Vivian, why did you decide to start a small press?
The major publishing companies don't give many unknown authors a chance because they accept only agented manuscripts. Agents with access to the major publishing houses don't accept many unknown authors. The only other courses open to writers are self-publishing (which still has a bad reputation because of the poorly edited material that is out there) or independent publishers (which charge authors for publishing their books or editing or other essential services) or vanity presses (which print anything). I wanted to help fill the gap between the two wide ranging levels with a small traditional publishing company (the company takes all the risks) but that offered quality books. So, although not a gambler, I took the largest gamble of my life -- I started 4RV Publishing. Three months later the economy crashed. Great timing, huh? Of course books are low on priority lists of what people need, but I feel books are needed and keep plugging away.
Your company has an unusual name. How did that come about?
Four (4) Rs are in the family: my husband Robert, daughter Rene, son Robert Jr., and son Randy, and one V, me. Makes the company name more personal: 4RV Publishing.
Which writing subjects you usually speak about?
I can speak on writing, including grammar needs to formatting, and publishing. But I can also speak on the benefits of speech, debate, and drama in the scholastic life and in real life. I can speak on the importance of newspapers, yearbooks, and literary magazines in high schools and how to do them. I also do school in-service presentations on teaching across the curriculum and how good writing can be used in all courses.
How do you manage to accomplish all your various activities?
I’m slowing down, I’m afraid. I have to be careful how much I do without long periods of rest. Lupus does that to a person. However, since I can’t sleep some nights, I use that time for writing or on 4RV. When I have a speaking engagement or other presentation, I try not to overdo for a week before, and then I don’t do much the week after.
Since I’m a speaker/presenter at the Alaska Writing Conference in September 2012, I may have to take more time for recovery after that trip.
Mainly I manage because I’m a very determined person.
My latest novel, Stolen, is a mixture of mystery, suspense, and even love, but it is not a classic mystery. Torri Adamson discovers her playboy husband has a second wife and takes her children home to Oklahoma. She rebuilds her life with her grandparents, mother’s brother and his wife, and closest friend, until her friend dies of cancer. Torri rebuilds her life again and shared grief with her friend’s widower develops into love. Then her life is torn apart when her children are stolen.
The story is one I had to write after I couldn’t find a way to deal with the pain of two grandchildren being taken by their father. When the novel was written, we didn’t know if they lived or not or where they were. I took the agony, loss, and frustration and gave them to Torri. Of course I still felt the loss, deeply, but at least could better deal with it.
Do you find it difficult to write in more than one genre?
Wearing several hats has been a habit of mine for most of my life. Therefore, writing in more than one genre isn’t that hard. When I write children’s books or for tweens or teens, I imagine myself that age again or go back to when my children or grandchildren were. I then write for myself at that age or for them at that age.
When writing for adult readers, I go into “that’s what I want to read” mode.
What are the biggest mistakes you find in submissions to your publishing company?
The biggest problem and first reason for rejection of a submission is writer’s not following submission guidelines. The next comes from submitters believing their work is so marvelous they don’t need to follow the rules.
Advice to fledgling writers?
Read, read, read. Learn, learn, learn your craft. Write, write, write. Revise, revise, revise. Then begin all over again.
How do you promote your own books?
I have a blog and a website. I participate in a writing site: Writing.Com. I’m a member of several email groups. I have blog tours. I attend book festivals. I speak and do presentations. For someone who has never been good at promoting herself, I discovered I had to learn how to do so.
Are ebooks going to revolutionize the publishing industry?
Ebooks are energizing the publishing industry, but they are not making publishing easier for publishers. As much work goes into preparing files to become electronically published as books traditionally published, except the for the printing process. Yes, it’s easier if the person uploading to reader services doesn’t care how professional the book appears on the reader. However, good quality takes time and effort, just as preparing for print versions.
I’m not sure that ebooks are improving the publishing industry, but the process is here to stay.
Thanks, Vivian.
You can visit Vivian at her website: http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com
Her publishing company site: 4RV Publishing http://4rvpublishingllc.com
Orders (other than from bookstores, online suppliers) http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com and Stolen: http://Stolen.yolasite.com
13 comments:
This is a fabulous interview and oh my gosh, Vivian is such a fantastic person. All this time and I never knew she has Lupus. Makes me feel way less bad about just getting tired more easily as I age. (I like saying I'm 39 plus shipping and handling.) Time after time though, I've found myself astonished at all the things she does, and does so well. Thanks, ladies, GREAT interview!
And so we learn even more about you, Vivian. Thanks for sharing. Alaska is one of my favorite places--getting there is the hard part. I've been fortunate to make friends with a Native family and even stayed in Wasilla with one of the young women. Have a great time when you go.
Marilyn
Thank you, Jean, for hosting me. You had original questions for me, and some made me think.
Beth, lupus (plus RA and fibro and diabetes) makes life a bit more challenging, perhaps, but the trick is to make life as good as possible.
Marilyn, I've been to Alaska before, when my older son and his wife invited us to visit them there. I very much enjoyed the stay, but the trip there and back was horrendous. The trip for the writing conference will be quite faster, there and back with about three days in Anchorage.
It's fascinating to get an "insider's" opinion, especially when the insider is both publisher and author. Great stuff, Vivian. Thank you so much for sharing.
I especially liked your candid statement about writers not reading the guidelines. Doing it properly is not a waste of time...it opens doors!
I held a speaking presentation called Submission Etiquette 101 at a writing conference, and one question asked was, "If you reject a submission because your guidelines weren't followed, aren't you afraid you'll miss one of the best manuscripts you've ever seen?" Huh, who wants to work with a primadona? People who refuse to follow the rules are impossible to work with during editing and all other phases.
I am so sorry to read about the loss of your grandchildren to their father, Vivian, but I bet your novel will speak to others who have had to cope with this pain. Congrats on becoming a force in the new publishing scene! You helped me understand why the major publishers are resisting the low e prices--these books still take a great deal of work to create.
Vivian, I hope your grandchildren are home and safe now. Your publishing company and reasons for starting it are interesting. I agree about the need for editing in eBooks. It would go a long way to help the image of those books. Take care.
At least now we know where my grandchildren are. They were gone over 12 years, but receiving that email from my grandson was cause for celebration.
Some people say, "Creating ebooks is so easy. They cost nothing to make." However, some are formatted crazily and the quality of the writing is poor. Reminds me of self-publishing: some people do the work to make the results professional; others throw just anything out there. Ish.
Vivian
Therapy comes in many forms. Writing beats putting a fist through a wall.
Great interview! Vivian definitely shared a lot of good info.
Sharon, I couldn't agree more. Writing is defifnitely good therapy. :)
Thank you for stopping by, ladies.
Vivian
Great interview! Very helpful information, thank you.
Post a Comment