Garasamo Maccagnone is the author of, The Suburban Dragon, St. John of the Midfield, and The Affliction of Dreams. His latest novella, For the Love of St. Nick is a Christmas tale that features four illustrations by acclaimed artist, Al Ochsner. Born in the wake of the Korean War, Maccagnone lives today in Shelby Township, Michigan with his wife Vicki and their three children. You can visit Garasamo online at www.garasamomaccagnone.com.

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

A: I’ve been published four times now, with one book being self-published and  picked up by another publisher for a 2^nd run. 

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

A: Sentiments of Blue. I actually lost this manuscript in a basement flood thirty years ago or so. I was incapable of reciting it and too lazy to try again. I left it alone, though, when I featured it in my writing class at WMU, it was well received. 

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: Counting my rejection slips is like trying to add up the national debt. It’s too hard to compute – too hard to wrap your brain around. 

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

A: For a long period of time, I stopped writing. With raising the kids and trying to make a living, it became too difficult to find the time. In the new century, as opportunities opened up in the publishing business, my interest was sparked and I began knocking out a lot of stories. 

The rejections are hard to take, especially if the work is well received critically.  Being competitive, I was resolute in completing the works no matter what the outcome. I always said to myself, I’m finishing this stuff even if my mother won’t buy it! 

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

A: A guy I met in the publishing business decided to give my first work a chance. He was a local guy who had a press of his own. For all his limitations, I thought he did a pretty good job with the product. 

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

A: Truly, I felt good after, and only after, a non-family member or friend purchased my work. When someone likes your work without any strings attached, that’s a good feeling. That’s what it’s all about. 

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

A: With my children’s book, I was invited to many of the schools in Michigan to read the book to the Kindergarten or 1^st Grade class.  Since the book was about a Suburban Dragon, the illustrator, Al Ochsner, and I would perform a skit for the kids where Al was clad in a dragon costume. The routine always started with me insisting to the kids that there was nothing to be afraid of with dragons. They didn’t exist of course, I told them, playing the foil, while Al dressed in his costume behind me. As soon as Al would place his index finger to his mouth and ask the kids to be quiet as he approached me, the cackles would start and the kids just couldn’t hold back. Sure it was a dorky performance by both of us but it sold a lot of books and promoted the work well. Typically, we would receive book reviews and drawings from all the kids after the full reading of the book. We were a big hit with the teachers.  

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

A: I’m convinced that unless you are sleeping with a higher up at a traditional publisher, or have tenure at a university and know a board member sleeping with a higher up at a traditional publisher, you have little to no chance of seeing your work printed and put up on a book shelf at a major chain. 

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

A: I’m looking at a couple different options with my latest work, entitled, The Fish and the Fox. 

I’m not certain if I’ve grown at all as a writer. Where I know I’ve improved is in the editorial and marketing side of the process. I spend a lot more time now working with paid editors on making sure my work is fit for critical eyes. It’s a taxing ritual but necessary and vital for a book to succeed.  

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 should have looked for a higher up at a major publishing firm and slept with her. 

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

A: There’s nothing spectacular in my bio from writing. I’ve had some good reviews from unsolicited quarters and feel good that the writing has been well received. I’ve sold a number of books around the world. What else can I ask for? 

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

A: I’d have made a great sports columnist, like Ray Barone. 

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

A: I have it all. I’m able to work in various fields or industries, with anonymity, and with respect from my peers. 

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

A: Hopefully, ten pounds lighter with six strokes consistently shaven from my golf score.  

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

A: Don’t let the bastards get you down.  Whenever, or however it happens, enjoy it and never lose your humility. One good review doesn’t make you the next Hemingway.

 

Diana Rumjahn received her bachelor’s degree in social science from San Francisco State University and has worked at the university for over the past two decades. She is currently an administrator at College of Creative Arts, where she received the “Star of the Month Award.” She wrote, directed, filmed, produced and edited the international award-winning film Going Home, which has been shown worldwide. You can visit her website at www.dianarumjahn.com.

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

Diana: I am a first-time published author.

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

Diana: Choices For All. It was not published because my interests changed over time.

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?

Diana: I decided to self-publish it.

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

Diana: BookSurge is the publisher of Charlie and Mama Kyna. A friend of mine published her book with BookSurge and I decided to follow in her footsteps.

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

Diana: I felt that there was a lot of work still needed to be done in terms of promotion and I did not celebrate.

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

Diana: I informed everyone by internet.

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

Diana:  For Charlie and Mama Kyna, self-publishing was appropriate because I was in supervisory role throughout the process. I am very happy with the results.

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

Diana: I have not published since, Charlie and Mama Kyna. The experience of publishing and promoting a book has made me grown as an author.

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

Diana: My book won the Best Short Story For Children Award from The 39^th Annual Marin County Fair, Marin County, California. This award came 6 months after being published. Hopefully, the book will win more awards.

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

Diana: University Professor.

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

Diana: I would try to combine the best of both worlds.

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

Diana: I can’t see that far ahead while living in a big city.

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

Diana: Be persistent and prepare yourself for a lot of work.

 

 

Victoria Simcox

Author of The Magic Warble, Victoria Simcox, also known as Vicki, was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She has one older sister. When she was 7, Vicki moved with her family to British Columbia. Then in her early twenties to Western Washington, where she now resides in Marysville WA. She has been married for almost 20 years, and has 3 children. For the past 10 years, she has home schooled her children, and she also teaches elementary school art. Her other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy, 2 cats, named Frodo and Fritz, and 1 parakeet, named Pauly. She did have a pet rat named Raymond; when she started writing The Magic Warble, but sad to say, he has since passed away of old age. Vicki enjoys writing, reading, painting watercolors, good movies and just hanging out with friends and family. Her favorite author is C.S. Lewis, and one of her fondest memories is when she was 12. She would sit at the kitchen table, and read the Chronicles of Narnia to her mother while she cooked dinner. These magical stories were very dear to Vicki and she remembers wishing, If only I could go to Narnia like Lucy and Susan. Vicki hopes that maybe she can touch someone with her story in a similar way.  You can visit her website at www.themagicwarble.com or her blog at http://www.victoriasimcox.blogspot.com.

