Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 214
November 21, 2011
More Writing Resources Than You'll Ever Need Plus One Huge Tip
I've been writing "on-purpose" for about 20 years—didn't begin serious writing till I was 42.
I feel there are many serious readers (those who "work" at reading, not the folks who use books "only" to "escape") and many serious readers should consider being writers.
If you haven't yet developed your writing-soul to the point where you Have to write, you may need to read more about writing—try this extensive list of Writing And Publishing Resources.
Even though that link leads to a journalist's site, most of the resources can be used by any writers.
But, if you read enough and have an intelligent and compassionate editor, you just might be able to avoid consulting long lists of writing resources.
Listen to Steven King in this short video—it just may be the most important thing you've ever heard about writing…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: read, Readers, reading, Steven King, writers, Writers Resources, writing, writing tips
November 18, 2011
Author Interview ~ Jane Watson
When I first met Jane Watson, her name was Arton Tripsa. Well… It still is and she's still Jane Watson but Arton isn't a pen name. It's her virtual name on Book Island in Second Life.
Jane is the author and Arton is the manager of the Island. As an author, I greatly admire her. As a manager, she's my boss.
I first spoke about my work as Events Manager in the post, A Virtual World, A Writer's Mind, And Serious Business That's Always Fun!, but since then, I've made more time for Book Island and Arton has become more than a boss—she's a confidant… And Jane? She's still the author who's book I carry wherever I go…
~~~
So, Arton, who is Jane Watson?
I am an Australian writer. My first novel, Hindustan Contessa, was published by Picador in 2002.
Jane, why do you write?
To find out, to access an inner world, to explore the possibilities of an image (because I think am a very visual writer), to process my experience.
When did you start writing?
When I was nine I wrote a ten page novel. It was called, very originally, Kidnapped.
So, this first book of yours…
My first novel was published after Picador discovered it at a writers' conference and gave me a contract on the basis of the first one hundred pages. Then I had to finish it in the next eleven months :-)
That kind of deadline makes me want to ask about your "writing habits".
I try and write every day. Sometimes I don't succeed but even when I am not writing I am thinking. I often use reading to inspire me. The writing life is an isolated life. It's quite hard to arrange contact with other writers to talk about writing at a time that does not interrupt your own writing schedule. For this purpose, I go into Second Life. It has become part of my writing habit.
Jane, please tell us about the book.
Hindustan Contessa is a novel set in Australia and India which follows the journey of an Australian couple, as they travel in an Indian car to meet the husband's Indian grandmother for the first time, in his family's ancestral village. The novel's title comes from a particular car once manufactured in India, the Hindustan Contessa, which the couple travels in, and which seemed to me a fitting image of a dual culture. This car, once made by Hero motors of India, was an imitation of a modern Western style car with a dash of Indian style. It attempted, I felt, to have a foot in both cultures. I wanted it to symbolise the cultural identity crisis that the main characters face.
What's the source of your inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. Someone once said that a writer's own life experience is like the piece of grit in an oyster, which the writer's art and skill then transforms into a completely different and wonderful pearl. Then again, on a more sombre note, I have also heard it said that writing a novel is like driving a car without the headlights on!
Very apt analogy, Jane :-)
What's your take on the literary community in Second Life?
Very similar actually to the real life one, because, after all, behind every avatar is a real person. I do feel that folks in Second Life are kinder and more generous in the way they receive a piece of work at reading/critique events. The other real difference of course is that the literary community in SL is more cosmopolitan and can provide many cultural perspectives.
What is the Writer's Studio?
The Writer's Studio is my office/shop on Book Island. On the lower level, information about my writing is displayed and, on the second, I can often be found writing at my desk. Folks often drop by there to chat with me and everyone is welcome.
[The link for "Book Island", at the top of this post, will help you get to Arton's Writer's Studio]
Jane, what's next?
I am finishing my second novel at the moment. It is about literary theft.
Thank you, ever so much, for taking time from your writing to give us some insight into your life :-)
~~~
Synopsis of Hindustan Contessa
An Australian couple, Milan and Tillie, travel to India. Kidnapped by robbers and incarcerated in a cave, Tillie tells their story. Captured by her sexual jealousy and suspicions of Milan, Tillie nevertheless endeavours to help him come to terms with his own childhood spent with grandparents who held him hostage while his parents travelled overseas. Family intrigue and crises of identity follow the couple as they travel across India. Against the colourful backdrop of India and Venice, this novel tells a story of loss and rediscovered identity amidst magic, obsessions, goddesses and misconceptions in a land where reality and illusion seem to merge. Not just a tale of India but a story of people who try to exist in the global melting pot and for everyone who lives on the edge.
