David S. Grant is the author of ten books including Corporate Porn, Bleach|Blackout, Hollywood Ending, and Rock Stars. His latest novel, Blood: The New Red, is now available. David lives and writes his weekly rock, travel, and NBA columns from New York City.

For more information on BLOOD: The New Red please go to http://www.silverthought.com/blood/  Follow David on Twitter: @david_s_grant

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-New-David-S-Grant/dp/0984173854/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327246788&sr=8-2

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-The-New-Red-ebook/dp/B006NZRWLG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327246788&sr=8-3

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

 BLOOD: The New Red is my tenth published book and my fourth with Silverthought Press.  I have also published books with Brown Paper Publishing, SynergEbooks, and Oak Tree Press.

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

Corporate Porn was my first book and was published by Silverthought Press.  The story intertwines two characters, one is a model turned adult film star named Mickey, who reappears as the lead narrator in my new novel, BLOOD: The New Red.

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?

I have gone through the slush pile process and from time to time continue to reach out to agents and major publishing houses.  I have found a home with Silverthought Press, an independent press that appreciates my writing.  I’m always impressed and pleased with the output of my books.  To answer your question, MANY rejection slips; thankfully, I never kept track though.

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

It’s frustrating for sure, and you have to decide if the time is worth it.  Really ask yourself what you are looking to get out of the process of writing and publishing your book.  If you are hoping to make a million dollars you may want to rethink your career choice.  I do believe that with anything in life, if you stay focused on a goal you can get there, in the end it’s really a question of what you want.

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

Silverthought Press was a new press (that had an online presence for years prior) that read my manuscript and wanted to make it part of their inaugural release.  Corporate Porn was published in hardcover format and can still be purchased as a hardcover through Silverthought Press.

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

I was very pleased with the editing and overall output of Corporate Porn.  My next book was a double novel titled Bleach|Blackout that had dual topsy-turvy covers.  It was really cool, but nothing compares to my latest book, BLOOD: The New Red.  The “grindhouse” cover really begins to tell the story of what’s inside.  I mean who doesn’t want to read about an ex-porn star returning to New York City to model and get mixed up with a crazy designer who may or may not “take out” Oprah Winfrey on the runway?

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

Probably a press release, I’ve dabbled in press releases, blog tours, and reaching out for reviews.  What I’ve found works the best is to establish an audience via a blog or online writing presence (writing a weekly column for example.)

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

No, there was a lot of luck in the timing and I am very grateful for the work of mine that has been published.

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

As mentioned earlier, BLOOD: The New Red is my tenth published book.  I’ve learned that being published is a very small part of the journey.  There is the writing process (most fun for me) and then the after published marketing which will take as much time as you have, plus more!

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?

20/20 hindsight I would have reached out to independent publishers first and not waste a large amount of time querying major publishers who are rarely interested in fiction from new authors.

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

My latest book is definitely my biggest up to this point.  With BLOOD: The New Red I’ve (hopefully) created an entertaining read that moves the reader quickly through the streets of New York and into a fashion world where sex is used as motivation, wine is served by the year, and cocaine is back in style.

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

From a writing perspective, well, writing.  I enjoy the actual writing best, whether it’s jotting notes, creating an outline, or polishing prose, it’s all good to me!  Writing is cheaper than psychiatry, and MUCH cheaper!

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

Embrace the process, don’t quit, and remember the actual reward is in the writing.