2017 Writing Schedule Quarterly Update

It's been a busy writing year thus far in the DA Bale Publishing universe - and it's time for a quarterly update to key you in on where things are headed for 2017.

First item on the agenda, I've got some good news to share with you in relation to my publishing schedule.

The first book in my upcoming space opera series (think that old TV show I still miss, FIREFLY) has cleared the first draft hurdle and I've started working on the storyline for book two in that series, the working title being THE OUTLIERS' WAY, though I'm considering something more along the lines of Outliers' Pact or Outliers' Accord for the final title.  Who knows?  I may use all three in the end.  My plan is to get two books in publishable shape before releasing book one.  That way I can put up a pre-order for book two and release it within thirty days.  Be looking for the book one cover reveal coming later this spring and release dates announced for sometime this summer.

For those of you who are dying to read the next chapter in the Vicki saga, I'm nearing the halfway point of the fourth book in the Bartender Babe Chronicles DIE BEFORE YOU WAKE.  Last night I cleared twenty-thousand words toward my fifty-thousand word first draft goal.  If you've followed Vicki's antics up through book three, you know some major changes are getting ready to take place in her life.  I can't wait to bring them to you!  Seems lately I wake up and go to sleep (and sometimes dream) with Vicki's voice in my head.  My bedside notebook is getting pretty full about now, which is a really good sign to me.  I've no problem coming up with more crap to hit the fan in Vicki's world this time around.  By the end of this month, I should have a release day locked down and a cover ready to reveal.  Stay tuned!

Now for those of you who want the dark stuff, I've started on a new series that will take some time to dig down deep and fully plumb.  Originally I'd planned to approach it in a different way, sort of a dark romance perhaps (this from a non-romance reader who got tired of the strong-arm tactics of my fellow writers).  However, after allowing myself to ruminate on it for several weeks now, I've decided to give it a dark mystery bent since mysteries and thrillers are a better fit for me.  Sorry, gang, but my brain just isn't wired to be all gooey and mushy - bleh!  Tentative working title is UNAPPROACHABLE, but don't look for any form of release announcements on it until sometime in 2018.  This one is gonna be a slow burn to get all of the strings laid out to eventually weave together.

So for this fall, I'm allowing myself a chance to see which final book for 2017 I'll be in the mood to work on.  Will it be AIM BEFORE YOU SHOOT, the fifth book in the Bartender Babe Chronicles?  Or will it be the third as yet unnamed book in the Outliers' series?

I guess we'll all have to wait for that one.

Next item on the agenda, don't forget to check out some of the silly discussions we get into on the Coffee and Catastrophe podcasts.  For all of the other writers in the audience who seek to improve their writing, fellow author William Brian Johnson and I have spent the better part of this year thus far in our Nuts & Bolts series, discussing various mechanics of novel writing.  If you'd like to catch up on some of it, just click on the "Podcast" tab above and take your pick to listen in right here on the blog.

Last item on the agenda, be sure and sign up for my new newsletter.  On the far right of the blog here, you'll see a sign up box.  Don't worry.  I won't continually hound you about all things through the newsletter - that's what my blog, Twitter, and Facebook accounts are for!  However, my newsletter will now be the first place to go to get specific news on releases and special sales of my books.  You won't want to miss the pre-order pricing you'll only hear about there and notices when prices are about to change.  Since I'm now also direct-selling through Kobo Books, I get to take advantage of their promotions from time-to-time, so you'll want to have the newsletter to stay abreast of those deals.

In the meantime, watch for the cover reveal and release announcement of DIE BEFORE YOU WAKE coming soon.

Year In Review and a Thank You

Hello again, dear readers!

I've been remiss in posting regularly to my blog this year, mainly because I've been so focused on getting as much writing done as possible.  And I succeeded in hitting my goal of releasing three novels this year in my Bartender Babe Chronicles series.  Yay!!!

Another 2016 milestone target was to start a podcast, which I have done with fellow author William Brian Johnson (see Podcast tab above).  We've been having a blast just feeling our way through some of the in's and out's of that whole mess, but I think we're beginning to find our stride (finally).  I was pleased to hear from a listener about how helpful he found Episode 6 to be, where we talked about reviews, how to find reviewers, and how to professionally ask for reviews.  Since I forgot to post the data mentioned there, I will do so below for the indie authors in the audience:

Review List Sites:
1.  indiebookreviewer.wordpress.com
2.  theindieview.com
3.  bookrevieweryellowpages.com
4.  bookbloggerlist.com
5.  tweetyourbooks.com

Also in said podcast Episode 6, I mentioned my top ten pet peeves of things authors do wrong when requesting a review from reviewers.  I talk about this repeatedly in the podcast, but the first thing to remember is to always, ALWAYS follow each individual reviewer's guidelines on their website/blog when sending out that initial request for review.  Then be professional in your request.

Top Ten Pet Peeves:
10.  Not addressing your email request to a real person - instead using Sir/Madam/To Whom It May Concern, etc.
9.    Asking for an "honest" review - as if all reviews we've written before yours are less than honest
8.    Piles request with positive comments of other reviewers - we'll make our own decisions, thank you
7.    Listing personal accomplishments that have absolutely nothing to do with NOVEL writing
6.    Sending the book and/or a bunch of other attachments with your initial request - some want it up front while most don't, and you can find this out by reading each reviewer's guidelines (see above for a reminder if you've already forgotten)
5.    Including a bunch of links for reviewers to discover your book blurb, cover, author bio, etc. - you want the review so don't expect the reviewer to do your work for you
4.    Unrealistic expectations - i.e. expecting a reviewer to read and review your book within days or even weeks of submitting a request when we're usually running months out on our TBR piles
3.    Not including the book title, author name, or book blurb - and the sender's email address gives no clue as to who they are because it's cutsie or disturbing
2.    A request to review a novel outside of specified genres - again, read the guidelines of every reviewer
1.    Expecting reviewers to BUY their book to review - ain't gonna happen

So with those out of the way, podcast Episode 7 is now live if you'd like to listen.  Again, find it under the Podcast tab above.

