http://www.amazon.com/Switched-Trylle-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B003VD1GBA.
Welcome Amanda!
Briefly describe your journey in writing your first book.
The first book I wrote, I had this image of a man sitting alone in a white room, and I shaped a story around that. It was a mystery thriller thing, where a guy is looking for a killer, and it wasn’t until I was almost done with the book that I realized I didn’t know who the killer was. Suffice it to say, it was not a very good book.
Did you query agents or traditional publishers before publishing on Amazon?
I did. I’ve been rejected approximately a thousand times.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish?
The fact that I wasn’t getting published. Agents asked for pages of my book, most of them said something along the lines of “Good, but I’m not passionate enough.” But I was passionate enough to champion my work, so I thought, “Hey, why don’t I do this?”
Will you try to garner a traditional publishing contract for any future books?
I’m definitely not going to turn down publishing contracts (at least not without serious consideration), but I wouldn’t say that I’m actively seeking it now. I really have no idea what I plan to do in the future. It all depends on what happens.
Did you design your cover art? If not, would you care to share your graphic designer’s information?
I did, but I’ve recently been in contact with Claudia McKinney. She’s going to be doing the covers for my future books, and she’s fabulous. You can check out here work here: http://phatpuppyart.com
If you used a graphic designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
Not tons. I basically just gave her a character description, and let her do what she wanted.
How did you feel when you got your first sale? Are you pleased with sales so far?
Ecstatic. Sales have far surpassed what I ever expected to happen. It’s been amazing.
What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?
Twitter, Facebook, my blog, Goodreads, Kindleboards. I ask review blogs to review my books all the time. I have a standing offer that if you have a legitimate review site, I’ll give you an ARC of my books in exchange for an honest review.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
My Blood Approves is for sale on Smashwords, but I’ve only gotten four or five sales there. My Blood Approves, Fate, and Flutter are available in paperback through Lulu.com, but my next books are going through Createspace.
What’s next for you?
The fourth book in the My Blood Approves series is coming out August 22nd, and I just released Switched, the first book in a new trilogy. I have several other urban fantasies waiting to be edited and released, and about a million other ideas and works in progress. I plan on doing a lot more than I’ve already done.
Great interview. I was just looking at Switched on Goodreads. Sounds unnerving - but also a page-turner! Another for my to-read list.
ReplyDelete