Janet Kaderli interview with David Alan Binder

Post date: Mar 24, 2016 1:19:56 PM

Her bio from her website: Janet wrote her first poem in second grade, and has been writing ever since. In seventh grade, she wanted to be an author, but later became interested in teaching. After graduating from San Marcos High School, she attended Texas State University (at that time it was called Southwest Texas State University). She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, and later, her Master's Degree. After marrying John Kaderli and moving to New Braunfels in 1981, Janet started teaching.

After receiving a letter from a friend reminding her of her 7th grade dream of being an author, Janet began pursuing that goal once more. In 1998, Janet's first children's book, Molasses Cookies, was published. The sequel to Molasses Cookies, Patchwork Trail, came out in 2005. These stories are based on family and Texas history, and are beautifully illustrated by Patricia Arnold. Patricia used family members as models for the characters in the stories, making them even more special. Two other children's books, Many Places and So Many Places to Go, were published in 2001.

Janet's love for stories that end "They all lived happily ever after" led her to write sweet love stories. Her first romance novel, Santa's Angels, was published by Avalon Romance in 2008.

Website: www.janetkaderli.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Janet-Kaderli/e/B001JSDRI4

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1079852.Janet_Kaderli?sort=average_rating

1. How do you pronounce your name (only answer if appropriate)?

It's pronounced as spelled--KAD-ER-LI. But it's fun to hear how people mispronounce it--Kardelli, Kaderelli.

2. Where are you currently living?

I was born, raised, and am currently living in Central Texas, where now, in March, the bluebonnets are blooming!

3. What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far?

The most important thing I've learned in my writing experience is to keep writing. Some of my favorite sayings regarding that: "The worse thing I ever wrote is better than the best thing I never wrote." and "I can edit trash. I can't edit a blank page."

4. Tell us your insights on self-publish or use a publisher?

I have been published traditionally, self-published, and self-published through Createspace. What it comes down to for me is distribution. With traditional publishing, the publisher has distribution channels through libraries, bookstores, schools, whatever. This is good for your books. However, it takes a long time for a traditional publisher to decide if they want your book or not, sometimes over a year.

With self-publishing through a small press, cost is a factor. How much are you willing to spend to see your book in print? With my self-published book, I wanted it printed now, not years from now, so I wasn't willing to send it out to publishers and wait to see if they would accept or reject it. I knew it didn't have a large market appeal, just regional appeal, and thought I could do just as well publishing it myself for such a small market. However, ten years later, I still have almost a thousand books in my garage. That is a huge drawback.

With changes in technology, and the creation of Createspace and other online and print on demand publishers, self-publishing became cheaper. Because Createspace is affiliated with Amazon, it has built-in distribution. No books in the garage, either, because of print on demand. There are other online publishers like Smashwords I am not as familiar with as Createspace. Using these other publishers allows ebooks to be published for different devices and operating systems, whereas Createspace manuscripts can be converted to Kindle ebooks.

For my two books published with Createspace, I did not use professional editors or cover artists. For one book, a devotional, that worked pretty well. I think the other, a novel, would have benefitted from professional editing and design. At the time, I didn't want to spend the money to do that.

a. Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they?

My first book, Molasses Cookies, was published by Hendrick-Long Publishing. They are in Houston, TX.

Many Places, and So Many Places to Go were published as reading resource books by Steck-Vaughn publishers in Austin, TX.

Santa's Angels, my first romance novel, was published by Avalon Romance, which is now Montlake Romance, a division of Amazon.

I self-published Patchwork Trail, a companion book for Molasses Cookies, using GASlight Publishing as my book shepherds to guide me through the process.

I've published the eBook version of Patchwork Trail with Amazon and Smashwords.

I published The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Devotional and Guardian Angels, a romance novel, with Createspace.

5. Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?

I think eBooks are wonderful! When Avalon Romance became Montlake Romance, Santa's Angels became available as an eBook, giving it extra life (and extra royalties for me!). I love the concept of print on demand as well, which gives people a choice of how they want to buy books.

6. Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published?

No secrets. Just keep writing what you love to write and keep sending it out. It helps to join writers organizations like Romance Writers of America or the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators because of the seminars and conferences they offer where one gets to meet editors, agents, and other writers. (One doesn't have to be a member in order to go to the conferences, but there are many benefits to being a member.)

7. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent? Any tips for new writers on getting one?

Again, the best place to meet agents would be through conferences. I don't have an agent.

8. What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating?

I am a slow writer. It takes me years to write a book. I'd thought back in the 90s when I first started writing for publication that it would be a career. I now realize it is a hobby.

9. How many books have you written?

I have written 7 books--Four children's books (Molasses Cookies, Patchwork Trail, Many Places, and So Many Places To Go), two novels (Santa's Angels and Guardian Angels), and one devotional (The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Devotional).

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