Another thing I really wanted to do in 2016 was to begin treating my writing more like a business instead of a hobby.  One of those ways I succeeded this year was to write and release more books. Even though this took me away from my more in-depth stories, it did allow me to branch out into other genres I enjoy reading and writing.  However, even though I'm going to spend time in 2017 writing these lighter books, I'll also be working behind the scenes on some deeper and more complex stories I've got percolating around in my head.  When they'll release is uncertain at this time, but for those of you who prefer something more along the lines of the Deepest Darkness series, trust that I'll have more for you again from my publishing quiver.

So continuing with the business model mindset, though I have yet to incorporate, I did begin to keep better track of income and expenses, created a variety of spreadsheets, tracked promotions and their effectiveness, and have started a newsletter in 2016.

I realized a little late in the game how important newsletters are to keeping in touch with fans and followers and the impact that has on growing sales of new releases.  When I ran a BookBub promotion back in 2014, I could've been much more ahead of the game by now if I'd have had this one little piece in place.  So instead of spending so much time and energy on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads this coming year, I'm going to expend more energy with my newsletter.  Just remember to be patient with me as I better learn these rather complicated ropes.  Hey, I'm teaching myself as I go (and for an older dog, it's a little harder to learn new tricks).

The other thing I've done is to start updating front and back matter of my book backlist.  One thing I'd never done was to incorporate a page at the end of each book asking for reviews. After talking with several more successful authors through Kboards.com (if you're an author and haven't spent time there, I highly recommend you do), I figured it was high time I grit my teeth, swallow my squirms with this well-used trope, and go ahead and do this too.  It goes back to that aspect of treating my writing like a business - and like a business, I need reviews to sell books, and to sell books I need reviews.  This makes it easier for a reader to click the link and leave a few kind words if they are so inclined.  Already I've gotten several new reviews these last couple of days (and a couple of signups for my newsletter too).

All in all, I'm still not exactly where I wanted to be by the end of 2016, but I have accomplished most of my goals for this year - and I have you, dear readers, to thank for what successes I've achieved.  From the bottom of my heart, please know I appreciate you sticking with my writing and thank you immensely for your support and for the encouraging words so many of you have passed along.

Now I'm on to finalizing new goals for 2017.  Fingers crossed!

Catastrophic Coffee New Podcast Episode

Hey, readers!  If you aren't yet aware, I've partnered with fellow author William Brian Johnson to host a podcast on writing and self-publishing - and we've got a new episode posted on D A Bale Publishing.

Click on the Podcast tab up above or HERE for the link to all four episodes thus far, including the most recent Episode 4: Marketing for Idiots, Complete Idiots, No Not You.  Some of the promotional websites we discuss during this episode are referenced below:

Free
www.mybookcave.com

Low Cost
www.readingdeals.com
www.thefussylibrarian.com

Mid Cost
www.ereadernewstoday.com
www.bookgorilla.com
www.booksends.com

High Cost
www.bookbub.com
www.freebooksy.com 

If you like what you hear and have a specific topic you'd like us to pursue, email us at catastrophiccoffee@gmail.com.  Stay tuned for more episodes!

Getting to Know Fellow Indie Andrew Watts

It's been a bit since we've had time together, oh patient readers.  While I'm busy plugging away on my next release, I thought it would be a good time to share another author interview with you.  He's a former Navy pilot with his first novella release, so he's got an interesting story to tell on both the reality side and the creative side.

But enough from me.  Let's open the door for Andrew Watts to weave the threads together about his intricate CIA thriller.  Welcome, Andrew!

DAB:   Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author? 

AW:     I have always liked telling stories.  When I was a kid in the 80s, I used to use my dad’s super technology – the VHS video camera – to make movies with my cousins or other kids in the neighborhood.  I loved reading as I got older and when I was on my last deployment, on board an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East, I decided to start writing fiction as a hobby.  I’m out of the military now, and a few people encouraged me to try self-publishing.

DAB:   I remember those old cameras!  How did your ten-year stint in the Navy influence the writing of your novella?

 

AW:     I am writing with the knowledge and experience of my ten year career in the Navy.  I have seen a lot of interesting situations.  For instance, I flew missions supporting the rescue of Captain Philips when he was taken hostage by Somali pirates in 2009.  Flying on night vision goggles while Seal Team Six is below you on high-speed inflatable boats is pretty exciting.  I am hoping to bring some of that excitement to my stories.

DAB:   Heck, yeah!  Where did you come up with the idea for The War Planners?

AW:     I loved Red Storm Rising, by Tom Clancy.  I also loved the movie Red Dawn (the original, not the remake!)  The USSR was a great empire-villain for stories.  Today, I think there is only one country that has the capability to serve that role in a military thriller, and that is China.  You always read stories about the Chinese conducting cyber attacks on our military and building up their own military.  It’s a bit strange, considering the huge economic ties our two countries have.  But for fiction, they make the perfect stand-in villain.  (Even though I’ve been to China, and have nothing but nice things to say about the actual people there!)  I had written several chapters for different stories about how China could attack the United States.  Then I decided to play around with the some fun ideas on how it would all begin, if it ever did happen…

DAB:   Sounds like something I'd love to read...when I can find the time.  Tell us about the moment you received your first real fan correspondence.

 

AW:     Well, as a new author, I have yet to receive fan mail from someone that I don’t know.  But I have had a few total strangers sign up for my email list.  It was the same day that I ran a FKBT promo.  I sold 50 books that day, by far my best sales day.  I was thrilled.  But I can honestly say that I was even more excited when I got an email telling me that someone had signed up for my email list.  I looked at the name and didn’t recognize them.  That meant that they had read my book and liked it enough to want to hear about my next one! 

