Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book?
My most recent book, 1,001
Tips for Writers, was best described by the Midwest Book Review as “an
anthology of witticisms, insights, tips, tricks, techniques, warnings,
suggestions, and much more for anyone and everyone in the writing trade.” It is
somewhat of a quirky book of quotations, and I edited it primarily to help
writers who are just starting out.
I am also coming out with an updated e-book version of what
many consider to be the definitive book on the killings at my alma mater: Four Dead in Ohio: Was There a Conspiracy at
Kent State? The new edition
explores recent new developments, including two audio forensics experts’ claims
that a “prepare to fire” order was issued seconds before the shootings.
How long before you got your offer of
representation/your first contract?
I had
contingency plans for the Kent State book back in 1973, and began working on it
in earnest in 1975. So it took me 17 or 15 years between the time I got started
and the book was first published.
On the
other hand, I whipped out my Ultimate
Hollywood Tour Book in just six
months.
What
factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
I
self-published The Ultimate Hollywood
Tour Book because my agent at the time could not find any New York
publishers that were interested. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
I am now on my 25th printing and my 23rd year of
publication. I bought back the rights to Four Dead in Ohio
just to keep it in print. I actually sold more books than my original
publisher.
Do you
belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
No, I do
not believe in critique groups. Too often they are like the blind leading the
blind.
Did you
hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Absolutely. Every author needs an editor. Those who think
they can get away without one are not thinking professionally.
What have
you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
I discovered that I really liked the book business and loved
publishing more than I liked writing. I learned how to run a small business—which
is what self-publishing is—and I learned from all the rookie mistakes I made. I
also learned a lot from the self-publishing gurus: how they have a vested
interest in getting people to try self-publishing; how they are encouraging so
many unnecessary books; and how they earn their livings not through their books
but through speaking engagements, workshops, consulting, and other ancillary
services.
What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?
I create master publicity lists even before the book is
published: lists of print outlets that might review my books; and a list of
radio and TV shows throughout the country that might interview me. I even have
a side business selling a database of radio talk shows, which I began after
Citadel neglected to send review copies of my movie location book, Shot
on This Site, to radio and TV stations. I wound up doing all the work
myself and kept researching radio stations until I reached the point where I
began to market the list to other publishers, publicists, and independent
authors.
I am on Facebook and Linked In and will soon join Pinterest.
Facebook does not seem to be all that effective for me. The only reviews I got
on GoodReads were from unqualified reviewers: people who thought reference
books should read like novels or who were so ignorant about writing they did
not understand the difference between a byline and a subtitle or the difference
between an author and an editor. I have also used Net Galley and participated
in various writing forums.
Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?
I am still juggling three different books!
What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena?
Learn everything you can about the book business. Have
realistic expectations.
Work with people who have a strong background in traditional
publishing, as opposed to self-publishing. Your goal is to transcend the
self-publishing ghetto. Publish only if you have a really good reason to. Too
many people are being encouraged to publish when they really have nothing to
say.Remember that you are asking people to spend their hard earned money. You
are writing FOR someone and not just to please yourself. Being an author does
not mean what it used to mean. It used to mean something special. It is not
special any more.
Some fun
facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla?
Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
Fun fact: I was born during the blizzard of 1950. They had
to call out the Ohio National Guard to take my mother to the hospital. That has
nothing to do with why I wrote the Kent State book. I just thought that was a
good anecdote to use on talk shows.
Amazon buy link:
William A. Gordon’s web site is www.nrbooks.com . He lives in Rancho Mirage,
CA, with his wife and three dogs.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your post will be published after administrator approval.