Stuart Aken's Blog, page 336

Smashwords Author Brian S. Pratt to Earn over $100,000 in 2011

As regular readers will know, I interview writers on this blog, with a particular fondness for indie authors, who have to do everything for themselves. The following is an interview by Mark Coker of Smashwords, with indie author Brian S. Pratt, who shares his experiences (good and bad) of independent publishing. My thanks to both Mark and Brian for their consent to this.
At first glance, Brian S. Pratt of Boswell, Oklahoma doesn't fit the stereotypical profile of a best-selling author. Yet he, and others Smashwords authors like him, represent the future of publishing.
Pratt began publishing with Smashwords in early 2009. His first quarterly royalty payment was $7.82. While most authors would find that number discouraging, Pratt was encouraged. It was a start.
In the quarters since, Pratt's earnings have grown, and in recent quarters he's become a veritable breakout success. Last quarter, he earned over $18,000 from sales across the Smashwords retail distribution network. This quarter, with three weeks to go, he's on track to break $25,000. He's on track to earn over $100,000 in 2011 at Smashwords, and up to $200,000 total when he includes his projected Amazon sales. Not one to count his eggs before they're hatched, though, he's fast at work on a next series.
The road to here was anything but easy. At age 43, he's held a number of eclectic jobs, ranging from an U.S. Air Force avionics technician to a taxi driver. Until recently, as he shares in the interview below, he was living below poverty level.
He writes fast-paced, can't-put-it-down fantasy. Pratt started writing because the series authors he enjoyed reading weren't completing their series fast enough. So he started writing books he'd like to read. Unlike some ebook series writers who carve up books into short serialized chunks, Pratt's books are full-length, with most clocking in around 150,000 words.
His writing style is completely his own, and any New York editor would surely bristle at the rules Brian breaks. His most popular series, The Morcyth Saga, is written in the present tense (though he changed to past tense for subsequent series). It's no wonder that after years trying to land an agent and a publisher, he faced unanimous rejection from publishing experts.
Yet readers had other plans for Pratt, as we learn today in this interview.
Lacking a traditional outlet for his work, Pratt self published in 2005, first in print and later ebooks. Today, his ebook sales far outpace his print sales by a factor of more than 100:1.
Today, Pratt has 17 books at Smashwords, and we distribute the books to Barnes & Noble, Apple, Sony and Kobo, as well as to online mobile app catalogs of Stanza and Aldiko.
His Morcyth Saga, a seven-book fantasy adventure series, is by far his most popular collection.
Below in this exclusive interview, Brian S. Pratt recounts the long road to his overnight breakout success.

[Mark Coker] Brian, tell us about your books

[Brian S. Pratt] I have 17 books completed spread across several series. Most are full length, epic fantasy type novels, each anywhere from 120,000-190,000 words. I have a few I call my mini's that are just plain fun and get the reader into the adventure from the get-go. These range from 60,000-90,000 words.

[MC] How did you get started as a writer?

[BSP] Back in 2005, I found myself waiting for several of the main authors to get around to finishing their next novel. The biggest one that annoyed me was The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the series up to around book 6; then it lost me. Action grew infrequent and far between. It got bogged down in mundane details. Jordan wasn't the only one I was impatiently waiting for. So, on March 1, 2005, I sat down at my computer and decided to write The Morcyth Saga. Figured I could do a good job and write the kind of book I wanted to read. One that had action in every chapter, you followed the main character throughout, and descriptions were down to a minimum. That is exactly what you get in The Unsuspecting Mage; Book One of The Morcyth Saga.

[MC] What training do you have as a writer? 

[BSP] Training??? Not a bit. All I started with was the drive to write a story and everything else followed. I ended up writing a seven book series in Present Tense, rife with errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Most of the errors have been fixed in subsequent editions. My word usage was not what one would find in the traditionally produced books, some said it was too simple. I don't know about that, but at least you don't need a dictionary at hand when you read my books. Some have liked it, others less so. My books feel different than others for that reason.

[MC] Tell us about some of the first customer reviews you received, and how you reacted?

[BSP] Reviews, yes there have been some dillies. Here's the first one-star I ever received. It was at Amazon.com less than a month after I first published The Unsuspecting Mage. 1.0 out of 5 stars - January 15, 2006
Present tense is an amateurish way to write....., 
.....and this book reads like it was written for a high school English class. Worst book I've read in a long time. I like lots of books, especially ones written by Robin Hobb, George Martin, and Stephen Donaldson to name but three. These books were well written. This one was not. Just wondering - how many of you are still in high school yourselves? The last line was directed at the other reviewers who said they liked my book.
Needless to say, this devastated me and I stopped writing for a few weeks. Of course, I've had much worse ones since. But then, my books kept selling. And I always told myself that as long as my books keep selling, even if it is marginally, then it would be worth it to continue. I've come to realize that there will always be those that do not like my books, and so what? They simply are not in my target audience. And my target audience is me. I write what I would like to read. And it looks like there are many "me's" out there for I've sold lots of books. If you want to see what may be in your future, check out The Unsuspecting Mage at Amazon.

[MC] You joined Smashwords March 27, 2009 10:26pm (I checked!). Can you take us back to that moment in time, and recall what was going through your mind

[BSP] Let's see. I was a single dad living with three kids and boy, was I poor (under the poverty level). Up until then, I hadn't really thought much about eBooks. I tried Mobipocket for a while and had great sales for three months, then it died off. Sales for my paperbacks, which I had published through iUniverse had fallen off dramatically. Where I had been breaking 4 figures a quarter, I was now less than 600 per quarter and bleeding red. I typed in "self publishing" and saw a quirky little site called Smashwords. It said, Your eBook, Your way. Didn't cost a thing so what did I have to lose? First quarter sales at Smashwords were dismal, 2009-04-07 — $7.92 As it happened, April 7th is my birthday. That was cool. But I wasn't deterred. Books were selling. Sometimes, one or two a week, but they sold. I stayed with it and refused to allow all the naysayers (and there were those by the droves) to stifle my dream. Sales gradually improved and, well, here we are. Can't give up on your dream, EVER!

