JAMES M. COPELAND
- Finally Cracks A Contract -
G'day guys,
Today I welcome an author who has previously featured on this blog - James M. Copeland. James has just cracked it for a contract with a major publisher. He has signed a contract with KG Books of Alabama, USA and the title of the book is, “Detective
Frank Hawthorn is … Blindsided.
Welcome, James ...
JMC:
Thank you Clancy for having me.
Clancy: What is the
hardest thing about traditional publishing?
JMC:
I don’t think there is anything hard about traditional publishing; it’s the
authoring that’s hard. Of course the publisher has to make a decision to
publish and once that decision is made their hung if it doesn’t work. I’d say
that getting someone in publishing to look at your work is probably the hardest
thing.
Clancy: What genre is
this book written in?
JMC:
It’s a mystery / crime / suspense book, or better said, a-who-done-it-book.
And, in this case Detective Frank Hawthorn always gets his man!
Clancy: When did you
originally write this book James?
JMC:
This novel was one of the first I wrote in 2006.
Clancy: Has it been
rewritten, or possibly re-titled?
JMC:
Has it been rewritten, ha, ha. (Laugh) I have re-written it so many times I
wore the words out. This was the first book I took to a Literary Conference. It
got eaten alive by a literary agent. Not only that, but the name was changed
several times. I think that the end results are one of my best works. (I do
have to give my publisher (KG Books) editor credit for making the last
corrections.)
Clancy: What’s the book about?
JMC:
Detective FRANK HAWTHORNE receives a
call from W.J. FISHER. He said that his son Milford Fisher had disappeared. He
found his boat near the Memphis, Tennessee branch of the Fisher Granary Corp
covered in blood. Later that day the boat disappears as well.
Hawthorn is told that young Fisher discovered someone was
stealing millions from the company and now he is missing. Everyone believes him
dead except Hawthorn who has a premonition that maybe…he’s still alive.
Detective Hawthorne works his magic to solve the crime.
After several incidents and mishaps, he discovers the truth and finds the
guilty individuals. There is an important twist in the story and Frank
Hawthorne uncovers a plot that will keep you on your toes. Frank wears his
heart on his sleeve and is BLINDSIDED when he discovered the truth about the
woman he loves while he searches for the truth. You'll never guess what happens
in this riveting tale.
Clancy: How should new readers of your work feel?
JMC:
Like they want to turn the pages of my next book! (This could be the beginning
of a series?)
Clancy: How did you
meet the publisher?
JMC:
Through one of the social media units I belong too. (I was turned down by the
publisher at once, until I restated my position.)
Clancy: Writing is one
thing. What about marketing you, your book, and your brand, any thoughts?
JMC:
Clancy, if I had been left to my own demise, I don’t know what I would have
done. My publisher, (KG Books of Alabama) has given me every conceivable amount
of help I could ever imagine. I feel that with the assistance I have been given
that there is no way my novel would be anything but a success. The path we are
on (together) only leads to success!
(One
of my ways of marketing is going to be the sale of my home, and hitting the
road in our new 38 ft Cayman Motor Home. I have the sign already made to post
on my bus when we arrive at a signing spot. I have cards already printed with
the face of the book prominent and mailing-cards that I can send to prospective
accounts that possibly might sponsor a signing. We have the accessories for
having a signing at a location, ie, table, table cloths, chairs, pens, isles
for showing books and several other things too numerous to mention.)
Clancy: What are your feelings concerning the efforts of
your publisher?
JMC:
I am overwhelmed. If I had planned to select a publisher, I couldn’t have made
a better choice.
Clancy: Will this
episode in your life change it?
JMC:
Yes it will. It’s a new adventure, and I can hardly wait. For Shaw, who’s
waiting, I have been working night and day trying to keep up with what my
publisher (KG Books) wants me to do.
Clancy: What are your
plans in the very near future?
JMC:
We are working everyday in preparation for hitting the road. I can hardly wait
for the signing process to begin. I have agreed to be at any signing or
interviews my publisher (KG Books) feels necessary.
Clancy: Do you have any
tips for wanna-be writers?
JMC:
I think the strongest thing I could possibly say is that if you want to write,
you have to devote yourself to doing just that. This is not a process like
fishing. You can bait a hook and drop it in the water, after a while you will
catch a fish. Not so, in writing. You have to research every nook and cranny of
the writing and publishing world to see the opportunities available to you and
then spend countless hours practicing, arranging the words and studying the
results.
In reading some of my earlier works I look with awe at how I did what
I did. I know now that my earlier work was only for me! Why, because I was the
only one who knew what I was talking about. I wrote endless poetry and turned
it over to others and they would read it and go, huh! What did he say?
In
order to write, you have to write, and write, and write!
Finally:
Finally:
Diving into the vast pool of literature opens up an area of
life most have never been. How do you swim? It’s a learning process! One can
not swim without training, it can be self-training, but it’s better to have
someone formal teach. It’s best to keep your hands under water, why, because
they help you stay buoyant.
In terms of writing you must keep your mind active
in putting words on paper. To begin with, any words. The art of putting them on
paper will cause you to self-train for that work; you will suddenly see the
words start to make sense, and your heart will soar.
Water is deep if you can’t swim. Literature is vast and
soooooo many words. Shakespeare compiled a group of words that people of the
world are still trying to discern. Some say this way…others that!
Our talent if we have one…is to compile a group of words
that are very well understood by our peers so well that they want to turn the
page!
Think about this!
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