Adding a Comedic Touch: Author Interview with Dortha Jackson

Your bio says you’ve won multiple writing contests over the years. Most recently you won an award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association for their EVVY competition. How is that competition judged?
Yes, it’s true that the first writing contest I won was way back in 1979. The recent CIPA EVVY Awards nomination was for my first book, Isn’t It Funny? My publisher for the book, Outskirts Press made the nomination. For this particular Award, books are judged for their cover designs, interior layouts, editing, content, and overall quality.

What is your criteria in deciding whether or not to enter a writing contest?
I like to enter writing contests as a challenge in genres that are not my primary writing interests. This helps me stretch and grow as a writer and get beyond my comfort zone.

What is the maximum entry fee you’d be willing to pay?
I’ve paid entry fees ranging from $10 to $95. The most common are from $20-$45.

What’s been the best prize you’ve ever one?
The best cash prize was $50 back in 1979 which seemed like a lot then. I was headed off to college at the time, so appreciated the money. But, “the best” would have to be just last year when I finished in the Top Ten of the 2014 Erma Bombeck International Writing Competition. When I saw that the entries represented 13 different countries and 48 states in the U.S., placing in the Top Ten was an honor. Also, the piece I entered was a personal piece about my mother, and the judges had such good things to say about it. So, the whole experience was exhilarating.

How long did it take you to write your current book?
It took me about four years to finish Seeds. I began to research and got the story line and characters developed first. Then, life interrupted several times. I put the finishing touches on it early in 2015.

How many rewrites did you do on it?
I did three major re-writes. Being an advocate for printing to proof-read, I had the chapters bound in comb binding three different times so that I could edit the old-fashioned way- with a red pen. This process helps me see and hear things in my writing that I cannot with a computer screen.

Are you active with any critique groups who helped you along the way?
My family is my favorite critique group. There are several published writers in my family including my mother and an aunt and uncle. When my mother was alive, she was my primary proofer. Now, my husband has the job. This helps me with another set of eyes until the book is ready to hand over to the editors.

Who helped you with the editing?
I tend to be a perfectionist, so it’s my opinion that hiring a professional editor is the best gift I can give myself. I had two editors for Seeds, a line editor and a copy editor. They specialize in different areas of editing, each giving me their expert insight to help my words shine.

Have other books been started and stopped along the way?
I tend to have at least a dozen books on the burners at any given time- all at different stages. I’ve learned the importance of writing things down the moment it pops into my mind. Otherwise, it will be lost forever.

What do you think is the most common misconception about self-publishing?
The most common misconception about self-publishing would be that you are going through the process alone. Or, at least that’s what I thought before I experienced it. In reality, you’ve got a team behind you helping along the way.

How much research did you do on self-publishing before choosing your sources?
I’ve done years of research only to find that there are as many different ways to self-publish as there are publishers. It can be a daunting task for someone just beginning the process.

You've now started your own publishing company for others wanting to indie-publish. With all the other options out there, what makes your services stand out?
Thank you for asking about it. At Book Mouse Publishing, we believe that “Everyone has a story to tell.” Our mission is to provide a venue for people to tell their story in an affordable publication that supports integrity and wholesome values. Our unique specialty benefits our customers in that we specialize in “Ensemble Publishing” with 50-100 authors per book. This allows you to self-publish a single story in a book format for an affordable price. Other publishers charge thousands of dollars to self-publish a book. We also offer special projects for individuals only interested in “Solo” publishing. One of the most attractive features we offer Non-profit organizations is a FREE fund-raising opportunity.

What has surprised or frustrated you the most in marketing your book?
The surprise and frustration for me were how long it takes to get the word out. You spend so much time at the typewriter, or keyboard that when you finally get the book published, you feel everyone should be as excited about it as you. Then, you’re hit with the reality that your book is just one of millions of books vying for attention. So, it takes time to market it. As an author, we feel that publishing is our goal and the climax of our experience. As far as marketing goes, I’ve heard others say that publishing is just the beginning, and I’m inclined to agree.

