Simon Royle's Blog, page 17

Vicki Tyley in the News!!!

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News Clipping from Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend Magazine

Vicki Tyley, author of, Thin Blood, Sleight Malice, and Brittle Shadows hit the news this weekend with a nice mention in the Sydney Morning Herald's weekend magazine.

Readers of this blog will know Vicki writes great mystery and suspense novels set in Australia. Her books can be found here.

Fantastic news – congratulations to Vicki.

IndieView Ian Woodhead, author of, Shades of Green

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"As for influences, I think James Herbert and Steve Harris are the main ones but I'm sure that works of Stephen king, Guy N Smith, Philip K Dick and Clive Barker will have helped shape my subconscious writing too. Saying that, I think that now I'm reaching a point where I can see my own style emerging. A few reviewers have commented upon this, I find that a little odd, as I didn't really think I had a style." Ian Woodhead 14January 2011

The Back Flap

Holburn was just like any other northern English town, at least on the surface. Buried below the local woodland, something of ancient evil had begun to tunnel up…

Within hours, Holburn suffered a drastic transformation as invasive, bizarre plant-life infest the town, the population and wildlife transform into rampaging, blood-thirsty beasts.

A handful of survivor's battle to stay alive and search for answers.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The story concerns a group of teenagers who find themselves fighting for survival when their town becomes overrun with bizarre, invasive plant-life, if that wasn't bad enough, everyone they know transform into creatures with carnivorous appetites.

When did you start writing the book?

To be honest, I'm not sure round about 2008, I think.

How long did it take you to write?

Off and on, mainly off, two and half years.

Where did you get the idea from?

Can you believe that I've never been asked this before? Now, how can I explain the idea without giving the plot away? Okay right. Do you remember when Climate change used to be called global warming? Well, I wondered if a non-human race had reached the point where their planet was basically screwed. If they were advanced enough, more than us anyway. Then perhaps they could build a machine that just scrubbed the poisons out of the planet at a genetic level.

Of course, an alien planet's atmosphere wouldn't be the same as ours, so if this machine ended up on Earth AND was activated, imagine what would happen? Well, it did sound a bit far fetched, so I invented some pre-human sentient reptilian civilization existing on Earth a few million years ago.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

(Laugh) Yeah, all of it! Well, maybe not all of it. There were times when I flew through prose, but I think, that was down to how I was feeling at the time. I think the only part where I really struggled was when I was reaching the climax of the story, Those ends refused to be tied, no matter what I did.

What came easily?

All the pet-shop scenes, I really enjoyed those and the first few thousand words.

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

A bit of both, I think. The petshop owner does share a few of my traits, I suppose. To be honest, I think most of my characters have been influenced by real world characters in some way.

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 was a reader long before I started to write. The authors I've read are varied and many. As for influences, I think James Herbert and Steve Harris are the main ones but I'm sure that works of Stephen king, Guy N Smith, Philip K Dick and Clive Barker will have helped shape my subconscious writing too. Saying that, I think that now I'm reaching a point where I can see my own style emerging. A few reviewers have commented upon this, I find that a little odd, as I didn't really think I had a style.

Do you have a target reader?

Hmm, A million Ian Woodheads! Anyone who appreciates a decent horror yarn who doesn't expect high brow literature.

Do you outline?

Yes and no. I start off a story writing in first draft using pen and notepad. Once I get a few 1000k into it, then I outline so I don't become tangled up.

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

Well once the outline is finished, I then start on a first draft, still using pen and paper. When I transcribe that into Word, I'll edit as I go, but I still go through the MS a few times at the end.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Not yet but I'm looking into this option for my next story.

Do you listen to music while you write?

Again, yes and no. it depends on my mood. As for what I do listen to, everything from ABBA to extreme black metal.

Did you submit your work to agents?

Simple answer, no.

What made you decide to go Indie?

The ball started to roll, when one day I received an email from a publisher asking me what my small press profile was. Well, I didn't have one. It was suggested that I have a go at writing a few short stories and submit them to a few anthologies, apparently it's easier to get shorts accepted. Well, halfway through my third story, I discovered Smashwords. I thought the site was a brilliant way of getting my work out there, like an online CV. Then I discovered Amazon's Digital text Platform and the rest is history.

Did you get your book professionally done?

My wife created the cover for Shades of Green.

Do you have a marketing plan?

Not really, no. I'm still learning. I've joined a few messages boards and I've advertised the book on Facebook and goodreads but …. Well, I'm winging it.

Any advice to give to newbies considering becoming Indie Authors?

Yeah, before you publish your story, have a few folk look at it first. Folk who aren't afraid to give you a honest opinion. Remember, you are offering a product. If folk don't like it, THEY WILL COMPLAIN!

What are you working on?

My next novel is called Third Sight – It's about this demonic being who can only grow and breed by feeding off the energy of one individual. It feeds by killing off everyone this poor sucker has ever known and loved AND it makes him watch.

After that will come Mirrored Blade – That's about a knife that fell into the realm of the dead and can now strip the soul out of you. I have another two novels to release this year plus a few more short stories!

End of Interview

You can buy Shades of Green here.

Isabela Morales's review of Tag

Isabela runs a very cool blog called, The Scattering. Reviewing Sci-Fi, speculative fiction books and TV shows. Specifically indie and self-published books. I recommend you check it out.

Here's her review of Tag. And here.

Indieview with Mary McDonald, author of, No Good Deed

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"You absolutely have to commit to getting the word out about your book. Very few are successful by just uploading the book and hoping readers will find it on their own. I've made some mistakes along the  way, but I'd rather have made those mistakes than to not try and having nothing happen because I'm worried about what people will think of me." Mary McDonald 12 January 2011

The Back Flap

Mark Taylor discovers first hand that no good deed goes unpunished when the old camera he found during a freelance job in an Afghanistan bazaar gives him more than great photos. It triggers dreams of disasters. Tragedies that happen exactly as he envisions them. He learns that not only can he see the future, he can change it. Then the unthinkable happened and everyone ignored his frantic warnings. Thousands die. Suddenly, the Feds are pounding on his door and the name they have for Taylor isn't urban hero. It's enemy combatant. And, it means they can do anything they want to him. Anything at all.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The premise of No Good Deed is that photographer Mark Taylor has an old camera he bought in an Afghanistan bazaar while working on a photo job. When he uses the camera, it shows photos of near future events, mainly accidents where someone is killed, or other tragedies. After he views the photos, he then dreams about them, allowing him to fill in the details. If he chooses, he can try to change the events and prevent the bad things from happening.

