The Perfect Writing Triangle - Love, Food and Laughter: Author Interview with Barbara Oliverio

I love the sub-title of your book…a tasty romantic comedy. It’s a perfect triangle – what every woman wants –romance, food and laughter. How much of this book is taken from your own life?
Years ago the spark of the idea came from recipes that I actually did collect in my own dating years from relatives of my long-forgotten suitors. My friend Nancy suggested that I write a cookbook with those recipes along with the cherished recipes that I had from my mother. I thought it would be more fun to share the recipes by creating a funny story that incorporated my Italian background, my Catholic faith, and, of course my love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What made you think you could write a novel? I have always been a writer in some form or fashion, ever since I was old enough to put pen to paper. One of my undergraduate degrees was in Journalism, and my professional career has incorporated that training whether it was press releases or web content or curriculum design. I never doubted that if I took a leap of faith that I could write a book of some sort.

In addition, my family is noted for our storytelling abilities -- our motto is "never let the truth get in the way of a good story". While my brothers concentrate on oral storytelling, I think my writing skills naturally led me to creating written fiction.

Who or what encouraged to actually write the book?
It was a latest in a round of layoffs in my last job -- high tech marketing is notoriously volatile -- that made me think that it was the time finally to commit the story that had been germinating to paper. In addition, I looked around at the trend of popular literature and noted that young women, specifically young Catholic women, don't have a lot of role models in popular books. My husband agreed and encouraged me to give voice to Alexandria, a witty interesting "good girl" who lives in today's world..

How many rewrites did you do on it? Who helped you with the editing?
I gave myself a task of writing 1000 words a day, and sometimes rewrote along the way, but after the book was done, I only tweaked portions here and there. I didn't do any major rewrites. My best advice to any author is to hire a professional editor once the work is complete; mine was indispensible.

How did you go about trying to find a publisher? How many sources did you pitch?
At first I pitched the book in the traditional fashion to agents and publishers. I have a very nice collection of responses to my query letters, by the way. To summarize: "Great character development, strong writing, overall good storyline....but....just not what we're looking for right now." After about a year and a half, and many discussions with the real buying public who heard my story concept who said they'd buy a book like this one, I looked into self-publishing as an alternative. I feel that I made the right choice.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? Did you do individual character development before doing the full plot?
I studied my genre (chick-lit) to understand it fully. Then, I created the personas for all of my characters and "interviewed" each of them so that when I wrote them, they could flow naturally from my keyboard. I learned their favorite colors, songs, foods, where they grew up, etc. In addition, I made a chart of how each one knew each other so that I didn't accidently create illogical discussions.

Then I did a basic outline. At THAT point, I started writing 1000 words a day of the actual story. Occasionally, my characters would take me down a path I didn't plan and I'd let them. Sometimes that turned out better than the original plan and sometimes I'd have to back them out of that path.

What has surprised or frustrated you the most in marketing your book? With a background in marketing, I knew that I wasn't going to just be able to launch the book and wait for the people to rush to buy it, so I'm not totally surprised by the amount of work that I am putting in to publicize it. I also understand that the markeing mix includes many avenues.

My only slight frustration is when people who promise to review it don't follow through. This industry (along with movies, etc.) depends on reviews.

What type of promotion has worked best for you so far in generating sales? 
My best sales came from my book launch party where I sold out of the stock that I brought to the party -- nearly 100 books. I also did a giveaway for a Kindle at the party to collect names/emails for a mailing list.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
Hmm. Perhaps I would have started the marketing earlier, but before the work actually was published I think I didn't want to over promise. Now that I look back on it, there was nothing that was going to stand in the way of this book being published.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing you would like to pass along?
Two pieces of advice stay with me:

1) If you are going to be a writer, READ. Read everything you can get your hands on. Learn from the best, but don't be afraid to read other things as well.

2) If you self publish, invest in a great professional editor and a great professional cover designer. Don't believe people when they say that homemade is just as good -- you are competing with the big houses and you need to look like you fit in.

