Lynda Hilburn writes paranormal fiction.  More specifically, she writes vampire books.  After a childhood filled with invisible friends, sightings of dead relatives and a fascination with the occult, turning to the paranormal was a no-brainer.  In her other reality, she makes her living as a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, professional psychic/tarot reader, university instructor and workshop presenter.  Her first novel, THE VAMPIRE SHRINK, will be released by Medallion Press (October 2007). 

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Lynda!  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published? 

“The Vampire Shrink” is my first print book. I have sold a short story under my own name to Wild Rose Press (epub), two shorts under a pen name to Wild Rose Press, and a novella under my pen name to Loose Id (epub). 

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why? 

“The Vampire Shrink” is my first full-length novel. It will be released by Medallion Press in October, 2007. My first sale was a short story to Wild Rose Press (epub). That story is called “Diary of a Narcissistic Bloodsucker.” So far, I’ve been able to sell everything I’ve written (knock on wood!). If that particular story hadn’t sold, I would have been happy to post it on my website as a “free” story. 

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it? 

For “The Vampire Shrink,” I accumulated a huge file folder filled with rejections from print publishers and agents. I had lots of requests for the full manuscript, but what kept happening was that – after reading the first 3 chapters and getting an idea about where the book was going – several people were disappointed that the book didn’t follow the path they assumed. My book is a little quirky: it blends lots of genres. By the time I sold to Medallion and accepted representation from my agent, my book had been rejected so many times I had to hold the folder together with large rubber bands! I had fewer rejections for my short stories. “Diary of a Narcissistic Bloodsucker” was the most challenging to sell because it’s a humor/satire w/romance elements. The first epub I sold it to went out of business. The second decided it needed a happy ending in order for them to publish it, a third decided the same, then Wild Rose Press enthusiastically bought it.  

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows? 

I had some very low times. I thought my book (The Vampire Shrink) was good, and I kept running up against other peoples’ expectations. Everyone wanted me to change something to make it more like what they envisioned. One agent said something along the lines of “This is great. Wonderful writing. Now make it “Stephanie Plum does vampires.” Everyone compared mine (because there’s humor in it) with a very popular light vampire series and mine isn’t quite that light. So they were disappointed. I think I just had to wait out the huge wave of vampire stories. I’ve been reading vampire stories forever. It isn’t a trend for me. Luckily, I had wonderful critique partners who gave me ongoing pep talks and lots of cyber hugs. Sometimes I just gave up for a little while, slinked away and pulled the covers over my head. But then I always found my enthusiasm and began submitting again. 

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them? 

I had submitted to Medallion right at the same time I found my agent. He subbed the book to his list of editors and had the same reaction that I’d been getting: “Yeah. Great writing. Good story. Now change it.” At the same time, Medallion contacted me, saying they loved the book just as it was. It felt great to be appreciated. Mine is the only urban fantasy they have in their publishing line-up. 

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate? 

When I sold my first short story, I told everyone I knew. Nagged them into buying it. It was lots of fun. I signed the print contract with Medallion Press back in December, 2006 and had a long time to begin promo. My book actually showed up today as “in stock” on Amazon.com. I hadn’t expected that to happen until October. It’s very exciting and terrifying. I go back and forth between feeling frozen with fear and jumping up and down. Very crazy-making! I can’t help myself: I tell my friends every little thing that happens along the publishing path. 

What was the first thing you did as for promotion when you were published for the first time? 

I joined lots of email loops, looked for free ways to promo and put the name of the story in my email signature. I signed up for “author days” on various loops, both just by myself and with larger author groups. Those were great fun. When I sold “The Vampire Shrink,” I did more of the same, plus I had a new website designed, I had great postcards made (bookmarks will come when I raise more money) and I started scheduling book signing events and conference appearances. So much promo, so few hours in the day! 

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published? 

I had envisioned “The Vampire Shrink” being purchased by a NY pub, but that didn’t happen. I’m happy now with the way things worked out. Medallion Press is a successful, growing, medium-sized independent press and they give my book the attention it needs to thrive. 

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author? 

I signed a contract with Medallion Press to publish the second book in my vampire psychologist series, “Dark Harvest.” That book will come out next October (2008). I hope everything I write gets better as I grow as a writer. I am also hoping to be invited to participate in anthologies. I enjoy reading them, and I’m sure I’ll love writing a story for one. I thought I’d write more paranormal erotica under my pen name, but I’m finding that I don’t have the ability to write “hot” enough to really have great sales numbers in that genre. 

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided? 

