Honor: A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novel (Thrones and Soldiers Book 1) By Francis Williams

7/18/2020

Award-winning, multi-volume author, Francis Williams, introduces us to the first volume in his Thrones and Soldiers series, “Honor”:
The Romans have abandoned Britannia. It is now 425 CE, and the islands have been brutally invaded by barbarian tribes coming from all directions.

These lands are now a series of lawless, squabbling kingdoms which haven’t been united since the death of High King Coel Hen roughly a decade before. Roman rule failed the Britons, and a former Roman auxiliary, Hall, has been asked to return and provide a safer future for the people of Britannia’s northmost kingdom, Ebrauc.

Word has it that a Saxon warlord has united many tribesmen from Germania and Gaul as he prepares for his assault on the island’s northern territories. Simultaneously, the Pictish tribes from North of Hadrian’s Wall are now supported by an unknown Gaelic king from across the seas in the West.

Many enemies, both known and unknown, will surface to prevent Hall and his son, Drysten, from giving Britannia’s people the security they have longed for.

The first book of a series follows the many trials by both Hall and Drysten as they both set up Britannia for one of its greatest leaders in history.

Lovers of fantasy and historical fiction, I have a juicy one for you! This is such a good story! You are going to eat this up. It’s a wonderful meal also, it’s thick and meaty. This will last you for hours!
It comes with maps also and a prologue that looks long at first, but it is well worth reading.
The dark ages have always gotten a short shrift, in my opinion. I recall my history teacher telling us that there was not a lot of written material for that period; which is why it was called the dark ages. The author has taken what little he found and pulled together an exciting story! The action and dialogue are plentiful to offset the somewhat lengthy narration quite well. He has done a great job of recreating the land and the people after the Romans gave up trying to subdue the wild people of what we now know as the British Isles. I particularly enjoyed the detail that many of the Roman methods of construction were lost when they left. The greatest weapon of the Romans may well have been the formula for concrete that enabled them to build the fabulous roads and uniform architecture.
With a wild bunch of characters, noble and otherwise, honorable and not, the inevitable clashes keep this story moving at a wonderful pace. I cannot imagine anyone that loves historical fiction and fantasy not deriving a lot of enjoyment from this book.
I award 4.9 stars to “Honor”!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Honor-Historical-Fiction-Thrones-Soldiers-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-honor-by-francis-williams

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/Author_FrancisW
https://www.instagram.com/iamfranciswilliams
https://www.facebook.com/IamFrancisWilliams

I have reviewed the second book in the series here:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/usurper-thrones-and-soldiers-book-2

I have reviewed the third book in the series here: The Imperative: A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novel (Thrones of Britannia) Book 3 - Word Refiner

tags: action, adventure, ancient military, gods, God

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

83 Comments

Francis Williams link

7/18/2020 06:30:27 pm

Thanks for taking the time to review Honor. I'm very pleased you enjoyed it and look forward to speaking more with you!

Mark Schultz

7/18/2020 08:23:14 pm

You are very welcome. I am glad I got to read it. It has been a while since I have been able to read a nice, long book.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Francis Williams link

7/18/2020 08:54:16 pm

For a start, I grew up in California. My passion growing up was baseball, but history took a close second. I was always interested to read about ancient civilizations or great leaders throughout history. It's probably why I chose the time period and the topic of my book.

I began writing at about 20 but never managed to do anything good until I turned 26 or 27. At that point, Honor was about 40k words longer, if you can imagine it. So I cut it down and uploaded it to Amazon. The reception by those who read it made me want to continue writing, and I now have four different books either started of underway!

Mark

7/19/2020 10:10:50 am

We are both citizens of the west coast, I was born in Oregon, but my two younger sisters were born in California. In fact, I met my wife, a native Oregonian also, in San Francisco and our first child was born in San Francisco.
I found reading fun also, especially different mythologies and fables.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
Are you in the business for love of writing or for money?
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

Francis Williams link

7/19/2020 02:00:45 pm

I live very close to San Francisco! Beautiful place.

Currently, I am a part-time writer, but the coronavirus has made it a little bit easier to allocate more time for writing/research. My hope is to one day be able to support myself and a family with my books. Not many people are that fortunate however.

I wouldn't say I'm in this for the money by itself. I'm in this so I can make a living doing something I love. I have a few friends from college who absolutely hate that they never tried harder to pursue their goals. Seeing them unhappy kind of scared me into giving this whole thing a shot.

At the moment, I'm working from home. My parents started a business before I was born, and thankfully it hasn't been too greatly affected by everything going on. I was able to sort of step in and help them out, while also receiving a paycheck.

Mark

7/19/2020 03:27:43 pm

In many ways San Francisco is quite beautiful. I have many fond memories from there. But I would not go there at this time. I won't set foot in the city until they clean it up. That will require a drastic change in leadership.
It is a sad situation when you don't even enjoy your work, much less love it.
You are right, the percentage of writers that are supported by their writing is very small. We will talk more about diversifying income streams from your writing down the road.
I am retired from construction, now my business puts some cash in my pocket, it doesn't support us by any stretch of the imagination. I do love proofreading and promoting books because I love to read.
Working in the family business can be wonderful. Congratulations.
New questions.
Does your work, or past work if you are retired, have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this book?

Francis Williams link

7/19/2020 03:48:50 pm

The boring reality of my work held very little influence over my writing. I suppose I could say my work being boring made me want to find something I enjoyed more, but I don't know that that would necessarily count as influence.

Now what inspired me to write this particular book is easy to remember. I read a series of books by Bernard Cornwell, The Warlord Chronicles. I fell in love with the time period and wondered what it would be like to try and craft a story of my own set in a similar time period.

Now, my books are drastically different, but the setting is somewhat similar. Cornwell's series drove me to research the time period as thoroughly as I could, and when I found out there really isn't anything concrete understood, I decided to write a series of my own to fill in the blanks. It's sort of like two differing opinions. I'm not sure if he read mine, but my book showed up on a recommendation page on his official website, so I like to think he at least noticed its existence.

Mark

7/19/2020 06:14:31 pm

I think that falls into the category or necessity is the mother of invention, or is it idle hands find work in the devil's workshop? ;-)
The majestic and all-consuming "What If?" That is a winner almost every time. One of the best reasons out there.
That is pretty cool. You had to figure out so many details, I think you did a great job. The story rings with authenticity. He had to have seen your book, no doubt.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

Francis Williams link

7/19/2020 06:26:41 pm

I found an artist through Instagram. His handle is mc_monster, and I'll link his profile below.

As for the elements, the black and white scheme he uses really resonated with me. I'm supposed to be depicting a period in time known as the Dark Ages, after all. The absence of color really sold me.

As for the skies, I imagine each one of the bright spots would signify a god or goddess one would believe in during that time period. As everyone knows, there were many which were worshiped.

I only gave him a rough idea of what I needed, and told him to do what he wanted with it. That image is more from his mind than min. I think he did a wonderful job.