Are there any other books in the works that you would like to tell my readers about?
I'm working on the sequel to this book, title to be decided, which follows Alexandria's best friend and her story. In addition, I am working on a YA novel and another comedic novel.

Hope this has whetted your appetite to learn more about Barbara's writing and maybe even buy her book. Here's a few links to help you along the way.

Facebook     Barbara's Website      Amazon       Goodreads

From a Nothing to an Author: Author Interview with E.V. Anderson

Writing a memoir is so different than writing a novel as you are exposing who you are. What made you decide to bring your past into the open for others to scrutinize?

I began writing Tales of a New Jersey Nothing as a form of catharsis. My brother passed away about ten years ago, and I’d never fully processed his death. Truth is, I hated him for most of my life, because he was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and treated me horribly for many years. It wasn’t until right before his death that we reached a sort of understanding—but it was too late. The memoir is ultimately about forgiveness, and moving on. 

 

As far as publishing the book goes, I hadn’t really considered it until a few friends read it and said, “You’ve got to put this out.” I didn’t consider the whole “scrutiny” part until the book came out last month, and people who’d read it said, “Um, Ervin, you sure didn’t hold back, did you?” No, I didn’t. 

 

Why did you think your story would resonate with others? 

As I wrote the book, I began to include other things, like my own issues with drugs, my first love, and my dreams of rising up from a troubled childhood and making something of my life. I think the themes of the book are universal: family, love, loss, so I do believe others can relate. There’s also quite a bit of humor, as well, to balance out the heavy stuff. My life so far has been both tragedy and comedy, so it’s all in there.

How long did it take you to write the first draft? How many rewrites did you do on it? Who helped you with the editing?

The first draft was written very quickly. It took maybe three months. The words just poured out of me. I’ve been tinkering with it every few months for the past five years. I can’t say how many drafts it went through, because I never really stopped working in it—until last month when I released it. As far as the editing goes, I’m very lucky. My amazing girlfriend, Julia Lee, just happens to have a fancy English degree, and did the editing for me. She’s a peach!

Did you try the normal route to find a traditional publisher to handle your book? When did you decide to self-publish?

I was lucky in that I just had my first novel, The Many Lives of Lilith Lane, co-published by Plympton and Amazon Publishing late last year. Plympton publishes only serial fiction at this point, so my memoir wasn’t something they’d handle. I also felt, since this book is so personal, that it would be best to publish it myself. I wanted to maintain full control over it, so I didn’t really pursue any traditional publishers. Having published a novel by traditional means already, and having gained “some” fans, it seemed like the perfect time to release the memoir.

For those who haven’t marketed their own book, how do you actually put it together – ie. layout, cover design, input to various online sources, promotions, etc?

I have a very good writer friend who’d gone through the process already, and she helped me along the way. Once again, when it came to putting the book together—cover, layout, formatting, etc.—my girlfriend Julia was invaluable. I couldn’t have done it without her. And I must say, I think my self-published paperback memoir looks just as good as my traditionally-published novel. 

 

There are, for those who don’t have a brilliant partner to help, many downloadable, cheap books available that explain exactly how to get your work ready for self-publishing.

 

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? 

I’m not big on outlining. I’m with Stephen King in this camp. I start with a general idea, and then see where it takes me, or where the characters take me. Tales of a New Jersey Nothing began as a blog, and I wrote it out of order. One day, I’d write about an incident that happened when I was five. The next day, I’d write about something that happened when I was twenty. Eventually, I put the chapters in order, made sure it all made sense, and voilà, a memoir was born. 

What type of publicity/promotion has worked best for you in generating sales?

Regarding promotion, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing! Seriously. I’m still learning. But the free giveaway of the Kindle version on Amazon certainly brought in a lot of readers for the book, which can result in reviews, word-of-mouth, and good mojo. And, hey, if anyone out there has some great marketing tips of their own, feel free to send them my way!

 

Of course, I use Twitter and Facebook the best I can, and just ran a Goodreads promotion, which certainly helped. I also sent word to many fans of my novel, hoping they’d want to check out the memoir. Ultimately, though, I think Tales of a New Jersey Nothing will live or die by word-of-mouth. And for word-of-mouth to happen, the book has to touch people. I believe it will. Cross your fingers.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?

