Category: Literary Locals Page 4 of 7

Stone of Asylum by Hilarey Johnson: A Clash of Cultures and Reshaping of Destinies

Earlier this year, Johnson participated in my Q&A series about writing in Idaho and later this afternoon, she’ll be back to talk about her own writing and this book in particular. Be sure to come back for that!


Stone of AsylumStone of Asylum

by Hilarey Johnson

DETAILS:
Series: Dance of the Crane, Part 1
Publication Date: March 17, 2017
Format: eBook
Length: 218 pg.
Read Date: August 2, 2023
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s the Setting for Stone of Asylum?

While we spend a little time in California, this takes place largely in the Idaho territory (in what would now be considered North Central Idaho…I think) during the Civil War.

There are characters with strong sympathies toward both sides of the War, but it doesn’t come up much, really. Mostly I mention that because it helps locate the story. We do get to see a lot of the racism faced by Chinese workers (Asians in general, although they’re all considered Chinese) in the mines (and other places), as well as other kinds of bigotry and mistreatment of others.

It’s not a kind or forgiving world that Johnson gives us in these pages, but it’s one that seems pretty realistic. At least until you get to the man who can turn into animals. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Yi Bae

Yi Bae is a Korean warrior who has made his way to San Francisco looking for his sister—they’d been separated sometime before as they traveled through China. He needs to find her to fulfill his mission in life—he is to protect her at all costs. Together they are the last two Watchers in the world—a duty his family has to protect a particular type of garnet with magical abilities.

His search for his sister brings him into conflict with a Chinese businessman/criminal in San Francisco. He then learns some things that convince him to look for his sister in Idaho, which is in the midst of mining booms of various types. He finds that same businessman—who Yi Bae is convinced has something to do with his sister’s disappearance. He also finds himself in the employ, however temporarily, of some less-than-decent people, but is doing what he has to do to track down the other Watcher.

Not only is Yi Bae very capable when it comes to hand-to-hand combat (and those scenes are a lot of fun to read), but that thing I said before about changing into animals? Well, he can do that, too. He’s more like DC’s Garfield Logan (Beast Boy/Changeling) or Jane Yellowrock than your typical lycanthrope, because he can change into various animals.

Eldora

Our other protagonist is Eldora—a young woman whose father is an employee of a wealthy family. Eldora is old enough to begin working as a servant on their ranch. Her primary duty is to be a companion to the family’s daughter. The reader understands quickly that Eldora thinks the relationship is closer than the daughter does—and far closer than the ranch’s owners do. Despite living in a part of the territory that is already fading from prominence in favor of other locales where the mining is better, they’re trying to cling to Southern gentility’s pretensions of position and class.

She is happy (naively so) and well-loved. Which is no small thing. If you can read about Eldora and not almost immediately like her, there’s something wrong with you. Sadly, you know that this happiness and (perhaps) loving environment isn’t going to last long.

I’ll skip over some nasty classist business that reeks of Austen/Brontë-esque villains to the turning point—she has some sort of seizure and is taken from the ranch almost immediately—without her father’s involvement. She’s placed in an asylum, which is exactly as pleasant an experience as you can imagine given the time and location. It might actually be worse. Now we get to find out exactly what Eldora’s made of.

A Chance Encounter

Eldora and Yi Bae do eventually (as we all expected) cross paths with each other—on her way from the ranch. This was my favorite part of the book and I was eager to see what would happen in that eventuality. Sadly, it didn’t last that long—but it did change things for both of them (sadly, only the readers really understand that, for now).

It was kind of a let-down when they didn’t spend too much time around each other, but that’s what future books in the series are for—and what we got was enough to make me want more. A lot more. Which is odd because it wasn’t like they struck up a friendship, or even had a really good conversation. But there was something about them in the same scenes that really worked for me.

The Part that Really Bugged Me

I’m not crazy about the way that Johnson ended this book. It was a bit too abrupt—it felt like she hit a word-limit or page-count and said, “Okay, that’s enough,” and just stopped.

That’s not at all what she intended (I trust)—but that’s what it felt like to me. The last chapter was likely to have been a cliffhanger ending to bring people back for book 2. And that’s fair—I’m not the world’s biggest fan of cliffhangers, but I can appreciate a good one (and can begrudgingly accept them). This wasn’t a good one. I think if she’d left the last couple of pages off and just resolved the arcs for this novel, the ending would’ve been more satisfying. Also, the closing pages and implied threat to one protagonist would’ve been a great hook to start the second novel. I was interested in seeing what happened next to both main characters and knew things weren’t that great for both of them already—I didn’t need the threat to carry me along.

That’s just me—I might be wrong and your results will almost certainly vary.

So, what did I think about Stone of Asylum?

This is a deceptively fast read—there’s a lot more to be mined* from this book if you stop and soak it in—Johnson makes that tough and you can easily just sail along with the current. This is a perfectly fine and enjoyable way to read the book, but you’ll be happier if you catch everything she’s doing.

* Sorry. Had to.

Her fight scenes are great—particularly the way she works in Yi Bae’s supernatural abilities and martial arts skills together. Even if I didn’t care about anything else, I’d probably give the book 3 stars just for these fight scenes.

Yes, I wasn’t happy with the last couple of pages, but the rest were an intriguing mix of family drama, action, fantasy, and cultures mixing (and/or trying not to mix). This blend is a great idea and I’m really looking forward to seeing how Johnson develops this and brings our heroes (and several other characters) through it. I’m also really looking forward to seeing some characters get their just desserts (I’m pretty sure Johnson’s going to be that kind of author) and our heroes figuring out everything they missed or misunderstood here.

In short—this is a solid first entry to a trilogy that I’m eager to see played out over the next two books. I think you will be, too.


3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.20 Books of Summer
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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Paul Regnier

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Paul Regnier’s fantasy novel, Bard Tidings, came out in June (and it looks pretty good–since Fflewddur Fflam, I’ve been a sucker for bards). You should absolutely give it a look. But we’re not going to talk about that today (hopefully soon)*. Today, we’re focusing on what being a writer in Idaho is like for him. Enjoy!

The way things are going around here, “soon” probably means February.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
I’m Paul Regnier. I’m a writer living in the Treasure Valley here in Idaho. You can find me online at www.PaulJRegnier.com.

Are you a native Idahoan? What brought you to Idaho in the first place? (answer whichever question applies) What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’ve lived in Idaho for the last six years. I’ve heard once you cross the five year mark you’re an honorary native Idahoan. My family and I love it here. I love all the pine trees and the beautiful mountainous landscapes. Winters are mild and there’s very little humidity. I’m happy to call Idaho my home state.
I’m going to have to check the handbook on that five-year rule (is that akin the to 5-second rule?) and get back to you.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author.
I’m connected with a group of local writers called Idahope (idahopechristianwriters.org). They have get togethers, conferences, and events all geared around writing. It’s a great group to be a part of.

I’ve been connecting with a few IdaHope members recently—what to you is the biggest benefit? Or maybe I should ask, why would you tell a local author to join up?
The writing journey can be lonely. Much of the time it’s just you typing away at the computer. It’s so refreshing to get together with other writers and creative people and talk about stories and books and movies and everything in-between. Online meetups are nice as well but nothing compares to face to face, personal interaction with fellow writers.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Besides the Idahope group I’m a part of, I’m looking into homeschool events that take place in the area. There’s one in Nampa that I plan on attending next year. Homeschoolers are big readers so the events are great places to connect as a local author.

