Cecile Garcia: Q & A's 2018

When will you be doing a book signing?

I am still looking into it and information will be posted when I actually have a booking.

Was your book,  In the Company of Elves a short story before you made it into a full-length novel?

Yes. When I first wrote it, I originally wrote it as a novelette, the book consisted of two stories. In the Company of Elves and Loretta. Both stories had mild adult content. I decided not to publish the book as is. I took out the last story (Loretta) from the book, saving it for later use. I re-wrote In the Company of Elves and published it through subsidiary company online. (InstantPublishers.com)

2017: I later decided to revise it adding several chapters to  the book.

How hard is it to re-write a book?

It depends on the length of the book and how much you must edit. Sometimes it does take a few months to a year to re-write a book.

Will Chandra’s Quest Book 3 be published next year?

*Honestly, since it’s a full-length novel, it might take all next year to finish, but I am working on it and yes I know, I've been working on it for a while.  Chandra's Quest book 3 is the last novel from the Chandra's Quest trilogy, and the original word document only had  3 chapters completed. Rest assure, I will complete it and publish it.

NOTE: The only full-length novels I've written are, Chandra’s Quest Book 1 & 2 and In the Company of Elves. All other books will be novelettes, except for Chandra's Quest book 3.

Novelettes:

The Other Side of Things part 1 & 2

Out in the Open

The Phoenix Files

Finding Loretta

Yes, I decided to revise the original story that was called, Loretta. I still have the file and I am going to re-write it. It will be an adult novelette, though.

For family members:
Yes, I am still working on my official Memoir: Every Season. Remember the novel will contain journal entries from 1978-2010. That’s a lot of writing I have to type and a lot of editing to do. I can only hope to finish it before some of my aunts and uncles die. I would like them to read it, since it is a real life story--memoir.

 Keep in mind, I will not sell my Memoir and it will be PRIVATELY distributed to family members. 

Goal: I do have other novels/novelettes to finish, especially Chandra’s Quest book 3. The way I see it, the trilogy should have been finished years ago.

Finally:

I recently set up a Twitter account. It certainly is not like Facebook, where you can set up albums, a business page or groups. I haven’t found that part on twitter yet. Right now, I am only sharing links to some of my books and other social media websites. I haven’t gone way out and shared the link to my Twitter on other social media website I belong to yet but next year in January or February I will. If family members want to follow me there, well that’s up to them. 

I will accept everyone.

Personal note: I still prefer Facebook, I think it’s better. So please family, stay connected on Facebook with me. Thank You.

My Twitter

My Facebook

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Visit my YouTube Channel and Subscribe

In this entry I am sharing a link to my youtube channel. I am adding new videos, relating to Vlogs I have made. Most of those videos are my personal opinion on matters of writing. I will add some excerpts form my books in coming months. Pleased do subscribe to my channel.Thank You.

*In addition, For those who have bought or downloaded my books, please READ, RATE & REVIEW on Amazon. TY

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Author's Channel

Fan Fiction video

Video

Image too Racy?

So as many of you know, CreateSpace and Kindle merged, making it easier for authors like myself, to publish eBooks and paperbacks on one site. However, I’ve been having a problem with one of my paperbacks. A few months ago, I did a sponsor Ad for Saints and Sinners: Affairs of the Heart, but when I tried to do another Ad campaign for this book, KDP got back to me and said the request was denied. Solely because of the book cover image! Wow.  Check out the images below.

The first image was the one I used when I decided to change the cover after CreateSpace and Kindle merged. Then Facebook wouldn’t do a boost on my post regarding Saints and Sinners because of the naked woman. All it shows is the back of her, so again, I decided to change the cover to another image, one that kindle provides for their authors. This time, Kindle rejected the request to make a sponsored campaign Ad for it! So now, I decided to change the image to the third picture on the list. That image is also in the Kindle gallery, available to authors. So now, I’m just doing a waiting game with Kindle. If they reject my request for a sponsored Ad, well I don't know.

 I'll just have to accept it but I'll still publish it as a paperback. It burns me that they complained about images being too racy, when frankly they’re not! 