You can find more from him here!
https://www.instagram.com/mc__monster/

Mark

7/19/2020 06:37:18 pm

Thanks for the link, his cover is stark and startling exactly for the reasons you described. I love black and white photography, my bio-dad was a professional photographer and I learned a great deal about photography from him. It's much harder to hide a mistake with black and white pictures, unlike color.
Ansel Adams made some amazing pictures in his lifetime.
Mr. Mc_Monster did a great job for you.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

Francis Williams link

7/19/2020 07:03:24 pm

It would take another book to describe the changes Honor went through before its release. It was even titled Mercenary until about a month before it was out.

I really liked that name but knew it didn't fit quite as well. I felt like Honor was much more in line with the themes. Many people in my story have no honor, and many people are driven by theirs. I'd go further into detail, but I don't want to give too much away to the prospective reader.

As for Mercenary, that is now the title of the third installment I am about a quarter of the way through. Once my second book, Usurper, was released I began the third about a day and a half later. Currently it's on the back burner, but I certainly haven't forgotten about it.

The names of the characters were probably the easiest part. All I had to do was search for the original names given to knights in the Holy Grail legends. All of those stories are much older than people think, and were repurposed later on.

As for the characters not mentioned in those stories, I searched for Roman gravestones found in Britain. There are so many different kinds of names from anywhere in the world, that choosing them was honestly really fun. I could mix and match as much as I wanted.

One thing a lot of people miss about the Roman Empire was just how truly expansive it was. There were people who were born along the Nile, serving the Roman equivalent of a tour of duty in Scotland, then retiring to some place in France or Germany. It's truly unbelievable how diverse and spread out it was. It also made it possible for me to reflect that diversity through the crew of the ship the protagonist owns.

Mark

7/20/2020 09:57:39 am

That title change was almost last minute. I am glad you listened to the small, irritating voice. I like the title you settled on.
I have an image in my mind of knights in armor at the round table for the Holy Grail legends. Placing it in my mind in the middle ages. When did these legends begin?
The Roman empire was huge. There is no question about that. Conscription was a common practice to fill the ranks in the army and navy. There are always those who realize that having a full belly is a good thing. So they fully embrace being drafted and begin to excel, then they start to get promoted through the ranks. You are right, the diversity is something that doesn't jump to the forefront of my mind.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Francis Williams link

7/20/2020 02:43:49 pm

Those legends were adapted from later Celtic stories about magical artifacts similar to the Holy Grail. They were adapted to relate more to the changing demographics in the middle ages. Most of the worshipers of the older gods and goddesses were now gone, so Christian monks and priests were able to form their own stories, substituting the older themes with newer ones they could speak of with their followers. From my understanding, it was sort of a way to preserve Celtic heritage without seeming like they were speaking out against the Church.

It's very interesting, and I would encourage anyone to research them. I honestly don't know if I like the older stories more, or the well-known versions. Both are extremely interesting.

Ironically, I entered a bunch of contests when I was younger and hadn't even published anything yet. I won a small, local contest once and received an Amazon gift card. Hardly anything of note, but it was still a win. I haven't entered Honor into any contests, but was told of a couple I should consider. I haven't made any decisions on that though. Still much too busy writing and working.

I did win a small award for Honor, but it wasn't quite a competition. It was more of an achievement-based award. Since it earned five stars on a website, they gave me a small badge I placed onto the cover. I removed it after some time after receiving a handful of complaints that it "cheapened" the look of it.

Mark

7/20/2020 04:11:53 pm

Pretty interesting how those things change over time. I am wondering if changes will continue to happen. In this connected age we live in fact checking is everywhere, as are cameras and microphones to record events. We learn over and over that perspective can change everything, sometimes.
Did winning that contest at a young age encourage you to write more? That is pretty cool.
There are lots of contests out there, some are legit and some are grabs for your money and your intellectual property rights. The later is far more important in the long run. Here is a link that you might find useful: https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests/ More great blogs are available on the "Highly Regarded Blogs" page on my website.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you? How many books have you put in KU?
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

Francis Williams link

7/20/2020 04:56:35 pm

At the time, entering contests was more about me wondering if they were any fun. I really had no aspirations to write a full-fledged book until a few years later. Once I decided to, I figured that was a small amount of encouragement that I had a decent understanding of what I was doing.

As for Kindle Unlimited, I entered both Honor and Usurper about a week ago. It is more of an experiment at this point, as I can't quite figure out how well I'm doing just yet. I had one day where four people read about 900 pages, but no more than 200 pages a day have been read since. So far, I'm still collecting data on that.

I have never queried, but had three agents contact me regarding publishing. None of them were from big-name publishers, and two wanted to pretty much buy the story and forgo any kind of royalties. Those two experiences soured my outlook on traditional publishing, but I am still holding out hope that someday the right fit will come along.

The third company has just started out, and I'm currently weighing the benefits against how I already go about everything. I'm not quite prepared to comment on how that discussion is going, but their platform us somewhat like Kindle Unlimited and happens to be rather unique.

Mark

7/20/2020 06:39:16 pm

Entering the contests was more of a lark than any serious thought about writing. The award was a nice nod to your talent and the potential it held.
KU is an interesting beast, because every reader is different, but the only thing you see is how many pages were read. I am assuming you don't have access to any demographic info such as gender, race, economic strata or geographic location.
I would be very leery of agents that contact you. They deserve very special vetting. Run fast if they ask you for money up front, real agents don't get paid until they get you a contract. Many blogs have been written about that also. One that comes to mind is "Writer Beware".
I haven't heard of an agent that wants to buy a story outright, that is a new twist for me. I don't pretend to know all that is out there also.
There are different types of publishers also. From traditional publishers to independent and hybrid publishers all the way to vanity publishers, there is a wide range of opportunity and threat to your wallet and intellectual property rights. I recommend having any contract checked by an attorney experienced with IP rights, because that is the secret to building wealth for an author. The book is a drop in the bucket.
New questions.
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

Francis Williams link

7/20/2020 07:49:56 pm

Well, it is no secret I'm somewhat biased on the topic. As someone who publishes independently, I like to think my book is as good as anyone's. Really, it is not for me to say. Everyone always thinks they're the next Stephen King, but that's really only something others can decide. It's a label given by the reader.

I would have say to the most important thing to consider with a publisher is the help they can offer. I've pretty much done everything for my books by myself, so I know just how grueling that climb up the mountain can be. Most days, you don't feel like you've accomplished anything at all. If someone can help give you the tools to be more successful, I think it would be foolish to not at least consider it.

Control would be number two. I wouldn't want someone taking full control of my work. That one is rather simple.

Three would be the cut they take. This one is where I lack experience. I don't know the typical cut a publisher would take other than what Amazon takes from a sale. I feel like that wouldn't be the same as someone who publishes through another outlet.

As you can probably tell, I'm a bit fuzzy on this subject, but I hope someone finds something useful in my answers.

