RICH AND GONE Red Farlow Mysteries, #1 By W. F. Ranew

6/22/2019

Multi-volume author, W. F. Ranew introduces us to his latest hard-boiled thriller, the first volume of the Red Farlow Mysteries series, RICH AND GONE:
PI Red Farlow is on the hunt to find $300 million a Florida insurance executive has bilked out of family and friends.
Woody Cunningham stashed the money in safe havens around the world before disappearing. Has he been done in by one of his enemies? Or did he skip town with his girlfriend to live off the ill-gotten wealth? If that’s the case, where is he?
Farlow must quickly learn how and why people hide their money in offshore accounts if he's to find out what happened to Cunningham.
When a tough guy from Farlow's past resurfaces, wanting to settle an old score, Farlow discovers he also has links to the missing man. Clues lead him across Georgia and Florida, and Europe, to find the answers.

Is Woody Cunningham dead, or just rich and gone?

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I had to look up the genre to be sure I understood the style of a hard-boiled mystery. The protagonist is usually a cynic, having seen the worst of humanity in the course of a career in law enforcement or as a private investigator. The client usually doesn’t reveal the entire story, and the investigation reveals secrets that different parties wish were left in the dark.
I found this story to be very entertaining and well written. It’s told in First Person POV by Red Farlow, the protagonist. The author crafts an exciting story. I laughed out loud a number of times at the dialog, there were some really good lines. The plotting was excellent and scene setting left little to be desired.
I give “RICH AND GONE” a score of 4.8 stars.

You can buy this book:
http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Ranew_WF/rich-and-gone.htm
https://www.amazon.com/rich-and-gone
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-rich-and-gone

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/wfranew
http://wfranew.com/
http://wfranew.wordpress.com/
http://tirpub.com/wfranew

Tags: murder, thriller, financial fraud, money, PI

Copyright © Mark L. Schultz 2019, except for the author’s introduction

114 Comments

W.F. (Frank) Ranew link

6/22/2019 02:55:54 pm

Thanks, Mark. You note the first person POV in Rich and Gone. That's one of the reasons I enjoyed writing this story so much. I got into Red Farlow's head — or maybe he got into mine. First person doesn't always work for me. As the plot moves along, a different POV often tells the story more completely.

Mark

6/22/2019 03:05:28 pm

First Person POV has its own challenges, just as all the POVs do. Some authors use two or more FP POVs, that can lead to headhopping which can be very confusing. One book I read alternated POV with each chapter. The action ran pretty smoothly as the story moved along. The differing POVs were easy to follow.
New question.
Please, tell us a little about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

W.F. (Frank) Ranew link

6/22/2019 03:18:01 pm

I grew up in a small town in South Georgia 12 miles from the Florida line. I had a solid upbringing, great parents, and close lifelong friends. My father was a printer who later became editor of the weekly newspaper he worked at for 60 years. In the early '60s, a former New York editor bought the paper. He and his wife moved to town and blended right into the Deep South culture. Both provided me with the fundamentals of news writing. He and his wife were major influencers at the beginning of my path as a newspaper editor, later as a corporate writer, and eventually as a novelist.

Mark

6/22/2019 03:34:47 pm

NIce. I grew up in a small town also. One of my first real jobs, while in high school, was working as a printer's devil. I was fascinated by photography and the many drawers of moveable type. So many styles and sizes.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What inspired you to write this book?

W.F. (Frank) Ranew link

6/22/2019 04:30:19 pm

I am a full-time fiction writer. In 2016, I retired from freelancing to pursue writing for myself. I’ve been writing fiction many years, much of that after work and on weekends before devoting all my time to the task.

Rich and Gone grows out of two key phases of my life and career. First, I was an editor at The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville for many years. Jax is the key city in the book. Second, I worked for a global insurance and wealth management company. That gave me the knowledge base to write about Woody Cunningham's success as a businessman and how he pulled off his fund scheme.

Mark

6/22/2019 04:35:38 pm

Excellent. So many writers are envious of you now. Everyone has to put their time in, paying the bills is first priority.
You followed the old dictum, write what you know. I think that is sage advice in many ways.
New questions.
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

W.F. (Frank) Ranew link

6/22/2019 05:06:39 pm

The genre wasn't a natural one for me, although I've read mysteries and crime novels all my life. I started out wanting to write a great literary novel. But evil characters kept cropping up. So, I followed that creative lead.
In the title, Rich and Gone, I wanted to convey some mystery about a man who takes the money and disappears, leaving open the question of what happened to him. Rich and Gone suddenly came to me while researching offshore money havens. It seemed quite a task to take possession of somebody else's money and stash it somewhere. The hard part, of course, would be getting the money. Global offshore banking made the hiding relatively easy for Woody Cunningham and his accomplices.

Mark

6/22/2019 06:07:35 pm

I think you made a very wise choice. I have heard many authors, talk about how the characters want the story to go in a different direction than the writer has planned. Most report being quite happy with the choice of follwoing the muse.
Your title has a good deal of mystery about it. You kept that uncertainty in the forefront of the story right to the end. Well done.
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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/23/2019 10:21:16 am

Cora Graphics, www.coragraphics.it, designed the cover. Yes, we wanted to convey a mysterious setting and chose to illustrate a hunting lodge on a river, as described in Chapter One. The paper money in the water, of course, represents the millions Woody Cunningham stashed offshore.

Mark

6/23/2019 11:08:27 am

The cover pulled that off pretty well. I love that log home look.
New questions.
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?
Is this the first book you have written? Will you be writing more?

Mel

6/23/2019 06:09:47 pm

Interesting thread here with good insight into a book I enjoyed. Thanks to you both for this exchange. Good questions Mark.

W.F. Ranew link

6/23/2019 06:27:12 pm

Thanks Mel.

As to your question about names, Mark, understand I grew up in the Deep South. Unusual names—many Biblical and others of European or African origins—abound. So, it's not difficult for me to pull a name out of my past or make up one. Halbert "Sho'nuff" Dixon in Rich and Gone is one example. When I was a kid, an uncle came home on leave from the Air Force and told us about a character he met at a Florida air base. He was called Sho'nuff because that was his immediate reply to almost every comment someone made in a conversation.

