Gary Kurtz, author of “Cold Noses at the Pearly Gate”

Current Publisher/Agent: Gary Kurz

Published Works:

1. Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates ISBN 09666117-0-5, Paperback, 116 pages, non-fiction

2. Cold Noses II, Examining More Evidence ISBN 09666117-1-3, Paperback, 205 pages, non-fiction

3. Naval Proceedings, Official Magazine of the U. S. Naval Institute, Article entitled “The Future of the Coast Guard”, 3 pages

How did you get started writing professionally?

I have always had a penchant for writing smooth, easy to understand documents. During my 32 year military career, I was called upon the develop macro letters for use Coast Guard-wide and to rewrite Law, Maritime Law, Pay and Personnel Manuals, some over 1,000 pages in length. Those manuals remain in use at this writing.

I enjoyed writing for cause (i.e. originating appeals for military members who disagreed with their evaluations or findings of boards of inquiry, recommending changes to policy or procedure, and, as in the case with Proceedings Magazine, forecasting the needs of the service, etc.

I suppose the real catalyst for writing seriously came with the loss of several of my pets during a 10-month period in 1995-96. I was devastated and wondered whether they lived on or if I would ever see them again. Circumstances caused me to look for the answers myself, and the only place I trusted to look for answers was the Bible. With over 14,000 hours of both professional and personal Bible study at that time, I set out to systematically search the Bible for answers.

Simultaneous with that research, I searched many, many library databases and the Library of Congress for any books on this topic. To my surprise, there were none. There were an abundance of books on psychiatry, etc., but nothing of the genre I wanted.

What type of worker are you when you write?

My writing habits vary, depending upon the task. If I am writing an article for a pet loss website (which I do infrequently), I will set aside time to work on it each day until it is completed. If I am writing articles and other features for my own newsletter, I usually can complete that in about an hour, so I do not set aside time. I allow myself a week on my desk calendar to complete this task and, upon reading the reminder, I find the first available time to complete that task. When I write from passion, such as was the case with my previous books and the new one I will be starting soon, I just write until I empty myself of the flood of thoughts and ideas that are within. During the writing of my first book I sometimes stayed up throughout the night. I tried to sleep, but just could not. It is as if you simply must get your thoughts out in order to have relief.

Did you ever take any school or adult education courses in writing?

I have taken English literature courses, and other administrative courses, not with the thought of helping my writing, but rather because they interested me. I have taken unofficial and official courses in writing, as it applies to the military and federal environment, but believe very little was gained from those courses. I have developed curriculum and taught classes on administrative procedures that included writing techniques.

Do you conceive of an entire story or subject line to be covered in your head before starting to write, or do you get just an idea and sit down, outline it and flesh it out?

I believe a little of both is true of my writing approach, with perhaps a leaning toward the former, conceiving the entire story in my head before I write it down. Often, when I write articles or stories, I am asked to write on a specific topic or happen upon one on my own. Immediately, the ideas flood to my mind and before I can even being recording them, my mind is racing ahead and the article is complete.

Infrequently, I find myself jotting down what I call “prompter notes” often just one or two words to remind me of an idea when I eventually get around to developing an outline. However, this is the exception more than the norm. I do a lot of public teaching and speaking, often in churches in front of large audiences, and I have developed the ability to formulate an acceptable outline quickly in my mind.

If you have a deadline for submitting work to a publisher, how did/does that affect you?

I have never had a problem with “writer’s block” or anything like that. Some people are able to ramble on and on orally. I do so with my writing. Saying something interesting and hopefully revolutionary is the real test. If I am asked to write within my areas of expertiseobviously pet loss, but also many other areasi.e., karate, real estate, reptiles, remodeling, the military, etc., I have no problems in writing on schedule. In fact, I often finish long before deadline. I enjoy writing.

Tell us how you first got published, and whether it was difficult that first time.

I think this is another topic I should have included in the answer immediately preceding as I have learned so much about publishing and enjoy rehearsing what I have learned. I will try to be brief.

