How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I am passionate about helping people understand the world, which is why I became a geographer in the first place.  The goal of my book, Essentials of the Environment, is to present topics that people increasingly read and hear about in the news—climate change, biodiversity, green energy, invasive species—and provide information about each topic, why each topic matters, and illustrate each topic with a diagram or a picture.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part was to make sure that I provided some richer information for the reader that they would not get in a newspaper article, but not make it too complicated; and to keep it interesting at the same time.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

I had a co-author, Simon Ross, in the UK, and one lesson was how to work effectively with a colleague in another country, adhere to deadlines, and compromise when necessary with the co-author and with the publisher.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Have a vision about what you want to say and stick with it.  If you are working with an outside publisher, make certain up front that your publisher shares your vision and will not make you give up significant portions of your vision.

If you published, how did you find your publisher and what enticed you to go the traditional route?

I learned about my publisher through working with geography educators in the UK.  My publisher, Hodder, was well known in this field.  It is distributed in the USA through Oxford University Press.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

I would definitely make sure that the book would have an electronic publishing option so it would be available digitally to those who wished to have it that format.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

Yes, in October I wrote a book entitled “International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning with Geographic Information Systems in Secondary Schools.”  In June 2012 I will have two additional books available:  (1)  Tribal Geographic Information Systems:  Empowering Native American Decision Making; and (2)  The Geographic Information Systems Guide to Public Domain Data.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

I believe it is important for every person on the planet to have a fundamental understanding of how the environment works, how it affects our everyday lives, and how we can take steps to protect it for our children and grandchildren.

How can people find out more about your book?

Click: Essentials of the Environment to be directed to Amazon.

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

My father had always told me that my great-great uncle was Rasputin’s secretary, but it wasn’t until I was in my 40’s that I began to research him and found that my ancestor had published his memoir about Rasputin, in French.  Fortunately, that was my major in undergrad school.  Upon reading Simanovitch’s memoir, I was intrigued to discover that Rasputin’s image had been tarnished by the anti-Semitic aristocracy because he advocated equal rights for the severely oppressed Jews of Czarist Russia.  I translated Simanovitch’s memoirs into English, but felt I needed more substantiating evidence.  That launched over a decade of research in French and English.  The evidence was not as difficult to find as I’d anticipated.  My motivation was to right a historical wrong – hence, “Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History”.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part of completing my book was deciding on its format.  Initially, I was just going to publish the English translation of Simanovitch’s memoirs, but didn’t feel it was enough to make my point about Rasputin being an unwitting victim of anti-Semitism. Once I realized this was a research project and created an outline, the hard part was over.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

For me, writing is a solitary process that I generally don’t share.  Having been a technical writer, researcher and editor, I didn’t feel I needed support in those areas.  Once the book was published, I did enlist the support of some noteworthy and generous editorial book reviewers.  Initially, I was resistant to spending time in online writers’ forums and groups, but was pleasantly surprised to find how helpful they were, offering resources such as bloggers’ sites and marketing ideas.  I try to give back in the same way.  I found other authors to be immensely supportive in promoting each other’s books, and have even cultivated a close friendship with one.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

The process of writing is so idiosyncratic that there are as many methods as there are writers.  However, two points I do advocate are:

1)     Don’t worry about the business of writing until the process is done.  Concerns about publication, promotion, marketing, readership, reviews, etc., only distract the writer from the process to which one must be totally committed and immersed in.  Once the book is finished, there’s plenty of time to worry about the business end.

2)     Edit, edit, then edit some more.  I can’t stress this enough. If a writer has had little experience editing work, he or she should hire an editor to clean up the manuscript.  I can’t tell you how many fine, self-published works I’ve read that were diminished by a lack of editing. Poor editing will also turn off most reviewers, leading to ratings that are more indicative of the technical aspect of a book, than of the content.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

After the years I’d spent working on “Rasputin and the Jews: A Reversal of History,” I didn’t want to wait months to hear from publishers.  I also felt that, since the subject was so specific, I’d easily be able to target my market.  I think this is easier to do with non-fiction than with fiction.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

I would absolutely not have missed the chance to write this book.  It’s one of a kind, in the sense that most books about Rasputin make small mention of his aid to Russian Jews and poverty-stricken peasants.  They, perhaps, devote a line or two to it, sometimes with admiration and sometimes with derision.  However, mine is the only book that explores and substantiates specific incidents of his aid and efforts.  The reviews have been wonderful and gratifying, especially the one in The New York Journal of Books which, typically, does not review self-published work.

