Gloria Doty, Not Different Enough

Today’s Friday Feature author interview is with Gloria Doty. Gloria has just returned from the Write-to-Publish writers’ conference in Wheaton, Illinois, where the conference organizers awarded her the 2014 Writer of the Year Award for her book Not Different Enough.

(I highly recommend the Write-To-Publish conference; they have been helping writers on the road to publication for more than 40 years.)

Today’s post includes a contest to win a free download of Not Different Enough to one winner who will be randomly drawn from those who leave a thoughtful comment about the interview. Contest entry is open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Winner will be announced on Monday, June 23.

Gloria and I have known each other for quite some time, via the Internet. We first met when I was editor of Glory and Strength webzine. Readers, grab your java of choice, sit back, and enjoy.

Gloria, I’m delighted to have you here today and to see your first book on the market. Congratulations on your award from Write-to-Publish. What an honor.

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

I developed a marketing plan from the conception of the book. Because of the nature of the material, I had a 2-page list of individuals and organizations I planned to contact. But I didn’t look for a publisher until I attended the Write-to-Publish writers’ conference in Wheaton, in 2012. There I had the opportunity to submit a proposal and to pitch my work to editors and agents.

How was that experience?

The feedback from the people I met with at the conference was positive regarding subject, chapter titles, and my writing. The one thing several suggested was to include examples of other families’ experiences.

I came home and tried my best to do that. I contacted every special needs teacher I knew (and that is a lot of them) and families, and I put out a plea via social media and my blogs. I promised anonymity. I received only one response, which told me most people are not willing to be transparent in this area of their lives, even when no one would know who they were. I prayed about it and made the decision to make this strictly Kalisha’s and my story. I have not regretted that decision for one moment.

Most of the author’s I’ve interviewed have written fiction, but Not Different Enough is a personal story of you and your daughter, and obviously one with several years of experience behind it. How long did it take you to write it?

I am often asked that question. My answer is, “Ten years. But I just talked about it for the first nine.” Once I knew exactly what I was going to write and how I wanted it presented, I didn’t want to wait for a traditional publisher, although I did approach one more traditional publisher beyond those I met with at Write-to-Publish. The proposal she requested included 3 finished chapters, a table of contents, a marketing plan, the uniqueness of the book, comparison to other books in the same genre, my bio, my marketing credentials, possible endorsements, target audience, and my platform. It wasn’t difficult to write, just time-consuming.

What does your daughter think about the book?

Kalisha loves the book, goes to the book signings with me and signs each book. She also promotes it whenever she gets a chance. I asked her if she wanted to read each chapter as I wrote it but she declined, saying she would read it when it was published. And she did. She told me, “I don’t care what you write about me, I just want people to know what it’s like to be me.”

How did you choose your publisher?

I checked the information available online for many publishers and publishing houses. I checked many POD publishers and talked to several on the phone about prices, what perks they offered, the time frame, and any other questions I could think of. I questioned an author friend who had used both the POD and CreateSpace for her 2 books.

Finances are always a consideration with me, so I knew it would have to be a great deal if I was going to pay to have it published. I wanted 30+ images in the book so I needed a package that included images. I finally selected AuthorHouse*. They offered a half-price package and gave me the option of paying for it in 3 monthly installments. It included the cover design, front and back, the formatting, the image insertion, the table of contents, and the entire layout; always with my approval first.

I saw all the bad reviews about AuthorHouse . . . after I chose them of course. However sometimes like with everything else — appliances, cars, realtors — only the disgruntled folks write comments. I have not had one problem. I love the cover; they made every change with no charge; and when I order books they arrive quickly.

However, they do not edit. If you send a manuscript with spelling and grammatical errors, it will be printed that way. I had 3 people read my manuscript as I wrote each chapter and then had a friend edit it one more time. Spelling and grammar are my long suit, so to speak, so there were few errors I had to correct.

AH markets the book to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other distributors, but I am doing the marketing as far as library signings, speaking engagements, being a vendor at conferences, and sending promotional copies to many associations and autism bloggers and professionals.

