Interview with Gail Z. Martin, SELLSWORD'S OATH

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Sellsword’s Oath is the second book in the Assassins of Landria series. It follows the adventures of Joel “Ridge” Breckenridge and Garrett “Rett” Kennard, who are the two best King’s Shadows—elite assassins who protect the king and kingdom. Ridge and Rett are unconventional, they’re a headache to their boss, they suck at being stealthy, but they are fiercely loyal to the king and to their friends, and they will risk everything to protect the kingdom—even if doing so lands them on the ‘most wanted’ list!

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Yes. I’ve had books/series published by one of the Top 5 New York houses and a large London publishing house, as well as mid-sized presses and small presses. I have a fiction and a non-fiction agent.

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?

We have three series currently with Falstaff Books, and all of our audiobooks to date have come out from Records Books/Tantor. Plus quite a few books in my backlist are still for sale from their original publishers. Having said that, we now self-publish most of our newest books (my husband is in the business full time with me) because it provides the most flexibility.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

We had gotten comfortable with the basics of book publishing, and we had friends who had been doing self-publishing successfully for a long time who were willing to help us and answer questions. I like the flexibility to bring out as many books in a year as I want to produce, to write what I want to write, to switch between genres, and to work with a stable editorial team.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
Working with the cover artists is fun for me, because I can provide input but they turn that input into something that is just right. We work with different cover artists who create in a variety of media and who are located all over the world. So we’re very involved!

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

Since I write a lot of books in a year, I need to be efficient, so outlining is essential! I can’t spare the time to have to make major re-writes or paint myself into a corner.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes. The books go through a round with beta readers (readers who see the manuscript before the final edits to help catch plot holes and continuity issues) and then it goes to a professional editor who has been working in the genre for a long time. Good editing is essential!

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

Making friends with other authors to share knowledge, trade tips, ask questions and help each other promote is essential. I’ve also learned that technology changes constantly, so you’ve always got to be adapting. I’ve also learned to trust my passion, because if I really want to write something in a new sub-genre, I need to take the risk and give it a whirl.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Many of the books are available in bookstores, nearly all can be ordered by a bookstore for in-store pick-up, and they’re also mostly available in Nook, Kobo, iBooks and on audiobook.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

Never give up. Everything takes longer than you think it will, but if you learn about the business of writing, learn the craft, and keep at it, you will succeed.

BLURB:

Buddy flick epic fantasy! The second in the Assassins of Landria series from the award-winning, bestselling author of Scourge: A Novel of Darkhurst and The Chronicles Of The Necromancer books!

Wandering mystic Yefim Makary, known to his followers as the ‘Witch Lord’, disappeared before he could be accused of inciting dissent against King Kristoph. His supporters among the disenchanted aristocrats who weren’t arrested have fled or died by their own hand. The king is happy to put the matter behind him. Yet Burke, the commander of the elite King’s Shadows, doesn’t believe the threat is over, and he assigns his two most troublesome, rule-breaking—and successful—assassins to ferret out the real threat and put a stop to Makary’s plots.

Joel “Ridge” Breckinridge and Garrett “Rett” Kennard rose through the ranks of the Landrian army together, from teenaged conscripts to seasoned fighters. Together, they became the most feared team of assassins in Landria, surviving longer that most in their profession by virtue of excellent fighting skills, legendary bravado, peerless strategy, and an uncanny synchronicity.

As the threads of a new plot come together revealing disloyalty among the priests and generals, Ridge and Rett once again find themselves on the run, hoping they and their allies can figure out the Witch Lord’s latest scheme before it costs them their lives—and the king his throne.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Witch of the Woods, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail series. Recent books include Loose Ends and Unholy.

Find her at www.GailZMartin.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin.

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