The Usurper King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 3) By Mercedes Rochelle

10/23/2021

Award-winning, multi-volume author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to her third volume in The Plantagenet Legacy, “The Usurper King”:
From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.
First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.
To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.

I have enjoyed this series so much! Mercedes takes a dusty and dry part of history makes pure entertainment out of it! I think she has a time machine because the actions and conversations seem so real, the people are real, whole and so organic. The things they do and say make a lot of sense. This is how people are, they worry first about their own well being and then they look to the welfare of those they love the most and the circle slowly expands. People today are the same as people back then.
The writing is so good, Mercedes truly understands these people. Her powers of description provide the perfect balance with dialogue and action. There is lots of action also, love, bravery, murder and intrigue at all levels.
I award 5 stars to “The Usurper King”! Considering all of the books Mercedes has written, this is the best!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/the-usurper-king
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook

You can follow the author:
http://www.twitter.com/authorrochelle
http://www.mercedesrochelle.com
http://www.mercedesrochelle.net

I have reviewed other books by this author:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/a-king-under-siege-book-one-of-the-plantagenet-legacy-by-mercedes-rochelle

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-kings-retribution

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/godwine-kingmaker-part-one-of-the-last-great-saxon-earls-by-mercedes-rochelle

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-sons-of-godwine

https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-rivalry-by-mercedes-rochelle

www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-agincourt-king

Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, historical, biographical,

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.

65 Comments

Mercedes Rochelle link

10/24/2021 11:06:20 am

Thank you for your wonderful review! I'm so delighted you found Henry to be a sympathetic character.

Mark

10/24/2021 11:54:08 am

You are welcome. I think this is your best book yet!
We will begin the questions near to where we left off in the promotion for Fatal Rivalry.
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?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/24/2021 08:31:34 pm

I have to say, during my first draft I spend so much time agonizing about the plot and where I am going that I usually have no regrets. Because historical fiction follows a pre-defined story line—unlike creative fiction stories—there is very little mystery. I know where I am going. For me, the challenge is deciding which chronicler to follow, because they often conflict with each other. Did Henry deliberately lie about his intentions or did he make things up as he went along? That was a big one. But no, I don't think I would change anything.

As for the world we live in today, I do believe that people are basically the same. We have the same motivations and the same regrets. In the middle ages, politicians got away with murder, and they do today as well, don't they? The biggest difference is that it was easier to hide things—and people! Ironically, when I was writing about Richard II I kept thinking about how he reminded me of Donald Trump: the promises he didn't keep, the lies he made to cover up his illicit behavior. The longer Trump's presidency lasted, the more the parallels added up. We'll see how that ends up!

Mark

10/25/2021 07:26:53 am

Yes, that is a big difference for this type of historical fiction. The major plot points are set in stone. But you do have some wiggle room in between.
People and politics haven't changed much. That is certainly true.
I loved your book so much I want to ask a few questions about the content and your thoughts.
New question.
Are you going to continue the Plantagenet cycle?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/25/2021 11:40:23 am

You know, originally I was only going to write the two books about Richard II. But I found I couldn't stop there. The usurpation was just too interesting not to explore. Halfway through Usurper, I realized that I wasn't going to finish Henry in one book, and then I thought about how popular Henry V was... Well, before I knew it, I resolved to bring the cycle all the way through Henry VI's reign. I was hoping to avoid the Wars of the Roses—it's so bloody complicated—but it only makes sense to see the dynasty through to the end. The more research I do, the more I realize these stories are seriously dependent on the king's relatives: Henry V's younger brothers and Cardinal Beaufort especially. As they say, it's complicated! I anticipate at least four or five more books, but I won't limit myself!

Mark

10/25/2021 12:27:04 pm

That sounds great to me as a reader and a devoted fan of historical fiction. With all of the research you do, the story of these kings needs to continue. So, I am happy knowing there will be much more to come.
New question.
What’s the comparison between the historical Henry IV and Shakespeare’s Henry IV?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/25/2021 12:44:57 pm