Mark

7/20/2020 09:02:51 pm

Like life, everything has an upside and a downside. When you self-publish or independently publish, there are many tradeoffs to consider and they come down to time, money and control. What you can't do yourself has to be farmed out to someone else.
I provide proofreading service and promotion service. Few authors can proofread their own work, even after editing and rewriting, errors creep in. If that wasn't the case I wouldn't find spelling errors in almost every book I read.
Control on intellectual property rights is huge in my mind. There are so many licensing opportunities available to authors. Because your books are in Kindle Unlimited some of those opportunities are not available for you at the moment. Many authors recommend going wide and getting your book onto as many different selling platforms as possible. Not everyone shops on Amazon. Some refuse to shop there. An aggregator might be useful for you in that matter.
There are also audio books. They are exploding worldwide. There are many countries where English is the official language of government and business. In these countries, there are millions whose only access to the internet is through a smart phone. Many of them want to improve their command of the English language. Other countries teach English as a second language at all levels of education.
Licensing includes translating into other languages, large print editions, graphic novels, role playing games, plays, streaming services and maybe movies.
If you do some research, I have no doubt you will find a blog or two that talk about customary and usual charges for services. Wise investments will pay likely pay off in the long run. If not for you, then for your children.
Those are good answers. You have just helped someone.
New questions.
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?
When you decided to indie-publish how did you pick a publisher?

Francis Williams link

7/20/2020 09:12:51 pm

Twitter has been my go-to so far. There are so many people there that are not only interested in buying your books, but actually improving them as well. I can't express how important those connections were to the modest success I've seen so far.

I also have a Facebook page, which I update a bit more infrequently, and an Instagram. Those two do see a fair bit of attention from me, but Twitter is still my preferred option. And thanks to your input, I have also been looking into developing a website.

As for how I picked Amazon as my publisher, it came down to ease and money. At the time, I had no idea Ingram Spark charged so much, yet had no programs to help you actually create your book. I saw Amazon had their own program and figured I would give it a shot. They have greatly improved it since, and I haven't yet been disappointed by their customer service either. I'm pretty sure that's because they took over Createspace, but I'm not certain.

On a side note, Kindle Create is easy enough that I was able to talk my father into writing a children's book. So if anyone is on the fence, I would encourage you to at least give it a shot.

Mark

7/21/2020 10:35:37 am

Twitter seems to be The Place for authors and writers. It's a good idea to be on multiple platforms, according to many in the industry. You can leverage these presences to increase your fans and followers. The heart of the matter is the website and building a mailing list, That is the only platform that you control. That should be your priority, according to experts, but not to the exclusion of other platforms. The problem is it takes away from writing time. When you don't have a lot to begin with, every hour becomes precious. I believe slow and steady wins the race.
I am glad to hear that you had a good experience on Amazon. They have turned the publishing world upside down and inside out. The list of traditional publishers has been shrinking at all levels. They struggle now to maintain a slim profit margin. One of the results is that they take far fewer chances on unknown authors than before.
The flip side is that anyone can publish a book and many have that desire.
New questions.
Will you stick with Amazon for your next books?
What is Amazon doing, if anything, to market your books?

Francis Williams link

7/21/2020 03:28:54 pm

I do plan on sticking with Amazon for the foreseeable future. It's just so much easier than the other platforms I've looked at. That being said, I'm always keeping my ear to the ground and paying attention to newer platforms, weighing the pros and cons. But as I do that, Amazon is continuously coming out on top. If that changes, so will my approach.

Amazon makes it easy to create your own ad campaigns, but they don't actually run them for you. You have to find the keywords and search terms, and through a process of bidding, you can have your book placed onto a search page. I run all of it, but do have a handful of people skilled in marketing to turn to if need be.

Mark

7/21/2020 04:47:50 pm

Amazon is the big player now. There is no question about that.
I have heard good and bad things about Amazon ads. Many blogs have been written about it also. There is no denying that the more people who see your book that is increased opportunity for them to buy it.
This book has been out for almost a year and you have 33 reviews with an average 4.5 stars, that is very good for a debut book, especially for the quantity of reviews.
New questions.
How often do you bid and place these ads or is it done by a budget? I don't know very much about that process myself.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Francis Williams link

7/21/2020 07:25:31 pm

I'm actually pretty shocked by some of the reviews I've gotten. I had faith I wrote a decent book, but it seems like most people who actually finished it enjoyed it quite a bit. I understand it's a slow burn, so when I see someone stuck it out through the setup, I get pretty happy.

As for the bidding, It's automatically running the second you identify the keywords you want associated with your book. There is a maximum daily budget you can set, so if you hit it, Amazon won't run your ad until the following day. It's a bit of a juggling act when you're trying to find the right budget/bid combination.

The most unethical thing that jumps to mind would be when a person labels themself as a professional editor and charges an exorbitant amount for their "service". That's what happened to me with Usurper, and I swear, I think there are more errors now than when I sent the manuscript off for editing. I have since gotten a full refund, and the individual was found out and removed from the service I'd used.

Mark

7/21/2020 07:51:15 pm

All of your reviews for Honor are four and five star. That is good! Although, a one- or two-star review would be good also. It convinces people that the reviews are not all coming from your mom and her cats.
Every book has an audience, and conversely there exists a non-audience, the people who don't normally read that type of book. They usually admit that in the review. Then there are the trolls, the only safe thing to do with them is ignore them. They love to stir up the pot and create havoc.
The Amazon ad thing is interesting. Actually very smart from their point of view. I bet it pulls in a lot of money for them.
An editor that does more harm than good. That is terrible in my mind also. There are scammers everywhere, unfortunately. Due diligence must be done to avoid being a victim of a person like that. As a member of that profession, I apologize to you for the scam that was perpetrated on you. Glad you got your money back.
New questions.
Have you thought about offering a large-print edition of your books?
Have you thought about doing an audio book?

Francis Williams link

7/21/2020 08:02:16 pm

I actually like the idea of offering a large-print book, but Amazon's restrictions on printing don't allow me to. It would actually cost me money to print the book each time a person bought it. That is, unless I made it a $30 investment on the buyer's part, but I feel like that is an unreasonable price.

Now, audio books are very interesting to me. I've contacted many individuals about potentially doing one, but haven't had much luck just yet. Mostly, their concerns stem from the fact it is a very sizable novel and would take a lot of time to finish.

Mark

7/21/2020 09:17:38 pm

Maybe you should offer it at that price and see what happens. If nobody buys it would you be out much? It might be worth it to the person who can't read electronically.
Audio books are a big deal in many parts of the world. Yes, your book would be expensive to make. You might find this interview of interest: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green
Copy and paste or search for it on my website. Plus there are a lot of blogs about audio books on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn even tells you how to make your own recording studio on the cheap.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Francis Williams link

7/21/2020 09:46:55 pm

I only have a handful of authors I would categorize as favorites. Bernard Cornwell is certainly one, but there's also, J.R.R Tolkien, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, and of course, Robert Louis Stevenson.

Treasure Island is my absolute favorite book, and I think I must have watched the Starz adaption/prelude, Black Sails, at least 12 times since it concluded. It even drove me to create my own pirate adventure novel, of which I am about half way through. Like Honor, however, I'm struggling with naming it.

If you were asking about books I read when I was VERY young, I remember first going through The Hobbit when I turned nine. I definitely had a pretty optimistic outlook on my reading ability at that age, and had absolutely no idea what was going on. That must not have mattered to me since I've read it every year since.

