Still need lots more input on these questions so I can compile some data - Come one, come all!
Something I'm really interested in is what the make up of this group is, so if you have the time, I would love to have you answer the following questions about yourself. Since I KNOW writers love to talk about themselves, this should be EASY - Anyone game?
So, here goes:
What type of books do you read when your NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
How many hours per week do you write?
Thanks for answering all these questions. If this works out, I think I'll do an article since I think this might be interesting to other writers. Thanks for being guinea pigs - I love experimenting on people - It's such a thrill ~Mo-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha~
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Comments: 30
What type of books do you read when your NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide.
I haven't read War and Peace, and don't try and impress anyone with what I'm reading :) I love fantsy, from Tamora Pierce, Lynn Flewelling. Another favorite is ubran fantasy, Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison are great.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
I've been writing for about 9 years now.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I haven't been published. Not if you want to count a few artiles for online writers ezine called Vision. Considering most of my novels fall into the fantasy/sci fi area I make sure to look toward TOR (of course). But lately i've been looking into agents that will take query's and submissions through email. Much faster and easier considering my printer doesn't like to work any more. I'm not sure when I'll be published. I need to really start sending query's out!
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
I'm not really sure how much promtion an unpublised writer can do. I chat at a writers site www.fmwriters.com and I'm sure if/when I do get published I will have a lot of promtion from the people that I chat with. Other then that I don't have a personal web site, have a live journal that i hardly update. Though once published i don't know what kind of promtion that would need to be done. Something to as an agent about :)
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I write novels. It's the only thing I write. Right now I have 21 novels finished. Out of those maybe 3 have been edited to a large degree. On top of those 21 I have 1 current novel that will be finished in a month, another current novel that is not yet to the half way point. 10 novels that have full outlines. 4 novels that have plots, ideas characters and I'm still deciding if they need an outline or not. Plus a hand ful of random ideas that haven't formed into any full novel yet. (Which I hope they don't because I don't need another idea)
How many hours per week do you write?
Per week? hmmm My goal a day is 1000 words. (sometimes i reach that sometimes i go over. it matters.) but hours. 5 maybe less maybe more. Some of those hours are staring at Word and wondering why I'm not writing and drifting off to a web page etc. But if the story is going strong, I can get a good 1000 words done in an hour :)
Well, I hope the answers work, and that I didn't spell anything horriably wrong!
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)? As from this question, I can tell you have a sense of humor. Hehe! I've been writing ever since I was 12 years old. The longest I wrote when 12 was a really long letter to a former teacher.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by? I'm not sure if I'll ever be published, but many people have told me, they like some of my work e.g. poems, writings, etc. I'm thinking about publishing a poetry book (dedicated to my fiance, soon to be husband - mostly love poems) and a little biography thing about myself and my life with having Autism. So many misunderstand Autism, and it's difficult to have people understand my point at times. If I do publish any books (such as 2 or 3), I haven't yet decided on which publisher I will choose. :)
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there? I'm not really a freak on making myself famous. I believe, "you either accept my writings or you don't - and if you don't, that's your choice." I don't pressure anyone to liking me, that's their choice. If I happen to be famous someday, it would just happen that way, but I don't ever think that would happen. :) I never wanted to be famous, anyway.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each? Mainly, I write articles about topics that interest me, as well as poetry. Most of my poetry consist of love, romance, and some sad times in my life.
How many hours per week do you write?
As for how many hours I spend on writing, I'm on my computer daily about 10 hours (and from those hours, I do mostly writing) : typing emails, writing articles on Gather and writing poetry, and so forth. All I do online is write. It's all I have to do pretty much, either write or read something. I'd say approximately 70 hours or more a week of writing, but I still need improvement. I will never be perfect. No one is perfect. ;-)
I don't read to impress, usually. I always read the romance genre. I've found, nowadays, I don't have a passion for any other kind of fiction. Except for maybe straight fantasy. I love David Eddings, Terry Brooks, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis.
>>How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Writing with a dream, since I was 7. Writing professionally, since January of 2005.
