Do Multiple Edits Before Hiring an Editor: Author Interview with Vivian Mayfair

You've written several Christmas themed books. What draws you to writing on that theme? Could you give a short synopsis on your latest book for my readers?
I’ve always been a big fan of Hallmark Christmas movies. Every year it is one of the most exciting things I look forward to, which is to see all of the new movies they will release. They always make me laugh, provide a feeling of daylight, and are a pleasure to watch. My goal was to create a book series similar to the feel and style of a Hallmark Christmas movie for those who enjoy that style of story. I’ve always been a big fan of Debbie Macomber’s Christmas novels as well.

I just released a mini Christmas novella, Alone for the Holidays, which is the first story from My Short and Sweet Holiday Reads series about a middle-aged divorced woman who is done with both love and the holidays, and lives alone as a reclusive romance author in snowy Vermont. She gets involved with a book group online under a fake name and fake photo so that nobody will know who she really is, which all backfires when one of the members from her group shows up at her doorstep for the holidays.

The problem is that she has a fondness for this man from the book group and he thinks that she is a 6-foot tall blonde bombshell who works in a bookstore instead of the complete opposite, and now she has to pull herself out of the ruse which turns into a downhill spiral fairly quickly.

How do the sales of your Christmas books compare to your non-holiday event books?
By far, the Christmas novels sell the best, even when it isn’t around Christmas. I think everybody loves Christmas all year round if they are fans of the genre. I’m currently writing another book that I will release in the spring or summer, a Christmas novel called Dreams of Mistletoe. Perhaps for my Christmas in July!

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I would say all the majority of my favorite Christmas traditions revolve around food. Attending holiday parties, cookie exchanges, the preparation, family cooking, and family Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas morning breakfast or Christmas night dinner, and the wonderful conversations, fun, laughs, and memories that came from food bringing people together. This is one of the reasons I put in some free bonus recipes from my family in the back of my recently released Christmas novella.

Another favorite tradition is the three days of decorating beginning the day after Thanksgiving. I only have one of my kids left in the house who’s already in college and will probably move out in the next two years. That tradition could end with no more kids to assist with the decorating tradition. Some traditions have to be savored while they last.

What’s next?

I am currently on a break from writing. I just released books 1 through 3 in my Snowdrop Valley Series all at one time (One of which is a Christmas novel) along with my short Christmas novella. I had started work on a Thanksgiving novel which would be book 4 in the series, but I wasn’t able to make the deadline. I’ll save that to release next year minus the Thanksgiving theme.

I like working on multiple projects. I’m currently studying to be a holistic nutritionist practitioner and health and wellness coach and will transition some of my fiction writing into nonfiction writing to help women in my age bracket free themselves from the toxic diet culture. As much as I love my fiction, it is something that I can only do in spurts in between other tasks and projects.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
The biggest writing tip I can give is this -- do not stop and take a break until your book is done. I’ve been writing off and on since 2011 and originally published crime drama novels. My first two books each took me three years to write because I would stop for maybe a few days then it turned into a four-month or one year break. When the momentum stops for more than a day or two, it’s harder to get back in the swing and complete the book. So, I learned with my sweet romance series to continuously write every day for a month until it’s done or write several in a row and then take the break.

Another tip is about making your character dialogue sound as realistic as possible. The best way to do that is to verbally speak your conversations through the voice of your characters into a voice recorder on your phone while you imagine the conversation happening. Then write that conversation when you’re in front of your computer while listening to it. So often dialogue doesn’t sound realistic in books and I think that’s because you have to place yourself into the head of your character and be in the conversation with the other character sort of acting it out. It has worked wonders for my dialogue.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
More people buy digital e-books than print books. My first few books in 2011 - 2013 were only in print. I never put them into e-book formats and hardly sold any of them. My new series is almost 100% e-book based even though they are available in print. Also, I wish I had known sooner that you do not need to spend $2000 or more on an editor. The going rate these days for professional editing is ridiculously high and unnecessary.

There are plenty of qualified, skilled editors and proofreaders in the industry that you can find through social media, Upwork, or Fiverr, for a few hundred dollars. The truth of the matter is you need to be able to edit your own work to be successful at self-publishing.

