Allison M. Cosgrove's Blog, page 9

RELEASE DAY: The Widowmaker

 

A fifteen year-old unsolved case is still causing problems – this time in Homicide Detective Stan Brookshire’s backyard. Newlyweds seem to be an endangered species in and around Lake City. What evidence there is, lies with a small-town sheriff and may or may not have been gathered and handled properly. Stan can only hope to make sense of what’s been left behind and apply it to the recent case before more innocent lives are lost.

Meanwhile, Father Jaime cannot remember anything for entire periods of time… periods that happen to coincide with the times that the murders took place. He is tormented by this and has come to doubt even himself. Can he trust this big city cop to handle this information with an open mind? Or will he immediately be persecuted? He worries the whole town will look bad, having worshipped under a potential killer all these years…

It’s up to Stan and Jane to get to the bottom of the murders before the killer strikes again. This time, they need help from the outside – will they get to the bottom of this, or will they take the easy bait destroying more lives in their wake?

Grab your copy today! On Sale for 99 Cents!! http://amzn.to/1RchKD8

NEW RELEASE:

X Marks the Spot (an Executioners MC novel) – BLURB Jolene Miller barely escaped the dark underworld of being the president’s daughter of a notorious motorcycle club. After having her heart broken by Ronin, the MC’s Sargent at Arms, she tried to navigate a normal life as an up and coming criminal defense attorney. When the only family she’s ever known comes under fire, Jolene rushes home to Jericho, California to step in – only to find it’s not just the club who needs her. Ronin is wanted for murder. Can Jolene let go of their tortured past in order to save their future?

Goodreads link! http://bit.ly/2007PlB

Amazon!! http://amzn.to/1SsheS7

Q&A with Madison Servier

Please welcome a dear friend of mine to the blog this week! She’s my go to girl when I need a hilarious coffee inspired meme. Please welcome the lovely Madison Servier!

*****

So, what have you written? 

I’ve written the Smoky Mountain Escapes Series, the River Jewel Resort Series, Wicked By Nature, The Adventures of Rosie Peaks Series and a few erotica shorts. In 2014, Anything You Want, River Jewel Resort Book 1 was a RomCon Readers Award Finalist. This book missed the coveted 8 points or above by scoring a 7.96. Oh so close.

 

What are you working on at the minute?

I’m currently working on the second ‘Wicked By…’ book and I’ve started a new series. Asphalt Cowboys will release in the Spring with Book 1: Renegade.

What genre are your books?

Romance is central to most of my books. However, I’ve also stepped into some erotica. I allow the purely naughty side of me to take over once in a while. And I love strong heroines, humor and chemistry between my characters. I find it hard to generalize the genre I write because it’s always such a mish-mash. My books are the mutts of the ‘romance’ genre. They may not have fancy publisher backings on paper, but people seem to love them anyways. (I also have a twisted sense of humor LOL)

What draws you to this genre?

The characters that live in my head. I do what they and my heart, tell me to do.

How much research do you do?

As much as it takes and then some. For my new, upcoming series, I’ve put in almost 17 years of research. **wink, wink**

 

Why do you write?

For the same reason I breathe…to exist. If I couldn’t write, I’d either go insane or curl up and shrivel to nothing.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Both. I’m also a homeschool mom, I’m in charge of the bookkeeping for our family business…So on the days I have a break from my other jobs, I put in double or triple time when it comes to my writing.

 

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

I write the majority of it out longhand. I’m addicted to a lot of things: coffee, romance, pens and notebooks. There are notebooks in every room of my house, in my car, in my purse. After the main story has been written down, I attack it with the computer. Once in a while, I love to feel nostalgic and I type it out on a typewriter.

Do you ever get writer’s Block?

Quite often.

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

I step away, go shopping, read, grab a notebook, or go hiking to get my head right again. So, my best advice is to step away. Grab a notebook and just let it flow. Sometimes, the computer seems to glare at me until I feel like curling into a ball and crying. Getting through the block means blocking out the nagging voices and that blank computer screen.

 

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I’ll read any form, but my favorites are paper and hardbacks. I’ve always been in love with the smell of books. I doubt that will ever go away.

*****

A great big thank you to Madison for joining us on the blog this week! Please be sure to follow her and check out her books!!

