Author Interview: Historical Fiction Author Andrew Feder

On a sunny spring morning, when the birds were chirping and singing, Andrew Feder was born in Hollywood, California, looking like a cross between a Nordic and Asian baby. His father would later sarcastically say that he was adopted from Korea just after the war (like he was a war baby).
He grew up in a typical dysfunctional Jewish family in San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles.

He later studied at San Diego State University.

He then went for one year to the University of Haifa in Israel where he lived on a kibbutz and met his ex-wife (he has three children from this marriage). He completed his studies at UC Davis in Viticulture and Enology.

Having lived several lives in one, during the eighties he lived in Israel first for a short period in a settlement on the West Bank and later on a Moshav near Haifa for six years as a grape farmer. There in Israel, he studied Kabbalah (jewish Mystics) under guidance of the renowned holy man known as “The Mo’ah.” During his religious studies, he was quite pious as an orthodox observant Jew.

After returning to the United States, for the next ten years, he was a contractor and owner of a construction company. Shortly after his return he continued his studies of Kabbalah and metaphysics under the guidance of renowned psychic, mystic and healer, Janeau St. Clair and her husband, Elliot Atlas.

In the nineties, he drove a cab and a limo during hiatus while working as an Assistant Director in the film industry.

At the end of the nineties, he moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles which, for one year, he was (and hates to admit it) a “damn” telemarketer selling long distance, and for the past eight years he’s been a graphic artist.

During his college years, he wrote several editorials and short stories. Much later, during the so-called mid-life crisis, he evolved in his development to include writing both novels and poems along with subsequent screenplays.

He is also the host of the radio show “When Pigs Fly” on BBSradio.com.

He is the author of the novel, “When the Angels Have Risen” which you can check out at his site at www.andrewfeder.com. He is also the author of the novel, “The Heretic,” which you can check out at his site at www.andrewthehertic.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Andrew, Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published?

Both of my books were published by Authorhouse.

Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

My first book published was “When The Angels Have Risen” in May of 2005.

And “The Heretic” was recently published in October of 2007 but released in December of 2007.

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 completed is called “Spirit” which was about to be published in 2001 but unfortunately due to 911 the contract was cancelled. I plan on having this book released in 2010.

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?

The rejections were many for “When The Angels Have Risen” because of the controversial content, but I also found that it was hard to have an agent and being first time published. This was of course due to the fact that most advances for first time published authors are less than ten thousand dollars, so the common commission of ten percent for an agent would make it economically unattractive. So I finally went it alone for my first two novels that were published.

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

At first, sort of down which is normal I guess… But I felt compelled to get it out no matter, and with great perseverance and patience it came to being.

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

Authorhouse, because I had control from the get go. From design to content, I did not want nothing curtailed because of the important message within my book, “When The Angels have Risen.” This was not just a matter of economics, but what I felt needed to get out for the public to understand and take its content for what it is – a message.

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

One word – an adrenaline rush! Okay that’s two words and celebrated it with an exquisite dinner at the sushi bar with my daughter and son-in-law. And you got to love sushi. Well I do anyway.

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

First I would set up my website. Then Reviews… Reviews… Reviews… Get Reviewed! I started sending out hundreds of e-mails and then sending out my book to be reviewed.

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

My first book was a learning lesson of what not to do and to do. But when all said and done, I would have taken the route that I took for my second published book that is- first set up a website and then after it is up get reviews. And then after the reviews came in I would start my publicity campaign like events, postings, radio interviews, internet advertising and etc.

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

As I mentioned, I would have taken the same course of which I am doing for my second published book, “The Heretic” including testing my target audience and lining up my objectives while always allowing for adjustments.

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?

First I would have gotten my book properly edited from the beginning. Then I would have never taken the agent route. It was a big waste of time and energy. Who better to pitch your book than you, the author, right? So I would either get published from print-on-demand publisher or a self-publisher or any publisher who is receptive to my book. The easy part is really getting it in print. The hard part is publicity.

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

It has been a rewarding experience. From the many booksigning events, radio show interviews and general publicity, it has opened doors for new and rewarding endeavors along with the truly great experiences in meeting new and intriguing people on this path. So besides the monetary benefit it has been a spiritual reward in itself.

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

Like a duck in water, I would love to be a movie Producer and Director.

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

Since I enjoy writing and I also enjoy the creative process of making a movie, I would do both.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Since its 2008 and ten years from now would be 2018, I would be hopefully meeting some enlightened ETs along with writing, lecturing, teaching and maybe making movies.