Mark

7/22/2020 10:49:47 am

Tolkien is on my list, right alongside C. S, Lewis. I have enjoyed Clancy also, and Stevenson really captured my attention in middle school.
I read the Hobbit once and LOTR three time before graduating from high school. Did you ever read CS Lewis' sci-fi trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet? His protagonist was patterned after his close friend, JRRT.
Sci-fi is my #1 favorite genre, then fantasy and historical fiction.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

Francis Williams link

7/22/2020 03:15:19 pm

I haven't read any of Out of the Silent Planet, but funny enough, I know I own one of them. I saw it a book drive a while back and picked it up.

Writing doesn't quite have a spiritual component for me, but I suppose it does have a slight healing one. There have been a few days where I was rather stressed and dove into writing, feeling better at the end of it than when I started. It has never made me feel tired, but I do put a lot of effort in, so I occasionally feel a bit mentally drained. Never physically though.

Tapping into the emotional state of a character is extremely important. Emotions are the things people can relate to. Everyone has felt sad, mad, happy, etc. Being able to convey those emotions brings a sense of relatability to a character that the reader can identify with. It keeps the reader engaged.

Mark

7/22/2020 04:11:28 pm

I hope you enjoy the story when you read it. Lewis was a prolific writer in many different genres, fiction and non-fiction. I think he is most well known for The Chronicles of Narnia.
That feeling of accomplishment can do a lot to turn a not-so-good day around.
Well and succinctly said. We are emotional creatures, all of us. That is one of the many things that bind us together and unite us as human beings. Emotions are very powerful when exercised in the right way.
New questions.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Francis Williams link

7/22/2020 04:25:15 pm

I actually participated in NaNoWriMo by accident. I began my novel in November of 2018, and was halfway finished by December. I honestly didn't know I was participating, but thought it was pretty funny when I figured it out.

I used to be quite the overwriter, but I found my stories to be much too convoluted when I splashed as much information onto the page as I could. I made the mistake of writing stories the same way I used to write the answer to an essay question if I didn't actually know the answer. I was always told to put every piece of semi-relevant information down and hope for the best. With writing a novel, it's much better to be a little bare bones about it in the first stage. It gives you better control over streamlining your thoughts. That is obviously just my opinion, and it is very likely there are more successful writers than myself doing the opposite.

Mark

7/22/2020 05:13:19 pm

That is funny. You are the first person I have heard who won NaNoWriMo by accident. I love it.
That is a good strategy for essays in school, most other places not so much. That is a common error some new writers make. For most, they want to work in every detail they gleaned from hours of research. Others cause readers to close the book when every excruciating detail of daily activity is described thoroughly. That is probably the best way to lose a reader early on. Every word should earn its place on the page. If two words don't advance the story they should be eliminated, in my opinion.
I have not written a novel, but I believe your advice is sound. I think it's easier to fill in bits of relevant detail here and there, rather than having to cut and run the risk of losing important details. It also allows for critical foreshadowing.
There are also successful writers doing what you do also. That is one of the fun parts of writing, every writer gets to find what works best for them. They get to keep working on it, with editing and rewriting until they are happy with it. There has never been a perfect first draft, unless it was perfectly awful; and that is very common.
New questions.
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?

Francis Williams link

7/22/2020 06:07:12 pm

I like dialogue tags more than action beats, but since I use both in different situations, I can't say I necessarily have a STRONG preference. If I'm introducing an additional character into a conversation, I would probably use the action beat. If I was writing a conversation where the reader already knows everyone in the room, more often than not, I'd go with a dialogue tag.

Fleshing out a character's back story has always been tricky for me. I used to write the backstory out on a separate sheet of paper to use for reference, but I felt I began using it more like a checklist. I would go and find the one bit of information I needed and then forget to use it again once I added it. Now, I stay away from checklists altogether. I write and write and write, letting the flow of the work take care of itself. That approach seems to fit me more than planning a book out.

Mark

7/22/2020 07:12:07 pm

Some authors, known as plotters, go to great lengths to make the characters come alive for them. Like you once did, they develop a backstory, decide on appearance, likes, occupations, mannerisms and much more sometimes. Some authors draw pictures, decide on music and other things the character likes. Some authors subject the main characters to personality tests also. One of my guest bloggers and a client, Rick Hall has developed a wonderful tool for helping to establish a character's identity, it is detailed in a guest blog about Character Creation. It is very thorough and it's free. It might be worth a look. I am very impressed with it.
New questions.
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely?
If you used a close friend or family member in a book, would you tell them or make sure that they wouldn't recognize themselves in the story?

Francis Williams link

7/22/2020 07:19:51 pm

I definitely base some of my characters on people I know. I think most authors do that to some extent. The protagonists and main antagonists are always totally made up, but I do use people I've met for minor characters. I actually used myself for Amiram.

The other people I've used aren't people I really talk to anymore. Seeing as how I write under a pseudonym, I don't think anyone will really find out I ever portrayed them. But if they do and they see this, I hope they understand I put them in because they were important to me at some point and it's sort of a thank you.

Mark

7/22/2020 08:36:29 pm

I agree, I think most authors use people they know for at least some details, however minor those may be. A few actually use people that are close or are well known to them, with permission. I have been told that they make sure that there are no negative connotations associated with these characters.
I am the basis for a character in a cozy mystery, in a loose way. I was a sidekick to the secret, main antagonist, that had a change of heart at the end and was killed for that by the antagonist. It was a good death.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

Francis Williams link

7/22/2020 08:47:39 pm

I had a lot more fun writing the protagonist. He's somewhat mentally unstable, so that part was a bit fun to play with. Even though I didn't make him fully crazy, he was still unique.

As for the one thing I hate about him, I'd say his assumption that doing the right thing will never get him screwed over. That comes into play in a way I don't want to spoil for the prospective reader.

One thing I love about my book is how there isn't just one antagonist. I'm very happy I decided to go that route. I have several, but my favorite one is actually only introduced in Honor, while he is the main antagonist in Usurper. Without giving too much away, he's sinister, driven, but more dangerous than anything else, he thinks he's doing the right thing.

Mark

7/23/2020 10:42:42 am

Rescuing a loved one from harm can make a person seem off-kilter. When your world has been turned upside down, there is little to do except to restore the balance that was lost.
The old adage of no good deed goes unpunished certainly seems to be true in life. It can be very disconcerting quite frequently. Thanks for not revealing that spoiler.
Multiple antagonists can increase the entertainment factor by quite a bit. You have also done a good job of including the environment as an occasional antagonist and protagonist. That is the mark of a well-written antagonist, they are the hero if they are telling the story.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Francis Williams link

7/23/2020 04:12:00 pm

Each time I write, I start by going over what I did the previous day. I only ever try to reach a 1k word mark, and anything beyond that is a gift. That thousand words for the day can either be something new, or an addition to something I'd already started, but maybe didn't have the brain power to finish.

The most important thing I try to do is stay as concise as possible. I'll add the flowery descriptions in at a later time when the storyline is solidified. If I try to do too much at once, it means I'll probably end up writing something I'll just take out when I begin my edits.

One tip I'd give to someone writing their own book but struggling with a flow, is listen to ambient music from YouTube. That tip was given to me by a teacher I once had in college. He published a few books of his own, and always raved about being able to do it more efficiently if he had some kind of music to listen to.