An unexpected result was that a number of relatives, previously unknown to me, have contacted me about their ancestral ties to Simanovitch.  The highlight of it all, for me, is that I am now corresponding with Rasputin’s great granddaughter and Simanovitch’s granddaughter (a cousin to me), who are both reading my book.  Apparently, the two families remained close, even after leaving Russia, post-Revolution.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

I’m currently in the process of researching a book about true stories from The Pale of Settlement, the ghetto between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea that Jews were confined to under the Czarist regimes, from the mid-eighteenth century until the 1917 Revolution.  To that end, I’m reading the autobiographies, reports and memoirs of those who were there.  It occurred to me that one may be impressed by the adversities a single person had to overcome, but I’d like to juxtapose a number of such stories to show a common experience – the way of life that most suffered.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

While I certainly want to get across the point that Rasputin was not the evil character that history reports, I also wanted to show the side of Czarist Russia that was not the indulgent finery and splendor of the nobility, but what the majority of the population lived through.  Finally, the larger message is the adage that history is written by the powerful (and the literate), and not by the common man.  Rasputin’s vilification by the privileged few is just one more example of that.

How can people find out more about your book?

More information can be had on my book’s website.

My book is for sale on Amazon, in paperback and Kindle.

It is also listed on Createspace.

Barnes & Noble (and Nook)

And it can be ordered at any bookstore.

I also have an article, summarizing the book.

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

My first book, Remember Wake, was inspired by a true story. I was working for a PBS series and was sent out to interview the man who inspired that book. He had been a civilian construction worker on Wake Island, which was attacked by the Japanese the same day as Pearl Harbor. His story of the battle and then surviving four years in horrific POW camps in Japan and China totally fascinated me.  But I also discovered that in 50 years, no one had ever asked the wives of these men what they had gone through at home, and they had a unique experience, too, so I wanted to tell both stories in my novel. So it’s a war story and a love story and the comment I get most is, “I couldn’t put it down.” Believe me when I say that’s a testament to what the men and women went through, as much as my writing. I was very lucky to be gifted that story.

That book then lead to Dancing in Combat Boots and Other Stories of American Women in WWII. It came about because while I was researching Remember Wake, I couldn’t find any information about what it FELT like to be a woman during the war. Not the extraordinary stories, but the ordinary women. So I set out to write a book that would tell the stories of women from all over the country and different socio-economic groups and ethnic groups. In the end, I found ten really wonderful women who did some really inspiring things while living their “ordinary lives.”  There’s a WASP who flew planes for the military, a WAC who was segregated by race and gender, a Japanese-American woman in an internment camp, a Mexican-American woman who ran her brother’s store, an artist who sketched wounded soldiers in their hospital beds, and more. That book is now a one-woman show too.

And finally, those books lead to my children’s series, The Home-Front Heroes, because I started getting invited to classrooms, and these fifth grade kids had never heard of Pearl Harbor or Adolph Hitler! It was the kids themselves who asked me to write something for them. There are now four books in this series and will be six altogether. Like all of my books, they are each based on a real person’s experiences, but are page-turners with lots of action. I have strong opinions on what hooks children to read historical fiction, which is not traditionally their favorite genre. I’ve also really had teachers embrace these books.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part about the first book was simply not knowing how to write a novel. I did the research and the interviews and then started writing, but had no idea what I was doing. The story was there already. I was lucky because it was all true and it was already a page-turner by itself. But I didn’t know how to get the words down. So I took a couple of years off to write and publish short stories and personal essays to find my voice as a writer. Once I felt confident that I could write, I went back to the novel. But it still took several years to complete!

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

Oh, wow, I’ve been working on books since 1991, so the number of lessons is infinitesimal. That’s one reason I became a writer’s coach, to share all those lessons and to help people overcome their obstacles! But I think the greatest lesson I learned is that no two writers are alike. If you ever hear someone use the words “always” or “never” in their writing advice, you can mostly ignore it. You have to find your own voice, your own methods, your own writing schedule, your own values. And the only way to do that is through trial and error and lots of time at your writing desk.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I’m a big believer in writers groups, if you can find a good one.  I never submit so much as a piece of flash fiction without my group seeing it first. They taught me the most. And I went to classes and conferences and spoke to writers and read dozens of books and did all of the things you’re supposed to do. But one of the most helpful things to me has always been having my husband or my children read my work out loud to me. When they do that, I can HEAR my mistakes and can see when they look confused. That makes a huge difference.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

There’s a reason we all hear those stories about the writer who sat down next to a famous editor on an airplane and sold her first book. We hear those stories because they are so unusual. For most of us, it takes a lot of hard work and time to get where we want to be. You wouldn’t sign up for piano lessons and expect to be playing in public in a few months, so take the same attitude with your writing. Keep growing and working and loving what you do and you’ll get where you need to be!