Website: http://madisonsevier.com/

Blog: http://madisonsevier.com/my-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonSevierAuthor/?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadisonSevier

Lnkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-sevier-9515a156

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MadisonSevier/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Madison-Sevier/e/B00BDWM3DG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Book Links: http://www.amazon.com/Madison-Sevier/e/B00BDWM3DG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7011658.Madison_Sevier

WIP Wenesdays: Only The Willing

So of course you all are picking through the pages of The Widowmaker I’ll be mean and tease you with the NEXT book in the Stan Brookshire series… Only The Willing, to be released July 2016.

*****

The anger boiled just below the surface.

Every time it burned stronger than the time before. Each time he had to reign it in just a little harder. He was going to have to stop coming to this side of town if this was the way things were going to be for him.

It hadnt always been this bad, it had started as a mild irritation. Like a buzzing mosquito that you couldnt swat away no matter how hard you tried to get it. Then it became a situation where you couldnt avoid the mosquito and it had started biting at his soul.

The anger and the rage soon followed. He had learned over the years to control it but it always stayed there just below the surface threatening to come forward and take over.

Some days he pitied himself. He thought of himself as a reasonable sort of guy who worked hard, and took care of the business that he had to. He didnt want to be seen as a Dr Jekel Mr Hyde sort of person, with two different people living inside his head. He wanted to be the nice kind person he tried so hard to be.

But the anger lived there just below the surface. There was nothing he could do, nothing anyone could do, to make a difference in stopping the flow of rage that coursed through his body when he was down in the part of town.

He didnt even know why he bothered coming down here anyways, knowing how it affected his mind as it did. But there was a certain comfort in being on this side of the tracks. It was his home for the first decade of his life. Before his mother died. They had live just a few blocks away from the coffee shop where he was currently sitting.

He had spent his first few years of life living in blissful ignorance. He hadnt known what the world around him was really like. He wishes some days that he could go back there. to a time when the people around him, the men that his mother brought home, wiere all his friends and he didnt know any better as to who they really were. How he wished he could go back to when things with his mother and him were happy together.

But instead he was here sitting in the same coffee shop night after night, looking around at the people coming and going. As the nights passed the anger got more and more stornger but he usually made it out of the coffee shop before it got too bad for him to handle.  

There had only been a few times over the years that he had not made it out in time and the anger had taken over. He had been lucky those times. No one had caught on and he had escaped without being caught for the things he had done.

 

Teaser Tuesday: Bodyguard

One more month and a hand full of days and you the latest in the Den of Thieves series in your hot little hands! Who is excited to really get to know Olivia and Bo?

*****

Bo grabbed his bag as he stormed out of DOT. He had spent the last en minutes in his jeep going over each of the items in his pack.

He never left base without double checking his gear. He never wanted to be in a situation where he didnt have what he needed.

He had been there once before and it had cost him dearly. He wasnt about ot allow himself to be in that vulnerable position again any time soon. Not if he could help it anyways.

Putting the car into reverse he backed out of his spot and started to make his way downtown to th hospita silently cursing the rest of the team for foisting this on him in the first place. He did not want to be protecting anyone.

That wasnt what he had signed up for.

His phone rang and he glanced down at it before he accepted the call.

“Yes Cat.” He spoke

“Hi Bo.” Cats voice came throgh the cars speakers.

“What would you like Cat.” He said turning onto the main highway.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Really? Seemed like you were of the opinion of everyone else in there just a few short minutes ago.

“Yeah, about that–” She started and then trailed off.

“Dont worry about it Cat.”

“I am sorry Bo. I guess I just got carried away in the moment like everyone else.” She really did sound as if she as being sincere.

She had after all called to make sure he was ok.

“Its fine Cat really.” He sighed as he responded. He really didnt have the heart to be mad at his best friend.

“No it isnt alright Bo. They shouldnt be putting you in a situation where you are not comfortable. Its really not fair.”

“Well maybe they are right this time. Maybe it is time I put the past in the past and moved on with things. I mean there isnt a way for me to change the past so I might as well let it go.”

“Everyone deals with things in different ways Bo, you have to deal with your things in the way or ways that make sense to you. If you arent ready for something like this there shoudl be no one out there who will force you to be ready when you arent.” He could hear the concern in her voice.

