Matthew Duffus

In this last segment of our four-part interview, Matthew Duffus and I get down into the business side of writing and publishing: how to promote your work and what has worked or not worked in the past.

And with a new book out, the novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, and two more forthcoming: a chapbook of poems, Problems of the Soul and Otherwise, and a story collection, Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories, book marketing is definitely the topic of the day!

But we also made time to talk about what it’s like to live the writing life: the challenges and frustrations, the vision and the reality. For more about Matthew, check out his website and follow him on Twitter at @DuffusMatthew.

But for now, follow along as Matthew and I talk shop!

ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF WRITING

What marketing strategies have you used to promote your book?

I have tried a variety of strategies, from bookstore readings to podcast interviews to writing articles about the writing and publishing process. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’ve found that the more diverse my approach is, the better.

How have you built your author platform? What methods have worked particularly well for you to grow your fan base?

Writing articles for websites and journals has been particularly effective. Based on the response so far, this seems to be the aspect that has attracted the most readers to my book.

Are you active on social media? If so, which one do you prefer or that has done the most for you in terms of author and/or book promotion?

I joined Twitter almost two years ago. That was actually my first foray into the world of social media. I’ve stuck with it, posting every day or two, and it’s been great for sharing upcoming events and links to published articles and stories.

Do you have a “street team” or a fan club or something along those lines? If so, how did you get it started?

I have a hard-core group of friends who support my writing by reading my work, listening to podcast episodes, and attending events. It’s not a huge group, but they make up for that with their loyalty. Since they’re friends, I didn’t have to do anything to get it started. To their credit and my gratitude, they took to it on their own.

Have you done book club visits? How did you find book clubs to contact? Were they in-person, virtual or a mix of both?

I haven’t done any book club visits yet but am definitely open to it. I have spoken in a few classes at my university, in front of students who’ve been assigned the book as part of their required texts. Again, this was proposed by a friend.

Have you engaged in any virtual events, such as blog tours or Skype interviews? 

I have not engaged in any of these but hope to in the future.

Are there aspects of the writing or publishing business that you have found particularly challenging or difficult? What do you find the hardest part about the “writing business”?

Like most debut writers I know, I have found the business side challenging. I spent years writing for myself, living with these characters rattling around in my brain, so the adjustment to being more outward-facing has been interesting.

The biggest challenge has been creating an author platform while living in a fairly small locale. I’m not in a metropolitan area or one with a wide circle of writers that I know of, so building an audience has been challenging at times. I’m learning, but it has been more time-intensive than I’d imagined.

Conversely, have there been aspects or experiences that surprised or touched you or that you thoroughly enjoyed?

I love meeting readers, so public events have been wonderful. I’ve been to bookstores and college classes, all of which have been a joy. Spending time among avid readers or those who might have already read my work and have questions is so inspiring.

Any interesting stories from book signing events? From media interviews?

I did an event the other day in conjunction with several other authors and ended up reconnecting with a student I taught more than ten years ago. She, too, had a book to promote, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting a quick snapshot of all that she’s accomplished in the years since I last saw her.

If you had to do media events to promote a book, did you find it harder than you expected?

I have enjoyed all of the media events, but those that occur over the phone rather than in-person or via video chat have been a little more difficult. It’s amazing what a difference being able to see people’s reactions makes when one is going on (and on) about one’s work in an interview.

Based on your own experience, what tips do you have for authors who are preparing for their “maiden voyage” on the sea of publication?

Take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to you. As I mentioned, I live in a rural area, so the internet has been a great avenue for me. I expected that most of what I did would occur face-to-face, so I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what a boon the online community has been. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for advice when you’re not sure what you should be doing. Find role models and rely on your publisher, if possible, to guide you.

Do you belong to any writing organizations or groups? If so, what have you found most beneficial about having those relationships?

I am a member of the North Carolina Writers Network, a great organization that provides support for writers through promoting their work and offering classes and twice-yearly conferences. I’ve learned so much from the sessions at these conferences and have enjoyed meeting like-minded folks who I wouldn’t normally have come in contact with.

ABOUT LIVING THE WRITING LIFE

What are some unusual (or irritating!) questions, comments or theories you’ve heard from non-writers when they find out you’re a writer?

The inevitable, “I’d write a book, if only I had the time,” comment is the worst! I appreciate the desire it expresses, but it always comes across demeaning, as though the only thing separating me from the speaker is how I have frittered away my time writing a book while they’ve been off doing something more important.

A student recently asked me if a horrendous fight between two of the main characters in my novel is based on a fight I had with my wife, which was a bit of a shock. It was the first question of the day and really set me back on my heels. I regrouped enough to explain that while fiction is often inspired by real life, that doesn’t mean that I had to experience being hit in the face with a book in order to write about it.

How do you blend your writing life with your “real life”—do you find it challenging to make time for both sides? If so, what are some of the difficulties and how do you resolve them?

This is a challenge. Writing is a priority for me, but so is being a father, husband, friend, and teacher. This means that I tend to focus on these specific roles, avoiding other time-consuming hobbies and leisure activities. If I’m not with my family or friends or teaching, I’m probably either writing or reading something in order to help me figure out the next thing I plan to write. This may sound limiting, but I find all of this enriching enough that I don’t feel I’m lacking anything.

What’s the worst advice anyone gave you about being a writer? What’s the best?

In college, I subscribed to the Jack Kerouac method of writing. I’d go out and have a few drinks with friends and then come home and try to write the kind of frenetic prose I was incapable of. I’m too controlled a writer to let fly the way he did, though my wife and I did travel from Minneapolis to Iowa City to see the “On the Road scroll” when it was on display there.

The best advice is a quotation I came across from Louis L’Amour: “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

How do you define success as a writer? What makes you feel successful as a writer?

For me, the goalposts of success are constantly shifting. For a long time, it was just finishing the story I was working on until that became a habit. Then, it was publishing a story, or completing a novel draft, or seeing that novel in print. Now, it’s finishing the next project.

But all of these are in service to connecting with readers. Whenever someone tells me they’ve enjoyed something I’ve written, or a stranger sends me an email to the same effect, I feel successful.

Conversely, what makes you feel like a failure, and how do you combat that?

I am often battling doubt, which I take to be a feeling of failure. I fear that what I’m working on won’t pan out, that no one will want to publish it if it does, that if someone does publish it, they’ll wish they hadn’t because no one will buy it, and on and on. The only way to combat this is to keep the blinders on and continue working.

E.L. Doctorow famously said, “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

What is your idea of a perfect writing day?

I awake to the alarm clock refreshed and ready to greet the blank page, work for an hour or so on a novel, and then go through the rest of my day. By late afternoon, I have some spare time to draft a poem that, though not perfect, shows enough promise for me to return to the next day and keep working with. Rinse and repeat!

What advice do you have for other writers who are contemplating pursuing a writing career?

Avoid comparisons. Don’t look at anyone else and think, “that’s the only way to write.” Don’t think that you’re ever too young, too old, too anything to write. The same goes for once you’ve achieved publication. Don’t compare your book to anyone else’s. Let it stand on its own.

What do you want your writer’s epitaph to be?

I have long admired the poet James Tate, who passed away in 2015 with a final poem sitting in his typewriter. I hope that I, too, will be writing up until the end, so my epitaph would be A Work in Progress.

Thanks so much for being part of One on One: Insights Into the Writer’s Life!

The post One on One with author Matthew Duffus — Part 4 appeared first on One on One.

Matthew Duffus

We’re back with Matthew Duffus, my fellow author at Unsolicited Press whose work includes the novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, and two forthcoming books: a chapbook of poems, Problems of the Soul and Otherwise, and a story collection, Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories.

Matthew currently teaches and directs the writing center at Gardner-Webb University, in Boiling Springs, N.C. and for more information about him, check out his website and follow him on Twitter at @DuffusMatthew.

