Enjoy Today's Interview with Indie Author Sarah Spann, Author of the Fiction Book 'Wildflowers Come Back'. Find out more about Sarah Spann in this article we posted last month.
Interview with Sarah Spann
Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background? Sarah Spann: I've always loved writing. Several years ago I got started writing web content on a freelance/part-time basis, and it eventually became my main gig. After a while I decided to take the leap of faith and write a book.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite book, and who or what are your writing influences?
My favorite writer is Henry David Thoreau. There are many other authors whom I enjoy, but no one else comes close to inspiring me in the way that Thoreau does.
Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?
I honestly don't. I've worked as a freelance writer for several years with deadlines and such that I try not to force my creative writing. If I'm feeling it I'm feeling it...if it's not flowing I don't believe in forcing it. I know some people disagree with that approach and believe in hammering out a specific word count per day no matter if it's crap or not. To each their own. That's not me.
What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
I don't know if I would call it easy, but brainstorming ideas does come to me easier than perhaps other things. The hardest part is putting your work out there for people to read, experience and potentially rip apart.
When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
I really started toying with the idea as a child and the passion for writing evolved organically as I got older.
Sarah, tell us a little about your first novel 'Wildflowers Come Back'.
Wildflowers Come Back is a paranormal mystery. The story follows a snarky twenty-something named Lyss who finds herself broke, jobless and living in a cheap motel after the break-up with her boyfriend. Just when everything is going completely wrong, something finally goes right. She is given the opportunity to start over when she is offered a live-in position at an historic inn. The inn will become her sanctuary and the colorful characters who work there will become her family. However, Lyss will soon discover that the walls which surround her hold much more than history. As fear of a serial killer spreads throughout the city of Santa Fe, Lyss begins to wrestle with her own sanity. Is she hallucinating or is she really seeing ghosts? Just when she thinks she’s found the connection, her world is turned upside down. Will Lyss listen to the voices that haunt her? Or will she trust the one person who can’t be trusted?
"Inspiration came from my own personal experience..."
What inspired you to write the book?
The inspiration for Wildflowers Come Back actually came from my own personal experience working at an historic inn which many believed to be haunted. Slowly that personal experience began to meld with a growing interest in the paranormal. There's something special about working at a small, historic inn like the one portrayed in Wildflowers Come Back. I wanted to share that experience with readers, from the delicious smells that float through the building to the creaking wood floors and the co-workers who become your family.
Who do you see as your target audience and where can we buy the book?
Readers who enjoy a good ghost story and are fans of the popular ghost hunting tv shows might enjoy Wildflowers Come Back. If you crave extreme blood and gore my book is not for you. On that same note my book is not for people who are paranormal skeptics, people who insist on happy endings tied with neat little bows, or anyone who imagines themselves to know everything and everything. If my book still sounds like something a reader would enjoy they can find it on Amazon.
How would you describe the success of your book? (Sales, Awards, Reviews)
My book had a slow start after it's release in September 2011, but after I did a 2-day free promo with KDP Select in January I really noticed some amazing results including over 19k downloads during the free promo period. It's a rollercoaster ride with sales with amazing highs and confusing lows, but it's all a part of the learning process.
I'm very big into social networking. Twitter is my social network of choice and I really believe it's been a huge asset. I also gave Facebook ads and Goodreads ads a shot with mixed results. I haven't done the whole blog tour thing because that just doesn't interest me.
How long did it take it to write the book?
It took about six months to write Wildflowers Come Back.
Please, tell us where you self-published the book.
Initially I self-published the ebook on the major platforms: Amazon, BN, and Smashwords. However, as of early January I made the decision to go Amazon exclusive and join the KDP Select program. I also published my paperback through CreateSpace.
How smooth went the self-publishing process? Any issues? What are things to look for when self-publishing a book?
The whole process went as smooth as can be expected. Obviously there is a learning curve when it comes to formatting your ebook. I also ran into some minor annoying issues when it came to getting my paperback cover just right. I think the most important thing is to take a deep breath and take your time throughout the whole process...don't rush it.
Did you hire an editor and/or Cover Designer for your book?
I did hire an editor. However, I opted to design the book cover on my own.
Can you give some tips for other Indie Authors regarding the writing and self-publishing process?
I think my biggest tip would be to focus on putting out a professional product. Don't rush through editing and formatting...make sure it's done right.
Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
I am working on the sequel to Wildflowers Come Back which is titled Wildflowers Come Back: Karmic Flames.
[Available in Early Spring - Indie Author News will update on the release date]
Are you planning to move forward as an Indie author or are you looking forward to have one of your next books to be traditionally published?
At this point in my career my plans are to remain an indie author.
"99cent eBooks will not dominate the book market"
Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only 99cent eBooks or do you see this just as a marketing phase of the book sellers to move readers into the digital book market in a fight for future market shares?
I'm not about to predict where the book market will be in 5 or 10 years, but I will say that I don't think it will reach a point where all ebooks are priced at 99 cents. I'm sure there will always be people who price their work at 99 cents just as there will always be dollar stores built next to department stores, but that doesn't mean they will dominate the market. I personally have found that I buy 99 cent ebooks on impulse and often never read them, but when I buy higher priced eBooks they always get read. I know many other people are like this. Just like some of the stuff you buy on impulse at the dollar store often ends up unused in a drawer at home.
Do you write full-time or do you have a day job?
My "day job" is actually freelance writing, so technically I do write full-time. Hopefully one day I can transition to writing my books full-time.
How can readers connect with you?
Readers can connect with me by visiting my website, following me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sarahspann), liking my author page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/authorsarahspann), or connecting with me on Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/sarahspann).
Thank you so much for the Interview, Sarah. Good Luck with your future book projects.
About the Book Wildflowers Come Back
(Sarah Spann's debut Novel)
Author Sarah Spann takes readers on a haunting journey through an historic, haunted Santa Fe inn in her debut paranormal mystery novel Wildflowers Come Back.
Wildflowers Come Back is the first book in the Wildflowers Come Back series. The story follows Lyss–the snarky female protagonist who habitually lives her life according to the expectations of others–as she navigates through the shattered pieces of her life after the break-up with her long-term boyfriend leaves her jobless and living in a cheap motel. However, Lyss won’t be down and out for long. Just as a new year begins, Lyss is presented with the opportunity to start over with a live-in position at an historic inn; an opportunity which takes her down a path that will forever change her life. She will discover her gift, the trappings of sin and the outlasting effects of karmic bindings, as the past comes back to haunt her.
In the meantime the resurgence of a serial killer in Santa Fe has left everyone on edge. Has a murderous cult–once believed to be dormant–reawakened? Only one person can help stop the violence, but she doesn’t even know how to help herself.
Will Lyss listen to the voices that haunt her? Or will she trust the one person who can’t be trusted?
Connect with Sarah Spann via Twitter: @sarahspann
1 comment:
Sarah is an amazing author and a very approachable person. We became friends instantly via Twitter and when I read her first book I was hooked as a fan!
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