[MC] Your first quarter at Smashwords you earned $7.92. I've seen some new Smashwords authors jump for glee over a number like that, and others have unpublished their books and quit Smashwords in disgust. What was your reaction?

[BSP] My reaction was "I'm ahead, $7.92" By this time I had been published for a little over 3 years and had seen sales go up and down. Can't make any kind of decision based on just one quarter. Plus, I was getting the hang of how to make Smashwords work for me. You can't just publish your book, sit back and think, "Okay, the money is going to roll in now." It ain't gonna happen. The industry is stacked against anyone who is just starting out. You have to get out there and grab readers by the collar and shout, "Here I am!" They won't find you or care about you until you do.

[MC] Your sales started small but then grew steadily, and in more recent months you've broken out into the best-seller lists at some of our retailers. What was the secret?

[BSP] After receiving my second royalty check which was only $183.60, I figured I needed to get busy and get creative. So I first looked around for a good place to advertise and found Project Wonderful. They suited my needs perfectly; ads would run on websites for pennies a day. I then created a coupon code that would discount my first book for free. I then created a series of ads stating that a free copy was available, all they had to do was copy down the code and go to Smashwords for their free copy. Well, that bombed and bombed badly. Came to realize that I was asking way too much of customer. In order to get my book, they had to go to Smashwords, create an account, put in the code, then download.
People are inherently lazy about shopping, especially in this world where everything is a click away. I pondered on the lack of success with my coupon code, then realized that if I just made the book free, they would only have to click the link in the ad, then download a free copy. Simple. (Keep it Simple-Stupid) I made it so easy for people to download my book, that downloads jumped. Subsequently, sales for books 2-7 jumped as well.
If it's free and downloading is just a click away, people will do it. Very few can walk away from a free deal. Unknown authors are risky to readers and few wish to risk money, or time, to try a book they are not sure they will even like.
When Smashwords signed the deal with Barnes and Noble, my sales jumped 300% that quarter. Barnes and Noble have one of the best "Free eBook" sections and now people could find my book without having to see a small ad. Without Smashwords free copy of book one at Barnes and Noble, I would hardly be doing the sales I am today. That was the one act that set into motion sales the likes I never thought possible for an Indie without agent, editor, or publisher.

[MC] Prior to publishing at Smashwords, multiple agents and publishers rejected you. Tell us about your most memorable rejections.

[BSP] No one wanted me. All the rejection letters were worded very politely, but you can't help but adding phrases to them like "You suck as a writer" or "Your book would be good to keep my table level but as for making money, it has a better chance to spontaneously combust." When I published it through iUniverse, I opted for an editorial review ($300 at the time). They basically said the manuscript would need a serious overhaul before it would become commercially viable. And oh by the way, we do have many such services available…for a price. At the time I thought it was a complete waste of time. But now looking back with five years experience under my belt, many of their comments had merit. Although one must keep in mind, had I continued working with my first book to get it right, I'd still be working on it to this day and all subsequent ones never having seen publication. There comes a point when a writer has to say, "It's ready. Good or bad, let's see what happens." What happened in this case was that there were many people out there who enjoy a good adventure and have since traveled with James through 8 books and are patiently (impatiently might be a better word) waiting for the second installment of the follow-up series, Travail of The Dark Mage.

[MC] What does it mean to you to be described as a self-published author, or an Indie author?

[BSP] The biggest worry a writer had back in 2005 was whether or not they wanted to be stigmatized as "self-published." Once stigmatized, I was told, never again would a traditional publisher take you on. Unless you sold over 50,000 copies. But then, I thought, if I sold 50,000 copies, what would I need a publisher for?
Now, I think of it as a badge of pride. My success is mine, no one else's. Everything that comes from my books, comes because of the hard work I, and I alone, put into it. Others have helped, but I spearheaded it and got it done. Even if today I was to get a publisher, from what I've heard of other author's experiences, they still do most of their own publicity and get tied into restrictive contracts and unrealistic demands. Case in point, the movie Back to the Future. The head of the studio sent the producers a memo in which he stated that "Frogman from Mars" would be a better title. What a nightmare to have to deal with that. As a self-published author I don't have to worry about another's "taste" or "ideas."
Of course, if you fail, again you have no one else to blame. But the only failure you will have, is if you quit. Try new ideas, talk to those who have succeeded, most of all don't give up.

[MC] What's your view of the future of indie authorship, and where do you think traditional publishers fit into your plans, if at all?

[BSP] Indie authorship is here to stay and the traditional publishing houses better get used to it. They also better not discount the effectiveness of its appeal or they're going to regret it. I think they are going to wake up one morning and wonder where all their profits have gone. The better authors will do it themselves because they are going to make more money at it. Also, as the Indie Revolution continues, more and more authors being sought by publishers will be taking hard looks at their contracts. True, if you only have a single book, traditional publishers may be the best route. I make money because I have a series, a completed series, and give the first one away free. Can't beat free for advertising.
As of today, I no longer send query letters (what a waste of time that was) to agents. No longer submit to publishers or even enter contests. My books are not award winners. They are merely fun books. I've tracked winners in the past and they don't always do well.
What would happen if I got an email from a publisher asking for publishing rights? I'd listen to what they have to say. I'd carefully scrutinize any contract for how future books would be affected and so forth. I feel the restriction and demands made by them would far outweigh any increased royalties. But I could be wrong. Never say never to anything where money is concerned.