This is my first book with TirgearrPublishing.com. I’ve published two previous novels—Schoolhouse Man and a sequel called Candyman’s Sorrow, available on Amazon. Red Farlow Mysteries numbers two and three are in the final stages of writing before editing.

Mark

6/23/2019 06:36:49 pm

It's easy for me to imagine a plethora of colorful and unusual names being in abundance for you. That had to be fun.
An actual person named Sho'nuff is a wonderful story. I love it. In your book, the character and name seemed a great fit.
I am glad to hear more books are in the pipeline.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Mark

6/23/2019 06:35:38 pm

Thank you for dropping in, Mel. I appreciate the compliment. Frank and I are having fun. Are you a writer?

W.F. Ranew link

6/23/2019 06:43:12 pm

I have not entered any contests for my books as yet. Plan to do that. I have not won any awards for my novels, but as a journalist I won newspaper, Associated Press, and company writing and reporting awards over the years.

Mel

6/26/2019 10:41:39 pm

I’m not a writer - just a reader who appreciates good writing. I enjoyed the sense of place Ranew established in his earlier books as well as this one.

Mark

6/23/2019 07:45:50 pm

Awards are nice. They validate our efforts. There are honest contests and not-so-honest contests. Here is a link to a blog about contests from one of my favorite bloggers: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests/ via @annerallen You will have to copy and paste it.
New questions.
How did you pick your publisher, Tirgearr?
Why did you have a book traditionally published instead of self-publishing?

W.F. Ranew link

6/23/2019 08:56:01 pm

Tirgearr is a family of authors. After I started working with the publisher, I came to immediately appreciate the culture. I was first attracted by the house’s range of genres, from mystery and romance to horror, fantasy, and historical fiction and more.

I wanted a traditional publisher because of the resources and support your book receives. After publishing two novels on my own and educating myself on the process beforehand, I felt the need to work with someone who had published and marketed a range of books and genres. Writing a book is hard work. Selling one is difficult, too. I've learned a great deal from Tirgearr.

Thanks for the guidance on contests. I will follow through on that.

Mark

6/23/2019 09:16:37 pm

You are not the first author published by Tirgearr I have promoted. There are several including Tegon Maus. He writes well and makes me laugh a lot.
I have heard a lot of stories about publishers good and bad. Some of them won't talk to an author unless the author can show a vibrant social media presence and an email list of a thousand or more.
New questions.
What kind of requirements did Tirgearr have?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?
Why did you pick me to promote "Rich and Gone"?

W.F. Ranew link

6/23/2019 09:47:17 pm

I can’t think of any requirements as such. The publisher offered a few suggestions I thought were constructive. Also, I'm certain that writing in a strong voice in the first person impressed. Plus, Red Farlow is an engaging protagonist.

On unethical practices, one publishing house assigned an editor to work with me on the manuscript with no contract offer. After three rounds of comments and edits over six months, I realized I was getting the same advice and little new input on the changes I had made. Two others offered pay-to-play deals, which I rejected.

Actually, Tegon Maus suggested I contact you.

Mark

6/23/2019 10:12:23 pm

Tirgearr seems like a good place to be.
Working with that other editor must have seemed strange. I think I would have walked also.
My hat is off to Tegon.
New questions.
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Do you have a favorite book by another author?

W.F. Ranew link

6/24/2019 09:34:24 am

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain was a favorite in my childhood. As an adult, I've read it several times. The book resonates with me because it’s about a boy growing up in a small town, similar to the one where I grew up.

Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis is my favorite book as an adult. The satirical story of a preacher and his wayward ways speaks as much to modern times as did in 1927 when it was published.

Mark

6/24/2019 11:06:15 am

We are both small-town boys. I read a lot of Mark Twain, when I was in high school. Tom Sawyer was fun, my favorite was a short story called "The Cat and the Painkiller" it would jolt me out of a funk easily because it was so funny.
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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/24/2019 11:43:07 am

Writing definitely energizes me. I suppose there is a spiritual element to it, and definitely there is healing. I never seem to get tired while writing, at least not up to seven or eight hours in a day.

The emotions of a character reveal the person's humanity to readers. You have to work to convey emotions in writing. "Julie felt sad over her mother's death" doesn't cut it. Rather... "When Julie got the phone call with the news, her lower lip quivered as tears rolled down her cheek. A murmur built into a groan of agony as she held her hands to her face and wept openly. She dropped her cell phone and cried out, 'Mom, oh God, Mom!"

Granted, one can get overly dramatic at times. But that may be what it takes to convey emotions. The death of a parent is devastating news to most people.

Mark

6/24/2019 01:21:10 pm

That is an excellent example of your point. I love it, the difference is stark. The latter protrays the emotion so much better. You are right about being overly dramatic, it can be too much sometimes. I think extreme situations call for the highly dramatic phrasing. Perhaps the only thing more devastaing than the death of a parent is the death of a child.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much there?
Do you save the bits that didn't make it into the final version?

W.F. Ranew link

6/24/2019 01:28:01 pm

Actually, I often write more than is required while also leaving things out. I go back in the first full read of a manuscript and spend time editing and deleting. At the same time, I fill out areas that need more details, description or color.

I have a "Deletions" folder on my laptop for each manuscript. I put anything there I may need to add back later or refer to.

Mark

6/24/2019 02:02:32 pm

I think a lot of writers are similar. It seems an easy thing to me to over-write because the research is fresh and feels so important to the story.
I think saving that stuff is a good idea. I cheerfully admit to having packrat tendencies.
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a character for a starting point in a story? Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?
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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/24/2019 02:17:07 pm

Often while writing I imagine a situation as if the character’s POV is mine. Rather than using myself, though, I tend to think of characters as being similar to people I’ve known over the years. I don’t think anyone would recognize the person from a character. Someone once asked me if my main character in Schoolhouse Man, Brooks Sheffield, was based on one of my cousins. His name was inspired by her surname, but that was all.

Schoolhouse Man was written using my hometown as a model. Several characters were based on real people, including my father. Same in my second novel, Candyman’s Sorrow. I have a lot of readers in that town, but mostly they are looking for local lore or historical reference of real events. They found plenty of both.

Rich and Gone, my latest, is a composite of several small towns.

