Be an enthusiast! Author Interview with Aaron Ryan

Many authors first novels don't get published because once we get past our egos we realize it doesn't make the grade or we can't find a reason to finish them. Your bio says that your first novel, The Omega Room, was abandoned. Do you ever think you'll go back to rewrite it? Or does it just not fit your writing style today?
It’s not outside of the realm of possibility, surely. It was a good book! Honestly, The Omega Room is something of an apparition anymore…I don’t really remember much of it except for snippets. 

It was an adventure story of four youths who get sucked into something too big for them, a renegade military operation or something of the kind, and I do seem to remember being influenced by Die Hard 2, the movie, at the time. Some rogue leader decides to abscond with technology not his own, for his own nefarious purposes, and the kids get caught in the crossfire. You would think I would remember more, as I had over 300 pages of it at one time, but I was a kid who didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, and so he foolishly deleted it and moved on. I wish I could remember more. Perhaps one day I’ll try to resurrect it.

That book was written back in the 90s but you didn't start publishing your saga until 2023. In the intervening time, you wrote nonfiction books and poetry. What made you decide to come back to writing a novel? What inspired you to write a sci-fi post-apocalyptic series?
I’m primarily motivated to be a fiction novelist, so that’s where my heart lies. I don’t think I’ll be writing any more business books, unless I’m sorely mistaken. My heart really truly lies with Dissonance, with Forecast, with other ideas that I’ve conjured up. I think my business guidance days are behind me. I’ve greatly enjoyed them, but I’m much more focused on the creative pursuits now. I have my business running exactly how I want it to and I’m able to maintain all the business that I do. Overall however, I just want to tell a good story. I’ve always been a storyteller, and I love telling good stories: mine or otherwise.

What type of research do you do for your books? Tell me about the process.
The best example I can mention here is Dissonance Volume III: Renegade. I did a tremendous amount of research for that book, because I wanted it to be militarily accurate. I talked with a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF, retired Army chopper pilot, two senior airmen in the USAF, as well as a retired 35-year captain of an aircraft carrier. Aside from Google Street and Satellite views, Reddit, Quora, and other forum-based sites where military people chime in from time to time, those folks were invaluable in helping me attain verisimilitude throughout the novel. 

For the preceding ones, I talked to denizens of the areas where those books are set, both for APSU/Harvill Hall for Dissonance Volume I: Reality, and Mammoth Cave in Dissonance Volume II: Reckoning. I needed ‘boots on the ground’ intel to provide me with support in structuring a believable narrative in all cases. And as my characters thread their way throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and the North Atlantic, I assimilated so much data from Google Satellite view: it was just indispensable. In fact, I recently took a sort of ‘pilgrimage’ there to walk where my characters walked, to actually see where my stories were set. It was truly eye-opening, validating much of what I had constructed…along with helping me fix some terrain errors as well. Overall, Google has been my best friend throughout all my novels, although whoever is watching will probably assume I’m a terrorist. 😊

How much does social media play in your promotion of your books? What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I do a ton. Vendor markets, craft fairs and trade shows, book signings at local bookstores, book signing/sales parties, organic social media posts, TikTok ads, Facebook ads, IG ads, and of course Amazon ads, vinyl lettering on my car, T-shirt and custom author apparel, book reviewers/influencers, appearing on podcasts and in book review articles or interview articles, promotions through Written Word Media, Fussy Librarian, CraveBooks, BookRaid, Book Barbarian, etc., YouTube videos, SoundCloud videos of my audiobooks, local networking, maintaining an active website, my blog, etc.......and the best part, just writing more books! 😊

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

That self-publishing is truly the way to go. So much so that I self-published a book on…self-publishing! People tend to get scared off by the ‘specter’ of marketing and self-publishing, but it’s actually a lot easier than you think. It’s the marketing in particular that frightens people, but the best advice I can give to that end is don’t be a marketer. Be an enthusiast. It’s absolutely and fundamentally different. With marketing comes pressure to make a sale. But enthusiasm is infectious and contagious. People hop on board the enthusiasm bandwagon and support you. 

I also wish I knew more about agents and getting one. I have five voiceover agents. But getting a literary agent is definitely harder. I’m trying to get one for my new novel, ‘Forecast.’ It’s been a fruitless pursuit so far. Also, with writing, early on I fell prey to the imitation game, trying to sound and flow like Tolkien. Big mistake. There is only one Tolkien. It’s okay to tip the hat to, or pay homage to a certain author or inspiration with occasional nods, and to emulate…but not to duplicate.