What type of promotion has worked best for you so far in generating sales?
I’ve learned to be patient with the whole process. The occasions I’ve had the most success in generating sales is when I take the time to talk to people about the book. I guess my enthusiasm is more contagious than their will to part with $8.50. So, I talk about it online, at gatherings and parties, at church, and at work. That always helps with immediate sales and future sales.

What do you know now about writing/publishing that you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had not been so afraid to reach out to a self-publishing company to help me through the process. I mulled it around in my head for years. Meanwhile, the clock kept ticking and life went on.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?
As an educator, I’ve always been in the business of helping others be the best they can be, so becoming a publisher is a continuation of that mantra. I love helping people realize how simple self-publishing can be when you have competent professionals handling the details. On both of my books, it was a joy for me to have professional cover designers, editors, and interior layout designers. That gave me great pleasure knowing that once my writing was complete, my support team would take it from there.

Are there any other books in the works that you would like to tell my readers about?
Yes, I’m gathering data and research for my next book, How to Marry Mr. Right. It’s a book for young adults about longevity in a marriage and what to look for in potential partners. I’m in the process of interviewing couples that have been married for over forty years. If you would like to contribute to this book, please send me a message through the Contact Us page on the website for Book Mouse Publishing.com.

Also, the publishing company has several books that are currently open for submissions, and a couple of writing contests and an illustrator contest.

Thank you for your insights. If you would like to learn more about Dortha's books or her publishing company, here are some links to get you started.

http://www.bookmousepublishing.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

A Recipe for Children's Writing: Author Interview with Wendy Salter

You’re a school counselor so you work with children, but when did you get interested in writing stories for children? How did you come up with the idea for your first book?
My own father died when I was five-months-old. I always had this yearning to know who he was and to know stories about him and our short time together. With that background, I knew as a mother that no matter what happened to me, I wanted my children to know about their little family.

I tried to start writing in one of those store-bought baby books when my daughter was born. The questions they asked in the baby books were so trivial. I was frustrated because there were important things I wanted her to know. So, I went to the store on November 26, 2010 and bought a journal. I was going to just write random facts I thought would be important to her one day. But, when I put pen to paper the facts were spun into fairy tales.

That's intriguing. So how did those stories become a book?
Although the actual journal entries are quite different from the chapters in the books, the Sugarplum stories grew from those journal entries. In addition to writing my daughter's stories, I wrote stories about her friends and family. Almost every character in the books is a blend of loved ones in my daughter's life that I can tell her about one day. 

What do you want readers to take away from these stories?
 I wanted to teach my daughter our family values and the importance of faith, family, friends and food, which is why I wrote these books. Those are the same values that I hope that other young readers are able to get from the Sugarplum Recipes Series.

Since the series is called Sugarplum Recipes, I have to ask how you chose the recipes?
The chapters each inspire their own original recipe. And original they are! Some of my daughter's favorite cookies from the series are my Catawba Worm Cookies. These cookies will be featured in Tessa Beth & Co and the Cookie Ministry Kids to be released in the spring.

Last year at Thanksgiving, I was working on the recipe and I baked these cookies to take to our family dinner. I didn't think a thing about it when I wrote Catawba Worm Cookies on the sign-up sheet for what everyone was bringing. My family knows that I bake cookies for my books so I just assumed they would realize it was a sugar cookie recipe I was working on. When I walked into Nana's kitchen that day, all eyes turned to me. People had the strangest looks on their faces. "What?" I asked. There was a collective sigh in the room when I uncovered the sugar cookies and set them on the counter. 

My sister finally said, "We have been worried sick that had started on some health kick and you had made cookies from dried Catawba worms." Please rest assured, this recipe and all of my other recipes are free of dried worms.

How long did it take you to write that book?
When I have an idea swirling in my head, I put pen to paper with no thought to plot or outline. Because of that, there are many scraps of stories I simply put aside and think to myself this may one day become a chapter in a book . . . or maybe not. I may eventually pull from those writings, so in all actuality I have been working on some of my books for years. 

Who encouraged you along the way?
I have received so much encouragement on my journey. God has opened (and closed) so many doors for me and has been a lamp to light my path. My family and friends have inspired me, read manuscripts and opened their homes to me so I could go to SCBWI conferences. They have gone on road trips with me to writers’ conferences and worked with me in the kitchen to create cookie recipes. My sidekicks at SCBWI have supported me and cheered me on after a particularly "apocalyptic" book critique. My church, community and online followers have all been blessings to me and my writings. And my editor, Taylor Morris, was particularly instrumental in keeping me encouraged.