I would have focused on trusting my voice much sooner. I think I let other peoples’ opinions and notions about writing rules have too much power for too long. I kept trying to fit into existing boxes, when that was never going to work for me. The sooner a writer finds her voice and writes consistently in that voice, the better for all concerned. But, of course, I didn’t know any better. Before I started writing fiction 4 years ago, I wrote nonfiction for years, and the “rules” are very different. I caught on quickly, but still spent a lot of time trying to do what other people wanted me to do instead of following my intuition. I also discovered that someone can follow all the writing rules and still not write a good book (and vice versa).  

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published? 

Finding the courage to actually tell people I wrote a book, and showing up at book signing events! I’m an introvert, and those kinds of things are challenging for me. (On the Myers-Briggs test I’m a INFP – the most socially-challenged of the lot!) 

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be? 

I have a tendency to do all the various things I like to do. In addition to writing, I make my living as a licensed psychotherapist, certified clinical hypnotherapist and professional psychic. I have a short attention span! I also used to sing in rock and roll bands. I really miss that!! 

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds? 

No. I don’t give up anything. I just keep adding on! Life is too short to just choose one thing! 

How do you see yourself in ten years? 

Hopefully, with a lot more books on my website. I want to write several more books in the vampire psychologist series, I want to go back and write more in the world of the novella I sold (“Undead in the City”), and then probably something involving the psychic realm and another dealing with psychology/metaphysics in some way. Having lots of money would be nice! grin 

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day? 

As every author tells you: never give up. Persist. Get tougher skin. Learn all the writing rules, then adapt them to your own situation/style/voice. Follow your intuition. There are so many outlets for publication now, you can feel much more confident that you’ll sell. Keep putting one foot in front of the other (one word after the other) and someday your dream will come true. 

Tags: Beyond the Books, author interview, paranormal fiction author, Linda Hilburn 

Alex Beecroft currently lives inGreat Britain with her husband and two daughters. Raised in Cheshire, Alex studied English and Philosophy before accepting employment with the Crown Court where she worked for a number of years. Alex will tell you that she’s thrilled to be doing what she always wanted to do, living her dream of being a writer, and a soon to be published romance author.

You can visit her website at www.alexbeecroft.com.

 Welcome to Beyond the Books, Alex!  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published? 

‘Captain’s Surrender’ will be the first book I’ve ever had published, although it’s a toss up whether it will come out before or after ‘The Witch’s Boy’ which is going through the self-publishing process at the moment.  They’re both neck and neck in terms of release dates so far.  But because ‘Captain’s Surrender’ is being published by a real publishing firm, that’s the one which I think of as the most important.   

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why? 

It was called ‘Wildfire, in his own words’ and was the story of how the trickster god Loki meddled in the affairs of two Anglo-Saxon villages in order to make them renounce Christianity.  I never submitted it for publication because it was a bit of an apprentice-piece and I didn’t think it was good enough for other people to read.  It had a terribly complicated structure whereby all the characters told each other stories, and then at the end the entire book turned out to be a story told by Loki himself.  Very pretentious!  But it was the first book I ever finished, after starting hundreds and getting half way through before abandoning them, so it still has a special place in my heart. 

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it? 

Well, I managed to get published by an unusual method which didn’t involve sending out submissions.  I entered the first chapter of ‘Captain’s Surrender’ intoLinden Bay’s Starlight Writing Competition.  It went through to the final, whereupon I sent them the whole manuscript, and that won.  The prize of the competition was to have the book published.  Linden Bay had been receiving so many submissions that they had become overwhelmed by them, and they decided to run this competition once a year in order to take on one new author a year.  This year that was me!  In the case of ‘The Witch’s Boy’ however, I sent that out to about 15 publishers in Britain, who all rejected it.  Then I left it in a box for ten years.  When I got it out again recently, I could see that the first few chapters were quite weak, so I re-wrote them to improve them to my new standards, and rather than put it back in the box and leave it for another ten years, I thought I’d self publish it.  I’m actually very proud of it now.  It’s a gripping read! 

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?  They made me feel terrible!  And to be frank, I didn’t overcome the blows.  I lost my nerve and spent the next ten years only writing things for my friends to read.  But eventually enough people said to me ‘are you published?  You should be!’ for me to get my confidence back and think about trying again.  Also, I’m not getting any younger, and I thought that if I didn’t do it soon, I might never get around to it. 

Marisa Chenery was always a lover of books, but after reading her first historical romance novel she found herself hooked.  Having inherited a love for the written word, she soon started writing her own novels. After trying her hand at writing historicals she now also writes paranormals. Marisa lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and four children.  Check out Marisa’s website at www.marisachenery.com.  She would love to hear from you, so drop her a email while you’re there. 