Mark

7/23/2020 04:33:12 pm

A lot of authors set ambitious goals of three to five thousand words, they suffer disappointment when they fail to hit the mark. I think setting a lower goal is wise. Having a good feeling at the end of a writing session builds confidence and that translates into more writing in the long run.
Using succinct descriptions is a good idea at the beginning. I like it.
That seems like a good idea to me, pleasant, background, instrumental music certainly can't hurt.
New questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?

Francis Williams link

7/23/2020 04:44:36 pm

I think pacing is probably the more important of the two. Thankfully, it's also the easiest to control. If I'm writing a fight scene, I can use shorter words to emphasize a hectic and fast-paced environment. If I'm writing a long dialogue scene, I'd use more descriptors, laying out changes in facial expressions, posture, etc.

As for my writing process, yes, it has certainly changed. I try to constantly evolve with how I go about my writing. That was always something I knew I would have to do if I wasn't certain what my style would be. Right now, the core principles I adhere to when doing the first draft of a novel would be brevity and clarity. If I need to add information or spice up the language, I'll just worry about that in the subsequent drafts. The most important thing I set out to do is create a strong base.

Creating a strong base is actually something I learned from a completely unrelated topic. I played a college sport and was always told to create a strong core and base in the weight room. I thought it would make sense to try and apply that principle to other aspects of my life, and I think it's payed off.

Mark

7/23/2020 07:09:57 pm

Pacing is easy to control, exactly as you described. Short words and sentences for action keep the pace moving rapidly. It works quite well.
Writing is a skill and a talent. A good author is always seeking to improve their skill and thus augment their talent. I do that in proofreading also. Your goal for a first draft is perfect and well stated. I put it much simpler to writers, I tell them the first draft is supposed to be a pile of garbage, it has to get out of their head and onto paper. That is the only way it can be edited and improved.
A good base or foundation makes a lot of sense to me, and it does apply to almost every area of life.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

Francis Williams link

7/23/2020 07:35:11 pm

Now that Honor has been out for a while, there is one character I regret not having in the series from the start. He'll be introduced in the third book, so I'll still be getting a fair amount of use out of him, but I thought up an amazing idea for how he could've impacted the events of the first book. If anyone who sees this is a fan of Roman history, they'll likely find some enjoyment in his presence.

So far as changes to what I have, I can't say there are any. I poured over it again and again from January of 2019 to the publishing date, and didn't really alter any elements of the storyline. All in all, I'm satisfied with where it all landed.

I think my books can relate to certain people who have responsibility thrust onto them. Drysten wanted that responsibility, but never in the way he ended up gaining it. I think his experiences and the way he adapted and grew as a person can be related to even today.

Mark

7/23/2020 08:50:53 pm

There are many fans of Roman mysteries. I am thinking of one book about a minor citizen named Felix, he lives in a Roman styled world where magic is active and used by many. I can't think of the author's name at the moment, it's Asaph or something like that.
Landing in a crisis situation without warning will cause a person to sink or swim, literally. That is when we find out if we have the right stuff or not.
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Francis Williams link

7/23/2020 09:00:32 pm

I have never been much of a poetry fan. I understand it well enough to be able to recognize good poetry, but that's about it. As for a classical author, the one that comes to mind would be Robert Louis Stevenson. I actually just started rereading Treasure Island after I brought it up in one of my previous posts.

A current author who helped me shape the way I write is Bernard Cornwell. I loved his Sharpe series, and the Saxons Stories series is also pretty amazing. The way he writes is extremely easy to follow, and I knew I needed to try and emulate that a bit as a newer author.

Another one who influenced me, but one that I don't particularly model myself after is Diana Gabaldan. I watched tons of interviews she's done since her books became popular, and she continually pumps out good advice. I'm not 100% certain, but I think she has a Masterclass available as well.

Mark

7/24/2020 10:32:21 am

I don't understand poetry either, much of the time, but I cannot deny that it impacts me much of the time.
I have heard it said and I believe it, that really easy reading is really hard to achieve.
Thanks for the tip about Diana Gabaldan. It's my hope that other authors will find useful tips in these interviews that I conduct.
New questions.
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

Francis Williams link

7/24/2020 12:48:29 pm

I'm not sure I would ask them much at all. I would probably hope to have lunch or something with them so I could have a longer conversation. I'm sure I could learn quite a bit from just having a simple dialogue.

When I start out my books, I use Google Docs. I prefer that program because the file is saved to my Gmail account and I can access it anywhere without worrying about losing a flash drive. Once I have the first draft finished, I move to Microsoft Word.

Mark

7/24/2020 01:08:45 pm

A leisurely meal would be wonderful.
A number of authors use Google docs for that reason. A lot of writers use MS Word, I use it also. It has such a wide user base.
I don't use a flash drive also. When I am working on manuscript I save it to my email each night as a way to preserve my daily work. If my computer flips out, at least I have the work preserved.
New questions.
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

Francis Williams link

7/24/2020 02:10:07 pm

I usually have to resort to making a small spreadsheet to keep track of all my characters. I don't know the final tally of how many I have in Honor, but I know it's well over 30, and that's not counting the small characters who don't have important roles. I also have a small ream of flashcards I have ALL of them outlined in with background information. Thank God I had the foresight to alphabetize it.

The story of Honor swerved a few times while writing it. It was one of the reasons the title needed to be changed once it was all said and done. That also happened in the pirate novel I'm working through right now. The protagonist isn't remotely similar to the way I originally planned, and his backstory is much more intriguing because of this.

Those moments when you figure out you could do better than you thought are always gratifying. I feel like many authors treat it as they didn't get it right the first time and made a mistake. I think of it as nothing more than an improvement.

Mark

7/24/2020 04:49:36 pm

Quite a few authors resort to one form of organization or another. A spreadsheet is used rather commonly. There is also a growing fan base for writing aids. One that comes to my mind is Scrivener, I am sure there are others. Scrivener is touted as the most wonderful software for organizing and writing a book by it fans. The downside is that it has a steep learning curve. Those that conquer it love it.
Many authors have shared similar stories about a character doing anything from suggesting a few changes to nearly throwing a tantrum to effect changes in the story. Most authors report the changes are well worth it, also.
Just like a first draft, it's never right the first time. Pruning, scrubbing and polishing are necessary to turn that dirty lump into a sparkling jewel.
New questions.
I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog at some point with post-its or note cards?
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?

Francis Williams link

7/24/2020 05:03:44 pm

I'm fairly old-fashioned when it comes to my outlining. I prefer to use a pen and paper, but I can guarantee nobody else on the planet would be able to make any sense of my notes. I simply like being able to hold the information I wrote down in my hands. A computer is used strictly for the actual writing in my writing process. I'm not saying my way is the better way, but for me it certainly works more effectively than constantly clicking through the tabs of my internet browser.

So far as my actual writing, I normally just take my laptop and sit down with it either on my bed, a table downstairs, or anywhere I feel would be comfortable. I'm not into writing outside of home, but if I'm babysitting a dog or something I'll definitely take it with me.