How many rewrites do you do on your stories?
Sugarplum Recipes started out as one book with twenty chapters. In the style of Winnie the Pooh or Little House on the Prairie, each chapter of the original Sugarplum Recipe story was episodic and could stand alone. There was not a plot-line that ran through the entirety of the book with a beginning, middle and end. Now try to imagine  those stand alone stories are pebbles. After many rewrites with my editor, those pebbles were shaped into beads and strung together on four different necklaces with a beginning, middle and end. In the end, those four necklaces were actually four individual books.

Who helped you with the editing?
I have been blessed to be able to work with Taylor Morris as editor. Taylor actually worked on a project very similar to mine with Giada De Laurentiis from the Food Network and her Recipe for Adventure Book Series. Taylor has done a fantastic job of keeping me encouraged and helping me map out where my stories are going.

Did you try the normal route and try to find a traditional publisher to handle your book?
Yes, I attempted the traditional route of finding an agent and a publisher. Because my stories are faith-based chapter books with recipes, it had to be just the right person at just the right time. So far, the right person has just been me. : )

 When did you decide to self-publish?
At my last SCBWI conference I prayed, as always, that the Lord would put the right people in my path to guide me on my journey. In the sessions, I accepted the fact that my chapter book and cookie recipe combo simply did not fit with what agents and editors were looking for. Coincidentally, it seemed there was a constant stream of people in my path telling me about a self-publishing success story. Until that point, I had been very resistant to the idea of self-publishing. The first thing I did when I got home from that conference was to connect with a freelance editor through Elance. And so began my journey down the road of self-publishing.

 How did you go about finding an illustrator?

I connected with my illustrator through the same website called Elance. I posted a job and received bids. Marianna Andrrusyshyn stood out of the crowd and I was blessed to work with her. She did an outstanding job.

Prior to publishing this book and the second book, what type of publishing credits did you have?
I debuted as an author when I released the first two books in the Sugarplum Recipe Series in July 2015. I have another book in the series coming out in December 2015. A fourth book will be released in 2016.

Since self-publishing means you do it all, what has been the hardest learning curve for you?
I have really stretched myself in so many areas. With all the research that I have done, I feel like I should have a college degree in children's book writing and self-publishing. I now know words like SEO and social media. Katie Davis' How to Promote Your Children's Book was an invaluable resource and simplified the marketing process for me. 

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book?
I have mostly used the internet and social media. I also went on a virtual tour with Sage's Blog Tours. Working with Sage and her bloggers was a wonderful experience and it opened the door to other opportunities. I also have some actual speaking engagements scheduled for later this fall.

What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I think I have probably seen the most publicity through Facebook and my virtual book tour. My website has also been a tremendous asset. 

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had connected with an editor earlier on and I had started developing an online presence sooner. 

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?
 Join a professional writer's organization such as Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and go to writers' conferences. Going to SCBWI conferences has been the most impactful to my career as a writer. Also, get connected with a freelance editor.

Any last tips you'd like to add?

Here's some resources that have been helpful to me, I'd like to pass along:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - www.scbwi.org
Elance - www.elance.com
Taylor Morris - http://www.taylormorris.com
Katie Davis - http://katiedavis.com/books/
Sage's Blog Tours - http://www.sagesblogtours.com/ 

That's it for today's interview. I hope you are intrigued by Wendy's writing and her recipes to learn more. Here's some great links to do that.

Facebook: booksbywendysalter
Twitter: @WendySalterBook
Website: wendy-salter.com
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1gWkW7G

Writing the Magic of Life: Author Interview with Julianne MacLean

The prologue for your newest release, The Color of the Season, begins with… This past holiday season, I received the greatest gift imaginable—the gift of love. Tell my readers a little about your new book and why you wrote it. 
This book is part of my Color of Heaven Series, and it picks up exactly where the previous book leaves off - just as the heroine is about to dump her soon-to-be fiancé, a Boston police officer named Josh Wallace. This is Josh’s story, and when it opens he’s pretty bitter about relationships, and then he hits rock bottom.

