Simon Royle's Blog, page 18

Write On it's 2011

I'm heavily into the heady stages of writing my second novel. Just taking a break before lunch. Hey, it's the last day of the year, why not eh?

For me this is a very interesting time. I'm forty-seven years old, but I'm learning more now than at any point in my entire life. Not just about writing. About everything. And especially about people. A major part of the ability to learn is just keeping an open-mind. Especially about yourself. If that sounds "hippy-ish" to you, well, like I said; I'm forty-seven, and it's the last day of the year.  And this year I wrote and published a novel. I now have a license to pontificate. I earned it.

Next year I will write and publish a second novel. Why?

Writing the first novel was easy. I sat down and wrote about eighty thousand words. Got some help, and wrote about another eighty thousand words. Got some more help, and deleted fifty thousand words and wrote twenty thousand more words. Deleted fifteen thousand of those and wrote another eighteen thousand new ones.  I also read a lot. Books and blogs.

That's all it takes to write a book. Really. Anyone who can write a sentence can do it. And should If nothing else, while you're writing, you're not stealing, killing, or blowing people up. Also, you're not raping someone, lying to them or conspiring to kill off large chunks of the population.

Instead. You are stealing, killing, or blowing people up. You're raping, pillaging, casting spells, sleeping with cats, with multiple personalities, having affairs, murderous and otherwise; And generally having an absolute whale of a time.

If you're lucky, people will read your book. And that's just good karma isn't it? Because when they're reading your book, if nothing else, they're not stealing, killing, or blowing people up. Also, they're not raping someone, lying to them or conspiring to kill off large chunks of the population.

Instead. They are stealing, killing, or blowing people up. They're raping, pillaging, casting spells, sleeping with cats, with multiple personalities, having affairs, murderous and otherwise; And generally having an absolute whale of a time.

…And it can all be done sitting down.

So, as another writer friend just wrote to me today,

"Write On"

Happy New Year to you ALL

TAG gets another great review

"This futuristic novel surprised me! I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved the easy paced style, the modern play on words and the fact they still use yards as a measurement on a golf course in 2109!" Milo of Milo Rambles.

Read the full review here.

What I really like about this review is that Milo doesn't normally like my genre. I was pretty nervous when I saw a tweet from him saying, "Tag is very futuristic. I'm way out of my comfort zone…" That little snippet got me thinking I might be in for a rough ride… and then today the review came out

One of the BIG arguments of those who say to go with Trade Publishing is validation – doesn't work for me – I get all the validation I need when I read,

"Now as many of you will know from the earlier reviews, Science Fiction and futuristic thrillers (whatever genre they may be) are not my forte! I'm not sure why I've never been drawn to that type of story but I do like to step outside my comfort zone once in a while… He sent me a copy of TAG and although I mentioned it wasn't something I would normally read I promised to make time for the book – and boy am I glad I did!"

Thanks Milo – glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time and for letting others know what you thought of it.

IndieView with J.M. Pierce, author of, Failing Test

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I met J.M. Pierce through the Kindle Boards. A good place to hang out for authors and readers alike. When you read some of the posts in there, one of the things you'll quickly come to realize is that ninety-nine percent of indie authors are one hundred percent committed to their chosen profession.

They work hard to put words on a page. They work hard to edit, produce a decent cover, and  they work hard to get the word out about their book. Their diversity, talent and sheer hard work now has an opportunity to shine. J.M. Pierce is one such Indie author. Enjoy!

"Then I stumbled onto some articles about some Indie success stories. The more I investigated, the more it appealed to me. There are so many legitimate writers within the Indie community and some of them are experiencing giant successes right now. They inspire me to work hard and know that there's hope for bigger things." J.M. Pierce 22 December 2010

The Back Flap

You know him, but you can't remember his name. He is the one that is always there, in the background, all but invisible to those roaming the hallways. What if he had a secret? What if it was a secret that even he didn't know?

Test Davis has always been a blur to those around him. He's a shadow like a million other kids–not smart enough for the academic team, not beast enough for the football team, not extroverted enough for the drama crowd. In all things Test is just…not, which is why no one ever notices him.

But what happens when someone does notice him– Nicole Paxton, a cheerleader, no less? What happens on the night that Test finds out there's nothing average about him and that a powerful gift has been hidden within, secretly waiting to be set free and alter his life forever? The question is, will that power save him and those he loves or tear them apart?

About the Book

What is the book about?

Failing Test begins as Test Davis enters his last weeks of high school. He is a good kid with a horrible home life, a lack of self control, and a crush on a Nicole Paxton. When he finally gets his chance with Nicole, it doesn't go as planned and, once more, his anger gets the better of him. In a drunken fit of rage, he discovers a power that had been resting dormant within him. His life then becomes the ultimate test (and failure) of self control as his secret is revealed to the world.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing Failing Test in the winter/spring of 2009.

