J.R. Hauptman has been a professional pilot for nearly a half century.  Barely twenty years old, he began as a military pilot and for almost two years he flew combat support missions in the Viet Nam War.  Upon leaving military service he was hired by a major airline and was initially based on the West Coast.  His flying career was interrupted by the turmoil that racked the airline industry during the early days of deregulation.  In the interim, he worked as a travel agent, a stockbroker and even trained dogs and horses.  In the late nineteen-eighties, he returned to aviation, flying jet charters and air freight.  He concluded his career flying corporate jets and now lives in Florida.  He is completing his second work, a non-fictional social commentary and surfs every day, waves or not.  His marketing website is:     www.caddispublishing.com/

Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, J.R.  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

A:  The Target; Love, Death and Airline Deregulation is my first book and the first time I have been published in a major work.

Q: What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

A:   The Target is my very first book and it took nearly twenty years to complete, mainly due to the fact that I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.  My life experiences over those twenty years provided more than ample material to complete what I believe is a very good story.

Q: For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

A:  When I completed the first few chapters back then, I sent out about thirty query letters to the major publishers and agents.  I received the customary twenty rejections, the most interesting being from two agents who were quite indignant that I would write about a disgruntled pilot who sets out to whack his boss.  Hadn’t they heard of murder mysteries?   By the time I finished the story, self-publishing was in full bloom and it seemed to be the best avenue for a first-time and unpublished author.

Q: How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

A:   My disappointment was tempered by the fact that even then; I realized that rejection is part of the game.  I had spent nearly six years in sales between airline jobs and you have to mentally buy into the concept that every rejection you receive brings you closer to the ultimate acceptance.

Q: When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

A:  I chose Xlibras to self-publish The Target and ironically, this came after I was rejected by another self-publishing company that had tentatively given their acceptance nearly two years past.  Despite the fact that I wrote The Target as a novel and that all characters and situations were fictitious, they turned me down at the last minute, claiming they feared possible legal liability.  Fortunately, Xlibras exhibited more literary fortitude and agreed to publish my book, stating unofficially that the notoriety might do us good.

Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

A: As an author, I could not be too self-congratulatory for self-publishing, but I felt fortunate that I had found an avenue to bring my story to market.  I celebrated by investing my own money into promoting The Target. I also engaged the marketing services of Caddis Publishing, LLC of Colorado Springs.

Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

A:  Through Caddis Publishing, we conducted test marketing to all of our personal and  professional contacts among active and retired airline employees, military pilots and aviation professionals to ensure the story would resonate among the readers who actually lived through the tale.  The feedback was very positive and reassured me that I had written a great story.

Q: If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

A:  Absolutely!  I would have gladly sold the story to Hollywood for say, a couple of million bucks and sat back and dedicated myself to managing my royalties.  But, then I wouldn’t have gained the priceless experience necessary to become a professionally successful and respected author.  Compared to those goals, money pales in importance.

Q: Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

A:   At the present, all of my writing is dedicated to making The Target; Love, Death and Airline Deregulation a successful novel.   Marketing skills are of the utmost importance to a self-published author and this book resonates directly with the current events of today where not only deregulation of the airlines but similar deregulation of the banking and securities industries has brought our country to the brink of economic disaster.   There are at least five more stories, mostly non-fiction that are mentally fleshed out and awaiting the keyboard.

Q: Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

A:   I walked around for nearly five years with the complete story in my head fooling myself into thinking I could get done “someday.”   It wasn’t until I found my personal literary mode of discipline that makes me work myself into an absolute state of writing “fury” that allows me to be creatively attaining my goals.

Q: What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

A:  It has been most gratifying for me that my fellow airline professionals: pilots, flight attendants and ground employees, tell me that I have told the story of a very important part of their lives.

Q: If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

A:   I was a professional military officer and served in combat; I was a professional airline pilot in the golden years of that industry; I survived as a professional in the financial industry for nearly six years; in fact, I have endeavored to work as a professional in every challenge I have faced.  My goal is to become a successful literary professional in my remaining time on earth and make a positive impact on our culture.

Q: Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

A:  Among my surfing friends in Florida, as well as my Olde Tymers hockey crew in Colorado; we joke about being “professional surfers” and the same for hockey.  My resume tells me I can do it all

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

A:  My goal is to be doing it all as I approach the age of eighty.  Doc Ball and Woodie Brown were still surfing as they approached ninety and Gordie Howe still plays hockey with the old timers in Florida at eighty!  It all depends on how many days of good physical and mental health we are granted here on this earth and we are given those, only one day at a time.  Accordingly we can only hope we have at least one tomorrow, to write and to share with those we love.

Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

A:   I have been blessed to live a full and experientially rewarding life and to write a big story about it.  To those who have not lived that Big Story to this point, start with the small stories of life that come to you, starting with today!

Carolyn Wada is the oldest of seven children raised by two wonderful, supportive parents. She has a deep interest in children’s issues. In particular, she is interested in supporting organizations that help child survivors of abuse.

Royalties from For Cory’s Sake will be donated to organizations that provide services to abused, neglected or exploited children.

More information about Carolyn’s book can be found via www.outskirtspress.com/ForCorysSake.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Carolyn. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

For Cory’s Sake is my first published work.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

For Cory’s Sake is also my first completed novel.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I queried two agents and was rejected by both.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

I don’t have any anger, despair, bewilderment or otherwise interesting emotions to report. I would describe my reaction as a shrug and a philosophical “oh well.” I did realize early that it might be a long slog to the agented path, and then suddenly I was distracted by a little sign-post (actually, internet ad banner) pointing to an intriguing alternate road.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

I published For Cory’s Sake through Outskirts Press, a print-on-demand publishing company. I chose them because they have a pretty website. Just kidding; I chose them because they said that it should not be more arduous to publish my book than it was to create my novel. I agreed with that sentiment. I also liked the amount of control (total) I would have over my book product.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

You should’ve seen me waiting on my couch for the UPS guy and my first author copies. It was like a kid waiting for Santa Claus. You should’ve seen me staring at my first royalty check. It was only a fraction of what I made in any of my wage or salary jobs, but it felt like a bigger accomplishment. I had created something; I was a mini-entrepreneur; I had taken deliberate and (back-pat) pretty brave action. It was good.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I had an online book launch, and it was a bit of a thuddy-dud. Not much happened, including book sales. Can I talk about the best thing I’ve done? Thanks. I believe that would be getting reviews of my book from real readers. I was very impressed by how thoughtful and honest most of them were, and I like being able to quote what others have said about my book. It seems to be an important process, though it can get expensive.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

If an agent were to come a-knockin’ we would definitely talk, but I’m happy with the way I did it. It got done, which is a big point.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

For Cory’s Sake was published in February 2009, and for now I am focusing on promoting my one book, giving it at least a year to see what I can do with it. Do-it-yourself book promotion is part and parcel of being an author, and I’ve grown most through the process of figuring out this aspect. I’ve learned how to set up a website, blog, tweet and find experts—all things I would probably never have tried or needed had I not published.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I hurried along pretty quickly, once I decided in earnest to publish. I don’t feel that I lost any time.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

I was a Finalist in the Science Fiction category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I’m waiting on other contests and will hopefully have more to report in the future.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I’m drawing a blank. I do currently have a retail career, which I fell into quite accidentally. Becoming an author was my first instance of deliberately choosing a profession.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

Give up being an author for retail? I’ll have to think about that . . . I’d have to say I would not give up being an author for any profession that comes to mind. I do have the best of both worlds, though. Retail pays my bills and keeps me grounded on this planet, and writing gives me immense satisfaction and an escape from excessive reality.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I’d have three books, a family I hope, more cats maybe and I’d be more deeply educated and involved in the social issues I care about. Looks pretty good.

Sheryl A. Keen has a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in English Literature from the University of the West Indies. She lives in Canada where she works in Administration.

In addition to prose, Sheryl also writes poetry. When she is not writing, one of her other loves is painting.

You can visit Sheryl A. Keen’s website at www.sherylkeen.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Sheryl. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

This is my first published novel but I have published some of my poems before this.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

It’s called “Our Fathers Hand” and it’s not published. I think that it is a good story about fathers and the role they play in our lives. Sometimes they are positive influences and sometimes they are negative. It’s also a personal story and I felt like I needed to take a step back from it, leave it for a while and come back to it with a more objective mind frame. I especially felt this way after I gave the manuscript to a friend to read and her comment was that the first chapter was very self- involved.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I don’t recall how many rejection letters I received but it’s not just a question of rejection. It’s also the length of time that prospective agents take to get back to you. A week ago I received a letter from an agent about my book. I was confused because I didn’t recall sending out any query letters in the recent past. When I checked into it, I found out that I had queried this agent two years ago. I do understand that agents are busy and get hundreds of queries each day. At some point an author has to make bold decisions when she believes in her work. I chose to self publish.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