“I am fine Cat, really I am.”

*****

Grab your copy at a special 99 cents pre-order price! http://amzn.to/1SqhBMW

 

Sincerely Me…

So I thought since I have interviewed hundreds of authors over the years on this blog, that you would enjoy hearing me answer some of the questions I have posed to them over the years.

Each week I will answer one or two questions, if you want you can leave your own questions for me in the comments and I will try and answer them in a future blog post!

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

I will pick apart both of my main characters from the Stan Brookshire series as they have been with me the longest and have the massive backstories… Enjoy!

Det. Stan Brookshire:

Detective Stan Brookshire started his career as an undercover agent in the Organized Crime Unit (OCU) of the Lake City Police Department. He had it all. Rewarding career, wonderful wife and a bright future until it was all cut short when he and his partner were caught in the crossfire of a drug bust gone wrong.

He survived. His partner did not.

That was just the beginning of his downward spiral into a deep depression where he found himself more often then not using alcohol as a way to numb the pain of his loss. With the media frenzy surrounding his case he became more of a liability to his department then the asset that he had been. He crawled further into the bottle. Unable to cope with her husband the way that he was his wife left him. He sank deeper until his bosses told him that he had one last chance at redemption.

They partnered him with what ended up being the one person who seemed to be able to force him to pull himself out of his tailspin and come back to the land of the living.

Det. Jane Trinity:

Detective Jane Trinity is woman detective in a long line of male police officers in her family. An only child growing up she felt it was her job to fill the shoes left before her and become an officer as her father and grandfather before her.

As much as any parent should have been proud of their child her father did not support her decision. He made it all but unbearable for her while she was in the academy and he refused to go to her graduation. Women were not supposed to be police officers or so he believed.

Her determination came across to others as if she had a chip on her shoulder and something to prove. Which in turn left her on the outside looking in with most of her peers until a last effort to keep the peace in the department and she found herself partnered with Stan.

It was only then that she realized that there were more important things in life than always being the best at her job.

Q&A with Dawn Martens

My guest this week on the blog is another wonderful author I had the pleasure of being with at Sexy in the City Toronto, she is the lovely Dawn Martens! Please give her a warm welcome!

*****

What were you like at school?

I was boy crazy

Bad – literally bad, like drugs, booze, stealing, expulsion, etc.

Sigh, the main points I remember is when I was suspended for lighting the school bus on fire…

Which writers inspire you?

Kristen Ashley

So, what have you written?

I’ve co-written with two authors. Chantal Fernando and Emily Minton.

As well as Solo shit. UnKiss Me, UnTouch Me, UnBreak This Heart, New Love, and It’s Just Love Not a Time Bomb. In January I have Twisted Up In You coming!

Where can we buy or see them?

All my titles are available on Amazon, my newest book (Twisted Up In You) is available on all sites, but Feb first it will only be available on Amazon.

What are you working on at the minute?

Book 2 of my Just Love series. Alix and Jordan’s book gave a bit of insight into Kellie and Jaxon’s book. Hoping to have it finished and out by the 2 year anniversary of It’s Just Love Not a Time Bomb. Book 2 is titled This Crazy Thing Called Love.

What genre are your books?

Romance mostly. I love my bikers though, and I do have a totally cheesy novella series in the works too.

What draws you to this genre?

I just love it.

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Emma Stone is my ideal character for my bitch Alix from It’s Just Love Not a Time Bomb. And Channing Tatum – duh, yum, for Jordan.

How much research do you do?

Little, I usually ask my friends in different countries to help me out, because I don’t eve wanna get in shit. :P

Why do you write?

Different reasons. One, I’m a stay at home mother, if brings in a little extra cash for our family. And two, because my brain hurts :P

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

Nope – as I said before, stay at home mother. I write when I get the chance to.

Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?

Whenever I get the chance

Where do the your ideas come from?

Songs, movies, stupid shit I did at one time, and my own sex life with my husband.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

I very rarely get a say in what/how I write. In one of my books, I killed a main and highly loved character. I didn’t plan that at all. My fingers just kept typing. And in the end ta-da.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Anywhere from a month to six months. Depends on how easy a storyline comes to me.

Do you ever get writer’s Block?

