Interview with Amy Saunders

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

My debut novel, Dead Locked, is a mystery/adventure featuring a young woman working with a small team of underwater archaeologists in the midst of a high-profile expedition. After one of her colleagues is murdered, Imogen Bell finds herself in the middle of a life-or-death hunt for a legendary pirate jewel .

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Not this time around. I’ve always gone that route in the past with little success so after mulling over my choices, I decided I wanted to try something new and give self-publishing a whirl.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I don’t though I’ve considered it. My sister has been the biggest help in giving me solid criticism. I owe her for helping me to get Dead Locked off the ground.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

A big part was my lack of finances, but it was much more than that. I have always been a bit independent, going my own way, and self-publishing is all about that. The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea of taking charge of my own publishing fate. Fortunately, for people like me who don’t have money to drop on traditional self-publishing routes and who favor doing the work themselves, Amazon has made self-publishing possible.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

That would have been nice but it was not in my budget at the time. I have a lot of writing and editing books and I try to read as much as possible, analyzing how everything is done and then applying it to my own work. I’m still figuring things out but I did the best I could at the time.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

So much! I’ve learned (again) that I love doing things on my own. I discovered that I have more drive and self-discipline than I ever imagined. And I definitely realized that what I’ve always wanted to focus on is what I’m meant to do.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Dead Locked is also available through other major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Sony as well as Smashwords and for mobile readers via Scrollmotion.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

My core marketing program is the triple threat of blogging, Facebooking (I’ll just make up my own word for that), and tweeting. Marketing is a constantly shifting project and I’m always open to new ideas and methods as well as improving what I’m already doing. I’m also a part of the BestsellerBound forum for indie authors, which has proved to be a helpful community. I love online marketing but I try to seek out local opportunities too and along that line I was a part of a library’s local author day back in January. I’ve tried book trailer contests, posting ads on various sites, and promoting on different forums. With most of these methods, you only have some time to lose so I figure it’s worth trying at least once.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Absolutely! Rhys Bowen, a mystery author I follow, once tweeted something to the effect that she needed a device to turn back time to fit everything in. Somehow that made me feel better. If a prolific, established author feels that way, it makes sense that I would.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Stay positive and focus on your achievements, however small. Most importantly, have fun! You’ve worked hard to get this far so enjoy it.

What’s next for you?

 My next novel, The Jester’s Apprentice, is underway and I’m aiming for a summer 2011 release. I’ve also released a free short story delving into the romantic background of my two main characters from Dead Locked. And my short story, Stained, is featured in the first BestsellerBound Anthology. I also have other short stories in the works that I plan to release between novels. I’m keeping busy! 

  

Interview with Bryan Healey

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

"Shattered Wings" is the chronicle of a man named John, the primary breadwinner in a household consisting of his husband Charlie and their adoptive daughter Cassie. When faced with an unexpected unemployment that he is financially unprepared for, John finds himself desperate for new work before his savings is depleted, reminiscing on a past of addiction, discrimination and family struggle as he slowly descends into alcoholism.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I did not. While I wish I had the distribution capacity of a major publishing house, I prefer to self-publish because of the ultimate creative control and feedback immediacy it offers. I am currently querying distribution companies to see if that is an option, but I restrict my options to groups that allow authors to retain all rights.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I am not a member of any formal critique group, but I am a participant in several writer-specific discussion forums, from Writer's Digest to Kindle Boards, and I thrive on the feedback and suggestions that these groups can offer. I am also currently working toward attaining a degree in English, which has helped improve my linguistic rule obedience.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

I find that I enjoy having full control over the creative process, from interior and cover design to deployment and marketing. By self-publishing, I am the writer, publisher, designer and distributor, and it gives me a sense of total understanding of the project and it's scope.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

I did not.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

Publishing is a major challenge. Writing has a unique set of challenges and certainly has a stiff requirement for patience, but the "other" stuff (cover and interior design, proofing, editing, marketing and promotion) have their own difficulties and require just as much, if not more, patience. And unlike writing, which always has a satisfying conclusion (the end of a story written), self-publication can "end" in any number of different ways, and not all of them are universally positive.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yes, my books are also for sale on BarnesandNoble.com, Smashwords (which distributes to Apple, Kobo and Diesel) and in some local bookstores where I have gained some traction.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

