Interview with Self-Publishing Guru Peter Bowerman

Peter Bowerman, a veteran commercial freelancer and business coach, is the author of the 2000 award-winning Book-of-the-Month Club selection, The Well-Fed Writer, and its 2005 companion volume, TWFW: Back For Seconds (both self-published; www.wellfedwriter.com). His books have become how-to “standards” on starting a lucrative commercial freelancing business – writing for businesses, large and small, and for rates of $50-125+ an hour. He chronicled his self-publishing success (52,000 copies of his first two books in print and a full-time living for over five years) in his third book, the award-winning 2007 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living. www.wellfedsp.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Peter. 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)?

Multiple self-published author:

The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less (www.wellfedwriter.com)

The Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds: A Second Helping of “How-To” For Any Writer Dreaming of Great Bucks and Exceptional Quality of Life

(www.wellfedwriter.com)

The Well-Fed Self-Publisher:

How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living. (www.wellfedsp.com)

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

The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less

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 only made a half-hearted effort to land a publisher, leaning toward self-publishing from the beginning. So, I think I got one “non-response” from a publisher (no formal rejections) before taking on the job myself. I have ZERO regrets over my ultimate strategy, as I’ve easily made 4-5+ times as much money by self-publishing than I ever could have through a publisher. All the while keeping control of the timetable, the creative process and all rights to the books (AND related products, which have proved in many cases to be quite profitable in their own right). I’ll give you an example…

What could you create as a companion ebook to sell with your book? After writing The Well-fed Self-Publisher, I assembled a 100-page ebook called The Well-Fed SP Biz-in-a-Box, containing “virtually every piece of marketing material used in the course of marketing my successful titles.” I sell it for $20 extra with my book ($30 standalone) as an automatic ebook download – a steal, according to most buyers, but that makes it an easy “impulse buy.” Other than the time it took to create it, I have ZERO costs.

So instead of roughly $14 net profit on a $20 book sale off my site (still light years better than I’d have gotten through a publisher), in 60-70% of the cases, buyers purchase both, giving me a $34 net profit on a $40 sale (roughly $6 cost for book production costs, plus shipping to me and the final customer.) Sweet.

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

The one “non-response” elicited from me, at most, a “So what? Their loss. My gain.” I had little faith in a publisher to do the best job of marketing my book (NO one will EVER care about your book as much as you will…). When an author is accepted by a publishing house, one of the biggest – and most unpleasant – surprises they have is discovering how little marketing and promotional support that publisher actually gives them, and by extension, how much of it falls to them. Way I figured it, if I was going to have to do most of the marketing myself, I might as well be making most of the money.

Authors seeking a conventional publisher for the books would be wise to consider that publisher in much the same way as an entrepreneur would consider an investor or venture capitalist. Aside from the money that entrepreneur would receive from the VC, would he also expect the VC to do much or ANY marketing of his product? Never. Ditto here. Consider a publisher an “investor” in your book, fronting you the money in return for keeping the lion’s share of the profits, with the overwhelming bulk of the marketing falling to you.

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

Again, I went with the publisher in the mirror… ;) I had a sales and marketing background and figured I could do at least as well, if not a better job of marketing my good than a publisher. And I absolutely believe that with ever fiber of my being today. An author can potentially do anywhere from at least as good to a far better job of shepherding his or her own book to commercial success in virtually every aspect of the publishing process.

Of course, I often hear, “I don’t know anything about marketing and book promotion.” Well, I firmly assert that commercial success as a self-publishing author is far more about a process than an aptitude – far more about a lot of things you have to do than some way you have to be. None of those things are particularly difficult – they just have to get done.

Because I realize most people don’t come from a marketing background, I devoted an entire chapter of TWFSP to developing a “marketing mindset” – minus the angst and stress. NOT book promotion – that’s covered in the bulk of the rest of the book – but rather grasping the fundamentals of sales and marketing to better understand book promotion. Chapter title? “Learning to Love S&M… (Sales & Marketing).” It just feels like the other sometimes…

Of course, my focus isn’t simply self-publishing. It’s profitable self-publishing. Self-publishing by itself, as a process, is obviously feasible. People do it all the time. And in most cases, they do it like clumsy, sloppy clueless amateurs. And as a result, they go nowhere, reach virtually no one, and make no money. Which is why “self-publishing” gets a bad rap – and in the overwhelming percentage of cases, that rap is well deserved.