The book opens with Mark being arrested as a suspected terrorist with connections to 9/11 because he'd seen the terrible tragedy in his photos the day before and tried to warn the authorities.  Nobody believes him, and his phone calls he made the morning of the attacks, coupled with his trip to Afghanistan two years prior, is just too suspicious for the authorities to ignore. He's named an enemy combatant and locked away without a trial, lawyer or any way to defend himself.

When did you start writing the book?

The book started out as a short story on a writing site, but after I posted it, feedback from readers indicated that they wanted to know what happened to Mark. (I left him rotting in the cell.) I wrote more, but then readers wanted more of what happened while he was in prison. Eventually, I scrapped that whole story and started over with a plan in mind. That was in January of 2009.

How long did it take you to write it?

About nine months, but then I changed scenes, added scenes and cut scenes after many months of querying agents.

Where did you get the idea from?

Initially, the writing site I began it on had a challenge to have your character wake up in a padded room and wonder how they got there. That scene is still in the book, but somewhat changed because the room isn't padded as it's now a regular cell.  The reason that idea of the enemy combatant came up was because of stories in the news. I got to wondering what if someone who was innocent was arrested as an enemy combatant. However, I didn't want the reader to have any doubt as to my character's innocence, hence the idea for the limited ability to see images from the future.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The beginning and the ending, and possibly, a bit in the middle. heh. Seriously, the book has had about a dozen different opening scenes. I had one with Mark and Jessie in his loft, with the idea of introducing them as characters. I received feedback that the story didn't open fast enough. So, I added the opening scene, but after that, Mark went back to his loft for the scene with Jessie. An agent commented that it wasn't serious enough, so I cut that scene and aimed straight for the jugular.  I had hoped that the opening scene with the baby set up Mark as a sympathetic character quickly enough for readers to care what happened to him.

What came easily?

I love writing the angsty scenes, so those just flowed. Anytime Mark had to confront someone or was being questioned, I had no problems writing those scenes. Also, parts where he's remembering good times, and anything to do with food. lol. Many of the scenes combine the memories with the food, since most of us tend to think of happy times and associate it with special meals and celebrations.

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

I don't know anyone exactly like any of my characters, but  I've borrowed mannerisms from people I know. I'm not naming names though. I'd rather keep my friends and relatives guessing.

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 to read, but a lot of the stuff I enjoy is epic history, like James Michener novels, or James Clavell's Sho-gun. I also really love The Grapes of Wrath. I've read that book a half-dozen times and it's never the same. I wish I could say it's influenced my writing, but I have no idea if it did.

The only author I consciously sat and re-read passages or noted what made a sentence work, was LaVryle Spencer, a best-selling romance novelist. Even though my book isn't romance, I think she does an amazing job of making the readers feel for her characters, and that's what I wanted readers to feel as they read my books.  Morning Glory is my favorite romance novel of all-time, and I know that Will Parker influenced the character of Mark Taylor to some degree.

Do you have a target reader?

I expect my readers are adults who like fast-paced books with sympathetic characters in addition to plenty of characters.  In fact, it always surprises me when readers say that it's a non-stop book because I don't see it as action oriented, but more about what Mark is feeling rather than what he's doing at any given moment. Often, his feelings come out in his actions, but it's not the same kind of thriller as, say, a Lee Child book, which has Jack Reacher fighting lots of bad guys–not to say Lee Child fans wouldn't like this too, it's just a bit different.

About Writing

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

To get the words out initially, what works best for me is setting up a writing time with another writer friend of mine named Jessie (And yes, Jessie was kind enough to let me use her name for my main female character. ) We meet online and decide to write for an hour or so. She writes her thing, I write mine, and it's sort of a competition to see who can write the most words in that time limit. I say sort of a competition because she always kicks my butt. lol. Where I might write 900 words, she'll get 1500 done. However, in my defense, my husband and ten year old often interrupt me while I write to ask me a question, while Jessie just has to contend with a bunch of IMs from all her friends. We started doing this for short stories back in 2008, and it worked so well, we've each written a few novels using the process.

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

I don't use an official outline, but I have used a very flexible one before. Not so much for No Good Deed as it already had been written in bits and pieces before I re-wrote the whole thing from scratch. I guess you could call that an outline of sorts. It was almost like a very rough first draft.

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

I'll often start a writing session by editing the previous writing sessions scenes. It gets me in the flow of the story, but sometimes it's hard to get back to writing new stuff. It's easier to edit what I've already written. 

I had some issues with editing No Good Deed, mostly because I had to use about five different word processors because my computer crashed half-way through  writing the book. I didn't get a new computer for about five months, so I was writing some on Google Docs, and some on Word, and then pasting bits back and forth. I also had a beta reader who would make suggestions on the Google Docs parts, which were great, but that added lots of hidden code to the document when I copied it back to Word. It ended up being a nightmare to clean up. With the sequel, I'm sticking to one word processor and not adding notes to the main copy.  Live and learn, I guess.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, I wish I could have, but it wasn't in the cards. My husband had been laid off for two years, so finances were too tight to be able to afford a professional editor.

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

I love to listen to music while I write. In fact, it helps block out the questions by my daughter and husband. Just kidding. Sort of. I have a playlist on Zune with music from Explosions in the Sky, which is amazing mood music. I also have songs that capture the emotion of the characters, and some of those are Collide, by Howie Day, Superman, by Five for Fighting, Hero, by David Crosby, The Garden That You Planted, I Made a Resolution, and  Leaves in the River, by Sea Wolf.

I also will listen to Pandora. I've found lots of new songs using the above artists as favorites and finding similar music.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did. I probably queried too soon, and by the time I'd changed the opening chapter to what it is now, I'd used up just about all the agents who handled my genre.  I don't know if it would have made a difference though. A lot of agents never reply, or conversly, will reply so quickly, you know they never read anything.