By day, I am a professional web engineer, so I do a lot of digital work myself. I have designed marketing websites for each of my books and do heavy promotion on most major social networking services. I am also doing limited paid advertising. Offline, I do local book readings and signings at independent bookstores that will carry my work.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Absolutely! Without a schedule, I would be utterly lost. I am currently working full-time as a senior web engineer, going to school full-time for a degree in English, marketing my latest book and writing manuscripts three and four... I could easily lose track of myself if I don't pick specific times for each task. And inevitably sometimes one must dominate when specific activities have deadlines or become overwhelming. It's a delicate process that is easy to unbalance.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Make absolutely certain that you are aware of the challenges you'll be facing; do your research! If you self-publish, you will be taking on all the duties of a lot of different people and you will need to dedicate significant time and energy to those tasks. And then, even with your most valiant effort, you may be underwhelmed by the sales return. If you can't handle this amount of adversity and work, then self-publishing is probably not for you. But if you can handle it, the rewards can be extraordinary.

What’s next for you?

I am working on a novel right now entitled "No Where" that follows a determined man as he tries to flee from an unknown adversary with his biological son and find a way to stop their pursuit. With the help of his brother, he sets off across the country for solace in a secluded family residence, but as his brother probes into the son and his estranged family, he finds some troubling information that threatens their ultimate safety.

I am about half way complete with this manuscript and hope to have it ready for editing and design by mid summer and have it published by the early fall.

  

Interview with Bradley J. Milton

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

It's called Huckleberry Milton. It's a retelling of the HUCKLEBERRY FINN tale, but for modern times. Huckleberry Milton and his sidekick (a robotic Jerry Garcia), along with a Jim Morrison look-alike, all travel back to 1969 to save America from an economic crisis.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Didn't happen. Was contacted by a publisher who advised the Amazon Kindle / Smashwords route. All good from there.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

Not yet, but am open to anything. I'm on TWITTER where I talk to other writers all the time. It's a nice way to gain support, help others, and chit-chat. You can connect with me at http://twitter.com/@bradleyjmilton any time, even just to say hi. It's always on – quite amazing, really.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

It was simple. First I see that Amazon has dominated the market. Always best to go with a winner, and Jeff Bezos has proven himself to be a competent businessman here. Kindle can use some improvement, but it's definitely the best way to go. Also my novel is Experimental (avant garde), and the number of real publishers for that is small. Used to be Grove Press, Expanded Media Editions, City Lights, Citadel Underground, Hanuman Books, Arcade Publishing, High Risk Books, Evergreen Review, Black Cat paperbacks, RE/Search Publications, Loompanics, Shambala – in short, a whole world of publishers for new voices, experiments, writing that is over the edge. Not so anymore. Now the writer is stuck going solo. So, here goes.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

An editor (freelance) had contacted me, knowing I was interested in a book. They helped pull it all together. So for me, it was easy. All I had to do was figure out the software and write up the file. Had to approve final changes and so on, and be willing to do some more marketing.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?

I have learned that Publishing as an Industry has changed dramatically. It happened slowly then quickly. Right now, agents and editors and publishers are caught with their pants down. They don't know what hit them. They don't know what's happening. They know that they have to be on TWITTER to be accepted and looked at as with it, but they aren't quite sure what to do. Meanwhile, the readers are out there. They're hungry for stories. They want more. And it is the visionaries like Jeff Bezos who are helping to bring it to them. Not the publishers or agents or editors anymore. The roles are changing. The next few years should be Interesting.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yep. Barnes and Noble too. Always good to stay competitive. Huckleberry Milton is available in the Sony, Kobo and the Diesel eBook Stores, and also on Smashwords where you can buy all the formats: PDF, Plain Text. You can preview it there free. You can also preview for free on Amazon. So it's pretty much everywhere. Will be out in the Apple iStore soon too. Working out a glitch right now with the Apple formatting.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

Definitely TWITTER. It's fun. And interviews. The book is out there with a lot of reviewers right now. Happy with all the comments. But the big thing I'm doing is a “Bradley J. Milton LIVE!” blog tour. I'm reading from the book live, and offering exclusive readings on various blogs. It's a big deal. There's t-shirts and everything. It's starting this week and will take me all over the country, so I'm very excited. I had to ask for some time off of work (boss doesn't know).