>>Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
Yes and yes. :P I'm currently published at Samhain Publishing (http://www.samhainpublishing.com), Champagne Books (http://www.ChampagneBooks.com), and By Grace Publishing (http://www.bygracepublishing.com). I've had three books released already this year, with another five to come before the year is out.
B*E*A*S*T* OF BURDEN - Book II of the B*E*A*S*T* series - Available now - eBook - Print SOON.
THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE - Book I of Legends of Mynos - Available now - eBook - Print August 21st.
THE WOLVERINE AND THE JEWEL - Book II of Legends of Mynos - Available now - eBook - Print Feb/March 2008
~*~
THE WOLVERINE AND THE FLAME - coming to eBook August 14th.
PROMISE ME FOREVER - coming to eBook August/September-ish (not sure)
HIGH NOON - coming to eBook November 6th
HEARTS UNBOUND - Book II of Cursed Hearts - coming to eBook November 27th
NATURE OF THE B*E*A*S*T* - coming to eBook December-ish (not sure)
:)
>>How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
Good Gawd. I sit at my computer every morning about 8am. I don't even *think* about writing until about 2pm - 3pm. I suppose I could foresake my promotional stuff for stricter writing, but when you're a nobody, you gotta work to become a "somebody". Once you're a "somebody", you can delegate to publicists. :P
Right now, my most effective ways of reaching the masses are my blog(s) and Gather, MySpace, and Bebo.
>>What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
My overall genre is romance. I write across the board in different sub-genres of romance. Paranormal, fantasy, historical, contemporary. I prefer the fantasy/paranormal/historical over contemporary "vanilla" settings. Guess I like writing the "fantastic" stories rather than the every day ones.
>>How many hours per week do you write?
Lordy, out of the whole week?? Not as many as I'd like. I'm lucky to get a good hour in a day. *Maybe* 7 hours a week. It's probably more, because I"m only counting writing in front of the computer. I also have a notebook I write in when I'm out and about or in bed. So all in all, maybe 12 hours a week. But I can type fast, so I make it count. LOL
This is assuming you're only counting when I'm writing my BOOKS, because I count writing blogs, articles, and the like as "promo" time. If you assume I promote at least 6 hours a day (from 8am to 2pm) with two good hours of writing per day, that's 42 hours of promo vs. 14 hours of writing per week.
Fricken' ACK, man. **sobs**
~~Becka
:)
~~Becka
> How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)? Kept a journal since age 14 (am 41 now)
> Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by? not yet - have never pursued being published. I just write.
> How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
> N/A
> What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each? No books - some poetry - a lot of research papers and personal memoirs
How many hours per week do you write?15 - 20 hours
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
How many hours per week do you write?
1) Martial Arts, action and adventure, crime, si-fi
2) Over seven (7) years
3) My first book was published in March, 2006 by Trafford Publishing. The name of my book is; "KEEPER OF THE ARTS"
WWW.KEEPER OF THE ARTS.COM
4) I spend 2-4 hours (per marketing day) promoting my book. Sine book book is a P.O.B., my best tool for getting my name out there is...Word of Mouth.
5) My genre is fiction and I have written only one book.
6) I spend 3-8 hours writting
1. Political slam books and Sarah Waters
2. As soon as I could operate a pencil (long time ago)
3. Not officially, but handwritten rejection letters are nice
4. Zero
5. I enjoy researching nonfiction
6. Who's counting?
What type of books do you read when your NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide. - I'm a sucker for Nero Wolfe Books (Rex Stout) - I'm also head over heels in love with Spider Robinson, but Callahans Crosstime Saloon series is my fav
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)? I started writing when I was eight - I wrote wonderful Star Trek episodes - Then began again in HS but quit for a while and only did newspaper articles for a while - Just started again about two years ago
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by? I have 2 fantasy books coming out next year with StoneGarden.Net Publishing, Starsight I & II in April and November respectively - I have a short short in the Cup of Comfort for Single Moms coming out in April as well - I'm working on a Romance which (hopefully) may also come out next year (keeping my fingers crossed)
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there? Promo is really new to me and I've been spending about half my free time on it right now, but will probably spend more once I get the hang of it - Becka Goings is a gold mine for this stuff and I've been learning a lot from her - check out her article on the front Gather page
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each? Fantasy (2 books), Romance (1 book), short stories (2) Sci-Fi (1) & Ghost (1) - These are all either done or outlined - I love to write poetry but don't get much time to do it - I've done a couple of Gather with my photos
Hey - That wasn't so hard!
