'Wired' - An Author Interview with Martha Randolph Carr

How did you find your agent?

I was introduced to my agent, Rachelle Gardner with WordServe Literary by a mutual friend four years ago who was represented by the same agency and we hit it off right away. Rachelle loves thrillers and in particular my style of thriller. There are lots of ways to find an agent but doing a lot of research beforehand is definitely the best way to go. Who likes the very specific genre you’re working in and has repped similar books? Then get the elevator pitch down and put that in the opening paragraph. Not ‘why this story is great’ but why this book will sell. Writing is this wonderful art form that has to mesh with the nuts and bolts of business. There’s nothing wrong with that and being able to do that can even result in a better book.


What do you do when you get writers block?

I have things I do to prevent writers block especially since I write based on deadlines and the other end really doesn’t care about my lack of a muse. I never end a writing day at the end of a chapter. While things are still hot I write the first page of the next chapter. I make extensive notes about the backgrounds of the characters, the era they live in and what they’re struggling with and use those notes to move forward. And, if I really need to I have a couple of people I can call who will talk plot with me as if the characters existed. Like fictional gossip and that helps to get me going.


How many hours a week do you spend writing? Editing? Procrastinating?

My entire work week consists of writing whether it’s for me or someone else (I also ghost write books and write interactive web copy and SEO) I edit as I write and then put down the piece for a day and come back to edit more. Procrastination to me is just the mind’s way of mulling things over and spitting something creative back out to put down on paper.


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

I’ve been writing for a long time, which means there was raising of children and taking care of parents and other life events that took some mixing in as well. With that in mind it takes me about 8 months to finish a thriller so that it’s ready for Rachelle to see.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on The Keeper, the sequel to The List, which Rachelle is currently showing to publishers. It’s a thriller about a happy American family caught between two old political powers that have always existed behind the scenes, invisible to most of the public. The sides have battled over control for hundreds of years, actively recruiting new members at a young age to groom them for politics, Wall Street, corporate corner offices and the military. However, families find out a little too late that once they’ve joined, there’s no ‘out’ clause.
Wallis Jones is the wife of Norman, mother to Ned and a successful attorney living the good life but she’s about to find out that she’s also a pawn in the deadly games of two powerful global secret societies at war with each other and her loved ones are the ultimate prize.


Do you use a professional editor, critique partners, or beta readers? Briefly describe your process.

I have belonged to small writers groups in the past where we critiqued a chapter every month of each other’s work and I found that to be very helpful. It gave me outside opinions and an artificial deadline. But I’m on my 8th or 9th book (6th of my own – the rest were ghost written) and I let Rachelle see it first these days.


Which is the most important social media platform and why? Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn, or any other one you use.

I’m on all of them including LibraryThing and Shelfari and I think it’s important to make a presence on all of them but remember to not make myself crazy. I have them all interconnected, along with my mystery blog www.marthacarr.com so that I don’t have as much repetition and I try to be a listener on those sites as well as a content provider.


What are three resources/web sites that are indispensable for authors?

Rachelle’s web site, www.RachelleGardner.com has won awards for three years in a row from Readers Digest and packs in information about how to get published, how to market yourself as an author. www.NovelPublicity.com does a great job of showing people how to use social media to their advantage in new and clever, cost-effective ways and www.FundsforWriters.com by Hope Clark is one of the oldest writer sites that includes jobs, grants, news, publishers and agent info.


Is there anything else you would like to share?

Wired is an amazing thriller and when it first came out I went on a country-wide book tour dotting the entire country. Every time I did an appearance someone came up to me clutching the book and would then lean in to tell me a secret they had kept for years that was swallowing up their life. The look of release and joy on their face was magical and left me feeling humbled that they entrusted me with their secret. I always encouraged them to go and tell others and really set themselves free. Plus, I love how many times reviewers have said the book scared them till they had to lock the front door or check the windows. That’s what I hope for as a thriller author – not gross you out or horrify you – slowly scare you by what you’re worried may come next.