That’s a great idea! And one that no one has mentioned before—a good fantasy novel and that crowd (at least those I know in that audience) sounds like a great combination. That’s not just a great market, but a fantastic way for readers to get to know you. Are you and your family part of the homeschooling community and is that why you thought of this, or did you get this tip from someone else? (thinking back to when I homeschooled, I don’t remember anyone doing this, but I’d have loved to see it)
We haven’t personally homeschooled our kids but my daughter had experience with online school and I was her learning coach so I got to experience it in a small way. I think homeschooling is such an amazing opportunity for families and if parents have the time and resources, I think it’s a great way to educate your kids, especially when it comes to imparting family morals and spiritual truths.

One of my favorite writing conferences is Realm Makers. It’s a conference focused on speculative fiction writing (fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, superhero, etc…). Besides the annual conference, they go around to various homeschool events with their mobile bookstore. They always report on the great response they get from homeschoolers. That’s where I first realized what an amazing opportunity it was.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I would say my readers are more national than local. Generally people find me online through Amazon or from online recommendations. The internet is a wonderful way to reach readers around the country and around the world.

Do you have plans to change that—or is it early enough in your writing career that you’re still trying to see what works before you make solid plans?
Honestly, I’m open to anyone, anywhere that enjoys my books LOL. I’ve tried to go around to local libraries and give them free copies of my books but the response has been lackluster. With online accessibility, it’s just so much easier and quicker to “spread the word” to a wider audience.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
The latest series I’m working on is a fantasy series (the first book in the series is called Bard Tidings). Since the Treasure Valley in Idaho is filled with lush pine trees, hills and mountains, the scenic setting really helps in the creation of a fantasy world. I get inspiration for many of my scenes from the amazing locations around me.

Were you writing before you came to Idaho? If so, was the bookish community (writers or readers) noticeably different?
I lived in Southern California for many years but we moved here six years ago and never looked back. We love it here! I think my only tie to “local writing groups” in CA was a writing critique group that I was a part of. However, most of us are still in touch and we try to meet online as often as schedules allow.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
For me, the main aspect of Idaho that inspires my writing is the landscape. The trees, hills, and mountains. The beauty of creation. I created a fictious small mountain town in Idaho called Crystal Falls for my cozy mystery series. The setting was inspired by the area around Cascade Lake and Payette Lake.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
If there is, I haven’t found it. I think the “Idaho spirit” means something a little different to each resident and it probably varies in different parts of the state. For me, Idaho means peace, the beauty of God’s creation, and family.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!


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However Long the Day by Justin Reed: One Eventful (some might say Disastrous) Night

However Long the DayHowever Long the Day

by Justin Reed

DETAILS:
Publisher: Bulrush Press
Publication Date: February 15, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 402 pgs.
Read Date:  August 8-11, 2023
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s However Long the Day About?

This is a The Prince and the Pauper-esque story set in New York in 1918 with the son of a wealthy politician and an activist mother hiring his doppelganger, a recent Irish immigrant, to stand in for him for one night. Fredrick (the rich guy) got caught (again) doing something reckless and is about to be subject to a lecture/tirade from his father before being sent to his room for the evening (a room, it should be noted, that’s bigger than the apartment Niall is sharing with his uncle). Sure, it’s ridiculous that someone in his early-to-mid-20s (I’m guessing) is being treated that way. But if he wants to siphon off of his parents, I’m guessing he has to put up with ridiculous things like this.

I’d better move on before I open another parenthesis.

Niall was offered more money than he could make in a year, so he has to sign on. This kicks off 12 hours (or so) of mistaken identities, women kissing the wrong me, kidnappings, abductions, fights, beatings, criminals, police, criminal police, plots being hatched, secrets being exposed, plans going awry, plans coming to fruition, and so much more.

Frederick Philips

Frederick is a spoiled and apparently useless man desperate to get out from underneath his father’s thumb. He’ll do anything to accomplish that, except get a decent job and put in an honest day’s work. He needs to live in the manner to which he’s become accustomed, and there’s no way he can do that easily. I’m pretty sure Archie Goodwin would call him a “fop,” and although that word’s not really used anymore, it feels rather fitting (and not just because of the setting for the book).

He appears to have tried gambling and some other hare-brained (and likely illegal) schemes that have put him on the wrong side of at least one crime syndicate. One of the things he’s trying while Niall pretends to be him is the culmination of a lot of his scheming—he’s trying for the big score that’ll equip him to set up a new life in Philadelphia.

Niall Donovan

Niall has been in NYC for a month and we meet him as he’s struggling to substitute for his Uncle Paddy on his ice delivery route. Paddy’s fighting off the Spanish Flu* and needs someone to cover so he can keep his job. Niall’s not that good at the fairly thankless job, but it’s a way he can contribute.

* The grief given to the police officer wearing a mask—and his defending the practice—feels pretty timely.

Other than in appearance, Niall’s everything that Frederick isn’t—he’s a hard worker, he’s honest and honorable—and can acquit himself well in a fight. You’ll have a really hard time not being immediately charmed by him and wanting to see him succeed everywhere. He might be so loyal, so devoted, so determined to do the right thing that he puts himself in some stupid and dangerous situations, quite honestly. And more than once you’ll shake your head at him making a choice that’s sure to lead to problems—but you’ll still root for him.

Other Characters

Frederick’s ally/accomplice in all this is named Ivy. She lives near him, with parents in a similar social standing—she’s equally miserable but doesn’t have the means to get away from home. She’s a little more level-headed than Frederick and works with him—urging him to take some chances for both of their sakes.

Flora works in domestic service for one of the homes on Paddy’s route and Niall is pretty sweet on her (the feeling’s mutual). She’s hands down my favorite character in the book—she’s everything that Niall is (but backwards and in high heels), but generally thinks more clearly (except for the one time she encourages Niall’s foolhardiness. Both of them end up regretting that). I wish I could tell you all the reasons I love Flora, but that’d involve spoilers.

Niall’s Uncle Paddy is a great guy, too. He’s doing all he can (in his very limited way) to help Niall acclimate to New York and to get established.

And I’m going on too long—I can’t talk about all the great characters—but Reed’s got a knack for creating characters that come to life. There’s not one of them that you’re not going to have a very solid impression of—and probably a pretty good mental image for (despite minimal description in the text). I could’ve easily enjoyed more scenes with each and every character—except maybe Frederick—because I just enjoyed watching them in action so much.

The Object Itself

Most of the time I don’t talk about things like covers, printing, and whatnot—it’s just not something I want to dwell on (and frequently it’s stuff outside an author’s control). But when it’s done this well—particularly by a self-published author, I want to take a moment to talk.

The printing, binding, and so on for this book is top-notch. Indistinguishable from most of the hardcovers on my shelf. The cover design as well as the interiors were done with skill and care. Does this help the reading experience much? Probably only a negligible amount. But it’s clear that Reed put some money into the production end of this—money and care. As much effort into that as he put into the words on the page (or close).

I wonder if he regrets that—or if by trimming a few costs, he’d be closer to making a profit. But for me? I appreciate an author putting their money where their mouth is. Again, I don’t know if it added much to the experience, but I sure enjoyed that part.

So, what did I think about However Long the Day?