After writing my book, I came face to face with the cold, hard fact that in this industry you almost need to be someone of importance or of scandal to be published. Even a revolutionary topic does not open doors. I, like so many tens of thousands, was very discouraged at the prospects of being published. First, it was doubtful anyone would want to take my manuscript on. Second, if they did, it would probably cost me a lot of money, and I would relinquish control of my book to a publisher, who may or may not give it the attention I thought it deserved. And finally, and worst of all, if that publisher did not want to promote the book, it would sit and there was nothing I could do about it.

I then found that vanity presses and their new generation “lightning press” cousins were willing to publish for moderate, up-front fees. This was more desirable because the costs were far less than conventional publishing and, more importantly, you retained full control of your book. Additionally, most of these publishers offer an E-book feature, which seems to be gaining popularity on the internet. The downside to this avenue was that success stories seemed to be few and far between.

I decided that I was going to learn the publishing business myself. I went to the local library, bought some self-publishing books off the internet, and began my journey. I must say, while it seemed difficult at first in looking back, it was a lot of fun and not as complicated as I had suspected.

I successfully obtained my own copyright, an ISBN number, established myself as a publisher and began my quest to find a printer who could deliver to me the product I wanted, economically. I found printers a couple of states away, and clear across the country, but finally settled on one just a mile from my home. I have learned so much about printing, promotion and advertising that I am spending perhaps 30% of what I spent the first year for these services.

While self-publishing is probably not the best way to go, it is a very viable alternative to someone who has something to say that others want to hear. While it is true that my modest success is due in large part to my having a targeted audience, not all the credit can go to this one fact. Many of my sales now originate from word of mouth, from readers who found the comfort and hope promised. Not only have they written me over 1200 letters (and e-mails) of appreciation, but also they tell their friends and co-workers about my book.

How do you feel about editors?

I have mixed feelings about editors. I think a good editor is an absolute must. I think unmotivated, unskilled editors are to be avoided. Both of my books were edited by the latter and I regret that. I believe I could have done a better job. That notwithstanding, a good editor is worth his/her weight in gold and I will be enlisting the services of one in the very near future.

How are you publicizing your current work?

As a self-publisher, this is one of the many functions I must perform myself. Listed below are some of the things I have done, or am currently doing. All have been successful, with the exception of the entries that are asterisked.

1. Listed in Bowker’s “Books in Print”

2. Advertise in several national magazines (Best Friends, Cat Fancy, Dog and Kennel, Dog World, etc.)

3. Advertise on Amazon.com (leads the category)

4. Advertise on Barnes and Noble Online and Borders Online

5. Hired a Publicist (who did absolutely nothing but cashed my checks)*

6. Listed on BookLocker.com as an E-book

7. Developed my own website that receives 500 hits per month

8. Submit URL to search engines twice weekly

9. Linked to over 100 pet-related websites

10. Book is listed or mentioned positively on over 150 pet-related websites

11. Ran a Banner Ad campaign online*

12. Produce a monthly newsletter on pet loss that goes to thousands of readers

13. Serve as “Guest Author” on pet-loss websites

14. Radio interviews (1)

15. Newspaper articles (2)

16. Scheduled to go on local television program in my city soon

17. Hired online author helps (that is how I heard from you)

Have you ever been on a tour with one of your books?

No, I am sorry to say.

Can you tell us a bit about a book that you might be working on now or plan to start soon?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I am planning on writing another book, but not of the same series as my first two. Since I provide an e-mail address in my books for free, follow-up counseling and help, many of my readers stay in touch with me. Many of them encouraged me to write my second book. In fact, they chose the topic and I accommodated them. It did very well with them, and I recovered production and printing costs in less than 30 days.

Readers have insisted that my writing style is unique. Most say it brings truths they have seen in the Bible to life so that they can understand them. More say that it is as if I am in the room speaking to them (I so appreciate their generous compliments).

I have more than enough for a very large book right now, but finding time to indulge myself is the problem. I am eager to start, but I want to be able to dedicate myself to the task. I know that once I get started, it will absorb me and any time I have, so I must ensure I can afford the time.