But your self-publishing story doesn’t have to end that way. Success isn’t easy or cheap, but it’s do-able. I’ve done it and countless others have done it as well.

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

As any successful author will tell you, “Writing the book is the easy part.” The feeling of starting with an idea for a book, turning it into a superior finished product, taking that book to market and ultimately turning it into an income stream that provides a full-time living for multiple years is pretty indescribable.

I actually didn’t have some big release party, but will probably do that for my next book, the updated edition of The Well-Fed Writer, due out in late 2008/early 2009.

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

Promotion starts long before you have a published book in your hand. I launched my first book’s web site (www.wellfedwriter.com) a good year before I had books in hand. I contacted 60-70 web-based entities prior to the book’s release (and roughly 300-350 more in the years since), securing commitments to review my book when it came out. All of which was part of an almost exclusively online marketing approach I too with my books.

As I saw, my book (and all three for that matter) are “niche” books – they’re not going to appeal to the mainstream audience. Bottom line,

if you’re a relatively unknown author of a niche book (or even an unknown author of a mainstream book), by and large, the mainstream media (MSM) just don’t care about you. Go ahead, send endless press releases to already inundated media folks, but your progress on that front will likely be glacial.

I bypassed MSM, opting instead for a 4-step Internet-based approach:

1) Identify target audiences

2) Determine where audiences gather online.

3) Contact sites (request reviews, interviews, placement of a promo blurb, ask to write articles or be a guest blogger (like this!), etc.

4) Take massive action. A few dozen review copies won’t build a full-time income. Think hundreds, and you’ll reap magical word-of-mouth advertising – the gift that keeps on giving.

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

Absolutely not. I’m quite happy with my decision to self-publish. There’s no way I could have generated the income I have through a publisher. In fact, I’ve been contacted twice since the first book came out by two publishers (one a household name), asking if I’d be interested in exploring a publishing deal with them. Not interested. In both cases, after chatting with them, it was clear there was no way they could come close to offering me anywhere near as good a deal as I was pulling off on my own. Not that I wasn’t flattered… ;) Feels pretty good to turn down a publisher.

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

I’ve self-published two more books since then, working on a fourth, and have spun off a bunch of related products/initiatives as well: an ezine (great strategy for keeping your buying public close; now in its seventh year of monthly publication), a blog, ebooks, teleseminars (and accompanying CDs), coaching, speaking, seminars, etc.

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?

The question underscores the reality that most authors perceive themselves to be at the mercy of The Publishing Kingdom. And I disagree. Once within that kingdom, many find that the emperor has no clothes: paltry royalties, up to two years to publication, the loss of creative control and relinquished book rights. And the afore-mentioned “do-it-(almost-all)-yourself” marketing equation. All to earn – in most cases – far less than a buck a book.

I discovered the power of using Interns (to handle the promotional grunt work) on my second and third books, and wish I’d thought of that for my first. Would have saved me a ton of time, and allowed me to focus on the things I had to do. How did I use interns?

I used interns – at about $9 an hour – to build my review copy list for books #2 (TWFW: Back For Seconds) and #3, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher (TWFSP). In both cases, we started from an existing review copy list, building on it by brainstorming other avenues. I set her up with several standard cut-’n-paste email pitches (one for folks on the existing list and a second for new additions).

For each book, over the course of a summer, she built a list of 150 firm Yes’s (i.e., “Yes, we’d love to get a copy of Peter’s upcoming book”), agreeing to promote the book in any number of ways. Along the way, I’d always pick up a handful of invites to speak at this or that conference (paying expenses and speaking fee).

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

As mentioned above, turning a book from idea to income makes you feel pretty good. On a more conventional level, having my first book end up as a selection of Book-of-the-Month Club (and two others), while winning a few awards, felt awfully good. Book two was a triple-award-finalist and The Well-Fed Self-Published snagged two awards as well. Always nice when your work is validated my your peers.

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

Artist or musician (neither of which I’m close to doing!). Just seems like those folks seem to be the most fulfilled (and yes, sometimes, the most messed up!)

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

I think I’ll always write in some form or fashion, so for me, I’d love to combine two together. Yeah. That’d work. ;)

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I don’t make ten-year plans. I follow my interests in all things. I’ve let my businesses evolve on their own terms and at their own pace, minus a lot of goal setting. Sticking too close to The Plan can have you miss out on a lot. So far, it’s worked for me. It’s NOT about drifting aimlessly. It’s about knowing your general direction and moving in that direction in a variety of ways.

