Who’s That Indie Author? Richard Lyntton

Richard Lyntton

Name: Richard Lyntton

Books written: North Korea Deception, Book 1 in The Deception Series: Hyde Park Deception (Book 2); Leningrad Deception (Book 3 – April 2023)

Genre: Commercial thriller – spy thriller, political thriller

Books Published: From Cottage to Palace, This Was Our Malvern and Upton-Upon-Seven Recollections written by my aunt, Margaret Bramford.

Genre: non-fiction and local history royal memoir

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? I have always wanted to be a writer ever since a wrote a “cowboy epic” of about 40 pages, aged 8, in my primary school, London, UK.

I read a lot when I became a professional actor. I love John le Carré, Robert Ludlum, and Daniel Silva. In about 2005, I started writing North Korea Deception, which was based on real-life adventures as a Russian student in Moscow, serving as a captain in the British army, and working as a UNTV producer in Bosnia.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? Between auditions, yes, I write every day, 2-3 hours in the morning after a 45 min walk along my local creek. I also spend 3-4 hours marketing and working on the other books I am publishing under Malchik Media (which means “Boy Media” in Russian. I have two sons, so I just made up the name.)

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Probably 30-50% is autobiographical in terms of locations and experiences. But I also need a theme or topic I feel passionate about and use historical research to weave the above into a gripping story. I write thrillers, so there must be an exciting, nail-biting, and roller-coaster plot!

Have you ever written yourself into a story? Yes, Jack Steele, the hero in my series, is 30-50% autobiographical.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? I publish non-fiction (3 to date) in memory of my aunt Margaret Bramford. She wrote ten local history books about: a) my great aunt Florence who served as a ladies maid in the British royal household for thirty years, travelling the world with two Queen Elizabeths – The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II, (think Downton Abbey and The Crown (Netflix), and, b) local social history and biography memoirs from the Worcestershire and Malvern area in UK.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? I read non-fiction books and watch documentaries on the subject(s) I am interested in. e.g. Leningrad Deception is a story based on President Ronald Regan’s “Deception Committee” during the end of the Cold War during the Reagan-Gorbachev period in 1989. I had never heard about or read about the “Deception Committee,” and found it fascinating to weave a plot based around this little-known part of the Reagan-Gorbachev era. I draft an outline of each scene before I write the first draft: POV, Date/time, location, characters, plot and most importantly, the “kick” – what propels the story to the next chapter?

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? Two things any author or indie author must spend money on – hiring a professional editor and a professional book cover designer. I go back and forth one or two chapters at a time with my editor as I write each draft.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? I hire a professional book cover designer. Before I published North Korea Deception, I spent the afternoon in Barnes and Noble screen-shooting thriller covers and the info inside the cover. Then I reached out to some cover designers on LinkedIn and found a great fit.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? Great Question. My thriller series must have the word “Deception” in the title, so that’s 50% of the job. The rest of the title speaks to the story location, or one of the locations – e.g. North Korea, Hyde Park, Leningrad etc.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I watched tons of videos on YouTube. David Gaughran’s FREE course, Starting From Zero is fantastic. I also purchased a couple of on-line courses on Amazon ads and Facebook ads.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? I tried to get an agent for many years and gave up. It might take two years to get an agent because most of them take weeks, if not months to reply to a submission or query. Once they sign you, you might wait another year for them to find a publisher and publish. The process – if you are lucky – might take three years. However, if you do it yourself, once you have a polished, finished manuscript, you can self-publish in about 6 months.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Amazon ads, Facebook ads, my website, “reader regiment” newsletter, and discount promo sites are the main ways I use to market.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. Yes. Local indie bookstores and Barnes and Noble are very welcoming to local authors in my experience. They like to have “real” writers in the store, that bring foot traffic and the human touch to books. They don’t seem to care if you are traditionally or self-published. It’s always a very positive experience for me but you must be “high-energy” and know how to hook your potential readers.

Have you taken writing courses? I did take a writing course many years ago and read every writing book I could find on writing when I first began about fifteen years ago.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? I did try once, but I didn’t find it helpful or useful.

Are you in a book club? I do book signings and talks at local book clubs. People are always very eager and pleased to have a real author!

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? I did used to ask a couple of well-selected and carefully chosen writer friends to read my first draft of book 1. Now I rely mainly on my editor for the WIP.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson; The King’s Pawn by Lucy Hooft; Beyond the Cobblestones by Luisa Livorno Ramondo.

What is the last book you read? Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? About 400pages – 90-100K words

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I once tried to secretly film General Ratko Mladic, and Dr. Radovan Karadzic, leaders of the Bosnian Serbs in Pale, Sarajevo, during the Bosnia war. I wasn’t a spy, I was filming a video diary for the BBC about life as a United Nations Military Observer in Bosnia. I got caught and my camera was confiscated but considered myself lucky not to be arrested or worse.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Writing, editing, narrating the audiobook, and marketing a book TO BE PROFITABLE!