Could you please give us a synopsis of your current book/work?

Rather than the book I mentioned in the previous response, let me address my two-book series, Cold Noses I and Cold Noses II.

In the first book, I take a non-offensive, non-preachy, uplifting Biblical approach to looking at animals: why they were made; what their purpose was; what life really is; the evidence that animals once talked and will probably do so again; their importance to their creator; and, animal afterlife. It is a solid work meant to bring comfort to the grieving who have lost a precious best friend and to give hope. It is a revolutionary book that provides answers to the questions all pet lovers ask. One woman called it a “masterpiece”. It is definitely not a masterpiece. It is simply what people need when they are hurting. I gave it the title “Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates” to capture the essence of what the book was about and the hopes of those seeking answers.

In Cold Noses II, I responded to the questions of many, many readers concerning “ghost pets”. Apparently, all of the psychic phenomenon on television is starting to bleed over into even the pet industry.

Cold Noses II is not as gentle a book as my first. It takes a very strong stand on Biblical teachings concerning this topic. In addition, I discuss many revolutionary ideas and concepts that have generated a lot of “thank you” letters. Finally, I discuss the apparent relationship between animals and angels not that I do not claim they are the same but that they do serve similar functions.

Tell us how you go about doing research for your work?

I have probably answered this question in part in other questions, but for convenience sake, let me address it in total here. My first step in research was to explore the internet, internet libraries, the local library and query the Library of Congress to see what works already existed on this subject of animal afterlife. Aside from some brief articles and some very old short writings, there was nothing available.

I then turned my attention to some very reliable Bible commentaries, some modern and some quite old. There was no consolidated work done on this topic, only some fleeting writings, almost afterthoughts by people educated in religion.

I then explored the Bible. I took my personal knowledge of the Bible, my training, experience and expertise and focused on finding every verse that spoke about animals, both Old Testament and New. Despite my extensive knowledge of scripture, I was surprised to find that the word “animal” never appears in the Bible. My first task then, was to discover all the ways animals were mentioned. This included “creatures”, “beasts”, “all that have breath”, “every creeping thing”, etc.

Upon developing a list of scripture verses, I then applied the rules of exegesis to each. I asked:

1. who is speaking

2. to who is he/she speaking

3. what was the reason for saying what they said

4. what words were used and what are their meanings

5. what other circumstances existed that might reflect on the situation being discussed

6. what was said prior to these passages that might have led into what was said

I think you get the idea there are unlimited questions you can ask to try to get a clear picture of what was said. My second surprise was the simplicity of what was being said. There was no room for confusion. The teachings were quite clear. Nevertheless, I compared what I had developed with some of the greatest Bible scholars’ writings. I found that often they did not address the topic of animals, but when they did, we matched every time. Final validation came in the form of a letter from Dr. Jack Van Impe, TV Evangelist, who endorses all that I wrote.

Any stories about the hazards of trying to make your way as a writer, particularly when starting out?

I cannot add much to the dissertation I gave you about publishing above, but let me say something about self-publishing. With conventional publishing, your chance of ever seeing your work being read and appreciated, of doing any good or providing any service, is very, very low. That is not to say conventional publishing is not good. Quite the contrary. If you can interest a publisher in your work and they seem excited, that is wonderful and probably the best way to go.

However, if you are like most writers, that is a “pie in the sky” dream. As a self-publisher, the chances of being read and having an impact increase tremendously. You can choose the course you follow and stand at the helm of your own ship as it sails (or sinks). Going this route means that you are going to have to do all the work yourself: the editing, seeking copyright, doing the printing, promoting, advertising, stocking, shipping and handling, etc. But you also get the benefits: 100% of the profits, the decision-making hat, etc.

