Bob Brady on Getting Published in 2013

I met Bob through the Yahoo Fantasy Writing group and was intrigued by his choice to move from independent publishing to traditional publishing.  He graciously accepted my request for an interview.

You set out to write a series. Did you seek agency representation or traditional publishing at first, or did you intend to self-publish all along?

At first I did. My first rejection letter was in 1983 from Tor Publishing, where the reviewer actually told me that I was a terrible writer, that I'd never make it and strongly advised me to stick to reading. He was right in that I was terrible at the time. I'd been over-influenced by my professors in college and needed to refocus and relearn.

Right now, it's exceptionally difficult to get picked up as a new author by a publisher. The new idea is to prove yourself on the independent market, and THEN when you can show a following, a publisher will look at you and make a decision as to whether you're marketable or a fluke.

The only alternative to this is to go the awards route. There a such things as Nebula Awards which, if you win them, you're much more likely to get picked up. As far as I'm concerned, though, independent is the way to start.

Can you tell us about circumstances of your initial correspondence with Sky Warrior? Did they approach you or were you continuing to seek traditional publishing?

Robert W. Brady, Jr.

One thing you can rely on is that a good publisher is NEVER going to contact you. If someone comes to you and says, "We think you're our guy," your scam alarm should ring loudly in your head.

When I started to become more popular on Kindle, I started to notice whose books were bought alongside mine (this is a feature in Amazon). What I wanted to do was to go to these authors and offer to review each others' books to cross-increase our popularity. This, by the way, is a VERY viable way to make yourself more popular.

What I noticed was that a lot of these were Sky Warrior published. That's when I went to them and made my case.

Has “signing the contract” changed your self-perception at all?

Yeah - you can barely talk to me now! Just kidding - you have to remember that The Fovean Chronicles is a project I began in 1982, in my first year in college. I've picked it up and put it down a lot. Finally getting representation by someone as qualified as Sky Warrior legitimizes the effort.

What have you found to be the most difficult or challenging aspect of going independent with the books?

There's a belief by more old-school authors that, once you go independent, other publishers won't touch you. That's pretty much untrue. The problem with independent publishing is you're one in a crowd of around 10,000,000. Most of that 10,000,000 is crap and most people know it. You're going to REALLY have to get out there and make your case, get the word out, give people a reason to read you.

Which aspect of self-publishing have you enjoyed the most?

The control. I'm the master of my own fate. If I make a mistake, it's my mistake. If I have successes, those are mine as well.

Did you seek an agent or lawyer to aid in your negotiations?

Most agents aren't interested in you until it's clear you have something they can market to a publisher. They're inundated with manuscripts and authors pleading, "Give mine a chance."

Most lawyers don't know anything about a literary contract, and they'll want to charge you. I'd say go with the lawyer because you won't be able to get the agent, and if you go to an agent contract-in-hand all he/she is really going to do for you is get you to give them around 15% of your profit, which doesn't really help you.

A lawyer is going to be able to tell you about common contract scams that you may not realize. It will likely cost you about $250, which is money well spent.

The Banner on Bob's Website for the Series.

Since your books were already selling, was Sky Warrior more amenable to contract negotiation or was their offer still “industry standard” and rigid?

Sky Warrior was pretty cut and dry, and exceptionally fair, so I was happy to go with what they offered me. I imagine if I wanted to press for more control on cover art, I could have gotten it.

What pushed you over the edge to sign with Sky Warrior?

I was getting ready to drop a lot of money on publicity. What it would cost me to break in has already been achieved by Sky Warrior, so it made monetary sense. They'll take me places that I'd have to spend a lot of money to go, and get me there faster.

Will Sky Warrior be publishing all of your existing books? Any guarantees or special considerations for you future books?

I have a deal with them for the whole Fovean Chronicles series, about 1/2 of which is in rewrite now. When they take over in January, I'll have four books done, two in rewrite and two unwritten. I'll deliver on the unwritten this year or this and next.

I'm already laying out another series which isn't covered by Sky Warrior, but I'll be giving them first crack at it.

What has been your biggest surprise since the day you decided to publish?

I think I'm surprised at how popular the series is becoming, all on its own. Word actually did get around about it. I'm waiting to see what happens when someone who knows what they're doing takes the reins.

What recommendations do you have for aspiring authors?

I think most people know by now that if any deal sounds too good, it is. Also, I think that the word is out that no one legitimate wants your money in this industry. An agent or a publisher who "needs you to participate" monetarily will never get you off the ground. They'll just take as much of your money as they can get, and you'll never get anywhere.

You want to be careful signing a contract. A lot of people are "willing to take a chance" with a smaller publisher. Smaller publishers fail right alongside of new writers and for the same reasons, however when your signature is on their contract and they owe money to the world, your work is their asset and you can end up unable to do anything with your own writing for years.