How many hours per week do you write?
I spend on the average of about 5-6 hours a week writing. Sometimes, it seems as though the muse awakens and I write for a much longer period in one setting and can't seem to do anything wrong. Other weeks pass and nothing comes. But usually, I write every day even if it is only a few paragraphs. I think inspiration comes and goes in cycles like a well filling and then depleting.
I haven't been published yet except for an article I submitted to this website. Still, it was exciting to see it there. And I actually think I'm going to look into publishing and promoting my work.
My genre is mainly realism with a very lyrical bend to it. I like to write about things that are hard to put into words and about everyday events that, after all, take up most of our lives. I like to write about "Our Town" kind of things, I guess you'd say, about what comes between being born and dying and what it might mean. Sometimes, I like to put in a touch of the spiritual or the supernatural, just a little, like the light under a door. Thanks!
What type of books do you read when your NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide.
-Seriously, I read War and Peace type stuff for no other reason than because I enjoy it. I even would go so far as to put it inside the dictionary at the library because I'm embarrassed about the fact that I read it for fun. Right now I am working on Dosteovsky's "The Possessed." However, I do have a slightly more fun side to me as well. I read Brian Jacques' Redwall series. To this day I buy the new one he puts out every year. These books, do not get hidden. I'll take them anywhere and will proudly admit that I enjoy children's books.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
- Since I started college. I did not have a computer before then. Or, I had a computer, but it was always being used by other people. When I went to college I got my own computer and managed to scrounge up time to start writing. To date that would be 6 years.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
- I have not yet been published. I would like to say that I will be published, but I do not yet know when or who by. I have to finish editing the third draft of a book, send it to people for critiques then edit it again. Then I will try to get it published. I'm hoping to finish that process by November of this year because I plan to write another National Novel Writing Month draft in November.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
- I have not done any promoting and have not got my name out there. Currently I'm still trying to decide if I want a pen name or if I want to use my real name. I have no weapons yet. I would like to be very grassroots based when I do get published and go to bookstores to talk them into selling my book and get out and meet people.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
- My genre's are sci-fi and fantasy. I have written 1 sci-fi. That is the draft I am planning to get published first. I have written or started four fantasy books. As for poetry, I do not write it for publication, but I have written a number of introspective poems.
How many hours per week do you write?
- I need to talk to a lawyer before I answer this question. I refuse to admit how much of a slacker I am.
For fun I read anything that is not a western, pretty much! I like YA novels (and I get to call those research, since that is what I'm working on). And Nora Roberts (especially her JD Robbs stuff). And Robert Jordan, Anne McCaffrey, Tolkein, Clive Cussler, and and and.... there are just too many to list!
I've been writing since as far back as I can remember, and then some... but until recently, I didn't share much of it with anybody.
I have an editor and an agent waiting to see my (YA novel) completed first draft ...so I'm hopeful.
Other than that, I won the Gorden Poetry Prize at my university, and several of my works are to be included in the next publication of our literary magazine, or so I'm told. Oh, and I am often asked to give readings; did one as part of a student showcase and it has sort of snowballed from there.
Other than giving readings - and attending the Leacock Festival in Orillia and talking to all of the authors and so on, I don't spend any time on it. Will have to get working on that once I get an offer on my novel (notice I didn't say IF - hubby would be so proud! LOL)
At some point, I suppose I should change my gather name to my real name - but flit is pretty real to me too - I've been using it for as long as I've been online!
I love to write! I have several short stories, which I keep meaning to market but haven't really.... working on the YA novel I've already mentioned (and there are 2 more in gel stage behind it). Also have a ~creative non-fiction self help type book~ on the go ... I want to get back to that one too! Oh, and I write some poetry - even though I would not consider myself to be a poet.
