Keeper of the Mountain and Dr. Nshan Erganian

I met today’s Friday feature author Nshan Erganian through the local writers’ guild I belong to here in St. Joseph, Missouri. He’s a very interesting guy with quite a sense of humor. But I think you’ll discover that for yourselves as you read his interview.

Q: What did you know going into this whole publishing process that helped you the most, Nshan?

A: I think there is too much emphasis placed on this notion that the major publishers will not take the time to consider your story. I hear it every time I sit in a writing class or seminar. Maybe it’s true, but I think it causes new authors to shy away from sending query letters to publishers. It may be true that you’ll get back a lot of rejections, and that can be damaging to one’s ego and enthusiasm. While you don’t want to waste away your life waiting for an acceptance from a major publisher, I think it’s worth the effort, even if it’s just to satisfy yourself that you gave it a shot. My first ‘acceptance notification’ from a publisher of short stories gave me a real shot of adrenalin and enthusiasm for continuing to write.

I realized that the publishing process could be somewhat scary for a novice, but I also knew that I am the author. I wrote the story, and that’s powerful in itself. Writers need to keep that in mind throughout the process of publishing. Sure, you want to be in print. You spent a lot of time writing your gem of literature, so maintain high standards of expectation for yourself and the publisher. Don’t be afraid of stepping outside of the box; it’s actually rather refreshing out here!

Q: At what point in writing Keeper of the Mountain did you begin to look for publishers?

A: Since this was my first novel, I waited until it was nearly completed in order to have something concrete to present for consideration. I think once a person is established (a published author), it becomes easier to approach publishers prior to completing a manuscript. At that point, you have a proven track record and, hopefully, are more in demand.

Ironically, I did not have to query any publishers. I was in the process of preparing several query letters and happened to attend a meeting for writers where I met a publisher. We struck up a conversation and seemed to hit it off. The chemistry between the two was good (which I believe is absolutely essential), so we took it to the next level. After reviewing my manuscript, the publisher did not hesitate in notifying me that I had a book that was worthy of publishing. The thing that impressed me most was that there was none of those long delays in communicating with each other, which I had heard war stories about when I was participating in writing classes. There was none of that “contact a publisher and wait weeks for a response” syndrome. I am opinionated regarding this subject. I believe the author deserves to command a degree of respect when it comes to the relationship with the editor/publisher. The author has respect for the publisher from the beginning because there is an appreciation that someone is willing to take a chance on your book, but conversely the publisher needs to reinforce his/her respect for the author throughout the process. After all, who wrote the piece that got them to that point?

Q: So you didn’t you meet with acquisition editors via writer’s conferences either?

A: No. I think mine was a somewhat unusual circumstance that happened to work out to the mutual benefit of the publisher and author. After all, how often does one go to a meeting of a writer’s guild and just happen to sit next to a publisher who happens to be looking for new talent to publish? Probably not very often.

Q: That’s not unheard of, but not common either. Did the publisher ask for the standard book proposal?

A: Submitting a proposal is probably the more usual process. I submitted my entire manuscript because I already knew I was primarily dealing with one publisher. If I had to submit to several publishers, then sending the entire manuscript in written form may not have been practical. I think it goes back to where a person is in their journey as a writer. I still maintain that it’s probably easier to send out query letters and proposals once you’re established, even if your pieces have been in small markets. When it’s your first piece, you’re firing a shotgun trying to hit something (publishers) who may wish to take a chance on you.

Q: It may seem like you’re firing a shotgun when you send out those queries. If you spend time to study the publishing market, you’ll be targeting your query letters to people who publish your genre. If you send a query to a publisher you know nothing about, you are shooting in the dark, and are very likely to miss.

Give us a general run down on the process worked for you once your book was accepted.

A: My publisher was good to work with. She laid out the process for me. It wasn’t complicated, but I actually didn’t realize how much proofing was necessary. I had already engaged a proofreader before I gave the manuscript to the publisher. I thought my proofreader and I had done a decent job of reviewing it for errors, construction, content, etc. As it turned out, it needed three additional proofings by the publisher before we had what appeared to be an error-free final piece — and there’s likely to still be something we missed, but eventually you have to be reasonably satisfied and say “Launch!” Keeper was approximately 73,000 words. After you read those three or four times, you have a tendency to read over mistakes.

