The Joy of Getting Published: Author Interview with Angie Dickinson

Most everyone thinks they can write a novel. What made you decide to write one? 
I have always been an avid reader, and always in awe of the people whose imaginations created the stories that I love. It sounded like an unattainably difficult task, and yet the most satisfying sort of creativity that I could imagine. I put a lot of thought into the idea of breaking down the process bit by bit until a story emerged, and it eventually sounded like something that I might actually be able to do. I knew that I wouldn’t really know until I tried.

What do you expect readers to take away from your book? 
In Truth Cursed, my main character struggles to understand her own worth and to place trust in others. I would love for readers to take away the truth that none of us have to face our trials on our own, and that no matter how badly we think we’ve messed up, we can be forgiven and keep moving upward.

What writing experience/credits did you have prior to publishing your book?
Prior to writing Truth Cursed, I studied English Literature in college and honed my craft on a variety of projects. I also had a couple of short fairy tales published in an online magazine.

How long did it take you to write that book? How many rewrites did you do on it?
The first draft only took a few short months, but the revision process took place on and off over the course of a few years. After about two years of revising, I took a break to work on other writing projects, then came back to it again a couple of years later. The entire process from conception to publication day (including breaks) probably took about a dozen drafts over the course of nine to ten years!

Who encouraged you along the way?
I was blessed with multiple teachers from grade school through college who helped me feel validated and encouraged in my love for reading and writing. I am so thankful for them. During the many years of learning how to write and revise, my husband was my primary sounding board and encourager, the one who had to live with the ongoing angst of my writerly woes. :) I also have been blessed by a very encouraging family, and friends who have offered a listening ear and advice countless times. There are many people in my life who would not let me give up and I thank God for them!

Are you active with any writer’s critique groups?
Not formally, no. Over the years I have swapped writing with friends to offer and receive feedback, which has been wonderfully supportive and helpful.

How did you go about finding an agent/publisher?
Using various online databases and resources to find agencies and peruse wish-lists, I cold-queried agents on and off with multiple projects over the course of a few years. I received some occasional feedback but few responses overall. I started looking closely at Enclave Publishing when I discovered their books and felt that mine would fit in well. They are a traditional press that accepts unsolicited submissions, so I sent in my work, following the submission guidelines on their website. A few months later, I received the publication offer.

From the time you were signed by your agent/publisher how long did it take to get the publishing contract and the book published?
Contract discussions took place over a matter of weeks, and then the publication process took just over a year.

What has surprised you the most about getting published other than the joy of seeing your book in print?
I think what has surprised me the most is just how much goes on behind the scenes. From edits to design to marketing, there is a lot of work that goes into making sure the book is well-produced and ready for readers.

What is the best advice you’ve been given that has helped you in your writing?
When you are creating, filled with purpose, and giving it your all, nothing is ever wasted. Not your time, not your efforts, and certainly not your ideas…even the discarded ones. Everything you put into your writing will serve a purpose. Perhaps the purpose is simply to hone your craft or to prepare you for some other task or calling, or perhaps an idea that you chucked years ago will return with new purpose and clarity. Do not give up, and do not be discouraged.

I wish I could credit a specific person for this advice; it is wisdom that I have gleaned here and there over the years.

Are there other books in the works?
Yes, I am writing as often as I can and excited for what the future holds.

That's all for today's interview. Here are the best links to learn more about her writing.

Website: angiedickinsonbooks.com 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Sq5KEs

Enclave Publishing (get 20% off by buying direct): https://www.enclavepublishingstore.com/ya/epad001h-truth-cursed-hb-88605-1742

Instagram: www.instagram.com/angiedickinsonbooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556496787590

Writing for the YA Market: Author Interview with Deborah Grace White

Your bio says you've always been an avid reader, but what made you decide to actually write one of your own? How many rewrites did you do before deciding it was finally ready to publish?
The first novel I wrote is actually still not published. I wrote it to get the story out of my system, so to speak. It’s quite a different genre from what I mainly wanted to write, though (which is fantasy), so I shelved it. 

