Friday Feature-Interview with Author Kathy Nickerson

It’s the third Friday of the month, time for our debut author interview. This month I’m visiting with Kathy Nickerson, author of the Glory Circle Sisters series. I’ve had a delightful time. Kathy has a wonderful sense of humor, but also has conveyed meaty advice for writers. Enjoy.

Kathy will be available today only to respond to your comments.

Debra: How long did it take to write your book?

Kathy: This book has been in my thoughts for about ten years. I would occasionally take notes or sketch a scene while I worked on other projects. I contemplated the characters and story often, usually on a long drive or when I was in the shower! I did the actual writing in about two years. Most of that was done in twenty-minute sessions before work each day. Then I’d marathon write on Saturdays.

Debra: At what point in writing your book did you begin to look for publishers?

Kathy: I didn’t look for publishers until I had a finished manuscript. I submitted portions of the manuscript as homework for the Christian Writer’s Guild Journeyman course, and I sent it in for a paid critique at the Guild. Then I queried a few agents, pitched to agents at conferences, and even submitted the book to the First Novel contest at the Christian Writer’s Guild. I had some positive feedback from those efforts, which encouraged me to keep going.

Debra: Kudos. That’s a well thought out plan of attack. How did you choose the publishers you queried?

Kathy: I queried agents primarily, because most of the publishing houses required submission through agents. I studied the agent’s websites, followed their blogs, and tried to read books they had represented. I also found some kind of personal connection to several of the agents I queried. A few I had met at conferences. One I’d been referred to by a magazine editor for whom I’d written several articles. And one represented my daughter!

Again, I got some good feedback on those, but no one picked up the project.

Debra: Many of the bigger publishing houses require submission through agents, and that can be discouraging. But there are a lot of smaller houses out there that accept directly from the author. Using a market guide helps find publishers we aren’t familiar with that very well may be a better fit for our project.

You mentioned meeting with acquisition editors via writer’s conferences? How did that go?

Kathy: I always found those meetings helpful, because even if the editor didn’t ask me to send in a proposal, they often had great advice about writing in general or my project specifically. I didn’t, however, meet with the acquisitions editor for the publisher who eventually bought my book! We chatted in the lunch line at a conference one day, but it was several months later before I finally contacted her about this manuscript.

Debra: (Big smile). We should never underestimate the casual contact we make at conferences or elsewhere. God uses all things for our good. When the publisher asked for a book proposal, what did they want the proposal to include? Was it difficult to write?

Kathy: Although the basics of a fiction book proposal are always the same, I found each publisher or agent did want some variations. In this case, I sent a cover letter, a one-paragraph description, a one-page synopsis, the first three chapters of the book, and a short writing biography. Later, the publisher also asked for a marketing plan. Some publishers had also asked for a list of comparable books on the market. I had studied all these elements in writing courses and had read some good books and articles on the subject, so it wasn’t too difficult. I actually found it helpful to write the proposal. I liked breaking the manuscript down into smaller elements and making sure the story came through each time. (Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method for novel writing was helpful for this process.)

Debra: Give us a general run down on the process once your book was accepted.

Kathy: First, I danced in circles around my kitchen and screamed. A lot. Then, I panicked, because the publisher had asked for a marketing plan, which I hadn’t written yet. So, that was Step One. After that came the waiting and the inability to work on anything else while I obsessed about the upcoming revision process. I finally settled down enough to start working on the dreaded platform details. I hired someone to give my website a new look. I started a newsletter and blogged on a regular schedule. I made lists of contacts, media outlets, book review websites, and potential speaking engagements. And I established a Facebook Author Page and began posting consistently there.

Several months later, we actually started revisions. My publisher was extremely kind and helpful. I remember reading about an author whose editor asked him to cut the first 100 pages of his book. So I was relieved when our Skype chat started with, “Let’s look at page 91.” Revisions went smoothly, and then we moved on to art work for the cover. My publisher was generous and allowed me to have full input into that process. (I love the cover!) After that, it was mostly waiting and working on marketing.

Debra: I am really impressed with the fact that you sought professional education early on. I’m a Christian Writer’s Guild alumnus too, and no doubt what you learned in that course helped you create the targeted plans you’ve made each step of the way.

Writers who want to be regularly published and pulling in a livable income with their writing, really must take steps to improve their craft, and there are lots of affordable options out there besides going to college.

When you received your contract did you have it reviewed by a lawyer or was it straight forward and easy to understand?

Kathy: I don’t think any legal document is ever straight-forward or easy-enough-to-understand for the lay person. I know people like me should always have things reviewed by a lawyer. But, I didn’t. I was too excited to think logically, for one thing. Plus, I really trusted the person I was working with at the publishing house. I did ask her a couple of questions about the contract. But, in the end, I decided to sign it and “swear to my own hurt” as the Bible says, if it comes to that. I don’t think it will. I really do trust my publisher. But, in the future, I think I would refer to a lawyer. Being a writer is a business, and having legal counsel should probably be part of that process.

Debra: What specifics did the contract cover?

