Sunday, February 26, 2017
Saturday, February 25, 2017
IndieView with Chris Gerrib, author of The Night Watch
Writing is an art, publishing is a business. Never confuse the two.
Chris Gerrib – 25 February 2017
The Back Flap
In the chaotic and crime-ridden settlement of Boxtown on Mars, Minty Storey witnesses a bar fight she has no idea will change the course of her life.
Halfway across the planet, Janet Pilgrim and the Volunteer Space Rescue Service struggle to do something about the pirate menace on the spaceways between Earth and Mars.
But the problems both face are much bigger than pirates and bar fights. When a leader of Earth's Manifest Destiny movement makes an appearance on Mars, events begin to roll to a climax that will hold the fate of the planet in the balance.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Night Watch is really about three things. First, the concept of vengeance and how that's not such a good life goal. That's the personal level of the story. Second, how governments develop and what their appropriate roles in society should be. Third, how society abhors a vacuum. If there is an area with people but no societal structure, a social structure will develop.
When did you start writing the book?
I started and finished it in 2014, while I was marketing the previous book in the series, Pirates of Mars.
How long did it take you to write it?
Some books take forever. This one took a matter of months.
Where did you get the idea from?
They were logical outgrowths of the previous book in the series. If one starts out fighting pirates, logically one has to follow up and continue, because the pirates come gunning for you. In the previous book, I had created a "Big Bad" organization that had been defeated but not destroyed. It was only logical that they'd come back again. Finally, on the personal side, I decided to kill off a major character, which brought the vengeance aspects in.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
This was a surprisingly easy book to write. The biggest struggle was just finding time to write it!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I've borrowed names of people I know, and in one instance a physical description. But in general, I've kept this as fictional as possible. That's if only because I don't know any real pirates!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
You can't write science fiction if you haven't read Robert Heinlein. His influence on me has been a contrary one – Heinlein stories famously star "competent men." I write ordinary men (and women) because they're much more interesting. Of modern writers, I find John Scalzi most influential. I like his voice and his smart-ass characters.
Do you have a target reader?
Other than "not a kid" no, not really.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I am very much of a "pantser" (write by the seat of my pants). If I have a process at all it's to just keep writing.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outlined my first two books, although I abandoned the outline of the second about halfway through the writing. Now I just wing it.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?
I'll usually edit what I wrote in the last session to get caught up with the action, then push on. Somebody told me (and they're dead right) that you can't do anything with an unfinished manuscript, so your first priority has to be Finish The Book.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, I'm a peace and quiet kind of writer.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Not this book, as it's the completion of an indie-published series, but in general yes I have.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I didn't want to pay for editing and cover art, so that meant no self-publishing, and I didn't get an offer at the Big Six, so by process of elimination I went indie.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
No, my publisher did it professionally.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Does "get it in front of as many people as possible" count as a plan? Seriously, the plan is to find and use any source of publicity.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Writing is an art, publishing is a business. Never confuse the two.
About You
Where did you grow up?
A small town of 3,000 people surrounded by coal mines and cornfields in Central Illinois.
Where do you live now?
Darien Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Although I'm flattered to talk about myself, what I really want the reader to do is enjoy the book.
End of Interview.
For more from Chris visit his website, his Live Journal page, or follow him on Twitter.
Get your copy of The Night Watch from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2lGuXdd
IndieView with Chris Gerrib, author of The Night Watch
Writing is an art, publishing is a business. Never confuse the two.
Chris Gerrib – 25 February 2017
The Back Flap
In the chaotic and crime-ridden settlement of Boxtown on Mars, Minty Storey witnesses a bar fight she has no idea will change the course of her life.
Halfway across the planet, Janet Pilgrim and the Volunteer Space Rescue Service struggle to do something about the pirate menace on the spaceways between Earth and Mars.
But the problems both face are much bigger than pirates and bar fights. When a leader of Earth’s Manifest Destiny movement makes an appearance on Mars, events begin to roll to a climax that will hold the fate of the planet in the balance.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Night Watch is really about three things. First, the concept of vengeance and how that’s not such a good life goal. That’s the personal level of the story. Second, how governments develop and what their appropriate roles in society should be. Third, how society abhors a vacuum. If there is an area with people but no societal structure, a social structure will develop.