DAB:   That's always a great feeling.  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

AW:     I almost always listen to music when I write.  I often listen to Pandora channels of movie soundtrack composers that I like.  My favorite right now: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ music.  They did the soundtracks for The Social Network and Gone Girl.  Great stuff.

DAB:   There's the eternal debate whether to outline or not.  What is your preference?

AW:     I wrote a detailed outline for The War Planners.  I have also outlined my next work, but it is less detailed.

DAB:   Panster here!  Usually authors are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?

 

AW:     I am reading Swag, by Elmore Leonard. 

DAB:   What’s the best thing about being an author?  The most difficult?

 

AW:     The best thing about being a self-published author is the freedom to choose every detail of your work.  The most difficult thing for me is time management.  I have a full time job and three kids under six years old.  So I try to write at night and on weekends when I get chance.  It forces you to maximize the time that you do have. 

DAB:   And then some, huh?  What are some things you’ve done to get the word out about your novel(s)?

AW:     I have tried a little of everything (at least everything that I’ve heard of).  Facebook posts, Facebook ads, Google Display Network, Goodreads ads, joining and posting on Goodreads groups, posting on Kboards, running ads on FKBT and a few other email lists.  I have requested reviews and author interviews from bloggers.  Oh and I have run Amazon’s KDP select promos and ads.  I am learning what works and what does not, and keeping a careful list to track ROI.  Next time I will be much more focused.

DAB:   Well when you get that next novel published try BookBub too.  Care to tell us what is next on your writing horizon?

 

AW:     I am working on the sequel to The War Planners.  Title TBD.  But I’m hoping to launch it in April.

DAB:   Now’s your chance – give us the final plug for your novel.

AW:     David is kidnapped by the CIA and thrown on a jet.  The CIA operatives tell him about a Chinese plot to attack the United States.  They need his help to figure out how the Chinese are going to do it.  But when he gets to the remote island base where they will plan the attacks, he learns that all is not as it seems…   

Thank you again, Andrew, for stopping by and sharing with us about your exciting-sounding novella.  I hope to have a chance to read it later this year...someday.  In the meantime, dear readers, check out the book blurb and pick up a copy of your own by clicking on AMAZON.

Book Blurb:

The Chinese economy is faltering. Civil unrest threatens the Communist leadership’s grip on power. But

where some see a crisis, others see an opportunity…

A CIA operative in Shanghai transmits two earth-shattering revelations to his contacts in Langley, and then goes missing. First, the U.S. government has been infiltrated with Chinese spies. Second, an inner circle of Chinese leaders have set in motion plans to do the unthinkable – to invade the United States of America.

Lena Chou is one of the few U.S. officials who knows the truth. She must put together a top-secret task force to help America’s government prepare for what will come. Now, in order to covertly plan the defense of the United States, Lena has gathered a Red Cell, a group of experts that will plan how China could best attack it.

David Manning is one of those experts. After he is abruptly taken to the covert island base where the Red Cell is being held, Lena presents the group with evidence of China’s imminent attack. But while the Red Cell plans for war, David suspects that something about this gathering of minds is terribly wrong…

Author Bio:

Andrew Watts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. He was a flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, and helped to run ship and flight operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East.  Today, he lives with his family in Ohio.  Check out his website for contact information and more.

Spending Year End with Author Kris Thompson

As we come to the end of another year, I'm attempting to close out the remainder of interviews and one more review over the next couple of days.  Today's interview I was sorely remiss in posting, as the intent was for a November date.  However, this way all of the new Nook, Kindle, and numerous other eReader owners who got them for Christmas can take advantage of learning about a fabulous new author.

Kris Thompson has penned a gritty psychological thriller that is sure to keep you up at night.  Join me in welcoming her to the blog to tell us about her writing process and debut novel BLACK ROSE.

DAB:  Welcome Kris!  What was the catalyst for this novel’s premise?

​KT:      When reading crime stories you always get the cop or detective's point of view, but as a reader I was always left wondering about the victim and their family. So I decided to write a book that centered around not only the victim, but the family's experience as well. I also wanted to write about a group of young women who come together and find strength, not only within themselves, but with each other. So many times you see young girls fighting against each other, and I wanted to write about how powerful women could be if they worked together.

DAB:  Preach on, sister!  I'm with you there.  Do you have a character(s) in your novel with whom you closely identify?

​KT:      There is a little of me in each female character in this book. I don't think I would have been able to connect with any of them​ if I didn't put myself in them in some way. If I had to pick just one it would be my lead character, Lillian, but they're all awesome in my opinion.

DAB:  Were there any characters you found difficult to write?

​KT:      The villain was extremely hard to write. As a female I find it hard to write in a man's POV, let alone a psychotic male POV. ​I had to do a lot of research about serial killers to get the feel right. It was terrifying but very mind blowing at the same time.

DAB:  I can imagine.  It's really difficult getting into a twisted psyche.  How long did it take for you to craft this novel?

​KT:      My book was four years in the making. It originally began as a fan fiction and was finished for a long time. My publishing house had been after me for years to publish it​, but I wasn't confident in myself yet. After I turned 30 I felt ready and confident enough to move forward with my story and writing career.

DAB:  Tell us about the moment you received your first real fan correspondence.

​KT:      It was from an author that I admire, so I was over the moon. She actually called me and told me how much she loved reading the manuscript and that she couldn't wait to buy the finished product. ​I still don't think I'm over the shock.

DAB:  I'll bet you needed someone to pinch you, huh?  Tell us about a typical day in your writing world.

​KT:      As a single mom of three young kids, a majority of my writing happens after they went to bed. ​I always have a small pad of paper and a pen around, so if I get ideas I'll write them down and get back to it later, but there have been many nights where I didn't get much sleep because I had to get up early to take the kids to school. It's hard because there would be moments when inspiration is churning in my head, but when you have kids you can't just stop everything to get those words out. It was a difficult balance, but I made it through only slightly unscathed. LOL

DAB:  My home too is scattered with pads and pens.  How long did your novel take to put to bed?