Hell yes. For the last 4 months, I’ve been at a complete loss on what to do.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series.

If you are an author my advice is to write the entire series (if it’s the same characters throughout) before releasing/announcing the books at all. This way you won’t get delayed, ever. And your fans will be happy with a steady release.

Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.

Sure do, one thing I vowed with my writing was I was to never give up reading. Kristen Ashley is my idol. I LOVE her.

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

Ebooks – only because I’m used to them now, and I can’t exactly ‘swipe’ a paperback.

Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

Nope, otherwise my books will suck balls. I have 3 editors and 3 proofers. Each set is in charge of something different.

Who designed your book cover/s?

Glenna Maynard has done my last 2 covers. Sara Eirew did the 3 before that.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Yes, unfortunately. Sex sells. If the book cover isn’t sexy, there is a high chance people won’t touch it, if they’ve never heard of you.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

As long as they are honest, I LOVE them. But when reviews are just mean, (author bashing, stuff like that) I don’t think they matter.

Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book/s?

Yes, I do actually, they are just a smidge bit extra special to go along with the books. Not Necessary, but fun.

Did you format your own book?

HA no. tried that once, I had to buy a new computer.

In what formats is your book available?

All my books are Amazon only, except for NEW book. For the first month of a new release, my books are on ALL buy sites. After that first month, Amazon Only

How do you relax?

Booze

Until the Sun falls from the Sky – by Kristen Ashley – I can’t really explain why, but it made me love the Indie world. Before this book, I’ve NEVER heard of self publishing.

The Little Mermaid – duh, it’s awesome.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t be an asshole

*****

Thanks so much Dawn for being my guest this week on the blog! Be sure to follow Dawn and check out her books!

Blog: http://dawnmartens.blogspot.ca/?zx=59cb5edbb0b0f10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnMartens/

Twitter: @Dawn_Martens

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Martens/e/B00CUIWMCY/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056720

WIP Wednesdays: Bodyguard

I just love the broody characters. Stan is broody in his own way, but our hero from Bodyguard, Bo, takes it to an entirely different level of broodiness. He’s a man with a sad back story that screamed at me to be told when I was busy writing Sebastian and Daria’s story, Diamonds.

Enjoy!

*****

Bo grabbed his bag as he stormed out of DOT. He had spent the last en minutes in his jeep going over each of the items in his pack.

He never left base without double checking his gear. He never wanted to be in a situation where he didn’t have what he needed.

He had been there once before and it had cost him dearly. He wasn’t about to allow himself to be in that vulnerable position again any time soon. Not if he could help it anyways.

Putting the car into reverse he backed out of his spot and started to make his way downtown to the hospital silently cursing the rest of the team for foisting this on him in the first place. He did not want to be protecting anyone.

That wasn’t what he had signed up for.

His phone rang and he glanced down at it before he accepted the call.

“Yes Cat.” He spoke

“Hi Bo.” Cats voice came through the cars speakers.

“What would you like Cat.” He said turning onto the main highway.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Really? Seemed like you were of the opinion of everyone else in there just a few short minutes ago.

“Yeah, about that–” She started and then trailed off.

“Don’t worry about it Cat.”

“I am sorry Bo. I guess I just got carried away in the moment like everyone else.” She really did sound as if she as being sincere.

She had after all called to make sure he was ok.

“Its fine Cat really.” He sighed as he responded. He really didn’t have the heart to be mad at his best friend.

“No it isn’t alright Bo. They shouldn’t be putting you in a situation where you are not comfortable. Its really not fair.”

“Well maybe they are right this time. Maybe it is time I put the past in the past and moved on with things. I mean there isn’t a way for me to change the past so I might as well let it go.”

“Everyone deals with things in different ways Bo, you have to deal with your things in the way or ways that make sense to you. If you aren’t ready for something like this there should be no one out there who will force you to be ready when you aren’t.” He could hear the concern in her voice.

“I am fine Cat, really I am.”

“If you aren’t up to it Bo I will just tell Paul and Jake that I will do it. You don’t have to. Really.”

“Cat.” He knew she was only trying to help him but at the same time he was starting to think that maybe it was time for him to move on and let the past stay in the past where it belonged.

“If you’re sure Bo.”

“Yes I am sure Cat.”

“You will tell me if it turns out to be too much for you right?”