Mark

6/24/2019 03:10:15 pm

That must be nice to have a group of fans in your town. I hope you are capitalizing on your fame as a local author.
New questions.
Are your books in the library or bookstore?
Are you doing any marketing in the area as a local author?

W.F. Ranew link

6/24/2019 03:23:03 pm

My first two books are in a couple of libraries, but they are not widely available for borrowing.

I've done readings on my earlier books and am planning a bookstore push for Rich and Gone, once it gets to the print version. There are several local indies that welcome authors for readings and signing events.

I actively market my books locally. For Rich and Gone, I am talking to people about book club appearances and the Decatur, Ga., Book Festival late in summer.

Mark

6/24/2019 04:10:43 pm

You are doing well. A lot of authors forget about the local opportunities to promote their books. Here are a few more ideas. If there is any sort of tourism presence in your area, seek out the Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, motels, restaurants and try to place small counter-sized displays of your books. I have heard of authors leaving paperback copies in train stations, bus stops and park benches. There is at leaast one guest blog on my website about promoting books, Getting your first 1000 readers. Putting an audio book version out could be profitable also. I have read many good blogs about that and audio books are exploding around the world. There are a lot of countries that use English as their official language.
New questions.
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist?

W.F. Ranew link

6/25/2019 10:08:11 am

Thanks, Mark. I will check out those posts. Good ideas.

The one thing I hate about my protagonist is his 40-year lapse in pursuing the woman he loved. When they parted after college, he clearly didn’t communicate with her for some time. Had he done so, he would have given her the space she needed to figure out what she wanted to do in life. That could have mended their relationship.

Loving an antagonist perhaps is a challenge, since I try to embody all the things I dislike about people in the villain, the bad guy, the criminal, or the unethical business executive (male and female, by the way). One has to appreciate the drive of Woody Cunningham in Rich and Gone. He went to great lengths to achieve what he did, both in the business world legally and in his fraudulent fund scheme. Man had a mission, for certain.

Mark

6/25/2019 11:19:33 am

I understand both of those characters, as you wrote them. Red closing himself from her and burying himself in his work is not uncommon. Dealing with pain is thought to be a sign of weakness by people a long time ago.
Woody was a man with a plan. He executed his plans quite well. Every villain thinks he is the hero in his 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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/25/2019 11:37:03 am

I usually write six to eight hours on days set aside for time on my laptop and with my (paper) notebook. The time varies, of course, depending on interruptions, which I try to minimize. My writing time isn’t always spent at the keyboard. I have a large notebook in which I doodle and work on a book’s timeline. A timeline works as my version of an outline.

I force a straight line sometimes, and this is when a timeline becomes essential. I think in chronological order, so seeing when a character was born and each date/step of his or her life story relative to the novel is important in my writing. My muse is equally important. Often, once a character’s personality takes shape, the rest is history. The story takes off and I stop writing only when the story-muse slows down.

Mark

6/25/2019 12:44:47 pm

That is a good amount of time. Using a notebook also is a good idea for the timeline. Some authors use specialized software such as Scrivener for tracking the plot and timeline. Others use sticky notes, cards, or a white board.
Your muse sounds very cooperative. Many authors have a hard time keeping in contact with their muse.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

W.F. Ranew link

6/25/2019 01:00:46 pm

Honestly, I haven’t thought about anything in Rich and Gone to change. I’ve been so busy on the other books the thought never occurred to me. I am certain the story could be improved and that will come to me in time. I worked for a famous architect once. He was always tinkering with his buildings long after they were finished and occupied. There was a story of his lobby restoration of a well-known hotel lobby. He convinced the owners to pay for the changes he wanted. The cost ran into a couple of million dollars. Convincing guy.

I hope readers remember Red Farlow. Red took some years to come to me, and he has a predecessor, namely a law officer named W.D. “Dub” Campbell in my first two novels.

Mark

6/25/2019 01:47:24 pm

Glad to hear you are so busy on the new books.
When I was in college, I worked for some architects and wanted to be one, though I never finished school. Many years later, in construction, I grew to dislike architects quite a bit. because they were always trying to reinvent the wheel.
New questions.
Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

W.F. Ranew link

6/25/2019 01:56:18 pm

I had no idea what I was doing in my two early books. I wrote from the heart and stream of thought, which is OK but that can leave a lot of organization, description, and character development out.

I fall right in line with my publishers on software. I write in Word and file by email, as requested. I’ve tried writing software packages. I think they work for some people, but don’t help me.

Mark

6/25/2019 05:49:31 pm

A lot of authors use Word. Some of the specialized software has a steep learning curve. Your experience is pretty common.
New questions.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

W.F. Ranew link

6/25/2019 09:57:39 pm

To the first question the answer is yes. In Rich and Gone, Sho'nuff Dixon is a character who comes into the story out of nowhere as the neighborhood cop who questions Red Farlow. Suddenly, Sho'nuff becomes a larger character to be reckoned with, as Red learns.

I used to listen to Bob Dylan in my early years of writing fiction. Today, I love the solitude of my office or deck.

Mark

6/25/2019 10:05:07 pm

That is quite interesting. Sho'nuff plays a very important role in the story. He keeps popping up when least expected.
Our youngest daughter has given us three grandaughters, ten and down. She has become a social media influencer and has a bunch of videos on YouTube. I play her videos in the background, I enjoy listening to her and her daughters,
New questions.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

wfranew link

6/25/2019 10:29:05 pm

Narration is my natural writing style. Once my characters are developed and their relationships defined, I enjoy writing dialogue. The action for me takes over once the story lifts off, so to speak.

I’ve read that smell is the sense that stimulates warm memories more than the others. In Rich and Gone, Red walks into the restaurant Florida Del Sol and describes the smell of peppers and onions roasting. Everyone can relate to that. Seeing, however, is probably what I depend on most. Describing who or what a character is watching or when he is spying on someone.

Hearing plays a part in my first novel, Schoolhouse Man. The protagonist, Brooks Sheffield, lives in an old schoolhouse. He hears a someone in the building one night and overhears a murder. He doesn’t see what happens, but he hears it.

Those are the senses I probably use more. Touch and taste are harder for me.