My first published novel, Heir of the Curse, started as an idea in high school, when I jotted down some thoughts here and there. It wasn’t until after the birth of my second child, at which time I wasn’t undertaking any paid work, that I decided to properly write it. I think my brain was looking for an outlet, and I guess I found it!

Your books are independently published, but they’re under the umbrella for Luminant Publications. The info on that site says all the authors are family members. How does that work out?
We all write our own novels independently, but the banner allows us to have more control of our publishing process. The family member who runs the publishing company also does a fair bit of admin for the rest of us.

What’s the hardest part of publishing and marketing your own books?
Marketing, definitely. It’s not something I enjoy, or am good at. It’s such a different skill from writing, and there are so many variables that it’s hard to even tell if something is or isn’t working. Questions like whether to advertise, where and for how much still overwhelm me a bit.

Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What marketing venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
I’ve found paid advertising to be a mixed bag. I’ve had some success with specific paid promos (eg BookBub), but even these are hit and miss. Probably my preferred marketing venue is newsletter swaps with authors in a like genre. It’s not something that happens all at once, though. It’s important to build relationships with other authors, rather than just looking for advertising opportunities. These relationships are really important for success in other ways, not least of which is moral support in a field that can be isolating for some! Finding author groups is a great approach.

All of your books have stunning cover designs. How did you find the right illustrator for the covers? 
My covers are done professionally by an incredible designer called Karri Klawiter. I don’t know her outside of our professional relationship, but she was recommended to me by a family member who’s also an author. She’s great to work with, and having the same designer for all my covers allows for great consistency. It’s not something I would ever recommend skimping on, or doing yourself unless you have the training and experience.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
I find action scenes quite challenging to write. Dialogue and character building comes more naturally. Worldbuilding is hard as well, not in that I can’t come up with ideas, but in that it’s hard to know how much is too much, or too little. I also struggle to keep to my target outline. I tend to overwrite!

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Probably emails from readers who’ve really enjoyed my books and have gotten in touch to let me know why! But also having family members who are authors as well. That’s pretty invaluable in many ways, from advice to just talking things out. I don’t try to market my books to people I know in real life (not a viable market, and not the vibe I want in my friendships!) but when a friend happens to read and enjoy my books, that’s also enormously encouraging. There’s no substitute for that face to face affirmation!

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I hope I did know this on some level from the start, but one important thing to remember is to be open to feedback! Especially with your first novel, it can be really sensitive to receive feedback from beta readers and editors, but it’s actually really important—usually, if something has bothered someone, it will bother other readers. Being willing to change your work when needed is a really important part of becoming a good writer (something to which we all aspire!). The good news is this process definitely gets easier as you go.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Work to your own goals and capacity, and be very careful of comparing yourself to other authors!

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
For me, at least, writing is fun. Not every part of the process, of course. There’s a lot involved in getting a novel out there, and some of it won’t be that enjoyable. But the storytelling itself should be fun and engaging. If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself to do it! And if you love it, give it a go, even if you don’t meet with wild success in an objective sense.

What’s the next book coming out? Could you share a bit of the story with my readers?
I’m currently partway through releasing The Vazula Chronicles, a four book series about a determined mermaid and a reluctantly magical human lord. The final book will release on October 7th, so not long until the series is all complete, for those who don’t like to be left with an unfinished story!

My next project, scheduled to debut before the end of the year, is a new series of fairy tale retellings. More info can be found on my website!

If you'd like to learn more about Deborah's books, here's the link to her website which lists all the details. https://deborahgracewhite.com/

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

Making Your Point:An Author Interview with Matt Mikalatos

As I was reviewing books on Goodreads, the first book title I ran across of yours was Imaginary Jesus. My first impression was that it might have been a slam against Christianity. However, the details show it is more of a satirical look of how some Christians view Christ in their own personalized image to suit their needs. And your publishers are major Christian powerhouses.  

You have such a satirical voice but well-grounded theology, so I have to ask, what is your background prior to writing these books – Divinity student? Seminary Professor? Pastor? Ex-engineer? 

You're not alone in thinking that original cover -- which I love -- might be unfavorable to Christianity. My publisher re-released it with a new, less potentially offensive cover, and re-titled the book My Imaginary Jesus.