​KT:      Over a year. My poor editing team, God bless them, they really had their hands full with my book. It's a hard subject to write about, so it took a while to finish. I think we all deserved a long vacation once we were done with it. ​

DAB:  Have you ever experienced writer's block?

​KT:      Only during the editing process. When I submitted the manuscript my mind kinda shut off for a few months. The book was very emotionally exhausting, so it was almost a relief to​ be done. But when the publishing house was ready to edit I had a hard time jumping back into the mindset.

DAB:  I'll bet.  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

​KT:      Oh yes. I have to listen to classical music when I write. I can't listen to music with words while I'm writing because I find myself typing out the lyrics. I'll listen to a specific song to help get me in the mood, but when I start typing it's always classical. ​

DAB:  Mine's orchestral movie soundtracks.  I'd be singing along if there were words!  There's the eternal debate whether to outline or not.  What is your preference?

​KT:      Personally, I write off the cuff, but I have learned during the editing process of my first book that it is a good idea to have an outline. I learned that the hard way. ​As a writer you sometimes forget little things, even your editor(s) might not catch them, so it's a good idea to at least have a small outline on the side to help you and your editing team be on the same page.

DAB:  Agreed.  How do you handle negative feedback about your novel(s)?

​KT:      This is going to sound really silly, but I love negative reviews. ​It's weird, I know, but I have really thick skin so it's never bothered me. When the story was a fan fiction I was being ripped apart left and right. I even had some people tell me I was going to burn in hell and that they hope I'd die. It was nuts. But it never bothered me because at the end of the day those are just words. It doesn't stop me from being a mom, a writer, or a provider to my family. I treated them as a mini comedy roast, laughed it off, and thanked them for taking the time to read and review. Even negative reviews are better then no reviews, right?

DAB:  Oh how I wish more authors shared your attitude!  Care to tell us what is next on your writing horizon?

​KT:      I'm currently working on a young adult paranormal romance trilogy. I have no idea when it will come out, but after writing something so dark I felt I needed to write something completely different. ​It has been fun writing in a genera that I have never written before. I'm very excited.

DAB:  You'll have to update us on when you finish the first in this new series.  Now’s your chance – give us the final plug for BLACK ROSE.

​KT:      If you like thrill, suspense, crime, drama, and just a little bit of romance then my debut novel Black Rose is the book for you. I am extremely excited to see what everyone thinks, and I can't wait for November 13th to get here.

Thanks so much, Kris, for joining us and providing a glimpse into BLACK ROSE.  Now I can hardly wait to find the time to read it in 2015.

Book Blurb:

Lillian Locke had the perfect life in Boulder, Colorado. She had the boyfriend of her dreams, a wonderful

family, awesome friends, and a spot on the track team at a great college. There wasn’t anything life could throw at her that she couldn’t get through . . . until he found her.

Lillian never could have imagined being abducted and chained up in the dark. Worse yet, being just one of many girls kidnapped and held captive by a madman. All she can do now is hope that she survives the brutality of their captor long enough to find a way to free herself and her new captive friends.

When Richard Haines’ girlfriend goes missing, he makes it his personal mission to find the woman he loves and bring her home to the safety of their loved ones. Seeking the help of friends and family, Richard abandons everything except for his pursuit of Lillian. But when someone else close to Richard goes missing, and the bodies of the abducted girls start showing up in the hills outside Boulder, the only thing he can do is hope that he finds her before it is too late.

If BLACK ROSE sounds like an intriguing read for you, dear readers, pick up a copy by clicking here on AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE, or by visiting the publisher's website.

Author Bio:

Kris Thompson is a veteran of the US Navy and single mother of three. When she's not knitting scarves, chasing her children around or baking, you'll find her enjoying a good book or writing down notes for her own upcoming stories. Writing has been a passion for Kris for many years, and seeing those stories printed on paper is a dream come true.

Be sure and check out her blog  http://kristhompsonauthor.blogspot.com/  for additional insight into why Kris wrote BLACK ROSE.

Visiting with Elliott Baker

Since November is a time for fall, fashion and NaNoWriMo, I thought it appropriate that we visit with an author who crafted the initial stages of his debut novel by participating in this national pastime for authors and aspiring writers alike.  Join me in welcoming playwright and author Elliott Baker.

DAB:  Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?

EB:       My life changed direction in midlife when I was seated in the audience for the New York production of Gershwin’s Crazy For You. One of the most exciting locations in the world for me is to be seated awaiting the opening of a musical. Having written songs in my twenties, I knew that I could write musical theatre. I sold my company and began to write. My eldest was sixteen, and since I was sure that I had talent, I’d be making money well before it was time for him to begin college. (Space for a laugh here)

A number of years passed and with persistence, I have succeeded in writing musical theatre. From the beginning, I found that it was easier for me to write the book as well as the music. Later on, I realized that I enjoyed writing the story most of all. Which brings me to NaNoWriMo and the beginning of The Sun God’s Heir.

DAB:  Where do you come up with ideas for your novels?

EB:       The idea for The Sun God’s Heir is a story that I had in my head for years. It’s an almost memory, perhaps a dream, perhaps the echo of an old lifetime. If that’s the case, I’m not so sure I was the hero. Somewhere along the line, I became sensitized to the concept of slavery. Unfortunately, throughout history it appears to be one of mankind’s greatest talents. To think that it doesn’t exist in our ‘modern’ age is a depth of denial that is amazing. The classic Barbary pirate slavery that I write about is only its grossest form.

DAB:  Do you have a character(s) in your novel with whom you closely identify?