When did you start writing the book?
I started and finished it in 2014, while I was marketing the previous book in the series, Pirates of Mars.
How long did it take you to write it?
Some books take forever. This one took a matter of months.
Where did you get the idea from?
They were logical outgrowths of the previous book in the series. If one starts out fighting pirates, logically one has to follow up and continue, because the pirates come gunning for you. In the previous book, I had created a “Big Bad” organization that had been defeated but not destroyed. It was only logical that they’d come back again. Finally, on the personal side, I decided to kill off a major character, which brought the vengeance aspects in.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
This was a surprisingly easy book to write. The biggest struggle was just finding time to write it!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I’ve borrowed names of people I know, and in one instance a physical description. But in general, I’ve kept this as fictional as possible. That’s if only because I don’t know any real pirates!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
You can’t write science fiction if you haven’t read Robert Heinlein. His influence on me has been a contrary one – Heinlein stories famously star “competent men.” I write ordinary men (and women) because they’re much more interesting. Of modern writers, I find John Scalzi most influential. I like his voice and his smart-ass characters.
Do you have a target reader?
Other than “not a kid” no, not really.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I am very much of a “pantser” (write by the seat of my pants). If I have a process at all it’s to just keep writing.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outlined my first two books, although I abandoned the outline of the second about halfway through the writing. Now I just wing it.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I’ll usually edit what I wrote in the last session to get caught up with the action, then push on. Somebody told me (and they’re dead right) that you can’t do anything with an unfinished manuscript, so your first priority has to be Finish The Book.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, I’m a peace and quiet kind of writer.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Not this book, as it’s the completion of an indie-published series, but in general yes I have.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I didn’t want to pay for editing and cover art, so that meant no self-publishing, and I didn’t get an offer at the Big Six, so by process of elimination I went indie.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
No, my publisher did it professionally.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Does “get it in front of as many people as possible” count as a plan? Seriously, the plan is to find and use any source of publicity.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Writing is an art, publishing is a business. Never confuse the two.
About You
Where did you grow up?
A small town of 3,000 people surrounded by coal mines and cornfields in Central Illinois.
Where do you live now?
Darien Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Although I’m flattered to talk about myself, what I really want the reader to do is enjoy the book.
End of Interview.
For more from Chris visit his website, his Live Journal page, or follow him on Twitter.
Get your copy of The Night Watch from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2lGuXdd
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Petzl e+LITE Headlamp Review (50 Lumens) – 2017
The new and improved Petzl e+LITE ultralight, ultra-compact headlamp is twice as bright as the earlier version and comes with a more comfortable elastic head-strap, emergency whistle, swivel stand and plastic protective case, all standard. Still powered by two CR2032 batteries, the upgraded e+LITE provides 50 lumens of light (up from 26 lumens) and improved battery life, making it far more capable around camp and for nighttime hiking than previously.
Weighing just 26 grams (minus the red case), the e+LITE has a regular white light, a max white light, a white strobe, a red light, and a red strobe, making it great to use for the trail in addition to bike-riding, as an emergency light for your car, or at home too!
One of the things I like most about this headlamp is that fact that it has a manual lock that prevents it from accidentally turning on, as well as a self-documenting selector so you never have to guess how many swipes or clicks are needed to move it from one mode to another. Simply move the white selector from one position to another to select the desired light mode, or click it into the off position to lock it. It will never turn on accidentally in a stuff sack and drain before you need it.
| Lumens | Distance (meters) | Battery (hours) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (Standard) | 15 lm | 6 m | 12 h |
| White (Max) | 50 lm | 10 m | 9 h |
| White (Strobe) | 15 lm | >100 m | 95 h |
| Red (Standard) | 2 lm | 100 m | 15 h |
| Red (Strobe) | 2 lm | >100 m | 70 h |
The e+LITE is powered by 2 x coin-sized CR2032 lithium batteries, which I also like, because they're so lightweight to carry. The back of the e+LITE has a waterproof compartment that stores the batteries: simply unscrew it with a thin coin or fingernail and replace them as needed. The light's battery power is also regulated, which means that it will maintain the same level of brightness throughout the battery lifetime, without becoming dimmer as the batteries drain.
