Gary Starta is a former journalist who studied English and Journalism at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He cites Stephen King and Dean Koontz as inspirations for his 2007 novel ‘Blood Web’ which is also reminiscent of the X-files television/movie series. The follow up novel to ‘Blood Web’ – 2009’s ‘Extreme Liquidation’ – explores Caitlin Diggs’ supernatural gifts including the ability to see the future in dreams and to read a person’s character through emotions. Latest sci fi novel, Gods of the Machines, and all other books now available via http://www.garystarta.net or at Amazon.com
INTERVIEW:
Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Gary. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?
A: I have seven novels at present published, scattered between various publishers.
Q: What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?
A: It was published and entitled: What are you Made Of?
Q: For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?
A: I went through many agency rejections and then decided to publish with a small press so I could get my work out in the universe so to speak.
Q: How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?
A: It’s never fun but it eventually fuels me to continue my publishing quest. You have to realize almost anyone who ever wrote has gone through this at one time or another.
Q: When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?
A: I consider my first book with a small, independent press to be Blood Web with Charles River Press. I had contacted the publisher via the Internet and continued the entire process including contracts, editing and publishing online. The publisher definitely seemed to get what I was trying to do, create a paranormal suspense story. I was pleased with the editing process, although it was rigorous, and the great cover art provided. Many small publishers are criticized about lack of editing and cover art but I think this is one example that shows those criticisms are part of a bias.
Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?
A: I was ecstatic to say the least. To know that your idea, your characters are coming to life (in people’s imaginations of course) is electrifying. I usually celebrate by reading or watching more science fiction.
Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?
A: I made some post cards with the cover art logo and where readers could find my website.
Q: If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?
A: I don’t think so. I think I would have appreciated the knowledge about promotion I seem to have recently acquired. I could have used it more effectively – hopefully – back then. So it’s not so much about the publisher as how are you going to make your title visible to readers.
Q: Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?
A: I have seven books now. Again, I must say learning the promotion process goes hand in hand with being an author and that it is just as important as writing if you want people to read your stories.
Q: Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?
A: I don’t think I could have rushed anything. Part of being an author is maintaining a bottomless reservoir of patience. It will always take time to create your book. After that, another time allotment must be made to send queries and samples to agents and publishers. That’s why you’ve really got to love your stories; they’re going to be around a while, not only in your mind, but throughout the submission, rejection and acceptance process.
Q: What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?
A: I recently gave a blog cast radio interview for Jennifer Chase, an acclaimed crime writer. It was great to speak, rather than just write lol, and have someone as accomplished as her give me her time.
Q: If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?
A: I wish I could write full time. There definitely is no other choice.
Q: Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?
A: I have to write part time simply as a matter of economics. Again, my dream would be able to devote myself totally to the art.
Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?
A: I believe I may still be writing, just as long as the ideas keep flowing. Five years ago I might not have thought I would have written ten novels, but I have, with the eleventh in process. So I have three more completed novels to submit right now.
Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?
A: You must stick with your passion, make time for it, and above all, love it like it is an extension of yourself – which it often is!







are also in print or scheduled for print and all of them are available as e-books. He produces a very popular monthly newsletter, discoursing on various subjects brought up by fans or by his own voracious reading habit, written in an informal, narrative style. It is available around the first of each month from his web site at 