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

Yes. Just remember that that day doesn’t have to be in someone else’s hands. If you like the idea of holding the reins of your own publishing journey, know that it’s doable. And if like the idea of following a proven game plan, I invite you to come visit www.wellfesp.com.

ATTENTION: This interview is being brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. As a special promotion for Peter Bowerman’s book, THE WELL-FED SELF-PUBLISHER: HOW TO TURN ONE BOOK INTO A FULL-TIME LIVING, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away one FREE virtual book tour or $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky person who comments on Peter’s blog stops during his virtual book tour in June. Leave a comment below to have a chance to win one of these prizes! For more stops on Peter’s tour, visit www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.

Interview with Relationship Expert Edythe Denkin, PhD., author of RELATIONSHIP MAGIC

Edythe Denkin, PhD, is a Certified Marriage Counselor. Her most recent book, Relationship Magic, is a set of tools in parable form for those wanting to keep or rekindle the love and communication in their relationships. Dr. Denkin understands that “Happily Ever After” does not just come naturally. It takes communication, honesty, and empathy. This book is based on her work with Imago Relationship Theory.

The host of “Catch Your Kids Doing Things Right,” a four-part television series in which she taught many of her techniques to a wide audience, she has been trained and certified as an Imago Relationship Therapist by Dr. Harville Hendrix, best-selling author of Getting The Love You Want, et al.

Edythe is also the author of Why Can’t You Catch Me Being Good?, a best-selling book from Adams Media that shows how to raise self-confident and well-behaved children.

Edythe has embraced a spiritual quest and a personal calling to help people find their childhood triggers and help them reclaim their emotional freedom and happiness.

A graduate of Temple University, Denkin began her career as an Elementary School teacher. She went on to receive her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport, and her PhD from Walden University. She has over thirty years experience as a therapist and relationship expert, specializing in marriage and child therapy, and is also a teacher, coach and motivational speaker. She is a member of the Institute For Relationship Therapy and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Denkin was recently honored by the University of Bridgeport with a Most Distinguished Alumni Award.

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

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

Relationship Magic is my second book. My first book came out in 2000.

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

Why Can’t you Catch Me Being Good? was my first book and it was published.

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 went through over 20 publishers before Adams Media called me to discuss my manuscript.

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

I knew that the book was worthwhile and needed. I just wasn’t going to let their rejections get me down. I wasn’t going to let them stop me. I just kept going until I found a publisher who saw how much the book was needed.

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

I had an agent who was having trouble with his own child and he felt that Adams would be a good fit.

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

It was so much fun. I had a feeling of accomplishing what I set out to do, but I didn’t actually have a celebration, I knew the real work was just beginning.

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 get myself a publicist. It was over $2000 a month and they got me on TV, radio and the newspaper.

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

The whole book industry has changed since 2000 and now I’d be more flexible in my expectations. Today, I have chosen to start my own publishing company, Destiny Press.

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

Destiny Publications has published my next book, Relationship Magic. I am much more confident as a writer now and I have a lot less anxiety about the publicity and marketing. I can get the message out on TV and radio and I feel like I know what I am doing.

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?

Using an agent and working one step as a time was the best way to go. I don’t look at anything as a mistake, but as things I have learned. I learned that once you set a goal, you have to get yourself out there. Never give up.

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

As a therapist, my first book has given me the credibility and respect among my colleagues and my community that I was looking for. I now speak to large groups and am able to get my message out there. That was always my goal.

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

I love being an Imago relationship therapist. It offers me an opportunity to help people make progress in their lives and it is very rewarding.

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

Yes, I have been able to combine them. Both my books and my profession allow me to teach others how to make a difference in their relationships and families.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I will have my own nationally syndicated radio show and be a best selling author and speaker.

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

I say go for it. Never give up. Keep at it until you find the publisher that will see what you see in your book. Winners never quit. Quitters never win.

ATTENTION: This guest post is being brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. As a special promotion for Edythe Denkin PhD.’s book, RELATIONSHIP MAGIC, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away one FREE virtual book tour or $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky person who comments on her blog stops during her virtual book tour in June. Leave a comment below to have a chance to win one of these prizes! For more stops on Edythe’s tour, visit www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.