What surprised you the most in a good way in writing your novels? What’s been the most frustrating?
I’m a pantster by nature: I write organically and prefer to let the story develop rather than stick completely to a bullet-point list of absolute mile markers. I like to write organically that way. And when I do that, I’m always pleasantly surprised at how well everything has worked out in the end…something I just ‘happened’ to write in the beginning without really knowing the bearing it would have on the story at a later point became indispensable and critical. The most frustrating thing is finding typos and errors committed by me, not caught by me, and not caught by my editor, at the audiobook narration phase, which is the last phase. I have to go back and fix all those, and that can be irritating. I do like to put out a good offering that is error-free.

What is the best advice you've been given about writing or that you've learned that you would like to pass along?
The marketing vs. enthusiast is the biggest one, I believe. But noy, there are so many mistakes authors make. They don’t charge enough. They give their books away for free. They try to copy. They use AI. They don’t treat authoring like a business. They don’t have a mantra. They don’t operate by goals. They get stuck in imposter syndrome. Ultimately, this is a journey that requires a huge mindset shift if you want to be successful. I’m loving every minute of it, evn whe the sales are down for whatever reason, or I’m in between book signing gigs. It’s an amazing experience, it really is. Treat it as such…always.

What other works do you have in the process?
I’m presently writing the sixth installment in the Dissonance series, entitled Dissonance Volume IV: Relentless. It follows Dissonance Volume III: Renegade. But I’m not done with Forecast yet…every time I try to dive back into it, I get bungee-sucked right back into the world of Dissonance once more. I tried after Volume III, and get sucked back into writing Revelation. Then I tried again, and got sucked back in writing Rising. Then I tried once more and now I’m writing Relentless. It’s just something about the Letter R, I guess! 😊 Seriously though, with Forecast – once I get back to it – it’s going to take some diving back in time and remembering what the world of 2001 was like prior to 9/11. So much has changed. I have to unlearn what I have learned, to quote Yoda.

Are there any other points about writing you’d like to cover?
The Dissonance series is the best thing I’ve ever written, by far. It is loaded with heart and thematic depth. Justice vs. revenge. Cynicism vs. trust. Snarkiness vs. maturity. Renegade vs. obedience. Forcing vs. allowing. And ultimately, that man is always the worst enemy of man.

When you realize that, the aliens in my stories become little more than a nuisance. We are always our own worst enemies, and it takes cooperation, surrendering of pride, and willingness to work together with each other, despite rank, background, beliefs, pride, etc., to get things done. Overall, I just really desired to tell a compelling story of adventure, terror, horror, loss, and victory. I’ve accomplished that. 😊

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Aaron's books, here are some links to get you started.
Author Website: https://authoraaronryan.com/
Dissonance books: https://dissonancetheseries.com/ or  https://getthesebooks.com/ 
Social media links: https://dot.cards/authoraaronryan
Aauthor group: authoraaronryangroup.com
Goodreads: authoraaronryanreads.com
Amazon: authoraaronryanbooks.com

If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, here are 3 eBooks that are currently F-R-E-E on Amazon. Not sure how long the sale lasts, so check them out ASAP!

https://www.amazon.com/Nemesis-Post-Apocalyptic-Survival-Crimson-Prequel-ebook/dp/B08V4TR67Q

https://www.amazon.com/Desolation-Post-Nuclear-Survival-David-Lucin-ebook/dp/B07P7TH3QB

https://www.amazon.com/Turbulent-Post-Apocalyptic-Survival-Thriller-ebook/dp/B07R4CQXHK/

Engaging the Middle-Grade Reader with Fun & Adventure: Author Interview with John Krause

What made you choose writing books for middle-grade readers? 
I love middle-grade fiction because, as an author, I can really do anything (within reason for the age group, of course.) For instance, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory simply wouldn't work if the finders of the golden tickets were grown-ups. In my favorite book, The Phantom Tollbooth, the story's hero, Milo, is magically whisked away to an enchanted land of words and numbers. This story only works because Milo is a kid.