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Not really. I want to start my next book (I have ideas), but right now I am working only on this one (Marketing). It's a different aspect, different part of the job. I'm having fun. It's pretty nice.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Do your best work, don't be afraid to be Original. I believe that people like that – it's something different. They like to see someone doing something unique if it's what they believe in. Go for it.

What’s next for you?

The next book is going to be a big one. It's going to have all genres. I'm calling it The Everything Book. But right now I'm heading off on the Bradley J. Milton LIVE! Tour, taking Huckleberry Milton all over the country to the people. Let me know if you'd like a t-shirt.

Screenplays and Michaelbrent Collings

Hi Michaelbrent. Welcome back to Two Ends of the Pen. I hear you’ve been doing some new exciting projects and it’s great that you’ve agreed to share them with us.

You recently have had a number of bestselling novels, and then you had a pair of screenplays sold and put into production in the last year.  Are screenplays and novels different animals?

Yes, extremely different.  Screenplays are sharper-edged, and give worse papercuts.  Don't ask me why. 

Seriously, though, they ARE very different beasties.  Novels are all about action and introspection.  That is, they are plot from the point of view (usually) of one or more of the characters.  Screenplays, on the other hand, are (as a rule) only about the action without the introspection.  There is no room for internal monologues in most screenplays, they are all about action, action, action, from the point of view OF the action.

Does writing one lead to writing the other?

Not at all.  Because they are such different ways of writing, it's actually (at least for me) a very Unnatural process to jump from one to the other.  Or, put it another way, they are like speaking different languages.  Novelese and screeplay...uh...ese.  It is possible to speak more than one language, and many people do.  But it is an entirely different thing to be FLUENT in two different languages.  And that's what you have to do in order to be both a novelist and a screenwriter.  Doing one doesn't mean that you can automatically do the other; indeed, I have a number of friends who are very successful in one, but absolute failures at the other.  That doesn't mean they're less talented artists, it simply means they haven't achieved fluency in BOTH novelese and screenplayese. 

So no, they aren't natural offshoots of each other.  It's totally doable to be proficient in both, but it requires discipline and practice to learn the tricks, traps, and tropes of each.

Are there advantages to doing both?

Absolutely!  I mean, if nothing else, it gives me something to do while in that interminable waiting period following completion of any kind of work.  When I've finished a script and am waiting to hear back from producers, I can work on a novel.  If I've finished a novel and it's being shopped around or prepped to go online, I can pull out a screenplay.  Keeps me busy.  That and my platypus collection.  Oh, sure, you wouldn't THINK a platypus collection would take that much time, but have you ever tried to glue a platypus into one of those little albums?  It takes FOREVER.

Another advantage to doing both is that you have alternate avenues to put your work out there.  For example, I recently finished a book called PERDITION.  It's a pretty nifty thriller (available on amazon.com!) about a man whose family decides to kill him when they discover he's the anti-Christ (or is he?...bwahahaha!).  So it's out there (on amazon.com, for instance!), making me a bit of money, and that's great.  But in addition, I think it's also got possibilities as a screenplay, so I'm working on that iteration of the story.

Another good example is my book RUN.  It's a sci-fi thriller, and is currently with a major production company that is deciding whether they want to make a movie out of it.  I recently had a conversation with one of their execs where he explained that the process is taking a while because the book is so complex it's hard for some of the other execs to figure out a movie out of it.  Lo and behold, I had already WRITTEN a screenplay for RUN, and when I offered to show that to the movie producers, my contact at the company was ecstatic.  So it all fed into itself.

Any disadvantages to writing both?

Yes.  For sure.  Jealousy, for one.  Again, you don't want to make a screenplay jealous, because of the papercuts.  But then, if you anger a manuscript and it falls on your foot in retribution, it could break your toe!