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Marisa Chenery!  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published? 

I’m published for the first time.  My very first book, The Blue Lotus, came out September 10^th of this year at Liquid Silver Books.  But I do have a second book called A Tournament Knight coming out sometime this November at New Concepts Publishing.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

The name of my very first book is Lady Knight.  It isn’t published yet, but it’s sitting at Ellora’s Cave waiting for an acquiring editor to look at it.  So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

Actually with The Blue Lotus I was very lucky rejection wise.  I tried submitting it to a mainstream publisher only to have it sit there for a year with no response from the publisher.  I had submitted A Tournament Knight to Liquid Silver first and it didn’t fit exactly with their line, but they expressed interest in The Blue Lotus.  So I wrote a letter to the other publisher that I was withdrawing my submission then sent it off to Liquid Silver who in turn offered me a contract for it.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows? 

I have had more than a couple rejections for the first two books I wrote.  I will admit it is depressing when you get turned down.  I almost gave up writing altogether.  If it wasn’t for a very dear friend of mine who read my first book and told me I had to keep writing, I wouldn’t have any of my books published.  She wouldn’t let me give up.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

My first book was published by Liquid Silver Books.  Actually they were the first epublisher I submitted to.  At the time I knew to nothing about epublishers, so I based my decision on the quality of their website and the type of books they already had published.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I was ecstatic when Liquid Silver offered me a contract.  I have been writing books for the last 10 years, and to finally have a publisher want to publish one of them was one of the best things to ever happen to me.  To celebrate I had a party and invited my family over.  We had champagne for the adults and sparkling grape juice for the kids.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

The first thing I did was set up my own website shortly after I signed my contract.  This was something I was able to do easily since I know how to do HTML and I love designing web pages.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

Absolutely not.  I think epublishers are going to only get bigger as time goes on.  I’m thrilled to be just a small part of this flourishing business.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author? 

My second book, A Tournament Knight, will be coming out sometime this November at New Concepts Publishing.  I think I have grown as an author since having a book published.  I feel more confident in my writing.  That I no longer have to wonder if what I’m actually writing is good enough for a publisher to accept.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided? 

I think my one mistake was not trying to submit to epublishers earlier than I did.  They are more likely to give an unpublished author their big break compared to some mainstream publishing houses. 

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published? 

I think my biggest accomplishment would have to be finally being able to call myself a writer.  I always felt that I had to have a book actually published before I could say I was a writer.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

I probably wouldn’t choose another profession since I’m a stay at home Mom, as well as an author.  So I really already have two rewarding jobs.

How do you see yourself in ten years? 

I hope to see myself in 10 years still enjoying writing books and have people enjoy reading them.

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

The best advice I could give would be to never give up on your dream, keep writing.  If one book doesn’t get you published then write another.  Eventually one of them will be the one a publisher won’t reject.

Tags: author interview, Marisa Chenery, paranormal, historical romance

Ms. Baccellia’s writing credits include numerous poems published in a variety of magazines, ranging from Beginnings magazine and Latino Stuff Review to Coil magazine. Her poem, My Father , appears in the Mind Mutations Anthology published by The Sun Rising Poetry Press. Her essay on the adoption of her son, Finally, Our Turn , appeared in both Adoptive Families magazine and the Adoptive Families 2003-2004 Adoption Guide . She is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators ( SCBWI).

Earrings of Ixtumea is a finalist in the 2006 Dream Realm Awards and was a finalist in the Smartwriters 2006 WIN contest.

You can visit her website at http://www.kim-baccellia.com/ and her blog at kbaccellia.livejournal.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Kim Baccellia!  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

Earrings of Ixtumea is my first novel.  I’ve had numerous poems and essays published in a number of publications. 

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Earrings of Ixtumea  

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

I had 58 rejections!  I ended up going to a small press, who first published it as an e-serial, then an ebook, and finally in print. 

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

Wow, that’s a loaded question!  At first the rejections got me down, but I put them aside and tried again.  One way I had of overcoming a rejection is to send out three more queries. 

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

Virtual Tales is my publisher.  I liked the look of their product and how they thought outside of the box.  The whole e-serial concept intrigued me.  I thought Earrings would be perfect for this format.  Also I went with them so I could get my toe into the publishing world.  I’ve learned a lot this past year!   

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I was very excited!  Yes, I’d had poems and essays published but not a book!  I even had a poem published in an anthology but nothing that was just my work.  It was very exciting!  We went out to dinner to celebrate.  I told the people next to us I was going to be a published author and they saluted me.   