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

Victoria: I am published for the first time.

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

Victoria: The Magic Warble

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox (Click on cover to purchase)

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?

Victoria: About 30 I’d say.

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

Victoria: The rejections made me feel down, and depressed of course, but I had done a lot of research before hand, and that had prepared me to expect many rejections. I learned that for first time authors, most of the time it doesn’t matter how good your work is, publishers are rarely going to take the risk of taking on a new author due to the costs involved in publishing.

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

Victoria: Two Harbors Press is my first publisher. They are a small publishing agency that does take on new authors, if they like their work, but they also expect the author to do most of the promotion of their book.

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

Victoria: It made me feel very happy. To me being published is a very big accomplishment. I didn’t do anything in particular to celebrate, just relished in the satisfaction of being a published author.

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

Victoria: I had a website created and a blog spot as well. Then I had my book reviewed by bloggers, who then posted the reviews on their blog sites. I also sent review copies to newspapers and stores to see if they wanted to carry my book. And I have been doing book signings and talks as well.

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

Victoria: I guess if there was a publisher that did all of my promoting that would be something I’d have wanted to begin with, but the reality of it is that would most likely never have happened to begin with being that I am new author. So I am doing the best I can with where I’m at now.

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

Victoria: No. I haven’t finished my second book in The Magic Warble series yet, and it is all that I am working on at present. As far as growing as an author, my passion for creating my story keeps growing stronger, and I write more then I used to. I hardly ever go a day with out writing at least 2 to 3 hours. Also I really truly appreciate the fans of my book. When they tell how they can’t wait for the next book, it’s so rewarding to me. I also like to encourage young people who want to write as well. There are a lot of kids out there wanting to be the next J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer and if I can build them up and give them encouragement and hope it also helps me grow as 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?

Victoria: Really, I don’t see what I could have done different or speeded up. I was published in about 14 months from the time I started sending out my manuscript.

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

Victoria: Being able to here how my fans love my story and can’t wait for the next book. This shows me that I must have accomplished writing a pretty good story.

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

Victoria: That’s hard to say because writing is what I love most, but if I had to choose something secondary, I’d say art teacher.

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

Victoria: I guess I’ve combined the best of both worlds, because I already do both.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Victoria:  I have big dreams. In ten years or hopefully way before then, I want be able to make enough money from my book royalties to retire my husband from his job. I’d like to see my books made into movies and I want to be able to travel more as well as give more to the charities I support.

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

Victoria:  If you truly feel that writing is your life’s purpose, then no matter how hard the publishing journey gets, or how frustrated you get when writers block may stop your creativity, or how low your self esteem may get, never give up. Even so, saying all this, don’t expect miracles to fall into your lap. You’ll have to search and work very hard figuring out what to do next, but I believe if you do this, an opportunity will show its self. Do a lot of research. The internet is a goldmine of information. I’ll leave you with a good quote: Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. J. R. R. Tolkien

Watch the trailer!

Barbora Knobova is a writer, relationship coach and expert in Delicious Life. A world traveler, she is one of those rare world citizens who live everywhere and nowhere. Barbora is a firm believer in female friendship, loyalty and bonding. She writes hilarious, sharp-witted, caustically apt, ironic, moving, true books for strong, independent, smart, fearless women. Barbora has also written several self-improvement books and teaches women about the importance of self-love in relationships and life in general. Barbora speaks eight languages and has found her home away from home in New York, London and Milan. She is always on the move, accompanied by her beagle Brinkley, the nasty dog from Tales for Delicious Girls,  her latest book, which was published in September 2009.

Website: http://www.barboraknobova.com

Blog: http://barboraknobova.wordpress.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/barboraknobova

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/barboraknobova.author

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

I’ve published four books in Europe and Tales for Delicious Girls is my first book that has been published in the States. It’s interesting to have such a great opportunity to explore book markets in Europe and in the States because there are many differences.

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 was published in 2007, it is called Stories for Big Girls. It was a bestseller in Europe, it was nominated for two literary awards and appeared on the list of 25 Best Books of the Year. In many ways, Stories for Big Girls was the starting point for Tales for Delicious Girls, although Tales for Delicious Girls goes much deeper.

Tales for Delicious Girls by Barbora Knobova (click on cover to purchase)

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 very lucky. I found a great publisher and my book has never been rejected by anyone! I know, it’s incredible. Earlier this year I’ve founded my own publishing company, BK Publishing, and I’m always on the lookout for new, talented female authors. I write about women and for women, and I would like to be there for fellow female authors, back them up with my experience and help them get their name and work out there. Although I’ve never been rejected by a publisher, I worked in the movie industry for many years and I know how hard rejections are.

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

In Europe, all my books have been published by the very same publisher so far. I’ve been very lucky to find such a great team of people. I chose them because when I was about to publish my first book they were new, fresh, had great ideas and great professionals working with them. They also put me together with Nela Vadlejchova, a wonderful, talented artist who has been illustrating my books ever since. When I founded my own publishing company, they were with me every step of the way, advising me and helping me, and they still support me today.

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

It felt great but I don’t think I celebrated it in any special way. I usually don’t celebrate when the book gets published because I know that the journey is only beginning. I celebrate marketing milestones, good reviews, encouraging e-mails from readers, good sales. Getting published is the easier part.