EB:       I identify most with the Arabic Doctor Ibn Al Zahrawi. This character has only a small part in the book, but embodies the energy of a man who is doing exactly what he is called to do. That’s hubris on my part, but I enjoy watching this character.

DAB:  Do you ever have difficulty writing from the point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?

EB:       I love writing the women characters I like to see on this side of the page, strong, independent human beings. Fortunately, my wife has given me a template that makes it easy to imagine feisty sexy female characters.

DAB:  Who is your favorite character in your novel, and why?

My favorite character in the novel is the Maestro, an Italian fencing master who teaches Rene. From the age of five, every morning except Sunday, Rene is presented to the Maestro for instruction. Over the years, the Maestro brings Rene to the point where he can begin to access the greater levels of attainment and awareness gained in previous lifetimes. Levels of awareness that will be crucial if he is to play his part in defending the newly begun renaissance from a return to the slavery of the past.

DAB:  Tell us about a typical day in your writing world.

EB:       I’m not a 5 am person. I usually hit the computer by 10 or so and remain in my seat, taking a break for lunch until 3:30 or 4pm. When deep into the activity of writing I often forget to stand up from time to time. Standing, I am reminded that the body doesn’t like remaining in one position for hours. My goal is a thousand words a day. There are, however, different hats a writer must wear and those hats grace activities that take time. As long as I am working toward the goal, I try to be as self-forgiving as possible. If I fail to get down the thousand words, beating myself about the head and shoulders has never been all that effective. I believe that persistence is the key. As Winston Churchill said at an Oxford commencement, “Never, never, never give up.” There is genius to be found within dogged persistence.

DAB:  What kind of research practices do you utilize for writing?

EB:       While I look forward to traveling to the ends of the earth to see first hand those things that are currently only thought forms, I am grateful for the internet and the amazing resource it is if you are patient and persistent.  Part of the fun of reading a novel is, at the end, to know more than you did at its first words. I begin with my own experiences in life and then expand that knowledge base by following the research trails. Writing is, if nothing else, exploration both for the writer and the reader. My best compliment so far came from my cousin who is a heart specialist in Jacksonville. There’s a certain amount of philosophy in SGH and he found himself agreeing with it. Then he remembered that it was ‘just’ his cousin who had been making the story up. That I could take him from the present, even for that moment, is all I need. Probably all any writer needs, other than rent. SGH is a historical fantasy. There is homework to be done.

DAB:  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

EB:       There is a certain synchronicity that happens when music is played along with a story. I usually read with headphones playing my favorite music. On many occasions I have found a crescendo perfectly timed to the hero’s greatest challenge. Music like words is a form of communication. In its least effect, it occupies that part of our thought stream that if left undirected will begin to stream stress both future and past. Music brings me into the present which is where I believe my connection to story is strongest. In its greatest effect, it adds sweep and power to the flow of words describing the scenes in the writer’s head. For me, Mozart’s Requiem is powerfully evocative. Almost too much sometimes when I find myself sitting back totally caught within the music. I guess that’s why that Mozart fellow was so successful.

DAB:  Usually authors are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?

EB:       Having just finished Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I am currently reading The Tides of War about Ancient Greece and the Peloponnesian war. Author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, I believe Pressfield to be a unique talent in his ability to peer into the mind of historical figures and to bring the reader along. Memory and imagination are located side by side within the brain. The best story tellers cause me to wonder which location I’m seated within.

DAB:  Do you have any writing pointers for the authors in our audience?

EB:       You can! Be persistent in that least thing. Develop routine to flank the voice of resistance. Show up and keep showing up even if for only ten minutes. Place mark. By that I mean once you’ve established a routine, whether it’s exercise or writing, the day will come when something survival important will demand the time you’ve allotted. Before you leave the house, do something symbolic to place mark the day. Write one sentence. The what is less important than the when. Momentum is a function of continuous effort. Your head will accept the symbolism and your momentum will be maintained.

DAB:  Care to tell us what is next on your writing horizon?

EB:       The second book of the Sun God’s Heir trilogy is completed and now in the edit stage. I’m about a third into the final book and have also begun a new urban fantasy series.

DAB:  Now’s your chance – give us the final plug for your novel.

EB:       Here’s the blurb for The Sun God’s Heir.

In 17th century France, a young pacifist kills to protect the woman he loves, unwittingly opening a door for

the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian general determined to continue a reign of terror begun three thousand years ago.

Taking up the sword will not be enough. Rene must reclaim his own ancient past to stop the red tide of slavery from engulfing the world.

Joined by a powerful sheikh, his sword wielding daughter, and a family of Maranos escaping the Spanish Inquisition, they fight their way through pirates, typhoons, and dark assassins to reach Morocco, the home of an occult sect that has waited for Rene through the eons.

Thanks so much, Elliott, for taking time away from your writing to talk to us about what crafting a book means to you.  If The Sun God's Heir sounds intriguing to you, dear readers, pick up a copy here on Amazon.  

Author Bio:

Award winning international playwright Elliott B. Baker grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. With four musicals and one play published and done throughout the United States, in New Zealand, Portugal, England, and Canada, Elliott is pleased to offer his first novel, The Sun God’s Heir. A member of the Authors Guild and the Dramatists Guild, Elliott lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sally Ann.

Scott Pinsker Visits on the Eve of Halloween

So on this eve of Halloween, I have an interesting little interview.  Scott Pinsker has authored the start of a series asking the question - is the Devil involved in a marketing scheme?  And which side would you be on if two men claimed to be the second coming of Christ?

It kinda gets you thinking a bit, doesn't it? 

Join me this evening in welcoming author Scott Pinsker to the interview table.

DAB:  Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?

SP:       Writing is a wonderful career option for introverts who yearn to be extroverts.  I guess what motivated me was a love of books – but also a dissatisfaction with books.  All authors hope to capture an emotion, or tell a story, in ways never before imagined.  We’re driven by this obsessive need to take a blank canvas – and then paint a picture of such poignant originality, others are inspired by it.

