Book Publishing Secrets with Shami Stovall, Author of Dread Pirate Arcanist

Shami Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family earning a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate. As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was at that moment Stovall realized story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world and she hopes you enjoy.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

★Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/

★Blog: https://sastovallauthor.com/blog/

★Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation

★Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/

BOOK BLURB:

While protecting the newborn griffins on the Isle of Landin, Volke Savan and his adopted sister, Illia, run afoul of the Dread Pirate Calisto, the same cutthroat who carved out Illia’s right eye. As a master

manticore arcanist, Calisto’s strength and brutality are unrivaled. When Illia suggests they bring him to justice, Volke wonders if they’ll have what it takes to fight the corsairs on the high seas.

A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

Praise for the Frith Chronicles!

“Perfect for those who enjoy the Codex Alera series, the Homas Wildus series, and the Harry Potter series. Stovall is quickly becoming a name I look for.”
– Seattle Book Review

“An addictive series. Shami Stovall has produced a mesmerizing story of magic, intrigue, and true adventure.”
– ManyBooks

“Absolutely brilliant.”
– Archaeolibrarian

Now continue the Frith Chronicles with the second book, Dread Pirate Arcanist!

★Amazon ----> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WK2H37L

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?

Stovall: I decided to become an author because I have stories to tell! I love science fiction and fantasy, and I’ve read them all my life.

I penned this book specifically because I wanted to write a fun adventure novel. At the time, I was neck-deep in my sci-fi post-apocalyptic novel, The Half-Life Empire, and I wanted something to brighten my mood.

Is this your first book?

Stovall: No. I’ve written many others—crime thrillers, historical fantasy novels, space opera—and I love them all.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Stovall: For Dread Pirate Arcanist, I went indie.

When I started out writing, I went classic traditional. I got an agent, and he sold my books to publishing houses. However, I hated everything about it. Everyone takes your royalties, the editors at these large houses want you to change a lot of stuff, and no one makes you a priority. I had to wait for anything to do get done.

As an indie author, I have complete control. I love it. I also make way more money. So, if you’re an author reading this, please at least consider going indie. It really isn’t as terrible as some people make it out to be!

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Stovall: Like I said before, the traditional route is filled with a lot of random cons. Some things are good (they handle everything after you complete their edits) but you might as well be a number to them.

The con of indie is that everything falls to you—but I don’t mind that con. I’m self-motived, and I love interacting with fans. Plus, you meet a lot of great people when you’re in charge of the marketing, editing, and cover process.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Stovall: I think I covered everything in the last question. I’m happy doing what I’m doing and keeping all the money for my efforts. Win-win.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Stovall: Yes. If you have the willpower, this route is a good way to build a fan-base.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Stovall: You have to want it. Finish your novel. Pay to have it edited. Improve your craft. Read writing essays. Know how to structure a plot. Read good books and then break them down. Really understand how other authors deliver plot twists, dialogue, and exposition.

Above all: never give up! You can do it!

Thank you again for having me, and please remember to check out Dread Pirate Arcanist!

Book Publishing Secrets with Mystery Authors Rosemary & Larry Mild

Title: Copper and Goldie, 13 Tails of Mystery and Suspense in Hawai‘i

Genre: Mystery Short Story Collection

Publisher: Magic Island Literary Works

Kindle / Paperback 

Website: http://www.magicile.com 

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?

LARRY: I have always had what if ideas running through my head. That’s what made me so creative in my former profession, where I wrote proposals, equipment and systems manuals, and customer relations documents in addition to my engineering designs. Since I retired as an electronic and digital design engineer, it’s mainly stories wriggling around up there. There’s a strong need to get them on paper where they belong, so that I can share with others and take pride in something tangible. As for Copper and Goldie, it was a bunch of short stories we wrote for an online e-zine—one issue and poof they’re gone. Publishing them as a collection gave them new life.

Is this your first book?

LARRY: No. Between us, we have published fifteen books since the year 2001. Included are nine novels, three collections of short stories, two memoirs, and an autobiography. Most of these were written together.

With this particular book, how did you publish—traditional, small press, indie, etc. And why did you choose this method?

LARRY: Magic Island Literary Works is an independent publisher wholly owned by Rosemary and Larry Mild. We chose this method because traditional publishing requires a literary agent, and we decided that any agent who would have us wasn’t worth having. The querying and submission ritual was often laborious, if not ridiculous. We had two agents and got rid of them quickly for their lack of effort. Of course, traditional publishing is the best way to go, but they are a tough nut to crack and if sales are not up to snuff, you can be dropped easily—out of print. There’s no guarantee of permanence. One major disadvantage is that traditional publishers and small-press publishers often take a year to get a book out. We had two small-press publishers and then we turned to Indie (Independent) publishing.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey? The pros and cons?

