Jul 10, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Thriller
Today, we’re talking with Bob DeGeorge about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I’m a retired big city cop who now lives in a small town in Texas so I can play cowboy for the rest of my life.
Why do you write?
I always liked reading police drama. With the exception of a very few writers, these stories lacked the little details or, simply got those details wrong, that make a story real. Also, most big city cop stories take place in New York or Los Angeles. San Jose and Silicon Valley have a lot of interesting stories, I know, because I worked there for 27 years. After I retired, I decided to put those stories in a book series.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
My stories come from the real people and real crimes that I have investigated over the years. As I like to say, ‘that’s the way it really was, give or take a lie or two.’
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Writing a police procedural is actually more challenging than living it. But that’s what I like about it. The challenge of not just getting the facts of the investigation right, but getting every detail of the story and the characters correct. And then making sure it is an interesting and exciting story.
How would you describe your writing process?
I am a linear writer. I decide on who and what is going to be investigated and then proceed to follow my characters through their investigation much like investigations unfold in real life, with all the twists and turns and false starts, until the main bad guy is caught.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Being able to connect with your readers all over the world is definitely a plus. My readers can contact me, and I can contact them, either in a large group or one-on-one.
What advice would you have for other writers?
I’m hardly one to give other writers advice since this is my first book, and I’m a newbie myself. In my case, I picked a topic I knew a lot about and worked hard to turn it into an interesting story.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
From the beginning, I knew this was going to be a series, so the titles had to connect. From my days investigating financial crimes, we always said, ‘follow the money.’ So, ‘Follow the Money’, ‘Other Peoples’ Money’, and ‘Where’s the Money’. As far as the book covers go, I hired a professional book cover designer, Tobi Afran, who worked very closely with me to bring the idea of each book to life.
What’s your next step?
Book two is in final editing and will be released in a couple of months. Book three is outlined in my mind, and as soon as I’m done editing book two, I’ll get busy writing it. I will promise three books in the series. If I find an audience that likes my work, there will be more.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
Now that’s a loaded question. If it’s a good review, of course, I feel great. If it’s not so good, I take a deep breath and then see what I can do to fix it. If I’m getting dinged for something technical, I’ll see if I can fix that in the next book. But if a reviewer just doesn’t like my story or my storytelling style, there is not much I can do about that. I guess my book just wasn’t for them.
FIND BOB’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 10, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Mystery, Thriller
Today, we’re talking with Sheila Lowe about her book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am a forensic document examiner. One of my sons is a rock star, the other is a tattoo artist.
Why do you write?
I am compelled to.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
While attending my high school reunion, many classmates asked me to write about a murder at a reunion. So I did.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Getting to understand what motivates the characters to behave the way they do.
How would you describe your writing process?
Haphazard until I finally settle down. Then I loosely outline, never look at the outline again, and work at writing 1000 new words a day. This consists of starting with what I wrote the day before and expanding on it.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Exposure. Apparently, readers like to feel they know the authors they enjoy reading. Wider distribution. It’s a great way to get free PR.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Learn the craft before you start publishing. Leave out most of the adverbs. Understand that even if you have a major publisher, you will be expected to do most of your own marketing. Writing a book is hard. Getting it published is harder. Selling it is the hardest of all.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
My titles are all puns on handwriting (my character is a forensic handwriting expert). The current covers are tied to the locations where the stories take place.
What’s your next step?
Starting to write the fourth book in my other series (Beyond the Veil). Continuing to market MAXIMUM PRESSURE.
What book do you wish you’d written?
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
If it’s a 5 star one, with great pleasure.
FIND SHEILA’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 10, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Advice, Interviews
Today, we’re talking with Diane Magers about her book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I was a clinical psychologist in my early career!
Why do you write?
To help others explore new ideas or ways of thinking.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
The inspiration came from seeing clients and practitioners struggle with experience management as a discipline. We needed a new way forward.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
The impact new thinking about organizations and how they thrive can have on brands and their employees and customers.
How would you describe your writing process?
A compassionate writing process involves understanding the audience’s needs and struggles and tailoring the writing to provide guidance, support, and solutions. It’s about crafting content that resonates with them and helps them overcome challenges, gain insights, and provide practical advice.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Audience engagement, feedback and insights, brand building, generate new ideas on how to grow the ideas to continue our engagement with them.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Define your goal for the book and keep momentum by creating scenarios of how the content and concepts will get used by others.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
A very iterative process to help portray the content, the concepts, and intriguing readers.
What’s your next step?