How did you come up with your lead charact, Pudge Amazon's  name
When my kids were younger, and it was time for bed, I would say, "Time to get ready for bed. Get your pajamas on. Puh-jamaz-on. Pudge Amazon. Hey, that would be a great name for a character!" That name stayed in my head for years until I was ready to write the book. Pudge Amazon just happens to be an 11-year-old in fifth grade, which means his adventures had to be written for the middle-grade reader.

How do you get in the mindset for that age group? 
My youngest child has given me story ideas and helped shape plot points. They were an early reader of my first Pudge novel, but have since grown out of the middle-grade reading level. I suppose I'll need to find a new 8 to 11-year-old coach.

Author David Farland says that middle-grade stories must have the following five elements: wonder, humor, horror, adventure, and mystery. The Goosebumps and Harry Potter books have been so successful because they perfectly blend these elements. I have not yet found that perfect formula, but keeping these elements in mind helps me include settings and characters that readers will enjoy and helps me weed out things that don't meet those five criteria.

Is Pudge your alter ego?
Yes, Pudge Amazon is my alter-ego. Pudge is spontaneous, adventurous, and loud. He dives in without first checking for rocks. I am introverted and cautious. The only thing we share is our sense of humor.

You are an indie author. Other than writing, what other parts of the process do you personally do? What do you hire others to do?
I've learned how to do interior formatting using Adobe InDesign. Although the software has a steep learning curve, I do love the flexibility that InDesign offers, and I'm satisfied with the final product. There are other book formatting softwares on the market, and I may try them in the future. However, for the Pudge Amazon books, since I want the interior formatting to be consistent across all the books in the series, I'll be sticking with InDesign.

I've also designed my own "sell sheet" for each book - a one-page info sheet with the book's cover, blurb, ISBN, page count, etc. that I use to pitch to schools for author visits.

I do hire out the editing and cover design. I do a considerable amount of self-editing, and I am a member of two writing critique groups that help tremendously with story development. However, I wouldn't dream of releasing the Pudge stories out to the world without the guiding hand and critical eye of my professional editor.

I may be an artist with words, but I am by no means an artist with brush and pen. I was lucky to find cover artist and designer Nathalie Kranich to bring Pudge and his friends to life on the book covers.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
I do wish I had created more pre-publication buzz before I hit the publish button. I did a few things to generate interest and excitement: a website, a newsletter, and a launch party. My first novel, Pudge Amazon and the Ugly Ostrich, didn't launch to crickets - I had a few buyers - but I could have done more to generate a larger following beforehand. Now that I have three books published - a series - my focus over the next few months will be marketing my books.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
It's not writing advice, per se, but the best advice I have received is from author Seth Godin in his book Linchpin: "If you want to produce things on time and on budget,...work until you run out of time or run out of money. Then ship."

"Ship" for an author means "publish." My books will never be perfect. I can self-edit, proofread, and agonize whether or not the story is "good enough." Instead, I set a publication date, work as hard as I can on the book until that date, then publish it and move on to the next book.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Perhaps the second-best writing advice I've received is from author Jeff Gerke, who says that the number-one objective of a novelist is to get readers to keep turning pages. There are myriad writing craft "rules." Yes, I strive to continually improve my writing craft. But even if I follow all the "rules" of grammar, syntax, and plot structure, if I don't have a compelling story with interesting characters that keeps you reading for "just one more chapter," then all those rules are meaningless.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I have three more stories planned in the Pudge Amazon series. The next book is titled Pudge Amazon and the Caribbean Cruise Caper, which may still be a year away from publication.
Pudge's mother wins a Caribbean cruise in a contest. Pudge is enjoying the pool and buffet until his grandmother's priceless diamond necklace is stolen. With the help of two new friends he meets on the ship, Pudge embarks on wild misadventures in search of the necklace before the ship returns to port.

That's all for today's interview. Thank you for all your great insights on writing and publishing. Hope you will check out his website and Amazon page to discover all of his books.
Website: https://www.johnkrausebooks.com/
Amazon sales page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Krause/author/B0CDLML7HH

And here's a bonus tip for my readers... Sign up for his newsletter on his website and get a FREE eBook story,  Pudge Amazon and the Lost Lunch

From a Dream to a Book: Author Interview with Steve Physioc

You were a baseball sportscaster for decades starting with high school teams then moving up the ladder to the pro teams. However, you wrote two books about Italy during WWII before you wrote your baseball books. What inspired you to write that first book?
While vacationing in Italy in 2006, my wife and I were staying at a bed and breakfast on a farmstead in Southern Tuscany. One night I had a vivid dream of a great walled city and two families struggling to produce a great wine. Instead of going back to sleep, I got up and wrote down the outline of my dream. I told my wife about the dream the next day and then we continued our Italian tour to Florence and Venice, Viareggio, etc. One week after the dream we were to meet three other couples in the town of Lucca. 

