Author Q&A | Dane Cobain |

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started to take it seriously when I was eighteen or so, at around the time that I finished writing my first novel. I was planning on going to study web development at university, but at the last minute, I decided to switch my degree to creative writing instead. I haven’t looked back since!

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends upon the book and how I write it. As a general rule, I’d say around a year or so. I used to write my books by hand, which took a lot longer, although I’ve switched to using a computer now. You also have to factor in how long it takes to go through editing and layout. Former.ly took over three years; Social Paranoia took about six months, but it took place over a period of a year and a half because I kept stopping and starting depending upon what other projects I had on the go.

3. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I’m always writing! I have quite a specific schedule which I adhere to whilst watching Netflix. Every five minutes, I switch activities, rotating through doing things on my computer to tidying my flat to writing stuff. That’s the simplified version, but it’d be going into too much detail to explain the whole thing.

4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

It’s quite difficult to quantify, but it’s my writing style as a whole. It’s sort of alternative and occasionally dark, but also approachable. If you’re familiar with my work then you’d be able to recognise it without my name being attached to it.

5. How do books get published?

It totally depends upon the author and the publisher, if they have one. Everyone has their own publication routine, and the ease of use of self-publishing routes such as CreateSpace mean that people can really do whatever the hell they want to get their books out into readers’ hands. But in my view, a couple of rounds of professional editing and proofreading, as well as a competent cover design, are essential.

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I do most of my research online, although I do read books in similar genres to see what works and what doesn’t. As for the ideas, it really depends – I often start with a vague idea, which just simmers in my head for a couple of months and picks up details here and there. Then, when I’m ready to actually plan something out, I start to commit it all to paper, making changes and additions when appropriate.

7. When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I started writing it at seventeen and finished it at eighteen. It was a book called ‘Annie’, which told the story of a teenage girl who was being sexually abused by her alcoholic stepfather. It wasn’t very good and it’s not ready to see the light of day, but it was good practice at least.

8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I’m almost always either writing or working. But when I’m not doing one of those, I like to socialise or to play guitar – often both, by going to open mic nights.

9. What does your family think of your writing?

I don’t get on very well with one side of my family and so I have no idea – I don’t think they think of it at all. But on my mom’s side, they’re all very supportive, and they’ve been buying and reading all of my books ever since I was just ordering limited print runs of a dozen or so, before I started to release my work to the public.

10. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I’d have to reiterate myself and talk about the importance of professional editing and cover design. As both a writer and as a book blogger, I can’t stress that enough. It’s very, very rare for an author to put out a perfect book without outside help. Why take that chance? Why not work with a creative team to push out the very best book you can? It’s a no-brainer!

11. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?

I’ve written far more books than are actually available, because that’s all part of learning your craft. Some of them will eventually be re-released (after going through editing), and some will never see the light of day. In total, I’ve written XX books (and three albums of music), but only four books and two albums are currently on general sale. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but I’ll always have a soft spot for No Rest for the Wicked, as that was the first one that underwent a proper, professional release.

12. Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

It might sound a little obvious, but read as much as you can and write as much as you can. There’s no better way to learn than via hands-on experience.

13. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do, but not as much as I’d like to – I always encourage people to post a review, whether they enjoyed the book or not. The feedback is mostly positive, and when I do get negative feedback, it’s generally constructive stuff that I can learn from. And they’re often just two sides of the same coin. For example, the most common piece of positive feedback for No Rest for the Wicked is that the reader devoured the whole book in one sitting. The most common piece of negative feedback is that they felt that it was too short. You can’t really have one without the other!

14. Do you like to create books for adults?

I’ve never been one for writing for an audience. I write books that I want to read myself, and then I just hope that my readers enjoy them. So far, it seems to be working well. But as I’m an adult, I guess all of my books have adults as the primary target audience. This was a long-winded way of saying the simple answer: “Yes.”

15. What do you think makes a good story?

A mixture of strong characters and a good plot, combined with accessible language and a pace that keeps you turning the pages until the end.

16. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a rock star when I was little, but I figured that was unachievable and so I switched my focus to writing instead. That said, I still write music and perform in front of audiences, and I maintain that my music is just an extension of my writing overall. It’s just another format for me to play with.

Author Interview | Don Spector | Memories Of A Mad Man

SYNOPSIS

Mad Men. Don Spector didn't just watch them on television. He was one of them.

Starting in a Madison Avenue ad agency in the ‘60’s, he actually lived the life captured in the TV show. In "Memories of a Mad Man" he shares with us an unforgettable era filled with humor, brilliance, wonderful heroes and big, bad villains.

The funny and fascinating stories he tells uncover the reality of the ad world behind the show.
• What was it like dealing with celebrities of the era?
• How did the advent of computers spoil one of the greatest boondoggles that Mad Men—and Mad Women—enjoyed?
• The Three Martini Lunch. True or false?
• What's the real truth about truth in advertising?
The book answers these and many more intriguing questions in this unique look into a unique profession.

GOODREADS

PURCHASE

AMAZON

B & N

KOBO

iTunes

ABOUT DON SPECTOR

Starting as a junior copywriter in a Madison Avenue ad agency in the ‘60s, Don Spector qualifies as a genuine Mad Man. Creating advertising for the agency’s high-profile accounts like Smirnoff Vodka and Tareyton cigarettes, he began his ascent up the creative ladder in several New York agencies. His commercials and print ads for advertisers like Xerox, the Yellow Pages and Jaguar ultimately led to an offer of a key position in Los Angeles-based BBDO/West where he was soon named Creative Director.  After moving to a similar position at Foote Cone Belding/Los Angeles, he eventually started his own agency where he served until his retirement.  The advertising he created for dozens of companies like ARCO, Absolut Vodka, Bristol-Myers and S.C. Johnson won numerous awards. But, more importantly, it generated millions of dollars in sales for them.