I studied the art of querying, had it critiqued, bought books on it, etc, but none of it seemed to work. One agent asked for a partial. He's the one that suggested that it wasn't a serious enough beginning. I changed it, but I didn't resubmit as he didn't ask to see it again. The day after I uploaded the book to Amazon, I had a reply from a few months prior asking for a full. I told the agent about uploading it, and he then declined to read it.

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

After months of querying, I read J.A. Konrath's blog, and thought what do I have to lose? I can upload the book and see what happens, or I can keep it forever hidden in a file on my computer. It was a no-brainer. I can't say there was one moment where I changed course though. It was a bit gradual. I went from thinking I'd never self-publish, to reading about the changing attitude, and thinking, well, maybe I'll self-publish, to just talking it over with my husband who thought it was a great idea.

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

I had an original cover that I did completely by myself. It was a sketch of a man who looked like how I pictured Mark Taylor. He was in the crosshairs of a rifle nightvision scope. The whole thing was sort of a black and neon green with yellow text. It was very eye-catching, but definitely not professional looking. I liked it for sentimental reasons, as did my husband, but I changed it with the help of a couple of other people. I'm not happy with the title font though, and would love to change it. I'm not skilled in Photoshop though.

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

I'm winging it, definitely. I've been fortunate enough to 'meet' many other indie authors and I'm trying to learn from their successes. I spend a lot of time chatting on forums.

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

You absolutely have to commit to getting the word out about your book. Very few are successful by just uploading the book and hoping readers will find it on their own. I've made some mistakes along the  way, but I'd rather have made those mistakes than to not try and having nothing happen because I'm worried about what people will think of me.

About You

I'm from a big family one of eight kids. I just celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary, and my husband and I have three children. I work full-time as a respiratory therapist.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, the town Ray Bradbury grew up in, and also famous comedian Jack Benny.  In fact, I went to Jack Benny Junior High.

Where do you live now?

I recently moved to Silver Lake, Wisconsin and we're enjoying it very much. It's a small town with a lake and a river. I can't wait until next summer when we get to be here for the whole summer. We moved at the end of last summer, so only had a few days to get to the nearby beach.

What are you working on now?

I'm finishing up the sequel to No Good Deed. It will be titled 'March Into Hell' and since I had so much fun putting Mark Taylor through the wringer in NGD, I thought I'd up the ante in March Into Hell.  I hope to have it ready by mid-January of 2011.

End of Interview

You can buy No Good Deed, here, and you can read my review of Mary's book here.

An IndieView with Grace

[image error]Readers familiar with my blog, know that I admire and respect the work of indie reviewers, and none more so than GraceKrispy.

Just to get you in the mode, here's a thread where Grace posted the question: "Authors reviewing their own works?"

"Is anyone else weirded out when authors review their own books? I've run across a few instances of this lately. One some sites, it looks like authors can give stars to their own work (and several have), and on another site I saw a glowing review from an author (if the name was to be believed, middle initial and all) about his own work. It really did look like his writing, as the errors I saw in the book were also present in the review."

GraceKrispy's, 'Motherlode" is fast becoming a "go-to" site for indie authors looking to get their book read and reviewed. Why? Readers. Pure and simple. Readers who appreciate reading an honest review. What it's all about.

It is my pleasure and privilege to bring you an Indieview with Grace.

How did you get started?

After being introduced to Smashwords.com on the MobileRead forum, I started learning about independent authors and reading their books. After reading several threads about the woeful lack of reviews for Indie books, I started writing short reviews on Smashwords this past April.

I gradually increased the length and complexity of my reviews as I became more comfortable stating my opinions. When a few fellow MobileRead members started commenting on how they liked my reviews, I started checking out some review blogs. I had started a blog years ago and never did much with it, so I decided to turn it into a review blog. My very first review on "MotherLode" was about a random library book I had checked out. A few review requests trickled in, and then they started coming in faster. The rest, as they say, is history! Of course, my review blog was started less than 4 months ago, so it's pretty recent history.

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 tend to read first and then think about the book as I formulate my impressions. Sometimes, if there is something I really want to make sure I note, I will use the memo feature on my droid to keep track of those reflections.

I used to have up to 4 or 5 books going at a time; now I focus on one book at a time, and I write my review almost immediately after I finish the book. I want to write while my thoughts are still fresh.

What are you looking for?

I'm looking for a total immersion experience. I'm looking for a book in which I can happily lose myself, and one that will perhaps even spark my imagination. Books that make me think or relax or imagine or escape are good; better if they make me do all of those things.

I'm also looking for an experience that doesn't awaken the little editor who lives in my head and can't seem to look beyond blatant mistakes to find the story hidden within.

I know most reviewers will say that they review books to weed through the junk and help readers make good decisions. I think my motivation is a little bigger than that. I do review to help give readers some idea of whether they may enjoy the book, but I also review to give authors feedback as to what worked for me – as well as what didn't – in the story.

My ultimate purpose truly is to see good indie authors rise to the top- mostly so they will produce more great books for me to read! So I review for both readers and authors, but my loyalties remain to myself. I have to be honest with myself, and therefore I have to be honest in my reviews.

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

I note bad grammar when it detracts from the book, and I note typos if there are more than a handful in the whole book. I tend to be really distracted when there are  numerous commas in inappropriate places, incorrectly used homophones (e.g., you're for your, their for they're), and other typos that confuse the reader and alter the intended meaning.

Good writing should be the showcase that allows the storyline to shine. Even the very best storyline can't break past writing that leaves the reader confused as to the actual content of the story.

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

It depends on what's going on in my "real life" at the time. I have a full-time job, young kids who are active in various activities, and some good friends in my physical world. I try hard to balance those things with my hobbies and interests in the digital world. Sometimes, I'm even successful. As a result, an 80,000 word book can take me anywhere from a day to a week to get through. Much depends on what's going on with me at the time, and also how engaging and well-written the book.

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

As I'm reading a book, I just get a feelings for how many stars it "feels" like. As that is really subjective, I tried to explain those feelings on the ratings page on my blog.  I really like the way some reviewers separate the various elements of the writing and then average the resulting scores. I tried that once or twice, and just couldn't quite get into it.

For me, rating a book is really a holistic experience rather than looking at the sum of its parts. I'll note and comment on the various elements, but I prefer to look at the whole book in order to determine the rating. Reading a book is, to me, a comprehensive experience, so I rate that way. A really great ending or a creative, original concept will often give a little "bonus boost" to the star ratings.