Kathy: The basics of royalties, rights, reprints, and who is responsible for what. I actually went online and read several sample contracts before mine came just to know what to expect. Mine was pretty standard for a first-time author.

Debra: Do you have any advice for other writers concerning contracts?

Kathy: Yes. As I mentioned above, I’d suggest every writer hire a lawyer to review contracts unless you have a savvy agent who does those things. (I also think you should have a good accountant because things get tricky in that department, too.) As a first-time novelist, I didn’t expect to have any negotiating room with a contract. But that could change in the future. Plus, some contracts now give the publisher rights to forms of communication that haven’t even been invented yet. I don’t think we want to give away our rights to holograms of our books, for instance. Better to sell those separately like movie rights.

Debra: Did you work with an editor from the publishing house during the publishing process? If so, how did that go?

Kathy: I’m working with a small publisher, so the editor wears many hats. When I worked with her, I was also working with the Head of Marketing, the Art Director, and the CEO. (And, possibly the janitorial staff.) It was a great experience. A small publisher brings such a personal touch to everything that it was like brainstorming with a writing friend. It helped that we have similar tastes. She asked for one change that I felt hesitant about. But I trusted her instinct and made the revision. She was absolutely right. Now I can’t imagine the book without that change.

Debra: (LOL) Yes, the personal touch is just one benefit of the small publishing house. How much of the marketing of your book are you expected to handle?

Kathy: A lot. But, I’m no different than Karen Kingsbury or Steven King in that. Okay, maybe a little different. Marketing is part of the business of writing. If we aren’t willing to do that, we should probably stick with writing columns for the local newspaper (which I do.) I’ve found I actually enjoy some of the marketing process, because it is just one more way to connect with people. And, I love people. My greatest fear, though, is that I’ll lose the balance. That I’ll forget marketing is still about touching and helping people, not about selling more books. It is such a fine line as a Christian to promote one’s work without becoming self-focused. I’m trying to figure it out.

Debra: What was the worst thing to deal with in the publishing process? What was the best?

Kathy: Marketing is probably the worst. Even though I enjoy parts of it, the tension I mentioned earlier is agony sometimes. I worry that I’m being too pushy, overbearing, or a nuisance to my friends. I have to check my motives in every conversation to see if I truly care about the other person or if I’m just looking for a chance to promote my book.

The best part, honestly, is when someone reads my book and loves the characters as much as I do. I know that sounds crazy. But, after all these years together, these folks are almost real to me. When someone I’ve never met writes that they loved the people, I feel like someone has complimented my child. Of course, then I have to check my motives again! It is so easy to get puffed up in this business. But it is also great fun to know you wrote something that connected to another person’s soul. That you made them laugh, or cry, or consider something important about their own lives.

Debra: What advice do you have for writers concerning finding and gaining a publisher?

Kathy: Learn the craft. I know that sounds like the boring part. But the last thing you want to do is burn a bridge with a publisher because you submitted too soon. Once you’ve given yourself to the process of learning, though, I’d suggest some investments of both time and money. Buy a Writer’s Market and The Christian Writer’s Market Guide, or get them at the library. Both are useful tools and great resources for the writing business. Then, check out the websites of any publisher or agent who interests you. Study their requirements and the kinds of books they publish. If they have a blog, follow it.

Also, invest in at least one writing conference each year. These provide tremendous information and encouragement, plus opportunities to meet real people in the writing world. Take advantage of paid critiques. Schedule appointments to talk to agents and editors. Learn to pitch your own projects and then actually listen for feedback. Sit with editors at meals and find out who they are as people. Make a connection. As I mentioned, I found my publisher through a conversation about the weather in lunch line. Really. The weather.

Debra: (another big smile) Amen to that. We are definitely on the same page with learning the craft.

What advice do you have for them for during the process between acceptance and release?

Kathy: If you don’t blog, tweet, post, or pin, learn how to do at least one or two of those. (Jeff Goins has great how-to resources for writers trying to learn social media.) This is the time to start connecting with readers if you haven’t already. If you have, become more purposeful. Learn to work social media into your regular writing routine. If this feels too trendy for you, consider history. Many of our forefathers started every morning “at their letters” where they corresponded with friends, family, and business associates. Communication is an ancient art, and Facebook is simply a tool.

Debra: Do you have a second book in the works? A publisher already lined up?

Kathy: Yes, the next book has started talking to me in the shower. I outlined it with the Snowflake Method during a class several years ago, and I’ve written several chapters. (Those have already been revised once from a paid critique with an editor at a conference.) Now the characters have started barging into my life and acting out scenes in my head. My contract for Thirty Days to Glory included an option for my second book. So, we shall see. If the first book sells well, the same publisher will probably pick up the second one. And the third, and the fourth, and so on. Or so I hope.

Leave your questions or comments below.

About Kathy Nickerson

Kathy Nickerson writes from rural Missouri, where she lives with her husband of forty years. They are the parents of four children who grew up to become their best friends and who have given them a dozen grandchildren, so far.

Kathy’s writing credits include magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Angels on Earth, Focus on the Family, Proto, and Kyria.com. Follow her on Facebook or connect here http://kathynick.com/