The first several rounds of editing should be done by you, both on the screen as you read back through it and fix it, and then by printing out the entire book and line editing by hand. Don’t send it to an editor until you’ve done the steps, and if you’ve done a majority of editing yourself, it will cost you less as the editor won’t have to do as much work.

Any last words or tips?
Yes. Let go of your dreams about writing full-time and making a full-time income. Even if you can pump out books as quickly as I do, have a decent following, and get great reviews both professionally and from your readers, there are so many books out there that the competition makes it extremely difficult. Even with traditional publishers, you are expected to market yourself and sell your own books so they can earn a profit after expenses.

It’s extremely difficult, so try to keep your writing as a beloved and treasured hobby instead of turning it into a stressful full-time job that doesn’t pay the reward of the time that you are worth, no matter how much you love it. Branch out and do different things and above all else, hold onto your day job.

That’s all for today’s interview. Vivian’s current books are available on all digital platforms for any device (Kobo, Apple/iTunes, Nook, etc) and in print on Amazon. And here’s the link to her website: www.VivienMayfair.com

Follow Your Heart: Author Interview with Kelly Mack McCoy

Most everyone thinks they can write a novel. What made you decide to write one?

I guess everyone thinks they can write a novel until they actually start one. Then their book, like mine, ends up buried in a drawer somewhere. Some are dusted off and eventually completed. Most are not.

It’s something I’ve had in my heart since childhood. I’ve always loved to browse through books at bookstores. I would thumb through some of the books on the shelves and read parts of them at random. Sometimes I would be so awed by the prose I would think I could never be a writer.

Then I would pick up another book and think, Man, this is really bad writing. Yet he somehow managed to have his book published and get it into a bookstore. If he can do it, then there is hope for me after all.

What do you expect readers to take away from that book?

That God works in and through our lives in unexpected and unconventional ways and He is always at work in ways we can’t even fathom.

What writing experience/credits did you have prior to writing that book?

My writing, like my life, has been a crazy, zig-zag course in finding out what works and what doesn’t by the long, tedious process of trial and error. Mostly error. Other than articles in small-town newspapers and other small publications, nothing I’ve written has been seen in what I considered in my younger and dumber days to be publications that mattered, so what I had was filed away in that dusty drawer I spoke of earlier and lost.  

How long did it take you to write that book?

To answer how long it took to write the book I need a definition of the word write. If it includes the time spent staring stupidly in despair at a computer screen because I thought I could never finish it, then the answer is years. More specifically many years. The book was hidden away in that drawer without a word added to it for a very long time.

Who encouraged you along the way?

I am blessed to have some awesome, encouraging writer friends from my two writers groups who have helped squeeze this very stubborn book out of me. Whatever skills I have as a writer were probably gained through osmosis by hanging around people who are much smarter and talented than I am. I don’t know what they got out of the deal though.

How many rewrites did you do on it?

I wrote and rewrote the book until I decided one day to quit procrastinating and just put it out there. I’ve gotten over the fear of having people discover I’m not really a writer. Belonging to my writers' groups has helped tremendously. I just kept rewriting until it looked like I might know what I’m doing. I suspect I’m not the only writer out there who has this approach.

Who helped you with the editing?

I was blessed along the way to be around people who are excellent editors and have taught me the why behind the structure of the building blocks of a book. When that part was done, I again was blessed to have a world-class editor and even better person, Ninfa Castaneda, do the final edit.

How that came about is another part of the story of how God has put people in my life along this journey who have been integral pieces of the puzzle in the making of Rough Way to the High Way.  

Did you try the normal route and try to find a traditional publisher to handle your book?

I tried the traditional route for a brief period of time. I did contact a few agents. After a number of rejections and non-responses, I quickly decided I just didn’t have time for that process to play out. So I chose this hybrid route.

What has been the hardest learning curve for you?

The hardest learning curve for me has been the process of getting the story together without being concerned about the process or end result. I just have to write and let those things take care of themselves. I couldn’t outline a novel before writing it if you held a gun to my head. I have to just write and see where it goes.

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

That I should go with my instinct and follow my heart. Or to put it less eloquently, my gut, in both the writing and publishing processes.

