Simon Royle's Blog, page 13

IndieView with Sarah of Sift Book Reviews

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"… the philosophy of Sift: we started to help readers, not writers. Which means we're not going to pull punches if we don't like a book. But it also means that the readers can really take our reviews at face value when we say we love a book."

Sarah ~ Sift Reviews 25 June 2011

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

As with most stories, it started with a "what if?" I became intrigued by all the sci-fi and fantasy that was getting self-published, but I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to tell the crap from the gold. I found some indie reviewers, but not many that focused on SFF – and SFF being reviewed by someone who doesn't love the genre isn't always pretty. I thought "What if there was an organization that reviewed ONLY SFF self-published books?" After a few tweets and emails, Sift was born.

This supports the philosophy of Sift: we started to help readers, not writers. Which means we're not going to pull punches if we don't like a book. But it also means that the readers can really take our reviews at face value when we say we love a book.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

For a book, I will take notes as I read. I keep a notes widget on the home of my Android phone so it's easy to access quickly – and the speech-to-text function is essential! For short stories, I read them twice, taking notes on both passes. E-books are great for reviewing because you can easily search for a word or phrase if you need to find something.

What are you looking for?

At Sift, we only review science-fiction and fantasy. Personally, I lean towards stories with compelling characters and lots of action. My absolute favorite genre is YA urban fantasy/paranormal.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

I'm a copy editor and grammar nerd so it bothers me more than most. I can forgive a few mistakes, but if it gets to the point where it's on every page? Well, it makes me grind my teeth – it makes me feel like I'm working.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

I review two to three books a month (and read about two more per month for pleasure), but the time it takes me to get through it varies. If I'm really enjoying it, reading time can be as little as a day. If the opposite is true, I'll put it off until the last minute.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

When we started Sift, I did a whole post on my rating system. I don't know how I came up with it; it just came naturally to me.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

The same advice editors and agents give to authors looking to get their books published: FOLLOW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Ours are pretty easy and we're very lenient, but unsolicited attachments get a "please see our guidelines and resubmit" email from me without being read. Authors need to realize: Sift has eight reviewers who review a minimum two books a month and we still receive more submissions than we'll ever be able to read. Most of us are also writers and we all work full time in addition to our "lives" so it's a miracle we have the time to review; we definitely don't have time to search through a ten-page email with all kinds of editorial statements, philosophical discussions, quotes from people who we don't know, links to "more information," etc to find the half-page worth of information we actually want.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

Some. More often, we receive tweets

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

Heck yes. Responding to a negative review NEVER ends well for the author. A book review is an opinion. If you were the inventor of the caramel macchiato and someone said that they don't like caramel macchiatos, how much do you think arguing would change their opinion?

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

People like reading because it is awesome: it's entertaining, provocative, fills many kinds of emotional needs and lets the reader see things in a brand new way. I think TV, internet, video games and movies steal a lot of possible reading time, but that doesn't mean it's dying. I end up talking about books at every social gathering I go to – I recently found myself discussing the Sherlock Holmes books with a Blackberry-toting nine-year-old at Disney while waiting for my friends. A woman was reading during the 10 minutes we were standing in line at the Post Office last week. When I go to the pool, half of the people sunning have a book in their hands. People are still reading.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

No conflict driving the story, passive main characters, writing that lacks impact, one dimensional male love interests, boring info dumps. In summary: many writers either don't have an editor look over their story or don't listen to their editors. My sister (Kayelee, also a reviewer at Sift) reads more high fantasy than I do and she says she sees too many authors naming their characters with unpronounceable names; it may seem cool to you, but it causes the reader to stumble mentally every time they see it – which distracts attention from your book.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

The beginning of a book is a promise you make to your readers. It demonstrates the quality of your writing ability, sets up conflict. When I've agreed to review a book, I promise to read at least 50 pages so the point is moot there. However, when I'm buying books, I read the first few pages before I buy it. There are SO many books competing for my attention that it's not worth it if it seems an author can't deliver a well-written, compelling story.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

I don't generally put much stock in it. I often (when reviewing books that aren't edited well) find a story really begins about 50 pages in and I feel like the Page 99 thing can make writers lazy when it comes to tightening up those first few chapters.

Is there anything you will not review?

Since I write Young Adult, I will not publicly review Erotica. Also, I'm a HUGE scaredy cat and can't read (or watch) zombie stories or most hard-core horror. Those are my only limitations (within the SFF genres – you don't want me reviewing chick-lit, it could get ugly).

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

Hmm. Yes and no. When it's referring to self-published authors vying for public attention, I don't think this has happened yet. Most of the casual readers I know who aren't writers don't read self-published books at all. They're still counting on editors to thin the herd for them.

If we're talking about publishers looking for writers online? That's starting to take shape. Social-media savvy writers with fantastic blogs are getting book deals left and right. Also, with my YAtopia (http://yatopia.blogspot.com) blog-mate Leigh Fallon's success on Inkpop, similar communities are getting looked at more seriously.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

I would say they are changing, but they haven't fully changed. People are more willing to accept that a book doesn't necessarily suck just because it's self-pubbed, but they're also still wary – and with good reason; there is a lot of crap out there.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, asides from reviews?

Funny question for me, since I write for a review site called Sift! I think reviews (both professional and from the general public on sites like Goodreads) truly are the best way. Word of mouth has always been successful in promoting books and will continue to be, with Social Media as the driving force.

End of Interview

If you're a reader or a writer of Science Fiction or Fantasy, head over and sift through the books they've reviewed or follow Sift on twitter: @SiftBookReviews

IndieView with Sally Saphire of Bibrary Bookslut

"When blogging, I intentionally avoid using any sort of rating system. I don't see a lot of value in an arbitrary number – I think the details are what matter, and are what will sway my decision to read (or not to read)."

Sally Saphire 19 June 2011

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I've always been a voracious reader, but haven't a regular audience to share my thoughts with since graduating university. A book blog seemed to be the ideal way to recreate that sense of community.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

I might make mental notes or bookmark a page, but I don't really think of a review until I'm finished reading. I want to enjoy the book, to immerse myself in it, and to experience it as a whole. Only after I'm done, and I can reflect on it properly, do I begin to think review.

What are you looking for?

