RWS Interviews Joyce Isaacson About Her Book "Wish You Were Here, Badfinger"
It's great to meet you Joyce! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on writing and chatting about your fantasy book.
What genre/s do you write in, and why?
Fiction primarily Fantasy. The reason I love fiction is because so many doors are open to put your characters in the story. Who are they? Why they are there and for what purpose. It’s like painting a word picture.
When did you begin writing, and was it something you’ve always wanted to do?
I actually started to write after I won a school poetry contest in third grade. From that point on I was stung by the writing bug and I just never stopped writing. I also think it helped when I earned an A+ in my high school journalism class and was fortunate to work as an editorial assistant for the Chicago Tribune. Hanging around reporters in the editorial department inspired me to write as well. Getting a good review for my screenplays from the TV critic at the time really started my creative wheels turning. Unfortunately, those screenplays never saw the light of day since I didn’t have or could not afford an agent at the time. But this didn’t deter me from writing. In the nineties, the writing techniques were much different. I learned this the hard way but I was still determined to do what I loved best.
What type of research goes into your writing?
I got some ideas from the net but most of my concepts came from within which is funny because sometimes when I write I find out later that it is true. I have at least thirty-three deceased souls that my main character meets and interacts with while searching for his friend Pete Ham in Heaven. To this day I don’t know how I was able to pull it off.
How do you develop your characters, plot, and setting?
That is a very good question. All I can say is that I let my characters take over and forward the story to me. I get ideas based on where they want to go and they describe their settings to me.
What is your creative process (i.e. inspiration, where do you write)?
I have to admit when I write it is 24/7 process. I might be washing the dishes and the ideas come to me. I don’t know if this works for most writers but when I come up with a concept for the story it stays in my mind and I am able to write it down later when I have a chance. I think I do my most creative writing when I am doing something else rather than sitting at my computer. I really don’t know why but it works for me.
Have you ever dealt with writer’s block? If so, how do you find your creative flow again?
Oh, yeah. When I started on the sequel to Wish You Were Here, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t run into legal problems with so many well-known characters in my first book I was terrified because no pro-bono lawyer wouldn’t pick it up and read it. I felt like this was the end of the line, literally. Fortunately, I found a friend on LinkedIn who was willing to read the book for a free copy. I basically walked on eggshells until he gave me the green light go ahead and publish. After that it took me another month until the ideas started to flow again.
Are you self-published or traditionally published?
I am self-published. My good friend and editor, Dennis De Rose, and I decided this would be the best route to take for me. I had been rejected 13 times by publishers and agents because with all honesty when you are a new writer they really, in my opinion, don’t want to take a chance with you. Maybe when I publish my sequel, I will try again. I was also told they really don’t help you in the marketing arena anymore.
Can you give us your experience in either or both of these types of publishing?
The fact that I have complete control over my own book is very important to me. I had been in a situation with my first published book. I couldn’t even do book signings or distribute press releases because the businesses didn’t want to deal with my publisher.
Do you market your own books? If so, how easy or difficult is this for an author?
Yes, I do a lot on the marketing end and it isn’t easy. I take whatever advice I can get from free webinars, I post daily in my Wish You Were Here, Badfinger “A Rock Fantasy”Facebook group just to engage with as many members as I can. I also pay close attention to free advice Dennis forwards to me on email or messenger. In my opinion, he goes way beyond what an editor would do for his clients. He always reminds me that I have the only fictional Badfinger book in the world and the slow turtle wins the race. I also think getting positive reviews from customers and editorials from places like Reader’s Favorite are very crucial to a book’s livelihood.
What advice would you give other writers/authors about receiving negative reviews?
Unless you are getting bad reviews constantly I would ignore them. Not everybody is going to like everything you write. I know somebody who is so indifferent to Harry Potter but I just love the author’s stories.
What advice would you give to wanna-be writers who are trying to get a book published?
Make sure you have a good story to tell and a title that will stand out, one that doesn’t make the reader have to search for the words in the dictionary. Also, your cover must intrigue your reader to want to know more. I am told my story is a page-turner and that readers can’t put it down. Having a well edited book is also important. Finding Dennis was a godsend for me.
If you had a chance to meet one of your favorite authors, alive or dead, who would it be? And what questions would you ask?
I would like to meet J.K. Rowling and ask her how she was inspired to write her novels.
List your book links and where we can find them to purchase?