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I signed up for a PR class with Louise Ahern who teaches through AuthorMBA.  She has a number of classes available but the one that really helped me was her boot camp for writers.  I also had a contest. 

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

No.  I don’t regret signing with Virtual Tales.  The whole team has worked very hard to help make my book be a success.   

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

Not yet but I’m working on it!  Yes, I’ve grown a lot this past year.  I’ve learned that writing the book is only a small part of the whole publishing thing.  PR and marketing is a whole job by itself.  I’d highly recommend first time published authors to have a blog, website, and to have a virtual book tour.   

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

Not send out my manuscript until I’d done a few revisions.  I got very impatient the first time around.  I’d recommend others to put their manuscript aside for a few weeks then go back to it.  Don’t be impatient!  You don’t want to burn any bridges. 

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

Earrings was a Dream Realm 2006 award finalist.  I completed a month long virtual book tour. 

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Too funny!  I was an elementary school teacher for fifteen years.  I’d like to go back to school later and finish my post graduate work and maybe even get my PhD.  I’d also like to do research into autism and sensory impairment issues.   I’m surprised at how little the schools help these children. 

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

Right now I enjoy being an author.  It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.  It’s also great that I have the opportunity to help my son at his school.  I used to tell my parents how important it was to help out but I felt like such a hypocrite as I couldn’t.  Now I help the teacher.  Let’s just say they are excited to know that I’m a credentialed teacher too.  Plus I’m able to help in the library and see what books the students like.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Wow, let’s see…I see myself speaking at conferences.  I’ll also have a few more books under my belt. 

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

If you want to be published, you need to write!  There’s no secret potion to being published.  Believe me, if I knew it, I would have taken it!

Be persistent.  Don’t give up.  Take advantage of any opportunities that come your way.  

Tags: author interviews, Kim Baccellia, Earrings of Ixtumea, young adult fiction

 Nick Oliva (O-lee-va’) has been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and is a successful self-made money manager. He has just opened an upscale restaurant for his brother called “Wyatt’s” in
Henderson, Nevada. He lives in the mountains outside of Las Vegas. You can visit Nick’s website here.  

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Nick.  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I have my first novel entitled, “Only Moments” that came out in June of this year.  I can multi-task, and I have multi-hats to wear amongst other “multi” things that I do.

The book is titled as such because of the structure of the novel. The main character goes back in time, involuntarily (can’t give away the plot) and it shows that life is just a series of moments, “only moments” that tie together as time moves relentlessly in our lives.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

 I spent years coming very close to the publication of this book through the Irene Rodgers Literary Company, but as close as it was, it didn’t get published.  I eventually put it on hold for years until I was motivated to attempt it once more.  After a near-death experience in October of 2004, I became hell-bent to get it published.

I must have gone through 300 query letter before a major agent like Irene decided to represent me.  It is almost a foregone conclusion that without an agent, you will never get into the major publishers.  The market is much too tight and the amount of submissions are massive.  Every person in the world thinks that they can tell their life story and with the technology today, everyone can.  You are part of 3 billion + people in this world.  Do the percentages. One percent of 3 billion is 30 million, one tenth of that is 3 million and one tenth of that is 300,000 and that is roughly how many books get published each year.  That means you have a slim of a chance to be a part of 300,000 books that are for sale. The odds are much higher for it to become a best seller, if it gets on a shelf. Multiply that by a factor of maybe 20 if it is self-published or internet based.  So, take a moment and think about that.  That’s a sobering thought!  So don’t get your hopes up or your expectations too high.  On the other hand, do it for you!  That’s who counts anyway.  You did it, you accomplished an incredible thing.  Don’t downplay it because you aren’t on Oprah, or the movie of the week isn’t based on your book.  Life is about the little things.  Enjoy them and be proud!  Smell the roses.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

