Robin Tidwell interview with David Alan Binder
Partial Bio from Good Reads: Robin is the author of REDUCED, REUSED, and RECYCLED and Spirits of St. Louis: Missouri Ghost Stories. She has a rather eclectic educational background, and finally finished her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has held a plethora of jobs, appointments, and volunteer positions.
Robin and Dennis are the owners of Rocking Horse Publishing. She is also President, Missouri Writers Guild
Website: http://www.robintidwell.com/
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6478132.Robin_Tidwell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinTidwell.Author
Rocking Horse Publishing: https://www.facebook.com/RockingHorsePublishing
The Reduced series of books: http://www.rockinghorsepublishing.com/reduced.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Tidwell/e/B0092W1B8M/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1462393181&sr=1-2-ent
1. Where are you currently living? Missouri
2. What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far? Keep working, even if you put the ms down and start another.
3. What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating quirk? I’m a pantser, versus a planner, and while I occasionally start with a brief outline and make a few notes, my books are really character driven. However, if I get stuck, I write the ending. Then I can go back and fill in the middle parts. Be careful with that, though: once I was about five chapters in from the ending, writing the book backwards!
4. Tell us your insights on self-publish or use a publisher? Self-publishing is fine, as long as you are an expert marketer and make use of professionals for editing and cover design. If you have a publisher, you’ll still have to market, but your overall design will be grab much more attention. You might earn less per title, but you’ll sell a lot more copies.
5. Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they? Rocking Horse Publishing, Salem, MO
6. Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing? Ebooks and print both have a place in bookselling and marketing. Conventional publishing is harder to achieve, at least when it comes to NY companies, but alternative routes to publication can leave you dead in the water. Vanity presses, of course, have no business being in this industry at all.
7. Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published? Networking. It really is WHO you know versus WHAT.
8. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent? Any tips for new writers on getting one? Spell your name correctly. And the agent’s. And your book title. Be polite, be professional, and be very, very patient.
9. Do you have any suggestions or helps for new writers (please be specific and informational as possible)? Write down your ideas. Daydream about them. Let them percolate. Then write some more. Fill in the details. Read it over and over, or maybe aloud. Then write even more.
10. What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating? Way too much to go into here—I often think someone should give me a PhD in the book industry, if there was such a thing. Mostly, however, that there are some things you think will matter, but they won’t; and other things that are very, very important.
11. How many books have you written? Five. Three in a series and two non-fiction “booklets.”
12. Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)? The same as for new writers!
13. Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story? Let your imagination run wild—but not too wild; it has to be believable. What makes your or any book stand out from the crowd?
A good cover, a compelling BCC that doesn’t go into too much detail or give away any part of the story, and a lot of marketing.
14. What are some ways in which you promote your work? Social media, website, newsletters, book events.
15. What is the one thing you would do differently now (concerning writing or editing or publishing or illustrating) and why? I might hold out for an agent. They’re hard to find and sometimes, you just want more control. And are in a hurry. It happens to everyone.
16. What would you like carved onto your tombstone? Or what saying or mantra do you live by? Get it done, but there’s always tomorrow . . .
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