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

I self-published my first book back in 2002. Prior to that, I’d been sending the book out to a few editors and I got an agent. I got great response to the story (one editor told me she stayed up all night reading it) but was told, “World War II stories don’t sell.”  I found this amazing. That an editor could like a book, but not take it based on the market.

While I was sending out the book, I started attending meetings at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, because I knew when my book came out, I’d have to help market it, and I figured no one knew more about marketing books than indie authors.  I started noticing that some of these authors were pretty successful DESPITE the fact that there was still a big stigma for self-publishing then. Even many of them, though, told me not to self-pub fiction. That was the hardest thing of all. But I’ve always been the type to take on a challenge, so I did it anyway, banking on the fact that the true story angle would get me some press. And it did. Ironically, shortly after my book came out, Tom Brokaw published The Greatest Generation and interest in WWII returned. So the publishing industry is always a timing thing. If I’d been sending my book out even a year later, the traditional publishers might have taken it.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Absolutely!  I’d do my whole crazy career over again. All of my books are special because they are not only good reads (I hope) but they capture an important time in our history and they celebrate the common man/woman/child. I’m really proud of my books, and I love hearing from people from that generation who appreciate them and from children who are excited to hear about the war. I’ve never done anything in my career in the traditional manner. And I’ve never written anything to please the market. In fact, all along I’ve been told, World War II stories don’t sell, short story collections don’t sell, kids don’t buy historical fiction, but I feel strongly that some of us still need to write books because they have value, because they NEED to be written, not just because they will be easy to sell.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

Right now I’m working on the last two books in the Home-Front Heroes series (maybe three) and then there’s a YA series I’d like to write about past lives.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

Less than 5% of writers make their living off of their writing. Most of the rest of us have to do other things to support our writing habits. For me, I’m an author, but also a professional speaker, a writer’s coach, and I work with schools and non-profits to create products and programs that help them further literacy and history education. I think we are operating in a really exciting time. Artists of all kinds are finding new ways to showcase their work and to push the envelope. We pushed for change in this industry, especially those of us who self-published way back when, and I hope to keep motivating writers to do just that and to write what’s in their hearts, whether it’s just for their family and friends or whether they want to see their names on the bestseller list. Your writing has value. Stick to it!

How can people find out more about your book?

Please visit my website at www.teresafunke.com to read all about my books, my show, my programs. Take a look at the Home-Front Heroes page to see pictures of the real people who inspired my books and at the Readers Stories page to read memories my fans have sent to me.  It’s a really fun site. AND you can order the books there too. That’s called “shameless self-promotion” and writers need to get comfortable doing that. It’s the only way we can pay our bills. Believe me, I know.

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

This is a unique story.  In 1986, my employer RKO General (now GenCorp) sent me to take a Crisis Management Seminar.  A man by the name of Alan B. Bernstein ran these seminars across the country. All attendees received a loose leafed bound book as a part of the curriculum called The Emergency Public Relations Manual.  I took this Manual with me to my next job at Playboy Enterprises and packed it for my move from New York to Los Angeles when Mr. Hefner relocated me.  It provided practical solutions for the many crises I had to manage throughout my career.

Fast forward to the digital age and I wrote several blogs referring to the “big black book” that I carried with me like a child.  Twenty-five years after taking Alan’s seminar, he sees my dedication to him in the blogosphere and looks up my number.  He says, “I was so touched by your mentions of my manual—I’d like to give you the rights and permissions to all content and have you modernize.”  I said, “I will think about it but you’d have to co-author it with me.”  There was a lot of updating that had to be done because so much has changed over the last twenty-five years, but we kept some of the classic cases studies and added a lot of new information.  Thus, the subtitle, Crisis Management in a 3.0 World.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

I know this isn’t your typical answer but it is the truth.  I literally broke my behind writing this book.  My butt started to hurt so much in the four months I put aside to complete the manuscript.  I got swept away with the focus and would forget about how I was sitting.  After I submitted the manuscript, my orthopedist said I developed a lot of scar tissue in my lower discs.  I’m now in physical therapy and active rehabilitation.  It’s a long recovery process.  Really important for writers to sit correctly with proper support and step away from seated position—frequently.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

The most important lesson was how important it is for a writer to use the active voice.  It would be helpful to place your Outlook settings on Active Voice and you will be prompted.  If you are new to publishing—seek out fellow authors and ask a lot of questions about their experiences.  Listen and learn!  Particularly about how much publishing has changed in the digital age.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

Chris Malburg from Writers Resource Group was instrumental in helping me find a strong, authoritative writer’s voice.  Lynette Hoy from FireTalker PR has been invaluable in book promotion advice and she’s been doing a Cracker Jack job in “proliferating” messages about the book on social media platforms.  Rachel Hill from Madison Hill PR has been hitting home runs by securing press recognition.  Of course, my co-author is the forefather of crisis management—what a fantastic resource in terms of history!