Follow the entire MEMORIES OF  MAD MAN tour 

Brought to you by Worldwind VBT

Author Interview

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Brooklyn-born and raised, accent and all.  Dad was a doctor and Mom was a loving mom.  I was shocked one day in the fifth grade when the scary Assistant Principal without warning moved several of us into a rapid advance class.  That shortened my time in junior high and high school with the result that I started college (Hamilton) at 15. 

            It was okay academically but I had to lie about my age for the next four years or I never would have been able to get a date.  My college had a core curriculum that, among other subjects, required four years of Public Speaking.  Like other students, I laughed at that but the joke turned out to be on me.  A major component of my success in advertising was my ability to stand up in front of a group of clients and sell them the commercials and ads we had done for them. 

Were you good at English?

In my Freshman English Composition class at Hamilton College my themes started out garnering Ds and were full of harsh red comments by Professor Barrett like, “JARGON”, “CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR “and “CAN YOU BE A LITTLE LESS BORING.”  But by the end of the year I was getting semi-respectable Bs.  Years later, when I sat in a Los Angeles ad agency with a sign on my office door saying, “Vice President, Creative Director” I wrote to Professor Barrett saying that although he doesn't remember me, I owe him so much.  He wrote back saying, “I do remember you, dear boy, and you make me very proud.”  That was a major highlight in my career.

When did you decide to become a writer?

After four years of college getting a BA in psychology and two years at Columbia Graduate Business School earning an MBA in finance, I still didn't know what I wanted to do for a career.  Neither psychology nor finance looked appetizing to me and I didn't want to follow in my father’s medical footsteps.  Then one day something struck me.  Through high school, college and graduate school I had written for the school newspapers.  That was a hint.  But what pushed me over the line was that all three papers were named The Spectator.  Not only were the names the same but also that name was amazingly similar to my name, Spector.  I took that as a sign and decided that I’d be a writer and sought my first writing job as a Madison Avenue copywriter.

What is your favourite quote?

I love a quote that changed my life:

    “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.  Because if you like it today you can do it again tomorrow.”  

            It came from a wonderful comedian, Professor Irwin Corey, and, like everyone in the nightclub that night, I laughed myself silly.  I loved it so much that the next day I made a sign of it that I put up in my office.  It stood there for years.  One day several years later I got a call from my actress wife.  She had been offered a three-month acting gig in Madrid.  We had to go, she insisted.  But, I told her, my advertising career was going well and I just couldn't put it on hold for three months. 

            After I hung up I stared out my office window at Madison Avenue, feeling awful.  What an opportunity. But I couldn't do it.  Then my eyes fell on the sign. “Don’t put off till tomorrow…. what you can do today.  Because if you like it today you can do it again tomorrow.”   Irwin Corey’s advice was right.  I walked into my boss, the agency creative director, and told him I was resigning to go to Europe with my wife.  I called my wife and told her,”We’re going.” And a moment after I hung up, my boss came in and announced that they weren't accepting my resignation and were giving me a leave of absence instead.  I could go as long as I wanted and could come back with my job still waiting.

            We went, travelled around Europe after her work ended and came back to a year’s worth of mail waiting for me at my agency.

            A postscript: about ten years after that, I saw Professor Irwin Corey and related how his line had affected my life so wonderfully.  His smiling response was instant: “Do you know what that means, Donald?  It means you have to buy me a drink.”  I did.

What’s your favorite film and why?

“Singin’ in the Rain.”  Just thinking of Gene Kelly’s rain dance makes me smile.  Thinking of Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘em Laugh” dance makes me laugh.  Always a longtime fan of behind-the-camera film stories, I found this story of an early Hollywood studio and its move into talkies was a perfect subject for me.  It made me a die hard Gene Kelly fan.  That’s why, when I learned that a friend who was a major film editor told me that he worked with him on a movie, I was nervous when I asked him what Kelly was really like lest my image of him be damaged.  “He was exactly in person as he was onscreen…the friendly, likeable All-American boy.”

            So when I watched “Singin’ in the Rain” again after that (for the seventh time) I enjoyed it even more.

How do you think you've evolved creatively?

As an advertising copywriter I was paid for my creativity. In the beginning I tended to play it safe in writing ads and commercials. I was afraid to stretch my imagination and take my work into my boss only to have him laugh at it or even savage it. Not that a good creative boss would do that but when I started out, I considered anything I put down on paper as a piece of my soul and I was afraid to have it damaged.

         But as I grew I started to stretch my boundaries and take chances creatively. Although my ideas didn't bat 1000 I had more successes than failures and so I continued stretching. Then over time I began seeing that often an idea that initially seemed far out, silly, irrelevant or even dumb could be metamorphosed into a very good creative execution. That was the origin of a mantra I carried with me into every creative session whether I was working solo, with a creative partner or in a large brainstorming session: there's no such thing as a bad idea.

         I found it freed me up to explore ideas I would have dismissed in the past that led to successful advertising that sold products and even won awards.

            Toward the end of my career I gave a number of talks on creativity to students and the core of my presentation was always that there is no such thing as a bad idea.

