Book Publishing Secrets with Brian W. Matthews, author of 'The Conveyance'

Name: Brian W.Matthews

Book Title: The Conveyance

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller

Publisher: JournalStone

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?

Brian: I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. I took a creative writing class in college, did quite well, and found it fun. I dabbled with writing for years but didn’t start writing stories on a regular basis until 2010, when a friend asked me to contribute a story to a cyberpunk anthology. I enjoyed the experience so much I decided to try writing novels.

Is this your first book?

Brian: Conveyance is my third. My other two novels are Forever Man and Revelation, which are part of a series. Conveyance is a story separate from them.

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

Brian: Conveyance was published through JournalStone, a press specializing in horror, science fiction, and fantasy. I’ve been under contract with them from the start, when they bought Forever Man and liked it enough to offer me a three book deal.

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

Brian: My journey in publishing differed from what I’ve heard others went through. After I finished Forever Man, I knew I wanted to release it through a publisher and sent a sample out to two. JournalStone wrote back asking for the full manuscript. Soon afterward, I was offered a contract. My understanding is this doesn’t happen often (getting a publisher on your first try), so I consider myself fortunate. Had I not found a publisher, I was prepared to self-publish.

I strongly recommend you try and find a publisher for your book. You receive the benefit of professional editing. The publisher is responsible for creating the cover, perhaps with your input, perhaps not. They will also print the book or format it for e-readers. These are parts of the process a writer has to do if he or she self-publishes.

Whether you self-publish or go with a publisher, be prepared to be your own marketer. No one is going to do this for you. You have to be active on social media, be willing to do blog tours, and arrange your own book readings/signings at book stores. It’s a difficult part of the publishing process, but it’s one you have to accept if you’re going to be an author.

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

Brian: Publishing is the business of selling books, which is often counter to the business of writing books. Publishers naturally look out for themselves, and writers should do likewise. Do not be afraid to cross out parts of a contract, especially the clauses giving away film and foreign language rights. Don’t be afraid to argue for your benefit—and be prepared to walk away if you don’t get what you are reasonably asking.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Brian: Absolutely. Swing for the fences. Query as many publishers as you can. Do not give up. If you don’t snag a publishing contract, either self-publish it or take a critical look at your book and decide, if you couldn’t secure a publisher for it, should it even be published? The latter is a tough call, since a writer puts a good year or more into a book, and shelving it can be painful.

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

Brian: Don’t be afraid to say no. No to a bad publishing contract. No to the people who say you can’t succeed. No to the devil on your shoulder that whispers doubts and fears in your ear each time you sit down to write. Writing is a difficult and lonely journey. Don’t let others make it worse by being negative.

Book Publishing Secrets with Dawn Brotherton, Author of 'Trish’s Team'

Name:  Dawn Brotherton

Book Title:  Trish’s Team, Book 1 of the Lady Tigers’Series

Genre:  Youth Fiction

Publisher:  Blue Dragon Publishing

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?

Dawn:  I have always loved to read and always wanted to write. My two daughters played fastpitch travel softball for the Williamsburg Starz in Virginia. There are so many lessons to be learned from team sports that this series was begging to be written. I have ten outlined so far.

Is this your first book?

Dawn: It’s my first kids’ book. My husband and I kept score for both our girls and the traditional scorebooks drove me crazy, so I designed my own. It leaves a lot more room to recreate the game on paper, and has a section that teaches new people how to keep score—not just define the symbols. I also have two adult murder mysteries that have a female military officer as the protagonist, the Jackie Austin Mysteries.

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

Dawn: Indie, it’s the most cost effective with the most control over the product.  Now I’ve set up a small press to help other authors that are just starting out.

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

Dawn: In 2010 when I wanted to publish my first Jackie Austin book, I did a lot of research and found that a lot of traditional publishers were hard to get to, didn’t necessarily pay all that well (unless you were already famous), and required that you give up a lot of rights. And did I mention that they take AGES to respond to query letters? If at all! I’m not very patient.