As far as I can tell—Reed nailed the historical setting. His NYC of 1918 looks and feels like histories of the era that I’m familiar with—and with books from around that era that I’ve read. I’m no expert by any means, but it felt accurate—and if I raised an eyebrow at any of his historical details, they didn’t bother me enough to remember or write in my notes. I’m open to correction on this point, but I’d say he dealt with this part well.

I’ve talked briefly about the characters already, so let’s move on to the plot. It took a while for a clear picture to develop about what was going on, but the ride to that point was so fun, I really didn’t care—I just kept wondering what the next scene would bring. Sure, there were some moments early on that I wondered if he was trying to juggle too many storylines and characters, and I will admit to shaking my head a few times when he’d throw in something new or insert a new difficulty or obstacle for Niall or Frederick to overcome. Eventually, I started to see the tapestry he was weaving and was glad to see that patience rewarded—Reed knew where he was going and led us on a straight path that only seemed to be meandering.

Every now and then, I wondered if Reed was hitting either Niall and Paddy’s Irishisms* a bit too hard—or if he was laying on the 1910s jargon/slang a bit too thick. But it was less often than I assumed I’d think something like that going in—and it really was rare that I wondered that. There was a time or two that I wondered if the dialogue in general was a bit preachy (whether or not I agreed), or wordy in general.

* Flora using the term “Irishism” also seemed a bit strange, but it worked in the moment so well, that I’m not going to complain. And not just because it was Flora who said it. Although that helps. I’m telling you, I loved her.

But overall, I was really impressed with Reed’s writing. Near the 300-page mark I got a little uneasy. There was maybe 30 pages of story left, how was he going to fill up another hundred or so? It turns out that it was super easy, barely an inconvenience. Not only that, it was some of the best story-telling he’d done up to that point. Most of it didn’t even depend on the mistaken/interchangeable identity aspect of the book. It’s not often that I misjudge an author’s pacing anymore, especially not a first-time author (and when I do, it’s generally not a good thing)—but Reed taught me a welcome lesson in humility there.

I was pleasantly surprised throughout this book—I didn’t expect anything much to strike me as funny when I picked it up, for example. I was optimistic about the premise and anticipated enjoying it. But I expected a fairly earnest, straightforward drama. But Reed gave us some good action, some interesting hijinks, and some solid comedy. (Yes, there’s a chance that I found things funny that I shouldn’t have…I’ll grant you that, and apologize to Reed if that offends him).

One example of the comedy that really stood out to me–there’s a recurring discussion about the choice of cake vs. fruit pie. It feels straight out of Tarantino, or maybe Jim Gaffigan. It essentially becomes a personality test–and Frederick fails, incidentally. It becomes this nice bit of humor, it helps solidify Flora as a character, it humanizes some of the gangsters (see Tarantino), and is something that really helps the reader to connect with the characters. The fact that it has almost nothing to do with the plot is a great bonus, it becomes something where the characters can interact as human beings regardless of what’s going on. Also, anything that allows Flora to shine and makes Frederick look bad is worth pointing out.

Clearly, I enjoyed this book a lot. If this is what Reed can do for a debut, I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes for a follow-up. I strongly recommend you all to go pick this one up.


4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Barking for Business by E.N. Crane: Move Over Plum, It’s Time for Cynthia Sharp and Winnie

Barking for BusinessBarking for Business

by E. N. Crane

DETAILS:
Series: Sharp Investigations, #1
Publisher: Perry Dog Publishing
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Format: Paperback
Length: 307 pg.
Read Date: July 26-27, 2023
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores


I apologize in advance for all the references to Stephanie Plum that follow. This is sort of like all the people who mention Adams or Pratchett when talking about humor in Science Fiction or Fantasy, even if the styles don’t match. It’s just hard to talk about a character like this and a book like this without mentioning Stephanie.

Also, Crane did that herself when I met her. So she stuck it in my head.

What’s Barking for Business About?

After the latest in a series of successful investigations that double as calamities (you’ll have to read the first couple of chapters to see), Specialist Cynthia Sharp, MP, and her partner, Sgt. Pupperson, are discharged from the Army and return to Cyn’s hometown of Sweet Pea, OH—a very small town that should provide some peace and quiet while they decide their next move.

Before they can even enter the Sharp residence, a neighbor approaches Cyn with a job—someone has been taking money from the church bingo funds and she wants Cyn to put an end to it. Mostly because she can’t say no to this older woman—and because she has nothing else to do—she agrees.

This puts Cyn on a collision course with a military crime, a murderer, some serious gangsters, identity thieves, and more. She also has to deal with a love (lust?) triangle and reuniting with a best friend whose fantastic baked goods could probably prove dangerous to anyone with a weakness for sweets.

Sgt. Winnifred Pupperson

Winnie, as she prefers to be called, is a Belgian Malinois dog that found her match in her K-9 handler. She’s reckless enough to make Chet the Jet look disciplined, is very food motivated (sure, she’s a dog, so that’s a given—but as most dog people know, there are levels—she can sniff out junk food faster than Brenda Leigh Johnson, and is the perfect combination of canine athleticism, furry chaos, and unintentional hilarity.

My only complaint is that there’s not quite enough of her. Cyn leaves her at home too often. Probably a realistic amount—but too much for my taste. Hopefully, in time the people of Sweet Pea accept her presence in places they shouldn’t so she can be in on more of the action.

And You Think Stephanie Plum is Hard on Cars?

Hopefully, this isn’t too much of a spoiler, but it’s so good I have to talk about it.

Early on, Cyn breaks her arm in an understandable mishap. And over the next 240 or so pages, has to keep replacing the cast after catastrophe after catastrophe befalls it.

Somehow, every time, the reaction of the medical staff and the predicament she finds herself in makes me laugh. Every time. I cannot believe how well this recurring joke worked for me (that’s not a slight on Crane—it’s about my sense of humor/patience). You think she’s done with it—and she’s not. In fact, you find yourself wondering how it’ll happen again and looking forward to it.

The Fun Twist of Character

Yes, she’s clumsy. Sure, she’s easily distracted. Her dog handling skills are, um, sub-par. But I tell you what…when it’s crunch time? When things matter? Cyn is sharp.* She is more competent than you expect—piecing together clues, dealing with dangerous situations, and saving the day like the seasoned pro you’d expect from someone just out of the MPs. When that aspect started to really show itself I was impressed. This isn’t about someone flailing about and somehow stumbling on to the truth of the matter (like a certain NJ bond enforcement officer or Inspector Gadget)—it’s about an accident-prone woman who can shine when given the opportunity.

* I know. I know. I’m sorry.

So, what did I think about Barking for Business?

This was just ridiculously fun. It’s hard to come up with more to say than that (obviously, I’ve found a way, but the temptation to just write that sentence and move on was strong).

There’s a little too much peril and action for this to technically be a cozy, I think. But I could be wrong about that. Regardless, it’s in that same zip code. The focus is never really on that—it’s about the puzzle, it’s about the antics of Cyn and Winnie. Cozy fans should feel very at home with it. More than anything, Barking for Business is a comedy—there are few pages that go by without something—a little slapstick, a nice bit of humor in the narration, Cyn saying something she’ll regret, or worse, learning something about her parents that she’ll regret.

Do I worry that the town is too small to keep things happening? Sure. But when their first case starts with money missing from the church’s bingo earnings, it’s obvious that Crane can make much from little. Do I worry that the schtick of the series will get old by book 5 or 6? A little. But I worry that about the premise of several series, and it means that I have at least 4 or 5 more books to enjoy before that happens. For now? I’m just going to shut my pie hole and enjoy the ride.