Interview with Financial Expert James Burns, author of THE 3 SECRET PILLARS OF WEALTH

James is a tax attorney who served honorably in the United States Marine Corps’ Force Reconnaissance (akin to Navy SEAL program). James brings the same commitment and loyalty to his clients that he exhibited when he served our country. He is also CEO of White Diamond Properties, Inc. a real property investment acquisition firm and is on the Advisory Board of Wave Uranium Holdings (WAVU.OB), a development stage company that engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium properties in the United States.

James is on the Advisory Board of Sognari International www.sognari.com/james which is an entrepreneur platform that has famed Michael Gerber involved and they are creating opportunities that are discussed in the book.

You can visit his website at www.3pillarsofwealth.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, James. 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)?

I am published for the first time in a book and I have had published articles before so this is exciting.

My book is the “The 3 Secret Pillars of Wealth.”

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

“The 3 Secret Pillars of Wealth” is my first significant published work and hopeful to do more under the same brand.

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?

After hearing many stories of perseverance in finding a publisher after 23 or more rejections, I determined I would be better served to self-publish and save time. In addition, several of my colleagues that had a major publisher do their book had not control over their book or the ideas that were in them…the publisher retained proprietary control over everything.

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

I didn’t get rejected because I just went forward as a self-published author. The only rejections I have experienced were from publicists stating it was not a right fit or that they like to get started way before the published date which I didn’t really agree with.

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

I published it in league with Arbor Books who has an incredible package to get it done and many luminary authors did their first book with Arbor.

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

It made me feel accomplished and that if I never sold my first run, at least I had accomplished something I set out to do and so many say they would like to do but never get started.

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

I aligned with a company called Sognari International which is a seminar and entrepreneurial platform company. They had done a book singing for Michael Gerber and offered me the opportunity to hold a book signing in their Irvine, California facility. I think I had 150 attendees of which almost all of them purchased a book and the event was taped and broadcasted live on the internet.

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

This is hard to say. I think I have the credentials and the idea is unique enough where I could have attracted a major publisher and had them foot the bill but at the end I would have no control and if the book does well, I will be able to control a future deal.

I think I would have to say no, I wouldn’t choose another route.

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

Again, this is my first outing so stay tuned as I would love to answer this a year from now.

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 could have probably put away a marketing budget but it has to actually be quite large and then hire a great publicist to orchestrate some cross selling with others and get the word out prior to book delivery. However, this might not prove to be worth a lot so I don’t really regret anything.

Can you always avoid disease by having the ounce of prevention? Not always so you have to make sure you have the pound of cure and that’s where I’m at.

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

Attracting the right type of client and being able to just say no to the type of client that is not a good fit for me, my practice and the direction I want to take things.

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

This questions relies on my being able to look for where the grass would be greener and we all know how that works out. I think I am satisfied with my profession and being an entrepreneur allows you to be visionary in order to create value for the public and to continuously morph yourself and become what you want to be.

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 because I could not have authored this book without having been an estate attorney and seen the flaws and difficulties that clients bring to the table as well as the triumphs and then search for that missing denominator that separates the two.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Optionally retired and continuing work that inspires, educates and improves the lives of people.

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

Just member the Nike slogan and just do it. If you allow self-doubt to swallow you up and your inner perfectionist to talk you out of it or fail to release it, you have another form of procrastination which is a disease. I’m out to eradicate this disease since medical science can’t come up with a immunization for it.

ATTENTION: This interview is being brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion. As a special promotion for James Burns’ book, THE 3 SECRET PILLARS OF WEALTH, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour or $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky person who comments. Leave a comment below to have a chance to win one of these prizes! For more stops on James’ blog trail, visit www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com.

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.

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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.

Interview with Don Miles, Author of CINCO DE MAYO: WHAT IS EVERYBODY CELEBRATING?

Don Miles has been News Director for radio stations in New York City, (WPAT,) Connecticut, Florida, Nebraska and finally Texas. He has won “Best Newscast” award from the Nebraska A.P. Broadcasters and his news teams in Florida and Nebraska have won numerous statewide awards. Don has served on the Board of Directors for Florida’s AP Broadcasters and has judged broadcast news contests for UPI Rhode Island. Don has taught at the Universities of Florida and Nebraska, at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and at elementary schools in New York, Connecticut, and Texas.

He is the author of two books in the field of broadcast news, (Broadcast News Handbook and Broadcast Newswriting Stylebook.) He has a Bachelors in Education from State University of New York and a Masters in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida. You can visit his website at www.donmiles.com.  

