Meet Sheri Fink

Today’s featured author, Sheri Fink, has penned an inspirational children’s picture book that may not even have become a book if she had not attended a writing conference.

Name: Sheri Fink

Name of book: The Little Rose

Book genre: Children’s picture book

Date published: March 22, 2011

Publisher: Sheri Fink

What is your day job? Children’s author, international speaker and author mentor

What is your book about? The Little Rose is a heartwarming story about a little rose who grows in a weedbed and thinks that she’s the weed. She tries to be like everyone else, but then learns to embrace her differences as unique gifts and to love herself for what she really is, a beautiful rose.

Why did you want to write a children’s book? I didn’t initially plan to write a children’s book. I wrote the story that poured out of my heart and put it away for over a year. It wasn’t until someone was asking me about my writing at a conference that I told anyone else about the story. When I told her, she said that she got goosebumps and that I had to do something with it because her grandchildren needed the message. That’s when I began seriously considering publishing it as a children’s book. I love empowering kids to believe in themselves and discover how incredible they really are. It’s a perfect fit for me.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book? The most challenging part was starting out not knowing what to do. When I decided to publish my book, I had a huge learning curve. Every day I did things that were beyond my comfort zone in order to bring my book to life. I learned so much, met fascinating people, and did everything I could to see my dream become reality.

What motivates you to write? I have ideas that pop into my head, and I get extremely excited about them. It’s actually hard not to write during those times when a new story is just begging to be born. I feel so lucky to be the one receiving the ideas, and it’s a great feeling to see where they go. It’s as if I’m exploring as I go, looking forward to seeing what happens next, and experiencing everything along the way. It’s very addictive, just like reading!

Did you experience writer’s block? I recently had a realization that the times that I have felt writer’s block have been times when I’ve been trying to do something to the story that doesn’t ring true. For example, if I’m trying to work in someone else’s well-meaning feedback, but it just isn’t fitting. That’s when I feel the block. Now I know to take a look at what I’m doing and see if it feels authentic to the story and the characters. Once I determine what piece doesn’t fit and throw it out, the writing magically flows again.

How long did it take you to write this book? I wrote the initial story in less than a month. It flowed through me so quickly. The editing process took a lot longer, as it always does. I decided in October 2010 to publish The Little Rose. At the time I made that decision, I hadn’t even let anyone else read the story. So there was a lot of work and editing to do before I could officially launch it. The book was published on March 22, 2011 and was a #1 best-seller on Amazon on April 6, 2011. It was incredible!

Why did you decide to self-publish? After attending several writers’ conferences, including my favorite, the Southern California Writers Conference, I met a lot of authors. Some were traditionally published and others were self-published. It seemed like the self-published authors were almost always happier with their book and the entire experience. I’m an entrepreneur at heart, and I wanted my book to be a good business investment for me. I felt I could do it on my own and didn’t want to go through the sometimes multi-year process of finding an agent, publisher, etc. I’m not opposed to traditional publishing – it just wasn’t a good fit for me and my goals at the time.

Was the self-publishing process easier or more difficult than you expected? The process overall was easier than I expected. It seems like an incredibly daunting task and in some ways it is. But it’s easier now than ever before to successfully self-publish your books and content. The hardest part is believing that you can really do it. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and it can be done if you learn well from others and are willing to make the investment of time, money and energy to bring your books to life.

What is the biggest misconception about writing a book? The biggest misconception that I hear when I talk with aspiring authors is that there’s only one path to publication. Many writers think that they have to go the traditional publishing route, and they’re already beaten down before they even finish their books. The other one I hear a lot is that if you write a great book, it will sell itself. That’s just not reality. Even the best book needs a marketing plan and active involvement from the author in order to find the right audience and make it successful.

What was your favorite aspect of the writing process for this book? I have a few favorites: The first time I saw the concept drawings from Mary Erikson Washam, my illustrator, I knew that I had to work with her. She did such a wonderful job and captured the characters and the feeling of the book so perfectly that I actually cried tears of joy when I saw them for the first time. My second favorite is when I received the first hardcover proof copy from my printer. It was like seeing your baby for the first time. Now my favorite aspect is hearing kids and their parents tell me that my book makes a difference for them. When I started to write, I never considered the possibility that I would receive fan mail. And it’s so great! It’s such an honor to get to touch the lives of kids in a positive way.

