Behind the Books; Phyllis Smallman

My guest today on BEHIND THE BOOKS is Phyllis Smallman, author of MARGARITA NIGHTS and her latest release SEX IN THE SIDECAR. The titles immediately caught my attention when we sat together on a panel at Bloody Words. Phyllis explained she named her series after popular drinks. Brilliant!


Who is Phyllis Smallman?

I once embarrassed my son by saying that writing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. And it’s true! I wouldn’t want to do anything else, and believe me I’m an expert on yicky boring jobs. The sad truth is it’s difficult to make a living by writing alone. Every writer I know has done lots of other things before coming to writing, all of which is grist for the mill, although I was a potter for fourteen years and this hasn’t made it into any of my books.

I’ve now got to an age where I’m free to live the life I always wanted, few responsibilities and able to read and write to my heart’s content. I spend part of my life in Florida, the place that in my heart I call home and the place I write about, and I spend Florida’s hot months on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Having a double life stimulates the imagination.

My third book, A BREWSKI FOR THE OLD MAN will be out in the spring of 2010 and the rough draft of CHAMPAGNE FOR BUZZARDS is waiting. How could life be more perfect? Hang in there, my darlings, life does get better!

1. Hi Phyllis. It's great to chat with you again. All sympathy to your son aside, writing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. So tell us, when did you start scribbling? Tell us a bit about your writing history.

MARGARITA NIGHTS was short listed for the Debut Dagger by the Crime Writers of the UK in 2004 (one of twelve out of a field of nearly 800) and then won the first Arthur Ellis award for Unhanged Arthur in 2007. While Margarita Nights was my first mystery, it wasn’t my first book. I already had four 120,000 word historical/love stories on my computer when I started my first mystery. The trouble with those romances was they contained more mystery and mayhem in them than romance, which is understandable because I don’t have a romantic bone in my body. My plan is to save these stories for when I have writer’s block and rewrite them as historical mysteries. Nothing is ever wasted.

2. Great idea. I've tried my hand at romance too. Suspense and mystery always ups the tension. What inspired you to write this book?

I met this funny funny hairdresser down in Florida. In a wonderful southern drawl she did stand up comedy while she cut your hair. Her clients came in early for their appointments to listen to her riff on her God-awful husband. Add to this the fact that Florida is a giant bug light for crazy people with mad schemes, plus drug dealers and alligators…turn the funny lady into a bartender and add a few bodies…well, you can see where this is going…a beach, a bar and murder.

3. Of course! What kind of work routine did you use?

I like to write everyday and I always work on more than one book at a time, revising one while doing a rough draft of another. When I do workshops one of the questions, or statements, that always comes up is, “I want to write but I don’t have time.” Well, besides setting priorities, you have to learn to write in the small spaces. While waiting for someone to arrive at a coffee shop pull out that exercise book and describe the waitress and add what you hear, smell, and see around you. The same when you’re in the dentist office- forget those year old magazines- or when you see a homeless person on the street, overhear a conversation, well, you get the idea. This may turn out to be some of your freshest writing and when you need an office you’ve already written one and you can pull it out. Describe interesting cars, the expensive and falling apart, so that when you need one you’ve already written it. This will allow you to practice your writing. Like a piano player, it takes practice, practice, practice to be a writer.

4. That is so true. It's like a tap that's rusty when you first keep trying to turn it on, but, with regular use starts to flow freely. As my creative friends, Sandy and Sarah say, the most important thing is to SHOW UP. So what was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

Writing isn’t the challenge, getting published is.

5. What was the greatest reward?

Getting great reviews and hearing from people is the best payback for the writing, but I also have to say I don’t think of writing as work. Work is all the other stuff that has to be done besides writing. Going to the gym is work. Getting groceries or doing chores, those are the hard parts of life, not the writing.

6. Why did you choose this title for your work?

My protagonist is a bartender so all my books have drinks in them and Tania Craan, the cover designer, caught the mood of the books perfectly. I love my covers.

7. Your covers and titles catch the eye. What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Sometimes it seems getting published is more about perseverance than talent. Try entering contests, it worked for me, and if you get short listed you get feedback. Don’t give up! To paraphrase Samuel Beckett, “Ever try? Ever fail? No matter. Try again. Fail better.”

8. What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

Read every book on writing you can get your hands on. The one that spoke to me may not be right for you. Take every writing course offered at your local college, go to every workshop and try and find a writing partner. I had a great writing partner I met in a class. We met every Friday for lunch. One week I’d critique a piece of his writing and the next week he’d do mine. We were brutal at times but we’ve both been published so it worked.