On the other hand, one person who did this was JK Rowling, and that turned out pretty good for her.

If you're not getting picked up by someone who's been around a while, have a serious discussion with them about why they're going to make it, and why you're going to get onboard with them. Getting you off of the ground is at least a $30,000 investment - are they borrowing this, did they hit the Lotto or are they already representing a few gold-mine authors who are bringing in the revenue to cover you? Or are they going to do a lot of stuff you could do yourself, but then take 2/3 of the money they make?

If you don't get the answers you like, don't sign, no matter how badly you want to.

Tell us about the books themselves.

Your Introduction to Fovea

The Fovean Chronicles are the story of a man from our world, cultivated by the dying shards of the god Anubis to be the instrument of a god named War, in another reality where magic is real and has supplanted technology. The main character is Randy Morden, a dishonorably discharged Navy Nuclear propulsion technician who always loved history. He's big, he's mean and he's got a bad temper that tends to get him into trouble.

As the instrument of the god War in a strange land, he can speak to his god. He has no faith, he has proof - this changes how he deals with the world around him, and what he'll do to succeed in War's plans for him. He doesn't live in a world of 'what if?', he lives in a world of 'or else.'

I didn't want to create a superhero or an anti-hero, I wanted to create a man, give him a couple advantages and a lot of disadvantages, and cut him loose on Fovea.

The first two books are from Randy's perspective, the second two are from the perspective of everyone else who has to deal with him. Then there is 'The Intermission,' which is three short books which occur at the same time, and then there will be a final book which ties the whole thing up.

Can we still get them? Where? For how long? Etc.

You can still buy the books on Amazon and Kindle. The website for the series is http://www.swordsandsorcery.net . By the way, it doesn't hurt me AT ALL that I was able to buy that site a few years ago.

August is Awesome Because of Kyra Lennon

Now just how awesome does one have to be to have two covers for their debut novel?  You have to be at least as awesome as Kyra!  

Give Kyra a great big Strands of Pattern welcome!  

Game On, Kyra!

When I first realized I wanted to be a writer, I wanted what every writer wants in the beginning. A contract with a top publisher, and to see my books in the shops amongst the books of the writers I admire. I can’t say I’ve given up on that dream, but what I can say is that self-publishing seemed like the right choice for me at this time. Here’s why.

I’m impatient. When I was naïve about how the publishing industry works, I thought it was fairly simple and quick. Once someone snapped up your book, it’ll be published within a few months, right? Ha ha, how stupid of me! The reality is, it takes a lot, lot longer than that and my first novel, Game On, had already been sitting around in my laptop for six years! I figured, why leave it any longer when I can just as easily do it myself, right now?

Kyra Lennon is Awesome!

Another reason for choosing to self-publish was keeping control of the story and everything that goes with it. I talked to a lot of self-published authors, and several traditionally published authors, and most of them agreed that giving up some of the control was something they didn’t really like. We’re not talking petty fights over small edits, but being asked to change bigger parts of the story, and having no say over cover design. Those are just a couple of examples. I weighed up all the options in my mind, and decided that because this story means so much to me, I wasn’t entirely willing to compromise on the way it plays out.

Finally, I was tired of being asked, “Oh, you’re a writer? Do you have anything published?” I don’t usually bow to pressure, but I wasn’t keen on the pitying looks when I told people I didn’t have a book out yet. Book or not, a writer is what I am, but to people who don’t understand, I was basically just “unemployed” and “messing around on the internet all day, “ neither of which is true at all. So, I caved. It was in no way the biggest factor in my decision, but I can’t deny, it did have a small part to play.

Kyra's Debut Novel (Cover #1)

I am pretty sure that at some point in the future, I’ll dip my toe in the querying waters, because I don’t think I’ll feel like a real writer until I get my first rejection letter! But for now, self-publishing is definitely the right choice for me.

Visit Kyra at her blog Write Here Write Now and...

Get your copy of "Game On" at:
Amazon Kindle version

Amazon.com Paperback

Amazon UK Kindle version

Amazon UK Paperback

Smashwords

Kyra's Debut Novel (Cover #2)

Game On Synopsis

After swapping her small town life to work for one of the top soccer teams in the U.S, Leah Walker thought she could finally leave the ghosts of her past behind. However, when she meets serial womanizer, Radleigh McCoy, the memories of her old life come swarming back, and she is forced to ask herself whether she has really changed at all.




Yeah, I know Kyra likes the original cover, but I've got to admit...  Those are some nice legs!!  {:-D

August is Awesome Because of Peggy Eddleman

Peggy Eddleman has been deep into edits that are due today!  Even with such important work on her plate (along with the cookies) she still took time to encourage others by providing this insightful and heartening message.  I call that awesome.