What would you like readers to take away from reading this book?
I’d like readers to follow him through his journey and come away with the belief that everything happens for a reason, and that even the worst experience of your life can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, though you didn’t know it at the time. The book concludes during the holiday season and I hope readers will feel the magic of that special time of year. 

What makes the Christmas holiday season special for you? What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
I love spending time with my family and one of our traditions is a lobster dinner on Christmas Eve where we all dress up. Then on Christmas Day, after the gifts have been opened, we get together again at my aunt’s house for a traditional turkey dinner. So I guess it’s all about the food! 

This is your 7th book in your Color of Heaven Series. They do not follow the same character or series of characters. What ties all the books together?  The books in the Color of Heaven Series are tied together by two things: First, they all explore the theme of real life magic (things like fate and destiny, the existence of soul mates, and the possibility of life after death). Secondly, each book picks up where the previous book leaves off by continuing to tell the story of one of the secondary characters.

 What inspired you to write this series? 
I was inspired to write the first book because I’ve always been fascinated with near-death experiences and I wanted to combine that element with a love story I had in mind. I originally wrote it as a standalone novel, but after I received a flood of letters from readers asking for more books like it, I decided to continue by giving stories to other characters in that story world. 

You’ve now written 6 different series from contemporary mainstream to contemporary romance and historical romance. Is there one genre you feel the most comfortable writing in?
As far as which genre I feel most comfortable in… As long as there’s a love story to be told, I feel comfortable in any setting. And I like to switch gears every once in a while just for change of pace creatively. Research is half the fun, and I don’t ever want my writing to feel stale - to me or my readers. Right now I’m enjoying telling stories with a contemporary voice, but I’m gearing up to write another Scottish historical next.

Back in 2011 you released a time travel romance called, Taken by a Cowboy. Do you think you will revisit that theme in other books?
Funny you ask that! The next book to come after THE COLOR OF JOY will be THE COLOR OF TIME, and that one will touch on some time-travel elements in a contemporary setting.

You published your first book with Harlequin back in 1999. Back then did you think you would be as prolific a writer (with 30 books and counting) as you are now?
I honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead when I sold my first book. Back then I was just trying to sell one book at a time and it was tough to break in. But once I started writing, I didn’t want to do anything else, and I’m stubborn about not giving up, so I suppose the cards were laid out for a long term career. I expect to be writing novels for the rest of my life.

 What did you learn in writing that first book that brought you to where you are in your writing career now?
I think it’s important to mention that my first published book was actually the fifth book I’d written, as the first four didn’t sell. So I suppose by then I had found my voice, and I’d learned how important it is to start something new if you want to keep growing as a writer. I’ve been doing that ever since, and I’m still learning and growing with every new book I write.

What do you know now about book contracts that you wish you had understood then?
I wish I had known how important the rights reversion clause would be, and I wish I had requested my titles from Harlequin when they became “vulnerable.” Back then, there weren’t any other realistic options to re-publish a book, so I didn’t ask for them back.

By the time I did ask, the emergence of ebooks made it possible for Harlequin to re-issue the titles, so they weren’t keen to let go of the rights. I wish I had them back now because they could use a little love.

Before your first book was making the rounds with the publishers when you signed up with an agent. What was it that she saw in your writing that publishers did not pick up on immediately?
I think she simply liked my voice. She said when she started reading my novel, she immediately pushed everything aside so that she could finish it.

And I can’t fault the publishers for not buying my earlier manuscripts. I don’t think they were as well written.
How do you find an agent who will represent you when you are not a known entity? How important is it to have an agent?
If you want to sell to a publisher, I think it’s important to have an agent to help get you in the door and negotiate the contract. To find one, you just have to keep submitting your work according to their guidelines and not give up when you get rejected. As I mentioned before, it took me five books and about five years to finally get a “yes” from an agent.

Of course, times have changed a lot since 1999, and now a writer has other options. Self-publishing is a very viable path and you don’t need an agent to take that step. If you do well at it, you may have an easier time getting an agent.  