What tools/methods have you employed to promote your book? What advice would you give to writers regarding promotion? The majority of my promotion has been through relationships both online and offline. I love meeting people who are doing things to make a positive difference in the world. When I do, I like to help them share their message and support what they’re doing. I met some really terrific people through in-person events such as conferences and seminars. I’ve also met people from all over the world via social media. I love connecting with inspiring people. I’ve created a website for my book and for me as an author. I crafted a book trailer for YouTube. I do email marketing fairly regularly. I also do a lot of PR: press releases, media interviews, etc. I find in-person author events to be very effective because people can see and touch the book and take it home with them if they buy it on the spot.

My advice to writers regarding promotion is to be active and authentic on social media. It’s a wonderful way to get to know lots of people and build relationships. And it’s a lot of fun! It’s also really important to respond quickly to media opportunities and fans.

How has life changed for you since the publication of your book? My life has completely changed since the publishing and success of The Little Rose earlier this year. I’ve decided to write another inspirational children’s book that’s being illustrated right now. I have ideas for two board books featuring the same characters and will be developing them in 2012. The Little Rose is being adapted for the stage and will be a play for elementary schools next year. I’m doing author events and speaking engagements… it’s amazing! I get to tell kids to dream big and believe in themselves. I love it!

Do you find yourself obsessively checking sales stats? Sometimes. It’s a really bad habit to get into because it distracts me from writing. I’m always grateful to see new sales and reviews. It’s just so exciting to see your book resonating with people.

Tell me about your next book. Yes, I just finished writing my second children’s book, The Little Gnome. It’s a story about a garden gnome who experiences his first winter and learns to embrace change. The story helps kids ages 5 to 10 to look for and celebrate the good in every change. It’ll be published in March 2012.

My favorite last question: Oprah once famously said that there is no such thing as luck, without preparation and a moment of opportunity. Would you agree or disagree with regard to your own success as a writer? I completely agree. Behind every “overnight” success is someone who has worked hard to prepare for that moment of opportunity and then bravely took action when it arrived. That’s exactly what I have done, and I’m so glad that I did! And if I can do it, others can as well. It’s an exciting new world in publishing and a moment of opportunity for many talented writers to publish their books and be successful!

Meet Author Michelle Diener

Friday is Tuesday here at Making ‘Baby Grand.’ (Still some collateral damage from Hurricane Irene.) Today’s featured debut author is Michelle Diener. :)

Name: Michelle Diener
Name of book: In a Treacherous Court
Book genre: Historical suspense (with a romantic element)
Date published: August 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Gallery Books
What is your day job? Writer
What is your book about? In a Treacherous Court is about the trouble Flemish artist Susanna Horenbout gets into on her trip to Henry VIII’s court and how she survives being caught in the middle of a plot against the king.
What would you say is the most challenging part of writing a book? The first draft, without a doubt.
What motivates you to write? The story and the characters. I love the satisfaction I get from writing a story I’d like to read.
Did you experience writer’s block? I experience an unwillingness to write. I’d rather do anything else, sometimes. But I force myself to sit down and write something, and generally, doing that often enough gets me back in the story.
How long did it take you to write this book? It took a year.
How long did it take you to find a publisher? Around four months, I think.
Do you have an agent? If so, do you think it’s vital for first-timers to have one in order to snag a publishing deal? Yes, I do have an agent. I would certainly not have gotten a contract with Simon & Schuster without my agent, as they don’t take unagented submissions. It depends who the author is targeting, I think. For many of the new ebook only imprints, agents aren’t necessary, but I know having one has helped me tremendously.
What is the biggest misconception about writing a book? That once you’ve written it, you can get it published straight away, and earn a lot of money off it.
What was your favorite aspect of the writing process for this book? I found it very satisfying to weave fact and fiction so closely together.
What tools/methods have you employed to promote your book? What advice would you give to writers regarding promotion? I’ve done a blog tour, offered a giveaway on Goodreads, and with my publisher’s help, sent out numerous advance reading copies for review. My advice is to do what you can, but don’t let it take away from your writing. Your best promotion is an excellent next book.
How has life changed for you since the publication of your book? I’ve finally “come out the closet” and admitted to people that I write for a living. Before, it was often too exasperating to explain that no, I wasn’t published yet.
My favorite last question: Oprah once famously said that there is no such thing as luck, without preparation and a moment of opportunity. Would you agree or disagree with regard to your own success as a writer? Most definitely. I’d written five books before I found my agent with Book 6. I had by then learned a lot about the publishing industry, querying agents, had a great writing support network and knew far more about the craft of writing fiction. I was prepared, and the opportunity was there, and I could recognize it and grab it.