What I really hope, however, is that the readers of my reviews will look more at the comments I make and less at the number of stars I give. I mainly use the stars because they go along with the rating system used by the major review sites. I believe, however, my comments give you more information to help determine whether you may enjoy the book or not.

I try to be really specific in the review about the elements I liked and the ones that didn't work for me. Some discussions I've read seem to imply that reviewers are the great gatekeepers of the self-publishing world. I don't see things that way. I don't control the gate, I merely try to guide the experience a bit.

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

Check out the review policy of the reviewer. Most reviewers give explicit instructions as to how to request a review, what types of reviews they write, and what format of book desired. I respond to every email personally written to me. I don't usually respond to mass emails with PR information about a book and instructions to contact the author if interested.

Honestly, it's a matter of time. I figure, if a busy author took the time to personally request a review from me and customize the request to my review policy, I will take the time to personally respond, regardless of whether I accept the book or not.  I can't say that this won't change, but, for now, that's how I operate. Part of it is also that I want to believe the author has read enough of my reviews to actually want a review from me, and is not just a casting a wide net, catching every possible reviewer. I have no problem with authors trying to get every review possible; on the contrary, I think it's a wise plan. But I do expect a review request to show me that the author understands what types of reviews I do, and the author can discover that by checking out my blog and reading my review policy. I figure if the author has read my reviews, he or she will have a good idea of my review style and is ready to accept my honesty.

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

At this point, I tend to email the author to let him or her know when the review is up. I often get a thank you email afterwards, perhaps with some comments as to the content of my review. Even if my review didn't rank the book as highly as they'd hoped, I have found the majority of authors to be very appreciative of my thoughts. I really respect that. I can only think of about 3 times when the author didn't respond to me at all after the review was up, and I suspect those authors weren't very happy with the results.

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 very much agree with that. I state in my review policy that if an author would like to comment (respectfully) on my blog about something in my review, I am very open to that. For example, if I give constructive criticism on some aspect of the book and the author wants to explain why he or she did it that way, I welcome those comments. Reviews are, to great extent, subjective, and I realize that my interpretation may not be what the author intended. I have no problem with authors letting the readers know, via a comment on my blog, what the actual intent was. But I would encourage all authors to read any reviews and really consider the comments, whether or not they agree.

I have had some research published, and it's never easy to hear constructive criticism when you are confident in your product. However, I've found there is always some kernel I can take from such criticism, and it is then my choice as to how to I wish to use it, if at all.

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?

I think people love reading because it's an escape. It allows you to be someone else for a while, experience some other life, learn about the world around you, and explore things you may never want to explore in real life. I do think that video games and cell phones and TV have supplanted reading in many households. When you read, you have to use your brain to construct the elements that are missing- the picture and the sounds. You need to interpret the meaning from words on a page. It requires thought and engagement. It seems that some people like to take the easy way out and allow someone else to interpret those pictures and sounds for them. I think that's a shame, but it all starts at home. Whether a child enjoys reading is, at least in part, inspired by whether the parent enjoys books.

About Writing

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

Without a doubt, the most common mistake I see independent authors make is to not have their work edited. Some authors do a really good job of self-editing, but most do not. Many count on beta readers to catch errors, which works to some extent, but anyone who is too close to the work- whether having written it or being engaged in the story- is going to miss something. As I mentioned earlier, a bad editing job prevents the real story from shining through. You wouldn't show a diamond covered in mud to a potential buyer, so why would you try to entice people to purchase your book when it's covered in errors? Editing is that polish that allows the gem of the story to shine.

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?

If a book hasn't grabbed me within the first few chapters, I continue to plug along a little longer, hoping it gets better. Oftentimes, it does. I think the average reader, however, will put the book down before that point. I think it's really important to start off with that lead that catches the reader's attention and introduces some conflict or character that keeps the reader engaged.

I may be in the minority, but I never check out samples. If I'm interested enough in a book based on the blurb, I'll commit to reading the book. If it turns out that was a mistake, I reserve the right to let the author know I won't be reviewing it (if it was a review copy), or to just delete the book from my reader (if I chose it myself).

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

I thought that was a really interesting idea when I first heard it. I don't think it's an accurate way to judge a storyline by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think it can speak to a good writing style. When I read paper books, I do read a random page here and there to see if I like the writing style and that can make all the difference in whether I choose that book.

Is there anything you will not review?

I don't review erotica or non-fiction. I read (and write) plenty of non-fiction, but I don't want to review it. Otherwise, I am pretty open to almost all genres.

About Publishing

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

I think that's probably true. With the relative ease of self-publishing in digital form, I think there is a lot of material getting published that would never make it past the door of a traditional publisher. So this slush pile is now available to us all, often for a price. I think it makes reviews even more important in helping to guide readers in making good choices. Unfortunately, there are a lot of inflated reviews out there that gush and yet offer no real assistance to readers wading through the offerings. I always wonder if it's a relative or good friend (or even the author) writing those reviews, and they are useless in helping me choose a book. As a reader, I prefer balanced reviews to help me get a good feel for whether or not I'd like the book.

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

I think this is a whole new era in book publishing. Attitudes are most assuredly changing, and independent authors are getting more respect and more exposure. I know I've introduced the works of independent authors to friends and family who love to read. As these authors gain a wider audience, they will also gain respect. I feel really privileged to be a part of that process.

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

That's a really good question, and one I've seen discussed many times on online forums. I think one of the wonderful things about the era of self-publishing is that the filter is gone. Yes, some questionable stories get out there, but it gives readers the chance to decide for themselves what they like and what they don't like. Readers are smart enough to know what they like. The average reader isn't looking for the next great literary novel, he or she is looking for a book that engages and entertains and offers an overall satisfying experience. Without the filter of the traditional publishing industry in place, readers have more options and may look more to reviews to help guide their choices. I think this is an exciting time to be an author and a reader. I have already seen some fantastic self-published work rise to the top and there is more to come!

End of IndieView

GraceKrispy's Blog Motherlode.

@GKMotherLode

Indieview Shaun Jeffrey, author of, the Kult

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Special HOT BREAKING NEWS!!!