Mark

7/24/2020 06:12:23 pm

That is one of the wonderful things about writing. Whatever works for you is right. There is a method for everyone. Some writers, known as pantsters, get an idea and start writing. They may or may not know how the story will end. At the other end of the spectrum are the plotters, those writers who develop an outline for the entire book, sometimes for each chapter. Once their outline is done, they start cranking through the outline and filling out the bare-bones outline with muscles and skin.
I don't like to work outside of my home also. I prefer my office, where I have my copy of Chicago Manual of Style. Sometimes I go to our daughter's house to watch the younger granddaughters, my laptop goes with me and I get work done there also. Proofreading requires a fair amount of quiet.
If I am reading for a promotion, I can do that anywhere. Except maybe not a rollercoaster.
New questions.
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing at home, or do you need quiet?
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

Francis Williams link

7/24/2020 06:21:38 pm

I normally have the TV on while I'm writing, but I always have it on a channel I'm not even the least bit interested in. That only changes if there's an Oakland Athletics game on, in which case I'll be paying close attention and not getting much work done.

I have found that ambient music can help set a tone for what kind of section you're writing. I listen do a darker violin or piano during more sinister parts. If I was writing something happier, maybe just the sounds of an old tavern would work.

The easiest thing for me to write would be narration. The language is always supposed to be easy to understand, so you don't need to flower it up at all. With dialogue and action, you really need to find the PERFECT adjective or adverb for the occasion, and sometimes if you're brain doesn't want to cooperate, you can't.

That's one thing I always hear conflicting reports on. The use of adverbs seems like it's necessary to me, but I'm always told not to use them. That's one question I would actually like to pose to you. What's your stance?

Mark

7/24/2020 08:29:07 pm

A little ambient noise goes a long way. That makes sense to use a station with nothing of personal interest. With all of the hundreds of cable channels and streaming options that is pretty easy to do.
I have heard of many authors who use music to stimulate their muse. Some go a step beyond and create a play list for the book or even each chapter.
I think we all have those moments, when the perfect word will not appear on stage at command. We have to hunt it down.
Good question for the friendly inquisitor. Adverbs have been declared persona non grata by the Stephen King, or so I have heard. I think they have their place in a story. But they can also become a crutch and used more than necessary. When I start to see a lot of them, when they intrude on my consciousness, that is when I look for ways they can be eliminated. I am a moderation-in-all-things guy. Use them, but sparingly. Oops, there is one now. ;-)
New questions.
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

Francis Williams link

7/24/2020 09:12:30 pm

The easiest thing for me to write is taste. I wish I had an explanation as to why this is, but I don't. Whenever I write about food, it's just so much easier for me to describe it to someone. Another one I don't normally struggle with is hearing, but that one is much easier to explain. If I want to know what something would sound like, I just go look it up on YouTube.

Now, doing that with sight has been hard because I tend to assume the reader is going to know what I mean. For instance, if something is red, I sometimes fall into the trap of saying how red in too much detail. Other times, I don't give enough of a clue. The balance of it has been difficult, but I truly couldn't explain why that is. It's always been something I'm mindful of in my edits, so I'm not sure if my struggles with it are apparent or not.

I have never acted or written a play, but I worked in a behind-the-scenes role as a lighting guy for my college's theater department. I earned an extra credit or two, but didn't have much responsibility. My only job was to pretty much turn the lights on and off.

Mark

7/25/2020 10:09:41 am

I find that fascinating, so many authors report struggling with taste or the tactile sense, how something feels. Since taste is easy for you, it makes me wonder if you like to cook or bake. My wife is a good cook and she is a superb baker. I love her chocolate chip cookies.
I didn't know you could find sounds and probably sound effects on YouTube. That makes a lot of sense to me. I know there are websites devoted to sound effects.
Sight is very common, but there are millions of shades of color across the spectrum. I didn't notice any difficulties with colors in your book, so you are doing pretty well, IMHO.
I have seen pictures of flowers using some kind of ultraviolet light combined with visible light for humans and the flowers have sparkles all over them, like glitter. Apparently bees and other pollinating insects can see in the UV spectrum. Those things are beautiful. It makes me wonder what it would be like for a human to see in the UV range.
Being a lighting guy may seem unimportant and boring, until you miss a cue.
New questions.
Do you think your experience in performing arts has helped you as a writer?
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book?

Francis Williams link

7/25/2020 01:09:11 pm

I actually do like to cook! My favorite dish is fettuccine alfredo.

I wouldn't say my experience in performance arts helped me at all. I spent most of my time in the lighting booth watching baseball on my phone. All I had to do was listen for specific moments when I needed to turn the lights off. On top of that, I was working with another guy as well, so what little responsibility we had was split between two people.

As for marketing, I've got the Amazon marketing campaign I mentioned earlier and BookBub ads going each day. The hardest part isn't automated and falls onto me. That would be the numerous posts on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram I have to create and post. After it's in my budget, I intend to find myself a publicist.

Mark

7/25/2020 03:23:32 pm

Did I mention I like Italian food? No, I did not, however, I like food of every kind! My list of number one favorite foods is quite extensive.
It sounds like being in charge of lighting was extremely boring.
It sounds like you are working it pretty hard. Do you schedule your posts on social media in advance or do them live as you desire? Tell me about the Bookbub ads. Are they different from Amazon ads and in what ways?
Did you see the post about keywords for Amazon ads from Kindlepreneur? I posted the link on my Highly Regarded Blogs page a day or two ago. That Dave guy seems pretty smart.

Francis Williams link

7/25/2020 03:44:51 pm

I typically do the social media ads myself. I learned how to automate them but decided I wanted a bit more control. That being said, I'm working up an automatic ad as we speak.

The BookBub ads seem to work the exact same way as the Amazon ads. They charge by the click, but don;t seem to be quite as expensive. That's probably because they don;t allow you to set the prices yourself. Either that, or they do allow it, and I just haven't figured that out yet.

That blog post you mentioned has a TON of useful information. It definitely helped me clear some things up regarding my own ad campaign. I highly recommend anyone who sees this goes and checks it out!

Mark

7/25/2020 05:15:33 pm

I have most of my tweets already written. I found a super clipboard for Windows that is amazing. Spartan Clips is a powerful app that can store many different things and makes my life so much easier. It has color coding and many other features. You might find it useful.
I am glad you found that blog useful. Kindlepreneur has some good stuff, though not all of it hits the top spot of the day. I usually post only one or two links a day.
New questions.
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Francis Williams link

7/25/2020 06:09:21 pm

In my experience, I've found AMS campaigns can be very useful. I've just been struggling with finding the right bids so I don't end up spending my daily budget in the first few hours of the day.

As for why I chose you for promotion, your follower count was rather high. But more importantly, you seemed knowledgeable and reliable. Your website hit all the check marks I was looking for as well. I was able to look up past interviews and see the types of questions you ask as well as research how some of those authors are doing. All in all, it wasn't a terribly difficult decision.

Mark

7/25/2020 07:05:05 pm

That makes sense, you want to see as many exposures or impressions as possible for your ads. Have you noticed any particular time frame when you get most of your clicks?
Thanks, that validates some of my decisions a couple of years ago. I envisioned that the answers to my questions might be helpful for beginning authors or help spread some of the experience around, so others can make wise choices also.
New questions.
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

Francis Williams link

7/25/2020 08:05:43 pm

So far, I haven't been able to determine what time frame works best. It seems to be sort of all over the place in that way.