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

First as a writer you are an artist. Sculpture and stroke like an artist on canvass. You should always write from the heart. You have to have thick skin, because you will be cruelly criticize some will be just and some unjust. And lastly and most important – never ever and I mean never give up your dream no matter what others might say. You are you dream!!! So stay with it and make it a reality like a surfer on wave enjoy the experience of implementing your dream.

Author Interview: Business Writing Author Adina Rishe Gewirtz

For 15 years, Adina Gewirtz has been helping struggling writers get organized. Trained as a journalist, she spent her early career freelancing, and then created her writing system, “The Writer’s Roadmap,” based on techniques pioneered by her mentor, two-time Pulitzer prize-winner Jon Franklin. Those techniques were designed to help professional writers structure and execute a well-crafted piece of writing. By translating them into tools even non-professionals could use, Ms. Gewirtz quickly discovered the vast need for such a system by those struggling to write for work or school.

By the mid 1990s, she was teaching writing seminars for accounting giant Arthur Andersen LLP. After 2001, she returned to her own writing and again worked with high school and college students. Her recent book, How to Say It: Business Writing That Works (Prentice Hall, 2007), is available at Amazon.com or area bookstores.  You can visit her website at www.writersroadmap.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Adina. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

This is my first book – How to Say It: Business Writing That Works. I’ve freelanced and taught writing for years, but never did anything book-length until now.

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

I’d say this is my first real book. I’d been writing articles, essays and the like for years, plus teaching. And while teaching, I’d designed mini-textbooks for my students, whether they were individuals or companies, but this is the first “real” book I’ve put out there.

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’d say I had twenty or more rejections before Prentice Hall took it on. And that was once I’d found an agent, which was a process in itself!

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

Well, they didn’t feel great. But my agent was encouraging, and she had high hopes for it. I kept hoping too, and when I got impatient, I tried working on other projects, which did help.

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

Prentice Hall, which is a division of Penguin, published How to Say It: Business Writing That Works. I think anyone would be thrilled to have Penguin as a publisher, and I know I was. They chose me, really, because my book teaches a unique system for business writing that I think they saw would appeal to people. It’s easy, straightforward, and it takes a lot of the fear out of writing everything from a memo to a report to a proposal.

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

I felt wonderful. As for celebrating, friends and family sent me flowers, and that was terrific. It felt like a real step forward in life.

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

I expanded my website at www.writersroadmap.com and I began writing a blog. You can find it at www.thewritersroadmap.blogspot.com. I’ve always loved writing about writing, and I spend a lot of my time as a writing coach, helping people figure out what’s gone wrong with what they’re writing, so this was a natural for me.

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

Absolutely not. I think I’d have just tried to write the book a few years earlier than I did – it took a lot of encouragement on my husband’s part to get me believing anyone would want to read about business writing. But in fact, they do! People so often struggle with writing at work, they need help understanding that with a step-by-step process, the task gets much easier.

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

The book only came out last October, so I haven’t gotten a new one out yet. But I’ve definitely grown as an author. The whole process gave me confidence that even in this difficult publishing world, it is possible to sell a book. I also have a much more realistic idea of what it takes to write a book and get it 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?

It took me a long time to believe that selling a book was possible, and then an equally long time to understand how much time the process of selling a book takes. I wish I had known earlier that, like anything, selling a book takes a lot of concerted effort. I’ve always been focused on the writing; now I’ve learned you have to spend at least as much time getting your work out there.

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

I’ve become much more business-minded about my writing. I realize now that, just as in the writing process itself, if you see the goal, you can move toward it. I enjoy being a writing coach and editor, as well as doing my own writing, and I’m dividing my time between those three things.

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

I can’t think of anything I’d like better than writing, though I do love teaching, as well, especially one-on-one and in small groups.

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

I think with writing coaching, I’m combining the best of both worlds.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I’d like to have published many more books!

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

Remember that it’s a business, and you have to treat it that way. You have to set yourself a time to work on the administrative/marketing aspects of writing, in the same way that you give time to the writing itself.

BUY THE BOOK

Interview with Fiction Author Michaela Riley

Michaela Riley was born in 1960 and grew up in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia in a town that borders the Ohio River and is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills.

As a child Riley would spend most of her time reading every book she could carry home from the school library. She admits, “Being a writer was a fairytale for some else’s life. Then I found a story that needed to be told.”

Riley left West Virginia to join the Army in 1981 and quickly realized that the quiet life of West Virginia was very different than the screaming platoon sergeant. She decided early in her military career that she would go to college and that law was her first career choice.