Rejection is never a good feeling but it’s a small event in your life. It is not your life. I use rejection and any kind of failure as fuel to go on. If you are a boxer in a ring and you get knocked down, you don’t stay down. You think about your strength and the prize and you get back up and fight. Usually the round will end and you will get a chance to go to your corner regroup and come back strong. I believe my work is good and that keeps me going.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

“Journal According to John” was published in November 2008. I chose Iuniverse to publish it because I did a lot of research on self publishing companies and they seemed like the best choice at the time.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

It is the most euphoric feeling ever to see your work in print and to hold the book for the first time. I was in fact holding hours upon hours of work in the palm of my hand. There was no huge celebration; I just had a drink with my best friend.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I got on to the major social networking sites to network and did an interview with John Weaver from PageOneLit.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

No. The decision provided me with many learning experiences that I would never get if I went another route. I am using those experiences today to guide me on my next project.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I have not published since then but I plan to do so very soon. I have grown as an author because I write almost every day which really hone my skills. I also try to read and implement advice from reputable magazines and books.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I think that I could have sent out my query letters sooner and not waited until the manuscript was actually finished. This would have cut out some of the time spent waiting for agents to respond.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I hear from readers who say that they enjoyed my work and that they can relate to the story. Ultimately, it’s all about the readers who we write for.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I wouldn’t want to choose another profession. There is nothing better than the act of creating something that other humans can connect with. If I was forced to choose, I would do law. I wouldn’t necessarily do cases in court. I would probably lecture, research and write papers.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I am confident that I could do both if I chose to do law.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself as a successful author in a financial sense but more importantly, having a great body of work.

Sylvia Weber is the author of the fantasy magic mystery novel, The Wolves’ Keeper Legend (Vanguard Press, March 2009).  We interviewed her to find out more about her latest release and her life as a published author.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Sylvia. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I was published for the first time this year.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

My first book is this one, The Wolves’ Keeper Legend. I have some others that I wrote later, yet unfinished.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I had many rejections. How many, I don’t know. I sent the book everywhere, in terms of mainstream publishers, independently of the publishing tendencies of the companies, because I had the hope that someone who read it could get interested in it and see in it a good business. I absolutely believe in the quality of this book, specially after having received such good critics from unknown people as I did. I didn’t self publish it, but I would if there was no other possibility. I didn’t send it to a vanity press, because the purpose of this publication was never vanity. Those who fight for survival, like me, day in day out, have no reasons for vanity. As to payment, as a first-writer, I had to contribute a little to the payment of this publishing – not in full, though – to minimise the risks to the publishing company. I asked for a loan and it was quite difficult to get.

I must say, to make this clear, that the fact that awoke again my determination to publish was being told several times “We can’t employ you as a teacher, because we can’t be sure that you know enough English to teach!” or “As a foreigner, you couldn’t write a whole essay in English!” I had to prove that I know English, unfortunately, and this was the best way I found.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

Some rejections made me laugh, some made me cry. I was astonished, when I read rejections with arguments that would put aside great names of the Universal Literature. My husband helped me to raise my head and go on trying; in fact, he tried in my behalf. He kept doing the agent’s job, improving the presentation letters, choosing the chapters, composing the resumes and sending, sending, sending… He kept an agenda of the publishers, of the rejections and of the maybes.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

My book was first published in 23 March 2009. It was published by Vanguard Press, a department of Pegasus Elliot McKenzie Publishers. I didn’t choose them; they chose me and I was very happy with their approval. It was the third positive answer I had, I think, but their insistence in the quality of the Work and their conditions were very positive.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I felt as if I had won the marathon. I read the letter a thousand times and couldn’t believe that it was real. I put this letter in the wall, like a picture. I celebrated with my family, my husband and my three children, at home. In the next day, I went to work as usual and I didn’t tell anyone.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I sent books to several schools in my area. I also told my mom to promote it in Portugal. The result is that there are interested readers in Portugal, anxious to read it, but they can’t do it in English. So, I must translate it.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

No, I wouldn’t. I guess, as I’m not a first-writer any more, there may be a possibility of my book being accepted in Portugal, but that’s the only “if” I have to answer to.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I haven’t had other publications, except for my Blog, Rock the Cage. But I am growing and improving day after day, post after post.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

It didn’t depend on me at all. I don’t think I could have done anything else but what I did. I was in Portugal, where the conditions to publish are completely different. If I had stayed there, I guess I never would have published. Well, I could have decided to immigrate earlier, study outside, and it would have been good for me. ..

