1st Turning Point

Posted By Wendy Delaney on April 22, 2010

Wendy Delaney, Author

Interviewed by Wendy Delaney
1st Turning Point Quartermaster
Copyright © 2010 Wendy Delaney and Gayle Ann Williams

I’m happy to welcome urban fantasy debut author Gayle Ann Williams to 1st Turning Point.  Gayle’s book, Tsunami Blue, a post-apocalyptic romance available now from Dorchester Publishing, is receiving rave reviews.  We’re pleased to give away an autographed copy to a lucky winner tomorrow (Friday).  Be sure to read on for more information.

WD:  Gayle, with Tsunami Blue you’ve created a world that has been changed and ravaged by deadly tsunami waves and a hopeful character who doesn’t fear much.  It’s a fascinating premise that captures the imagination for a thrill ride of survival.  Now, you as an author have entered into the brave new world of promoting your book.  Is it anything like what you had expected?

Gayle Ann Williams, Author

GW:  Oh, Wendy, not at all.  Please understand that I live in a fairly isolated area of the world, a small island off the coast of Washington State.  And I write in a vacuum.  I do belong to RWA (Romance Writers of America), which I highly recommend to any aspiring author, and I was on some of the email loops as well.  But nothing prepared me for the “author pages” that arrived days after I sold.  For the promo “suggestions” I received from the marketing department. For the timeline.  To coin a very well used cliché, I was the proverbial deer caught in headlights.  So, I did what I always do. I took a deep breath and reached for the wine.  Lol.  Then, I reached out to RWA.

WD:  On your website you have the story behind the story of Tsunami Blue.  You called it, Write What You Know—And Also, What You Don’t.  As writers, those wonderful “what if” questions you wrote about can ignite our imaginations.  As a debut author, did you find yourself asking “what if” questions about marketing your book?  Did it sometimes feel like “Do what you may not know how to do yet, but learn fast and do it anyway?”

GW:  Exactly, Wendy.  I’m old-school, and this brave new world of everything tech was (and still is) somewhat foreign to me.  For the first few months, I wrung my hands and paced the floor and tried to figure out, what first?  I’m the classic tale of the author who had nothing for the publisher to reach out to. No website, no online persona, nothing.  Now, my wonderful editor who found Tsunami Blue, did indeed tell me it is after all “about the story, the writing,” and that in and of itself, it is enough . . . can be enough.  Still, it was clear to me that something out there on the internet, anything about me would have been an added plus.  And I had to ask myself, what if it came down to me and another author who was a bit more “poised” and ready to make that leap into publishing? Someone who had a wonderful story to tell as well?  Would I have come out on top?  I shudder to think.

WD: What is the first thing you did to promote Tsunami Blue once you got the call from Dorchester?  Is it something you’d recommend to other debut authors or not yet published writers?

GW:  Number one?  I started to build a website.

And yes, I would recommend two things.  Sew up your domain!!  Do it now.  That way, if you get published tomorrow or two years from now, you will have that option at your fingertips.  I had Gayle Williams and let it slip away a few years back.  A year ago, someone else had it!  I went with “Gayle Ann Williams” with my real middle name.

And the really good news here?  If you are not yet published, domain names are very inexpensive now as are many basic website programs.  Just start with the barebones basics.  Start with your name.  What you write.  A photo perhaps.  And a professional email address will help build your name recognition as well.  I was “vampgirl,” lol.  This is how New York contacted me then and now.  As does my agent.  Um, I do not recommend this!

WD:  I know it’s only been a few weeks since your book release, but if you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you’ve used to promote Tsunami Blue, which would you say has been the most effective?

GW:  Of course, a website, and mine is still a work in progress.  But for me, a close second, and this will come as a surprise to some—Twitter.

Twitter is free.  Easy.  Fun.  You control who you follow, who you interact with, and how often you want to visit.  I have found book reviewers who have been so supportive of Tsunami Blue.  I just finished a book signing with three other amazing authors at Barnes and Noble in Tukwila, WA—something that would have never happened if not for Twitter.  Last night, I even had a follower make a YouTube video of buying and downloading Tsunami Blue on Kindle.  I kid you not!  Twitter is also a wealth of information on the book industry itself.  I follow agents, reviewers, other authors, editors, publishing houses, and Skinny Cow. (I had to throw that in, lol. It’s my favorite ice cream.  And yes. Skinny Cow follows me back.  Moo.)

WD:  Finally, Gayle, for your growing fan base, what’s up next for you and the world of Tsunami Blue?

GW:  Thank you for asking, Wendy.  I’m so excited to announce that there will be a second book set in the Tsunami Blue world,”out from Dorchester Publishing in March of 2011.  I can’t say much about this book yet, but I will say this.  The deadly waves have calmed . . . but the winds are starting to whisper.

WD:  Gayle, thanks so much for spending some time away from writing and promoting to share your journey with us.

GW:  And a huge thank you to you Wendy and the fabulous 1st Turning Point. Your website is one of my favorite stops, and is a “must have” for writers at any stage of their careers.  Thank you for being here.  And I’ll “see” you on Twitter. . . .

If you’d like to win an autographed copy of Tsunami Blue, it’s super-easy!  Just leave a comment about this interview, or use the comment to ask Gayle a question. The winner will be drawn at random April 23, 9:00 p.m. PDT.  Be sure to provide your email address!

Tsunami Blue, by Gayle Ann Williams

Tsunami Blue

by Gayle Ann Williams
Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 978-0505528216

4 1/2 Stars HOT - (Fantastic-Keeper) “This original romance starts quietly enough, like a calm blue ocean, and gradually builds until you’re holding on for dear life, hit with page after page of creative, taut action. You’ll be left grinning, grateful for the ride, thanks to original characters, a fantastic story and action that will keep you up late, turning pages. Can’t wait to see what Williams has in store next!”
RT Book Reviews Magazine April , issue

“To some I was a freak; to others, a fantasy. I was Satan or savior; a witch or a goddess. I was legend, I was lies. And tonight it really was, just all too much.” ~~Kathryn “Blue” O’Malley

NO SAFE HARBOR

With her badass rain boots, her faithful dog, and the ability to predict the monster tsunamis that have reduced the US to a series of islands, Kathryn O’Malley isn’t afraid of much. Cut off from all society, she takes to the airwaves as Tsunami Blue, hoping to save something of humanity as the world around her crumbles. But Blue should be afraid—because her message reaches the wrong ears.

Now she’s the target of ruthless pirates known as Runners who want to use her special talents for their own profiteering—as soon as they can find her. Blue’s only shot at survival lies with the naked stranger who washes up on her rocky beach. A man who might just be working for Runners himself. Torn between suspicion and attraction, the two will have to navigate a surging tide of danger and deceit if they hope to stay alive.

Categories: Advertising Basics, All authors, Book Reviews, Booksignings, Branding, Marketing, Name Recognition, Platform Building, Social Networking, Staff, Websites, Wendy Delaney
Tags: 1st turning point, agents, author pages, author photo, author website, Barnes and Noble, book signing, domain name, dorchester publishing, editors, gayle ann williams, Marketing, name recognition, promo, publishing houses, reviewers, RWA, skinny cow, tsunami blue, Twitter, wendy delaney, youtube videos