“I promise that you will be the first person that I call.”

“Alright. I am going to hold you to that you know. There will be no escaping me if you start going off the rails and you don’t ask for help.”

“I am not going to go off the rails Cat. You don’t need to worry quite as much as you are doing right at the moment.”

“Fine if you say so.”

“I do.”

“Alright I will check in with you later then.”

“I look forward to it.” A smile crossed his face. No matter what hell went on around him he could always take comfort from the friendship he had with Cat.

He drove through the streets wishing somehow she was going to be there with him. Not that he needed the support to do the job but she was one of the few people who understood that even though the job came first that there was some things that even he had a hard time dealing with.

Some things just brought back too many memories for him and that it made the job he had to do very difficult. Though they had not talked much about their pasts he knew that she too harbored the same guilt and scars that he did. That they had gone in to do a job and they were the ones who had ended up damaged in some way. A way that would never completely heal.

He shook his head and tried to clear away the dangerous thoughts that invaded his mind. He did not need them to start to surface now. Now he needed to focus on the task at hand and he could not allow them to interfere with the job that he had to do.

Bo turned off the highway onto the off ramp and headed into the heart of the city towards the hospital.

He wondered what she was going to be like. She seemed like a strong independent type. The file stated that she was one of the top prosecutors in the country and had one of the highest conviction rates around. That in itself would make a whole lot of the evil elements that existed in every city very unhappy that she was around.

It would make them happier still to know that she had been hurt and that would possibly give them a chance to finish her off in her weakened state.

That was something that he was not about to allow to happen. He had spent many years on protective detail in the army, protecting civilians and dignitaries alike. Even when he had come back home he had continued to do the odd protection job until eventually the demons of his past had caught up to him and he found he could no longer do that line of work anymore.

That was when he had hooked up with the group at Den of Thieves. It had been right up his alley. Just enough action that he didn’t get bored but no one other than his team had needed his protection.

Until now.

He only hoped that he would be able to live up to the job and not let the rest of the team down.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Widowmaker

Twelve days! And this will be your LAST peek at The Widowmaker before release! I do hope you have enjoyed it so far! And I do hope you will stop in again for next months sneak peaks at the final edition of Bodyguard, releasing March 6th!

Enjoy!

*****

He sat in his room by the dim light of a candle. His mind still had yet to cease its never-ending spin that had started weeks before. He had not realized until that moment standing there at the altar in front of that couple how much what had happened had affected him. How deep the hurt had gone.

How angry it had made him.

He barely remembered the weeks that had passed by. The days right after were completely dark to him. As if they had never existed at all. Like he had somehow skipped over them.

He knew that he had somehow managed to get through those days as no one seemed overly concerned about him. No one had said anything about him not feeling well or asked after his state of mind. So he could only conclude that he had functioned at least somewhat normally during those dark days.

But why could he not remember anything?

He stood up from his chair and knelt beside his bed to pray. As he prayed, he asked God why he could not remember those days and asked for the means to see what had gone on during them. He prayed for the understanding to get through the feelings that were still rushing through his body and soul.

As he prayed, he thought of how life had been to him since the day his bride had left him at the altar. Even though he had been hurt, he had turned the hurt around and made it into something that he could use to help others. He had given his life to help others now in their quest for knowledge and an understanding of God and His ways.

And he had forgiven the one who had hurt him so. It had taken him a long time to come to that point, and it had taken many hours of praying. There was no doubt in his mind that he held any animosity to the woman. In fact, he was almost glad that she had not gone through with their plan of marriage and left him as he had found his true calling and true happiness in the work that he did serving God.

Try as he might though, he could not understand why all of a sudden things had come rushing back at him as they had and why now he could not remember a thing he had done in the days that had followed.

Once again, he turned his mind back to God and prayed for guidance to see him through this rough patch in his duty.

It has to be a test, he thought not for the first time in the last few days. God must be testing me to see if I have truly forgiven her for what she did to me all those years ago.

But how could God, the almighty being that he was, not see what was in the very core of his being? Why could he not see what was etched upon his very soul?

The questions abound in his head and he gasped at the enormity of what he was questioning.

He began again to pray in earnest, this time trying to focus on the prayers he was saying and to push the dangerous thoughts that were running ramped through his head out of his mind.