[MC] Where does print fit into your publishing strategy going forward?

[BSP] Print goes hand in hand with eBooks. You have to have a print copy of your book. I sell maybe 2 or 3 books per 1000 eBooks. Not much, right? Keep this in mind. eBook readers tell their book reader friends about your books. If you want them to buy it, it needs to be available. My biggest hurdle with print has always been pricing. Not much you can do about that, self-publishing print books is expensive no matter where you do it. I'd suggest Lightning Source Inc. they're the best and will put your books before the most customers.

[MC] Imagine you're mentoring a new author today. What three secrets to success would you share, and why?

[BSP] Actually, I've already helped over a dozen authors with getting started. I take the time to answer questions and give advice freely.First thing I advise is to be approachable. Have an email address solely for those contacting you as an author and post it everywhere. If someone sees your book, that email address had better be there too. And remove the spam filter. About a year after I published my first book, I happened to check my spam folder and found 3 emails from readers. Made me mad. Also made me wonder how many others couldn't get hold of me due to my (censored) spam filter. There was this one author, forgot who, but I saw his profile on Amazon. It basically said that he didn't want to be bothered with questions from readers, nor did he want to hear from other authors. And oh by the way, won't you buy my book? –Not word for word, but that was the gist of it. Needless to say, I didn't even look as his book and have since forgotten the guy. I've earned many steadfast fans simply because I responded to them in a personal and friendly manner.
Get a website. They're pretty cheap and are absolutely invaluable. Your readers need a place they can go to learn more about the books, and about you.
Listen to your heart, not reviewers. If you can't stand criticism, find something else to do. Also, when you get your book first published, friends and family always like to post reviews. Well, there are certain things you need to explain to these reviewers before they post.
A. One line reviews are worthless. Saying, "This is greatest book I've ever read!!!" is a waste of time. It means nothing to no one.
B. Tell potential customers about the book. Why is it great? Why did you love it? Why should they spend time and money to read it? Give an example from the book. If you use an example, it gives your review more weight for it lends credence that you actually read the book.
C. Don't talk about just the good. Pick something negative and write about that too. A balanced review is more helpful, and more believable than one that just gushes praise. No matter the book, there has to be something that bugged them. If the book is self-published, there will be something to criticize. I received an email from one reader that said he read a review in which a previous customer complained that my book read like a D&D game transcript. The reader, a gamer by the way, checked it out on that basis alone and ended up buying the entire series. So never assume that a negative review will be negative to all readers.
Here's the biggie. Write. Seems simple doesn't it? You'd be surprised how often we come up with excuses why we can't write. If you're a writer, then you better be writing. Finished a book? When's the next one going to be published? Don't stand still and see if the first one sells well before starting the second. Do you believe in what you are doing? Then for heaven's sake, write. Set a goal. In the beginning, my goal was 20,000 words a week, or an equivalent time editing. I met that and in fact wrote Shepherd's Quest, a 130,000 word book in 5 weeks. I was on roll.
Don't go to your family with your manuscript and ask, "How is it?" If you want an honest answer, go to Fanstory.com and join. You'll find out fast just how good/bad your manuscript is. Friends and family are biased and will have a hard time seeing your work for what it truly is. If you ask for an opinion from someone who knows you, the person answering you knows that they'll have to deal with you afterward so will say "it's great" or give some other affirmative response. They don't want to crush your spirit. I watched this one show once where a guy wore this t-shirt that said, "My mom thinks I'm cool." Enough said.
I have posted lots of useful info for self-published authors, or those thinking of going that route on my website. If you're interested, check out my site,  Brian Pratt Books . It's a year old, but most of the info should still be fairly current. It will definitely give you some things to think about.
We're all in this together. Email me should you have questions or anything.
[MC] Every author must compete against hundreds of thousands of other books. What's the secret to breaking out? 

[BSP] Write, keep writing, and when your fingers are sore, write some more. The more books you have out, available through the most channels, the better your exposure. Never cancel a channel unless you know another will fill the void. Best channels right now are Smashwords and Kindle. Neither costs you anything but time. From the first sale, you're making a profit. If you give up, it's over. Until then, anything can happen. I'm a prime example of that.
Find ways to get your book in front of people. Don't expect glowing reviews to sell your book. After all, if readers don't find your book in the first place, no amount of "good" reviews will help.

[MC] Now that you've achieved success as a writer, how might your writing change, if at all?

[BSP] I now understand why some authors take a long time in getting out the next book. The more books you have, the more time ends up being devoted to previous titles and other things (this Q&A is a prime example). Editing has always been a sore point with [my] readers, or rather, the lack of it. My books have never seen a professional editor and could use a touch of polishing. I'll be looking into that with the new year.

[MC] Now that you're able to devote full time to your writing, what's your typical day like. What's your process?

[BSP] I spend far too much time on the internet checking sales, answering emails (I love that part) and seeing what's going on in the world of publishing. Smashwords is usually the first page I visit in the hopes that sales have posted. Most days, I'm disappointed. There have been times when I thought, "What the heck is going on? Where are my sales?" But you know, they all come in before the quarter payout, and I've never had a problem with getting my money from Smashwords. [Note from MC: We hear you Brian! Faster reporting is one of our top priorities for 2011]
After that, I try to get some editing done on my newer works, then an hour or so of computer gaming. I write some, check emails again, and so forth. The longer a series goes, the more complex it becomes. You need to take into account all that has gone before, keep your characters consistent, and make it all seem flawless.