The hazards to self-publishing are many. I made more mistakes than probably were necessary. One of my earliest (and worst) decisions was to allow a bulk mailer (now called spammer) to advertise my book. He promised me it was legal and that I was not hurting anyone. I paid him $600 and watched my e-mail for all the sales. In they came 1, 2, 3 and that was it. Well, almost. Then came 5, 10, 15, 20 COMPLAINTS!!!! Who did I think I was, spamming and bothering people? Yikes! I was embarrassed. But it wasn’t over yet. I was contacted by a rather irate gentleman who said my spammer had bounced my ad off of his server and crashed his entire network. He told me if it happened again, he was getting a lawyer. I told him he would not need to I was out of that business, but fast. He was so angry, and he had every right to be I had not done my homework I had trusted someone else. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A SUCCESS.

Any advice to aspiring writers on finding an agent or contacting publishers?

No. I could not give advice on something I was a failure at.

Are you a reader?

I am a reader. I read a lot but I have so much to read that I have developed the bad habit of “skim” reading. I get 50 e-mails a day most from grieving pet owners I read all their mail and respond to it and no one knows how to be short-winded. I think all my readers are aspiring writers! They also send me internet items and books in the mail to read. I stay quite busy reading. However, I have no specific interests in literature.

What other types of things do you enjoy doing, besides writing?

I enjoy sports. I am 52 now, so I do not move as quickly as I used to, but I still play basketball and I love sparring (I won the all Hawaii Karate Championship in 1974 I am from Hawaii). I enjoy hiking, reptiles, surfing, building things. And I love the heat give me summer every day.80 degrees on Christmas Day is heaven.

Anything else you would like us to know?

I am very thorough. I think I have probably talked your ear off enough already. Thank you for your interest. I hope I provided what you wanted.

#authors

Self-Interview: Sean O’Donoghue, U.K. Bookseller

I started bookselling in 1991. I was pretty disillusioned with the world – I had taken a couple of degrees as a very mature student in my thirties – totally non-vocational. I always aspired after the infinite possibilities presented by life rather than being moulded by my job. So instead of being an accountant, teacher or researcher after my studies, I was still in the world of infinite possibility. After a few jobs as a community worker, I came to the conclusion that I was constitutionally incapable of working for anyone and I was unemployable on a higher plane!

As to why I went into books – well, when I was a student I spent many hours in bookshops in London, always looking for stuff that wasn’t on the reading list! It occurred to me at the time that bookselling in universities would be a good occupation – taking the books to the students, visiting them on a monthly basis. I did not pursue this course, despite the fact that no one else was doing it at the time as I needed to get on with changing the world. Some time later I again thought I might go into the book business but after a casual discussion with a librarian friend, I discounted the notion when he told me that “no one wants second-hand books”. Finally, in 1991, the time was right. I made a few inquiries about how the trade works and discovered that I could get going with my own collection (I had about 1000 books, mostly philosophy) by quoting to the dealers who advertised in our U.K.-based subscription-only trade weekly, the Bookdealer. And being a bookseller exactly fitted my work-requirement profile, thrown out of a day-long assessment I had taken a few years previously – that I “wanted to work with my head and my hands, and wanted to work indoors and work outdoors.” I also had an eight-year-old son who was spending most of his time with me, and it was wonderful to be there for him – to take him to and from school, etc. He is now 18 and not so wonderful!! However, he is the best-read lad in his class – today I gave him an anthology of war poetry that is on his reading list for next term. While the financial capital may be a bit scarce, the cultural capital is around in abundance.

Somewhere along the way, when I had about 3500 books, I lost my database and had no backup – and you know how long it takes to catalogue that many books – about six months!!

When the internet arrived, I hit the ground running in that all my stock was catalogued. I signed onto ABE first and used to speak direct to Rick when I had a problem uploading. However, I was reluctant to sign on with Interloc because there was a $100 joining fee. Eventually, after a bit of cajoling by one of my customers, I did sign on and I could not believe my luck. I probably had about 6000 books at that time and my first order from Amazon’s out-of-print department was for 98 books – yes, ninety-eight. I pictured a Rolls Royce outside a country mansion. And another dealer from Texas ordered 18 books in one go. I was in business.