During her college years and after completion of her active duty tour during the Gulf War, she supported herself in a variety of healthcare positions. She plans on retiring from the Army Reserves this year and smiles as she says, “It was the best job and career I have ever had. I love my country.”

Nearly twenty six years later Riley has completed a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Business Administration degree. She has been practicing as a Registered Nurse for almost twenty years and is the CEO of her own Professional Development Company.
Riley began to pursue writing when she was had the misfortune of spending time in a local court room. Research revealed increasing rates of plea bargaining and malicious prosecution. “I have always been an advocate for people in need. When your right to speak for yourself is prevented, something has to be done. The story must be told, everyone has a story. Writing has become something I am passionate about and I am working on two other fiction novels.”
Riley lives near the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She has a son (born in 1977) and a Labrador retriever. When not writing, Michaela gardens, cooks, and enjoys the outdoors with her family. Her favorite pastime is spent reading, going to movies or walking on the beach.

You can visit her website at www.michaelariley.com. 

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Michaela. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? First time published author.

Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)? Embittered Justice

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

The first book written was entitled “No Voice”. This is actually the first draft of Embittered Justice. The name was already registered with another author so I had to change the title and some elements of the 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?

No rejections for Embittered Justice, received 5 offers to publish the book. What an amazing feeling!

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

The first book, Embittered Justice was published by Publish America. The publisher was chosen because it came down to price and they were free. There are numerous publishers out there and selecting a publisher is a difficult task. My first choice was Tate Publishing, unfortunately their offer came after I had already signed a contract with Publish America.

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

It felt surreal; like it must be someone else’s life…it was and still is amazing to get to tell a story that can invoke feeling and passion for the subject matter. Celebration was a bottle of wine with some very supportive friends, talking about the process of getting published.

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

Much to my chagrin, the publisher did not handle marketing…they did list the book on various sites, amazon and barnes and noble. The rest has been my choice. Creation of the web site, placing ads, blogs, radio advertising and virtual tours have been the first level of promotion with press releases. It has been a very busy two months!

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

Yes and no. Being a first time author doesn’t afford the luxury of having a large selection of publishers. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share Embittered Justice with readers. I am certain I would have waited for the contract from another Publisher if I had this to do over again.

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

No other books published at this point but plan on releasing the sequel to Embittered Justice in the fall of 2008.

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?

Definitely recommend getting the book professionally edited before submission. If at all possible get some book reviews when the editing is completed. Once a book and cover goes to print it is difficult to make changes.

What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

Would have avoided the first print of Embittered Justice with typographical and grammar errors. The realization that the publisher didn’t do this came when I held the book in my hands for the first time. Wow, what a lesson to learn.

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

I have an increased awareness and knowledge about the publishing and book promotion aspects of first time authors. I am writing an e-book to help other first time authors get this accomplished in an easy to follow plan. It has been a journey that has prepared me for writing and promoting many books.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be? I have had many professions before this, registered nurse, soldier, manager, CEO, now author. I don’t want to do anything else but write and have the opportunity to inspire others.

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

This is the best of both worlds! I can still practice nursing and write. I love my life!

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Several best selling books, speaking engagements, e-books…loving life. Sharing my life with family and friends at the beach house.

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

Dream, imagine and believe it can be possible! It’s okay to not live life by the standards of others. Being an author is an incredible opportunity to tell the stories that inspire and have changed us to be the people we are today. Publishing has changed so much that virtually anyone can get published. Make the decision to finish that book, create the life you want now.

Interview with Nonfiction Current Events Author Joel Richardson

Joel Richardson is the author of Antichrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah, a bestselling comparative analysis of Biblical and Islamic Eschatology and the co-author of God’s War Against Terror with Former Palestinian, Terrorist Walid Shoebat. Joel has lived and worked in three countries in the Middle East and has been involved in Christian Muslim interfaith dialogue since the mid 90s’. Due to his involvement in interfaith dialogue, Joel has received death threats to his life and to the life of his family. As such, Joel uses a pseudonym whenever writing or speaking on themes related to radical Islam. Besides writing, Joel also travels, giving lectures and seminars on issues such as the threat of radical Islam, Islamic apocalyptic belief and human rights. Joel is also a successful self-employed artist.

