Friday, October 30, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Stephen Caputi, Author of 'I Should Have Stayed in Morocco'

Title: I Should Have Stayed in Morocco
Genre: Memoir
Author: Stephen Caputi
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Read the First Chapter
Purchase from Amazon / OmniLit

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 was stranded in the “Hole”, (slang for solitary confinement) in a dingy federal prison in Jesup, Ga., with literally nothing to do but ponder the past. I had nothing to read, nothing to do, nothing to look forward to until the next bowl of gruel was tossed into the cell through a flap in the door, and nothing to watch since the tiny three-inch window slit was old and yellow and glazed. Total emptiness, which was driving me crazy. For a career claustrophobe, being thrust into a seventy two square-foot space that contained only a bed, toilet and sink constituted the worst case scenario. My worst nightmare had materialized, and there was no getting away from it. No relief. I knew why I was in prison, but I didn’t know why I was in the Hole. 
I began writing out of desperation. My mind was still scrambled from the shock of being thrown in the Hole. As a last resort I started to chronicle everything that happened… which wasn’t much. I wrote down every item served at every meal, everything that the guards did and said, and kept a diary of sorts that was chocked full of their shenanigans. I figured that there was no way people knew how inmates were treated in prison… and wondered if anybody cared.

The process of reflection prompted me to search for answers... about my life, about the sequence of events that led me to federal prison, and about the system that put me away. It evolved into a full-fledged quest for the truth.

Is this your first book?
Author:  Yes. But not the last… The next book will be the second in the I Should Have Stayed in Morocco trilogy. Club Fed Confidential: Inside the Perpetual Prisoner Money Machine will be a more in-depth look at what really goes on inside prisons. The final (untitled) book contains a professional analysis of the real cost of the criminal justice and prison systems, and a critical look into the skullduggery of the prison industrial complex.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Author: I took the advice of another author and close friend who has been through this process several times over the past five years. Given my limited budget and the timeline of wanting to get this story out in print as quickly as possible, I opted to pursue smaller to mid-tier publishers who could provide me with the editing and marketing support necessary to launch this first book.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Author: The journey is actually just beginning. As a businessman, I was disappointed in some of the proposal I’d received from other publishers, but I’m still learning this industry. My current publisher, Twilight Times Books (Lida Quillen) has been tremendous. She has assembled a team of editors, cover designers and publicists to assist ‘little ol’ me’ to make this dream come true!
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Author: First, speak with other published authors about their first-hand experiences. Secondly, I’ve learned that this process requires a great deal of patience. Some days I feel as though I’m waking up in the movie, Groundhog Day! As my journey is just beginning, I worry most about how best to promote this book. I know I have much to learn here yet, but so far, it’s been a great journey.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Author: I don’t know the final outcome of this yet, and so far… it’s my only experience. Yes, I would recommend it, but others need to do their homework as well.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Author:  The process of searching for the right words and the best ways to express your feelings can be tedious, but the reward is the finished product. Don’t worry about writing everything sequentially, that can be accomplished at the end with the help of some good editing. Write the scenes that you’re most passionate about first… then piece it all together!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with Donald Joiner, Author of 'The Antioch Testament'

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian
Publisher: Seraphina Press
Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published, Donald  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
Donald: I had always been intrigued by the remarkable transformation of Jesus’ apostles after his resurrection. Earlier they had been a motley collection of fishermen, laborers and revolutionaries seeking the restoration of David’s Jewish kingdom. The gospels tell us a lot about them before the resurrection, but very little afterward.
What happened to them? Where did they go? What did they accomplish? How did they die? The gospels are silent. The Antioch Testament is a historical novel that attempts to complete the story based on early church traditions. I thought it was a story well worth the telling.
Is this your first book?
Donald: No, but it is my first novel.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Donald: Indie. I wasted considerable time seeking agent representation. Found that authors’ agents were literally swamped with manuscripts so I elected to investigate and identify the very best self-publishing companies. As a result, I selected Hillcrest Media which owns Seraphina Press based on the quality of their work and their unique distribution system which closely  approximates the distribution system of traditional publishers.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Donald: My first published book was entitled Antebellum Churches in Georgia. This was a pictorial history of churches in Georgia constructed before the end of the Civil War. At the time color photography in books was prohibitively expensive so I elected to publish in black & white through Lulu Publishing. Later, when color photography sharply declined in price, I expanded my collection of churches and selected VirtualBookWorm Publishing to publish a color pictorial history entitled Faith of Our Fathers. I did not solicit representation for either of these books.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Donald: When I began work on this historical novel, I had no idea how difficult the task of being accepted by a reputable author’s agent would be. I must have approached a dozen recommended agents, but none were in a position to help me. Those who responded to my query cited a backlog of manuscripts awaiting their attention or they were not at the moment accepting religious historical fiction. Being a senior citizen, I knew I had a limited time frame to work in so I eventually elected to go with the best self-publisher I could identify. It has been a costly enterprise, but thus far I have been pleased with this choice.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Donald: Yes, if the author has adequate financial resources. There are many self-publishing companies out there, but an author must be careful because some are not as reputable as are others. My advice is to do diligent research on self-publishers, looking closely at each service they offer. If possible, try to communicate with a fellow author who has used this particular publisher and get his/her take on the company. If the author is aware that going this route means by and large he must manage his own marketing effort, self-publishing may be an answer.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Donald: Persistence counts! Don’t be intimidated if you do not meet immediate success in approaching agents or publishers. Keep at it. By all means don’t rely solely on your work being edited by your wife, girlfriend or mother. Your work might look wonderful to you and to them, but you should always have it professionally edited before you submit it to prospective agents or publishers.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Book Publishing Secrets with J.J. Sherwood, Author of 'Kings or Pawns'

Book Title: Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power: The Kings Book I)
Genre: High Fantasy
Publisher: Silver Helm
Purchase at 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?
J. J. Sherwood: I’ve been writing since kindergarten and working on this particular world (and the characters within) since I was—literally—seven years old. It was never a choice—it was always a calling. Once I discovered the fantasy genre, I was entirely hooked and despite my previous love of sci-fi, horror, historical fiction, fiction, and even non-fiction, I can’t see myself ever leaving the fantasy genre. The world’s history holds crucial information for the readers and so this particular book was chosen.
Is this your first book?
J. J. Sherwood: It is the first I have chosen to publish, but it’s far from the first I have written.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
J. J. Sherwood: I chose to Indie publish so that I could maintain control over the series—my editor, my webdesigner, my artists, my deadlines, etc… I know exactly where I want the series to go and quality is top on my concerns: Indie publishing allows me to ensure the series meets those high standards.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
J. J. Sherwood: The biggest thing about self-publishing is the time. Not only in researching just how everything has to be done, but in things like finding your artist, running social media, and managing all other business ends. Writing a novel is a full-time job—the business end of publishing is easily a part-time job even after having the help of two fantastic individuals.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
J. J. Sherwood: Go big or go home. There are thousands of books to compete with—don’t cut corners—not in art. Not in editing. Do not go with a cheap cover—everyone judges a book by its cover. The cover is the reflection of the work within. Do not self-edit your book—get a real, professional editor. It makes all the difference to be able to look both professional and sell a high-quality novel.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
J. J. Sherwood: If you have the money, drive, and discipline to work for yourself, yes. Let no one tell you that Indie publishing is the cheaper or easier method—it is infinitely more work and more money than traditional publishing—but you get to keep your rights and ensure that your book reaches your high standards. I cannot stress this enough: hire an editor—a good editor—and a great cover artist. Covers draw readers to your book and once they open your novel up, you need to be certain—without a shadow of a doubt—that the content inside meets traditional publishing standards.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
J. J. Sherwood: Write. Everyone says it but so, so many authors say they are too busy or hit a writer’s block. Write. Even if you are “too busy” and even when you have hit a writer’s block, write every day. Even when your writing is terrible because you don’t know what to write—write anyways. Barrel through it and edit it later. The most important thing is to actually write. And then, when your book is “done” but still “not perfect,” edit/rewrite/revise as long as you see an error and know how to fix it. Once you still see/know there is “something” wrong but no longer have a solution, your book is done. We are all our own worst critic and trust me, you will always find something supposedly “wrong” with your own work. Work on the novel as long as there is a known solution. After that, it’s time to take a deep breath and publish.