I stayed with the Bookdealer until about four years ago, doing my weekly quotes, but it was very time consuming and I did not like the idea of having my stock tied up for two-week reserves, as was the norm in quoting. So, it then became internet-only. I have not ventured into any other mode of bookselling – the thoughts of having a shop fill me with dread that I might turn into someone like Mrs. Thatcher’s father, who was a shopkeeper in Grantham, with a mentality to match! Catalogues I have never got around to doing and I have done a couple of bookfairs – where I spent more than I took.

Three years ago, I moved into a store-room which is 10 minutes from my home – within a year, I had to get an annex as I had run out of space. I now have around 14000 books – mostly philosophy and social science, but about one-third are general titles. For the past two years I have had a woman working part-time for me. She loves the work and, as she has a lot of children, the flexibility which goes with the job. And she covers for me when I go away, which is wonderful.

Four years ago, 95% of my sales were to the U.S.A. These days it is probably about 5%. This I put down to the rise of internet use in Europe and the swamping of the net by American dealers and non-dealers. When Interloc became Alibris, I reluctantly signed on, soon left it, but later signed up again. Those of you around a while will remember my public spat with Alibris. For an independent idiosyncratic bookdealer, Alibris is most definitely not the way to go and, as far as I am concerned the sooner they go, the better. Two years ago, most of my sales were on ABE – they are now abysmal there, and had Amazon not started up their Marketplace operation in the U.K. in March of this year, I would be doing bookfairs and catalogues.

I was part of the group that set up our U.K.-based cooperative. Our growth is slow but moving in the right direction. No one has left it, and those on board are firmly committed. As to why loads of dealers have not joined, considering the ordure that has been piled on them by Alibris and ABE, I cannot understand – as a friend says, they are like rabbits caught in the glare of the oncoming headlights, petrified to make any move. We also have our own notice board/list, which is extremely useful. One of the things about being an online bookdealer is that we are all disparate (and sometimes desperate) individuals, so the online list of common interest is a wonderful medium. I was on the Insider list almost from the start and found it and its subscribers most useful and helpful. However, of late it has become a kind of private chitchat arena and I very reluctantly signed off it about a month ago.

I have always found bookdealers a most honourable group of people – i.e., they generally pay COR (cash on receipt) and do not need reminding. Only once have I had cause to “have words” with a fellow book dealer. He was going to sue me for slander because of these words, unless I apologised – no apology and I still await the writ!! And I think our customers are wonderful – only about once a year do I get an “awkward” one. In fact I have one right now who is threatening to take me to court because the book he ordered from me through Amazon had been sold. I did refund his money immediately, so I don’t really know what he is on about. I think he is probably annoyed over the fact that my answer to his request that I “do not have the wit to buy the book from somewhere else and send it to him” was that “too right, I do not have the wit to waste my time on a 5 pound book.” As many of you will know, I come from the Irish school of diplomacy, where the module on tact has not yet made it to the curriculum.

Right now I feel I have all my systems fully optimised. I have ADSL at home and work, so no more meditation while waiting for some site or other to load, I have standby online access if the ADSL goes down, I have the means to back up my hard disks, I have the means of downloading music from the web and can enthral myself with Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis and Shane McGowan when packing books, my Filemaker Pro database is working wonderfully thanks to the support I got in setting it up from one of the contributors to the Insider list, I know how to trouble-shoot my networked computer (I have 2 computers in work), I have created enough physical space for 2 of us to work comfortably, etc etc.

If someone asked me to write a book about becoming a bookdealer, I could not even comtemplate it as the “secret” could be written in a single line – in the immortal words of Jerry Rubin, “Do it!” There is, in my opinion, no master plan; just do what needs to be done and the questions, when they arise, will demand the answers and solutions. Marketing and business plans, economic projections, etc., are the creation of accountants, providing a network of intrigue which entices the easily led in and entraps them therein, enriching the creators of the networks in the process. Perhaps post-Enron and WorldCom, the world will acquire a healthy degree of scepticism and see these schemes for what they are, and refuse to partake.