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

I’ve been advised and then learned the hard way that you just have to sit down and write. Sound easy. But strangely enough it’s not or we wouldn’t be so creative in avoiding doing it.

Any other comments about writing that you'd like to add?

Yes. Unless you’re a crazy masochist, don’t do it. I don’t understand people who say they love to write. I’m like other writers who have said in many different ways they don’t want to write a book but to have written one. But here I am doing it again.

That’s all for today’s interview. Hope you’ve been enjoyed to trust your gut and keep on writing! If you’d like to learn more about Kelly’s writing and buy a book, here are two links to get you started.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kellymackmccoyauthor/

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2HMmkuF

WEBSITE: https://www.roughwaytothehighway.com/

Finding the Right Words: An Interview with YA Author Kayla Tirrell

What made you decide to write your first YA novel? Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?

Honestly, it was one big leap of faith. I had a story I wanted to tell and just did it. There wasn't a particular author I thought I could write like, but I will say I admire others authors so much more now that I have published. I especially love Kasie West and Katie McGarry.
 

How long did it take you to write your book? How many rewrites did you do on it? 
Oh, this one is tough! My story started out in high school with one POV. It just wasn't working. Julian (the love interest) was so one dimensional and I hated it. 

I set the story down for about 6 months before picking it back up. I made the characters older, switched to a dual POV and ran with it. From that point, it was a matter of months.

Who helped you with the editing?

I had a couple friends beta read it and another friend edit it for me.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension, etc?

The ending! I love delving into the story. I struggle with knowing when to be done.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

My books are YA, but I was unsure if teens would relate to them. I was so encouraged when I started getting positive feedback from actual young adults! I've also had great responses from older readers. It's amazing!

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.

I've had some negative reviews on Goodreads. It's part of the author gig, I suppose. I've worked very hard with book two to improve my craft. Also, I have learned to accept the fact I can't please everyone. 

What made you choose the indie route for publishing? What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?

I like the freedom I'm allowed by taking that route. I am releasing three books this year, which means less waiting time for readers. As a reader, I think that's huge! Also, I have mild language but clean romance. I think that can be a tough sell for publishers because it doesn't fit into a clear category.

I've also learned there's SO much involved behind the scenes. Writing is the easy part! Ha! 

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

That I can do it. I was so afraid to try because I didn't go to school for writing. 

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?

This is along the same lines as my previous response, but don't let fear hold you back! 

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

All The Things We Found is the second book in my series. In the first book, we follow Katie and Julian as they work through some difficult struggles. It's intense.

In the background of their story, we see a sweet relationship building between Gwen and Mitch. This is their story. They've been friends for years. Mitch wants more, while Gwen is really afraid to open up. It's been so fun to write! I've really fallen in love with them.

That’s it for today’s interview. If you want to learn more about Kayla’s writing, here are a few links to get you started.

All The Things We Lost on Amazon: 
 http://amzn.to/2voxfW9  http://amzn.to/2voxfW9  

All The Things We Found: Just Released! 
http://amzn.to/2eJZlUC  http://amzn.to/2eJZlUC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaylaTirrellWrites/
https://www.facebook.com/KaylaTirrellWrites/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thats_tirrellble/
https://www.instagram.com/thats_tirrellble/

Writing with a Purpose: Author Interview with Geoffrey Cook

What made you decide to write your first middle-grade novel?

My ten-year-old daughter Madeline inspired me to write this book. When she was in the first grade, I began reading to her at bedtime almost every night. We read the first 3 books of Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, and soon I began to read middle-grade books for pleasure myself, like The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, most books by Roald Dahl, and A Wrinkle in Time.

Around this time, my wife began telling Madeline bedtime stories about a little girl who lived on a volcano. She named her Veronica after her mother’s middle name. Veronica’s adventures were Maddy’s adventures: a lost tooth, a win at softball, a skinned knee.

Maddy loved Veronica. I would tell her a new story on the twenty-five-minute ride to school each morning. Over time, the stories got more involved. I imagined Veronica’s volcanic world and even drew a map.