Tour Notes:

Enter to win 1 of 3 free paperback copies of this novel on the official Wired blog tour page. The winner of the give-away will be announced on Wednesday, October 26 – be sure to enter before then! Just can't wait to read Wired? Pick up your copy in the Kindle, Nook, or iTunes stores or visit Smashwords with the coupon code AK95A to receive a discounted price (just $2)!

Don't forget to vote for my blog, Indie Writers Zone, in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins an Amazon gift card and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official Wired blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

Learn more about this author by visiting her website, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with her on Twitter. You'll definitely want to check out Martha's Mystery Blog--each week a new short thriller is serialized Monday through Friday. The entries are nice and short, easy to read via smart phone or tablet. It's all at www.MarthaCarr.com.

Indie Book Blowout!

This Labor Day weekend is an ebook lover’s dream come true! Over 100 authors, over 130 titles, all priced to 99 cents as part of a Labor Day weekend sale to remember. It is the first annual Indie Book Blowout!

We are talking award-winners! Best sellers! All genres! New releases! All priced down to 99 cents PLUS, if you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll be entered to win a brand new KINDLE and $100 in gift card giveaways.

Just head to http://IndieBookBlowout.com, shop, click, buy and enjoy! 

Happy weekend and happy reading!!

The Menace of Obesity by Oliver Greene

Over the last two to three decades, over nutrition and obesity have been transformed from relatively minor public health issues to a major threat to public health. The aim of this book is to show how serious obesity is and what needs to be done in order to solve the issue. It is important that anyone who is overweight or obese people know about their condition and learn that there is a solution to their weight issues and there are steps that they can take. Laid out in a modular fashion—each concept building on the next—The Menace of Obesity will help those affected to get started.

See http://www.The-Menace-Of–Obesity.com

You can purchase on the web site.

Oliver Greene has written what is an indispensable new book for every parent in the World…The Menace of Obesity I can highly recommend it for its enlightening insights, and its nutritional management for our children today." 
— Terry Leahy , Life Change Councillor.

This is enormously one of the greatest books on Child Obesity that you can buy. You will not regret having purchased it. Put Oliver Greene’s book “The Menace of Obesity” information and suggestions to work for you and live a recovered, healthier lifestyle.
— Grace, New York

Would you like to see your book here? Leave a comment and we will get back to you.

Author Interview - Attila Nemeti

This is a journey through nine countries of a young innocent globalized immigrant to find a new life and settle in the USA. An autobiography of different cultures, societies and people. This is not about good luck or good fortune but struggle to success. This story is about birth and death and rebirth, rising and falling like our breath, moment by moment. This story is about loneliness, homelessness, opportunity, uncertainty, drugs, prison-life and the American dream.

"...I am lucky to get to know Attila personally and I hope the people reading the book will get closer to him. Finishing the book, the words of Hamlet by Shakespeare will come to their mind "... There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy"."
Janos Brody - Recording Artist

"This book is worth the read. Attila has had a very interesting life. His journey is a testament to the phrase 'Perseverance furthers'."
Alan Edward Bell - Feature Film Editor
Water for Elephants

"Stepping Through is a unique tale of one man's life. Attila Nemeti exposes the American reader to experiences that seem unimaginable. The story of his struggle is engaging and eye-opening to many things I've taken for granted by being born in the USA."
Christine Schneider

Would you like me to put up your book? Just leave a comment...

Bestseller For A Day August 17th - In Leah’s Wake

Today, August 17th, is Terri Giuliano Long’s big day! Her award-winning novel IN LEAH’S WAKE, is the featured book for BESTSELLER FOR A DAY. The premier promotion of the Indie Book Collective, BESTSELLER FOR A DAY is designed to push indie authors to the top of the Kindle charts!

(Don’t have a Kindle? Grab a FREE Kindle app here.)

What does all this mean exactly? How does this involve me? What do I do?