This is a fast, breezy read that’s full of excitement and humor. It’s the perfect book for people who fondly remember the first few Stephanie Plum books or have ever wondered what it would be like if Miranda Hart or Mindy Kaling wrote crime fiction (possibly co-writing it). I’ve got the second novel on my shelf already and am trying to figure out how to get it read quickly.


3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Justin Reed

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I met Justin Reed at the Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair back in March and am really glad we’ve finally gotten our ducks in a row to be able to bring you this Q&A. By a strange stroke of coincidence, I should be starting his book today. So you’ll be hearing more about him soon. But for now, let’s introduce him.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
My name is Justin Reed. I live in Boise, and I am an author, publisher, consultant, software engineer, and investor. I have published one novel—However Long the Day—a historical adventure set in 1918 NYC about two young men who switch places for a day and nothing goes to plan (think The Prince and the Pauper meets A Tree Grows in Brooklyn). People can find me at justinreedwrites.com, and on Instagram (@justinreedwrites), Facebook (@JustinReedWritesNovels), and LinkedIn (@justinreedwrites). People can buy a hardcover copy of However Long the Day at Rediscovered Books in Boise and/or Caldwell; from my website (in which case I’ll personalize the inscription); and at online book retails (bookshop.org, B&N, and The Great Smiling Beast). You can also borrow a copy from most of the libraries in the Treasure Valley (though they share a few copies, so you might have to put a hold on it). The ebook is available here, and can also be borrowed from Treasure Valley libraries (any of the Lynx libraries, I believe). And you can listen to the audiobook on Audible, Apple Books, B&N, libro.fm, and on Overdrive (if you have a local library card).

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I am a native Idahoan, born and raised in Boise. I went to Capital High School, and graduated from Boise State University with a Computer Science degree. Beauty, freedom, and family keep my Idaho.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author.
I run a writers workshop of sorts at the Lake Hazel branch of the Ada Community Library. I call it Group Therapy for Writers, and it gives us attendees an opportunity to support each other in our writing goals. It’s nice to talk about the writing process with others who care about the process of turning thoughts into words on the page, and words on the page into something compelling to read.

First, that’s a great name. Have others in your group gone down the publishing road yet, and have they been able to help you through it—or are you the group’s guinea pig?
It’s a great group. We’re a mix of folks who have published and those who haven’t. Everyone in the group is experimenting with their style, genre, etc., hence the need for outside perspective. We’re taking a break for the summer but plan to start back up in September.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I’ve attended the Indie Book Faire at the Nampa Public Library, and I’ve attended several events at both the Boise and Caldwell Rediscovered Books locations. I would enjoy attending more events like these, as well as other author get-togethers.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
However Long the Day is my debut, so I’m still in the audience building phase. My focus is older teens and adults of all ages. Most of my readers are here in Idaho.

Do you have a plan on expanding that audience? Or are you in more of a “see what works” phase of life?
I am definitely more in the see what works phase in which I try a bunch of ways to grow my audience. As you might expect, most of these come to a deadend, but I’m certainly learning a lot in the process.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
Boise is geographically isolated, which is both a blessing and a curse. I would love to more easily visit other metros and talk books (including mine), but that isn’t as easy in the Treasure Valley as it is in other places. However, the isolation is part of what makes our town—and the rest of Idaho—such a great place to live. I’m not very connected to the writing culture here in the Treasure Valley, but I suspect that is more because of my introverted nature than anything. I suppose we all have the chance to build the writing community if we take it.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
The first novel was set in Idaho during the earliest part of our existence as a US territory (1864 gold rush era), so in that regard I bring Idaho into my work. Unfortunately, that novel hasn’t been published yet because I just can’t get it right. Even so, I bring my Idaho sensibilities into all my writing, both published and unpublished. I try to mute my voice as much as possible and let my characters speak for themselves, but complete silence is an impossible objective.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!


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Klone’s Stronghold by Joyce Reynolds-Ward: Nothing—I mean Nothing—Is What It Seems In This Fantasy

That’s the best of a dozen headlines for this post. Which tells you something about the other eleven.
Joyce Reynolds-Ward participated in a Q&A with me about Writing Near Southwest Idaho earlier this year, and I’ve finally found the time to read one of her novels. She’ll be back this afternoon for a Q&A about this book, but first, allow me to ramble on a bit about it.


Klone's StrongholdKlone’s Stronghold

by Joyce Reynolds-Ward

DETAILS:
Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Format: eBook
Length: 226 pg.
Read Date: July 24-25, 2023
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s Klone’s Stronghold About?

A year ago, Reeni escaped her abusive marriage—her ex-husband has turned into a stalker, he’s apparently a man of some status in the community and was able to get her fired from her job as a Special Ed teacher and Reeni’s on the verge of having to move a long way away just to find a new position. To add insult to injury, her family keeps trying to get her to reconcile with her ex.

Two dear friends convince her to attend a music festival with them—they love this band (she enjoys them, but isn’t going to be following them around like Deadheads). It’s a few days away from home, there’s no way that Karl is going to show up here. She needs some time in safety and peace to think about life. And if she happens to have a little fun? All the better.

Of course, it doesn’t work out. Karl shows up with some friends (or henchmen, your call). The band’s security takes care of them while Reeni finds a safe place to hide out. Before Karl had arrived, Reeni had struck up a friendship (or the beginning of one) with one of the security team—a supernatural of some kind. He comes to her with a proposal—he knows a guy who is working with a small group of supernatural people who are socially and educationally delayed, and are in need of a teacher to work on both areas. Due to the nature of their work and abilities, Karl won’t be able to approach her there; and she’ll get paid a very tidy sum if she commits for a few months in this out-of-the-way spot in the Eastern Oregon mountains.

Intrigued by the job—and desperate to get refuge—she agrees.

Because I’m struggling to finish this section, I’m just going to borrow from the official Description:

But things are not as they seem at the Stronghold, from the older proprietors of a nearby store and the Stronghold’s leader Alexander Reed Klone, to Reeni herself. She discovers it’s not just Karl who seeks to control who and what she is, but forces from her past that threaten her present. Can she learn the truth about herself and do what is needed in time to defend the Stronghold?

The Cozy That Could’ve Been

Sure, when Reynolds-Ward wrote this, cozy fantasy wasn’t really a thing (I’m sure it existed, but it was so far under the radar…), so it might not have crossed her mind to do this, but…

If she had abandoned the last 46% or so of the book and had just stuck with Reeni’s work in the classroom for a few months, letting us watch the progress she makes with her charges? I’d have been utterly charmed with it and would’ve likely enjoyed the novel more.

I’m not actually criticizing the last 46% of the book (most of it, anyway)—this is just a rabbit trail of a thought I had while reading this. That 46% results in a perfectly satisfying that I’m recommending, I’m just saying.

Now to try to turn this from an inadvertent criticism to something positive. I was interested in Reeni and her story and I was enjoying trying to figure out what was going on. But it was the moment that Reeni first started working with her students, connecting with them in a way that her employer didn’t see was possible that I got invested in this novel. I started caring about Reeni and her students then. Yes, the rest of the book was exciting, had magic flying about, secrets were revealed, and Big Things happened, etc. But the whole time, the back of my mind was asking—but what about the next week of lessons? When do we get back to that?

So, what did I think about Klone’s Stronghold?

