Valuable Insight Into the Life Cycle of a Book

You probably know the basics about how a book gets traditionally published, but to hear about it from those who do it on a daily basis gives some pretty valuable insight. Even if you are self-published, understanding a book's life cycle is important, especially since as the author you will do many of the steps yourself. I found a great link through Twitter called publishingtrendsetter.com. It's a site that provides information for book professionals, especially those who are at the beginning of their journey.

Publishing Trend Setter's current series of posts takes a look at all the stages of a book's life cycle. Beginning with the writer and moving to the agent, editor, production, design, marketing, publicity, sales, and distribution, they have provided video interviews with a professional in each of these categories.

Each video lasts about 5 minutes, and I took a little time to watch all of them. It was so interesting to hear from a variety of people in the industry, and I learned something new from each one. It also helped me think about how would I need to adapt each stage in order to make it work from a self-published point of view.

The interviews I liked the most were from writer Adam Gidwitz, author of "A Tale Dark and Grimm;" who talked about his writing journey; Nina Lassam on marketing from Wattpad, which is a site where writers can post their stories and receive feedback; and Jenn McMurry on distribution from Greenleaf Book Group who went really in-depth on various distribution channels, from the big chains to airport and museum book stores.

Sometimes it's good to take a break from the creativity of writing and dip our toes into the reality of the book publishing industry. And I think this is a site that makes it enjoyable for us to do that!

--KSR Writer

Meet Carolyn Arnold, Author of the New Thriller ELEVEN

I love a good thriller, and this week I'm excited to help launch the latest book by Carolyn Arnold, ELEVEN which appropriately debuted on 11-11-11. Welcome Carolyn!

Tell us a little about your background and something interesting about yourself.

As a teenager I wanted to complete a full length novel and even wrote to Harlequin for their submission guidelines.  But it wasn’t until four years ago I completed my first novel.  Since then I have written a total of seven novels in various genres – romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and suspense.

I got married at the age of nineteen to my best friend and to date have been happily married to him for fifteen and a half years.  Children terrify us so we’re canine parents to two beagles – a male and female named Max and Chelsea.

What is one of your favorite books and why?

I don’t know if I could pick just one.  Basically, I love most David Baldacci and Sandra Brown novels.

Why did you decide to write this book?

I decided to write ELEVEN because I love the television series “Criminal Minds”.  I also love to read novels with intrigue that I can figure out as the story moves along.  Inspired by my favorite authors – Baldacci and Brown – I wanted to try something darker than my previous works.

What was your experience like with self-publishing?

Self-publishing has been an interesting and exciting journey.  There are moments when you wonder if you have what it takes, if you made the right decision, but at this point I am certain I have.

I’ve also learned many things along the way, and continue to. Some I’ve stumbled over, but I believe it’s always important to grow and keep moving forward.

How have you marketed your book?

Most of my marketing is through social networking sites, and blog appearances such as this one.  I also picked up some good tips from those in the industry that have been successful.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Keep writing, and do so even on those days when your voice of self-doubt is screaming at you. 

Please provide a favorite excerpt from your book.

I have a few but they contain spoilers.  However, here is one passage I’m rather proud of.  It follows the discovery of the room where the victims were killed:

An ominous silence enveloped the room as if we were all absorbed in contemplating our mortality.  The human reaction to death and uncertainty, of wanting to know but not wanting the answers, of sympathy for those lost yet relief that it wasn’t us.

The first chapter of ELEVEN can be read on my website.

I really enjoyed the first chapter! Where can readers find you and your book?

Readers can connect with me in the following places:

Amazon Author Page

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Email


ELEVEN is available from Amazon in print and for Kindle.

Thanks for joining us today Carolyn! It's been a pleasure getting to know you!

Blog Giveaway Hop: Win a Great Children's Book!

Congratulations to Terri M. for being the winner of my November Giveaway Hop! This was such a great success, I will be doing more giveaways in the near future! Thanks to everyone for participating!


I'm so excited to be participating in my first blog giveaway hop! What is a giveaway hop? Each participating blog (listed below) hosts a giveaway, and in this case all the giveaways are books or book related items. The blogs are all linked so you can easily "hop" from one blog to the next and enter as many giveaways as you like (thus increasing your chances of winning something). Fun!

Looking for a fun, young middle grade book (ages 7-10) for a child or grandchild? Enter below to win a print copy of "Tall Tales with Mr. K" (US only) or an ebook copy in the format of your choice from Smashwords (International).

Book description:  The third-graders at Coyote Run Elementary thought the teacher's lounge is where teachers eat candy out of vending machines, watch TV and get to play video games. They didn't expect it to be a tropical island where they are kidnapped by pirates, a circus where they learn the flying trapeze, or a crime scene where they solve a jewelry heist.

Each chapter of this young middle-grade fantasy tells the story of a different student's adventure in the teacher's lounge accompanied by their mysterious new teacher, Mr. K. Only one student, Sam, decides to boldly go into the teacher's lounge by himself where he discovers something completely different yet. 


To enter, fill out the form below. You can have up to three entries:

• Follow this Blog (mandatory) +1 entry
• "Like" KSR Writer on Facebook (optional) +1 entry
• Tweet the link to this blog (optional) +1 entry

Once you're finished, pick a blog from the list below and keep entering more giveaways! This hop runs from Nov. 8-11th. Winners will be announced Saturday, Nov. 12th. Thank you to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Tristi Pinkston for co-hosting this blog hop! Good luck!

