Author Spotlight
I was recently featured in an Author Spotlight post in the GoodReads' Self Published Authors group. It is a great group with a bunch of helpful fellow authors - I highly recommend checking it out. Enjoy!
1.Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?
“Confessions of a Catholic Cop” has been called a scandalous romantic thriller. The story follows Michael Beckett, an honest Bronx cop (who also moonlights as a supporting character on 'Law and Order' and is smitten with one of the show’s writers, Solana Ortiz), and his mercurial partner Vinnie D’Amato, as they investigate a string of mysterious arson deaths. It seems that an area of the Bronx has been ear-marked for demolition by a ruthless Manhattan real estate tycoon—the very area where Beckett’s unrequited love interest Solana resides. As clues bring him deeper and deeper into a murder-for-profit scheme and massive potential cover-up, Beckett fights to win Solana’s trust and save her life, all while agonizing over whether he should pursue a profitable and glamorous acting career or remain a New York City cop.
2. Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers, or did you jump right into self-publication?
I tried the traditional route and quickly grew frustrated with unanswered query letters, stock rejections and idiotic suggestions by some agents and their staff. Self-publishing got me noticed and subsequently got me published—it’s the way to go. Especially today, unless you’re a celebrity writing a non-fiction tell-all, publishers act as printers and nothing more.
3. What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?
I’m really focusing on marketing “Confessions of a Catholic Cop” as an eBook. Amazon is a great venue for self-published, eBook authors, since the website is very eBook friendly, and eBooks make up the majority of its sales. Buyers can easily upload books to their Kindle’s from the website, plus it’s simple for us authors to upload our eBooks to the site.
4. Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? And if not, what method did you use for proofing?
Heck, yes. I retained an editor, a line editor, copy editor and proof readers. And I learned that the old adage—ask five editors for an opinion and you’ll get six opinions—is true. I also found that, while undergoing the editorial process, I developed an ear for solid constructive criticism as opposed to the common subjective bullshit. And, I found that virtually every editor wants to change a project, make it theirs, even if it means homogenizing the manuscript.
5. What have you've learned during your self-publishing journey? Any advice you can give to burgeoning writers?
My advice: “DO IT!” Self-publish and don’t wait for agents or editors—most are frustrated authors—to discover you. Get your book out there. Do it your way. Promote your book and don’t look back. Then if a publisher takes notice, as in my case, you’ll know what they know—literally. Publishing is not brain surgery.
6. Where have you put your work on sale? Is it available in only digital formats, or is there a physical edition available?
My books are available (although you’ll have to order them) in trade paperback format at all brick-and-mortar stores. There are also eBook versions in all formats on the websites of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders. You can order books from my website, www.thomasfitzsimmons.com, as well. However I have not produced an audio version, yet.
7. What kinds of marketing are you involved with for promoting your book? Any promotional recommendations to new writers?
Due to the eBook revolution, we’re focusing on web-based marketing—banner ads on influential literary blogs—and editorial reviews. I tried social networking ads but found them to be a total waste of money because click fraud is rampant.
In the past I went into debt to promote a book. I produced a 15-second TV commercial that ran for six week, 20 times a day in the New York City tri-state area. I recorded five radio commercials that ran for a month, and purchased a mall marketing package—the same 15-second TV-spot ran on over 2,000 nine-foot screens in 150 class “A” malls across the country. All the malls had a major book store. The fact the publisher never got the book into the stores in the first place, or promoted the book as promised—they never even thought to inform the book stores in the 150 class “A” malls about the mall’s book promotion—is a baffling horror story that still keeps me up nights.
8. Do you find it difficult to manage your time, shifting focus between marketing your current book and writing your next book, as well as any day-to-day responsibilities?
Yes. It’s most difficult. I’m on call 24/7 for my day job as a celebrity bodyguard—I own the company—all the while promoting books, writing and juggling a full social calendar. As a result, I never actually take time off. Even when I manage to escape for a few weeks, I bring my laptop and write every day.
9. What's next for you? Any new books in the works?
“Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman,” the second book in the series, will be out this month. I had the option of allowing my publisher to publish it, but after hearing the changes that the editor wanted me to make, I pulled the book and decided to self-publish.
Next is “Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard.” I won’t even bother showing it to the publisher. As with my other novels, I’m certain they wouldn’t understand it, or have any idea how to successfully promote and market it. And so I’ll self-publish.
