Tell Me Your Publishing Secrets…

When I began Literary Speaking: The Writer’s Guide to Publishing Podcast I wanted to create something no one else was doing — sharing the behind the scenes information on the creative writing and publishing process. No one spoke about what they got paid, or how important pre-orders were, that book sales could vastly affect the chance at a second or third book deal. There didn’t seem to be any classes on what to expect when you’re expecting a book. So I created one by launching my show on the Vividlife Network with Shayne Traviss in 2015.
It was a weekly process of live interviews and surprised authors who finally got to speak about the unknowns — about the part we all want to share with fellow writers. Those times when we’re gathered around big plates of cheese and diving head first into our second bag of chips while we commiserate on the creative process — the good, the bad, and the downright evil.
Sure you can listen to a bevy of best selling well-established authors, but what about the rest of us? The ones who were knee deep in the pre-book launch phase, the ones in the post-book-blues phase, the ones who felt shunned by their publisher when the in house publicist was directed to focus on a bigger more profitable project? The ones who *gasp* didn’t have a built in platform.
I hear stories of agents who abused their power, editors that dropped a book after multiple edits, rogue writers who went with the smaller press and it went very well for, and the ones who didn’t. No matter what any of these writers have experienced they’ve all been willing to share what many do not. The reality of the royalty cheque (yes, you will get some that 35 cents), the exhausting book tours whether publishing house funded or solo tours funded on meager book advances, the book signing you thought was a disaster but had one very influential guest sitting in the sea of empty seats. The publicist who did a wonderful job and helped create a buzz about your work.
These are the stories I want to know about. I want to hear about the realities of your publishing experience, how you found your agent, what you did when your agent and you parted ways and how that led to where you are now. I want to know about the great PR experiences and the ones that faltered. I want to hear about the editor that transformed your writing with their killer suggestions. The workshop that took your creative process to the next level. A conference where you met the worlds most supportive writing friends.
I want to know how you write when you have a day job and a side gig. I want to know how the press prints the books and designs the covers. How an outside publicist works to get you the best coverage and connections to further your book sales. I want to know your book sales — and how they compare to what you expected. I want to know how you dealt with structure issues and taped pages all over the walls of your office. What did it feel like to see your book for the first time in person? Or when you signed your first copy to an eager reader?
I want to hear from editors on what they are dying to read and what they look for in pitches. I want to hear from publishing houses on what sets them apart and makes them better. I want to talk to small presses and their clients to make sure they are legitimate and can be recommended. I want to talk to professors and poets, people who write that publish and, promote and place art out into the world that grabs my attention and changes my perspectives. I want to hear from book reviewers and book buyers, book shop owners and librarians.
I will talk about your book, I will read it and review it honestly. But I will want to know the nitty gritty details of how this book came into being. I want to talk about the things no other interviewer asks you. I won’t ask you anything you want to avoid discussing (which is the first thing I ask before we record). I do want to make sure that you’re willing to pay it forward to future creators by sharing all of the process, good and bad. Like crafting a suit of armour for them to charge into battle with. So there are no surprises or financial downfalls that could cost them more than just money.
I want to give the aspiring writers out there a chance to find out everything I didn’t before getting scammed.
I want to equip writers with the power of knowledge and persistence. That there will be difficult days, months, that sometimes writers block happens and it can be overcome. That a book deal that fell through isn’t always a bad thing, it’s just finding the right place and the right team to coach you through the birth of your book.
Mostly importantly I want to share your work with the world. It’s why I reach out for an interview, it’s why I pester your publicist for a date to record. (It’s all done via phone or laptop and a pair of earbuds)
If you’re up to sharing and genuinely feel passionate about every aspect of the creative process — or you feel you have something to offer your fellow writers. Be willing to send me a copy of your work to read. Electronic PDF will do in a pinch but I really prefer to read from a book so I’m not nailed to my desk.
You can contact me through my website and email me your short bio, a high quality image of your book cover and yourself. I’ll give you my mailing address in response to your email. If I read and decide we’re a fit, I’ll contact you.
I don’t mind if you follow up with me 4 to 6 weeks later — this girl has a lot of books to read. Recordings are typically done between 10am-2pm EST but we can adjust this if your schedule does not allow for it.