Name: Sam Newsome
Book
Title: Joe Peas
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Lulu
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?
Sam: First and
foremost, I’m a family doctor. The writing thing came in recent years my
practice and I have matured. As a physician, I meet a lot of people.
People who have led interesting lives and have wonderful stories.
Their lives are my first inspiration. I frequently tell stories to
my patients as a tool for motivation. They, in turn, will share part of
their life stories that are sometimes fantastic narratives. While I would
never unbidden betray a patient confidence, I certainly get ideas and
motivation for fictional fare.
Is this your
first book?
Sam: My first book, Jackie,
was published in the fall of 2013. It chronicles the life and adventures
of a young man who was abused, bullied and judged uneducable in the third grade.
He was assigned to homebound education that didn’t work for him.
But Jackie develops a very special, almost supernatural talent that when
discovered, leads him to an historic destiny.
With this
particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. –
and why did you choose this method?
Sam: My current book,
Joe Peas, is self-published by Lulu Publishing Service. I used
them for my only other book, so I have no means of comparison. They
explained the costs ahead of time produced a product I can be happy with.
Can you tell
us a little about your publishing journey? The pros and cons?
Sam: I spend my days
recording clinical notes into an electronic medical record. These are
required by law, but likely will rarely be read. No interpretation is
used in these notes. As Joe Friday of Dragnet asks. “Just
the facts ma’am, just the facts.” Writing is different. The ability to
shape a narrative and influence the outcome for a character is powerful.
The struggle is having the work acknowledged and read. Marketing is
every bit as challenging as writing.
What lessons
do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the
publishing industry as a whole?
Sam: The publishing
industry is changing so quickly that it is full of chaos. My impression
is that the traditional paths to publication are largely closed. I
suppose that beginning my quest for publication at a rather advanced age makes
me more impatient. I’ve finished a project and I want acclaim. I
want a band to play and fireworks to celebrate my accomplishment. Instead
I have a stack of over one hundred rejection slips from agents and publishers
who have yet to request a sample or a synopsis before judging it “Not for us”.
I understand the frustration beginning writers feel and the little
nagging feeling that even the crappiest novel on the bottom shelf of the major
stores is a better read than mine because they found a publisher.
But then… But then
remember that writing is an art as well as an occupation. We create our
projects like any other artist, to evoke emotion and desire along with a little
knowledge and understanding of our world sprinkled in. When someone tells
me they enjoyed my book or were emotionally moved, I don’t ask if they paid a
retail price or borrowed a friend’s. I still consider that a win.
My self-published book has the same text it would have if it had been
traditionally created.
Would you
recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Sam: Everyone must weigh the options and make that judgment on
their own. I made what I considered to be a credible effort and failed to
get either an agent or a publisher. I could have rewritten yet again and
resubmitted, but that seemed pointless since professionally written query
letters failed to get a nibble. Since I may be more aware of father time
than some of my colleagues, I went the self-published route. Would I do
it again? I think I received a polished product with my first novel, Jackie,
and my new effort, Joe Peas, is every bit as good.
Regarding income from the
effort, I’m probably not the one to ask. My only respite is that when my
wife complains about the money I spend on my book I can compare it to what I
might otherwise be spending on golf.
What’s the
best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Sam: I may not the
best person to ask. I’m still more into taking advice than giving it.
I would say to continually assess why you write, and who is your
audience.
That decision will not only
affect what you write, but also how and to whom you present it. If your
story is time-sensitive and you don’t have an on-going relationship with an
agent, self-publishing may be the best bet.
If the story is not
time-sensitive and you have youth, time and energy enough to solicit an agent
through conferences and other venues, seeking an agent and/or publisher
could work.
And remember, advice is
like a convenience store carton of milk. It has a very short expiration
date.