[MC] What's coming next?

[BSP] Finish Travail of The Dark Mage. I'm on book 2 and figure the series will be around 5 books. Never know for sure until I'm done. The initial plan for The Morcyth Saga was 10 books. Can you imagine what would have happened if I had contracted for 10 books with a publisher and instead came through with 7? Love being an Indie.
I do have ideas for another 2 series after Travail, as well as off-shoots like The Improbable Adventures of Scar and Potbelly, a series of short adventure books based on the duo from the series. One thing I do know for sure. I will not release another series unless I have it already completed. I hate making readers wait.

[MC] Thanks for sharing, Brian!

To sample or purchase the ebooks of Brian S. Pratt, visit his Smashwords author page

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH ALAN NAYES

Alan Nayes was born in Houston and grew up on the Texas gulf coast. After attending medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, he moved to Southern California where he divides his time and energies between medicine and writing. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed biomedical thrillers, GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL. His most recent release is BARBARY POINT, a love story.         An avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast, he is one of only a few individuals to  ever swim across Wisconsin's chilly Lake Winnebago. When not working on his next project, he enjoys relaxing and fishing at the family vacation home in Wisconsin.
BARBARY POINT  When Kelly English flies back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to close out her father's estate, the last thing on her mind is falling in love. Again. Kelly is twenty-eight and engaged to an older man who is quite wealthy. She's happy, and only desires to make the trip back brief, sell her deceased father's place, and return to her stable life in Los Angeles. However, while taking care of business in Oshkosh, Kelly meets a fishing guide, launching her on an emotional journey she never could have predicted or foreseen. BARBARY POINT is Kelly's story of what happened that one magical week in May on the shores of Lake Winnebago when the ducklings hatch and the walleye run.

Tell us about Barbary Point  in a few sentences.
BARBARY POINT is about  a young woman from Los Angeles who is engaged to a wealthy older man. When her father whom she never knew because her parents were divorced when she was quite young suddenly dies, Kelly must fly back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to close out her deceased father's estate.  She only wishes to make the trip brief and get home to her stable life in Los Angeles, but unexpectedly, Kelly meets a fishing guide and falls in love.

How did you come to write this particular book?
The story came about because of the many years I spent at our family vacation cottage on the shores of Lake Winnebago. I always wanted to write a story with the lake and cottage as a setting but never had the right ingredients for a thriller or mystery. An agent suggested I attempt a love story—BARBARY POINT is that love story.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
For BARBARY POINT, Kelly English is my favorite character. She's intelligent, beautiful, ambitious, and caring—everything a male writer could fall in love with. My overall favorite character is one from my first novel GARGOYLES—Amoreena Daniels. She overcame hell of some odds to survive until the last page. In fact, Kelly and Amoreena could probably be good friends—as long as neither had eyes on the same guy.

Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
BARBARY POINT is set in Oshkosh Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Winnebago. My family has owned a comfortable quaint cottage there for decades and it's always a great place to go when you want to fish or boat or just plain relax and enjoy the scenery. Or write!
How can people buy your books?
My first two novels are available on Amazon  and Barnesandnoble.com. GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL are biomedical thrillers. BARBARY POINT is available at www.xoxopublishing.com.And I've just had a short story published on http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=503955  and http://www.pinkflamingo.com/pages/The-Red,-White-and-Blue-Kitty-by-Alan-Nayes.html titled, The Red, White and Blue Kitty. 
What qualities make a successful writer?
I guess that depends on how you define success. Personally, I think anyone who sets out to write a novel and actually finishes it is successful. Monetary success is another issue. I believe three qualities make a successful writer. The individual must possess some talent. More important the individual must be persistent—rejection letters mount far faster than acceptance calls. And third, I firmly believe there is that intangible entity we call luck involved in every success story. But in order for luck to happen a writer must work hard, be persistent, believe in one's project and above all—never give up.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Needless to say, grammar and spelling are as important to a writer as fast hands and power are to a boxer. In many cases editors and agents won't consider a manuscript if it's chalk full of grammatical and spelling errors.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
I revise and revise and revise. Can't emphasize this point enough. REVISE.
How long does it normally take you to write a (novel, book, play, poem, story)?
It usually takes me about a year to complete a full length novel—this includes the first draft and subsequent revisions. I could work faster but I have a full time job. Oh well…
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
By far the most enjoyable part of writing is when I finish the first draft. Yes, I realize there will be multiple revisions, but I find it far easier to rewrite than face a blank page—all that white space—that's frightening.
What single piece of advice would you give to writers still hoping to be published?
Persistence. Persistence. Persistence.
What are you writing now?
I'm working on two projects. HEMLOCK POND  is a horror story about a young woman who brings her terminally ill child back from the dead. THE LEARNER is a paranormal love story that I'm still in the process of hashing out. It will be compelling, though. More to come.
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
My website is www.anayes.com  and I can be found on facebook under my name. Enjoyed sharing my thoughts with everyone.

Traditions, and Why We Should Examine Them.