Can you point to any one person or event that helped jump start your writing career and made you think – I can make this a career? 
Moving from Harlequin to Avon to write for an amazing editor there—and actually being paid a respectable wage—made me believe it was possible. More recently, my move to become an independent publisher of my own work has given me the ability to commit to doing this for the rest of my life, as I’m no longer dependent on whether or not a traditional publisher will choose to acquire my next book. As long as I want to keep writing, I’ll be able to reach readers. And I can write whatever I want. I love that!

Have you ever been halfway into a story and think, this isn’t working?
Yes, that happens to me all the time, and I usually have to take a step back and figure out where I went wrong. So far, it’s always been fixable, but sometimes that means I have to throw out a big chunk of what I just wrote. I’ll have to go back to the place where I took a wrong turn and set a new course.

 How do you know you’re “hitting the mark” in your writing?
In terms of knowing if I’m hitting the mark—or not hitting it—that’s a gut feeling and I’ve learned to trust it. Sometimes if I get blocked and can’t seem to move forward, it’s because something isn’t working and deep down, I know it. It might take me a few days or a week to figure out what is wrong. Stepping back and putting it aside for a little while is always helpful. I believe my sub-conscious works on the problem. 

I also have an excellent critique partner who is honest with me about what isn’t working in a story, so I revise accordingly based on her comments before I send the book to my editor.

Since your first published book, have you had any books that haven’t been picked up by publishers?
Yes, after I sold two books to Harlequin, they rejected my third. That book has never been published. I recently dug it out to see if I could polish it and self-publish it, but I discovered that the editor was right to reject it. It just wasn’t that good, so it will remain forever unpublished.
Later, that same Harlequin editor accepted my fourth book, but rejected my fifth. This time I strongly believed she was wrong and my agent, Paige Wheeler, agreed with me. Paige shopped it around elsewhere and that book went on to receive offers from three publishers and became a Rita finalist. It was TO MARRY THE DUKE, the first book in my American Heiress series with Avon.

How much time daily do you have for writing? 
I write about 5 hours per day, in the late afternoons and evenings after I spend about 6 hours on the business side of publishing, which includes working with editors, formatters, attending to audiobook production, general promotion and social media. I do take a supper break during that 5 hour stretch.

Do you do individual character development before doing the full plot?
Yes, I flesh out the characters and their backstories, and I outline the complete plot before I begin writing a single word. Along the way, however, as I become more acquainted with the characters, they may reveal themselves differently from what I originally imagined, so I allow myself the freedom to veer away from the outline if necessary. That happens more often than not in the second half of the novel.

 How much does social media play in your promotion of your books?
I feel it plays an important part in my ability to connect with readers. I love hearing from them and they often find me through my Facebook and Twitter pages. It’s also a great place to share news and keep my readers informed about new releases and what’s coming next.

What suggestions do you have for enhancing a writer’s social media platform?
I have grown my platform organically by continuing to remain active through the years and by being “present” on a daily basis. But it takes time to build a large following, so if an author wants to use social media, my suggestion would be to start now. Don’t wait, and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. You’re in it for the long haul, and you’re going to reach one new reader at a time.

 What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I do everything I can think of, and I invest my revenue back into my business by purchasing ads in Bookbub, ENT, and other effective ebook websites and newsletters. Bookbub has worked the best in that area. I also keep the first book in my series free and I run short term, 99 cent sales on other titles on a regular basis.

For THE COLOR OF THE SEASON, I did a book trailer for the first time just because I felt like it. I’m not sure how many books that will sell. It’s not something I can easily measure, but it has provided me with some extra opportunities to get the word out about the book, and I really love it! Here’s a link: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/72953-the-color-of-the-season

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had known sooner that I could self-publish my books successfully and reach just as many readers that way (and make more money, too). I wasn’t sure in 2011, so I signed a three-book deal with a publisher for more historicals when I should have been writing and publishing my Color of Heaven Series, which was where my heart was at the time. 

