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

Website: http://www.stevecaputi.com

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!

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

Name: Donald Joiner

Book Title: 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.

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

Name: J.J.Sherwood

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.

Book Publishing Secrets with Christopher G. Nuttall, author of 'Trial By Fire'

Name: Christopher G. Nuttall

Book Title: Trial By Fire

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

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: Well, that’s two separate issues.  The blunt truth is that I saw a book I thought was a great idea, but really poorly executed, back in 2005, so I started to write a version of my own.  My version wasn’t much better, but at least it was a start.  Six years later, or thereabouts, I started to put together an outline for what would become the Schooled In Magic series.

Is this your first book?

Author: No.  Trial By Fire is somewhere around my fiftieth published book, counting both indie and traditional published books.  It’s also book seven in the Schooled In Magic series.

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

Author: Trial By Fire is published by Twilight Times Books, a small America-based press.  Like most writers, I wanted to be published by a traditional publisher, so I submitted the first book in the series and everything just went on from there. 

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

Author: To be frank, being published by a traditional publisher lends a certain degree of validation to the author.  Someone has actually paid money to have this book edited, ergo they must think they can claw back the money, ergo they think the book’s good.  (The author is seen as an investment.)  The publisher also takes care of editing, obtaining a cover design and everything else the book might need, which frees up more of the author’s time for writing. 

The cons, however, is that you give up a great deal of control.  I haven’t had any problems with TTB, but I’ve heard hundreds of horror stories from other authors who tangled with the wrong publisher.  Do some research before choosing a publisher.  There’s also a delay between submission and publication that can be annoying, although getting the book edited is well worth the time.

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

Author: Do my research <grin>.  I think that’s really the most important lesson of all. 

But the publishing industry itself is changing.  The rise of eBooks put power in the hands of the authors, rather than publishers, and while the bigger publishing houses have done their level best to argue otherwise, I think its inarguable that big publishing will have to adapt quickly or go the way of the dinosaurs.  Small presses - and Baen Books - tend to be far better at adapting to the changing scene. 

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Author: It depends, really, on what they want from publishing.  Having assistance from a small publisher is worth its weight in gold, so I’d recommend it to anyone who intends to write for the long haul.

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

Author: I think the best advice would be to get some critics - and then listen to them.

Yes, I know; it isn’t easy to put up with someone being critical about our work.  We pour our heart and souls into the manuscript and it hurts - it really hurts - to watch someone tear it apart.  But a decent critic and a good editor are really worth their weight in gold.  They can make the difference between getting good reviews - and a good start in writing - or being crushed under a wave of negative reviews.

Frankly, there are quite a few well-established authors who have become editor-proof (I’m sure any well-read person can name a few) and their works rapidly become unreadable.  Forgetting that you need an editor is disastrous in the long term. 

And grow a thick skin.  You’ll need it.

Book Publishing Secrets with Jane Tesh, author of 'Butterfly Waltz'

Name: JaneTesh        

Book Title: Butterfly Waltz

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Silver Leaf Books

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?

Jane:  I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing my own stories, poems, and plays, so I must have been born an author.

Is this your first book?

Jane:  No.  I’ve written many books, probably twenty-five, and I’ve been lucky to have ten of those books published.  This is, however, the first fantasy novel that’s been published.

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

Jane: All of my books have been traditionally published.  There are two reasons I chose this method.  First, when I started trying to get published, traditional was the only way available, and second, I could not afford to self-publish.  Back in the Sixties, self-publishing was very expensive and the product did not look as good as it does today.

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

Jane:  In 1968, when I was 18, I started sending out manuscripts and queries. This involved typing a manuscript, finding the right size box, and mailing it to a publisher or an agent in New York. When it came back, I sent it to the next one on my list.  I did this until computers came along.  Then I emailed my queries.  At one point, I did manage to get an agent, but she and I disagreed on the direction my book was taking, so we parted (on good terms!) and I continued to send out manuscripts and queries.

Pros: I got what I wanted, a good traditional publisher.  But it took a very long time.  I got the contract for my first book in 2005.

Cons: It took a very long time!