In this segment, Matthew talks about his writing projects as well as the process involved in pitching a manuscript to a publisher. And because it’s always interesting to learn who my guests like to read, I asked Matthew about his childhood favorites and what he is reading now.

Now on to the interview.

ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROJECTS

What is your most recent book? What inspired this?

My first novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, was released in August 2019. The idea began one summer day when my wife and I were walking around our neighborhood and saw a young man sitting in a car, staring intently at the house on the opposite side of the street. I began wondering why he was in such an out-of-the-way place and what he was waiting for.

Once the wheels started turning, I imagined him as a recent graduate returning to his college town in search of advice from a former professor. It turned out the actual young man was a census-taker waiting to cross another family off his list, but by the time I learned this, several days later, I was already deeply engaged with my own version of events.

I’ve taught at six schools in five states, so the book is also heavily informed by my various experiences with academia. None of the settings or characters have real-life corollaries, but many of the scenarios and issues that are raised stem from my time as a student and instructor.

Your books are traditionally published. Can you share a little about the process of pitching your books to a publisher?

As with many debut novels, I wrote mine with myself as the audience, not taking into account marketability or what was trendy at the time, so when it came time to pitch it, I had a fairly niche product to present to publishers.

The publisher of SFK Press refers to itself as a “fiercely independent press,” a sentiment that appealed to me as it suggested that they would be interested in work that mattered to them on a personal level, as mine mattered to me. As with many such presses, they host a novel contest each year, which I submitted to several years ago.

Mine was a finalist, and though it did not win, they sent me an extensive developmental edit, with several pages of feedback. I took six months to incorporate much of that feedback into the next draft and resubmitted it, at which point they said they wanted to publish it.

My poetry chapbook and story collection were both accepted while my novel was working its way through the editorial process, so by the time it appeared, I already knew that Finishing Line Press and Unsolicited Press, respectively, would be publishing my next two books. Both presses asked for full-length manuscripts along with the initial query letter so I knew the manuscripts had to be as far along as I could make them before I contacted the presses. Fortunately, I received good news from both of them.

What advice do you have for writers when they are contacting agents and/or publishers to help increase their odds of success?

Writing and querying are two different skills. Once you have made your manuscript as good as you possibly can, you have to learn how to distill it in a way that is going to appeal to agents and/or publishers. This is not a quick process. You must figure out what your book is truly about—not what led you to write it or the parts of it that still live in idealized form in your mind—and who it will appeal to.

Choose the right agents and/or publishers for this specific project and learn to encapsulate the project in a variety of lengths—one sentence, one paragraph, one page. The better your “elevator pitch,” the easier it will be for the publishing world to see where you fit. Most of all, do not get discouraged. So many paths to publication exist; keep trying!

How long did it take you to write your first book? Was it easier or harder than you expected?

I spent four years writing my first book. The first two years, I concentrated on the initial 100 pages, knowing that until I got the opening right, I wouldn’t be able to finish the book successfully. Once I’d figured out how many points of view I wanted and had sorted the main characters from the supporting ones, the final 200 pages only took one more year to draft.

I then spent a year revising, draft after draft, until I couldn’t bear to look at it any longer. The process was definitely lengthier than I’d expected. I’d hoped to finish at least a year sooner than that, maybe even earlier, but working out those early pages was a painstaking process.

Do you have a theme that you explore in your books? What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book? 

All three of my books center on questions of what it means to lead a meaningful life. I feel that so many people, myself included at times, grow disengaged or disenchanted with the lives they’re leading. I attempt to explore both of these emotions, as well as finding positive ways forward for many of my characters. I’m not really interested in reading or writing just for the sake of a plot. I want to see how characters react to and learn from their environments and actions.

What is the next project you have in the works?

I’m currently about a quarter of the way through the draft of a new novel. It’s about a classical string quartet that suffers a devastating loss, and it covers both the effects of that loss for the group and its causes, moving all the way back in time to their formation, decades earlier. Each section of the book follows a different member of the group, moving in reverse chronology. It feels daunting right now, but I wanted to challenge myself to move as far out of my comfort zone as possible.

ABOUT YOUR READING PREFERENCES

What was your favorite childhood book? Is there one that, now as an adult, you read again?

I loved “Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators” series when I was a kid. In hindsight, they’re as formulaic as the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew books, so no individual title stands out among the others. The setting does stand out, though. The boys’ clubhouse was hidden among the mountains of detritus in a junkyard, complete with a chute that sent the boys sliding into the space and all kinds of gadgets and detective gear. I must have read close to two dozen of them.

What type of books do you prefer: non-fiction, fiction, essays, poetry?

I read fiction and poetry, primarily. I prefer literary fiction and poetry, but I also love a good detective story!

Where do you do most of your reading?

Like my writing, this can happen just about anywhere. I read a great deal in my living room, either after my daughter goes to bed or while she is reading, doing art, or watching television. I also read at work, for my job, so my office is another place where you’ll often find me with my nose in a book.

What book are you reading now?

Right now, I’m reading Christian Wiman’s Ambition and Survival: Becoming a Poet, in advance of his new poetry collection, which USPS tells me is on its way to my house. I’m hoping to write an essay about his latest, so I’m rereading his back catalog.

What book—or author—do you find yourself reading again?

I’ve mentioned several already, but Ian Rankin is another writer whose books are always near the top of my list. His John Rebus police procedurals have kept me company for twenty years, and I’m dedicated enough that I recently drove two-and-a-half hours to hear him read. I figured if he was willing to travel from Scotland to North Carolina, I could make it the rest of the way!

Who has inspired you — either at a personal level or as a writer?

My wife, Cheryl, is a constant inspiration, as was my grandfather. Cheryl is unfailingly generous with her time and supportive of my work, and my grandfather was a lifelong learner, always inquisitive and in search of new knowledge.

Which three authors would you love to have a “One on One” with?

Beyond the writers I’ve mentioned previously in this series, I would love to be able to go back and have a “One on One” with my late mentor Barry Hannah, so that I could ask him all the questions I was either too shy or too inexperienced to ask. I would enjoy talking to Natasha Trethewey about her poetry and how she balances this with her public life as a well-known writer and former Poet Laureate. Finally, I would choose Karl Ove Knausgaard, whose My Struggle series I have cherished, in order to find out how he manages to make the seemingly mundane come alive.

The post One on One with author Matthew Duffus — Part 3 appeared first on One on One.

Matthew Duffus

I’m back with Matthew Duffus, author of the novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, who also has two forthcoming books on the list: a chapbook of poems, Problems of the Soul and Otherwise, and a story collection, Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories.

In addition to his career as a writer, Matthew also teaches and directs the writing center at Gardner-Webb University, in Boiling Springs, N.C. In this segment of our four-part interview, Matthew talks about his writing process—always an interesting behind-the-scenes topic!

For more information about Matthew, check out his website and follow him on Twitter at @DuffusMatthew.

Now on to the interview!

ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS

Where do you do most of your writing?

Most of my writing occurs in a comfy brown chair in my living room. Before my daughter was born, I always had a study to retreat to, but since that has been repurposed into a bedroom, I actually prefer not having that dedicated space. It encourages me to be flexible and less precious about my writing. Now, I can write in the living room, amid the bustle of our house, in a coffeeshop, or even in my office at school, where I’m constantly in danger of being distracted by email or interrupted by someone else.

How many books have you published thus far?

I have published one novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, and have two forthcoming books: a chapbook of poems, Problems of the Soul and Otherwise, and a story collection, Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories.

Where is the strangest place you’ve written? Where was the most inspirational?

I once wrote in my car, parked on the side of the road in a graveyard. We were living in Minneapolis, and I was at a point where I found everywhere else too disruptive. I would sit in my car, not far from Hubert H. Humphrey’s memorial, and pound out sentences until my laptop battery ran down.