Image via Wikipedia
Does it strike you as odd that we frequently defend peculiar behaviour by calling it tradition? That we hear others defending what, to us, is indefensible, on the grounds that it is traditional? I've heard men from Pakistan defend the throwing of acid over women who refuse their advances simply on the basis that it is traditional. Apart from the obvious inhumanity and cruelty, just how traditional can something be if based on an acid that has been around only a relatively short time? In the UK those who chase foxes with packs of hounds and allow them to tear the caught animal to pieces justify their cruelty by calling it tradition.The bull fighting fraternity in Spain use the same justification for their cruel taunting and killing of bulls in the ring.And the American hunter defends his killing sprees in the same way.On a lighter note, the custom of sending cards to all and sundry on any of innumerable anniversary dates is called tradition. It certainly keeps card manufacturers and the postal services in business.It is still the custom for brides to marry in church and wear white (for purity) even though they and the rest of the family have no belief in God and she is unlikely to be virginal.In religion it is tradition that forbids the eating of pork by certain groups. That this ban was initially a way of avoiding the many parasites harboured by swine seems to have been forgotten along the way. We now know that cooking pork properly will kill the parasites, but the old tradition lives on regardless.And then there are those traditions that fall under the umbrella of superstition. A rabbit's foot for luck (not for the rabbit, it isn't). Avoid walking under a ladder (step into the road and have a car run you over instead). Avoid that black cat crossing your path (the witch for which it was a familiar is no longer a common feature of life, so the fear is irrational, as it always was, of course). 13 is such an unlucky number; but if you're not a Christian, why would it be; does the number of people assumed to attend the Last Supper have any bearing on your life? 7 years of bad luck follow the breaking of a mirror, but any smooth surface performs the same function of reflecting the image, so does tossing a pebble into a still pool sentence you to the same period of ill fortune?Just a few examples. I'm sure you can think of hundreds more. Some are harmless, some ridiculous but many are positively dangerous, cruel or unjust. My point, then, is that perhaps we should examine those things we call traditions and measure their value to society before we blindly follow them.What say you? 

NEW SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED

Writers of all genres belong to my writing group, Hornsea Writers and we recently decided to compile an anthology. I got the job of editing the text and designing the cover. Today it appears as an eBook on Smashwords at the unbeatable price of $.99 or £0.63 – a snip for all the goodies on display. This selection of short stories represents the diversity of the medium, and of its talented contributors. There's something for everyone: dive into the sack and sample humour, sci-fi, romance and much more. 

Author Interview with Joanne Kerzmann-Troppello

Joanne Kerzmann-Troppella is a freelance writer / marketing consultant, located in Pennsylvania.  She has two books published. Shadowed Remembrances is a mystery novel.  Her inspirational romance novel, Mr. Shipley's Governess, was released with Wild Horse Press on November 9th.  She is contracted to work for several different companies, to write non-fiction, how-to articles each week.  She currently works out of her home office for a local medical organization, which is also located in Pottstown.
Shadowed Remembrances is a story about a young woman who has walked away from the past and her small town and started life over in the city.  On a visit back home, she is confronted with the hurts of her past, the rekindling of an old flame, and a murder.  Torianna Silverman is a crime scene investigator, specializing in fingerprint identification.  She is a NYC detective who is on vacation in a small Pennsylvania town.  She encounters God in a special way and has to come face to face with her fears and find a way to move forward and solve the crime. 
Visit www.signedbytheauthor.com and enter item #1272 to find information on Shadowed Remembrances and order an autographed copy for only $12.00.
Mr. Shipley's Governess released on Nov. 9th, 2010 by www.wildhorsepress.webs.com is an inspirational romance novel.  For Jane Austen enthusiasts, this is the story you just have to read.  Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' tragic deaths.  She can no longer live in their home because the memories are too painful.  She decides to leave her position as a teacher at the local elementary school and takes a job as a tutor for Anastasia Shipley, a young girl with an illness who has never attended a day of school in her entire life.  Sophie has walked away from God, angry that He chose not to save her parents.  Unprepared for the emotional connection she makes with Sebastian Shipley, Anastasia's father, Sophie gets swept up in an unexpected romance with him and a renewing of her relationship with God.  Will Sophie find peace from her past at the Shipley mansion?
Why did you become a writer…was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?
Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a writer.  I started writing in my senior year in high school and kept working on my first novel and editing time and again until I finally felt ready to submit the manuscript for publication.  I was working fulltime in various office environments doing public relations and in other management positions until 2008 when I launched out in my home-based freelance writing / marketing business.  Now I have more time to write, which I am overjoyed about, and I completed my second novel and am almost done writing my third.
What was the inspiration for your latest work of fiction?
The inspiration for my writing is first and foremost, my faith in God, and my desire to write compelling stories about the journeys of faith that my characters are moving along. 
Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
I am observant, a people watcher, and I take my inspiration from the people and places that I see and visit and live in every day.  My experiences do play a part in character and plot creations, but I do get other ideas from my imagination. 
What was the most interesting research you had to do for any of your books? 
For Shadowed Remembrances, I really enjoyed doing research on crime scene investigation and especially researching fingerprint identification.  For Mr. Shipley's Governess, I had fun doing research on the geographical locations of England, France and Italy that my characters visited in the latter part of the book.  I truly believe that research is an important part of any writer's journey to creating a complete manuscript.  If you do not have the correct facts woven throughout your story, you will lose credibility with your readers and in turn you will lose your readers as fans. 
How do you go from an idea for a book to the birth of the story?  Is the process the same for every book you write? 
I usually follow similar procedures in going from an idea to a book.  I have so many ideas for new books, so I keep a list of all those ideas and add to it when I think I have a book-worthy idea.  I try to work on the title first.  It's always a working title because my first idea is not usually the end result for the title.  Once I get that working title, I work on the chapter outline and try to be as detailed as possible, with the realization in the back of my mind, that as the story progresses, the chapter outline will most likely need to be changed to allow my characters the chance to tell their own stories.  I never edit any of the chapters while I am writing because my first draft is obviously not the best I can produce.  If I start to edit after I write each chapter, I know myself; I'll get discouraged and won't want to finish the book.  After the book is complete, I actually enjoy the editing process since I truly want to make my book the best possible product that I can produce. 
Do you have any advice for beginning writers on how to write a book?  Do you have any advice for them regarding promoting that book once published?
For new writers, my most important advice is to keep writing.  If you want to be a writer, you need to write.  Wishing you were a writer on the best seller list is not going to get you there.  You need to combine those hopes and dreams with a strong work ethic and hard work…then anything is possible.  Once your book is signed with a publisher, you need to get a website set up.  There are many good free websites out there, like www.weebly.com you can utilize until you begin to get a good investment on your book and then you might want to switch to a fee-based website like www.godaddy.com.  After you establish your website, you should set up accounts on Facebook (a fan page is suggested, not just your own personal page), Twitter and LinkedIn and any other social media networking sites; however those three are the most currently utilized sites.  Really try to create a strong online presence for your name, not just for your book titles.  Try to network with other local authors to schedule book signings and readings.  Always be active in self-promotion of your work.  You are your most avid fan and you need to utilize that factor.  No one cares about your success more than you; use that fervor to your advantage and never stop marketing yourself. 
My website:  http://joannetroppello.weebly.com

