Thank you for your time in answering our questions about
getting published. Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you
decided to become an author and pen this book?
ANDRE: I decided to write the
book, I didn’t decide to become an author, so that’s purely by default.
I decided to write the book
because of my passionate love affair with my wife and Paris. Over several years
of visiting Paris (we have a home there and in Brooklyn, New York) I came to love the place;
firstly in a superficial way then once I learned more history and culture, I
understood why it was such a uniquely romantic city. My wife is Parisian so it
absolutely helped me get in touch with elements not available to a normal
tourist.
Paris had already been written about
from so many angles; historic, culinary, fashion etc. that it would have been
unnecessary to add another tourist book. For me Paris represents fantasy,
enchantment, romance and a sense of vibrancy, and that’s what I wanted readers
to feel.
Many aspects of our lives are
bland. It’s wonderful to have a heightened event to aspire to. For a couple in
a relationship, one exquisite night in Paris is as “heightened” as
heightened gets.
ANDRE: Yes, it’s my first book;
though I had been writing little things for myself and keeping a journal, I
never planned to write a book. But once it seemed fun, engaging, and presented
a fresh angle, I felt I wanted to do it. In fact it got stuck in my head and I
just have to get it out.
With this particular book, how
did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you
choose this method?
ANDRE: Indie was my choice
mostly because I had heard the horror stories regarding engaging a publisher.
It’s one of these things I wanted to get out and get done without a protracted
and agonizing wait period. Writing itself takes long enough then submitting to
a professional editor, making corrections etc.; that sucks up about a year of
your life. You have to like what you’re doing and get it done.
Can you tell us a little about
your publishing journey? The pros and cons?
ANDRE: The publishing journey
starts with absolutely loving the subject that I wrote about. If not I couldn’t
get through it. It’s writing, editing, re-writing, researching, edit and
rewrite to make it nice.
I only have good things to say
about the actual publishing process as supported by Create Space. The people
there are marvelous. They tell you what they’re going to do, and they do it,
all the while available and helpful, from editing, to cover design to interior
design; they made the process easy.
What lessons do you feel you
learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing
industry as a whole?
ANDRE: My publishing journey
suggests that unless you feel in your blood from age two that you need to be a
professional writer OR as in my case, you just want to have something said,
then don’t bother. If you simply want to take a shot at making a few dollars then
publishing is not your place.
The publishing industry is vast
and fragmented with hundreds of thousands of books published every year. A
minute fraction ever sells significantly well. However as an indie you must do
your own marketing which accounts for about 85% of the writers effort; and even
then you’re not guaranteed successful sales. There is the illusion that through
social media etc. there is the possibility of reaching your audience. It is
possible, but it takes consistent work.
The publishing industry is
incalculably brutal so unless you’re in it for love, don’t bother.
Would you recommend this method
of publishing to other authors?
ANDRE: The indie method, I would
definitely recommend. Not as a way of writing rubbish and avoiding censoring
and critique. However if an author will put in authentic work, develop a craft
but doesn’t necessarily want to be constrained by the publishing-house gate
keepers then indie is the way to start. She/he must understand that they need
to be, must be, a marketer too. There is evidence that if one is successful
through the indie route then publishers start calling.
What’s the best advice you can
give to aspiring authors?
ANDRE: Absolutely love what you
do, love who you’re writing for, learn marketing, learn the industry, find a
way to say something differently, then work from the best understanding that
it’ll be a long, long haul.
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