In terms of inspiration, I find that, like Faulkner, “I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately, I am inspired every day at nine o’clock.” Nine o’clock may not always be the hour, but when it’s time to write, I am inspired no matter where I am.

When do you usually write: are you a morning writer, late-night writer, any-time-you-can-grab-a-minute writer?

For fiction, I am typically an early morning writer. I try to get up between five and five-thirty and am ready to go soon after. Poetry and nonfiction come later in the day. I’ll sneak in twenty minutes to tinker with a poem or to knock out a few paragraphs of an essay or review whenever I can throughout the work day.

How do you write: longhand, on a computer, dictate and then transcribe?

I used to be a dedicated longhand person, but in the past ten years, I have transitioned to the ease of the computer. The impersonality of the screen, free from the quirks of my handwriting, helps me remain distanced from the work and keeps me from falling too much in love with my words. I print each draft and revise it with pen and paper, but drafting occurs on the screen unless I’m writing poems. Those happen in my little Field Notes notebooks.

Is writing your full-time career? Part-time career?

Writing is a part-time career. As you mentioned, I teach and direct a writing center as my full-time career, but I squeeze in writing time whenever I can.

On average, how much time do you spend writing a day? Do you have a schedule that you keep?

I do try to keep to a schedule. Right now, I spend around thirty minutes each morning drafting my work-in-progress, though for my first novel I was able to dedicate an hour or more per morning. I typically fit in another thirty-to-forty-five minutes throughout the day, in short bursts, for a total of about an hour. As a result, my output is relatively slow, but as long as I keep to the schedule, I make progress every day.

What stimulates your creativity or serves as a writing inspiration? Conversely, what creates a major writer’s block for you?

Being in the flow of a project is essential. This is why when I am writing a novel, I would rather write for thirty minutes each morning instead of trying to fit it all in on a Saturday, for instance. Writing regularly stimulates me but also helps keep the doubts and inner critic at bay. As much as possible, I try to keep moving forward, though I have tried to learn to accept writer’s block rather than seeing it as something to dread. I’ve tried to make peace with the idea that there will be times when I do not have anything to write or am not ready to move forward with a project.

Do you ever get “stuck” when writing—have trouble beginning a project or getting through it? If so, how do you handle those “work-in-progress” ruts?

It’s easy to philosophize about writer’s block or getting stuck when I actually am writing, of course, but I recently emerged from a long fallow period during which I had begun to despair that I truly had run out of ideas. In that case, I just kept reading and noting down even the silliest of observations for later use. Finally, when my brain was ready, I had a new idea.

In terms of mid-project, I will back up a chapter or scene and read that over several times, trying to return to the flow of the writing and to go deeper into the events that occurred and the characters’ perceptions of them. Usually, if I do this for a day or two, I am ready to move forward again.

Do you have any writing totems? Superstitions? Strange routines? Things you do or have to have around you when you begin your writing process?

When I wrote by hand, having the right pen was essential. For a long time, I used a nice Schaeffer that my wife had given me to commemorate my thesis defense. When I could no longer find ink refills for that one, I experimented with various other pens of different brands. Finally, I hit upon the strategy of dedicating a specific pen to each project. I have one pen I use for writing poetry, one for revising a particular work-in-progress, and one for general notetaking. It can be exhausting keeping track, but it works.

Do you keep a journal? If so, how often do you write in it? Is it for personal reflection, for tracking writing ideas or both? How do you use it?

As with pens, I keep several journals going at once. I recently started a reading journal where I record details about every book I read. I also have a poetry journal for phrases, lines, and entire drafts of poems. Finally, I keep a journal for my work-in-progress, a novel with four different time frames, which means keeping a lot of moving parts straight.

If I am stuck for ideas, I will occasionally borrow Julia Cameron’s “morning pages” strategy, but that’s typically the only time I use a journal specifically for free-writing. Everything else is in service to something bigger.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? The least?

I love working on second drafts. At that point, the rough material is down on the page, and I can go back and begin making connections. That’s when I’ll notice a metaphor that wants to be a motif, or realize that a supporting character wants a larger or smaller role, or that the point-of-view is all wrong. A well-established writer once told me that the second draft is where inspiration really comes into play. You see what’s there and figure out how to work with it.

My least favorite part is copyediting. I am so glad that publishers have people who do this for us! By the time I’ve been through that many drafts, it’s difficult for me to remain so detail-oriented. I am truly grateful for people with that eye for specifics.

Regarding your fiction, what triggers the story idea: a character, a setting, plot or dialogue?

The first thing that triggers a story is almost always character. The story doesn’t really start forming, though, until I have some kind of action to attach to the character. Character and action lead to motivation. Once I have that, I am ready to go.

The post One on One with author Matthew Duffus — Part 2 appeared first on One on One.

Matthew Duffus

Matthew Duffus and I became connected because we both share the same publisher, Unsolicited Press.

And when I visited his website to check out his books, I was even more interested in having him on One on One because his work is about characters at a crossroads in their lives—the type of story I most drawn to and that I like to write.

Matthew is the author of the novel, Swapping Purples for Yellows, and has two forthcoming books: a chapbook of poems, Problems of the Soul and Otherwise, and a story collection, Dunbar’s Folly and Other Stories.

As he explains, his goal is to write stories that feel like necessary investigations into humanity—character-driven fiction that explores the challenges and tensions of being part of a community. And as someone who has lived in various states from his Pennsylvania (where he was born) to Maryland, Indiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Tennessee and now North Carolina, he has had plenty of opportunities to explore different communities and the benefits and drawbacks of being part of them.

Currently, in addition to being an author, he also teaches and directs the writing center at Gardner-Webb University, in Boiling Springs, N.C. But his background is as diverse as the states he has lived in, since at various times he has worked as a graduate instructor and research assistant, apartment caretaker, bookseller, concessions supervisor, and residence-hall director, along with earning several graduate degrees.

For more information about Matthew, check out his website and follow him on Twitter at @DuffusMatthew.

Now on to the interview!

ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WRITER

Tell me a little about yourself. What type of writing do you do? If you do more than one kind or prefer one genre over another, what type is your favorite or most satisfying?

I write a little bit of everything, from stories and novels to essays, reviews and poems. I prefer fiction, as it’s the genre I’ve worked in the longest, but all three genres are satisfying in different ways.

In addition to being a novelist, you also write poetry, short stories and non-fiction. Is there a type of writing or a genre that you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?

Yes! When I feared, years ago, that I wouldn’t be able to find a publisher for my novel, I considered adapting it into a play. I like the challenge of conveying an entire story through dialogue and a minimal amount of stage direction. Hopefully, someday I’ll have time to give it a shot!

Do you find it difficult to switch from one writing type to another? What techniques do you use that help you switch “writing gears”?

Switching gears can be a challenge. I find it best to space out the different genres rather than trying to do more than one in a writing session. While I typically write fiction early in the morning, I might work on a poem or an essay in the afternoon. Reading is the key to switching gears. I rarely write poetry, for instance, if I’m not actively reading it. The same goes for nonfiction. I often need some kind of text to respond to, so reading is key no matter the genre.

In addition to being a writer, you also teach and direct the writing center at Gardner-Webb University, in Boiling Springs, N.C. How has teaching writing helped you as a writer?

Teaching is a huge part of my process. Whether in composition or creative-writing courses, I often find myself sharing not just my positive experiences but also the struggles. Helping my students through their own worries often “unlocks” a problem I’ve been having in my work. Teaching various techniques reminds me to use them myself, so I find that I often take away as much from the classes as my students do.

How long have you been writing? When did you start? Why did you start —what triggered your writing?

While I dabbled in fiction writing as a teen—writing numerous Chapter Ones that never evolved into full manuscripts—I took my first fiction-writing course as an undergrad. My senior year, free of the deadlines imposed by a class, I began to write just for myself, which is the point that I think of as my true beginning. Again, this came about due to reading. I’d read Paul Auster’s wonderful City of Glass and found myself wanting to emulate it, so I wrote a pastiche of that novel. While it wasn’t a very good story, I found the act of writing exciting enough to continue with more original work.