Well, I will present my book at my book signing next year.

Planned Event:

Well, as I posted on my Author’s Facebook page, I will be doing a book signing. Hopefully next year. There are many things still that need to be done beforehand. I will be sharing a booth with an artist who wants to sell his paintings.  He might have the whole weekend, but I will only have one day to sell and sign books. Of course that depends on the situation. 

Yes, I will order 10 copies each of my books, I will sell them and sign them. For those who have bought the paperback books, bring them & I will sign them. 

A Gamble:

It’s a gamble, really. I will make an announcement on social media, by then I should have a Twitter account.

 Will people come? 

Well, the book signing will be at an indoor swap meet however, I’m still looking into it.  I will let everyone know on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media websites that I belong to--the date, time and place when the event will take place.

Got any questions, please ask. 

Instagram

Official Website

Reasonably Priced

Most recently, one of my books has a free download promotional deal on it. I don't do it that often. my books are reasonably priced, and if you have kindle unlimited, you can download the books  for free! 

Some People have to Hate!

I read on a forum---wait, let me just post what a user commented about Indie/self-published authors being desperate:

"If you wait long enough these so called authors will make their book available for free. Stupid self-published authors can't sell their books. Ha!"

So, that puts some salt on a wound, right? Some people.

The thing is, some of us authors WANT people to buy our books or download them. As the title of this blog entry states, "Reasonably Priced". 

Yes, most Indie/self-published authors books are reasonably priced.

 My goal is to share what I've written.  I'm proud of my work and my accomplishments. Some of the self-published books have inspired  screen writers or TV screen writers to come up with material for  movies and shows. Just noting. 

With that said, I am sharing a link to one of my books:

Chandra's Quest

Please do read, rate and review. TY

(Reviews matter)

Chandra's Quest 

 14 & over book

CreateSpace and Kindle Merged

Most recently, CreateSpace and Kindle merged, leaving some Indie/self-published authors having to make changes on their kindle books. 

I don't know about the rest of the authors, but on my part, I had to create two of my books as new paperbacks, for Kindle. I  changed the book cover image and on one book, I decided to change one or two things within the manuscript, so for those who have uploaded Saints and Sinners: Affairs of the Heart, please do upload the book again or buy the paperback. The image is awesome, and it does say a lot about the story in general. 

Kindle version

Paperback version

paperback version of Chandra's quest Book 2

NOTE: the eBook version of Chandra's Quest Book 2: Twisted Embers looks like the picture below:

I believe that any changes that I've made to any of my books, won't show up on Amazon's display list for a week or two. 

Saints and Sinners

(Facebook would not let me boost Saints and Sinners because of the cover image. Personally I've seen worst. Just saying. Since Saints and Sinners and The Other Side of Things are novelettes, boosting them, really doesn't matter but it's my full length novels that matter, so I will continue to boost them)

Indie/Self-published Authors and Why Some People Disdain Them

The landscape of self-publishing has changed significantly over the last decade. Once considered inferior to traditional presses, self-publishing is gaining more attention and earning credibility as a viable way to access unique, and in some cases quality, content. What’s more, the increase in self-publishing has garnered a significant amount of attention from marketing companies looking to capitalize on this burgeoning industry. Major publishers are even jumping on the bandwagon as well, offering independent authors a variety of ancillary services to help market their books. Libraries have begun using self-publishing to reconnect with communities by offering workshops and resources geared towards independent authors.  It is not uncommon for writers to choose the route of self-publishing because the traditional publishing route is difficult, if not impossible, for some writers to enter.

That statement is true! Many self-published authors hit a brick wall when presenting their work to the traditional publishers. Most of the time, traditional publishers don’t look at every manuscript they receive. If their work load is heavy, they will return the manuscript and thus depressing the author, who then decides to forget about becoming a serious author.

NOTE: an author is someone who has published more than one book. It doesn’t matter whether they are an Indie/self-published authors or not, they are still authors. Indie/Self-publishing is probably the only opportunity available to the beginners.

What’s the percentage of certain groups of people from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes?