How long did it take you to write it?

I finished the first draft in June of 2009. I did several more edits over the summer and then deemed it complete sometime in November of 09.

Where did you get the idea from?

For years I've had lucid dreams where was able to fly and control things without touching them. They were so fantastic and incredible that I thought it would make a good base for a story. Failing Test is not a reproduction of those dreams, rather an evolution of an idea to story like a spark to flame. It's funny, now that I've written the book; I rarely have the dreams anymore.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There were times when it seemed there was a road block up and I couldn't get through a scene. I knew where I wanted the story to go, but I was having trouble getting there. It might have taken a week to write a single page, only because I'd start over several times until that eureka moment hits and everything is just right.

What came easily?

The characters were a blast. I love to close my eyes and picture a fictional character. I can hear their voice and laugh at their quirks. Character development seems to come easily to me.

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

The majority of them are entirely fictitious, but of course life has influenced fiction. Someone once asked me if I wished I'd started writing at a younger age. Part of me says yes, but at the same time I think that having lived life, both the good and the bad, has served as a great inspiration for my writing.

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?

There are many. Some may seem popular and cliché; some are so taboo (it seems) that people are surprised that I'll even mention their name. John Steinbeck is one of my favorites. His characters are so real and even today I think people are identifying with them.

There was a stretch of time when I was addicted to Michael Crichton. The amount research that he had to have done for much of his work is evident and it impressed me. It really made his stories a place to live; something that I strive for.

Stephenie Meyer is another one of my favorites. Without having read her work, I think that the romantic aspects of Failing Test would be non-existent. The story of her success is inspiring as well.

I have also been greatly influenced by Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame. Heroism aside, there are some amazing stories within those brightly colored pages that rival any novel.

Do you have a target reader?

Failing Test is ideal for the young adult crowd. When I say that, I know that there are far more than just teens reading YA these days. When writing FT, I intentionally put myself back into the high school frame of mind, thinking that my readers would only be teens. I'm pleased to say that my readership seems to be comprised of a much broader range of ages.

About Writing

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

My writing process is pretty fluid. Typically, I'll just sit down and let my mind go. If I get an idea for something that I want to happen later on in the story, I'll type out the idea on a "notes" page that I create below the current page. I try not to let my writing interfere with family time. Generally, I only write after the kids go to bed or over lunch at work. I have an aversion to bright light, so my ideal writing space is dimly lit and quiet. Music does inspire me, but I can't listen to it while I'm writing unless it fits the scene that I am currently working on.

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

I don't outline. I don't have anything against it; I just have never done it that way.

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

I absolutely wait until I'm finished. When I first started writing, I continually went back and it made the writing process take forever! For my own sanity, I now save the editing until the story is complete.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I did on Failing Test and was horribly disappointed. I paid a penny and a half per word and thought that when I received the edit back, it was ready to go to print. The first week of its release I had people contacting me about errors and it made me furious. I did learn a lesson that I hope aspiring writers will learn as well. Just because you paid for "professional" editing, doesn't mean you should trust that your book is perfect. Read it again and make sure. Knowing what I know now, I will use a pro editor again, just not the same one. In saying that, beta readers can be a very valuable resource. You just have to make sure that those you have chosen can be honest and have an understanding of grammar and punctuation.

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

As mentioned previously, I usually don't write while listening to music. Music is, however, a major part of my life. It is a huge inspiration in both my writing and in my everyday existence. While writing Failing Test, Pearl Jam's Greatest Hits (the second disc) pushed the story for me. "Nothing As It Seems", in my mind, is the soundtrack to FT. "Nothingman" is even mentioned in the book.

I listen to everything: Merle Haggard, Alice in Chains, Testament, Pink, Paramore, Tool, Pantera, Waylon Jennings, Pearl Jam, Linkin Park, Beethoven…all of them are sources of inspiration to me.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I originally submitted to dozens of agents and was actually signed to a small agency for a short period of time. Thankfully, I realized that my agent wasn't the right one for me and was able to opt out of the contract.

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

It was actually a very difficult decision at the time; a decision of which came after a mountain of rejection emails. I was one of those that felt like "self publishing" was a cop-out. Then I stumbled onto some articles about some Indie success stories. The more I investigated, the more it appealed to me. There are so many legitimate writers within the Indie community and some of them are experiencing giant successes right now. They inspire me to work hard and know that there's hope for bigger things.

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

I did the cover for FT myself. I actually consider myself an amateur photographer, so it was fun to create an image that fit the story.

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

I would love to say that I have a two year plan ready for action, but that would be dishonest. I market as much as I can without spending so much time on the computer that my wife would get disgruntled. It is a difficult balance, but one that I must be consistent in achieving.

