My Personal Path To Publication - Jason McIntyre
Hey Everyone! I've been waiting for today because I am introducing you to an amazing writer! It's a interesting story how I met Jason. I was in an ER with a sick child and was browsing my kindle for free reads and stumbled on his novella Road Markers. I can only call it fate. I fell in love with his writing. Literally. I call it a cross between my hero Stephen King and my scary love/boyfriend Wes Craven. His wording and pacing grips me, shakes me by the shoulders, slaps me in the face and screams at me to "get ahold of myself!" And I crawl back, like a sicko sycophant, begging for more. I stalked him on facebook and he has graciously agreed to be my friend and then appear here today. I expect the restraining order any day now. I am in the middle of two of his other works, BLED, which is brand new and he is promoting here today, and THALO BLUE and also in the throes of a painful writer's crush. While I seek out a 12-step program for my problem (the first step is admitting it, right?) you please enjoy the literary stylings of Jason's journey.
1. How long have you been writing?
Since November7th, 1989. Just kidding. I've beenwriting since I was twelve or thirteen but to remember exactly when would be achallenge I've not the strength for. Thefirst fiction I recall writing with a serious intent to share was a story aboutaliens landing in a young girl's backyard. It was supposed to fill the blankpage on the back of the school newspaper since we had no more hard news. As ifthere was actually such a thing as hard news in the fifth grade!
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
I'm aself-published author with two long novels, two novellas and several shortstories available at present. More are coming all the time. Two new short storycollections and another novella will arrive before the year is out.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, withan agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?
Self-published.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
It offered methe most freedom for writing what I want, releasing fast, and getting thestories into the hands of the readers. After my first stories got some pickup Icontinued with this route so that readers who began enjoying my books could getmore material fast. In fact, I've turned down some offers from traditionalpublishers that couldn't compete with what I've been able to achieve on my own.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
The first drafttook three months. There was another four or five of tweaking, sharing,re-drafting, regretting some feedback I followed and some that I ignored. Thena few more months to get it just right.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Twenty minutes.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I didn't sendout my first novel. I sent out my second to agents, editors and publishers,then I waited, and waited and waited. Igot close to two hundred rejections and another six or seven hundred thatsimply never responded.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
I can't rememberthe exact wording but it was very indicative of the kind of rejection slips Ireceived as a whole. It said, and I paraphrase, "This is amaaaaazing! Youare an incredible writer and I was riveted by this book. I want all my friendsto read it. Unfortunately, I can't take you on as a client because, at present,there is no way I could sell this book. It doesn't stick to any one genre andit is so unusual and fresh that I fear no one would buy it. Thank you and goodluck."
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it makeyou feel?
My short story,The Night Walk Men, recently reached number one on Amazon's Kindle Top 100downloads. A short time later, I did the math and discovered that my books had,altogether, been downloaded more than 113,000 times by readers across everyretail website.
How did it makeme feel? I'm still processing the news! I'll let you know when it truly sinksin.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Changeyour style, change your content. Change." Sure, edits are fine, adjustments and advice are always needed. Butreaders or other writers who tell you to change who you are as a writer shouldbe the only thing you ignore without any consideration. Every other kind ofadvice should be given at least a moment of consideration.
11. Now, tell us the best!
"Get yourstories out there, any way you can."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from yourpersonal path to publication?
There is no oneright way. What was the Robert Frost poem, "Two roads diverged in a woodand I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all thedifference."
And FleetwoodMac also sang, "You can go your own way." My advice is look to othersfor inspiration, but not a recipe. No one will ever duplicate the same level ofsuccess as another by copying them.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
http://www.thefarthestreachescom > The Farthest Reaches is myauthor website and blog. All news and links to my books from all retailers canbe found here.
http://twitter.com/#!/JasonCMcIntyre
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMcIntyre
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-McIntyre/e/B0049YW78G > My books at Amazon
Bled : About the Novella
She only wanted to leave. But hetook that option from her. Now she wants it back.
Set on the same island as the reader favorite Shed, the latest literarysuspense novella from bestselling author Jason McIntyre picks up the DovetailCove saga with this story of one lonely woman...trapped.
