|
|
|
|
Blogs by L.T. Suzuki
Dayna Hester Interview
4/19/2010 8:22:47 PM
Debut author, Dayna Hester talks about her novel 'Speaking Truths' and the highs and lows of the publishing business.
Dayna Hester Interview:
LTS: With the publishing world’s fast and ever changing landscape, aspiring authors standing at the crossroads of whether to publish the traditional route or to opt for self-publishing have so much to consider. For today’s guest blog, I’d like to introduce you to the lovely and talented author, Dayna Hester.
I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers. Where is home and what do you do when you are not writing?
DH: I live in Los Angeles, California. Aside from being at the complete disposal of my family (whether by loving choice or obligation), I take time to fuel my entrepreneurial spirit. Currently, I’m working on my own invention - The HairLoom – and dedicating a lot of mental thought to my son’s website ShankMeister.com (the e-bay for golf equipment).
In the spare moments of summer days, though, I enjoy golf and a competitive game of Scrabble.
LTS: Has writing stories always been a part of your life and becoming a published author a life long dream?
DH: Yes and no … it has been a life-long dream to be an author yet it wasn’t until several years ago that I realized I was entitled to pursue this dream. For many years, I fell prey to my insecurities, thinking my intellect was not good enough, my knowledge not expanded enough, my perceptions about human nature not interesting enough … these thoughts changed as my insecurities dwindled.
LTS: Let’s talk about your debut novel, ‘Speaking Truths’. What was the inspiration behind this story and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Landon Starker?
DH: My inspiration springs from a fascination with psychological theories and a strong desire to learn about how brain patterns develop. Meaning, why it is we do what we do and feel the way we do.
As for Landon Starker, I wanted to start with a protagonist that was unsympathetic: internal reasoning that was disorganized and chaotic and dialogue that is anger-imbued and manipulative. I wanted readers to wonder, “How will I ever like this character?” By Chapter 4, I start to peel the layers of the onion away, giving glimpses of who Landon is at his core. I see the layers as unhealthy brain patterns that weigh him down … much like my insecurity that I wasn’t entitled to be an author.
LTS: Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the reader when they crack open ‘Speaking Truths’?
DH: My current writing style is swift prose and unexpected twists, and I think I successfully delivered this in ‘Speaking Truths’. I haven’t had a reader tell me yet that they knew for sure what the ending would be. On a deeper level, I wanted to enlighten people on the traumas of abduction, why it is that a child who is abducted stays with their abductor – what is that bond that the abuser has over the abused? I think my readers will come close to hearing the voice of these victims who were once abducted and have traveled the road to transitioning back into a normal life.
LTS: Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of this guest blog! The road to publication is difficult at the best of times. Do you have any advice you’d like to share with the author struggling to find representation?
DH: I think it’s important for writers to understand, at least generally, how the publishing world works and what it takes to successfully market a book—at the very least time and money (editors, cover design, proofreaders, ARCs, press releases, PR firms, and the list goes on).
When you’re searching for representation, understand that by definition you are a high-risk investment no matter how great your book is (especially fiction). When you approach agents, traditional publishing houses and/or small presses, you are essentially asking these individuals/companies to invest in a speculative venture. Traditional publishing houses have big overheads; therefore, their potential for return is based on formulaic spreadsheets not necessarily creative potential.
If you want an agent that fights for you, then adopt the theory that one agent only has so much time in a day and therefore they have to be selective about what authors to take on. When looking for representation from an agent, consider whether you’re a fit for that agent. Most literary agency web pages give an outline of what material agents are interested in. Don’t send form letters, but instead let agents know that you found them so that they can “find you.”
And for small presses, learn what kind of books they specialize in and feel passionate about. When a small press releases three to five titles a year, you can’t help but acknowledge how much time and dedication they must give to each title. I think by understanding more about the publishing world, a writer can start to define what a rejection means minus the ego (i.e. “you’re manuscript is simply not a fit in our family; therefore, we would not be able to best serve you, the writer”).
LTS: Excellent advice, Dayna! Now, becoming a published author is truly a difficult road to travel, what made you decide to become an indie author?