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

When I was published for the first time, I knew nothing about book marketing and most promotion was taken care of by my publisher. I started learning about book promotion only when I decided to publish my books in the States. In Europe, the approach to book marketing is much more traditional and readers still prefer brick-and-mortar book stores, book signing events, interviews in magazines and newspapers, TV interviews, book fairs. Internet marketing is very limited, virtual book tours practically don’t exist. In the States there are endless opportunities for authors to get attention and connect with their readers. Back to your question, the first thing I did back in 2007 was to write a press release and distribute it. In a few hours, I got a call from a TV producer who wanted to do an interview with me for a popular lifestyle magazine. I was lucky! But the truth is that getting on national television is much easier in Europe than in the States.

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

Definitely not! I’ve learned so much in the process and I’m still learning. Getting experience and knowledge is extremely valuable.

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

I grow with every new book, with every new chapter, with every sentence. I’ve become more prolific, I’m able to write with ease and I’ve learned to be really creative about my writing, I play with it, I have fun. Writing your fifth book is definitely easier than writing your first book. And the more I write, the more I love it.

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’ve always preferred going with the flow. Rushing things is never a good idea. When you hit the wall, it’s better to start looking for new paths instead of trying to climb over the wall or break it down. I listen to my gut feeling. When something feels good and natural, it usually means that it’s the right path for you. It’s important to make mistakes because thanks to them we learn.

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

Even the slightest little achievement is wonderful and important! There have been many achievements, book award nominations, bestselling books, great reviews and interviews, TV appearances. However, there are always new goals to achieve and I always look forward to new challenges.

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

I would never choose another profession! In my life I’ve been a university teacher, a movie translator, a photographer, a love coach. I’ve turned my hobbies into my many professions and I’ve succeeded in all of them. However, I am, I’ve always been and I always will be a writer. That’s what fulfills me, that’s what defines my personality.

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

I’ve had the best of many worlds but from now on I want to be just an author. That’s what makes me truly happy.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I see myself writing books in a house on the beach, surrounded by my family and a pack of spoiled beagles. A girl can dream, right?

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

Being a comparatively successful writer is a good life (Ian Fleming). And nothing worth having is easy, so don’t give up. Write a good book and you will find your way to readers.

James Diehl is an award-winning journalist who has covered Sussex County, Delaware for various media outlets since 1998. Since 2007, he has owned and operated a freelance writing company based in Seaford, Delaware and is also a partner in a Lewes, Delaware-based public relations and marketing firm. He is the author of one other work of non-fiction – Remembering Sussex County, from Zwaanendael to King Chicken, published in 2009 by The History Press.

James can be found online at www.twitter.com/sussexwriter, at www.facebook.com/sussexwriter or via www.ww2-heroes.com.

 

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

World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware is my second book, both of which have been published in 2009. I’ve been writing for magazines and newspapers for several years, but I just entered into the world of books within the last year or so.

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 was titled Remembering Sussex County: from Zwaanendael to King Chicken. It’s a series of 33 vignettes from my home county in Delaware, ranging from when the Dutch first settled the area in 1631 to the mid 20^th century. It was published in May, 2009, by The History Press.

World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware (click on cover to purchase)

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 very, very lucky. I had been writing historical pieces for a couple of regional magazines and my articles caught the eye of someone from the local historical society. He contacted me and, in turn, put me in touch with someone he knew in the publishing world. Within seven months, Remembering Sussex County was on the shelves.

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

Fortunately, I have not had to deal with that aspect of the publishing world yet, though I’m sure I will at some point. No writer wants to hear that their work is not good enough, but you just have to believe in yourself and in your abilities. Take the constructive criticism, if it is constructive that is, and learn from it.

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

Remembering Sussex County was published by The History Press. I was referred by a colleague of mine.

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

I’ve been in the field of journalism for many years now and had long since lost the excitement that comes with seeing your byline on a story. I must say, however, that I regained that excitement when I saw my name splashed in big letters across the front cover of my very own book. It was very, very exciting! I celebrated by taking my wife and kids out for ice cream.

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

The very first thing I did with Remembering Sussex County was have a book signing at a history-themed Memorial Day event in my hometown. It was the first of many such appearances over the spring, summer and early fall. It was a very good marketing tool for me as, after many years as a reporter in the area, my name has become somewhat recognizable in southern Delaware.

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

I would have to say no. I was very, very lucky, but I did take full advantage of the opportunity when it came my way. Life is all about making the most of the chances and opportunities you are given. Remembering Sussex County was my first experience with book publishing, but it piqued my interest for much more. It was an experience that eventually led to World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware.

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

I’ve had the two books published this year and am in the early stages of a third. As far as the growing process is concerned, the biggest thing for me was making the transition from a magazine and newspaper writer to a book author. It’s a completely different mindset, and one that takes a little while to get accustomed to.

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, I was extremely lucky. I was not even considering a book when the opportunity to write one kind of fell in my lap. I feel a little guilty even uttering those words, because I know very well that’s not how things generally work out in this business. I was very fortunate, and I realize that.

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

When I had just begun writing the stories that would later become World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware, I received a first place award from the Maryland/Delaware/D.C. Press Association for the series. I have claimed several awards from the organization in the past, but this one was extra special; it laid the foundation for what later became my second book.

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

I would love to have Samantha Brown’s job on The Travel Channel, jet-setting around the world to take in different cultures and explore new worlds. How great would that be?