Eventually I began to write the stories down. And that turned out to be a more interesting process than I imagined. There is a transformation that takes place in creating a story for a child. The poet Rumi understood it well:

When a man makes up a story for his child,
he becomes a father and a child
together, listening.

Story transforms the storyteller. You must be the child to experience the sense of awe and wonder, and you must be the adult to write it down.

Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?

The author who influenced me the most was Simon Winchester and his book Krakatoa. He showed the man-made fallout and opportunism following an eruption can be worse than the eruption itself. That insight inspired my villain – the man in white. Veronica is warned in chapter one: “When the volcano does blow, true colors will show. Nature is nature, it’s always right. But man can be evil and man can be right. And man can be blinded by a terrible night. An evil is coming, he’s coming in white.”

Beyond serving as the model for my Mount Mystery, Krakatoa also included a helpful “Further Reading” section, which helped guide my research into volcanoes. I read The Malay Archipelago, Twenty-One Balloons, Ring of Fire by the Blair brothers, and many other books and short stories about volcanoes and volcanic regions.

I wanted Veronica and the Volcano to be more scientifically grounded than Twenty-One Balloons while having no less wonder and adventure, and I think even more. There is a mystery at the heart of the universe that I think is the source of all wonder, and I wanted to bring that mystery to the fore in Veronica.

How long did it take you to write your book? How many rewrites did you do on it? Who helped you with the editing?
It took a little over three years: one year to write and two years to edit. I am probably a better editor than writer. I ran an editing business for a little over seven years.

During the editing, I tried to learn everything I could about volcanoes. Of course, I did all of this on the side, as I was working and continue to work 60+ hours a week as CEO of a public company (NASDAQ: MEET). I was not working on the book every day, every week, or even every month, but I fit it in whenever I could.

During the editing process, I probably did a full edit at least half-a-dozen times, while also adding details, color, and backstory based on my research. I gave early drafts to friends of my daughter, and I asked two editors I sourced online to read it and provide feedback as well: Scott McCormick and Amy Betz.

Throughout the process, my intended reader was my daughter Madeline. I also consulted with her on place names, and she invented many of them like Mount Mystery, New Lava City, Mount Kaboom, and the Cinnamon Forest.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension, etc?
I struggled with purpose. I am writing this why? What changed about the protagonist—for better or worse—from the beginning of the story to the end beyond her going on a fantastical adventure? How much can a ten-year-old child be realistically expected to have changed over just 7 days, however remarkable those 7 days may be?

I found the answers to these questions in the ending of the story and in Veronica’s relationship to the boy in the story. The shift is not dramatic, but it’s there. Veronica starts off sweet, innocent and trusting, cocooned in her family’s love and in a larger community of townspeople who might as well be her uncles and aunts. By the end, some of the innocence is gone but her sense of wonder and inherent goodness is intact.

The adults are not always good, but that’s not an excuse to be bad. Innocence may not be able to survive trauma but a fundamental sense of goodness can, and this sense of goodness is inherently linked to the mystery, beauty, and power of nature.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.
This being my first book, my writing career is too early to have faced a lot of rejection. But having built up multiple businesses from the ground up, I am no stranger to rejection. Ultimately, you need to have faith in the reason you started working on something in the first place, so the stronger that grounding the more able you are to deal with the slings and arrows. The trick is not being discouraged by negative feedback and being able to tell the difference between unwarranted criticism and that which is spot on. There’s a lot more of the former than the latter.

Violet Moon is your imprint, correct? What made you choose the indie route? What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?
It never occurred to me to go the traditional publishing route. I am an entrepreneur by trade. My businesses have always been about disrupting gatekeepers, so doing it myself seemed natural. Also, the few people I know who went the traditional publishing route painted an ugly portrait: a publisher does not guarantee success. Only a handful of published titles are going to get real attention and resources from the publisher.

If you must do most of the marketing yourself anyway, what is the advantage of the traditional route? I simply wanted to tell a story with no thought of commercial viability. I had my imagined reader (my daughter), and I didn’t need a gatekeeper.

Whether it would sell 100 copies or 100,000 mattered less than my happiness and my intended reader’s happiness with the work. My highest praise came from my daughter. I gave her the finished book, and she read through it in 2 days!

