A.W. Exley is our guest today. Here she is to share some of the things she has learned on her way to publishing her book.
Books and writing have
always been an enormous part of Anita's life. She survived school by hiding out
in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At
university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in
Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.
Today, Anita writes
steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New
Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines,
canine and homicidal chickens.
You can catch the other parts of her interview here:
Part 1 @ Terri Bruce –
http://www.terribruce.net Wednesday, April 10th
Part 2 @ T.W. Fendley -
http://twfendley.com/ Thursday, April 11th
Part 3 @Emily LaBonte -
http://emlabonte.blogspot.com/ Friday, April 12th
Part 4 @ Sandra Ulbrich Almazon -
http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com/ Monday, April 15th
Part 5 @ Dean C. Rich -
http://deanswritingtime.blogspot.com/ Tuesday, April 16th
Words of Wisdom
- Tell us about your route
to success – where there any bumps and bruises along the way?
Like
every other writer out there, I wrote my debut novel and dove into the query
trenches. I received numerous full and partial requests, but no offers. My
feedback was the dreaded "like it, but don't love it enough to offer
rep." So I shelved project #1 and wrote project #2. I took a different
tact, submitted to smaller presses who specialize in sci-fi & fantasy and
scored my publishing contract with Curiosity Quills.
- Why did you decide to go
with an indie publisher? Did you use/do you have an agent?
I
think a small press has a lot to offer. I know a number of steampunk authors go
the self pub route, but I honestly didn’t feel it was for me. I wasn't just offered
a publishing contract, I gained an instant writing family. Curiosity Quills do
everything a big publisher does (editing, formatting, cover art, proof reading,
publicity) plus, being small, the owners are more approachable and I feel more
involved in what is going on. The authors also share ideas and help each other
and we are currently working on a couple of anthologies to be published in
July.
- What are the most important
elements of good writing?
A
good story. You need to learn the difference between having an awesome setting
with relatable characters milling around and a story that will keep people
turning the page.
- What tools are must-haves
for writers?
A
good dictionary, don't rely on Spellchecker – I have frequent arguments with
it! Lol
You
need a sense of humour, because sometimes, everything will go wrong.
- Do you have any advice for
other writers?
Don't
give up and just keep at it. Everything you write will improve your craft. Some
people literally find fame overnight, for the rest of us it’s a long, and
sometimes lonely, road. So pack a sleeping bag and a cuddly toy for the
journey.
- What do you feel is the
key to your success?
For
me, I think it would be knowing I have an engaged fan base, that somewhere, out
there, are people waiting for my next novel. That would be magical.
Or
if I could have Ian Somerhalder in the film of my book :)
- What are your current /
future project(s)?
I am currently working on a sequel, entitled HATSHEPSUT'S COLLAR. Queen
Victoria is in the grips of an insatiable bloodlust thanks to an ancient
Egyptian necklace, and it's the least of Cara Devon's problems.
Book blurb:
Cara Devon has always
suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might
cure that. Permanently.
London, 1861.
Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her
father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes
awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch
long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the
nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to
hold the key to immortality.
Her Majesty’s
Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the
gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid
Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings.
Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount
Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the
priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.
Self-preservation
fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to
hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes
a fatal mistake.
Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:
Blog: http://mutteringsfromtheoubliette.blogspot.co.nz/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AWExley
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6585392.A_W_Exley
Twitter: @AWExley
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFTMRBA
Smashwords:
Other:
What format is your book(s) available in (print, e-book,
audio book, etc.)?
e-book and paperback.
