Thursday, February 26, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Nicole Weaver, author of 'Not All Americans Are Racist'

Nicole weaver is an award-winning author. Her first trilingual book Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle was published in 2009. Her love for languages and other cultures resulted in publishing the award-winning book, My Sister Is My Best Friend which was published in 2011 by Guardian Angel Publishing and has won numerous awards.
My Brother Is My Best Friend, published by Guardian Angel Publishing, January 2014, earned the 2014 Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval, and the 2014 Children’s Literary Classics Gold Award. The book also earned a bronze medal in 2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.
About the book:
In Not All Americans Are Racist, Nicole Weaver recounts her experiences with racial discrimination and the non-racist white individuals who made it possible for her to attend and finish college. As an immigrant from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she is thankful for the opportunities America has offered her.
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?
Nicole:  I have written mostly trilingual children’s picture books. After the killings of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner, I was inspired to write my first nonfiction book about my own experiences with racism.
Is this your first book?
Nicole: No, but this is my first nonfiction book.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Nicole: I self-published, because I believe this topic is too important to wait to publish. Going with a traditional publisher could take years.  The United States is going through hard times with racial issues right now; I am convinced my well-balanced book can be an inspiration to both the young and old.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Nicole:  I self-published my first children’s trilingual book, I would definitely not go that road again, because it is very expensive.  However, it is much easier to self-publish other genre.  I will continue to self-publish nonfiction books because it is much easier.  It is wise to write on topics that are current because it will garner a lot of interest.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Nicole: Be very aware of con artists.  Do your research and always hire someone that has a good reputation and perhaps recommendations from friends.  Many people are looking to make a small fortune off the backs of eager writers.  I have been burned badly when it came to getting my book professionally edited, so my advice only hires someone that a friend recommends. I feel very lucky to have found a great individual who is very good at the craft of editing.  I also have a great individual that does a great job formatting my book. Lastly, you also need a book cover designer.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Nicole: Yes, I would! Just be sure to hire someone you can trust.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Nicole: Write about things you are passionate about.  Make time to write every day.  Even though I teach high school, I make time to write at least one to two hours each day.  Writing daily helps me avoid writer’s block.  I used to only write during vacation, but it would take me too long to overcome writer’s block.  Writing can be very therapeutic too.  I use it as a form of stress release. Some people grab a glass of wine to relax.  I grab my laptop.



Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Robert Lane, author of COOLER THAN BLOOD

Sharing his publishing secrets today is Florida-based suspense author Robert Lane. His latest novel is Cooler Than BloodHe is also the author of The Second Letter. Connect with Robert on the web:

Greetings, Robert! 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?
Robert: I wrote short stories in college and always felt as if I returned to writing, not as if I just started. I enjoy the creative process, and, like most writers, write compulsively. I don’t dwell on the root of those compulsions; I enjoy what I do and am thoroughly challenged by it. That’s enough for me.
Is this your first book?
Robert: No. The Second Letter came out last year. That’s not counting the two in the drawer.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Robert: I set up Mason Alley Publishing, LLC to publish all my work. It allows me to own, control, and to profit from my work. I believe the short-term disadvantages are greatly outweighed by the long-term benefits. One thing that digital and on-demand publishing has done is to immortalize all books. Time horizons have grown exponentially.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Robert: The con is the myth of self-publishing. Great, I’m self-published; I outsource social media, traditional media, copy-editing, cover design, web design and maintenance; nearly everything other than writing and marketing dollar allocation. It is a steep learning curve and I’m still climbing. The pros? I own this baby, good or bad, forever.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Robert: Keep in mind that there is more money being made telling you how to write, publish, and market than you are likely to ever make writing. With that inside your head, choose your weapons carefully. How best to market yourself? Who to listen to? Where to spend those precious dollars? Do not let the publishing industry decide those, or other issues, for you. No one will match the passion you have for your work. That’s not cynicism; it’s the simple truth. Embrace it and move on.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Robert: Certainly, but bear in mind, with any publishing venue, you need to vigorously engage your business side. Segregate your time and energy—for you need to approach the business end with the same madness in which you write.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Robert: Read about the lives and journeys of other authors. I have a list I continually update of authors’ struggles, work habits, lessons, and victories and defeats. Take console in those who have gone before you as well as those who travel with you. If you think you’re alone, remember Harry Truman’s words; “The only think new in the world is the history you don’t know.”



Monday, February 16, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with John Herrick, Author of 'Between these Walls'

A self-described "broken Christian," John Herrick battled depression since childhood. In that context, however, he developed intuition for themes of spiritual journey and the human heart.

Herrick graduated from the University of Missouri—Columbia. Rejected for every writing position he sought, he turned to information technology and fund development, where he cultivated analytical and project management skills that helped shape his novel-writing process. He seized unpaid opportunities writing radio commercial copy and ghostwriting for two nationally syndicated radio preachers.

The Akron Beacon Journal hailed Herrick's From the Dead as "a solid debut novel." Published in 2010, it became an Amazon bestseller. The Landing, a semifinalist in the inaugural Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, followed.

Herrick's nonfiction book 8 Reasons Your Life Matters introduced him to new readers worldwide. The free e-book surpassed 100,000 downloads and hit #1 on Amazon's Motivational Self-Help and Christian Inspiration bestseller lists. Reader response prompted a trade paperback.

His latest novel, Between These Walls, returns readers to Hudson, Ohio, to which he introduced them in From the Dead.