Great question! It's interesting to see that even though Shakespeare wrote two plays about Henry IV, the king plays a minor role in both. Why is that? Many commentators speculate that because the reigning Queen Elizabeth was paranoid about attempts on her own life, Shakespeare decided to give the usurper a back seat, so to speak. That's one way to stay out of jail! No need to portray a usurper in too positive a light. The same restrictions didn't apply to Henry's successor, but even there young Hal was a wastrel in his younger days. This, too, may well have been an invention of the great bard. There is little or no historical evidence to back up the theory that young Henry V was a bad boy in his youth. So in Shakespeare we see King Henry IV spending much of his time bemoaning the behavior of his heir and very little time doing kingly stuff. What a whiner! The thirteen years of Henry's reign were condensed, of course, and in play two he is a doddering invalid. That part is actually true. Six years after his reign began, Henry IV was stricken with what contemporaries thought was leprosy. During the last years of his reign he was pretty much out of commission, and relied heavily on his council and his son to rule for him. I prefer to remember him as he was depicted in the play Richard II: strong, chivalrous, and unyielding.

Mark

10/25/2021 01:53:29 pm

I agree, it is much nicer to remember someone in their prime.
Henry V, Hal, could have been a partier but he would likely have merited less commentary in the original sources.
New question.
How did you come to be so sympathetic to Henry IV?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/25/2021 06:26:56 pm

Can I tell you a secret? I had the hots for Jon Finch, who played Henry in the BBC Shakespeare productions. He was, and continues to be, my Henry IV, (It was reportedly Finch's favorite role, too.) But aside from that, I think Henry found himself between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I think the friction between him and his cousin Richard II had a lot more to do with jealousy than perceived wrong. Partly due to the circumstances of his upbringing, Henry had more opportunity to play, make friends, travel around the world—and make lots of babies. When Richard sent him into exile, Henry's world collapsed, and there was potential for his unfortunate situation to last permanently. I don't think he had a lot of choice but to do what he did, regardless of the consequences. I believe he felt himself to be an honorable man, and circumstances conspired against him. If he didn't have to fight his way through the first several years of his kingship, he actually might have been a successful king.

Mark

10/25/2021 07:18:04 pm

You secret is safe with me.
I don't blame Henry. His cousin, Richard, was so afraid of losing the crown that he was merciless toward so many of his perceived enemies. I don't think Henry felt like he was an enemy of Richard, until he saw all of his livelihood being taken away from him. Then, for Henry, it became a matter of survival, he felt trapped. Anyone in that position would do what Henry did.
New question.
Do you think Richard II could ever have come back into power?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/25/2021 08:54:08 pm

I think there's a possibility that if his supporters had waited to rebel (I'm talking about the Epiphany Rising, three months after Henry took the throne), Richard might have had a chance to come back. The country didn't have enough time to become disenchanted with Henry yet, so they were solidly behind him and the revolt failed. And, of course, it sealed Richard's fate. Had they waited, say, even six months, things might have been different. Poor Henry didn't know what he was getting into, financially, and he was unable to keep his promises. As the years dragged on and others rebelled in favor of Richard, it appears that the ex-king was becoming more of a rallying point than a real person expected to return. People have short memories, and he was beginning to look like an ideal; after all, even with his faults, Richard's reign was peaceful. No Welsh rebellion, no financial woes.

Mark

10/26/2021 07:57:15 am

Some people are so impatient. <Why does that microwave popcorn take so long?!>
Wiser heads would have waited for the honeymoon period to end, and discontent start to appear. Then a few well chosen remarks, spread liberally around would have created the groundswell that could have propelled Richard back to the throne. If Henry didn't have him murdered in the meantime.
I suppose the lie of Richard's death might have cut short the public angst against Henry to some degree, because there was no easy or ideal alternative to the current king.
Henry was truly in a pickle as you wonderfully described.
Thank you for shedding light on these issues.
New questions.
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?
What else are you writing these days?
Are you writing anything for yourself or only for readers?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/26/2021 10:37:24 am

The one thing that really struck me while researching this book is that Henry's Usurpation was not viewed with equanimity by all. The questionable legality of the usurpation was of deep concern to many of his contemporaries, and the instability of his kingship contributed greatly to the many rebellions in the first five years (I'm not finished yet! We only made it to 1403). I originally thought it was cut-and-dried, and I hope I brought this enough to the attention of my readers to expand the sanctity of kingship.

