Invest In Yourself

As writers, are not we, like the mad chemist Frankenstein proposing to turn non-living matter or ideas into a weird human-like creation? Laurence Sterne's 18th century comic novel Tristram Shandy is still being translated, adapted and published today. Similarly the 18th century novel Moll Flanders has had modern incarnations in TV, film and radio. Then there's Vanity Fair which appears on lists of best-loved books. These authors paid to have their works published.

One of my favorite local authors, Kathryn Jones, helps writers turn their ideas into money making creations. Her publishing company, Idea Creations Press, puts authors in control, lets them decide how they want to market and sell their books, while providing all of the helps and services she never got but wished she had. When her first book was published she had little say so in how it was delivered.

She received was a beautiful cover, but one that would have better suited an adult audience and a price that was far too high for a middle-reader novel. She had a difficult time selling her $18 book. Years after that first book was published, a family member helped her buy the rights back to A River of Stones. She made some editing changes at that time, changed the cover to reflect a middle-reader audience, and began to sell the book for $12.98 with better success."

Q&A

1. What inspired you to write the Virginia Bean Parables series? “My husband thought a retelling of David and Goliath would make a great story. I started thinking about it, why did David gather five smooth stones when he only needed one to kill Goliath? That’s when I came up with the virtues each stone represents.”

2. When did you get your first taste of success? “In August of 1988 my husband and I were living in Murray, Utah. Not enough money and too many children were the excuses we used for staying home on our anniversary year after year. So I came up with some ideas for celebrating at home that can be even more memorable than an evening out. A monthly magazine, distributed worldwide, printed Anniversaries-Home Style.”

3. Do you ever experience writer’s block? “No.” she said. I lifted my chin off the floor. “I am always working on multiple projects. When stuck, I simply work on something else and come back to it.”

4. What is your favorite quote? “’Never give up. Never surrender.’ ~ Jason Nesmith (Galaxy Quest)”

5. Where can people learn more about you? “Visit my webpage: http://www.ariverofstones.com/ Follow my blog: http://idea-creations.blogspot.com/”