Jane's WebSite
Jane's Novel at Amazon US
At Amazon UK
At Booktopia
At Biblio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: author, author interview, Book Island, Hindustan Contessa, Jane Watson, novel, Second Life, virtual world
November 17, 2011
Interview With A Crayon Box . . .
I may post links to my blog posts on Google Plus but I've given up trying to find meaningful relationships in the normal social networking channels.
I use the virtual world Second Life for socializing and book promotion.
One of the highlights of my week is attending the Happy Hours held by Hakeber Haber (Rebekah Webb in real life)—Tuesday and Thursday at 4 pm USA-Pacific Time.
She reads a bit of her extremely well-written horror then has her character, Car Johnson, come into the Writer's Block Cafe and read his short stories about his life.
Car also has his own blog and the other day he interviewed a crayon box :-)
Even if you never visit Second Life, even if you never come to Book Island's Writer's Block Cafe, even if you never hear Car Johnson read his stories, you really should go read his interview with a crayon box…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: Book Island, book promotion, Car Johnson, horror, humor, interview, Rebekah Webb, Second Life
November 16, 2011
Good Advice About Self-Publishing
Self-publishing has been called the "new Vanity". It's been hailed as the "killer of traditional publishing". It has so many opinions swirling around it that folks either read too much about it or completely ignore its presence.
Finding solid advice on self-publishing can be a challenge.
Recently, I read a post on David Gaughran's blog called, 7 Lessons In Self-Publishing I Learnt In The 7th Grade. It's actually a guest post by author Mainak Dhar and I truly can't do it justice by putting a few excepts here—it absolutely needs to be read in its entirety to glean all the wisdom :-)
But still, there will be a few readers who need a taste before they'll go grab the whole meal.
I'll list the titles of the seven lessons Dhar relates but, believe me, if all you do is read them and feel you've gotten enough advice, you're cheating yourself…
1. Embrace what makes you different.
2. First appearances do count.
3. Make the gatekeeper your friend.
4. Create and leverage a portfolio of work.
5. Keep practicing your craft.
6. Re-invest for future success.
7. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
OK, now, please, go read the post; and, I'd love it if you come back and let me know which of the seven lessons was most important for you…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: David Gaughran, Mainak Dhar, publish, publishing advice, self-publish, self-publishing, Self-publishing Advice, writing advice
November 15, 2011
Author Interview ~ Nova Sparks, Part Two
I've conducted 25 author interviews and each one was an adventure. Being an author myself makes each interview a journey to another world in the writing-universe—another chance to understand that I'm not alone in being afflicted with the dis-ease of stories that must be written…
Back in June, I interviewed Nova Sparks, shortly after her first novel, of a trilogy, was published.
Today, with book two nearing publication, Nova is back :-)
Nova, give us a short introduction for the folks who didn't meet you in June.
I'm a sci-fi urban fantasy romance author from New York City. I'm self-published and I'm really happy about it!
Self published, eh? Tell us a little about your experience with that process.
Self-publishing is very liberating, and I mean that literally. It gives the author the freedom to decide every single detail of their book without someone deciding things for you. We can decide our price, how long the book is, the content, the genre, the format, everything! That's the best thing. It also allows for you to keep a bigger chunk of your profits when compared to traditional publishers. One thing that people do need to know is that self-publishing should NOT be considered the EASY way into publishing your novel or short story. It is definitely much much harder. You have to do all the editing yourself. All the marketing, All the converting. EVERYTHING is on YOU! Many people see that as a bad thing, and I can totally understand that, but for me, it's definitely something that is worth getting into. If for some reason I get a contract with a traditional publishing house, I'd know many of the ins and outs of how things go. I wouldn't be completely oblivious. I guess you can say I'm a stronger author because of my experience self-publishing.
Nova, back in June, you spoke at length about the DOME, first in your trilogy, which follows an all American family who are part of thousands of people that have been "rescued" from a crumbling Earth and taken by a race of aliens to a distant planet and made to live in a DOME that simulates life on Earth… Please tell us about the forthcoming second book.
DOMErevelation basically picks up right where book 1 left off. In the first book we were introduced to some great characters like Emma, Sam, Kris, Mark, and Ked. In the DOMErevelation one of these characters is no longer with us and that starts a crusade to find out what these aliens really want from humans. I had a lot of fun writing this novel. Don't get me wrong, part two's are always harder than the rest of the series. I felt like I had to make this book better than the first.
These book covers are fascinating. Would you give us some insight into why you went with this look?