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Be very, very clear about your goals – do you just want to write one book and “be published” or do you want to write several books and make a business. Huge difference.

You gotta love the actual process of writing. You gotta START writing every day. You find a time that works for you, and you gotta do it every single day, or most days of the week. Find a great editor and a great book cover designer. That’s where you spend your money. Never pay a “publisher” to publish your book unless you really understand what is involved and what you are paying for. Writing is 35% writing and 65% marketing. Most so called “hybrid-publishers” do NOT do the most difficult part of marketing your book.

You gotta believe and know that people want to read your stuff! I told myself early in the process – I know there are people out there who will enjoy these stories – I just gotta find them.

Website and social media links:
Website: richardlynttonbooks.com
Twitter: @richardlyntton
Facebook: Richard Lyntton Books
Instagram: @richardlynttonbooks
YouTube: @richardlyntton – Author Hour with Richard Lyntton – I interview other authors about writing and publishing.

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Who’s That Indie Author? Jaq D Hawkins

Jaq D Hawkins

Name: Jaq D Hawkins

Books: Dance of the Goblins, To Dance With Dragons, Power of the Dance, The Wake of the Dragon, The Chase For Choronzon

Genre: Fantasy

Background: Traditionally published author gone full indie. Publishes non-fiction occult and Fantasy fiction.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? As a child, though my first book was published in 1996.

Do you write full-time? I juggle film editing with writing, but yes, my creative work is full time.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? They plague me constantly. I have many partial projects on my computer, all vying for attention. Ideas are the easy part.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I think all writers lend some of themselves to favourite characters.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? I’ve had an interest in occult subjects since an aunt first introduced me to astrology at age 8. My first published pieces were for specialist magazines in that subject matter and I’ve had a few books out since then, mainly about chaos witchcraft and nature spirits.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? It depends on the project. For example, The Wake of the Dragon is set in an alternative Victorian England and apart from the airships, much of it is effectively historical fiction. The East India Company and their involvement in the opium trade was very interesting indeed!

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? Every writer should hire an editor. The first pass I do myself though. I make a PDF and put it on my Kindle, read one chapter a day and take notes on any typos I find and anything else that needs changing.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? My Fantasy covers have art from very talented artists. I do my own titles and graphics as I’m an old Photoshop addict. The one exception was The Chase for Choronzon, as the whimsical nature of that one was given to a photo manipulation.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? The latest release was The Chase For Choronzon. That reflects the plot of the book itself, as two magicians chase the demon Choronzon through time and space to return him to his duty, guarding the gates between the worlds.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. The fiction was a lucky accident. I was deciding what route to go with that when someone starting a small publishing company ended up sitting at a table with me at a social event. He had a look, got some of his people to read my manuscript and decided to go with it.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take?  In my early writing days I sent things to agents, usually to be told they didn’t handle genre fiction, even if their listings said they did.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Not enough. I’ve got them on book sale lists and more recently have tried Bookfunnel while assessing the more costly options.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Yes. I’ve done book signings for my non-fiction on occasion.

Have you taken writing courses? In school. I regularly read articles online about various aspects of writing.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? Tell us about your experience. A few groups on Facebook. I find them very friendly and supportive.

Are you in a book club? Not at the moment.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? No. They’re the least likely to read it and if they do, they’ll tell you it’s wonderful no matter what.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The ones at the top of my tbr at present are The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe, Reign of Shadows by Angel Haze and A Thief in Farshore by Justin Pike. I do read other genres but there’s some awesome indie Fantasy out there and I’m trying to catch up.

What is the last book you read? Finished? Crucible of Shadows by Jon Cronshaw. It was third in a series well worth reading.

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? It depends. Non-fiction is totally down to how much information needs to be conveyed on the subject. Fiction is fairly subjective. I like books under 400 pages best. Some people like huge books and I will read them if they’re good enough to hold my attention that long.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? Either running away with the carnival at age 16 or initiating court proceedings on my own, using my writing ability to copy format on papers sent against me in a custody case. I won in the end.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Physical or mental? Mental, definitely the custody battle. Physical, was probably a printing job I had where I didn’t realise the first night I was doing the work of two men. I just threw myself into the work and didn’t think about the fact that it wasn’t really a lady’s job.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Learn to take criticism. Your first draft is never going to be perfect. Writing is hard work, not an easy buck.

Website and social media links:
Website: jaqdhawkins.com
WordPress: goblinsandsteampunk
Amazon: Jaq-D-Hawkins
Smashwords: jaqdhawkins
Facebook: GoblinSeries

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Who’s That Indie Author? Valerie Ormond

Valerie Ormond

Name: Valerie Ormond

Books: Believing In Horses; Believing In Horses, Too; and Believing In Horses Out West

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Background: I am a writer living in Maryland. I retired after a 25-year career as a naval intelligence officer and founded my current business, Veteran Writing Services, LLC where I provide companies and organizations professional writing, editing, and consulting services.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? After I retired from the Navy, I realized writing a book had been on my list of things to do.