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Over the years as an advertising copywriter I didn't face writers block very often. I think there were two key reasons. First, I did most of my work as part of a team, me as the copywriter and my teammate as an art director. And even when I was writing a commercial or ad solo, I didn't consider searching for an idea a true writer's block. A blank computer screen at the start of any assignment is normal and not a sign of mental blankness.

         I faced true writer's block for the first time when writing my book. I had been rolling along just fine and then all suddenly stopped. Then I knew what true writers block was.  I slogged through as best as I could but it attacked me from time to time. It was during one of these blank periods that I was introduced to a fellow author. Over lunch I told him about my problem and he made a suggestion. “Use dictation.” “Why would that work?” I asked. His response was candid.  " I have no idea, but it does.  Try it."

         That afternoon I downloaded a Mac dictation program, picked up a microphone and started dictating. And it worked. As he had suggested, I didn't look at the screen while I was dictating. Anywhere but...at the ceiling, the wall, out the window, even with my eyes closed. The ideas and the words came much more easily than I ever imagined.

         Today I dictate about 25% of my writing. Using this technique I find ideas come more easily and the process is even sometimes enjoyable. I think you'll find that it pays to be a dictater (“dictater”, “dictator” Get it???)).

Author Interview | Werner Stejskal | Oliver And Jumpy

Author Bio

Born in Vienna, Austria, Werner is now living in the paradise of Perth, Australia with his wife, two married children and three grandchildren. He worked in the printing industry for many years and later for the United Nations in Vienna.  He found illustrators through Odesk, narrated them himself for YouTube and finally took the next step by publishing eBooks. In Australia I  finally got involved in Real Estate. With the empty house syndrome and finally retired, I had to fill the void. This was when, very surprisingly, my series “Oliver and Jumpy” came into being.

What is your latest book about, Werner?

“Oliver and Jumpy”, are best of friends and experience many adventures together. Oliver is a black-and-white tomcat, who is very self-assured. As a matter of fact he says: “I love myself!” quite often. But his best friend Jumpy is aware that he is only putting up a front! Oliver has a soft heart and will always want to help others. The great thing is Jumpy’s pouch, which Oliver loves to ride in! He calls her his kangaroo taxi! This is the first book of an extensive series with 13 books so far and another 7 in the works.

Who or what influenced you to write it?

There are lots of fairy tales and bedtime stories around and many of them are quite violent and unsuitable for young children. This made Werner decide to write something different. On a flight from Europe to Australia he watched the movie ‘Magic on Belle Island’ with Morgan Freeman, where Freeman teaches a little girl to have imagination and write her first story. This inspired Werner as well and the first stories with his two characters Oliver, the elegant tomcat, and Jumpy, his kangaroo lady friend, made their appearance.

Did you do any specialised research for your story?

There was no need to research for the stories, but rather to find illustrators and the right software for doing the books and YouTube clips.

What challenges did you face while writing the story?

I simply had to try thinking like a small child and imagine their reactions.

Who is the protagonist?

Oliver, the elegant tomcat, is a know-it-all individual, who thinks he is the best, but is always helpful to others.

What would you say is the protagonist’s greatest weakness or obstacle and why?

Oliver does not like to get wet, but generally does not have any obstacles.

What would you say is the main antagonist’s greatest strength?

There is no common antagonist in this series. There are occasionally witches, magicians and giants.

Could you provide a short passage from your book to give us a taster?

Excerpt of the first Story

Do you like cats? Yes? I am glad, because I am a black cat with a white top hat. I have a few white spots on my fur too. Mum is white, you see! My name is Oliver. I am a very elegant tomcat with the shiniest coat in the world. I brush my fur every morning and always keep my nails trimmed! Of course, my hat is really refined too, which is another word for elegant.

Whenever you put on your new clothes, you can announce to everybody, “I am refined!” And everybody will think you are an elegant person. Well, enough of all that talk about me, although I can never talk too much about myself. I really think I am a cool cat. I love myself! Do you think this is naughty? You are probably right, but I can’t help it.

My best friend’s name is Jumpy. You guessed it. She likes to jump a lot, because she is a kangaroo! She is a great girl and she lets me ride in her pouch! I get in and Jumpy jumps away and away! That’s a lot of fun. I bet you would like to ride in her pouch too, wouldn't you? You are probably a bit too big. I am quite small, so it is OK. I love it, but after a while I need to rest. All that up and down makes me dizzy. It’s a bit like being on a roller coaster.

When you write, do write off-the-cuff or do you use some kind of formula?

I go through different scenarios of children’s stories and pick out one after the other.

How do you deal with writers-block?

I just pick a quiet spot, close my eyes and let my mind sail in the darkness. Eventually I can visualize an image which can become a story.

Preference for writing: Day or Night?

The night is for sleeping. I live very healthy.

What is your process for editing your work?

After the initial draft, I let the story rest for a while and then revisit. I revise a couple of times before letting my editor have it. English is not my mother tongue, so I need help with the grammar. It is usually a case of shifting the words into a different order.

How do you come up with your book covers?

The covers are the first page of the picture book with title rather than text.

Do you think the book cover is important?

Sure, covers are important. But with a series it is a little different. A series needs brand recognition. I prefer to keep them simple, but recognizable. There are so many beautiful covers out there that one looks like the other. Just look at romance books! There is either a beautiful muscle man on the cover or a couple kissing. They are all generic! A series needs to be recognizable at a glance!

