INTERVIEW 8- KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS BETH YARNALL

INTERVIEW 8

KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS 

BETH YARNALL

Best selling author Beth Yarnall writes romantic suspense, mysteries, and the occasional hilarious Tweets. A storyteller since her playground days, Beth remembers her friends asking her to make up stories of how the person 'died' in the slumber party games Light as a Feather, stiff as a Board, so it's little wonder she prefers writing stories in which people meet unfortunate ends. 

Thanks Beth for taking out time for this interview.

What is your subjective definition of a Hybrid Author?
An author who actively publishes with a publisher and self publishes.

Did you first walk the traditional route or Indie route on your journey as an author?

I had one foot on the traditional path in 2012 when I fought for the rights back to my first novel from my publisher less than a year from its release. My agent shopped that book and we got an offer, but after talking it over my agent suggested I self publish it. In early 2014 my second book came out with a publisher and later that year I self published that first book. Since then I’ve self published a total of 4 novels and 2 novellas and traditionally published 4 novels and 3 novellas. I’ve also self-published 3 audio books.

Can you state three advantages of being an Indie author?

I make all of the decisions, I control my release schedule, and I decide length, format, and how those books are marketed and sold.

Can you state three advantages of being a traditional author?

With traditional publishing I can tap into a ready made audience of readers who like books that are similar to mine, I don’t have to pay any of the costs of publishing such as cover design, editing, reviews, and promotion, and I feel as though I have a partner helping me to make those books a success.

Can you state three disadvantage of being an Indie author?

I have to come up with all up front costs, not all freelance professionals are reliable, and I have to try to find my audience on my own.

Can you state three disadvantage of being a traditional author?

The publisher takes a cut, I don’t have as much control (although I have to say that my publishers have been very open to my suggestions, including allowing me to put chapters of their books in a free sampler to help push sales), and I don’t get to control when my books release and in what format.

Do you think Hybrid Authorship is a win-win and best-of-both-the-worlds situation for everyone involved? Kindly elaborate your reasons.

For me, at this time in my career—yes. That may not be the case for everyone and it may not be the case a year or two or five from now. My publishers have been willing to work with me and have put some of my suggestions for my books into practice. I can control my release schedule by self-publishing books between publisher releases. I can write under a pen name. My publisher contracts don’t have the typical clauses that inhibit some traditional only authors. I feel very lucky to be where I am and I love writing books for my publishers and for myself.

Can you state three advantages that a literary agent and traditional publishing house get when they work with a Hybrid Author?

Interesting question. Both my agent and my publishers have told me that they’ve learned from me, which was surprising to me. I think they get a savvier author, one who sees beyond this book or this series. I look at my career as a long road and make decisions based on that attitude. I like to think it makes me someone others want to work with.

What is the opinion of your literary agent about your Indie work?

Courtney Miller-Callihan has no problem with it and has, in 3 different cases, suggested I self publish work that she previously shopped. She knows I publish under two different names. She doesn’t take a cut of my self-published work. There are agents who insist on taking 15% of self-published work and the author has to get their permission before self-publishing a book. I would never work with an agent who takes a percentage of my self-published work and tries to control when and how I publish.

Do you think Hybrid Authorship is the future of publishing industry? Kindly elaborate your answer.

For now it’s my future. I try to steer clear of the ‘my way is the right way’ attitude authors on all sides sometimes take. Hybrid publishing isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can write fast enough to feed two beasts. Not everyone can keep up with the demands and scheduling. Not everyone wants to. I think it’s important that we be supportive of our fellow authors no matter what path they choose and I feel fortunate to be publishing in a time when I have choices.

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Kirtida Gautam is a clinical psychologist and an author. Follow her on Twitter @KirtidaGautam  

INTERVIEW- 7 KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS KAREN KATCHUR

INTERVIEW 7

KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS 

KAREN KATCHUR

Karen Katchur holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from West Chester University and a Masters of Education degree in Health and Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University. She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. She enjoys running and tennis and playing with her flat coat retriever puppy, Tucker and her cat, Carly.

Thanks a lot Karen for taking out time for this interview. 

What makes the process of writing worthwhile for you?

I don’t do a whole lot of plotting before I write the first draft. So when something in the plot or with the character surprises a reader, it’s because I was surprised, too! And that’s the part of writing that is fun for me and makes it all worthwhile.

What was the most frustrating moment of your writing career?

The most frustrating thing for me is when I have to put a book aside because for whatever reason it’s just not working. It happened once when I was just starting to write, and then again later after I signed with my agent. 

What was the most satisfying moment of your writing career?

