Interview with Muncie Star Press

MS: Go for it! No matter how small, large, or unattainable the dream may seem, it’s always within reach if you want it badly enough. People can find a million and one excuses for why they haven’t accomplished a goal—age shouldn’t be one of them.

rawl out of that comfort zone, feel the edge of an uncharted path beneath your feet, and push forward. Life is a series of stepping stones, each leading to a new challenge and the next level of development. The jagged edge that trips some people is the fear of the unknown. “Should I stop while I’m ahead, or move on?” Regardless of the decision, in twelve months you’ll be a year older. The question is, will you be a year older and adding to your list of excuses or on your way to living a dream?

MSP: Please share some of the challenges you faced in trying to get your book published, to include when you first started writing and when you got it published. Did your Bachelor of Art degree in journalism/public relations help in writing fiction or how did you learn to write a novel?

MS: I began to write fiction in 2002-03, and although my degree in journalism/public relations gave me the foundation and discipline I would need to succeed as a writer, fiction is an entirely different process. However, it has been invaluable as I plan my marketing/promotional strategies.

The first three books in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery Series began life as a set of three novellas. I joined online author groups, followed discussions on plot, pace, characterization, etc., and participated in writing workshops. I also read every how-to book I could get my hands on and applied all I had learned to my writing. The turning point came in 2006 when I joined an online critique group and decided to expand each of the novellas into novels. Participation in this group was not for the thin-skinned individual. Comments were sometimes harsh, but the honest, constructive critiques forced me to push my writing to the next level.

The challenge for me was to learn the intricacies of the craft, develop a complex plot, create believable characters, polish the prose, and turn SILENCED CRY into a marketable piece. Seven months after joining the group, BeWrite Books (UK), who I had queried a year before about my series of novellas, requested the expanded manuscript. SILENCED CRY was released in April 2007. They will release the second book in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series in the fall 2008. No rejection slips so far.

MSP: Where did you get the idea of having a blog and getting friends to join you? When did you get it up and running?

MS: In this day and age of global marketing, Internet sales, online reviews, interviews, and e-zines, blogging is a writer’s lifeline. I've been doing it for several years through my website, a personal blog, and my authors’ group blog. At last count, I belong to about 18 online writers’ forums including my book’s page on Amazon. I’ve also been invited to post articles on numerous other sites (Google my name to find them).

I’ve known the three contributing authors from MURDER BY 4 for several years. They are, Aaron Paul Lazar, author of the LEGARDE MYSTERIES and MOORE MYSTERIES, http://www.legardemysteries.com, S. W. Vaughn, author of the thriller, BROKEN ANGEL, http://www.swvaughn.com/index.html, and Kim Smith, author of the SHANNON WALLACE SERIES, http://www.mkimsmith.com. On a cold Saturday in February 2008, we received word that one of Vaughn’s books had been accepted by a publisher. We were thrilled and ready to help her promote her upcoming debut. Right around that same time, Smith also announced that her debut, AVENGING ANGEL, had been accepted by a publisher. I launched MURDER BY 4 (MB4) two days later on February 18. The initial goal was to pool our networking capabilities together to promote our writing, but aside from that, we all have a pay forward attitude. The desire to see other writers succeed became the thrust behind every article posted on MB4. Within the blog’s first five months, four virtual book tour companies have made the MB4 one of their authors’ tour stops. We’ve featured over 40 guest writers whose backgrounds range from debut to seasoned authors, publishers, editors, marketing professionals and more. The site receives over 1,000 unique visitors per month and is quite active. The success of this blog has been much more than any of us imagined.

MSP: What has been the most exciting part about getting published, so far?

MS: Being published has opened doors and allowed me to meet people from all walks of life and nationalities that I would have never met otherwise. BeWrite Books, founded in 2002 is based in the UK. It has an international reach, a global author pool, and full-time professional editorial and technical staff in Germany, France, Canada, USA, and Australia. This has given my books world-wide exposure and readership. The proof is that in the year and a half since I launched my website, over 18,000 unique visitors from 103 countries have visited the site. That's not only amazing; it’s what makes the experience fun. The true sense of accomplishment, however, came when my publisher placed her seal of approval on SILENCED CRY and it was immediately reinforced by the number of glowing critical reviews, reader comments, and awards that SILENCED CRY has received since its release in April 2007. This is especially encouraging as we prepare for the release of THE DEVIL CAN WAIT this fall.

Without reservation, I have to say the most exciting part about getting published is what I leave my children; the proof that learning is a life-long process and the understanding that dreams can come true if you put your mind to it.