This new version of the e+LITE includes a swivel stand, so you can position the light for task-specific lighting, without having to wear it or if you want it to point in a single position while you perform other tasks. The new model also includes a comfortable elastic head strap instead of a retractable string and a separate whistle (plenty loud) is attached to the head strap (so you can't lose it) that is also used to adjust the headband size.
Recommendation
The Petzl e+LITE headlamp (50 lumens) is one of the best headlamps ever designed with an easy-to-use mode selector that prevents accidental battery drain. Now twice as bright as before, the upgraded e+LITE is a better value than ever for ultralight camping, hiking, and backpacking. As someone who's been using the previous version of the e+LITE for the past three years, I'm delighted with the improvements that have been made to this new version, without removing any of the value of its predecessor. Strongly recommended.
Disclosure: The author purchased this product with his own funds.
Support SectionHiker.com. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you. |
from Section Hikers Backpacking Blog http://ift.tt/2lxWzmk
IndieView with Liz Kerin, author of The Phantom Forest
I'd say my target reader is an adventurous, imaginative young adult who's on the cusp of forming their own opinions of the world around them. This person is a seeker after knowledge who wants to explore and ask questions.
Liz Kerin – 23 February 2017
The Back Flap
In a war-torn tribal city inhabited by mystical spirits, a young woman named Seicha is ritually sacrificed to a demon and must navigate the dangers of the Underworld to protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Phantom Forest takes place in a tribal city inhabited by mystical spirits, where a young woman named Seicha is ritually sacrificed to a demon and must protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave. As she navigates the dangers of the Underworld, an unexpected love story unfolds between Seicha and the demon to whom she was sacrificed, who is serving an eternal sentence for a crime he committed against humanity hundreds of years ago.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing The Phantom Forest about five years ago, right after moving cross country from New York to California.
How long did it take you to write it?
I took about a year and a half to complete a first draft, then spent another two years doing revisions. Because I was was freelancing as a screenwriter and working full time during this period, I often took long breaks between chunks of editing. I gave up a lot of lunch hours and weekend trips!
Where did you get the idea from?
It's unclear exactly where Seicha's character came from, but I know she's been with me for a very long time. When I was about 12 years old, after learning about the ancient Mayans in school and how they would perform human sacrifices, I wrote a short story about a young woman who is sacrificed to an evil spirit but convinces him to spare her life when she's able to teach him about human compassion and love (I had some pretty weird, dark sensibilities in 6th grade – a real ray of teenybopper sunshine). Nearly 15 years later, the story stuck with me and eventually became The Phantom Forest. I've also always been intrigued by the concept of reincarnation and am a big fan of Greek and Roman mythology, so the universe-building that went into the Underworld and the beliefs of Seicha's people were very much inspired by that.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Writing fast-paced action sequences in prose was a learned skill for me. Even though I come from a screenwriting background, which is highly visual and all about pacing, I initially went against my own instincts when I wrote action sequences in this book. I thought it was so necessary to describe every little detail, but it just made everything feel so sluggish. During revisions, I chipped away at every sentence till I felt like the pacing of the chapter matched the really tense action that was taking place.
What came easily?
The character relationships came the most easily to me. Seicha and Miko's family bond was always so emotionally grounded and relatable for me, and the love story between Seicha and Haben had an arc that felt very natural and yet, unexpected. I really enjoy the way that particular relationship evolves in the book! My favorite thing about writing is crafting complex character relationships; to me, the best stories are the ones about people who discover one another for who they really are and learn important lessons about themselves as a result.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Totally fictitious. I very rarely borrow from my own life when I write. But, I will admit that because I love creating characters so much and because my life is full of really unique people, I sometimes do notice little things about my characters that feel similar to certain friends or loved ones! It's always 100% unintentional though; I guess I can't help but absorb their awesome, memorable personalities!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Margaret Atwood is very special to me and has been a staple on my bookshelf since I discovered The Handmaid's Tale my first year of college. Her unique brand of speculative fiction really inspires me. A lot of sci-fi and fantasy fare leans too heavily on escapism for my taste. But books like Maddaddam and Oryx and Crake, for example, show us that you can create a heightened world that also makes very clear commentary about our society and where we might be headed as a species. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was a huge fan of A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver by Lois Lowry (My brother and I even tried to write a musical based on The Giver when we were kids. Sadly, the show never extended past its first preview in the basement of our house).