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

Wow. I have learned so much, but still have much to learn. Patience is a virtue. I know we've all heard it a million times, but it's a fact. Have there been authors that have scored big with their first novel? Yep. Is it likely? Nope. That's not to say that your novel couldn't achieve a large level of success, but don't expect it overnight. Be prepared for slow sales, frustration, and bad reviews. Ah yes…bad reviews. We will all have them, no matter what. You must not let one destroy you. As an artistic breed, we writers tend to be overly sensitive and will let one bad review overshadow twenty good ones. For whatever reason, we will give credence to that one review and assume that the rest of them are wrong. That is ridiculous. The poor reviews hold no more weight than the good ones. Each is another person's opinion. That's   not to say that you shouldn't pay attention to the bad reviews. Quite often there is something in there that you can learn from and improve on. I'm just saying don't let one bad review turn you away from your dreams. Do not EVER respond to a bad review. It has been proven time and again that this does nothing but create more problems. DON'T DO IT!

Read as much as you can. I know it is sometimes difficult to read while writing your next masterpiece, but the reality is that the more you read, the more well rounded your craft can be.

Write as much as you can. For me, life is more and more a challenge that is determined by the hours in a day. I write for my own reasons, but one of them is the possibility of providing a better life for my family. One has to be careful not to become too self involved in the process and alienate the ones that you are doing it for!

If you aren't already, get involved with the Kindleboards. It is the most amazing community on the net and there is a plethora of authors there that are willing to show their support, condolences, praise, and honesty when needed.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Salina, Kansas

Where do you live now?

I own a small piece of land just outside of my home town. I don't think that I could ever live in a city again.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I have so many hobbies that I wonder if my self described status as a "simple Midwestern man" is accurate. I am simple in my wants and needs, but I am passionate about the things that I love in life. I am a musician who at one point in time actually was playing bars across the state four nights a week. Our claim to fame was that we actually opened up for Slaughter. I'm settled down now with my wife and two kids and can't really say that I miss it.

I have raised snakes for the last twenty years, selling hatchlings under the name Shade Tree Exotics. With the fall of the economy, the reptile industry has really taken a hit. I have decided to take a break and not do any breeding this coming season. Instead, I want to focus more on my writing. Not breeding will free up the summer because when snake eggs start to hatch, a couple hundred babies, on top of sixty adults, take up a fair amount of time.

What are you working on now?

With the completion of my new novella titled Duality; I am now back to work on the sequel to Failing Test. It is titled A Shadow's Light. It picks up where Failing Test left off, following Test as he tries to make something of his shattered life. In this book, you will also learn the origin of Test's powers! I am hoping for a late January/ early February 2011 release date. Stay tuned!

End of Interview

You can buy Failing Test for Kindle here and on B&N here.

Theme Tune for TAG

Most of the time, but not always, I write to music. I was fortunate to grow up in an age of greats. Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, The Jam, Genesis, to name a small few. The "hippie" bands and great music of the sixties still shined bright, and the Rolling Stones were putting out new stuff. Punk music, from Ian Drury and the Blockheads, The Stranglers, and softer punk bands, like the Boomtown Rats, were releasing their venom on the world. And through it all we had the heavy bass of Reggae with its irie sounds and overstanding lyrics of the times.

Into this mix came a sound engineer. A guy called, Alan Parsons. For those in the know, he was a large factor in Pink Floyd's success. A genius.

One of my all-time favorites; his song from Sirius, 'Eye in the sky', my traveling companion for Tag.

Alan Parson's Project – Eye In The Sky '82

Uploaded by bebepanda. – Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Eye In The Sky

Songwriters: Woolfson, Eric;Parsons, Alan

Don't think sorry's easily said

Don't try turning tables instead

You've taken lots of Chances before

But I'm not gonna give anymore

Don't ask me

That's how it goes

Cause part of me knows what you're thinkin'

Don't say words you're gonna regret

Don't let the fire rush to your head

I've heard the accusation before

And I ain't gonna take any more

Believe me

The sun in your Eyes

Made some of the lies worth believing

Chorus:

I am the eye in the sky

Looking at you

I can read your mind

I am the maker of rules

Dealing with fools

I can cheat you blind

And I don't need to see any more

To know that

I can read your mind, I can read your mind

Don't leave false illusions behind

Don't Cry cause I ain't changing my mind

So find another fool like before

Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing

Some of the lies while all of the Signs are deceiving

(chorus)

"Change We Can Believe In"

Show Me The Money

As a human being living on planet Earth with the rest of you. I reckon, that as long as I'm reasonably polite, don't slander anyone, nor make any libelous statements; I have as much right as any other commoner, to say what I want to say. Yes 'commoner' is the correct term – the only other natural titles I have, are son, brother, husband, dad, and human.

A little background just in case you haven't read the bio. I was born in England, grew up on four continents, and now I live in Thailand.  Living under the passport of my country of birth, and the good graces of my adopted country; I am a world citizen.