What is the best advice you've been given about writing or that you've learned that you would like to pass along?
The most important thing is to write a great book. So if you are a beginning writer, you need to dedicate yourself to that task and make the effort to educate yourself about improving your style and honing your craft. I once heard that you have to write a million words before you become truly masterful, and I think those are wise words. At the end of the day, the writing and your creativity is everything. Be disciplined about it. Don’t just talk about doing it, or dream about doing it. Do it. 

You've won numerous awards. Is there one that touches your heart more than another? is there an award you hope to someday win?
They’ve all been special and I am grateful for each one. I used to dream about winning a Rita, but these days, that accolade isn’t as important to me as it once was. (Besides, I can’t enter my Color of Heaven books anyway because they got rid of the women’s fiction category for books with romantic elements.) 

What I get the most pleasure from now is the direct feedback from readers through online reviews, messages on Twitter and Facebook, or through my website contact page. That means more to me than any award. I got the most amazing letter from a reader the other day. It gave me goose bumps and brought tears to my eyes. I think it’s the nature of the series, but readers often share very personal spiritual experiences with me. I feel very blessed to hear their stories. It has changed my life. 

What other works do you have in the process?
I am writing THE COLOR OF JOY now (Book 8 in my Color of Heaven Series) and I have my next Highlander book outlined from start to finish. I can’t wait to dive into that one for a change of pace!

If you would like to learn more about Julianne and her books, here are some links to get you started.

View the book trailer for THE COLOR OF THE SEASON.
https://www.goodreads.com/videos/72953-the-color-of-the-season

Website: www.juliannemaclean.com

 Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/186987.Julianne_MacLean

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JulianneMacLeanRomanceAuthor?ref=hl

From the Reality of Journalism to Writing Fiction: Author Interview with Rich Zahradnik

Working in journalism where you have an outlet for creative expression, what made you decide to take the plunge and write a novel? How did you come up with the idea of your current book?
Journalism can be creative, but you still have to follow the facts. Fiction lets me tell the stories I dream up and go off in the directions those dreams take me.

Is this your first novel or have others been started and stopped along the way?
I completed one previous manuscript that got representation but did not sell. I also have three or four false starts on my computer.

How did you come up with the idea of your current book?
The idea was a what if? What if a big-time police reporter were forced to do the dull work of obituaries, always dealing with the dead but never pursuing the why of their deaths.

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?
In March of 1975, as New York City hurtles toward bankruptcy and the Bronx burns, newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. He is looking for the story that will deliver him from obits, his place of exile at the Messenger-Telegram. Ever since he was demoted from the police beat for inventing sources, the 34-year-old has been a lost soul. A break comes at Bellevue, where Taylor views the body of a homeless teen picked up in the Meatpacking District. Taylor smells a rat: the dead boy looks too clean, and he’s wearing a distinctive Army field jacket.

A little digging reveals that the jacket belonged to a hobo named Mark Voichek and that the teen was a spoiled society kid up to no good, the son of a city official. Taylor’s efforts to protect Voichek put him on the hit list of three goons who are willing to kill any number of street people to cover tracks that just might lead to City Hall. Taylor has only one ally in the newsroom, young and lovely reporter Laura Wheeler. Time is not on his side. If he doesn’t wrap this story up soon, he’ll be back on the obits page–as a headline, not a byline.

How long did it take you to write this book? How many rewrites did you do on it?
The book took eight years, but that was because I was working full-time in journalism and some of my jobs were pretty intense as far as hours. The book had ten or more revisions. I had one freelance editor help me, plus it was workshopped at the Crime Fiction Academy. The one I'm working on now I started in March and I will finish before the end of the year—so I'm a bit faster than the first book.

How many publishers did you pitch before you found Camel Press? From the time they received the manuscript, how long did it take you to get a contract?
My agent pitched about 10. From manuscript to contract was about three months.The process was a lot of waiting interrupted by rejection. You need to be ready for that.

How did you go about finding an agent?
I attended the Backspace conference three times, read up on queries and first pages and researched what agents were looking for via Writer's Digest and other sources. Writer's Digest's agent blog profiles new agents. I read about Dawn Dowdle, who came from a background of editing mysteries and building websites for mystery authors. That gave me a way to target my pitch, as mine was a mystery. Dawn offered to represent me.

How many agents did you pitch?
More than 35.

