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.
It's just amazing share about book publishing,
ReplyDeleteself publishing