Mark

6/25/2019 11:06:17 pm

I think Narration is the easiest for most writers. It really lends itself to writing in the third person POV. So many authors use it.
I noticed that you involved smells and scents, some authors do and some don't, I enoy it when it pops up, as you said, it's a strong trigger of memories for a lot of people.
New questions.
Have you ever participated in theater in some way?
If so, do you think your experience in theater helps you as a writer?
Have you ever thought of adding music to your books, like what the characters listen to or they went to a concert as a plot point?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 09:56:11 am

I’ve not participated in theater since high school, when I acted in several plays. I do support local theater groups and also attend professional performances. So, yes my enjoyment of the dramatic arts contributes to my writing and creative process.

My next book is Blue Magnolia in the Red Farlow Mysteries series. The story is about an itinerate country singer named Hank “Cowboy” Tillman, who plays in bars and honkytonks in small Georgia towns. I’ve written lyrics for several country songs in the manuscript and have considered recording one or two to use with the book once published.

Mark

6/26/2019 11:13:19 am

I think theater provides an excellent example of "show don't tell". Even when there is a narrator, every word and movement is scripted for maximum effect.
I think that making music an integral part of the story is genius. I hope you do record those. If you ported Blue Magnolia over to an audio book you could put clips or even the entire song into the story.
New questions.
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 11:28:05 am

Good ideas, and definitely audio versions are in my books’ future.

On marketing, I’ve sent suggestions around to a number of reviewers. Thus far, the response has been quite good. I also use some promo/ad services to spotlight the book and follow up with continuous posts on Twitter. I post on Facebook often, but not so much as to flood my friends and readers with too much info on Rich and Gone. Finally, I leverage my blog to tease out portions of the book to interest readers. I use the blog posts as part of my Facebook and Twitter campaign.

Tirgearr is very supportive of its authors and encourages us all to cross-promote each other's books.

As mentioned, Tegon Maus recommended you. I checked out your blog and that impressed me.

Mark

6/26/2019 12:30:50 pm

You are working the marketing quite well. A lot of authors struggle with that. Writing a book starts out as a solo creative process. After the first draft is complete, authors need to bring others in such as beta readers and editors. Publishing requires a salesman's hat. The author learns that the marketing never really ends.
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 long did it take you to write the first draft of "Rich And Gone"?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 01:34:42 pm

Research can take a week or a couple of months, depending on whether I’m doing that at a library or history center. The sources I use have online access, but the content is limited. I do a lot before writing and while the book is in progress. I plan more historical books in the future. For those I'll rely heavily on researching old newspaper files, especially from the 1920s through 1950s. You find factual input for stories, news about the time period, and a lot of rich ideas. I visit the University of Georgia’s Newspaper Research Project, which has microfiche of all papers published in the state going back to the mid-1800s. The Atlanta History Center also is a good resource.

I started drafting ideas and pieces of Rich and Gone about 10 years ago. I revisited the segments and wrote from beginning to end in about six months.

Mark

6/26/2019 04:23:06 pm

Those resources sound wonderful. What an amazing trove of infromation. I am guessing they have been digitized by this time. That's almost as good as going back in time and actually living through the events in real time.
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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 04:35:54 pm

I’ve never taken a creative writing course. I grew up in the newspaper business and started writing news stories early on. I also had an excellent English lit professor in college who guided me on good writing.

As a reporter and copy editor, you learn the power of words. Many times the education is trial and error. You make the error and an old school editor thrusts you into trial by fire. My only salvation back then was reading the dictionary, listening and noting the vocabulary of erudite friends, and using new words to the extent a simple news story would accept those. I knew my progress when an editor chopped a ten-dollar word and put in something newspaper readers would understand. My favorite word, by the way, is obfuscation.

Mark

6/26/2019 05:11:19 pm

Eschew obfuscation is one of my favorite phrases. Most recently, "an insalubrious morass" is favored also.
An extensive vocabulary was necessary for me. I developed a serious stammer when I was around 5, my parents had divorced. After burying myself in books, dictionaries and encycolpedias for a number of years, I used that vocabulary to control my stammer. I could tell what syllable would trigger my stammer several syllables in advance. If I could choose a different word then I could avoid the stammer. Many of my peers just thought I talked funny.
New questions.
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 alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why? If you do, how did you find them?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 06:27:41 pm

Mark, that's an amazing story. You clearly developed a gift for words for very practical reasons.

I keep the reading in the family, at least initially. My wife is my main alpha-reader. She's also a good critic and sounding board. But as I get closer to smoothing out the manuscript, my oldest daughter is the go-to for the near-final read before a professional editor.

My sister-in-law also is a resource. She fine-tunes the manuscript in terms of typos and misspellings.

Mark

6/26/2019 07:06:05 pm

You have a great crew there. They are all vested in your success. A lot of authors are not so lucky. For them I will say that I have lists of people offereing different services to authors on my Twitter home page. Beta readers, editors, illustrators and more. If you are self publishing it takes a group of people to put a book out and get it noticed.
New questions.
Do you give your readers an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed off?
What kind of questions do you ask them to get the feedback you wanted?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 08:32:41 pm

I prefer to give them e-versions in either MOBI or PDF. One reader prefers hard copies, so I email the PDF and she prints it out. Back when I self-published, I would send a pre-publication copy of the POD book.

I ask them if the story hangs together, about organization, and to highlight any typos in the manuscript. I also ask them which characters they like or didn’t like and why, and where they might get bogged down in the plot.

Mark

6/26/2019 09:04:05 pm

Those are good questions. The information they provide is quite valuable to you, without a doubt.
New questions.
Do you reward the beta readers in any way particular?
Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?

W.F. Ranew link

6/26/2019 09:36:07 pm

I give them a free book or e-book. More than that, though, all express their appreciation for being asked to read my writing.

I’m not in a critique group, at least not yet. However, I meet with a friend every month or so. He's published 18 or 20 books, fiction and non-fiction, and offers a great deal of support and advice. He never reads my writing before it is published, for legal reasons. I highly value his counsel.

Mark

6/26/2019 11:44:30 pm

That's a nice gift idea for a person who loves to read.
You have a mentor and that has so much value. Very nice.
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?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 09:54:50 am

The cover designed is vastly improved when a professional does it. I’d worked with an editor on my previous books, but felt my Tirgearr editor did a more thorough job. Also, with a publisher you have access to resources and a constant source of information through Tirgearr’s group communication channel.

