Jimmy Root Jr.

Jimmy Root Jr., author of Distant Thunder: Book One of the Lightning Chronicles is a life-long student of Bible prophecy and has connected ancient prophecies with world events in a fast-paced fiction thriller. Jimmy has been an ordained Pastor since 1982 and has served churches in Nebraska and Missouri. He and his family also served for five years in Colombia, South America as a church planter and educator. He is an alumnus of Central Bible College of Springfield, Missouri, and Southeastern University of Lakeland, Florida majoring in Theology and Cultural Studies. Raised in the Mid-West, Jimmy is an outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. He is an aficionado of the military thriller genre and is an avid blogger as well as an author. More can be discovered about Distant Thunder and the Lightning Chronicles series by visiting his website at: www.lightningchronicles.com.  He also hosts a blog dealing with current world events and their relationship to Bible prophecy at: www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com, as well as a writer’s blog at: www.lightningchronicles.blogspot.com.  His Facebook url is: http://profile.to/jimmyrootjr/

Distant Thunder by Jimmy Root Jr.

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

Thank you. This is my first published work beyond a few articles written for a religious periodical.

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

Distant Thunder was my very first book, and fortunately, it received a contract and will be released on August 10, 2009.

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 dream of seeing one’s work in print is blissful. Actually making it happen is closer to being a nightmare. I sent upwards of two hundred and fifty queries to publishers and agents before receiving three positive responses. Most of my queries went unanswered. All but three were rejected, but of those three traditional publishers, I was able to pick the one that best fit what I was seeking. So, although the process was somewhat stressful, it all turned out as a positive experience in the end.

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

No one likes rejection. But I am the kind of person that uses rejection as a motivation to achieve my goal. I knew what I had written had merit both as a message and as an exciting storyline. It was simply a matter of perseverance.

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

Distant Thunder is being published by American Book Publishers, a smaller traditional publishing company. The contract thay present seemed to be very pro-author, and they go out of their way to find and partner with new unknown authors. In today’s publishing market, unless an author has an established name or a high powered agent, it is practically impossible to be picked up by a major publisher. My experience with ABP has been a delight in most aspects.

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

I suppose the first feeling was relief. As I said, the process was stressful. But seeing one’s work put into a marketable package is exhilarating. I celebrated by giving my first copy away, then taking my wife out for dinner.

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

The first act thing I activity I did was a book signing. I sold about eighty books and signed them all. It was a wonderful way to start, especially since at my second book signing I only sold five or six.

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

I’m not sure if it would be any different if I could do it all over again. As I stated earlier, most traditional publisher will not even consider someone like me. Self-publishing was not an option, nor was the route of a vanity press. I had plenty of opportunity to do both, but I felt traditional publishing was the only option I wanted to pursue.

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

Yes. The second book in the Lighting Chronicles trilogy, A Gathering Storm, received a contract and is in the editing process. I can certainly say that the publishing experience, especially partnering with an editor, has made me a much better writer.

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?

For me, the entire process was a learning experience. I had to research the fine art of writing a query letter, and then figure out how to pitch my book. I know authors who have spent upwards of five or more years pitching their books before finding a publisher. Again, I was fortunate to have been able to find one within three months of finishing my manuscript.

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

I think the biggest accomplishment has actually come with the publishing. I am speaking specifically of using Distant Thunder to build a platform. As the book concerns the fulfillment of ancient Biblical prophecy within the framework of current world events, I was able to build a platform that speaks directly to the accuracy of the Bible. It is something that people want to hear.

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

Actually, my day job is as a member of the clergy. I pastor a fine congregation in a Kansas City suburb and love every minute of it. My writing and my ministry go hand in hand.

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

It is literally the best of both worlds. I am able to use my ongoing experience as a pastor in molding my storylines and characters. Plus, a large part of preaching is storytelling. I am a natural storyteller, so it seemed to be a natural step to begin putting a story to paper.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

The way things are heading I see myself having published the entirety of the Lightning Chronicles series and be well into another extended series in the area of historical fiction. My goal is to develop a story based on the life and times of the Old Testament prophet, Daniel.

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

First, I would tell my fellow writers that their dream is worth pursuing. It takes work, but the reward of seeing your story published is worth the struggle. Second, I would encourage them to persevere. Rejection will come, but use that rejection to refine yourself and your writing. Stick with it. Grow. Don’t give up.