Mostly, these days though, I write academic essays!
The amount of time I spend writing each week varies depending on what I'm busy with - unfortunately, university takes up a lot of my time & energy though .... so even though I'm writing a lot, its not my writing!
I have never read War and Peace, and chances are slim I ever will ;^)
I read, Romance mysteries, any well done Romance works for me. Harry Potter has captured my attention, I like the way RK Rowlings spins a tale. My favorite book is 'Illusions' by Richard Bach.
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How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
I've been writing since middle school, so it's been a bit more than a few years.
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Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I have nonfiction articles published. One was anonymous and the other is on helpfind.com/roses 'Roses 101' a primer for starting rosarians.
I'm working on having my novels published. Fingers crossed.
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How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
Not an issue yet. smile
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What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I write Romance. Historical, Fantasy and Contempory. I've completed three with several more in the works
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How many hours per week do you write?
Actually at the keyboard? It varies greatly depending on what's going on with the family. Lately? 25-30
In my head? 24/7
I read mostly mainstream literary fiction with the occasional Sci Fi/Fantasy book or memoir or poetry. Right now I'm reading "The Outlander" by Diana somebody-- very so-so ( a let down after finishing The Scent of God by our own Beryl Singleton Bissel). I plan to read Dune by Frank Herbert next. I don't hide anything in the dictionary.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Since I could spell -- at about six. Love at first sight.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
Just little lit mags-- online with some in print. I need to submit more, but it can be hard to let things go.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
I published my own little lit mag online for about a year, but it took away too much of my own writing time. I've started building a website, and I have a myspace account that is hard to get into-- and of course Gather
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
lots and lots of short stories and poetry, a couple songs, and a little bit of essays or reviews.
My first novel attempt was at age 11 (75 pages hand written in a notebook in pencil that later faded, but it was done). Wrote a film script "It's Only Survival" at 12-13; a novel "The Studs" -- about four friends and their after high school lives at 15-16; Got about 95 pages into a novel "Sally" before losing the manuscript at 17. Started a sequel to Studs at 18, but I was majoring in Creative Writing, so I worked on more shorter work instead. Almost finished a comic fantasy novel about ten years ago "In and Out of Utspa "(or the flugbut story). Started "Saving Sunshine"-- a novel about a financially struggling MR grouphome in my late 20s ( got about 60 pages into it.) Finished "No Sensible People" (novel, just a few years ago)-- which I'm doing a last edit on. About 80 pages into "The Dream Map"-- fanstasy novel (last few years) and "Almighty Whispers in Our Souls"-- the prequel to "NSP" -- I'm a little over a hundred pages into that.
How many hours per week do you write?
Not enough. Anywhere from 0-15. I write in spurts
My first and favorite author is Jane Austen. I'm always reading one of hers. Currently, though, I'm reading Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South (1854). I read romance especially in the specific genre that I am writing. So, right now I'm reading some historical westerns. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy, but I haven't had a chance in a couple years. I also read Inspirational romances, historical romance, and titles by authors I know. I'm all over the place.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
I have been seriously writing since Summer 2005. But I've always been a writer.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I am published with By Grace Publishing December 2006, Moonlit Romance June 2007, & The Wild Rose Press June 2007.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
Gosh, it varies from day to day. Week to week. I have three releases just this month; so, I'm going to be doing a lot in the next month. It really can take up your whole day. I try to get my name out there. I visit and promo in the Yahoo groups, here on Gather, MySpace, my webbsite & blog.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I have a contemporary Christmas novella with By Grace Publishing, The Spirit of Christmas. Moonlit Romance released my summer/beach contemporary novella, A Hint of Summer ~ Summer's Return, just last Friday. I have an Inspirational contemporary full-length novel, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, which came out with the Wild Rose Press earlier this month. And from the Wild Rose Press I have a romantic suspense short novella, A Night of NovelTea, coming at the end of the month.
Currently I am writing sequels to my suspense and some historicals (one will be an inspirational).
How many hours per week do you write?