Facebook is right Here
Amazon link for the paperback is Here
Amazon Link to e book located Here [image error] [image error]
What genre/s do you write in, and why?
Fiction primarily Fantasy. The reason I love fiction is because so many doors are open to put your characters in the story. Who are they? Why they are there and for what purpose. It’s like painting a word picture.
When did you begin writing, and was it something you’ve always wanted to do?
I actually started to write after I won a school poetry contest in third grade. From that point on I was stung by the writing bug and I just never stopped writing. I also think it helped when I earned an A+ in my high school journalism class and was fortunate to work as an editorial assistant for the Chicago Tribune. Hanging around reporters in the editorial department inspired me to write as well. Getting a good review for my screenplays from the TV critic at the time really started my creative wheels turning. Unfortunately, those screenplays never saw the light of day since I didn’t have or could not afford an agent at the time. But this didn’t deter me from writing. In the nineties, the writing techniques were much different. I learned this the hard way but I was still determined to do what I loved best.
What type of research goes into your writing?
I got some ideas from the net but most of my concepts came from within which is funny because sometimes when I write I find out later that it is true. I have at least thirty-three deceased souls that my main character meets and interacts with while searching for his friend Pete Ham in Heaven. To this day I don’t know how I was able to pull it off.
How do you develop your characters, plot, and setting?
That is a very good question. All I can say is that I let my characters take over and forward the story to me. I get ideas based on where they want to go and they describe their settings to me.
What is your creative process (i.e. inspiration, where do you write)?
I have to admit when I write it is 24/7 process. I might be washing the dishes and the ideas come to me. I don’t know if this works for most writers but when I come up with a concept for the story it stays in my mind and I am able to write it down later when I have a chance. I think I do my most creative writing when I am doing something else rather than sitting at my computer. I really don’t know why but it works for me.
Have you ever dealt with writer’s block? If so, how do you find your creative flow again?
Oh, yeah. When I started on the sequel to Wish You Were Here, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t run into legal problems with so many well-known characters in my first book I was terrified because no pro-bono lawyer wouldn’t pick it up and read it. I felt like this was the end of the line, literally. Fortunately, I found a friend on LinkedIn who was willing to read the book for a free copy. I basically walked on eggshells until he gave me the green light go ahead and publish. After that it took me another month until the ideas started to flow again.
Are you self-published or traditionally published?
I am self-published. My good friend and editor, Dennis De Rose, and I decided this would be the best route to take for me. I had been rejected 13 times by publishers and agents because with all honesty when you are a new writer they really, in my opinion, don’t want to take a chance with you. Maybe when I publish my sequel, I will try again. I was also told they really don’t help you in the marketing arena anymore.
Can you give us your experience in either or both of these types of publishing?
The fact that I have complete control over my own book is very important to me. I had been in a situation with my first published book. I couldn’t even do book signings or distribute press releases because the businesses didn’t want to deal with my publisher.
Do you market your own books? If so, how easy or difficult is this for an author?
Yes, I do a lot on the marketing end and it isn’t easy. I take whatever advice I can get from free webinars, I post daily in my Wish You Were Here, Badfinger “A Rock Fantasy”Facebook group just to engage with as many members as I can. I also pay close attention to free advice Dennis forwards to me on email or messenger. In my opinion, he goes way beyond what an editor would do for his clients. He always reminds me that I have the only fictional Badfinger book in the world and the slow turtle wins the race. I also think getting positive reviews from customers and editorials from places like Reader’s Favorite are very crucial to a book’s livelihood.
What advice would you give other writers/authors about receiving negative reviews?
Unless you are getting bad reviews constantly I would ignore them. Not everybody is going to like everything you write. I know somebody who is so indifferent to Harry Potter but I just love the author’s stories.
What advice would you give to wanna-be writers who are trying to get a book published?
Make sure you have a good story to tell and a title that will stand out, one that doesn’t make the reader have to search for the words in the dictionary. Also, your cover must intrigue your reader to want to know more. I am told my story is a page-turner and that readers can’t put it down. Having a well edited book is also important. Finding Dennis was a godsend for me.
If you had a chance to meet one of your favorite authors, alive or dead, who would it be? And what questions would you ask?
I would like to meet J.K. Rowling and ask her how she was inspired to write her novels.
List your book links and where we can find them to purchase?
Facebook is right Here
Amazon link for the paperback is Here
Amazon Link to e book located Here [image error] [image error]
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