Primarily, I want to be entertained. I want a story that engages me, and characters I can care about.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

I see grammar as the responsibility of the editor, not the author, so I don't hold it against a review. Really, I can only think of 2 or 3 books where it was so atrocious that it affected my reading.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

It depends on the genre (fiction is an easier read than non-fiction) and my familiarity with the author, but generally anywhere between 3 and 5 days.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

When blogging, I intentionally avoid using any sort of rating system. I don't see a lot of value in an arbitrary number – I think the details are what matter, and are what will sway my decision to read (or not to read).

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

I think the most important thing is to know your audience, and play to your strengths. Don't send your YA novel to somebody who reviews erotica, and don't send your gay romance to somebody who reviews Christian inspirational literature. Beyond that, be friendly and polite, have something to say about their reviews (even if it's just to acknowledge you've been to their site), and recognize that reviewers are busy people too.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

I get readers emailing me directly, as well as leaving comments on my blog or via Goodreads. It's always gratifying to know that an author appreciated a review, but even more rewarding to know that you've helped bring a new reader to the book.

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

I absolutely agree. I've seen authors get angry and defensive, and publicly berate the reviewer. They invariably make fools of themselves, and that reaction is what sticks with readers, completely overriding any positives that may have been in the review.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

Sadly, I think our collective attention span is slipping, as is our literary rate. TV has devolved into ad-libbed reality shows, pushing scripted dramas to the sidelines, and our instant gratification society, armed with instant messaging and its own bizarre language, does nothing to encourage people to pick up a good book. It's unfortunate, because the advent of e-publishing, combined with the growth in independent publishers, has actually increased the availability of books worth reading.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

My old English professor once taught me to show, not tell, and it's in the telling (at the expense of the showing) where the most common mistakes begin.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

It's strange – I generally won't give the cover blurb more than a paragraph to catch my attention, but I'll stick with a book for at least the first 50 pages. Sometimes it takes that long just to become comfortable with the author's voice, much less get a grasp of the plot.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

I'll plead the fifth . . . I think that talk has passed me by

Is there anything you will not review?

I won't review anything that's strongly religious, homophobic, or racist. Beyond that, if it's a good story, I'm pretty open.

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

In a sense, that's definitely true. With more and more authors self-publishing, it's almost as if the major publishers can let the author take the risk, and then rush in to capitalize if they see a success in the making.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

I think readers are definitely becoming more open to indie or self-published titles, especially when it comes to electronic publishing, which levels the playing field. Readers can pick a book based on the merits of the story, as opposed to the quality of the binding, and take a chance on that lower prices impulse read.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, asides from reviews?

I've seen a lot of developments lately in regards to social media monitoring, which may be the future of filtering books. Aside from reviews and sales, it's interesting to see what kind of 'buzz' a book generates, especially prior to publication. If the readers themselves are talking about it, that can have a much bigger impact than any major media attention.

End of Interview

Sally's excellent review site is here.

New Book Release: Broken, by author, David H. Burton

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Three days before her twenty-fourth birthday, Katherine Gregory receives a letter from her deceased mother. It details a faery curse in which the eldest child in each generation will die in their twenty-fifth year.

Three days before her twenty-fourth birthday, a new love interest comes knocking, and her first love has returned – neither men are what they seem, and Katherine may have to choose between them.

Three days before her twenty-fourth birthday, Katherine must decide if this is all real, or if the strange visions she's been having are just a figment of her imagination.

The race to unravel the mystery begins, and Katherine must solve it – for any day after her birthday could be her last.

***

It's currently available at:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

B&N

Smashwords

Check it out ( and isn't the cover great)

About David H. Burton

David H. Burton was born in Windsor, Ontario to parents that instilled in him the love of the written word at a very young age. Throughout his childhood, David read relentlessly, often into the wee hours of the morning.

Fantasy and Science Fiction novels have always been David's greatest vice and he has indulged in the likes of Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Margaret Weis, Mark Anthony, J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Robert J. Sawyer, Isaac Asimov, Melanie Rawn, Marion Zimmer Bradley, J.K. Rowling and for interest, some Margaret Atwood and Jose Saramago.

David graduated from the University of Toronto with a major in Biology and a minor in Classical Civilization. He also dabbled in Computer Science, to which he owes his current occupation in the Telecommunications world at one of the large banks in Canada.

When David isn't writing he enjoys spending time with his partner and three boys: hiking, swimming, kayaking, biking, and reading. David has a great fondness for Portuguese cuisine, good wine, and all things left of centre.

Feel free to connect with David online at:

Blog: davidhburton.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidhburton

Facebook: http://facebook.com/davidhburton

 

IndieView with Victorine E. Lieske, author of, The Overtaking.

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"I submitted Not What She Seems, my first book, to eight agents before self-publishing it. When Not What She Seems hit the New York Times best selling ebook list, I had quite a few agents email me. I am now signed with Rachel Vogel from Moveable Type Literary Group. She's wonderful, and she's currently shopping The Overtaking as well as Not What She Seems to editors."

- Victorine E. Lieske 11 June 2011

The Back Flap

Shayne Bartlet has been kidnapped, his powers disabled and his memory altered. He's not having a good day. And he doesn't even know it.

When Shayne's telepathic abilities surface, he finds out Danielle isn't the normal teenager she appears to be. In fact, she's not even from his world. And when he finds out her race is responsible for the overtaking of his entire planet, he sets out to uncover the truth about her.

Danielle didn't mean to fall in love with a Maslonian boy. Her job was to observe and report. But when Shayne's well being is at stake she goes against orders to help him, putting her own self in danger.

Together, Danielle and Shayne discover that things are not as they seem. They must stop Danielle's race from destroying the Maslonian planet, and free Shayne's people.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The Overtaking is about a teenager who gets kidnapped, along with the rest of his civilization. Their powers are disabled and their memories are altered. They think they live on 21st century earth, so even though it is a science fiction book, much of the backdrop is contemporary earth.

When did you start writing the book?

The idea for this book came to me years ago, but I didn't start earnestly writing it until late summer of 2010.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took about eight months to write the book.

Where did you get the idea from?

The story came from a few "what if" questions.  What if we found out we weren't really from earth? What if we had powers we didn't know about? What if we were living a lie?

