Can you give us a brief
overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
My debut novel, The Lady of
the Garter, is set in the late 1400s. The heroine, Lady Elena, is a strong,
independent woman determined to achieve two goals: win the heart of Sir James,
a knight in the Order of the Garter, and to attain knighthood herself. The
story grows as Elena disguises herself as a boy, becomes James’ squire and
follows him into battle. But Elena’s determination and strength are tested as
she confronts obstacles put in place by her nemesis, the evil Sir Nicholas. The
twists and turns lead the reader on a romantic, high-spirited adventure that
follows one woman’s pursuit of honor and true love. And yes, it’s the first
book in a series.
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first
contract? Was it for your first novel?
I had a successful author as a
mentor and she told me most writers don’t get their first novels published. So
I put my first manuscript away in a drawer and started a second one. But when I
decided to go to my first Romance Writer’s National Conference in July of 2013,
that second manuscript wasn’t finished yet. Instead of sitting on the
sidelines, missing agency and publishing pitch opportunities, I pulled that
first story out of the drawer, dusted if off, pitched and sold it. A lucky home
run on my first time at bat.
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or
publisher?
I had a chance to meet the
publisher at the national conference. That doesn’t happen very often. When you
are at a conference, it’s a bit like the wild, wild, west. There are
coordinated pitches, and protocol, but there are unconventional opportunities
too, like elevator pitches. I was invited to pitch my story at the hotel bar.
And yes, I was sober, but had a strong drink after. The publisher loved the
pitch and asked for the full manuscript. I received a contract just a week later
from Soul Mate Publishing.
If you used a graphic
designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative
process for your cover?
Each author fills out a very
detailed form that they submit to the art department at Soul Mate, including
what they don’t want on the cover. My publisher has a very talented group of
artists working for them, but my editor wanted to introduce a new artist to the
publisher and my book’s cover became the pitch. Because of that, I was able to
pick the model, background, font and colors. It was an amazing experience.
Do you outline your story or just
go where your muse takes you?
I’m a total panster, which is the
opposite of how I manage the rest of my life. Outside of writing, I’m a total
planning geek, with Outlook, Excel spreadsheets, and ‘to-do’ lists ruling my
world. I suppose my muse refuses to be corralled.
Did you hire an editor to review
your manuscript before publishing?
Yes, and I recommend doing so to
any aspiring author seriously considering publication, particularly if they
aren’t a part of a critique group. There are many affordable services available
and when it’s your writing, you are bound to miss some things, plus it gives
you an objective critique. You know your mother will love whatever you write,
but that won’t help you sell a manuscript.
Besides Amazon, are there any
other sites where your books are for sale?
Not yet. My publisher has an
exclusive deal with Amazon for a number of months after the release. Because of
that Amazon, does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to promoting the book
through its channels. Here’s the buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lady-Garter-Marisa-Dillon-ebook/dp/B00QP2Q2P4
What kinds of marketing [twitter,
Facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
I’m a marketing and social media
consultant for the television industry. Not only do I love marketing, I’m
fortunate enough to receive extensive training in the subject and have some the
most talented people around me. I focus primarily on Facebook and Twitter, but
I’ve also produced a video book trailer and of course, I blog. Also, to save
time and maximize my efforts, I’ve tied some of my social together. For
example, when I tweet, that message is posted on my author Facebook page and my
Amazon author central page allowing those tweets to be seen in both the US and
the UK.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your
current book and writing your next book?
Absolutely. My job in the
television industry is almost 24/7 and requires me to work sometimes 60+ hours
a week. When you want to be published, you have to make the time— lunch hours,
weekends, late nights, multi-tasking. I’d like to do this full time. Now, I
just need to sell a lot of books. Ha!
What’s next for you?
I’m working on the second in the
Garter series that will include a Highlander spin, as well as a standalone
story set in Georgian times about a belly dancer. No release dates available
yet, but I hope to back to visit here again when they are available.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With
a degree in journalism, Marisa has spent many years writing for the television
industry. As an award-winning producer/director/marketer, she has worked on
commercial production, show creation, product branding and social media.
Marisa’s
passion for writing began when her first-grade teacher read her poem aloud and
posted it on the classroom wall. She soon followed up by writing plays for her
neighborhood friends and hosting the productions in her garage.
Marisa
has always enjoyed reading romance novels and now realizes a dream come true,
writing romantic adventures. She lives in Kettering, Ohio, with her first love
and knight in shining armor, James.
Here’s how to follow me until
then: www.marisadillon.com.
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the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning.
The tour dates can be found here:
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