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

Nothing much has changed in my life, since then. I think at this moment is much more a psychological change.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

In the past, I applied to the UN. It would be very fulfilling to work in International Affairs, helping African countries to achieve economical independency. Or, perhaps, something related to Culture.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I most certainly would combine the both. I like to work, particularly in a job that keeps me in touch with other people and with other stories. I’m learning every day.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

It is so difficult to foresee the future… I think I will be the same simple woman I always was, but perhaps I will have a better life, without economical constraints. Perhaps I will be able to help more people. I see myself writing – it seems that I can’t live without it any more.

Stephen Ross Meier was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the first of many places he would live worldwide. He received his Bachelors in English from Arizona State University. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Inspired by music, films, books, and the world around him, he is currently working on several projects, with his next book, Teaching Pandas to Swim, ready to be released soon. A huge fan of such writers as Charles Bukowski, Milan Kundera, Irving Welsch, Irving Stone, Chuck Palahniuk, and Brett Easton Ellis, Stephen has always been drawn to writing and story telling.

Having been diagnosed with Heart Disease on May 10th, 2006, Stephen has been reminded that life void of passion is really not a life at all.

For more information please visit http://www.stephenrossmeier.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Stephen. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

For the first time, wish I was multi-published!

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Teaching Pandas to Swim. Wasn’t published because…well, let’s say I was probably too young, arrogant, and didn’t understand the business. Plus, the constant rewrites my agent had me to drove me to the nut house! Wasn’t ready…but I want to thank Peter Cox for giving me a shot.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I was rejected by over 80 agents in the US and London. And then once signed, worked with him for a year, and it never got published. It’s my favorite story, as it was my first, and the one story that my brother says makes him and his friends laugh out loud!

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

At the time, I expected them and knew it would be a tough road. They make you stronger because you have to remember that the best things in life don’t come without struggle. But at the same time, some of the rejection letters were a bit intense!!!

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

I went with Booksurge, a self publishing outfit, and did so because my main goal was to get it made into a movie. So I saw it as a way to pitch the story, by being able to hand them out, and even more important, have them reviewed. That way it wasn’t just me saying how great it was! I’ve gotten some great reviews!

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

It was an amazing feeling! I remember seeing my book available for the first time on Amazon, and just sitting there, like I was in a dream! I celebrated by telling everyone, then taking a long hike to take it all in.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I announced it on Facebook and MySpace, plus at my local Starbucks, where I gave out postcards of my book. Oh, and I also went to Sundance Film Festival and handed out free books, postcards, and bookmarks to anyone and everyone!

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

Ummm, no, it’s been a great learning process. Not just in business, but about myself as well!

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

No, it’s only been about five months, but I’ve grown quite a bit, by being able to really sit and talk with other authors, about plot and character development, style, etc. Plus, just on the marketing level…I’ve learned so much! Plus, I’ve really begun to believe in myself more as a writer, and someone whom people love to read.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

Well the first thing would be, to really understand the business and check my ego at the door. When i was first signed to a literary agency a long time ago, I was lacking in both of those things. I think another thing to really understand is how writing is the easy part…marketing is the tough part! It takes a lot of time and dedication.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

Having a production company want to make it as a movie and working with a Producer and Director to make that happen (in the works right now)! Life is very exciting right now!

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

There wouldn’t be, but if I had to…a professional soccer player in Europe. I mean look at the cities you get to play in! Either the Spanish or English Premier League.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

Never. Right now I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully having several books under my belt, and having my own small production company where i could work with my brother and friends to develop great indy films, and books!

Thank you so much for having me!

I’ve got a book review by moi and a book giveaway by author Dorothea Hover-Kramer up today at As the Pages Turn! Here are the details:

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

We’re offering a book giveaway! If you would like to win a copy of Dorothea Hover-Kramer’s A Second Chance to Your Dreams, here are the details:

Dorothea says, “No one should wait until a terminal diagnosis to start living more fully. Make a list now of the things you want to do, the people you want to see, the actions you can contribute to make the world around you better.”

Give us ONE thing on your own list of things you want to do, people you want to see, the actions you want to contribute to make the world around you better and leave it in the comment section. Be sure to include your email address or your entry will be void. Contests ends on August 1, 2009 and the winner will be hand selected by Dorothea herself. Your entry should not run over one or two sentences, so please be brief. Good luck!

Hop over and tell us what’s on your list and you could win a free copy! You are welcome to comment but leave your “one thing” at As the Pages Turn, please, so you will get an entry into the contest! Have fun and good luck!

