Monday, December 21, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Russell James, Author of 'Q Island'

Author photo Q Island Release
Book Title: Q Island
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, LTD.
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?
Russell: My wife talked me into starting to write. When we were on long car drives, I would tell her stories I outlined in my head. One day, she told me I should write them down and get them published. I told her no one would ever want to read anything I wrote. We see how that turned out.
Q Island is post-apocalyptic and I was inspired when I saw what happened in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. Society imploded in hours. I wondered what would happen if that occurred on a larger scale, and with an event that would keep the isolation permanent. I picked my old stomping ground, Long Island, NY, and off I went.
Is this your first book?
Russell: No, this is my sixth novel. I also have a two novellas published, three short story collections and I am in several other short story collections.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Russell: Q Island is traditionally published through Samhain Horror. I have self-published works, but with traditional publishing, I really like that all I had to do was write. Covers, editing, layout, and especially distribution, are someone else’s headache. Q Island is available all over the world in multiple formats including trade paperback and soon audiobook. I could never do all that myself.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Russell: I had two short stories accepted for publication in small venues. I’d had several novel manuscripts turned down by multiple agents and publishers. I was taking what I discovered was a much needed writing class, and the teacher mentioned that the legendary Don D’Auria was starting up a horror line at Samhain and had an open call. So I went back and applied my new-found skills to fixing my latest, a manuscript called Dark Inspiration. It hadn’t seen the light of day yet, so I figured why not get rejected by someone famous first. I sent it to Samhain and nearly had a heart attack when it was accepted.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Russell: Since I’ve also self-published in tandem with the novels and novella done traditionally, I’ve seen both sides of the business.
Traditional publishing is slow. Even though my imprint is quicker than most, the contract to release time is still a year. But as mentioned before, the publisher does do all the work for you except the writing. You invest no money in traditional publishing. Traditional publishing can also get your book almost everywhere. Note that unless you are with a Big Six publisher (or however many there are today) you won’t be seeing your book in Walmart, Barnes and Noble or an airport bookshop. Those spots are for Mr. King, Mr. Patterson, and Mr. Sparks.
Self-publishing is more work, because you will do everything. Or, if you are sharp, you will pay some expert to do the things you are not expert at, like cover art and editing. That means you will invest money. Distribution is more time consuming, and getting paper books into a brick and mortar store is a virtual impossibility. But all the royalties are yours. And you can publish exactly what you want to.
In both instances, getting people to know who you are, and that you have written a book, is an uphill battle. A publisher helps, but even the big ones leave a lot of the marketing up to you. And I’ve yet to read about anyone finding the golden key that unlocks that door.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Russell: For first timers, I’d go the traditional route with short stories and longer works through respected publishers. It is important to get good enough to get past that gatekeeper. It is too easy to self-publish something awful, and then is out there forever. There are good self-published works out there, but there are far more poor ones. Often, what the author thinks is gold is really still straw.
I had a manuscript for a novel I thought was great. Everyone I sent it to passed on it. Four years later I re-read the synopsis and thought, “Yeah, that was good!” So I took it out, thought I’d polish it for a month and sent it out. I re-read the manuscript and it was awful. I cut 20,000 useless words out of it and completely re-wrote one of the heroes. So those gatekeepers I cursed years earlier really did me a favor. The rewritten novel was published to great acclaim as Dreamwalker.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Russell: Write every day. Fiction, not blog posts, Facebook rants or anything else. Those don’t count. Then read every day. Not just inside your genre, but outside as well. You will absorb style tips through osmosis.
Most important, be prepared to get better. And the only way to do that is by people telling you what’s not working. Those people are doing you an invaluable service. Thank them and give them a hug. Then fix what you screwed up and try again.



Thursday, December 10, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Donna McDine

Book Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters
Genre: children’s
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
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?
Donna: As long as I can remember I have always enjoyed immersing myself in books and I hope to invoke the same feelings into my readers.
Is this your first book?
Donna: No, this is my fifth children’s book.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Donna: I went the small press route with Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. I went with Guardian Angel Publishing because I immediately was drawn to the family feel and care Lynda Burch takes with her authors and illustrators.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Donna: Patience intertwined with determination of learning the writing craft and not rushing the process is essential. The road to publication is a long one. Depending on the speed of your publisher, from the time of submission, to hopefully editing process then publication in my experience it can take anywhere from one to three years for your book to see the light of day, especially if illustrations are involved.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Donna: Everyone’s experience on publishing rollercoaster is unique. Don’t be so worried about comparing yourself to others. Success comes in all shapes. Write what you love. Study publisher submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. This is not time to think outside the box. Publisher submission guidelines are in place for a reason. Adhere to them.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other Donnas?
Donna: It honestly depends what your wants and needs are. As for me, the experience with a small publisher has been a positive one.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring Donnas?
Donna: Seek out writer critique groups, attend workshops and join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The wealth of information and assistance is outstanding!
Thank you for interviewing me. I enjoyed visiting with you and your readers.


Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters
Genre: children’s
Author: Donna McDine
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
About the Book: The anxiety of finding one’s own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee until she realizes even without her fraternal twin sister, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Mystery Author Joseph B. Atkins

Book Title: Casey’s Last Chance
Genre: hardboiled crime/mystery
Find out more on Amazon
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?
Joe: As stated below, this is not my first book so I’ve been an author for a while. However, I’ve wanted to be a writer since my eighth-grade English class, when my teacher, Bill Watson, a published writer and playwright himself, inspired me with tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Jack London, and so on. After school, I’d go home to my room and churn out Poe-like tales of horror, and they were pretty horrible all right, but it was a start!
Is this your first book?
Joe: This is actually my third published book. The first two were non-fiction, however. This is my second novel although the first novel was never published.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Joe: I’ve published with a small, independent publisher that specializes in books with Southern themes like mine. I figured my book was probably too dark to be a candidate for a major publisher, and besides I don’t have an agent. I looked for publishers with interests in books like mine, got a few rejections and a couple close calls along the way before finding my publisher. 
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Joe: I’ve been a journalist for nearly 40 years, publishing in newspapers and magazines since the 1970s, and getting a few short stories and a couple poems into print, too. Like most writers, I’ve also got drawers full of rejections slips! Books came later in life. My two non-fiction books were published with university presses, which in turn put price tags on them that made them hard to sell commercially. I decided I never wanted that to happen again. My first novel, actually a novella, was a finalist in a national fiction contest, and I was sure that was my ticket to publication and fame. After 40 rejections, however, I shelved it and started on my second novel. That’s what many writers have done, including a good friend of mine who’s a New York Times best-selling author. With
some good advice from that writer and others, I was able to make that second novel work and get it published. We all need editors, and good advice is golden, but sometimes, too, you may have to stand up for your work and defend it. The publisher of one of my nonfiction books wanted to delete the book’s postscript, which I felt was crucial. I stood my ground, and the postscript survived, thank goodness!

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Joe: This may sound like a cliché, but you’ve got to just keep hammering away. If you want to be a writer, then you’ve got to be able to pick yourself up off the floor a thousand times, dust yourself off, and go at it again. If you’ve been serious about your craft, I feel there’s a publisher out there for you. You don’t want to be two ships passing in the night, however. Study the publishers’ interests and rules, and, by all means, make contacts. That’s what gets you off the over-the-transom pile and onto the publisher’s desk!
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Joe: I’ve got writer friends who all somehow found their own way to a publisher. My way was pretty long and tortuous, but that’s not that unusual. For some it’s easier than for others. Living in New York might help, but I don’t. Some good writers fall to the wayside because they’re too stubborn, too fragile, or their egos get in the way. Be open, willing to learn, and on the lookout for opportunities.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Joe: I just read this from Charles Bukowski: “There is nothing more magic and beautiful than lines forming across paper. … No reward is greater than the doing.” You’ve got to love writing and in your heart know you’ve got no choice but to do it. I wouldn’t trade the joy I’ve felt at my desk on certain early mornings or late nights when some insight came shaping a character or a twist in the plot, and I just knew it was right. In those moments, you say to yourself, “To hell if this ever gets published, that’s just damned good!”

Friday, December 4, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Children's Author Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Book Title: Little Shepherd
Genre: Christian Children’s Picture Book
Find out more on Amazon
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?
Author: I began writing as a teen and always enjoyed it. Life got in the way for a bit, but when I became a stay-at-home mom I had a chance to focus on my writing.
This book was inspired by a Christmas carol I used to sing to one of my girls at night. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get the visions of a young shepherd in the hills outside Bethlehem on the night of the Savior’s birth out of my mind until I wrote it down.
Is this your first book?
Author: This was my first book. I’ve since published another one and have two more under contract.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Author: I decided to go with Guardian Angel Publishing, a small indie press. The reason I chose them is because I was familiar with their books and really enjoyed them. Knowing what they published helped me to write a book that fit into one of their imprints. I also knew some authors who had published through GAP, so I asked them what they thought. I only heard good things, so I submitted my first book to them, which they accepted after a few additional edits.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Author: Though in the beginning I strived to be published by the big publishers, I like the level of input I am allowed to provide on my work with an indie small press. You really feel part of the team and valued. I don’t believe I’ve lost out on anything because of my publishing choice.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Author: I’m more apt to consider self-publishing than when I began my writing career. Since I’ve also worked in online book promotion and have spoken with numerous authors who have self-published, it doesn’t seem half as daunting as it used to. I know it’s in my future.
Publishing has greatly changed in the years since I graduated from Long Ridge Writer’s Group. So many people are self-publishing or publishing through small indie presses that authors have had to become better at marketing themselves. That is how virtual blog tours like this one really began.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Author: Definitely. At the end of the day, do you hold out to be discovered by an agent and one of the top publishers or do you pursue an indie small press that is more willing to take a risk on a new author? While I would love to have an agent, I don’t feel not having one has hampered my success thus far.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Author: Believe in yourself! You have the power to make your dreams come true.