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

Cinco de Mayo is my third book. I published two books in the field of Radio-TV news when I was teaching broadcast journalism at the University of Florida.

Can you give us the titles of all your books?

Cinco de Mayo: What is Everybody Celebrating? (2007)
Broadcast Newswriting Stylebook (1977)
Broadcast News Handbook (1975)

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

Broadcast News Handbook was written in 1972, after I had finished several years as a news director for a station in New York City. It came out in 1975, just as I arrived at the University of Florida in Gainesville to begin work on my Masters degree in Journalism and Communications. It later became the textbook for beginning broadcast journalists, and was used at Florida and a number of other colleges for many years.

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 gave Broadcast News Handbook to a friend of the family who had worked in executive positions in publishing for a number of years. I never found out how many rejections he received. He just kept mailing the manuscript out. Finally, H.W. Sams publishing company of Indianapolis came out with it in 1975, three years after I had given it to the family friend who was acting as my agent.

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

Fortunately, I never saw the rejections.

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

H.W. Sams of Indianapolis published it. They were recommended by my agent.

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

The publishing executive who was acting as agent came to my house in Connecticut with a copy of the contract and we had a signing ceremony. The spouses and children from both his family and mine were there, and we had a picnic supper. I felt very thrilled. I could hardly believe that it was finally being published. The finished products arrived at our apartment in Gainesville, Florida, a few months later, where we had moved to pursue my Masters degree.

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

I was just starting my Masters’ studies, so I wasn’t in a position to very much promoting. I made up for that within the next year or two when I became a professor and made it the required text for the course I was teaching! It was used at a number of other universities and community colleges.

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

I did have it to do over again, about thirty years later. I approached more than 40 agents with a query letter about a novel in 2004. Almost all of them rejected it or didn’t bother to answer. Finally, one of them wrote on the rejection slip that he’d like to see a nonfiction version of the book. I did one, and then he took it around to more than 30 publishers with no luck.

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

Yes, I came out with Cinco de Mayo in November of 2006. I believe I have grown as an author, because now we are actually talking about a book, not just a manuscript. The reviews and the response from critics, librarians, museum people and educators have been very encouraging. Spanish teachers in several states are field-testing it, along with the manuscript for a Spanish translation. I am confident that it will find its market and become an “evergreen” book, a valuable resource for teachers and students for many years. A bilingual coffee table edition with maps and photos is also planned.

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?

What I did this last time was go to a vanity publisher to at least get a book on the table! Now, when I say I want to come out with a Spanish edition for students and a bilingual coffee table edition with photos and maps for Latin America and the rest of the world, and later with editions of that novel which I set aside in both English and Spanish, I won’t be answering questions like, “What kind of book do you think you might like to write?” We’ll start at the already-published level with great reviews and a newly-designed cover, and talk about an upgrade from there.

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

With the help of a very supportive family and many new friends, I think the biggest accomplishment was being able to start a new life. My wife of 44 years died just before this latest book, Cinco de Mayo, came out. I miss her very much, but we had promised each other that the surviving spouse would get on with a positive lifestyle. The book is dedicated to her memory, and it certainly has helped me keep my promise to her.

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

I’m happily retired, so I don’t have that decision to face. Still, I had a number of very interesting professions along the way. I taught third grade as early as 1958, and found myself teaching it again when I retired in 2001. I worked for radio stations, mostly as a newscaster, in the 50’s through the 90’s, and I taught broadcast news at the college level in the 1970’s and 80’s. The various editions of my book that I’m working on now are more hobby than profession.

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

No, I’m happy being an author for now. Teaching, universities and broadcasting were all interesting and even challenging at times, but I don’t think I would want to return to them at this point.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I’ll be turning 82 in May of 2018. Right now, I can’t imagine what that will be like.  I hope it will be fun!

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

Keep your day job!

Interview with Nancy Oelklaus: Author of JOURNEY FROM HEAD TO HEART

Nancy Oelklaus began her career as a high school English teacher in Marshall, Texas. She earned the B.A. in Communications from Oklahoma Baptist University, the M.A. in English from the University of North Texas and the doctorate in educational administration from Texas A&M University, Commerce. For nine years she served as assistant superintendent for instructional services in Marshall, followed by nine years as executive director for the Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Since 2000 she has worked as an executive coach in Austin, serving entrepreneurial clients in education, social services, financial services, real estate, public relations, and city administration. Dr. Oelklaus has received numerous awards and honors for civic leadership, including the Vision to Action Award from the Visions of a Better World Foundation in Boston. She was named Leader of Leaders by Sam Houston State University’s Department of Educational Leadership and Woman of Achievement by the Business and Professional Women of Marshall, Texas. In 2007 she received the Profile in Excellence Award from Oklahoma Baptist University. Her articles have appeared in publications including The American School Board Journal, The Austin Business Journal, The Systems Thinker, and AustinWoman. Her first book, entitled Journey from Head to Heart: Living and Working Authentically, will be published in March 2008 by Loving Healing Press of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Three coaching CD’s by Nancy are available through Amazon.