In the beginning it is always hard to give up the ego that drives you to do the things that you do, to listen and learn from others especially harsh criticism of your “babies” the characters you create on paper.  That is a very important lesson however, as you can actually become so involved that much like acting you take the roles of the characters you play and become them.  For an undisciplined mind, it could create a psychosis that one actually believes.  You have to keep centered and take the “blows” as you call them in stride with learning your craft.  Like a restaurant, no matter how good you think you serve up a dish, someone out there isn’t going to like it and you have to determine what is constructive accurate criticism and what is emotional excess.  That’s not easy if you are not grounded to the earth and you let your emotions put up walls to your neurosis intact.  Many writers think that it is okay to immerse yourself into the fiction, and yes that is okay as long as you know it is all pretend.  There is much potential damage it you think the characters are “real” flesh and blood.  There is a fine line, but there is also a fine line between a normal person and a psychotic killer, between a Hitler and a person who seeks power.  This is controversial but only because most misinterpret what I am saying.  Go ahead and be the character when you are writing, when you are thinking about what to write, but they are creations of fiction, period.  To extend them into real life as people is dangerous and is that isolation from reality can be root cause of many suicides and murders.  Here is an intriguing story that is totally twisted because of words written and believed intertwined with the psychosis of human beings.  www.wired.com/politics/law/magazine/15-09/ff_internetlies

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

When I chose to get this book in print I chose Publish America.  I could have went with I-Universe or a similar type of company and paid up front but I didn’t want to go to what I thought was a pay for publishing vanity press.  After the papers were signed, I realized all the controversy surrounding the publisher and read many complaints as well as people who had good experiences.  I can only say that my covers were designed with my supervision, they were my photos and they did a great job putting them together.  There were typos and they did clean them up.  It is frustrating to deal with them with the email only communication, but they have done what they said they would do.  Many of the vociferous attacks on them have come from self-promoting authors who want to put down others to make themselves look better so they propagate threads on their websites and contribute little to the literary world. I think some of the complaints stem from people who have never been published and they want their book to be “perfect” in every way and it doesn’t work that way with any publisher.  There are always mistakes.  I had my manuscript edited twice and proofed twice and there were still typo and formatting errors that occurred.   I think that they have published things that probably shouldn’t have reached the public, but again they are a POD and in the process of making money they have allowed acts of sloppiness to damage their reputation.  I cannot fix their problems, but I wish they would bring their current standards up as their reputation is important to survive in business world.  I on the other hand had a good experience, but because of the perceived and actual problems it has been difficult to get reviewed because of the Publish On Demand stigmata.  Let’s face it, the publishing world has always been an exclusive enclave of “country club” mentality and this new wave of POD’s and electronic distribution is a threat to democratize the business and the publishing business has been in trouble for many years.  If JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series had been published by a POD, would the validity of the writing be in question?  Does the way something is brought to print affect the quality of the work?  I think it is a transition from the old to the new and in the process there is pain, stupidity, and competitiveness that obscures the art for its own sake.  If the stories hold up, and the literary quality is there then it should not matter.  I am proud to have a book that I know turns the lights on in a room and hopefully those who read it see things they haven’t before.  I leave the arguing over the way it is brought to the public to others.

Remember, it’s about money and unless you are a celebrity or a murderer or both, you have little chance of a major publisher signing you unless you are a proven commodity. Sometimes the difference between a panned novel and a successful one is sales.  Money talks and however others try to disembowel you and your book, the sales of it are all that counts in many aspects.  A lot of people think Donald Trump is obnoxious and classless. Do you think he cares?  Trust me.  I worked for him and he doesn’t care about what anybody thinks about him, he just never gives up and makes money.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

The strangest things happen when things you have been wanting for so many years actually come to fruition. “Only Moments” has been laboring along for over 12 years, and now that it is finally in print my reactions are numb. I don’t know if it is my defensiveness that has taken the emotion away because of so many years of hoping without any success or if it is temporary because I just haven’t realized that it is a major accomplishment, or lastly that I’m waiting for the usual enviseration from critics who read a chapter and decide your fate based on what they haven’t accomplished in their lives (I’m asking for it aren’t I?). I could be wrong on all counts and it may be just that I’ve passed by the experience in anticipation of the new things that I’m working on, such as the screenplay for “Only Moments” and a non-fiction book based on my against-all-odds recovery from an abscessed spinal infection, and my subsequent passing over in October 2004, and my decision to return to the living world in serious pain. In any case, I hope the numbness passes and the butterflies reappear. I like butterflies. They make life worth living!

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I contracted a high image public relations company and spent far too much money for their services.  I got a few radio interviews but not one review, not a one.  I have learned much about the saturation of books on the market and the prejudices that abound in this industry.  I wish that I had met Dorothy Thompson and her “Pump Up Your Book Promotion” a few months earlier, but there is a reason and a linear progression of time that makes thing happen when they are supposed to happen.  No wine is ready until its time.