As we were driving towards Lucca, I saw the walls and exclaimed, "These are the walls from my dream! If you turn left you'll go by a portal where we can enter and there'll be a market and church from my dream!" Sure enough, they were all there and I was fascinated by both the dream and inspiration. 

I bought a book about the history of Lucca and developed my story...Two families trying to produce a great wine during Italy's dark days of WW1, the rise of fascism and Mussolini. It took me 12 years to write The Walls of Lucca and the sequel, Above the Walls, but was blessed to have both books win the Readers' Favorite award for Best Historical Fiction in 2018 and 2019.

How did I go about plotting the WW2 mystery? 

As a long-time sports broadcaster I'm used to doing exhaustive research for my games, so staying true to not only my story but accurate in every detail was critical. What led to Italy entering WW1? Why did they choose fascism over democracy? Why did the King and Pope cave to Mussolini? How did those decisions affect the citizens and agricultural workers of Italy? Why did Mussolini join forces with Hitler? And, can love be found in the ruins of war? Ya gotta have a gripping story of protagonists and antagonists, don't ya? The Walls of Lucca and Above the Walls are both love stories and historical fiction. 

In my research, I found an anti-war speech given by Mussolini in August of 1914, then discovered a pro-war speech by Mussolini from December of 1914. What changed in the four months between speeches? Why did he go from anti-war to pro-war? After much research I discovered that Benito found out that Italian politicians were having discussions with France and England about Italy leaving the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria and joining forces. Mussolini was a chameleon...whatever way the winds of power were blowing, he went that way...and eventually his con-artistry led to his ruling Italy. 

Why didn't you write a baseball story first?

I actually had the idea for Walks with the Wind and Catching the Wind much earlier than my Italian stories. But, I didn't put pen to paper until I was finished with The Walls of Lucca series. Walks with the Wind is the story of a young man's vision quest. Yes, a quest to make it to the Major Leagues, but also to become the man he was meant to be. Walks has no definitive genre. It's a baseball/action-adventure/political/spiritual/family saga of a Native American boy's faith journey. I'm a person who believes we're spiritual beings having a human experience and all my stories have a spiritual edge to them. I was blessed to have Walks with the Wind win the Writer's Digest Grand Prize in 2021 for self-published e-books.

What's worked best for you in marketing your books? 

I have no idea. I built a web page, Steve Physioc.com.  I've tried social media advertising, I've hired marketing people to help me, but since I just recently retired from sports broadcasting, I now can finally investigate getting an agent and learning more about the crazy book marketing world.

What is the best advice you could give about writing?

Show, don't tell. Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Show, don't tell. And, don't give up. Keep writing...even if you think it sucks...keep writing.

Are there any other points about writing  you would like to add?

Read good authors. Diana Gabaldon of Outlander fame is one of my favorites. I think she's brilliant. I also enjoy Kristin Hannah, Sue Monk Kidd, Jodi Picoult, Vince Flynn, Anthony Doerr, Elena Ferrante, Nicholas Sparks, Kenneth Roberts, Marianne Williamson, etc. Reading good authors leads to good writing.

When is the next book coming out? 

2025. I'm going back to WW2 Italy. Another lovestory/historicalfiction. It's inspired by a true story that happened at the Farneta Monastery in September of 1944, and dedicated to the women of the Italian Resistance. I just finished my first draft, now go through my personal editing process before handing it off to my brilliant developmental editor, Nicole Ayers, for her to tear apart and tell me what I need to strengthen my storyline or make my characters more powerful. She's awesome!

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Steve's writing, here are some links to get you started. 

Website: https://www.stevephysioc.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steve-Physioc/author/B07GNV2SPY

And here's a bonus for my readers... If you like reading historical fiction about WWII, here are 2 free eBooks currently available for free on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Auschwitz-Protocol-Sikora-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B09FKRT751

https://www.amazon.com/American-Wife-Heart-wrenching-unputdownable-Diplomats-ebook/dp/B0BSH828Y9

Mixing It Up with Multiple Genres: Author Interview with Vikki Kestell

You have definitely proven yourself as an author with multiple books in different genres that you have published. What inspired you to write that first book?
I wrote my first book, A Rose Blooms Twice, during one of the darkest periods of my life. It was 1987-1988. I had a notebook and wrote in it everywhere I went. In three months I had a complete story—and was amazed.