You can visit her website at http://www.headtoheart.info/.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Nancy Oelklaus 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)?

Several years ago I self-published a small book of poetry entitled Alphabet Meditations for Teachers. Journey from Head to Heart: Living and Working Authentically is my first professionally published book.

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

I allowed Alphabet Meditations for Teachers to go out of print because I could not devote the time to marketing that it needed for a larger distribution. However, I still have it and may re-publish it at a later time.

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?

For a year I worked with an agent who was taking the proposal to major publishing houses. I lost track of the number of rejections, but I would guess it was around 15, maybe 20. After a year I decided I had to do something differently, so I consulted Irene Watson of ReaderViews.com, who put me in touch with Victor Volkman of Loving Healing Press, a small press in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He liked what he read! The first agent I used was also an intellectual property attorney, and when I took her the contract to review, she said, “This is better than anything I could have gotten for you from the major publishers.”

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

I had been warned to expect rejections. I’ve heard stories about major writers whose work was initially rejected hundreds of times. I had been prepared, so I knew rejection was just part of the process.

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

Loving Healing Press of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although I’ve never met Victor Volkman, president, I have experienced him via e-mail as a kind, patient man. I respect his work; he’s exacting, and he expects a lot from me, and he’s great at giving support and encouragement. When my attorney read the contract he sent, she said he was incredibly fair and obviously very ethical. My publisher has exceeded his promises, and I’ve had only good experiences with him. He delivers on what he promises, usually ahead of schedule.

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

It feels normal—like I’m finally in my own skin. The celebrations begin next week, with a book signing in the place I called home for 25 years. Then we’ll have a celebration barbecue in the place I now call home. It feels good. I know this book represents a significant accomplishment, but I’m more interested in getting it into as many hands as possible so that it helps people.

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

The very first thing was to have excerpts published in a local monthly magazine.

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

No, I wouldn’t. I just kept taking the next step. And then the next. And the next. And before I knew it . . . .

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

My confidence has grown, and I’m now planning to write my next book.

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

I wish I had done something early on to boost my confidence. Because of some of the “horror stories” I had heard, I often doubted whether my work would ever be published at all. I also had a lot of fear about whether or not my husband would accept my decision to be an author. As it turned out, all of my fears were groundless. I also think I could have saved time if I had not been so intent on finding a major publishing house. That’s just ego stuff, and I know better. But it was difficult to get unstuck from that pattern of thinking.

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

My greatest sense of fulfillment has come from the responses of people who have read the book. Their words tell me it has fulfilled its purpose to help people have happier, more meaningful lives.

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

I am a teacher. I started my career as a teacher of high school students. Then I was a teacher of teachers. Then I was a teacher for leaders, which I still do through coaching. Now my book, JOURNEY FROM HEAD TO HEART: LIVING AND WORKING AUTHENTICALLY, is teaching for me.

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, and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

As I see myself today—living a good, healthy life, coaching leaders, speaking, and writing books.

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

Hold fast to the dream. Make the internal changes necessary to bring that dream into your current reality. Consider these words from Carl Jung: “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”

 

 

Interview with Woman Entrepreneur Karin Abarbanel

Karin Abarbanel is an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and an expert on start-up strategies for women. In addition to Birthing the Elephant, Karin is the author of three other how-to guides. She speaks frequently on women’s entrepreneurship and served as spokesperson for Avon’s “Corporation to Cottage” program. Karin has appeared as a guest expert on ABC TV’s “Good Morning America,” CNBC, and WCBS. You can visit her website at www.birthingtheelephant.com.  

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Karin. 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)?

I have published five how-to guides, including:

Birthing the Elephant
The Dollar Bill Knows No Sex
How to Succeed on Your Own
The Woman’s Work Book

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 the Woman’s Work Book, a pioneering career guide that explored job-finding resources for women.