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

I wouldn’t change a thing in my life right now. I live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, I have a wonderful family and I have the pleasure of working at home most of the time. Sometimes, I would like to take a step back and not be quite so busy, but other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Well, let’s see. I’ll have two teenage girls in the house, so I’m sure that will add a new level of chaos to my life. Professionally, I hope to have completed a series of books honoring our World War II veterans and the sacrifices they made more than a half-century ago so we may live as we do today in the greatest country in the world. I realize the window is closing rapidly on getting such a project done, but I hope to devote a good deal of time to that over the next few years.

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

Just keeping plugging away. Keep an open mind and be willing to take advice, as well as constructive criticism. Don’t become so “married” to doing things one way that you lose the ability to make changes mid-stream. Remember that most of the people giving you advice are people who have been down the very road you are now traveling. Above all, do whatever it takes to keep your dreams alive.

Gale Laure, a native Texan, is the international selling author of Evolution of a Sad Woman, a mystery, suspense, thriller  and romance novel .   She resides in a small suburban town in the Houston area with her husband and family.  Laure’s hobbies include genealogical research, movies, creating stories for the children around her, involvement in her church and people watching. As mysterious as her  book, Laure writes under a pseudonym.  Adamant about maintaining her privacy and the privacy of her family, she keeps her identity a mystery!

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

Hello.  I am so pleased to be here.

Yes, I am a first time published author.   My debut novel is Evolution of a Sad Woman.

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

My debut book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, is a mystery, suspense, thriller and romance novel.  It is published selling as a trade paperback, ebook and Kindle ebook.

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 do not remember exactly how many.  I had saved my rejection letters but they were ruined by hurricane Ike when my home was destroyed.  There were quite a few though.  Some of them gave me a lengthy explanation.  Mainly it was because of the trend at the time.  The genre of my book was not popular.  Others just did not like my book.

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

Any rejection is devastating to an author.  I believed in my book.  It took time to overcome the blows.   You must decide for yourself that not everyone will like what you write.  But if you like what you write, then you support your work.   Authors have a lot of people to satisfy.  There are editors, publishers, critics and readers to please.  It is not an easy profession.

Evolution of a Sad Woman by Gale Laure (click on cover to purchase)

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

Trafford Publishing is my publisher.  They were in Canada.  Now they are in the U.S.  Right after my rejection letters, family tragedy struck.  I had to spend time with family members and gave up the writing dream for a while.  During this time, I received a letter from Trafford.  I simply put it aside.

Later when I resumed my writing bug, my husband remembered them and the letter.  They are a Print on Demand publisher.  The thing I liked about them is that my book will never be dropped.  They archive the books. Fifty years from now if someone wants to purchase my book, they can print it.  I went with Trafford for that reason.   They also had amazing contacts in the industry.

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

When my first book arrived, I ran around the house with roaring laughter. I held my book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, close to my heart.  I was all alone.  Actually I liked it that way.   When I write, I like to be alone.  It was fitting.  I thought about my characters.  I thought about their romance, their mystery, and their passion.  It was my day!

Later my husband took me out to dinner at Outback.   I love their blooming onion.  I smiled throughout dinner.  It was a glorious day!

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

I have done so much.  Wow!   I suppose the first thing was to email all my friends and family.  News releases were sent out.  I mailed postcards to bookstores.   I had a launch/celebration party hosted in an art gallery in my hometown.   I had bookstore signings of my mystery, romance and thriller novel.  I attended the Book Expo America in Los Angeles.  It was a fantastic adventure.  And I gave out a lot of business cards to everyone who would take one.

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

No.  I have been happy.  However right now, Trafford is going through a transition.  A larger company has bought them out.  So everything is up in the air.  I can only hope I like the new changes.

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

No.  My next novel is due out in 2010.  I was slowed down for a year when we became homeless for a while after the hurricane Ike destruction.  We lived in a hotel for a couple of weeks and then moved to a furnished apartment.  Most of my files, book research, notes, clothes, everything were destroyed.    My next novel is The Bunkhouse, a sci-fi, historical, suspense, romance and mystery novel.

Have I grown, most definitely.  Every day I learn something new.   I love this industry because there is always something new to learn.  Things are always changing.

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 do not think I would have done anything different.  The rejections actually reinforced my belief in my novel, Evolution of a Sad Woman. One editor believed in my novel so much she went up against a panel of other editors for me.  However, she was alone.   I received a rejection from her, but with an explanation of how much she liked my book. It was not that it was a bad novel; it was not the successful trend of the time.  Once I waited a little while, things changed.

I do not believe I made any mistakes.  I believe every thing that happened has brought me to this place.  I would not do anything different.

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

Wow!  Each day for me is an adventure and an accomplishment.  When I check my book sales, I feel elated when they are up.  When I visit a bookstore and see my novel on the shelf, I smile deep in my heart.  At a library when my novel is checked out, it is grand!  Every email from a reader thrills my soul.   One reader told me how she cried when she read my book.  The ending of my novel surprised other readers.  They always tell me to get to work on the next one.  They eagerly await my next novel.  That feels great!

I suppose the most wonderful feeling was when I was at the Book Expo America.  I did a book signing.  Once when I looked up, all these people were in a long line.  I asked why they were all in this line.  The lady from Trafford told me it was to get my autographed book.  What a rush!   I signed so fast my hand became cramped.  But I just shook it off, smiled and kept going.  That moment was when I knew I was an author!

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

Psychiatrist.  I love human beings and the human mind.  It has always fascinated me.

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

No.  I would never give up being an author.  My little mystery, thriller, suspense, romance book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, has given me so much pleasure.  I feel very happy.  Psychiatrist would be my second choice.  Author will always be my first.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Writing.  I have so many books in my mind that must be told.  Evolution of a Sad Woman is only my first book.  The Bunkhouse will be my second.  Alana – Evolution of a Woman is my third.  Kizzy’s Diary is my fourth.  Time in Vieux Carre is my fifth.  Do you see where I am going here?  They go on and on.   There are many more!