I really could’ve focused on so many things here, Klone’s Stronghold is a target-rich environment for someone looking for things to write about. There’s Reeni’s attempts to escape her bad marriage, and worse husband. There’s her family’s reactions to her divorce (it’s eventually explained, but it makes it worse). There’s a twisting of religion. There’s something to explore with her great friends—new and old. You could go on and on about the supernatural species (or whatever you want to call them). But for various and sundry reasons I have to move on. Also, this could end up being 40 pages long if I let myself. You want a novel to inspire all kinds of rabbit trails for you to follow while reading? Look no further.

There are a couple of moments in the latter half of the book that I’m not sure we needed. Or at least we didn’t need all that Reynolds-Ward gave us. It’s tricky to talk about without spoiling—but it’s in the parts where Reeni is helped to understand what she learns about her background and family. Most of this section is really well done—and it’s all interesting. But parts of this take up a whole lot more space than I think they needed to—it dragged the story down, and didn’t illuminate much. With some trimming I wouldn’t have said anything at all.

Other than that, I found the pacing really well done—there’s a lot that Reeni goes through here—and the rate at which she experienced it and had to figure out how to deal with all she goes through was really well done—not just for Reeni, but for the reader.

There are so many scenes that make you stop and bask in them. Reynolds-Ward puts you in this world, and even when you’re trying to figure out exactly what’s happening because (for example) you haven’t worked out all the various kinds of supernatural beings there are—you can see and understand enough that it doesn’t matter.

I know that this wasn’t intended to be a series (or at least it didn’t become one)—and I don’t want to complain about a stand-alone (phew! Plotlines I don’t have to remember for books on end! I’m not signing up for a multi-year commitment!). But boy howdy, do I wish I could spend more time in this world. The general store (or whatever it should be called) and its owners along with the Stronghold and those that live there have all the makings of a setting you want to return to—even the band would be great to spend more time with.

That said, this was a very satisfying story that absolutely doesn’t end anywhere near where you think it will after the first couple of chapters. (which, incidentally makes it really hard to talk about).

I recommend this for people who want a very atypical fantasy (that brushes against SF, but not really) in a contemporary setting. Readers of Bledsoe’s Tufa novels might resonate with this. It’s a nice breath of fresh air. This is my first novel by Reynolds-Ward, but it won’t be my last (I’ve already got the next one picked out…and probably the one after that, too).


3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
20 Books of Summer
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The Inside Scoop—A Q&A with Rebecca Carey Lyles About Self-Publishing

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In our brief acquaintance, Rebecca Carey Lyles has participated in a Literary Locals Q&A with me, recommended others for that project, had me on her podcast, and has now subjected herself to this series (and we have at least one more Q&A to come once I catch up on some reading). I cannot thank her enough for all this. Lyles as some great experience—and therefore has plenty of advice to provide.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Thanks so much for asking, H.C. I’m a wife, mom and grandma as well as an author and an editor. Although I’ve written for a variety of publications, fiction became my passion when I moved to Idaho and joined a wonderful Treasure Valley writing group. Since then, I’ve written two fiction series plus the first book in a third series.

My tagline for my novels is Contemporary Romance Set in the West and Salted with Suspense. But some have suggested the books are suspense salted with romance due to the subject matter and action/adventure aspect. Although I tackle difficult subjects like human trafficking, coercive cults, and contemporary polygamy, I always promise happy endings—because I like happy endings. 😊

Here are some links for you to peruse:
Website: http://www.beckylyles.com

Amazon Author Page: https://Lyles.gy/t54xp

Facebook Author Page: Rebecca Carey Lyles

Twitter: @BeckyLyles

What are some of the biggest misconceptions you find that readers have about self-published books?
From what I’ve observed, readers don’t look to see who published a book. They choose a book based on the cover and the blurb, a recommendation from a friend, or good reviews. They might even read the first two or three pages online or at a bookstore to see if the story interests them. Therefore, I assume most readers don’t have misconceptions about self-published books, but I could be wrong…
The shoe is on the other foot, eh? I’ve got misconceptions about readers? I buy that 😉

What kind of costs are associated with self-publishing a book? Do you hire one or more editors, or one editor for a couple of passes? Cover artist? Anyone to help with layout, design, etc.? Beta readers? Or do you take it all on yourself? Are you actually making any money at this, or are you still focused on breaking-even while building an audience?
I’m an editor, but I’ve also paid for book edits. I’ve designed book covers for a couple people who requested that I do so, but I always hire graphic artists to design my covers. In the early days, I hired someone to do interior design and then realized I could do it myself. And I always enlist the help of beta readers and proofreaders. Their input is crucial to the final product’s quality. About sales, I’ve found the only way to sell more than a handful of books is to advertise, which is not how most authors like to spend their time and money. But it’s a necessary evil of the writing game these days.

I think we’ve talked about this already, but this is a new context—what kinds of advertising has proved the most effective for you? Least effective? From talking to other writers, do their experiences match up, or does it vary a bit from person-to-person/genre-to-genre?
Facebook ads do the best for me, but they require a huge learning curve and can get pricey. I’ve taken courses re. how to advertise books and continue to follow several experts.

These links may be helpful.
https://davidgaughran.com/ [crazy hair, fun accent, and a great sense of humor!] Here’s his list of book promotion sites: https://davidgaughran.com/best-promo-sites-books/
https://learn.selfpublishingformula.com/p/adsforauthors [Mark Dawson also has a fun accent and an excellent podcast: https://selfpublishingformula.com/spf-podcast/]

https://kindlepreneur.com/book-marketing/ [Dave Chesson has plenty to offer, including a zany sense of humor!]

Do you do your own cover design, or have you found people to help with that? It seems almost as difficult as writing the novel itself—talk about the process a bit.
A quality book cover is crucial because the old adage is true, we do judge books by their covers. For that reason, I hire professional graphic artists to create my covers. I’ve worked with local artists and online artists. I’m always thrilled when a designer can take the vague ideas I suggest, hone in on one, make it “come alive,” and produce the perfect cover for a book, whether fiction or nonfiction. The designers I’ve used have all been well-qualified and reasonably priced as well as patient and willing to make the (many) changes I request. 😊

How do you go about finding these artists—online or local? What’s the process of vetting them and then getting the cover to start requesting changes on? (cover design is one of those topics I can’t get enough of—I don’t know why)
I found my first cover artist at the library. Actually, I heard an author speak there whose cover had been designed by a local graphic artist. She put me in touch with him, and he designed several covers for me. Another local recommendation came through a writer friend. My latest cover was designed by 100 Covers [https://100covers.com/], and I was quite pleased. After I explained my vision, each artist threw out an initial concept (or two), and we went from there. As I said, everyone has been patient with my multiple changes. Several other reputable sites offer expert cover creation or programs to create covers.

Are there tools, mentors, websites you’ve found to help you through this process? Or did you stumble through blindly on your own?
Through Idahope Christian Writers (ICW), a local faith-based writers’ group, I’ve met lots of Treasure Valley authors; plus, I attend their workshops and conferences. (ICW’s new website should become active soon: https://idahopechristianwriters.org/) Not only is the wisdom, knowledge, encouragement and camaraderie of likeminded friends valuable, smaller critique groups have formed from the main group. My crit partners are super helpful. They provide a fresh perspective and ideas I hadn’t thought of, suggestions to improve my writing, insights re: story direction, and so much more. Even better, we’ve become good friends and prayer partners.