You can visit his publisher’s website at www.wnd.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Joel. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

Thanks you. My first book was published through a Print On Demand (Vanity) Publisher called Pleasant Word Books. Pleasant Word is an excellent publisher for Christian authors who have something that they wish to get out there but do not have any previously published books or the energy to self-publish. To my surprise, Antichrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah sold over ten thousand copies in the first two years. For a Print on Demand book, this is virtually unheard of, particularly in light of the fact that I did almost no marketing or publicity apart from my blog an occasional radio interview, all of which sought me out. Why We Left Islam, my second book was a fairly easy project. It is a collection of two dozen stories from those who have left Islam and why they left. Because I am the co-editor and not the “author” per se, there was much less work involved in this book. My third book, God’s War on Terror is co-authored with Walid Shoebat, and was far and away the most involved project that I have yet worked on. The final result is just over 200,000 words, roughly 800 pages. I also have a few books that are partially written which I may or may not complete in the future.

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?

Antichrist was rejected by about five or six publishers before I went with a Vanity Publisher. Had I known about LuLu.com, I would have likely used them.

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

I expected the rejections for several reasons. Within the Christian market, books that are published are most often those that are authored and supported by a minister with a large public ministry and following. In the midst of my frustrations, I did some research and discovered that there are roughly twenty published books that are related to the subject of God and Golfing; gift books or meditations for Christian golfers etc. To me this said a lot about the market that I was trying to break into. As such, while I did give the various mainstream Christian publishers a chance, I was fairly well prepared to self-publish fro the get go. In retrospect, any publisher would have done well if they had taken my book. I knew that it was good and relevant and as such, the rejections didn’t particularly bother me.

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

As I said, I wnet with Pleasant Word Books, because they offered all that I needed: Cover Production, copy editing, warehousing and they also offer book returns which makes it possible for bookstores to carry a POD book.

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

I was happy to be done and to have the book in my hands but I can’t say that I really celebrated. I think I took my wife and kids out to eat and we all celebrated that daddy wasn’t going to be on the computer so much anymore. I also started jogging to shed all of the “book weight” that I had put on.

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

Literally nothing. I started a blog and began posting articles. I made sure that the link to the blog was on the last page in large letters. Because the book took off so well, I soon had quite a gathering of regular readers. Today I have roughly eleven thousand visitors per month from all over the world.

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

I think I would have gone with Lulu.com. I f I had simply created my own cover and done my own editing, which I ended up doing anyway, I would have saved a few thousand dollars. I may not have sold quite as many books, but I would still have done better in terms of expenditures. In the end, nobody compares to Lulu in terms of economy production.

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 learned a lot. The final stages of editing are always the most tedious, but the most crucial. I’ve learned a lot about self-publishing and all that goes into it and certainly some tricks. Having now worked with an agent and having been published by a mainstream publisher, I have also learned several lessons there as well. In the end, no matter which way one goes, I think that one should make every effort to produce a work that is perfect and rely as little as possible on anyoe else to “fix” your work. While the editors at World Net Daily did an excellent job, in the future, I will always avoid the mind-set that says, “Oh the editor will take care of that.” Its better I believe to go that extra mile and make your work perfect by your standards and then let the editor catch only those things that you may have missed.

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

I did choose that other profession, which is an artist. I love painting and hate writing. But because I write about sisues that I am very passionate about, and feel are very important, I have the ability and drive to push through and get the work done. But I would always rather be painting.

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

I hope that I never have to give up my art. It will always be my first love.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Ideally, I would love to see myself and my family freed up to travel and work with orphans and the persecuted Church in the third world.

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

Some people say that one can either read or write. I disagree. I believe that if one wishes to write that they must also read. Read everything that there is to read about the entire process. I will not say to “never give up” or any other such platitudes. Instead, if you really dream of being published then make it happen and whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. Someone once said that if you do what you love, then you will never work one day in your life. I say nonsense. If you wish to do what you love, you must work to make that happen. And beyond that, I would also say that you should only write about that which you are passionate about. Write about things that matter and all of your efforts will be worth it.

Happy Mother’s Day!

To my mother who left this realm 35 years ago and to all mothers still sticking it out and trying the best they can to become the most wonderful mothers in the world…

Happy Mother’s Day!

Interview with Historical Fiction Author Andrew Jalbert

Award winning freelancer Andrew Jalbert has been a professional archaeologist and scuba instructor for over 15 years. During that time, he has worked throughout the Great Lakes, the Caribbean, Central America, Southern Africa, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii. His work focuses on tropical subjects–both above and below the water–and he is a regular contributor to scuba diving, natural history, fitness, and travel magazines. Andrew currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin. You can visit his website at www.jalbertproductions.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Andrew. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

Although I have been publishing articles in magazines for the last ten years or so, West Across the Board is my first book, as well as my first work of fiction. I am working on a second novel that–with some luck–should be completed in early 2009.