Do you have a target reader?
For The Phantom Forest, I'd say my target reader is an adventurous, imaginative young adult who's on the cusp of forming their own opinions of the world around them. This person is a seeker after knowledge who wants to explore and ask questions. They want to escape to another world when they read, but they also want to challenge themselves!
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Spotify playlists for days! I don't necessarily listen to music while I write, but I curate a list of songs that remind me of whatever I'm working on and I listen to them at the gym, on hikes, in the car, pretty much anytime except for actual writing time. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to write before I start. I hear snippets of dialogue in my head and mull over what we in the movie-biz call "set-piece moments," which are those big, memorable visuals that usually wind up in a trailer. I approach writing a book in very much the same way I'd approach writing a script. Unless I'm on some sort of deadline, being ready to start a draft is a really personal moment. It sounds corny and pretentious, but the story kind of tells me when it's ready to start.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I definitely do outline, but it's usually broad strokes. With Phantom Forest, I had two different locations and four different character perspectives I had to shift between, so outlining was super helpful in that sense. I liked to know which chapters I might explore Miko's perspective, or General Simeon's, and how long I ought to spend in each person's head before I switched again.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?
For the first draft of Phantom, I waited until I got to the very last page to start editing. After that, I went out of order quite a bit. Sometimes I'd get an idea in the middle of shopping at the supermarket or being stuck in traffic, and it would be about a very specific scene or chapter, so I'd go back and revise that part while it still felt fresh.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I had a friend who I'd worked with in the world of online editorial take a pass at the manuscript early on, before I started submitting it anywhere. She was amazingly detail oriented and taught me all sorts of fun things, like how we use "towards" in conversation but technically "toward" is what we are supposed to use on the page (at least, if you're in the USA! I think it's different in the UK).
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I don't listen to music while I write, but as I said, I make playlists for everything I'm working on! I listen to them pretty much any other time of the day. For Phantom, my playlist was really varied—I listened to everything from Florence and the Machine to the scores from Princess Mononoke and Pan's Labyrinth. It was a very whimsical soundscape!
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did, and I had a fairly enthusiastic response when I sent out my query letters. I had full MS requests from 5 different agencies, but in the end none of them panned out. I have awesome reps for my Film and TV work, which helps overall, but ultimately I learned that the book marketplace is very, very different!
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
The indie process found me, in a way. I submitted the MS to a competition called the Launchpad Manuscript Competition, which indie publisher Inkshares sponsors. When the book was selected as a finalist, Inkshares helped promote the book and I created a profile on their site. Inkshares combines a traditional publishing platform with crowdfunding, which gives me a little more creative control without having to fully commit to self-publishing. I am still in the funding phase of my campaign—the book needs to hit a minimum 250 pre-orders to be released by Inkshares! So if you're a fan of what you see so far, definitely order yourself a copy today!
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My final cover art is still in progress. It's being designed by a fabulous young artist I knew when I lived in New York (who was actually a former student of mine!). You can check out some of her work here.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Thankfully, Inkshares will help with some of the marketing once I reach my funding goal. However, just spreading the word for the crowdfunding portion of this whole endeavor felt like its own form of marketing! I didn't realize how much work it would be to get 250 people to order a book they'd never heard of!
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If you're crowdfunding, make sure you have a plan of attack before you launch your campaign. Know who your target audience is, who you're going to ask for support, and be prepared to share lots of excerpts! It helps if you're already finished with the book and feel confident about what you've got; a lot of people will start funding with just a proposal, but I think it's so valuable to have the whole thing complete! Shooting a book trailer is also a great idea if you have filmmaker buddies or some experience yourself. It's a fabulous way to help audiences visualize what your concept is.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My family moved a lot when I was younger; I was born in California in the Bay Area before we moved to Connecticut, then to Chicago, then back to Connecticut again when I was in middle school. After that I lived in New York City for 6 years, where I also went to college.
Where do you live now?
Now I'm in LA. It's 60 degrees in January and I have zero regrets.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I'd love for everyone to know how special this story is to me and how excited I am to share it. It's been a major passion project of mine; there's a reason Seicha has stuck with me since I was 12 years old!
What are you working on now?
