J.W. Nicklaus resides in a place not entirely fit for human habitation about five months of the year. No pets to speak of, only the apparitions from which all romantics suffer.

An Arizona native, he’s been from one coast to the other, and a few places in between. College brought an AA in Journalism with a minor in Photography, and a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications. His work experience has run the gamut from Creative Director for a small advertising firm in Tucson to a litigation support bureau in Phoenix (and assuredly some awkward stuff in the mix).

Snow has been featured prominently in his stories, perhaps because of the seasonless cli-mate he lives in. Nature was meant to be enjoyed and experienced, not hidden from the senses. So to that end, he hopes someday to live amongst those who are able to live through four true seasons, and not just blast furnace and warm.

He enjoys the occasional Arizona Diamondbacks game with his son, as well as watching him grow up. The experience of being a single dad has taught him far more about himself than he ever thought possible.

Within the expanse of every waking moment, he hopes his guardian angel keeps its arms open wide and heart ever watchful, for there but for one true Hope goes She.

For more about J.W. visit www.avomnia.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, J.W. 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)?

First time having a book published. I’ve had two other poems published in anthologies, but never any of my stories. It is indeed a huge thrill, but an equally large task to promote. I find I’m learning volumes about the industry at large.

The book’s title is The Light, The Dark, and Ember Between. It’s a series of short stories woven into an invisible tapestry of Hope and Love. Yes, I confess to being a hopeful romantic.

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

The Light, The Dark, and Ember Between is my first book. I’m very fortunate to have found a publisher who will work with a new author. There’s a staggering amount of work involves, but if ever there was a labor of love this is 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?

There were a few small publishing houses that passed on it, mainly because they felt it didn’t satisfy their market niche. I can understand that—the basic “we like your work but it’s just not what we’re looking for right now.” One of them declared that “nobody reads short stories anymore.” That one response was what propelled me forward, to persevere and keep searching. I may not sell thousands of copies, but I know for certain I’ll find people who love a good short story as much as I do.

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

Since I bypassed the traditional slush pile route I didn’t have to encounter all that. That’s not to say I believe my stories will be for everyone, but it’s not everyone I’m shooting for.

There’s a part of me that feels a tinge of guilt for not having put myself through the wringer as many other do. There is certain value in learning from constructive rejections, but the more writers I talk to about it the more I hear that there’s a whole lot of one sentence responses—if they’re lucky to get that. If I believe my stories will entertain, and I’m willing to enter into the fray and acquire the experience of self-promotion, then why not?

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

I wound up contacting a number of small publishers, and a few of them wanted huge sums of money, while others looked like they would print anything at all as long as it contained words. I ended up going with ABP (American Book Publishing) and have been very pleased with their work and involvement thus far. My editor (M.A. Marazzi — thanks MaryAnn!) was wonderful to work with, and the design staff have been responsive and a delight.

Ultimately, it came down to my research and my gut feelings. So far, my gut’s been right.

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

I kept my emotions in check for a long time. I didn’t tell anyone around me until I knew with absolute certainty the manuscript had made it to the printer and my copy would be on its way. I suppose I felt that if I talked it up way ahead of time, and something unforeseen happened, I’d internalize it as a massive failure on my part. Now, of course, anyone who knows me knows about the book!

When I received my copy I treated it with delicate respect. I live alone so I was able to open the package and very thoughtfully browse through it, admire the cover and typesetting. I recall a tremendous sense of quiet fulfillment. If I achieve nothing else of this order in my life I feel I have left something good behind in my wake.

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

I’m in the midst of that now. I’ve created my own small website (www.avomnia.com), and the book is absolutely part of that, but I’ve also provided other samples of my writing as well. I’ve tried to keep it aesthetically pleasant but small enough to make it easy to load and read. I’ve placed the link to it anywhere I can put it. I’ve also created my own bookmark to use for promotions as well. I know just enough about how to use Photoshop that I was able to design it myself, which saved a lot of time, and certainly some money.