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

Being an author is a lot of work.  Writing the book is only the beginning.

Do not give up!  Dreams do come true!

I want to thank you for this interview.  I enjoyed your questions.  It has been a pleasure.

For more information about Gale Laure visit www.galelaure.com (website), www.evolutionofasadwoman.com (blog), or the following:

• www.twitter.com/wwwgalelaurecom

• www.authorsden.com/galelaure

• www.facebook.com/Author.GaleLaure

• www.goodreads.com/galelaureauthor

• www.myspace.com/galelaure-author

Avi Perry grew up in Israel. As a teenager and throughout his college years, he was a professional musician. He financed his student life with numerous gigs, playing with his Israeli band, writing songs, playing the various keyboard instruments, and enjoying listening to his performances on the Israeli radio (there was no MTV in late 60s Israel). He still plays and writes music, but as a hobby (at home), rather than as a line of work. During the Six-Day-War in 1967, he served in the Israeli military, in the field intelligence unit, and gained valuable and relevant experience in covert communications technology and a variety of spy craft and methods.

He has spent the past four decades in the US, first as a Ph.D. student, then as a professor at Northwestern University, a Bell Laboratories – distinguished staff member, and finally as Vice President at NMS Communications. He signed for early retirement in 2004 with the intention of writing a technical book. The title Fundamentals of Voice Quality Engineering was published by Cambridge University Press in 2007 and became very popular. Readers praised the book for its thoroughness and for my refreshing, unique and entertaining writing style, atypical among technical writers. Throughout Avi’s tenure at NMS, he wrote many short (humor-packed, peppered with company culture) satires, technical reports, white papers (published on company website), press releases, and more.

One may find more information on his websites (www.aviperry.org and www.aviperry.com ).

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

72 Virgins is my second published book. It is however, my first published Fiction.

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, Fundamentals of Voice Quality Engineering in Wireless Networks, was published in 2007 by Cambridge University Press.

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 sent 60 queries to literary agents whom I considered good potentials. I was rejected by 31, ignored by 28 and received one phone call from Bob Lieberman (I love you Bob) who liked my proposal. Bob, later on, told me that he had been amazed by his 100% success rate with my book. The first and only publisher, to whom he forwarded my proposal, offered us a nice contract and a nicer advance after having my proposal reviewed by 5 referees who all loved it.

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

I got about five rejections before speaking to Bob. There were still 55 left in the drawer. I expected rejections; it’s part of the game. Consequently, I was not upset, worried or terribly anxious. I hoped for the best. I wished for the one (golden) call, which happened to turn up before anxiety had a chance to settle in. Other rejections came in even after I had signed the contract with Cambridge. At that point, they only made me crack a smile.

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

My first book was published by Cambridge University Press. My agent selected this publisher as his first choice. He enjoyed some successes with them in the past, but it was not a perfect record. I had no input as to which publisher my agent would send the book proposal to.

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

I felt accomplished; and my wife fell in love again. We celebrated with a kiss, then a bit more.

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

I did not think I had to do much. After all it was in the hands of an experienced and a well established publisher. Still, I notified (via email) many whom I had known from my professional dealings in the past.

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

I would have supplemented my publisher’s promotion with a little more energy of my own.

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

72 Virgins is my second book. I have gained more confidence in my writing ability as a consequence of readers’ feedback. I braved this latest enterprise—fiction writing, only because people encouraged me. Before venturing into the writing I studied several of my favorite authors, trying to learn and absorb their special techniques, then reshape them into my own unique color and style.

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 was never very good at social networking. This is probably the most important ingredient when you are striving for a celebrity status. A successful author must become a celebrity before he can claim victory.

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

Readers’ feedback is the most gratifying gift an author can hope for. I received plenty, and from very intelligent and highly professional people.

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

I have gone through a variety of careers already. I was a professional musician, a Military Intelligence specialist, a university professor at Northwestern University, a scientist in Bell Laboratories, an engineer and a manger in AT&T and in Lucent Technologies, and a Vice President in charge of technology at NMS Communications. Now in my retirement years I have become an author. And I love it. It fits perfectly into my situation.

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

I employ my rich life experiences and extensive knowledge in many aspects of life and science in all of my writings. I can reiterate the line – Been There Done That. I have no desire to do anything else other than writing.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I hope I keep my energy close to the level where it is now. I hope I can continue to write for the next twenty years.

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

Writing, and writing well, is only a small step in the path to the Promised Land, where your masterpiece becomes published, then read by an audience, who may or may not recognize and appreciate your special talent. But even though you think you can write well, you might be shocked at the discovery that you are not perfect. I know. You were confident that your writing was flawless; your spellchecker caught and fixed your typos, your words and phrases were expressive, your dialogs were relevant, your punctuations and prepositions were the envy of your German-born English teacher. Hell, no! Those trifling errors kept sneaking into your manuscript. You didn’t realize it until your little fifth grader, after reading your Preface section, pointed out that she did not understand the sentence: “seize to exist.” “Shouldn’t it be “cease to exist” instead?” she asked. “And how do you “hit the breaks?” Shouldn’t you say—“hit the brakes?”

Oops. This dumb spellchecker; it’s its fault, not yours. Well, you’d better find someone who would spare the embarrassment that would turn off your potential audience, joke about your silly writing style, and ruin your reputation for the rest of your irrelevant life. Your confidence got shaken a bit—you just experienced your first lesson on the way to becoming a published author.