DH: I believe in large part it was due the consequence of being impatient and not fully understanding the answer I gave above.
There’s a distinction here that I must draw: indie author vs. self-publishing with a subsidy press. I started out my “self-publishing” journey with a subsidy press (e.g. iUniverse, Publish America, Xlibiris, etc.). I made a mistake in this regard, and I am fixing it. If a reader is considering the subsidy press route, RECONSIDER. My next blog (found at DaynaHester.com) will be fleshing out this caveat. On the other hand, indie publishing, to me, means you are finding the printer, having the cover designed yourself, developing your own marketing plan … said another way, you are your own publisher/marketer/promoter.
LTS: What are some of the benefits and pitfalls of going indie?
DH: The benefit no doubt has been the level of control over my work. I’m not so much talking about cover design, the level of content editing and so on; in fact, I’d like more guidance in these areas. The control I speak of is on a larger magnitude. For instance, I based my character development on the testimonials of www.TakeRoot.org, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to help abducted individuals psychologically heal from their traumatic plight.
When the Take Root organization said they would like to write an Afterword for my book, in the moment, on the phone, I simply said, “That would be wonderful. Send it over.” I see it this way: at my core, I believe that my novel serves a purpose, and along the way, because I am the one focusing on the success of my work, the purpose has become clearer. I think by allowing me to keep this level of intimacy, I moved from the author of “Speaking Truths” to the main advocate for the book.
The pitfall is something I referred to above--Guidance. I was a writer six months ago. Now I’m learning about book marketing/promoting and at times wondering where the writer inside me went.
LTS: I believe all writers, whether publishing the traditional route or going self-published, should do their homework. For writers considering this route to publication, can you give them some advice to help them should they decide to become self-published?
DH: First, ask yourself the question, “What is the end result that I am after?” Once you have this question answered, define for yourself what you need to do to materialize such goal.
As an example, if my answer were,” I want to be a commercially successful author and make money,” in my decision whether to self-publish, I would research what the retail price of the book would be set at. Could I self-publish my book and have it competitively priced?
Or, if my answer were: “I’m not so much interested in making money as I am in wanting my message to reach people. I want people to read my work and know they are not alone in their thoughts,” in my decision to self-publish, I would ask, “How would the self-publishing company or myself as an indie-publisher help my book reach its intended audience.”
In other words, my advice would be to figure out the path that will lead you to your end goal, then ask hard questions and do not mistake excuses for truthful answers. To me, an excuse is never an answer.
LTS: I’m curious about your writing style. Are you one of those disciplined writers who must dedicate a certain time each day to producing so many words, or are you more relaxed and tend to write when it strikes your fancy?
DH: I am a disciplined writer. I don’t hold myself to a word count per day but do dedicate so many hours per day, on average six days a week. My pattern is to write two to three chapters in a day or two after I visually see them in my mind. Once the chapters are on paper, it can take upwards of two weeks to edit, revise and revise just one of those two to three chapters.
LTS: Still on the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser? The readers would like to know if you tend to plot out your story line in great detail or if your writing is more organic with the characters and events unfolding as you write.
DH: Very organic. I have the bigger picture fleshed out in mind. For instance, my next novel explores Fetus Psychology (Go figure!). So I painfully research the theories of what a fetus “goes through” while in the womb. The next stage is to put myself in the character; I write what the character feels, senses, realizes, etc. in a very organic, stream of conscious way. After several edits, I start reading the chapter out loud, trying to capture a rhythmic cadence to my dialogue and prose.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
DH: This is a funny question. I’ve tried meditating and listening to music as a ritual to “get in the mood.” Remembering back, I think I talked to a couple of writers, they said this is what they do, I tried it … or tried to try such things, I guess. Didn’t work for me. Honestly, I never think of my writing as a “writing session.” Instead, I consider it my job. I leave my house in the morning, saying, “I’m going to work.” It would never occur to me not to show up to my job. I start out my day with a cup of coffee, though.
LTS: At one time or another, most writers hit the wall and their work stalls because of the dreaded writer’s block. What do you do to get around or over this mental wall to resume writing?