Other than that, there is also the issue of the competing languages, as I mentioned above.  It's hard sometimes to write in the right (write in the right...ha! I crack myself up) language.  In other words, when writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is start sounding like I'm drafting a really long movie script.  Ditto when writing a movie script...sounding like a novel is a kiss of death.  So it's something you constantly have to guard against when writing.

It can also lead to confusion in your "self branding."  E.g. "I'm a screenwriter, I'm a novelist, I'm a screenwriter, I'm a novelist...I'm a screenwriter AND a novelist!"  That's a little joke for fans of Chinatown (trust me, if you're a screenwriter who knows anything about the industry, what I just said is hilarious), but it's true: you have to make sure that people know exactly what you are, what you can do, and that you can do it well, since they naturally assume you're a better novelist than you are a screenwriter, or vice-versa.

What advice would you give novelists or other prose authors who want to turn to screenwriting?

Well, first I recommend that you try to climb a flagpole covered in Cool Whip (TM).  Not because it has anything to do with writing, just I think it's funny to watch.

AFTER that, however, I recommend that you read every screenplay you can find.  Especially the "good" ones, past and present.  Again, it's like learning a different language, and the best way to do that is and always has been total immersion.  So put yourself chest-deep in a swimming pool of screenplays and dive in, man!

And then do the Cool Whip (TM) thing again.  Because I need a laugh today.  ;o)

Thanks Michaelbrent, you’re entertaining as always.  I wish you great success with your screenplays and, of course, your novels.  Feel free to drop by anytime!

Michaelbrent Collings is a successful screenwriter and novelist.  His book RUN was amazon's number one sci-fi book, and spent approximately six months on their horror, sci-fi, and thriller bestseller lists.  His newest book, PERDITION, is also available at amazon.com, and he's hard at work on the next big screenplay even as we speak.

       

Interview with Jayne Fordham

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

A Season Of Transformation is a young adult fantasy romance novel set in contemporary Australia. Makenna Matthews is just your average teenager until one day at school she feels drawn to four other teenagers and together they discover their ancestors are trying to communicate with them. They have abilities bestowed upon them so they can complete their mission, to defeat Maxvale the town villain. They need to overcome their differences in order to unite and save their town from destruction.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Yes, I queried a literary agent in Sydney and unfortunately my novel was not accepted. I did do a lot of research into agents in Australia that took on fantasy novels but I did not find many. In mid 2010, my novel was accepted for publication with a new online book publishing company that was developing an ipad/ iphone app for eBooks. This was a very exciting time for me, the contract was signed and I was ready to go! However due to financial issues in setting up the platform, the company put their proposition on hold and released me from the contract. I was very disappointed but it was definitely a confidence booster and got me back on track to pursue publication. I probably could have sought out more agents or approached publishers directly but I know that this is a long process, I had already spent two years refining my manuscript and I decided that I wanted to publish it before I chickened out. Hence, the self-publishing route!

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

No I don’t belong to a critique group, but it does sound like a useful resource! I have sought assistance from a writing mentor who helped me to self-publish my novel. It can be a bit daunting at first because of all the options available nowadays.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

Initially, I self-published to Lulu so that my book would be available as PDF and paperback. The next step for Amazon Kindle just seemed like an obvious choice- it’s a highly popular site, accessible worldwide and relatively easy to self-publish. I wanted to make my novel available to a wider audience. Unfortunately, to publish a paperback with Amazon you need a U.S bank account- which I do not own.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

My novel undertook many many rewrites following two manuscript assessments by a qualified writer/ editor. My mentor then provided a final proofread. This is my first novel and I really wanted to see how it would be received by readers.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

It’s a lot of work! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to spend much time writing since I self-published this work in March, 2011. Marketing and promoting a book is a lot of hard work! I connect with readers, writers and authors via my book review blog that has been a great starting point for me to promote my novel. I have also developed an author site along with social networking sites: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Shelfari etc and keeping all these up to date takes up a lot of time! To launch my book I organised my own book blog tour for June/ July 2011 to promote A Season Of Transformation with the aim of collecting reviews and a bit of hype.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yes, it is available as paperback and PDF from Lulu as well as an ebook download at Goodreads. As an ebook it is priced at $2.99 and the printed version is $15.99.