Crafting supporting materials, workshops, resources, and other useful assets for readers to activate the concepts in the book.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
Love the feedback and hearing what resonates with readers.
FIND DIANE’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Mystery, Sci-fi
Today, we’re talking with James Lance about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I once woke up in a hospital in Spain. I had no idea how I got there.
Why do you write?
To entertain, to help give someone that necessary escape we all need at times. If I can inform and educate on top of that, that’s even better.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
All around me; everything I’ve read, heard people say, seen with my eyes. Many great authors, including Huxley and Pullman, helped along the way.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
It allows you to fully utilise your imagination as long as you follow the rules.
How would you describe your writing process?
Partly hyper-organised and strict, partly chaotic and mad. My sleep pattern agrees!
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
You can reach new fans and establish a following. You’ll find people that like your style and the way you write.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Trite but true: never give up. This is a long game, and you improve every day. Keep going, keep writing. Find an author who inspires you, someone with experience. In my case: Anthony Horowitz, who once told me to be ‘persistent to the point of annoyance’.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
Both the title and cover have to quickly summarise the mood and feel that readers can expect—the story they’re getting involved with before turning a single page. We’ve all seen a book title and cover before, and instinctively, thought: ‘I think this was made for me’.
What’s your next step?
I haven’t taken a holiday in over six years. It’s time to recharge! After that, it’s on to the second book.
What book do you wish you’d written?
The Great Gatsby.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I think: ‘Someone actually read me?’
FIND JAMES’S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Fantasy, Humour, Interviews
Today, we’re talking with Eviatar Avni about his book,
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am a pretty good cook.
Why do you write?
I was thinking about a variety of reasons (like making people laugh, expressing myself and my views, the feeling when someone tells you how much they enjoyed the book, etc.), but the main reason is far more basic: I genuinely enjoy it.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
As a reader, I can’t say I have a favorable genre, but I do love those rare books that make you laugh out loud, and I also enjoy the occasional fantasy. In my list of favorite books, you would find examples of both, such as LOTR, The Princess Bride, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and, of course, Winnie the Pooh.
I thought I’d try to write something that combines my love for humor and fantasy. Into the mix, I also threw my views about the world, current social issues, human absurdities, etc., and the result was this book.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
Well, to begin with, I can’t say fantasy is my genre. However, having said that, what I enjoyed the most about it, in this case, was the freedom to go wild with my imagination. I felt there were no restraints on creating characters or weaving the plot. Another thing I enjoyed very much was inserting modern-day issues (such as women’s rights, equality, new-age ideas, etc.) into a fantasy world.
How would you describe your writing process?
I’ll start with something the late writer Amos Oz once said about writers. A writer, he said, is a person who wakes up in the morning, makes himself a cup of coffee, and starts imagining that he is other people.
Unfortunately, I can’t do just that because I need to go to work after preparing the coffee. However, one thing I did take from that sentence is that writing is imagining, and therefore, it can happen at almost any time. It doesn’t have to happen only when I clear time to sit and write. Just don’t do it while driving; it might get you in trouble.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
I guess mostly exposure, although, to be honest, I am no good when it comes to social media. So perhaps, I am not the one to give any advice on it.
What advice would you have for other writers?
To new writers I would say: Be patient. Writing is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush to try and publish a text before you feel that it is the best version you could write.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I don’t have a good tip in that respect. In my case, the names always came on their own and presented themselves while I was writing the book. It might have been at an early stage or towards the end of the process, but they always showed up. Maybe the secret is to be aware of the need to find a name and be tuned to it while writing. Then, things might pop up – a phrase you used, something a character said, etc.
What’s your next step?
Writing a sequel to ‘Never Trust a Dragon’.
What book do you wish you’d written?
Catch 22
FIND EVIATAR ‘S BOOK ON AMAZON
Jul 9, 2024 | Editors' Blog, Crime, Interviews, Thriller
Today, we’re talking with Chris Fortunato about his book, Deadly Guests
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I coach high school junior varsity girls soccer.
Why do you write?
I don’t know why.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
It is a story collection, so there are many inspirations, all from conflicts in my life.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
With the best stories, you always care about what is going to happen to the protagonist.
How would you describe your writing process?
Slow and laborious.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Nobody cares. Only you. Throw the TV out the window.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
The title should have some relationship to what the story is about. At least for me.
What’s your next step?
Wake up at 3 a.m. and write.
What book do you wish you’d written?
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearn, by Brian Moore.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
If it is a good review, pleased.
FIND CHRIS’ BOOK ON AMAZON
