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Blogs by L.T. Suzuki
Zoe Winters Interview
5/18/2010 7:27:33 AM
Part Two of interview with indie author Zoe Winters
LTS: Welcome back and thank you for joining us for part two of the Zoe Winter’s interview. Last week Zoe, you spoke about the pros and cons of going indie. Why don’t we start with the topic of book covers?
People do judge a book by its cover and ‘Blood Lust’ has great cover art that, as far as I’m concerned, looks as good if not better than any designed by a traditional publishing house. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen made by authors who self-publish is that some of them fancy themselves as artists too. They illustrate their own book cover that, for lack of a better word, looks amateurish. Do you have any words of wisdom for the author who is thinking about designing or illustrating their own cover?
ZW: Thank you! I was lucky enough to get the lovely Anne Cain for my cover art. I can't say enough good things about her. Total sweetie and very talented and affordable.
I think some authors can design their own covers but if you think you can and do, then get some outside feedback from someone who knows about cover design. (not friends and family unless they are professional graphic designers.) I designed the ‘Kept’ cover (and intend to design the ‘Claimed’ and ‘Mated’ covers since I'll also be releasing them individually as ebooks). Kept isn't up to total design professional standards. My name on the cover sort of looks like it was super glued across the top. But it's not so unattractive that it's hurting my sales.
LTS: You have had great success selling your novel, garnering sales numbers that even traditionally published authors would envy. What is the secret to selling when your book is not on the shelves of major bookstores?
ZW: I don't think I can start tooting my own horn until I start doing well with a print release. I realize many indies with 99 cent ebooks haven't done as well as me (I just passed 5,000 sales on the Kindle), but at the same time I know that price is a factor. Price, decent cover, writing people like (which makes me sound like an egomaniac, but not sure how else to say it.)
I think you have to get out there and be real with people. Be yourself and be social. Guest blog, participate in online discussions and blogs. If you've got a book out there now isn't the time to be shy. Don't bring up your book every day, it's enough to say semi-interesting things with your name attached to it and a link to your site. If people get curious about you they'll get curious about your work. I've picked up a ton of fans just from being a loud-mouth on the Internet.
Remember you are marketing your “name” more than any particular book.
LTS: Now, let’s jump from the subject of publishing to the topic of writing. 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?
ZW: I try to work every day, but I don't write every day. Right now I'm doing final editing and layout for Blood Lust and just don't have time or the mental space to do writing. I'll go into writing mode when this is released, possibly after a week off. Sadly I don't even take weekends off because I don't think I know how to relax.
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.
ZW: I'm an insane anal-retentive plotter. I make out an outline and then when I veer from it, I rewrite the outline to make sure I can still get to the ending I'm going toward. So I follow the characters, but if they go off the path, I chart a new path. I go through 5-6 outlines generally in the course of a rough draft. Yes, I know I'm crazy.
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?
ZW: I wish I could say I had some super cool ritual like lighting incense or drinking special tea but I feel like that stuff is like Dumbo's magic feather. It makes you feel like what you have to share is inside the props and rituals instead of inside you. So I just sit down and write.
LTS: At one time or another, many 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?
ZW: I don't believe in writer's block. Anybody can write words on paper. I believe in perfectionist's block. That's when you get ahead of yourself and are focused on what you shouldn't be focused on... like is it good enough, etc. My rough drafts are so bad that if you saw them you would tell me to give up writing. I just put words on paper and I don't care if they are stupid or suck or whatever. I write until I write into what I'm trying to say. I can clean it up in edits but I have to have something to edit and staring at a blank page won't get me there.
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
ZW: I don't really have a favorite author. I have favorite books. Unless it's a series I don't generally read everything by one author because what usually attracts me is a particular storyline more than anything else. One of my fave books is A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole. I don't think anyone inspired my writing style because my writing style is just how I tell stories. I don't try to imitate anyone. I just write. (Though I'm sure I've been unconsciously influenced by people.) As for my genre, that inspiration was Joss Whedon (Buffy). Joss's way of telling a story absolutely captivated me, even though it was in a different medium.
LTS: What is the most profound discovery you’ve made in terms of your writing and how it has touched the lives of others?
ZW: LOL, that people actually like it. I'm still shocked when someone writes me a gushing email about how much they liked ‘Kept’. I think ‘Kept’ is publishable but it is by no means my best work. I think ‘Mated’ is much better. (Hope readers agree.)
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
ZW: Everybody is crazy and nobody knows anything. They're all just guessing. It takes a lot of pressure off me to be “right” about anything.
LTS: Good answer! Now, what are you reading, and how did this particular book make it onto your to-read list?
ZW: I'm sort of reading the first Dexter book but kind of unenthusiastically since I prefer to read in digital now and it's print. I just finished reading His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls on my Kindle. It's a historical romance and was offered as a free promo for the Kindle. I loved it! And I also just finished Anthem by Ayn Rand. My first exposure to Rand but we are definitely in tune.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out from Paranormal Romance into other genres? Can your fans expect Book Two in the Preternaturals Series in the near future?
ZW: I plan to just write Paranormals under the Zoe name at this time. I write dark erotica under a different name, but I don't mix it with Zoe. I think a lot of what I write would alienate fans of Zoe Winters and prefer just not to go there. I also don't need to feel pressure to NOT write something I feel I should write because it might alienate or freak someone out.
As for the future, I plan to just keep keeping on and doing my thing. I've decided not to announce release dates until just before release. It puts too much pressure on me and I'd rather the book be right than fast. But I'm working on Save My Soul and I don't expect it to take as long to get it out as it's taken from Kept to Blood Lust.
LTS: Thank you so much for taking the time to share in your writerly wisdom, Zoe! I’m sure many aspiring authors will learn from your experience. For me, it’s been fascinating to get inside your head and know you better. All the best and I look forward to reading your ‘Blood Lust’ as soon as I have a chance.
ZW: Thank you so much for having me!! Sorry I was so verbose! It's dangerous to give me a long list of questions to answer cause I don't know how to not ramble. Except, oddly enough, in fiction.
‘Claimed’ is on sale now and ‘Mated’ will be available next week. But for those waiting for ‘Blood Lust’ the anthology in print, you’ll have to wait until July. For more information about Zoe Winters and her creative works, check out:
Website: http://www.zoewinters.org
http://www.theriantype.com
Follow Zoe on Twitter: .zoewinters
Where to buy the book: Amazon.com, Smashwords. Other places will be announced.
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