Hello. I'm just curious to know if there are any other published writers out there; and if so, what are your books, where are they available (but don't advertise for yourself), and how does it feel to be published? But don't limit yourself to answering just those questions - talk about anything, from publishing woes (I've had some of those) to publishing success (had that, too), to hard times trying to sell your book (yep, been there), to success stories in regard to selling your book (got at least one of those), and anything else.
About me: much can be seen in my profile, including my website address. But I will say that I am the author of How God Was Created, Artemis Grant, Paranoid Schizophrenic and Queen of the Undead. Those are my published works, at least; in addition, I've written thirteen or fourteen other novels and novellas, hundreds of lyrics and poems, and two plays. I've been writing for the last five years, and am currently at work on another book titled 'A History of Mendoh' (the 'd' is silent; pronounced like the French word). The other day, I reached page three hundred, so I was happy about that; I'm writing the book longhand, and it's a hefty weight of world-filled pages that I'm proud to cart around with me.
My first book, Queen of the Undead, was published by Publish America, and boy was I taken in by their alluring web site and promises. Paranoid Schizophrenic was published by a Canadian publisher called Electric eBook Publishing, but they are no longer in business (or at least no longer publishing any new books). Artemis Grant, my third and longest novel (so far, though I imagine 'A History of Mendoh' being at least twice as long), is being published at a website called dreampassage. And finally, my fourth book, How God Was Created, is being published by International Publications, my own publishing company. It's due for publication on June 1st of this year.
As far as hard times and successes go, I've had a lot more hardships than good times, but I remember at least one good memory in the past. My first book, Queen of the Undead, was amazing to me - how could it not be, it was my very first published book! I did everything I was supposed to, telling everyone about it, talking to them about it and just doing as much as I could to get the word out. And then finally I got a book signing at Barnes and Noble. Gene Durfey was the man who set me up, a nice, older gentleman who wanted to help every author who came to him. Well, he took a chance on me, and when I had my book signing, I sold every single one of my copies and left people wanting more. Oh, it was a wonderful feeling.
Interestingly enough, however, I am thankful for the troubles I've had with other publishing companies. Indeed, it is because of those troubles that I decided to found my own. I'm not like most other self-publishers that I know of, though, simply because I'm not sending the book off to a typesetter or printer or bindery; rather, I am doing all of the writing, typing, editing, formatting, printing and binding all by myself, and all by hand. I bought a small press from a company called Gigabooks, and with it I can make perfect-bound trade paperback books.
I think it's very fun being a writer, despite all the hardships. But sometimes it gets to me . . . which is why I'm thankful for my beautiful fiance and muse, Wendy. She is there for me whenever I need her; she listens to me when I need to talk about what has happened in my book that day; she helps me picture scenes and capture emotions and images better than I could on my own; and she is the reason that I am able to focus all of my attention on my career as a novelist.
I also think it's very rewarding, the process of writing - it keeps me sane, keeps the demons from getting inside and tormenting me until I can't stand it. Once I was like that, but then I discovered pen, paper, and the written word.
So that's my story. What's yours?
- Daniel Martinez, Novelist
President/Owner
International Publications
Keswater Productions
About me: much can be seen in my profile, including my website address. But I will say that I am the author of How God Was Created, Artemis Grant, Paranoid Schizophrenic and Queen of the Undead. Those are my published works, at least; in addition, I've written thirteen or fourteen other novels and novellas, hundreds of lyrics and poems, and two plays. I've been writing for the last five years, and am currently at work on another book titled 'A History of Mendoh' (the 'd' is silent; pronounced like the French word). The other day, I reached page three hundred, so I was happy about that; I'm writing the book longhand, and it's a hefty weight of world-filled pages that I'm proud to cart around with me.
My first book, Queen of the Undead, was published by Publish America, and boy was I taken in by their alluring web site and promises. Paranoid Schizophrenic was published by a Canadian publisher called Electric eBook Publishing, but they are no longer in business (or at least no longer publishing any new books). Artemis Grant, my third and longest novel (so far, though I imagine 'A History of Mendoh' being at least twice as long), is being published at a website called dreampassage. And finally, my fourth book, How God Was Created, is being published by International Publications, my own publishing company. It's due for publication on June 1st of this year.
As far as hard times and successes go, I've had a lot more hardships than good times, but I remember at least one good memory in the past. My first book, Queen of the Undead, was amazing to me - how could it not be, it was my very first published book! I did everything I was supposed to, telling everyone about it, talking to them about it and just doing as much as I could to get the word out. And then finally I got a book signing at Barnes and Noble. Gene Durfey was the man who set me up, a nice, older gentleman who wanted to help every author who came to him. Well, he took a chance on me, and when I had my book signing, I sold every single one of my copies and left people wanting more. Oh, it was a wonderful feeling.
Interestingly enough, however, I am thankful for the troubles I've had with other publishing companies. Indeed, it is because of those troubles that I decided to found my own. I'm not like most other self-publishers that I know of, though, simply because I'm not sending the book off to a typesetter or printer or bindery; rather, I am doing all of the writing, typing, editing, formatting, printing and binding all by myself, and all by hand. I bought a small press from a company called Gigabooks, and with it I can make perfect-bound trade paperback books.
I think it's very fun being a writer, despite all the hardships. But sometimes it gets to me . . . which is why I'm thankful for my beautiful fiance and muse, Wendy. She is there for me whenever I need her; she listens to me when I need to talk about what has happened in my book that day; she helps me picture scenes and capture emotions and images better than I could on my own; and she is the reason that I am able to focus all of my attention on my career as a novelist.
I also think it's very rewarding, the process of writing - it keeps me sane, keeps the demons from getting inside and tormenting me until I can't stand it. Once I was like that, but then I discovered pen, paper, and the written word.
So that's my story. What's yours?
- Daniel Martinez, Novelist
President/Owner
International Publications
Keswater Productions