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Start slowly—one step at a time.  Write a very short paragraph, “Why This Book?” and capture the relevance of your project.  Why will people HAVE to read it?

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

I was referred to Xlibris (subsidy publisher) be my colleague Robert Klueger who is a well-known asset protection attorney.  He seemed to have a great experience and his book, Estate Planning After the New Tax Law. The finished product was high quality.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

I would absolutely do it over again but I’d invest in more practical seating so I wouldn’t break my behind.  This book summarized the extraordinary experience that I gained from my 30 years in communications management.  I love the opportunity to share this experience with the world.  Since I’m able to promote through social media everybody who I’ve connected with through my journey has responded with such enthusiasm.  Michael S. Perlis mentored me into the corporate officer ranks at Playboy Enterprises.  I acknowledged him in the book and he recently wrote that he was “Gob Smacked” by it.  He is now the CEO at Forbes.  I wouldn’t get a word like “Gob Smacked” out of Mike if I didn’t write the book!

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

Absolutely! Probably a fiction book based on my personal adventures and a non-fiction book about mother/daughter relationships and the second “post-partum depression” that some experience when daughters become completely independent.  Mommy bloggers will love it.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

If you choose the subsidy publishing route, be prepared to manage a manufacturing line.  You have to be an excellent project manager or think about hiring someone to do it for you.  You are bounced from department to department throughout the publishing process with different representatives.  First stop is finance, then submissions, followed by copy, design, marketing, production, post-production and channels.

How can people find out more about your book?

www.amazon.com

www.emergencypublicrelations.com

www.barnes&noble.com

Emergency Public Relations Network page on Facebook.

www.voiceamerica.com where I have been on the air for seven years—and you are welcome to be guests on the show

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

Let me answer that by way of a story…

Today, I’m in an awesome relationship with a woman I adore and who adores me, however, a long time ago, I was in a very different situation.

Previously married, I experienced what I would call a ‘toxic relationship’—meaning both myself and my partner suffered while together in the form of losing self-esteem and vitality. She is a beautiful person, but somehow we just could not really open up to each other without falling backwards through blame and resentment. We tried relationship counseling and reading some books together, but nothing worked.

After getting divorced, I starting dating. I desperately wanted women to like me, so I sought out information on how to pick up women and how to be ‘good’ in bed hoping women would then fawn over me. Again, nothing worked.

It wasn’t until I discovered that as a man, I was severely confused. I felt pressured by what I had taken in from around me to be something I was not. As a result, I came across to people as completely inauthentic. Sort of like a passive aggressive narcissist—in other words, not attractive.

In my new relationship, after our 2-year mark, everything changed when I discovered a tool I now use everyday called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). As a result, I am able to cope with jealousy, shame, and all sorts of other emotions that once crippled me. I feel so much more confident, happy with who I already am, more present with my partner, and driven to share what I have learned with other men.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The middle part. By that I mean, continuing to complete the drawings that make up half of the story. There are 48 in total, and I had to keep up momentum right after moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was like a meditation practice. I would show up, mostly not knowing what would happen.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

The unknown is my best friend when it comes to my creativity. Showing up to see what comes out of me is 99% of my creative process.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

Yes. I used EFT, often with the help of a friend. They would help me extract and change my relationship to the unconscious statements swimming in my head that had been blocking me for years (I sat on the original idea for the book from 2007 until 2010).

Thoughts like:

“Well, it hasn’t happened yet, so who am I to think it ever will?”

“What if my truth triggers a negative reaction in people?”

“What if I can’t enjoy this process of creating and it feels too much like work?”

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Get clear by asking yourself BIG questions like… Are you writing for your own creative or healing process? Is it to share a message with people? Which people? Why do you care about them? How are they like you?

Also, write down all your fears of being published so you can get some distance from them. Start with the phrase, “I might be able to finish my book and get published, but what if…?” (and make a list).

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

Because I am a control-freak ; ) Actually, there’s truth to that, AND I also knew I could handle a lot of the little things (I used to be a graphic designer). Plus, I knew that the best way to appreciate a future publisher who I might split income with, was to do it myself at least once so I could know what I wouldn’t have to deal with any longer!

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Yes (sigh), I know I would. If for example, part-way through I lost everything, I would start over (after screaming and hitting some pillows) because I feel I must. I’m driven to share my work.

Part of what I come away with from finishing a book and self-publishing is confidence and pride. I’ve now done something I wanted to do since high school. I’m not just planning it—I did it!

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

My subconscious is planning something but it won’t tell me what it is yet. We’ll eventually get together and decide what the next book will be.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

I had to cultivate something in myself to decide to write my book, then something else to do it, then something else to finish it, self-publish, and yet another thing to start promoting it. And I’m glad because I keep learning about myself, sharing myself with others along the way and that’s what I feel I’m meant to be doing for this life.