Journalist Lisa Sweetingham spent four years following in the footsteps of DEA agents and Ecstasy traffickers to bring Chemical Cowboys to life. Previously, she covered high-profile murder trials and Supreme Court nomination hearings for Court TV online.

Sweetingham is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Parade, Spin, Time Out New York, Health Affairs, and many other publications. She resides in Los Angeles.

Chemical Cowboys is her first book.

_________________________

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Lisa!  What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Chemical Cowboys: The DEA’s Secret Mission to Hunt Down a Notorious Ecstasy Kingpin is my first book.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I know that the submission process can be agonizing, but I’ve been extremely fortunate to have a very talented agent, David Halpern, of the Robbins Office, who is almost scientific about these things. From what I recall, Halpern only submitted the proposal to a small group of editors that he knew would get the material and also see beyond the true crime–genre label to the larger story Chemical Cowboys hoped to tell. I don’t recall how many passes we received at first. But how it worked was that if we were getting the same feedback from editors—and if we agreed with that feedback—then I would go back and revise the proposal before we submitted again. So, maybe, a half-dozen or so No’s was all we needed to get to a Yes.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

It’s certainly disappointing, but I prefer to gather information rather than dwell on rejection. If there’s something I can learn about why it’s a pass that only helps me to revise the material—to make it cleaner and more compelling. Sometimes, of course, there is no good reason. It’s just not the right fit and that’s all there is to it.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

The deal for Chemical Cowboys was with Random House, and it was published under the Ballantine imprint. It was the passion and interest of Random House executive editor Will Murphy that made it a perfect fit. He understood the material and was as excited about the subject matter as we were.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

When I wrote the proposal for Chemical Cowboys, I was a senior staff writer for CourtTV.com, and had been traveling around the country covering murder trials and high-profile court cases. I loved that job, but I’d always wanted to write books. When my agent called to tell me that Random House made an offer, I was at the airport in Houston, on my way home to Los Angeles, and had just interviewed a man on death row who’d exhausted all his appeals and was soon to be executed. I’ll never forget him—Willie Shannon. Gentle, soft-spoken, and resolute. I liked him. And I recall thinking on the plane home: His life is coming to an end, and my life is about to open up. I was excited about the book, but it seemed incorrect to celebrate at the time.

What was the first thing you did as far as promotion when you were published for the first time?

It was a strange transition, because for several years I was reporting, writing, and editing. And then, when all of that was finally done, I had to take off my journalist hat and put on a saleswoman hat. I really resisted it at first. But it must be done. Basically, I got in touch with everyone I knew who worked in TV, print, radio, and Internet and asked for their help to publicize the book. My publicists at Ballantine also sent review copies far and wide. I threw a book party in New York, and set up readings in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Hollywood.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

Not at all.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

Now that Chemical Cowboys is out, I’ve been devoting more time to freelance writing and reporting assignments and I have a couple of new book ideas I’m developing. It’s hard to say yet how I have grown as an author, but I think I’d like the next book to be simpler. Chemical Cowboys was a tremendous undertaking: nearly four years of reporting and traveling around the world following in the footsteps of drug traffickers and DEA agents. It also was a challenging structural puzzle, as I had to weave the stories of about a half-dozen main subjects into the narrative. Plus, I wanted readers to really see and feel what the agents, dealers, mules, and other main players saw and felt, which meant spending years digging for details and convincing people to share their very personal stories with me. I hope some of that came through. I also hope to tell a smaller story for the next book.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

Again, my successes in this realm are largely owed to my agent, David Halpern, who has consistently steered me away from potential pitfalls and mistakes. But, when it comes to speeding things up? I don’t know if that’s the wise way to go about getting published. For non-fiction works, the reporting has to be solid and the writing has to be clear. To achieve that takes a lot of editing, rewriting, and time.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

Having a life again! When I was in the final writing stages, I spent several months working until 3 a.m., avoiding friends, family, holiday events, and sunshine. People would call to ask if I needed hot meals or a walk. I was obsessed!

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I’m infinitely interested in human and animal behavior, in fact my undergrad work was in psychology. As a teenager, I once considered becoming a primatologist, but today? If I absolutely couldn’t be a journalist, perhaps I’d be a criminologist. A friend who was baffled by my subject interests once said to me, “You are in a conversation with evil.” Maybe so, but I think that what I’m really interested in is understanding is what motivates “evil” behavior and how to mitigate it.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I suppose I’ve combined the best of both.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Professionally, I hope to be writing about the same sort of non-fiction subjects—crime, drugs, mafia, police work, international investigations—while also expanding a bit into sports journalism. I’d like to learn how to deliver those stories through documentaries, feature, and TV.