DH: I don’t buy into my writer’s block too much. I simply relax and tell myself, “Dayna, you’ve been living with your current mind for a long time … it would be weird if the ideas or natural flow of expression just stopped forever. Don’t worry about it. Come back to the blank paper later.”
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
DH: Fortunately for me, I went to the university as an adult. While at the university, I reveled in Shakespeare. By no means am I a Shakespearean academic, but to this day I remain inspired by Shakespeare’s gift of exploring human nature. In addition, as mentioned earlier, I feel drawn to understanding how the brain processes information, how we interpret our perceptions; hence, I read a lot of psychology books whether pop psychology of the day or textbooks.
LTS: What is the most profound discovery you’ve made in terms of your writing and how it has touched the lives of others?
DH: My most profound discovery was recognizing how much trust the reader puts into the author upon reading a book. I felt a little overwhelmed when I first sensed this, wondering if it was a responsibility I was up for. When I interviewed my first reader for “Speaking Truths,” she was excitedly referring to a point in the book where she just didn’t know what was going to happen next. Her statement indicated that I had developed anticipation and expectations. The pressure of course was whether I would be delivering as she finished the last chapter. I realized in that moment that my readers are trusting in me that I will not waste their time—time is very valuable.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
DH: Most important lesson: only work with people who have skin in the game. Smart people do not engage in business relationships unless they think it will benefit them. If they do engage in a business relationship but say, “It’s okay, I don’t need to benefit from it in that way … I am here to help,” they are not smart business people so why engage with them?
LTS: What are you reading now, and how did this particular book make it onto your to-read list?
DH: I just finished Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers,” and am half way through “Game Change” by Heilemann and Halperin (I’m so impressed with their vocabulary useage). I enjoy books that talk about why people do the things they do and give insight into their decision-making and disposition. On my nightstand is a lot of guilt (“Don Quixote,””Mao,” “Autobiography of a Yogi,” to name a few); these books sit there, and I never seem to give them the priority they deserve.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out into other genres?
DH: I am open to other genres definitely. I will have my second novel completed in the next five years, and I hope to have a fan base that shares with me what they’d like to see … come out of my mind.
LTS: Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to share in your wisdom and for telling us about your debut novel, Dayna. I wish you great success in all your endeavors!
For more information about Dayna Hester and her debut novel: ‘Speaking Truths’ check out:
Website: DaynaHester.com
Follow Dayna on Twitter: .DaynaHester
Where to buy the book: Due to be released May 30, 2010
Post a Comment new!
More Blogs by L.T. Suzuki
• Erica Lucke Dean Interview - Saturday, May 18, 2013
• Amber Lea Easton Interview - Sunday, May 12, 2013
• Ruth Nestvold Interview - Saturday, May 04, 2013
• Rose Garcia Interview - Saturday, April 20, 2013
• Robert Pruneda Interview - Saturday, April 13, 2013
• Lance Burson Interview - Saturday, April 06, 2013
• Rachel Thompson Interview: - Saturday, March 23, 2013
• Samantha Martin Interview - Saturday, March 16, 2013
• Lisette Brodey Interview - Saturday, March 09, 2013