More than three, but they are plotting, character development, POV, dialogue, and adding more descriptive details.

Mark

6/27/2019 11:44:12 am

The old saw is "you can't judge a book by it's cover" which we know on the surface is untrue, we always judge a book by its cover. The cover is the second chance, if not the first chance, for an author to make a sale. The cover is so important.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 12:01:40 pm

Write what you know. That’s why I stick with geographies I know and characters based on familiar personalities. At least, it works for me.

I think a strong ego cuts both ways. Certainly, a writer's ego can push for what he's achieved and believes in. It can be a liability if ego pushes too far. On the other side, I’ve meet some literary agents who guard against pushy writers by shutting out anything they don’t want to deal with or simply don’t like. I think lit-ag egos work to their detriment most of the time. It blinds them to possibilities.

Mark

6/27/2019 01:22:28 pm

Writing fiction requires a certain amount of imagination. When you can bolster the imaginary with real world experience and facts, you are building towards a real winner.
I agree, a strong ego is necessary for a writer to be successful. If you can't quiet the inner critic enough to complete the first draft then nothing will get written. Balance is necessary, strengthening the inner cheer leader will counteract some of the inner critic.
New questions.
Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader? Who is the core audience you are seeking to find?
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 03:19:40 pm

I believe there are two key demographics for my books. The first is made up of people in my hometown or those who know me from my newspaper days. Readers all. The second is a reader of mysteries written in the Southern gothic subgenre. Now that I am working with Tirgearr, there is a much broader demographic, but as yet I cannot define that.

I have some mementos from my father’s newspaper print shop, the most prized of which are a mechanical counter from a Babcock flatbed printing press and some makeup tools. To me they are not only lucky but provide inspiration, perhaps one and the same.

Mark

6/27/2019 04:39:55 pm

You have a good start on the demographics. In a recent interview with the author of "Gnosis", Rick Hall, he gave some interesting information about learning of the psychographics of people who read a particular type of book. You may find it interesting and useful.
New questions.
What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?
Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 04:57:02 pm

If I get your meaning correctly, it’s procrastination. That weakens a writer’s urge-need to practice his craft. If you get the procrastination sniffles, you should immediately start to write. Anything.

Writer’s block, as with procrastination, used to prevent me from even attempting to write. In fact, writing, forced or otherwise, for me is the quickest way around the block. I sit down with pen in hand or at my keyboard and write gibberish, which morphs into stream of consciousness, and eventually transforms into complete thoughts. Before I know it, a new story flows forth.

Mark

6/27/2019 06:25:54 pm

Procrastination is the silent killer of creativity. Your solution for writer's block must be a good one, I have heard it praised more than once. Another good solution I have heard is to write some back story or a side story to the novel. Writing competitions have been mentioned also.
New questions.
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
If you branch out into a different genre, will you use a pen name?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 06:40:23 pm

I do see an advantage. A pen name frees a write from his own identity, personality, and POV. This can provide new perspective on writing, since one is not constrained or limited by his own personal experiences. It’s sort of like an actor taking on a role and in the duration of the movie or play becoming that character and personality.

I would use a pen name for historical fiction, which I am contemplating.

Mark

6/27/2019 08:01:11 pm

I have heard several reasons for using a pen name. Your reason is a new one. I like it.
Historical fiction is quite interesting. I am proofreading one right now and really enjoying the story. The author is quite talented.
New questions.
Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but soon came to like?
Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 08:18:40 pm

I have warmed to romances some. At first I wouldn’t read them. I probably will never try writing sci-fi or fantasy. I’ve just never gotten into reading those genres, with the exception of Dune.

To the second question, yes definitely. I enjoy reading medieval history, crime novels, mysteries, and thrillers, particularly those with international settings. Reading classic novels makes me a better writer. Watching a good movie does the same. Music helps a great deal, although I usually do not listen to music while writing.

Mark

6/27/2019 09:15:42 pm

I avoided romances for a long time. Sci-fi and fantasy was all I wanted to read. Stories about time travel and dragons are my favorites still.
Siince getting serious about my business I committed to reading most anything except for graphic sex and explicit torture. Some well written romance stories have come to me and I really enjoyed them. Now, I am a fan of good writing in any genre.
Dune is an amazing series. I finally read all nine books, the last one or two was written by Herbert's son.
New questions.
What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read for fun?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

W.F. Ranew link

6/27/2019 09:53:04 pm

Any book by Bernard Cornwell. I love reading history, so historical fiction is a guilty pleasure in which I gladly indulge.

Michael Connelly’s “Bosch” books gave me a different perspective on shaping police or PI characterizations. Talk about hard-boiled, Bosch is that, but he’s a product of contemporary circumstances and nothing like the cops-PIs of old.

Mark

6/27/2019 10:42:47 pm

Do you have a particular period of history that you enjoy the most?
The "Bosch" books popped up in my notifications this week, if I recall correctly. I have not read anything by Connelly.
A million published books each year has put a serious crimp in my plan to read every book.
More questions.
What hurdle did you face in writing this book and how did you overcome it?
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

W.F. Ranew link

6/28/2019 08:33:24 am

Connelly got his start as a cop reporter, I believe. Good training for what he does now.

I prefer Medieval European history and enjoy English history the most.

The biggest hurdle in writing Rich and Gone was researching offshore money havens. Even though I’d work in the financial services business previously, I still had to dig to get the full story. I also relied on previous discussions with executives on moving money around from one tax haven to another through shell companies. But once I had the background done the writing flowed easily.

I agree with that suffering is essential. But it is relative and comes in different forms. I heard a story about an Atlanta writer who wrote what became a bestselling crime novel. He was an award-winning journalist who’d left his job to write fiction. He shopped the manuscript around to several agents and publishers. This was in the old days before the internet and email. Anyway, story goes that he got a telegram from a publisher offering a contract. The guy was so broke he had to borrow change to make a pay phone call to the publisher. That’s suffering. It may not be starvation in a Moscow garret during winter, but suffering nonetheless. The greatest agony for a writer is rejection year after year.