Do you write full-time? I own a small business, Veteran Writing Services, LLC, which provides professional writing and consulting services. My creative writing endeavors are a small part of that business, although the part I enjoy the most.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Usually my characters and plots are based on situations I’ve encountered, and sometimes they simply come to me. I’ve also fictionalized stories from the news or from history.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I’ve never written myself into my stories with me as a character, but my characters have taken on my personality traits. My main character in my books does things a younger version of me would have done—good and bad.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? My nonfiction projects are stories I feel should be told, such as my grandfather’s WWI service and my adventures as one of the first women onboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. My news articles are on subjects I care about including how the connection with one of our horses ended up with a young woman entering the U.S. Air Force Academy and one about the future of the once-famous Bowie Race Track.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? Too much! Even for fiction, if I am depicting scenes I have not experienced, I go on site to a similar scene to ensure authenticity. If that’s not possible, I research and speak to knowledgeable people. I’m an outliner, so that’s part of my preparation.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I self-edit first and recently started using Auto-Crit to point out problem areas. I’ve used beta readers, developmental editors, and copy editors. For books, I believe a copy editor is essential.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? My first two books were published through a small press, and I was fortunate to have had some say on the covers. I did not want to have an image of the main character on the cover, leaving that up to the reader. I self-published my last book and outsourced the cover working closely with the designer.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? My first book, Believing In Horses, was supposed to be one book, not a series. So when I wrote Believing In Horses, Too, I had a title theme. The latest title became Believing In Horses Out West since it is an adventure to a dude ranch in Montana.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I looked for publishers who published the same kind of work as mine starting with The Writer’s Market, then looked on the internet, and stumbled into my publisher. I wrote asking for advice, and they offered to look at my manuscript and liked it. I got lucky, and the things I learned gave me the confidence to self-publish later.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? In The Writer’s Market, I found an agent I thought might like my first book. I emailed the query letter, and she was polite enough to respond it wasn’t for her. I learned I didn’t have the patience for that process.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Blogs, book awards contests, news releases, discussions at writing workshops, social media, occasional ads in horse magazines, and talking to people about them.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I’ve had lots, and my most fun was at a year-end horse competition banquet for my target age, selling out in less than one hour.

Have you taken writing courses? Yes, many, learning from each. I was also an English major, so that helped.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. The two I attend most have been both in-person and online. I recommend everyone join a writer’s group to help stay motivated, on-track, and get honest feedback.

Are you in a book club? No

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? Yes, when done.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Opening Up by Writing It Down by James W. Pennybaker, Burn You Twice by Mary Burton, and The Horse Who Changed My Life: My Serendipitous Journey through Equus by Nancy Lee Gerson.

What is the last book you read? The Maid’s Diary: A Novel by Loreth Anne White.

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? 80,000 words/30,000 words.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? My husband and I went on a self-guided horse travel trip to Ireland in 2008 where we rented horses, and they gave us a map to get to our B&B locations for the next four days. Without the luxuries of GPS on our phones, it was quite the experience where we galloped on beaches, entered a live shooting range, and ended up in desolate places. But we have memories that will last forever.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Losing both of my parents.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Everyone has advice, but only you have your voice. Listen, learn, but be true to yourself in the end.

Website and social media links:
Believing In Horses Website: BelievingInHorses.com
Amazon Author Page: valerieormond
Blog: valerieormond.com
Facebook: BelievingInHorses
Twitter: @BelieveInHorses
YouTube: @ValerieOrmond

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Who’s That Indie Author? Deborah Jay

Deborah Jay

Name: Deborah Jay

Books: The Prince’s Man (#1 The Five Kingdoms), The Prince’s Son (#2), The Prince’s Protégé (#3), The Prince’s Heir (#4), The Prince’s Legacy (Boxset books 1-4 inclusive), Desprite Measures (The Caledonian Sprite stories #1), Sprite Night (#1.5), The World and the Stars (multi-author anthology), The Building Blocks of Training, and The Successful Dressage Competitor

Genre: Epic and Urban fantasy, plus horse training.

Background: I am a former professional athlete, now coach, trying to retire in my dream home in the Scottish Highlands. My plan is to do more writing as I do less outdoor work, but I find it hard to say ‘no’ and so my planned reduction in coaching isn’t yet happening.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? As a child I was a voracious reader and just assumed I would also write. I started at around 8 years old, and never stopped.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? I’ve been a professional athlete all my life (riding dressage horses) and I’m so used to being super active that I don’t think I could tolerate being a full-time writer, but it does fit in very nicely when the weather is bad and gives me an excuse to be indoors!