9. Who is your favourite author and why?

My favourite author is Michael Ondaatje because he is brilliant.

10. What book are you reading right now?

I’m reading the Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, a nice light mystery.

11. What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

How would I know? I’m trying to survive myself and not at all sure I’m getting it right. I have no idea how to market my books. I can take all the advice I can get on this subject.

I love your honesty, Phyllis. There's a ton of theories on how to publicize your books, especially on the Internet, but the only one that is guaranteed to sell is writing a winner. You've obviously done that. Congats! I look forward to seeing the new book in the spring.

BEHIND THE BOOKS: N.A.T.Grant

My guest today on BEHIND THE BOOKS IS N.A.T.Grant, author of the international Race thriller series. I love Nancy's writing and exchange lots of e-mails as she's the Canadian Crime Writers' VP for the east coast where I live. It was fun to hook up in person last summer at Bloody Words in Ottawa.

Who is N.A.T. Grant?

N.A.T. Grant (aka Nancy Grant) puts her science background, years of international travel, and sense of paranoia to good use in her thrilling Race Series based on spies, genetic engineering and terrorism. She lives in Pointe-Claire along with her husband and two cats, Della & Url. Her pen name is N.A.T. Grant because those are her initials (Nancy Anne Tully). For the past three years she has been elected as a director of Crime Writers of Canada and is regional VP for Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces. Her website is www.natgrant.com

1. Hi Nancy, I'm so glad you could join us today. I know how busy you are! Let's start off talking about your writing history. When did you start scribbling?

I began writing my first novel about fifteen years ago — three lines a day was my minimum allotment — often I wrote much more. Even in the beginning there was a fear of the dreaded ‘writers block’ which was, as in most cases, an unconscious sabotage technique of expecting too much of myself, fear of failure and fear of success. Quite a mishmash but that just part of the human condition.

2. Being a perfectionist myself, I can relate completely. Starting off with 3 lines is an excellent idea. So what inspired you to write this book?

There are two major reasons: First, I wanted to explore my creativity in the writing medium. The genre I chose was because I love adventure and mystery having always wanted to be a spy. Secondly, I was influenced by two tremendous people. My father had been a pilot in WWII but he, as with most veterins, didn’t want to discuss it much. He died before I realized I didn’t understand or know much about that part of his life. Also, I met a WWII survivor who was a German conscientious objector. She had been incarcerated by the Gestapo early in the way and only narrowly escaped execution.

3. Wow. That would spark the imagination without a doubt. What kind of work routine did you use?

Up early and writing before going to work. I could write as much as I wanted but I had a minimum of three sentences. That way I reduced the pressure on myself and this, in fact, allowed my creativity to flow.

4. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

The editing mainly because I did not have enough confidence in my ability as a fiction writer. I knew I was a good story teller but that was not enough. I needed a professional editor to help me and wish I had known about various mentorship programs. That is why I helped to developed the new Crime Writers of Canada Mentorship Program.

5. Which is excellent I might add, having taken part in it. What was the greatest reward?

I would say it was having written a compelling story and falling in love with my characters. I feel the rewards were very personal for me. I wanted to create something entirely on my own and as a challenge for using my creativity and using my thinking processes in a different manner.

6. Why did you choose this particular title for your work?

That was a toughie. It wasn’t until the book was in its final stages that I woke up one day with the title, Race Without Rules. The title is a double entendre and Race became the label for my series.

7. What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Get connected in the writing world from the beginning. Persevere. Believe in yourself — there is a reason why you have the urge to write. Don’t be afraid to explore the resources available and ask questions of those who have been through the process. I also personally think it is good to join organizations as they link you to the resources, opportunities and ideas you don’t come up with yourself. Conferences are also a great way of meeting and talking with others in the field in the flesh. That is very motivating.

8. What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

I believe in the Shirley McLean approach to reading books. Read the book you are most drawn to.

9. I love that expression! Who is your favourite author and why?

I’m reaching back for this one — James Mitchener. His epic books always had links from one era to the next and that is an intriguing feat to attain. I also liked the intrigue and pace of Robert Ludlum and Eric Lusbader’s books. I thought a Canadian should be writing this kind of novel.

10. What book are you reading right now?

Now, I read mostly non-fiction. Currently: Fueling our Future by Robert Evans and next will be Hot, Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman.

11. What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

If you are in the Crime Writing genre join organizations such as Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and local writing organizations. I also belong to the Quebec Writers Federation and they have been immensely supportive and helpful. Use the internet to the best of your ability.

Sounds great, Nancy. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Looking forward to reading your next book and lunch in Vancouver at Bloody Words 2010. Happy writing!