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes. There were a few places where I couldn't figure out what should happen next, but usually if I just keep going I can work through those spots, even if I have to delete some of what I write.

What came easily?

The scenes where the characters really connect come easily for me. I love writing dialogue, so the parts where they are talking and opening up to each other seem to write themselves.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They are entirely fictitious. Although I do know someone who will be written into a novel at some point, but I'm not telling who.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read a lot of different authors, and they all probably have influenced me a bit. Probably the author I've read the most of is Mary Higgins Clark, and I know the way she uses suspense has influenced my writing.

Do you have a target reader?

I write clean romances, so my target reader will be the kind of person who likes the emotion that two characters can have for each other in a romance novel without the bedroom scenes.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I start with the first scene and mostly write straight through to the end. I have gone back and added in scenes after writing, but I prefer to write chronologically. I also start with an idea and go with it. I don't plot much. I let the story unfold before me, which can be scary because I don't even know how the story is going to end.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

No, I don't outline.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I do edit as I go. With my life being kind of busy, sometimes I don't get to write every day. I also have a terrible memory so when I sit down to write I usually have to read the last few pages that I've written to get back into the story. As I read them, I see things I want to change. So I do it while I'm there, because of my terrible memory.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes. I do think it's important to hire a professional editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I usually have to have silence while I'm writing, otherwise I get nothing done. Along with my bad memory, I'm easily distracted.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I submitted Not What She Seems, my first book, to eight agents before self-publishing it. When Not What She Seems hit the New York Times best selling ebook list, I had quite a few agents email me. I am now signed with Rachel Vogel from Moveable Type Literary Group. She's wonderful, and she's currently shopping The Overtaking as well as Not What She Seems to editors.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I did a lot of research before submitting to agents. I wasn't a huge fan of the odds of getting an agent, and then the odds of getting a publishing contract, and then the odds of the book selling more than 1,000 copies. The odds were very slim for a new author to make it in the traditional publishing world. What bothered me the most was the likelihood of my novel being out of print after a short time. I was fairly certain that my book would appeal to people if they just tried it. When I heard about the success that Joe Konrath and Karen McQuestion were having selling on the Kindle, I was thrilled. I could sell directly to the public. That is when I decided self-publishing on the Kindle was for me.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

Both. I took graphic design classes in college, and I do all of the graphic design for my rubber stamp company, so doing the cover myself was a no-brainer. I do think if a writer doesn't have any graphic design background they should pay a designer.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

My marketing plan is to pretty much wing it. I am sending out review copies, I have the book advertised in the back of my better selling novel, and I have a few giveaways planned. If it doesn't start selling well, I'll rinse and repeat.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

My best advice would be to join a critique group and whip that book into shape. Even the best marketed book will fail if the writing isn't tight. I learned so much from critiquecircle.com that I would highly recommend them. After publication, my best advice is to never give up. If the book isn't selling, get some other writers to help you figure out why. The best part about this is you can tweak things until you get them right. There is no "too late."

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town in Nebraska. Reading was a large part of my youth, and I'm sure that shapes a lot of what I write today.

Where do you live now?

I live in another small town in Nebraska, not too far away from where I grew up. I love the small town life.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I'm reachable. I have a website where readers can contact me, if they have any questions or just want to tell me something. I'm open to any and all comments.

What are you working on now?

I'm finishing up a short story, a contemporary YA romance. And I'm also working on the sequel to The Overtaking.

End of Interview:

Victorine can be found on her website here. You can buy her book here and here.

IndieView with David Gaughran, author of, Transfection

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"I'm a big fan of old-school sci-fi, and how they would riff on a future technological advancement and show all the terrible and amazing consequences it could have while still saying something about today's world."

~ David Gaughran 2 June 2011

The Back Flap

Molecular biologist Dr. Carl Peters is under pressure on two fronts: his research grants are disappearing and his marriage is falling apart. But when medical researchers discover that genetically modified animal feed has tainted the food chain, he finally gets the funding he always dreamed of.

Dr. Peters discovers the reason behind the cancer link with GM food, but it's so crazy, he barely believes it himself.

TRANSFECTION is a 5,700 word, 23-page technothriller, starring a molecular biologist who makes a discovery that shocks the world, only to find his life under threat. His story takes in militant vegans, corruption, homelessness, university politics, radiation, the celebrity-obsessed media, and a shadowy conspiracy.

About the Book

What is the book about?

It's what writers call a "high concept" story, which really means a "what if" story. You know the kind: what if cars could turn into robots, what if aliens existed and lived among us in secret, that kind of thing. I can't tell you the concept without giving away the story, but I can say it's about a molecular biologist called Dr. Carl Peters who is obsessed with his research to the point that his marriage is falling apart. It attempts to show how far somebody will go in pursuit of an idea, and how such single-mindedness can destroy your life. But it also takes shots at the celebrity obsessed media and how they allow themselves to be the mouthpieces of nefarious corporations.

When did you start writing the book?

I started it in mid-April, while I was waiting for my designer to finish the cover for my first release, but I had the idea percolating for a few months.  The best ideas are usually the ones that you leave alone. They come back to you when they are ready.

How long did it take you to write it?

The best stories always take the least time – especially with short stories. This one took two or three days. Editing was a little longer because the plot was quite complex for a short piece, and my beta readers were having trouble with parts of it, so I had to go through an extra couple of drafts to make it clearer.

Where did you get the idea from?

I was talking with a friend over a couple of drinks and we were speculating about genetically modified food and how we don't really know the long-term effects of consuming it. I made a note about the idea then left it alone. It came back to me last month with the twist, then I knew it was ready. But that was only the very basic idea. It always changes completely. I never how the sentence I'm writing is going to end and I often surprise myself.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The ending. I have a habit of bringing down the curtain when the reader doesn't expect it. I think all writers like to write the stuff they want to read, and I hate dragged out endings while the writer marries everyone off and ties up every single little plot thread. I like to be left with questions rather than answers. Sometimes I go too far though, but a simple suggestion from my beta reader revolutionized the ending and gave it an extra twist.

What came easily?

Most of the rest. When I get a good idea look this one, the whole story unfolds in front of me. Even though I am a fast typist, I still write everything by hand. It's slower but the writing is much better. The only trouble is keeping up with my brain, which tends to race ahead. Sometimes I have to scrawl bullet points in the margins to keep track of the new ideas I have for upcoming scenes.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

All characters are Frankenstein. You take all the people you know, chop them up, mix them around, then sew them back together. If you do it well, no-one will see the stitches.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I love Haruki Murakami. He can take the reader anywhere and they don't question it. He creates worlds which are very similar to our own, but where something is not quite right. This dislocation allows him to be very creative and suspends a huge amount of disbelief on the part of the reader to the point where a talking cat doesn't even raise an eyebrow. But his themes are pretty normal, the anomie of the big city, the loneliness of modern life, the feeling of never being in control of your destiny; he just conveys them in an unusual way.

I think this story is influenced by Philip K. Dick in particular. I'm a big fan of old-school sci-fi, and how they would riff on a future technological advancement and show all the terrible and amazing consequences it could have while still saying something about today's world. Dick was a master at dislocating the reader too. For pure love of language, I read a lot of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The first line of 100 Years of Solitude is the most perfect opener, and is a great example of his ability to put a whole world in a sentence.

Do you have a target reader?

Me. I think writers should try and write the books they like to read. It's pretty much the only writing advice I give.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Chaotic. I write wherever, whenever, so I always have to carry a pen and paper. Ideas come at the funniest times. When I am knee-deep in a longer project, and really flowing, some structure does emerge. I write longhand, so in the mornings I type up what I wrote the day before, and that usually puts me in the correct mindset to start writing new stuff straight after I'm done.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

For short stories, never. It's often just a title or a half-sentence and then away I go. If I plot out too much in advance, it boxes in the idea and suffocates the really creative part, i.e. when I am actually writing. I let the pen decide what happens – I just push it.

For novels, it's a little different, I need some structure. I will often have four or five bullet points written out before I start a chapter, and sometimes I will do that a few chapters ahead if it's a complicated plot, but that's it.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Both. Each morning when I am typing up what I did the day before I will substantially re-work the material. I also do an editing pass every so often to make sure there are now plot holes or disappearing threads. At the end I will go over it all again, at least twice.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes. I believe it's essential. I want my work to look as good, if not better, than anything coming from New York, so I have a professional cover designer, I hand-code all the formatting myself so it's perfect, and I have a professional editor. I believe it's the minimum requirement for success. You also need a great story, clever marketing, and a big dollop of luck, but you could drive all the people in the world to your Amazon page, and if they sample your work and see poor editing, they won't buy it, no matter how exciting the story sounds.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Always. If I have nothing on, I can't focus because I can hear every noise in the house. When music is playing, it acts as a sonic buffer, and just becomes wallpaper, I don't even notice it. It can be anything as long as it's not too intrusive. Although, I do remember that while writing this story, my better half walked in, and I was so into what I was doing I didn't even notice the Queens of The Stone Age blaring away in the corner. Normally, it's more mellow stuff while I am working, like Dylan, Neil Young, or some Northern Soul.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

For eighteen months. Got to the phone-call twice. One agent wanted to represent me, but then one day just stopped responding to emails. I doubt I will bother with that nonsense again.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I had been following the growth of self-publishing, but had always considered it as something for more established writers – those with an existing audience and backlists. I was sick in bed with the flu for a week when Amanda Hocking signed with a trade publisher and Barry Eisler walked away from half a million to go it alone. Those two events were a validation of self-publishing to me. I read everything I could for a week, then decided to do it myself. That was 6 weeks ago, and I have two titles up already and another few coming out over the next few months.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

My sister is a pro book cover designer for one of the major publishers. She squeezes me in when she can, but it's always worth the wait. If I didn't have her I would spend the money.  A huge portion of my readers said they first checked out my books because of the covers. I think it's a subtle cue to the reader that if you are willing to take the time over details like this that your story will also be professional quality. It may not always be true, but I think it works like that in some readers' minds. I know it does in mine.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Yes and no. I have a grand overall master plan: release short stories in different genres individually for $0.99 and then sell collections of five for $2.99, then release a non-fiction project, and then when I have a "base", I will release my novel. But from day-to-day I wing it. I'm experimenting with different things to drive traffic to my blog and my Amazon pages, and learning as I go.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Publish when your work is ready, not before. It's the biggest mistake indies make. Make sure you have some kind of impartial critiquing system, whether that's trusted, competent beta readers (who you listen to), an online forum, or a writing group, you must get outside opinions on your work. Writers must have unbelievable self-belief to carry themselves through to the end of a story, but must also be very self-critical to edit it correctly. This contradiction can lead to under-valuing or over-valuing your work, but second opinions can correct that.

If you are doing that, and you feel you are ready, dive in, the water's warm. Don't be intimidated by all the new stuff you have to learn. The self-publishing community is very welcoming and experienced writers will always take the time to help newbies. I know of no industry like it. It's amazing how open everyone is with their information and experiences. Join a forum, get advice. All the information you need is online, and free. And for the love of God, don't ever sign over a portion of your royalties to anyone, unless it's a big trade deal that can guarantee you a huge marketing push.

About You

Where did you grow up?

In a small seaside town just north of Dublin, Ireland. The Irish all seem to be natural storytellers, and everyone is fond of tall tales and shaggy stories. Writing them down seemed an obvious step.

Where do you live now?

Stockholm, Sweden. Avoid the pickled herring, you will regret it.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I have a daily blog which covers writing, the book business, and provides a free guide into getting your stories into (digital) print. There's always a good discussion going in the comments, and like all good journeymen, I take requests.

I've also embarked on The Never-Ending Blog Tour, so if you have a blog, and you want a day off, get in touch.

What are you working on now?

Too many things. I had planned to release a short story every two weeks this summer, but I think my cover designer is about to have a breakdown, so I'm going to slow that down a little.

In the meantime, I am working on a project called LET'S GET DIGITAL, DIGITAL. It's a non-fiction book on the digital revolution and how the publishing industry has changed forever. It will teach you step-by-step how to e-publish your own stories, covering everything from formatting your book, marketing tips, and how to leverage social networking. It should be out in a month or two.

I also have a historical novel set in the early 1800s during the Argentine War of Independence. It will come out later this year. It's been over three years in the making and is my pride and joy. Each new release is just a foundation for this monster! I could release it now, and I think it would do okay, but I want it to be perfect. If I get it right, I think it has a good chance of doing well.

End of Interview:

TRANSFECTION is available here.

 

My Indie Journey

Talking about my indie journey on my pal, Peggy's site Getting Published, today. Go on over and have a read.

Indieview with reviewer Debra Martin, at Two Ends of the Pen

"I think people love to get lost in a story and forgot their own problems for a while.  Reading can transport you to so many wonderful places and meet great characters.  I would be terribly sad if for some reason, I couldn't read anymore."

~ Debra Martin 28 May 2011

 

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I never thought about reviews until I became a published author.  Now, of course, I realize how important they are especially to indie authors who don't have as much as exposure as a traditionally published author.  I've read many excellent indie books so in the summer of 2010 I started a 'REVIEW' feature on my blog, Two Ends of the Pen.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

I usually make a few notes as I go along especially if something interesting or pivotal happens in the book.  That way, I don't have to keep going back and forth between the pages looking for that spot.

What are you looking for?

I'm pretty open to reading many different kinds of books for review except horror, true crime, memoirs, YA or children's books.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

If the book is riddled with typos or grammatical problems, I will definitely deduct points for that and state that in my review.  A few minor typos can happen to the best of us so I try to write to the author privately to let them know about it.  If the typos or grammatical issues are horrendous, I will stop reading the book and notify the author that I cannot do a review for them.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

Having a day job really puts a crimp in my reading time plus all the work I do for my blog also takes up an enormous amount of time so I would say it can take me anywhere between 2-3 weeks to finish a book.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

My rating system is pretty much like many of the other reviewers – the star system with 5 stars being the best.  Readers are used to this system and the whole point of a review is to get the book in front of readers so let's not make it hard for them to figure out your rating system.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

I would say make sure your book is the best you can make it.  Have beta readers review your book and if you can hire an editor, that's even better.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

Yes, all the time no matter what I've rated their books.

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

Absolutely, let it go and move on.  It's hard to remember that a review is just one person's opinion of your book.  Every author wants readers to like their book, but every reader is different so it's easy to see why all the different reviews for the same book.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

Absolutely NOT.  I think people love to get lost in a story and forgot their own problems for a while.  Reading can transport you to so many wonderful places and meet great characters.  I would be terribly sad if for some reason, I couldn't read anymore.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

Not having a beta reader or an editor take a look at it.  Some of the mistakes I see could easily be fixed if another set of eyes had looked at the book before it was published.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

Not necessarily.  Of course, every author wants to grab the reader right away, but sometimes it doesn't happen within the first 5 pages.  I would hope though that it would happen in the first chapter at least.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the price dropping to 99 cents, what are your thoughts on that idea?

I think the .99 concept is a great way for an indie author to get his/her book noticed initially or if it's the first book in a series.  Ultimately though, I think it's not a good thing for authors.  With so much time and effort spent on writing a novel, selling it for .99 over the long haul is just not financially the best thing for an author.  Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and there have been some best-sellers from indie writers with this price tag, but overall, I think authors deserve to be paid more money for their books.  Before ebooks became popular, readers paid $7.99 for a paperback and thought nothing of it.

Is there anything you will not review?

Horror, true crime, memoirs, YA or children's books.

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

Unfortunately, yes that is true because anyone now can upload a book to Amazon or B&N.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

I certainly hope so because there are some fantastic authors out there and I've read quite a few of them myself.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, aside from reviews?

Not really, reviews are one of the best ways for readers to judge a book by especially from indie authors.

End of Interview

IndieView with Nathan Lowell, author of, Quarter Share (Solar Clipper Trader Tales)

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"I'm a binge writer. When I go on a binge, I write 12 or 14 hours a day. Nothing else happens. I snap at my family. I order a lot of pizza. I've described the feeling  as "I wait for the first reel of the movie in my mind to start and then I type like mad trying to keep up with it as it plays." When the closing credits roll, I stop."

- Nathan Lowell 22 May 2011

The Back Cover

The Golden Age of Sail has Returned — in the Year 2352

When his mother dies in a flitter crash, eighteen-year-old Ishmael Horatio Wang must find a job with the planet company or leave the system–and NerisCo isn't hiring. With credits running low, and prospects limited, he has just one hope…to enlist for two years with a deep space commercial freighter. Ishmael, who only rarely visited the Neris Orbital, and has never been off-planet alone before, finds himself part of an eclectic crew sailing a deep space leviathan between the stars.

Join the crew of the SC Lois McKendrick, a Manchester built clipper as she sets solar sails in search of profit for her company and a crew each entitled to a share equal to their rating.

About The Book

What is the book about?

It's a simple coming of age story about a kid who gets tossed off the corporate world he's grown up on and who needs to find his way in the universe. He's lucky and gets a job on the mess deck of an interestellar freighter. He brings an outsider's viewpoint to the closed world of shipboard life and tries hard to fit in.

When did you start writing the book?

Jan 12, 2007

How long did it take you to write it?

About two weeks.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wanted to tell a science fiction story about the "little guy" – the ones who aren't in charge, aren't rich, aren't deposed princes and the like. I wanted to see what kind of universe would exist if we explored the universe with freighters instead of frigates, with an airline instead of an air force.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

This one flowed very easily. Once I figured out the basic universe and who my main characters were, it was mostly a matter of typing fast enough to keep up with the movie that was playing in my mind.

What came easily?

The mess deck scenes. I worked on a ship at sea for about a year when I was younger and life on the mess deck came directly from those experiences.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Nobody directly but we learn about life from our interactions with others. From that perspective, they're all bits and pieces of people I know, but I can't say that any one of them is somebody specific.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Robert Heinlien is probably the person I'm most closely compared to. I grew up on his stuff and I think there are certain parallels in this work. He wrote about people and how they relate to the universe. L. E. Modesitt and his Order War series is another one. Each of his books is about a character who has a job and a lot of the book has to do with how the character learns his job as he's learning about his magic.

Do you have a target reader?

Not as such. Mostly people who want to read something besides the "blow up something every twenty pages" and "save the universe twice before breakfast" books. Some people have criticized the books because "nothing happens" but I think that's mostly because they're looking for a particular kind of action story. This isn't that kind of story.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I'm a binge writer. When I go on a binge, I write 12 or 14 hours a day. Nothing else happens. I snap at my family. I order a lot of pizza. I've described the feeling  as "I wait for the first reel of the movie in my mind to start and then I type like mad trying to keep up with it as it plays." When the closing credits roll, I stop.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

No, I have no idea what's going to happen when I start. I have a situation – a setting, and some characters – and I know what they're doing in that setting, then I write what happens next.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I only edit if I fall into a plot hole. If I find that I've done something unfortunate, I'll go back to where the story was actually working and write what should have happened to avoid the dead end.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Not at first. The original works are all published first as podcast novels – that is I read them aloud, record them, and publish them as a free podcast down load. I have a set of beta readers who read as the books develop and then listen as the episodes are created.

For the text based editions, Robin Sullivan at Ridan Publishing is my editor. She does a great job of getting the stories in shape for the page.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No. I can't listen to anything while I write because it interferes with the movie sound track in my head.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. For about five months in 2009 I played the agent game. I had some positive results and then realized that the best case scenario was that I'd get a book deal that would most likely result in getting the first book out in 2011 and then needing to start all over again in 2013 for book two, while in the meantime I'd have written four or five more books. Not only would the publishing company never catch up with me, I'd never make enough money from it to make it worthwhile.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Keep in mind that my "self pub" is only for the podiobooks. My text versions are through Ridan Publishing—an independent publisher in Fairfax, VA. The books were always written to be read aloud and given away free as podcasts.

The decision to put them into text came about in 2009 when I had so many people asking for the books in physical form so they could give them away, or read them themselves, that I got tired of all the emails asking for them. I promised my fans to get them text versions in 2010 and set about learning about self publishing. Near the end of 2009, Ridan Publishing approached me and after about three weeks of discussions, I signed with them to do Quarter Share on Jan 7, 2010.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

The podcast cover came from me. Michael Sullivan of Ridan Publishing does my print covers.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Ridan has one although I'm not sure, exactly what it is. My plan for the podiobooks is to produce it as quickly as possible, get it up onto the podiobooks.com site so that the people who are waiting for it can find it quickly. Then I talk about the production on my blog, tweet about it a bit on twitter, and basically get out of the way and let my fan base talk about it.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Do it. There's very little downside any more and there's no better way to find out if there's a market for your work than to put it out there and see if you can build one.

You started in Podcasts (is that correct?), is that something that you would recommend to "new indie" authors?

I HIGHLY recommend this. It's a great way to hone your skills and find an audience before investing time and energy in print work.

Do you think Podcasts are particularly suited to Science Fiction and Fantasy, or any genre?

I think they work for any genre. It's a chance to return to the oral traditions of story telling.

Do you think reviews and being on book blogs are important?

I think it depends on the blog and where the review is. Some are very influential. It's not something I pursue, but if it happens, that's good.

What do you think about pricing – it seems that there's a whole rush towards .99c?

I think it's important to keep in mind the goal and that each person's goal is different. More, each niche and genre — perhaps each book — has a 'best price' for whatever the goal is. If the goal is to increase sales, then 99 is a good one. If the goal is to maximize revenues, then it might not be as good. My books are currently selling for 4.95 and I'm very pleased with the level of sales.

More important than price is having a solid platform to leverage. If you have an audience, the demand curve for your work is considerably less price sensitive than if you're an unknown. That's where podcasting really helps.

Do you pay much attention to Amazon rankings?

Only my own. I can't do much about them and a lot of the fluctuation seems to be in factors that are unrelated so sales, but they help me get a feel for how the market is moving. I think the important thing is to get on a genre list that matches your work.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Southern Maine, USA.

Where do you live now?

On the High Plains east of the Rocky Mountains, north east of Denver, Colorado.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I'm something of a contrarian and curmudgeon. I have some odd opinions about stories and story telling and those show up in my writing.

What are you working on now?

A novella to explore part of my Solar Clipper universe that I haven't written about before and a novel – the sequel to South Coast, a story about a South Coast shaman and a culture based on the idea that "the son of a shaman is a shaman." I'm also working on getting my next book – Full Share – into text formats and recording a book for an Audible.com producer.

End of Interview

You can buy Quarter Share (Solar Clipper Trader Tales), here and listen to the podcasts here. Find Nathan on his website here.

Hot off the Press!!! Full Share has just been released and is on Amazon here.

Indieview with BigAl, of BigAl's Books and Pals Reviews

"When I was making the initial plans for the blog this was my biggest struggle. I seriously considered not including ratings at all. Assigning a number to something that can't be measured seems wrong when you consider how subjective such a rating has to be. I've personally made many purchases based on one and two star reviews that described something I would like that the reviewer didn't."

Big Al 14 May 2011 BigAl's Books and Pals

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

It was a combination of factors all coming together. For several years, I'd reviewed music for a few different venues, primarily for a website specializing in indie music of a particular genre and for a local Arts and Entertainment magazine in a large Midwestern US city. I had been out of that a few years and may have subconsciously been looking for something comparable.

Since winning a contest for reading the most books in a single month in second grade, forty-something years ago, I've been an avid reader. I'd purchased a Kindle, discovered Indie authors, and was active on the Amazon Kindle forum. Several of the readers and authors on the forum liked my approach to the reviews I posted on Amazon and kept encouraging me to start a blog. I resisted at first, but liked the idea more each time it came up. Eventually I let myself be convinced.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

One of the negative comments I hear often about books by indie authors are they are rife with errors due to lack of proper copyediting and proofreading. My experience has been that, while sometimes this is an issue, it isn't nearly as often as many perceive. To address this issue I'll track these kinds of errors and include it as part of the review. I read all the books I review on my Kindle and will highlight typos, improper words, and other errors like that. This gives me hard data to use in that portion of the review. I'll sometimes highlight or make notes about especially good or bad sections I anticipate wanting to quote in my review. However, I don't take many notes for most books. The more highlights I make or notes I take the less likely the review is going to be a positive one.

What are you looking for?