Three podcasts I find helpful –
https://www.thestoryblender.com/

https://selfpublishingformula.com/spf-podcast/

https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

What made you decide that self-publishing was the direction you wanted to go? How often do you question that choice? How do you get through the self-doubt?
I worked with a partner publisher for my first nonfiction book and a second partner publisher for my first fiction book. Both experiences were good but taught me I could do everything they did except create the cover. For a brief time, I had an agent who sent out a mass query to ten or so traditional publishers. After informing me none of them showed interest, I didn’t hear from him again. When I finally contacted him, I discovered he’d forgotten about me. Rather than search out another agent and extend the process even longer, I decided to go the indie route and haven’t regretted it. I’d love for someone else to do the marketing for me, but I hear traditional publishers expect their writers to market their books just like we indie authors must do.

Self-publishing tends to have less external deadlines keeping one accountable. How do you maintain your work process or work ethic?
For me, I think it’s an ingrained from childhood finish what you start ethic plus the nagging need to get a story out of my head and into the computer/onto paper.

What was your process for learning how to take care of all the facets that go into self-publishing? (editing, book cover and design, ISBN, finding places to sell/distribute, etc.)?
Workshops, seminars and conferences for writers, how-to-write books and magazines, online research, webinars, podcasts—and lots and lots of trial and error.

Would you be willing to share a trial or two that resulted in errors you learned from?
Wow, you’re stretching my memory. Way back, when online book sales weren’t nearly as challenging as they are today, my books sold fairly easily with minimal advertising. But then my daughter got married (silly girl!) and I focused on the wedding and reception and a houseful of company and lost momentum just when authors began to flood the internet with books. And thus, to diminish the opportunities for a book to be noticed.

I’ve done something similar lately. After months of pushing hard with Facebook ads and then Amazon ads, I became weary of the time and expenditure marketing books demands. And stopped all ads. Funny thing, sales have dropped in tandem with lack of marketing. Must get back to it! I’m pretty sure any business person would tell me/us that marketing must be consistent and ongoing.

Also back in the day, every ebook sales site demanded a different format—Kobo, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, etc. The trial and error was figuring out each of their complicated formats. Today, thank God, we have Draft2Digital, a wonderful aggregator that provides distribution services for authors whose books aren’t exclusive to Amazon. https://www.draft2digital.com/

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it! And do know that there are many of us out here who appreciate and applaud what you do (and our number is growing)!

Lyles has quite the variety of books to look into, be sure to look into them!


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The Inside Scoop—A Q&A with e rathke About Self-Publishing

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e rathke is one of those authors that came my way thanks to JCM Berne–I’d never encountered them or their work before, but there’s plenty of good looking material out there to dive into.

In particular, I’d like to point you to Iron Wolf, which is released today. The description of it is:

The giantess Lady Agova leads Virgil and Vera home to Avalon. All they have to do is get through the gate. But that gate throws them into an interdimensional labyrinth full of nightmares. Iron Wolf

Set in a desolate postapocalyptic world where science and magic blend and reality itself twists and bends, where some attempt to grow a new world while others delve through the detritus of a shattered civilization, Iron Wolf continues the monster hunting journey began in Howl.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
I write weekly essays about games and books at my substack. All my essays are free and available to anyone. I’ve begun serializing a steampunked mix of Harry Potter and Gundam over there as well. On top of that, I’m now releasing weekly short stories. Paying subscribers get the ebook versions of my novels included in their subscription and they receive those a month before publication.

Along with all that, I also publish novels. The Howling Earth is a lofi cyberpunk mashing together of Vampire Hunter D and Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun, though I’ve also received a fair amount of Dark Souls comparisons as well. The first novel came out December 2022 with the second novel out this week, and a third coming in November. 2024 will have four more.

With Kyle Muntz, I cowrite The Shattered Stars series. Imagine Star Trek: The Next Generation where the crew is straight out of Firefly and you get The Shattered Stars. Though it’s an ongoing serial, each “episode” is meant to stand alone and be enjoyed even for those who just want to dip in and out of the series. The first episode came out in March, with the second out in June. The third and fourth are coming September and December, and we have the entire second season completed and ready to publish quarterly through 2024.

But, yeah, lots going on! I’m also narrating a children’s serial about a pirate named Carrot. This began as a daily bedtime story for my son, but I began recording it as well so that he can return to the story whenever he wants. Because I had the audio already done, I began a podcast to release new episodes weekly.

(I love the idea behind the podcast, will be adding it to my rotation)

Do you do your own cover design, or have you found people to help with that? It seems almost as difficult as writing the novel itself–talk about the process a bit.
Most of my covers are done by Christopher Olson. I wish he had a website because he’s a great artist. Very talented and capable of just about any style I want.

I’ve toyed with the idea of doing covers myself, since I go through a lot of them each year, but that really just isn’t my skillset. Christopher is a friend and we work well together. I usually tell him what I want for the cover and try to lead him towards a style that I’m looking for. Then he does his magic and I’m always surprised by what he shows me.

Ultimately, the book cover is your face to potential audiences, so it’s worth it to take the time and find the people who will give you what you want and how you want it. Covers can be expensive, too, which is probably the biggest barrier for some. For that reason, they’ll decide to do their own covers. Which is great! But it’s really not what I’m good at.

It’s great to have a friend like that! The graphics on my site are the same way—if they look homemade, that’s me (frequently, it’s me defacing the work of a talented cartoonist/illustrator). If they look decent, that’s the work of a friend of mine who does graphic design.
Ha, I wish I even had the talent to make bad art. It would save me a lot of time! It would also allow me to do my own illustrations for my books, which I’d love to have.

What made you decide that self-publishing was the direction you wanted to go? How often do you question that choice? How do you get through the self-doubt?
During the 2010s, I was pretty involved in small independent publishing. I worked with a handful of publishers in various ways, and I had three novels come out on independent presses.

Many have a good experience this way, but I mostly did not. I think the truth of small independent publishing is that many people just want their name in print and are less concerned with getting readers. This is especially true for the kind of publishing I was involved with, where many of the authors were MFA professors, aspiring MFA professors, MFA students, or aspiring MFA students.

The publication was more important for their CV than it was for anything else.

I don’t have an academic background. I wasn’t in an MFA or getting into one, and so I had very different goals with my own publishing. My bad experiences with these publishers—all of which no longer exist—led me to abandon publishing for about eight years.

I turned to self-publishing because of the freedom it allowed me. And so I don’t question the choice. I much prefer it to what I previously experienced through a more traditional route. To me, self-publishing is just fun. It also gives me control over my career and the flexibility to do what I want, how I want.

I publish a lot of books each year. If I were on a traditional press, they’d want me to have at most one or two books per year. In 2023, I’m publishing eight books. In 2024, I’ll be releasing 12.

There are downsides to this rapid pace, but I’m writing for fun and for those people who are ready and willing to ride along with me. When someone discovers one of my books, I want them to google me and find a dozen other books waiting for them.

As a reader, I always found that experience thrilling.

Having a backlist to dive into as a reader is always great, I agree. And more than one self-published author I’ve talked to has mentioned getting things out regularly. Eight books in a year is pretty impressive! How do you find the time for this? Sure, you multitask by podcasting your bedtime stories—but even that’s an investment of time after your son’s asleep.
Recording audio takes me quite a lot of time! I’m sure many people can do this in a fraction of the time it takes me but I would say it takes me about an hour to get ten minutes of audio. And even that audio could probably be improved tenfold by just a bit more technical know-how.(I was kidding about that, I hope that came through. I’ve listened to two episodes so far and those hours spent are evident!)