Had I gone the traditional route, I never would have had the book illustrated. I would have left that to the publisher and no publisher would have ever illustrated it so richly. But this story demands illustration. Who doesn’t want to see the volcano? I wanted Veronica to deliver illustrations reliably to the reader, with at least 2 illustrations per chapter. The indie publishing route made that possible.

I had the great fortune of connecting with the illustrator Gabrielle Shamsey who completed nearly 100 hand-drawn color illustrations for the book. I met her through a local art class Maddy and I were taking together. I asked the art teacher for a referral to an illustrator, and he suggested Gabrielle.

Thank God he did. Her illustrations define the story. I edited Veronica again and again trying to make the text worthy of her pictures.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
When I started, I had no concept of where it would end up. At first, I thought it might even be just an extended poem. I simply started putting sentences together and researching volcanoes because my daughter loved stories about a little girl who lives on a volcano. Before I began, I think I assumed you write a story, edit it as you go, proofread it a couple times, and voila, you have your book.

But I found that while you must do all of that, you’re still only one-third of the way there. I was not done until I could read every page of the story without materially improving it. I don’t know how many books I will write. If this is the only one, it had better be the best book that I am capable of writing now.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
I very much enjoyed On Writing by Stephen King and Story by McKee. I wish I had read them both earlier. After reading each, I edited the work and found many more areas to improve. From King I learned to cut even further than I typically cut: the fewer the words the better! I also developed an absolute distaste for adverbs modifying verbs related to dialog (except when I do it anyway ). I also learned I had an unhealthy reliance on the em dash.

Story helped me find answers in my ending that allowed me to flesh out certain areas of the text and gave me some comfort in the overall structure of the work.

I have a lot more to learn about the craft, but one thing that helped me write Veronica is immersion in poetry. While writing Veronica, I read more poetry than I had ever read in my life up until that point. I was hoping some of it might rub off on my prose and some of the themes might work themselves into my characters. I read a lot of Rilke, Rumi, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, etc. Many of the poets I discovered on the podcast On Being by Krista Tippett.

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
I wrote this book in bite-sized chapters that could be read by the child or read aloud by the parent at bedtime in less than fifteen minutes per chapter. Having been stuck many times reading 30+ pages of Harry Potter beginning at 9 pm, I wanted Veronica to easily fit into a bedtime routine.

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
In Book 2 of Veronica, the extinct supervolcano Crater Lake will re-awaken, and it will be up to Veronica to save the town.

https://www.geoffreycook.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692892001/ 

Romance Southern Style: An Interview with Janet Ferguson

When did you start your first novel? 

I started my first novel Leaving Oxford in August of 2012. I'd had the idea for it for about seven years prior to that. I was working as a high school librarian, the mother of two teens, and the primary caregiver for my elderly parents. Both my parents plus my mother-in-law passed away in the spring of 2012, and I began to realize that life is short. I quit putting off trying to write the novel and got started.

What made you choose inspirational romance as your genre? 

This is funny about the romance part because I wasn't sure if my story was a romance until I rather accidentally attended a local RWA meeting. They assured me I had, indeed, written a romance. I knew the story was inspirational due to the content. I wanted to encourage people suffering from anxiety disorders, and somehow in my quirky brain, the encouragement came out in the form of an inspirational romantic comedy. 

Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?

Not that I could write like her, but I enjoyed Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series. She wrote these with Gary Smalley. That series really connected you to the characters, and the secondary characters became main characters as it progressed. My Southern Hearts series is similar in that way.

How long did it take you to write your first book? 

The first draft of Leaving Oxford took me about four months. Of course, I had no idea about the craft of writing. My friends, family, and book club read my story, but that wasn't enough. 

How did you take your writing to the next level?

I joined a few writing groups, local and national. I attended my first writers' conference, the RWA national in Atlanta. I quickly learned how little I knew about the industry. I also joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) I began acquiring critique partners, and I became a bit of a critique partner addict. I'm not sure how many critiques I actually had overall, but consistently, I critiqued with about 12 authors. 

How many rewrites did you do on that first novel? 

I worked on improving Leaving Oxford for four years. I can't count how many rewrites I did. A lot! In the meantime, I wrote the rest of the series. 