What was your “writer dream”—your goal— when you began to write? Has it changed over the years?

As a naïve twenty-one-year-old, I figured I would write a novel, become famous and spend my days writing the next one and responding to interviews like this one! My frame of reference was limited to dead writers, mostly, and I saw their careers as models for what I imagined my own would be. I looked to the Faulkners, Hemingways and Steinbecks for inspiration in this way.

What is your “writer dream” now?

My dream now is to continue to have a career outside of writing that affords me the opportunity to write what I want, regardless of the dictates of the marketplace. I am dedicated to literary fiction, above all, which isn’t the biggest-selling corner of the market, so making money that isn’t dependent on my sales ranking allows me to write what I want free from such concerns.

When did you first know that you were a writer?

I don’t know that there was one specific moment. I inched toward the realization bit by bit—when I was accepted to an MFA program, when I had my first story accepted for publication, when I wrote a novel and found a publisher, and then when I held the finished book in my hand. I’m not sure that I can pinpoint which of these moments was the one, but each played a role in thinking of myself as a writer. Ultimately, though, I’d say I knew when I reached the point where missing a writing session or two made me anxious; when I became dependent on writing as one aspect of my identity, I knew I was a writer.

What does the act of writing bring into your life? Why do you want to write?

I’m a big believer in “the life of the mind.” Writing allows me to lead such a life, along with all the other lives I lead. It gives me an opportunity to shape an alternate reality to become engrossed in and a set of characters I can carry around with me, whether for a month, a year, or several years.

Who are three of your favorite authors and why?

I am a huge admirer of the poet Li-Young Lee. I’ve been reading his work for almost two decades and recently had the opportunity to hear him deliver a lecture, which did not disappoint. He is so present in his work, so attuned to the world around him, and within himself. I admire his lyricism and the beauty of his lines above all.

I still read Paul Auster regularly. He is one of those writers whose latest releases are always on my calendar. He’s known as a serious writer, but I enjoy the playfulness within his work as well. His novels typically contain some meta-fictional or almost magical quality that I hope to one day incorporate in my own writing.

In recent years, I’ve found Tessa Hadley to be a huge inspiration, as well. I am a big reader of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century novelists, and Hadley’s work seems to harken back to many of the realist writers of that period. She writes wonderful fiction about the complexity of familial relationships and the way the past intrudes on and informs the present. And her prose style is to die for.

With a nod to the late James Lipton of “Inside the Actor’s Studio”: what profession other than that of a writer would you like to attempt?

For a long time, I wanted to be a jazz musician but was never quite good enough, so that would definitely be the one. I loved playing the trumpet in high school and college ensembles and just for myself. Even after I had to “retire” from trumpet playing due to an injury, I took jazz piano just to keep my hand in music.

What have you learned about yourself through your writing?

I’ve learned how important routine is for me. I am most productive when I have shorter amounts of time regularly than I am when I have one day a week completely open. I accomplish more with eight hours spread out across the week than I would in one chunk of time.

In what way have you continued to evolve as a writer?

In all ways, honestly. I believe I can continue to learn how to do everything better. In particular, I have long fallen into the “pantser” category in the great “pantser vs. plotter” debate, but with my work-in-progress, I have chosen to be more deliberate in planning. I am not in danger of swinging all the way to the other side of the spectrum, but I am learning the benefit of having particular plot points in mind from the beginning.

How did you imagine your writing life would be in the early days, and is it what you expected? If not, how is it different?

I don’t know that I had a clear image in the early days. So much of my writing was geared toward deadlines in school—undergraduate and graduate—that my main goal was to be free of them and to write purely for myself, worrying about publication later. I have found this to be true for the most part, though I have been surprised recently by all the different demands on my writing time.

Having published a novel recently, I spend a great deal of time looking at writing as self-promotion, dare I admit it! Now, with a story collection several months in the future, I’m preparing to shift into that mode once again. This is a great “problem” to have, but it makes finding time for my work-in-progress challenging.

How has living the writing life changed you?

In so many ways. My wife and I first bonded over our love of writing (and reading). We first spent serious time together when she offered to read a story I’d written for a workshop. I believe we would have ended up together regardless, but this didn’t hurt! In addition, writing has made me so much more attune to my perception of the world around me, as well as encouraging that “negative capability” that Keats wrote of. As a result of writing, I am better able to see multiple perspectives without having to judge which one is correct.

The post One on One with author Matthew Duffus — Part 1 appeared first on One on One.

Keith Newhouse

In the last part of my interview with Keith Newhouse, author of the award-winning book, My Tío’s Pulse, we focus on the business side of being an author and how he is making the public aware of his book.

Written for children to help them talk about difficult topics and empower them to feel safe, My Tío’s Pulse addresses the tragedy that took place at the Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016.

For more about Keith, visit his website and check out the Newhouse Creative Group Instagram page and Keith’s personal Instagram account. You can also follow him on these Facebook pages: Keith’s personal page and the Newhouse Creative Group Facebook page. Learn more about Keith’s book here.

And now onto Part 4 of our interview.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF WRITING

What marketing strategies have you used to promote your book?

I was very lucky to have my friend Carolyn Capern donate her marketing skills for My Tío’s Pulse. I’ve also learned since publishing about Amazon Marketing Services and ran a few of my own campaigns before hiring someone to do them for a number of our Newhouse Creative Group books.

Along with Carolyn, I made a number of pushes on social media (Facebook and Instagram) and just last week hired someone to take over the social media side of things for me. (I’m working with her on building an author consultation service as well… Contact me if you’re interested.)

What have you learned about book marketing that you wish you had known when your first book came out?

I knew nothing. I know enough to be dangerous now, but one of my strengths is knowing what I’m good at and what I’m not… I wasn’t good at marketing, but I’m learning from experts and hiring experts to do a better job than I can.

How have you built your author platform? What methods have worked particularly well for you to grow your fan base?

It’s hard to think of myself having a fan base, but I have received so much positive feedback on the book and on Newhouse Creative Group and our family of authors. Word-of-mouth and the events that we’ve taken part in have been the best. I went to a signing where someone loved one of our books (Dreidel Dog) so much that he created a balloon animal version of Bad Puppy!

Are you active on social media? If so, which one do you prefer or that has done the most for you in terms of author and/or book promotion?

I love Instagram, though I have a much larger following on Facebook. A friend of mine showed me Tik Tok a few months ago and I’ve been obsessed with other videos, but have only created a few of my own. I mentioned this to my new social media person and she loved the idea of working together on a plan to turn Tik Tok into a marketing platform for us.

Do you have a “street team” or a fan club or something along those lines? If so, how did you get it started?

Newhouse Creative Group has a launch team. I procrastinated creating it for so long because my imposter syndrome made me think that no one would be interested in being a part of it. One day, I got up the nerve, put a quick post on Facebook and within an hour we had 25 people signed up!

Have you engaged in any virtual events, such as blog tours or Skype interviews?

I’ve done a few phone interviews for the press, but not really virtual events.

Any interesting stories from book signing events? From media interviews?

The Pride Launch party was incredible. I had so many come up to me to look at the book and thank me for writing it. At the end of the night, I gave a copy to one of the people who helped plan the event and as I’m leaving, I saw him crying. I went up to him and asked if he was ok. He opened the book to an illustration of the Pulse nightclub and pointed at the lights. “That was me. I used to run those.” He ran the lighting at Pulse before the tragedy and was so moved by that illustration. It’s one of those moments that will stay with me forever.

Based on your own experience, what tips do you have for authors who are preparing for their “maiden voyage” on the sea of publication?

Get a support team. I had so many people donate their time, talent, and services, but even more than that, their support. I couldn’t have done it without them all.