Tina McLeod is on the cusp of a newlife. Extraordinary change is rare in her world but this newsflash means shecan finally leave her small island town for good. No more pouring coffee fortownsfolk in Main Street's greasy spoon, no more living under the weight of herborn-again mother. That is, until Frank Moort comes in for his usual lunch anddessert on an ordinary Friday in May.
Bled sees things turn backwards and upside down for each ofthem. Their encounter is prolonged and grotesque, the sort of thing splashingthe covers of big city newspapers. Both are changed. And neither will come outclean on the other side.
A story about taking what's notyours, Bled explores pushing back when you've been pushed too far. Itpaints in red the horrors from our most commonplace of surroundings: right outin the open where nothing can hide behind closed doors and shut mouths.
About the Author
Jason McIntyre has lived and workedin varied places across the globe. His writing also meanders from the pastoralto the garish, from the fantastical to the morbid. Vibrant characters and vividsurroundings stay with him and coalesce into novels and stories. Before histime as an editor, writer and communications professional, he spent severalyears as a graphic designer and commercial artist.
McIntyre's writing has been calleddarkly noir and sophisticated, styled after the likes of Chuck Palahniuk butwith the pacing and mass appeal of Stephen King. The books tackle the familylife subject matter of Jonathan Franzen but also eerie discoveries one mightfind in a Ray Bradbury story or those of Rod Serling.
Jason McIntyre's books include the#1 Kindle Suspense, The Night Walk Men, Bestsellers On TheGathering Storm and Shed, plus the multi-layered coming-of-ageliterary suspense Thalo Blue.
Bled : Teaser Trailer
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSd5IpoNU4 or http://youtu.be/CaSd5IpoNU4
And this is the link to BLED on Amazon ('cuz you know you want to BUY IT NOW!) http://to.ly/b8HF
Okay, seriously, was I wrong? Jason is all that AND CHOCOLATE CRACKERS! I am not often wrong on my shopping excursions. I have totally found shoes in my size for $4.99 before. Who knew this time I would come home with a new author? Enjoy everyone! And stay tuned for the blog next week, we have the likes of Crystal Ward, Elaine Cantrell, Cynthia Vespia, Felicia Rogers, and Jillian Jenkins. Why, with all those romance authors around, it'll be a regular love-fest. Have a great weekend everyone!
1. How long have you been writing?Since November7th, 1989. Just kidding. I've beenwriting since I was twelve or thirteen but to remember exactly when would be achallenge I've not the strength for. Thefirst fiction I recall writing with a serious intent to share was a story aboutaliens landing in a young girl's backyard. It was supposed to fill the blankpage on the back of the school newspaper since we had no more hard news. As ifthere was actually such a thing as hard news in the fifth grade!
2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?
I'm aself-published author with two long novels, two novellas and several shortstories available at present. More are coming all the time. Two new short storycollections and another novella will arrive before the year is out.
3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, withan agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, ordeciding to self-publish?
Self-published.
4. Why did you choose that particular route?
It offered methe most freedom for writing what I want, releasing fast, and getting thestories into the hands of the readers. After my first stories got some pickup Icontinued with this route so that readers who began enjoying my books could getmore material fast. In fact, I've turned down some offers from traditionalpublishers that couldn't compete with what I've been able to achieve on my own.
5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
The first drafttook three months. There was another four or five of tweaking, sharing,re-drafting, regretting some feedback I followed and some that I ignored. Thena few more months to get it just right.
6. How long did it take you to publish it?
Twenty minutes.
7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I didn't sendout my first novel. I sent out my second to agents, editors and publishers,then I waited, and waited and waited. Igot close to two hundred rejections and another six or seven hundred thatsimply never responded.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.
I can't rememberthe exact wording but it was very indicative of the kind of rejection slips Ireceived as a whole. It said, and I paraphrase, "This is amaaaaazing! Youare an incredible writer and I was riveted by this book. I want all my friendsto read it. Unfortunately, I can't take you on as a client because, at present,there is no way I could sell this book. It doesn't stick to any one genre andit is so unusual and fresh that I fear no one would buy it. Thank you and goodluck."
