I had the pleasure of listening to Jeanette pitch her second novel to a group of agents at the Lexicon Writers' Conference in Denton, TX and what I loved most about her is that you could just hear the passion in her voice for both her books and writing in general. I think that She has a huge career in front of her and I am so blessed to have been able to interview her. So, here it is!!
1. What is Flying Solo about?
Flying Solo is about a strong, vivacious, daring 1960s housewife who is seeking a way out of a really bad marriage. All set in New Orleans and the French Quarter, readers are immersed in the colorful traditions of Mardi Gras, the delectable Cajun specialties of beignets and crawfish
etoufee. French Cajun Nora Broussard Greenwood was born with the wanderlust. Her adventurous spirit doesn't fit the sedate expectations of catholic 1960s New Orleans suburbia. On a whim, she takes flying lessons to become a pilot. Experiencing the freedom of flight is liberating. However an illicit affair with her pilot instructor forces action. When she confronts her ruthless husband for a divorce, she is cast out sans her children and threatened with her life. Desperate to get them back and gain liberty, she steals her husband's plane. Trials and tribulations erupt as she navigates the turbulence her life has become. In a bizarre twist of fate, she serves as caregiver to her lover's sickly wife as a means to survive; hoping he will decide she is his soul mate. But is that to be? Nora must make the make the most difficult decision of her life in order to get things back on track.
2. What do you like about self-publishing? What do you find difficult about it?
For me, I feel there is a slight difference in self publishing and Indie publishing. Readers need to understand that difference. In self-publishing, an author uses a generic imprint of the self publisher for their book, for example CreateSpace, which uses the imprint BooksInPrint.com When you are Indie Published, you are published through a small press, usually one that represents a small group of writers. Indie publishers are not members of the “big six” publishing houses. Editors or managers of the press take a closer look at your work. You are not submitting queries through a literary agent admist thousands of other people. Because of that, previously unknown writers with a solid voice have a chance for their work to be seen. Many great books are published this way. FLYING SOLO is a great example of that. I had hawked it to hundreds of lit agencys and publishing houses, only to receive their standard rejection letter. I even submitted my query letter to The Query Shark online for review, only to have it be chewed up and spit out voraciously. So for me, publishing through AgeView Press gave me an opportunity. My case is a bit unique in that I own AgeView Press. AgeView features about three authors at the moment and are taking queries from others. When you Indie publish, your book carries the imprint of the small press. The road to Indie Publishing or self publishing however isn’t easy. Because it is easier for many books to get out there, the
market is flooded with some books that probably should have stayed on someone’s computer. The quality is not up to national standards. Some books are poorly edited or packaged. My advice to wanna-be writers is that they do their homework. Spend some time in a book store purveying the books that are best sellers. Look at how they are written, formatted, and packaged. Then, get yourself a professional editor before you hit, submit! And if you can, get with a small press or Indie publisher. Your work will have more clout.
3. How did you feel when you first held a published book with your name on it?
I am so glad you asked that question. I will never forget it. I had submitted all the files for the galley proof. Clicked, submit! I knew it would be about two or three days. When I drove up to the mailbox, I could see that a package was hanging from the gate. All of a sudden, I got really nervous. This was it. Scary!!!! It was actually happening. I was almost afraid to take it out of the box. I mean you have read it and re-read it for months, but here it was, an actual book. With your name on it!!! As I quickly undid the package it was exilerating. I was an author. But for me? As I took a closer look, my helium big balloon full of ego got shot right out of the sky! There was a mistake, not only on the back cover text, but the fore-matter was missing a page. Gah….and the editor had missed some typos. Double…GAHHHH!!!! I was not there yet. That’s why they call it a PROOF. It had to be resubmitted. So, that experience provided a reality check. Make sure you have a professional editor! Now that the finished copy is out there…..yes, it is thrilling every time I see it and sign a book.
4. What advice do you have for writers who want to self-publish a book?
Write away! Don’t keep that long-held story inside. Let it come out. But in the process, show
your work. As you write, get the manuscript draft finished, but then put in the hands of various reading groups and writers groups. Let them critique it. Use a wise owl approach in receiving their criticisms. But let people see your work before you go to print. Then, rework the manuscript. Get a professional editor. Then, self publish or find a small press. And don’t forget, that the publishing is the easy part. Now you have to sell your book through extensive book marketing and packaging your image. That is the hard part, no doubt! Network, network, and network some more. Be patient, it takes months of work to get the buzz and word of mouth out about your book.
5. What's something that you would like your readers to know about you?
Although I am a nurse by trade, to pay the bills, I am well established as a writer and story teller in the healthcare world. It took years of publishing in the periodicals and professional journals of nursing, to finally realize what I loved to write about in the genre of fiction – strong, independent women. I only wish I had gotten started earlier. I wasted years writing and publishing for other people. Not writing what I am passionate about. I finally gave myself permission to do just that! Out on my sheep farm, is where I have written several novels and scripts. I the mother of four children, including two Navy pilots. My book, is dedicated to the independent joie de livre of my daughter. My youngest son, who I watch as he battles Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy is my muse for writing. He lives with me in a Victorian farmhouse out in the pastures of northeast Texas with our sheep, chickens, donkeys and sheep dogs.