Most of those published by the majors have a haughty attitude to those who are published by a POD and most have forgotten that it is about the story; it is about the writing.  Most have forgotten how hard it was for them to get published.  Like the entertainment business, everyone thinks they have something special and that makes getting to the right people very hard.  They are well insulated from people that would inundate with them manuscripts to the point where they would get nothing done.  I know.  I was an Entertainment Director and threw away many a horrible tape of performances that made me wonder how people could lower themselves in believing they had talent.  It’s about money not art.  Can the publisher make money?  That’s why they take the safe route with celebrities and murderers, like Rosie O’Donnell, and O.J. Simpson.  That gossipy stuff sells in Peoria and Poughkeepsie.  Here’s a mantra for all to learn. It is the mass market that makes the money.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?  Any regrets?

 The past is wrapped up in time spent, inalterable.  I think to use the Irish word, “blarney,” comes forth as an aid to shield us from the failures, regrets, and disappointments of those times.  Frankly, as long as it doesn’t extend into psychotic behavior, it’s okay to regret, it’s okay to realize we screwed up.  It means we grew up; we finally have taken responsibility for our own inadequacies and stopped blaming our parents (some long gone), our ex-wives and husbands, our teachers, and anybody else within a finger pointing radius.  We have finally looked at the enemies of our dreams and they is us.  The “old days” were certainly not the “good” old days for many; we just look back at the best of times.  Perhaps if we really looked at our stupidity and mistakes our egos will come back into check and we can come to the understanding that the choices we made have dictated our present situation, be it good or bad.  Experience is what is left of your butt after life takes chunks out of it.  “Luck is residue of design”-Branch Rickey.  You make your own game when you go after something with passion.  You’re going to screw up, you’re going to fail.  From that failure your character will develop.  Either you pick yourself up and keep fighting or you walk away with the loss.  Either way is okay.  Just remember the lessons of the struggle the next time you choose a goal or dream to come true.  It’s not impossible, it just very difficult, to be happy with one’s self.  The next time you hear someone telling you they have a lifetime of experience to justify what they are doing now, beware.  They are looking to the past to justify the insecurities of the present.  There’s bitterness where there should be confidence, there’s the warning sign.  It’s just another layer to be “comfortably numb.”  It’s not about the past, it is about now.  Right now.  Get rid of bitterness, get a life and live it! 

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I have difficulty answering this question.  My personality/spirituality dictates to me that “it is what it is, because it is.”  You are here because of all you have done in the past.  You can’t change the past, the future hasn’t arrived, so to me it is pointless to daydream about what could have been.  That time is wasted by not utilizing it to move forward.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

I have met many great people who are willing to give of themselves without strings attached.  The book is new, my immersion into this world is new so any help is always appreciated.  One never stops learning and one thing leads to the next, and so on.  I have other things on my plate as my restaurant Wyatt’s (www.wyattsdininghall.com) trying to find time to market both the book and the restaurant, time for working the stock market every day from 6am to 1pm Monday through Friday, time to write the next book on my near death experience, and finally getting time to do the audio book for both.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Now you may think I’m crazy, but I think the profession finds you.  I would have never thought that I would be doing the things I’m doing.  Then again, I would have never thought the following true story would happen either.  Here is the story in a nutshell.

The first Saturday in October 2003, I woke up and could not move my left leg at all.  I had a fever over 102 and had my wife, Joan take me to the Emergency Room.  It was there that I was diagnosed with a spinal infection, probably caused by cortisone injections.  Dr. Derrick Duke -the man who saved Roy Horn’s life after Montecore, the tiger that had just about severed Mr. Horn’s head from his body accidentally at the Siegfried and Roy Show at the Mirage -was called in and he explained the severity of my situation.  Far from routine, I would be fighting for my life.

I underwent a 5-hour emergency operation that and afterwards had Vancomycin intravenously pumped into my arm directly to my heart for the next eight weeks to fight off the spinal infection.

On the second day after the operation, while in critical condition, about 2 AM in the morning, still hooked up to the heart monitors in ICU, my heart stopped for 12 seconds.  I experienced an out-of-body phenomena that catapulted me into another world.  This happened twice while I was there.  My experience was very similar to the fiction I had written in this book many years ago.  Much like the character Chris, I came back with a different understanding and as I fought to come back to the living, the transition left me with a totally changed perspective.  It was my life imitating my own art.  I spent the next five weeks wired-up in the hospital.