How can people find out more about your book?

You can lean more about my book by tapping into my subconscious or by visiting the book’s site… www.TuliesGarden.com

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

Black Ice is my third novel. The demands of my consulting business required writing and relying on storytelling to keep my audience interested. With most of my evenings spent on the road in hotel rooms and only books and the television to keep me company, I needed a creative diversion. This particular novel developed out of an automobile accident that I thought would be the end of me. In Black Ice, Marcie, the protagonist, loses control of her car on an icy road. Her five-year daughter dies in the accident, which spins Marcie’s life out of control.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

Writing is the easy part for me. I’ve always had an active imagination. The most difficult part of completing a book is editing. Even after several test readers have taken a red pen read to what I hoped would be my final edit, I still find errors and miss others. It’s the little mistakes that are the hardest to find. In my mind I know what I intended to say – and that’s often what I see when doing a read through.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

When I’ve finished a novel, I’m excited to get it out there. What I’ve learned is to sit on what I’ve written for a month or so and then make another run through. No longer emotionally married to what I’ve written, it is easier to cut unneeded words and phrases and find additional grammatical errors or plotting loose ends to tie.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

In addition to test readers for the finished product, I have also participated in ongoing critique groups. When I first started writing novels, these groups were a tremendous help in identifying my strengths and weaknesses and finding my voice as a writer. Finding the right chemistry for a critique group was paramount to the learning process. I needed to surround myself with people who would help me get better and prepare me for the realities of the publishing world. That meant bright, talented, thick-skinned people with intact egos, who would tell me the truth and not get defensive when I did the same. I’ve participated in groups (very briefly) that walked on eggs, more concerned with having their egos stroked and being polite than helpful. Those groups were of little valuable to me. Eventually I found a group in which I participated for several years, whose participants were able to be critical without being nasty or self-righteous. No one bothered to get upset at other’s edits/opinions/ perspectives. We thanked each other for the honesty and moved on. That one worked for me.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

The most obvious one is to write – every day if possible. Unfortunately, I am unable to be productive every day but the first thing I do each morning- after I tune into comedians on Pandora to help me through my morning exercise routine – is to sit in front of my computer with the working copy of my latest project. I usually start by rereading what I wrote the day before, making corrections and/or enhancements. It doesn’t take long to figure out if I have something to say that day. Regardless, I write something – plotting ideas, copying notes I may have made in the car or in bed; write something. If the juices aren’t flowing, I step away from the computer, usually go to the gym to get in an hour of cardio work and daydreaming, get a salad, and then go home and try again.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

A few years ago at a writer’s conference, I attended a presentation by J.A. Konrath (author of the Jackie Daniels series). Later, I sat down with him. He relayed his experiences and convinced me that ebooks were the future and one didn’t need to follow the traditional approach to publishing. Everything was changing in the industry and there was wisdom in getting ahead of the new wave.  I was already in my sixties and didn’t have time to waste jumping through hoops, and besides the publisher of my first novel left a nasty taste in my mouth. There is still a lot of old school folks who look down on self-published works – with some justification. I believe that is changing – slowly, of course, because people tend to lean on old familiar ways, even if those ways aren’t working or fair.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Absolutely. Writing is fun and I deserve to have fun. My father started me working on the docks of Port Newark, New Jersey, when I was eight. I bought my first car off the showroom floor for cash and paid for my college education. I owned my own business and consulted for Fortune 500 companies and the government. But, no matter how lucrative or well received and how I enjoyed being in front of a group entertaining, writing allows me a new, freer from social constraints outlet for my creativity. I write to entertain myself – trying to come up with plot twists and turns that I couldn’t see coming as a reader. I’ve also had a life filled with interesting and unusual people and adventures that begged to be talked about. Embellishing upon these realities and morphing real life personalities to craft unique characters is totally delightful and emotionally rewarding.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

I’m currently working on a fourth novel – another suspense/thriller. Still early in the process, I don’t even have a working title. That’s unusual because in my three previous novels the title came first. However, I do have what I think is an extraordinary first 50 pages with an intriguing storyline. The protagonist of this fourth novel was a secondary character in Black Ice. I so enjoyed him that I just had to let him develop a little more.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

Different stokes for different folks. Everyone writes for a different reason. I suspect knowing upfront what one needs/wants from writing is key to achieving satisfaction from the experience.

How can people find out more about your book?