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

When I was in my early 20s, I started work on a book titled, “Within.” At the time, I was working for an archaeological research company that was excavating a turn of the century burial site near a poor farm that housed victims of the Spanish influenza. I often wondered about the stories behind the people whose bones we were analyzing and began work on a fiction piece that chronicled several people from the time of contracting the illness to their deaths and later, the archaeologists who uncovered them. I still think it was a pretty good story, but the truth is, I was pretty young and hadn’t yet developed the writing skills necessary. It still sits on my hard drive and one of these days, I’ll think about revisiting it.

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 recall, my rejections numbered somewhere around 70. While that number sounds high (and it is) I’ve heard countless stories of successful authors whose numbers were much higher. Needless to say, it can be an extremely humbling experience!

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

This is a great question, and one I’m sure every author has struggled with. I think the task of finding a publisher can be as daunting as writing a manuscript, perhaps even more so. Chances are, most authors write a book because…well…they’re writers. But being a writer doesn’t make you a marketer. Writing a book and marketing a book to a publisher are two very different animals. In my case, I made countless mistakes during the marketing process, however I learned something from each of them and I feel confident that when I pitch my next novel, I will be more prepared.

In hindsight, writing and trying to publish my first book was a great test of my tenacity. As a freelance writer, I’d already been exposed to rejection letters and managed to push through them to become a regular contributor to several magazines. But when I decided to write and pitch a novel, I wasn’t prepared for the quantity of rejections. There was a period of several months in which I seemed to get at least one “dear author” rejection letter every day. And using the word “letter” is being generous. Often, the rejections would be a Xeroxed, quarter sheet of paper (mailed back to me with the postage I provided) with a few sentences saying they weren’t interested.

After enough rejections, I was faced with an unsettling question: Was my novel any good? I, like so many other writers, had put so much time, energy and thought into it that an answer of “no” was utterly deflating. I may have had a bit of an advantage when faced with this question because I’d published quite a few magazine articles before, but there are only so many rejections you can face before the question is asked. My answer–and ultimately “how I overcame the blows”–was to go with a small POD publisher and see what the readers and reviewers thought before deciding.

Now, a year later, I’m glad I made that decision. Reviews from magazines, newspapers and book reviewers have been very good and the feedback from readers has been touching. I am already well into my second novel and had I given up on the first one, I never would have started.

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

As I just mentioned, I decided to go with a POD publisher. I chose iUniverse because I liked the quality of their products and they offered great editorial services. It was important to me that readers had a variety of easy choices when purchasing my book and iUniverse made it available for sale in several locations including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The only down side is that much of the marketing burden fell on me.

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

Truthfully, the first thing I felt when I opened up my box of author’s copies and picked up the book was relief. I was relieved that it was finished and that I’d seen it through. West Across the Board had made the transformation from an idea to a reality and that was somehow calming. The book was a tangible thing now and I could get to work on marketing and getting reviews. Don’t get me wrong, these things made me nervous, but the process seemed much more controllable. The question I’d talked about earlier (Was my novel any good?) would be answered soon enough, but at least I’d finished it. And that was a lot easier to swallow than never getting it out there and always wondering.

Shortly after its publication, my wife Becky planned a surprise party for me at a local Jamaican restaurant. When I showed up, I found all of my friends and family waiting for me with gifts and copies of the book for me to sign. Writing can be a lonely experience, so having everyone close to me show up with heart-felt congratulations was a great way to start things out.

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

Initially, I did what most authors probably do: I sent emails to everyone I’d ever met asking them to read it. While that sounds like a fairly unambitious first step, it was a good start. Most of them bought it, read it, recommended it to their friends and so on. Within a couple of months, I was going to book clubs that had chosen my novel to read. During this time, I was also contacting book reviewers, magazines and newspapers to review he book which also turned out to be a great marketing strategy.

With an eye on online sales, I also set up pages in popular networking sites such as MySpace and sites that catered to book readers and authors. This too proved successful. By networking with other authors, reviewers and people who had an interest in my novel’s setting (the book takes place in the Florida Keys) I was able to get the word out and ultimately sell more books.

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

Not to sound cliché, but if I knew then what I know now…Let’s just say that I will be taking a more refined approach when pitching my next book. But knowing what I knew at the time about the publishing process (which wasn’t much) I probably did the best I could. I simply needed to be a bit more patient. Writing a book takes a lot of time and when it’s finished (or should I say when I thought it was finished) I was in too much of a hurry to get it out there.