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Ooh, I always dread this question! My entire life I’ve had a busy and demanding imagination, with both plots and characters appearing fully formed from my subconscious—so many that I will never get them all onto the page! Occasionally a news story will prompt a new idea to kick things off, but equally, I’m never short of my own material.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? No, although my values and opinions may sneak in at times.

If you write nonfiction, tell me about your projects. What subjects motivate you? I write non-fiction text books about my specialist area of knowledge: training dressage horses.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? When I began my writing career I was a true pantser—writing ‘by the seat of my pants’ with no idea where the plot was going, but these days I do a vague outline, laying out the start and finish, with a bit of the middle, plus my characters’ motivations and story arcs (how they will change during the story). For me, part of the enjoyment of writing is being surprised by what a character does, and where the story leads, so I don’t like to be too detailed before I begin.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I do all my own editing, although these days I’m pretty good at producing a fairly clean first draft that needs only some minor tweaks. For advice on this I rely on my awesome writers’ group: we’ve been working together for 30 years! Most of us are published in one form or another, so we expect nothing less than professional work from each other, and we are very good at critiquing positively, and discussing how to solve plot and character issues. 

Once a story has been though the group and I’ve made any changes they think necessary, I send it to a handful of beta readers for final opinions, which might result in some small changes in emphasis and copyedits but no major adjustments.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? Oh yes! I am no artist, and having an awesomely attractive book cover is one of the most important things every author needs. I use Ravven – Book Cover Art and Design

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? The Prince’s Heir is part of a series, so follows the series pattern of relating to more than one character in each book.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. Back when I began, the only route (apart from vanity publishing) was with a traditional publisher. I was fortunate to be taken on by the first U.S. agent I approached, who sent the book to the (then) Big Six publishers. It took 6 months to get all the responses back, and they all loved my writing style, but the book wasn’t a fresh enough concept for them, so they all passed. In the meantime, I had approached a UK publisher directly with a proposal for a non-fiction text (on horse training) which they took. I have published 2 books with them and have a third coming out this year.

When indie publishing became a practical option, I published my first novel myself, and continue happily with that route for my fiction.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? I run an annual price promotion over Christmas each year with paid ads, and in between I blog on my own site, and do guest blogs such as this one.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I have done a few, but I’m not a natural at small talk, or at attracting people to come and talk with me, so I’m not overly successful unless I’m selling to people who are already fans.

Have you taken writing courses? No

Do you belong to a writers’ group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. Yes, we meet once a month, in person before Covid, and now on Zoom. Doing the meetings online has enabled a few former members who moved away to rejoin.

Are you in a book club? No

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? No

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss, California Demon by Debra Dunbar, The Author Estate Handbook by M.L. Ronn.

What is the last book you read? The Palace of Lost Memories by C.J. Archer

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? As long as it needs to be to tell the story!

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I took myself and my best horse abroad to compete at an international show in Spain with no idea how we were going to get home again!

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Made the decision to put my best ever wonderful horse partner to sleep when he developed a mystery illness. It proved to be the right choice as a post mortem revealed kidney cancer.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Read widely, both good and bad, and particularly in the genre you intend writing in, then figure out why some books work well, and others don’t.

Website and social media links:
Website: deborahjayauthor.com
Facebook: @DeborahJay
Twitter: @DeborahJay2
Pinterest: @debbylush
Goodreads: Deborah Jay
Amazon author page: Deborah Jay

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Who’s That Indie Author? Debra Purdy Kong

Debra Purdy Kong

Name: Debra Purdy Kong

Books: Casey Holland mystery series: The Opposite of Dark, Deadly Accusations, Beneath the Bleak New Moon, The Deep End, Knock Knock, The Blade Man, A Gold Satin Murder