Well, I wanted the whole universe and outer space look. I chose that photo of the Carina Nebula from NASA. because the blue and calm colors inside this chaotic and almost violent looking space-gas seemed like it represented exactly what the DOME trilogy is about, especially the start of the series which is why its on book 1′s cover. The DOMErevelation's cover image is also from NASA and it is a rose shaped galaxy. As soon as I saw it I was totally and completely in love with it. It was the perfect image for this book which is really romantic and sweet, but still has the violent and sci-fi twist to it.
How long did it take to finish the second book?
To complete the DOMErevelation's actual story was very fast, like two months when taking into account all the things that held me up, like life and such. When including things like editing, formatting, file conversion, and just plain old indecisiveness, it took much longer than two months.
Nova, since you're self-determined and self-published, what's your average day like?
Hmm… Well, I can't speak for every self-publisher, but I can speak for myself. A good chunk of my day is spent on the popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. I network with other authors and other bloggers, not so much about my book but just making friends. I try to stay in close relations with as many people in the "self-pub world" as possible. Support between us is really important. Other parts of my day are spent sending out review requests to as many book bloggers as possible. These people are SUPER important to the career of a self-publisher. They can make or break you with their book reviews. Much of my day is also spent posting about my book, giving links and discount coupons for my book so people can read it and spread the word. I also blog! That's also a great thing to do so people can get to know you as a person. You wouldn't believe how many people want to support your work based on who you are as a person. So that is what I do all day, everyday. And this is all happening WHILE working a day job, so you can just imagine what that's like. And I didn't even mention actually working on a novel while doing all this.
People just don't understand the dedication and determination it takes………
Final words, Nova?
Yes! Please check out the DOME (the DOME trilogy, #1) on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon! It's now on sale for $0.99! And also, the DOMErevelation (the DOME trilogy, #2) will be available NOVEMBER 30th, 2011! Save the date!
Thank you soooo much, Alexander, for giving me another opportunity to be interviewed on your blog!
My pleasure, Nova. I think I should close the post out with your synopses:
Synopsis for the DOME
What if you knew the exact date and time the world will end, what would you do? Sam Tucker was faced with that dilemma when he began getting visions of the Earth's demise. Luckily for him, he was able to save his family and as many people as he could before the tragic event occurred, and he did so with the help of unknown visitors. With Earth now destroyed, Sam, his family, and thousands of other lucky survivors must live the rest of their lives on a faraway planet in a Dome that simulates life on Earth. But Sam's mind can't seem to rest as a few questions arise. Why did the aliens save them? How did they know about Earth's sure fate? And exactly what are they hiding?
Emma Tucker begged for an escape from her boring life but never in a million years did she think it would come at the destruction of Earth. Living on a new planet and finding it difficult to get rid of her rebellious habits, Emma finds herself making friends with a member of the alien race and it soon develops into an unexplainable love; a love that is more dangerous than she could ever imagine. While her father is searching for his own truths, she has no idea that she is stumbling on a truth of her own.
Told from the point of view of both Sam and Emma, readers venture on a journey to discover love, fate, faith, truth and the mystery of the DOME!
Synopsis for the DOMErevelation
Sam Tucker thought he was saving the lives of his fellow Coloradans when he rushed them and his family into an alien spaceship and away from a crumbling Earth. But given recent events…he was DEAD WRONG! With the brutal murder of his best friend and the equally mysterious series of events that preceded, he is absolutely sure that the race of aliens that have given the humans a home on their planet, are hostile. The Syrions want something from the humans and Sam is sure of it. Emma Tucker didn't expect to fall in love with a Syrion boy and she definitely didn't expect for her life to be ruined because of it. After a group of dangerous Syrions found out about her involvement with one of their own, they made sure that she got the message to stay away. Living in fear inside of the Dome, Emma finds herself in the company of a human, Jason—a young man who seems to be everything Emma should want. But the more she tries to distance herself from a life she craves, the more the affects start to take their toll on her. Emma's changing and she doesn't know why. Working together with her father to discover the intentions of the Syrions, Emma realizes that the only way she can get answers about the fate of the humans is to risk everything.
The DOMErevelation is a heart pounding adventure of love, trust and self-discovery.
Continue the journey…Invade the truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: author interview, Nova Sparks, publishing, Sci-Fi, science fiction, self-published, self-publishing, Trilogy
November 14, 2011
Above and Beyond The Call . . .
Networking can often elicit seemingly magical responses.
One would think people are closely connected at some deep psychological level.
And, I do, in fact, believe we are all connected—sometimes obviously, usually without conscious awareness.
There's a man from Wales who maintains four blogs {whew}—one on Ruskin and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, another on Kayak Journeys, yet another on the latest news and information from NASA.
His fourth blog, The Writing Desk, carried a review of my recently published book, Notes from An Alien.
It was my "co-author" and main character from the book, Sena Quaren, who first made contact with Tony Riches, a truly modern Renaissance man.