All three of my novels are available on Amazon. I hope you will give Black Ice a look at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063EOVK2

But it gets better. Unless you make the top 100 in a particular category, that xxx out of 8 million is the only rank that Amazon shows. But if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, there is a line that says “Look for Similar Items by Category”. It will have a string of terms, like Books: Literature & Fiction: Women’s Fiction: Divorce. (The terms used for my book The Comet). If you click on the right most term in that string (“Divorce” in this case), it will take you to a page ranking just the books in that category. Immediately above the list, there’s a line that tells how many books are in that category. You can then page down the list till you find your book. For “Divorce” there are only about 150 books, not bad to page down. But in some categories there may be 50,000 books–OUCH! Of course, Amazon doesn’t rank anything past the top 1200.

Another way to pare down the list is to look at “last 30 days” or “last 90 days” (choices in the left hand column, useful only if your book was released in that time period). Anything to get the list down to a manageable number. I just did that for a fellow author and found out that his war novel  was #64 out of the similar novels released in the last 90 days, even ranking above some big name authors. What a boost to the ego!

You don’t have to have huge sales numbers to get at the top of some of the lists. My book The Comet was unranked, but I spotted that it was mis-categorized as Books: Religion & Spirituality: Occult — say what? I got it re-categorized as Books: Literature & Fiction: Women’s Fiction: Divorce, and now it is ranked #12 (without the sales changing). You are allowed to have two category strings–choose them carefully!

My latest book, That One Left Shoe, an anthology of stories from my local writing group, was published (by my imprint, Blue Dragon Press) on April 2. It is the sixth book I have published, and the fourth one this year. This week it jumped from #37 to #19 on the Amazon Fiction: Anthologies list. That jump got it onto the “Hot New Releases” list for fiction anthologies. We made #1 on the list, and at 6:30 on 4/7, were still holding at #3. This for a self-published book of stories by unknown authors. No agent, no advertising, other than a website and some Facebook posts. So don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t succeed with self-publishing. If my friends and I can do it, so can you.

This post was guest written by Betsy A. Riley. Betsy lives in Maryland, where she works for the federal government. In April of 2011, she ventured into self-publishing using CreateSpace’s Print On Demand (POD) option. Since then, her imprint (Blue Dragon Press) has published 6 books.  Betsy’s poems and short stories have also appeared in several magazines and anthologies by other publishers.

View her books on Amazon, and connect with her on Twitter.

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

For years I had a sneaking suspicion the world would soon crave an action-adventure series with a hip young girl on centre stage – a series that would leap from the page to the silver screen and garner as many devoted followers as the beloved Harry Potter. No, I didn’t think that it would be my hand to write such a story – just that it would be written.

Then I chanced to see Rhonda Byrne’s wildly successful film “The Secret” and the idea for the Molly Withers series came to me essentially fully formed. Immediately, I began the first installment with the primary goal of creating an exciting adventure with a lovable, if not unlikely, girl protagonist. The secondary objective was to imbed the knowledge of how dreams can become reality into the storyline. I wanted the magic Molly learns on her adventure to be useable in real life.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

Taking the first step. If you, like so many others, have spent the greater part of your life believing your dreams cannot come true, then the hardest part about completing a book (or any worthy dream) might simply be taking the first step. You see, many never actually take that first step because they do not believe what they truly want is possible for them. That was me, and I had to recondition my brain to say YES to my long-forgotten hopes and aspirations. That reconditioning is the hardest part. It’s hard, because oftentimes we don’t even realize our habitual limiting thoughts have turned us away from our dreams.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

I’ve learned that when you become brave enough to announce your dreams and intentions to the world with passion and enthusiasm, people will rally around you and help you get there – even complete strangers. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t edit your own work. I’ve learned that though you can’t judge a book by its cover, when it comes to customers seeing your book for the first time, the cover better be appealing, or they won’t even read the rear jacket. I’ve learned that your closest friends will help you through the darker moments when doubt creeps in. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be the best at any given task to be very successful, you just have to be committed. I’ve learned there is real magic in the world and it’s available to us all. I’ve learned that if you stick with a problem long enough, eventually the solution comes to you.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

Absolutely. I called in every favor I could to get Molly Withers in print. A friend of mine is an amazing tattooist, so he contributed the cover art. Another friend is a graphic designer, and she was kind enough to do the jacket and text design. A friend of the family is a web designer – poof, there was my website. My hometown of Kincardine was and is very supportive and the local stores are happy to carry it for me. I begged friends to read and reread and reread again various chapters or certain passages until I had them just right.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Believe in yourself. You can’t very well expect others to believe in your writing, if you don’t believe in it yourself. If you plan on self publishing, then be sure to hire a professional editor. Research all the self publishing options out there and make an informed decision based on the nature of your goals. It might be the case for you (as it was for me), that you can get the majority of the work done for free, without using a self publishing company. I dealt directly with the printing house (Webcom), because I wanted the final say over all design aspects. As a result, my return on investment is higher than any of the self publishing companies out there.