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

Jane: As I mentioned above, I had an agent for a while.  She wanted me to change my main character in the Grace Street series from a man to a woman.  This would’ve radically changed the entire universe I had set up for all the characters in the series.  I was really upset because I had tried for so long to get an agent, she was telling me what I needed to do to get published, and I couldn’t do it. Everything worked out in the end.  I found a publisher who took the characters as they were.  But I had to say to myself: how much am I willing to compromise to make my dream come true?  As it turned out, I wasn’t willing to make such a drastic change.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Jane: Publishing has changed so much since 1968.  Today, new authors have so many more choices and can choose which method suits them and their pocketbook.  If you have the money and want to control all aspects of the process, then self-publishing is for you.  If you want someone to pay you for your work and to take care of distribution, reviews, and publicity, then traditional is the way to go.  I would recommend traditional.

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

Jane:  My favorite author, Terry Pratchett says, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”  Relax and have fun with that first draft and don’t worry about it being perfect.  Everything can be fixed.

And one more thing.  I started trying to get a book published when I was 18.  I didn’t get a book published until I was 55.  I never gave up.  Neither should you.

Book Publishing Secrets with Linda Lucretia Shuler, Author of 'Hidden Shadows'

Name: Linda Lucretia Shuler

Book Title: Hidden Shadows

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Twilight Times

Amazon / OmniLit / B&N / Twilight Times Books

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?

Linda:

I knew I wanted to be an author when I was around six or seven years old. I wrote my first story then, Koko the Monkey, which I still have tucked in a drawer somewhere. I never asked myself why I wanted to write. It was, and is, simply a natural part of me, something that’s always been there.

The idea for Hidden Shadows crept upon me slowly, seductive in its call. I took round-about trips in my imagination as well as in fact, exploring ideas and locales, before I found the path that the story wanted to follow.

I felt the need to explore grief, and how it can cleanse and renew or shatter and destroy. I wanted to illuminate the process of healing, of connection: to the land, to our ancestors, to others, to ourselves – and to the redemptive power of love.

And so Hidden Shadows was born.

Is this your first book?

Linda:

Yes, my first novel. A prequel is rattling around in my thoughts, demanding to be heard.

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

Linda:

A close friend whose novels I admire recommended her publisher, Twilight Times, a small press well respected in the publishing industry. My friend’s experience was so favorable, I decided to give it a try. So here I am!

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

Linda:

My journey isn’t done. I’m still traveling,  road map in hand. However, from what I’ve experienced up to this juncture, there’s much to commend, and much to complain, about such a trip:

Pro: The satisfaction of seeing the story and characters born in my imagination come to life in print. The sense that readers are touched by this invented world, that it lingers in their thoughts, becomes a part of them. The ego-boosting “Yea!” when reading a favorable critique. The feeling that I’ve accomplished something good, and perhaps made a difference in someone’s life – if only for a moment.

Con: It takes work. A lot of it. Patience. Fortitude. Non-creative, non-fun necessary stuff. I’m like a kid wanting to kick her heels and howl in a temper tantrum because she can’t have her dessert now, immediately! So much work, in fact, that my mind hasn’t shifted gears enough to focus on the next novel. It can be frustrating.

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

Linda:

The publishing world has changed drastically over the last few years, and continues to morph. It would be easy to feel lost among the throngs of writers, of the multitudes of books released. Oh, to be listed among the top ten! That’s the dream of us all, isn’t it? It would be easy for me as a writer to feel “in the dumps” because I’m in a crowd, rather than among a select few. Or because my novel isn’t trumpeted in colorful ads plastered across the pages of glossy magazines, or blessed by Opera, or featured in the New York Times. But satisfaction must lie in the present moment, and what we hold in our hands.  

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Linda:

As the saying goes, “Different strokes for different folks.” What works for one author may not work for another. I hesitate to recommend a specific path toward publishing: the journey depends upon the traveler. Do what feels right for you, and for the market you want to attract.    

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

Linda:

Believe in yourself. Don’t give up – not ever, no matter how long it takes, no matter how many boulders are strewn along the way, no matter how young or old you are. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy every moment of your life; if not, dissatisfaction or disappointment seeps into the pages of your work.

Book Publishing Secrets with S.W. O’Connell, Author of 'The Cavalier Spy'

Name: S. W. O’Connell

Book Title: The Cavalier Spy

Genre: historical fiction

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

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?

SW: I had once published a magazine, called Living History. With each issue I wrote a publisher’s letter and often “ghost” wrote a few articles. I found over time that I preferred the writing to the publishing. After the magazine went out of circulation, I decided that I would get to the writing I liked via my favorite reading genre – the historical novel. I grew up reading Thomas B. Costain, James A. Michener, Leon Uris, Wilbur Smith, and C.S. Forrester. Later on, I read many of Bernard Cornwell’s books. I learned a lot about history from those writers. Yet the stories entertained.