Confessions of a Catholic Cop
1.Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?
“Confessions of a Catholic Cop” has been called a scandalous romantic thriller. The story follows Michael Beckett, an honest Bronx cop (who also moonlights as a supporting character on 'Law and Order' and is smitten with one of the show’s writers, Solana Ortiz), and his mercurial partner Vinnie D’Amato, as they investigate a string of mysterious arson deaths. It seems that an area of the Bronx has been ear-marked for demolition by a ruthless Manhattan real estate tycoon—the very area where Beckett’s unrequited love interest Solana resides. As clues bring him deeper and deeper into a murder-for-profit scheme and massive potential cover-up, Beckett fights to win Solana’s trust and save her life, all while agonizing over whether he should pursue a profitable and glamorous acting career or remain a New York City cop.
2. Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers, or did you jump right into self-publication?
I tried the traditional route and quickly grew frustrated with unanswered query letters, stock rejections and idiotic suggestions by some agents and their staff. Self-publishing got me noticed and subsequently got me published—it’s the way to go. Especially today, unless you’re a celebrity writing a non-fiction tell-all, publishers act as printers and nothing more.
3. What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?
I’m really focusing on marketing “Confessions of a Catholic Cop” as an eBook. Amazon is a great venue for self-published, eBook authors, since the website is very eBook friendly, and eBooks make up the majority of its sales. Buyers can easily upload books to their Kindle’s from the website, plus it’s simple for us authors to upload our eBooks to the site.
4. Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? And if not, what method did you use for proofing?
Heck, yes. I retained an editor, a line editor, copy editor and proof readers. And I learned that the old adage—ask five editors for an opinion and you’ll get six opinions—is true. I also found that, while undergoing the editorial process, I developed an ear for solid constructive criticism as opposed to the common subjective bullshit. And, I found that virtually every editor wants to change a project, make it theirs, even if it means homogenizing the manuscript.
5. What have you've learned during your self-publishing journey? Any advice you can give to burgeoning writers?
My advice: “DO IT!” Self-publish and don’t wait for agents or editors—most are frustrated authors—to discover you. Get your book out there. Do it your way. Promote your book and don’t look back. Then if a publisher takes notice, as in my case, you’ll know what they know—literally. Publishing is not brain surgery.
6. Where have you put your work on sale? Is it available in only digital formats, or is there a physical edition available?
My books are available (although you’ll have to order them) in trade paperback format at all brick-and-mortar stores. There are also eBook versions in all formats on the websites of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders. You can order books from my website, www.thomasfitzsimmons.com, as well. However I have not produced an audio version, yet.
7. What kinds of marketing are you involved with for promoting your book? Any promotional recommendations to new writers?
Due to the eBook revolution, we’re focusing on web-based marketing—banner ads on influential literary blogs—and editorial reviews. I tried social networking ads but found them to be a total waste of money because click fraud is rampant.
In the past I went into debt to promote a book. I produced a 15-second TV commercial that ran for six week, 20 times a day in the New York City tri-state area. I recorded five radio commercials that ran for a month, and purchased a mall marketing package—the same 15-second TV-spot ran on over 2,000 nine-foot screens in 150 class “A” malls across the country. All the malls had a major book store. The fact the publisher never got the book into the stores in the first place, or promoted the book as promised—they never even thought to inform the book stores in the 150 class “A” malls about the mall’s book promotion—is a baffling horror story that still keeps me up nights.
8. Do you find it difficult to manage your time, shifting focus between marketing your current book and writing your next book, as well as any day-to-day responsibilities?
Yes. It’s most difficult. I’m on call 24/7 for my day job as a celebrity bodyguard—I own the company—all the while promoting books, writing and juggling a full social calendar. As a result, I never actually take time off. Even when I manage to escape for a few weeks, I bring my laptop and write every day.
9. What's next for you? Any new books in the works?
“Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman,” the second book in the series, will be out this month. I had the option of allowing my publisher to publish it, but after hearing the changes that the editor wanted me to make, I pulled the book and decided to self-publish.
Next is “Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard.” I won’t even bother showing it to the publisher. As with my other novels, I’m certain they wouldn’t understand it, or have any idea how to successfully promote and market it. And so I’ll self-publish.
Confessions of a Catholic Cop
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