(And on a personal level, what better way to excise the demons in my head than to write about the Devil?)

There wasn’t one seminal moment that led me to be a writer, but a multitude of smaller moments.  I tried fighting it.  Lord, I tried fighting it!  But after the first few decades-or-so, I began to feel like I was constantly swimming upstream against the universal current, exhausting myself to stay some place I didn’t belong.

So I guess more than anything, I became a writer because I had exhausted all other options.

DAB:  That’s a good way to look at it.  What was the catalyst for this novel’s premise?

SP:       It was the extension of a bizarre thought-experiment: If the Devil was a real-life entity – and if the Devil’s primary objective was to win new followers – then what would be his marketing strategy?

As a publicist and marketing expert, I’ve worked with countless sports stars, singers and entertainers – everyone from troubled athletes to Saturday Night Live alums to various celebs-in-peril.  Most of the time, my job was to safeguard their reputations, rebuild their brand and monetize new opportunities.

But what if Satan was my client?  What if I was literally the Devil’s advocate? 

What would be the smartest strategy for the Lord of Darkness to activate new followers?

After toying with this idea, it soon became clear: All those horror movies have it wrong!  The Devil wouldn’t woo us with something as obvious as horns and a pitchfork… because it would be bad marketing.  Instead, a creature as old & wise as a 6,000 year-old Demon would recognize that very few people will do evil in the name of evil – but billions will gladly do evil in the name of good.

So what would be Satan’s best marketing strategy?

Why, it would be to pretend to be a savior.  And that’s what The Second Coming: A Love Story is all about.

DAB:  Bet you could find plenty of fodder for that marketing strategy these days.  Do you have a character(s) in your novel with whom you closely identify?

SP:       Oh, I closely identify with all the characters, God and Satan included.  In one way or another, every single character is a distorted exaggeration of something deep within me.  It’s not intentional, but sometimes I can feel my personality creeping in… 

Out, damned spot!

The Second Coming: A Love Story is a bit different, because every character is a modern retelling of a specific Bible character.  For example, Margaret Magdala is an update of Mary Magdalene – only instead of being a New Testament prostitute who sells her body, she’s an American attorney who sells her mind.  Each character is a rat trapped in a maze, searching for salvation, but heading down dimensionally different paths.

DAB:  Interesting!  Speaking of women, do you ever have difficulty writing from the point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?

SP:       No.  I mean, as a guy, women continue to be a source of great mystery, intrigue and confusion(!), but I’m not writing from the point of view of women in general.  I’m writing from the point of view of one specific character, and the more I understand each character – be it a man, woman, gay, straight, old, young, etc. – the easier it is to wrap my head around ‘em.

I’ll give you an example: How would a woman react to meeting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in a sleazy Charleston, South Carolina bar?  Scared?  Excited?  Titillated?  Beats me.  When it comes to the intricacies of the female mind, I’m the wrong fellow to ask.  (And how!)  Wouldn’t have a clue.

But I know exactly how Margaret Magdala would react: She’s haunted by a purposeless existence and an empty, emotionless heart.  (Margaret is often paired with another character named Peter who has the opposite infliction: As an addict, he feels and desires too much.)  Once you understand what makes your characters tick as three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood human beings, it’s not about male versus female, but staying true to each character’s personality.

DAB:  Who is your favorite character in your novel, and why?

 

SP:       There’s a satirical bent to the book that provided an opportunity to lampoon some of the biggest names in pop-culture, including a shock-jock-turned-conservative talk-show host named Nat Konrad, a slightly-senile cable TV personality named Matt Housinglaw, and an academic egghead who writes boring books that nobody ever reads named Solomon Basemath.

Skewering society’s so-called elites is always fun.

DAB:  That’s what makes life interesting!  :-)  How long did it take for you to craft this novel?

SP:       It took 15 long, tortuous years!  If I live to be 75, this book will have taken 20 percent of my entire flippin’ life!  In the immortal words of the great American philosopher Homer J. Simpson: “D’oh!”

I developed the initial concept in 1999 while attending law school in DC, and finished the initial draft a few years later.  But I was dissatisfied.  And so I continued writing and rewriting…

A ridiculous degree of research went into studying Christian theology, folklore and eschatology, and I’ve inserted hundreds of hidden clues and numerical symbols throughout the story.  But it was worth the investment, I hope.  And of course, a good portion of the 15 years was also spent developing the totality of the story arc: This book is the first third of a three-part trilogy.  (The sequel, Three Days Later: A Revenge Story, will be released in 2015.)

My intent is to offer readers the following transaction: In exchange for your time and attention – and Lord, nothing’s more personally precious than that! – I promise to give you something of immense value in return.  In fact, I’ll escort you on an idea-driven adventure that will challenge you, thrill you, piss you off and then make you smile.  

To me, writing is a solemn blood-oath between author and reader.  If both sides don’t benefit from the trade, then the transaction wasn’t successful.  Believe me, I worked VERY hard to ensure that you’ll be pleased with the transaction.

DAB:  Tell us about the moment you received your first real fan correspondence.

SP:       I was contacted several weeks back by a Norwegian fan who tracked me down via Twitter, requesting an autographed copy.  How cool is that?  (I’m @ScottPinsker, by the way.)

DAB:  Very cool indeed!  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

SP:       Sometimes I write to music.  When I’m trying to write something intellectual, my preference is for total silence, but when I’m writing something emotional, music is a great stimulant.

My two all-time favorite performers are Tori Amos and Iron Maiden, by the way.  (I keep waiting for ‘em to go on tour together, but they never do.  What gives?)  It’s probably not coincidental that Tori Amos and Iron Maiden both entered my life during my tumultuous teen-years and tri-polar twenties.  Music is like an emotional bookmark: Just one note can transport you to any moment of your life.  I like that, because sometimes an author needs to poke at his bloodiest scars to trigger a visceral response.  In gamer-speak, music is a cheat-code. 