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-season-of-transformation/15240155?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

Twitter: @AustBookshelf

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Season-Of-Transformation/160127360716037

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4810810.Jayne_Fordham

Author blog: http://jaynefordham.com

Book review blog: http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com

Please feel free to follow me J

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Yes! As mentioned earlier, I have had to put my writing projects on hold. I work full-time as a psychologist, I do freelance writing jobs on the side as well as promoting A Season Of Transformation and so creative writing has been put by the wayside for a little while. I hope in the next few months I can get back on track with a writing schedule and publish another book.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort to network, connect with readers and self-promote your book. I recommend finding reviewers as your first step and joining the Goodreads community. I am continually learning from other writers and authors about how to best promote my book.

What’s next for you?

I have started writing a sequel for A Season Of Transformation as well as an adult fantasy/ SciFi novel which I hope to develop into a series. I am also working on a travel memoir.

Thank you for having me!

  

Interview with Mel Comley

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

My latest book Cruel Justice is part of the justice series, but, unfortunately it has been put on hold for the time being. It features the same protagonist Lorne Simpkins and centers around a serial killer in London. It’s actually the prequel to the successful Impeding Justice.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I sent Impeding Justice out to a few agents and got knocked back, so I decided to upload it as an ebook and to start making money.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I actually joined Authonomy about 18 months ago and after an eight-month journey ended up on the Ed’s desk. I walked away from the site knowing a lot more about the craft of writing and a glowing review from a Harper Collins editor, who said Impeding Justice was one of the best manuscripts they’d read on the site. If I’d been a celebrity with a biography, I’m sure they would have snapped my hand off to represent me. ;-) 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

Everyone who read the book said that I should get it out there, so I couldn’t disappoint my fans. ;-)

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes, I did, unfortunately I was very niave and didn’t realize there were different forms of editing and my editor neglected to inform me that she was hopeless at punctuation! Both my books have been properly edited since, I hasten to add.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?

Basically people love my writing and the stories I tell. I still think that the odd reviewer tends to look down on the manuscripts on sale from Indie writers though. Little do they realise that John Grisham started selling his books from the boot of his car.  

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

My books are on sale through the Smashwords distribution system. This is the first month I’ve had any sales from Barnes and Noble etc, so I’m thrilled.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

All of the above, as an Indie writer it’s important to work hard at that side of things. Also, I like to get involved with the readers on various sites.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

I haven’t written for about a month now and I’m desperate to get back to it. The marketing side of things can be very time-consuming indeed. Lately, I’ve been promoting for almost 16 hours a day. I’m kind of feeling burnt out right now, so something will have to give soon.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Don’t upload your book and expect to be an overnight success. If you’re not prepared to do some legwork to get your name out there, don’t expect people to stumble upon and choose your book to buy out of the 750,000 ebooks available.

What’s next for you?

Actually, this is the exciting part, because of the excellent feedback and sales I’ve had over the last few months, recently a couple of high profile agents came knocking on my virtual door. After a week of sleepless nights, I decided to sign a contract with top New York agent, Richard Curtis. This is why my third book has been put on hold for the moment. It’s timely too, as he’s currently at a huge publisher’s convention where he’ll be touting my books around.

Thanks for having me as your guest Deb, it’s been fun! 

  

Interview with Chris Blewitt

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

The Chemist is a short story that is based on a true story.  I read an article online a year ago about corruption during Prohibition.  It truly boggled my mind that something like this could happen.  It absorbed me and I started researching if this really happened, and sure enough it did.  I thought it would make a great fictional story so that’s what I wrote.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I did for my first book, Deep Rough – A Thriller in Augusta.  I have a least 100 rejections that I still keep on file.  Little did they know that DR would become the # 1 sports, golf, and sports gambling book on Kindle during Masters week of this year.  For The Chemist, it is just a short story so I did not even bother with trad pubbing.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I belonged to a writer’s group for about 2 years as I wrote Deep Rough.  They were very beneficial and I’d recommend anyone starting out to join a group.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

I knew I had a good story to tell and that people would like Deep Rough.  I had 2 other stories in mind to write and I couldn’t focus on them while I was frustrated trying to get DR published.  I found out about CreateSpace and said, “The heck with it”.  I couldn’t be happier.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

I did hire an editor and had one beta reader although I was not happy with the editor and had to re-edit many times after the fact.  I will certainly have many more beta-readers for future works.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

You cannot just upload to Amazon and watch the sales come in.  You need to be really active in promoting your book.  I had only 4 sales on Kindle in January of this year.  After finding KindleBoards & lowering the price, I had triple digits in April.  You also must have a great cover, blurb, book and accept criticism.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Just Barnes and Noble for their Nook. 