Finally, my favourite novels are The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist – probably one not too familiar to most of America. It is the greatest working-class novel ever. It was written by Robert Tressel (real name Robert Noonan), a Dublin-born painter/decorator, who wrote of his experiences in the building trade on the South Coast of England at the turn of 19/20th century. It echoed many of the practices still inherent in the construction industry 70 years later, when I worked in it and was a trade union convenor.

And finally – for my first five years in “the business” (Jesus, I sound like a luvvie!) I did all my travelling to buy books on my bicycle; I could carry about 70 books – panniers, backpack and bags on either handlebar. I used to enjoy my buying outings tremendously. But I acquired a car along the way, which exponentially extended my range of travel and the number of books I could buy and carry. Well, I was travelling to Ireland by car a few weeks ago and I had a bad smash, with my son and two of his pals on board. Thankfully, no one was injured, but my car is nearly a write-off and is in a garage 250 miles from London, waiting to be brought back. I am now back on my bicycle again, and it is a joy. I can park right outside bookshops, the post office, the bank, etc. Perhaps if the weather was not quite so good, the fun might dwindle but, as for now, it is just wonderful.

Sean O’Donoghue O’Donoghue Books London

Adam Niswander, Author and Bookseller

Current Agent: Cherry Weiner, Cherry Weiner Literary Agency

Partial List of Published Works:

1. “The Charm”, Integra Press, Phoenix, AZ, 1993, Hardcover

2. “The Serpent Slayers”, Integra Press, Phoenix, 1994, Hardcover

3. “The Hound Hunters”, Integra Press, Phoenix, AZ 1994 *appeared only as an uncorrected proof/advance reading copy

4. “The Sand Dwellers”, Fedogan & Bremer, Minneapolis, 1998, Hardcover

5. “The Repository”, Meisha Merlin Publishing, Decatur, GA, 1999, Trade Paperback

6. “The War of the Whisperers” – not yet released

Adam, how did you get started writing professionally?

My first published work was a poem in the Stars and Stripes in the early 1970s. My first novel was published in 1993.

About what subject?

The poem was patriotic drivel.

The novel is a modern-day dark fantasy with Native American medicine people struggling against an ancient wind-demon. But the message of the novel is cross-cultural cooperation.

What interested you about that subject?

I wanted to try to find a mid-point between Tony Hillerman and Stephen King. They were both best sellers at the time. I found that point. Unfortunately, it did not result in best-selling.

Did/does the subject tie into something in your personal or professional (pre-writing) life?

I live in Arizona, near the reservations. Native American cultures fascinate me.

And, have you always written, as while you were growing up and long before trying to get published that first time?

I wrote a lot of poetry as a youth. Some of it is not too embarrassing. I started writing seriously in 1977. I sold my first novel before I sold my first short story.

What type of worker are you when you write, i.e., do you write at certain times, or for a certain amount of hours daily, in long stretches straight through, as the spirit moves you, or???

I write every day. I generally arise, make coffee, turn on the computer, check email, do business, and then start writing. I usually start writing at about 10am and finish around 2am. I take breaks, of course, and am not always as productive as I would like.

Did you ever take any school or adult education courses in writing? If so, what, and did they help you? If you are a technical writer, have you taken courses in that area?

I had the usual course in high school and college – English, creative writing, etc. Nothing special. I studied the writing of authors I liked and tried to do what they did. I started a writers’ group in the 1980s and learned the most from that experience.

Do you conceive of an entire story or subject line to be covered in your head before starting to write, or do you get just an idea and sit down, outline it and flesh it out, or???

I hate outlining.

I have a general idea about my story – how it starts, how it will end. The hardest part is the first third of the book because I have to get to know the characters before their actions and words start to flow smoothly onto the page. Once I know the characters, things move almost as fast as I can type.

If you have had a deadline for submitting work to a publisher, how did/does that affect you, i.e., have you ever found that having to produce on a schedule causes the creative juices to dry up?