BEHIND THE BOOKS: Lou Allin

My guest today on BEHIND THE BOOKS is Lou Allin author of the BELLE PALMER series set in Sudbury, Ontario. Her recent release MAN CORN MURDERS is a stand alone novel. Lou and I were on a panel at Bloody Words in Ottawa in the spring and I enjoyed hearing about her writing process so much I invited her to drop by here and talk about it some more.

Who is Lou Allin?

A dual citizen of the US and Canada, Lou Allin is the author of the Belle Palmer series, starting with Northern Winters are Murder and ending with Memories are Murder. The novels take place in Sudbury, Ontario, the Nickel Capital of the World. She also wrote the standalone, A Little Learning is a Murderous Thing, an academic mystery, and the recent Man Corn Murders, set in the Grand-Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah’s red-rock wilderness. Now retired from teaching and living on Vancouver Island with her border collies, Shogun and Zia, and her mini-poodle, Friday, she is working on a new series where the rainforest meets the sea. On the Surface Die features an RCMP Corporal, Holly Martin, in charge of a small detachment on the picturesque south coast of British Columbia. Holly’s second adventure is called She Felt No Pain. Lou’s website is www.louallin.com and she may be reached at louallin@shaw.ca.

1. Hi Lou and welcome. I love that line 'where the rainforest meets the sea,' but before we talk about your new book, tell us a bit about your writing history.

One of my proud possessions is a little blue exam book, circa 1955. It contains my first “novel,” The Mystery of the Secret Passageway. Later chapters are in cursive as I moved into fourth grade. The Fabian-style head portraits (side vision, like an Egyptian mural) demonstrate that I didn’t inherit my mother’s art talent.

2. What inspired you to write Northern Winters are Murder?

I began my Northern Ontario series after living through a six-month winter in a cottage on a frozen lake, sans television. After reading about a hundred mystery paperbacks from the local library, I decided, as do many authors, that “I could write as badly as this.” Years later, when I moved to Vancouver Island, I began a second series set where the rainforest meets the sea.

3. What kind of work routine did you use?

I work in the mornings, then take my mini-poodle and bear-hunting border collies for a walk in the clear cuts. Though I used to use hard copy for editing, I’m happy on the computer (saves our Douglas firs). My handwriting is so bad, and I’m so lazy, that without the ease of computers, I doubt if I would have attempted more than poetry or short stories.


4. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this latest book, And on the Surface Die?

Getting to know my new characters. With my Nickel Capital series retired to a parallel dimension, I’m no longer writing an amateur sleuth with Belle Palmer, a realtor. RCMP Corporal Holly Martin in tiny Fossil Bay is fifteen years younger, and she doesn’t need a reason to investigate. Starting a fresh fictional “family” is like coming home from work to a different house. Inside, a new cast sits at the table and calls you by a strange name.

5. What was the greatest reward?

By participating in the Crime Writers of Canada Mentoring Program, I can “pay forward” the time and expertise that other authors have given me.

6. Why did you choose these titles for your work?

I used a poem called “The Kraken” (sea monster) by Tennyson for the first book: And on the Surface Die. The story begins with a suspicious drowning, and a girl’s face is on the cover. She Felt No Pain is from a poem by Robert Browning about a sociopath who has just strangled his girlfriend. “And all night long we have not stirred,/ And yet God has not said a word.” My standalone, Man Corn Murders, set in red-rock Utah, takes its name from a controversial theory about cannibalism among the vanish Fremont and Anasazi tribes.

7. What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Write a damn good book that you care about, not flavour of the day. Second guessing leaves you two years behind anyway. Remember that you don’t have to “write what you know” if you’re a good researcher. Decide whether you’d be happy with a small press which takes books without an agent. You may make only two or three thousand dollars a novel. If your aim is higher, ask represented authors and consult a book of reputable, registered agents. Send your synopsis and first chapter (if that’s what’s required) to about fifty agents (I’m serious). Never pay reading fees or other funds up front. The agent makes his money on a percentage of your published work.

8. What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

Chris Roerden’s Don’t Murder Your Mystery (2006) addresses in clear language everything a writer needs to know about the craft...with examples.

9. Who is your favourite author and why?

I’ve read two authors over and over. John Buchan, English novelist of the World War I era, and Nevada Barr, whose mysteries are set in different US national parks. Style and technique are what I’m looking for. Aside from coincidences, Buchan always tell a great story. Barr has changed much from her first book to her eleventh.

10. What book are you reading right now?

C J Box’s Three Weeks to Say Good-Bye. I just finished Exile by Denise Mina. She’s a perfectly brilliant author in the Scottish noir school about as far from my kind of work as Glasgow from the Georgia Strait...but all the more reason to read her.