I have a funny belief, an idea born of direct dialog that what is "good" for my friends in Bangkok, is also good for my friends living in L.A., in Bratislava, and York (that would be the original one in England), Cape Town, Manila, Mexico City, Geneva, Hawaii, and Vietnam; and also my friends in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia; and every other place where there are children, and parents, our old, and our young; worried about what the future holds.

Will 2011 be a year in which they lose their house, because wealthy banking executives pay themselves huge bonuses; and incredibly wealthy people pay minimal taxes? Will 2011 be a year in which they get sick? A year they could not afford to buy good health? Will 2011 be a year in which war comes again to their neighborhood? And they have to hide in their rooms, covering the ears of their children from the cackle of gunfire and try to explain the horror of humans killing other humans? Will 2011 be a year in which brave men are silenced either by twisted law or permanently – for telling the truth?

Or will 2011 be a year in which our enlightened leaders finally build for us; 'change we can believe in'? I am a great believer in solutions rather than problems, in other words, I'd prefer you came to me with the former rather than the latter. And yes, I do think it is your responsibility to do so – actually it is your job, and we pay you to do it.

The year 2010 was a tough year for all of us.

In Thailand we saw the worst, and the best of this great Nation. I hope that I don't have to keep my boy from going to school because the City is burning, and people are firing automatic weapons in the streets. I hope that my friends can earn their living without being obstructed. I hope that we give ourselves a chance to grow together.

Elsewhere in the world things weren't much better. My friends in North America have been hammered and hammered again. They have to work harder and longer hours than their grandparents, and for less. That's not progress.

There was a bright spot in 2010 – the World Cup in Africa. Who would have thought? You see, one of the continents I grew up in, was Africa. My early boyhood – age three to age ten. We lived in Cape Town, South Africa. It was 1966. You can imagine, perhaps, if you look at the civil rights movement in America, what South Africa was like at the height of the apartheid era… Or perhaps now, in the dog hours of 2010; you'd prefer not to. So 'yah', the World Cup being held in Africa was a big moment for me – I watched most of it in Indonesia – such is life.

But as we watched the World Cup opened by our great human treasure, Nelson Mandela, and as we vilified the referees for their blunders, so we also turned a deaf ear to drones "collecting" collateral damage, and our world leaders making their blunders. And blunder they do.

Going into 2011 I am optimistic. Why? You might ask. And I don't blame you for asking. Well, I generally am an optimistic person – I've had to learn to be – optimism is a useful tool for "planning for tomorrow". An idea that inherently encompasses the concept that there will be something to plan for. I have to believe that. Otherwise I would struggle to smile at my children. It would be hard to lie and tell them that their future looks bright if you believed it was not. Very hard, and heart-breaking. And so I do think, and wonder, and feel for, what the parent, the uncle or the grandfather, says to his kids in Iraq. Or Kabul. Or Haiti.

I don't know. I only know what this parent says here in Bangkok, "I pray for peace. Please. I want a safe place, not just for my kids but for yours too – all of them; everywhere. Is that such a big ask?  I wish you all a peaceful, secure, healthy, interesting, safe and happy 2011, filled with love and laughter. I pray too that our leaders around the globe really do give us, 'Change we can believe in'.

Below are some of the people who give me hope. People, I believe, who have, and are truly, creating, 'Change'.

Actions speak louder than words.

Sir Ken Robinson

This is an old speech of Sir Ken's, but one that is timeless in nature. Our system of education globally is broken. It is passed time we fixed it. There are approximately 6.7 billion of us today. In another 40 years it is expected that figure will have risen to at least 9 billion. We use a system of education, globally, that was created during the industrial revolution. It is time for another revolution. An education revolution.

Warren Buffet, Bill and Melissa Gates

for the Pledge. I think it is totally cool that the wealthiest people in the world are giving their money away – and lots of it. I encourage the top ten per cent to follow suit or, as Steve Jobs said, "Do you want to be the richest guy in the graveyard?" I hereby promise. If I have as much as any of the top ten per cent of the wealthiest people in the world I will do the same. Does this kind of action give me hope? Sure.

Auret van Heerden

To the people who sell me things. I don't want to buy your products if you are using "bad practices". I really do not. So that means that from now on I want to know, exactly, what is in everything I buy. I want to trust you I do. But HP, Blackberry, Apple, Toyota, Amazon,  - I don't want you to use child labor or factories that cause workers to commit suicide to bring your products to me – I don't need that kind of Karma.

Worldreader.org

At a very basic level. The more people that are reading – the safer we are as a planet. This is hardly rocket science.

Bjorn Lomborg: Global prioritizer

Is it right that most of our world leaders focus not on the world, but only "their own" corner of it? No it isn't. In the connected world we live in, a world that will, if we let nature take its course, become much more connected; we must start thinking of things on a bigger scale.