Mark

6/28/2019 10:35:07 am

I have reviewed a couple of good historical fiction book by Mercedes Rochelle. They are about English history and quite well written. I enjoyed reading them, you might also.
You are correct, there are many types of suffering. Multiple rejections are really tough to swallow. It takes grit and fortitude to persevere.
New questions.
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

W.F. Ranew link

6/28/2019 02:18:23 pm

I do brainstorm but informally. I run ideas by non-writers and they usually offer useful feedback.

Two things that seem small and neither one is dramatic or sexy. But they’ve made a difference in my writing. I subscribe to Grammerly. and the more I used it the more I see its advantages and flaws. Also, I invested in a new Chicago Manual of Style after relying on one many yeas old. That’s about it, since I don’t do writer’s conferences or spend a lot of time with associations. I am a member of SistersInCrime, but have not fully taken advantage of what this organization has to offer, other than webinars.

Mark

6/28/2019 03:36:32 pm

I am glad to hear you have found value in those brainstorming sessions.
Grammarly is interesting. I tried it for a short time and decided it missed too much of what I find. It does have its uses, just not the last word.
CMOS is the standard for many people. I have a recent copy.
New questions.
Do you ever put a story aside and comeback to it at a later date?
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?

W.F. Ranew link

6/28/2019 05:57:27 pm

If I put something aside, it’s a chapter or section of a manuscript. I put it in a box and let it sit there while I think about it a few hours or a few days. I find if it sits too long the words go stale and likely I won’t go back to it. That is a rarity for me.

I guess writers fall back to third person POV because it is the easier course. I love first person POV. Unfortunately, I cannot always fit the story into a single voice or perspective. First person, I think, worked great for me in Rich and Gone. In Red Farlow Mysteries 2 and 3, the story is written in third person because there are too many characters in different locations for Red Farlow to know everything or even enough to keep things moving. There is another Red Farlow first person story in the future. His voice speaks that POV so well.

One of these days I'm going to write a story in second POV.

Mark

6/28/2019 07:08:59 pm

I agree with you about third person POV. It's an easy default to slip into without thinking to tell a story. We all have a story to tell. Your next books sound interesting.
New questions.
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?
What did you buy with your first royalty check?

W.F. Ranew link

6/28/2019 08:33:34 pm

I wasn't born to write. In fact, in high school writing was quite challenging for me. I was lucky enough to have an experienced newspaper editor as my mentor. He taught me a lot and in doing so instilled in me a desire to write.

I purchased a first edition of a Hemingway, possibly For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Mark

6/28/2019 09:39:23 pm

That was part of my experience in high school also, being challenged by creative writing, not the mentor part. I was working for the hometown newspaper during my upperclass years, but my writing didn't inspire anyone that I am aware of.
That was a very special reward you gave yourself.
New questions.
How did you celebrate when you published "Rich and Gone"?
How many times did you rewrite the first page, first chapter?

W.F. Ranew link

6/28/2019 09:52:49 pm

For Rich and Gone, I smoked a pretty fine cigar.

I rewrite a great deal.Comes from working on a news desk for so long. You rewrite everything, for every edition. I rewrite until something sticks. The first paragraph of Rich and Gone took about a year to get it as published. Ditto for the first chapter.

Mark

6/28/2019 11:26:05 pm

That first paragraph is great! A year is a long time, but I love it! I expect that you learned a lot while writing this book. Your next books are going to be even better.
New questions.
Who are your favorite dead authors?
Who are your favorite living authors at this time?

W.F. Ranew link

6/29/2019 01:32:24 pm

I have four favorite dead authors—Dickens, Twain, Hemingway, and Philip Kerr, author of the Bernie Gunther detective novels set in Berlin and other locations before, during, and after WWII. Kerr suffered an untimely death from cancer last year at age 62.

As for those still living, I enjoy reading novels by Michael Connelly, Bernard Cornwell, Daniel Silva, Volker Kutscher, and Oliver Pötzsch, although his Hangman’s Daughter series plots have become too predictable.

Mark

6/29/2019 02:13:31 pm

You have eclectic tastes. That keeps things interesting, I have no doubt.
I read a lot of Mark Twain and some Charles Dickens in high school. Beyond that I chasing Asimov, Pohl, Heinlein, Herbert and many others in science fiction, for the most part. Except, I read Tolkien's LOTR three times before graduating from high school.
New questions.
What is the message, moral, or takeaway that you hope people will get from reading your book? Is there more than one?
Do you have a hidden message in your writings for a particular person or group?

W.F. Ranew link

6/29/2019 03:17:06 pm

Rich and Gone’s moral lesson is about the consequence of greed and fulfilling one’s avarice at any cost. Woody Cunningham worked hard building his core, legitimate wealth. Yet, that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted more. In his case, he leveraged his track record of building a successful company to bilk friends and family out of $300 million. He didn’t reinvest that for their benefit, as promised. He socked it away in offshore accounts.

Another takeaway is that justice comes in a variety of forms.

No hidden messages, at least none consciously communicated.

Mark

6/29/2019 04:10:12 pm

Justice will be done, if not in this life then the next. Good lesson about greed.
New questions.
Do you think good marketing can overcome the limitations of a mediocre book?
Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?

W.F. Ranew link

6/29/2019 05:28:35 pm

Unfortunately, yes, good marketing can sell almost anything. The promotional noise is loud in the bookselling universe. A lot of the din is for mediocre and downright poorly written, boring novels. I know that to be true for nonfiction, too, perhaps more so.

The second question is an interesting one in the current book marketplace. I want to believe that, because I am trying to improve my writing, how I develop a plot, create interesting characters, and write the story.

In the old days, say of Hemingway, a good editor and publisher could spot and publish a novel and more times than not they’d hit the bull’s eye with a good book. Of course, even then countless authors wrote not-so-good tomes and got them published. Today, I’m not sure a truly good book will sell itself.

I'd love to hear from readers on the second question especially, as they are the folks, like us actually, who are buying and reading books.