Who encouraged you along the way?

Many authors and friends encouraged me, along with my book club. When I finally sent that book to be edited by a profession fiction editor, there were still an overwhelming amount of red marks/edits made. My editor is a well respected Inspirational fiction editor, and I know I needed every one of those comments and improvements. I'm so thankful for her.

What made you decide to go the indie route in publishing? 
The decision to go indie wasn't easy. I pitched like crazy at conferences, talked to an agent for a good while, and, like I said, worked hard to have a well-crafted novel, but the Inspirational market took a big hit with Family Christian reorganizing a few years ago, and now their closing. The spots for new authors at the large Christian publishers were cut back. 

One of my critique partners went indie and was doing really well, so I asked her if she would mentor me. I was still terrified, but she and other successful indies helped me. I formed my own publishing company according to my secretary of state guidelines, hired a great cover artist, a top fiction editor, and proofreader. My mentor helped me with the evil job of formatting, which was the worst part for me. I want my product to be as good and as professional as any other novel in the bookstores.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? etc?

Getting started is hardest lately, ha! I seem to be busy with marketing. I love dialog. I still struggle to have external conflict, at times. My friend Lorraine Beatty who writes for Love Inspired always reminds me about the internal and external conflict. She's great with that, and I'm blessed to have met her!

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of one you’ve had, and how you learned to write past it.

Wow, so many, ha! I think it's harder when an agent or publisher doesn't tell you anything. That happened often.

I guess, just knowing other authors and that they had been rejected, too, creates a camaraderie. We pat each other on the back when we get a bad review. These things are just part of the industry. We must develop a thick skin.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? 

Writers help each other. That surprised me. I just had a blog hop sharing about how writing is a team sport. The author community really tries to give back for the most part.

What frustrated you the most?

The frustrating part? Hmmm, I think not having as much time, energy, or eye strength to read as much as I used to. I was always and avid reader, and I miss that.

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

There is a craft to writing. Study, learn, repeat. Take classes. It's not easy to write a quality story. I may not have had to rewrite Leaving Oxford so many times if I'd known anything before I started.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?

Don't publish too soon, and don't pay a company to publish your book. I'm met a lot of people who poured money into getting their book published with vanity presses. Not only did they lose money, but their story wasn't ready, and then they received bad reviews.

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

Speaking of reviews, I've learned to write nice reviews when I like a novel. Reviews help authors in many ways and they also encourage authors. I can't even leave reviews anymore if I don't like a book. I know someone has spilled their heart onto a page. Of course, I'm not saying everyone has to follow that as a rule. Just know that authors read those reviews and cry more than a few tears over them.

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

I'm writing a story set in Ocean Springs, Mississippi about a meteorologist and a ship pilot. The release date hasn't been set yet. Here's the blurb.

Maggie Marovich couldn’t save her father from Hurricane Katrina, but she’s dedicated her life to meteorology so she can warn others when the monster storms approach.  If only they would listen to her and come inland. Both her sister and the ship pilot Maggie loved are too stubborn. With a hurricane headed toward her childhood home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and her sister injured, Maggie has little choice but to head south into the storm.

The water and the tides flow through Josh Bergeron’s veins, and he could never imagine not piloting ships—even for the love of his life, the infuriating Magnolia Marovich. He’d tried to move on without her, marrying and having a child. But after his wife abandoned him and his little boy, his career choice is threatened. Moving in next door to Maggie’s sister so she can help with his son while he’s down the river seems like the perfect set-up.

Until Maggie blows back into town.

Sounds intriguing. If you would like to learn more about Janet's books, here is a link to the first book to start you along the way with the Southern Hearts series. 

https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Oxford-Southern-Hearts-Book-ebook/dp/B01DJJKRJM/

Breaking News!! For April 18th only--- Leaving Oxford is FREE on Kindle today.

