Random.org on or shortly after the Entry Deadline Date. If your Prize Number matches the Winning Number, and you meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise comply with these Official Giveaway Rules, you win the prize.

5. I will send the Amazon Gift Card to the address used on your entry within three (3) days after the Entry Deadline Date if you win the prize. (An Amazon Gift Card can be applied to any account, so the email doesn’t have to match the address you use at Amazon.)

6. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

7. Winner may not substitute the prize for any other prize or for cash.

8. Entry in the contest constitutes permission to use winner’s name and prize information for promotional purposes in any medium, except where prohibited by law, without further payment or other consideration. (I’m gonna announce your name on this blog.)

9. The giveaway may be canceled, suspended and/or modified, in whole or in part, if in my opinion any fraud, technical failure or other factor beyond its control impairs the integrity of the giveaway.

10. By entering the giveaway through this website, you release Jordan McCollum from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

Today’s clues!

You can find today’s clues at our blog tour stops! Today’s stops also feature quick, fun vlogs about putting your spy skills to the ultimate test: real life.

Julie Coulter Bellon – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: using your spy skills to enjoy sweets without having to share with your kids!)

Renae Mackley – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills to convince someone the car you’re driving isn’t stolen!)

M. R. Buttars – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills to escape annoying relatives!)

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests, Works

The inspiration behind I, Spy—Contest!

This is the second most unusual story inspiration source I’ve ever had. (The first was a commercial for a TV show.)

It was the day before Valentine’s Day. I remember this very well because it’s Peter Tork’s birthday I was shopping for valentines when it hit me. Yep, right there in the middle of the Dollar Tree, inspiration struck. (What? Where do you buy your last-minute 50¢ Valentines?)

Dollar Tree

The piped music in the store turned to an old favorite of mine. As I browsed the valentines bopping along, I started thinking more deeply about the lyrics. The story behind the song is about a guy who wanted more of a relationship with this girl, but totally got “friend zoned.”

I imagined a guy sitting in a restaurant, checking his watch, waiting and wondering. Since it was Valentine season, I thought, What if the girl actually did like him? Wouldn’t that be tragic? What would keep this friend-girl from being there like a girlfriend?

And then my favorite what-if question popped up: what if she were a spy?

Bam. A whole scenario popped into my head (that now makes up almost a quarter of the book). I pulled out my brand new smartphone to make a note—and saw the reminder that my son was getting out of kindergarten early that day. As in right then.

With long lines at all the check stands, my only choice was to ditch the valentines and drag my daughters to the car to pick up my son. Fortunately, the Dollar Tree wasn’t far from his school, and I got there a little early. With those spare minutes, I pulled out my phone again and jotted down a note in my Evernote app so I’d have it when I got on my computer (as if I’d forget):

first note

Notice the black bars? The original title of the project came from the name of the inspiration song, and the Evernote folder and the folder on my computer were the initials from that title. (Still are, in fact, though by the time I started writing I, Spy just shy of four weeks later, I’d changed to that title.)

I have never revealed the name of that song to anyone outside my family and critique group. And honestly, most of them don’t know it, either.

CONTEST CLOSED (but you can find the clues if you’re in my readers group!)
So here’s the contest! As part of my launch blog tour, each I, Spy stop will have a clue about the song that inspired the book! Mr. Nice Spy stops, not to be left out, have clues to another song, which I first heard immediately after finishing the first draft, and immediately claimed as the theme song for the novella.Look for the prizes, full rules, and first clues on Monday!

Oh, and since I know you’re wondering, we went back to the Dollar Tree and found my stack of chosen valentines.

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Join the I, Spy/Mr. Nice Spy launch blog tour!

It might be the most fun you’ve ever had on a blog tour! Yep, in addition to my real-life launch party with Donna K. Weaver, I’m also doing an online launch, and I’d love to have you join the party!

I swear up and down, this blog will not be all about my books. I will still blog about writing craft and other writerly stuff! But I do need to use this blog for my books, too.

MrNiceSpy_CVR_LRG ISpy_CVR_LRG

Okay with that disclaimer out of the way, I’m looking for blogs to take part in the book launch tour for I, Spy and Mr. Nice Spy June 3 – 7! I’ll link to your blog from mine for that day, as well as a static page on my site listing all the participants. Each post will be part of a contest, so you should get even more traffic.

FAQ

What do I have to do?
Fill out the form below and wait. I’ll confirm your date, and then two days beforehand, I’ll send you the post materials.

Will I have to read or have read your book?
Nope! If you want to read it and review it, that’s great, but I’m not going to ask that of you.

Isn’t that weird?
Nah.

Agh, my blog is already booked for all those days, but I want to help! What do I do?
You can click “other” and give me a day/range of days you have free, and we’ll work something out.

What will I get out of it?
Um, my gratitude? Good karma? A free post that you don’t have to think up and write? And I’ll have a freebie for your readers. They’ll love you for it, right? Love fest!

Form

Any questions or concerns? Shoot.

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Works, News & Contests

Announcing Mr. Nice Spy!

Yep, that’s right—I’m debuting another book! Mr. Nice Spy is a prequel novella to I, Spy, and it will be available in eBook format only. Join my mailing list for a chance to get a review copy!

About the novella

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. CIA operative Elliott Monteith has made it work, just like he’s made things work with his longtime fiancée Shanna. Until Shanna lays out an ultimatum: move forward or move on. Meanwhile, Elliott and his best friend and fellow operative, Talia Reynolds, try to track an elusive leak at the American embassy.

But something changes between Elliott and Talia as they close in on the man selling out his country. Professional and personal lines blur and Elliott has to choose—his fiancée or his best friend.

Read an excerpt from Mr. Nice Spy

And now for the cover!

MrNiceSpy_CVR_LRG

More about Mr. Nice Spy
Join my mailing list for a chance to get a review copy!

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!