11. What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

Develop a website and prepare to make yourself known. Look at Guerrilla Marketing for Writers to develop every public-relations opportunity. This isn’t 2000. It’s not even 2008. What’s around the corner may not be writ on paper. Finally, once you get fan mail, keep a list of addresses and alert these kind folks to your coming books. A personal note, where they live, for example, helps the connection.

Thanks Lou. This has been great. I'm looking forward to reading MAN CORN MURDERS. Congrats!

BEHIND THE BOOKS: Kim Michele Richardson

My guest this week on BEHIND THE BOOKS is Kim Michele Richardson author of THE UNBREAKABLE CHILD. It's an amazing memoir. I couldn't put it down. Kim's book was also featured in the September edition of WRITER’S DIGEST; it references Kim's story as a wonderful model and example on how to craft a hopeful ending in ‘Master The Memoir Basics.’ But let's get to our interview...


Who is Kim Michele Richardson?

Writer, wife, and mother, Kim Michele Richardson spent nine years in the "care" of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in her native Kentucky in the 1960s. That grim experience and her subsequent first in history legal action against the nuns are the subjects of her book, The Unbreakable Child.

Kim resides in the beautiful bluegrass of Kentucky, collects old vinyls and loves Gummi Bears and promises to be your friend forever if you share yours.
She has been an active community worker doing volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and a local shelter for the homeless, working with child advocate groups, as well as helping younger students with reading and writing. The Unbreakable Child is her first book.

Official website
http//www.theunbreakablechild.com


1. Hi Kim and welcome to BEHIND THE BOOKS. I'm so glad you could join us today. When did you start scribbling? Tell us a bit about your writing history.

I’ve always loved to write and like many, I started writing poetry, songs and short stories in my early school years.

2. Yes, that sounds familiar. What inspired you to write this book?

Because of the need to put a stamp on history and so that history would not repeat itself; I began writing The Unbreakable Child during the historic lawsuit phase I was involved in, which is interweaved throughout the book.

3. I admire your courage. What kind of work routine did you use?

I’m not one for routine. I must find a natural rhythm for inspiration. And that can come by, for example, removing myself from my current work surroundings or by simply playing different music.

4. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

Finding the healthy emotional balance of revealing brutal history, yet showing the reader the redemption, justice and strength.

5. I can only imagine it was a tough go at times. What was the greatest reward?

The tons of letters I receive from all walks of life. One person wrote to me saying; they had just finished reading The Unbreakable Child and today for the first time, she was able to go into work feeling so much stronger from having read The Unbreakable Child. And although she was not a victim of childhood abuse, the inspiration from the book was so strong, her six siblings were now reading the book and getting much strength from it.

6. Why did you choose this particular title for your work?

The title, The Unbreakable Child was given to me by a dear friend’s mother. And although you can lose the title during the marketing phase of publication, it was a hands-down winner for the marketing department.

7. What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Be the little engine that could— keep chugging and remember rules are nothing more than just guidelines. Be courteous and professional. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and learn to embrace change.

8. Who is your favourite author and why?

Just as in my music and art, it would be hard to choose just one. I’m all over the board in my selections. However, my last two reads were, A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini and Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie, both which I found to be excellent. I’m also a fan of anything Abraham Lincoln and will gobble up any historical about him.

9. What book are you reading right now?

I have a stack of books waiting to be read, but I’m currently working on a new book and I’m hard at work promoting The Unbreakable Child and touring.

10. What can supporters do to help get the book “out there” and also to help stop child abuse?

I believe it takes a community to raise a child. It also takes a community to abuse a child. As a wife of a police commander I know child abuse is an issue that knows no boundaries. It is a community’s responsibility, a watchful eye and strong voice that we owe to our most precious gifts – our children. And although this book references clergy abuse there is no doubt that the opportunity for abuses exists in any childcare setting. Child abuse is not limited to any one group and is not really a religious issue as much as it is a HUMAN issue.

More importantly: I hope government officials, religious authorities and childcare institutions, their employees, instructors, etc. will take a more active and aggressive role to arm themselves with education to prevent child abuse and to insure the safety of vulnerable children. The Unbreakable Child is a tool for those in the childcare, healthcare and legal societies, and a healing for the many many victims of childhood traumas and as well for any person just looking for a story of justice, strength and redemption.

Kim, thank you so much for being our guest this week. After reading your memoir, I enjoyed hearing about your journey. Congratulations and all the best with your work.