Now, your mother always told you that you should not judge a person by their looks, but rather, by their character. You believed her, (only because you didn’t look like Brad Pitt with those ugly glasses), then applied the same logic to your book. Don’t judge it by its cover, you said to yourself. The contents, the real beef, is the stuff that counts. You didn’t care. Professionally designed book covers are a total waste of money, you reflected… Oh Yeah? Have you ever been to a bookstore? Have you watched the random browsers, the ones who pick up the most attractive book, the one with the red and blue front cover, turn it over to read the excerpt in the back, then rush to the cashier and flash their Visa card before it expires? Not to worry. Your publisher will take care of this little detail, unless of course, you are him. And if you are, then you’d better spend time and effort on this little detail. It’s the first impression you make on your potential audience; you would not get a second chance with this selective bunch. They must be ruthless, saving their reading appetite for shining objects, not minding true quality, like your book.

“But why does it take so long?” You ask your publisher. “Why so many months before it is published? You thought it shouldn’t take more than a couple.” You didn’t realize, but editing, typesetting, book cover design, proof reading, even pre-pub marketing, printing, distributing—all must take place before your book is tanned under the florescent lights of the bookstore, or displayed inside the shiny pages of the Amazon site. It takes time, and your publisher is not in a hurry, or so it seems. You ruminate—He must be lazy, unlike me. I could easily shave a couple of months out of his schedule, and still get it done. No. Don’t be an amateur. The publishing process does take time. And you’d better get it right, than fast and sorry.

Your book is finally ready. Your publisher sent you the allotted free copies he had written into your contract, so why did he set the publication date several months out into the future? Your anxiety is showing. You want to see your name displayed on the shelves in the local Barnes and Noble store. But wait, you need time for pre-publication publicity. Your publisher wants your book to hit the ground running. Books are like freshly baked bread. They taste better when they are fresh. Most books, like most movies, sell more copies on their first year after publication, when they are still fresh and hot. People like to buy new stuff. Go figure.

Your publisher does not want to spend money on advertising. How is he going to generate exposure? There are millions of books out there. How will anybody know about yours? He explains that paid advertising is much less effective that the free stuff. And you always believed that there ain’t such a thing as a free lunch. But he is right. He is not kidding.
Free publicity is not entirely free, although it feels that way. You haven’t thought about it, but here are some examples. Book reviews, press releases, media interviews, virtual or actual book tours, blogging, social networking—all can generate huge exposure if done well. They are not entirely free, however. Free copies cost money. Mailing, shipping, mailing lists, travel, PR agents, the time spent on blogging and social networking, online and offline listings, are not cheap. Some may be less expensive and more effective than paid advertising, but you will have to study and master the free advertising market before claiming victory. The biggest surprise you may be facing is your publisher’s unwillingness to go all the way and do everything possible to promote your book even when it’s “free”. You will have to invest your own time and money and “help” your publisher provide proper exposure to your book. The amazing part is that the more you do, the more your publisher will do. If your publisher foresees success, he will be more willing to invest and promote it.

And finally there are three more surprises, with which you will probably be facing. If you become a successful, published author, your fans will seek your attention. At first, it may seem like fun, but once you become a hot celebrity, the new status may yield all the known side-effects associated with the lack of privacy. Be careful of what you wished for. It may happen. Regardless of annoying fans, the positive part of success is the new respect you would gain from family and friends. The wife or husband will start bragging about you with their friends; they might even treat you with more respect; stop telling you to go wash the floors since you are not doing anything important anyway. Before you became a published author, writing down in the basement was not considered real work. It’s different now. She will stop telling you to go and get a real job.

Some friends will invite you over for dinner. They will want to be seen in your company, so they may invite more friends and call it a party. Some other friends may want to keep you all for themselves. They may do the opposite, invite you to a party where you’d be the only guest.

Well, it’s time to get started on your next book. You are not done yet. If you like your new status you ought to remind yourself that it is temporary unless you keep at it relentlessly. Hot dishes become cold after a while. Freshly baked bread turns stale two days following its birth. And authors lose their glow if their creations fade into the used books section next to the dumpster. So be aware. What goes up must… Not if it’s up to you.

Mary Patrick Kavanaugh recently launched her first novel, Family Plots: Love, Death and Tax Evasion, at an outrageous public funeral event. A writer since the age of eight, Mary’s award winning creative non-fiction has been published in Alligator Juniper, Room of One’s Own, San Jose Mercury News, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Her professional writing has appeared in numerous trade journals. She is the recipient of the nonfiction award from the Soul Making Literary Competition sponsored by the American Pen Women and was awarded writing fellowships at The David and Julia White Artist Colony, Hedgebrook: Women Authoring Change, and The Vermont Studio Center. She has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of San Francisco.

NOTE: Mary’s altar ego, “Cemetery Mary,” will be hosting a lively Funeral Event and Resurrection Workshop on December 31, 2009, and January 2, 2010. Participants will bury dead dreams, dashed hopes, and old habits and grudges to make room for all the good that’s coming in 2010. For information about attending, please visit her blog at www.crapintocompost.com.

Book Trailer:

http://www.mydreamisdeadbutimnot.com/trailer/trailer.html

Blog:

www.crapintocompost.com

Twitter:

@marypatrick

Funeral & Website:

www.marypatrick.com

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

A: Family Plots: Love, Death and Tax Evasion is my first published book. I’ve published smaller pieces in many literary and commercial journals prior.

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

A: For the longest time I wrote short stories for a compilation of semi-autobiographical fiction I wanted to write called Losers I Have Known, but in the end, I moved toward telling a compelling true story that held my interest long enough to get through the rollercoaster of writing a full length novel.