I also blog as time permits (still have to pay the rent, ya know!). My virtual book tour is another way I’m hoping to get my name out there. I’m also looking at doing some events at local independent book stores and am hoping to be able to do podcasts and author interviews. I have a book trailer as well, which actually surpassed my expectations, even though it’s incredibly simple it’s elegant in its simplicity.

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

No, I don’t believe so. Any products that I’ve ever had good word-of-mouth advertising about have been as good as the word. Doesn’t matter if it’s restaurants, a television show, or a good book—it’s always better to have strong personal advertising. It’s also the cheapest ;^)

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

I haven’t been published for a second time yet (unless you count the poems published before this book). I find that with every new story I write, or even as I read other people’s blogs or books, I can’t help but notice a different approach to writing. I’m more critical, but also much looser in my approach. If it felt like work I flat out wouldn’t do it, so I make every effort to keep it enjoyable. I think ultimately that’s what will show in the work.

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’m fortunate in that I have a whole world of resources practically at my fingertips: Bookstores, libraries, the internet. All of them make for a great way to delve in and start piecing things together. So I decided early on to tackle it piecemeal, and not try to eat the elephant in one sitting.

I’ve also had the ‘luxury’ of having a little more time on my side, the wisdom that only maturity can provide. That’s not to say I’m always wise and mature, mind you, but much more so than when I used to sit at my old manual typewriter and bang out stories. I hadn’t any idea back then. Now I have a better grip on things–but there’s still so much more to learn.

As for mistakes, I know for certain I won’t be ordering the fried shrimp at a certain restaurant again. ;^) As for the rest, well, I’m just as susceptible to them as anyone else. I try to learn from them and move on. Not always an easy task.

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

Keeping on top of my promotional research and reading up on what other authors are doing. Actually, perhaps more to the point simply keeping up with everything life throws at me, and still placing daily focus on writing and support for my book.

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

It definitely would be something creative. I remember in college having the opportunity to work in a studio and learn recording techniques. Hour upon hour went by, and I never so much as thought about the time. I had so much fun doing that. Ultimately that’s what I’d love to find, the kind of career where time gets away from me and I couldn’t care less.

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

Being an author has a depth of satisfaction to it that’s hard to paint with mere words. There are few things that imbue that kind of sense of accomplishment. To know that someone, somewhere, enjoyed or was moved by something I wrote is a powerful thing.

I write because I enjoy it, because I have a fondness for language and its ability to affect change. My day job pays the bills and allows me some room to do the things we all enjoy. But writing is a kind of self-imposed therapy, a way to sit and face your demons and embrace your better angels. My day job will never do that.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

The obvious answer is “Ten years older!”. Frankly, I’d like to be doing a lot more writing and having chats like this with a whole lot more folks all over the country. I’d like to have my first full-length novel published in that time as well. A decade seems like a long time, but this first decade in the new millennia is almost over . . . already!

I’d hope to see my son graduate from college and be working wherever he’s most happy.

In ten years, I see myself being able to look back at this year and know that it was just the initial burn to the rocket engine. Perhaps a decade from now I can write and tell you what the view is like after ignition ;^)

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

Dream . . . and don’t let the dreams go fallow. Write to meet your passions. Write for you, for that’s what you will be most proud of. Assuredly you can write to meet a demand, or to be more commercially viable, but you will always look back and wonder “What If?”. Write because it’s what your heart tells you to do. Everything else will follow. And don’t consider age any sort of obstacle. Dreams don’t die with age, only people do.

Have Faith in yourself. When you hit those days of Doubt, see Rule number 1.

Accept that you will hear more from nay-sayers and non-believers than you ever dreamt possible. But within any bed of clams eventually a pearl is found. That pearl’s beauty can far outlast all the barrenness around it. There will be people who like, or even love, your writing. Those are the people whose lives you’ve touched. I’d say that’s a pretty dream, wouldn’t you?