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?

Actually, I worked as a writer for hire on my first book and so a book packager had already made a deal with the publisher.

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

I’ve found that it’s best not to dwell on the rejections. I really work hard to focus on the value of what I’m writing and I just feel that the people rejecting me really don’t “get it” and so if the book isn’t for them, then they aren’t for the book!

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

It was published by Praeger, which no longer exists. I worked with a book packager who made the publishing deal before I came on board.

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

It was a wonderful feeling! I just loved holding the book in my hands and realizing that all my hard work was onw concentrated in one powerful little package. I went out to dinner with my family and my boyfriend, who I later married.

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

I didn’t know much about promotion – I was so green I thougjt the publisher would handle this. Whoops!

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

I don’t think so. It was very satisfying to be published by an established publisher. I was in my mid-20s at the time, and I was very excited by the idea of having a book out.

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

I’ve learned much more about both the writing process and the marketing process as well. I used to wait for my muse to show up and she was often on vacation. I learned the hard way that when you show up, so does your muse! I have also learned much more about marketing and this is vital as an author. I’ve gotten very involved in Internet marketing for “Birthing the Elephant” – and find it to be very empowering. You can do a lot very cost effectively and really benefit from viral marketing.

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

I think I could have worked harder on my proposals. I’ve learned that putting together a really strong proposal makes writing the actual book much easier.

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

I have been working on a play and I had a staged readig for it, which was very exciting for me.

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

Probably psychology or poetry therapy for children.

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

I love being a writer and I think I can pursue these other career ideas as well in some form.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I see myself writing fiction and plays in a beautiful home by the sea!

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

If you really have the desire to be published, then stay with it!

Believe that what you have to say is worthy of being read – and find people who believe in your dream to help you. Write on!

FROM BLANK PAGE TO BOOK SHELVES by Theresa Chaze

Theresa Chaze has been described as a woman who has the courage to play with dragons. In her fantasy worlds, magic, suspense and karmic justice combine in tales of horror. She has two books in print, Awakening the Dragon and Dragon Domain–Books One and Two in the Dragon Clan Trilogy. She has also released three ebooks. Out of the Shadows and into the Light is a Wiccan Book of Shadows that has prosperity, protection, love and justice rituals. Nict For Ure Selfe (Not For Ourselves) a suspenseful tale of betrayal as traditions and love are tested by the changing times and greedy men whose lust for power continued into their next incarnations. Alyssa finds herself to be a target of violent obsession. In desperation, she performs a karmic ritual so that she may understand his hatred. From Blank Page to Book Shelves–How to Successful Write and Market Your Book contains writing tips, publishing information and ways to inexpensively market your book. She is also a publishing consultant and publicist, who helps other authors successfully publish and promote their work. You can visit her website at www.theresachaze.com.  

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Theresa. 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)?

I have two books in print: Awakening the Dragon-Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy and Dragon Domain–Book Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy.

Three ebooks: Out of the Shadows and Into the Light, Nict For Ure Selfe (Not For Ourselves) and From Blank Page to Book Shelves-How to Successful Write and Market Your Book.

I also have a free ebook available on my site called Sisters Mothers Daughters; it is a book of short stories that deals with the complicated relationships between women. My site address is www.theresachaze.com

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

Awakening the Dragon is a fantasy novel that contains authentic Wiccan magic, specifically dragon magic. Rachael, the main character, is forced to awaken her dragon spirit prematurely to save herself and her loved ones from a violent cult.

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?

After doing the research and being conned by two publishers, I created Valkyrie Publishing. It publishes my work and helps others successfully publish themselves. Eventually I would like to create a brick and mortar publishing house, but at this point I simply don’t have the resources to do it properly.

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

It depended on the rejection. Form letters are never fun to receive; however, they are much better than not being acknowledged at all. If an editor takes the time to write comments, even if they are negative ones, it is proof that your work has merit. Marion Zimmer Bradley once ripped me a new one, but she ended the note saying that she knew I could do better. It was a wonderful gift.

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

I’m not sure how I should answer this. For Out of the Shadows and Into the Light, I chose the ebook format because of all the graphics. It is heavy with bright colors and pictures that would make it too costly for print. Nict For Ure Self is an ebook because it is too long for a short story and too short for a print novel. From Blank Page to Book Shelve is an an ebook to make it cost effective. So many writing and marketing books are more costly yet they contain the same information. Those that buy the ebook from my site will also receive a copy 345 page list of independent bookstores across the country.

