Author Interview by Mary Smith

“Who is Mary Smith?” you ask. Well, that's a story in itself. You see, early in my career, I earned a manager's title but had no staff.

Those were the days when executives sent written correspondence typed by secretaries. At the bottom of each letter, below the signature, were capped initials for the executive’s name, followed by lower case initials to denote the typist.

Realizing this was a symbol of authority, I began typing “JB:ms.” People assumed I had someone named Mary Smith working for me, but truth is, it was only “My Self.”

Flash forward, and we no longer need typists because most of us keyboard in record time. But it dawned on me, I could really use Mary’s help.

Like many authors, I would benefit from a media interview, but also like many authors, I’ve spent more time writing than pursuing publicity. I also see recurring questions in my #WritingCommunity on Twitter @SeriesSarah, that an interview could answer.

So, I herewith summon Mary Smith to interview me, and I hope, shed some light on the writing experience.

MS: Hi, Jill. Thank you for chatting. I see you are working on your fourth book in the Sutherland Series.

JCB: Yes, slowly. There’s still a lot of research to do, but I feel compelled to push forward since the first three books cover the wife’s, son’s, and husband’s stories. I now need to accommodate the grown daughter.

MS: How long have you been writing?

JCB: As long as I could spell.

MS: Do you remember your first published work?

JCB: If elementary school counts, it was a ‘book’ called Fungiside the Unknown – an adventure on an unknown planet. The cool thing is, we learned about the parts of a book and made one (including a spine and hard cover) to house our work.

MS: Let me rephrase, what was your first professionally published work?

JCB: A weekly column (called “A Teen Speaks”) for a hometown newspaper and poems accepted by small presses. I started doing this when I was 15 and continued for 4 years.

MS: When did you decide to make writing a career?

JCB: By the time I applied to college, I knew I wanted to do something with words. I entered as a journalism major but quickly learned that I liked words and pictures, so I switched to a broadcasting and film major. Fortunately, the Communications program at BU exposed me to many disciplines, so I left with a good range of skills.

MS: How did you break into the business?

JCB: Through the back door. After graduation, I went out west to find work in film. I didn’t have a job, but had an alumni contact, and that led to interviews. I ended up working for a small educational film company as a production assistant. After 4 years, I went to work for their distributor, where I learned about direct marketing. With a move north, I joined the promotion department of the San Francisco Newspapers as a copywriter and AV producer.

MS: But no books?

JCB: Not per se. I’ve certainly written enough words to fill several books, but I wrote for other channels: advertising, sales collateral, presentation scripts, radio spots, PR, speeches, research reports, corporate histories, and on the side, study guides for educational films. I keep reminding aspiring authors that there are many forms of writing. It's good to try a few.

MS: What prompted you to write your first book?

JCB: I had been cultivating a book idea, on and off, for years. When I found myself between jobs with enough time to focus on it, I did.

MS: What makes your books unique?

JCB: I like to think they are both entertaining and informative. “Guilt-free escape for intelligent readers.” I use parallel plots that interweave the present and past, linking fictional, current day experiences with true ones from long ago. That way, the reader leaves with twice the value: two interconnected stories and two outcomes.

MS: So are these time travel or historical fiction?

JCB: A bit of both, but there’s also plenty of psychological suspense and romance. I’ve actually had a tough time fitting them into a single genre, so “literary fiction” may win out.

MS: Were you inspired by certain authors?

JCB: I was encouraged to attempt historical fiction after reading Ahab’s Wife (or The Star-Gazer) by Sena Jeter Naslund, but in terms of premise, I’ve been influenced by Malcolm Gladwell, author of the Tipping Point, Blink!, and Outliers. He tends to find societal convergences that enable possibilities. I do the same, though mine are a bit more far-fetched.

MS: How many words do you write a day?

JCB: Ahh, one of my pet peeves! For me, word count is not important. Sure, if I’m on deadline for a client or employer, and I’m expected to write 1,000 words, I write 1,000 words. But as an indie author, I’m my own boss. Some days I don’t write at all. That’s not to say I don’t do something book-related; I do – but that could be research or proofing or cover design.

MS: Does that mean you don’t set writing goals?

JCB: On the contrary. But my goals are usually broader: get myself out of a creative corner, finish the research needed to write a certain scene, go back and fix something.

MS: How long should a novel be?

JCB: Consensus is 80,000 to 100,000 words for an indie book. Half of that is considered a novella; far less, a short story. Longer formats are more common for an established author. Of course, ebooks make word count and page count less relevant.

MS: So you publish in print and digital?

JCB: Yes. I use Amazon for paperback, and Publish Drive as a digital distribution partner. They provide global reach, real time analytics, and consolidated royalties (though an author can certainly set up individual online outlets). I have opened up a few, local retail stores, but I’ve not pursued brick and mortar chains because the odds of getting into them are very slim. That would also involve inventory, shipping, taking returns, and higher pricing. Maybe at a future date. What I need to do now is look into audio, because that’s a high growth area.

MS: How did you learn how to get your book from concept to completion.

JCB: I talked to people, asked questions, signed up for workshops, attended webinars, went to book fairs, and networked with authors. I do have an advantage because I’ve worked in other areas of publishing, so the production process isn’t foreign to me, and my husband, who serves as my editor-publisher, worked for traditional publishing houses early in his career. To do things like buy ISBNs and join professional associations such as IPBA, we established ourselves as Sudbury Publishing Group. A platform like Book Baby can help with the self-publishing process.