Copenhagen Consensus

Julian Assange

Government leaders watch the audience response to the question they are asked at 10:35. Take note – we are watching, and yes, we do care.

Zainab Salbi

"We need to understand peace from a toenails perspective."

Khun Mechai Viravaidya

"We believe in the barefoot MBA."

IndieView: Timothy Frost, author of, The Abigail Affair

[image error]I've got a few thousand sea miles under my belt, all in and around the South China Sea, which is why a friend of mine recommended, 'The Abigail Affair'. So I trundled off to Amazon, paid the ridiculous international wireless delivery charge, and got the book. About eight hours later I was finished. Yes, this is a, "Don't interupt me I'm reading novel."

You can read my review of The Abigail Affair here. After all that I had to get in touch with Tim, and invite him to spill the beans. Which he graciously agreed to do – herewith the beans.

"I thought, 'What the hell?' and uploaded it. I got some great reviews, and then it went from Smashwords on to Barnes and Noble and ended up in their Top 10 e-books with 14,000 downloads. I realized I should carry on writing, and that there was no need for an agent or a publisher any more." – Timothy Frost 17 December 2010

The Back Flap

Toby Robinson is 22 and broke. He lands a job as junior steward on a Russian billionaire's yacht in the Caribbean, and feels his luck is about to change.

It is, but not in the way Toby hoped. On his first night aboard he is framed for a brutal murder.

His attractive crewmate Julia seems to be the only one on his side. But can he trust her?

With his mobile phone confiscated, armed only with a winning smile and a flair for mixing cocktails, can Toby clear his name, stay alive – and foil the sinister international conspiracy that threatens to entangle him?

It's New Year's Eve and something terrible will take place at midnight. Time is running out, and so are Toby's options …

'The Abigail Affair' is a fast-paced suspense thriller with a touch of British humor.

About The Book

What is the book about?

It's the story of young British idler Toby Robinson, aged 22. He dropped out of Uni and has wasted the ensuing couple of years traveling and doing menial jobs. Now the cash has run out, and the Bank of Mum and Dad has called in his overdraft. He gets a job as a deckhand on a Russian oligarch's yacht in the Caribbean – and finds himself in trouble immediately.

When did you start writing the book?

April 2009

How long did it take you to write it?

About 18 months, but in spurts. When I am writing I produce 1,000 words a day religiously. Unfortunately (for my writing, if not my lifestyle) I have complicated commitments which involve me spending part of each year in the Caribbean. No, don't offer any sympathy. I have to cope with it myself. (Ed. note: "Harsh life, dude… .")

Where did you get the idea from?

After I retired from my day job my wife and I sold up and bought a yacht, sailed the Atlantic and spent two years cruising around the Caribbean discovering all the wonderful islands and their peoples.

One day we found ourselves in a marina in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands. We were tied up next to an enormous mega yacht 130 feet long (our boat was a more humble 40 feet). The owners, a wonderful elderly couple, invited us aboard for a drink. What an experience! This yacht had a swimming pool which retracted into the aft deck, staterooms like a hotel with enormous flat TVs, a gym, a sauna … our mouths dropped open. I thought, 'Suppose a baddie owned one of these? He could get away with murder …' and hence the idea was hatched.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The beginning, the middle and the end.

What came easily?

Everything else. No, I mustn't be facetious. I find writing very challenging. I was determined to make this book work, and was very self-critical.

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

They are entirely fictitious, unlike my first novel, 'Final Passage', where the main character is very, very loosely based on me.

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?

Michael Crichton – who makes you turn the page without even noticing.

Lee Child – his Reacher books are uneven, but the best ones constitute a master class in thriller construction.

Kingsley Amis – he only wrote one good book, 'Lucky Jim', but it is one of the funniest in the language. There are about a half-dozen tiny little references to 'Lucky Jim' in 'The Abigail Affair', for anyone who wants to look for them. Don't sue me, Penguin, it's just a word or two, in affectionate tribute!

Do you have a target reader?

Aged 15+, English speaking and with a sense of humor PLEASE!

About Writing

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

I sit down at 9am and write until I have completed 1,000 words, then I stop, even if I am in the groove and could carry on.

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

Yes, I sketch out ideas very briefly on a single sheet of A4. 'Arrives at yacht. First setback.' That's sort of thing.

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

I write the whole thing, then go back and start revising.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. Couldn't afford to. I hope it doesn't show too much!

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

Absolute silence is essential or nothing happens except I get mad! Even my poor wife has to turn the radio off in the kitchen.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, for 'The Abigail Affair'. I submitted my first novel, 'Final Passage', which was written in 2003, to around 40 agents with absolutely no interest shown, and many quite rude replies.

