Originally posted on March 21, 2011.
Greetings!
It is with great pleasure that I can introduce you to Geraldine Solon. Geraldine has been fortunate to experience both self and traditional publication and has been kind enough to agree to answer a few questions for us on the subject.
For those who are unfamiliar with my interview style . . .
. . .all text showing as quoted text are Geraldine’s responses.
Without any further delay, onto the interview! I hope all of you out there enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed conversing with Geraldine.
Can you tell us a little about your writing?
I write Romance and Women’s fiction novels. I started writing poetry and essays then ventured in Children’s books but I felt that something was missing and I was searching for something deeper. I believed I was meant for a higher calling so I decided to write Love Letters, a Romance novel which focuses on a meaningful love story about second chances. That’s when I knew that Romance and Women’s fiction were the genres I was made to write.
I’ve always been a firm believer that love conquers all and that every woman’s experience is a story in itself. Life is a never-ending journey and my imagination and experiences have inspired me to write powerful stories. Although my books are fiction, my goal is to offer compelling lessons about life and love. The message I wish to convey to my readers is that despite the many challenges we face in this world, we must have hope and faith. Overall, it is love that binds us together.
Do the type of stories you write reflect on the type of stories that you read? Do you have any specific novels that made a major difference in your life as a writer?
Yes, very much. In fact, before I started writing Love Letters, I asked myself what books do I truly enjoy. Aside from writing what I know, I want to write stories that I care about. I’m a big fan of love stories and a hopeless romantic, you can say. LOL! My favorite novels and authors I can relate to are: Nicholas Sparks, Eileen Goudge, Kristin Hannah and Danielle Steel. Their powerful stories seem to resonate in me even after I’ve finished reading the book.
You tried to self-publish before you went through the traditional venues. What did you like about self-publishing as an option for your writing?
That you have the freedom to include everything you write, choose your own title and cover art.
What did you dislike?
That you have to do everything yourself. This includes formatting, editing, uploading and design. I know now you can use their services for a fee but at times it can be quite costly.
What was your most frightening experience while self-publishing?
Making sure that I formatted the manuscript correctly and having to do everything myself when I was not fully aware on how to do it. Back then there were no templates.
If you could give the readers of this interview one piece of advice regarding self-publishing, what would it be?
Since your book is going to be out there for readers to read, make sure it’s edited and formatted correctly.
You now work within the traditional publishing industry. Can you tell us a little of what made you change over to traditional publishing?
I worked with a writer’s coach/developmental editor with Love Letters. This brought my novel within publishing standards so I felt it was time to go through the traditional approach. I was also very much involved with my writing and improving my craft—taking writing courses at Stanford University, attending workshops and seminars which has brought me a long way since I started. In other words, I knew that I was in this for the long haul and writing novels was going to be my career. Being more confident with your writing and knowledge about the publishing industry was vital for me in pursuing my goal of traditional publication.
What was the hardest part of breaking into traditional publication?
a. Formulating your query letter which is the first requirement to send to an agent. Your query letter could either be used to your favor or destroy your chances of having the agent request to see your work.
b. Creating a synopsis was also nerve-wrecking since you have to digest 350 pages into 3-5 pages including the pivotal scenes.
c. The waiting process left me anxious.
Finding the perfect agent is a dream that many have — myself included. What can you tell us about your experiences hunting for an agent? Did you ever succeed at finding that agent?
I had fifteen agents view partials of my work and one agent who requested for the whole manuscript. For me this was already a great achievement to have piqued agents with my query letter. Two of them asked me to make revisions but in the end nothing materialized. For me it was like a numbers game or winning the lottery. For every agent that said no, I sent another query letter. I didn’t stop until I exhausted every agent I could possibly query.
Did you use the same query letter for all agents (and publishers), or did your letter change each time?
I changed it each time, making it more personalized to a specific agent. The summary of the novel remained the same but my introduction was different.
Tell us a little about your publishing house. How much effort, queries and time did it take for you to find your publishing house?
It had been ten months since I sent out my query letters and I didn’t want to leave my manuscript lying there so I decided to query publishers that don’t require agents for submission and that is when I landed a contract with my publisher, Solstice Publishing. Solstice is a mid-sized publisher but is growing by the day. They already have seven authors in the best-seller list and are quite aggressive in their promotion to help their authors.
Do you have any regrets relating to your change over to traditional publication?
Nope, I’m very happy with my decision and this is an open door for more opportunities.
If you could give the readers of this interview one piece of advice regarding traditional publishing, what would it be?
The publishing industry is a business and the more knowledge you have about it, the better chances you have of getting traditionally published. Writers need to determine if they are writing as a hobby or as a career. When evaluating new clients, agents and authors will need to determine if the writer is ready for the publishing business. There is so much competition out there and although it is difficult to be traditionally published, agents and editors are always searching for the next big author and it could be you.
Keep improving your craft, learn as much as you can and network with other writers. Attend Writer’s Conferences and events will make you visible among the agents and editors. Meeting them face-to-face is a rewarding experience. I’ve met a lot of influential people in the events I attended and it is quite a rewarding experience. This also helps you build your platform. You should be promoting yourself a year before the book comes out. The bigger your platform, the better your chances of getting traditionally published. I’ve witnessed some debut authors who became instant best-sellers because of their powerful platform which includes blogging, tweeting and networking.
Marketing yourself is necessary regardless of whether you go for self-publishing or traditional publishing. Do you feel you have an easier time marketing yourself now that you are with a traditional publisher? Why or why not?
I can’t say it’s easier because promoting your book is a hands-on job but I feel more confident marketing my book now because of the knowledge and experience I’ve gained. With the power of technology, there are numerous ways for you to market yourself and reach your audience faster than before.
Many authors complain about the lack of freedom in selecting their own cover art when being published within the traditional publishing industry. Do you feel this is a valid complaint? Did you feel that your publisher made the right decisions on the cover of your book?
Yes, I’ve heard some complaints from authors whose titles were changed and scenes of their book deleted. It’s a difficult situation especially if you’re attached to your title and story. However, when agents and editors read your manuscript, all they look at is if it works or not. My teacher at a writing course I took up mentioned that not all words are precious. In other words, if it doesn’t advance your plot, then don’t include it. I was quite blessed that they took my manuscript as is, including the title and even the concept of my cover. It was surely worth the wait.
Writers are often told not to give up their day job for writing. How do you feel about this?
I firmly agree. I don’t know anyone who writes for the money. Writers write because it’s their passion and what makes them happy. If you know anyone who writes for the money, then he/she is doing it for the wrong reasons. Only quit your day job if you feel your writing can sustain you or if you have another form of income that can support you while you pursue your dream.
No interview is ever complete without at least one silly question: If you were stuck on a deserted island with one book, which book would you take with you? Why?
Any book by Nicholas Sparks. I love his writing style—his simplicity and pureness. His books always leave me with powerful lessons about love which is all that matters, right?
Please take a moment to tell us about your novels and where curious readers can find them. Thank you so much for your time. It has been a pleasure talking with you about writing.
Now, onto the books! Geraldine has been kind enough to give us information on her writing and where you can find copies of her new book.
Here’s the summary of Love Letters:
Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years. The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head? The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?
Love Letters was released recently and is available in both EBook and paperback formats.
You can purchase it at the following websites:
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.smashwords.com
www.fictionwise.com
www.coffeetimeromance.com
www.solsticepublishing.com
1placeforromance.com
I’ve also completed writing my Women’s fiction novel, Chocolicious which is going through the submission process. I’ve included the summary below:
A week after Blair Nightingale’s husband, Larry, dies, she learns she’s about to lose everything due to a disastrous business decision Larry made. In an instant, Blair’s life is transformed from rich, Silicon Valley trophy wife to poor, widowed single mom. Her only goal now is to provide for her daughter. As Blair begins to pick up the pieces, George—Larry’s best friend and the man she truly resents—seems to always be around. When Blair is overwhelmed by all the challenges she faces, she seeks comfort in baking rich, filled, three-layered cupcakes that her grandmother once taught her, and Blair’s life is changed forever.
A story about love, loss, hope and redemption.
I truly enjoyed the interview and wish you the best in your writing. I hope my story has inspired you and your readers. You can find more about me and my work at www.geraldinesolon.com. Thank you for your time and support!