For you, the reader, it’s easy AND fun! Today through midnight:

1.  Go to Amazon.com and purchase Terri’s eBook In LEAH’S WAKE for only 99 cents! (The normal price is $2.99 so you save two dollars.) Terri loves when readers save money! They can buy more books! Like these 4 breathtaking bonus buys, on sale this week ONLY for just 99¢ each: BELLA, THE TRUST, SOPHIE & CARTER, and CHASING AMANDA

2.  Your purchase helps show the big boys in NY publishing houses what indie authors can do! Every purchase improves Terri’s ranking on the overall Amazon chart. Our goal is to get her eBook, out of the millions of eBooks, onto the Kindle Top 100!

IN LEAH’S WAKE, the BOOK BUNDLZ 2011 BOOK CLUB PICK, has already hit #7 on the Barnes & Noble Nook Bestseller List! And #14 on Amazon’s Books/Parenting & Families/Family Relationships chart! How awesome is that? Terri’s positively amazed! She had to pinch herself to prove she wasn’t just dreaming!

The Top 100 chart takes serious firepower! To do it, she needs your help!

Please shout her out to your Twitter stream, Facebook friends, friends and family, even your dog. Reviewers have called IN LEAH’S WAKE: “a stellar debut,” “engrossing, “a book for our times.” One reviewer said: “no one who reads this book can remain untouched or unmoved.” Another said Terri’s writing is “superb, compelling, and leaves a serious impact!”

So…what are you waiting for?

3.      Once you purchase her book, head over to the Bestseller For A Day site and enter to win a brand new KINDLE – Terri’s way of showing appreciation for your effort and support!

4.      Wait! There’s more! How about this? 4 MORE AMAZING reads – only 99¢ each! BELLA, by D.C. journalist Steve Piacente, a hotbed of danger and intrigue in the U.S. Military. THE TRUST by Sean Keefer, an award-winning, knock-your-socks-off legal thriller. CHASING AMANDA, a luminous, must-read thriller by award winner Melissa Foster. And, last but definitely not least, SOPHIE & CARTER, a rocking YA romance by Wonder Woman Chelsea Fine, one of Amazon’s hottest new authors!

5.  If you’re still not sure you should part with that buck and maybe win a brand new KINDLE, here are 45 – yep, 45 – outstanding 4 & 5-star reviews that may change your mind. It’s hard to part with your cash in this economy. We get it completely. Look at it this way: your 99 cents is an investment in a powerful and compelling family story, a great read. What’s more, it’s an investment in all indie authors trying to prove their worth.

Terri appreciates all the love and support you’ve shown her these past few months, pushing IN LEAH’S WAKE up the charts and onto the Barnes & Noble Nook Bestseller List. We can’t wait to see what Wednesday brings!

Please go directly to In LEAH’S WAKE now to purchase Terri’s book or to the BestSeller For A Day site for more details. If you have questions or comments, feel free to email Terri at terri@tglong.com or visit her blog. You can also catch her on Twitter or Facebook or Goodreads. When she’s not writing or gabbing with friends on a social networking site, she can be found at Boston College, where she teaches creative & nonfiction writing.

Comments welcome! Retweets and mentions greatly appreciated!!

Interested in participating in Bestseller For A Day as a Bonus Buy book? We’re always on the lookout for great indie books to include in our promotions! What’s required? You must be available in eBook format, be on Twitter, and have a blog. Want more info? Contact us at indiebookibc@gmail.comfor more information!

***

The Indie Book Blowout powered by IBC and the 99¢ Network!

THIS Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, prepare your e-reader for Bargain eBook BLISS!

All ebooks! All genres! All at 99 cents! All Labor Day weekend long.

Plus a chance to win a KINDLE just by signing up for the newsletter!

Check it out NOW! www.indiebookblowout.com

Authors, to get your ebook listed in this phenomenal event, just click HERE for details. The cut off date for entrance is August 26th!