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

'Final Passage' was written pre- e-book. After all the rejections it went into a drawer and languished there until a wonderful man called Mark Coker invented Smashwords. I thought, 'What the hell?' and uploaded it. I got some great reviews, and then it went from Smashwords on to Barnes and Noble and ended up in their Top 10 e-books with 14,000 downloads. I realized I should carry on writing, and that there was no need for an agent or a publisher any more.

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

My friend Mike Lee, who is a professional graphic artist, designed the cover for 'Final Passage' in return for a bottle of champagne. I designed the cover for 'The Abigail Affair' myself using Serif DrawPlus.

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

I post occasionally in the various forums (fora?), trying not to be intrusive. You have to get your message out, but overkill can set in and give you diminishing returns if you're constantly blagging on.

I sent review copies to Red Adept, Kindle Cheap Reads and a few other blogs and sites. (No results from any of these to date, but I live in hope).

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

Invest in a professional cover design unless you are sure you can do one yourself. I used to work in advertising , so I know what works graphically. Remember your cover will reproduce at a very small size, and in monochrome on the Kindle device.

Pick a catchy title that gives strong clues as to your genre.

Use all the opportunities Amazon provide to promote your work. Use every word allowed on the Product Description page. Start a discussion in your own Product Forum which they thoughtfully provide for you, and use it to add other angles to your selling pitch.

Until you're well known, price your book at under £1/$1.

Don't get angry with the negative reviews, or unduly downcast. They are a fact of the author's life.

Encourage other writers whose work you like. Don't knock other authors or complain about things in the forums or elsewhere. No one likes a whinger. I only post reviews of other indie authors' work if I think it merits 4 or 5 stars. Otherwise I keep my opinion to myself.

Join Goodreads and interact with readers and authors. You can make some real virtual friendships, and it feels less lonely when you know there are others like you out there with similar hopes and concerns.

Where do you live now?

Norfolk, England, and Grenada, West Indies.

What are you working on now?

The working title is 'The Film Crew Murders'. Pre-register your copy now. Only joking – I only just started! It should be ready for Christmas 2011.

I welcome feedback from my readers. My email address is at the end of each book.

End of Interview

Good solid advice for those new (and old) to the game! I don't know if you got it, but Tim embodies the Indie spirit. Get a good quality book in front of readers, price it reasonably and readers will come; and yes, have fun.

If you want to be entertained and if you like thrillers you could do a lot worse than by buying Timothy's book here.

IndieView: Eric Christopherson, author of, The Prophet Motive

[image error]This is the first of Eric's books that I have read. It won't be the last. Grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.

"Today I think of indie publishing as a career choice in its own right. I hope to play in both sandboxes, traditional publishing and indie." Eric Christopherson 16 December 2010

The Back Flap

San Francisco Homicide detective John Richetti spent part of his childhood living inside an infamous cult known as the People's Temple. As a boy he'd lost his parents to cult-instigated mass suicide. The memories come flooding back when he investigates the bizarre suicide of a former member of Earthbound, a New Age cult—and suspects murder instead. To uncover the truth he infiltrates the group, along with police psychologist Marilyn Michaelsen.

The new recruits find themselves pushed to their physical and mental limits by a series of sophisticated brainwashing techniques as well as by a cult leader, known only as The Wizard, who appears to possess psychic and paranormal powers. Even the psychologist's expert knowledge of cults can't explain The Wizard's feats, and it isn't long before John, like his parents before him, surrenders his independence to another . . .

About the Book

It's my first novel, a thriller. It starts off a crime thriller, becomes a psychological thriller, and ends up a science thriller. Really.

What is the book about?

It's essentially about cults, how they manage to systematically strip followers of their personal independence. The story provides so much information on how cults operate that a reader could start his or her own cult after finishing it. (Not recommended.)

When did you start writing the book?

At some point in the 1990s.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft took nine years. This was the novel I learned to write novels on. And of course I had a full time job and got married in the meantime and so on and so forth,  so there were whole years in which I wouldn't work on it. Nowadays I manage to write most every day, if only for a couple hours.

Where did you get the idea from?

I had a one-day personal experience with a cult, popularly known as The Moonies. They tried to recruit me. It was disturbing as heck, and the experience stuck with me for over ten years, until the day I decided I'd like to try my hand at novel writing.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled with all of it. My first go at a novel, as I'd said.

What came easily?

Getting up from the computer and doing something else.

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

I agree with what Stephen King has written about fictional characters (and came to the same conclusion before I'd read what he'd written). Their sources are: yourself, observations of other people, and sheer imagination. I do take from all three sources, but my best characters are usually based on aspects or dimensions of myself, often the unexplored or undeveloped parts.

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 would hope that all good or great writing influences me on some level. I've never tried to imitate another author though. If I were to compare my own work to famous authors in my genre (suspense) then I'd say my style is something akin to Dashiell Hammett's: spare and lean prose with a certain toughness to it and a nice rhythm binding the words. My current work in progress is altogether different from what I've done before, though, and it's not like Hammett in the slightest.