That it’s impossible. Still, even if I’d known that all along, it would not have deterred me. I’m a writer. If I go a day without writing, I feel bad about myself. I can’t help but write. Yes, it’s impossible, but so worth it.

 

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?

Just write, and don’t let rejection stop you. I think the difference between writers who succeed and writers who don’t is, in most cases, simply determination. I’d been writing for more than a decade before having any real success. Some writers give up if they don’t achieve the success they think they deserve within a year or two. If you say you’re a writer, if you believe you’re a writer, just write, and do it for yourself and no one else. Do it because you can’t imagine not writing.

To learn more about Ervin and his writing, here are the links to get you in touch...

Amazon -to buy          Facebook page           Goodreads

 

Writing with Grace: An Interview with Christian Fiction Author, Allison Pittman

You’ve now published several books by large publishing houses. What was the first thing that you wrote that got published?

My very first publication was a devotional compilation…and I totally don’t remember the name of the book. I know my mother has it proudly displayed on her book case, though! 

When did you decide to start writing a novel? 

My initial desire as a writer was to have a column in a Christian magazine, taking on family topics, etc. Then I learned I’d never have a column if I didn’t have a history as an article writer. Well, free-lance article writing is way too complicated for me! Deadlines and queries and follow-ups and such. No, no. 

When I won a copy of Eve’s Daughters by Lynn Austin at a writers conference. I’d never read a Christian novel before, and I knew halfway in that I wanted to pursue writing Christian fiction. I had no idea such a thing existed. I started my first novel, Ten Thousand Charms, and had an editor request it the following year. 

Unfortunately, my confidence didn’t match his, and it would be 3 more years before I would finally finish writing it. I’m so glad Rod Morris (now at Harvest House, but then with Multnomah) didn’t give up on me!

You now speak at conferences, but what encouraged you most about being an attendee at a conference? Is there any one person you met who really inspired you to write?

Oh, my goodness. Rod Morris, as I mentioned earlier, was a huge source of encouragement. And James Scott Bell. I remember weeping with him at a breakfast table, and his pep talk to me is now featured in The Art of War for Writers. (I’m the “young woman” referenced on page 50.) And then, of course, my agent, Bill Jensen, who is such a risk taker! He’s signed some very exciting new writers, and I really think we’re in for a beautiful new wave in CBA fiction!

What advice do you have for someone who is attending their first conference?

I think the best advice for someone attending a conference for the first time is this: listen. Don’t be afraid to sit on your comment or question in a presentation—you don’t want to be the person who gets the conversation off-track. Wait until the end, and if you issue hasn’t been addressed, follow up with an email to the presenter after the conference. I know that sounds harsh (and, you know me…I’m a pretty blunt person!), but I honestly believe in the power of absorption. 

Listen close, and you’ll hear the Holy Spirit filling in those silent places, showing you exactly where this information fits into the plans the Lord has for you.If you’ve submitted your work for a critique, listen. You’ve paid for this advice, listen to it. Now, listen doesn’t mean heed, necessarily. But don’t waste time arguing and defending. Listen, absorb, apply what works for you and toss what doesn’t.

You write Christian themed historical romance. How would you describe that genre?

Of my nine novels, I only have a couple (Ten Thousand Charms, Lilies in Moonlight, and my fall release All for a Story) that are technically romances, meaning, the establishing and growing the romantic relationship between the two lead characters is the main focus of the story—taking them from strangers to Happily Ever After, and so on. I’m much more drawn to the historical element, and a woman’s place within that time period. 

Is there any specific time frame you like to write about?

Not really. In my first series, The Crossroads of Grace books (Multnomah), I had these women in my head, and I had to decide which would be the best setting for their story. Then, I latch on to things…I went on a historical baseball binge, and realized there were no books featuring baseball players, and set out to fix that. The third book in that series, Lilies in Moonlight made me fall in love with the 20’s, and launched the idea for my current series. Tyndale approached me about writing a novel set in the early Mormon church, and Camilla and Nathan Fox (from For Time and Eternity) were born. 