6. Where can my readers find your books?
Signed copies of my books can be found at: ARealBookStore at the Villages at Allen and Barnes and Noble Booksellers at University Village in Fort Worth
Print and ebook versions can be found at:
AgeViewPress http://bit.ly/SV41zx
Amazon. http://amzn.to/NPd0W4
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/Nv0XYj
1. What is Flying Solo about?
Flying Solo is about a strong, vivacious, daring 1960s housewife who is seeking a way out of a really bad marriage. All set in New Orleans and the French Quarter, readers are immersed in the colorful traditions of Mardi Gras, the delectable Cajun specialties of beignets and crawfish
etoufee. French Cajun Nora Broussard Greenwood was born with the wanderlust. Her adventurous spirit doesn't fit the sedate expectations of catholic 1960s New Orleans suburbia. On a whim, she takes flying lessons to become a pilot. Experiencing the freedom of flight is liberating. However an illicit affair with her pilot instructor forces action. When she confronts her ruthless husband for a divorce, she is cast out sans her children and threatened with her life. Desperate to get them back and gain liberty, she steals her husband's plane. Trials and tribulations erupt as she navigates the turbulence her life has become. In a bizarre twist of fate, she serves as caregiver to her lover's sickly wife as a means to survive; hoping he will decide she is his soul mate. But is that to be? Nora must make the make the most difficult decision of her life in order to get things back on track.
2. What do you like about self-publishing? What do you find difficult about it?
For me, I feel there is a slight difference in self publishing and Indie publishing. Readers need to understand that difference. In self-publishing, an author uses a generic imprint of the self publisher for their book, for example CreateSpace, which uses the imprint BooksInPrint.com When you are Indie Published, you are published through a small press, usually one that represents a small group of writers. Indie publishers are not members of the “big six” publishing houses. Editors or managers of the press take a closer look at your work. You are not submitting queries through a literary agent admist thousands of other people. Because of that, previously unknown writers with a solid voice have a chance for their work to be seen. Many great books are published this way. FLYING SOLO is a great example of that. I had hawked it to hundreds of lit agencys and publishing houses, only to receive their standard rejection letter. I even submitted my query letter to The Query Shark online for review, only to have it be chewed up and spit out voraciously. So for me, publishing through AgeView Press gave me an opportunity. My case is a bit unique in that I own AgeView Press. AgeView features about three authors at the moment and are taking queries from others. When you Indie publish, your book carries the imprint of the small press. The road to Indie Publishing or self publishing however isn’t easy. Because it is easier for many books to get out there, the
market is flooded with some books that probably should have stayed on someone’s computer. The quality is not up to national standards. Some books are poorly edited or packaged. My advice to wanna-be writers is that they do their homework. Spend some time in a book store purveying the books that are best sellers. Look at how they are written, formatted, and packaged. Then, get yourself a professional editor before you hit, submit! And if you can, get with a small press or Indie publisher. Your work will have more clout.
3. How did you feel when you first held a published book with your name on it?
I am so glad you asked that question. I will never forget it. I had submitted all the files for the galley proof. Clicked, submit! I knew it would be about two or three days. When I drove up to the mailbox, I could see that a package was hanging from the gate. All of a sudden, I got really nervous. This was it. Scary!!!! It was actually happening. I was almost afraid to take it out of the box. I mean you have read it and re-read it for months, but here it was, an actual book. With your name on it!!! As I quickly undid the package it was exilerating. I was an author. But for me? As I took a closer look, my helium big balloon full of ego got shot right out of the sky! There was a mistake, not only on the back cover text, but the fore-matter was missing a page. Gah….and the editor had missed some typos. Double…GAHHHH!!!! I was not there yet. That’s why they call it a PROOF. It had to be resubmitted. So, that experience provided a reality check. Make sure you have a professional editor! Now that the finished copy is out there…..yes, it is thrilling every time I see it and sign a book.
4. What advice do you have for writers who want to self-publish a book?
Write away! Don’t keep that long-held story inside. Let it come out. But in the process, show
your work. As you write, get the manuscript draft finished, but then put in the hands of various reading groups and writers groups. Let them critique it. Use a wise owl approach in receiving their criticisms. But let people see your work before you go to print. Then, rework the manuscript. Get a professional editor. Then, self publish or find a small press. And don’t forget, that the publishing is the easy part. Now you have to sell your book through extensive book marketing and packaging your image. That is the hard part, no doubt! Network, network, and network some more. Be patient, it takes months of work to get the buzz and word of mouth out about your book.
5. What's something that you would like your readers to know about you?
Although I am a nurse by trade, to pay the bills, I am well established as a writer and story teller in the healthcare world. It took years of publishing in the periodicals and professional journals of nursing, to finally realize what I loved to write about in the genre of fiction – strong, independent women. I only wish I had gotten started earlier. I wasted years writing and publishing for other people. Not writing what I am passionate about. I finally gave myself permission to do just that! Out on my sheep farm, is where I have written several novels and scripts. I the mother of four children, including two Navy pilots. My book, is dedicated to the independent joie de livre of my daughter. My youngest son, who I watch as he battles Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy is my muse for writing. He lives with me in a Victorian farmhouse out in the pastures of northeast Texas with our sheep, chickens, donkeys and sheep dogs.
6. Where can my readers find your books?
Signed copies of my books can be found at: ARealBookStore at the Villages at Allen and Barnes and Noble Booksellers at University Village in Fort Worth
Print and ebook versions can be found at:
AgeViewPress http://bit.ly/SV41zx
Amazon. http://amzn.to/NPd0W4
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/Nv0XYj