Mississippi native, Sydney Molare’, is a veterinarian who got “bitten” by the writing bug a few years ago. An avid reader (4 – 5 books/week), her aim is to create works she’d like to read herself. Her book collection is as eclectic as she is. This cross-genred author has published books in the short story, mystery/suspense, romance/erotica and young adult/mainstream realms with more to come. Please visit her online at www.sydneymolare.com.

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

I am a published author with five works of my own and appearing in five anthologies with my next anthology to be published January 2008 by Kensington. It’s entitled, Satisfy Me Again. I have been blessed to be published traditionally, self as well as ebooks. Audio is the only frontier I haven’t mastered yet….but it’s coming!

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

Somewhere In America, a collection of short stories, was my first foray into the writing world. But like many others, I have my rejection story. I’d polished (boy, was I naïve as to what polished meant back then) up my stories after friends encouraged me to have them published, sent them off to a big name publisher in New York City and just knew they’d be beating down the door, offering me a six-figure contract in no time. Well…it didn’t happen quite that way. Instead, I got a nice letter back informing me that short stories as a debut were a no, no for an unknown author. Gasp! My best bet was to write a novel then submit it via agent, of course, and even then I might not make the cut. Was I bummed out or what?

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?

Well, the story didn’t end with that rejection letter. I’d been reading (probably too much) on the Web about how to publish your own book. The more I read, the more I liked what I read. So, I spent $600 of my hard earned dollars and went with an outfit that sounded like it had its stuff together—First Books.

Please get up off the floor.

It’s funny now but back then, I believed in them; thought they held the keys to book superstardom. Yeah, right.

Anywho, I mailed off the $600 certified fund dollars and after much wrangling about the cover, the errors they inserted plus additional fees to change the cover to some semblance of what my book was actually about, I had a proof. Yes, 1 book. Was I happy? A little, but the proof had some errors and issues that of course, took more money to correct before it was ready for purchase. I sold ~ 100 through First Books.

I finally wised up, learned the game completely and reissued it under my press: Fishbowl International, Inc.

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

As an overachiever, I am NOT used to rejection. Things tend to come easily so reading this letter definitely took my confidence down a notch or two. I mean, could all my friends and family be lying? Was I really a poor writer?

So I took things back to the drawing board. I got the manuscript edited by eyes other than my own, paid more money for a glossy cover, found a publisher that didn’t ask for my left kidney up front and set up shop. It was a wonderful decision, especially whenever I sell a ton of books at a book fair.

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

As you read before, I was a willing victim of First Books. The ads were polished in an area that was relatively new to all and I was drawn in and willingly consented to any and everything. Never again, though.

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

I felt “accomplished;” like I was truly a writer. I remember calling my mother and taking the book over for her to look at. She “oohed and aahed” then baked me a coconut cake, my favorite.

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

The first thing I did was place some expensive ads in a number of print magazines. I wanted to get the word out and placing ads was a suggestion given. I don’t think I sold a book from the two thousand I spent. Since then, I’ve learned to use the internet effectively. Placing ads on sites that cater to the book I’m pushing at much more reasonable cost. As we live, we learn.

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

Sure. I would have created my company and published from the door. The greatest profit I’ve earned has come from my self-published books. Of course, distribution can be a pain, but the payoff is very nice in the end.

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

I’ve been published traditionally as well as in e-book format since that time. I’ve grown tremendously as an author. I’ve learned networking is the key, rudeness should never be part of an author’s life especially on tour and no one, and I do mean no one, can sell a book you truly believe in more effectively than you could.

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 inundated myself with so many opinions (many conflicting) that instead of sifting through the mass of information, I hoped on the bus with the loudest horn. Which, as is usually true, isn’t always the best fit. I believe that if I had researched the industry thoroughly, found an agent that understood my quirky mind, I may have been a traditionally published author from the door.

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

I won the 2006 Mississippi Best Author Award in Fiction. It was voted on by the public so of course I was honored and beaming as I accepted.

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

I don’t believe I need any more professions. I’ll tell anyone, I already have four jobs—veterinarian, real estate professional (yes, I have licenses in that also), writer and a mother. I’m booked solid…until.

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

I’m dog-paddling and at times, gulping gallons of water, but I’m combining all the worlds.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I plan to be on top of the writing game, traveling all over meeting new fans and enjoying being primarily an author.

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

This is Sydney’s Writer Trinity: patience, persistence and pushing. Patience because timing is everything, as I learned; persistence because like the squeaky wheel gets the oil, the name that is seen often, often gets bought; and pushing because if you don’t take the initiative in your writing career…no one else will. Not a publicist, not an agent, not publisher. In the end, the buck will stop with you so learn it early and act accordingly.