Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Book Publishing 101: Interview with New Adult Author Deborah Ann Davis



DEBORAH ANN DAVIS has been writing since she was assigned to keep a Journal in her 5th grade English class. She began to look around for writing inspiration. Lo and behold, she found her world was full of funny stories just waiting to be told. As she grew older, occasionally she could manipulate one into some school assignment, but it never occurred to her to pursue writing, not even when she discovered her flare for telling stories at college parties.

After a string of college majors, she realized she could have a captive audience EVERY DAY in the public school system. As it turns out, teenagers love to laugh, and what could be more entertaining than Biology, Earth Science, and Environmental Science? Then there's the added bonus that once kids know you like to laugh, they want to make you laugh.

Go figure.

In addition to Writing, she is also an Educational Speaker and a Certified Personal Trainer. She taught for 25+ years, although somewhere in the middle of all that educating, she stepped out of teaching for 6 years to do the Mommy Thing, and run the office for their family construction company.

Even though they had followed separate paths, Deborah reunited with, and married her childhood sweetheart, twelve years after their first kiss.  Together they coached their daughter’s AAU Basketball Team, which swept States two years in a row. (Yay!) Then, for several years their daughter and their money went to college.

They currently reside on a lovely lake in Connecticut. She enjoys dabbling with living a sustainable life, writing novels for her Love of Fairs series, dancing, playing outside, and laughing really hard every day. She promotes increasing the amount of movement throughout your day via Wiggle Writer posts on Merry Meddling, her blog at www.DeborahAnnDavis.com. Follow her @DeborahAnnDavis.

Remember, you can do anything if you set your mind to it— including becoming an author at any age— but it’s way more fun if you are grinning back when the Universe smiles down on you.
For More Information
About the Book:


Title: FAIRLY SAFE
Author: Deborah Ann Davis
Publisher: D&D Universe
Pages: 356
Genre: New Adult

When Mistaken Identity collides with Secret Identity, who wins?

JACOB HAS COME A LONG WAY FOR AN ORPHANED FOSTER KID. He has a mentor, a great job, and has finally fallen in love. Granted, she mistook him for a stalker when they met, but every relationship has its little problems. Unfortunately, for the past few years, as the object of his affection pops in and out of his life, she has refused to share any personal info, like where she’s from, or her real name. Regardless, Jacob is ready to take their relationship to the next level. Now, if only he can locate her so he can tell her.

CASEY’S FAMILY IS IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. Safety has to be their only priority. Their cover has been blown before, so Casey knows at any given time they could be forced to disappear again. Obviously, a shy young man with hopeful eyes cannot possibly be added to the mix. You cannot build a relationship like that. Now, if only she can stop thinking about him.

JACOB’S AND CASEY’S WORLDS UNEXPECTEDLY COLLIDE when Jacob inadvertently helps hide her family. Exposed to their 24-7 vigilance, Jacob realizes he must come up with a plan to keep them out of harm’s way, because this time if Casey disappears, she will be taking with her Jacob’s heart, and his hopes of finally having a family of his own.

For More Information

  • Fairly Safe is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

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?
Deborah:  I didn’t actually decide to become an author until I realized I had almost 2 books written. I initially started composing stories in my head when I was recovering from Lyme disease and had to stop teaching. As I grew stronger, I started typing one of them up, Fairly Safe. After I returned to teaching, I decided to write during the summer is just for fun.
Is this your first book?
Deborah: Ummm, Fairly Safe is the first book I wrote, but it is not the first book I had published. Its progress was interrupted when I fell in love with my first Renaissance Faire, and Fairly Certain sprang out of me. After that book was published, I finished editing Fairly Safe.
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Deborah: I Indie Published because the members of my writing groups were always sharing stories about problems in the traditional publishing world. Plus, my books didn’t fit comfortably enough into a category for a traditional publisher.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Deborah: I have met some amazing and supportive people along this journey. I find it so interesting that when I ask other Indie Pubbers about their experience, none of us have the same one because there are so many ways to do this. This whole thing has morphed into me speaking to different groups about the Indie Publishing process. That’s especially fun for me because I miss being in the classroom so much.
That brings me to the biggest con. Initially when I left teaching, almost an entire year passed before I found time to write anything new. Instead of jumping into my career as a full-time writer, I found myself learning how to be a full-time publisher, promoter, social media-ite, marketer, distributor, and traveling salesman.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Deborah: Publishing is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. And it’s not for the faint of heart. It is time-consuming and ego-smashing but—just like that first time your baby smiles at you, and it all feels worth it—the first time a reader tells you how much they love your book, that moment makes it all worthwhile.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Deborah: If you have the time and the money, definitely. Look, you are either going to spend your time trying to find an agent or publisher, or you are going to spend your time finding an editor, cover artist and printer. If you can foot the bill up front, the great royalties will last as long as you have books to sell.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Deborah: Save all your work, even the wonky stuff from middle school. All of it is the testament to your growth at your craft. If you toss the old stuff, there will be no evidence of your journey, of how far you’ve come.


Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Book Publishing Secrets with Romantic Suspense Author Anna del Mar

Book Title: The Stranger
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Carina Press
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?
Anna: I became an author because I didn’t really have any other choice. I’ve been a life-long writer and I had all these stories worked out in my mind. I wasn’t so sure about the publishing adventure. But I just had to write my stories down.

As to The Stranger, I started to travel to Alaska a few years ago. The place inspired me. The people intrigued me. It was the perfect setting for a kickass adventure centered on a hot, sexy romance, an opposites attract scenario that featured the clash of ice and fire.

I was rattling in the sky, flying in a single-engine over the Alaskan tundra when the story was born. In The Stranger, ex-military pilot, Seth Erickson is fighting his own demons, but when he finds Summer Silva, a beautiful, warmth-loving, Miami woman stranded in the frozen wilderness, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe from murder, treason, and the ruthless Alaskan winter.

Is this your first book?
Anna: The Stranger, is actually my third release with Carina Press and the second novel of my romantic suspense Wounded Warrior Series. It follows on the heels of my Amazon bestseller, The Asset and the first novel of my erotic romance series At the Brink. One cool fact about all of my novels is that even though they’re interrelated, they are each a standalone journey. You can read them in whichever order you wish!
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Anna: I’m very lucky that my novels found a home with Carina Press, an imprint of Harlequin. I chose to go with Carina Press because they have an amazingly talented team and they are all about romance. To me, they’re the place to be if you’re writing anything romance.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey? 
Anna: My publishing journey began when my husband kicked me in the rear and convinced me to go for it. I found a romance editor, Nancy Cassidy, from the Red Pen Coach, and asked her if there was any merit to my story. Nancy was a joy to work with and so very positive and encouraging. She knows the industry inside and out. She led me through the intimidating process of putting my work out there and recommended a few houses she thought would be a good fit for me, delivering me with very little pain to Carina Press’s doors.
What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Anna: I’ve learned patience, perseverance and grit. Patience is a big one. The publishing industry moves at its own pace. It’s very competitive out there, with lots of great authors presenting polished manuscripts and amazing serial concepts. It’s about more than one book. Publishers today are looking for productive authors capable of enduring the rigor of professional writing, willing to create a brand and deliver a steady stream of high quality novels. It’s all about depth and endurance.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Anna: You mean would I recommend Carina Press to other authors considering publication? Heck, yes! Absolutely.
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Anna: Write, write a lot, often and continuously. As a newbie, without a completed novel, you’re dead in the water. Find a top of the line editor that knows your genre and listen carefully. If your editor doesn’t get it, neither will your reader. Work hard to polish your manuscript and don’t let rejection kill your writing.

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ABOUT THE BOOK
When her sister runs away with a guy she met on the internet, a warmth-loving Miami architect chases her reckless sibling to Alaska and finds her life in danger from more than the elements. Only a stranger, a wounded warrior who is also Alaskan tycoon with a quarreling family as complicated as her own and no time for a lady in distress—let alone one who walks on her sleep—can save her from disaster. Together, two strangers from different worlds and opposite spectrums of the thermometer must unravel the intrigues that threaten their lives to chase after a new dream, together, in majestic Alaska. 

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