I didn’t publish that first book until 2012—twenty-five years later. I would say to new indie authors that this long wait proved to me that our great God never wastes anything.

At what time did you think you could make a career of it?
It was after I’d written and published three additional books in the series that I started thinking, “I could do this full-time.”

You’re an indie author, which means you’re in charge of everything from writing to publishing and marketing. Other than writing, what other parts of the process do you personally do or hire others to do?
I have, on occasion, used cover designers, but design most of my own covers. The only part of the process I always contract out is the proofreading. I have two dear team members, Greg McCann and Cheryl Adkins, who see my writing as I do: as ministry. They have been with me for more than ten years. I not only value their work and input, I know I could not do this work without them. They are truly heaven-sent!

How do you go about doing research for your books to make them believable – especially when the storyline is tech related?
I have a five-book spy series, Laynie Portland, but my first thriller was Stealthy Steps, book 1 in my seven-book Nanostealth series. At the time I conceptualized Stealthy Steps, I worked for the Department of Defense’s Nuclear Weapons School on Kirtland Air Force Base here in Albuquerque. Among other things, the school taught military personnel how to respond to nuclear or dirty bomb attacks.

Part of the school’s instruction was conducted in the old Manzano Weapons Storage Facility where much of the nation’s nuclear stockpile was once stored. The Manzano facility is composed of a labyrinth of tunnels and hardened warehouses carved into a small mountain located on the base. The first time I set foot in the tunnels I thought, “This would be a great setting for a book!”

Nanostealth relies upon a strong science/technology “backbone.” Plausibility makes for good sci-fi; emerging real technology makes for great sci-fi. So much of the technology of this series is both emerging and plausible, which makes for a very suspenseful storyline!

My husband Conrad and I worked together on many aspects of the research on Stealthy Steps. It was a totally new and enjoyable experience for the two of us to throw around plot possibilities and come up with new twists and new terminology. We even took field trips to determine exactly where my heroine would go under the Air Force base’s perimeter fence and how she would defeat the PIDAS (perimeter intrusion detection and alarm system) and enter the tunnels. Those field trips were fun!

I also did many online searches on the Manzano weapons storage facility (particularly looking for maps) and asked questions of old colleagues who would have more information than I did. After a few calls, I was referred to the head office in DC. (Translation? I asked too many questions about classified stuff.)

Because of the online searches and the questions I asked, because I used to hold DOE and DOD security clearances, and because of our visits to the base perimeter (which is under video surveillance), my husband and I started to wonder when the FBI would show up at our door to ask what we were doing. 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
The wonderful reviews and emails from my readers! So many of them have read and re-read my books. An author knows she’s “done good” when her readers re-read her books!

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
For several years I made the first books in my series free and bought BookBub Featured Deals to advertise those free books. However, the market has changed since COVID. At first, people who were quarantined read more and bought more books. At this point, however, I believe the economy has impacted enough readers that they can no longer afford to buy as many books. I still offer free books (Stealth Genesis, Laynie Portland, Spy Rising, and A Rose Blooms Twice). I hope they are a blessing to new readers.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
My best writing advice is this: Pray. Pray each day before you begin to write. Ask the Holy Spirit not only to lead and guide your writing but also anoint it with his power. Submit all your plans to him, and let him lead you.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I’ve just started a brand-new series, The Tahoe Mysteries (A Miss Finch Novel). The first book, coming out later this year, is #1 with a Bullet. Here’s the short synopsis:

Diminutive Miss Finch is never what people expect. Sooner or later, she upsets the proverbial apple cart. And around her? Pretty much everyone ends up off-kilter—including and especially those she’s investigating.

Investigating? Yes. Although BD Finch (BeeDee Finch) is many things, she is also an investigator. The private kind. And when Miss Finch arrives on the south shore of Lake Tahoe for a summer of rest and recuperation? Not only do things not go as planned, but “things” go strangely awry.