Also do your homework if you are choosing a traditional publisher. Find out who publishes the sort of book you are writing and go to their website and learn (and obey) their rules about manuscript submissions. This is going to save you so much time and many rejection letters.

I’d also advise against working yourself to the bone. Take time to reflect. Take time to pat yourself on the back for beginning your dream – many never take that first step. Take time to replenish your creative juices. Watch films, read, play outside…whatever it is that works for you, do it.

Stay optimistic (which will be easier if you follow the above advice). Failure doesn’t exist. There are several steps to your journey. You are going to have ups and downs – that is the way of it. Just know during the down times that the upswing is coming.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

I independently published my debut novel, but I am on the fence if that is the right move for the second in the series. It is a colossal amount of work doing it all on your own, but being a first time writer, I am hopeful it’s helped build my resume if I choose to take the traditional route next time. I was also burning with passion and didn’t have the patience at the time to wait for someone else to tell me my writing was good enough to be in print.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Absolutely! If you have something in your life that you want to do, it’s important you begin that adventure. Invariably you’ll encounter walls along the way, but those walls are never insurmountable. Keep at it and you’ll find a way over them or through them. To give up on your dream (that thing that really makes you happy) could very well leave an empty feeling that might haunt you a lifetime.

The journey (which is still just beginning for me) has been amazing. I’ve learned so much about myself, my writing has improved, and I’ve met the most amazing people. I mentioned above that I wanted to show readers that our dreams can come true, and my journey has proven that. If I, with no experience at all, can write and publish a book inside of a year, and go on to sell that book all over the world and do book signings coast to coast, and have that book chosen as on official celebrity gift by Radio Disney, as well as being invited to conventions, and asked to deliver keynote speeches, then it is possible for anyone.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

Yes, the second book in the series is already written, and I am currently editing away. The remaining five books in the series are mapped out, but I doubt I’ll get down to writing them until books one and two really take off. I’m also set to begin writing the film script for book one, which is going to be a tremendous amount of fun.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

Though I intended Molly Withers and the Golden Tree for readers 7-12, the feedback I’m getting from adult adventure enthusiasts has been incredible.

How can people find out more about your book?

There’s more information available on my website: www.mollywithers.com, and I would be happy to answer any questions through email info@mollywithers.com.

You can also join me on Good Reads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2707899-kent-rees Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/MOLLY-WITHERS-and-the-Golden-Tree/112535645449807 and Twitter http://twitter.com/kentallanrees

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

My son was my inspiration! He has Amblyopia and Strabismus. The Dr. told me that he was legally blind in his left eye and needs to keep up with his eye patching 6 to 8 hrs a day. My son and so many others struggle with the eye patching, because they cannot see very well because they have to patch the stronger eye in order to strengthen the weaker eye.  The struggles of everyday broke my heart! When we got in to our vehicle after his doctor appointment I told him I was going to write Children’s books and it would be called Patch land, changed to (Patch Land Adventures).

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part for me was having the pressure of setting a deadline, so I soon realized that the book will be completed when it’s meant to be.  Deadlines and goals are a necessity but not as important as keeping the vision of your idea! Also I found myself revising the book a few times before sending my final copy to my Editor.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

Yes I did. I was able to learn to be patient and believe in myself. The creation of a Children’s book was so much more involved then I had ever anticipated. One of the most time consuming, but is one of my favorite parts was making the mock up and seeing my manuscript come to life.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I contacted Page Lambert my Editor who was so wonderful and helpful through completion. Joey Manfre my illustrator who brought my vision as an author to life. Also having support from my family and friends that believe in me. I read my mocked up version to my son’s class room and made notes of their feedback, and because of that experience I made a few revisions.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Make sure you seek the help of an experienced editor who can help your ideas expand and flourish in your writings. If you need an illustrator, make sure that he or she is the right fit for you and your book. Do not try and compare your writings to others authors we are all unique and special. If you write from your heart you can never go wrong.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

I wanted to have control of my writings and that I could make sure that my books would land in the hands they were supposed to.

If you published, how did you find your publisher and what enticed you to go the traditional route?

I actually went an extra step and along with self publishing I became a publisher.   That way I could publish my own books.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Yes I would! It has taught me to put my fears aside and do what is in my heart. It has brought my son and I closer and the book has helped so many children with and without eye issues. I also started a blog (patchlandwritings) about my journey with my son and about my experiences writing my books.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

I have written three books, but I am in the process with book two with my illustrator Joey Manfre . We try and speak on weekly basics. It was a year ago in February that I published my 1^st book.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

I wrote the book from my heart and some of the stories are based off of real life events and others are fiction. Anything is possible in Patch land. Little Preston and his dog Beau are challenged by the eye patches they have to wear because of an eye disease, but that does not stop them from doing what they love. At night Preston puts his eye patch under his pillow. When he starts to dream, he and his dog Beau get to go to Patch Land. They live in a world of fun and adventure and imagination. The illustrations are spectacular and help the story come to life. When young readers join Preston and Beau on their fun-filled adventures, they will feel like they are there with them, cheering them on as they overcome their vision challenges.