Once Upon a Star - Celebrity kiss and tell stories by Peggy Trentini

"Once Upon a Star"is a true autobiography about a young Hollywood ingénue, who finds herself looking for love in all the wrong places of La La land. Peggy bears her heart and soul in her quest for love amongst Hollywood's most elite players. Her naivety will break your heart and make you laugh as she skips from one relationship to another, always believing that love would find her. This is a story that encompasses the sorrow and triumph of living in the celebrity fantasy world. "Once Upon a Star" is a story very seldom presented with such candor and truth. Journey along with Peggy's anecdotal celebrity relationships and flings with such stars as Sylvester Stallone, Billy Idol, Mick Jagger, Nicholas Cage, Sean Penn, Kevin Costner, Johnny Depp , Vince Neil, Sting and many others. Juicy and thought provoking, you will not want to put this one down.

Available at Amazon
Visit the website

If you would like your book featured here, just ask!

Is Writing A Book Like Following A Recipe?

It depends. Of course it does. It depends on many factors. It also depends on what kind of a cook you are. If you’re the kind of cook that never follows a recipe and just adds things as you go, then the chances are that’s just how you’ll write your book too. Good luck!

Me? I’m a little more organized than that. In my work life I’m a project manager, and project managers have to be well organized and structured. They also have to be able to react to change and manage risks and things that may (and do) go wrong. I think it’s pretty good training for writing a book!

So how exactly do I write a book? Let’s start at the beginning (and I want to add a comment here that due to the fact this is a blog post, the following process has been summarized). First off I have an idea for a story. It’s usually something really simple, and there are a few characters involved; the protagonist and the antagonist. Oh, and some kind of setting and back-story too. I usually write this down – a few bullet points – and then I let it sit and bake for a while. I come back to it from time to time and then add a few more notes. Eventually there comes a time when I’m ready to structure the story properly. I decide on the length I want it to be (80k – 120k depending on audience, genre, etc.), and I also decide on the number of chapters I want to write. 

This is where my project management experience kicks in. I know from personal experience that for every plot point I create, I will write somewhere between 400 and 600 words of story. This means that if I want to write an 80k word book, I’m going to need about 160 plot points. That’s a lot of things happening in a story!  My first job – before I write a single word – is to create at least half (preferably two thirds) of those plot points. This gives me a firm basis and direction for my book and also allows me to add other storylines as the book develops and gets ‘its own life.’ Then I write the book.

Okay, easy part done! Next I like to let my newly written manuscript sit for a while (just like letting bread prove). I don’t touch it for at least a month – preferably two – so that I can mostly forget about it. Then I come back to it anew and re-read it, editing as I read. It’s easy this time through to spot parts that don’t work or need changing somehow. After this is done the manuscript is ready to send out to a team of pre-readers (as I call them). These are people who are prepared to read through my manuscript at least three times, looking for different things including plot and character inconsistencies, grammar, spelling, parts of the story that don’t work, and all sorts of other things. I require my pre-readers to give me written reports that follow a strict template.

Next comes the final edit. I take all the feedback I have received and decide which I want to take and which I don’t (it’s still my story after all), and then I make my edits. One final reread and the manuscript is probably good to go. This just leaves covers, book blurb, pricing, marketing, press releases, advanced reader copies (ARCs) – for reviews - and all that great stuff to organize.

End to end timing? Wow, that’s a tough question. It depends on the actual writing part. I try and allow a month to let the story grow inside me, then a further week or so to flesh it out before I write. Then I write it. This usually seems to take about 3 months. Then a month to let it sit, a week to make edits, another month to get feedback from pre-readers, a week to make final edits and another couple of weeks to finalize all the other details. 

All in all, it’s about a 7 month process, end to end for an 80k novel. I’m sure some people can do it quicker and some people take longer. Just remember, you get one shot at your reader, so don’t rush the process – it will show through in the final product. We all want to start earning money off the book tomorrow, but a book is on sale forever and can generate revenue for years. Think about that when you come to the editing process. Spending quality time before the book goes on sale in order to create a better book is well worth it. Good luck!