What type of research do you do for these stories?

It varies. I did get to go to Salt Lake City for a week to do my Mormon research, and wandering among the Pioneer Women’s museum was heartbreaking and enlightening. But, I’ve found so much available online. I took a lovely virtual tour of the hotel featured in All for a Song. I’ve stumbled upon travel blogs that give me great ideas for details. Now that I’m working largely in the 20th century, I love looking at vintage advertising to get a feel for what these people saw in the most ordinary of circumstances. I like ordinary, real, private sources. Letters, journals, yearbooks—real people, never realizing they would ever be a part of history. 

Tell me a specific book you've used?

I bought a 1912 math book for $3 in a basement used book store. That kid—she never knew how it would be featured a century later in a novel about a girl her own age sent to prison for… well, that book’s coming out next year!

How long does it take you to write a book today as opposed to your first novel?

The first novel took years, because I had no deadline. I sold it as an unfinished manuscript, though, and had to write like the Dickens to get it done! Which, I have to say, pretty much sums up my writing style now. My contracts usually allow about 8 months. And I need every minute of every day. 

How many times do you rewrite a chapter or do a full edit?

I never rewrite a chapter until an editor tells me to. Part of why I’m a slow writer is because I totally don’t subscribe to that notion of getting it down and going back to make it pretty. I agonize over sentences. I’ll write half a page in half a minute and then spend 20 minutes on a line of dialogue. I wait for the perfect word to come. 

When I do my edit before turning it in, I clean it up, of course…looking for repetition (usually missing it…), or discovering gaps I need to fill in. Inconsistencies, things like that. I add, but I don’t change or delete much. I don’t trust myself. I’d never declare it finished. I’ve been blessed with the best editors who will say, “um…you need to cut this” or “hey! Let’s add a scene where…” and I’ll go along with what they say, with a heart full of gratitude.

  

How long does it take for a writer to write exclusively and not hold down a second job?

That depends entirely upon how attached they are to a roof and food. Seriously, if you’re talking about “writing exclusively,” that can’t really mean writing your fiction exclusively. It would mean writing articles and blog posts for a paying market to not only supplement your income, but to constantly grow an audience.  In the world of traditional publishing, advances are getting smaller and royalties are getting rarer. With self-publishing, you’ve got to be prepared to be a professional marketer to move your books either off the shelves or onto e-readers. 

The thing with writing? It’s not always dependable. Like, I’ve had great ideas that I loved and my agent loved and my editor loved…but someone in Sales, not so much. So, months after writing my proposal and tentatively planning the luxuries I would buy with the advance (Nutella, a fancy spiral, maybe socks…), I find out it’s not a go. Or, you write a couple of books that are fabulous enough to be finalists for CBA’s highest award, yet they don’t sell through. 

Bottom line: you cannot, cannot go into this business thinking that your reward will be of the monetary world. This is something you do to glorify God in the way that He has gifted you. You trust Him to meet your needs, and He will not fail you. However, His way of meeting your needs might be by getting you that part-time job at Panera Bread. Which would be awesome.

How much does social media play in your promotion of your books?

Oof! I. am. the. worst. As my publicist will no doubt testify. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all over facebook letting the whole world know what I’m making for dinner, or what my cat just did, or what people should and shouldn’t do with their money or their bodies or their time…but then it’s like, “Oh, yeah…Hey! Buy my book!” I have wonderful friends who are such strong supporters and promoters for my books, and I cherish them!! I really can’t think of anyone worse to give advice in this area. Let me just say, follow Michael Hyatt on twitter. @MichaelHyatt Seriously. It’s everything you need to know!

What do you know now about writing, that you wished you had known sooner?