What feedback did you get from your pitches?
I had requests for partial and full manuscripts at Backspace but no one offered  to represent me.

Do you think you would have been able to get a contract with Camel Press if you didn't have an agent?
Nope. Unagented material won't get looked at by almost all publishers.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first?
I'm a pantser with light outlining. I use the index card view in Scrivener to note down one line ideas for each chapter, with each chapter a card, but only go a chapter or two ahead. Sometimes an idea will occur for later on—midpoint or climax—and that I'll note on a later chapter's card. Still, it's just one or two sentences. Then I just write. I enjoy the discoveries I make with plot, characters, setting when I don't have everything planned out. But I don't think that means there's a debate among writers. Whatever works for a writer is what works. As for characters, I let them grow and create themselves as they join the story.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I'm doing everything a debut author can without tons of money: a review blog tour, full-service author web site, giveaways on Goodreads and through International Thriller Writers. I'm in the ITW's debut author class this year, which will give me promo opportunities. Of course, I do all the social media stuff. My launch party was at the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City in October. It's still to early for me to say what is pushing sales best.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
A good story idea isn't necessarily a high concept hook, and having the latter is way better, in mysteries at least.

Is this a stand alone book or are you planning a sequel or prequel for any of your characters?
It's a series. Camel has contracted for three more. DROP DEAD PUNK comes out next fall.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would

like to pass along?
From John Rehl, high school teacher and best writing teacher I ever had. If you want to write, write. A thousand words a day. It's the only way you get there.

If you would like to learn more about Rich and his writing, here's some links to get you started.

www.richzahradnik.com
www.facebook.com/richzahradnik
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8335771.Rich_Zahradnik
Amazon Book Link

On Balancing Family Life and your Writing Life: Author Interview with Jenny Proctor

 When did you actually start writing your first book? How long did it take to write your first draft? How many re-writes do you think you did?

 ​I started writing my first book in March of 2009. The first draft took three months, then I revised and rewrote for six months. I'd say I probably had four or five drafts before I felt it was publish-ready.

 

Who encouraged you along the way?I was fortunate to have a couple of friends who were already published and were generous with both their time, and knowledge. They never hesitated to answer my questions or validate my efforts. But mostly, it was a pretty small support network--my family and close friends, and a very real, pressing need to finish the story. The characters felt so real in my head, it felt I would be letting them down if I didn't just tell the story already!​

Prior to writing your romance books, what other published writing did you have?  

​Okay, true confession time? My first published novel was the very first fiction anything that I've ever written, save a few short stories written in college. I wrote a blog for a couple of years, if you want to count that as published writing, but other than that, that's it! I realize it's pretty awesome to publish you're first ever novel, but I think it's a double edged sword. I've been writing consistently for five years now and in that time, I think I've become a much better writer. I'll never not be proud of my first book, but it's sometimes hard to consider the very real fact that I'm doing all my growing in public. There's a part of me that wishes I'd written three or four books behind closed doors just to get some of the rookie mistakes out of the way first.

Did you attend writing conferences to help you along the way?

I didn't attend writing conference's before I sent out my book. I sort of jumped in cold turkey, then went backwards and built up my support network. Not the easiest way to do things, for sure!​

​I now attend the LDS Storymakers Conference every year, though my first time at the conference wasn't until after I'd landed my first book deal. I love being involved in the conference. This year I'm co-chairing the event, and plan to head up the entire thing in 2016. It's a conference that has grown significantly over the past few years. We have top rate agents and authors, from best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, to agents like Writers House agent Dan Lazar join us every year. It's an incredible conference--great people, and so much to learn! This year's conference is in Provo, Utah, May 15-16.

Did you pitch other publishers besides Covenant Cummunications Inc?
​I pitched to one other company that publishes LDS fiction, but Covenant was my top choice. I feel really fortunate that they were the ones that picked up the first book. So what is LDS Fiction?​

​Covenant is an LDS publisher and their submissions guidelines state that you need to list the specific LDS-oriented elements of your book" in your cover letter. What exactly does that include?LDS stands for Latter-day Saints, another way to refer to Mormons. So my novels have elements that are unique to members of the LDS church. Sometimes this means just having Mormon characters, sometimes it means characters grapple with more specific issues that are faith-related.