For more on her writing: 

https://www.facebook.com/Janet.Ferguson.author

http://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/  

Writing Motivation: Author Interview with Courtney Pierce

Most everyone thinks they can write a novel.  How did you come up with the idea of your first book?
I came up with the idea for STITCHES while in my former corporate job. I spent 25 years in a theater seat as an executive in the Broadway touring industry. I've enjoyed many fabulous stories on stage, but writers weren't addressing the world of 73 Million baby boomers, their wish to grow young with wisdom, and their quest do the right thing for all the wrong reasons...or better yet, do the wrong thing for all the right reasons. I wanted to write that story.  Middle-age characters became my focus. I'm one, so I know the demographic well. 

When did you start writing novels? 

In 2011, I took a break from corporate life to help my family. My parents and younger sister were seriously ill. My first book asks the question, "What would you do today if you knew you could be immortal at the end of your life?" It's about leaving a legacy, dealing with heirlooms, and keeping our heritage alive long after we're gone. A mystery with adventure. 

As the situation became more dire with my parents and sister, my writing became lighter and more fun. My goal was to "fix it" in fiction. I wrote STITCHES in three different wings of St. Vincent's hospital in Portland. I sat at their bedsides with my laptop as I talked to my dad about life, rubbed my mom's feet, and bonded with my sister. I did lose my father, but my mother and sister made it through and are doing fine today.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took a full year to write STITCHES , and it became a combination of THE THIN MAN meets ANTIQUE ROADSHOW with magical realism. I needed a little magic in my life. Then I was hooked on writing. The story became a trilogy after so many readers emailed me to keep the characters going. BRUSHES and RIFFS followed with their magic of art and jazz. My characters make their immortal decision in RIFFS.

What did you learn in writing your first book that helped you in writing the second book and getting it published?
I studied craft and storytelling with NY Times best-selling author Jennifer Lauck at the Attic Institute, a haven for serious writers in Portland. Storytelling is a science of structure. Emotional and action beats have to happen at just the right moment to keep the reader hooked. It's an invisible expectation that the hero can't go back in Plot Point One, the action explodes with new information at Plot Point Two, and the hero is pushed beyond her comfort zone in Plot Point Three, then the story comes to a satisfying conclusion in the Resolution. 

My world opened up with over two years of intense study. My second coach, Karen Karbo, is another NY Times best-selling author who took my education to another level. We sip coffee at Starbucks and talk about my chapters. We mostly laugh. And then I get to talk with cops afterward about police procedure. I love cops. If I could date one, I'd be happy. Running a red light might be a good strategy...hmmm.

You've published 5 books since 2013. Were some of them already written? Or do you complete a novel in 6-8 months?
I start fresh with every book, but I have at least two ideas in the hopper. I complete the first draft in three to four months, then spend another four months in critique with my coach, put it into the hands of beta readers, and finally send the manuscript to my editor. I get my toughest critique from my 84-year-old Mom. Wow, seriously. She wants bragging rights on Pogo, a social gaming network for seniors, so I have to be stellar for her chat friends.

The great thing about trilogies is that you know the characters so well after the first installment. I live with them, sleep with them, and drive around with them. I record my chapters on CDs to listen to the rhythm of the words like an audiobook. The process gives me a road map of the characters' nervous ticks and quirks. I know what they look like, how they talk, and understand the deep damage under their skin. They tell me what they're going to do and say. My characters become real people to me. 

By the third book of the trilogy, I sit back like a therapist and ask questions. They always spill their secrets, and then I just write. My book production will slow down, however, since I'm re-entering corporate life. Now, I'll write in the early mornings, wee hours of the night, in airports, and on planes. All good for fresh character development. I treasure the five-year sabbatical I took to write full time. Everyone needs that break from life while you have your stamina and health. My retirement career is established. I look forward to writing full time again when I retire for real.

Your books have been indie-pubbed. What's the hardest part about going the self-pub route?

I decided to self-publish in order to learn every aspect of the publishing business: how it worked, who made what, understand royalty structures, and embrace the best practices to be a professional author. Then I became a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association and an Advisory Council member of the Independent Publishing Resource Center to help first-time writers. Pay it forward for all those who supported my journey. 

When I finished my first book in 2012, the traditional publishing industry was in chaos. The explosive growth of e-books and self-publishing software through Amazon re-engineered an antiquated business. Publishing houses were merging, editors and marketing staff were reserved for A-list authors with a proven track record, and agents were leaving the business in droves. 

These factors contributed to my reluctance to give up any of my rights, my biggest asset. If I sold them for pennies on the dollar, I'd still be expected to build my own platform and take on the marketing. Now, they can pursue me. That's how it works these days. You build your audience, and the publishers will seek you out when your books sell. This strategy makes the most sense to earn serious money from the incredible personal investment. 

I have no aversion to going the traditional publishing route, but the numbers need to make sense for authors. Currently, they don't. Predators are everywhere. In 2013, I was invited to join Windtree Press. We are a collective of over twenty indie authors. We cross all genres and co-market, promote, and organize events. We also share ideas to keep up on the latest social media trends, technology, and distribution outlets. Publishing is an ever-changing landscape, and staying current can be a challenge. I love my relationship with Windtree Press.

What surprised or frustrated you the most in writing/publishing your first book?
How incredibly hard it is to produce something people will want to read. It takes grit and a willingness to let someone say your baby is ugly. I now write for the reader from my soul. I don't think about grammar, punctuation, or sentence structure anymore. I have that knocked. I speak to the themes that not only resonate with me but those that connect with others. That takes millions of words to get there, most of which you trash.

First books are purely selfish, an indulgence. Fourth, fifth, and sixth books are benevolent. If I had my way, I'd spend all my time in the writing cave, but that's only the first step. Discoverability and marketing take up more time than writing the book. And when you're balancing a separate career, it's called obsessive-compulsive, over-achiever behavior. My cat keeps me sane because there hasn't been time to find a man in my life. The house stays clean, though. No toothpaste splatter on the mirror
or whisker rings in the sink. That's a plus.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? Did you do individual character development before doing the full plot?
I do. I plot out everything in detail to make sure my emotional beats and plot points hit at the hook, 25%, 50%, 75%, and at the conclusion to my target of 80,000 words. Then it all falls apart when my characters make their own decisions. They say something that takes me in another direction, and I have to swish faster on the elliptical at the gym to change course. I'll hear someone say something on TV or in a movie that gives me an idea. I get a "Duh" moment and the whole trajectory of the story changes. I let it happen. That's the ultimate fun of writing. My outlines are only a ghost of my final product, but all the beats are there and in the right place.

What type of promotions have worked best for your books?
I love participating in online Q &A Facebook parties with other authors. I also live to sign books at events where baby boomer women gather. Believe it or not, Home and Garden shows are a sales boom for me. Post-menopausal women want to buy books while their husbands extol the virtues of fake turf. The women leave with my books to laugh and realize their dreams; the men leave with only their tool fantasies. And how much do I love Umpqua Bank? A lot. They wrapped their arms around me after my divorce. They're displaying all my books in the lobby of the Sellwood branch and 100% of the sales go into my checking account. Unbelievably great.

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

Write because you love it and are compelled to get that story out, not because you want to make a buck. You'll be eating Spam if you get into this nutty profession for money. It's an investment of the heart. When I'm ninety, I'll be dictating my words into an audio translation program because I won't be able to type or see the screen anymore.

Do you have any other works in the process?

I have two books in the process. The final installment of the Dushane Sisters Trilogy, titled INDIGO LEGACY, is in its final draft. I hope to release it in early 2017. I hate to leave these fabulous characters to their own devices, but a stand-a-lone story calls out to me. 

I've plotted a new book titled UNFAIR RATIOS. It will be a hilarious and poignant look at the epidemic of "gray divorce". Baby boomers are divorcing in their fifties and sixties at a rate never seen before. I, too, am a victim of it after being married for 37 years. I'll be infusing a lot of my personal experience into this book. I can't wait to write it. The transition to single life was quite traumatic, and the book will be equally so for my character. She has to re-invent herself with heavy baggage. I write painful truth with humor. It's a literary food group for me.

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to know more about Courtney and her books, here's how to do it.
website: http://www.courtney-pierce.comhttp://www.courtney-pierce.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Pierce/e/B00BGX6WYS/https://www.amazon.com/Courtney-Pierce/e/B00BGX6WYS/
Windtree Press: http://windtreepress.com/pages/authors/courtney-pierce-2/ http://windtreepress.com/pages/authors/courtney-pierce-2/