Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book?
A Diary's House is based in the mountains of North
Carolina just after the Civil War. It relates the life of a young boy (Landon
Hampshire) growing up in his youth and trying to become a young man. The diary
he discovers reveals the secrets of a world nearly forty years before. Through
this diary he becomes more than a witness on the generations of life, the
bounty of love, what true love really means, and the rekindling of lost love –
but he finds himself living within its boundaries as his own life unfolds. The
diary is of a young woman who lived during the times of the Trail of Tears, how
she fell in love with a young Cherokee boy, the troubles and trials that this
would present, and the endurance of love throughout all times. It turns into a sweeping romance that transcends time and place. It’s more
than a boy's journey into manhood, but the mysteries of so many lives
unknowingly intertwined, now brought together in a climatic ending; all from
the engrossing world embedded in a forgotten diary; a diary of a woman.
Did you
try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
This novel has been through quite a journey. From its
earliest inceptions nearly a decade ago tills, its final evolution and the eventual
novel it has become. During my initial querying agents and publishers, I did
receive interest from multiple sources. I decided to keep the story back for
such a long time, making what I felt were necessary adjustments and waiting
until I felt the right moment would come for me to enter it into the ‘Indie’
world. Which I believe the time is now…
Do you
belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I’ve been in a loose-fit of local groups from time to time
here in Charlotte NC. But I have always felt like a writer’s journey can be
quite an individualistic travel. The stories I write are unique unto
themselves, diverse, with a narrative just as unique. If a reader finds the
scope of the novel plausible, they will read on. If they enter into several
chapters and discover the book viable, then the novel probably will get a full
read. A Diary’s House is immersed in
the complexity of its storylines, the diverse nature to its culture, the
intricate backdrop; the times and nuances of that age, and the lore and legends
which make this location such a special place. Being set in the mountains of NC
was the perfect place for such a novel’s setting.
What
factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?
The biggest factor is that there is now a concrete avenue
for writers under the ‘Indie’ autonomy which gives the writers the necessary
freedom to ‘test’ their works in the open market. Before you had to wait weeks,
if not months for publishers to go through the ‘snail-process’ of accepting or
rejecting your work. If, after you are successful in this venue, then you are
looking at months, perhaps years before your work is exposed to the general
public. There are also greater bounds for success in the ‘Indie’ process,
though the arena might be convoluted with a vast array of entries for the
readers to choose from. The reader now has the freedom to choose what they like
and what they want to read.
What is
your writing process?
I begin with a captive sentence; something that could appeal
to the general reader. A Diary’s House
started with the simple phrase of ‘a woman in the diary’. From there grew the
antidote of the principal relations between a grandmother and her grandson.
Their story only deepens the mood of this story; the ties are far-reaching, and
the story will go in directions the reader will not suspect. But in the end,
the relevance of its truth regarding ‘true, essential love’ will reward the reader
with its unforgettable ending. The emotional impact, I feel, is riveting and
profound to the reader.
Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you.
Both – sometimes one takes principal importance over the
other. Character pre-development, storyline invention, scene sketching all form
and weave the novel into the comprehensive story that it becomes. If I were to
have a concrete methodology upfront, and all the development has to be
established before writing a word, then I might find myself with an itch I
can’t scratch. Many times the characters will dictate the tale and scope, and
the ultimate direction the work will take. I have to be genuine to the lives I
write about, and the reader has to know the sense and sensibility on the
genuine nature of each character. It binds ‘viability’ to the story.
Did you
hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
The publisher and I bounced back and forth on the editing
collaboration before the publication date.
What have
you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
There are more avenues for self-publishing than there used
to be. Just a few years ago there was virtually nothing out there for the
self-published works. Now there are so many to choose from, the writer should
be cautious on who carries the ‘rights’ to their works. The biggest thing is to
be realistic about your expectations (on your genre for the work and your
writing skills), and to persevere through all obstacles which might present
themselves during the process. It’s not enough to desire ‘self-fulfillment’
simply because you have written a work you have pride in. It’s important for
each writer to learn the market place and to fully understand their rights as
the creator of intellectual properties.
Besides
Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
A Diary’s
House is on a multitude of sites. www.Smashwords.com , www.Kobo.com , www.barnesandnoble.com , Google
Ebooks, Indigo, Abebooks, Alibris, Indiebound, Half, Audible, Ibookstore to
name a few. I would suggest googling A
Diary’s House.
What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?
Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?
My publisher Digital Publishing Expert has been very, very
helpful. Marlene Diaz has been super through this whole process. I am greatly
indebted to her. But still it takes time to write the blogs, keep up with
postings, look at reviews and comments and responding in kind.
What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena?
Be wise – quickly. Understand you can have the greatest
novel ever written, but without adequate exposure as an unknown author, you are
fighting an uphill battle. Being good in your craft doesn’t necessarily mean
you will obtain the success you desire upfront. But knowing yourself and being
dedicated to your passions for writing always gives you greater opportunities
down the road. There is a certain aspect of catching ‘lightening in a bottle’,
but also perseverance will increase your chances and then ‘destiny’ might well
find you. My next novel fits just in this category. The reviews I have received
for it have been extremely encouraging - all the way to the point that it is
right in Oprah’s wheelhouse and that she should take a good hard read on it.
But still it is an unknown work. You have to believe in what you write, but
also have a discerning eye so that your writing skills progress and get better
over time.
Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?
I love the outdoors - and growing up in the mountains of NC
means that it’s always in your blood. I love the beauty and majestic nature of
this world and I find great adventure (as Landon Hampshire does) in exploring
every nook and cranny I can discover. Sports, music, Church activities are all
key to me.
What’s
next for you?
Well, the next novel ‘When Tomorrow Never Comes’ is complete
– just a few tweaks here and there. It is a family drama with real and viable
circumstances. The compelling nature of this story tests the very will of the
‘James’ family in ways they could never have imagined before actually falling
into a tragic world of survival. It’s an American family tale which should
resonate with a large audience base. You discover how lives can change and
alter in ways that are very, very unscripted. It’s based on a true story – a
relationship novel with many layers.
Another novel now in its final
edits ‘The Chronicles of Good and Evil –
Dracula’s Lair/The Darkest Tower’ is the beginning of a series of books. It
is the galactic struggle for humanity. A Christian fictional novel – its
composition turns visionary and will provoke the debate on how humanity should
travel and how the age-old war between good and evil is truly universal. Timing
placed aside, it is a story which will resonate into today’s world – very much
so. I wanted to create a form of Christian ‘superhero’s’, if you will, a legion
of angels. I believe it is a provocative tale which delves into the real life
and times of Dracula, the true battles of Satan and God, and how the attrition
war for humanity still greatly affects us today. I am truly excited about this
novel.
4 of 5 stars
5 of 5 stars