Again it varies. I get up b/w 6:30 and 7. I do emails. Get some promoting done. I also homeschool my oldest. I try to get some writing done in between times. Then Tues & Thurs nights are my nights to write. Lately, I haven't been writing at all really. It has all been about editing and promoting.
Thanks for the questions, Minnette.
Cindy
I read pulp Fantasy novels a lot, and more established Fantasy as well such as George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordon
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
The first "love letter" I wrote was when I was 5 years old, that was 25 years ago. I've been writing in some form or fashion since I was 15 if not sooner.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
Never been published, the first thing I wrote for public view was in late March.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
I don't know that I spend any time on promotion.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
Short fiction, when I say short I am talking in the 1k to 2k word range. I have written probably 65 short stories in the last two months.
How many hours per week do you write?
Somewhere in the range of 30-35
Since I was a kid. I liked to write stories about Frankenstein, and witches! Anything Halloween, really. Oh, and in grade school I once wrote an "epic" about King Kong in a science fiction city. And because I liked the Poseidon Adventure so much I made sure he pushed a big boat over. I'm sure it was a real loo-loo!
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I had self illustrated (water colors) children's books with Adventure Book Publishers in Canada but they went under. R.I.P. Now I have Hollywood Sinners out from StoneGarden.net Publishing. And next month I have an ebook coming out from another publisher – woot! It stars a drag queen!
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
I wish I knew an effective weapon! Ha ha. There's lots of spinning your wheels and getting ignored. You have to muddle through. You have to shoot in the dark until you hope you hit something. If it was easy and pat then we'd all be millionaires!
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I write all over the place. Maybe when I become super famous in one genre then I'll know to stay there.
How many hours per week do you write?
I consider "thinking about it" as important as the actual typing, so I'd say zillions and zillions of hours (sorry that doesn't sound like an accurate number but I was never good at math).
Most of my reading centers on early American history through the Civil War. When I vary from that, it's mostly mysteries and sci-fi novels.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Sixteen months.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
Not published yet. Hope to start searching for an agent within the next 2-3 months.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
Haven't done this yet.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
The only thing I've ever written is the novel I just finished. It's a murder mystery set in a futuristic world.
How many hours per week do you write?
It varies from none to twenty or more.
Gaelyn discovered her longing to be a writer when she was a child listening to her mother's imaginative true stories about Hollywood. In adolescence, encouraged by English teachers who described her as a "born writer," she began writing her own stories, as well as keeping prolific journals that chronicled her experiences, both internal and external, a practice she has continued throughout her life.
Today Gaelyn lives beside a lake in El Dorado Hills, with her husband Randy. She writes in a book-lined upstairs study where she can look out at the lake and wildlife. Her first book was published in 2006 and is a nonfiction book called "The Father Of Hollywood. She is working on her new book, "The Father Of Hollywood: The Final Event." For more information visit her website at: www.TheFatherOfHollywood.com.
Writing seriously since: 1985
Published: about 2 dozen fiction & non- for several print magazines & Jakarta Post newspaper; "Oil Patch", book of connected stories about living in Libya and Indonesia. www.authorhouse.com/bookstore
Promotion: I've almost given up; nothing seemed effective without $$$
Genre: semi-fiction - my version of mostly true events
Hours writing: 5 - 10
I hope this site develops into what Gather was portrayed to aspire to when I joined in Nov '05. Please don't let it degenerate into general chat as Gather has done.
I've read War and Peace three times, not to impress friends but because it's an inspiration and an essential for anyone who aspires to be a writer. The same goes for Dickens, Balzac, Cervantes, Dos Passos, Hemingway, Steinbeck, to mention a few… When I'm writing fiction, I rarely read fictional works, especially avoiding any books related to my subject. Otherwise, I'll pick up whatever's going, when the time's there.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
I wrote my first novella, Revenge when I was ten. By my 20s I was a working journalist on newspapers in South Africa and England, and editor-in-chief of the South African edition of Reader's Digest. Like others, in my spare time, I hammered out four novels, unpublished, but always a good learning experience. Of course, I had scores of articles published in newspapers and magazines.