John Cox

Tel: 206-228-6006

"This world is not my home; I'm just passing through"

Follow me on Twitter: @jcx27

Read me online at: http://pauldorset.blogspot.com

Books available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

IBC Author Workshops

We love the Indie Book Collective! A ton of information for the independent author all in one place. 

There are author workshops (see below), articles, a blog talk radio show, tutorials, tips, author resources and more.

1) SOCIAL MEDIA FOR WRITERS:                 COST: FREE    

TRAINER: RACHEL THOMPSON AKA @RACHELINTHEOC

WHEN: FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH (UNLESS THERE’S A HOLIDAY; THEN IT’S THE FIRST WEDNESDAY)

DETAILS: This workshop goes over the basics of an author’s social media platform.  The workshop covers your need to brand yourself.  Focusing on Twitter, Rachel goes behind the blue curtain, reviewing all the specifics every other needs to know, not only to increase their reader’s base and create a marketing tool to help sell more books.

Specifics covered include follower/following ratios, content vs. promo tweets and ratios, all things lists, branding, bio/avatar/background review, retweet specifics, shortening links, what “banking” tweets means, third-party apps, memes, #MentionMonday, Klout, and more...you do NOT want to miss this workshop! 

2) FACEBOOK/GOODREADS:                COST: $15 (via PayPal)

TRAINER: AMBER SCOTT AKA @AMBERSCOTTBOOKS

WHEN: FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

DETAILS: Amber goes into all the specifics of creating and maintaining a robust and interactive Facebook profile, page and presence– a critically important plank of any author’s writer’s platform! She has lots of tips and tricks for you to help you increase fans that can help turn them into readers. 

In addition, Amber gives a great overview of Goodreads and how it benefits all authors, what it is, and how authors should use it to interact with and gain readers. A great workshop! 

1. BLOGGING (WORDPRESS & BLOGGER)      COST: $15 (via PayPal)

TRAINER: AMBER SCOTT AKA @AMBERSCOTTBOOKS

WHEN: SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

DETAILS: Not sure you need a blog to sell books? Wrong! Amber reviews the two most popular free blogging platforms, WordPress and Blogger, and everything you need to get started to have you blogging like a pro in no time! Hints, tips, & insider tricks you can immediately apply.

4) EFORMATTING                       COST: $15 (via PayPal)

TRAINER: AMBER SCOTT AKA @AMBERSCOTTBOOKS

WHEN: THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

DETAILS: Formatting an eBook can seem like rocket science, or at least as intimidating. Amber walks you through the steps as she live formats a book then illustrates publishing it to both Amazon AND Smashwords! She’s our IBC resident eBook formatting expert and you want to learn from her. This is definitely a fabulous workshop at a reasonable price you don’t want to miss!

5) AMAZON OPTIMIZATION                    COST: $15 (via PayPal)

TRAINER: CAROLYN MCCRAY AKA @CRAFTYCMC

WHEN: FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (BARRING HOLIDAYS)

DETAILS: Carolyn is a social media and publishing consultant.  She will show you how to optimize your digital sales platform (we concentrate on Amazon, however the techniques we teach can be used across any platform) to maximize your book sales.  After going through the basic process, if time allows, Carolyn will take volunteers to critique their Amazon.com page LIVE. 

You will come out of this value-priced workshop with the tools to transform your digital book sales.

Find out more at IndieBookIBC@gmail.com 

Guest Post by Author Boyd Lemon

Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages

By Boyd Lemon

Twelve years after my third divorce I began writing a memoir about my marriages.  Digging Deep: A writer Uncovers His Marriages has just been released by the publisher, Outskirts Press.*  My journey in writing the memoir was excruciatingly painful, but in the end healed me and brought me the peace that I had never achieved by simply “moving on” after each divorce.  I believe the book can help others to deal with issues in their own relationships.