Narrative Magazine's Take on the Future of Reading.

Narrative describes itself as 'A nonprofit organisation dedicated to storytelling in the digital age.' It produces a high quality online magazine that can be read on Kindle, iPhone and iPad as well as on screen, featuring short fiction, poetry, cartoons, graphic stories and much more. I recommend you visit the site to see the quality of the offerings, which are free for subscribers to the newsletter.
The article below is their view of the future of reading.
This is a make-or-break moment for reading. While some folks are understandably anxious about the future of reading in the world, especially among youth, at Narrative we see the digital age as an opportunity to create new audiences for literary excellence.

New studies cited recently in the Washington Post and the New York Times found that today's youth are not reading less, they're just reading differently—on digital devices. Children and teens want to read more, using the new technologies.

This is excellent news for literature and a mandate for Narrative's mission to advance reading in the digital age. As the preeminent online literary magazine, Narrative is in exactly the right place to engage the next generation of readers.

Every day we bring great writing online, to readers across the globe. In 2010 our subscribers skyrocketed to 100,000, nearly the number of hallmark print publications such as The Atlantic. Free and available to all, Narrative is being used in classrooms from Seoul, Korea, to Moscow to Youngstown, Ohio.

Also this year Narrative stories were awarded the prestigious laurels of the print age—the O. Henry and Pushcart Prizes—and were named among the Best American Short Stories. Best yet, our readers found those stories via today's most innovative platforms: the iPhone and iPad, the Kindle, and even customizable applications.

Your support makes all this possible. Because of you, Narrative is an international resource that promotes literacy and enables education. Because of you, Narrative can find the stand-out stories and support writers and artists, teachers and students. Because of you, Narrativeis everywhere our readers are—online, on mobile devices, and on the printed page.

We're giving new life to literature at an important time. But there's so much more we can do. Your tax-deductible contribution will support: Narrative in the Schools, an educational initiative that delivers tailored content to secondary school systems struggling to afford textbooks and seeking to enable new ways of learning.Narrative30Below, which discovers, nurtures, and celebrates our next generation of writers and artists.Our modern library of stories—free and portable to readers around the world, of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.We know that great stories have a timeless ability to engage and inspire the readers who find them. And those readers are more than twice as likely as nonreaders to vote, to volunteer, and to be active participants in their communities. That is why Narrative is paving the way in bringing the best new stories to the digital world and to readers of all ages. 

WE ARE AWESOME!

Image via CrunchBase
The following is lifted, with permission, from a post on the Linked-In website. I've modified it slightly, but the bulk is as it was originally posted. Thank you David Nicholls
This is addressed to kids who survived the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, and to their children.
No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us, WE ARE AWESOME!

For those of us born 1925 – 1970: Our Lives Are Living Proof.

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps or nothing, on our heads, not helmets. As infants and children, we rode in cars with no baby seats, no boosters, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes. Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight. Why? Because we were always outside playing...that's why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OK.
We spent hours building go-carts or bogies (as we called them in the UK) out of scraps and then rode them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We didn't have Play Stations, Nintendos or X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no surround-sound or CDs, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from those accidents. We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, belts, ping-pong bats, or just a bare hand, and no one would report this as abuse. We ate worms, and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and -although we were told it would happen- we didn't put out many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever. The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you're at it, forward it to your kids, so they'll know how brave and lucky their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

Author Interview with Ruth Wheeler

Ruth Wheeler has always enjoyed anything artistic from writing, drawing, sculpting, music, acting and even the martial arts. From a young age Ruth was praised for her creative writing and her teachers asked her to read her short stories in front of the school; which is not easy when you're not the most outgoing pupil. Choosing a career path in the arts, she went on to do a degree in Fine Art at Solihull college. Graduating in 2002, she has since been paying the bills working as a graphic designer. After years of recreational writing, at the age of thirty, her debut novel was released.

Tell us about All Aliens Like Burgers in a few sentences.
     
All Aliens Like Burgers is a story aimed at teenagers and adults and tells of Tom Bowler - an intelligent, quiet young man who has barely ever ventured out of the small English town where he grew up. So when he applies for a job in a fast food restaurant at a "local" service station during his gap year he is rather surprised to discover that the vacancy is in fact based on Truxxe, a planetoid stationed between local galaxies Triangulum and Andromeda. He's surprised further still to find himself becoming friends with a purple alien and that he has strange feelings for his android supervisor, Miss Lola. Tom soon discovers that Truxxe has many hidden secrets - just what makes it so special? And why is its terrain so rich and varied that it can be used for fuelling such a diverse variety of intergalactic spacecraft? What are the Glorbian space pirate brothers Schlomm and Hannond plotting? And just what is it that they put in those burgers?
How did you come to write this particular book?