Compelling characters and a good story presented well. That would seem to be obvious. However, different genres require a better job at some elements than others. A thriller is often plot driven with character development being less critical while literary fiction requires more from the characters and presentation than it does of the plot. In my review, I try to zero in on the elements that worked and those that didn't while still taking a holistic approach as much as possible and taking into account any applicable genre conventions.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

As I mentioned above, I keep track of grammar errors and typos. My reviews have a section specifically to grade each book in this area. I'll often review books where I was a 'Beta Reader' or 'First Reader.' In that situation I'll disclose I am reviewing based on a Beta version of the book, but not grade it in this area. This is because the normal process is to do an additional round of editing and proofing based on feedback from Beta readers. I'm not in a position to grade the final product in this area although I can judge the overall quality of the book. I'll normally do the same if I'm reviewing based on an advanced reader copy for the same reasons.

However, if I am reviewing the same version of a book that is available for purchase my review will reflect any issues in this area. If I found up to nine errors in a novel, I'll indicate 'no significant issues' in this section. This is a somewhat arbitrary number, but based on various claims I've read about what a traditional publishing company would consider too many errors in a book. Up to twenty errors, I'll indicate the book has a "small number of errors." To this point what I find isn't going to influence my rating or generate more discussion in the review. Beyond this, I'll mention the book has many issues with grammar or typos. I'll try to be specific about the kind of errors and give my subjective opinion on how these influenced my reading experience. It may also influence the star rating the book receives.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

It varies, but somewhere around four hours of reading time if I'm not making a lot of highlights or taking a lot of notes.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

My internet friends say I like to "bloviate" which means just what it sounds like. I could bloviate on my dislike of rating systems for pages. When I was making the initial plans for the blog this was my biggest struggle. I seriously considered not including ratings at all. Assigning a number to something that can't be measured seems wrong when you consider how subjective such a rating has to be. I've personally made many purchases based on one and two star reviews that described something I would like that the reviewer didn't. Yet, many people don't look beyond the rating on an individual review or the average rating on Amazon and other sites.

However, I wanted the option of posting my reviews to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, or other review sites, all of which require a star rating. I resolved this conflict in two ways. First, the rating is the final element of the review on the blog. If someone reads the full review, they should have formed an opinion of their own before seeing the rating. I hope that they'll pay more attention to what was said in the review than any number at the very end. Second, in my "Guide to Reviews" page where I define the meaning of the ratings I try to make my stance clear. By design, the ratings I give are going to be high, averaging somewhere very close to four out of five stars. A book rated three stars is going to be a good book, but with something the reviewer perceives as a significant flaw, which will be explained in the review. One and two star rated books will have very serious issues.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

The most critical is to follow instructions. My site and virtually every book review site have a page with instructions on how to submit a book for review. Most of these sites also have more authors and publishers seeking reviews for their books than they can handle. Failure to follow instructions is likely to result in no response and no review.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

My site allows comments from readers on the review page. That is the most common place for reader feedback. Comments like, "this books sounds good, I'm going to buy it or add to my to-be-read list," happen frequently. Readers who have read a book prior to our review also frequently comment. Emails, comments on our Facebook page, and even tweets with feedback, thanks, or reporting how well a reader liked a book also happens.

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

In the last couple of months, I've written and read thousands of words on this very subject. Your advice boils those thousands of words down to a couple sentences. The only exception might be an error in undisputed fact. Maybe they spelled your name wrong.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

Dying? I disagree. My twenty-something daughter and her husband are both avid readers. My almost eight year-old granddaughter wanted a Kindle for Christmas, got it, and uses it. I do think reading, especially for entertainment and escape, is competing for our time with television, movies, video games, and many other alternatives. Because of this I think the average person might spend less time reading today than they did twenty, thirty, or forty years ago, when reading for pleasure probably peaked in the first-world countries. I believe that as the population became more literate a greater percentage of people became regular readers, but I also think this was always a small part of the population. As these competing forms of entertainment became available people read less.

However, I have hope the trend will stabilize or possibly even reverse. Electronic books can now compete better for our attention due to the ability to get a book immediately without a visit to the library or bookstore. We can now read a book on our cell phone, which is always with us. Those times like waiting in the doctor, dentist, or barbers office or a long queue we currently spend staring into space or reading year old magazines are now practical times to read a book.

I think reading allows more freedom for your imagination to run wild, filling in the gaps and letting your mind tailor the story to you. It allows you to experience vicariously things you can only dream of or would never want to experience for real. While movies, music, video games, and other sources of entertainment allow some of these experiences, none of them does as much or does it as well as reading.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

For indie authors, putting a book out before it is ready. You're not only competing against other indie writers, but those who are traditionally published and have gone through the gauntlet of acceptance and multiple editors and proofreaders. Don't think readers will forgive lack of editing and proofreading because you're an indie or cost less. They won't. The biggest investment a reader makes is not the price of the book. It's the time to read. If they abandon this book for any reason, you can expect they won't be buying your next.

The other thing I see is overly optimistic expectations. The majority of traditionally published books sold are by a handful of authors. Most authors don't sell many books or make much money. Indie books are no different. Breaking out of the pack is hard work and involves a lot of luck regardless of your route to publication.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

When I was a kid, several hundred years ago, schoolteachers used to say you had to read 20-30% of a book before you could decide it wasn't any good. Times have changed. Many readers will abandon a book early if it doesn't grab their attention. E-books also seem to make it easier to abandon a book.

If I'm reading a book for review, I don't feel like I can abandon it until the end. It isn't fair to the author to review a book if you haven't read it. I also think it is important that I review bad books, not just good ones. It is rare for me to abandon a book partway through, even if I'm reading it for pleasure with no intention of writing a review. I also think I'm an exception in this regard. However, if a book hasn't shown promise in the first ten or twenty pages my experience is it is unlikely to improve.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

Basic statistics tells me this concept is flawed. As a random sample of the author's writing style, it might sometimes suffice. Beyond that, it suffers from being an insufficient sample to determine anything.

Is there anything you will not review?

Not much. I'll consider reviewing any genre of fiction. Although there are genres I like more than others I've read and enjoyed books from every major genre. I also have a team of reviewers who are helping me write reviews. Among us are fans of every genre. We also review non-fiction if the subject is of widespread interest and aimed at a general audience.

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

I think there is a lot of truth in that comment. Often this is meant as a derogatory statement, intended to convey the thought that self-published books "aren't good enough" to be traditionally published. As a blanket statement, I disagree. Many books that are good enough are now bypassing the traditional route or using self-publishing as a way to prove they are good enough.