I always start out a book without any kind of research. There are two major reasons behind this.
1) It gives me the opportunity to see if I can craft a decent beginning without the worry of being inaccurate. If I can do that, then I just go make the necessary corrections once I find the correct information.

2) If I try to write the beginning and can't even make up fake history well enough to get the ball rolling, I decide to simply keep it as a draft and start on something else. I always felt that you could sacrifice small pieces of known history in favor of a good story, so long as you aren't giving ancient Celts modern military weapons or spaceships. Now, if someone wants to write a science fiction novel based on that, then it would fit when taking into account the genre.

I got the idea for Honor about two months before I actually started the writing process. I loved the time period, mainly because of how little we truly know of it, and I decided to look high and low for every little scrap of information I could find. Once I did that, I knew I had to try my hand at writing a full-fledged novel out of it.

Mark

7/25/2020 09:11:52 pm

I like that idea of taking a run at it, to see what you can cook up strictly from your imagination. I think it's a good idea.
That is a nice thing about hist-fic as a genre, a little like sci-fi, you can get a lot wrong as long as some of the basics make sense. Some logic and continuity can carry a lot of weight.
The previous book review about King Richard II, had a lot more facts to consider, including that the research turned up conflicting expert opinions upon occasion.
New questions.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Francis Williams link

7/25/2020 09:40:12 pm

It only took me a couple of months before my first draft was completed. Don't get me wrong, it was a steaming pile of garbage, but it was still completed.

From that point on, I sort of just added/subtracted for a couple of months until I liked the plot and figured the second draft was readable. At that point, I had my father, who has a history of writing, read it over and tell me what he thought of the plot. When he came back with good comments, I knew most of what I had left was just more clean-up and revisions.

After it was all said and done, I think there may have been about five drafts. The only ones with real changes worth noting were the first two, while the rest were just grammar mistakes being corrected.

Mark

7/26/2020 10:44:36 am

Two months is pretty good. Just to get the story out of your head so it can be improved is important. It's the editing and rewriting that turns it into a gem.
How very nice, a built in beta reader and critique partner! Many writers are not so fortunate. Does he write fiction or non-fiction?
Many writers go through more drafts, and some should. Many writers of a book this size usually go through more drafts, this is a testament to your skill that you only did 5 drafts.
New questions.
Do you get ideas for future books while writing a book?
When does inspiration strike for you?
What do you do to preserve these ideas?

Francis Williams link

7/26/2020 01:20:07 pm

I actually thought up quite a few different books during the writing of Honor. One of the ideas was a scifi, and since I've always wanted to try my hand at science fiction, I started that one first. There's also Usurper, which I actually started before Honor was even completed, and a few others.

Funny enough, inspiration strikes me the hardest in the middle of the night. There have been numerous occasions where I thought up a really great plot point and had to fumble around for my phone so I could write it down.

Most of the time I'll write my ideas down onto a post-it note and place said note above my computer. But depending on where I am sort of dictates how I preserve my ideas.

Mark

7/26/2020 05:26:17 pm

I love hearing that. When the muse is speaking it's the wise person who listens. Having new ideas to work on is a surefire way of getting around any writer's block. Sci-fi is my favorite genre, with fantasy a close second. Time travel and dragons are what I love. Sometimes they even mix, especially on Pern.
I know one author who receives a regular visit from her muse nearly every night about 2:30 am. She keeps a pad and pencil by the bed so she doesn't lose any ideas. Another writer told me she gets her best ideas in the shower. I suggested she get a waterproof pad of paper and a Space pen, because that pen can write underwater. She thanked me.
Location makes a big difference as far as note taking is concerned.
New questions.
You already mentioned your dad is your alpha reader.
A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have beta-readers to help you smooth out some of the wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

Francis Williams link

7/26/2020 06:09:04 pm

The idea of a literal muse is interesting. I might have to write something about that!

Beta-readers are unbelievably important. I have about four people I can turn to. Of those, all of them fit well for a historical fiction novel, while I would probably only turn to two of them for scifi. I try to find people based on their interests, and while all four would likely be more than happy to review anything I sent, I don't think it would be fair to send something they might struggle to go through.

Mark

7/26/2020 06:59:36 pm

There was a movie made about a muse in 1999, "The Muse", you might enjoy it; it's pretty funny.
Beta readers are so important for a writer to get a book properly set up. On my Twitter home page I have many lists of people who provide services for writers. One of the lists is for beta readers. Help yourself, check their requirements carefully. I think five or six is a better number of beta readers to have. If you take good care of your betas, they will take care of you.
New questions.
How did you find your beta-readers?
Do you ask the beta readers to read through more than one draft of the manuscript?

Francis Williams link

7/26/2020 07:31:48 pm

I primarily found my Beta-readers on Goodreads. There's a whole forum dedicated to authors looking for Beta-readers so it was very simple, I just posted a short description about my book, told them how long it was, and sent them the manuscript. It was simple and I've never had a bad experience with the people on Goodreads.

I normally don't send them a copy of the manuscript until I've done a few drafts. The last two drafts always have the fewest changes that need to be made, so that's about the point I'm comfortable with sending it out. I wonder if any of them would have still read through the whole thing if I'd sent the first draft!

Mark

7/26/2020 08:02:15 pm

That is a good tip about finding beta readers on Goodreads. Thanks for sharing that. That was a simple process.
Waiting to send a more refined product is probably a good idea.
Does your dad read any of the later drafts?
New questions.
What kind of questions did you ask them to get the feedback you wanted or do you let them provide feedback without particular questions?
Will you seek out new beta readers or work with the same ones as before?
Do you reward the beta readers in any way particular?

Francis Williams link

7/26/2020 08:12:04 pm

My dad actually reads bits and pieces of all the drafts. He's retired, so he needs something to do anyway!

So far as what I ask for, I don't really specify. I may ask for an opinion on a certain plot point, but I never actually have specific requests. There is one exception to this. One of the readers I use has a degree in history from about the time period of Honor, so if I have historical questions, I'll go to him for the answers.

I actually haven't decided one new ones. I suppose it would fall back on the interest/availability of the ones I currently have. I've grown comfortable with them, so I'm not sure I should change the dynamic.

As for a reward, I actually haven't figured out what a fitting one would be. I'm certainly open to suggestions, but the ones I asked outright refused payment from me. I definitely appreciated it, but it sort of makes it hard when trying to think up a gift of some sort.

Mark

7/26/2020 08:26:02 pm

If your dad is looking for something to do, there is always room for another proofreader or book reviewer.
That is so cool, that you have a friend with a degree in that field. I bet he enjoys helping you. There is no reason to change something that is working well, until it isn't.
Some authors use the Acknowledgements page to offer thanks and praise for the beta readers. One possible reward is an autographed copy of the published book. Another idea is something that has some relation to the time period that the person might enjoy. The old standby is an Amazon gift card.
In fact, I just received one this week from an author grateful for my proofreading of her latest book in a series. It's a cozy mystery called "Double Trouble". Great story.
Gifting is tough at times.
New questions.
Do you belong to any writing groups, virtual or otherwise?
Are there any writing groups for the genre you write in?