9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it makeyou feel?
My short story,The Night Walk Men, recently reached number one on Amazon's Kindle Top 100downloads. A short time later, I did the math and discovered that my books had,altogether, been downloaded more than 113,000 times by readers across everyretail website.
How did it makeme feel? I'm still processing the news! I'll let you know when it truly sinksin.
10. What's the worst piece of advice you ever got?
"Changeyour style, change your content. Change." Sure, edits are fine, adjustments and advice are always needed. Butreaders or other writers who tell you to change who you are as a writer shouldbe the only thing you ignore without any consideration. Every other kind ofadvice should be given at least a moment of consideration.
11. Now, tell us the best!
"Get yourstories out there, any way you can."
12. What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from yourpersonal path to publication?
There is no oneright way. What was the Robert Frost poem, "Two roads diverged in a woodand I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all thedifference."
And FleetwoodMac also sang, "You can go your own way." My advice is look to othersfor inspiration, but not a recipe. No one will ever duplicate the same level ofsuccess as another by copying them.
13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
http://www.thefarthestreachescom > The Farthest Reaches is myauthor website and blog. All news and links to my books from all retailers canbe found here.
http://twitter.com/#!/JasonCMcIntyre
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMcIntyre
http://www.amazon.com/Jason-McIntyre/e/B0049YW78G > My books at Amazon
Bled : About the Novella
She only wanted to leave. But hetook that option from her. Now she wants it back.
Set on the same island as the reader favorite Shed, the latest literarysuspense novella from bestselling author Jason McIntyre picks up the DovetailCove saga with this story of one lonely woman...trapped.
Tina McLeod is on the cusp of a newlife. Extraordinary change is rare in her world but this newsflash means shecan finally leave her small island town for good. No more pouring coffee fortownsfolk in Main Street's greasy spoon, no more living under the weight of herborn-again mother. That is, until Frank Moort comes in for his usual lunch anddessert on an ordinary Friday in May.
Bled sees things turn backwards and upside down for each ofthem. Their encounter is prolonged and grotesque, the sort of thing splashingthe covers of big city newspapers. Both are changed. And neither will come outclean on the other side.
A story about taking what's notyours, Bled explores pushing back when you've been pushed too far. Itpaints in red the horrors from our most commonplace of surroundings: right outin the open where nothing can hide behind closed doors and shut mouths.
About the Author
Jason McIntyre has lived and workedin varied places across the globe. His writing also meanders from the pastoralto the garish, from the fantastical to the morbid. Vibrant characters and vividsurroundings stay with him and coalesce into novels and stories. Before histime as an editor, writer and communications professional, he spent severalyears as a graphic designer and commercial artist.
McIntyre's writing has been calleddarkly noir and sophisticated, styled after the likes of Chuck Palahniuk butwith the pacing and mass appeal of Stephen King. The books tackle the familylife subject matter of Jonathan Franzen but also eerie discoveries one mightfind in a Ray Bradbury story or those of Rod Serling.
Jason McIntyre's books include the#1 Kindle Suspense, The Night Walk Men, Bestsellers On TheGathering Storm and Shed, plus the multi-layered coming-of-ageliterary suspense Thalo Blue.
Bled : Teaser Trailer
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSd5IpoNU4 or http://youtu.be/CaSd5IpoNU4
And this is the link to BLED on Amazon ('cuz you know you want to BUY IT NOW!) http://to.ly/b8HF
Okay, seriously, was I wrong? Jason is all that AND CHOCOLATE CRACKERS! I am not often wrong on my shopping excursions. I have totally found shoes in my size for $4.99 before. Who knew this time I would come home with a new author? Enjoy everyone! And stay tuned for the blog next week, we have the likes of Crystal Ward, Elaine Cantrell, Cynthia Vespia, Felicia Rogers, and Jillian Jenkins. Why, with all those romance authors around, it'll be a regular love-fest. Have a great weekend everyone!
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