It appears publishers and agents are searching for self-published indie books that are doing well and approaching the author about the possibility of publishing them traditionally. This is the interpretation where I think that statement has the most validity. Amanda Hocking is the most visible of these, signing a deal with St. Martin's for a new series and another to traditionally publish her previously self-published Tyrlle Trilogy. Amazon's Encore imprint seems designed to find the most successful indies and give them broader distribution with additional marketing muscle behind them. D.B. Henson's Kindle bestseller, "Deed to Death," is set for re-release via a traditional publisher in July. I'm sure there are others I don't know about. I'm aware of similar deals in the works or not yet announced. For indie authors who want to be traditionally published, and there are good arguments both for and against, this is a new way this might be accomplished.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

Slowly and not as much as we would like to think. Indie and self-published titles are readily available to those with e-readers and those who regularly read e-books using apps on their computer or smartphone. This is still a small percentage of the reading public. On the positive side, those who have made the jump to e-books seem to include a disproportionate number of high-volume readers who are more likely to stumble on or hear recommendations for indie books. Some of them will like what they find and experience a change of attitude. That is what happened to me.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, aside from reviews?

Why would you need anything other than reviews?

Seriously, my answer depends on how I choose to interpret "industry" in the question. The traditional publishing industry would say they've always done this and continue to do so. Don't buy books not published by the behemoths of the industry is one way to do this filtering. And it works, to a point. But that's not an answer I'm satisfied with as a reader. It limits me to the least common denominator – the books a publishing executive are convinced can make money for their company. I don't think it is the answer those who visit your site are looking for either.

Amazon has recommendation engines that are tailored to find books you might like based on what you've read and liked previously. Websites like Goodreads, Shelfari, and Library Thing are all designed to speed up the word-of-mouth process that has always existed to match readers to books. These are the kind of filters needed. Tools that help the reader do the filtering. I expect the tools already available will be expanded and improved over time to provide still more value.

End of Interview

Part of the joy of being Indie is the people you "meet". The depth of passion, the integrity behind their work, and their willingness to share – it brings a smile to your face . The above interview is a great example of that passion, integrity and the collaborative nature of our indie ecosystem.

 

IndieView with Debra Martin, co-author of, The Crystal Facade

[image error]"I write with my co-author, David W. Small, and it took us about one year to write the book. Between passing files back and forth during the writing portion and then extensive editing sessions, it takes us many months to completely finish a book."

Debra Martin 11 May 2011

The Back Cover

Royal Otharian twins Darius and Dyla Telkur have a big problem: they know too much about a secret sect of their countrymen living on the forbidden planet Earth. On a previous trip to Earth, they traced the sect's lineage back to the time of Merlin, but a run-in with a local crime boss forced them back to Otharia before they could unravel the mystery.

Now Dyla is dreaming again. Her dreams of the London crime boss portend an imminent threat to her family and she has no choice but to secretly return to Earth to find out what they mean. What the twins don't realize is they're walking into a conspiracy involving a centuries old interplanetary smuggling operation. Will they be able to capitalize on their superior PSI powers to get the answers they need before they fall victim to a telekinetic assassin that has followed them across the galaxy?

About the Book

What is the book about?

The Crystal Façade is an action-adventure, science fiction book that follows the continuing troubles of royal Otharian twins, Darius and Dyla Telkur. Darius has secured the Telkur throne, but there is unrest in nearby duchies and he must lend his support to his fellow Dukes. Meanwhile, his twin sister, Dyla, a strong empath who has dream visions, is haunted by visions of Lord Blackheart, a mob boss from Earth. Otharia and Earth are connected dating back to the time of Merlin the Magician, but it is a secret that has been closely guarded. The twins must find out what that connection means before assassins on both planets find and eliminate them.

How long did it take you to write it?

I write with my co-author, David W. Small, and it took us about one year to write the book. Between passing files back and forth during the writing portion and then extensive editing sessions, it takes us many months to completely finish a book.

Where did you get the idea from?

Dave and I wanted to write about another world, Otharia, and how it could possibly be connected to Earth.  We decided on the Arthurian legend, specifically, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake as ancient Otharians left on Earth after a tragic incident with fellow teammates.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Not in this book because the world was already set up in QUEST FOR NOBILITY.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

A couple of the characters are based on people that we know, all the others are fictitious.

Do you have a target reader?

Yes, the scifi reader who likes action adventure because the books are loaded with action. We have heard from readers that Crystal Façade is a stand-alone novel so you don't necessarily need to know the back story in the first book to enjoy this one.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Writing with a co-author can be tricky.  In the beginning Dave and I struggled with the flow of the book because we write very similar to each other, but now our writing is seamless.  It's hard to remember who write what anymore which is good for the reader.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

We do outline – a basic plot from beginning to end and then chapter outlines with a couple of sentences in each so in that one both Dave and I can stay on track with the writing.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

We edit as we go along.  Before a chapter goes into the main file, it usually gets edited a couple of time and then there's a big edit at the end.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Not yet, but we plan to when our next book is finished.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, I find listening to music much too distracting.  I like it quiet when I write.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, we did submit our books to agents and we got lots of rejections although some of the agents wrote personal notes back to us saying the books had potential, but they didn't love it enough to take it on.  At least we knew our books didn't suck.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

When I found out about self-publishing at Amazon and now at Barnes & Noble, it was an immediate decision to publish.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

Our covers were done by T.M. Roy.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I've spent countless hours on marketing – online at Facebook, twitter and my blog; getting reviews for the book and a few sponsorships as well.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I think first and foremost, after you write your book, edit, edit, edit. Having beta readers is absolutely essential. Fresh eyes can catch plot holes, inconsistencies and typos. Next it's imperative that you have a great cover to catch a reader's eyes and then a book blurb that will draw them in and make them buy the book.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Arlington, MA

Where do you live now?

In a small town north of Boston, MA

What would you like readers to know about you?

I loved writing my entire life and now with epublishing, my dream of being a published author came true.

What are you working on now?

Dave and I are working on a fantasy involving assassins, witches and prophesy.  We hope to have it finished by 2011.  Then it will be off to the beta readers and the editor.

End of Interview

You can buy The Crystal Facade at Amazon US, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.