In 1977, I came to the United States, where the next two years were spent as assistant to James A. Michener on his South African novel, The Covenant. I have created an online literary archive with hundreds of items from my personal collection that tells the story of my work with Michener.
In 1981, I left the Digest and set out to write my epic novel Brazil. I took five years – full-time – to write Brazil, the making of which I described briefly in a recent Gather article: How to Write a 750,000-word manuscript – and get it published You can see the complete archive on my website
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
In the United States, Simon and Schuster initially published the 1000-page Brazil in 1986. A new edition appeared in 2001 issued by small (and brave) indie house, Silver Spring Books. In the U.S., Brazil was a classic in the "random" stakes, a book that was "orphaned" when the fine editor who worked with me for five years left two months before publication date.
In the U.K. France, Germany, Brazil, the novel was a bestseller. In Brazil and France, it won the highest critical acclaim. Happily, for this writer who was once a salesman of teddy bears, hula-hoops and women's lingerie, and never went much beyond high school, one of Brazil's foremost critics called my novel a Brazilian epic and compared passages to the great lines of War and Peace.
My French publishers are bringing out a 20th Anniversary edition of La Forterrese Verte, as the novel is titled, in Fall 2007.
My non-fiction book Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression is published by Routledge. My Gather space has several excerpts.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
Presently, 100 per cent of my time. My website is, in fact, my book proposal/s for my epic novels Africa, Mexico and U.S.A. A totally new approach aimed at getting publishers to take my work seriously. As the saying goes, "Build a better mousetrap…"
The Internet offers huge potential as an effective "weapon" for getting your name out there, but it takes work and persistence. Herman Gollob, who edited Brazil, said to me recently: "Your perseverance is the eighth wonder of the world." He also added: "I'm happy to see that you've not lost your gift for the epic novel."
How many hours per week do you write?
When I'm writing and not banging on publisher's doors, I write from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. six days a week – by hand, with the Brazil manuscript
What type of books do you read when you're NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide.
"War and Peace"? Thank God I didn't draw that one in school, like one poor slob did. (have never tried to read it in either the original language or English.)
My favorite genres are fantasy, science fiction, science fantasy, historical fantasy (heheh. Bet you didn't know that one existed!), historical romances (typically the Diana Gabaldon-type books (longer works))... oh, heck. Pretty much all the genres except erotica and horror. LOL (I've even started reading Keri Arthur and several other authors who do mostly supernatural stuff of late!)
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Started on my first project in 1977. Thank God I lost the thing; I nearly got sued, even though I never intended to attempt publication of it. (Author who is rabidly against all fanfiction and has taken fans to court over it more than once. Or is that her publicists and agent? Doesn't seem to matter.)
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
Not published, other than short articles in several online 'zines, including the Celestial Journal (one article so far; the second article got approved but never published)
Have a set of novels either completed or nearing completion; looking toward TOR and Baen Books for publishing; Booksurge has queried ME, but I'm skeptical at best, since they not only are PoD, but charge BIG fees.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
As un(der)published as I am, what's the point of promoting my works quite yet? I am a member of the Forward Motion Writers forum (as is another commenter) so I suppose that qualifies as promotion.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
Science fiction, primarily; six novels in various stages of completion at present.
In the above, have written numerous short stories and participated in "simming" (email-based freeform gaming) based in several universes over the years. Currently a game-master in two games and assistant game-master in a couple others.
How many hours per week do you write?
Ten to twelve hours a week. (at least, that's what I try for. Usually doesn't happen)
I love all kinds of fiction - especially historical. I also love poetry and spiritual writing.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
I wrote poetry when I was a child and a teenager, but I have been seriously writing for about a year and a half now.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I have been published in the Austin American-Statesman and various magazines, both print and online.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
My website is great. I put a link to it in my blog, my community profiles, my email signature..
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I write mainly creative nonfiction/memoir. Some poetry. I wrote eight or ten short stories for a creative writing class a few months ago, one of which is going to be published in a literary journal in Sept. But I haven't written any books yet. Working on a novel but only have about three pages so far :)
How many hours per week do you write?