Genre: Crime Fiction

Background: I live near Vancouver, British Columbia and I’m the author of eleven mystery novels (three of them are out of print). After many years spent learning the craft of writing and the business side of things (I’m still learning), I now mentor newer writers through workshops offered by my local community center.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? In 1979 I spent a year travelling alone through Europe and working as a legal secretary in London, England. I wrote a lot of letters home, kept a journal, and began writing my first short stories to fill my evenings. I wound up with a roommate who encouraged me to keep writing. By the time I came home, I knew I wanted to write fiction for the rest of my life.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? For most of my adult life, I’ve either raised kids, volunteered, and/or worked part-time at various jobs. It was never my goal to write full-time, since much of my inspiration comes from getting out in the world and doing things. As a retiree, I still don’t write full time, although I now devote a fair chunk of my days to marketing and promotion, blogging, and book reviewing. I also have two young granddaughters whom I love to spend time with.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? My ideas come from real-life crime stories happening here in Vancouver and other parts of Canada. Some ideas are also inspired by my experiences. For example, my fourth book, The Deep End, is largely set in a youth detention center, so I relied heavily on my volunteer experiences when I was a criminology student. I’m so glad I kept journals back then.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I can’t say that I’ve ever written myself into a story, but when I first started writing the Casey Holland series many years ago, Casey and I shared some traits. My character hasn’t aged the way I have, and I find that we have less in common. I did use my work experience as a security and communications officer to create the character of Casey. She’s a transit security guard and I worked security on campuses, however, the basic training would have been the same.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. Like many authors, my publication journey has been a roller coaster, starting with two agents I worked with on two series. When that didn’t pan out, I eventually found a small press to publish the first four books in my Casey Holland series. But the publisher decided to cut a number of authors, so I self-published the following three books. I’ve also worked with another small press who published two of my novellas until health issues forced the publisher to shut down. With the fantasy I’m currently working on, I might try the agent route again, well aware that the odds are long and that it’ll take patience.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? My promotion strategy is fairly straightforward. First, I connect with local writers and do both online and in-person events with them such as readings, launches, book signings, or workshops. I find that working with others is much more fun. I also connect with the rest of the world through my blog, newsletter, and social media. Book promotion sites that are recommended by marketing guru David Gaughran have also proven to be helpful. One of these days, I’ll learn how to properly advertise on Facebook and Amazon.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I’ve had several book signings, one at a library, others at community centers, and virtually. My favorite and first launch was held in my home one autumn evening. We had food, wine, and lots of laughter. I loved It, as did my guests, so maybe it’ll happen again some time.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience I’ve belonged to at least three writers’ groups over the years, but my current group is a small online group I formed when Covid restrictions kept us all at home. I chose three people I already knew through creative writing workshops. I chose them for their commitment to writing, their willingness to give honest feedback, and because I thought we’d work well together. It’s been amazing.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Three unread books on my shelf are Playing the Long Game, which is a memoir of Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner, and The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I’ve actually started that one.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? One of the hardest things I’ve ever done is watch my mother go through dementia and then pancreatic cancer. On the writing front, the hardest thing I ever did was write my grandfather’s eulogy, as requested by my aunts. They were quite the editors, but in the end they were happy with the piece.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? First, practice writing as much as you can. One good way is to keep a journal. Also, read all types of books, including how-to books on writing. Take courses and workshops. You’re not going to get it right the first time, or even the second or third, but if you focus on just one thing, you’ll make progress. Second, connect with other writers in your community. One good source are libraries some of which host book clubs, writers’ groups, and writing-related events. Attend events either online or in person. Third, take care of yourself physically and emotionally. The writing life isn’t a sprint but a marathon filled with twists and turns that you can’t control. Writers can let self-doubt paralyze them. Negative self-talk is inevitable but see it for what it is and carry on. The journey is everything, not the endgame.

Website and social media links:
Website: debrapurdykong.com
Twitter: @DebraPurdyKong
Facebook: facebook.com/DebraPurdyKongAuthor
Blog: debrapurdykong.wordpress.com
Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/debrapurdykong
Amazon

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Who’s That Indie Author? Priscilla Bettis

Priscilla Bettis

Author Name: Priscilla Bettis

Genre: Horror

Books: The Hay Bale (January 2022), Dog Meat (November 2022)

Bio: Priscilla Bettis is an avid horror reader and passionate horror author. She’s also an excellent swimmer, which is good because vampires are terrible swimmers. Priscilla shares a home in the Northern Plains of Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members.

What got you started as a writer? I read The Exorcist when I was ten (I know, right?!). It lit up my emotions and left a powerful impression. I had no idea until then that books could do that. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a novelist when I grew up.

What is your writing routine? In the summer, I go for a jog at first light before the heat hits (and the heat hits hard in Texas). Then I write. In the winter, I get up at 4:50 in the morning and write in the dark silence, then go for a jog. Exercise is an important part of my writing routine. While I’m exercising, I let my mind wander through “what if” possibilities in my stories.

What route did you take to get your books published? The Hay Bale was self-published.  For Dog Meat, I shopped the manuscript around to small-press publishers, and Potter’s Grove Press picked it up.

What things do you do to promote your books? I have a blog and talk about my writing there. I also sent ARC’s of Dog Meat to horror YouTubers I follow. And I Tweet.

What is your favorite genre to read and why? Horror, which makes sense because that’s what I write. But I also enjoy a good mystery, a wee bit of fantasy and science fiction and poetry, and a good nonfiction book on religion, physiology, neurology.

Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? Description for sure. It’s fun to add a poetic turn of phrase to a prose passage, but it’d sound awkward to do that in typical dialogue.

Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Did this change the plot of your book? Oh, how I wanted the preacher in The Hay Bale to be a sweet, small-town pastor, but he just refused. It definitely affected the plot!

What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? Getting through the first year of motherhood. Those sleepless nights and the days when baby cried and I didn’t know why nearly made me pull my hair out! Motherhood is not for wimps!