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I have a twitter account, facebook, joining indie facebook groups, volunteering for any interview and being active on KindleBoards.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

Absolutely.  I finished my next book in February and haven’t touched it since.  I’m aiming to get it out there by July 4^th, but it has a ways to go.  Promoting is fun though.  You meet a lot of great people and a lot of great indie books.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Edit the heck out of your book.  Test out your covers before uploading.  Join KindleBoards for great advice.  Ask beta-readers to read your book.  Don’t be afraid to jump in with both feet!

What’s next for you?

I would like to have “untitled” up and running soon.  Picture DaVinci Code meets George Washington.  After that, I’d like to dust off a book I wrote about fifteen years ago and see if it’s good enough to start working on a 2nd draft.

  

A New Interview for Moi

Thanks to Tim Ellis for hosting me on his site.  I happily talk about writing with my co-author, David W Small.  For those who don't know it yet, Dave is my brother.  He is a retired Marine with 21 years of service who currently works as a network specialist.  It's fantastic writing with him and I'm having the time of my life.

I also give a shout out to my fabulous graphic artist, T.M. Roy, who designed the covers for the 2 Rule of Otharia novels.  She is truly an artist extraordinaire who is a master with manipulating images and the all important fonts!  You can view her portfolio of covers here: TERyVisions

You can check out my latest interview here: http://timellis.weebly.com/3/post/2011/06/featured-authors-debra-martin-david-small.html

   

Interview with Jeff Crimmel

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

My first book to date, Living Beneath the Radar; A Nine Year Journey Around the World is an account of my travels from 1970 to 1979.  The adventure took me from Europe to India overland through Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan three times and eventually down through SE Asia in 1975, ending up in Australia. The book starts off with a little of my background including experiences with the army draft board, post college life and other influences that directed me to take this journey during a time of world turmoil. The book is full of events and encounters with people not found in the world of media and news.  The stories are humorous as well as true, even though some readers may challenge the author as to their possibility of ever happening. 

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers? 

I tried the traditional route after the book came out in the first edition as self published.  I sent query letters to agents in order to find a larger market for the book.  After I edited the first edition and added 100 pages of more stories and adventures I still searched for an agent, but may republish with the same self-publishing company in order to get the edited version out into the world quickly.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I would have to say that Goodreads book club has become my critique group as well as other writers who pointed out my need to edit and redo parts of the first edition.  I was in a hurry to get my book published and did not take the needed time to go through the final copy to the degree needed before printing.  I received very good reviews but the editing needs really made me sit down and spend 4 months rewriting and editing the book.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

Amazon is the top name in on line bookstores and any independent author needs to get his or her book on their site.  It would be like building a solar car that can travel for free because you built it in the desert and the sun shines every day.  If there are no roads in the sand dunes for you to drive you solar powered car then you will go nowhere.  Amazon is the road in the desert for your book and it offers a place to be seen and travel on.  Without this avenue your book will be stuck in the sand and not journey very far.  (How’s that for a green vision of Amazon?)

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? 

A friend of mine used the Word edit-program and read the book through once.  He gave me some corrections but Word does not replace a human reading the book. Finding all the words that are spelled correctly but are the wrong word.  Where, were, choose, chose are just a few examples that only editing and reading a book can catch.  Also I found that one really needs another person to edit and review because the author will continue to re-read the same mistakes over and over again and still not catch them.  I now have re-written Radar, changed the passages in order to flow easier, and corrected grammar. I still have several friends reading it again and giving me their input. 

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey? 