The most satisfying moment of my career so far was when I held my debut novel in my hands for the first time.

If you have to make a movie trailer of your writing career, what the trailer will look like?

Train wreck! If you read the Writer’s Digest blog How I Got My Literary Agent, you’ll understand! (yes, I have. It is an inspiring blog)  

How much do you rely on personal emotions and memories to write your novels?

I’m not sure you can write, or write effectively, unless you draw on personal emotions and memories. For example, in THE SECRETS OF LAKE ROAD, I wrote Caroline's character based on what I knew about being a twelve-year-old girl coming of age. Plus, I had two daughters who were around that age at the time so I was witnessing it firsthand. Was Caroline me? No, she wasn't. And she wasn’t one of my daughters. But I based her character on what I remember about being her age and about how scary the world seemed when you're no longer a child, but not quite an adult either. I hope I tapped into those emotions and that readers can relate to them and remember their own experiences growing up.

Would you like to research some vocations as possible jobs for a character?

I love mystery/suspense novels, so anything in law enforcement intrigues me. I’m hoping to enroll in the Writer’s Police Academy if not this year, then next year. And I’ve always been fascinated with forensics. I’m a sucker for TV shows like Cold Case, Criminal Minds, American Greed, etc…

Tell me about some research information which you would never have known if you would not have written your book.

After writing THE SECRETS OF LAKE ROAD, I now know everything there is to know about snappers, including how to trap them. And I was in awe of what I learned about Underwater Rescue and Recovery.

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Kirtida Gautam is a clinical psychologist and an author. Follow her on Twitter @KirtidaGautam  

INTERVIEW- 6 KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS TANYA ANNE CROSBY

INTERVIEW 6

KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS 

TANYA ANNE CROSBY

Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five novels. She is known for stories that are charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters. 

Thank you Tanya for taking out time for this interview.

How your growing-up years have inspired you to become a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I was a little girl. I remember being 12 and getting my tonsils out and my father told me I could have anything I wanted, probably thinking it would be ice cream. But I asked to use his typewriter!

What is the secret behind being the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels? Consistently being able to write books that garnered huge readership and praise, do you follow a writing method or regime?

Writing is a very individual journey, but if there is any secret at all, it’s this: Perseverance matters. If you have a drive to write, it’s what you must do, and to do it well, it takes practice. With lots of practice, you have a published book, and after a number of great books, you have a following. Essentially, the secret is simply to write the best book you know how to write and to keep doing it for as long as you love what you’re doing.

Is there a character of yours, which is closest to your heart?

My favorite character is always the characters I’m currently working on. It’s important, I believe, to love every book from the bottom of your heart as you are writing them. Your passion for your work always shows.

You have written books in different genres. How do switch between the genres? What are the difficulties that you face?

I actually find it fairly easy to switch between genres. As long as you’re writing a book you love, and feel a passion for, each and every book has its own rewards and pitfalls. In general, historical are a little harder, because they take more research, but although contemporaries are easier in the sense that we are living this history, right now, you’ve got to get it right, because there’s always someone out there who is ready to bonk you on the head with your mistakes (figuratively, of course!).

You refer the term Hybrid Author for yourself, having your roots in both trade and self-publishing. What are the pros and cons of traditional publishing and self-publishing according to you?

Although my publishing roots are trad, I definitely do not consider myself either indie or trad. I guess the term hybrid author most applies to me. I don’t believe there is any one right path for an author to take and I do believe under the right circumstances traditional publishing is still a great option, although I know that doesn’t answer your question. I came to a point in the late nineties that I no longer enjoyed what I was writing. That, and life got in the way, so I took a break. When I came back to the industry, it was an entirely different world. I was determined to love writing again. For me that meant telling the stories I wanted to tell and that was far easier to do as an indie author.

What is the inspiration behind choosing the historical background for your romance Novels?

Literally, it could be anything. I’m inspired by life in general.

After ten years hiatus, you returned with your first contemporary romantic suspense Novel. What made you take a break for ten years? What stirred you to choose contemporary suspense as a genre for your comeback Novel?

I came to a point in the late nineties that I no longer enjoyed what I was writing. That, and life got in the way, so I took a break. When I came back to the industry, it was an entirely different world. I was determined to love writing again. For me that meant telling the stories I wanted to tell and that was far easier to do as an indie author.

Could you please tell us little about your future work? Which character will take the lead in the story?

This year is going to be crazy. I have a new book out in March, HIGHLAND STORM and one out in April, THE GIRL WHO STAYED. I am now working on the next release, a second anthology with Glynnis Campbell and Laurin Wittig, called THE SUMMER STAR. And I’m also in the midst of book 4 of the Guardians series, which takes the series in a whole new direction. HIGHLAND FURY is due out in January 2017, and I’m plotting and scheming a new book for The Story Plant.