Mark

6/29/2019 06:18:23 pm

The latest I heard is that about a million new books are published every year on Amazon. That's more than 2,700 each day. That is a staggering amount for readers as well as authors. As you say, there is a lot of static and everyone is trying, more or less, to rise above the tide. It takes a lot of work, on a daily basis, for a book to get noticed by very many people.
New questions.
What is the biggest myth about writing that would help aspiring authors?
Some authors go to great lengths to get inside the heads of their characters. Some create a biography, find photos that match the picture in their head, fill out psychological profiles. What do you do in that regard, if anything?

W.F. Ranew link

6/29/2019 09:10:15 pm

The biggest myth is thinking the writer's life is literary nirvana. I like the Red Smith quote. “Writing is easy. You just sit in front of a typewriter, open a vein, and bleed…” It’s not easy. Nothing about it is easy. The writing, the plot, the characters, dialogue, and narration. Yet, how many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, I should write a book. The stories I could tell”? I don’t know if that helps aspiring writers, but it is the reality all writers face.

On characters, I do a lot of thinking about who the person would be if he actually were alive. I usually do a timeline on the main characters’ lives—birth, growing up, major events, education, career path. The timeline, as previously mentioned, also keeps characters’ lives in perspective and in relation to one another.

Mark

6/29/2019 09:32:12 pm

I think you are right. I have spoken to several writers just as they publish their first book. They are so disappointed when it doesn't jump to the top of the chart. I try to explain to them that writing and publishing was the easy part, marketing is the hardest part of the business for a lot of writers.
New questions.
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely out of thin air?
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?

W.F. Ranew link

6/29/2019 09:55:55 pm

It’s much easier for me to create them. I use personality traits of people I know, but mostly I come up with an idea and the character takes shape as I write.

I used a service for new Kindle books a couple of weeks ago. I saw an immediate sales jump. I also recently used Fire and Ice, and saw a similar pop. I’m looking at other services. Unfortunately it is difficult to get accurate sales data from Amazon for Rich and Gone yet. I also would expect to see sales from your blog since it has staying power. I think anywhere you can get your book mentioned on a site that interacts with and engages readers, you have a better chance at boosting sales. That doesn’t always happen immediately, but over time it can.

Mark

6/30/2019 10:39:15 am

I imagine sales data is hard to come by. I hope you see some sales, but sometimes it take multiple exposures before people buy, I think the researched average is 7 exposures before people take action.
New questions.
Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?
Did you have pieces of the story that were removed from this book? If, so why did you remove them?

W.F. Ranew link

6/30/2019 11:40:37 am

I don’t believe I have any problems writing about the opposite sex. When I hit a bump, I have a wife and three daughters to consult on an issue. And in all cases, I have them read all my drafts with woman characters and their dialogue.

I can’t think of any significant material removed from Rich and Gone. A lot of times sections may be removed when I’m editing and rewriting and saved in the deletions folder. But that’s only to keep a copy for future reference.

Mark

6/30/2019 01:02:38 pm

You have a bevy of experts on hand! Wonderful. I bet they are qite helpful in the process of fine tuning a book.
New questions.
How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?
How long have you been a full-time writer, and how much time did it take you to make the transition from part time?

W.F. Ranew link

6/30/2019 01:57:29 pm

I set aside solitary times to write. Conflicts invariably arise, especially when we have houseguests. I tell them politely that I will be working in my office for several hours and ask them not to interrupt. Most people honor that request. Some do not. If they knock on my office door or open it while I am writing, the resulting commentary usually means they won’t do it again. One lady did this with a tap on the door followed by opening it and looking in. “Oh, am I interrupting you?” she asked. No need to repeat the expletives that ensued. I don't write when close family members are around as I enjoy hanging out with them.

I’ve been writing my entire career, first as a newspaper reporter and editor, then a speechwriter and corporate hack. I started writing fiction one day a week in late 1988 and did so off and on until 2016. That year I published Schoolhouse Man, and by then I had my own consulting practice based in my home. So, I would split work writing and fiction writing fifty-fifty. In mid-2016, I closed down shop and devoted myself to writing fiction all the time. Candyman’s Sorrow followed in 2017, and Rich and Gone this year with Tirgearr Publishing.

Mark

6/30/2019 05:56:13 pm

An office is a very nice thing to have. I am very grateful for my office upstairs. What a great story! I have no doubt she never did that again. It's wonderful to be able to take the time for the ones closest to your heart.
A speech writer must be an interesting occupation. Was that in politics or something else?
New questions.
Do you have any other passions or creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?
Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?

W.F. Ranew link

6/30/2019 06:52:48 pm

Most of my speeches were written for corporate executives. Very boring, not much leeway for any creativity, and edited by committee.

I play the guitar, mostly traditional American folk music. I’d probably spend more time at the potter’s wheel if not writing.

I pretty much stay in the safe zone and write about what I know, where I’ve been, and subjects in which I have some familiarity if not extensive knowledge.

Mark

6/30/2019 07:48:36 pm

The speech writing for the corporate world would certainly be classified as non-exciting. Don't they mostly aim for good news and very boring to present the image of stability for the shareholders.
Do you throw practical pots or work on the artistic side? I enjoyed my taste in highschool.
New questions.
What did your family say when you announced your desire to be a full-time writer?
How do you maintain the excitement for yourself? Your excitement will impact others around you.

W.F. Ranew link

6/30/2019 09:22:26 pm

Yes, it’s all about putting the right face to shareholders.

Working with clay, I usually throw or hand build utilitarian pieces. I do a lot of small to medium size bowls. Sometimes I get a little edgy with glazes.

My family has been very supportive of my writing. My oldest daughter is finished up her first YA novel and is embarking on the agent/publisher hunt.

The excitement for me is writing, exploring new story ideas, and new characters. I’m working on the concept for Red Farlow #4. Also thinking about a story set in Atlanta in the 1920s and ’30s, revolving around a crusading newspaper editor, an evangelist, and a farmer. I won't say more than that, but I know it sounds like a bad joke.

Mark

6/30/2019 09:36:09 pm

That is very exciting to have a child following in your footsteps as a writer. I bet you both talk shop a lot. Do you beta read for her? Is she going to talk with Tirgearr?
Some historical fiction, that sounds good to me. The editor and the evangelist might have a lot in common, under the surface.
A local-to-me Portland author wrote a hist-fic trilogy about being gay in that same time period. I reviewed his books, they were well written. Here is the link to the first one: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/acquaintance-medicine-for-the-blues-book-1-by-jeff-stookey
New questions.
Do your friends and family members buy your books?
What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?