I've watched (on Brandon Sanderson's blog) this awesome soul speak to a group of his students.  Yes, she is just plain awesome, whether she charges you any cookies or not. 

A big welcome to an awesome cookie lover!

A few months ago, I was presenting at a school and one of the teachers (was also a writer) asked me how I kept strong in my desire to be published when the times got hard.

It was such a great question! I sputtered for a few minutes, trying to think how to answer. The answer is probably a little different for everyone, but I think I figured out what kept my desire strong.

Books (rudecactus.com) / CC BY 3.0

First, that I was 100% sure this was what I wanted to do. If I’d have only been half sure, and this writing thing was just something that I was trying out to see if it fit, I probably would’ve decided that maybe it didn’t fit when things got hard. At first I wasn’t at 100%, of course. I started simply because it was fun. And then I wondered if maybe I could get good enough to be published, and whether or not that’s what I actually wanted.

Once I made the decision that I would work as hard as I could and never give up, I let everyone know my goal.

Scary, I know!

But guess what? When the people you care about know what your goal is, it makes it a lot easier to stay 100% dedicated. I mean, who wants to tell anyone when they ask, “Oh, yeah. That? It um, got hard, so I decided to quit.” I’m pretty sure no one.

Second, I think most people would agree that one of the hardest parts of this business is that blasted querying! And that is when you REALLY need to keep your desire to be in this business strong, because it can be the easiest time to give up. So how do you stay strong then?

The most important thing is to KNOW that your book rocks. Because the thing about querying is, it will make you feel like your book stinks. You need to have solid knowledge that it doesn’t! (Not sure that it rocks? Think about spending time revising some more until you know that it does. If you’re not sure that it rocks, there’s a good chance that when those rejections roll in, you’ll give up on it much too quickly.)

So how can you keep that knowledge that your book is incredible beyond incredibleness when evidence starts piling up to the contrary?

Tell yourself whatever you need to about why an agent sent you a form rejection. The book wasn’t their style— writing is subjective, right? They loved it, but don’t have the contacts to sell it. They loved it, but have a client with a very similar book (which, fyi, will keep an agent from signing you, even if your book knocked their socks off). Whatever you need to tell yourself to not fall into the trap of thinking the reason they gave you a rejection is because your book stinks.

If you get feedback from an agent on your submissions, just remember— they wouldn’t have spent the time to send them IF THEY DIDN’T THINK YOUR BOOK HAD A CHANCE. Even if they didn’t request a revise and resubmit, view feedback as a shiny gold star on your forehead.

If that doesn’t work, re-read the praise your critique partners gave you on the book.

And if all else fails, re-read your book. It’ll remind you of its awesomeness all on its own.

What do you do to keep a strong desire to become published when things get really hard?
 

Peggy Eddleman is awesome!

About Peggy Eddleman:

Peggy Eddleman is the author of the middle grade post-apocalyptic adventure THROUGH THE BOMB'S BREATH, to be published by Random House in Fall 2013. She lives at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains with her three hilarious and fun kids (two sons and a daughter), and her incredibly supportive husband. Besides writing, Peggy loves playing games with her family, making dinner, reading to her kids, toilet papering friends’ houses, doing cartwheels in long hallways, trying new restaurants, and occasionally painting murals on walls.


  

Connect with Peggy at:
Her blog: Will Write for Cookies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeggyEddleman
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/peggy.eddleman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13411048-through-the-bomb-s-breath

Interview with "Daughter of Hauk" author, KateMarie Collins

Strands Of Pattern welcomes KateMarie Collins who is no doubt still happy dancing over her newly published debut novel.  She dropped by to tell us a little about her book, herself and more.  Please welcome KateMarie. 

The obvious first question: What's Daughter of Hauk about?

Redemption, accountability, forgiveness.  The main character, Arwenna, has been set up to help a demon lord gain a foothold in her world.  Only she doesn’t know it until she’s executed and memories that had been hidden from her for most of her life come through.  She’s able to return and tries to stop the very thing she helped let loose onto the world.

And for those of us who find this tantalizing, when and where can we get it?

It’s available for sale via my publisher’s (Solstice Publishing) website, and also on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.

• Solstice Publishing
• PDF Version
• Kindle Version
• Nook Version 

Is there a sequel in the future?

I’m still on the first draft of the sequel, but it is in the works.

What inspired you to write this story?

Many of the characters originated in a Dungeons and Dragons game that ended badly.  My character from that game, Arwenna, was resurrected in a different game.  There wasn’t any way to describe what happened in the game itself, so I wrote a short story about it and sent it off to my friends.  Everyone, including me, started wondering about what happened next.  Two and a half months later, the first draft was finished.