I love deadlines. They mean something I’m doing is a sure sale. I have only missed one deadline (by a month) and that was because my life turned upside down. As it was, the deadline wasn’t firm in the first place and I need not have worried. I prefer writing with a deadline as it is a motivator hard to ignore. When I am tempted to take a break, I feel too guilty to do so. For me, this is a good thing.

Tell us how you first got published, and whether it was difficult that first time. Did you have an agent for that first published piece? Was it a book, an article, a paper, or what?

Nothing really counts before “The Charm”, my first novel.

I’ll try to make a long story shorter than it is.

I began the story in 1978. I showed the first rough chapter to a girl friend, who had grown up next to an Indian Reservation. She bawled me out because I really knew nothing about Native Americans and was just faking it.

As a result, I shelved that first chapter for a few years before returning to it. When I did, her ire (though we were no longer together) was memorable enough that I decided to do all the research I could in order to make the book accurate. I read over 150 books on Native Americans, conducted over 200 interviews, and visited reservations all across the state.

When I went back to the writing, I had a solid grasp of the cultures I had selected – and there were 12 different tribes involved, so that was no easy task.

When I had finished “The Charm”, I began submitting it. I did have an agent already, but it takes time for a publisher to read and make a decision on a novel – and most do not want to read anything that someone else is reading, so it has to go out one at a time (no simultaneous submissions is the rule). Each publisher can take from three months to a year to decide. “The Charm” went out over a four-year period, but ended up being rejected by everyone. They all seemed to agree it was a good book, but observed that it was too different to market it successfully.

My agent finally gave up on it, but I didn’t.

Eventually, a friend read the manuscript and was so impressed that he went out and bought a small press. He then contracted with me to publish the book.

The book got panned by The Library Journal (who has never liked anything I’ve ever done) but got a rave review from Publishers Weekly. The first printing sold through in three days. The reviews (heh, except for Library Journal) are available on my web page.

How do you feel about editors?? Does it disturb you or comfort you to have someone checking your work pre-publication?

I love editors. I have never had one do anything but help improve my work.

How are you (or your publisher or agent) publicizing your current work?

Unfortunately, I’m between publishers at the moment. Small Press publishers are not terribly affluent and I seem to find acceptance with small presses. This means small print runs, no advertising budget, and less exposure. I have to keep reminding myself that it isn’t my fault, but there has been some bad luck.

Integra Press had a hit with “The Charm” and followed six months later with “The Serpent Slayers”. Then, just before the scheduled release of “The Hound Hunters”, the distributor stole all the money (for both the first two books) and put Integra essentially out of business (though they did come back and do another book about three years later). That’s why “The Hound Hunters” appeared only as an uncorrected proof. My most recent publisher, DarkTales Publications, just closed their doors. Nothing to do with me, but it has short-circuited my immediate plans.

I do hope to announce a new deal shortly. I have a verbal commitment from a new publisher, but the contract isn’t signed yet.

Have you ever been on a tour with one of your books? If so, what is that like? Did you find that it helped increase sales of your book?

I spent 1993-1995 attending conventions and doing signings. I spent more than I made writing. I think one good Publisher’s Weekly review sells a lot more books than personal appearances. I love doing the appearances, of course, but I don’t think they really do much to sell books in any kind of significant number.

Can you tell us a bit about a book (or whatever format you are writing in) that you might be working on now or plan to start soon? If you do have another in the works, are you writing a series, on the same subject as your last work, or on something totally different?

I’m currently working on the fifth Shaman Cycle book, titled “The Nemesis of Night”. Assuming the new contracts come through, the first two novels will be re-released in early 2004, then “The Hound Hunters” and “The War of the Whisperers” (books three and four) will come out for the first time in 2005. Then the balance of the series (13 planned novels) should follow each year.

Could you please give us a synopsis of your current book/work and, if a series, what the whole series is about?

The Shaman Cycle is about a Great Gathering of Native American medicine people who get together, despite tribal rivalries, to battle ancient evils released in the modern world. The shamans are wise men and women who understand that a combination of ancient tradition plus modern technology is a desirable combination. Twelve Native American tribes are represented in the Great Gathering, with the white man functioning as the legendary thirteenth tribe. That is why the series is planned to comprise 13 novels.