BEYOND THE BOOKS: Shane Joseph

My guest this week on BEHIND THE BOOKS is Shane Joseph author of THE FRINGE DWELLERS. A native of Sri Lanka, his fiction reflects his own life's inner and outer journies. His new novel AFTER THE FLOOD will be released next month. Shane too is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers. I worked with award winning author M. J. Vassanji on LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU through their correspondance program. But enough about me...


Who is Shane Joseph?

Shane Joseph is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers. He began writing as a teenager living in Sri Lanka. Redemption in Paradise, his first novel, was published in 2004 and his first short story collection, Fringe Dwellers, in 2008. He has completed three other novels that he hopes will be published soon: After the Flood – a dystopian epic set in the aftermath of global warming, The Ulysses Man – an odyssey of the immigrant experience in Canada, and In the Shadow of the Conquistador – a tale of romance and redemption in the Peruvian Andes. His short stories on Canadian themes have appeared in Existere, in three Canadian anthologies and in literary journals in Sri Lanka and India.

His career stints include: stage and radio actor, pop musician, encyclopaedia salesman, lathe machine operator, airline executive, travel agency manager, vice president of a global financial services company and management consultant.

Self-taught, with four degrees under his belt obtained through distance education, Shane is an avid traveller and has visited one country for every year of his life and lived in four of them. He fondly recalls incidents during his travels as real lessons he could never have learned in school: husky riding in Finland with no training, trekking the Inca Trail in Peru through an unending rainstorm, hitch-hiking in Australia without a map, escaping a wild elephant in Zambia, and being stranded without money in Denmark, are some of his memories.

After immigrating (twice), raising a family, building a career, and experiencing life's many highs and lows, Shane has carved out a niche in Cobourg, Ontario with his wife Sarah, where he continues to write stories and play his guitar.

Shane Joseph, believes in the gift of second chances. He feels that he has lived many lives in just a single lifetime, always starting from scratch with only the lessons from the past to draw upon. His novels and stories reflect the redemptive power of acceptance and forgiveness. "Writing fiction is an avenue to record these experiences, to mine art within the struggle of life, and, even though I may never achieve it, to pursue a holy and noble grail."

Hi Shane and welcome. I seem to be drawn towards the theme of redemption in fiction too and find it fascinating...but let's go back to the beginning...When did you start writing? Tell us a bit about your writing history.

I started writing fiction when I was 17. Subsequently, I had a short story published in a magazine and a couple of other short pieces, including a radio play, read over the airwaves of the national radio station in my native Sri Lanka. I stopped writing at the age of 23 as I had no more life experiences to draw upon. After a 22-year hiatus spent travelling the world and living a full life, I picked up writing fiction again eight years ago and haven’t stopped since, and I don’t intend to either.

What inspired you to write FRINGE DWELLERS?

I found that most of the short stories I had written in the last eight years were focussed on the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. I guess my own life has followed a similar trajectory. Being a minority community member in Sri Lanka, an expatriate in the Middle East and an immigrant in Canada, I have always had to strive extra hard to prove my worth. In general, people are comfortable with the known factor. I was the unknown factor, and only those willing to take a risk, gave me a chance,

My stories therefore depict people who are marginalized through some act of fate outside their control. Their quest is to restore balance to their lives and regain self worth and identity.

Sort of an anti-hero? Like Ricky Gervais? (I'm heard him interviewed and CBC and he likes to start his 'drama' with a character who everyone would consider a 'loser.') So what kind of work routine do you use?

I try to write a minimum of three pages a day. On some days I can produce 15 pages and on some days (especially when I am caught up promoting my books), I write nothing, or I turn to my blog to muse on the complexities of the world. However, I do not despair during the “zero page days” because I know that my writing reservoir is building up in the background with thoughts, observations and ideas that will come out when they are ready to come out. Even the 22-year hiatus that I took from writing fiction resulted in a flood of over 40 short stories and four novels written in the last 8 years since I kick-started my scribbling again. I believe that our brains are like computer hard discs; they store everything: every incident, every passing word, every book read. Access and Recall are the more difficult things; they tend to happen when the mind is at rest. Recall does not happen in sequential order either; things pop out at random and are often muddled – fertile ground for fiction. That’s why dreams are such great source material too.

I don’t believe in writer’s block. The dreaded “Block” happens either when you have lost the motivation to write or when you are trying to work with the writer (left brain) and editor (right brain) both turned on at the same time.