Ronald J. Frederick, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and life coach, with over 15 years of experience helping people get the life they really want.

A long-time proponent of the transforming power of emotion, he co-founded the Center for Courageous Living, which offers innovative therapy, coaching and consulting. Noted for his warmth, humor, and engaging presentation style, he lectures and facilitates workshops nationally.

Frederick is a senior faculty member of the Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Institute, as well as the Clinical Supervisor of Park House, an outpatient program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Dr. Ron Frederick!  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I had written journal articles and book chapters before, but this is my first time being published in book form.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Living Like You Mean It: Use the Wisdom and Power of Your Emotions to Get the Life You Really Want is the title of my first book.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

A lot!  Over the course of two years, I did about three rounds of submissions to literary agents.  After the first round of rejections, I went back to the drawing board and worked on my proposal (which included the first three chapters of the book) with a writing coach for about a year and then tried again.   After the second round of rejections, I decided to hire both an editorial consultant and a marketing consultant, both of whom were recommended to me by colleagues and turned out to be extremely helpful.  I then did my third round of submissions and, fortunately, two agents responded who wanted to work with me.  Interestingly, both of them remarked that my proposal was far better than most things that come across their desk.  I guess all the work paid off!  Shortly after that, the agent I decided to go with began pitching my book to the different publishing houses and within a few weeks we had offers from two.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

Oh brother, the rejections were tough to take!  Most of them came in the form of highly impersonal form letters.  I’d get a few in a row and that felt demoralizing.  But, one agent, Betsy Amster, who I am indebted to, was very kind and helpful.  She took the time to give me constructive feedback which helped me see what I needed to do to move forward.  While each round of rejections was a blow, they also motivated me to work harder, to reach out to others for help, and to find a way to crack the code!   I will say that thought that, by the time I got to my last round of submissions, I had doubts about continuing.  I figured that I had given about 2.5 years of my life to this project and, if it didn’t fly this time, maybe the universe was telling me it was time to put my focus somewhere else.  Fortunately, it finally took flight.

Funny story: one of the rejection letters came in the same day I got an offer from a publishing house.  I thought that was perfect timing!

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

I chose to go with Jossey-Bass which is a division of Wiley.  It was an easy choice because they have a great reputation and had made a solid offer.  Also, I was very impressed with the acquisitions editor who ended up also working with me on my book.  She really “got” what I was writing about and approached the whole process, from my first interview with her to the offer letter to working with her, with such integrity.  It just felt right in my gut and it was.  I couldn’t have been more pleased.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

To tell you the truth, it’s been kind of surreal.  The whole process—from inception, to publication—has taken me about four years so it’s almost a little too big to take in all at once.  Celebrating it in bits and pieces seems more manageable to me.  These days, it’s a little bit of a celebration every time I get positive feedback from a reader and I try to savor it each time.

What was the first thing you did as far as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I started working with a marketing coach a few months before my book came out and organized an internet campaign to coincide with the release of my book.  It was a lot of work but worth it.  It really helped to get the ball rolling.  You can check it out at: http://www.livinglikeyoumeanit.com/interviewseries/index.html.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

No, as a psychologist, it was very important to me to be published by a respectable publisher.  It’s gone a long way in establishing my credibility as an expert in my field.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

This is my first book and I can’t even think about another at this point.  There’s just so much to do to promote this one!

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I didn’t start working with a writing coach until after my first round of rejections from literary agents.  If I had to do it all over again I would have sought her assistance from the get go.  I’m sure that would have speeded things up.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

I’d say becoming published is a pretty big accomplishment in and of itself, wouldn’t you?  We’ll see what comes next…

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I’m not a writer by trade.  I’m a psychologist who’s authored a book.  If I could choose another profession and be successful at it, I’d be a talk show host!

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I think I have the best of several worlds.  I’m a therapist, author, speaker, and trainer.  I really love getting to do a number of different things.  It helps to more fully satisfy different aspects of myself (my creativity, compassion, need to reach others, and a little bit of the performer, etc.).

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hard to say.  Ten years ago I don’t think I imagined that I would have written a book.  So, I guess ten years from now I’ll probably be doing some variation on what I’m doing right now but I’m open to being suprirsed.  We’ll see…

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

Getting a book published has so much to do with being tenacious.  For me, it was four years from start to finish, with many roadblocks along the way.  I’m so glad that I persevered despite all the rejection, all the hurdles, all the down times, and that I reached out to others for help and that I stuck with it as long as I did.  I can hardly believe it sometimes when I’m holding the book in my hands that it’s actually come to fruition.  It’s been quite a ride.  So, my advice is: hang in there and keep at it!