Meet Author J.M. Kelley

It’s Tuesday! That means another edition of Debut Author Q&A! Yippee! :) Today, we interview J.M. Kelley, another Lazy Day Publishing author. (We’ve also chatted with George Pappas and Liz Borino.) I found myself nodding in agreement when J.M. says that perhaps the only thing worse that getting a “no” from a publisher is getting an “I LOVE this, but have to pass…” So true!

Name: J.M. Kelley

Name of book: Drew In Blue

Book genre: Contemporary Romance

Date Published: December 1, 2010

Publisher: Lazy Day Publishing

What is your book about? Drew In Blue is the story of a thirty-six year old loner unexpectedly saddled with the task of raising a baby while trying to sort out his mess of a life. Problem is, he just keeps making things worse for himself. It’s a running theme in Drew’s life, considering he never does anything the easy way. The River’s View, Pennsylvania gossip mill is watching each misstep as Drew juggles a price-gouging babysitter, a major case of artist’s block, and a best friend with an opinion to share on every bungled choice he makes.

Drew’s love life isn’t faring much better. Despite a long history of relationships that never really get off the ground, he falls head over heels for someone new, hoping that she might be the one to end his romantic bad luck streak. After a few abysmally bad false starts, things finally start looking up for Drew. That is, until he finds out (the hard way, naturally) that this new love interest isn’t the one for him after all.

What was the most challenging part of the writing process? So many challenges! Drew In Blue was my first novel, so learning how to actually write a book was quite the process. I read books, went to writers conferences and tried to relearn the English language in order to write coherently. As for the book itself, I tackled a fully male perspective in a romance – which was a learning experience all its own being a woman. It was necessary for me to maintain a true male voice, and I had to observe, listen and deconstruct everything about the men in my life in order to be successful.

What motivates you to write? I think the biggest motivator in my writing life is the sheer excitement when story is flowing. It has to be better than any drug, not that I have a comparison basis. But I can’t imagine anything feeling as exhilarating as being on a writing roll. It’s addictive and empowering.

Did you experience writer’s block? I do struggle with writer’s block at times. Often, it’s more that I have too many ideas in my head and selecting just one or two is difficult, so my brain refuses to release any ideas at all. Sometimes I will write a short story to clear the mechanism and get the mind back in order. Other times the only thing you can do is step away for a while and wait until the muse wakes up again.

How long did it take you to write this book? I think it took about a year to write, maybe a year and half if you count edits and revisions. I am working on my second novel, and though I’ve taken a break in order to promote Drew In Blue and relocate to another state, the writing process flows more smoothly. I think subsequent works will be easier to produce now that I’ve learned a thing or two about writing.

How difficult was it to find a publisher? It’s a tough environment, especially when you’re trying to sell a different angle. Drew In Blue is a romance, but it’s from the male perspective, and it’s quite character-driven, which means I’ve bucked a trend or two in the standard romance formula. And sometimes, the only thing harder to take than a “no” is a “I really like this story! But I have to pass.”

What is the biggest misconception about writing a book? That you can just throw out a story in a few weeks and it’s done. I think the biggest surprise for me was reaching “The End” and realizing I’d actually only just begun. You might have a good idea, but that first draft isn’t what you’re going to try to sell. That’s just the foundation you’ve laid, and once it’s set, you have to really get to work and make it shine.

What was your favorite aspect of the writing process for this book? The characters became real to me. They spoke to me. I argued with them. Drew sulked when I wouldn’t listen. Kris pouted when I didn’t do things her way. I adore how they came alive, and how they are still very prominent in my mind. I know them. They know me. I doubt I’ll ever shake them, or would want to.

How far along are you on your second novel? I’m about halfway through my second novel, a romance set, once again, in small town Pennsylvania. But while it’s a romance, the story focuses heavily on the relationship between a black sheep of the family and her gravely ill father. The love story can only exist as long as she and her father are healing old wounds. I’m enjoying the synergy of those two plots in the emerging story.

Oprah has famously said that there is no such thing as luck, without preparation and a moment of opportunity. Would you agree or disagree with regard to your own success as a writer? I do believe that sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time, but you’d better be carrying gold when opportunity knocks. I am one of the lucky ones who was given a chance to share her words, but I had to work hard to get there. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into writing Drew In Blue, and I firmly believe my devotion to my characters is apparent. If I didn’t care so much, it would have been just another story getting lost in the slush pile. It’s not just that I have a book to sell. I love my characters, and I want to share their story.