I study dreams too as I'm always interested in the 'creative energy' we have no control over. Inspiration...where does it come from? Julia Cameron and some forms of aboriginal spirituality would say THE GREAT CREATOR. Jung might say the collective unconcious. It's a mystery. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

Finding a publisher. Who wanted to read a collection of short stories about a bunch of losers? I didn’t realize it at the time, nor did the publishers I was pursuing, but readers do want to know about what it is to lose, and what it takes to recover. I had sent the collection to a few publishers, got rejected, and had mothballed this collection while I worked on my novels. Then I met Richard Grove, the publisher at Hidden Brook Press who was on a mission to publish 30 books (called the North Shore Series) of prose and poetry of writers living in the geographic area bounded by Port Hope and Kingston, Ontario: a fertile ground for artists moving out of the big cities of Toronto and Ottawa. Richard instantly liked my style, theme and the stories themselves, and included me in his series.

That's wonderful. What was the greatest reward?

Seeing the collection in print and getting many accolades in both the local press and from my readers to say that my writing has moved up a few more notches since my first novel and that I seemed to have a firm grasp of the short story. Many of my readers also told me that they could easily identify with the characters and they shuddered to think that a sudden bend in the road could send them hurtling into the pages of my book to join the cast already in there.

Why did you choose this particular title for your work?

It was the title of one of the stories about two characters: an educated Indian immigrant trying to find a decent job in Canada and a WWII veteran who lived on the streets. Both were Fringe Dwellers: the former trying to get in and the latter trying to get back to the mainstream of life. As I assembled the collection, I found this common theme running through the stories – all my protagonists were either trying to break in or get back or find themselves – hence the title.

What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Other than for the odd wunderkind who is discovered and propelled to stardom by a voracious publishing house marketing machine, the majority of writers need to tread a hierarchy of publishing credits before they find themselves. Start small – contribute stories, articles to local newspapers, magazines, blogs etc. Then try to get a few stories published in magazines, journals, even the local newspaper. You may even want to self-publish your first book if you haven’t got a bite from a traditional publishing house for a long time (I’d say five years would be a long time, if you were over the age of 50). Next, find yourself a small trade publisher and then move up the chain as your work improves and your audience grows. And always stay true to your art; your writing has to constantly improve, or else your dreams of being published will be short lived.

What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

There are far too many – some are good for character development, some for scene and setting; others for theme, and so on. If I were to pick a little unknown gem, it would be John Steinbeck’s To a God Unknown – a tiny book that seemed to encapsulate all of the above.

Who is your favourite author and why?

Again – it’s hard to stick to just one as my favourite authors. All have unique strengths and glaring shortcomings. I like the character development of Graham Greene and the styles of Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. For sheer story telling virtuosity, the Latin American writers Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa and Isabel Allende stand out for me.

What book are you reading right now?

I am just finishing Llosa’s “Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter” – a fantastic book that I am trying not to end too soon. It’s a tour de force of narrative power and the ability of the writer to tell stories: to begin them with any character, create many strands of subplots and weave them into a whole at the end. It is also a cautionary tale of a writer who gets too consumed in his art.

What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

There are more avenues for self expression today than there were prior to the Internet (blogs, wikis, social networking, print-on-demand, self publishing etc.). However, an author without a solid distribution channel is bound to live and die a big fish in a very shallow pool. Publishers notwithstanding, build your pool – your audience – one at a time if necessary, but build them.

And write regularly. In every field of endeavour today, excellence is demanded. Many of us write part time as we have to earn our income elsewhere. Therefore, we have to accept the rewards that come to part time workers. And if we squander those precious hours by frittering them away on other pursuits, we have to accept the consequences that our writing will never measure up to much.

Thank you so much for dropping by Shane. Congratulations on your short story collection. I'm looking forward to reading AFTER THE FLOOD (not to be confused with Margaret Atwood's new book as I'm reading Ornyx and Crake right now). Keep filling the page!

BEHIND THE BOOKS: John Foxjohn

My guest on BEHIND THE BOOKS today is John Foxjohn, author of several crime novels. His latest novel TATTERED JUSTICE will be released in March 2010. I always find it fascinating to talk to a former police officer/detective turned fiction writer.

Who is John Foxjohn?

Best-selling author John Foxjohn epitomizes the phrase “been there—done that.” Whether consciously or unconsciously, maybe one of the first authors he followed contributed to this.

Many years ago, John became afflicted with a disease he calls “readaholism.” His addiction to reading led him to Louis L’Amour, and even today, he continues to reread books by this author.

Louis L’Amour had a diverse background before he began to write and John followed that path—-born and raised in the rural East Texas town of Nacogdoches, he quit high school and joined the Army at seventeen. Viet Nam veteran, Army Airborne Ranger, policeman and homicide detective, retired teacher and coach, and now he is a multi-published author.