W. F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 10:59:41 am

Yes, I will be reading her manuscript. Like most writers, she’s reading it “one more time” before passing it over to me. As for Tirgearr, I don’t think they do any YAs.

My friends and family buy my books and are big supporters. I am happy they enjoy reading what I write, and welcome their input, as well.

I was trained as a news writer, which means you gather the facts quickly and knock out a 500-word story for a deadline in a half hour. Even for long-lead stories, news people tend toward the succinct in their writing. For that reason, I sometimes do not write enough detail. So, I am working hard both in first drafts and subsequent reads to incorporate more detail, description, mood of characters, and other information.

Mark

7/1/2019 11:32:36 am

I have a list of publishers on my Twitter home page, if your daughter is still searching for a publisher to query, she is welcome to take a look. There are more than 350 publishers listed and I add to it frequently.
New questions.
When do you think your next book will be published?
What will you do differently with this new book, in terms of publishing?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 12:51:08 pm

Thanks, Mark, and I will direct her to your Twitter page.

Yes, I certainly hope the next Red Farlow book will be published. It’s about an itinerate country singer in the South who angers a violent alt-right group. All over a song he wrote. Very pertinent to our times.

I likely will promote much more aggressively in the preorder period, especially in seeking reviewers.

Mark

7/1/2019 01:21:43 pm

I have a list of 380 book reviewers and bloggers for you, on my Twitter home page.
Your next book does sound interesting.
New questions.
Have you ever killed off a character unwillingly because it fit the plot?
With sequels, how do you handle the wishes of readers compared to your original ideas?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 01:36:57 pm

Thanks and will check those out.

In Rich and Gone, I killed off someone because another character needed to get the blame for it. In fact, it happens twice in the novel. One happened as a core part of the story, but the other murder only occurred to neatly wrap up the story.

Readers tell me they want to hear more about Red Farlow and his cases. I suppose after they read two or three more books in the series they may come up with some suggestions. Right now they seem to love the main character.

Mark

7/1/2019 02:36:55 pm

I am a fan of Red Farlow also. It was fun to be inside his head, except when he got hit on his head.
New questions.
Is there a particular type of scene that is harder to write than the others?
Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 02:59:46 pm

The hardest scenes usually involve dialogue between characters who don’t have anything to say. You really have to step back and consider the situation, the characters, and their relationship to get over that hump. I usually focus on conflict to shift the dialogue to something worth writing.

Late afternoon after writing all day or not, I take out my notebook and scribble some thoughts. As always, one thing leads to another and an idea occurs that will go into my manuscript.

Mark

7/1/2019 03:56:29 pm

Those scenes do present a less than obvious danger to a writer, because they interrupt the pace of a story. If a writer has too many of those readers will close the book and move on. Every phrase and sentence have to move the story forward.
You are pretty lucky. I know a writer that is visited by her muse almost every night at around 2:30 AM. She keeps a pad and pen on her nightstand.
New questions.
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or print books?
What books are you reading at present for your business and for pleasure?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 05:32:33 pm

I can go either way, although I probably purchase and read more print books than ebooks. Also, I read a lot of older books downloaded from Gutenberg.org.

On the professional side, just started Dreyer’s English. I am reading Metropolis by Philip Kerr for pleasure.

Mark

7/1/2019 05:43:14 pm

Gutenberg was such a rebel! Each and every one of us owes him such a big debt of gratitude.
The last paper book, hardcover, I bought was the Chicago Manual of Style. Don't leave home without it. ;-)
New questions.
Was it difficult to choose between self-publishing and traditional publishing?
What are the main advantages of being self-published as opposed to getting a book deal?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 06:34:58 pm

I self-published my first two novels. In today’s chaotic book marketplace, it’s tough doing it yourself. I’d always wanted a traditional publisher because of the resources you have, a built-in author’s group, and other support elements.

The main advantage is one-stop shopping in terms of resources, recommended promotional services, cover graphic artist, and reviewer lists, among other things. Tirgearr is like a large family. All the authors support and cross-promote everyone’s books.

Mark

7/1/2019 08:12:47 pm

Yes, it is tough doing it yourself. But the upside is you are in control and you get to keep the profits.
I am glad to hear that Tirgearr has been such a positive experience for you and others.
Last questions.
What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?
Have you thought about doing a book trailer?
Have you thought about doing an audio book?

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 09:13:55 pm

I have to be philosophical about bad book reviews. They’re fine as long as I don’t get one. Truth is, though, if my books or any author’s books stand up to scrutiny, if the book is well written and tells a compelling story, then the negative reviews should be few compared to positive ones. Also, five good reviews counterbalance a bad review and work in the author’s favor. Of course, the opposite ratio works against you.

I’ve thought about doing a book trailer and an audio book, and I’ve been encouraged to do both. But as yet I have not initiated either project. In today’s book market, an author should offer as many versions of a book to push into the marketplace. There are two reasons for this, in my view. First, you are expanding the platform of your book. Two, you are increasing its exposure by appealing to broad reader preferences.

Mark

7/1/2019 09:37:52 pm

I tell authors to welcome the first bad review, because it proves that the positive reviews are real, not just posted by their mom and her cat. The obvious troll can be completely ignored, the others need careful inspection in case there is something that might need adjustment in the next book.
I hope you do pursue those items, especially the audio book. Audio books are growing rapidly and especially in countries outside of the USA market. A lot of foreign countries have English as their official language, the language of government and commerce.
I want to thank you for a most enjoyable conversation, you have been a wonderful interviewee. I have another promotion that starts tomorrow. I look forward to your next books.

W.F. Ranew link

7/1/2019 09:51:57 pm

Thank you, Mark. I've enjoyed our exchange and especially your comments on book publishing. Your viewpoints are refreshing and your depth of knowledge always brings forth some interesting ideas. I look forward to enjoying your blog some more. I appreciate the opportunity you've given me here, and I'll let you know when the next Red Farlow Mystery is coming.

RICH AND GONE Red Farlow Mysteries, #1 By W. F. Ranew

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