And, to learn more about me and Living Like You Mean It, please visit:   http://www.livinglikeyoumeanit.com/index.html

Jeffrey Allen studied art at Bloomsburg University for two years before attending Boston University where he majored in history and minored in set design and fine arts. A one year hiatus, in the form a hitchhiking trip, served only to heighten his restless and inquisitive nature. Allen attributes those early journeys to laying the foundations for his views about politics and religion and the relationship they share with historical perspective.

Later, he traveled through Europe and Mexico where his compulsive curiosity with historical myth and legend intensified, especially for the interpretations that obscure the truths underlying foreign and American cultures. Allen was fascinated by the way events are twisted and misconstrued within historical writings because of religious beliefs or political power brokering. Those years of learning, searching, and questioning have contributed greatly to the philosophical depth of his writing. Allen continues to this day to study, research, and philosophize about the positive and negative effects on our culture due to an over abundance of historical and religious misconceptions.

Jeffrey Allen graduated from Millersville State University in architectural design and taught for two years while also working toward his Masters degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. After a brief teaching career, he created his own architectural woodworking firm in 1980.

By 1982, Allen was owner and president of Artistic Furnishings Incorporated, a design house and manufacturer of custom architectural millwork. The company employed designers, artisans and support staff. His work can be seen throughout eastern Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey in private residences and businesses. Today, Allen resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he still works in the field of interior space planning, although most of his time is devoted to writing.

For more information about this author and his work visit: http://www.jeffreyballen.com/.

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Welcome to Beyond the Books, Jeffrey.  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

GoneAway Into the Land is my first Novel.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was
published or not and, if not published, why?

GoneAway Into the Land was my first published novel. It was published
by a traditional publisher.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through
before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or
paid a vanity press to publish it?

As I said, GoneAway Into the Land was published by a traditional
publisher. Prior to it being picked up by Sage Publishing I was
rejected by publishers and agents at least one hundred times.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

I expected the rejections. What I didn’t like were the form letters
or cards I received indicating that the person or persons in charge of
reviewing manuscripts or even reading query letters never read a word
before sending out the rejection notice.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you
choose them?

There were two who agreed to publish GoneAway. Sage Publishing was
the most responsive and they offered a higher commission and seemed a
bit more first-author friendly.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and
how did you celebrate?

I felt elated. I couldn’t believe I had actually done it. It took
three and a half years to write GoneAway. And that is no less than 4
to 6 hours a day. My wife and I celebrated by….kidding. We jumped up
and down for I don’t know how long. She is my greatest supporter.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were
published for the first time?

I read a few books on how to promote your book. They helped a little.
What really helped was joining the social sites like FaceBook and
Authors Den, and putting my book on every site that came along that
had anything to do with selling or promoting books.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to
be published?

No – I have no regrets. Although I have recently been picked up by a
larger publisher, Sage did a very good job for the small independent
press that they are.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I am working on the sequel to GoneAway and I will have another novel
out in the spring of 2010 called Beneath the Quarry Waters. I am much
wiser about the use of my time.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get
published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed
things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

My first book would have been no more than one hundred thousand words.
Many publishers will not even consider a new author with a manuscript
larger than one hundred thousand words. It is sad but true.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since
becoming published?

Being accepted by a larger publisher who will put me into hardback and
promote my book with me. I know I have to work just as hard at
promoting, but at least this time I have a team of people behind me
who will also be promoting the novel and advising me along the way.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Writing is my second profession, so I am still trying to make it my
next full time profession. I will get there soon – I can feel it.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you
combined the best of both worlds?

I have no desire to give up writing.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I hope I will still be able to write. The thing I fear most is losing
my imagination.

My father suffered from dementia. It is a horrible thing to see your
father lose his mental faculties. I am still young, but not too young
that I cannot feel the pull of my own mortality.

Thank you for the opportunity to interview with you.

As most of us were popping pimples pimples and starting puberty, the versatile Jean Koning (or perhaps better known as his musical alter-ego ‘!JP’) was launching project after project to avant garde aficionados.

At the age we were struggling to get our drivers license he was a resident at clubs. While the rest of us were chasing girls, laboring to get through school, or trying to sneak into clubs Jean was already inside of them, busy becoming one of the most original artists in the world. Seems impressive, but I guess when you’re studying masters of the trade like Andy Warhol and Arthur Rimbaud while the rest of the kids are studying math and science those kind of things aren’t too big of a deal.