Wow… that is a fabulous question. I think for me, it comes down to the fact that, since I had a relatively easy time selling my first novel, I figured everything after that would be just fine. Like, if I wanted to write it, then somebody would want to publish it. Every rejection I’ve ever had came after my first sale. So, I wish I’d had a more realistic outlook, maybe? I also wish I’d had a better handle on passive voice. And, I wish I hadn’t used the character name “Delano” on my least-read book.

What is the best advice you’re been given about writing?

It comes back to that conversation with James Scott Bell. He illustrated the writing industry like a pyramid. At the base is every “Wannabe” writer out there—those that think that maybe, someday, they might sit themselves down and try to write a story. At the tippity-top is the person who, like your earlier question, makes a living by writing. A.K.A. Max Lucado. “Your job…is to keep moving up the pyramid. Each level presents its own challenges, so concentrate on the ones right in front of you. As you move up, you’ll notice there are fewer people, not more.” (James Scott Bell, The Art of War for Writers, Writer’s Digest Books, 2009).

I think that Christian writers need to write out of a sense of obedience. God has given you a voice and a story and the means to put them together. The act of writing is a miracle. Practice it.

Great words from Allison on her life and inspiration as a writer! I personally know her from one of the writing groups where I am a member. If you are not a member of a writing/critique group, find one. It's a great way to interact with other writers and improve your writing.

To learn more about Allison and her writing, here are two links...

http://www.allisonpittman.com/      http://apittman-crossroads.blogspot.com/

Writing at any Age, Guest Blog Post from John Yeoman

Today I am turning over my blog to John Yeoman who writes The Wicked Writing Blog and runs the Writer’s Village website. He has two MA’s and a PhD in Creative Writing and has been writing and publishing for decades. Now here’s John in his own words…

If your novel has been banging on agents’ doors for years and got nowhere take heart from Berwick Coates, an English author who this week nailed down a $130,000 deal and a two-book contract at age 80.

His historical thriller The Last Conquest was snapped up by one of the world’s largest publishers Simon & Schuster after Coates had failed to impress agents with several previous novels. “They were clearly not being read,” he said.

A retired history teacher, Coates succeeded only when he caught the eye of agent Jim Gill, who was recommended to him by a fellow author. Now Coates is finishing his second novel The Last Viking and can hope to see both in book stores at an age when most authors might have given up or resorted to vanity publishing.

There’s nothing new about novelists in their Silver Age gaining a major publishing deal. P D James recently published her 19th novel at age 93. But it’s almost unprecedented for a debut author. Only Mary Wesley, whose debut novel The Camomile Lawn was published in 1984, comes close to Coates in age but she was merely 72 at the time.

As authors, what can we learn from Coates’ success?

1. Coates persisted with what he loved best.
After repeated failures with historical fiction he was urged by his son to write a contemporary novel replete with “sex and violence”. It too flopped. So he returned to what he knew and loved. And won.

2. He was introduced to an agent by an established author.
That’s the ideal route. “Mary Brown, whom you represent, suggested I approach you.” Any personal introduction is better than a cold call. (No doubt Jim Gill will now be overwhelmed by debut novelists who start their cover letters with a reference to Berwick Coates.)

3. Any age is the right age to submit a novel.
Carolyn Gill had her first best-selling novel Don’t Knock The Corners Off published at age 14. Susan Hill was an established name before her 18th birthday. But old authors often have the advantage of being able to exhume a dozen previous failures from their sock drawer, resubmit them and see them lauded in reviews - once their debut work has achieved success.

Coates’ achievement also highlights the wisdom of pursuing the traditional agent-publisher route, unless you can devote 18 hours a day to selling your novel yourself. Success in self-publishing lies 10% in talent, 90% in marketing. Perhaps Coates realized that, at age 80, he no longer had the energy to promote a self-published eBook with the passion of a John Locke, Amanda Hocking or Hugh Howie.

Moral: Keep knocking on agents’ doors. Write several novels. Then you can choose which you submit via the traditional route and which you self-publish. Sell a million eBooks under your own imprint and publishers will come knocking on your door.

John provides wonderful tips on his website and blog. He even offers FREE courses in writing. If you would like to learn more about writing, here's the link to his website  http://www.writers-village.org/