As for finding the time – I write a lot and I write relatively quickly. I’ve written a bit about my process in the past, but there is no trick to it beyond volume of hours sitting in front of your computer.

The one advantage I have over other people is that I have 20 or more novels and novellas sitting unpublished on my computer, so I could publish ten books a year for two years without even writing something new. That being said, only one novel coming out this year is taken from that store of novel(la)s. Though cowriting four per year also helps alleviate some of the load.

Also, length is an important driver. For better or worse, I’m primarily publishing novellas in the 20,000 word to 35,000 word range. I want people to be able to pick these up and read them in about the time it takes to watch a movie (sometimes a long movie). This may prove to be a mistake because people may want those big beefy novels. I have those written, too, but I guess I’m saving them.

Most countries have a thriving novella market, except the US. But I think we could have that and I think people want short books along with the big doorstoppers. With everyone else writing the huge books, I feel there’s a real space left open for people who want to pick up a book they can burn through in an evening.

Have you thought about trying to get a deal with major (or indie) publishers for upcoming works, or are you planning on sticking with self-publishing?
I do submit novels to major publishers. I’d be more than happy to get on a traditional press, though I think my goals are different than other hopeful writers.

The barrier to any writers—traditional or indie or self-published—is discoverability. You can be the best writer in the world, but if no one hears your name, they’ll probably never find your books. And so much of marketing for any book is a simple process of getting your name out there enough times for people to finally take notice.

For me, the benefit of a major press is that they make the first step easier. If I had a book come out on Tor or Harper or wherever else, thousands of people who had never heard of me would now hear or see my name for the first time.

That’s what I want. I mean, I’d be happy to have a successful book on a major publisher, but even if my book technically failed, by traditional publishing terms (fewer than 5,000 books sold), that would still be a success for me and where I’m at right now.
And so the benefit to me about major publishing is that it would broaden my potential fanbase immensely overnight.

Even so, it’s important to understand what major publishers are offering. Major publishers once gave every author a marketing budget and they’d have professionals handle this stuff. Now, they rely on individual authors to do their own marketing, line up their own book tours and interviews, and so on.

Which is the exact same thing self-published authors are already doing.

Because of this, the benefits that they offer are becoming fewer and fewer every year.

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being self published?
My favorite thing is the flexibility and control.

My least favorite part is everything else!

I love writing. I would write all day, every day if I could. It’s what I want to do and it’s what I like doing. My ideal situation would be finishing a novel and handing it off to someone else to handle all the marketing, publicity, and so on.

Unfortunately, there’s just me. And so I’m not only the author. I’m also the business manager, the marketing department, the publicist, the accountant, the editor, and on and on.

It’s quite a lot!

In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have to do anything to get my name out there. I wouldn’t be on social media or pitching myself to podcasts or trying to track down reviewers and interviewers, and all the other thousand little things that get books into reader’s hands.

But instead I’m in this world, wearing a dozen hats and swapping between them dozens of times per week.

But that’s the game. And it is a game. Writing is fun and it’s work, but it’s the fun kind of work that makes it feel like play. The marketing is the work I’d rather not do, but it’s arguably just as important—if not more so—than the writing itself.

You’ve mentioned the word “flexibility” a few times—is that flexibility in schedule, genre, format, etc.? Or is it more than that?
All of the above, honestly. I love a lot of different kinds of books and though it goes against any career or marketing advice anyone will give you, I intend to keep writing across genres. Too, most would probably encourage me not to publish 6+ books a year because it can dilute or overwhelm your audience. Much as I’d like people to pick up a new book from me every month, the simple truth is that most people only read a handful of books each year. Expecting them to read a new book by me each month is a big ask! But there are other people out there who will be excited by this as well.

And so flexibility may be a double-edged sword for me, in that it gives me the freedom to make too many mistakes at the same time. And much of what I’m doing now may be foolish. Short books published at a rapid pace may be the exact opposite of what I should be doing, but I’ll learn. If need be, I’ll publish fewer books, but longer books.

But it’s this flexibility and this wild west nature of my publishing adventure that keeps it fun and exciting. I just hope people are willing to come along for the ride.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it! And do know that there are many of us out here who appreciate and applaud what you do (and our number is growing)!

Readers, e rathke has a good number of novellas, essays, and other things out there. Be sure to check out them out here or the other links above!


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The Inside Scoop—A Q&A with Jeremy Billups About Self-Publishing

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I met Jeremy Billups a few years ago at a local Comic Con and was instantly drawn to his art—it helped that he’s a super-nice guy, too. Since then, I’ve talked about all of his books and he’s been very generous with his time and participated in several things around here. Those of you who’ve seen the cartoon pilcrow I use here and on Social Media know a little of his work, too. Let’s hear a little about self-publishing for the Picture Book/Children’s Market.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Thanks so much H.C. for the opportunity to chat! My name is Jeremy Billups and I make attempts at writing and illustrating children’s books. I’ve self-published three so far. Bearded, Bearded Too, and Sea This and Sea That. I’m very close to wrapping up the manuscript for the third Bearded book. I’m also chipping away at a Christmas book and a book about being a dad.

I’ve also been working on some comics, Squirrel E. Jones and Tales of the Incredible. Both comics are very different from each other and the children’s books, but good creative outlets for me.

If so inclined, you can find all my books, comics, and other fun things at caffeinatedbeverages.com.

What kind of costs are associated with self-publishing a book? Do you hire one or more editors, or one editor for a couple of passes? Cover artist? Anyone to help with layout, design, etc.? Beta readers? Or do you take it all on yourself? Are you actually making any money at this, or are you still focused on breaking-even while building an audience?
The self-publishing money talk, huh? I actually think these are good questions to bring up. We could have a whole discussion on this alone.

I’m very thankful to have enough design experience from my day job that I’m able to handle the design and artwork for my projects. In fact, that was a big reason why I chose to go with self-publishing. Having the skills and knowledge with the design side of things gives me a lot more control over my projects and saves me a lot of money.

The biggest cost for me is printing. It took a while, but I was finally able to find a U.S.-based printer that does print-on-demand at a cost that works for me. I’m now able to put out new books without nearly as much financial risk. Saying this though, it makes me realize that I need to take advantage and put out more books!

I do work with one editor. With each project we go back and forth with each manuscript until I think it’s ready. I’m fortunate here as well because my word count is so low that she only charges me a very reasonable flat rate.

Though, nothing to live on yet, I am making money at this. It’s just enough to keep me motivated to continue growing my catalog and audience. I would love for this to be all that I do one day.

Your comment about word count will tie-in very well with what a Fantasy author says about that (and how he’s considered other genres because of it)
Yeah, I’m very thankful that word count is something I don’t have to take into consideration while telling my stories.

How do you promote your book—what things have worked best for you? What kind of lessons have you learned for things not to do (at least for you)? Do you do any in-person marketing, or are you all on-line (I assume predominately online)
So I started out on Amazon and only produced a digital version of my book, Bearded. Seemed like a good way to see if anyone would be interested. I was all in on Kindle Direct Publishing. At the time, it was exactly what I was looking for. I did all the things they recommended, took advantage of their promotional offers and saw some traction. The big download numbers always came when I offered the book for free. So I decided to lean into that and make the digital version of Bearded permanently free. And, then I offered a second book, Bearded Too as a paid follow up to the free book. With the change of Bearded to “perma-free” I saw significant downloads and good ratings for the free book, but those downloads never really translated to people buying the second book.