From these not so humble beginnings Jean has carved himself a spot in the world of Underground Music that stretches from the Dutch Landscpaes to South East Asia. He has taken steps into music, spoken word, photography, poetry, theatre and film, working with a wide variety of amazing artists while showing off his own formidable talents as well.

With the help of his personal side-kick, the multi-instrumentalist Van Weely, he created almost legendary performances; his own conceptual punk-n-roll shows. Jean has made a name for himself that should be on the lips of art lovers the world over.

Now he is a published author as well. His latest novel was published in 2008 (in Dutch only). His novel “Visions”, which contains stories and columns written in 2006, is now reissued.

He is married and has a daughter.

For more information about this author and his work visit: http://www.1jp.org/.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Jean. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

This is not my first publication. It is my first English publication however.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

My very first book was entitled “Stuyvesant Unlimited”. It was never published – which is truly a shame. It dealt about the period when I went to New York for the very first time and I had the naïve idea that I – as a classy European child star – could change the look of the city forever. Like Peter Stuyvesant did long, long ago. It was a naïve book, I admit it. But I was so proud of it. It was rejected on many grounds. Experimental writing. Pornographic content. Openly admitting drug abuse. Advertising for alcoholism, you name it. They just saw a lousy written book, not a diary of an adventurer.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

My first published book was a collection of poems, which I didn’t even want to publish, but my agent saw an opportunity. An open window. And tricked me into doing that one. But the second one, I had to face I think about twenty rejections before it came out eventually.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

I was crushed by the first five rejections. Then I got used to them, in a way. I don’t think you ever get used to that feeling, but you tend to develop certain numbness about the whole deal. I suffered so many rejections over the years. As an actor while auditioning was the lowest blow. I just stood there on the stage, and they turned me down. I had not spoken one word. It was humiliating. It’s a shame that publishers take so long to write a three-lined rejection note. Worst one was three months until I received the rejection. It took him that long to read a hundred pages, and then have his secretary write something like: “You know… NO!” The worst rejection however I ever suffered was when people told me to get myself more sex and more cocaine and then start writing again. They wanted to turn me into an addicted author or something. At least they could sell that! Every single rejection I celebrate with a glass of vodka, straight from the fridge.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

That first one was published by Athenaeum Poems. I didn’t choose them, they chose me. And it was the worst trip through publish-land ever.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I was exhilarated, I admit that one. But the choice of the work wasn’t mine, so I felt like I was a visitor in my own life. I was also very young then, perhaps they maneuvered me into this scene. I never enjoyed the semi-intelligent scene of the authors. I celebrated with champagne. But it left a bad taste in my mouth and it took me about twelve years to come up with something written for publication. And then I got rejected. And rejected. And so on.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

Nothing I made up myself. They came up with the route to travel. They arranged the interviews and the reading-out-loud-sections and the photo shoots. I even was obliged to attend parties so people could see me and talk to me. As if I am that interesting! (LOL)

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

Yes. And I think, if I had to do it all over again, I never would have been published in the first place.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I have been published since then and now I am in the position that I can keep everything in control. Every detail, every name, every story. I am in charge. And I publish whatever I feel like publishing. And if I don’t want to publish the next couple of decades, that’s all well too. As an author I more and more gain possession of a unique voice. And that’s the most important growth of an author.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I don’t know how to speed things up. I think in Holland the system is still very ancient. But a change is coming. You can feel that. But I do know that I will never ever pretend to be an untouchable figure in the hierarchy. I am as weak as the next one and when you sell three copies less than the estimated amount of books, you’re fired. It’s a harsh world. A difficult world. Because everybody has a story. And sometimes their stories are even more dramatic or funnier than your story and who gets published then?

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

My latest novel. It’s published in Dutch only, but I want it translated. So that’s just a matter of time. But it is a story that was suggested to me by my psychiatrist. At least the way it was written. During my breakdown I had a lot of free time, because I couldn’t act. So I decided to tell the tragic story about my sister – which caused my breakdown – and how she tragically lost her husband. Sort of. Because it is also a relieve about how you discover you’re in the middle of a nervous breakdown and you don’t even know it.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I want to be a housewife.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

Ever since I started my career when I was six years old I have combined every single world I wanted to live in. I am the actor, the published author, the singer-songwriter, the loving husband and father, the former model, the professional party-goer. I think it’s unnatural for me to separate stuff. I need to combine everything, that’s my fuel.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Me, running the streets of where-ever, trying to escape the botox-injection…