“Our Father who art in heaven…”

Why…

“Hallowed be thy name…”

Couldn’t…

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…”

He…

“On Earth, as it is in Heaven…”

REMEMBER?

Try as he might, he could no longer force the thoughts from his head.  They tumbled and danced back and forth. Once again his mind raced backwards into the past. In his mind’s eye he could see all the times he had shared with the woman he loved. He felt every touch once again and tasted every blessed kiss they had shared.

It was almost too much for him to bear as along with the good memories came the memories of the day that they were supposed to be married and he was forced to relive every moment of that day too. Try as he might he could not stop the memories from flooding back.

He felt the pain, the shame the anguish and he heard the words all over again as if he was right there at that altar once more.

What was happening to him? Why this? Why now?

He begged God to answer his prayers. He begged for God to answer his questions.

There was no answer at all.

His mind slowly stopped spinning. It ground to a halt in those dark days that he could not remember. And it sat there. He thought that maybe if he tried that he would be able to remember something. But again he was met with a wall of nothingness.

He sighed not knowing what to do. Not knowing what to make of his experiences. But he was glad that at least his mind had stopped its seemingly endless barrage of memories for the time being. He had no doubt that he would go through it again and again just as he had for the last week or so.

There was something there that he did not see or understand and that was the reason that he kept having to face these things over and over and over again.

Once he did, he might be able to put an end to the living nightmare. Until then he would have to keep going on as he had in the past and try and avoid thinking about the past.

Raising his head from his hands, he glanced at the small clock on his bedside table and saw that over two hours had passed since he had knelt down to pray. It hadn’t seemed like that long, but a second glance at the clock said that indeed that was exactly what had happened.

Standing up, he straightened his robes and tried to make himself presentable. He had a meeting in less than an hour with a couple who were to get married in a few weeks and today was the day that they were to sit down and discuss their vows and the different hymns and reading that they wanted in their ceremony.

He heaved another sigh as he went to the door and let himself out, thankful that there was nothing else to think about for the moment.

Walking down the halls of the church to his office, he passed by a few members of the congregation who volunteered their time in order to keep the church clean and neat. They smiled and said their hellos.

He gave them a quick blessing and continued on his way.

Passing the statue of the Virgin Mary, he paused and touched a hand to the statue’s feet.  He said a short prayer and then looked up at her face.

He wasn’t sure why he had but when he did he saw that she was crying tears of blood.

He blinked and looked again and the tears that he could have sworn were there a moment ago were gone.

Startled he once again started back on his way down the hall.

Grab your copy at a Special Pre-Order Price! http://amzn.to/1RchKD8

GUEST POST with Stephen Ormsby

So Why Did I Become a Publisher?

Firstly, let me introduce myself. I’m Stephen Ormsby, and hail from Down Under. I own and run Satalyte Publishing with my graphic designer wife, Marieke. We have been in operation for just over two years, and have published some 36 titles. Some of authors include Kevin J. Anderson, Jack Dann and a great bunch of Aussies that you should be reading.

So, now to the question: why become a publisher. I wrote a novel titled ‘Long Lost Song’, which I thought was a good story. A small press in America picked it up quickly, and, lo and behold, I was a published author. My second novel, a horror one this time titled ‘Pendant’, was also picked up as quickly.

I suddenly had two novels published, and was meeting lots of great people. One of those people was involved with Supanova, a pop culture convention that travels around Australia. They asked me if I would like to sell my books at their stall. Of course, I agreed.

But then, I found out how hard it was to get my own novels out to Australia. The small press were using CreateSpace, which does not have a printing facility in Australia, so it cost me more to get them shipped to me than printed.

Like a good 12 year old, I threw a hissy fit in a corner, and said ‘that’s it. I’m starting a publishing house. An Australian house for Australian authors.’ My wife turned to me, and replied, ‘that’s great. You do know that I’m pregnant.’ Somehow though, my publisher thought that meant that I would be self-publishing, and dropped my contracts immediately.

I do not regret it though. Since then I have met so many other great authors and readers. I am now arranging to have an international author at an Australian convention, and I get to talk to my favourite authors across the world. Who would give that up?

But the best bit about being a publisher? We make dreams come true. How often do you get to say that?

http://satalyte.com.au