I just received an email from Shaun with this great offer. Here  it is from the man himself:

"I've started my newsletter campaign, now just to get people to sign up. If anyone would like to help, here's the scoop: Sign up to the newsletter and receive a coupon code to download ebook, Dead Man's Eye for free.

OK – now that you're back.

The Back Flap

People are predictable. That's what makes them easy to kill.

Acting out of misguided loyalty to his friends, police officer Prosper Snow is goaded into helping them perform a copycat killing, but when the real killer comes after him, it's not only his life on the line, but his family's too. Now if he goes to his colleagues for help, he risks being arrested for murder. If he doesn't, he risks being killed.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The book is about a serial killer called The Oracle who murders people and then makes macabre artworks out of their bodies. Detective Chief Inspector Prosper Snow is in charge of the case, but he is put in a predicament when his childhood friends come to him to uphold a pact they made to get revenge on those that wrong them. The group of friends usually only beat someone up, but now one of them wants someone murdered. And to get away with it, he wants them to blame it on The Oracle.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book about six years ago, but it went through a number of revisions before I was happy with it.

Where did you get the idea from?

As with any story I write, I pay the Gods of inspiration for my ideas. I have a Paypal account with them to make it easier.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Understatement! I struggle with everything where writing's concerned, from finding time to write to actually getting the words onto the screen or page.

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

My characters were fictitious until I breathed life into them. Now they are real. Or at least the actors are, as the book was optioned for film by Gharial Productions, and I was lucky enough to fly out to the States to see some of the shoot. It was very cool, but also very surreal seeing people playing characters I'd created, and seeing them brought to life. Now I'm eagerly waiting to see the finished film.

Do you have a target reader?

Target reader! I'm happy to shoot at any of them, regardless whether they have a target on them or not.

About Writing

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

My writing process involves parking my butt in any available space and then just plugging away making one word follow another in the hope that some of them might make sense.

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

Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. It depends on the story. Sometimes it will grow organically as I go along, which I find more interesting as that way I don't know what's going to happen at all, and the characters take over. When I've outlined, I don't write masses and masses of information, just enough to give me a rough map to follow.

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

I usually edit after I've finished, as my first task is just to finish the story before I lose the enthusiasm for the story.

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

I love listening to music as I write, but in reality, I don't really hear it as I get too engrossed in what I'm writing, but it helps cut out other distractions. The music I listen to is dark and grungy, such as Korn, Slipknot, Rammstein etc.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I have submitted to agents before, and did have one for a while, but when she failed to sell anything for me, we parted company. A good agent can be indispensable to getting the most money for your work, but a bad agent is no better than having no agent at all.

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

As far as marketing is concerned, it's a continual process. Writing the book is the easy part. Selling it is hard. I often threaten people to buy a copy, or hold someone dear to them as a hostage until they relent.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a house in a cemetery, so I guess it comes as no surprise that my fiction veers towards the dark side of the spectrum.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I research all of my novels by doing what I write about for real. As of yet, I have not been charged with my crimes.

What are you working on now?

I've been working on another novel featuring the protagonist from The Kult. Yet again he's put into a difficult situation, and people around him are not safe. As the first line says: 'Murder makes monsters of people. Prosper Snow knew that better than most.'

End of Interview

You can buy the Kult here.

The New Gatekeepers

Anyone can publish a book. Fact. Anyone can get that book in front of two million people per month (at Christmas time swelling to over four million). Fact. That's assuming they only publish with Amazon – but you can forgive them, for after all, Amazon is the largest Indie book store in the world, and in the history of mankind.

Where BS publishing is really screwing up is by sticking to the old sad line of, "Well most of them just aren't good enough, and we're the one's to decide." Yeah, yeah. Go sing it from the mountain. You could be scaling up to meet this massive outpouring of talent, content and, therefore, future revenue, but that's too hard right?

We understand – you aren't scaled properly to deal with the demand. The numbers: there are six point seven billion people, give or take a few, alive in the world today. About a billion and a half of them speak and write "good" English. A billion and a half. Last year NY BS put out about three hundred thousand books. Do you get the scale problem now?

Validation thru BS. A huge amount of indie authors want this. It's their dream – they're not indie by choice; they really would rather have you selling their books. But since you're swamped (we know – it's OK you don't have to cover it up by saying dumb shit); they can't wait. "They" is getting bigger. Bigger by four now. Next year, bigger by seven, and the year after that BS will represent less than 10% of published books. Maybe eight per cent by 2015. Ninety per cent of those books will be selling for USD4.99 or less. Can you say American Pie?

The platform has shifted, dramatically, to; "Who has the best ability to aggregate reader presence." So tell us please Mrs Publisher; what are you doing about reader aggregation? Because without it you're done. Not if. When. Do you know what 'Slashdot Effect' means? Ask Scalzi or Doctorow or Gibson or Stross; they'll tell you. You're about to experience "negative Slashdot effect"- that's where the absence of IP hits causes a vacuum (I bet you had to Google Slashdot) with such a whoosh that you get sucked into bankruptcy…

The contracts most publishers have, for the most part, do not cover digital rights. Expect a bunch of lawyers to make a bunch of money on that gig for the next couple of years, but fairness will win out. Like; "If you say they're yours, then where are my sales?"

The cost structures publishers have cannot be supported in a digital world. This should be abundantly clear from several well-publicized historical events. Arguing about being able to charge more for vetted, good quality content is an argument that will collapse in the face of better or comparative quality, and cheaper – every time. Ask any newspaper.

The new Gatekeepers;

Amazon Rankings
Google Rankings
Barnes and Noble Rankings (maybe)
Honest Review Sites (Big industry here – not like sleazy PW)
Large Reader aggregators (ala Goodreads)
Blogs with large followings/Celebrity's Blogs
Readers reviews and tagging

All the above can be considered under the grouping of capability to rapidly effect large digital presence.

Will there still be a market for paper books? Yes. In a major but declining way for about another ten years (maximum). After that the majority of mainstream books will be digitally published, and digitally consumed. And only a very, very small portion of those digitally published will be "enhanced Ebooks" – barking up trees is not a good strategy.