How writing has moved you as a person? Are you different in your personal life then what you are as a writer?

Probably not so much. Although I can’t say I identify with all my characters, there’s probably a tiny bit of me in all my characters, heroes and villains.

Being the editor for ten years and a renowned published author for over twenty years, what advice would you like to give to new authors of today regarding editing, publishing and book promotions? 

My advice is pretty rudimentary. Writers write. So do it every day. It seems simple, but this piece of advice has served me through twenty seven years as a published writer. The more you do it, the better you get.

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Kirtida Gautam is a clinical psychologist and an author. Follow her on Twitter @KirtidaGautam  

INTERVIEW 5- KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS KAREN FORTUNATI

INTERVIEW 5

KIRTIDA GAUTAM INTERVIEWS 

KAREN FORTUNATI

Karen Fortunati is a writer of contemporary, realistic YA. The subject of her  first book, The Weight of Zero, is mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and it explores the shame, stigma and anxiety that often complicate the management of this chronic condition. 

Her path to writing and publication was a long and indirect one. She graduated from the University of Scranton with an accounting degree  and then got a law degree from Georgetown. After working as a lawyer for many years, she found herself growing interested and then fascinated with history, specifically the American Revolution. This fascination sparked the idea for a middle grade story so between family, dogs and a return to school (Trinity College for a master’s degree in American Studies), she threw herself into writing.

Thanks Karen for taking out time to answer the questions for this interview. As a clinical psychologist, I am eager to read The Weight of Zero. I hope the book reaches in the hands of people who fight the neurotic demon named Bipolar Disorder. I applaud you for writing a novel on this important topic. 

  

What was the one thing that made you want to write The Weight of Zero?

The Weight of Zero is a young adult novel about a girl considering suicide. Two factors drove me to this story. The first was a collection of personal experiences – observing family and friends deal with mental health issues and treatment. It’s interesting in that I never realized how much these experiences impacted me until I sat down to write this story. The second factor is my husband. He’s been a child psychiatrist for sixteen years and through him, I’ve learned about different mental illnesses and courses of treatment. For this story, I wanted to lift the veil and explore that process – get into the nitty gritty of medications, group and individual therapy and different types of support. I aimed for a respectful and honest approach because I know that treatment can work. In young adult literature, some portrayals of treatment are negative. My goal was to give a positive perspective so that someone who would have never considered talking to someone about a mental health issue might do so now.

What is the theme of The Weight of Zero?

There is always hope.

Tell the readers more about the protagonist. What does she seek?

Seventeen-year-old Catherine has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has made one suicide attempt. When you meet her, she is convinced that a life with this condition isn’t worth living. She’s planning to overdose and is stockpiling meds to take when her depression (aka “Zero”) returns. But changes in her treatment  - a new doctor who prescribes a new med and a new Intensive Outpatient Program – are making a surprising and positive impact. Brand new relationships start to develop with people Catherine could’ve never imagined. So the main issue then becomes whether Catherine can realize that life with bipolar disorder is worth living.

What research you needed to write The Weight Of Zero? Which are the books that helped you the most?  

I read constantly, scouring the Internet for information, personal accounts and blogs. The International Bipolar Foundation presents excellent webinars and publishes the fantastic bp Magazine. I was incredibly moved by Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind. I also found Two Bipolar Chick’s Guide to Survival: Tips for Living With Bipolar Disorder by Wendy K. Williamson and Honora Rose enormously helpful.  My husband, though, was my best resource! Not only did he give technical advice but was also great at editing.

What was the most satisfying moment of your writing career? 

Two moments tie for most satisfying: the first was when my agent, Sara Megibow, offered me representation and the second, learning that The Weight of Zero was going to be published by Delacorte. When I finally got an agent, I had been writing for about six years, mostly on my first full novel, a middle grade manuscript that had gotten soundly rejected. So when Sara’s email arrived offering representation, I remember staring at it, stunned that it had actually happened, that an agent wanted to take me on. When you get rejected so many times, it feels like that day is never going to come.

If you have to make a movie trailer of your writing career, what the trailer will look like?

This is a hard question…hmmmm. I guess it would be something like Julie and Julia. I loved how that movie showed what publication rejection feels like – when you invest years into writing and it seems to never pan out and then suddenly (six years for me), it does.

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Kirtida Gautam is a clinical psychologist and an author. Follow her on Twitter @KirtidaGautam