So is alcohol.  Alcohol and music both heighten emotions and loosen inhibitions.  Sometimes, that’s helpful.  Sometimes it’s not.

DAB:  Never tried the alcohol route to writing, so I’ll take your word for it and stick to music. There's the eternal debate whether to outline or not.  What is your preference?

SP:       I prefer an open-ended outline, because an outline represents your best thoughts and sharpest observations – but only at that time.  Chances are that you’ll continue to be thinking about your story while you’re writing, and it would be folly not to take advantage of your own imagination.  If you ultimately think of something better, definitely include it! 

Outlines are helpful, but only as a starting point.

DAB:  Agreed.  How do you handle negative feedback about your novel(s)?

SP:       I’ve developed a healthy, mature, five-part process for dealing with negative feedback:

Step One: Thrash arms & legs

Step Two: Swear vengeance against all who’ve wronged me

Step Three: Sob inconsolably

Step Four: Booze & Buffalo wings

Step Five: Give kids a hug

(Interestingly, this is also my strategy for dealing with Tony Romo’s boneheaded interceptions during the football season.)

Negative feedback is always tough on an author, because it means you’ve failed in the transaction.  Yeah, we all know that opinions vary and you shouldn’t view negative feedback as a reflection of who you are as a person… but sometimes you and your work are intertwined.

See, this is why I wouldn’t want to be the President of the United States: In 1991, President George H. W. Bush had an approval rating of 90 percent.  That’s the highest ever recorded… which means that 10 percent of Americans STILL didn’t approve of him – and in a nation of 300 million people, that’s 30 million citizens who think you suck!  Hey, if the best you can ever do as president is have 30 million people hate you, NO THANKS!  I don’t even like it when my neighbor doesn’t wave to me in the morning…

DAB:  So we better not harsh your buzz, huh?  Of all your novels, which one is your favorite, and why?

SP:       Hmm… well, not just novels, but my four all-time favorite books are Richard Bach’s Illusions, Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, George Carlin’s Braindroppings and Frederic Bastiat’s The Law.  It’s an odd list, but what all of these books have in common is that they kind of stick with you, even after you’ve finished reading – and better yet, even when you disagree with the authors’ conclusions.  I like that.  It’s what I’ve strived to emulate in The Second Coming: A Love Story.

DAB:  Usually authors are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?

SP:       [Laughs] Truthfully?  My Brother Sam Is Dead by Christopher and James Collier.  I read to my two little boys every night.  Sometimes my book choices are self-indulgent; I’ll cherry-pick the library books that I loved as a kid, ‘cause I want my children to fall in love with ‘em too.  We’ve recently finished Judy Blume’s Fudge books, Beverly Cleary’s Mouse & the Motorcycle series, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (which is a far cleverer book than I had remembered… I guess much of the irony flew over my 10-year-old head).  Sometimes these YA authors are awfully sly when it comes to the double entendre…

DAB:  Care to tell us what is next on your writing horizon?

SP:       Like I mentioned, The Second Coming: A Love Story is the first book in a trilogy.  I’m simultaneously writing the second and third books.

There are some really cool cliffhangers in The Second Coming and I can’t wait to reveal what happens next!

DAB:  Well keep writing then, but now’s your chance – give us the final plug for your novel.

SP:       If you love debating theology, politics and morality – or if you’ve ever stayed up late at night, trying to figure out why bad things happen to good people – then you’ve got to read this book.  It’s a playground of explosive ideas, but I must explicitly caution you: It’s not for everyone.  This book will make you think. 

Here’s the plot:

Two men claim to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Each claims the other is Satan in disguise – but

only one is telling the truth, and the reader isn’t told who’s who.  The United States soon splits along ideological lines, with Red America swearing allegiance to the conservative “savior” and Blue America (naturally) worshiping at the altar of the other.  A furious Culture War-turned-Holy War erupts, with both sides waging a win-at-all-costs marketing campaign to prove their savior’s supremacy.

It’s finally happened: Red America and Blue America are headed for Armageddon!

I’m a PR expert who has analyzed marketing trends and political brand-building strategies for FOXNews.com, Jewish World Review and the Washington Times.  This is, I believe, the very first thriller about God vs. Satan written NOT just from a theological perspective, but from a marketing perspective… because unlike God, the Devil is a marketer.

…isn’t he?

Thanks again, Scott, for stopping by and sharing with us about your novel and writing process.  If The Second Coming:  A Love Story piques your interest, be sure and pick up a copy at Amazon on Kindle or paperback.

Author Bio:
A celebrity publicist-turned-author, Scott Pinsker has worked with a vast array of Super Bowl champions, Grammy-winners and entertainment icons, managing everything from crisis communications to film properties. His analysis of publicity trends has been showcased multiple times on FOXNews.com, where he occasionally contributes as a marketing expert. His debut novel is The Second Coming: A Love Story. Learn more at www.secondcomingishere.com.

Interviewing Author Marc Weingarten

Our author interview today brings an interesting twist.  Once a stand-up comedian in his own right, comedy club owner, and all-around entertainer, Marc Weingarten decided to take all of his life experiences and make the transition into novel writing.  So join me in welcoming this author to the blog to discuss his writing process and the release of his debut novel Cape Comedy.

DAB:  Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?

MW:   When I was seven-years-old I had an epiphany I was supposed to write novels. Of course, you need to have some sort of foundation from which to write. I mean, at that age what was I supposed to write about? Fifty Shades of Itsy Bitsy Spider?

DAB:  That would be an interesting children's book!  Where do you come up with ideas for your novels?

MW:   Ideas are spiritual in nature. As a comic, I trained my mind to question behavior and retain the state of mind I had when I was a child. If you're able to stay in question mode, ideas are gifted to you.