• Jack Whyte Interview Part Two - Saturday, March 02, 2013
• Jack Whyte Interview Part One - Saturday, February 23, 2013
• Molly Greene Interview - Saturday, February 16, 2013
• Dionne Lister Interview - Saturday, February 09, 2013
• Anita Reynolds MacArthur Interview: - Saturday, February 02, 2013
• Alicia Kat Dillman Interview - Saturday, January 26, 2013
• John Gregory Hancock Interview - Saturday, January 19, 2013
• Adriana Ryan Interview - Saturday, January 12, 2013
• Jennifer McConnel Interview - Friday, January 04, 2013
• S.M. Boyce Interview - Saturday, December 15, 2012
• James Tallett Interview - Saturday, December 08, 2012
• Melissa McPhail Interview - Saturday, December 01, 2012
• Roz Morris Interview - Sunday, November 18, 2012
• Tania Johansson Interview - Saturday, November 10, 2012
• Dale Ivan Smith Interview - Sunday, November 04, 2012
• Respect Your Readers - Sunday, October 28, 2012
• Greta van der Rol Interview - Sunday, October 21, 2012
• Justin Bog Interview - Saturday, October 13, 2012
• Thanksgiving Day: Gratitude - Saturday, October 06, 2012
• Steena Holmes Interview - Saturday, September 29, 2012
• Kenneth Hoss Interview - Saturday, September 22, 2012
• Patty Jansen Interview - Saturday, September 15, 2012
• Joshua E. Bigger Interview - Saturday, September 08, 2012
• Joyce Damask Interview - Saturday, September 01, 2012
• Marketing & Twitter - Saturday, August 25, 2012
• Henry Herz Interview - Saturday, August 18, 2012
• Kristin Bair O'Keeffe Interview - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• William Linde Interview - Saturday, August 04, 2012
• Micheal Rivers Interview - Saturday, July 21, 2012
• Robert James Russell Interview - Saturday, July 14, 2012
• Becka Sutton Interview - Saturday, July 07, 2012
• Canadian Authors Feature - Saturday, June 30, 2012
• Gini Koch Interview - Sunday, June 17, 2012
• M. Pax Interview - Saturday, June 09, 2012
• Karina Halle Interview - Saturday, June 02, 2012
• Novice Writing Mistakes - Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Pippa Jay Interview - Sunday, May 20, 2012
• Glenn Starkey Interview - Saturday, May 12, 2012
• Maurice G. Nicholson Interview - Saturday, May 05, 2012
• How I Select Followers on Twitter - Saturday, April 28, 2012
• Shaun Allan Interview - Sunday, April 22, 2012
• Darlene Foster Interview - Saturday, April 14, 2012
• Kim Aleksander Interview - Saturday, April 07, 2012
• Hope Collier Interview - Saturday, March 31, 2012
• John Kolson’s Writeado: A New Online Writing Tool - Saturday, March 24, 2012
• Jeff Shanley Interview - Saturday, March 17, 2012
• Stephen England Interview - Saturday, March 10, 2012
• Everett Powers Interview - Saturday, March 03, 2012
• The Kindle Prime Experiment - Saturday, February 25, 2012
• Edward Lazellari Interview - Saturday, February 18, 2012
• Connie J. Jasperson Interview - Saturday, February 11, 2012
• Sally Dubats - Saturday, February 04, 2012
• Selecting Writers For My Author Feature - Sunday, January 29, 2012
• Tarek Refaat Interview - Sunday, January 22, 2012
• Toby Neal Interview: - Saturday, January 14, 2012
• Thomas A. Knight Interview - Sunday, January 08, 2012
• Linda Poitevin Interview - Sunday, January 01, 2012
• 2011: A Year in Review - Monday, December 26, 2011
• Angeline Kace Interview - Sunday, December 18, 2011
• Eden Baylee Interview - Saturday, December 10, 2011
• Cyndi Tefft Interview - Saturday, December 03, 2011
• The Conference Experience - Sunday, November 27, 2011
• A.R. Silverberry Interview - Sunday, November 20, 2011
• Suzy Turner Interview - Sunday, November 13, 2011
• Patti Roberts Interview - Sunday, November 06, 2011
• Raine Thomas Interview - Sunday, October 23, 2011
• LK Gardner-Griffie Interview - Saturday, October 15, 2011