The most difficult part of self-publishing is the promotion.  Bookstores will not accept your book in their store if it does not come through a big publisher.  Getting people to read your book and writing a review is one way to get it noticed and hopefully the buzz will reach someone who has an “in” with promotion.  Some writers are good at writing but cannot self promote or do not want to.  Promotion has to be the biggest hurdle for indie writers.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

I did get the book on all the e-book links.  Authorhouse sells the book and it is available on line with all the bookstores.  My Goodreads site is also helpful because there is where serious readers see reviews, read about the book and decide if they want to get it and read it.  I have given away a lot of books through Goodreads and have received many good reviews as well as a few that drove me to edit and redo the book.  I am glad I did edit Radar and now I feel the product is ready with out any regrets.  I hope to have the second edition available by fall of 2011.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

I have a facebook page for Living Beneath the Radar.  I do get some interest when I do things like radio interviews or T.V. interviews and I post the links to these media spots for those interested. I also have a twitter account and hope to expand my exposure there as well.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?

I have started another book on the experience of moving to Mexico.  The working title is “Learning to Love the Peso”. The move is taking place as I write this.  I just returned from my last load of furniture.  I move down June 8 and my wife will arrive around June 19.  I dropped all work on the book when I edited Radar.  Marketing one book while working on another can be a real challenge. It takes a person who is very dedicated to write at certain times every day and promote at other times.  In other words the writer has to be dedicated to a writing window and move on to a marketing window in order to complete both.

  

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

The biggest advice I can pass on is to not be in a hurry.  The book has to be edited to the 10th degree.  If not you will end up redoing the book later.  Do not be in a rush to push the send button.  Get a friend or person who edits and take your time getting everything right before taking the plunge.

What’s next for you?

My next is having Radar written into a screenplay.  I was interviewed and the person doing the interview fell in love with the stories and wants to write a screenplay.  She knows producers and it just might make it to the world of film.  We are also moving to San Felipe in Baja California in June.  I started writing about the move last year and I hope to make the book a need to know before anyone else tries to do such a move.  There have been other books in the past that have done such a story but the mechanics of such a move change all the time and those books are outdated.  This book will also be full of humorous adventures because humor is what I find in many of the situations I have been in.  Moving to Mexico is no exception.

Maureen Miller, 1 Year Later

How have things changed for you in the past year?

I have two more wrinkles and perhaps two more pounds around the waistline. I have also had the tremendous opportunity to be published through Carina Press, which has not only given me the opportunity to showcase my writing in front of a broader audience, but also introduced me to so many new friends and peers in the industry.

What kind of marketing did you do to get your book in front of readers?

I have been an active participant on Kindle Boards for several years, a site that hosts dedicated readers and authors that are all so very supportive.  I am active on blogs and I have a decal on the side of my car that says, “Read my book and I’ll wash your car.”

Do you have an agent now?  

No. Not at this time.

Do you have a publishing contract for your current book?  

Yes, I am published with Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital press.

Did they contact you directly or through an agent?

I received the call from none other than Angela James herself, the executive editor for Carina Press.

Is it for more than 1 book?

No, currently it is just for Endless Night, however I am busy at work on a follow up.

Have you written your next book?

Yes, I have completed the first draft and am fiercely editing as we speak.

Will you still self-publish?  

 There are times when your inner-author decides to write a genre or a subject that publishers might feel is not marketable, so I always see self-publishing as being an option.

How are your self- published titles doing?

Very well. I understand that they may not be as polished as my published book so I compensate by offering them at .99 cents each. Two of my self-published novels have been in the top 100 Kindle romantic suspense books for several months.

Any advice for newbie authors?

Don’t write for the money. Don’t write material you think people will like. Write from the heart. Even if you are writing a story about a woman, a whale and a grasshopper…it needs to entertain you before it could ever entertain others.

AUTHOR BIO

As a programmer, I felt that the natural next step in my career was to write romance. Seriously, the romance writer was always there inside me, programming just paid the bills.  We all have that little muse hiding inside us that wants to come out and dazzle the world with some form of artistry.  My inner muse finally came out and produced a Golden Heart nominee in Romantic Suspense.  Since that, I never looked back and kept on writing.  

CONTACT INFORMATION

Website: www.maureenamiller.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MaureenMillerBooks

Blog: http://maureenamiller.blogspot.com/