So where do all these publishing people go? Now, now, don't be nasty. Play nice. Some will stay exactly where they are, blissfully unaware of any change whatsoever. Their rarefied,  'Mirror, mirror on the wall / Who in the land is fairest of all?' Grimm, ecosystems will remain intact. Their Kingdoms will have shrunk, but their egos will probably have not.

Others; Agents and Editors wise, savvy, and brave; will become the equivalent of VC Money in Silicon Valley. Deal-makers, advisors, legal experts, foreign market-makers, people in the know, who know other PITK.

Key question every author should ask – "What can you do for me with the new Gatekeepers?" Can you promote digitally?  How many reviews, and what level in the rankings can you get me to? Who can really get the word out – globally. How much money can you make me this year? Agents – Think Jerry's Manifesto – the one that got him fired. Oh yeah, and have fun

IndieView with Guido Henkel, author of the Jason Dark series.

[image error]"So, stop procrastinating over words, and just write them. Simply let your mind flow freely and write the scenes as they come to your mind naturally. It is the only way to make sure good ideas don't get lost and your stream of conscious remains uninterrupted and cohesive." Guido Henkel 4 January 2011

The Back Flap

Conjured from the bowels of the abyss by ancient magic, the Terrorlord has one desire — to open the Seven Gates of Hell and unleash the horrors of the undead upon mankind.

Reliving the nightmares of his youth where an encounter with the Terrorlord left him scarred for life, Jason Dark must once again confront the powerful gatekeeper from Hell before his reach and power spiral out of control. With the help of Siu Lin, the ghost hunter will have to put an end to the Terrorlord's dark reign before he can devour our world in his evil blackness.

This is the ninth volume in a series of gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, follows in the mold of a Sherlock Holmes combined with Randall Garrett's Lord D'Arcy. Written by Guido Henkel, the designer who brought Germany's famed "Das Schwarze Auge" series to computer screens, this series is filled with enough mystery, drama and suspenseful action to transport you to the sinister, fogshrouded streets of Victorian England. Your encounter with the extraordinary awaits.

About the Book

What is the book about?

"Terrorlord" started as an idea where I wanted to have some creature act like a gate keeper to the fabled Seven Gates of Hell. In his eagerness for dark powers, a man conjures this gate keeper and sets into motion events he can no longer control. The Terrorlord is hellbent on opening all seven gates and flood the world with the undead and destroy the world of the humans.

From his youth, Jason Dark has a connection to the Terrorlord — has had an encounter with him as a boy — and he realizes what is going on but before he can set out to stop the Terrorlord something tragic happens that foils his plans.

When did you start writing the book?

I wrote "Terrorlord" only a couple of months ago. I just finished up "The Blood Witch," the previous story in the series, and already had this idea for "Terrorlord" fleshed out very loosely in my mind. I remember that the same night I wrote the last word of "The Blood Witch" I already started on this book and wrote the entire first chapter in one go.

How long did it take you to write it?

Like most of my Jason Dark stories, "Terrorlord" took about four weeks to write, which is a little longer than I wish them to take, and I guess I'll have to work on streamlining my writing a bit more — meaning spending less time on message boards.

Where did you get the idea from?

I collect story ideas all along, all the time. I keep a Writer's Journal and write down many of my ideas for future use. Even if it is something small that may not turn into a whole story, I try to collect these ideas so I can use them as a side plot or hook to make another story more interesting.

When it comes time for me to write a new volume in the series I usually go through my journal and read through the ideas I had. Most of the time one or two stand out and I begin thinking about them in more detail.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

One of the key ingredients in my stories has always been to have surprise turns of events. In "Terrorlord" I had some trouble figuring out how to keep things interesting without having my protagonists simply chase a guy through London from point A to point B. I then had an idea that intrigued me and allowed me to spice things up with more people in the mix and a bit of convolution.

What came easily?

The entire first chapter of the book came very naturally. As I said, I just sat down and wrote it in one flush, getting increasingly excited with every line. I think I've never had as much fun as writing that particular part and I was completely in the Zone. When that first chapter was done I sat back and read it back to myself, actually, which is something I never do. While writing it I thought the part had this totally Lovecraftian feel, so I decided read it to make sure it was really there and not just my wishful thinking.

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

Part of the vision of the "Jason Dark" series for me has always been to create and blend real historic events and characters with fiction. I make references to these events as well as many literary figures on countless occasions throughout the series. Practically every book contains things that are real history — only embedded into my fiction.

I also have to point out that one of the series' heroines, Siu Lin, is actually based on my wife, Thu-Liu, both in her appearance and many of her mannerisms. It makes it easy for me to write her parts because I just think about what my wife would do or say in a particular moment.

In the case of "Terrorlord" in particular, one of the main characters is Edmund Hett. He is based on history and Hett was indeed the director of the Bilbao Iron Ore Company and did live in Cavendish House in the Clapham Common in London, just as described in the story. However, unlike in my story, there is no record of him ever trying to open the Seven Gates of Hell.

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 am trying not to let myself get influenced consciously too much, but clearly there are writers who inspired me two write in the first place. Mark Frost comes to mind. I am a huge fan of "The List of Seven" and it was specifically that book which made me want to write. At the same time, Mark is such a good storyteller that the book always makes me feel small and gives me that "I will never be as good" feeling. In addition, this book — along with Kim Newman's "Anno Dracula" opened my eyes to what you can do with the alternate history approach. Taking familiar events and characte — from actual history or literature — and seamlessly weaving them into a story is incredibly enjoyable, both to read and write, and it was "The List of Seven" that put that approach in my mind, which ultimately turned into the "Jason Dark" series.

There are many other writers who inspire me every day with their work. Some of them more than others, but I find that I'm taking away something from most books that I read. Some of them will inspire me not to do certain things, others inspire me to try something in particular, or they will just evoke imagery in my mind that then grows and blooms into something that might lead to a great idea down the road.

Certainly Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have had their effect on me with the Pandergast series. The plotting and pacing in these books is wonderful, without getting into overly flowery prose. C. S. Forrester's Horatio Hornblower series has influenced me also, I would think, in how he works with an ensemble cast and combines history with fiction.

Do you have a target reader?

No, I don't consciously write for a certain audience. The only thing I do try to do is to mix up supernatural themes in my books to create stories that might cater to different tastes of an audience.