What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life? 1) Rob VanSlyke, my childhood swim coach who was the first adult to take me seriously when I said I wanted to be a novelist. 2) Jesus. 3) The hubster who “gets” me.

What would you tell your younger self? You can’t please everyone. Be polite, but be firm, and decline whatever non-you thing they want you to do or be.

Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? I have met up with bears. (I grew up in Alaska.) In fact, I have a vampire novelette coming out soon (it’s still very hush-hush) that includes real-life incidents. (Haha, not the vampire part, that isn’t real! But the grizzly bear and hypothermia incidents are.)

You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop-Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? Doritos have no chocolate. Fudge Pop-Tarts don’t have enough chocolate to count. That leaves Snickers, and the nuts are a bonus… because nuts-n-chocolate!

What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? Twelve wonderful, loving people… it was overwhelming! I really should write a horror story about it.:-)

Closing thoughts: Thanks for this chat, Barbara. I enjoyed it!

Website and social media links:
Blog: priscillabettisauthor.com
Twitter: @PriscillaBettis
Amazon author page: Priscilla Bettis

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Who’s That Indie Author? J.Q. Rose

J.Q. Rose

Author Name: J.Q. Rose

Genre: Mystery, Nonfiction, Memoir

Books: Your Words, Your Life Story; Girls Succeed! Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women; Arranging a Dream: A Memoir; Deadly Undertaking; Dangerous Sanctuary; Terror on Sunshine Boulevard; Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening

Bio: I’ve always been a writer in my heart, but being a mom and making an income were top priorities. I taught third graders until my husband and I decided to pursue our dream of being entrepreneurs in the floral and greenhouse operation. After we sold the shop, I had time to pursue another dream, writing as we traveled full-time in our fifth-wheel camper. 

What got you started as a writer? My mom. She was my second-grade teacher. When I finished my assignment, I’d visit my classmates. My mother was not happy with me for interrupting them in getting their assignments done. She told me to stay at my desk and write stories. So I did. And I guess I never stopped.

What is your writing routine? I set aside time to write every day after lunch. Sometimes it’s research when necessary. At first, it was difficult to sit down and write instead of finishing the laundry or reading a book. Now, if I have to miss my writing time due to an appointment or a meeting, etc., I resent it.

What route did you take to get your books published? After receiving 22 rejections from publishers, I self-published an eBook on Smashwords. I thought I would pull out all my hair before I accomplished this chore in 2010. For my first mystery, I decided to find a publisher after going through the frustration of self-publishing. I queried one who turned me down. I sent the second query to a startup eBook publisher who accepted the book. The publisher said they “liked my voice.” I’ll never forget that. Now I am a hybrid author with self-published nonfiction books and with mysteries and a memoir published by a traditional publisher.

What things do you do to promote your books? Virtual book/ blog tour, book signings and presentations, social media, an author website for blogging, hosting authors and being a guest at their blogs and podcasts. Plus, I publish a quarterly newsletter.

What is your favorite genre to read and why? Historical fiction to learn about 19^th and 20^th-century history.

Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? I love to write dialogue when the characters banter back and forth.

Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Yes, I thought I was writing a character who was so kind and helpful until it turned out she was a manipulator only looking out for herself. Did this change the plot of your book? Yes, she did. For the best, I might add.

What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? I haven’t really accomplished the job of being a mother, but it IS the most difficult challenge I’ve ever had and can still be today! I think one is always a mother even if the kid is old enough to collect social security. Grandmothering is so much more fun…

What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life? My Grandmother, Maw, really encouraged me to be a writer. My husband, Ted, has led us on a life of adventure and worldwide experiences. My friend, Bernie, instilled in me to be the best floral designer I could be and a businesswoman of integrity.

What would you tell your younger self? Stop spinning my wheels. Realize there are times when there is nothing I can do about a situation.

Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? I have never met a bear on a hike; however, I have been in places with warnings that bears are in the area and read the posted signs that say “do not run.” To follow their advice seems impossible to me. I love to see bears but from the inside of the tour bus. 

You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? Snickers! What a treat to have loads of library books to read while munching a Snickers bar!

What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? Actually helping in the kitchen? Probably 3. But sitting at the breakfast counter or standing in the way e.g. in front of the refrigerator? Probably 10.

Closing thoughts: Thank you for the opportunity to be a guest on your series, Who’s That Indie Author? To the readers, thank you for stopping in today. I look forward to reading your comments and answering questions you have about writing. Please, keep in touch via the links below.

Website and social media links: 
Blog: Focused on Story
Facebook: J. Q. Rose, Author
Amazon Author: JQ Rose

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First Novels by Famous Authors

Who’s that man in the picture?

Yesterday I had the idea to make a list of the first novels written by a few famous authors. Once I got started, however, I didn’t know where to stop! And then I went down the rabbit hole of reading about many of the authors’ lives. Some have led troubled and tragic lives (like the Brontë sisters) and some have lived happily well into their 90s. And some are just getting started.