I was inspired to write All Aliens on a stop at a motorway service station one summer. They are a world in themselves – so generic and devoid of any distinctive character. They seem to be designed to disorientate the weary traveller and make you ask that question "So where exactly are we?" It got me thinking that, were you a sleeping passenger, would you know whether you were in Exeter or Carlisle? Then I began to think bigger. Perhaps you could be on a different planet altogether. I have always had a passion for science fiction and surrealism – placing familiar objects in unfamiliar surroundings. And this was where the initial ideas for my novel were born.

If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?

My favourite character has to be Raphyl the purple Truxxian. He is Tom's colleague at the intergalatic burger bar and I like him because he never worries about anything and he takes life as it comes. Nothing fazes him and he is content with his lot. Or so it seems...  

How can people buy your book?

It is available from all the usual outlets - WHSmiths, Waterstones (and can be ordered in or from their online shops if it is not on the shelves) and Amazon. Or signed copies can be obtained direct from the publisher www.hirstpublishing.com. I also do quite a few signings countrywide so if you catch me at one of them I will be happy to sign a copy.

Do you have any signings coming up?

Yes, I will be signing at Gallifrey One Catch 22 Doctor Who convention in Los Angeles 19th - 20th February 2011. You can always check the publisher's website for updates or my Facebook page which is constantly updated.

What qualities make a successful writer?
Perseverance, the ability to take critisism and rejection and still carry on, a good imagination, perseverance and perseverance!

Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

I have the support of my friends and family and also fellow authors for which I'm eternally grateful. I'm glad that they can put up with me rambling on about my characters and plot until the space cows come home!
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

The things which frustrate me the most are technology (I have literally cried at losing work that the computer has "eaten") and blank page syndrome. 
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?

Yes, all of it - the writing is the easy bit as many authors will tell you. It's telling people the book is out there that is the hardest part. I wnjoy discussing potential plots with my husband and he may say one word which inspires me and I'll be, "Right, that's it - I need to get to a computer now as I have 3 chapters formulating in my head." It's great fun. 
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

Interesting question - with me I feel as though I have creativity wanting to escape and stories wanting to be written. I do think that writing gets better with practice so in that way it is an aqcuired skill. But it also needs fuel to feed it which is why writers need to read a lot to put their work into context and stir their imagination. I think that everyone has the potential to be a story teller. Even if they're not particularly academic. 
What are you writing now?

I am currently writing the sequel to All Aliens Like Burgers which is called Do Aliens Read Scifi. It is due to be launched in February 2011.

Many thanks

Ruth WheelerFacebook group: 

Twitter: @ruthwheeler

How Not to Approach an Author Interview as a Guest.

Along with other blogs, this site has offered authors guest spots for interviews, where they can promote their work for free to a growing readership. It's quickly become clear to me that writers fall into two distinct groups when it comes to approaching such an opportunity. There are those who understand that this is a chance to showcase their work and that it benefits the host very little. And there are those who see it as an easy way to get their name known at the expense of their host's time and expertise.I initially invited all published authors to take advantage of the opportunity on my blog; especially encouraging independent writers, who would otherwise get little exposure. A short while ago, I posted a question about modern manners and it seems that topic could equally apply to some of the authors I have hosted here.Let me make it clear, this post is not inspired by anything that has recently happened, but is the culmination of experiences over the months I've been doing this.There are some writers, and I won't name them, who clearly feel it's fine to leave the bulk of the work involved to the blog owner. Others, those with sense and consideration, go to great lengths to ensure their interviews can be presented with minimum effort by their host.So, here are some tips should you wish to take advantage of offers and invitations to have your work presented on someone else's blog.How NOT to do it:·       Present your answers without reference to the questions asked.·       Make your links either generic or completely unlinked to any site (instead of presenting them as specific hyperlinks to the sites involved).·       Allow your host to cobble together a bio from your blog or website.·       Use a format clearly not matched to that of the blog you're guesting on.·       Ignore any specific requests for images so that the host has to search for and copy images from elsewhere.·       Don't check your spelling and/or grammar so that readers can see just how careless you are as a writer. (This is guaranteed to make people either stop reading your interview or to refuse to take you seriously as a writer, of course).·       Assume the blog host has nothing better to do than to promote your work free of charge and with little reward to him/herself.
So, I've had my moan.Let me now thank those writers, the majority, who made the effort and understood the nature of the opportunity offered and placed a value on my time. If you're invited to guest on someone else's blog or website, please do as much of the work as you can and save the time and effort of the host providing space and publicity for you. 

Interview with Terry Ervin, Author.

A husband of eighteen years and father to two beautiful daughters, Terry Ervin is a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School. He has a BSc degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master's Degree in Education from Urbana University.In early 2000 he decided to follow through on something he promised himself years earlier: Someday I'd write a novel.Since then he's completed two novels (one published and one currently under submission), quite a few short stories (about a half dozen published) and a parcel of articles on writing and related topics (over a dozen published and counting).

Tell us about your current novel.
Flank Hawk is a post apocalyptic epic fantasy novel set in the distant future where magic exists. It's the story of Krish, a farmhand turned mercenary after his home and homeland are overrun by the forces of the Necromancer King.
I think urban fantasy author Erica Hayes described it pretty well: "A curious blend of epic fantasy, modern techno-thriller and non-stop action-adventure, Flank Hawk is a compelling and original tale of a brave young mercenary pitched in deadly magical combat against the undead techno-armies of the Necromancer King. Whether you like swashbuckling wizardry, fierce dragon battles, modern military hardware or sword-slashing zombie mayhem, Flank Hawk has it all."
In the end, Flank Hawk is a story of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice.