The soul has energy with no specific mass.  That energy must leave the body when the body can no longer sustain itself, therefore that energy must transform.  This is where the metaphysical or inter-dimensional understandings take over.  I can tell you, there was no St. Peter, there was no heaven, no hell, no judgement.  It was a beautiful experience until I realized that I was fading into nothingness.  At that point I asked for and received, a future vision of what would happen to my wife.  That vision was extremely disturbing as I saw her in hysterics, crying and so emotionally distraught that I knew I had to fight to avoid becoming absorbed into the golden river that lay before me.  I intend to write this experience in a non-fictional book, it is just very difficult to bring some of those memories up as they still to this day paralyze me mentally and make me very sad.  Suffice to say that there were visions of many other things that I won’t go into right now.  So, I forced my way back once I made the decision or perhaps I should say I was “allowed” to make that decision.  One must understand that I just came out of emergency surgery 2 days earlier and I was taken off the morphine/valium drip because my heart was stopping-that left me in extreme pain.  I was in critical condition and wired to ICU’s monitoring system. The cross-over was painless and took all of my pain away, so it was initially very wonderful.  I knew I was going back to extreme pain but chose to do so in order to tell my wife and everyone else that it was okay to die.  It wasn’t something one should fear.  I had to let them know in order that if I should die again while there in the hospital, they would understand and not be so forlorn. My devotion to my wife was the main impetus for me to return even though I knew I might be spending the rest of my life in pain on top of the severe diabetes that I have to deal with each day. Much of what I experienced mirrored my writing years ago, though not exactly, but the scenes were similar.  Being such a skeptic that demands empirical evidence, I asked for the charts from ICU and was shown that I indeed had flatlined during the time that I went over at approximately 2 in the morning.  That night after coming back I stood next to the bed waiting for them to come in with the defibulators and they did so a few minutes later and stopped in their tracks somewhat in shock looking at me.  I told them I was alright, to put them down, as they almost seemed determined to use them on me from what their machines told them.  That experience changed my mode of thinking immediately upon returning to the land of the living and despite the whatever attempts I’ve made to disprove it, it did happen.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I live everyday to the fullest with no regrets.  Passion is what brought me to learn the things I’ve learned and my life’s experiences is all that I have.  I’ve been to the other side and I know it is this life that counts.  Come what may, passion is the key for anything one does so whatever I’m doing I’m doing to make myself happy, to create self-love-the hardest love of all.  Let them talk about me when I’m dead, I’m living each day, each second happy that I’m who I am, where I am, what I am.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully cured of diabetes so I can live another 15 years without the horrible effects of that disease.  To answer your question directly read the above questions again, lol.  Remember “it is what it is, because it is.” 

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

Once published, now comes the hard part, getting it read, getting it sold.  There is no one way or miracle formula.  It is persistence of effort, constantly keeping alert to opportunities to promote and market you.  It will cost you money and time even if you are published with Random House or Doubleday.  You have to promote yourself.  If you can afford the cost get a public relations firm to assist you nationally with radio interviews and book reviews (fewer and fewer newspapers even do reviews of books now).  Call your hometown newspaper; try sending copies to local periodicals for review.

The measure of your success depends on what level you want to achieve.  Be careful that you do not set unrealistic goals and set yourself up for failure and despondence.  Take a little chunk at a time.  Start with a web presence, create a blog, get your family to buy the book (a major task believe me!), get your friends to buy the book even though they expect it for free because “you are their friend.”  Explain to them how they should support your cause as once your “make it” you will mention their name on Oprah’s show.  Tell them anything, just get sales going before your book goes into obscurity. 

Stay positive.  Many people will tear into you to make themselves look good. 

Accept reality.  Perhaps your book isn’t up to snuff.  Go back and rewrite and make it clear to your audience and target market. 

Don’t assume!  Never assume that the world needs another book. 

Enjoy yourself in everything you do, and keep writing if it makes you happy!

Tags: author interviews, Nick Oliva, Only Moments, spiritual romance

CJ Maxx has always enjoyed writing, whether in the military writing citations or efficiency reports, in the private sector writing articles for trade journals, or in his personal life writing in newsletters for volunteer organizations. He turned his interest in writing to fiction in 2002. This is his first erotic romance. C.J. and his wife live in northern Alabama.

You can visit his website at http://www.cjmaxx.com/.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, C.J Maxx. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I have been published three times:  One highly sensual contemporary romance novel and two erotic romance novellas.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

The first book I wrote was titled The Second American Republic. It took two years to write, another year to find a publisher and another year to the release date. That’s four years.  A few days before the release date the publisher went out of business. Big bummer. 