I'm working on two new film scripts and a sci-fi TV pilot. I'm also in the early stages of outlining two Phantom Forest sequels in hopes that the first one gets a warm reception! So if you'd like to see more, definitely spread the love!
End of Interview:
For more from Liz, follow her on Twitter. You might also want to check out the book's trailer.
To order a copy of The Phantom Forest visit Inkshares.
from The IndieView http://ift.tt/2l3lOJz
IndieView with Liz Kerin, author of The Phantom Forest
I’d say my target reader is an adventurous, imaginative young adult who’s on the cusp of forming their own opinions of the world around them. This person is a seeker after knowledge who wants to explore and ask questions.
Liz Kerin – 23 February 2017
The Back Flap
In a war-torn tribal city inhabited by mystical spirits, a young woman named Seicha is ritually sacrificed to a demon and must navigate the dangers of the Underworld to protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Phantom Forest takes place in a tribal city inhabited by mystical spirits, where a young woman named Seicha is ritually sacrificed to a demon and must protect the family she left behind from beyond the grave. As she navigates the dangers of the Underworld, an unexpected love story unfolds between Seicha and the demon to whom she was sacrificed, who is serving an eternal sentence for a crime he committed against humanity hundreds of years ago.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing The Phantom Forest about five years ago, right after moving cross country from New York to California.
How long did it take you to write it?
I took about a year and a half to complete a first draft, then spent another two years doing revisions. Because I was was freelancing as a screenwriter and working full time during this period, I often took long breaks between chunks of editing. I gave up a lot of lunch hours and weekend trips!
Where did you get the idea from?
It’s unclear exactly where Seicha’s character came from, but I know she’s been with me for a very long time. When I was about 12 years old, after learning about the ancient Mayans in school and how they would perform human sacrifices, I wrote a short story about a young woman who is sacrificed to an evil spirit but convinces him to spare her life when she’s able to teach him about human compassion and love (I had some pretty weird, dark sensibilities in 6th grade – a real ray of teenybopper sunshine). Nearly 15 years later, the story stuck with me and eventually became The Phantom Forest. I’ve also always been intrigued by the concept of reincarnation and am a big fan of Greek and Roman mythology, so the universe-building that went into the Underworld and the beliefs of Seicha’s people were very much inspired by that.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Writing fast-paced action sequences in prose was a learned skill for me. Even though I come from a screenwriting background, which is highly visual and all about pacing, I initially went against my own instincts when I wrote action sequences in this book. I thought it was so necessary to describe every little detail, but it just made everything feel so sluggish. During revisions, I chipped away at every sentence till I felt like the pacing of the chapter matched the really tense action that was taking place.
What came easily?
The character relationships came the most easily to me. Seicha and Miko’s family bond was always so emotionally grounded and relatable for me, and the love story between Seicha and Haben had an arc that felt very natural and yet, unexpected. I really enjoy the way that particular relationship evolves in the book! My favorite thing about writing is crafting complex character relationships; to me, the best stories are the ones about people who discover one another for who they really are and learn important lessons about themselves as a result.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Totally fictitious. I very rarely borrow from my own life when I write. But, I will admit that because I love creating characters so much and because my life is full of really unique people, I sometimes do notice little things about my characters that feel similar to certain friends or loved ones! It’s always 100% unintentional though; I guess I can’t help but absorb their awesome, memorable personalities!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Margaret Atwood is very special to me and has been a staple on my bookshelf since I discovered The Handmaid’s Tale my first year of college. Her unique brand of speculative fiction really inspires me. A lot of sci-fi and fantasy fare leans too heavily on escapism for my taste. But books like Maddaddam and Oryx and Crake, for example, show us that you can create a heightened world that also makes very clear commentary about our society and where we might be headed as a species. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was a huge fan of A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver by Lois Lowry (My brother and I even tried to write a musical based on The Giver when we were kids. Sadly, the show never extended past its first preview in the basement of our house).
Do you have a target reader?
For The Phantom Forest, I’d say my target reader is an adventurous, imaginative young adult who’s on the cusp of forming their own opinions of the world around them. This person is a seeker after knowledge who wants to explore and ask questions. They want to escape to another world when they read, but they also want to challenge themselves!