How did you come to write this particular book?
The initial thought that sparked the novel's writing occurred while I was driving home from work in my 1990 Ford Ranger. I was thinking about a few of the books I'd recently reread: Roger Zelazny's The Guns of Avalon and Harry Turtledove's World War: In the Balance. One of the main turning points in Guns of Avalon occurs when Prince Corwin discovers a way to get gunpowder to function in the magical city of Amber. In the Balance is about an alien invasion during the height of World War II. The disparity in technology between the invaders and humanity is a major element in the novel's conflict.
Then I began to ponder, what would happen if a dragon encountered a World War II aircraft? Maybe one can see how the line of thought formed. From there I began to devise a world where such an encounter could take place. Then came the peoples and creatures that would inhabit the world, how it came to be, and the long-running, multilayered power struggle that would come to influence events in the plot that I was devising. Finally, came Krish and Lilly, Roos and Road Toad—the main characters in the novel.
If you have a favorite character in your novel, why that particular one?
I don't really have a favorite character in Flank Hawk . What I can say is that I really enjoyed writing the relationship that developed between Lilly and Roos. Beginning with wary distrust of each other, mutual respect formed, leading to a steadfast friendship between the young lycanthrope and aging Crusader. The vehicle for readers to witnesses this is through Krish's eyes as the trio faces both adventure and danger.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
Flank Hawk is my first novel. In addition to it, I've had almost a dozen short stories published. Knowing exactly where to begin a story is a part of the planning process. Usually I get an idea—an interesting thought or situation. From there I devise and organize the story, knowing where it should start, how it should end, and some of the main points along the way to get from the beginning to the end.
When deciding where a story should start, I look at it from a reader's perspective. I try to focus on a point in the story that is interesting, relevant, and allows the reader to hit the first page running—or at least at a decent trot. The beginning scene should orient the reader as to the situation or setting even as the first plot element kicks in.
Certainly the structure and pacing of a novel differs from a short story. But with either, avoiding initial paragraphs (or pages) of backstory and instead starting with a bit of action, an intriguing turn of events, or where a tough decision is at hand, is key. It's what I hope for as a reader, so I strive to provide it to readers who give my stories a try.
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
This may sound odd, but I really enjoy editing and revising my work. For me it's a lot harder to get that first draft completed. Maybe it's the English teacher in me, but I find it to be a challenge getting the wording and dialogue just right, cutting irrelevant lines and paragraphs, filling in any plot holes and trimming loose plot threads, and keeping the story's cadence and pace on track.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
I am fortunate. I have great support from family, friends and a crit group. If I ask, my wife will read my works in progress, and occasionally she makes sure the house is quiet when I really need to focus. My daughters understand and find it pretty neat to see my novel on library shelves, in stores and online.
I have a solid group of well-read and supportive readers ranging from co-workers to friends from my college days. Finally, I'm a member of Elysian Fields, a crit group filled with insightful and supportive writers. Both groups are invaluable in helping me to improve my works.
If you could give a new writer advice, what would it be?
Finish that project! Get the first draft hammered out. Review, revise and edit and then go over it again and again to be sure. Then, research and find appropriate markets. Make a list and begin submitting. If it comes back rejected, look the piece over and then send it out again. Repeat until successful. And while that piece is out on submission, write another.
So many writers I've met online or in person never quite get that first manuscript finished. The reasons are numerous and varied (sufficient to fill a half dozen blog posts, minimum). A manuscript will never be perfect, ever. There comes a point of severely diminished returns—time and effort for true improvement of the piece.
Rejection isn't fun. It's part of the process, part of the business. But it's impossible to succeed if a writer doesn't complete a work and actually send it out there to find an editor willing to publish it. Success, even a minor one can snuff out the downer from all those previous rejections.
What are you writing now?
At the moment I am writing Blood Sword , working title for the sequel to Flank Hawk . It took me longer than I anticipated to get started on the project. My goal is to write Blood Sword as a continuation of Krish's adventures, but also as a standalone novel that doesn't require the reader to have read Flank Hawk . I want readers of Flank Hawk to fully enjoy the next novel and not become frustrated or annoyed with references to Krish's experiences and events that occurred in the first novel.
To accomplish this, I spent part of the spring and summer reading and studying several authors who've written a series where each novel in the series stands alone yet compliments and builds upon what has come before.  For those who are curious, the authors I focused on are Steven Brust (the Vlad Taltos series) and Laurell K. Hamilton (early novels in the Anita Blake series).
In any case, I've organized the plot's structure to accommodate new readers as well as those who've read and enjoyed Flank Hawk , and I am busy writing whenever I get the chance. Sales of Flank Hawk have been strong enough that the managing editor at Gryphonwood Press is looking for the completed work. Certainly positive, if you ask me.
Where are your books available?
Flank Hawk is available online (in both print and ebook versions) and through bookstores. Readers interested can visit my website for bookstores and online information (www.ervin-author.com). Visitors to my website can also find links to online versions of many of my published short stories and articles.
Other than that, there are all kinds of other things visitors can find through visiting my website, from an online quiz that tells what character you are in Flank Hawk and my blog, Up Around the Corner, to market information and much more.
I'd like to close by thanking you, Stuart Aken, for the interview and allowing me to share a bit of my story and writing with everyone out there.
Some relevant links: Flank Hawk's main page :  What others are saying:  Writing Bio:   My website:  My Blog (Up Around the Corner): My Book trailer for Flank Hawk: 
Links for online sales:Amazon Print:  Amazon Kindle: