A: LOL. I’m mad about cats, books, music and horror movies (the vamps and weres and ghosts, not slasher). I love rain, am nocturnal, and have a weakness for chips and Diet Coke. My idea of a good time is to watch a horror movie with good friends, cats on my lap and snack on junk food <g>. I’m a night nurse so that combines a fair bit LOL

A: Ohhh - my newest book is Love’s Beguiling Healer. It’s sci-fi/futuristic romance - humorous, sensual and with a feline-type breed. A deadly secret that is killing off more than one species and…well, you’d have to find out the rest.<g>

When I get stuck and things don’t work, I might take a short break for a walk or watch a TV show, but I keep coming back and plugging away at the scene until I get over the problem. Perseverance is the key.

A: Ummm…I guess so. I’ve been writing stories as far back as I can remember, even as a ten year old. I daydream heaps <g>. I have to write…there are so many stories bubbling away inside me. LOL

A: I get my main ideas usually when driving or walking. I always listen to music when walking or driving, and music inspires me. I get like a ‘freeze frame’ picture, and then I start to daydream and wonder and slowly a story line comes to me.

Yep, daydreaming and music combined are my inspirations. And an overactive imagination!

A: Oh yeah, that’s never ending! I do postcards and posters for new releases, donate ebooks as prizes to review sites when they ask, hold competitions, do chats on loops and review sites, and join in group discussions about books in general on the internet. It takes up heaps of time, and I’m currently trying to work out a ‘schedule’ so that I can combine the marketing and my writing and working and still try to live and spend time with family - both two-footed family and four-footed!

A: Again, the answer is yes - you need to be able to sell your books. It’s hard for me, as I don’t like pushing myself forward, but I’m better at it now than I used to be. I’m definitely not a born sales person. I have to push myself.

A: Sci-fi/futuristic romances were an up and coming market, and I think it’s still established for those who have already started buying them. But I find the werewolves and vampire romances are overshadowing the other paranormal romances. I think the trick is to keep ‘out there’, be seen on lists, promote subtly and actively, depending on where you are. Get involved in discussions. People start to notice you.

But I make it a rule never to talk only about my books, but to discuss other books I’ve read as well. It’s rude, I feel, to join groups and do nothing but push my own books. It’s fun to make friends and have… well, fun, along the way.

I do approach bookshops, and need to do more of it.

I always volunteer for interviews on review sites, or if another author wants to feature my books in their newsletters.

A: Most publishers now have submission guidelines on their websites - and nearly every publisher has a website. I follow the guidelines. If you don’t, you’ve already shown you can’t follow rules. Read the guidelines, and if they want a submission letter, do it.

Submission letters need to be catchy, to the pint, and informative without being gushy. Writing is a pleasure, but it’s also a business. Approach the submission letter as you would any business proposal. And always make sure you know who to address the letter to.

A: My book was actually due to be published by a small Australian publisher, but a month before it was due out, due to unforseen circumstances, the publisher closed down. There was no market in Australia for my genre, so I looked on the internet and came across Wings ePress. I knew nothing of ebooks and things, but submitted anyway. Over time, I have learned it’s good to submit different books to different publishers, to ‘spread’ oneself out, especially in the small market. I have not given up the dream of submitting to a large publisher such as TOR, Dorchester, etc. The only problem is that some of the big markets take only agented manuscripts, or can take up to 8 months to reply. The turn around for a smaller publisher can be 6 to 10 weeks.

It depends on whether you want to aim for the top first, or start smaller and work up. Or, if you have enough finished scripts, submit to both large and small publishers.

Do check to see whether the books are available to be bought from brick and mortar book stores, or only via internet. Research the publisher before submitting.

Having a trustworthy agent is also something you can do. Preditors and editors has an excellent listing of agents, recommended and not. An agent will push your book to the big markets. Of course, the agent has to like your book to start with! But an agent will take care fo royalties, contracts, etc. The most important thing is to remember that you never pay an agent up front - his fee comes from your royalties. And ensure you research the agent so you don’t get caught with a dodgy one and find he/she and your manuscript disappearing into the blue leaving you stranded.

But an agent can get your book seen earlier. Again, an agent isn’t necessary as some big publishers are seeing unagented manuscripts, and most small publishers don’t require an agent. It’s a personal choice.

Looking up ‘publishers’ on the internet is a good way to get started at finding publishers. Also, check out the publisher details of the books you read - often there’s a website address there, or you can look them up on the internet.

A: It doesn’t stop. Now is the promo time, getting your name out there, submitting to review sites, joining internet groups, getting a website. Establishing networks. Approaching bookstores. I think it’s easier to write the book than it is to promo! LOL Promo isn’t cheap. Even just getting bookmarks made costs money.

Aspiring and new authors need to be aware that a lot of the promo is your job, and you are competing against other authors, both big and small. But don’t let that stop you <g>. You could be the next big thing!

A: Write from the heart. Know your market. Be comfortable with what you write. Read the kind of books you want to write. Don’t be afraid to write something different and new - the markets are opening to new things all the time. If a big publisher doesn’t want your different work, many small publishers are more flexible. You can build a name by publishing through small publishers, and then go big. It’s happened - Mary Janice Davidson, Keri Arthur, and Shelley Laurenston for example. They started small and wrote for POD and ebook publishers, and now they write for the big publishers.

Most of all, the more you write and promo, the more experience you will get, and everything comes with experience.

Don’t give up your day job! Royalties only come in huge amounts if your books sell in huge amounts. Most writers work as well as write, and only a few actually make a living from it. That’s what I aspire to do! LOL

Keep a hold of your dreams, and know that each small victory is a step further in your writing career and obtaining the big dream.

Always heaps of ideas and not enough time! LOL

Check out Angela's website:  www.angelaverdenius.com