The one constant is that any book Covenant publishes is going to be guaranteed clean--no swearing, no sex. Period. Some might think this restrictive, but I think there is value in fiction that you can share freely with others, even your own daughters, without having to worry about what you might find on the next page.

I don't think ALL fiction needs to be this way. Some stories require a grittier telling. But I do think there IS a place for clean reads and a market for them. I'm happy to be a part of that market.

Did you research agents to represent you and your writing?
Because LDS Fiction is such a niche genre, I didn't research agents before submitting to Covenant. They accept direct submissions so it was easier to go that route. But I have been researching agents since then!

My third novel, titled Nearly Nell, is not LDS Fiction. I'd love to get it into the national market which I'll need an agent to do. Wading the query trenches is not easy, but I'm learning a lot as I go. I think there's a home out there for this novel... hopefully we will find it soon!​

What has surprised you the most about getting published other than the joy of seeing your book in print?
​You know, I was surprised at how vulnerable I felt knowing others were reading my words. They feel so much a part of me--a part of who I am, it was all kinds of overwhelming to think of others knowing my characters, reading the sentences I worked so hard to create. I was also surprised at just how LONG everything takes. Even after you GET the book deal, still. So much waiting. ​

What advice would you give someone who thinks they have the great novel in them just waiting to be told?
​If the story is just waiting to be told, then TELL IT! Writing is a skill. You get better with practice, so the very best thing to do is write, write, write. Write, and then read your stuff out loud. Read it to others out loud. Have others read it to YOU out loud. And remember, every criticism you receive is making you a better writer. It's hard and awful and sometimes it really stings to have people rip apart your words, but it's the only way to stretch and grow.

I'm not sure there is any business out there that requires a thicker skin than publishing. But the rewards can be immense. I've suffered through some bad reviews in my time, but I've also gotten emails from readers that have thanked me for writing something that changed them for the better. You can't beat that. ​
 
How much does social media play in your promotion of your books?
​OH, social media. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, mostly because I only have so many hours each day to spend on the laptop and it's painful to use those hours for anything other than actual writing. But it IS necessary and I think it's really important.

I have a website and a blog, and a pretty active Facebook page. Facebook is where I do most of my promotion. My publisher arranges several blog reviews, and sends copies of my books out to pertinent newspapers and online magazines for review... but beyond that, I rely mostly on word of mouth and positive reader reviews. I expect there's probably much more that I could be doing, but there's only so many hours in the day, you know?

My editor once told me the very best thing I could do to sell my first book is write a second one. Get your name out there, build a reader base. ​

Was it harder or easier to write your second book? ​The second book was definitely easier. So much of writing is learn by doing, so I think naturally, it gets easier the more you do it. Both novels also take place in the same small town, so with the second novel I was already starting with a town and setting I was familiar with. It's not a sequel, and can definitely be read as a stand alone book, but as far as keeping things clear in my head, I already knew the town, the feel of the people, and that made it easier to construct the story.

On the flip side, when I wrote my first book, I only had four kids, and now I have six. In that respect, the writing of the second book was harder. I have way less free time!

Do you have another book in the works?
I have two other novels in the works--Nearly Nell, my first national market title that I'm shopping with agents right now, and a third as yet unnamed novel for Covenant that's about half-way finished. Don't tell my editor I said that. She's getting it by Dec, or else!​

Any other thoughts on writing you'd like to add?​Just that if you have a passion for writing, if it makes you happy and fills you up and makes it easier for you to sleep at night, don't stop doing it. There are so many ways for your words to be read. Find a niche that works for you, and work at it. BUT, don't stop living your life to do it.

When I am completely consumed by my writing, the quality of it suffers. When I take a step back, play with my kids, hike in the wood, breathe, exercise, the writing comes much easier and my words are better for the diversity in my life. Real life can be inspiring in more ways than one. Though it's SO easy to, as writers, live completely inside our heads, I think we will be better writers if we don't. ​

That's it for today's interview. Hope you learned something to help you in your writing. If you would like to learn more about Jenny and her writing, here's the link to her website.
http://www.jennyproctor.com/