Can you give us a
brief overview of your book? Is it part of a series?
Sentinels of the
Night is a paranormal suspense/thriller with
a light touch of romance. The storyline sets up a new FBI unit—the Trackers.
Only the elite of the elite get offered a position.
Agent
Cat Morgan has accepted the offer to transfer to the new unit. She’s been dubbed
the Witchy Woman by her fellow agents. They can’t figure out how she finds the
bodies of murdered victims, which happens on her way to her new assignment. The
discovery puts her nose-to nose with the local police chief, Kevin Hunter, and
the sparks fly. The action and heat between Cat and Kevin builds as more bodies
are discovered, and they track a serial killer who has locked onto Cat as his
ultimate sacrifice.
While
each of the Tracker novels are a standalone story, the Tracker team is
involved. Cat Morgan is the lead investigator in Sentinels of the Night. Ryan
Barr, the unit’s profiler, takes center stage in the second book, Going Gone!
Do you have a
favorite character?
It
is the head of the Tracker Unit, Agent Scott Fleming. From the start he is the
mysterious power behind the unit. He’s been given carte blanche by the Bureau
to go after any agent in the department. As highly qualified agents are passed
over, the rumor mill starts to buzz.
What
no one knows is that he is searching for a certain type of agent. Even the
agents selected are unaware of his surreptitious list of qualifications. They believe
they have cleverly hidden their special talents.
What factors influenced
your decision to self-publishing?
Several
years back, I published my first book, a non-fiction, JFK Assassination
Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy. The traditional publisher and literary agent
was not an option for several reasons, so I selected a subsidy publisher. You
hand them the manuscript and the money, and they publish the book. Their
services are based on how much money you throw at the book. I soon learned
there was nothing they did that I couldn’t do myself.
After
countless hours researching publishing methods and distribution, I decided that
self-publishing afforded me the flexibility to control what happened to my
book. That decision jumpstarted a new career, not only as an author but as a
publisher. I started my own company, Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC. I
help other authors publish their books by providing formatting and cover
design. And, I discovered an unknown talent for graphic design.
Do you belong to a
critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
When
I first started to write, I joined a group that meets at the local library. I
found their help to be invaluable. Not only did they help with punctuation and
grammar, but they also helped keep my story line on track. If something was
off, they didn’t hesitate to let me know.
Do you outline your
story or just go where your muse takes you?
Before
I started on Sentinels of the Night, an
individual that had published several books recommended I do an outline. Okay,
if I have to have an outline, I’ll do an outline. What a fiasco that became. I
was more concerned with staying on track with the outline than writing the
story. I finally ditched the outline, and let the story and characters drive
the plot. Maybe, for some authors the outline works, but in my case it was
absolute disaster.
Besides Amazon, are
there any other sites where your books are for sale?
One
of the advantages of an independent author is deciding where the book will be
sold. Amazon’s distribution of the paperback and eBook has limitations,
especially in the international market. And, Createspace, the print division of
Amazon, does not offer a hardback version. My books, to include the paperback,
eBook, and hardback are distributed by IngramSpark and are available at all
retail outlets.
What kinds of
marketing (twitter, facebook, blog, forums) are you involved with for promoting
your book?
Social
media has been my kryptonite in the publishing process. I am slowly building a
presence with Twitter, Facebook, and Google plus, though Facebook still defeats
me at times.
I
am active with Goodreads which is a great forum for authors and readers. I have
a blog on my website, www.anitadickason.com
that I use primarily for my books and issues on publishing.
Do you find it
difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing
your next book?
My YES should the shout heard round the
world. I am retired, and working harder than I ever did when I was a cop. I
could be on my computer from the time I get up in the morning until I go to
bed. That is the disadvantage of working at home. There is no structure that
says it is time to quit and go home. I am at home!
I am promoting both books, Sentinels of
the Night and Going Gone! along with running my business and writing articles
for my column, On the Hunt that is featured on my website and in Indie Authors
Monthly magazine. My latest project was the book trailers. That was a fun
project. A great motivator to get the third book completed so that I can do
another trailer. The saving grace is that I am at home and when the muse hits,
I can easily switch to the book and starting writing.
Sentinels of the Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m00v2W4K4o
Going Gone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGI9MzkBkSE
What advice would you
give a new author just entering into the self-publishing market?