Although John writes an entirely different genre than Louis L’Amour, he followed the author’s path by using his diverse background and meticulous research. Although John’s novels are fictional, many readers believe they are true stories.

Like his favorite author, John creates characters that readers love and root for-—not cardboard cut-outs. John says, “Normal people have faults and strengths—they make mistakes and need to overcome them and other obstacles thrown in their path. People judge others by how they handle adversity. That’s how I attempt to create characters.” If you have read John’s novels, you know that he is successful.

John hasn’t yet reached the huge success of Louis L’Amour, but I wouldn’t bet against him.

John is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Elements of Romance, Kiss of Death, Lethal Ladies, Sisters-in-Crime, East Texas Writers Guild, League of Texas Writers, and more online writing groups than he can count. He is a full time writer and speaker and lives in Lufkin, Texas, but travels extensively across the U.S.

Hi John and welcome to BEHIND THE BOOKS. Well, your bio describes an interesting and varied background, but when did you actually decide to sit down and try to write a story?

I decided when I was twelve that I was going to write a book about Crazy Horse. It took me about forty years to do it, but the first novel I wrote was a historical fiction about Crazy Horse.

What inspired you to write your new novel?

Tattered Justice had played around in my mind for a couple of years before I began writing it. The reason I waited so long, I knew I needed to write it in a woman’s POV, and I wasn’t confident enough to do it at the time.

It is a challenge as a writer to tackle the opposite sex p.o.v. What kind of work routine did you use?

I get up real early and get in the hot tub for an hour or so. I take my little hand held recorder with me. There is no noise or anything, just peace and quiet. I write in my head and dictate it into the recorder.

My day changes from day to day, but when I am not on the road, I do this.

Sounds great to me--floating in the hot tub--though I'd probably want to fall asleep afterwards. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

First, convincing myself that I could write in a woman’s POV, and then, I had to do a huge amount of research. My protagonist is a criminal defence attorney and I had to spend many days observing courtroom procedures and interviewing attorneys.

That would be a huge area to tackle. Obviously, you love a challenge. I always think, on the bright side, once you've researched a particular area of expertise as a fiction writer, it's with you forever. What was the greatest reward?

Knowing that I had created a book that I think will be special.

Why did you choose this particular title for your work?

Tattered Justice is about people who use the justice system for their own rewards—in essence, they tear it to shreds.

What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

Learn all they can about the craft of writing, and I tell writers this all the time, in my opinion, writing fiction is all about characterization.

What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

I have learned a lot from Donald Maass’ Writng the Breakout Novel.

Me too. I've attended his week long workshops. He's brilliant (and his talented wife is the sweetest person I've ever met). Who is your favourite author and why?

WOW! I have a bunch of them, but I’ll stay with two of today’s, Allison Brennan and Vince Flynn.

I enjoyed learning about Allison's creative process when she was a guest on BEHIND THE BOOKS. It's heartening to know all writers have to face the blank page sooner or later! What book are you reading right now?

Actually, I am reading a book about the NFL draft. I am a very eclectic reader.

I can only read non-fiction when I'm writing fiction. My choices at the library raise a few eyebrows. What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

Be patient—I see so many writers who want everything to happen right away—they don’t realize the work that needs to go into putting a publishable manuscript—the knowledge they need to know.

How true! Thanks very much for being our guest today, John. I look forward to reading TATTERED JUSTICE.

Behind the Books: Alicia Rasley

My guest this week on BEHIND THE BOOKS is award-winning novelist Alicia Rasley. I took an on-line course some years ago with Alicia on plotting the novel and was amazed at her knowledge and ability to communicate it in such a simple straightforward manner. Her latest book is "The Power of Point of View" released by Writers' Digest.

Who is Alicia Rasley?

Alicia Rasley is a nationally known workshop leader and award-winning novelist. Her writing articles are collected at www.rasley.com. She also has a blog about editing at http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/. Her book, The Power of Point of View, was released in 2008 by Writer's Digest Books. She teaches English at two state universities.

1. Hi Alicia and welcome. You know I'm a fan of your web site and classes, having attended the latter; but I don't know a lot about your writing history. When did you start scribbling?

I've been writing all my life. My first publication (and last for a long time) was a poem in American Girl magazine when I was 9.

2. What inspired you to write THE POWER OF POINT OF VIEW?

My academic work was focused on Edgar Allan Poe, who did amazing tricks with first-person point of view and the unreliable narrator. So I was studying POV from that angle even as I was exploring POV in the fiction I was writing. But I think what really inspired me was the "POV wars." I loved it that authors were dedicated enough to their way of writing that they would defend it, and I wanted to explore not just my own POV approach, but how other authors have used point of view to present characters and entice readers.