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

Since the publication of my novel, I’ve continued to publish magazine articles and am currently working on my second book. I don’t think it’s possible to go through the process of writing and publishing a book without growing as an author. The truth is, writing is a lot of hard work and the more you do it, the better you get. I’ve become much more aware of my specific strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Consequently, I’ve been able to work on and improve my shortcomings.

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 would have gotten editors and book writing coaches involved much sooner and perhaps most importantly, I would not have submitted work before it was ready. Looking back at some of the work I submitted too early, I often find myself cringing. In spite of this, it was a great learning experience that I hope will pay off in the future.

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

With regards to my novel, I would say that seeking and getting good reviews has been the most validating accomplishment since publication.

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

I’ve always wanted to be a writer and the career path I chose (archaeology–both terrestrial and underwater–and scuba training) provided me with the experiences I needed to start down the path to a part-time freelance career. My very first publication was for a dive magazine. As my specialty for water and tropical related subject matter developed and I traveled to more locations, I branched out into travel, fitness, and natural history magazines. Somewhere along the way, I got the idea for a novel set in the same tropical environments I was writing articles about. So in the end, the careers I chose were a nice fit for someone hoping to make writing a full time career.

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

Although I’ve combined my career with writing, I hope to someday be able to write full time. Realistically, if this were to happen, it would most likely include a combination of freelance writing for magazines and selling novels. I still really enjoy traveling and writing articles and don’t see I time when I phase that out.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

With some luck, I hope to have written a few more books and be living part of the year in the tropics, either the Dutch Antilles or perhaps the Florida Keys. I’ve always been most productive as a writer in those environments (largely because I’m surrounded by the settings I tend to write about) but I’ll just have to wait and see what unfolds. I’m happy where I am right now however, and if nothing changes, I would still count myself lucky.

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

The first thing I would say to aspiring authors is to get others involved. Self-critiquing your work is possible to a certain degree, but in the end, you’ll be best served by working with editors, coaches, and even critique groups. Find someone who will give you honest feedback (and I’m not talking about your friends or your mom!) If you don’t already have an editor (which most first-time authors don’t) you should plan on getting one. There are countless services out there, some better than others. Also, consider a writing coach. With so much time looking at your own work, things are often missed that an outside party will catch. I tried to be as open as possible to their suggestions and in almost every case, they were right on target. Having others involved also makes the process less lonely. It can be un-nerving having someone read your work at first, but if you plan on writing a book for the masses, you’ll have to get used to it.

Finally, I would say that you’ll need patience, endurance, and realistic expectations. Statistics show that only a small fraction of submitted books ever make it to publication. Have a backup plan. If you’ve gone through all the right steps (including having the manuscript professionally critiqued and edited) and you can’t find a mainstream publisher, there are smaller presses and other routes you can take to get the book in print. Keep at it and let the readers and reviewers decide.

Technorati Tags:
virtual book tour, virtual blog tour, guest blogger, historical fiction novel, historical fiction author, Florida Keys, Key West books, chess, fishing books, ocean novels, Caribbean, tropical storms, Andrew Jalbert, West Across the Board
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

Interview with Karen Harrington, Author of JANEOLOGY

Karen Harrington is a Texas native who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Her writing has received honors from the Hemingway Short Story Festival, the Texas Film Institute Screenplay Contest and the Writers’ Digest National Script Contest. A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, she has worked as a speechwriter and editor for major corporations and non-profit organizations.

She authored and published There’s a Dog in the Doorway, a children’s book created expressly for the Dr. Laura Schlessinger Foundation’s “My Stuff Bags.” My Stuff bags go to children in need who must leave their home due to abuse, neglect or abandonement.

She lives in Dallas, TX with her husband, two children and two sneaky dogs.

JANEOLOGY is her first novel.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Karen. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

My debut novel is Janeology and it’s 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?

I wrote a novel years ago called Going Native about a soldier who switched dog tags with a dead man and chose to stay behind in Vietnam, allowing his family to believe he had died in the war. John Irving said that the first novel is really an experiment to see if you can actually write a novel. That was true for me. I felt a great deal of satisfaction in completing this first novel. I don’t know that I’ll ever try and have it published, though I do sometimes toy with the idea of rewriting it, incorporating the current political environment and changing it from Vietnam to Iraq.

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?

There were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty to forty ‘no’s’ before I got a ‘yes.” At least half of those were from agents.