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

A: The contract was lengthy, but fairly straight-forward. I think such contracts are skewed in favor of the publisher, but I don’t necessarily think it’s something to fear. I did have an attorney tell me that even the most iron-clad contracts have loop holes that can benefit the publisher or the author. So, my attorney friend gave me a good piece of advice that I think makes sense: “Enjoy the ride. You wrote a nice piece that some people will honor you by reading it. Some folks will actually pay money to read it! So, don’t take away from your pleasure and satisfaction, by always fretting that someone is not going to treat you unfairly, including your publisher. You’re on the same team, and unless your publisher does something overt to upset you, keep your trust with them … and enjoy the ride!” Not bad advice if you’re a novice in this business of writing. Now, if you write the ‘second coming of Gone With The Wind’ and are receiving royalty checks in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, then it’s probably time to see if your publisher is looking for a second home in the Bahamas.

Q: What specifics did the contract cover?

A: Too much to list here, but it did touch on areas that I had not thought about earlier. Things like who had the authority to grant rights to the book, copy writing rights, settling disputes, etc. If you’re not use to legal contracts, it can be somewhat unsettling because you don’t want to be thinking about your legal rights when you’re just now going into a business relationship with a publisher; however, it’s a necessary piece of the process. My attorney friend suggested that I not be overly concerned because, if you ever had to go to litigation, it would be unusual to find that either party completely fulfilled their obligations. So, once again, enjoy the ride.

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

A: I’ve focused quite a bit on putting your trust in the publisher. However, don’t appear to be a bozo by simply signing the contract the minute it’s in front of you … that’s a little too much trust. Read it and ask questions regarding anything you don’t quite understand or agree with. Publishers won’t get offended, and if they do become affronted, politely inform them that they are no longer your publisher. On my first novel, I questioned my publisher about only receiving my royalty semi-annually. I was sixty-eight years old at the time, so I asked the publisher, “How many more six-month intervals do you think I have left in my life, if you’re only going to pay me twice a year?” I received a response that was informative, which allowed me to have a better understanding of the publishing process. We were able to work out a compromise that was appropriate for both of us. I get paid more often, but still don’t interfere with the publishing and marketing process, which sometimes moves at a slower pace than we Type A … ADHD … impatient personalities — are comfortable with!

Q: Did you work with an editor from the publishing house during the process?

A: Yes, and it went well. My manuscript needed editing, even though I thought it was fairly complete when I submitted it to the publisher. The suggestions for changes improved the writing. There were only a few occasions where I differed with the editor and we worked through those places. I tried not to be a pain to my editor with minor things, but if I felt strongly about not making a change and presented a strong enough case for it, the editor either accepted my viewpoint or presented a case for making the change. It really was not a painful process. Remember, we were both working toward putting the best piece possible on the market.

Q: Let’s turn to marketing. We all know that the author has to do much more of that now than in decades past, but I’m sure it varies from house to house. How much marketing of your book are you expected to handle?

A: That’s an excellent question, and one that authors need to seriously consider. If it’s your first published piece, you’re almost willing to jump through all the hoops just to get your book on the shelves or online. So, I think the answer lies in where you are at in your writing/publishing world. While it is difficult to admit, I’m probably considered “an old coot,” happy but old. So, I’m not big on social media and my computer technology skills are dependent upon my sixteen-year-old granddaughter who loves to interact on ‘space book’, or ‘face book,’ or ‘case book’, or whatever you call that thing that a lot of people spend a lot of time telling a lot of other people who have lot of time on their hands, about things that really aren’t important to them. Having said that, my publisher provided services that I was either incapable of or unwilling to tackle … like getting my book on-line (is that something like a clothes line?) Sorry for the digression.

More seriously, the publisher scheduled news releases, book signings, prepared personalized bookmarks and promotional business cards, and made contacts for getting my printed soft-cover and hardbound books into book stores and other venues. I am expected to be available for book signings and other things that expedite the chances of selling books. Aside from many other things, I also have the freedom to sell my books myself, as long as I am willing to pay for the printing costs. So, I can go to a community that is having a celebration, set up a table and sell my books. I keep 100% of the profit. I might not sell a lot of books at the event, but it’s usually a fun day with the opportunity to chat with nice folks who are fascinated that someone actually took an idea and turned it into a novel. Think about it. How many people who attend an apple fest, homecoming celebration, old-time festivals, or whatever the event, have written a novel. Maybe a few, but not that many. Hawking your book at those types of events is not for everyone, but some of us old coots prefer to do that rather than sitting around watching paint dry.

Q: It sounds like you have a lot of fun, and those contacts at community celebrations get your name out there. When your next book comes out, those people tell their friends “I met this author and …” (good or bad impression). And yes, the world of social media can be daunting, as can technology. I’m still trying to figure out my new smart phone.