Which publishing platform do you prefer and why?

I prefer eBooks on all eBook platforms. It is just so much simpler. Print-on-demand will be another option later on. If a publisher wants to bring my books into shops then I will look at that as well. I just don’t see any money in it here in Australia, where most chains have closed.

Do you face any daunting obstacles during the publishing process?

Sure, there is a lot of frustration on the way. Mainly the slow speed and incompetence of the all people involved. It is always a surprise if something works out properly. But that’s life! Expect the worst and be happy when things work out.

What methods do you use to promote your work?

Currently I am doing everything I can do to collect as many reviews as possible. This takes an enormous lot of time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Produce a good product and persevere with promotion. Nobody will do it as well as yourself!

Which social media platforms do you use the most?

I use Google+, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn.


When and how did you become a writer?

I have always been an avid reader and did like to write essays, newspaper articles etc. Of course there has always been the idea about that novel to be written. The problem with immigrants is that you lose a lot of ability in your mother tongue and you never gain full expertise with your second language. I found that not only did I have the language for novel writing, which could be overcome with ghost writers or good editors, but I simply did not have any plots to tell. But whoever looks after us decided to give me an option. On an West to East-bound flight with sleepless nights afterwards, the idea for my series was born. Through the first night I was somehow given the idea to write my stories for small kids as a series. I saw the two main characters before me and had the first three short stories in my mind when I got up in the morning. I wrote another story daily. They are now nearly 60. Two days later I thought it might be great to have them illustrated. I found several great illustrators who helped me to create the YouTube illustrations and now the ebooks. This series is still continuing. There will eventually be 20 books sometime by the end of the year. A TV series is next on the agenda.

What type of preparation do you do for a manuscript? Do you plan everything first or just shoot from the hip?

I used to get most ideas for a new story in the pool swimming. I have learned to see the story in pictures and write the text accordingly.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

I love doing my series, because I do almost everything myself. I write the story, source it out for illustrations, create the book and YouTube version on my iPad, do all promoting and so forth.

What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

Like most writers will know, promotions are the hardest.

What were you in a past life, before you became a writer?

Most likely a ruler of some sort. I should be now, but can’t be bothered to go into politics.

What is your greatest writing achievement? 

Just this series.

What are you working on at the moment?

Oliver and Jumpy will take the rest of my life to finish with other language version to follow.

What inspires you?

My daughter’s cat.

What genre do you write?

Children’s

Do you have any tips for new writers?

Get your work edited by a couple of people if you self-publish. I am still having things fixed!

Do you suffer from writer's block?

Not really.

Do you have a preferred writing schedule? 

Usually evenings.

Do you have a favourite writing place?

On the couch with the iPad.

What is your greatest joy in writing? 

Being creative.

Who is your favourite author and why? 

Nora Roberts. She is just so amazing with her 200 books. Of course they are much the same, but I love her language and stamina.

What's the greatest compliment that you have ever received from a reader?

That some of my stories are educational.

What was the worst comment from a reader? 

That I need to edit the stories. Still in the works!

Writers are sometimes influenced by things that happen in their own lives. Are you? 

Not in this case.

Other than writing, what else do you love? 

Reading, reading, reading, walking, travelling, architecture.

Did you have your book(s) professionally edited before publication? 

Unfortunately not. I was too full of myself.

Describe your perfect day. 

Do all socializing and promoting mornings and evenings over my iPad. Have very late lunch out and a late long walk down to the beach. House work as needed. Remember, we are retired. 

If you were stuck on a desert island with one person, who would it be and why?

Now that is a trick question, because I need to say: my wife! Hopefully she will never read this. I am not saying any name, but I guess, another writer with a lot of imagination and all around knowledge. Of course SHE would need to be pretty and interested in me as well. Otherwise it still may get boring.

What would you say if you had the chance to speak to world leaders? 

Wake up! War has never worked in the long run. Leave people live their own lives without interference; no matter how bad they manage their affairs. Look after your own people first of all. Do the best at home and look after your poor.

What are your plans for the future? 

Keep the series going, do other language versions, do a TV series and eventually create a new series with different characters.

What five books would you take to heaven? 

I only read books once. So I would take five new ones. All my books come from the library in large print. I still have 150 Nora Roberts novels to go. I buy the tissue boxes wholesale!

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? 

Yes, I am Oliver, the tomcat.

Does the publishing industry frustrate you? 

Doesn't it to everybody?

Did you ever think of quitting? 

No. I am not a quitter. I push things through no matter what.

What was your favourite manuscript to write and why?

I only do this series.

How would you define success as a writer? 

In the end success is measured in money. The majority of people on Amazon never sell any books. They would tell you about the satisfaction they get from writing and seeing their book published. B…! Everybody wants to sell books and see how successful they are!!!

What should readers walk away from your books knowing? How should they feel? 

Children should enjoy the drawings and the uncomplicated stories, maybe learn a little lesson now and then.


How much thought goes into designing a book cover? 

Well, everybody says covers sell the book. Thats why you see so many very good covers that you can’t make a choice. I have been told my covers are crap. But I believe in a series you need a uniform approach that brands the series. So I opted for simple covers. The pictures are taken out from the books. The great thing is that I do them myself as well and if you see my book between a hundred other covers, you will immediately remember that you have seen another book from this series.

What's your ultimate dream? 

Get invited by Ellen DeGeneres.

Writing is one thing. What about marketing you, your books and your brand? Any thoughts? 