*The number of books published by people of color speaks volumes about the barriers that prevent certain groups from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes. In 2017, out of 3,500 books received by the center, approximately 3% were written by African American and Latino authors, 7% were written by Asian Pacific American authors, and less than 1% were written by Native American authors. Therefore, self-publishing is a route that allows writers to share their stories. It also creates an opportunity to be recognized as an author.

Here is someone’s point of view regarding self-publishing.

I Understand that “indie publishing” is all the rage, but despite royalty rates of 70%, I think self-publishing is a terrible idea for serious novelists (by which I mean, novelists who take writing seriously, and love to write). Here’s why.

If you self-publish your book, you are not going to be writing for a living. You are going to be marketing for a living. Self-published authors should expect to spend only 10% of their time writing and 90% of their time marketing. if your passion is creating worlds and characters, telling great stories, and/or reveling in language, you might want to aim for traditional publication. I mute authors whose tweet streams are 90% adverts in the same way I wouldn’t watch the shopping channel. Most indie authors have tweet streams that are 90% adverts, perhaps a reflection of the fact that they must spend 90% of their time marketing. It certainly doesn’t make self-publishing look like the path to El Dorado. Why would I want to join this gang?

What I think: Well, he’s right about marketing however, he’s wrong about self-published authors not taking their writing seriously! All authors take their writing seriously! If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be irked when someone gives them a not so good review! 

There are people out there that just despise Indie/self-published authors, only for the fact that the author did what they could only dream of doing and that is publishing their own book. The self-published author doesn’t just talk about writing a book and publishing it, they went out and did it! They have courage and hope in a sea of vexing haters.

Do most self-published authors consider their writing a career?

The majority do but some are more realistic in the outcome so most have part-time jobs or even full-time jobs.  

Do I see my writing as a career or a hobby?

Well, I see it as a little of both. I do take my writing seriously just like other authors, but I don’t see it as a career. In fact, even some mainstream authors who have gone the traditional way and have published their books, do have a part-time job somewhere. If you did not make a deal with the Devil, like the woman who wrote Fifty Shades of Grey, then more than likely, your royalties will not be a steady steam. I have a part-time job, but I continue writing my books, in hopes that I will get a steady stream one day. All authors feel that way. Just noting.

 Overall, self-publishing may be all the rage, but the writer has a choice. If he/she wants to publish traditionally, then do so, however, more and more traditional companies are going in the way of self-publishing. Giving their audience a chance to read a diverse stream of books written by unknown authors. Some of those books can hide a hidden jewel. Just saying.

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Writing your Characters Based on a Real Person

You're a writer but fear that someone will see themselves in one of your characters and will sue you. Well here's something to think about.

(Fiction writers fear someone will see themselves in their villains. Memoirists and nonfiction writers identify people by name. Can writers model characters after real people and name names without getting sued?

Yes, with some common-sense limitations of course.)

We all know that some people just don’t like getting called out in someone’s book. If you plan to base one of your characters on a real person, here is what is permitted:

   In the United States, a person’s Right of Publicity is balanced against the creator’s First Amendment rights. The First Amendment usually wins unless the work is purely advertising, including political advertising.

Expressive Use: Using someone’s name, image or life story as part of a novel, book, movie or other “expressive” work is protected by the First Amendment, even if the expressive work is sold or displayed. Therefore, using a person’s life story as part of a book or movie will not be deemed a misappropriation of the Right of Publicity.

  That’s right! If I wanted to write a memoir based on actual events and people, I have the right to do so, but to protect myself, I would only distribute the books to family members, whoever wants a copy. I will not sell my memoir online. 
In addition, I probably would categorize my book as an unauthorize biography. I am not rich, so it is less likely that I will get sued by a family member or friend. Wait, maybe a hater but---that's if they get a hold of a copy of my memoir.

Let’s be real, you wouldn’t give a copy of your memoir to your enemies or a disgruntled relative that has issues with you, right?

As for using someone's name in a fiction book, well names are not copyrighted and if you change a bit of the character in your story, those who oppose you won't have anything to hold against you.

 Please do look at my previous blog entry: What to Know about using a Person's Name in your Book,  for more info.

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