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.
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.
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.
What do you like about
your publisher?
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.
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!
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.
Did your publisher
create an audiobook for you?
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.
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.
ADVICE
Looking back would you
do anything differently?
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.
AVAILABLE NOW!
To pilot the fleet s finest ship Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard. Much to Byron s chagrin the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential. As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?