Thursday, May 22, 2014

The Publishing Journey of David Vermont author of The Last Confession of the Vampire Judas Iscariot



The Last Confession 

Name: David B. Vermont
Book Title: The Last Confession of the Vampire Judas Iscariot
Genre: Multiple (Fiction, Fantasy, Vampire, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction)
Publisher: Koehler Books.
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?
David:    I had spent a few days traveling for work.  I was returning home and I was exhausted.  I was just worn out from the previous few days.  Normally, I would work on the flight home, trying to catch up on what I missed while I was away.  But this time I just couldn’t.  The airport terminal was small so there was no book store but there was a rack of paperbacks at the convenience store.  So I scanned them, found one by a fairly well known author whose name I recognized and that sounded interesting and bought it.  I started it on the flight home but after 2 or 3 days of reading it I put it down.  It was the first book I ever didn’t finish.  I said to myself, “I can write a better book than that” and so I set out to do just that.
Is this your first book?
David:      Yes, The Last Confession of the Vampire Judas Iscariot is my first book.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
David:    I think Koehler Books is considered small press.  I choose them for several reasons.  First, they were not afraid to take on Christian themes and have other Christian themed authors working with them.  Second, they have a relationship with Ingram, the largest book distributor.  Third, they were the first ones to like the book and make me an offer.  I would have said No if the deal wasn’t right but given the first to things I felt good about them.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
David:     The hardest thing is getting anyone to look at the manuscript.  You send it out to tons of people and most don’t even acknowledge it.  I really appreciated the publishers who took the time to send rejection letters that at least made it seem like they considered the premise.  I got some really nice notes from some very small publishers.  Trying to sell it was hard but those notes made me feel like I had a chance. 
The best thing was my editor.  I got her later, after I had already been sending it around for a while.  She was great; she helped make the book better and gave me a warm introduction to my publisher, which helped me get the deal.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
David: To me it is similar to applying for a job.  Most people don’t get hired by just sending out resumes.  You need a warm introduction.  You can send your resume, or in this case your book, out to a lot of people but you have the best chance to get a positive response when someone walks it into the decision maker and says, “Hey, you should take a look at this.”
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
David:    Yes.  Koehler had been great.  I almost always deal directly with the top guy.  They always get back to me right way.  They are responsive to my questions.  I think, small publishers are good for first time authors.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
David:    I was halfway through my first attempt on a different book when the story of Judas as a vampire kept invading thoughts.  At first I resisted, what if I got halfway through Judas and then couldn’t finish?  Then I would have two books half done and nothing to show for it.  I put aside my other book and began writing The Last Confession of the Vampire Judas Iscariot.  It was the best decision I made.  Follow the voice inside your head.
About The Last Confession of the Vampire Judas Iscariot
Of all the people who ever lived, surely Judas Iscariot, history’s most notorious betrayer, must be in hell. Or maybe not.

After watching the crucifixion of Jesus, Judas despairs over what he has done and fumes that the Messiah he put his trust in has turned out to be just another pretender like all the rest. The toxic mix of emotions is too much for him to bear and Judas commits suicide by hanging himself.

He is restored to life by the Devil and made into a vampire apostle. The Devil teaches Judas to manipulate men and history. He becomes a king, a general, a teacher and a blacksmith, whatever is needed to effect the outcome of history and move it towards the goal of his new master.

Each time he is ready to move on to his next incarnation he must drink the blood of an innocent victim to be restored to his youthful vigor. But despite his many powers and abilities Judas knows there is one thing he desires and cannot have. Finally Judas meets a laicized priest, Raymond Breviary, and tries to steal from him what he was denied two thousand years before.

  File Size: 604 KB
  Print Length: 154 pages
  Publisher: Koehler Books (April 15, 2014)
  Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  Language: English
  ASIN: B00J4GISH8



About David Vermont 

Author David Vermont
Born and raised in New York City, David B. Vermont now lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and four kids.
An attorney and accomplished litigator at one of Washington D.C.’s top law firms, he began writing about religion when he was asked to author a series of articles explaining the Catholic faith on the popular blog 52 Prayers.  He now writes regularly about his faith as the leader of an online Bible study group.
The Last Confession of The Vampire Judas Iscariot is his first foray into fiction. 

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