“The Charm” tells the story of a demon dust-devil, “The Serpent Slayers” deals with a 500 year old winged serpent, “The Hound Hunters” tells the tale of a drug dealer who has created a designer drug that opens the door to another dimension admitting creatures called the Hounds. “The War of the Whisperers” is the story of invisible creatures who manipulate man by whispering in dreams. “The Nemesis of Night” tells of creatures who can only function at night – who would die in sunlight (like vampires).

“The Sand Dwellers” introduces a Private Investigator named Aiden Mardian. I plan to tell more of his tales, as well.

“The Repository” features Ambrose Bierce, the famous writer, who now is an investigator for Satan’s Legions making a report to his boss about their failed battle with a fellowship of magicians.

Tell us a bit about how you go about doing research for your work?

I read, of course. I do interviews. I work very hard for accuracy – especially since I am writing about a culture other than my own. I also maintain an extensive reference library.

Any stories about the hazards of trying to make your way as a writer, particularly when starting out?

I never used to believe in luck. I was raised to believe that one can achieve any goal, be anything one wants to be, if one works with discipline and dedication. I never minded sacrificing comforts to achieve my goals. But I have come to see that there are factors beyond my control and that luck is a factor.

The business of writing is very competitive and the chances of financial success are slim. That is just reality. Mergers and closings of various publishers and publishing lines have cut the market down to a fraction of its former size. IF financial success is the goal, I advise new writers not to bother. Most, however, can’t be discouraged by such talk – which is the way it should be. I write because I can’t not write.

Any advice to aspiring writers on finding an agent or contacting publishers?

You don’t need an agent until you have something to sell. Just work on your writing. Start something and finish it, then refine it, then submit it. When some legitimate publisher tells you they want to publish your work, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding an agent to negotiate a decent contract.

Also, just to save new writers from a misconception I labored under for years, agents do not sell your work. You sell your work. Agents negotiate your contracts.

Are you a reader? If so, what types of things do you enjoy reading? Do you ever buy your own reading material online (had to ask that one!)?

I am a reader, but I learned long ago that reading is not writing. I try to read one leisure book a month. I read whatever is necessary for research.

I do buy research materials online and books.

What other types of things do you enjoy doing, besides writing? Any hobbies? Pets? Sports? Traveling? Gardening? Music or art, etc.?

I collect books and original art. I play with the Society for Creative Anachronism – which is an international group that re-creates the better parts of the middle ages. This usually involves camping and large battles with rattan swords – but, no, I’m not a fighter. I am known as Friar Adam in the SCA and my camping tent is a large canvas monastery I had custom-made (it is larger than many apartments I’ve lived in). It looks like a stone castle with turrets. I also attend conventions whenever I can.

Please tell us anything else about yourself you’d like us to know, either personal or professional, and thank you very much for allowing us to interview you!

I am also a bookseller. I opened a brick and mortar bookstore in 1983 and closed it in 1995. I now sell exclusively online. While my profession is writing, I have never made enough money doing that alone. Being an online bookseller provides the extra income that meets my immediate needs and lets me stay home to write. Since I love books, it is the best of both worlds.

Adam’s Bookstore specializes in Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Dark Fantasy), though I do carry general titles as well. My listings have been on ABEbooks, but I am in the process of leaving there and listing on Choosebooks.com, a new service. Why? I hate marked-up prices. I hope book buyers learn that they should always contact the dealer when ordering books online, no matter where they find the books listed. That’s good for dealers and good for buyers.

[Last minute note from Adam Niswander: Just signed contracts with Meisha Merlin Publishing and my Shaman Cycle novels will come out in two-novel omnibus volumes under that imprint in early 2004, early 2005 and the rest (nine more) separately after that.]

Check out my listings at http://www.choosebooks.com/search_browse.jsp?dealer_id=1851

or visit Adam’s Bookstore online at:

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/abe/BooksBrowse?vendorclientid=549819&page=CLIENT

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