Do you belong to any writing organizations or groups? 

I joined the Florida Writers Association this year.

Who has inspired you — either at a personal level or as a writer?

Dad of course. When I was a kid, he read with me all the time. He was also president of the New York State Reading Association, so we’d go to all the conferences. Through that, I became friends with a bunch of the authors. Bernard Waber drew me a personal poster of Lyle Lyle Crocodile and I became penpals with Sidney Rausch. Since then Dad has become quite the successful author himself with The Rockhound series

Which three authors would you love to have a “One on One” with?

I think Dan Brown would be fascinating to sit and chat with. Shel Silverstein would be a childhood dream come true. The last one is a little less of a traditional author, but Jason Robert Brown who composed The Last 5 Years (one of my favorite musicals)… I saw him give a Master Class on music, but I’d love to be able to talk to him about his writing process for lyrics and story.

ABOUT LIVING THE WRITING LIFE

What’s the worst advice anyone gave you about being a writer? What’s the best?

Being so new to it, I’m not sure I’ve had much bad advice. The best advice has come from my head artist on My Tío’s Pulse, Ethan Long. When I sent him a draft of my book, he sent it back and while he didn’t say it was garbage… I was frustrated at first because I really liked what I’d written, but he explained to me that it wasn’t appropriate for the level I was writing. He gave me basically a Children’s Book Boot Camp, which I now give to many authors who submit children’s books to Newhouse Creative Group.

How do you define success as a writer? What makes you feel successful as a writer?

How you’ve used your writing to help… Be it as simple as entertainment or as complex as bringing awareness to a social issue. I’ve only written one book, but the number of people I’ve heard of it helping (including those who volunteered to help with the project) was just incredible.

Conversely, what makes you feel like a failure, and how do you combat that?

I have terrible imposter syndrome. For the longest time, I let it bring me down and thought that I couldn’t do many things. The past few years (a great part due to the My Tío’s Pulse project), I’ve been learning just what I can accomplish.

Just last month, I came up with a new strategy to help me combat the imposter syndrome. I had a bunch of my work put into art (if you haven’t seen it, MixTiles is amazing) and it’s hanging in my living room, where I know I’ll see it every day. Seeing what I’ve accomplished, helps me remember that I can do anything I set my mind to (which has been extremely necessary with the huge project that Selling Out has turned into)!

What is your idea of a perfect writing day?

One where I don’t have a block. Last night was the perfect writing time for me. I sat down to work on something else, but inspiration just caught me and I ended up writing for five hours straight, not even realizing it!

What advice do you have for other writers who are contemplating pursuing a writing career?

Find an expert. I mean this in two ways: 1) Find a writing expert, someone who can help you with the part of the process that you want to do and act as a mentor. 2) For all of those other jobs associated with writing (publishing, marketing, social media, etc.), find an expert.

You can’t do it all yourself, so focus on what you want to do and hire people to do the rest.

What do you want your writer’s epitaph to be?

“Most helpful and philanthropic author of the century” – Ellen

Thanks for being part of One on One: Insights Into the Writer’s Life!

The post One on One with author Keith Newhouse — Part 4 appeared first on One on One.

Keith Newhouse

We’re back with Keith Newhouse, author of the award-winning book, My Tío’s Pulse, a children’s book that addresses the tragedy that took place at the Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016.

Keith is also a Senior Learning Designer and co-founder (with his father Mark Newhouse) of Newhouse Creative Group. He also acts, teaches and directs musical theatre and opera around Orlando and volunteers in the community.

For more about Keith, visit his website and check out the Newhouse Creative Group Instagram page and Keith’s personal Instagram account. You can also follow him on these Facebook pages: Keith’s personal page and the Newhouse Creative Group Facebook page. Learn more about Keith’s book here.

And now onto Part 3 of our interview.

ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROJECTS

How many books have you published?

I only have one published book so far, but it was such a huge community project, involving so many individuals that it’s taken up a good deal of time the past year.

I expect Selling Out: The Musical to be just as big, if not bigger of a project. I’m planning to publish the script as well as license it for future use and publish a behind the scenes book to go with it (including a guide for raising money for community groups using the show).

Your first book, My Tio’s Pulse, is a book for children. Why did you choose to write a children’s book? What drew you to that genre?

As a former second grade teacher, I’ve always been a kid at heart. Whenever tragedy occurs, I think about how it affects the children. I recently came across a paper I wrote after 9/11 (I started college two weeks before 9/11 and my dorm room looked out at the Twin Towers) titled “How Could Anyone Do This?” and dealt with how children were affected by the tragedy.

I had completely forgotten about the paper when I wrote My Tío’s Pulse, which, when I came across it while moving, just reminded me that I’ve always felt that way.

What inspired My Tío’s Pulse?

The idea for My Tío’s Pulse was triggered by one of my managers at work. She’s a former teacher and has three kids. Everything she does with the kids is a lesson plan. For example, during the Olympics, she’ll plan nights based around each country. On Greece night, they’ll have Greek food, show Greece on a map, discuss Greek mythology, etc.

When the Pulse tragedy occurred, I asked how she was going to tell her kids. She replied, “I don’t know.” If a parent that good doesn’t know what to do, how is an average parent without a background in education going to have any idea?

My Tio’s Pulse started as a passion project that has become an incredible community initiative, involving over 30 individuals donating their time, services, and talent. Dedicated to helping children (and adults) who have been affected by Pulse, all profits from the sale of My Tio’s Pulse are being donated to help victims and families of Pulse.

After headlining at Orlando Pride, receiving major praise (and media attention) throughout Central Florida and Puerto Rico, I’m so excited for the future of the project and am thrilled that Family Equality is becoming a part of it!

When I came up with the idea for My Tio’s Pulse, I never imagined the amount of support the project (and I) would receive. I’ve been overwhelmed with emotion as each individual who learned about it would not only ask “Why hasn’t this been done already?!?”, but go above and beyond to become a part of the project.

How long did it take you to write it? Was it easier or harder than you expected?

The storyline itself came from a dream many months later. I had a dream about a kid learning how to take his pulse in school. I woke up and wrote it down and the rest of the story just came pouring out.

Once I decided to write the book myself, I drafted it in one day. I then sent it to my Dad and my head artist, who taught me how to turn the idea into a viable children’s book. That was the most difficult part for me and took about a month to really be able to dig into it and finalize the manuscript. The book itself was published in four months from start of writing to finish.

My Tio’s Pulse has won several awards: Watermark’s Top of 2018, Top Shelf Finalist 2019 and Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist 2019. It was also featured in Orange County History Center’s Love Speaks Exhibit and recognized by the Family Equality Council. Were you surprised by this?

I was so shocked! The first shock came right as I was working on getting the art completed from our 22 artists who donated their time and talents. I was sitting at work one day, when Karen Brown of the Orlando Pride festival emailed me, asking if I would sign books at the Pride Launch Party. For a second, I wondered why… I was so caught up in the project as a community project and I’d become the project manager, that I’d completely forgot that I’d written the book!

I’m so thrilled with all of the attention the project has received. It took a team of over 30 volunteers (nobody made a cent of profit off of the book, except Amazon) and I share every honor the book receives with that group of people.

You self-published your book. Why did you make go that route?

As a new writer (and under a very strict deadline of less than four months from writing to printing), it was important to get the book out as soon as possible. Having started Newhouse Creative Group, it was a great fit for our catalog.

Do you have an agent?

I don’t at the moment. If you’re an agent reading this, I’m open to it.

What is the next project you have in the works?

Selling Out: The Musical will be produced at the Orlando Fringe Festival. I’m producing and writing it. I’m working on getting a director, but we already have a huge group of individuals helping out. If you haven’t experienced the Fringe Festival, there are over 100 performing acts come to Orlando for 2 weeks every May and you’ll see anything you can possibly think of being performed! This will be my second time producing, though I’ve performed a number of times with local groups.