Do you have a target reader?

Everyone who loves suspense fiction, the great, onion-eating masses. That's the answer for my previous work, for Crack-Up and Frame-Up as well as The Prophet Motive. My work in progress is aimed more at true book lovers than the casual reader, lovers of language and evocative description.

About Writing

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

I work best upon waking up early, breakfast on one side of the computer, a cup of coffee on the other. After dinner my IQ drops fifty points and I veg on the sofa, channel- or web-surfing. This will likely all change next May when my wife delivers twins.  Lord only knows when I'll write again!

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

I outline a bit less with each book it seems. (I once read that Lawrence Block did the same thing and by now he doesn't outline his novels at all.) I must've had fifty pages worth of outline material for The Prophet Motive, and in the end I never used most of it. For the current work in progress, all I have are half a dozen key plot points and I'm not altogether sure I'll be using the last few. I do have some extensive character notes, though.

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

I edit as I go. Probably too much. I can't seem to move on until I have the scene 90% final. One of these days I'm going to write a whole first draft straight through without stopping, just to see where that gets me. I think the downside to what I do is losing momentum. The upside of polishing highly before moving on is you really know what you have going forward.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. I think authors ought to be their own editors. If you can't edit yourself to a great extent, then what are you doing in this business? Learn the freakin' tools of the trade! I think the only exception here should be made for dyslexic authors. I say that having several dyslexic relatives in my family. (Stephen J. Cannell was a successful dyslexic author. It can be done.) Sure we all need Beta readers, and it would be nice to have a copy editor too, but that's only to tweak the text, polish it. You need more help than that, then stop laughing at author Paris Hilton because you've a lot in common.

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

Silence only, please. (Think my newborn twins will cooperate?)

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. But my novels haven't sold to the major publishers yet. I'm on my third agent by now, and Frame-Up is currently making the rounds in New York. It's out now with Elmore Leonard's former editor and with the guy who publishes Lawrence Block. Major league fastballs coming my way, in other words, and yes, it's an honor to get this far (as well as intimidating).

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

During the summer of 2009 I somehow caught a whiff of the cultural zeitgeist and self-published my thriller, Crack-Up, which has sold very well, reaching the Amazon top 100 both in the USA and UK and even attracting some Hollywood interest in the film rights (which has since petered out, I'm sorry to report). My original intent was to generate renewed interest in the novel among the major publishers who hadn't bought the book when my agent submitted it all over New York. That's what happened to Boyd Morrison, and I'd recently read about his story. (He couldn't sell his book to the major publishers until his literary agent informed them of all his self-published Kindle sales.) Today I think of indie publishing as a career choice in its own right. I hope to play in both sandboxes, traditional publishing and indie.

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

I know a guy. He does indie book covers as a hobby. His fee is fairly reasonable.

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

No marketing plan. I don't do marketing much at all, especially lately. This is my first marketing effort of any kind in probably two months. I'm focused on the work in progress, and believe it or not, it gets boring after awhile talking about yourself.

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

Don't publish too soon. You'll help give all indies a bad name. Write about a million words first and you should be good to go.

About You

Where did you grow up?

New England. Go Celtics!

Where do you live now?

Semi-rural Ohio. Previous stops in Texas, North Carolina, Washington, DC, Southern California, Beijing and Yunnan province in China, and Tennessee. I think we'll be here raising kids for the next twenty years, though, as my wife is now a tenure track professor at the local college.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I used to be good looking. But that was thirty pounds ago.

What are you working on now?

A Gothic historical thriller set in 1919 New York City. It's tentatively called: Fortress of Ephemera. My goal is to finish it before the twins arrive. I better get back to work.

End of Interview

You can find the Prophet Motive here.

Review of Tag by GraceKrispy at Motherlode

This is what Grace posted on Mobilereads:

"When I am exhausted at my meetings tomorrow, or fall asleep while assessing a student, I will be sure to blame Simon and this book. Make sure you can sleep in when you start it…. review here!"

If you can see the Moon from where you are, I'm a little bit above it and to the left

Theme Tune for Writing K:OS

IndieView: From Ramen to Riches; The Amanda Hocking Story

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There's a post on Amanda's blog called Pink Headphones. Go read it, then come back here. It'll put everything in context for you. Suffice to say this woman has heart; a heart that pumps digital ink through her veins as she lives and breathes her stories.

"I'm an all or nothing person. So for me, writing is like bingeing and purging. I'm either obsessively working on something – anywhere from 8-14 hours a day – or I'm not writing at all. But I'm always thinking of ideas."     Amanda Hocking 9 December 2010

The Back Flap

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed – a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

About the Book

What is the book about?

