Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
When the Heart Brings You Home is a collection of three novellas all set in the fictional small town of Connor Falls, Pennsylvania. The commonality between all three stories is the setting and the time of year, which is Christmas. The theme running through the three novellas and, in fact, through all the Connor Falls Christmas Series books is family, friendship, love, all taking place within the same small town. In the first novella, Winter Light, a troubled young girl who keeps running away from home brings the Christmas Spirit back to her harried, busy father and the local bookstore owner, a woman he kissed on a whim years ago. The second, Light the Heart Home, introduces to the reader two sisters who are getting together for Christmas after quite some time part and involves a resolution of their own differences as well as coming to terms with the loss of one’s old love and the welcoming of a possible new one for the other. In the third, Home for the Holidays, a professional woman returns to Connor Falls for the holidays and finds not only a yearning for her roots but an exceptional man. The Connor Falls stories all contain a dose of sweet romance and holiday inspiration.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I have been published traditionally in the past through Kensington under two pseudonyms, with one standalone novel and a three-novel series. The standalone novel saw translation and publication in the European market. I received copies of the books and was astounded by the disparity in the covers. The cover for the version sold in this country was elegant and lovely, but I think the most artistically beautiful cover was that which was released in Germany. Five novels also written using the same pen name as the three-novel series were published by a small indie press, and my very first book was released many years ago by Warner Books under my own name. However, due to various changes in the publishing world, I decided to publish the Connor Falls Christmas series on my own starting at about the same time the contemporary paranormal suspense series was released by Kensington. I have only released one full-length novel for the Connor Falls Christmas series so far. However, the next is due out during the 2023 holiday season, along with another novella. I publish the Connor Falls Christmas books as Robin Maderich and also self-publish my young adult series using the pen name Jo Allen Ash.
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
The first novel published (by Warner) was not the first novel I had written with an eye to publication. I had an agent at the time, a very lovely lady, and if I am recalling correctly, I think it was only a matter of a few months before she received an offer for that first work, from Pocket Books. Because the offer was for a mid-list release, she suggested I turn it down and continued to shop it around with the intent it be released as a lead title. Instead of that first book getting published (The Forgotten Keep resides in its entirety in a drawer of the guest room dresser and I’m thinking about reworking the book) it led the way to an offer from Warner Books. I was requested by the editor, who loved the style and voice of the work she had seen, to write a romance. I’d never read one, didn’t know what they were all about, and my agent sent me a small carton of romance novels to read. Thus began the romance writing career. My first love was YA and I am happy to have returned to that now, as well.
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?
I am not under an active contract, although Kensington has an option for the next book written under my pen name. I am certainly not opposed to working with a traditional publishing house and definitely with Kensington, with whom I have had success and a great relationship, so I will likely write another book for them. If they ultimately turn it down, then I might try to shop it around or publish it on my own. I am currently working on the third book in my YA series and finishing up the Connor Falls Christmas books for next year, both of which are self-publishing ventures. I do enjoy the control and challenge of self-publishing. It is, however, a great deal of work. One is responsible for far more than just writing the novel, which is a huge undertaking in itself.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
Well, the changes in the publishing world, for one. The gamechanger for me was finding that many publishers now publish digitally first. They can’t be blamed for that. The risks are much less than releasing a book in mass market paperback or hardcover, because contractually those books can be returned by the booksellers, resulting in a loss of profit for the publishing house. The shelf life for a book is notoriously short. A digital copy can be on its “shelf” forever.
However, for those of us who like meeting the public, discussing their work, signing books for the reader, etc., this presents a problem, even if the books are being released POD (print-on-demand). POD books are non-returnable, so bookstores are unlikely to order them for their shelves. The cost for an author to order their own books through the publisher for the purposes of book signings is also prohibitive, because quite often they are paying more for the book than they will make from sale at the bookstore, because the bookstore, quite rightly, must take their percent from the sale. When self-publishing, you still run into the same issues, but the cost to you for the book (if you have priced it with an eye to the market) still permits you to make a profit because the middle man has been eradicated. There were other factors, as well, but the above was probably the eye-opener that prompted my first research into the benefits of self-publishing. Mind, there are drawbacks, too. Many of them. However, if a writer is willing to work very hard at succeeding, the upside can be worth it.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I prefer silence for the actual writing, but I listen to music I associate with the mood of the tale until they become somewhat inseparable so I can get myself right back into the story by turning on that same piece of music at the start of the day’s writing session. I like to write in the morning these days, because that is when my energy level is most conducive to the process. Before a nasty accident I had about four years ago, I could write any time of the day or night. I am hoping that will come back to me some day. I also confess to having to play a game or two of spider solitaire sometimes before I begin. I could say it’s because it limbers up my fingers and gets my mind functioning, but I think I would be lying.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
For the three-novel series I did for Kensington’s Lyrical Press, an outline of the stories was required. I’ve never been an outliner so that was tough for me. Still, it did streamline the process, which was especially helpful due to the rapid-fire deadlines. However, I do not usually outline when I write. I don’t just float along where the muse takes me, either, though. I have a distinct storyline in my head with a specific beginning and ending, but I don’t prepare a detailed paragraph or chapter outline before putting words on paper/monitor.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Don’t plow right into it thinking it’s an easy win. Hone your craft and write your best before you consider putting it out there. Your book deserves its best shot so also expect to take time and money to deliver a quality product. Book covers are important, so you may have to pay someone to prepare a decent one for you. A fabulous cover is better, of course. Editing is of the utmost importance, and this will also have to be paid for, unless you know a professional editor who is willing to do it for free. Formatting is important, too, especially if you are going to print. There are rules to putting out a professional-looking print book. You will have costs for copyrighting, for securing an ISBN, for advertising. As easy as it is to throw a book up on Amazon, there are a lot out there that probably weren’t quite ready to see the light of day. Self-publishing should not be viewed as separate from traditional publishing, not in terms of the work needed to be successful. It is far more than writing. You need to wear a business hat, as well, which is something I struggled with for a while. Employ the split-personality technique. One of you is the author, the creator, the imaginative one, while the other is the business-minded one, the publisher looking to release nothing less than the best into the world who must take the reins to ensure this is done. It doesn’t stop there, either. You must continue writing (of course, you must! You’re a writer, after all!) to ensure your readership stays engaged and also grows. But while you are writing your next book, you must also continue to market and promote your prior work(s). So, plan to be busy! And don’t get discouraged.
Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
Dogs AND cats. I have both. I also like birds (I had a wonderfully talkative parrot once, named Merlin), and adore mice (but don’t keep them as pets). I’m a sucker for both chocolate and vanilla. It depends on the medium, I guess. I partake in about three partial cups of coffee a year and even less tea. Talking is good, texting is better, because there’s a certain expediency to texting that can also be performed on the move. If I get into a conversation with someone on the phone, they are usually doing most of the yakking and I’m saying a lot of yes, no, right, and oh really, for a couple of hours. I like talking face-to-face, though, very much. Day or night? Depends on what’s going on. Life is a gift and I’ll take whatever comes no matter the time of day.
What’s next for you?
Besides the above-mentioned works, I want to again write and illustrate a children’s picture book. I have two in mind, but I’m searching hard for the time to even start them. My first, H is for Home, was written and illustrated after the accident, at a time when I couldn’t manage any more time on the computer than that which I was struggling to give to my former day job. I love the beauty of children’s illustrated books, which presents another problem to me: making sure I don’t fail miserably at that particular goal. I’ll give it my best!
Thanks so much for interviewing me!