Selling Out: The Musical is something that has never been done. The storyline is about an ad executive who is unlucky at love and the roommate who lacks ambition, but the main “fringe-y” idea behind Selling Out is that the cast and crew will do whatever it takes to make the most money for the show (which will then be distributed to all those involved as well as to a local charity).

Between the audience bidding in an online auction to make different things happen during the show (even down to whether the lead will be male or female!), to selling advertising in the scenery, script, and songs (the first line has the main character answering the phone, talking to a local business), to selling the actors’ clothing at the end of the show, we’re taking a completely over-the-top look at what artists do to “sell out.”

The post One on One with author Keith Newhouse — Part 3 appeared first on One on One.

Keith Newhouse

We’re back with Keith Newhouse, author of My Tío’s Pulse, a children’s book that addresses the heartbreaking event that took place at the Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016.

Keith is also a Senior Learning Designer (designing online graduate courses for colleges across the country) as well as the co-founder (with his father Mark Newhouse) of Newhouse Creative Group, a publishing company that, at time of press, has 15 authors and over 25 books.

In his spare time, he acts, teaches and directs musical theatre and opera around Orlando, volunteers in the community, or just enjoys a quiet evening at home with Bella, his super sweet “supermodel” dachshund.

For more about Keith, visit his website and check out the Newhouse Creative Group Instagram page and Keith’s personal Instagram account. You can also follow him on these Facebook pages: Keith’s personal page and the Newhouse Creative Group Facebook page. Learn more about Keith’s book here.

And now onto Part 2 of our interview!

ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS

Where do you do most of your writing?

I don’t really have a specific place. I will say I use the built-in desk at my apartment far more than I thought I would, but most of my writing actually takes place in my head first in random places (usually while driving or in the shower) and then I have to try to remember it until I can write it down!

Is writing your full-time career? Part-time career?

For a living, I’m currently an instructional/learning designer, having designed online courses for graduate schools all over the country as well as for the military and government. I cut my hours back two years ago to start Newhouse Creative Group and that led to me writing. I definitely plan to continue in part-time. Of course, if Ellen or Oprah see my book and want to help me make it a full-time career…

On average, how much time do you spend writing a day? Do you have a schedule that you keep?

I’m so busy with my full-time job as well as the publishing company that I don’t get to do the creative side very often. When I do get to, it’s usually a spurt of creative energy that lasts a few hours.

What stimulates your creativity or serves as a writing inspiration? Conversely, what creates a major writer’s block for you?

I’m far more natural to writer’s block, but when creativity hits me, I run with it! For example, last night around 9 PM I was working on designing a logo for Selling Out and an idea hit me for the script. I started writing that idea down and before I knew it I was outlining and writing the Selling Out script until 2 AM as it was basically writing itself.

The same thing happened with My Tío’s Pulse… I had the concept of wanting to help kids, but had no idea where to go from there. One night I had a dream about the storyline and the entire book (or a very early terrible draft form of it at least) just wrote itself from there.

Do you have any writing totems? Superstitions? Strange routines? Things you do or have to have around you when you begin your writing process?

I’m a big techie, so I have a few apps (on my phone, iPad, and computer) that help me out: MeisterTask is a project management app that helps me organize Newhouse Creative Group, but I’ve found is great for jotting down ideas for writing as well. It keeps a list of everything that I want to write in the future and then lets me jot down whatever ideas within those stories come to me.

The Notes app has been my best friend with Selling Out because I can write on my phone, iPad, and computer and it all goes to the same place.

Do you keep a journal? If so, how often do you write in it? Is it for personal reflection, for tracking writing ideas or both? How do you use it?

I don’t have a journal. The one time I kept a journal, things didn’t end well. In 6^th grade, my teacher had us keep a journal and gave us writing prompts each day. I HATED being forced to write in it every day, so by maybe the 4^th or 5^th week, I started writing pure gibberish, just to make it look like I had written something each day. I got away with it for a while, but one day my parents looked at the journal and realized… They were furious!

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? The least?

During the process, I love coming up with the characters. As a theatre person, when writing, I always visualize the characters on a stage, usually played by people I know (or sometimes a celebrity). I also love seeing how the book is helping people. I’ve saved more screenshots of people talking about my book on Facebook… It really makes you feel like you make a difference.

My least favorite part is the promotion, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it that past two years thanks to a number of people who are far better than I am.

ABOUT YOUR READING PREFERENCES

What was your favorite childhood book? Is there one that, now as an adult, you read again?

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I keep a copy on my bookshelf at all times along with the Shel Silverstein collection (I’m honestly surprised that Dad didn’t say The Giving Tree was his favorite… he used to read it to me and to his classes all the time. )

What type of books do you prefer: non-fiction, fiction, essays, poetry?

Until about four months ago, I was not a fan of non-fiction, but I’ve been obsessed with self-help books lately, especially when they merge day to day life with spirituality like You Are a Badass. I started meditation classes this year and I love how everything I read comes together in that class and vice versa. It’s just beautiful.

Where do you do most of your reading?

I have a new routine I started a few months ago where I set up my Amazon Echo (back to my techie side) so that I can say “Alexa, get ready for bed” and she makes the lights in the bedroom turn red and plays the Krishna Das station on Sirius XM (calms me before sleep). I then get into bed, pull out a book and after ten minutes, Alexa starts fading the lights until five minutes later they’re off and I know it’s time for sleep. I love it and it’s such a nice way to end the day.

What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading My Morning Routine by Benjamin Spall as my self-help book, but I have a few fiction books that I’m going to try get started on this week… My brother (a media specialist in Tampa) gave me Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and I’d been on hold from the library to get Olivia Twisted by Florida author Vivi Barnes, but am going to start in the next day or two.

What book—or author—do you find yourself reading again?

You know how there’s that book that comes into your life just when you need it? That’s happened to me so many times with The Celestine Prophecy. (Dad had the same happen with I, Claudius… )

The post One on One with author Keith Newhouse — Part 2 appeared first on One on One.

Keith Newhouse

Last month, I had Mark Newhouse on One on One, and this month, his son Keith Newhouse takes the spotlight—the first time I have had two generations on my blog!

With the publication of My Tío’s Pulse, Keith has channeled his creativity into a unique book for children that addresses the heartbreaking event that took place at the Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016. The book explains the tragedy in a clear and simple way with the goal of giving children the tools to talk about difficult topics and empower them to feel safe.

When not writing, Keith is a Senior Learning Designer (designing online graduate courses for colleges across the country) as well as the co-founder (with his father Mark Newhouse) of Newhouse Creative Group, a publishing company that, at time of press, has 15 authors and over 25 books.

Keith’s spare time is spent acting, teaching, and directing musical theatre and opera around Orlando, volunteering in the community, or just enjoying a quiet evening at home with Bella, his super sweet “supermodel” dachshund.

For more about Keith, visit his website and check out the Newhouse Creative Group Instagram page and Keith’s personal Instagram account. You can also follow him on these Facebook pages: Keith’s personal page and the Newhouse Creative Group Facebook page. Learn more about Keith’s book here.

And now onto Part 1 of our interview.

ABOUT YOURSELF AS A WRITER

Tell me a little about yourself. What type of writing do you do?

Although I’m very new to published writing, I’ve had an interest on and off since I was a child. Most of my writing has been poetry (I was an editor of my college’s literary magazine) and for theatre. I’ve also written a few songs over the years.

Is there a type of writing or a genre that you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?

I have a few YA ideas that I’ve been throwing around, but haven’t had a chance to explore yet. I’m currently working on writing my first musical for the Orlando Fringe Festival.

What was your “writer dream”—your goal— when you began to write? Has it changed over the years?