• Jonathan Gould Interview - Saturday, October 08, 2011
• Brian Rathbone Interview - Saturday, October 01, 2011
• Matthew Merrick Interview - Sunday, September 25, 2011
• Dean Lappi Interview - Saturday, September 17, 2011
• J.T. Ellison Interview - Sunday, September 11, 2011
• Carolyn Arnold Interview - Sunday, September 04, 2011
• John Kolson Interview - Sunday, August 21, 2011
• Megan Curd Interview - Saturday, August 06, 2011
• Elena Aitken - Sunday, July 31, 2011
• When Book Reviews are Misleading… - Sunday, July 24, 2011
• Deborah Riley-Magnus - Saturday, July 16, 2011
• Jessica Subject Interview - Sunday, July 10, 2011
• J. Alexander Greenwood Interview: - Sunday, July 03, 2011
• When Social Networking is no so social... - Monday, June 27, 2011
• Dannie C. Hill - Monday, June 20, 2011
• Shay Fabbro Interview - Tuesday, June 14, 2011
• Genevieve P. Ching Interview - Monday, June 06, 2011
• Al Boudreau Interview - Monday, May 30, 2011
• Jennifer Hudock Interview - Monday, May 23, 2011
• Paul Mansfield Keefe Interview - Monday, May 16, 2011
• Rusty Fischer Interview - Monday, May 09, 2011
• Jason McIntyre Interview - Monday, May 02, 2011
• Emlyn Chand & Novel Publicity - Monday, April 25, 2011
• Steve Umstead Interview - Monday, April 18, 2011
• John Betcher Interview - Monday, April 11, 2011
• Kimberly Kinrade Interview - Monday, April 04, 2011
• Inspiration & Where You Find It - Monday, March 28, 2011
• Christie Yant - Tuesday, March 22, 2011
• Amy J. Rose David Interview - Monday, March 14, 2011
• George H. Sirois Interview - Monday, March 07, 2011
• Linda Nagata Interview - Monday, February 28, 2011
• Adventures in Editing or... Is it Done Yet? - Monday, February 21, 2011
• Greg Messel Interview - Monday, February 14, 2011
• Jen Wylie Interview - Monday, February 07, 2011
• Katie M. John Interview - Monday, January 31, 2011
• How Do You Measure Success: - Tuesday, January 25, 2011
• Avery Tingle Interview - Monday, January 17, 2011
• Kristie Cook Interview - Tuesday, January 11, 2011
• Ren Cummins - Tuesday, January 04, 2011
• A Wish For the New Year - Tuesday, December 28, 2010
• Trish Wolfe Interview - Monday, December 20, 2010
• Jesi Lea Ryan Interview - Monday, December 13, 2010
• Cat Connor Interview - Monday, December 06, 2010
• How to Make a Story Ring True - Monday, November 29, 2010
• Sharon Bially Interview - Monday, November 22, 2010
• Donna Carrick Interview - Monday, November 15, 2010
• Brenda Sedore Interview - Tuesday, November 09, 2010
• Robert Feagan Interview - Monday, November 01, 2010
• Of Book Signings, Volunteering & Option Agreements… - Tuesday, October 26, 2010
• Daryl Sedore Interview - Monday, October 18, 2010
• Seven Day Blog Tour Begins October 17th - Tuesday, October 12, 2010
• Todd A. Ritter Interview - Monday, October 04, 2010
• Cheryl Kaye Tardif Interview - Monday, September 27, 2010
• Claude Bouchard Interview - Tuesday, September 21, 2010
• Dr. Peter Clement Interview - Tuesday, September 14, 2010
• Elizabeth Isaacs Interview - Monday, September 06, 2010
• Introducing a New YA Fantasy - Monday, August 30, 2010
• Interview with Author Gene Doucette - Monday, August 23, 2010
• It's All About the Books Part 2 - Monday, August 16, 2010
• It's All About the Books - Monday, August 09, 2010
• When to Abandon Your Manuscript - Monday, August 02, 2010
• 1st Anniversary Blog: A Celebration of Authors - Tuesday, July 27, 2010
• Kathy Chung & the SiWC Part Twp - Tuesday, July 20, 2010
• Kathy Chung & the Surrey International Writers Conference Part One - Tuesday, July 13, 2010
• Deanna Jewel Interview - Tuesday, July 06, 2010
• The Happiest Indie Author (me) in the World! - Tuesday, June 29, 2010
• The Author Effect - Tuesday, June 22, 2010