I have a few theories as to why I didn’t see the sales I was hoping for, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I decided to change things up and focus on in-person. There are a few local events that I participate in every year and it’s been so much better. I’ve made some great connections, sold some books, and get to see repeat customers face-to-face each year.

I didn’t give up on the internet entirely. I’ve recently updated my website with a shop so that I can keep selling online and I’m currently exploring Etsy as a option to sell online as well.

I don’t know that I’d have thought about Etsy for self-published books—but it make sense—what got you thinking in this direction? Have you considered other non-Amazon options?
I decided to give Etsy a try after noticing that a lot of the artists/creators that I follow on social media were using it to sell their creations. After exploring the site and buying some super cool things, I thought it would be worth trying out. At the very least, I think it’s a good way to expand the reach of my products beyond what I’m currently doing with my website.

As for other non-Amazon options, I haven’t really considered anything other than Etsy. But, I am a little curious about selling directly through Instagram and/or Twitter. If Etsy doesn’t work very well, that may be what I try next.

What made you decide that self-publishing was the direction you wanted to go? How often do you question that choice? How do you get through the self-doubt?
It really came down to my lack of patience, and a bit of naivety. I didn’t want to sit around waiting for approval to tell my stories. I just wanted to tell them. Self-publishing gave me that capability immediately and so I dove right in. I definitely questioned the decision early on. But now, after all that I’ve learned and experienced, I know it was the right decision, and I’m excited and proud to continue telling my stories this way.

The self-doubt comes in on whether or not to go all in or not. Today I have a day job that pays the bills and supports my family. When to take a leap of faith and devote my career to more books, I’m just not sure about yet.

Have you thought about trying to get a deal with major (or indie) publishers for upcoming works, or are you planning on sticking with self-publishing?
I have thought about this. Especially since it may be the quickest path to getting to do this full-time. If it was a partnership that worked well for both parties then I’d definitely be open to it. There is a bit of self-doubt here too. Am I good enough? Can I meet their deadlines? Can I continue to produce as much as I think I can?

At the very least, I’m open to entertaining the idea if someone were to reach out.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it! And do know that there are many of us out here who appreciate and applaud what you do (and our number is growing)!
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and all the great questions! I enjoyed the discussion and look forward to the next one. I also appreciate all that you do and the love and attention you give self-publishers like me. It really means a lot!

Your kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews/etc. are going to love Billups’ work! Be sure to check out all of it!


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Pure of Heart by Danielle Parker: She’s Not Your Typical Werewolf and This Isn’t Your Typical UF

Too many months ago, Parker participated in a Q&A about writing in Idaho with me, now I have a chance to talk about her debut book!


Pure of HeartPure of Heart

by Danielle Parker

DETAILS:
Series: The Faoladh Series, Book One
Publication Date: September 27, 2015
Format: Paperback
Length: 328 pg.
Read Date: June 29-July 3, 2023

What’s Pure of Heart About?

In this world, werewolves are born, not made, and apparently begin changing around adolescence. In Harper’s case, this is dangerous—her parents died before they told her anything about lycanthropy and she had to learn about it along with the uncle who took her in and raised her from the age of eight. Grady knew his sister got furry every full moon, so it wasn’t a total surprise—but that’s about all he knew about werewolves.

She’s in her twenties now and pretty much all she knows is that chains can’t hold her down and that her wolf will kill and eat people if given the chance. Harper’s taken it upon herself to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Her uncle and friend/veterinarian regularly hunt her down and shoot her with tranquilizers when her wolf gets out of the house.

Harper’s entire life seems to revolve around not letting the wolf get out of control. Which seems like a lonely existence—and it pretty much is.

Until a new woman moves to the small Colorado town to take over her late grandparents’ bookstore. Something about Emerson affects the wolf part of her—Harper can’t even come close to understanding it. But her wolf immediately acts strangely (and we’re talking strangely for a werewolf, so it’s really strange) as soon as Harper meets Emerson.

Harper’s got to figure out what’s going on with the wolf before something happens to Emerson.

Parker’s Werewolves

I guess I should say “Faoladh” instead—but whatever. Keeping in line with her tumblr page’s title, Parker’s “Werewolves Don’t Sparkle.” Harper’s wolf is dangerous to everyone and everything (particularly doors/walls/fences). There’s little tame about her. We’re reminded of that constantly (bordering on too often).

This shows up in Harper, too—her wolf is always below the surface and keeps her from being too likable to many people. That’s a nice little touch and as (if?) Harper and her wolf start getting along better as the series continues, it’ll be good to see how that changes her.

The way she describes the change (particularly from human to wolf) is really good. Over the years of reading werewolf UF, it’s become one of those things that jump out at me to differentiate the authors’ take on lycanthropes and Parker’s strikes me as one of the better versions of that.

Harper and her family know incredibly little about her, um, condition. And it’s almost wholly from trial and error (mostly error). Because he didn’t manifest the werewolf heritage, Grady’s parents and sister didn’t bother to tell him much about it. I find that difficult to swallow, but I’m willing to do that for the sake of the story. I do appreciate that her cousin isn’t going to have this issue, he knows almost as much as the reader does. Harper stumbling through all of this practically blind makes it very easy for the reader to jump in with her and learn alongside her.

We are told a couple of times that there’s a difference between Faoladh and what we think of werewolves thanks to books and movies. But we have no reason to believe that yet—I really want to see us have that reason as well as see how that actually works out. I’m not saying that because I’m skeptical, but because I think both will refreshing and stimulating.

On a semi-related note, people in this town are quick to take a couple of clues and jump to the conclusion that “this woman must be a member of a species that I thought was the stuff of folklore and horror movies until right this second.” A little more self-doubt would’ve been nice, but it’d have slowed the book down too much.

So, what did I think about Pure of Heart?

I’m honestly not sure what I was expecting from this book—but it wasn’t what Pure of Heart ended up being. It’s a compelling read, for sure, just not for the reasons I’m used to in typical UF/werewolf novels, which is a pleasant change. For starters, there’s no big supernatural foe (unless you count Harper’s war within herself). It’s human drama, just with a massive side helping of the supernatural on board. Actually, I’ll just stop with that, too, so I don’t end up saying too much.

It’s also a great pastiche for Disney’s Beauty and The Beast—and once you start seeing that, it’s everywhere, adding a level of entertainment.

I don’t have a major problem with the romance arc that the book ended up focusing on, but it looked for a minute or two that we’d be swimming in strong and interesting platonic friendships, and those intrigue me more lately. So that was a minor disappointment, but just a minor one. I’m a little worried about the level of consent involved given the supernatural angle—see also, my qualms with Jolly’s BaIT—but Parker seems so focused on it, that I’m trusting her. Also, there’s reason to suspect that everyone involved is going to come to a greater understanding of Faoladh abilities soon, and that’ll give her a chance to assuage any feelings of creepiness.

Is it a wholly successful novel? Not quite—but it’s close enough to make getting (and reading) the second book a priority. The writing was compelling and engaging—Parker can tell a story and keep the reader curious and entertained the whole way. A lot of snark and love flows between her characters, Harper’s family/friends are a tight bunch and it’s hard to resist that feeling. Her characters brim with life. I think with another book or two under her belt, Parker could turn into a favorite author.

Check this one out, for sure.

3.5 Stars

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