When I started the My Tío’s Pulse project, I just wanted a way to help kids understand the tragedy of Pulse. I wasn’t even sure that I was going to be the one writing it! When I had a dream (that later became the storyline of the book) and shared it with my friend who was working on marketing for the project, she told me that I needed to be the one to write it.

I had no idea what I was doing, but with the help of my head artist, Ethan Long (who has written and illustrated over 100 children’s books) and my Dad, I’ve not only learned so much about the art of writing, but have created my own “writer dream.” As my Dad always says, writing is a bug and once it bites you…

What is your “writer dream” now?

I had a little tease earlier this year when a national theatre group found out about the My Tío’s Pulse project. They loved the book and asked me to meet with them to discuss the idea of a theatre for young audiences production that would run there and then tour the country. Unfortunately, the project fell through six months later, but it’s still a dream to see that happen. I’d also love for Ellen to discover the project and share it with the world.

When did you first know that you were a writer?

I recently came across a play I wrote in fourth grade. Obviously it’s a little rough around the edges, but I didn’t remember having an interest that early. In high school, I wrote a few more plays when I worked as the drama counselor at a summer camp and in college, besides submitting poems and short stories for the literary magazine, I remember starting a novel as a therapeutic way to deal with normal college angsty situations.

What does the act of writing bring into your life? Why do you want to write?

I want my writing to help others. The My Tío’s Pulse project has had such an impact on the community and I want to continue with that purpose. At some point, I want to create a project like My Tío’s Pulse, explaining why hunger is such a huge issue and what food banks are doing to help. I used to volunteer with the Second Harvest Food Bank and would love to be able to share about the programs they have and raise money through my writing to help them continue their work.

Who are three of your favorite authors and why?

For a number of years, I lost interest in reading. Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons (which in my opinion is far better than Da Vinci Code) resparked my love of reading. I think I read it in 48 hours while getting ready for a trip to Europe. Since then I’ve read all of his books.

Laura Numeroff has always been my favorite children’s author. I read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie so many times that I had it memorized at one point. The past year I’ve been on a self-help book kick (I had no idea how much fun they were!) and Jen Sincero has quickly added herself to my favorite authors with You Are a Badass.

With a nod to the James Lipton of “Inside the Actor’s Studio”: what profession other than that of a writer would you like to attempt?

Well, continuing with the nod to Inside the Actor’s Studio, at one point I actually wanted to be an actor for a living. I was a musical theatre major in Staten Island, NY (just a short ferry ride from Broadway) and thought that was going to be my life. I still perform for fun, but couldn’t see it for myself as a career.

For a living, I’m currently an instructional/learning designer, having designed online courses for graduate schools all over the country as well as for the military and government.

I’ve also always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I started my own web design company in middle school, which continued in various forms until about just over two years ago when I dissolved it and (with my Dad) started a publishing company, Newhouse Creative Group. While we’re still very new, I’ve been having a great time publishing and learning about all aspects of the business.

What have you learned about yourself through your writing?

Well, I guess I’ve learned that I can write. I started the My Tío’s Pulse project at a time when my personal life was a bit messy and I realized I needed to focus on my professional life. I knew that the project would be successful, but I had no idea just how far it would go.

Since writing the book, we’ve headlined Orlando Pride, been all over the media in Central Florida (and even in Puerto Rico!), had talks with a major national theatre company about a theatre for young audiences production, been a part of an exhibit on Pulse at the Orange County History Center, and just won a Silver Award for children’s books from the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards!

I’ve learned that I held myself back for many years because I didn’t think I was a writer (and this applies to other aspects of my life), but my confidence has grown the past few years and I’ve learned that there are so many things I can accomplish (just have to fight that darn imposter syndrome)!

Both you and your father, Mark Newhouse, are authors and both of you write children’s books. Do you share your work with each other in the beta stages?

As the publisher of Dad’s books now, I get first look at all of them anyway, but I’ve always been (if not officially a beta reader) a sounding board for him. For my writing, if I hadn’t had him and Ethan Long helping, there wouldn’t be a My Tío’s Pulse book. I’m going to send him my first draft of Selling Out: The Musical once it’s done as well.

What are the advantages and disadvantages—or benefits and drawbacks—of having a close relative in the same field and genre?

I’ve learned so much about writing from him, even to the point that when we work with other authors, I know what he’s going to say before he says it! We’ve joked about the drawback that at some point we may be competing for the same award, but obviously we’d be thrilled for each other whoever won. When Dad won Published Book of the Year from Florida Writers Association this year, you couldn’t hear anyone scream as loud as I was!

Have you thought about collaborating on a book?

We collaborate on a lot of things, but I’m not quite at that stage yet. We throw ideas back and forth (one of the best ideas for the Selling Out: The Musical script came from him), but we haven’t really talked about a specific idea for book collaboration yet. We’ll have to think about that in the future.

The post One on One with author Keith Newhouse — Part 1 appeared first on One on One.

For more about Mark, visit his website and Amazon Author Page, and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and his Facebook Author page.

Enjoy the final installment of our four-part interview!

ABOUT YOUR READING PREFERENCES

What was your favorite childhood book? Is there one that, now as an adult, you read again?

I loved all books. I think I’d like to read Mark Twain and every King Arthur book again. I did reread Sherlock Holmes a few years ago. I don’t think I’d read Perry Mason books again because I’m afraid I’d be disappointed.

What type of books do you prefer: non-fiction, fiction, essays, poetry?

I love fiction, but not romance and fantasy. I find a lot of fantasy too similar in setting and writing style. Of course, I love mysteries and humor, but good humorous books are hard to find.  I also love non-fiction, but not political.

Where do you do most of your reading?

Vacations are great for grabbing time away from writing to reading.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished Killing Kennedy and am starting Black Widow by Dan Silva.

What book—or author—do you find yourself reading again?

I enjoy James Patterson, John Grisham, most of the time. I also like Nelson Demille.

Which three authors would you love to have a “One on One” with?

Mark Twain whose humor and power of observation still astonish me. James Michener to learn how he researched such amazing books as The Source (one of my Top 10), Centennial, and others.

Robert Graves, so I can tell him that his I Claudius, kept me entranced and challenged for an entire summer. And of course, Cervantes, Poe, Gardiner and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I can thank them for influencing a bullied boy to write mysteries that empower kids.

Who are three of your favorite authors and why?

I ate up Sherlock Holmes, Perry Mason, and anything by Edgar Allen Poe, and they became my main influences for my mystery books. Earle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason gave me a role model and a goal to become a lawyer, which made me work hard in school and kept me out of the trouble many of my friends got into.

I try in my award-winning mystery books, Welcome to Monstrovia; The Case of the Disastrous Dragon; and The Case of the Crazy Chickenscratches, where Jasper Doofinch is the lawyer for monsters and fictional characters, to provide positive role models for today’s kids with fantasy cases in a secret sector of the United States.

ABOUT LIVING THE WRITING LIFE

Who has inspired you — either at a personal level or as a writer?

Mom. She was 5 feet tall, petite, sickly, but miraculously survived the Holocaust, a terrible marriage and adapting to life in America, eventually owning her own travel agency. She fought my father back in the fifties for the right to drive and to go to work. She was a fighter for women’s rights when her friends tried to discourage her. She never gave up and I learned that from her.

With a nod to the James Lipton of “Inside the Actor’s Studio”: what profession other than that of a writer would you like to attempt?

I’m proud I was a teacher known for creativity and using humor. I now continue teaching with humor and creative ideas through my writing. I’m thinking about trying my hand at turning my Devil’s Bookkeepers into a screenplay. I loved Twelve Angry Men and think my books would make very suspenseful and dramatic movies.

What’s the worst advice anyone gave you about being a writer? What’s the best?

The worst advice came from my father who said, “Writing is a waste of time.” He didn’t understand that writing is its own reward. The best advice: Just do it. Nike shoes.

How do you define success as a writer? What makes you feel successful as a writer?