About Writing

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

I have no actual process that I am aware of. I usually wait until I have some spark in my head that immediately ignites my imagination and makes me go, "Yes, I can see a story in that." From there I try to throw together a few ideas that I would like to include in that story — sometimes these are character ideas, locations or events. I'm simply creating a big pot of stuff that I can pull from at a later time.

Then I typically start creating a rough idea of the story, determining where to start and what the end will be.

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

Yes, I do outline. Not excessively but to a good extent. At first I create a small write-up of the story that is maybe 1000 words or less. I am using Scrivener to the create a virtual corkboard with index cards next, first doing an overview of the general plot points and then going deeper and deeper until I am at an individual scene level.

Each of these index cards usually also contains a very brief description of what is going to happen in the scene, and in addition I color it depending on who my point-of-view character in that scene is going to be. This way I can make sure there is a certain balance in the POV switches, which makes for a more interesting flow when you read the story.

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

I always wait until I'm finished before I start editing. In fact, after finishing a story I will not touch it for about 2 weeks or so, to make sure I have a certain distance that allows me to read it as a reader and not as the writer. To me it is the only way to determine whether I have the proper flow or if I had some assumptions in my mind while writing that I never really explained anywhere in the actual text.

During my first draft phase I really just try to write. I care not for word repetitions or style at that point. I am simply trying to dump the story into the computer as quickly as possible so that I have all the ideas in place.

Once that is done I begin editing and revising my material. The first round is usually  a very heavy editing phase, as I go through the text and iron out repetitions and flow problems, as well as rewriting and adding where I feel things are just not working.

From there on I keep going over the story again and again until I am confident that it flows properly and that it is stylistically what I wanted it to be. The next step is submitting it to my editor.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I am working with an editor, yes. Not so much to completely rework the material but to go over it and streamline it some more. You have to keep in mind that English is not my native language and as a result there will be curious idioms in my writing at times that he catches. He's also my proof reader who makes sure that we're in the clear on that — especially when it comes to punctuation. Again, with German being my native tongue, I have a tendency to overdo it with the commas at times. Then I will catch myself and go in the other extreme, leaving out too many of the commas. Terry Coleman, my editor, makes sure all of that is cleaned up properly and his work is priceless.

Terry also gives me valuable feedback on the stories themselves, telling me how he as a reader perceived individual scenes. It helps me tremendously to see if I have achieved my goal.

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

I can't have music while I'm writing. Anything that requires concentration I have to do without music. I am a musician myself and as soon as I hear music I begin analyzing it without even thinking. I simply can't turn it off and will automatically perk my ears and go "That was an interesting modulation… never noticed that before…"  or I will start singing or humming along. As a result it is very hard for me to concentrate with music.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I did not at this time. When I first conceived the "Jason Dark" series – which is what I am focusing on these days – I immediately felt that I created a dilemma. The dime novel format – which is a 64-page saddle-stitched brochure-style booklet – has never been very popular in the US. They were huge in GErmany when I grew up and I saw no reason why they shouldn't catch on here in the US, especially in this day and age where a fast-paced read that offers virtually instant gratification seems to me the best way to grab an audience. However, the publishing industry was clearly not prepared for something like this.

I knew that traditional book publishers would never give it the time of day because they are not really "books" in the sense that they understand them. In fact, these dime novels should in fact go through magazine distribution and appear on newsstands next to Fangoria or so.

So, there was no precedent for this type of book and the only way to get it released, I published was to do it myself.

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

Once I had come to the conclusion that I needed to publish myself, it became a very easy process for me. I've been in the publishing industry for a long time – though in the computer games industry and not in books. Ultimately it doesn't make a difference, though. The process is basically the same and with eBooks catching on the way they have, the process felt actually more like a software distribution than book publishing at many times.

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

It was important to me to recreate that dime novel look of old, which makes good use of sensational cover artwork, typically depicting a scene from the story. Historically, these covers were hand painted and looked a lot like movie posters from the 60s and 70s. These days, of course, it is much more efficient to have them painted digitally.

I do not have the skills to create such artwork and I am hiring an artists to do these paintings for me based on my guidelines and general designs. My wife, Thu-Lieu, who is a graphic designer, then creates the final design and layout of the finished cover, with the lettering, text, logos etc.

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

As much as I would like to say I have real plan, I am mostly flying by the seat of my pants. I regularly sit down and decide upon certain approaches I want to take and see how I can achieve certain goals. It is kind of like guerilla marketing in that I try to make use of what I have, then trying to evaluate how it worked out.

However, I have found that some of the greatest opportunities simply present themselves in a completely unplanned manner, or that I have some great idea for a marketing drive spontaneously. Following a strict business-style marketing plan would get in the way there. I think part of being indie means that you have the liberty not to work by set patterns but that you can experiment and modify your approach very quickly.

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

Don't fret! Write a first draft of your book, even if you think it stinks so badly that you would have to keep it in a Ziploc bag. All first drafts are third-rate, even Stephen King's, I bet. The first draft is the clay for you to mold, no more no less. You can then take it and shape into the most beautiful and acclaimed book that has ever been written, but first you need the"clay." So, stop procrastinating over words, and just write them. Simply let your mind flow freely and write the scenes as they come to your mind naturally. It is the only way to make sure good ideas don't get lost and your stream of conscious remains uninterrupted and cohesive. You will be surprised how good it actually is.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Germany and grew up there. In fact, I moved to the US only 14 years ago, so there is still a lot of German in me.

Where do you live now?

I am calling Southern California my home. A small town – that is sadly growing much too fast – by the Pacific Ocean.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I am eternally grateful when people take the time to actually check out my writing, and that nothing makes me happier than to see that readers really do enjoy my stories.

What are you working on now?

The good thing with writing a series is that there's always another volume to write. With that in mind, I am currently working on one of the next "Jason Dark" adventures. I'm not telling what it is, but I can promise you it'll be a cool ride once again.

End of Interview

You can get into the Jason Dark series here.

Also… special treat for those just getting into the eBook game – Guido has written an amazingly detailed guide to formatting an eBook. Sounds dry? Wait until you want to publish – it'll be the most riveting thing you ever read! Here.