--KSR Writer

Meet Tony Piazza, Author of the Mystery "Anything Short of Murder"

This week I'm excited to host mystery writer Tony Piazza, who has strong tries to Hollywood and is the setting of his book "Anything Short of Murder."

Tony will be giving away a free copy of his book to one lucky commenter!

Welcome Tony!

Tell us a little about your background and something interesting about yourself.

I belonged to a modeling/casting agency back in the 1970’s and was hired by numerous film and television companies to work on a variety of productions during that decade.  I landed “background” assignments, silent-bits, bit acting roles, and “stand-in” jobs. My biggest assignment was “The Streets of San Francisco” (5 years) where I was a stand-in for Michael Douglas and his replacement, Richard Hatch. I had a small role on the show as well, and an acting bit in the Clint Eastwood film “Magnum Force.” I have met and worked with Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Mel Brooks, Tony Curtis, and countless other actors and actresses. I even participated in a couple of stunts (car crashes) doubling for actors.

In the eighties I returned to school to earn a degree in Biology and spent about thirty years total after that in the field of Medical Research. I worked primarily in the SF Bay area at UOP, UCSF, and UC Berkeley. My specialty was electron microscopy. My last employment in SF was at the Veteran’s Hospital working with the Chief Pathologist doing biopsy work.

In 2003 my wife and I decided to make the big move (I had been born and raised in SF) to the California Central Coast where in-between acting as assistant to the QA manager at a food tasting lab I started writing.

December of 2010 my long-time dream came true; I published my first book, “Anything Short of Murder”. A murder mystery set in 1930’s Hollywood. March of next year my second book will be published “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon.” I am looking forward to its release. I certainly had fun writing it and believe that enjoyment will be sensed by its readers

I belong to two writer’s organizations; Sister’s in Crime and SLO Night Writers, and have been having a great deal of fun meeting and sharing with my fellow authors.

What is one of your favorite books and why?

I loved “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea” which you probably find surprising for a mystery writer, but it was the first novel I read from cover to cover and it really fired my imagination. Verne was a master of taking you to places that were full of wonder and amazement, and doing it with just the use of words. Interestingly, his travel was very limited. What he used was from his research in a library, but how he presented it made all the difference in the world. His views of science were positive and visionary. I believe it was what influenced me to go into the science field.

 Why did you decide to write this book?

As I mentioned previously it had always been a dream of mine. I fell in love with books at an early age and with that came an urge to write one for myself. I grew up in an age of typewriters and carbon paper, and found (after several earnest attempts) that I didn’t have the patience for re-writes. It was the computer that made the difference, and blogging that became the genesis of my first book. I was writing about my experiences in the motion picture business on the Turner Classic Movie site, and wanting to do something different started a mystery contest where I would create a story and at the end my TCM friends would guess the murderer. I called it REEL MURDER back then, and designed it for the TCM audience who loved classic detective noir faire. I used 1930’s Hollywoodland as the backdrop and filled it with nostalgia and Raymond Chandler like dialogue. They loved it…and I received numerous requests to turn it into a novel. At first I just put them aside as polite comments, but as the number grew I eventually became convinced that perhaps this was my cue to once again make the attempt at accomplishing my old dream. The original serial was in 44 parts, but word wise too short for a novel; so I expanded it…added new characters and action, and changed the ending so that the solution in the blog was different than in the novel. Thus, “Anything Short of Murder” was born, and it has been doing well.  

What was your experience like with self-publishing?

The experience is wonderful. I am working with Dog Ear publications and everyone there has been super. They have really delivered. I chose self-publishing because I didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding an agent, and I definitely did not want to lose my rights. I have a “say so” in every step of the publishing process and I have been satisfied with the results. Percentages of sales are also much greater than those offered by the big six and so I believe I have made a wise choice. Incidentally, time was also an element and that was why I didn’t even bother going to the big guys.

How have you marketed your book?

I have had cover in local and national press. I have placed ads in various media sources, especially those that cater to the mystery genre. I had done personal appearances and book signings at independent booksellers. I also used the social media to get word of my book out.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Seriously, if you are writing to become rich forget it…invest in a franchise! If you love to tell stories and share it with others, than write on. You have to love what you are doing and get joy just out of the fact that other people are reading and enjoying your work. This is the real payoff for a writer. “Anything Short of Murder” is in a bookstore library in Paris, France…how neat is that!

Please provide a favorite excerpt from your book.

I was getting a quick bite at one of those high profile delis on Hollywood boulevard; you know one of those places reputed to cater to the stars. Of course, the only star I ever saw go into this joint was usually attached to the uniform of a beat cop. Anyhow, I was biting into my pastrami, sitting in my usual spot at the counter, when a rather slinky blonde cozies up to my side and whispers something rather encouraging in my ear. It isn’t what you think, but something equally tempting; she offered me fifty dollars in cash. A commodity I have recently been short of. I responded, “Lady, if it’s anything short of murder, I might be interested.”

 I love the excerpt and can't wait to read it! Where can readers find you and your book?

I have my own author’s website www.anythingshortofmurder.com. Also it is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites. It is additionally available in all e-book formats.

Thank you, Tony. It was a pleasure meeting you! Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of "Anything Short of Murder!"

--KSR Writer