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: Like many writers, I’ve faced a gazillion rejections, but for my first novel, it was a modest sixteen. While that’s “nuthin” for a writer, a confluence of events, ranging from my agent throwing in the towel to the economy, led me to erupt with a great idea to launch my book without a mainstream publisher. The book launch publicity stunt of holding a public funeral for my dead dream of getting a mainstream book contract, garnered more attention initially than the book itself. (The backstory of this stunt can be found here.)

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

A: Ah, rejection. They made me feel like a pulverized puddle of gutless pity, and I wallowed in each and every one of them, while often pretending it was no big deal. With each recovery, my skin thickened a bit more, which I understand is useful in middle age as it can also prevent wrinkling.

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

A: I chose iUniverse because they were quick, affordable, and I didn’t have a lot of time to research it as I had a book funeral scheduled.

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

A: At the risk of repeating myself, I celebrated with my whacked-out, crazy, public funeral for my dream of mainstream publishing, inviting friends and strangers to also bury their dead dreams and at this event, sold hundreds of books. How did it make me feel? Best answered on this Feel Good Youtube from the event, showing me and the rest of the room dancing in the aisles.

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

A: Besides the funeral, I hustled some radio and TV interviews, and readings at local independent bookstores, which resulted in being a book group pick for some great groups, including the Pulp Fiction Vixens. (Authors really like book groups with lively names. Who wouldn’t want to speak to a bunch of Vixens?)

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

A: Nope. Though this isn’t how I’d imagined my trajectory into publication, it now seems perfect.

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

A: Yes, I’ve published articles about the wild experience of this unusual book launch via funeral. I’ve grown enormously as a writer in the process, because I no longer focus on the expectation of succeeding in the mainstream, and instead will write only for the pure pleasure of connecting with myself and others.

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 was completely dedicated to getting my book published, and never dreamed that the process—start to finish—would take seven years. That said, I think my process, like all natural processes on the planet, had a life of its own, and because I was always doing the best that I could by doing the work, welcoming feedback, and pursuing all leads, looking back, I don’t think I’d change a thing. This experience has, in fact, given me much more patience in all areas of my life. Trying to speed things up (which I always tried to…) is like standing in front of your rosebush or your child screaming “GROW! GROW!” Creation has a time and rhythm of its own, and I’ve learned to just accept that and make the best of it by being happy at whatever stage I’m at.

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

A: A deep understanding that my happiness will never come from external success, and knowing it is available to me no matter what the state of my publishing career.

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

A: I’d like to be Terry Gross on the NPR show, Fresh Air, but I’d have to be a much faster reader to be able to bone up for the daily interviews.

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

A: I have a job now where I get to meeting and interview authors, politicians, and thought leaders and I can still write when I want to (if only I were more disciplined!), so that combined with a great partner, kids, animals, and health – I’ve got it all. This means much more to me after having gone through periods where I felt I’d lost it all…

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

A: Happy, settled, and debating whether to spend some of my publishing proceeds on Botox and a chin lift.

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

A: Don’t think someone or something is going to do it for you. Make the commitment, and make it happen. There are no excuses in this multi-media world NOT to find your perfect place for publishing and self expression.

Lady Colin Campbell – Georgie to her friends – was born in St Andrew, Jamaica into a privileged family and well-connected family, her father being a descendant of the Emperor Charlemagne and various European kings such as Willliam the Conqueror, and her mother a well-known ‘Society’ beauty. Beneath the veneer of upper-class civility and graciousness, however, lay a cauldron of dysfunctionalism, largely as a result of her mother Gloria’s narcissistic personality disorder. This would have a lifelong impact upon her life, with the result that her success as a writer and socialite was coloured, sometimes for the better, by her familial experiences. She is divorced from the Queen’s cousin Lord Colin Campbell, son of the 11th Duke of Argyll, and is the mother of two sixteen year old sons. They live in London but also have a chateau in France.

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

A: I have written several books.

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 title of my first book was The Substance and the Shadow, which I wrote in 1973. It as a philosophical treatise and I pulled the plug on it to protect my privacy. Howard Kaminsky, then the head of Warner Books, was interested in publishing it, but needed me to include personal material as a ‘hook’. I felt that doing so would violate my privacy and, rather than do that, decided not to allow publication to go forward. Ironically, within months of that decision, my privacy was violated in a quite inglorious manner, since when I have had rather less privacy than the average person.

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: It took another twelve years for me to consider publishing another book, but in 1985 I wrote Guide to being a Modern Lady, which incorporated some of the philosophical elements of The Substance and the Shadow, but in a more commercial way. I was fortunate enough to have the first publisher approached accept the work. Heterodox was not a vanity publisher nor was the book self-published.

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

A: It was published by Heterodox, who had a good reputation for putting their all into their writers, which seemed a good ting to me. Although much smaller than Warner Books, I liked Graham Lea as much as I had liked Howard Kaminsky, and felt I would be in safe hands – which turned out to be the case. Sadly, he later on developed serious health problems and had to retire. I for one sadly missed him.

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

A: It felt delicious to be published for the first time and I celebrated by opening up my address book to Heterdox, who threw me a splendid party at the Foreign Press Association headquarters off Pall Mall – a most elegant building which, if I remember correctly, had once belonged to William Gladstone; the Victorian Prime Minister.

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

A: I allowed myself to be interviewed at home by a variety of journalists, which might not seem like a big deal but believe me, it was, because my20experience of the English press had, up to that time, been consistently awful. I had had to sue three of the largest newspaper companies in the UK for libel, and, despite them giving undertaking not to repeat lies about me, they had done so ad nauseum. However, I took the view that a professional writer has a duty to her publisher and to herself to promote her work, so bit the bullet. To my surprise, much of the publicity was favourable.

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

A: No.