MS: Don’t you need an agent to be taken seriously?

JCB: Having an agent is advisable for traditional publishing, but less critical for indie publishing.

MS: How do you find one?

JCB: Usually through inquiry. There are lists of agents available from resources such as Publishers Weekly and Writer's Digest. But this is where I raise a red flag: Beware of anyone who promises to make you rich or famous overnight or for a fee. Most agents get paid through a share of an advance, a percentage of royalties, or literary rights brokering. The best agents guide you and foster you. Note also, that a legitimate publisher will not ask you for money upfront. A 'vanity press' does. That means you are paying them to publish your work, handing over control and most profits. That's quite different from 'independent publishing' where you absorb the expense but control the content, talent, pricing, creative decisions, and marketing.

MS: Do you have an agent?

JCB: I do. Though I am self-publishing to test the waters.

MS: How did you find him/her?

JCB: He's a former colleague who went into the book industry. After years, we reconnected right here on LinkedIn – proof that networking works.

MS: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

JCB: Anywhere. In the shower, driving, taking a walk. People-watching. Eavesdropping. Visiting historical places. Sometimes, I spot a news item or an obscure word that piques my interest. I’ll put that in my phone as a reminder or tack a sticky note to my wall.

MS: What keeps you motivated?

JCB: Practice, I guess. Writing requires discipline, so you have to enjoy what you do, but sometimes the simplest thing can be a boost: a kind comment, positive review, and sales, of course.

MS: What happens if someone pans you or doesn’t like what you write?

JCB: Don’t take it personally. My mantra is, “Consider the source.” If someone you respect offers negative feedback, listen. But if feedback comes from a stranger who rarely reads, just set it aside. The best feedback I’ve gotten is from a developmental editor and beta readers who are honest but gentle. I’m lucky to count two educators among my beta readers because their approach is constructive. Rather than say, “That husband character is a dud,” they say: “If you could add an example of his gullibility, he’d be more believable.”

MS: Is it true you have to suffer in order to be a good writer?

JCB: I’m not a fan of artistic angst. The most successful authors I’ve encountered approach writing like a job, a business. That’s not to say, a good, blustery afternoon doesn’t put you in the mood to write something heart-tugging, but fact is, if you’re a competent writer, you should be able to write anywhere, any time.

MS: So, what can writers expect to earn?

JCB: That depends on what you’re writing. A copywriter, speech writer, or screenwriter can earn a decent wage or command a solid freelance rate. Specialists in technical writing, medical writing, and financial writing can do even better. Grant writers, research writers, web content generators, and journalists all have marketable skills. However, the idea of an unknown author getting a six-figure advance is more fantasy than reality. Even then, an author must “earn out” (through sales revenue) any advance that is paid. For an indie fiction author, sales can range from next-to-nothing, to hundreds or thousands of dollars. Non-fiction authors may see more revenue. But don’t forget that distributors, retailers, and publishing platforms take a piece of the pie and there’s up-front editing and production expense. However, if you establish a loyal following, they are more likely to “read through” and buy future books.

MS: Do you share what you’re writing while you’re working on it?

JCB: I don’t. Cowardly, maybe? Sometimes I’ll pick my husband’s brain for historical accuracy or a word check along the way, but he (as my editor) doesn’t see my first draft until beta readers have reviewed it and I’ve run it through several self-edits. After the manuscript is styled, and we feel the text is tight, we share with my agent, whose production team finesses it for platform standards and verification.

MS: What have you learned from writing and producing books?

JCB: That it takes time and persistence. It's not as glamorous as portrayed in the movies. That it’s very different from other forms of publishing. There seems to be a certain etiquette around approaching agents, publishing houses, and reviewers.

MS: What about technology? I gather there are many programs for writing and editing.

JCB: There are, and I’m the first to admit, I’m not fully versed in them. I just use Word and pretty much ignore the styling. I type in New Times Roman, double spaced, don’t indent for paragraphs or drop text for Chapters. I’m not suggesting that anyone follow this bad habit, but after once running to my agent in a panic because I had not typed in manuscript format, he basically said, don’t get bogged down with that. There are people who do this professionally, and I’m lucky that my husband, a former content manager, is one of them.

MS: Where can indie authors get help?

JCB: There are many supportive writer and reader communities like Reedsy and Reedsy Discovery, Book Life, Goodreads, and Winning Writers. In most cases, it’s easy to set up a free author profile. Using social media, such Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can increase visibility, but it's smart to set up accounts that are separate from your personal ones. In other words, keep pets and politics out of them. Written Word Media, with its Bargain Booksy email capabilities, and Book Bub are just two of many resources that offer advertising. And don’t overlook blogs and eletters from industry experts, both for learning and self-promotion.

MC: If there is one thing a new author should do, what is it?

JCB: Build a website. Even if it's not elaborate or generating a lot of traffic, it’s a "must" for credibility and is almost essential for contest entry. The best sites I’ve seen are personable but with a business bent, professional in navigation and design. After all, you want to sell yourself and your books. As with any site, make it easy for visitors to engage and return. Put a Captcha on your blog to reduce spam. Add a middle initial to the URL (in my case 'C') or the word 'author' to distinguish it from others.

MS: Well, this gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience.

JCB: Thank you for asking.