I spend unlimited time on promoting and finding ways to promote. LinkedIn Groups are a fantastic place to find new ways. I spent hundreds of hours collecting emails of reviewers and manage to get 30 reviews within a short time.

Are your books self-published? 

Yes, I have an aggregator helping me with this, because I thought I save time. Bad news. I would have been faster doing everything myself in the end. After a year we are finally getting somewhere.

Describe yourself in five words.

Logical, efficient, motivated, individual, imaginative. Sorry if that sounds like Oliver!

What pisses you off most? 

Illogical, inefficient, unmotivated, sheep, unimaginative people.

What is the title of the last book you read?

One of fifty Nora Roberts books. I don’t even look at the titles anymore. I know the guys kiss after ten pages and have three times sex throughout the book.

What would be the very last sentence you'd write? 

The End.

What would make you happier than you are now? Would you care to share? 

Being able to look after our grandchildren.

Anything you'd like to add? 

Meow!

My website: http://www.bedtimestory4you.com

My Amazon author’s page: http://www.amazon.com/Werner-Stejskal/e/B00NFANG58

Author Interview | A.M. Griffin | The Guicai Talisman

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I'm a writer of all things sexy and not so sexy. LOL. I write erotica, paranormal, sci-fi, contemporary and monster porn. My latest genre is urban fantasy and I'm loving it! I've been published since 2012 and each year is getting better and better. This has been an awesome ride.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

My main character’s name is Babylonia Jones. She’s kick-ass, smart, funny, pretty and has a totally wicked life. She’s half-paranormal and half-human and because of that she doesn't fit in either world; human or paranormal, but she’s desperately trying to find her way. I like that she’s honest and most of all true to herself. Oh, and she also has some cool friends; Melia is a Vampire and Demarcus is a Demi-God. I could totally hang out with them.

What are you working on at the minute?

Currently I'm working on the fifth Babylonia Jones story, The God Killer, which will release in 2017. I'm stoked about it. Babylonia thinks she’s ready for her new life, but she has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

I was at a book conference and I saw this flyer of a woman with guns and the backdrop of the city. The picture on the flyer intrigued me so I tossed it in my bag and eventually took it home with me.I didn't do anything with the idea immediately but her presence was always in the back of my mind. It took about a year for me to finish up other projects and clear my plate. I reached out to some of my author friends and got their input on the name Babylonia Delilah Jones and from there she took shape. The Undercity Chronicles of Babylonia Jones, P.I. is unlike any other series that I've written. It’s gritty, fast paced and chopped full of action. Baby (as her friends call her) is a kick ass heroine who has a gun and isn't afraid to use it. While all my heroines have a special place in my heart, this one has definitely carved her name across it.

Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

While I write on the fly, meaning I'm a pantser at heart. I'm very rigid when it comes to editing. In the first read through I make sure to bring the story together. To tie up or identify all the loose ends. I refer to this part as “to making the story less stupid” lol. Then I go through and add more emotion and action and the last round is reserved for grammar and spelling. It’s a long process but it makes me and my editor very happy.

Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?

An editor friend Anya Richards edits all of my self-pubbed books. She’s awesome! We were friends before she became my editor and when I decided to delve into the self-pub world I went to her. We've been at this for almost two years and we know each other’s style which is very helpful. Plus if I have an editing question she is just a phone call away! SCORE!

Who designed your book cover/s?

I found a wonderful cover artist Erik Reeves. He’s awesome to work with. There’s nothing better than rambling about an idea and then to see it on paper a little while longer. I used to spend hours and days looking through stock photos and not finding the “right” look. Having someone draw my vision is just so much better.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1074398006

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guicai-talisman-am-griffin/1123251045;jsessionid=AAE7482B3254FCF71625A51724B6C156.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=2940152859485

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-guicai-talisman

ARE: Coming Soon! 

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

Amazon US

Author Interview | Steve Lawson | Giant Killers

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I was born and raised in Greenville, Texas. Greenville is a small town about 50 miles east of Dallas. I am a husband to the most beautiful woman in the world, father to three amazing girls, writer, speaker, pastor, entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast.

While in college, I taught gymnastics in the Dallas area and eventually opened my own gym. While coaching gymnastics, I began to sell equipment and eventually got into manufacturing. My company, Progressive Sports and Fitness, manufactured competition trampolines and tumbling floors which we sold all over the world. My tumbling floors are still used at every Power Tumbling World Championships as well as the USA National Championships.

After about ten years, my heart began to change as God began to call me into ministry. Through a series of events, God convinced my wife, Karen, and I to start a church (believe me, we put up a fight), and we planted Grace Community Church in my home town of Greenville, Texas in the spring of 1998. Just recently, after 17 years as the senior pastor, God began working on my heart again, and I stepped down to pursue writing and speaking full time.

My education consists of a bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. I absolutely hated school when I was younger. I managed to cram a four year bachelors program into seven years! I just told everyone that I was on the decade plan and got out early. Something must have changed, however, because after we started the church I went back to school and got a Master of Divinity (MDIV) from The King’s University, and followed that with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Amberton University and finally a Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) from Regent University.

So, what have you written?

I am the author of the newly released book Giant Killers: Overcoming Obstacles and Seizing Opportunities.

Whoop! What the Church Can Learn About Values and Organizational Culture from Texas A&M

Journal of Strategic Leadership, Vol. 3 Iss. 2, Winter 2011, Regent University

When Vision Isn’t Good Enough: The Role of Organizational Design in the 21st Century Church

Leadership Advance Online – Issue XXII, Regent University

Where can we buy or see them?