3. I find it's often one of the first questions to come up from aspiring writers at workshops. Many writers seem confused about which would work best given their chosen genre and protagonist. What kind of work routine did you use?

I decided to set aside just one hour a month— 11:00 on the third Tuesday, I still remember!—and work on this book. I didn't think I could fit in much more with my fiction-writing, my family, and my teaching. But I got really interested and ended up spending much more than an hour a month! I'm going to try that with other projects—it's like tricking myself into getting over the hump and starting.

4. I'm amazed at all you manage to accomplish. But it goes to show that even carving out a small window of time, no matter how much you have on your plate, will add up in the end. What was the biggest challenge you encountered completing this book?

I had to find many published passages to exemplify issues associated with various POV approaches. It was difficult to find exactly the sort of passage I wanted. And often I'd find the passage but end up re-reading the whole book!

5. What was the greatest reward?

I do like the fan mail. Oh, and the five-star ratings on Amazon.com. I'm sort of a sap for flattery!

6. Why did you choose this particular title for your work?

I wanted to empower writers—to show them that POV was a tool for character development and voice expression. So that's where The POWER of Point of View came from.

7. What advice would you give to writers trying to get published?

I think first you really ought to know yourself and what you're writing. Are you writing something that falls neatly into the current marketing categories? Great! Identify the agents and editors who work in that market and GO MEET THEM! Go to the conferences they'll be at and make sure to pitch to them or just take them out for a drink. (This is one of the advantages of being on a writing group's conference committee. Someone has to pick the editor up at the airport... volunteer!) Or if you can't meet them at a conference, hang out online at their blogs or their publisher's website. Become a cherished commenter who adds a thought to maybe a post or two a week, so that your name gets known. (But this means you do have to be careful what you write—nothing offensive or obsequious. Aim for insightful, thoughtful posts on the subject. Take your time! You are marketing yourself here.)

And if your story doesn't fall neatly into a marketing category, make it special. Don't settle for less than your best. Don't assume that because you've got a great idea or a winning character or an interesting voice that that's all you need. With an unusual book, you need the whole intriguing package—great characters, an interesting plot, a unique voice, and impeccable mechanics. Then don't waste your time with editors who can't buy a book like yours. Look for senior editors or agents who have sold books in your general area (like "meaty non-romance historical novels" or "existential academic thrillers"), and focus on them. Decide what the overall topic of the book is (I mean like "Native Americans in the Civil War," or "post-traumatic stress in nurses"), and start a website or blog about that issue—not about you and your book, but about an issue in the book. Get to be known as someone who knows about this, and use that in your marketing of the book. "I am (blogname), blogging about PTSD in nurses, and my blog gets X hits a month." That sort of viral marketing impresses a lot of editors and agents. :)


8. What book would you tell them is a must to read and why?

Ain't She Sweet, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. This is a good book to see how an adept writer can manipulate point of view to make us come to love the woman everyone hates.

Or read my book for more recommendations of great POV authors. :)


9. Who is your favourite author and why?

I love Patrick O'Brian because he combines ripping adventure with authentic historical detail and a fascinatingly experimental narrative style. Oh, and there are about 20 books in his series, so I can spend years re-reading him.
And Dorothy Dunnett—a very different type of historical writer (though intriguingly, both she and O'Brian credit Mary Renault as a major influence)—she writes big, sweeping, panoramic epic series with charismatic heroes.

10. What book are you reading right now?

Private Sector by Brian Haig. It's sort of a military/legal thriller. Fun first-person voice. It's not all that good, but I'm at the beach, and it's diverting beach fiction—you know what I mean?

I always am reading about six books at a time, so I'm also reading Edna St. Vincent Millay's sonnets. Great stuff.

11. What advice would you give to a debut novelist to survive in today’s publishing world?

Everything is going to change in the next year or so. Hang on! Start thinking of the internet as a change in publishing every bit as radical as the rise of the paperback novel in the 50s—it's not just the medium of delivery that will be changing. But just as the paperback led to the enormous increase in popular genre fiction (which wasn't being published in hardcover), so will Internet-based publishing lead to new forms of fiction. I don't know what those are yet, but I'd say – shorter, linked stories (like 5 novellas about the same group of friends) will be popular, and illustrated stories or stories with music (much cheaper on the web than in print). Do not make the mistake of thinking that e-books should be just like print books—the stories are going to change too.

That's wonderful advice, Alicia. The possibilities are intriguing. Thanks for dropping by today. I'm looking forward to reading your book.