On episode 105 of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast I spoke about the closing of hybrid publisher Booktrope with Tess Thompson. In addition to being one of Booktrope’s bestselling authors, she was also one of its first authors. So, in a wide-ranging, emotional interview, we discussed:
- how she got started with Booktrope
- the early success of her debut novel, RIVERSONG;
- changes within the industry, and within Booktrope, that made subsequent books less successful;
- whether starting a blog and getting on social media actually sells books;
- what worked, and what didn’t work, about the Booktrope publishing model;
- how the Booktrope shutdown announcement was handled.
Plus, I give my initial thoughts on the Booktrope closing.
About our guest:
Tess Thompson is a mother and bestselling novelist of romantic suspense. She’s also a Zumba dancing queen, though the wearing of the crown is reserved for invitation-only appearances. Recently she’s participated in obstacle course races, the hardest of which was the Spartan Beast in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. It was an awful experience that will soon be included in a novel. There was running. And climbing a mountain. And obstacles, like walls and crawling under barbed wire. She is not the running or obstacle queen.
Like her characters in the River Valley Collection, Tess hails from a small town in southern Oregon, and will always feel like a small town girl, despite the fact she’s lived in Seattle for over twenty-five years. She loves music and dancing, books and bubble baths, cooking and wine, movies and snuggling. She cries at sappy commercials and thinks kissing in the rain should be done whenever possible. Although she tries to act like a lady, there may or may not have been a few times in the last several years when she’s gotten slightly carried away watching the Seattle Seahawks play, but that could also just be a nasty rumor.
She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two daughters and two cats, all of whom keep her too busy, often confused, but always amazed. In June she’ll be moving both kids and cats to a neighboring suburb to marry the love of her life and gain not only two bonus sons, but three bonus cats. That makes four kids and five cats. Pray for her.
Tess loves to hear from you. Drop her a line, or visit her Facebook Fan Page, or follow her on Pinterest and twitter.
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9 thoughts on “What Happened to Booktrope?–Tess Thompson–Episode 105–May 4 2016”
Tess, you’re breaking my heart. This is so hard. I came into BT in 2014. It was lovely and frustrating, all at the same time. You are awesome!
Tess,
So well said. So graceful. So like you.
So hoping I’ll see you around.
Ina
Thanks for this candid conversation, Tess. It helps to know others are hurting and struggling to find the next step after Booktrope As strange as that seems it is a comfort. Because it was the Booktrope community that made it special. I see it carrying on in new ways now and that gives this writer great hope. Sending you a batch of hugs and cyber-kittens. <3
I’ve been a book manager with BT for a year, and I have to say this podcast meant the world to me. I have, for quite some time, felt like a personal failure because I couldn’t make the BT marketing model work for my authors and I had no idea what to tell them when they called me begging for alternatives to social media. I really appreciate your honesty here, Tess. To hear the author that BT always touted as their success story say that it was never the teams, it was the model itself, really resonated with me. I’m so sorry that things turned out the way they have for both of you and all of the authors who have been affected. Wishing you both the best.
This is an excellent interview and I’m very glad to have had this insight into the disaster. Thanks both Tess and AC for the honest Q&As. Such a disappointment this all has been for so many people.
Great interview with Tess. She was one of the reasons I went with BT – I downloaded and read her book Riversong and was very impressed. Despite being an editor myself I missed the oppsies! I agree about social media being an overkill – I’ve only had a couple of people visit my blog and then told me they bought my books. Best of luck moving forward to both of you! (I get the feeling Random House is about to call!)
i was shocked to hear about it closing. I have several friends who have published with Booktrope. I’m glad to hear that their book rights are going back as many friends I know have struggled for years to get theirs back. Thinking of the Booktrope authors.
Tess, what an honest and classy interview. Initially, I simply felt relieved to be free from Booktrope. But I am in agreement with all the realities you brought up in your interview. Booktrope turned me from an author into a tweeting, blogging baby boomer. The countless books given away brought my royalty per book to .62 cents each. I’m not putting in 12-hour days for such results. Frankly, I am relieved to be free from a very questionable environment.
To all Booktrope authors, if you are looking for a publisher, we hope you’ll consider Bookadelphia.
Visit our website at http://www.bookadelphia.com for more information. We are really interested in helping former Booktrope authors maintain the momentum of their publishing efforts.