• Jacqueline Pearce Interview - Tuesday, June 15, 2010
• Peggy Richardson Interview - Tuesday, June 08, 2010
• Wendy Nelson Tokunaga Interview - Tuesday, June 01, 2010
• The Importance of a Critique Group - Saturday, May 29, 2010
• Zoe Winters Interview - Tuesday, May 18, 2010
• Zoe Winters Interview - Tuesday, May 11, 2010
• Tonya R. Moore Interview - Monday, May 03, 2010
• Write On Bowen! - Monday, April 26, 2010
• Dayna Hester Interview - Monday, April 19, 2010
• Luke Romyn Interview - Monday, April 12, 2010
• Rhonda Carpenter Interview - Monday, March 29, 2010
• Lacey Weatherford Interview - Monday, March 22, 2010
• K.M. Weiland Interview - Tuesday, March 16, 2010
• Mark Coker, CEO of Smashwords Interview! - Tuesday, March 09, 2010
• Jo Lynne Valerie Interview - Tuesday, March 02, 2010
• Dan McNeil Interview - Tuesday, February 23, 2010
• Catherine McKenzie Interview - Tuesday, February 16, 2010
• 8 Years of Writing! 8 eBook Winners! - Sunday, February 07, 2010
• Birthday Blog (or an Ode to Aging Gracelessly) - Monday, January 18, 2010
• Interview with Paranormal Author Kate Austin - Monday, January 11, 2010
• Riley Carney Interview - Tuesday, January 05, 2010
• Ask an Editor - Monday, December 28, 2009
• Lee Edward Fodi Interview - Monday, December 21, 2009
• Interview with YA Author James McCann - Tuesday, December 15, 2009
• Researching Historical Fiction with Diana Gabaldon - Tuesday, December 08, 2009
• kc dyer Interview & Enter to Win an Autographed Novel! - Tuesday, December 01, 2009
• Bev Katz Rosenbaum Interview - Tuesday, November 24, 2009
• Writing Tips I Learned from Terry Brooks - Tuesday, November 17, 2009
• An Interview with Tamara Sheehan - Monday, November 09, 2009
• YA Author Loreena M. Lee Interview - Tuesday, November 03, 2009
• Why Do I Blog About Other Authors? - Thursday, October 29, 2009
• Critique by Author Jack Whyte - Tuesday, October 27, 2009
• BookCamp 2009 - Monday, October 19, 2009
• Participating at VCON 34 - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
• Therese Walsh Interview - Tuesday, October 06, 2009
• Interview with Debra Purdy Kong - Tuesday, September 29, 2009
• Twitter – The Power of the Tweet - Tuesday, September 22, 2009
• Part Two: Publishing in a Foreign Market - Tuesday, September 15, 2009
• An Interview with author Christopher Belton - Tuesday, September 08, 2009
• Part Two of the Caroline Leavitt Interview: - Thursday, September 03, 2009
• An Interview with Author & Book Reviewer Caroline Leavitt - Tuesday, September 01, 2009
• An Interview with Kathleen Bolton - Tuesday, August 25, 2009
• Interview with author/artist Scott Kessman: - Tuesday, August 18, 2009
• Interview with author/artist Scott Kessman: - Tuesday, August 18, 2009
• Part 2 of the Kim Falconer Interview - Thursday, August 13, 2009
• An Interview with Kim Falconer - Tuesday, August 11, 2009
• Part 2 An Interview with Alan Baxter - Thursday, August 06, 2009
• An Interview with Alan Baxter - Tuesday, August 04, 2009
• If You Write It, They Will Come (buy it)… Not! - Sunday, July 26, 2009
• Lori A. May: Author Extraordinaire - Tuesday, July 21, 2009
• Merits of a Writers Conference - Sunday, July 19, 2009
• Part 2 Publishing in the Digital Age - Thursday, July 16, 2009
• Publishing in the Digital Age - Monday, July 13, 2009
• Writing Tips for the Novice Novelist - Tuesday, July 07, 2009
• Flog the Blog - Tuesday, June 30, 2009
• Do's & Don't of a TV interview - Saturday, June 27, 2009
• Mortality & Writing - Friday, June 26, 2009
• The Art of Editing 101 - Tuesday, June 23, 2009
• How To Write When Suffering from Bad Memory Retention - Saturday, June 20, 2009
• Finding Inspiration from Others - Thursday, June 18, 2009
• To Blog or Twitter... - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
|
|
Bookmarks