Goodness, it's hard to say. A lot, but probably nothing compared to other writers, as I work full-time and am in school full-time.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)? Probably for most of my life. In elementary school I wrote for a school paper, by junior high I was seriously writing fiction to share with friends and classmates. By high school I was editorial page editor, of the school paper and still sharing fiction outside of class. Started writing historical and travel pieces approximately 20 years ago when I began running backcountry tours. And that's where my niche is today.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by? Minor local newspaper articles for church publicity 25 years ago. An article in a major Catholic newspape 15 years ago. Regular contributor to a quarterly newsletter the Panamint Breeze. Regular contributor to my own online monthly magazine www.explorehistoricalif.com, and the largest chapter in the 1st Annual Nevada Boomtown Conference Proceedings that was published this past year. Also self-publish a little booklet about an experience in a friend's ghosttown and sell it there and at a ranger station.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there? I have a great internet presence and am well known on the desert, ghosttown, and backcountry forums. My website which has been in existence is well known as well. I spend a good portion of my time on the forums, and am well known in the California backcountry because of the website and the forum presence. My 4-runner advertises the website and my tours, and people recognize me on the highways and the dirt roads. Just did my first public lecture at museum last night!
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each? It's all historical non-fiction, or legends and lore, or travel experiences of the places I go. There are 5 years worth for my website. Three years worth for the Panamint Breeze, and two short non-fictions in the boomtown Conference as well as the booklet at the ghosttown
How many hours per week do you write? It can vary from every waking moment for days on end to non at all depending on my mood and deadlines.
What type of books do you read when your NOT reading War and Peace to impress your friends? These are the ones that you put inside the dictionary at the library to hide.
I really don't touch any war stuff, just too religious and like historic pieces, love fictional at times. My favorite being Haroon yahya's books, Khalid Baig's first things first is really great! The late Ahmed Deedat of South Africa is one hero I salute, you can see that in most of my writings.
How long have you been writing (& I don't mean today)?
Mmhh, it's a long story, if my mom can be trusted, well I should say I started writing when I was right inside her womb. It may sound more like a joke but believe me its true. Fatmah, my mother told me that she could feel a writer's hand scratching inside her, it made her realize that she was having a company of a writer within her. That was some twenty two years ago. So if you ask how long I've been writing, well find your answer in that one.
Have you been or are you going to be published? When? Who by?
I haven't been published. By who? That's an issue also, it's just that I do most of my things in a complete hurry. Three of my books published, and am my own publisher! Five other books published for free distribution by an Islamic organization in South Africa and Malawi.
How much time do you spend on promotion? What's your most effective "weapon" for getting your name out there?
On this am again a complete failure, let me admit the fact that my capabilities got limitations and through experience, I have come to understand that am only an author and going beyond that just eats up my money only to lose a great deal. I wish I were any good on that.
What is your genre(s)? How many books, short stories or poetry have you written in each?
I write Islamic books, poetry, novels and research papers. Articles I can't count how many, I write on politics and religious contemporary issues. I have a poetry series of booklets containing twenty poems and commentaries for each poem in each booklet, they are seven in total but only three self published, I posted them right here on gather, (see my articles and pics). Right now I have 17 books (religious) and as of now am working on three fictional novels (almost finished and looking for a possible publisher). Out of all those books, maybe four or five have been edited to a large degree. On top of those 20 I have 3 others which I co-authored with other Islamic scholars including a Curriculum of the Qur'aanic Schools used by teachers for teaching Islam in the High school of Central East Africa published by the African Muslim Agency of Kuwait.
How many hours per week do you write?
not per week, its just a sickness that I don't feel ok if nothing interesting hasn't been written in a day. Whenever I come up with some new ides, I reach out to my laptop and have it typed before I forget. Just that sometimes I get caught up in stress and home sick, its just not easy living this earth. When days are tough, well the papers even forget me for a while only to return when the heart finally settles its hassles and dispositions.
Well, I hope and pray that I gave the right answers; it's the promised prize that am looking for. Really, I need such a service from you. If I don't get it, well, I may contact you for a business transaction then, if you really good. Hoping that my flawed grammar didn't put me off the vote; am still a student and never perfect, hope you'll understand that.