Evolution of a Sad Woman: Interview with Mystery Suspense Author Gale Laure

Gale Laure, a native Texan, is the international selling author of Evolution of a Sad Woman, a mystery, suspense, thriller  and romance novel .   She resides in a small suburban town in the Houston area with her husband and family.  Laure’s hobbies include genealogical research, movies, creating stories for the children around her, involvement in her church and people watching. As mysterious as her  book, Laure writes under a pseudonym.  Adamant about maintaining her privacy and the privacy of her family, she keeps her identity a mystery!

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

Hello.  I am so pleased to be here.

Yes, I am a first time published author.   My debut novel is Evolution of a Sad Woman.

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

My debut book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, is a mystery, suspense, thriller and romance novel.  It is published selling as a trade paperback, ebook and Kindle ebook.

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 do not remember exactly how many.  I had saved my rejection letters but they were ruined by hurricane Ike when my home was destroyed.  There were quite a few though.  Some of them gave me a lengthy explanation.  Mainly it was because of the trend at the time.  The genre of my book was not popular.  Others just did not like my book.

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

Any rejection is devastating to an author.  I believed in my book.  It took time to overcome the blows.   You must decide for yourself that not everyone will like what you write.  But if you like what you write, then you support your work.   Authors have a lot of people to satisfy.  There are editors, publishers, critics and readers to please.  It is not an easy profession.

Evolution of a Sad Woman by Gale Laure (click on cover to purchase)

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

Trafford Publishing is my publisher.  They were in Canada.  Now they are in the U.S.  Right after my rejection letters, family tragedy struck.  I had to spend time with family members and gave up the writing dream for a while.  During this time, I received a letter from Trafford.  I simply put it aside.

Later when I resumed my writing bug, my husband remembered them and the letter.  They are a Print on Demand publisher.  The thing I liked about them is that my book will never be dropped.  They archive the books. Fifty years from now if someone wants to purchase my book, they can print it.  I went with Trafford for that reason.   They also had amazing contacts in the industry.

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

When my first book arrived, I ran around the house with roaring laughter. I held my book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, close to my heart.  I was all alone.  Actually I liked it that way.   When I write, I like to be alone.  It was fitting.  I thought about my characters.  I thought about their romance, their mystery, and their passion.  It was my day!

Later my husband took me out to dinner at Outback.   I love their blooming onion.  I smiled throughout dinner.  It was a glorious day!

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

I have done so much.  Wow!   I suppose the first thing was to email all my friends and family.  News releases were sent out.  I mailed postcards to bookstores.   I had a launch/celebration party hosted in an art gallery in my hometown.   I had bookstore signings of my mystery, romance and thriller novel.  I attended the Book Expo America in Los Angeles.  It was a fantastic adventure.  And I gave out a lot of business cards to everyone who would take one.

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

No.  I have been happy.  However right now, Trafford is going through a transition.  A larger company has bought them out.  So everything is up in the air.  I can only hope I like the new changes.

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

No.  My next novel is due out in 2010.  I was slowed down for a year when we became homeless for a while after the hurricane Ike destruction.  We lived in a hotel for a couple of weeks and then moved to a furnished apartment.  Most of my files, book research, notes, clothes, everything were destroyed.    My next novel is The Bunkhouse, a sci-fi, historical, suspense, romance and mystery novel.

Have I grown, most definitely.  Every day I learn something new.   I love this industry because there is always something new to learn.  Things are always changing.

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 do not think I would have done anything different.  The rejections actually reinforced my belief in my novel, Evolution of a Sad Woman. One editor believed in my novel so much she went up against a panel of other editors for me.  However, she was alone.   I received a rejection from her, but with an explanation of how much she liked my book. It was not that it was a bad novel; it was not the successful trend of the time.  Once I waited a little while, things changed.

I do not believe I made any mistakes.  I believe every thing that happened has brought me to this place.  I would not do anything different.

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

Wow!  Each day for me is an adventure and an accomplishment.  When I check my book sales, I feel elated when they are up.  When I visit a bookstore and see my novel on the shelf, I smile deep in my heart.  At a library when my novel is checked out, it is grand!  Every email from a reader thrills my soul.   One reader told me how she cried when she read my book.  The ending of my novel surprised other readers.  They always tell me to get to work on the next one.  They eagerly await my next novel.  That feels great!

I suppose the most wonderful feeling was when I was at the Book Expo America.  I did a book signing.  Once when I looked up, all these people were in a long line.  I asked why they were all in this line.  The lady from Trafford told me it was to get my autographed book.  What a rush!   I signed so fast my hand became cramped.  But I just shook it off, smiled and kept going.  That moment was when I knew I was an author!

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

Psychiatrist.  I love human beings and the human mind.  It has always fascinated me.

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

No.  I would never give up being an author.  My little mystery, thriller, suspense, romance book, Evolution of a Sad Woman, has given me so much pleasure.  I feel very happy.  Psychiatrist would be my second choice.  Author will always be my first.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Writing.  I have so many books in my mind that must be told.  Evolution of a Sad Woman is only my first book.  The Bunkhouse will be my second.  Alana – Evolution of a Woman is my third.  Kizzy’s Diary is my fourth.  Time in Vieux Carre is my fifth.  Do you see where I am going here?  They go on and on.   There are many more!

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

Being an author is a lot of work.  Writing the book is only the beginning.

Do not give up!  Dreams do come true!

I want to thank you for this interview.  I enjoyed your questions.  It has been a pleasure.

For more information about Gale Laure visit www.galelaure.com (website), www.evolutionofasadwoman.com (blog), or the following:

• www.twitter.com/wwwgalelaurecom

• www.authorsden.com/galelaure

• www.facebook.com/Author.GaleLaure

• www.goodreads.com/galelaureauthor

• www.myspace.com/galelaure-author