The impetus for writing the memoir came from a suggestion by the then 26 year old woman whom I call Kate in the memoir.  After 40 plus years practicing law in California, I had moved to Boston to live platonically with Kate, a singer-songwriter attending a music college in Boston.  Guided by her critiques and encouragement I had written a dozen short stories before I left California and continued writing short fiction and a few essays in Boston.

I wanted to write, and I knew I needed a change from life in California where my four children and grandchildren lived.  Boston is a writing city, and I had always enjoyed it when I had visited.  Kate could continue helping me with my writing.  She is a talented writer and teacher, despite her youth.

I didn’t go to Boston intending to write a memoir.  I was itching to write a book, and, of course, a novel came to mind.  When I mentioned that to Kate, she suggested I write a memoir about my three marriages.  “There’s gold there,” she said.  Encouraged by Kate, I started drafting the memoir, not having any idea how it would make me feel.  I finished the first draft six months later.  It was painful reliving the incidents of conflict in my marriages and how it affected my four children, but I had no idea how painful what was to come would be. 

When Kate read the draft, she said it didn’t work, that I could do better.  She advised me to throw it away and start over.  I needed to understand and write about my role in the destruction of my marriages, she said.  I realized she was right.  With her help, the help of another mentor, the great writing teacher and writer, Natalie Goldberg, and dogged persistence, I began digging and meditating and agonizing and thinking and digging some more, and what I came up with as I wrote shocks me even now.  What I had buried was astounding.  The process was excruciating, but in the end healed me.  I learned that writing can do that.

I submitted it to three different editors, in addition to Kate, and a proofreader and revised it numerous times.  Rather than wait the months, sometimes years, that it takes an unknown author to find an agent and then a publisher, I sent it to an author services, print-on-demand publisher, Outskirts Press.  They were a pleasure to work with and put up with my numerous changes and edits before I finally approved the final proofs.  

At the urging of several artists, I used a drawing that I had done of myself for the cover.  That was a thrill to see in itself.  I am hopeful that people will be attracted by it, buy the book and benefit by it.  Relationships these days are terribly difficult, and I feel privileged to write a book that I think might help people understand and deal with their relationships.

*Digging Deep: A Writer Uncovers His Marriages is available on Boyd Lemon’s website, http://www.BoydLemon-Writer.com in print and Kindle formats, or, if you prefer, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and by order from your local bookstore.

Thanks for visiting Boyd, best of luck with the book!!

Patricia

Great Book Covers - A Chat With Designer Robin Ludwig

Authors Zoe Winters and Kait Nolan have both said that you are fabulous, why is that? :)

They did!? Both Zoe and Kait are fantastic. I believe that the writers I work with give the design inspiration for all of the cover designs I create. I am simply the tool they choose to make their visions a reality. It’s a team process and I love that I have had the opportunity to work with authors of all genres.

How important is it to have a really good book cover?

Good packaging is key no matter what you are trying to sell. It is the first thing a buyer or reader, in this case, sees. A good cover design will give a great first impression. With as many print books and ebooks as there are available, making a statement with your cover can determine the success of the book.

How long does it take to get a cover done?

The finished design work only takes about one week. Finding the right photography and creating comps can take a bit longer. The more clear or precise an author is on what they want, the faster the process will go. I always try to respond to inquiries within two business days.

What if an author has no idea what they want, can you help out?

Sure. That’s part of my job. Narrowing down the focus of the design can be as simple as asking a few questions. Should the design focus on the characters or the setting? Realistic or abstract? Dark or light? Is there another cover design that they like?  Once answered, we just need to choose imagery that fits.

What are the most important elements of a great book cover?

Good color, proportion, and merging of elements. If there are people on the design, make sure they look real and fit the “feeling” of the book. If the story is a darker one, the cover design should convey that. Most importantly, make sure to appeal to your target readers.

Can you suggest a site where authors can get good photos?