I’m glad you haven’t had any issues. The website Preditors and Editors offers helpful information about publishing houses, writing contests, awards, agents and more. I often tell writers to check that site before they make a decision. Be sure to read their rating criteria. http://pred-ed.com/

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

The worst thing about the publishing process for me was the images. Because this is a story of 30 years, some of the photos were nearly 30 years old. I had a problem getting them ready for publishing. The best part was seeing the cover when it was sent for approval. I did a happy dance. Another great thing was the very short time from beginning to end and the fact that AH will publish the amount I ask for, 2 books or 2000.

What did you know going into the publishing process that helped you?

I knew from attending writer’s conferences and from being a freelance writer that patience is definitely a virtue. Everything takes time, even though once I was ready to have the book published, I wanted it done . . . yesterday.

I knew there would be a lot of back and forth e-mails to proof and accept designs, covers, and the book’s interior. I also realized I would be responsible for the majority of the promotion of my book. I was ready for that and had lists and lists of people and organizations I would send promotional copies.

Even if an author chooses a traditional publishing house, they’re still responsible for promoting the work. Make a list of ways you can do that: social media, speaking engagements, library signings, conferences. Any place you can talk about the book, do it. Although mine is a non-fiction book, with a specific built-in audience, I contacted any friend, teacher, non-profit organization, special needs ministries, doctors, dentist, any person I thought might possibly gain knowledge about their children, their patients, their clients, and their relatives. You can’t be timid about promoting your book. If you think it’s a valuable tool, tell the world. I have spoken to autism parents support groups, church groups, ladies fellowship groups, anyone. Even if my speaking topic is something entirely different, I always plug the book when I am introducing myself to my audience.

What did you learn — good and bad — through all this that you’ll apply to the next time?

I learned to contact some of the obscure organizations first, then send a book if they request it. I am pretty certain I have copies (expensive copies) that went immediately into the trash or no one has taken the time to read. When sending to an organization, even though you have a specific name, I have found that the person to whom it is addressed may never see it as some one else intercepts their mail for them.

I did get a book into Rosie O’Donnell’s hands. On her website, I told her about the similarities between my daughter and her character in a movie and asked if she would be interested in reading the book. She graciously e-mailed me, said she would love to read it and gave me her home address — which I assured her I would chew up and swallow after I sent the book (smile).

What last bit of advice do you have for writers concerning finding and gaining a publisher?

Explore all your options, and then decide what is the best for you. If you are not in a hurry, definitely consider a traditional publisher. Maintain your faith and a sense of humor. You’re really not in control. God is.

Do you have another book in the works? A publisher already lined up?

I have several books I’m working on. I have a series of 13 books for young children, each one named for a grandchild and having a biblical message with the story. My sister and I are writing a devotional called, Devotions for Flower Lovers, and I have another non-fiction book with the working title, My 15 Occupations . . . Before Doing What God Intended for Me (I know that has to be shortened!). I pitched the flower devotional at the conference this month and have an editor who wants to see it when all 50 devotions are done. The other projects aren’t far enough along to pitch. Maybe next year.

I rather like that long title. I can relate!

Gloria, thank you so much for being here with me today. I’ve enjoyed learning more about you and Kalisha and how this book came into being. I pray God’s best for you and your family, and the success of your books.

Readers, be sure to leave a relevant comment to be entered to win the e-book version of Not Different Enough.

*Does not constitute endorsement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gloria Doty is a Christian writer, author, speaker, and blogger living in Fort Wayne, IN. She has articles published in various magazines, a story included in My Love to You Always and is a regular contributor to a quarterly devotional and the MOMS insert in the Fort Wayne Newspapers.

Gloria won first place in an international flash fiction contest, and the Write-to-Publish conference just awarded her 2014 Writer of the Year for her book Not Different Enough.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Not Different Enough is a humorous, heart-warming and occasionally heart-breaking recounting of the 30-year journey with Gloria’s daughter and autism, Asperger’s, and intellectual disabilities.

It is not filled with special diets, treatments, therapies, or political activism. It is a glimpse into the everyday life of a person with those disabilities and how it affects a family on a day-to-day basis. You will laugh and cry as you identify with Kalisha and her mother, even if you don’t have a child with a disability.

Many of the concepts discussed apply to everyone: doctors, therapists, dentists, parents, teachers, and friends.

The title was chosen when Kalisha came home from school one afternoon and said, “Mom, the kids at school don’t know I have autism, they just think I’m weird. I guess I’m not different enough.”