Looking back, it was interesting to see what was being written during the same time frame. I’ve always liked imagining authors together in the same room, like the salons that Gertrude Stein used to host in Paris.

 I have read some of these firsts and the linked titles are ones I’ve reviewed on my blog. The thing is, we don’t always read the firsts, do we?

I decided to limit it to adult novels, so no plays, essays, poetry, short story collections or children’s or young adult books. I tried to mix the literary type writers with popular fiction writers, like James Patterson, John Grisham, Stephen King and others.

19th Century

• Charles Dickens: The Pickwick Papers (1836-37)
• Fyodor Dostoevsky: Poor Folk (1845)
• Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights (1847) – read in college
• Anne Brontë: Agnes Grey (1847)
• Wilkie Collins: Basil (1851)
• Gustave Flaubert: Madame Bovary (1857)
• Charlotte Brontë: The Professor (published posthumously 1857)
• Mark Twain: The Innocents Abroad (1869)
• Thomas Hardy: Desperate Remedies (1871)

20th Century

• Edith Wharton: The Valley of Decision (1902)
• P. G. Wodehouse: The Pothunters (1902)
• Eleanor H. Porter: The Turn of the Tide (1908)
• D. H. Lawrence: The White Peacock (1911)
• Virginia Woolf: The Voyage Out (1915)
• Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis (1915) – read in college
• James Joyce: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)
• Agatha Christie: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
• F. Scott Fitzgerald: This Side of Paradise (1920)
• Erich Maria Remarque: The Dream Room (1920)
• Aldous Huxley: Crome Yellow (1920)
• Ernest Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises (1926)
• William Faulkner: Soldier’s Pay (1926)
• Margaret Mitchell: Gone with the Wind (1926)
• Graham Greene: The Man Within (1929)
• John Steinbeck: Cup of Gold (1929)
• Daphne du Maurier: The Loving Spirit (1931)
• George Orwell: Burmese Days (1934)
• John O’Hara: Appointment in Samarra (1934)
• Ayn Rand: We the Living (1936)
• J. R. R. Tolkien: The Hobbit (1937) – read in high school
• Jean-Paul Sartre: Nausea (1938)
• Albert Camus: The Stranger (1942) – read in college
• Jack Kerouac: The Sea Is My Brother (1942)
• Truman Capote: Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948)
• Doris Lessing: The Grass Is Singing (1949)
• Isaac Asimov: Pebble in the Sky (1950)
• J. D. Salinger: The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
• Kurt Vonnegut: Player Piano (1952)
• James Baldwin: Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953)
• Leon Uris: Battle Cry (1953)
• Ian Fleming: Casino Royale (1953)
• William S. Burroughs: Junky (1953)
• Philip K. Dick: Solar Lottery/World of Chance (1955)
• Herman Wouk: Marjorie Morningstar (1955) – read in the 90s
• Gabriel García Márquez: Leaf Storm (1955)
• John Updike: The Poorhouse Fair (1958)
• Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (1960)
• Philip Roth: Letting Go (1962)
• Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar (1963, her only novel) – read in my 20s
• Susan Sontag: The Benefactor (1963)
• Anne Tyler: If Morning Ever Comes (1964)
• Cormac McCarthy: The Orchard Keeper (1965)
• Margaret Atwood: The Edible Woman (1969)
• Sidney Sheldon: The Naked Face (1969)
• Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye (1970) – read in the 90s
• Charles Bukowski: Post Office (1971)
• Stephen King: Carrie (1974)
• Salman Rushdie: Grimus (1975)
• Anne Rice: Interview with the Vampire (1976)
• James Patterson: The Thomas Berryman Number (1976)
• Judith Krantz: Scruples (1978)
• Ian McEwan: The Cement Garden (1978)
• Haruki Murakami: Hear We the Wind (1979)
• Marilynne Robinson: Housekeeping (1980)
• Isabel Allende: The House of Spirits (1982)
• Kazuo Ishiguro: A Pale View of Hills (1982)
• Hilary Mantel: Every Day is Mother’s Day (1985)
• Scott Turow: Presumed Innocent (1987)
• David Foster Wallace: The Broom of the System (1987)
• Michael Chabon: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (1988)
• Alan Hollinghurst: The Swimming Pool Library (1988)
• Jonathan Franzen: The Twenty-seventh City (1988)
• W. G. Sebald: After Nature (1988)
• Chris Bohjalian: A Killing in the Real World (1988)
• Amy Tan: The Joy Luck Club (1989) – read in the 90s
• John Grisham: A Time to Kill (1989) – read in the 90s
• Neil Gaiman: Good Omens (1990)
• Harlan Coben: Play Dead (1990)
• Elena Ferrante: Molesto (1992)
• Ann Patchett: The Patron Saint of Liars (1992)
• Michael Connelly: The Black Echo (1992)
• Anne Enright: The Wig My Father Wore (1995)
• Kate Atkinson: Behind the Scenes at the Museum (1995)
• Jennifer Egan: The Invisible Circus (1995)
• George Saunders: CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (1996)
• Elizabeth Strout: Amy and Isabel (1998)
• David Mitchell: Ghostwritten (1999)
• Markus Zusak: The Underdog (1999)
• Colson Whitehead: The Intuitionist (1999)