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

Kinda heartbroken at first. I loved having my manuscript out for consideration because I could always hope that someone would find it and respond to it. If I had a mailbox full of no’s I just turned around and sent it out again so I could keep that feeling of hope. Instinctively, I knew not to take it personally. I don’t like every book I’ve ever read. Everyone’s tastes are different. And I always repeated to myself “God is my agent.” Really! I knew when it was the right time, it would happen.

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

My book, Janeology, was just published last month by Kunati Books. Of course, I sent this manuscript to a lot of publishers. The wonderful thing about getting published by Kunati was that I really understood why it was THIS publisher that responded. All of its books are bold and provocative – that’s not just their slogan. So when I was accepted there, I remember thinking, “My book is in the right place, the right home.”

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

Don’t you find that most celebrations of this kind involve food? For better or worse, mine do. My friends took me out for fajitas and margaritas the day I signed my book contract. Like all wonderful achievements, publication meets the expectations you had, but then it has other elements you didn’t expect (under the heading of “Oh, I wish I’d known that before!”)

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

First, I set up my website so I could begin blogging, posting excerpts and having a “store front” to direct people to. Second, I created a bookmark to use as a business card. Sometimes it’s simpler to hand someone a card with a brief description and your website than describe a whole book. Like most writers I know, I’m naturally shy so this step has been invaluable.

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

No way. I’m a firm believer that the universe conspires to place you where you need to be at the moment you need to be there. At the same time my book was coming out, a good friend of mine had his book coming out from a big New York publishing house. We’ve traded experiences from my small press to his large company. Certainly, there are key differences in what each firm can accomplish. But one of the key differences is that I’ve had almost daily contact with my publisher – ranging from news and advice about the industry to specifics about my novel. I honestly cannot think of a better first-time author experience.

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

No, my second novel hasn’t been published. Funny thing, I thought it was ready to be submitted months ago. But the way I’ve grown reflects the fact that I now understand why and how it’s not ready, how I can refine it even more, how I’ve discovered ways to up the ante on this story. And more importantly, I can now better see my own writing as a “reader.” That’s a gift I wish I had years ago.

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 think I could have sped up the process. I had to grow and learn. But the single biggest thing I did to help myself was to hire a professional editor to review and edit my manuscript. Once I saw her edits and the questions she asked to make me go farther into the story, I knew my story was rising to the next level. And it did. Two months after I completed those edits and sent the revised manuscript out, two publishers called.

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

Putting to use the business acumen I developed in corporate America. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the last five years, which is a wonderful job. But now, I am bringing back many of the skills and talents I once used everyday and putting them to work for myself.

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

I worked as a speechwriter for a number of years. I find myself missing that role from time to time. If the opportunity every presents itself, I might return to it, especially in the political arena. Speechwriting is such an interesting art form. I’d almost like to see what I could do with it now that I’ve been writing fiction for so long.

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

Boy, I’m running the risk of sounding very corny, but the answer to that is this: I don’t think one can give up being an author anymore than she can give up being brown-eyed. If you have a drive to write, you write whether it makes you a living or not. Maybe that writing will be done for a company or a fictional story, but you’ll always be a writer.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Interestingly, I have discovered that the fourth or fifth novels of my favorite writers were their masterworks. In ten years, I’d like to think I’m on the same path of those I admire. And, I wouldn’t mind being on that path, say, near the ocean.

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

Begin.

Trust the moment when you know instinctively you are on to something in your story. You will have to return to that day many, many times to keep going.

Hire an editor as least once. It’s like taking a master’s class on your novel. You may be good, but she can make you better.

Keep sending out your manuscript. Always have it out there for consideration.

Stay humble.

Interview with R. Leigh, Author of THE WINDS OF ASHARRA

Author R. Leigh is a mystery to local neighbors, appearing enigmatic and ageless, and wearing an ever present red crystal pendant. Some have guessed this author’s secret other-worldly origin, speculating that the tales of Asharra might somehow be true. Outskirts Press does not confirm this and will not comment on rumors that the manuscript for this novel appeared in their offices out of nowhere.

You can visit her website at www.thewindsofasharra.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, R. Leigh. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

Thank you. My published novels are 3 Passports to Paradise , a science fiction novel published in 1999 (now out of print) and The Winds of Asharra, a combination fantasy and romance novel, just recently published. I’ve also done a handful of sci-fi/fantasy short stories for obscure regional markets.

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 shopped 3P2P around to a couple of publishers before deciding to go with an obscure startup micro press so the rejections were few. Given the brief length of 3P2P (really more of a novella), I quickly decided that it might be more appealing to a smaller niche publisher.

