Briefly describe your journey in writing your book.
My latest work, “The Lincoln Park Horror,” is a little novelette released by Untreed Reads Publishing this past summer. It’s the fourth entry in my worldwide bestselling Richard Dick mysteries series, and it’s gaining market traction at e-bookstores everywhere. My journey with Untreed Reads began when they agreed to publish my first Richard Dick mystery, “Bite This!” They gave me a great hand with editing that one, and by golly, it absolutely flew up the charts at e-booksellers around the globe. In fact, it’s still doing quite well. Later, they published “Witches Witch” and “Naughty or Nice” in the Richard Dick series, and a separate little humorous fantasy, “Flying Solo” which has also moved right along. I’ve truly been lucky; my journey has been more like a walk in the park.
What genre are your books? Do you write in more than one genre?
I’ll write anything that captures my interest. Typically, though, my work includes humorous, and/or speculative elements.
If you write in more than one genre, do you use a pen name?
Are you kidding? My name is finally “out there” as a writer, and like Popeye, “I y’am what I y’am.” Establishing myself as a writer all over again under a pen name sounds like too much work and a real pain in the…um…neck.
Did you query agents and traditional publishers? Did you receive an offer of representation or a book contract?
I haven’t queried agencies or print publishers recently. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t in the future. For the past couple of years, I’ve been working directly with e-publishers, although I did have one work accepted and in print by a traditional publisher.
What factors influenced your decision to sign with Untreed Reads?
Fortunately, I found Untreed Reads Publishing through Duotrope and was among the first writers to sign with them. That gave me the opportunity to get to know the publishers, Jay Hartman and K.D. Sullivan very well. I immediately liked and respected them both at a personal level, but more importantly, I saw their innovative vision and bought into their aggressive business model. I’m certainly glad I did.
How involved are you during the creative process for your book’s cover design?
I have the artistic talent of a nematode. So, I’m very comfortable with leaving the creativity to Untreed Reads. However, they generously asked me to review cover options for “The Lincoln Park Horror,” and we mutually agreed upon a fantastic selection that speaks to the subject.
Do you plan to self-publish any other books or will you stay with Untreed Reads?
Um…yes, maybe. I’ve never truly self-published, but instead have relied on established publishers to move my work into the market. You see, I’ve written my share of garbage, and one thing I’ve learned is that if the entire publishing world thinks something stinks, it probably does. I hope to stay with Untreed Reads on many levels, although I’m leaving my options open depending upon the individual nature of my future works.
What kinds of social media [twitter, facebook, webpage, blog, writing forums] are you involved with trying to garner attention for your book(s)?
I suppose you’ve noticed that most publishers (bless their little pea-pickin’ hearts) now demand that writers show up at several social media locations. <sigh> I was forcibly dragged (albeit with considerable yelling and screaming) into some of that, and though I admit it reluctantly, you can find me
On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001906687040
At FiledBy at http://www.filedby.com/author/wade_j_mcmahan/4576964/
On my Amazon Author’s Page at http://www.amazon.com/Wade-J.-McMahan/e/B004XZQQ2Y/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
You can read my blog at my writer’s website “The Incorrigible Liar” at http://wadejmcmahanbooks.weebly.com/index.html
Or simply email me at wjmbooks@hotmail.com
How do you feel about the world of digital publishing? Do you think it will replace traditional publishing one day?
I love digital publishing. It opens many new doors for writers and readers alike. As for the future for traditional publishing, ah, that is the question these days, isn’t it? Of course, we are witnessing the dramatic decline in traditional brick and mortar bookstores. Some school systems have moved over entirely to electronic textbooks. Some small publishers I’ve spoken with have already shut down the print side of their businesses and became exclusively electronic. Of course, at the end of the day, the future of traditional publishing will be about the money, but for now and for the foreseeable future, thankfully, printed books remain profitable, plentiful and readily available.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned during your journey as an author?
I’ve learned that at the outset of my journey, I was dumber than a post. I knew nothing about writing at a professional level, nothing about agents, and nothing about the publishing industry. Then again, how hard could writing be, right? Ahem. Perhaps the biggest thing I’ve learned is that writing, becoming a published author if you will, must be approached with the same high intensity needed to succeed in any altogether new career.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write well—write for yourself, please yourself, believe in yourself, and challenge yourself to write to ever-higher levels as you move your career forward. Remember too, there are thousands of writers out there, so you will promote your finished product in an extraordinarily competitive publishing universe. You must delve into the details of the publishing business, know what publishers want, know what they demand and know exactly what you have to do to ensure that your work stands out above the competition.
What’s next for you?
Quite a bit, actually. My novelette, “Fanged!” the fifth work in my Richard Dick mysteries series, will be released by Untreed Reads sometime after the first of the year. Quite honestly, I think it’s one of my best, not to mention funniest, Richard Dick (please just call him Dick) yarns. Following that, I’m planning one final story to wrap up the series.
“Waves in the Wind” is my current, ongoing project and passion, a full-length fantasy novel sited in ancient Ireland. Given such a rich setting, the storyline is already swarming on me, so watch for this one to evolve into yet another series.
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