There are a ton of great stock image websites online. I am currently working with Dreamstime.com (http://www.dreamstime.com/res2740232-free-stock-photos). They have one of the most flexible and simple stock licenses I have found as well as a fantastic selection of stock.

What other services do you offer?

I own a design and printing business, which specializes in custom design and print services such as, business cards, bookmarks, postcards, magnets, trading cards and more. We also offer website design and management. Please feel free to visit our business website for more information: http://www.rldprint.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Just to have confidence in their work and to make sure it shows in design, marketing and networking. Get out there and promote. Bloggers and readers love to share, so make connections and the story will sell itself.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am honored to be interviewed. I laugh with Zoe all the time that I am just a designer. She is amazed when I still gush over her being an author.  Designers and authors are much alike in their mindsets. We are creating something we love and hope others do as well.

Thanks so much Robin!

Patricia

Professional Editing Is A Must!

Lynn O'Dell of Red Adept Reviews has now ventured into editing!  Here she is to tell us all about it...

We know a lot about your reviewing side but what about your editing side.  How did all that come about?

I think I have always wanted to be an editor. When I began reviewing, I would be most irritated with those books I read that had terrific story lines, but poor editing, causing me to have to lower the star rating.

I soon realized that part of the problem was a lack of inexpensive editing services available. I knew that I could edit for a lower fee than most, as I am an extremely fast reader.

Also, it was my dream job. When I started editing, my boyfriend commented that people were paying me for doing something I loved. He said, “That would be like someone paying me to sit around and drink beer all day.“ 

How important is it to have a book professionally edited?

It is extremely important. Nothing can take the place of a good editor. Beta readers are nice, but they don’t catch every grammatical issue. Friends and family will usually not be as honest as they could be in a misguided effort to not hurt the author’s feelings.

How long does it take you to do an edit normally?

It varies from book to book, depending on the error rate. I can edit anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000 words per day.

Your editing fee is very low, how can you afford to eat? :)

Well, for one thing, I live with my boyfriend. Also, currently, my prices are very low in order to build my portfolio. I have raised them a miniscule amount, and I do expect to raise them a little more around the end of the year. However, I hope to always keep my prices ‘below the norm’ to ensure that Indie authors can afford editing.

Many authors don't know when to stop tweaking their book and get it out to an editor and beta readers?  Any advice?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of experience with that end of the process. I have many clients who send their books to beta readers prior to editing and some that engage betas after the editing process, but most consider editing to be in place of beta readers. With so many Indies publishing these days, it’s difficult to find beta readers.

Mostly, I think it is up to the author to decide when their manuscript is ready for an editor. I have had to turn a couple of projects down as they simply weren’t ready. However, I did offer them some commentary and advice, so hopefully it was not a bad experience, but a learning situation.

Do you prefer reviewing or editing work?

I prefer editing by far. With reviewing, I simply have to report problems and errors. With editing, I get to assist the author in fixing the problems.

What are your favorite genres?

That answer changes all the time. I am finding that I enjoy books across almost all genres. The more I am exposed to different genres, the larger my list of “favorites” becomes, to the point that I really have no favorite.

Any other contests coming up?

I have a Scavenger Hunt Contest running currently. I do hope to have many more in the future. Fortunately, ad sales continue to support these.

Any advice to new Indie writers?

If you are working on a book, schedule time with an editor long before you complete it. Many editors are booked months in advance, including myself. You wouldn’t call a carpenter and expect them to come build an addition to your house the next day, would you? Treat requesting an edit of your novel the same way.

Is there anything else you would like to talk about?

My editing services offer an additional perk that many freelance editors don’t. I have a proofreader, Jim Chambers, on my staff. Having a book read by a second set of eyes to catch those little errors that crop up during the editing process is invaluable. Jim is excellent at this. Also, he feels the same way I do regarding keeping prices low so that every Indie can afford editing.

Thanks Lynn, best of luck!

Patricia