DAB:  Do you have a character(s) in your novel with whom you closely identify?

MW:   There's a little bit of me in almost every character in the novel ... even the tragic ones. I think after 31 years of living the life inside the culture of the comedy world I'd experienced all the blessings and the curses. The accumulation of characters take on traits that in the aggregate cover the entire realm of that world and the highs and lows indigenous to it.

DAB:  Were there any characters you found difficult to write?

MW:   None of the characters were difficult to write about. I know them all ... I am them all. Even the one that speak "Spanglish."

DAB:  It must get noisy in your head at times.  Do you ever have difficulty writing from the point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?

MW:   I love women. I love being in love. My preference has always been to engage women in conversation more than men. In fact, I honestly believe I know more about women than most men do. I can't tell you how many times in my life men come to me for advice about the women in their lives. I should host my own radio show. So, no, I don't have difficulty writing from the opposite pov.

DAB:  Tell us about a typical day in your writing world.

MW:   I write best in the morning. A typical day of writing for me is I like to get up early in the morning ... 5:30 or so ... and that's when I do most if not all of my writing. I love the quiet. There's no clutter from the day. My voice is always ready to rock-and-roll in the morning. It gets pissed after about 10:30. I understand how to indulge it. So I do.

DAB:  What kind of research practices do you utilize for writing?

MW:   In the writing of Cape Comedy very little research was necessary. I lived the life I wrote about for some 35 years. But in my second novel, AVIOLET END,  I chose topics I knew nothing about (Marine biology and the Bible Code) so I had to do a massive amount of research. I actually hated the process of writing this novel because of that. But the idea itself was so compelling it forced me to write that which I didn't know. Somehow, I managed to do it without therapy.

DAB:  Writing itself can be very therapeutic.  Have you ever experienced writer's block?

MW:   I always experience writer's block. Every day I write. But it's because I'm so anal about my writing and I want every idea and every word to be perfect. I won't accept mediocrity. It's a battle but I trust my creativity and am committed to endure.

DAB:  The trait of any successful author - endurance!  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

MW:   No. I won't write to music. I need quiet. However, in Cape Comedy music plays a significant role in that certain song lyrics inspire my detective. Also, I use the music of various artists to create a mood for the reader. In certain instances, I'll stop writing and play the song for me. If it's a haunting song, like Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" I'll play it and sing to it a few times until I feel the sensuousness of the song itself. I don't necessarily do it to inspire my writing, but more because I want to elevate my feelings.

DAB:  There's the eternal debate whether to outline or not.  What is your preference?

MW:   No. I can't outline at all. I never know what I'm going to write. I allow for it to come out of me and trust my process will fill a blank page. When I finished the book it freaked me out. I couldn't believe I'd written a novel from nothing more than an original idea ... no direction ... no advance ideas about characters ... no outlines. I can't write with fences or calculated direction.  I'm a passenger that trusts the driver even if the driver has no clue where he's going in the moment. I trust he'll find the way ... and, to date, he always has.

DAB:  Ah, a fellow pantser.  How do you handle negative feedback about your novel(s)?

MW:   Great question. I've edited my novel from beginning to end at least 20 times. Before I ever sent it out to my first literary agent, I knew I'd opened myself up to the world of rejection. So, I embraced the mindset that criticism can make my novel better. I just needed to be able to distinguish honest, constructive critiques from jealous ones. I used the process of rejection to better my work. Over time, the rejections got better and better and better to the point where lit agents were starting to request entire manuscripts. Then, I had the upper hand and got discretionary about what was best for me as opposed to being a slave to the process. Even though I signed with a lit agent, self-publishing was a better route for me.

DAB:  Well welcome to the indie world.  Usually authors are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?

MW:   I won't read another novelist. Not now ... not ever. I have a very strong sense of my voice from my years of doing stand-up comedy and I don't want anyone else's creativity to creep in. Weird, I know. But that's me!!!

Thank you, Marc, for joining us here at the blog today and offering up your unique perspective on taking life experience and translating it to the written word.  Readers, if Cape Comedy sounds like something to tickle your funny bone, you can pick up a copy on Amazon.

Author Bio:
For thirty-one years, Marc Weingarten has lived the comedy life. With a range of experience unparalleled in the industry, Marc might be the only person with a resume that includes owning a comedy landmark, writing and talent coordinating a late night network television show, producing some of the biggest live comedy events in the country, headlining major venues as a comic, writing material for other comics, and co-founding what is arguably the most prominent comedy recording label in the country. And now, with the release of his first novel, Cape Comedy, it's not a stretch to refer to him as one of America's true comedy pioneers.

At 26, Marc became the youngest comedy club owner in America when he and his partners bought the historic Ice House in Pasadena, California. During that time, Marc developed working relationships with some of America's most prominent comedy stars, agents, producers and network executives. That lasted four years when he sold his interest in the club and joined legendary L.A. disc jockey Rick Dees, who asked Marc to develop and produce The Rick Dees Comedy Concerts. That association led to seven sold-out shows at such venues as the Universal Amphitheater, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and Long Beach Terrace Theater. Such stars as Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Brad Garrett, Ellen Degeneres, Bill Maher, Kevin Nealon, and Louie Anderson were featured in Marc's productions. Marc went on to create the nationally reknown Sooper Bowl of Comedy, and has been a voting member of the GRAMMY's since 1997 for producing the albums of George Lopez, Richard Jeni, Bobby Collins and Jeff Wayne.

Other comedic credits include opening for Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, the Little River Band, and Count Basie and his Orchestra, regular appearances on NBC's Wacky World of Sports, and staff writer and talent coordinator for ABC's Into The Night starring Brad Garrett.

Whether performing, writing, producing, or being on the cutting edge of discovering America's next comic star, the dominant thread linking all these experiences is laughter.  Visit his website at www.marcweingarten.com