You can find my book on Amazon - http://amzn.to/226KyPT

You can find the articles on Regent University’s website - http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/journals.cfm

What are you working on at the minute?

I actually have several books in my projects folder, but the one I'm working on right now is called The Prevailing Marriage. 

The Prevailing Marriage outlines some of the foundational steps that it takes to go from a mediocre or even good marriage to a great marriage. I'm very excited about this book. My blog posts on marriage are consistently the most popular ones, so I'm excited about the potential this book has. Right now I am working hard to get this book finished in the next month or so, and have it published by the summer.

It is my opinion that marriages are not intended to merely survive, but to prevail. It actually is possible for your marriage to improve every year. You can be more in love, more passionately in love 20, 30, 40 years later than you ever thought possible. It takes a lot of hard work, but it’s possible. 

After I finish The Prevailing Marriage, I have a few other books in the conceptual and outline stage. I have one on what it takes to make those really hard choices that we are often faced with; decisions that will save the day for some and possibly ruin it for others. That book is currently titled Spear Decisions. I have another one about the power of forgiveness and what it takes to become free from bitterness - currently titled The Mulberry Tree. Both of those books are fully outlined with working chapter titles and descriptions. I have a leadership book I’d like to write one day, but I'm still in the conceptual stage on it, as well as a couple of others I'm toying with. Needless to say, in my career as a starving author, I have job security for the next few years. Hopefully that will change as I publish new books and my platform grows. I’ll keep you posted…

What draws you to this genre?

Honestly, I didn't think much about the genre that my book would be in. Of course I knew I was writing a Christian book, but my writing is driven by the things I'm passionate about, so that has determined the genre. I'm currently working on a marriage book, but it will still be in the Christian genre, and I imagine a marriage subcategory. I have a couple of others in the works that will most likely land back in the Christian/Personal Growth genre.

When did you decide to become a writer?

During my doctoral studies on strategic leadership (DSL) was when I really started writing. We were constantly writing academic articles, popular press pieces and consulting reports. For three years we wrote constantly, and our work was continually scrutinized. After publishing a couple of articles, I started to think that I may actually be able to something worth reading. I started to think I might actually have something to say. That was the genesis of my life as a writer.

Why do you write?

Honestly, the thing that drives me the most is that I want to make a difference in people’s lives. That’s why I write, that’s why I was a pastor, and that’s why I now travel all over the world (at my own expense) speaking at pastor’s conferences as often as I can, to train those that don’t have access to training or education. I believe deep in my heart, that God has given me a message to share with others. And it is my greatest desire to share that message with as many people as possible, in as many ways as possible.

Giant Killers is about breaking glass ceilings. It’s about discovering who you really are, who you are meant to become. But it’s more than just self-discovery, it’s about personal development and change. It’s a book that helps you develop the skill set necessary to face the struggles in your future with confidence.

We all face giants in our lives—challenges and obstacles that intimidate us, limit our potential, and keep us from moving forward. It’s easy to feel like David fighting Goliath. But like David, we can overcome any challenge, seizing with confidence the opportunities God places in our path. Giant Killers teaches you how to do so, providing a foundation on which you can build success after success. It all begins with you—and your willingness to trust in God’s grace.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

The concepts in my book are twofold; a study of emotional intelligence and how God’s grace informs and empowers emotional intelligence. As a former pastor, I found myself continually speaking about grace; what it is, it’s transforming power, how it changes the way we treat people, and how it changes us. As the topic of grace continually popped up in various messages, my understanding of it and realization of how much I did not know continued to grow.

For several years I toyed with the idea of writing a book on the subject of grace. But as I pursued the idea and talked with several friends that were authors or in the publishing world, I pretty much gave up on the idea. Grace has already been written about by many different authors and several big name authors. So for me, a small church pastor in a small town, to expect to be able to publish a book on grace that had any hope of gaining traction would be an exercise in futility. But it became my life message, and my passion for sharing that message grew.

During my doctoral studies on strategic leadership, emotional intelligence became my focus of study. I began to see it everywhere; especially the need for emotional intelligence in people’s lives. As a pastor, I deal with a lot of people, many of them on a deep level. I would help them as they dealt with various struggles, how they interact in relationships, and how they chose their careers and then experienced successes and failures in those careers. In doing so, I saw even more how an understanding of emotional intelligence, and the necessity to improve in the skill of emotional intelligence. This growth would make a huge difference in not only the quality of people’s personal lives, but their relationships and professional lives as well.

As I continued to research and study emotional intelligence, I began to see the correlation of various aspects of God’s grace with the five main components of emotional intelligence. Then, as I began to rewrite and transition an academic paper into a book that the public could relate to and enjoy, and as I expanded each chapter and delved more deeply into each concept, I became even more excited at the possibility that something I wrote could actually help change lives.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

I would have to say part time.

There are several things that seem to keep me busy. In addition to writing, I also coach a few CrossFit classes every week. I have a separate company that specializes in emotional intelligence and leadership training. In addition, I do five or six pastor’s conferences around the world in with an organization called Global Advance.

I have always fairly passionate about personal health and physical fitness. I have lifted weights since high school, and about four years ago began CrossFit training. Being the father of three girls, I've always said that I want to be in better shape than any of the boys they bring home. So I have had some extra motivation to stay in shape. 