My background before writing the book was working for a large Christian non-profit (I still do actually!), and I was in seminary at the time. I've since graduated with my Master's in Biblical Theology. 

What Christian writers helped to inspire you to write your books – either in a positive way or in a way to set the record straight in something you thought needed to be said?

I've loved C.S. Lewis since I was a kid, of course, and as I got older, I got pretty deeply into G.K. Chesterton. Both of these authors were people who wrote both fiction and non-fiction weren't afraid to use their sense of humor and had a unique way of looking at the world. That was inspiring for me, for sure. For Imaginary Jesus specifically, I was also inspired by Dante's Inferno and the idea of the author taking a journey while being led by a spiritual guide.  

Since you don’t write in what I would consider the typical Christian apologetics (C.S Lewis, Lee Stroebel, Ravi Zacharias, etc.) how hard was it to find your first publisher?
It was much easier than you might expect. Hard work, definitely, but not some impossible journey. I had several articles in various Christian magazines, and I had met a Christian author named Gary Thomas (who wrote Sacred Marriage and whose most recent book is Loving Him Well: Practical Advice on Influencing Your Husband) who gave me some advice along the way and also the names of a few agents to talk with.

One of those agents took a look at an early draft of the book and didn't love it. He liked the concept, though, so he gave me some feedback. I rewrote some things, re-submitted to him, and he became my agent! He is the greatest. Then we shopped the book and it got picked up by my dear friends at Tyndale. I love them a lot. 

Your most recent book, Good News for a Change: How to Talk to Anyone About Jesus, is published by the Navigators whose goal is to help believers share their faith in a way that won’t pound someone over the head with evangelism.  In this day and age of PC speech, many are uncertain about sharing their faith. What would you suggest they do?
Well, I think we can definitely talk about Jesus in a way that makes it clear that "Gospel" means "good news." That means learning to interact with people and get to know them enough that when I share the gospel, I say it in a way that is clear and understandable to them. I've shared my faith (often) with people from all different political and faith backgrounds and guess what? Most of them really enjoy the conversation and want to talk more!

Organizations such as Freedom from Religion and the Southern Poverty Law Center in many cases have demeaned Christianity as either being merely primitive superstition or hate groups who aren’t in touch with everything that’s progressive and right. Does a Christian “turn the other cheek” to this agenda or battle against it?

I don't think these organizations are against Christianity as such, they're against certain ways Christians have chosen to present ourselves and speak into the world. I don't know that they're always wrong, honestly... we sometimes say things in an unnecessarily negative way, I think because we've become more concerned about political power than telling people the truth about Jesus.

I'd rather sidestep all of that and talk about the love of God for all people and the good news of Jesus for the person I'm interacting with. Besides, how often do you actually end up in an evangelistic conversation with someone from, for instance, the Freedom from Religion Foundation? Almost never? I don't want to spend my life fighting battles with distant organizations that don't cross paths with me when I could be talking with someone who is sitting across from me at the coffee shop. 

An old Cole Porter song written in the 1930’s notes that “anything goes” but we’ve gone past that era in many ways. Do you believe the world is getting darker? If so, how does light break through?

I don't know how we measure that, to be honest. But I absolutely agree that the smallest light overcomes a great darkness.

Any other thoughts you’d like to share?
One of the most important questions we can ask as we're talking to someone about Jesus is, "What would be good news about Jesus for this person?" Sometimes we get caught up in a "favorite" way to share the gospel, but it might not be as clear for the individual we're with. Jesus talked about the good news differently with the woman at the well than he did with Nicodemus. Let's find the thing that is most exciting and beautiful about Jesus for each person we talk to and share that with them clearly!

Do you have any new books in the works for 2019?
Yes! We're in the middle of a YA fantasy trilogy. The first book, The Crescent Stone, came out last year, and the new one, The Heartwood Crown, comes out this August! I'm really excited about it!

That’s all for today’s interview. If you’d like to learn more about Matt ’s writing, here are some links to get you started.

Facebook: facebook.com/mikalatosbooks
Website: www.mikalatos.com
Instagram: instagram/mattmikalatos