So I decided I could set up my own company and do it myself. It was a lot of research, trial and error, but I’m still happy with my decision. Along the way, Blue Dragon Publishing has picked up a number of authors that are just starting out. I work fulltime for the Air Force, so my goal with Blue Dragon was to help people through the errors I already made, not necessarily to make a lot of money.

I’ve learned a great deal and am more than happy to share my experiences if it can help others learn. That’s an Air Force lesson I’m carrying into civilian life.

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

Dawn: There are so many different publishing opportunities out there; it’s just a matter of finding the right one or doing it yourself. I think a small press makes the most sense because you can take advantage of other peoples’ knowledge without the hassle of agents and query letters. But of course, that depends on the press. Personally, I wish I had more experience in marketing and publicity, because that’s what will make or break you. You can write the greatest book in the world, but if no one knows about it, it’s going to sit on your shelf—alone.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Dawn: It depends on your personality. I like to be in charge and call the shots. Some folks aren’t interested in the business part, so indie wouldn’t work for them.

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

Dawn: Don’t take anything too personal. If you really want to make a good product, you need to accept honest feedback. Typically, that means you have to hire an editor because your best friends or your sister doesn’t want to hurt your feelings. It’s worth the money! And write for the love of writing. If you do that, you will always be successful (even if you aren’t rich).

Book Publishing Secrets with Vasudev Murthy, Author of 'Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Timbuktu'

Name: Vasudev Murthy

Book Title: Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Timbuktu

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Poisoned Pen 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?

Author: I didn’t decide. It happened to me. My first book was about Classical Music. As life happened, I had new ideas and inspirations and was impelled to write. Sherlock Holmes in Japan was first published in India by HarperCollins. It has now been published in Portuguese, Korean and Japanese and was published by Poisoned Pen Press in the US. I was encouraged by the editor, Barbara Peters, to write another Missing Years book. It had to be based in Africa. Timbuktu was the most interesting place I could think of from many angles – geography, popular perception, history, culture, music and more. And so, Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Timbuktu happened. I had to learn two different scripts and immerse myself as best as I could in the culture of the Tuaregs.

Is this your first book?

Author: No, my sixth. Here is the list

What the Raags told me – a novel based on Indian Classical Music – Rupa

Effective Proposal Writing – Sage

The Time Merchants – LiFi

Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Japan – HarperCollins, Poisoned Pen Press, Editora Vestigio and a Korean and Japanese Publisher

How Organizations Really Work – Bloomsbury

Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Timbuktu – Poisoned Pen Press

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

Author: I went with the best publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and I have no regrets. I don’t know or care what box they are considered to be in. They had done so well with the Japan book that there was nothing to consider.

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

Author: Over the past ten years or so, I have been lucky to be published by several well known publishers – Rupa, Bloomsbury, HarperCollins, Editora Vestigio, Poisoned Pen Press, Gamesman (Korea), Kokusho Kankokai (Japan) and LiFi. But as I write across genres, the journey has restarted often, with new twists and turns. I don’t mind that. I don’t wish to be boxed as I have numerous interests in fiction (Crime, Humor, NOT romance!) and nonfiction (Management, Classical Music) and am not particularly interested in becoming a brand. Yes, at this moment, Sherlock Holmes is my muse. I suspect a book on Animal Rights is around the corner.

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

Author: Ultimately, it seems that the brand of the publisher contributes less to the author’s satisfaction than the health of the relationship with the editor. Find an editor who understands you, and never let go or him or her. If she switches publishers, switch too.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Author: Yes. Find an editor, not the publisher. If your book got published really fast with no challenges, you must be a genius or there is a problem somewhere else. Good writing that passes muster is a result of hard work. He who likes short cuts will be cut short.

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

Author: Words are fickle lovers and will leave you without notice.