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

A: I have been published repeatedly since, by publishers of varying sizes, from small publishers such as Arcadia (winner of the Sunday Times Small Publisher of the Year) to large publishers such as Little Brown in the UK and St Martin’s Press in the US. I have also been published in many different foreign territories such as Japan, Korea, Poland, France, Germany and Spain, to name some but not all. I hope I have grown in ability, and certainly have found the process of promotion far less arduous the older and more established I have become. Although I have always been treated with respect abroad, in the UK it has taken years for journalists to accept that someone can be upper-class and capable – the prevailing view being that all privileged 0Apeople need to be cut down to size, irrespective of their merits – a stupid class-prejudiced viewpoint that has one would have found laughable, had it not been so mean-spirited and senseless. My one saving grace was that, being foreign by birth and upbringing, I was not tempted to take the British class-consciousness personally, and, rather than become angered by it, I treated it with the compassion it deserved. But it really is a pity when otherwise intelligent people view life from a prism of distorting class-consciousness, which, I fear, is something the British do.

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: Since I was fortunate enough to have my first two books accepted by reputable publishers, I do not think I could have sped up the process.

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

A: Being on the New York and London Times bestsellers list.

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

A: I chose the profession I wanted.

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

A: I see myself continuing to write until the grave. I have several books in me that I would like to get out – and that does not take into account the books that I will want to write in the future. I do not believe in retirement. Death is retirement enough – why retire from life and what you love doing?

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

A: I would encourage anyone who wants to write to do so; not to give up if they find it difficult at first; and to continue honing their craft until they can no longer tap the computer keyboard. Writing is a wonderful career, and those of us who are privileged enough to have it as one, should count our blessings.

Dynasty’s website is available from www.dynastypress.co.uk and my blog can be accessed through http://ladycolincampbell.blogspot.com/.

Like the hero of The Cutting, James Hayman is a transplanted New Yorker. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Manhattan, he spent more than twenty years writing TV advertising for clients like The U.S. Army, Lincoln-Mercury and Procter & Gamble. He moved to Portland, Maine in 2001. Four years later he decided to scratch a lifelong itch to write fiction and began work on his first suspense thriller featuring homicide detective Mike McCabe. St. Martin’s/Minotaur bought rights to The Cutting and published it in July 2009. Hayman is currently at work on the second McCabe novel, due for release in July 2010 and tentatively titled The Chill of Night.

His website is www.jameshaymanthrillers.com

Blog is http://www.jameshaymanthrillers.com/blog/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jhhayman

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

The Cutting is my first fiction and my commercially published book. I’ve written several non-fiction books under contract to clients that they published.

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

The Cutting 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 almost feel guilty answering this question knowing what a lot of writers go through. But I was incredibly lucky.

When I finished the first draft or The Cutting I sent a cover letter and my first eighty pages to exactly one agent, Meg Ruley, of the Jane Rotrosen Agency, who is  one of the top mystery/thriller agents in New York. Well, Meg must have had a light weekend because she read the eighty pages, loved them and emailed me Monday morning to ask if she could see the rest of the manuscript. I said she could.

After we came to an agreement, Meg showed it to, I think, seven publishers in New York. Five said no. Two made offers. We accepted the offer from St. Martin’s Press for a two-book deal for The Cutting and a second Michael McCabe thriller.

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

Three of the rejections came in first. That made me a little apprehensive but it wasn’t too bad because I knew The Cutting was going out to a lot more editors. The first offer (the one we didn’t take) came in about a week or so later and was pretty quickly followed by the one from St. Martin’s.

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

See above.

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

Jumped up and down, yelled “Whoopie,” called or emailed just about everyone I know and then took my wife out to an expensive dinner.

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

I sent press releases to every newspaper in Maine. I threw a launch party for nearly two hundred guests.  The publicity guy at St. martin’s set up readings at six or seven bookstores around Maine. I was interviewed by a couple of bloggers who heard about the book and I got a five minute interview on a TV show called 207 on the NBC affiliate here in Portland.

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

No.

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

I’m almost finished writing McCabe #2 which we’re calling The Chill of Night. Everyone who’s read the manuscript so far ( that includes several readers I trust plus Meg and my editor at St. Martin’s, Charlie Spicer) thinks it’s a stronger book than the first.  That’s high praise because they all loved The Cutting. The phrase they most use is “The writing’s more assured.”

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?

As I said earlier. I was incredibly lucky. The stars fell into perfect alignment. The angels smiled down from heaven. It all happened fast. So, I guess, the short answer is nothing.

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

Writing and nearly finishing a second novel in about a year while trying to promote the first.  I don’t think I’ve ever worked so har or so intensively in my life.

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

Advertising was a lot of fun for me. I got to race around the world writing and producing big budget TV commercials for major clients. It was also great training for writing thrillers. It taught me to write “tight” (A thirty second TV commercial has to tell a whole story in a max of 65 words). It taught me how to write dialogue and to think cinematically.

However, if I had it to do over, I would have started writing fiction much sooner than I did. Decades sooner. I think I have a lot of books in me and because I’m not a kid I probably won’t get to write them all. But maybe I will. Elmore Leonard’s well into his eighties and he’s still turning them out.

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

I’ve combined the best of both worlds, sequentially if not simultaneously.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Grayer. Maybe balder. Hopefully not fatter. Hopefully still writing fiction.  At some point in the near future I’d like to try a non-genre book. Literary fiction as they say, although I happen to think that’s a false distinction…a lot of the best genre writing is every bit as good as a lot of the best general fiction being published today.

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

Keep writing. Keep reading. Keep going to workshops and meeting as many agents and writers as you can. Networking helps. And keep dreaming.

I had a lot of luck early on, but if your books are any good, one of these days the luck will fall your way too.