Francis Williams link

7/26/2020 08:33:26 pm

I actually belong to a handful of writing groups on Facebook. I probably do more answering of questions than asking, as they're groups of beginners who are trying to learn the things I stumbled upon. I don;t mind it though, and even enjoy it quite a bit. I just try to answer the same questions that I had when I first started out. Most of them aren't even about writing, but the process of publishing instead.

The only other groups I really follow are those pertaining to the information I need to write in the historical fiction genre. They aren't groups for promoting, but occasionally they'll allow it. They're mainly educational.

Mark

7/27/2020 09:51:23 am

You are mentoring these other writers. Congratulations. That is noble of you to share your knowledge. I am not surprised that most of the questions are about publishing. Writing starts out as such an internal activity, at least until the first draft or two is done.
The genre specific groups are good to find I am sure. It probably becomes your turn to ask questions, more often than not.
It sounds like you are not involved in a critique group where the goal is to ensure that everyone gets their book completed and published.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

Francis Williams link

7/27/2020 02:08:49 pm

I was lucky enough to have a bunch of English teachers who made us write a lot. That was probably the most important thing that helped me decide to write a novel. They were always supportive of a student's creativity, and all of us appreciated it.

The first time I understood words can have a large impact was in a history class when I was about fourteen. We were researching Alexander the Great, and read the speech he made at Opis in Mesopotamia. I wouldn't be able to do it justice by summarizing it but I highly encourage anyone here t read it. The man was an amazing orator.

Mark

7/27/2020 03:24:23 pm

You were fortunate in that regard. My English teacher, only one in my high school, was not as insistent about writing. Her focus was maintaining her record of fielding champion debate squads at the state level.
I have not read that speech, as I recall. I have looked it up and will do that soon.
New questions.
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Francis Williams link

7/27/2020 03:57:25 pm

The biggest thing I learned was just how difficult the WHOLE process is. A lot of people don;t understand the publishing of a book doesn't stop once it's out there for people to read. I was one such person. I didn't take into account the advertising and choosing of where to put the actual advertisements. That whole process took as much or more effort than actually writing the book.

It's hard to pick just three things I wish I knew, but I'll bullet-point the biggest three.
1) Don't worry about the first draft being terrible. This was something I learned VERY early on but had never taken into account before starting the process. If a person understands their first draft is going to be terrible, it takes the pressure off of creating a best seller from the start. That right there can be a game changer. If there's less pressure on an author from the beginning, they'll probably make a better product.

2) Choose your audience from the start. I'm not sure if I brought this up in the interview yet, but it's incredibly important. You have to make it very clear who your audience is from the get-go. People who see your book up for pre-order already know what interests they have, but they won't know if they're interests align with your book unless you make it abundantly clear in the description. A big mistake people tend to make is broadening the synopsis to the point a person can read it and think "this book could be about just about anything." If they buy it, there's a better chance they aren't happy with it and leave a bad review, discouraging someone who actually would enjoy your book from reading it.

3) 3) How can I build off of this for my next book? That is such an unbelievably important question to ask yourself that I'm not even sure I'll be able to relay why in a short paragraph. Anytime a person writes a book, no matter how good it might be, there will always be little blemishes that they go back and find. I have a list of six sitting right next to me. Those came from Honor, my first book, and Usurper, my second. My goals going forward are to not make those mistakes in future books, regardless of whether or not they belong to the same series, or even genre of Honor. These mistakes could be so minor that nobody else would ever see them. But they're also the kind of mistakes that make the book that much better if they're not there at all.

Mark

7/27/2020 06:05:03 pm

The entire process is very difficult. It starts out with only the author and a blank screen. It stays that way pretty much until the first draft is done. You are right to say, do not worry about the first draft being a pile of garbage. In truth, that is the purpose of the first draft. It ha to be drawn out of the author's head. That is the only way it can go through multiple drafts of editing and rewriting to become a potential gem. I think too many authors strive for a perfect first draft and they develop a severe case of writer's block. The muse wants to run free, not get stuck on a slow treadmill.
After publication, the real fun of marketing and promotion begins. Because, with a million books being published every year, it takes a lot to get noticed in all the froth and foam of all those other books.
Another excellent point, the author has to know who they are writing for. "Everybody" never buys a book. That person doesn't care. Every book has an audience and the wise author will identify their audience and aim straight for them. The book that is loved by all has never been written and will never be written. Every book has an audience and a non-audience, those are the people who don't like that kind of book.
That last comment is a great one for the business side of being a writer. The more books an author writes the more they build their future. Books keep on selling, year in and year out. You never know when a book might be made into another form, such as a screenplay. I heard of an author who had a 50 year old book picked up for an option by a production company.
Last questions.
What are some challenges to writing Historical Fiction?
What happens when your historical sources don’t agree?
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

Francis Williams link

7/27/2020 07:27:51 pm

Right off the top of my head, I would say finding the balance between historically accurate and having a good story. Many historical fiction books are written in times where events are meticulously recorded. While those records provide an indispensable resource, adhering to them too strongly can handicap the writer while they're trying to craft a story. That's one reason I chose the time period I did. If I wanted to find out what happened once the Romans left Britain, I would have about two or three resources I could turn to for some semblance of reliable fact, and those sources weren't even about Britain per se, they were about things that happened in France at about the same time but have mentions of certain groups still in Britain. Not having all the facts gave me so much freedom to drum up some of my own.

When the sources don't agree with my storyline, I actually just see if I can spin it in a way it does. Change a character or place name, maybe add a throwaway line to justify why that circumstances are the way they are, things like that. If the disagreement is so substantial that I can't figure out a way to make it work, that might be when I consider removing whatever said disagreement is. That only happened once in Honor, but twice in Usurper. All in all, I believe the books to have come out stronger than if I would have left those inaccuracies in.

Also, as a side note, I interpret my books to largely be beautified inaccuracies. Seeing as nobody knows what really happened in Britain during that time period, I can get away with quite a lot so long as I'm not adding planes or cars.

I haven't thought about who my hero would be in quite some time. If I had to choose one, I would say Spartacus. He only ever fought for the freedom of his people, and saw the injustices of Rome more clear than anyone. I remember how amazed I was when he brought together so many people that the might Roman Empire had actually become afraid of him. Not only that, but he was apparently a brilliant man off the battlefield as well.

Mark

7/27/2020 07:43:37 pm

Very wise of you to choose a period with so few resources to be concerned about. That gave you so much freedom, as you said. There is no one to say otherwise.
Spartacus is an interesting choice. I have not read anything of substance about him or the Spartans, except for the common tidbits that keep popping up such as how the society had such brutal training for the warriors.
Francis, I have enjoyed our conversation so much. I want to thank you for being a wonderful guest and interviewee, I have another promotion starting tomorrow, so I must bid you farewell and keep on writing.

Francis Williams link

7/27/2020 07:54:46 pm

I truly appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak with you. I enjoyed this interview quite a lot, and I hope it shows!

Honor: A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novel (Thrones and Soldiers Book 1) By Francis Williams

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