21st Century

• Zadie Smith: White Teeth (2000)
• Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner (2003) – read in 2003
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Purple Hibiscus (2003)
• Anthony Doerr: About Grace (2004)
• Louise Penny: Still Life (2005)
• Tana French: In the Woods (2007)
• Amor Towles: Rules of Civility (2011)
• Taylor Jenkins Reid: Forever, Interrupted (2013)
• Ruth Ware: In a Dark, Dark Wood (2015)
• Paula Hawkins: The Girl on the Train (2015)
• Sally Rooney: Conversations with Friends (2017)
• Tommy Orange: There There (2018)
• Delia Owens: Where the Crawdads Sing (2019)

Trivia Quiz

What famous author is in the top picture?

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What newer authors will stand the test of time? Are any authors from the 90s to present at the same level as Dickens, the Brontës, Hemingway or Fitzgerald and many others? I think so. Drop some names in the comments!

Thanks for visiting – come back soon!

Share your news on Book Club Mom’s Author Update

Hi Everyone, I had an email incident last week and lost some replies to this post. If you emailed me about being featured and you haven’t heard back, can you email me again? Thank you!

Are you working on a new or your very first book? Have you won an award or a writing contest? Did you just update your website? Maybe you just want to tell readers about an experience you’ve had. Book Club Mom’s Author Update is a great way to share news and information about you and your books.

Email Book Club Mom at bvitelli2009@gmail.com for more information.

Open to all authors – self-published, indie, hybrid and anything in between.

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Who’s That Indie Author? Jacqueline Church Simonds

Jacqueline Church Simonds

Author Name: Jacqueline Church Simonds

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Books: The Heirs to Camelot series: The Priestess of Camelot (prequel); The Midsummer Wife (Book 1); The Solstice Bride (Book 2); Mistress of the Rose Moon (Book 3)

Bio: I have been writing for as long as I’ve been able to hold a pencil. Along the way, I have been everything from a lady’s companion, to a salesperson, to a rock band roadie, to a publishing consultant. Somewhere in there, I’ve written six books and ghostwritten an additional seven to eight.

What got you started as a writer? I always told myself stories. One day, my mom suggested I write them down. It took until I was forty to actually write a novel. (I have been a professional editor, so I was always in words.)

What is your writing routine? What’s that? Seriously, I write when/as/if I have time.

What route did you take to get your books published? I self-published my first book, Captain Mary, Buccaneer (I sold all three thousand copies and foreign rights to Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori). For this series, I went with a small press.

What things do you do to promote your books? I’ve done newspaper/radio/TV interviews, podcasts, website interviews and guest hosting, signings at bookstores/libraries/author events, a table at a garage sale, and a local convention.

What is your favorite genre to read and why? I read a lot of sci-fi, but I’ll read anything not nailed down. I post my quick Book Takes on my website.

Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? I often write a lengthy description, then turn it into dialogue because it reads better.

Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Did this change the plot of your book? Ava, the main character of my series, totally surprised me in the first book. In the first draft, I felt she was sort of lifeless. A fellow writer suggested I try writing in first person, so I could “hear” the main character clearly. I discovered Ava suffered from massive anxiety attacks/poor self-esteem/PTSD from a terrible event in her life. Although I went back to third person, it gave me a better handle on how to handle the character.

What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? I had a brain tumor and recovered almost fully from it. It changes the way you think about time and what you are doing here.

What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life? Going back/finishing college in my thirties. Sitting down and writing that first novel. Recovering from brain tumor.

What would you tell your younger self? Own being a writer. Don’t give up because it’s hard and you’ll get no support. Get jobs writing. Write that big book that’s in your head. WRITE, DAMMIT!

Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? I stopped hiking long ago, but the best method for dealing with a bear is: don’t be where there are bears.

You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? I almost went with Doritos, but then I’d get that fake nacho dust on my fingers and I wouldn’t want to leave that on the pages. I guess I’d get a Snickers.

What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? Ten? Last family Christmas at my folks’ place before they sold it. My kitchen is pretty quiet—my Hubbers is the cook and hates anyone else in there until he’s done.

Closing thoughts: I’ve been involved in publishing for twenty-two years. I’ve helped other people get their book babies published and launch their dreams. Indie and self-publishing is a great way to get our work out. We need more readers!

Website and social media links:
Website: www.jcsimonds.com
Facebook: @jacquelinechurchsimonds
Twitter: @jcsimonds (Caution: I am VERY political and this is where I vent.)

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