How can people find out more about your book?

My web site, www.patchlandadventures.com Visit my blog: www.patchlandwritings.blogspot.com

You can also find my fan page on Face Book: Patch Land Adventures

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I have worked in the entertainment industry for about 30 years as a researcher and story consultant on well over one hundred television shows, movies, and franchise-based product lines.  Having gained knowledge regarding what leads to massive success and what does not, I decided to share those insights with other writers, marketers, and studio executives.

That resulted in my newest book titled Creating Blockbusters! It’s based on an analysis I conducted of some of the greatest films, television shows and novels to ascertain what made them great. I added insights from other senior entertainment executives and new research among 400 audience members ages 8 to 55 to ascertain what they expect from entertainment. Creating Blockbusters! details the key principles that writers should follow to achieve success. Among other things, it rank orders the emotional needs audiences want fulfilled through storytelling, the types of characters they enjoy most, and how to align the entertainment with trends and pop culture.

Creating Blockbusters is my 6^th book.  I have written 4 business books and two fantasy novels.

As for what inspired me; My fantasy novels were inspired by my love of the genre and my desire to tell a well formed story with authentic characters that must attain great goals. My business books were inspired by the desire to teach what I have learned so that others can greatly benefit.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

For the novels, it’s keeping the story arc clean, allowing the protagonist’s challenges to mount, keeping all of the characters’ personas consistent, yet allowing the protagonist to change into a better person by the end of the tale. For the business books, the research is the toughest part. It takes time to get facts, align them in ways that lead to keen insights, and then display them in a way that’s actionable for readers to employ.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

You learn as you write. Writing fiction makes you a better writer of fiction. As you write and rewrite, the story and characters get sharper. Writing business books makes you really stop and think about what you know and what works and doesn’t work in your discipline so that you can convey it to others. From a motivational point of view, I learned that just because 50 publishers don’t accept your manuscript doesn’t mean the 51^st will reject it. It takes time, and it’s a very subjective business. Though I have not used it yet, self-publishing has become very acceptable and is a great venue for those who wish to publish inexpensively and are unable to get the magical keys to traditional publishers’ doors.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I asked several people I respected to read my books and provide input before I sent them off to publishers. The process is frightening yet extremely helpful.  It’s amazing to see your book through the eyes of others. I made changes in every book based upon the input I received.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. Be persistent. It can take years to get your first book published. Be committed to get it done. Many people start writing books; not as many finish.  Find you own path. For me, I started with writing articles for business and trade magazines. That led to my business books and novels.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

I did not self-publish, but I realize it’s more valuable a venue today than ever.

If you published, how did you find your publisher and what enticed you to go the traditional route?

I used The Writer’s Market Guide to find the publishers that accepted the type of material I had written. It also provided their contact information and their submission guidelines. I sent the materials and then waited…and waited…and waited some more.  Then I waited some more. Eventually, two publishers for my first business book showed interest. One made an offer.  Only then did I hire an agent to help me through the first contract. I have dealt directly with publishers ever since.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

YES. It’s extremely satisfying to walk into a book store and see your book on the shelf, to sit at a table and sign autographs, to give press interviews, to be asked to speak at national conferences, and for the business books such as Creating Blockbusters! to help others achieve the same success.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)?

At the moment, no. Writing is like giving birth. Immediately after the baby comes, you can swear that you’ll never have another. Then after a time, as you see the results of your first child grow, you begin to consider another.  So since I’m in the process of introducing my 6^th child, Creating Blockbusters!, I’m hesitant to even think of another.

What else would you like to share about you or your book?

My newest book, Creating Blockbusters!, is truly like no other book ever written. It goes more in-depth into audience desires than any other text.  As I began to reference earlier, it ranks the emotional needs that audiences want satisfied through storytelling, ranks the types of protagonists they most want to see, ranks the types of fears they most want protagonists to face, lists the key aspects of pop culture and trends that stories should align with, explains the ways to expand audience appeal across genders and ages, lists the dislikes that audiences have of today’s stories and how to avoid them, and outlines how to add elements in your storytelling that will add franchise and marketing potential. It’s like no other book on the market.

How can people find out more about your book?

They can visit my website at creatingblockbusters.com. They will find information on the book along with a video I put together in which I explain the key principles that can lead to blockbuster success. My other books are represented there as well.