What about this book did you find most unsettling or difficult, and how did you come to terms with it?

Some of the things that happen to Arwenna that she can’t prevent weren’t easy to write.  Not necessarily because it was hard to describe, but because I’d been in similar situations in my life.  While therapeutic in some ways, it wasn’t easy to do to the character.

Considering everything you've endured working on this project, from idea germination to publishing, would you do it all again?

Absolutely.  The highs of getting a scene just right, having a contract offered to you, seeing your cover art for the first time, are all infinitely more satisfying than any of the lows were.  Sure, I got turned down by publishers before Solstice said yes.  But I’d rather keep working towards the yes than give up.

If Daughter of Hauk were made into a movie, who would you cast for the primary roles?

Arwenna – Ashley Green

Hauk – Liam Neeson

Senyan – Tom Felton

Joss – Taylor Kitsch

Barek – Jason Momoa

Lexi – Emma Watson

Bohrs – Johnny Depp

Y’Durkie – Jennifer Garner

Keep in mind, this is very much a dream cast.  Some of the characters have some quirks about them that may only be found during casting…and in unlikely people.

What other writing have you done and where can we find it?

I’ve had short stories in both issues of Winters Night magazine and in the first three issues of LQQK magazine.  I’d like to continue working with LQQK magazine as time allows, as the staff is wonderful.

Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

I’ve got three different novels in various stages of a first draft.  One is the sequel to ‘Daughter of Hauk’, the second is more of a YA fantasy novel, and the third is an expansion on a story that appeared in the first issue of Winters Night.

Is there a book you'd love to write, but know you never will?  If so, tell us about it.

I like a good mystery, but I doubt I’d ever write one.  You really need to have a clear idea of not only who did it, but why and where to put out a clue or a red herring for the detective (reader) to follow.  I’m simply not that well organized.

Are you a "discovery writer" or an "outliner" (or somewhere in the middle?)

I write by the seat of my pants.  I have a starting point and an ending in mind and have great fun finding out what’s going to happen in between.  I live for a ‘what if’ moment that can take the story into a completely new direction.  I had someone compliment me on being able to hide and reveal things to my reader at just the right time.  When you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen on the next page, it makes it easier for the reader to remain in the dark as well.
 

Which authors do you most admire and does it show in your writing?

I loved David Eddings and the way he inserted a sense of reality/normality into his characters.  They actually behaved and talked like most people, stressed over being in positions to do great things, and doubted they could.  Nick Pollotta is another of my favorite writers.  He injects a tremendous sense of humor into his writing.  He’s one of the few authors that will make me laugh aloud.

As an author, what is the legacy for which you'd most like to be remembered?

As an author who created stories you remember, characters that stay with you.

 

And as an individual?

That I faced my own fears and self doubt and didn’t give up after the first rejection.

Can you reveal a "secret" about yourself that almost no one else knows?

I’m a terrible critic of my writing and would stop every third word to correct something if I watched myself type.  To combat this, I type with my eyes closed and let my fingers find the words for the picture in my head.  I write about 90% of my stories this way.

Favorites:

•   Color:  Jewel tones, anything but pastels
•   Number:  112595 (no, I’m not explaining why)
•   Season:  I don’t think I have a favorite season, but I’m most comfortable on an overcast day, slight breeze, around 65 for a high.
•   Food and/or beverage:  Stuffed mushrooms, spiced cider
•   Song:  “Into the West” from LOTR: RotK by Annie Lennox
•   Movie:  LOTR trilogy.  Especially the last one. 
•   Book:  Anything by Nick Pollotta, David Eddings, Patricia Kennelly Morrison, or Stephen Boyett.

What advice do you have for writers who want to see their work published?

Don’t give up.  Polish left and right.  Find friends you know will actually tell you the truth (over saying “it’s great” when it’s not) to give you feedback.  Be patient.  The internet has made submissions easier, but it still takes time.  Be polite.  Yes, it may be 6 weeks past the initial ‘we’ll get back to you’ date, but you should still be nice when you inquire where your manuscript is in the queue.

Do you have a blog, website, twitter-feed, etc. where your fan base can learn all you're willing to share?

I’ve got a Facebook Fan Page that I keep updated with blog interviews, appearances, and such. 
On Twitter, I’m @DaughterHauk.  I just got started with it, though, so it’ll be a while before I update it as often as I do Facebook. 
I have a brand new Blog: KateMarieCollins 
You can also request a Kindlegraph from me!

So everyone, now that you have (hopefully) filed those dreaded tax forms and (hopefully) have a refund coming, consider taking a few bucks of it and adding KateMarie's Daughter of Hauk to your reading queue. And be sure to drop her a note in the comments!