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

The first one wasn’t actually published as I noted above. On that book I had about thirty reject slips before I found a small independent publisher that was interested in it.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

The very first submittal asked for a full manuscript.  After I send it to them the agent said they weren’t really interested, that one of the underlings asked for the full when she should have sent me a rejection slip.  That was discouraging. That’s when I realized this business is an emotional roller coaster. You soon realize two things: No one but you is in a hurry and finding someone that’s likes your book is difficult. Live with that but remember that if your book is well written, someone out there will be interested in it.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

The first book that was actually published was my highly sensual contemporary romance. After I received about twenty reject slips from agents I decided to go with a small e-publisher. At this point I just wanted someone to accept it. When it was released I was satisfied that it was now available.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

After I got the call on my first book I was ecstatic.  I either celebrated with wine or a martini, martini I think.  Myself and my wife, it was a happy evening.  The first actual release was almost anti-climatic; I think I felt more relief than anything else. Finally, a book with my name on it was available.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I was a complete rookie with an e-book.  I signed up for all the groups I thought applicable and pimped the book.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

I don’t think so. Self-publishing is the only other route I would consider and I’ve never seriously gone past the point of researching that part of publishing.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

Since the novel came out I’ve had two erotic romance novellas published.  Have I grown as an author? I think my writing has improved.  I take the downs of the industry in strides now. 

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I should have read best sellers in an analytical manner. Learn what successful authors do to hold their audiences’ interest. Study what works.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

My first book was also published on Print on Demand.  It was available on amazon.com and the other online booksellers. I went on local television to pitch the book and then had book signing at a local bookstore.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

This is my third career. I was in the military for twenty-one years. I worked in the electronics industry for twenty-one years and now I write. Fortunately I have enough money to live on so I don’t have to depend on what I make from books.  To answer your question, I enjoy writing very much. I’m happiest (like right now) when I’m writing.  Being published is the icing on the cake.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I’m happy with my few successes in my writing career. I’m doing what I want to do. Self-actualization, that’s where I’m at,

How do you see yourself in ten years?

My oldest granddaughter will be sixteen in ten years. I already have the dedication to the book written.  To my granddaughter, B.M.W. Let’s hope this book is successful so I can buy you a BMW.

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

The best advice I’ve seen about writing is this:  Edit out all the boring stuff. 

Example: Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code.

Dwayne G. Anderson was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan on September 23, 1982. He spent much of his life in Naicam where he was raised. Diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age sixteen, Dwayne’s experiences with being different made him into the man he is today, one who is determined to face and overcome whatever challenges life throws at him. These experiences gave him the inspiration to write “Partially Human”.

Dwayne enjoys writing as it has become a way for him to express his thoughts. He tends to write stories with a hidden powerful message to inspire those who read his work.
Beyond the Books is proud to have Dwayne B. Anderson, author of PARTIALLY HUMAN, here with us today.

Dwayne G. Anderson was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan on September 23, 1982. He spent much of his life in Naicam where he was raised. Diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age sixteen, Dwayne’s experiences with being different made him into the man he is today, one who is determined to face and overcome whatever challenges life throws at him. These experiences gave him the inspiration to write “Partially Human”.

Dwayne enjoys writing as it has become a way for him to express his thoughts. He tends to write stories with a hidden powerful message to inspire those who read his work.

You can visit his website here!

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Dwayne! Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

Multipublished. I have three books published so far.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Alien Conflict, published by PublishAmerica.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

One

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

I just looked for another publisher as well as doing some modifications and editing.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

I went with PublishAmerica. I was excited to be a published author and they did it for free, although I realize sometime afterwards that they obviously weren’t the best choice of publisher.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I didn’t really do anything special to celebrate, I just started work on my second book.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I got interviewed by my local paper.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

Yes, I definitely would have chosen a new publisher.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I have two more books published since my first book. With each written work, my storytelling grows stronger and my writing improves.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I would have gone through the whole story and do some serious editing because I found several errors in the book afterwards.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

My third book so far has been my most successful and ambitious work to date. I hope my future books are more successful.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Writing is more of a hobby than a profession for me.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

I’ve learned to do both, writing in my spare time, and working when I have to.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Not sure.

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

Do your research. Choose a publisher that offers excellent service, quality finished product, offers bookstore returns, and lower prices for their books, all at an affordable publication fee.

Welcome to Beyond the Books!  We will be interviewing authors to find out what makes them tick.  How do they feel when they get rejections and how do they handle it?  What’s it like to get a contract and how do they celebrate?  Is being published all that it’s cracked up to be or is it the most wonderful thing in the world?

We will explore everything there is to know about being published and we might learn a few things along the way about the life of a published author.

Stay tuned for author interviews from bestselling authors to those trying to climb up the publishing ladder to success.  These are authors from all walks of life and they could even be you!

If you would like to be interviewed for Beyond the Books, click on our “About” page.

Thank you!