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

I look at rejections a little differently than most people. While I still might be subject to a brief flash of frustration, to me, it is all about the book finding its “proper” audience. If a particular venue is not “right”, it might have far more to do with the particular style or type preferred by a publisher than anything to do with the individual novel submitted.

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

3P2P was published in 1999 by a small micro press which is now out of business. It was a startup which aimed to target new sci-fi authors. That seemed to be glove fit at the time.

Ten years later, I chose to self publish the 600 page opus, The Winds of Asharra (with Outskirts Press) because I instinctively knew that I had created something very difficult to classify. It has more than enough fantasy elements (intelligent trees, evolved felines, musical dragons, etc..) to be considered a fantasy, but enough sizzle to be seen as a romance (with multiple happy couples by the end). It also spends considerable time outlining a complicated alien philosophy and culture . In short, it would appeal to several different demographics across genres (fantasy, romance, New Age) but it would be difficult to market due to this very reason. I did not even attempt to pitch it to traditional publishers as of result of this.

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

I was of course elated at the prospect and I recall that my spouse and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant, something expensive with all of the trimmings. I can’t recall more since it was so long ago, but I can still recall the feeling of elation and euphoria.

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

No, but perhaps I would have chosen a publisher who would still be around, one with more resources to support the work.

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

Publishing The Winds of Asharra in late March has been a monumental event in my life, both as an author and as a person. I definitely did grow and change significently during the almost ten year gap between novels. When I was “away” from writing during that time, I was experiencing life in many unusual ways and in several unusual locales, amassing experiences and widening my viewpoint on life in general. That was more than evident when I felt compelled to write The Winds of Asharra (called WOA by its fans).

If my first novel had been crafted by the numbers, a serious product of one hemisphere of my brain, then WOA was the complete opposite. It flowed freely from me, almost effortlessly, in direct contrast to the previous novel. Given the fact that WOA is 608 pages, compared to the paltry 178 of the previous work, I found that amazing.

Yet, more important to me was the fact that WOA was something of a nexus for development in my life (and even the life of my spouse). The Winds of Asharra, is not only a combination fantasy and romance novel. It also contains a complex fantasy philosophy (the Asharran ways) and culture. I confess that my own worldview (and that of my spouse) is a mirror image of the mystical yet optimistic ways of the Asharrans. If my talents as an author grew at all in those ten years, it is reflected not only in the unique characters and setting in WOA (making it difficult to even properly classify) but also the underlying worldview both in the novel and my own life, thanks to my life experiences.

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?

Actually, other than picking a publisher that would have remained solvent, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. At that point in my life I was writing with my head and not my inner being. I was a different person then and my decisions were in tune with who I was, someone following the established rules (especially when they made sense). I don’t think anything could have increased the speed of things since I had to grow as a person and I simply did not have the depth of life experiences at that time.

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

Since I am now following an Asharran type of worldview, one of non-competitiveness (perhaps a bit rare for an author) my accomplishments are subtle inner ones rather than grandiose outer ones. Just feeling that there is a “world” and a “cast of characters” so rich and complex at my disposal thanks to WOA, ready to share their adventures in future novels, is my proudest accomplishment.

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

Difficult question. Perhaps college professor as I like to talk as well as write (can’t you tell?)

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

I am thrilled where I am now and content on a variety of levels. If it sounds almost mystical then you are reading it correctly. While WOA can be viewed as pure entertainment or perhaps as a genre bending work, appealing to both fantasy and romance fans, it is also much more. While intended to be entertainment, it also speaks to the reader and reassures him/her not to give up their ideals. We say in the book (in Asharran terms) that the only way to fail is to give up. By that definition, I know I will not fail.

I suppose long winded book promotion might qualify as pseudo-professorial but seriously, I would not change anything. I am thrilled with what I am doing.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

With any luck, I will be working on number 10 in the Winds of Asharra series. It is odd and perhaps due to the strange and easy way that WOA flowed onto my computer, but I honestly have no desire to write any other locations or characters. I have found a universe that is truly Home (the very definition of my world, Asharra) and I think it would take at least ten years to fully explore all of the nooks and crannies that my characters are pointing out to me.

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

Sure. Appropriately, it’s also something that the main character is told: Learn as much as you can, and then spend as much time forgetting it all. After learning the nuts and bolts of your craft, learn to trust your inner mind and your heart. Don’t write about what you know. Write about what you feel. For me, that is the adventure, the romance and the optimism of the world of Asharra. As my characters say, I’ve allowed myself to be carried along by the Winds, and in doing so, anything is possible. Again, you can only fail if you give up. There is no other definition for me.

Thanks for having me here.