I tried out CrossFit a few years ago because my workouts and stagnant, and I was no longer pushing myself. After trying it out I got hooked like many people do, and now I'm a certified coach and even compete in Masters (a polite term for old people) competitions once in a while. CrossFit is not for everyone, but it definitely helped me increase intensity of my workouts, and at 50 years old I'm in the best shape of my life.

In researching for my book, Giant Killers, I became certified as an emotional intelligence consultant and trainer. This enabled me to not only teach a course on the subject, but also administrate the EQ-I 2.0 emotional intelligence assessment developed by Multi-Health Systems Inc. Following a discussion with a friend of mine a few months ago, I decided to start Leadership Transformation Inc., a company focused on emotional intelligence and leadership training. Right now still in the launch process, but I've already done several seminars, and as the company grows I plan to limit my seminars to no more than two or three a month.

Last February I stepped down as senior pastor of the church my wife and I helped start 18 years ago. One of the reasons that I stepped down was to have more time to write. But another passion that I would really wanted to pursue more fully was the pastor’s conferences that I had done with Global Advance. 

Twenty-five years ago Global Advance by Dr. David Shibley to train pastors in the remote areas of the world where the pastors don’t have access to formal training. So Global Advance began sending pastors from the United States to do training conferences as well as more in-depth training for these men and women.

As a senior pastor, I really only had time to do one conference a year. This year I will do six conferences, and plan to add three or four more next year. These trips are solely at my expense, so obviously there are financial constraints, but I have had a few people committed to helping me cover my expenses, which is allowed me to take more trips. 

So far I have traveled to Columbia multiple times, Brazil, Peru, Turkey, Moscow, Mexico, and later this year I’m helping with the conference in Nepal. But that’s only a few of the places where we go, so the opportunities are virtually endless. Having the opportunity, privilege, and the honor to invest in these men and women, who have given up everything for the sake of the gospel, is truly one of the most rewarding things that I do.

Where do your ideas come from?

The ideas from my books come from life. They come from my interaction with people as a pastor. The come from my observation of people’s struggles and successes and greatest needs. The information comes from lots of reading, lots of research, and lots of prayer.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

The first difficulty in writing any book is simply the discipline of writing. For some writers they may find it easy to find time to sit down and write, and the words flow easily onto the page. For others, and I am definitely in this category, writing is a discipline just as much as it is an inspirational or creative process. This means hours staring at a computer screen and feeling like you have nothing to say. Or it may mean writing for hours, only to highlight all of it and hit ‘delete.’ But I found that I still have to sit down in front of my computer every day and ‘work’ at my writing.

What I found most difficult in writing Giant Killers was the transition from an academic document to a book that people would actually want to read. I didn't want to simply produce information, I wanted to produce a book that people would want to read. I also wanted my book to be one that would be easy to understand and relate to. So with my doctoral project as foundation, I began the re-writing and revising process to turn an academic project into a book.

But I didn't want to just change the language and the use less syllables in my words, I wanted my writing to have a certain feel. When someone reads one of my books I want them to experience it. As they read each paragraph, each page, each chapter, I want them to do so with a sense that they are sitting in a coffee shop with me talking. I spent an extensive amount of time editing, sometimes down to words and phrases, with that single thought in mind. I want people to read my books and feel as if they are talking with me. I want them to feel as if they know me, who I am as a regular, normal, everyday person, rather than an impersonal collection of opinions and information.

It’s important to me as a speaker and as a writer that I connect with my audience. Even as I just wrote that sentence I really don’t like the word ‘audience.’ It’s too impersonal. I never want come across that way. I had a saying as a pastor that I wanted to do everything within my power to “decrease the distance between the platform and the chairs.” Too many times there’s a disconnect between the speaker or author in those with whom they are attempting to communicate. And one of my main goals has always been to present myself in such a way that people can identify with me as a person and connect with me as a regular, normal everyday guy, rather than some expert who has said or written something that they need to hear.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

My doctoral project took about four months to complete. Because my book was originally my final project for my doctoral degree, it read way too much like an academic document to be anywhere close to ready for publishing. In addition, I had to find an angle that would appeal to a larger audience. I mean a book on how God’s grace informs and empowers emotional intelligence isn't the most attractive of concepts to the general public. So in a moment of inspiration, I chose the story of David and Goliath as my launching point for the book, and continued to use David’s life as a great warrior and King as my running metaphor.

I wanted to show how important it is to develop the skills related to emotional intelligence and how they impact everyday life. I wanted to show how they not only enable us to overcome difficulties, but also how they set us up for success. In addition, I see so clearly how an understanding and acceptance of God’s grace brings supernatural power to the process. So the story of a teenage boy killing a giant seem like a good place to start. It is a story familiar to many, and is very inspirational to those of us facing our own giants in life. 

So I basically rewrote the entire book and revised as I went. I imagine that I am similar to most authors in that I revised, then revised some more, then edited, then rewrote, then revised again, and eventually had to simply declare it “done.” This process took about 6 months.

Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.

Wow, the answer to this question could be a long story filled with false starts, wasted money, and stupid decisions. I chose to self-publish my book and actually went through three self-publishing companies (insert long story here) before landing with Amazon’s Create Space.

I actually began with a company called Winepress. According to their website and several review boards, Winepress had been in the self-publishing business for decades. They actually designed my cover, and that is still basically the cover that I'm using today. Unfortunately, they suddenly went out of business before we got much more done than the cover design. 