Switched is about a girl who finds out she was switched at birth, and throughout the trilogy, it's about how she grows up, learns to handle major responsibility, difficult choices, and falling in love. I originally marketed it as The Princess Diaries but with a much darker, paranormal slant.

When did you start writing the book?

When Star Trek was in theaters.  May 2009 sometime.

How long did it take you to write it?

A couple of weeks. I know I started writing after the first time I saw Star Trek in theaters, and I'd finished it by the second time I saw Star Trek in theaters. (I really enjoyed that movie).

Where did you get the idea from?

I read a line about Scandinavian folklore that had a bit of a different interpretation of changelings than I read before, and that really filled out the story.

I'd had an idea in my mind for a while before that. I'd read an article about Andrea Yates – the mother who drowned her five children in the bathtub – and I'd thought, "How could a mother do that to her own kids? She must have really believed they were evil." And then I thought, "What if she were right?"

Not that I believed Yates was right, or that anyone should harm their children. But from a fiction standpoint, it was interesting. So I combined that idea with the changelings one, and that's where Switched came from.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Not so much with this one. I've had books that were very difficult to write – Hollowland in particular – but Switched was fun to write. It went through multiple edits, and I had to cut out a lot from the front half of it, and that was hard.

What came easily?

Conflict. Not physical fighting – that I find hard – but when people are just yelling at each other and they're really angry or passionate, that's the easiest and most fun to write.

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

I think everything comes from somewhere.  I take a little bit of everything I love and throw it in, and in the end, it somehow ends up a book.

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?

For young adult writers, Richelle Mead and Claudia Gray have been really influential. Richelle Mead, in particular I think, writes to teens where it's at. There's no preaching about what should or shouldn't be. Teenagers act like they do in real life – they swear, they back talk, they make mistakes, they even have sex.  They have real consequences for their actions – some good, some bad. And I like that.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone who likes paranormal romance, especially those looking for something other than vampires and werewolves.

About Writing

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

I'm an all or nothing person. So for me, writing is like bingeing and purging. I'm either obsessively working on something – anywhere from 8-14 hours a day – or I'm not writing at all. But I'm always thinking of ideas.

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

It depends on the books. I always outline, but to what degree depends on the story. Some are really detailed, with half a page of description, and others will say something like, "Wend and Finn fight" and that's it.

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

Finished. I used to edit as I worked, but I found it slogged down the whole process. I'd get stuck trying to revise certain parts and never move on. I think it's much easier to go back and fix.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Semi-yes. I've hired people to edit, and they've done a very good job. But I don't know if they'd technically be considered "professional editors."

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

Yes. I make playlists for each of my books when they come out they put on my blog, and they're based what I listened to when I wrote the books. But the type five artists I listen to when I write: blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, and the Cure. Plus, I listen to a lot of 80s New Wave and hipster rock, like Phoenix and the Dead Weather.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. Multiple times. I got rejected multiple times. I did land a really great agent, but not until after I'd started making sales the indie way.

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

I'd tried everything I could to get traditionally published, and it wasn't happening. I knew I wanted to write full time, and I was determined to find a way to do it. I saw people were making a living as indie – at the time Joe Konrath and Karen McQuestion – and I thought I should try it. So I did.

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

Most of my covers I made myself. Right now, the only cover that's not mine is the one for Honalee – a book coming out soon (next month, now, I think) – and that is my favorite. Claudia McKinney with phatpuppyart.com, and she is amazing.

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

Wing it, mostly. I tweet, facebook, and blog about a release. I make or hire someone to make book trailers.  And I do giveaways. That's about the extent of my marketing. I did have a Goodreads account for about a month, but I don't think it helped any.

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

Research a lot. Edit even more. Make sure your cover is good – whoever said "don't judge a book by its cover" is an idiot because everyone does.  This is a really great time to be a writer, so make the most of it.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Austin, Minnesota. It's SPAMtown , USA. Yeah, we actually invented SPAM here. Well, I didn't. But Jay C. Hormel did. I think.

Where do you live now?

Austin, Minnesota. I'd love to move to Chicago or Minneapolis, and I can now, but my family is here. So I don't know if I ever will.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I'm allergic to pineapple. It's probably better if everyone knows that.

What are you working on now?

A lot of things. The final book in the Trylle Trilogy – Ascend , and the first book in a new series called Honalee. Plus, I'm doing some short pieces for a couple of anthologies, and I plan to edit some books I wrote a while back for an early 2011 release. Oh, and I have a novella coming out in like two weeks.

End of Interview

Buy Switched from Amazon for Kindle Here

Buy Switched from Barnes & Noble for the Nook Here

Buy Switched in Paperback Here

There's a great post about Amanda's MEGA sales by the father of Indie eBook publishing, Joe Konrath, over here.

If you're into Paranormal Romance or just would like to learn more about Amanda then go visit Amanda's blog it's worth the trip.