Dangerously awry. Prepare yourself for . . . The Tahoe Mysteries.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Vikki's books, check out the following links.
Website: https://www.vikkikestell.com/
Amazon (for the Nanostealth series): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CB3PRG

Links for the free eBooks mentioned in this post:

https://www.amazon.com/Laynie-Portland-Spy-Rising-Prequel-ebook/dp/B07Q2BRL2L

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Blooms-Twice-Prairie-Heritage-ebook/dp/B007FGI91Y

https://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Genesis-Nanostealth-Vikki-Kestell-ebook/dp/B0BTDYMPDM

Have Fun with Your Writing: Author Interview with Steve Megson

What made you decide to start writing picture books?
My inspiration was definitely my daughter, Mia. My wife and I have spent a lot of time reading stories to our daughter, even before she was born. I wanted to create stories like the ones we enjoyed reading and ensured that positive life lessons were at the heart of them.

How long did it take for you to complete your first book?
From writing down the story, editing, waiting on illustrations, and publishing the book, it took me a whirlwind three months to finalize everything. This doesn't take into account though how much time I spent beforehand brainstorming ideas for the story or all those hours researching self-publishing books in general.

How many rewrites did you do?
I made several rewrites in the initial writing process, more through the editing process, and finally one more round of edits after the illustrations were received. Writing a book is a process that is constantly evolving until the moment it is published. It is the same with picture books, with the added task of making sure that the images and the text are working together to tell the story. Sometimes when I see the illustrations, I feel like more or less might be required of the text to tell the story.

Are you active in any writing critique groups?
I am not active in writing critique groups yet; however, I take part in a couple of self-publishing groups which are helpful for the sharing of ideas and finding extra beta readers when needed.

How did you go about finding an illustrator?
When I was researching publishing children’s books through articles and podcasts, I noted that several had mentioned finding freelance illustrators on sites like Fiverr. I had a pretty clear vision of what I was looking for as far as style, and I looked for quite a while before finally finding Andy. We have just finished working on our fifth project together and I can't praise his work enough. He has really made the Rooty the Rutabaga series come to life.

What was the hardest part of putting together your books?
When it came to putting together my first book, I would say that it was a steep learning curve. Before attempting it, I had read every online article I could find and listened to hours of podcasts on the subject of creating children’s books. Learning how to use Canva to format the illustrated pages with the text was the most challenging aspect for me at first, having no experience with programs like that. Getting the pages and covers the proper sizes for each specific platform, be it Kindle Direct Publishing or IngramSpark with their specific requirements, took time to learn. A lot of trial and error and several books later, the process has become much easier. There is no substitute for the experience of actually doing it.

What was the process like working with the illustrator?
I always work together with my illustrators when designing the book's layout and cover. Making sure there is enough space for text on the pages and cover is key on the illustrators' part and communication is very important. They are always helpful in the process. 

For anyone wanting to do it all themselves, there are also several helpful articles and videos online that do a good job of teaching how to format.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
Hearing that a child enjoyed my book or that they love my characters is honestly the best feeling ever. It only takes one of those to really make it all worth it. Readers don't know how much their positive feedback really means to an author just starting out.

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
Having and growing an author email list is very important to marketing to the proper audience. You're able to keep an already interested audience updated on all upcoming work and launch new books to a group more likely to purchase them.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
Some things you just have to find out through time and experience. I probably would have diversified the platforms I published through and tried to make more physical/in-person, rather than relying so heavily on Amazon. When you put so many of your eggs in that one basket, you are helpless to their changing rules. It is better to take as much control of your fate as possible.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Something I've learned is to keep an open mind and not get too set in any one idea. A book, from the conception of the idea, to finally publishing, goes through many stages and changes. Be open to feedback and criticism and use it to improve rather than seeing it as a negative.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
You should enjoy what you're writing, always. Especially when it comes to children’s books. Just have fun and the readers will have fun too!

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me some details?
The fourth book in the Rooty the Rutabaga series, Rooty the Rutabaga: A Beautiful Game comes out on June 15th. In this book, Rooty and his vegetable pals are taking part in a soccer tournament where Rooty learns about being a good sport, win or lose.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Steve's books, check out the links below.

And here's a special tip for my readers, go to his website and sign up for his updates and you'll receive both a FREE eBook and a printable coloring and activity books. So what are you waiting for, go there now!
Author Website: https://www.stevemegsonbooks.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steven-Megson/author/B09RHCWC57