Every writer wants a best seller or movie deal, but those are rare. I think I feel successful now because more people are reading my books and telling me they can’t put them down or they’re haunted by the stories.

If The Devil’s Bookkeepers helps one person feel for those who suffer hate, I will feel I’ve made a difference.

Conversely, what makes you feel like a failure, and how do you combat that?

Last year, I entered The Devil’s Bookkeepers in the Florida Writers Association Competition. I was thrilled it became a finalist and shocked when it didn’t win any awards. Everyone who read it said it was a ‘shoe-in,’ so the shock was intense and I could have quit.

Instead, I took the comments of the judges and made significant changes. I entered the contest again and we won the top honor as Best Published Book of the Year. In other words, I learned from my failure.

I was terribly disappointed but always taught my students there is no such thing as failure unless you give up.

What is your idea of a perfect writing day?

Any time I can spend writing makes it a perfect day, but when I open my author page on Amazon and see a great review, that makes it ultra-perfect.

What advice do you have for other writers who are contemplating pursuing a writing career?

I feel very blessed I had an amazing career as a teacher. I didn’t depend on writing to support my family. It was something I loved and a way to augment my teacher salary.

If someone has the passion and believes they have the talent and stomach to depend on writing as a career, I think they should go for it, but at the same time focus on becoming an ’expert’ on a field you love: e.g. if you love sports, learn as much as you can about sports. Becoming an expert in a field can be a huge boost in your career as a writer.

What do you want your writer’s epitaph to be?

Here lies Mark
He brought light to dark
Effort he never spared
To show people he cared.

I want people to remember me as someone who always tried my best and really cared about others.

Thanks for being part of One on One: Insights Into the Writer’s Life!

Thank you for this opportunity to share my passion with your caring readers. Everyone has a story and I hope this will help inspire them to share theirs with their family and others.

The post One On One with Author Mark Newhouse—Part 4 appeared first on One on One.

Given the number of books he’s written (30 to date), he certainly knows quite a bit about the book biz world!

For more about Mark, visit his website and Amazon Author Page, and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and his Facebook Author page.

Now let’s get into part 3 of the interview!

ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF WRITING

What marketing strategies have you used to promote your books?

Like most independent authors, I find marketing very challenging. The first thing I do is work very hard to offer the best book possible. I never rush to publish, but have every book edited and read by several people. I also enter books in contests and am proud of the awards we’ve won, a valuable tool in helping our books stand out.

I devote 30 minutes a day or less to Facebook, where I have several pages. I try not to sell books, but myself as a caring and helpful person. We also utilize marketing services of Amazon and have given away hundreds of our books. Many recipients are kind enough to offer reviews.

What have you learned about book marketing that you wish you had known when your first book came out?

I wish I had sent The Devil’s Bookkeepers to reviewers months before it was published. I think it is an important book and some of the reviewers might have taken an interest in it.

As it is, we have a number of independent reviews and are earning great endorsements on Amazon, Goodreads, Readers’ Favorites and other platforms.

How have you built your author platform? What methods have worked particularly well for you to grow your fan base?

A great book is the first requirement. I try not to have people think of me as “always selling my book,” but as “selling myself.” I’ve helped hundreds of writers and have established and led several writing groups as well as the Central Florida Book & Author Expo, which takes place on January 26, 2020, at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, The Villages, Florida, with more than 80 local authors.

I also volunteer as Chairman of the Florida Writers Association Youth Program (FWAY) and am a Board Member. I write a monthly Writing Bug column, promoting local authors, in Village Neighbors Magazine. I keep pretty busy.

Are you active on social media? If so, which one do you prefer or that has done the most for you in terms of author and/or book promotion?

I am on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram. I’m most comfortable with Facebook, but frankly have no idea if it is a good way to sell books. As I said earlier, I don’t “sell books,” I sell myself. I love to pass on humor and uplifting posts, and use my author page to discuss writing and the status of my books.

Do you have a “street team” or a fan club or something along those lines? If so, how did you get it started?

Keith has been building a ‘launch team’ and I have several thousand on my various Facebook pages, but really don’t work to recruit fans. I prefer to use my time for writing and helping others. I’m sure it’s valuable, but I think word-of-mouth about my books and personal appearances work better.

Have you done book club visits? How did you find book clubs to contact? Were they in-person, virtual or a mix of both? What about virtual events?

I do visit book clubs, but mainly local now. I have done virtual interviews with schools and welcome schools, libraries and institutions to contact me. I have done Skype interviews and limited blog tours.

My best advice is to not aim at selling your book but offering something that your audience will see as a benefit from your book or appearances. If they like you and feel you are genuinely interested in helping them, and not just touting your book, they will follow through. I always offer a special group rate for my books to encourage them to buy them before the interview.

Are there aspects of the writing or publishing business that you have found particularly challenging or difficult? What do you find the hardest part about the “writing business”? Conversely, have there been aspects or experiences that surprised or touched you or that you thoroughly enjoyed?

Self-promotion is difficult for me, so how to talk about my books on social media is tough. I love personal appearances and have had some wonderful experiences. My favorite was when I was at a school with several other authors and a little girl wanted me to sign her autograph book. An author next to me said, “Don’t sign it or she won’t buy your book.” Of course, I did sign.

The only problem was all the signatures in her Mickey Mouse book were from cartoon characters. I got to sign next to Pluto. When the same author said, “I told you she wouldn’t buy your book,” I replied, “When she lets me sign next to Goofy, I’ll know I made the big time.”

Any interesting stories from book signing events? From media interviews?

Book signings can be frustrating when all you focus on is how many books you sell. They offer so much more. I was at a school signing when a man came up to me and said his son had bought my books at a signing weeks ago and loved them. It turned out the man was a film producer and gave me his card. I forgot about it and a few weeks later, at another school signing, this man showed again. Several weeks later, we signed a contract for a media deal. It eventually fell through, but it shows you what can happen.

At another signing, a woman came up to me and said my award-winning Midnight Diet Club had helped her granddaughter to learn how to deal with bullies. She had tears in her eyes and gave me a huge hug.

Based on your own experience, what tips do you have for authors who are preparing for their “maiden voyage” on the sea of publication?

I’ve seen a lot of excited authors rush to publish and then be disappointed by having paid too much, having too many errors in editing, and poor sales. Years ago, a young boy from California wrote: “I know all authors are rich. Can I swim in your pool?” The fact is most authors don’t make much money, if any, on their first book, perhaps on none of their books, so my first advice is to write because you have a passion for your subject.

My second tip is to do what you should do before you devote time and energy to any project or trade: research. I highly recommend joining a writing/critique group and learning from those who’ve already been on the ‘sea of publication.’ I’m a member and leader of several such clubs and they have been an incredible help to me, providing a resource team, challenging contests, and offering constructive criticism to help me improve my work. Best advice: Don’t swim without buddies.

Do you belong to any writing organizations or groups? If so, what have you found most beneficial about having those relationships?

I belong to local and national writing groups. My local clubs are invaluable for intense, impartial, critique. I love them and enjoy socializing with them as well. I am a Board Member and Chairperson of the youth program (FWAY) of the Florida Writers Association and learn so much from their newsletters, webinars and conferences that bring professionals that local groups may not have the resources to attract.

I enjoy working with these dedicated volunteers and feel inspired and rejuvenated by the conferences. The FWA also offers contests that recognize published and unpublished writing and I’m grateful I have won seven such awards, including this year’s top honor, Best Published Book of the Year for The Devil’s Bookkeepers.

Finally, I belong to several professional organizations with international membership. The Authors Guild advocates for author rights and provides many services, including legal and contract assistance, to professional writers who meet their entrance standards. Their updates and articles about publishing are invaluable as is my membership in the SCBWI, Society of  Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, which provides excellent resources and contests that are specific to children’s writers.

The post One on One with author Mark Newhouse—Part 3 appeared first on One on One.