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

A: It think “worst thing,” is a little harsh. “Uncomfortable time” is a better term. The time it took between getting the manuscript to the publisher until I actually held the printed novel … and it really wasn’t that long in publishing terms. I think beginning authors want to have their masterpiece come off the press only a few weeks after the publisher takes over. It’s understandable, but unrealistic. Absolutely, the best time in the process is when you grab the golden ring on the merry-go-round and are holding in your hands the first book with your name on it fresh off the press.

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

A: Publishing has changed. The perception that your only option is to send dozens of query letters to ‘big box’ New York publishing companies and then wait several months for your rejection letter is not reality. There are many, perhaps smaller, but nevertheless just as capable companies/individuals who are capable of taking your jewel of a manuscript and turning it into a published work of art. And, the ones that I am familiar with appear to be eager to help you in this ballgame. I’m not suggesting that you discount pursuing your dream with the big box publishers, but I hope every prospective author is aware of the options currently available. As yet, I’m not convinced that the smaller publishers have access to all of the marketing and promotional advantages held by the larger, more established companies, but I have nothing to compare to because my comfort-level thus far has been with a publisher/publishers that fulfill my needs. I never set out to become famous or rich with my writing skills … my grandchildren already think of me famously, and they’ve made my life rich, happy, and fulfilling.

Q: What advice do you have for us for during the process between acceptance and release?

A: Cooperate with the publisher and don’t be a pain in the butt. I say that because I bugged my publisher too much on my first novel. The publisher never complained, but I was a little impatient and worried too much about minor things. For heaven’s sake, when it was time to select my picture for the inside of the book, we practically had Wal-mart selling out of camera film. I hate to admit it, but I actually asked the publisher to change the picture three times before the book went to press. Finally, my publisher was being rather kind when I was graciously informed that “What God gave you…is what you got, bud.” So, I learned the hard way not to sweat the small things in publishing. You’re the only one who really cares what you look like on the jacket of your book . . . And … evidently only Hollywood can make your Armenian nose look smaller and add a greater mass of hair on the top of your head. 2015 New Year’s Resolution: With regard to all future works, I will not be a pain in the butt to my publisher! (Note to reader: Keep in mind that I can’t remember ever keeping a New Year’s resolution.)

Q: (smile) If your publisher didn’t know that, they do now. They follow my blog.

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

A: I think that I have become more understanding of the process, thus I am more patient when it comes to getting published. The process does take time, and sometimes new authors want to speed up the process in order to see their work in print. It’s important to agree on a realistic time line with the publisher so that the author isn’t bugging the publisher on a regular basis wondering “Where’s my book?” I have learned that the publisher may have other obligations than simply focusing 24 hours a day on my story… things like eating, sleeping, breathing, etc.

Q: Will there be a next time and will Amazing Things Press be doing it?

A: Currently, I am co-authoring another novel with my wife, Marylin. The working title is Desperate Reunion: the Promise. Several chapters are finished, and our target time line is to have it ready for release in the fall of 2014. It’s a fictional drama, but not as intense as Keeper of the Mountain. By that, I mean it’s not this fast-paced mystery to find a missing person before their demise, either due to a chronic disease or at the hands of captors. The new mystery novel actually encompasses the lives of eight people separated for years, but bound together by a common thread. Each person’s personal life is different, but the main theme is that “everyone holds a dark secret … even a man of God.”

We have not selected a publisher yet. We were satisfied with Amazing Things Press for Keeper of the Mountain, and will likely have discussions regarding them handling the next novel. However, we are leaving the options open for the time being.

Don’t ever lose that pride you have in your story. It’s your baby. You envisioned it. You created it. You nurtured it. You gave it life! Speak about it with pride. I tell people: “If you like the book, you’ll love the movie!” Take pride in your work, fellow writers, no one else can do it quite like you.

Nshan, thank you so much for being here with us today to inform and entertain us. God’s best for your future endeavors.

ABOUT NSHAN ERGANIAN:

Nshan Erganian’s life has included successful careers as an educator, public school superintendent, healthcare administrator, and professional consultant. During his career, Dr. Erganian was named as “Missouri’s Outstanding Administrator” by the Missouri Community Education Association. He and his wife, Marylin, a staff assistant to a United States Congressman, left the hustle-bustle of the corporate and political world and purchased two commercial orchards in Missouri, which they rejuvenated and operated for many years.

ABOUT THE KEEPER OF THE MOUNTAIN:

Susan Clark is beginning a new chapter in her life as she drives to Auburn, Missouri, to start her first teaching job. She’s young, vibrant, and has an engaging personality that the children will fondly remember long after they are out of school. She’s thankful that Dr. Mark Sarkisian hired her for the job, and soon she’ll be praying that he can save her life. If her chronic disease doesn’t kill her, then her captors will…

Published by Amazing Things Press, available on Amazon.