Tony then got a free copy of Notes from An Alien and contacted me about a review.
It was my first :-)
Time passed………
I recently sent an email to the 240 folks who've received a free copy of the book to encourage them to give me feedback on the follow-up volume as well as give any of them who'd lost the digital copy {So Much Email} a chance to have me resend the book.
Tony wrote back and offered me a guest post on his blog…
Some may think it's just the normal sort of thing that happens when you network with people.
If that were true, I'd have gotten a multitude of guest post offers…
I believe there's a bit of magic in sincere networking.
What do you think?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: guest post, Kayak, Kayaking, NASA, networking, Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Tony Riches, Wales
November 11, 2011
The Publishing Wars & Avoiding Them
Back in May, when I published Notes from An Alien, I knew I was making a choice based on my needs and the book's needs—we both wanted it to be read sooner rather than later…
The dance routine for pursuing traditional publishing can take a seeming eternity to produce a book. Self-publishing can be done swiftly.
Even with all the gatekeeping rituals of traditional publishing, lousy books are produced. Self-publishing can create books as good as any big house.
In June, I wrote The Complexities of Publishing and featured a post by Joel Friedlander that touts traditional publishing's strong points.
Today, I want to feature the ideas of Seth Godin.
Long before I began writing Notes from An Alien, I'd read a free copy of Seth Godin's book, Unleashing The Idea Virus.
It helped bolster the idea that I could handle what it would take to do all the promotion for any book I wrote—assuming I'd be willing to cultivate the friends and acquaintances who could spread the word…
Seth is a modern-day genius in marketing, computer-awareness, book promotion, tribe-building, and providing creatively simple and profoundly practical advice.
Here's a short video with Seth talking about Traditional vs Self-Publishing:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: Book Publishing, Joel Friedlander, publishing, publishing advice, self-publishing, Seth Godin, traditional publishing, Unleashing The Idea Virus
November 10, 2011
Worth Many Thousands of Words . . .
November 9, 2011
How Do You Measure Success?
Winston Churchill said, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
There are a lot of famous quotes about success and many say it comes through failure—reminds me that being content is better than chasing happiness while escaping sadness…
In a previous post called, "Success" Is Vastly Over-Rated, I said: "Who made it seem success wasn't merely the next stage, from which further action becomes possible, but a pinnacle of achievement that leaves all other contenders breathless on the sides of the conquered mountain?" So, who did that? Businesspeople? Fundamentalist religious folk? Football coaches?
Joel Friedlander has a recent post called, Notes from a Self-Publishing "Success Story", about Heather M. David's experiences—easily judged by the SuccessPreneurs as relative "failure".
My experience since May, when I self-published Notes from An Alien, is similarly judgeable; yet………
Over 240 people have my book and, even though those were all free copies, I have a solid beginning on a growing email list of folks with interest when I publish the two follow-up books.
Two libraries have purchased the book.
I've been facilitating a discussion group on Book Island in Second Life (over 35 two-hour sessions so far) that features issues raised in the book.
Two of my dearest friends, because they appreciate the work I've been doing, have bought me a new computer, which will make all the effort still necessary to reach yet more success oh, so much easier :-)
And, most importantly, I've written and published a book that is the core of my life's work, begun 23 years ago and extending toward my last breath…
How do You measure success?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: Being Happy, Book Island, Failure, Heather M. David, Joel Friedlander, Notes from An Alien, Second Life, Success
November 8, 2011
Even If The Experts Are Right, You Might Have To Do Your Own Thing…
I sit here pondering advice from my three favorite experts: Joe Konrath, Jane Friedman, and Joel Friedlander. The links with their names go to my archives of past articles about them…
Even though I admire them all and read their advice with relish, I must always take that advice and integrate it into my own desires and plans.
I think the way I use information from these three stellar souls in my own self-publishing odyssey can be compared to those automotive artists who get a stock car and customize it, often producing a vehicle that folks crave more than what the big companies make.
Taking this conversation to a higher level, I could say the human race is One Family, all the members of which should work hard to share the results of their own efforts, hoping that their brothers and sisters will not just copy but integrate and recreate, so we All can drive Humanity to fresh heights of Innovation.
OK, I just wrote two long sentences and this is a blog, which, by the lights of accepted opinion, should use less involved forms of communication—engaging some imagined lowest common reader—saving folks the effort of thinking too hard.
Oops…
Please reference these posts which declaim my admission of membership in the Mavericks Club.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Comment Link Is At The Top of The Post :-)
For Private Comments, Email: amzolt {at} gmail {dot} com
Tagged: experts, Jane Friedman, Joe Konrath, Joel Friedlander, publishing, self-publishing, Writer's Digest