LARRY: Determined to become an Indie publisher, I searched the Internet for a publishing program. I was able to purchase an out-of-date version of Adobe’s InDesign for this purpose. Although there are a number of up-to-date programs out there from $600 to $1,500, I was able to purchase my program for $100. I’ve been using it ever since. When we have a satisfactory manuscript, we send it online to the printer, Lightning Source, Inc., which is owned by Ingram, the largest distributor of English-language books in the world. They feature Print on Demand books as well as fast delivery. They do an excellent printing job. We pay to be in their retail catalogues as well. I also reformat all my print books as e-books in Kindle through Amazon Kindle Create and Nook through Barnes and Noble’s Nook Press.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

LARRY: The industry has shrunk to a very few traditional giants with multiple imprints. With this shrinking, author opportunity shrinks as well. Traditional publishing houses still maintain a monopolistic stranglehold on newspaper and magazine book reviews, where even the hometown papers rarely review a local author. Small-press firms are feeling the heat from e-books, so they are investing in e-books as well.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

LARRY: If you have inherited the technical/mathematical genes, your brain prefers the left side, and you want to invest learning time and money in becoming a publisher, then, by all means, go for it. However, there are plenty of firms out there willing to format your word processor output into a printable manuscript.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

LARRY: I’ve been suggesting the following seven thoughts to authors ever since we taught mystery writing at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.

     a. Be a reader in your chosen genre first and learn how it’s done.  

     b. Good or bad—put all your pertinent thoughts to paper. Edit later.

     c. Have a reasonable grasp of where your plot is going before you start.

     d. Choose a comfortable point of view (POV) and writing attitude.         

     e. Create your characters complete inside and out, neither all good nor all bad. Keep a

         good record of their traits.

     f. Put a lot of extra effort into crafting your first page.

     g. Make your climax and ending worthy and relevant.

Book Publishing Secrets with Ross Victory, Author of Views From the Cockpit

Ross Victory is an American Marketing professional, travel enthusiast, and author of the new memoir, Views from the Cockpit: The Journey of a Son. He spent his early years collecting pens, notepads and interviewing himself in a tape recorder. With an acute awareness for his young age, he was eager to point out hypocrisies and character inconsistencies in children and adults through English assignments. He delighted in provoking a reaction from his English teachers with writing that seemed to wink and smile. 

He enjoys writing non-fiction and fiction projects--stories of captivating, complex characters expressed in all their dimensions usually on a path to self-discovery through suffering. After the loss of his father, Ross has married his love for writing to create a compelling memoir to inspire the world. Ross received his B.S. in Business Administration & Marketing Management.

Website: http://www.rossvictory.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rossvictoryofficial

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial/  

BOOK BLURB:

Views from the Cockpit: The Journey of a Son by Ross Victory is a memoir born from pain. Intimate

journal entries morph into a phenomenal dialogue of tender father-son memories, loss, strength and turbulence in a young boy’s life on his journey into manhood. When the author discovers that his father is terminally ill and a victim of elder abuse, he embarks on a journey of reflection and discovery which soars and nosedives, chapter by chapter. Decorated in airplane analogies, with writing you can feel, Views from the Cockpit serves as a catalyst for readers to take perspective of their lives from the highest point. Views is a narrative that provides emotional assurance that readers’ unique experiences of pain, love and loss cannot be recreated or erased, but can be processed in order to not lose sight of their life journeys.

★★★★★ORDER YOUR COPY★★★★★

Amazon → https://tinyurl.com/yxoywnx9

 Barnes & Noble → https://tinyurl.com/y2ydegrg

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?

I’ve always had a deep, deep love for writing since my earliest memory. Probably because it was the only outlet I had to express myself purely. I decided to pen this book as a way to cope with the loss of my father. Not just the loss in general, but the circumstances surrounding the loss: hidden health diagnosis, fraud and elder abuse. As I began to look those items in the mirror, I decided to revisit my thoughts and opinions about our relationship in its entirety from my earliest memories with him.

Is this your first book?

Yes, my first! Definitely won’t be my last.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

I self-published this book. I think this was the only way for me because of the material I wrote—it was not catered to one kind of reader, and I wanted to have full control of the creative process. An editor recommended earlier on that I self-publish. To him, he felt publishers wouldn’t be interested, so it seems to be working out.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

I think I have a wasted a lot of time and money in some areas. I think I overspent in design a bit, but I am happy with the all the creative choices that have been made. Also, I was not aware of the different levels of the editing process. I spent a lot of time self-editing instead of simply writing and getting my book out. Lastly, when I do this again, I will make sure to spend more money in marketing campaigns, readings and reaching readers outside of social media.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

I have learned that everything is very transaction based. It appears that if one has the ability to simply follow up, be professional and have everything in order, any book can make it to market. I want to believe that good books get the best shine and bad books don’t last, however, if one knows where to put their time and money, and possesses strong administrative skills, they can make it to the shelf. That’s just a reality.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

I’m not really sure. I think fiction readers fall cleaner into categories that may be more successful.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Honestly, I would recommend that they keep pushing! Do not reveal that you’re working on a book until you are 90% done. People have a way to subtly put doubt in your mind when you share large scale projects. Lastly, write for yourself and make adjustments letter. Do not write for an audience or group. Write truth first and scale back later.