It actually turned out to be good for me that they went out of business, but I'm going to leave that in the “stupid decisions” category and let that story remain a mystery for now. However, I like the cover that Winepress designed. So when I teamed up with the designers at Create Space, I sent them the photo used in my cover. They then sent me two options, one of which was with my photo and some improvements on the cover. I really like their improvements and stuck with my original cover design.

How are you publishing this book and why?

I chose to self-publish. I was still a small church pastor from a small town in Texas. I was essentially a nobody in the eyes of the publishing world. I did not have a national platform or really any way to market and sell books. So even if I went through the work of sending out hundreds of book proposals and dealing with hundreds of rejections, I saw little hope and actually landing a publishing deal. So I chose to forgo the process altogether and went straight to self-publishing.

I self-published initially through Westbow Publishers. I later left Westbow and went with a new publisher who gave me much higher royalties, and promised a fairly involved marketing plan. I discovered within a few months that this publisher was not up to the task (I could write a book on stupid decisions, but that story is for another time…and kind of long…), and eventually landed with Create Space - Amazon’s self-publishing company. Create Space has done a fantastic job and I couldn't be happier with them. However, for my expanded distribution I am using Ingram Spark.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

Because of my history, the first thing that comes to mind is doing your research in choosing who will publish your book. Check the history of the publishing company. Check the reviews. Contact several of their authors if possible. Compare their royalty rates with several other companies. Be sure and check their track record with other books similar to yours. Then choose the company best suited to help you reach your goals.

Secondly, develop a marketing plan. I didn't do this at all. I had no clue how I to market my book. I didn't know what a pre-launch was, or what I was going do after the book was published. Honestly, I'm still a little fuzzy on all of that. It’s quite possible, depending on your experience or lack thereof, that the development of your marketing plan will take just as much time and effort as it took to write and publish your book. But however long it takes, put in the work. It will save you time, money, and a lot of stress if you do.

Third, make sure your online presence is on point. Have your website, blog, social media, etc. ready to go in sync with your launch. If they all exist and you’re well-established online, that’s even better. But you still need to be ready to sync them up with the theme of your book so that you have a coordinated approach to your online marketing.

Then, after your book is released; work the plan. Follow through with your marketing plan. Continue to develop your website, blog and social media. And continue to research different ways to market your book. And while doing all of that, start your next book.

Do you think that giving books away free works and why?

When I finally published my book through Create Space, I enrolled the Kindle edition into Amazon’s Kindle Select program. I have done one three-day giveaway, and almost 2000 people downloaded my book. It seems to have made very little difference in terms of book sales. It would be nice if it would have; but at this point one of my main objectives is getting my name out there, and the giveaway has at least helped with that.

In what formats is your book available?

Paperback and Kindle

How do you relax?

My wife and I love to travel. When I was pastor, I maximize my vacation time, and we usually ended up going somewhere. In addition to vacationing in the US, we have had the privilege of touring parts of Italy, spending a little over a week in London, and we go to Mexico and spend a week on the beach at least once a year.

I'm also a bit of a fitness nut, so you can find me in the gym for five days a week. I have always fairly passionate about personal health and physical fitness. I have lifted weights since high school, and about four years ago began CrossFit training. Being the father of three girls, I've always said that I want to be in better shape than any of the boys they bring home. So I have had some extra motivation to stay in shape. 

I tried out CrossFit a few years ago because my workouts and stagnant, and I was no longer pushing myself. After trying it out I got hooked like many people do, and now I'm a certified coach and even compete in Masters (a polite term for old people) competitions once in a while. CrossFit is not for everyone, but it definitely helped me increase intensity of my workouts, and at 50 years old I'm in the best shape of my life.

I also still love to hang out with my girls and son-in-law. Our girls are grown now, but we have a great relationship with all of them. So we make an effort to spend time with them whenever their home or close by. That may take the form of a daddy/daughter date night or family game night. They will even go to the hunting ranch with me. It doesn't really matter what we do as long as we get to spend some time together.

Most importantly, I love hanging out with my wife. I happen to be married to the hottest, most beautiful, most amazing woman in the world. We've been married for 27 years and we’re more passionately in love and happier than we've ever been. And, surprisingly enough, we actually like each other and like spending time together. So whether it’s our weekly date night, going out with friends on the weekend, or take a couple of days off do a quick trip somewhere, we have a great time.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

The main thing I would say is, find your voice. Decide the way that you are going to communicate, and spend time developing that. Don’t try to emulate someone else. And don’t be afraid to experiment and learn. It takes time and practice to develop the unique way in which you are going to communicate. Be yourself, find your voice. After all, it is your name that will be on the front cover.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

I'm very passionate about the message of Giant Killers and its ability to be transformational in someone’s life. All of us face obstacles. All of us deal with struggles that we can’t seem to overcome. And all of us, at one time or another, have had opportunities pass us by because we weren't prepared or confident enough to take them on. 

I believe that can change. I believe that we can develop the skills and character qualities necessary to take on both obstacles and opportunities with confidence. And I believe with all my heart that God’s grace has tremendous power that we have yet to understand. And I am convinced that He is not only willing and able, he wants us to experience that power more than we ever will. And I believe that the combination of the skills and character qualities found in emotional intelligence combined with the power of God’s grace have the potential to make us an unstoppable force.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website Address: www.stevelawson.us

Twitter Address: https://twitter.com/steveatgrace

Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/dr.steve.lawson

Goodreads Address: https://www.goodreads.com/SteveLawson

LinkedIn Address: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doclaw