Set realistic goals for the book. What
do you want to accomplish? Then learn your options. While there are unlimited
opportunities, there are also countless landmines for the unwary author. I wrote
an article titled: Who Owns It. Any author considering self-publishing should
read this article as well as the others that are on my website.
What’s next for you?
I
am working on a third Trackers novel. An ATF agent based in Laredo, Texas has
disappeared, and Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to investigate. What he finds
sends shockwaves through the law enforcement community even to the White House.
Right
now, it still doesn’t have a title. My titles come from a phrase or word in the
book. So far, inspiration hasn’t hit. I am hoping to have it published by the
first of the year.
Thank you for hosting my book.
BLURB:
FBI
Tracker Cat Morgan has an unusual talent, one she has successfully concealed,
even from her fellow agents. That is—until she finds a body with a strange
symbol carved on the forehead during a stop in Clinton, Mississippi and crosses
paths with the town’s rugged police chief, Kevin Hunter. Despite his instant
attraction to the sexy agent, Kevin is suspicious of her presence at the crime
scene and isn’t buying her dubious explanations. He wants her out of the
investigation and out of his town.
The
discovery of another mutilated body with the same symbol sends Cat back to
Clinton, and this time she isn’t leaving. To stop the killer, Cat must find a
way to overcome Kevin’s distrust and will face an impossible impasse—truth or
lies. But will either one matter, when the killer fixates on her for his next
sacrifice?
NOTE: The book will be on sale for $0.99.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author
bio:
Anita Dickason is a retired police officer with
twenty-seven years of experience, twenty-two with the Dallas Police Department.
She served in patrol, undercover narcotics, accident investigation and was on a
sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.
Anita is the recipient of the prestigious Law
Enforcement Professional Achievement Award from the State of Texas House of
Representatives. Other awards include Officer of the Year—Texas Women in Law
Enforcement, Officer of the Year—International Association of Women in Police,
Runner-up Officer of the Year—Dallas Police Department, Officer of the
Month—Dallas Police Department and multiple Police Commendations, Certificates
of Merit and Citizen/Business commendations from the Dallas Police Department and
the Dallas community.
Anita was a certified instructor with Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement, and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. Her instructor certifications include Defensive Tactics,
Batons, Spontaneous Knife Defense, Field Sobriety Procedures, Drug Recognition
Expert program, and Accident Investigation.
She is a Past President of Texas Women in Law
Enforcement, and Past Treasurer for the International Association of Women in
Police.
Her first book, JFK
Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, is non-fiction and details
the reconstruction of a 1966 vehicle accident near Midlothian, Texas that
killed a key witness to the Kennedy assassination. The project opened the door
to a new career, Author and Publisher. She owns Mystic Circle Books &
Designs, LLC and provides manuscript and design services, helping other authors
turn their manuscripts into a published book.
Her fictional works are suspense/thrillers and her
plots are drawn from her extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience.
Characters with unexpected skills, that extra edge for overcoming danger and
adversity, have always intrigued her. Her infatuation with ancient myths and
legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and Irish folklore adds a touch
of paranormal for the backdrop of her characters.
The
experience of writing led to developing a knowledge of self-publishing and
graphic design and a new business endeavor: Mystic Circle Books & Designs,
LLC. It is a tossup of what Anita enjoys more, working on her books or helping
another author publish their works. She has found an unexpected enjoyment in
designing book covers, bookmarks, bookplates, etc. She
helps other authors publish their books by providing formatting and cover
design.
When I say, own, I mean more than just
the copyright to the content. The author owns the distribution rights and the
copyright to the cover. I wrote an article that is featured on my website: Who
Owns It? https://www.anitadickason.com/who-owns-it
Anyone who is considering self-publishing should read this article.
Owning I believe that the new wave in
publishing is the Independent Author. Traditional publishing and literary
agents are still a viable option, but the opportunities for most authors are
limited. Authors have little to no control over what happens to their book, and
with the profilieration of new books, publishing companies can pull the book
Email
her for an autographed custom bookplate -- anita@anitadickason.com
Book
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m00v2W4K4o
Website:
www.anitadickason.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/anita_dickason
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnitaDauthor
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