The description for your current book, Storming, says it is
“a jaunty historical adventure / dieselpunk mash-up that combines rip-roaring
steampunk adventure and small-town charm with the thrill of futuristic
possibilities.” What made you decide to mix all those genres together?
Honestly, it wasn’t so much a decision as just something
that happened. The story started out as straight historical, set in western
Nebraska in the 1920s, but it soon took a turn into something with a slightly
fantastical bend. I knew from the beginning I wanted it to have a distinct
“summer blockbuster” vibe—an adventurous romp of a story, but one with a lot of
heart.
What do you think makes it work?
As for why it works, it’s deeply grounded in our realistic
world, with only touches here and there of the speculative, and those I tried
to keep realistic in their own right, even as I had fun with them and didn’t
worry too much about the physics and science.
How did you get started in writing?
I started writing when I was twelve and published a small
newsletter throughout high school. I independently published my first novel,
the western A Man Called Outlaw when I was twenty. But I didn’t really take it
seriously as a business until my next book, the medieval historical Behold the
Dawn, came out three years later.
My family has always been incredibly supportive, and I’ve
had many wonderful writing buddies and critique partners who have joined me in
the struggles and joys of the writing life along the way.
Besides writing novels, you’ve also published short stories.
What is the market for short stories? Even though they are not printed books,
you still have to buy a cover, format and market them. With those expenses, how
can you make a profit? Or are they like loss leaders at a grocery store meant
to create interest in your novels?
When I first started writing, I churned out about 120 short
stories in 5 years. Since then, I’ve written hardly any. But I emerged from
that intensive apprenticeship with three shorts in particular that I was proud
of. They were just sitting there, doing nothing, so I decided to throw them
together as little e-books and offer them to my readers for just $.99 apiece.
They obviously aren’t very lucrative, but they’re an easy way for new readers
to gain an introduction to my work
PenForASword Publishing is your own imprint, correct? Why
did you decide to indie publish?
Yes, PenForASword Publishing is mine. As both an
independently and traditionally published author, I’m a proponent of both
publishing venues. Independent publishing has presented authors with previously
unheard of opportunities that should always be taken into consideration and
weighed against the pros and cons of traditional publishing.
However, independent publishing does not guarantee success.
I’ve seen far too many indie authors who jumped into publishing, believing with
all their hearts their books were polished and professional, when they were
anything but.
What pitfalls do you see for those who are new to indie-publishing?
Before opting to self-publish, I always recommend that
authors take that extra moment to be brutally honest with themselves about
their priorities. It's always worthwhile (even crucial) to hire professionals
(especially an editor) to help produce a product that will enhance a career as
an author, rather than tarnish it.
It's also important to realize that even if you do have a
great product, there's no guarantee it will be profitable. I couldn't live off
what I make from my fiction.
That said, self-publishing as a whole has treated me very
well and if you can make it work, I definitely recommend it over a traditional
route.
How do you go about choosing your cover art?
Book cover design is an art unto itself, and one that is
integral to any author’s marketing efforts. Unless you happen to be an expert
in design and marketing (in addition to being an awesome author, of course!),
your book cover probably isn’t something you’re going to want to relegate to
DIY.
I started using the awesome design company Damonza when Structuring
Your Novel came out—and then I immediately had them redo my existing cover for Outlining
Your Novel, so the two books would be visually branded together.
Since then, Damonza has also done the covers for Outlining
Your Novel Workbook, Structuring Your Novel Workbook, Conquering Writer’s
Block and Summoning Inspiration, the updated version of my medieval novel, Behold
the Dawn, as well as Storming, of course.
What makes for a good cover?
I start out by describing the book to them and the general
tone I want to convey to potential readers. They take it from there, and then
we go back and forth until I have something I’m completely happy with.
With all the books on writing in print and eFormat, what makes your
writing tips a must buy?
I’m addressing niche subjects that are in-demand but that
aren’t being covered in much depth elsewhere. I break down complex subjects—such as story structure—into the
smaller pieces of an overall process. I like taking the big picture and
analyzing the different integers that make it work. I think people find that
nitty-gritty approach useful, amidst what is largely a swarm of very general
information.
As writers we’re told that social media is the live blood to
growing an audience and readers. Your blog is listed as one of the 101 Best
Websites for Writers. How did you become so popular? How do you find time to build or find content?
I stumbled into blogging about writing because, hey, every
writer needs a blog, right? And you’re supposed to blog about what you’re
interested in, and that would be…writing. Then one day I woke up, and the blog
had just sort of taken off!
I keep a running list of blog article ideas, and in over six
years, I’ve never run out. Many of my ideas are based on the lessons I’m
learning in writing my own novels; other posts are subjects requested by
readers. They say, “Those who cannot do, teach,” but I don’t think that’s true
at all. When you’re forced to distill thoughts into a teachable form, you learn
so much more from it yourself.
What do you know now about publishing that you wish you knew
sooner?
Probably the biggest bit of advice I would have offered
myself would have been to seriously consider where my blog would be in five
years if it succeeded. By that point, many of the decisions I made in the
beginning were too difficult to change. I wish I’d spent more time considering
my blog title, url, publishing platform (Blogger, Wordpress, etc.),
subscription options, all that stuff. You don’t want to have to make major
changes down the road that might undo some of your hard work in building a
following.
What’s next for you in writing?
I’m currently in the throes of editing my next novel, a
historical superhero story set in Regency London. I’m also getting ready to
start work on several new writing how-to books, including one on character
arcs, which I’ve been getting lots of requests for.
That's it for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about K.M's writing and books, here's some links to get you started.
Thanks for having me!
ReplyDeleteI found this one particularly interesting. Thanks!
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