Awakening the Dragon and Dragon Domain–Books One and Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy are in print because they are good stories with great characters. In their pages, magic, suspense, and romance come together in tales of horror. Like Marion Zimmer Bradley, the female characters are strong individuals who are willing to face their inner fears and darkest passions.

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

It was amazing. Holding the finished product in your hand, is proof that you can do anything, especially after not only writing it, but typesetting and creating the cover.

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

Promotion is never a one time deal. It is something that needs to be continuous. The first thing I did was find reviewers and start writing press releases. People can’t buy it if they don’t know about it.

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

Yes. I would have started Valkyrie Publishing early. It would have saved me close to a thousand dollars that would have been better spent elsewhere.

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

Yes. Every project gets better. I also publish a free ezine called Messages From the Universe. At this time it is only available from the Yahoo group of the same name and on my site at www.theresachaze.com.  With each project, I learn more and am capable of making a better product as well as promoting it better.

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 could have asked more questions and trusted my instincts more. A few computer classes wouldn’t have hurt either.

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

Learning how to typeset and create covers is a biggy. But also learning how to use search engine keywords; they make my press releases more valuable and capable of attaining higher rankings.

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

Television producer or working in broadcasting–or maybe even teaching English. I gave a seminar at the local library on publishing. It was an amazing time and the people seemed to get information out of it.

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

No. I would like to combine them and in a way I have. As part of doing promotions, I create effective book trailers.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I see myself as a best selling author with a profitable publishing house.

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

Have faith in yourself and don’t give up. Sometimes that’s all you have, but when the success comes it’s just that more wonderful. If you listen to the sensible people, you will never know what you are capable of doing, because you never really tried.

Interview with Nonfiction Author Abe F. March

Abe March was a self-made businessman for the better part of his career. Whether promoting consumer products or doing consultant work across the globe, he took the risks necessary to succeed and weathered many ups and downs in his career. His business ventures led him from Pennsylvania, via Canada, Greece and Germany, to Lebanon and the Middle East 1973-1977. His book describes these business and personal experiences and other entrepreneurial pursuits. The book, To Beirut and Back, was written to inform. It was intended to provide a western perspective to a continuing struggle for peace and security.

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

I am a first time author with other books in process.

Can you give us the title of your book?

“To Beirut and Back – an American in the Middle East.”

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

My very first book was a children’s book. I tried to get it published and after many rejections, I just filed it away. Just this past year, my daughter suggested I try again. And, I’m pleased to announce that after 30 years I now have an Agent for this book and there is a publisher interested in 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?

That is a good question. I had written my manuscript and worked on it over the years, and decided to just keep it as a family journal. My daughter asked to read it, and then asked if she could show it to someone else. The response was that I should seek publication. So I got on the Internet and saw where a publisher was open to submissions, and sent a synopsis. I got an email back asking for the entire manuscript. Two weeks later, I was informed that they would publish my work. I was shocked. I never expected it to be published but to be rejected. I had heard all those stories about rejections and that was the reason I was so surprised. Of course there was much work to be done in editing to make it ready for publication.

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

My first book was published by Publish America. I knew nothing about them, either positive or negative. As I mentioned before, I saw their name on the I-Net and sent in the synopsis per their guidelines.

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

I was naturally elated. I shared this with my family and friends who were thrilled for me.

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

I made a list of those who I wanted to be notified about my book. Secondly, I notified my hometown newspaper about it and they were sent a Press Release about my book.

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

Yes. I think I would have done more investigation about prospective publishers and their reputation. On the other hand, if I had experienced too many rejections, perhaps I may have given up the pursuit. The fact that the door was opened for me re-awakened the desire in me to write.

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

I have co-authored an historical romance novel and that is being handled by my co-author. I have just completed another book and now seek an agent or publisher for my work. I know what I have written is a good story and it needs to be published. I therefore will be persistent until I succeed. I think timing is important as well as finding the right agent or publisher that is interested in the genre of the book.

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

I think that I would have made a plan just as one would approach a business project. It is the same thing. Of course, like most people who have no knowledge of the business or the pitfalls, trial and error is usually the way most people go. With a bit of knowledge about the business and learning from others who have paved the way, one can save a lot of time and costly errors.

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

I have received recognition in the international arena for my work. My name is now recorded for posterity and can also be found in Wikipedia.

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

I would have gone into the teaching profession. I love history and tha