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Spotify playlists for days! I don’t necessarily listen to music while I write, but I curate a list of songs that remind me of whatever I’m working on and I listen to them at the gym, on hikes, in the car, pretty much anytime except for actual writing time. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I’m going to write before I start. I hear snippets of dialogue in my head and mull over what we in the movie-biz call “set-piece moments,” which are those big, memorable visuals that usually wind up in a trailer. I approach writing a book in very much the same way I’d approach writing a script. Unless I’m on some sort of deadline, being ready to start a draft is a really personal moment. It sounds corny and pretentious, but the story kind of tells me when it’s ready to start.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I definitely do outline, but it’s usually broad strokes. With Phantom Forest, I had two different locations and four different character perspectives I had to shift between, so outlining was super helpful in that sense. I liked to know which chapters I might explore Miko’s perspective, or General Simeon’s, and how long I ought to spend in each person’s head before I switched again.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
For the first draft of Phantom, I waited until I got to the very last page to start editing. After that, I went out of order quite a bit. Sometimes I’d get an idea in the middle of shopping at the supermarket or being stuck in traffic, and it would be about a very specific scene or chapter, so I’d go back and revise that part while it still felt fresh.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I had a friend who I’d worked with in the world of online editorial take a pass at the manuscript early on, before I started submitting it anywhere. She was amazingly detail oriented and taught me all sorts of fun things, like how we use “towards” in conversation but technically “toward” is what we are supposed to use on the page (at least, if you’re in the USA! I think it’s different in the UK).
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I don’t listen to music while I write, but as I said, I make playlists for everything I’m working on! I listen to them pretty much any other time of the day. For Phantom, my playlist was really varied—I listened to everything from Florence and the Machine to the scores from Princess Mononoke and Pan’s Labyrinth. It was a very whimsical soundscape!
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did, and I had a fairly enthusiastic response when I sent out my query letters. I had full MS requests from 5 different agencies, but in the end none of them panned out. I have awesome reps for my Film and TV work, which helps overall, but ultimately I learned that the book marketplace is very, very different!
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
The indie process found me, in a way. I submitted the MS to a competition called the Launchpad Manuscript Competition, which indie publisher Inkshares sponsors. When the book was selected as a finalist, Inkshares helped promote the book and I created a profile on their site. Inkshares combines a traditional publishing platform with crowdfunding, which gives me a little more creative control without having to fully commit to self-publishing. I am still in the funding phase of my campaign—the book needs to hit a minimum 250 pre-orders to be released by Inkshares! So if you’re a fan of what you see so far, definitely order yourself a copy today!
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My final cover art is still in progress. It’s being designed by a fabulous young artist I knew when I lived in New York (who was actually a former student of mine!). You can check out some of her work here.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Thankfully, Inkshares will help with some of the marketing once I reach my funding goal. However, just spreading the word for the crowdfunding portion of this whole endeavor felt like its own form of marketing! I didn’t realize how much work it would be to get 250 people to order a book they’d never heard of!
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If you’re crowdfunding, make sure you have a plan of attack before you launch your campaign. Know who your target audience is, who you’re going to ask for support, and be prepared to share lots of excerpts! It helps if you’re already finished with the book and feel confident about what you’ve got; a lot of people will start funding with just a proposal, but I think it’s so valuable to have the whole thing complete! Shooting a book trailer is also a great idea if you have filmmaker buddies or some experience yourself. It’s a fabulous way to help audiences visualize what your concept is.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My family moved a lot when I was younger; I was born in California in the Bay Area before we moved to Connecticut, then to Chicago, then back to Connecticut again when I was in middle school. After that I lived in New York City for 6 years, where I also went to college.
Where do you live now?
Now I’m in LA. It’s 60 degrees in January and I have zero regrets.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’d love for everyone to know how special this story is to me and how excited I am to share it. It’s been a major passion project of mine; there’s a reason Seicha has stuck with me since I was 12 years old!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on two new film scripts and a sci-fi TV pilot. I’m also in the early stages of outlining two Phantom Forest sequels in hopes that the first one gets a warm reception! So if you’d like to see more, definitely spread the love!
End of Interview:
For more from Liz, follow her on Twitter. You might also want to check out the book’s trailer.
To order a copy of The Phantom Forest visit Inkshares.
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