Is this your first book?

SW: No, The Cavalier Spy is the second in the Revolutionary War action and espionage series I call Yankee Doodle Spies. I know the name is a bit “kitschy,” but I like it. I plan on eventually writing eight books in the series.

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

SW: I went with a small trade publisher, a small press called Twilight Times Books. A friend, the late Lee McCaslin, referred me to Twilight Times Books. He was a published author himself and was looking for a new publisher for his second non-fiction book. When he learned Twilight Times Books published mainly fiction, he referred me and I was accepted and given a contract for the first three books in the Yankee Doodle Spies series.

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

SW: Well, I did all the usual things. After my first manuscript was done, I went on line to search for an agent. I also met with Dave Meadows and Michael O. Varhola, both published authors. Dave has written several naval espionage novels. Michael writes popular history, travel and ghost haunting books. They provided me lots of insight and encouragement. Lee McCaslkin did as well. But most of our dealings were by phone and email. I actually wrote a chapter in his book, Secrets of the Cold War. Then began the long and frustrating search for a literary agent. Mostly by luck (or unluck) I found two and had contracts with them. They provided feedback on my writing but it was a bit of drag and die. I would get some generalized comments. After I would address them and resubmit, I’d get more (different) generalized comments. It was clear different folks were reading these, as occasionally the comments clashed. In any case, I never was submitted to a publisher. In one case I was dropped. In the other, I did the dropping. These were not paid agents but fairly renowned New York agencies. I’d rate the experience as extremely frustrating, not to mention nerve grinding, but I did learn from it.

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

SW: The most important thing I learned was to park my ego at the door. When you are writing, you have complete control of the world you are presenting. But once you get into the publishing phase, the situation sort of reverses. Editors and publishers now have a legitimate right to comment and suggest changing things. You have to trust them. And you have to let go of a part of the creative process. The author creates a work of literature for people to read. The editor and publisher have to turn it into a product for people to buy. The kind of fiction I write doesn’t really fit the cookie cutter mold.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

SW: Yes, I would. I find the publisher accessible and well versed in all aspects of the business. And this publisher supports its writers.

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

SW: I’ll say that there are a whole bunch of folks who will shut you down. For them, your work is a business decision.  This is especially true of some f the agencies. I’d say – find your style… your voice, and hone it. But don’t try to change it. I’d also say be very patient…. And keep writing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S.W. O’Connell is the author of the Yankee Doodle Spies series of action and espionage novels set during the American Revolutionary War. The author is a retired Army officer with over twenty years of experience in a variety of intelligence-related assignments around the world. He is long time student of history and lover of the historical novel genre. So it was no surprise that he turned to that genre when he decided to write back in 2009. He lives in Virginia.

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Title: The Cavalier Spy

Genre: Historical

Author: S. W. O’Connell

Website: www.yankeedoodlespies.com

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

Purchase link: http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/TheCavalierSpy_ch1.html

Amazon / OmniLit 

About the Book:

1776: His army clinging to New York by a thread, a desperate General George Washington sends Lieutenant Jeremiah Creed behind British lines once more. But even the audacity of Creed and his band of spies cannot stop the British juggernaut from driving the Americans from New York, and chasing them across New Jersey in a blitzkrieg fashion. Realizing the imminent loss of one of the new nation’s most important states to the enemy, Washington sends Creed into the war-torn Hackensack Valley. His mission: recruit and train a gang of rogues to work behind British lines.

However, his mission takes a strange twist when the British high command plots to kidnap a senior American officer and a mysterious young woman comes between Creed and his plans. The British drive Washington’s army across the Delaware. The new nation faces its darkest moment. But Washington plans a surprise return led by young Creed, who must strike into hostile land so that Washington can rally his army for an audacious gamble that could win, or lose, the war.

“More than a great spy story… it is about leadership and courage in the face of adversity…The Cavalier Spy is the story of America’s first army and the few… those officers and soldiers who gave their all to a cause that was seemingly lost…”

~ Les Brownlee, former Acting Secretary of the Army and retired Army Colonel

“Secret meetings, skirmishes and scorching battles… The Cavalier Spy takes the reader through America’s darkest times and greatest triumphs thanks to its powerful array of fictional and historical characters… this book shows that courage, leadership and audacity are the key elements in war…”

~ F. William Smullen, Director of National Security Studies at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and Author of Ways and Means for Managing UP