Herrick admits his journey felt disconnected. "It was a challenge but also a growth process," he acknowledges. "But in retrospect, I can see God's fingerprints all over it."

Visit John Herrick at www.JohnHerrick.net or at his blog, johnherricknet.blogspot.com. Connect with him on Facebook or @JohnHerrick. 

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?
John:
I love people, and characters give me the opportunity to explore them in a way that encourages readers. I fell in love with writing as a kid, and at 10 years old, I decided I wanted to become a novelist. It took another 25 years of practice, tangents, experimentation and endurance before I saw my first book on the shelf!
Regarding why I penned Between These Walls, we tend to see a gay man’s experience at the surface. We seldom hear about the emotional, spiritual or social aspects that churn inside him. Between These Walls offers readers a rare glimpse into the internal, psychological struggle of Hunter Carlisle, a gay main character, from his youth to adulthood, and walks with him as he reconciles his feelings in light of his faith.
The book includes an Author’s Note, which tells the story behind the novel. I’ve also posted it at my website here:  http://www.JohnHerrick.net/betweenthesewalls/authornote.htm
Is this your first book?
John:
It’s my third novel to hit the shelves. My nonfiction book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, is also available. Meanwhile, a fourth novel is in the revision phase—I’ve relegated that poor victim to the back burner so many times over the last decade!
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
John:                                                                          
It’s a small indie press and was the avenue that opened to me. It’s proven a perfect fit for the early stage in my career. It offers the flexibility to take risks and explore characters in less conventional ways, which has helped me learn what resonates with readers.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
John:
Every writer’s journey is different. I consider myself one of the least-qualified writers out there. I never took a creative writing course. Nowadays, I read reference books on writing to improve my skills, but when I sat down to create my first novel, I hadn’t researched how to do it. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. If you read the first-draft pages of the first novel I attempted, The Landing, which are posted on my website, you’ll find a sample of that raw content and my first attempt to fix it. But it gave me the chance to test my creative instincts. As I reached the end of that first draft, I studied facets of how to construct a novel, then built them into my revision processes, one by one, as I acquired each skill.
I held on to my dream for a couple of decades. The key factor that enabled me to complete a novel was the years I spent doing IT work—computer programming, project management, analysis. My biggest obstacles to completing a long-term project, such as a novel, were my lack of self-discipline and my aversion to creative planning. IT work knocked that out of me, because you’re thrown into a situation where you can’t give up until the computer program works. And computers don’t compromise! Since my passions don’t reside with computer work, I wouldn’t want to repeat the experience, but I also wouldn’t trade it for anything. I learned so much during those years. And the lessons I learned—the specific lessons I needed for my journey—wouldn’t have occurred in a creative writing course. Obviously, God is much smarter than I am!
Regarding pros and cons, I’ll start with the con, because it leads up to the pro. The biggest downside is the abundance of rejection you’ll face. Some will think you’re not a strong writer, but most will reject you for subjective reasons—they have a limited number of “yes” cards they can use. Rejection hurts, and early on, it hurts badly. But once you grow accustomed to it, it becomes part of the background noise and doesn’t disturb you like it used to. So if you see an author with a book on the shelf, chances are they’ve developed thick skin and had to fight for years to see that book on the shelf. It’s critical to decide in advance that you refuse to give up, because you’ll feel like giving up often! Remember those multiple-choice tests in school, where it was a no-brainer to eliminate Choice D, because you knew it was the wrong answer? I considered quitting my Choice D, eliminated it outright.
That leads to the biggest pro along the journey: You have the opportunity to overcome rejection and grow stronger. You’ll discover you can endure things that would have knocked you out 10 years ago. And that strength will spill over into other areas of your life. Because you’ll understand rejection, you’ll have the opportunity to encourage others.
Listen to your heart. I’m convinced you’ll end up in the right place at the right time if you’re in tune with the true, honest desires of your heart.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
John:
I treasure my situation much more than I would have 10 years ago. Every time a book hits the shelf, I value that accomplishment because I know the time investment it required, and I recall the years waiting to see that happen. I treasure the relationships God has brought into my life—readers I’ve talked to, industry people who offered words of encouragement at the right times, bloggers I’ve had the privilege to know, friends who have cheered me on. In the end, the final book and the process behind it boils down to the people you encounter along the way. For every book you see, you can find relationships behind it.
As a writer, you don’t always fit in. You’re an artist—and let’s face it, artists are just odd! Novel writing is an unconventional career choice and an uphill climb. Companies post a lot of job openings, but I’ve never seen one that said, “Wanted: Novel Writer”. So you’re on your own. You don’t think the way others do or perceive your workday the same way. While the people around you find fulfillment and a career track at their day jobs, getting paid to build their career step by step, you’re still sacrificing your leisure time, walking by faith, betting everything on an unseen reality. That leaves you feeling isolated and foolish. But as early breakthroughs unfold, you start to surround yourself with more people who think along similar lines, and you realize you’re not alone; you’re simply in a very small minority.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
John:
Absolutely. Every author harbors stories, motivations and goals in his/her heart. Some avenues in publishing are better suited than others for your particular vision and level of preparation. It’s a matter of finding the best fit for you, keeping an eye on both the present and the future, with a willingness to adapt and be patient along the way. You can always grow, so don’t despise the day of small things.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
John:
“Never give up!” It’s the advice I’d give to anyone who has a dream. Decide in advance that quitting isn’t an option for you.