Upcoming IndieViews

Upcoming IndieViews

Guido Henkel
Mary McDonald
Shaun Jeffrey
GraceKrispy (and a couple of penguins)
Ian Woodhead

IndieView with Glenn Skinner, author of, The Keya Quests

[image error]"Bram Stoker, J.R. R. Tolkien, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were some of my favorites. Their works were filled with terror, suspense and mystery. They taught me to dream and see the world in a different way. I try to instill the same adventure, suspense and mystery in my writing." Glenn Skinner 3 January 2011

The Back Flap

Till Death or Defeat!

Wolves at her heels and the breath of her enemy hot on her neck, the brave young Keya opens a portal between two worlds and escapes into modern-day America.  She is charged with finding the great warrior who can save her people:  a warrior who carries a cursed sword of incredible power.  She is strong and pure of heart, a warrior in her own right – but this is a quest she cannot complete without help.

Keya is saved and taken in by Orren and his niece Julie, who redefine the concept of a dysfunctional family.  Despite their spats and quarrels, Keya begins to feel at home for the first time in her life … while remaining painfully aware that she cannot stay despite the deep attachments she is forming, for her destiny must be fulfilled.

With the courage of a soldier and the heart of an innocent child, Keya gradually enlists those around her in her cause … but will the fierce and stony Orren stand against her?  Follow an unforgettable heroine through this vivid story of friendship, loyalty, and tragedy culminating in a massive battle in which evil must conquer evil so that good may prevail.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The book is about the adventures of Keya, a young elven woman from a parallel world who comes to a small island off the coast of Maine in search of a great warrior. She hopes to locate and convince him to return to her world and free her people from an evil warlord. The story chronicles her search to find this warrior and the peril she must overcome to succeed.

When did you start writing the book?

Keya's story began a couple of years ago during my long commutes back and forth to work. The story startled out very differently but over time I began to refine the storyline and characters.

How long did it take you to write it?

The actual writing part took about 6 months between the character development and story line. Half of that time was creating the characters themselves and the location where the story takes place. It was about 12 weeks of solid writing after that point to complete the first draft.

Where did you get the idea from?

The original story developed from a wild variation of a story of an old man finding Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. As the idea unfolded, I added a young girl in need of his assistance. After that, I spent a couple of years refining the story and characters. In the end Keya was born and the book followed shortly thereafter.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I have to admit I struggled constantly with dialogue. I created a complex chemistry between the lead characters which made it difficult for me to make them come alive.

What came easily?

The battle scenes were the easiest by far. When I wrote those, they came alive in my mind. I could see all the action and surroundings.  It was like I was there on the field capturing each moment as the battle unfolded.

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

I don't know if any author can truly say their characters are completely fictitious. My family and friends have spent many an hour trying to figure out if my characters are based on real people. The truth is, they are fictitious. However, here or there in their mannerisms or conversations, there is an occasion similarity to someone real. That's all it is though a similarity.

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?

When I grew up, It was during a period where people saw vampires and werewolves and other such creatures as evil and not lovers and victims. Bram Stoker, J.R. R. Tolkien, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were some of my favorites. Their works were filled with terror, suspense and mystery. They taught me to dream and see the world in a different way. I try to instill the same adventure, suspense and mystery in my writing.

Do you have a target reader?

I targeted the book for the borderline fantasy/scifi reader.  Surprisingly I am finding it is appealing to a much wider audience.

About Writing

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

I wouldn't say I have a formal writing process.  I write everyday barring any conflicts that might arise.  With my current schedule, I have a writing goal of either 1 hour or 700 words.  I normally average 1000 words an hour. I keep my chapters around 5000 words. During a normal week, I will write one to two chapters during the week and an additional one on the weekend. I continue this until the first draft is complete.

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

I don't outline in the normal sense. I do not predetermine the number of chapters or what is going to occur. Each book has a main goal and a starting point. I then determine key events I want to include on this journey.  Once this is done, I begin to write. It might be the ending, a key point somewhere in the middle but I continue going back to fill in the blanks. By the time I start a book. The story line is known. The details come out as I write. Everything is then adjusted to the flow of the events.

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

I generally write straight through each writing session only editing typos highlighted by my writing software. Before I start writing for a session, I normally go back and read what I wrote the night before. I do a light round of editing while I read. This cleans up the story and refreshes my memory. When the first draft is complete. I then go back one chapter at a time and start the serious editing.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I knew from day one I would need a professional editor when I was finished. I ended up using the editorial staff of the publishing company I chose. I had one round of basic editing to fix syntax and sentence structure. I then had an additional round of editing to tighten the story and remove redundancies.

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

No, I can't listen to music while I write. It distracts me. I prefer basic white noise to drown out sounds or the gentle crackling of a fire. I do my best writing in the winter while sitting at a table near a raging fire.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I never submitted the book to an agent. With my current workload I knew it would be difficult to juggle work and my writing career.

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

My decision to go Indie was driven by my desire to publish my book under my control. Having the ability to control all aspects of publishing and marketing makes it easier to handle. I have learned more than I ever believed possible.

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

I had the cover professionally designed. The cover is what makes it or break it. It has to catch your potential audience and convince them to buy. It's too important in my opinion to leave it to chance. A professional designer knows how to make it stand out.

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

I think I am somewhere in the middle on this one. I do have a plan, but it evolves as it moves forward. It's not cast in stone.

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

The best advice I can give is the following"

1)      If you go Indie, don't set or expect any unrealistic expectations on sales or future book deals.

2)      Professional editing is a must!

3)      Spend the extra on a great cover

4)      Remember to have some fun along the way

5)      Network, network, and still more networking!

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on top of a hill in Marlborough, Ma. I was fortunate to have a large park with fields, reservoirs and woods. They sparked my imagination as a child.

Where do you live now?

Funny, but When I got married. The house across the street from my parents came up for sale. We bought it and have lived there for the past 32 years.

What would you like readers to know about you?

In addition to my writing, I have a love of 14-16th century medieval life.  I am a true technology geek, an amateur astronomer and an archer. I own an observatory in Stow, Ma. It is there, I write my stories along the banks of the picturesque Assabet River.

What are you working on now?

I am currently writing the next book in the Keya Quests series "The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge" The first draft should be done by year end and publication is targeted for late summer or early fall 2011.

End of Interview

The Keya Quests is available from Glenn's website here and from Amazon here.