Tell us a little about your book.
PaniK is a compilation of stories that was collected over the past four years from men and women all around the United States. People who have experienced single parenting, abortion, adoption, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other issues related to pregnancy were able to share their story to help support and inspire others. An amazing unplanned thing happened; while looking for these stories, siblings, grandparents, and even the children themselves started to submit their stories. Out of the 250 stories collected, 60 works appear in this thought provoking book. What inspired you to write this book? At the age of 20 I found myself single and pregnant. I wanted to share my story with other young women and men to show them that they are not alone. I started this project with a small bulletin on myspace.com. The very next day I received my first submission and they kept coming in. I have already received stories from 35 states and 4 countries. I know there is a need for this project due to the overwhelming support I have already received. How did you come up with the title and the unique spelling? I was trying to find a single word that described that moment when a person finds out they are unexpectedly pregnant. After collaborating with some family members and friends it clicked for me that the moment I felt was that of sheer panic. I changed the “C” to a “K” for marketing purposes and it stands for my daughters name, Kairi. How did you solicit for stories? How many stories were submitted? How many did you finally include in the final anthology? I advertised everywhere to get stories. Facebook, MySpace, email forwards, Poets and Writers magazine and other parenting magazines. I collected stories from people I knew who had some of these experiences as well. Overall, I received around 250 stories from 35 states and 4 foreign countries. 60 of the stories appear in the book.
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What are you doing to market your book?
As of right now, Facebook is my biggest way to reach people. I donate copies to libraries around my town and write my essay for local newspapers. How have sales been? Where have you had the most success? Sales have been steady. I have had the most success with the iPad and Kindle. How are readers/reviewers reacting to your book? So far, I have only received positive feedback, all of the reviews on Barnes and Noble and Amazon have been 5 star and very positive. I have already started on my second book, and have already received submissions so I must be doing something right! What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this book and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was that I took on such a big project and it seemed like it was never going to end. It was easy not to lose sight of why I was doing it- I am doing this to help others. However, it was hard to stay focused. I had a lot of help from people around me…some who sat with me editing for hours on end. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by such supportive people. What are the future plans for you and this book? I am hoping to go into high schools and colleges and share my experience of single parenthood and the amazing journey I have been on with this project. I have been lucky enough to be let into these peoples’ lives. It has been an incredible experience that I would love to share with others. Any advice for other writers/indie authors out there? I would say just not to give up. When I was younger, as young as 5, I knew I wanted to publish a book someday. It is still so surreal to me when I see it on the shelf at the bookstore. I know there are days…weeks…months…where it feels like you will never see that day but if you believe in yourself and you know what you are capable of you will be holding your book in no time! Tell us a little about your book.
This book is a series of cartoons based on observations of my three cats and the oddball things they do. They keep me mightily amused, and they are excellent models as they sleep a lot. Makes ‘em easier to draw. What inspired you to write this book? The book started out as a potential cartoon strip for the Washington Post. They ultimately passed on the project, so it became a book project. Why waste all that work? My feeling is nothing you do is wasted. As long as you’ve done the creative work, it can find a home somewhere, even if it’s not exactly the place where it started out. What are you doing to market your book? I entered the Global Ebook Awards contest and was nominated for an award for best Graphic Novel. I’ve been pitching the book to reviewers on blogs and am getting it reviewed that way. I also am sending out press releases about it, and I have a fan page of it on Facebook. How have sales been? Where have you had the most success? So far, I’ve had the most success selling the book at book signings and in local bookstores. How are readers/reviewers reacting to your book? I am getting a great response to the book from readers and reviewers. What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this book and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was when the publishing company I was working with on the book decided to drop the project. That hurt. Then another editor at another publishing house loved it and wanted to buy it, but again, the project was dropped. I had to overcome my disappointment and decide to pursue it on my own. Finally, it was my 11-year-old daughter who encouraged me to finish it and see it through. The lesson for me is that sometimes if at least one other person believes in what you are doing, they can help you realize your dream. What are the future plans for you and this book? Right now I’m in the promotion mode. My plan is to help it find a larger audience. What is your next project? I am working on a new cartoon strip that may become another book. I also have another story about two cats that is more plot driven—it’s an adventure story, with cats. A cat-o-drama. Have you published anything else? Yes, my first book EVERYDAY CAT EXCUSES was self published in 2007 and then was picked up by Sterling Press and republished in 2008 when buyers from Barnes and Noble saw it at the 2007 Bookexpo in New York. Any advice for other writers/indie authors out there? Be tenacious in believing in your work and getting it out there. Don’t let a negative response deter you if you really believe in your work. Know you will find your audience if you keep on believing in your book or any other creative project you have. |
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