How do they get agents?
How do they get published?
Is it luck? Talent? Drive?
This segment is an attempt to satisfy my immense curiosity...to answer the one question I'm dying to ask every author out there: How did your book become a book?
Visit the full catalogue of "My Publishing Journey" interviews HERE.
Today's Featured Author
Alex J. Cavanaugh
THE CASSA SERIES
I never set out to be an
author, but after rewriting an old story, my wife prodded me to seek
publication. I queried publishers first since that was my best shot and landed
one. After my first book came out, fans (and my publisher) wanted more. I ended
up writing three more books and saw several of them become best sellers and
award winners.
AGENTS
Do you have an agent?
No.
How many queries did you
send?
Over twenty-five to
publishers.
If you don't have an agent is it by choice?
Yes, I knew I had a better chance landing a publisher, so I didn’t even try.
Yes, I knew I had a better chance landing a publisher, so I didn’t even try.
PUBLISHING
How did you (or your
agent) find your publisher?
I just made a list. Started big and worked my way down. I looked at other genres besides science fiction as well and that’s what helped me land my publisher.
I just made a list. Started big and worked my way down. I looked at other genres besides science fiction as well and that’s what helped me land my publisher.
How long did it take to
find a publisher?
From the time I started querying to the day I signed a contract was somewhere around eight months.
From the time I started querying to the day I signed a contract was somewhere around eight months.
What do you like about
your publisher?
Personal attention, easy to work with, and they’re willing to let me screw up.
Personal attention, easy to work with, and they’re willing to let me screw up.
What do you dislike
about your publisher?
They are small, so there is less marketing than with the really big publishers.
They are small, so there is less marketing than with the really big publishers.
Did you or your agent
hit any snags along the way, and if so how did you overcome them?
In the beginning, I didn’t have an Internet presence. I got one really quick though!
In the beginning, I didn’t have an Internet presence. I got one really quick though!
Did traditional
publishing get your book(s) in Barnes & Noble or other bookstores?
Yes.
Did your publisher
produce a hardcover of your book or just paperback?
Just paperback.
Just paperback.
Did your publisher
create an audiobook for you?
Yes! There are audio books for all four novels and the boxed set.
Yes! There are audio books for all four novels and the boxed set.
MARKETING
What marketing tactics
worked for you?
Blogging worked best. I tried to do different things with each book - scavenger hunt with images, one question interviews spread across hundreds of blogs - stuff like that. Just starting the Insecure Writer’s Support Group made an impact on book sales.
Blogging worked best. I tried to do different things with each book - scavenger hunt with images, one question interviews spread across hundreds of blogs - stuff like that. Just starting the Insecure Writer’s Support Group made an impact on book sales.
If you are traditionally
published, what did your publisher do to market your book?
They sent out a lot of review copies, placed some ads, and did a lot of marketing with science fiction conventions.
They sent out a lot of review copies, placed some ads, and did a lot of marketing with science fiction conventions.
ADVICE
Looking back would you
do anything differently?
I would’ve gotten my butt online much sooner. And I would’ve started a newsletter.
I would’ve gotten my butt online much sooner. And I would’ve started a newsletter.
What lessons have you
learned? Any advice for those about to go down your path?
Be open to trying just about anything. And don’t use social media just to advertise. It’s all about connecting with others.
Be open to trying just about anything. And don’t use social media just to advertise. It’s all about connecting with others.
Can you provide contacts and/or resources?
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press, LLC http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/
Audiobook: Narrator - Michael Burnette https://www.facebook.com/michaeljburnette/
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press, LLC http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/
Audiobook: Narrator - Michael Burnette https://www.facebook.com/michaeljburnette/
AVAILABLE NOW!
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