I am currently writing the next book in the series called THE ACCURSED KING. Henry's woes go from bad to worse when the next Percy rebellion sucked in the unfortunate Archbishop of York, who paid the ultimate penalty. King Henry was so furious he had Archbishop Scrope executed, and he was almost immediately stricken with divine retribution in the form of a devastating ailment which I referred to earlier (leprosy). Once again, chroniclers are mixed in their interpretations and I'm having a heck of a time sorting it all out!

My writing odyssey has been satisfying to my creative leanings, so I must say I am primarily writing for myself. Because the subjects I pick are relatively obscure—compared to the Tudors, for instance—my books will probably never approach the best seller list. I do hope to enlighten the historical fiction audience about a time period that I find just as interesting as the popular ones and fill a niche in the genre.

Mark

10/26/2021 01:43:08 pm

The entire question of hereditary kingship is something that the writers of the American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution wanted to avoid. Even though there were those who wanted to make George Washington the king of America. He wisely declined. Most active monarchies don't end well for the ruling clan. A descendant or two develop selfish ambitions and it is a downhill race from there.
The question I struggle with is why a portion of a populace wants a king in the first place, especially when there are now other forms of government. Many in the UK either love or hate the symbolic monarchy currently in place. There are those in America who share those feelings also.
Henry, dug himself into a hole that was not easy to climb out of. His failure to do so is good evidence of that difficulty.
While sorting through all of the 'expert' opinions must be somewhat laborious, getting to follow your intuition must be satisfying also as the story meshes together so well, from your pen.
You have made a wise choice. Not seeking the fame of bestseller status must free up a lot of energy for your quest.
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/26/2021 02:22:57 pm

It's funny... I remember when I traveled to England in the late '80s, we were chatting with our hostess about the American Revolution (there was a series on TV at the time) and she said that we could have borrowed one of the Royal Family to be our king. I was so stunned that she didn't get the point! I think I was speechless.

Anyway, lately I've taken a walk down memory lane and listened to the audio version of my all-time favorite author, Alexandre Dumas. Actually, I've listened to three of his novels so far, that I read well over 30 years ago. It was just as absorbing to me this time around, with the added advantage that I knew I was listening to Historical Fiction; back then, I didn't perceive it as a genre. But there's no doubt I was influenced by him. Much has changed in the last 150 years; Dumas had no problem stopping in the middle of his prose to give us a history lesson. That's a big no-no today! But I enjoyed it, nonetheless and am a little jealous that I can't follow suit.

In the last century I owe a lot to the late, great Sharon Penman. It was while reading her first book, "The Sunne in Splendour" that I had an epiphany about Historical Fiction. It all came clear to me and from that point on I preferred to write about real historical figures rather than fictional stories in a historical setting. Although the latter style seems to sell better, I still enjoy giving a history lesson disguised as fiction.

Mark

10/26/2021 04:10:24 pm

That is an amazing comment from that woman in England. King George didn't get it then and others still don't now.
True confession time. I have not read many of the classics. In my first few decades I was reading science fiction and fantasy, once I was out of the house and on my own. Those are still my favorite genres for reading pleasure, followed closely by historical fiction. But I have seen quite a few of the classics that were made into movies. I have enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo many times and several versions of the Three Musketeers.
I think your style of writing about real historical figures and events needs a separate classification from fictional characters set in historical times and events. Your style of writing should be called fictional history, the other can keep historical fiction as a moniker.
New questions.
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?
Have you ever met a famous author? What happened?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/26/2021 04:18:49 pm

I have heard (and used) the moniker "Historical Faction" which I really like. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have caught on.
I started out by reading a lot of science fiction (the classics, of course, since I was into the 19th century literature). Unfortunately, I bumped into what I thought was a run of bad SF and lost interest, just about the time I discovered Tolkein. My run of fantasy novels was equally brief.

Another favorite author of mine was Arthur Conan Doyle. Of course I loved Sherlock Holmes, but I was really taken by his medieval historical fiction, especially Sir Nigel and The White Company. I would have loved to have asked him where he did his research. His novels were extraordinary in their detail. No, I never met a famous author. I would probably be very shy around him/her and might not even mention that I write.

Mark

10/26/2021 05:33:44 pm

I have never heard of 'Historical Faction'. I am not even certain how it relates as a genre name.
I was given a paperback edition of Tolkien's LOTR when I was in junior high school in a very small town, population well under 2,000. I was enthralled with it. I read it three times before graduating from high school and I read The Hobbit once also.
I started reading more fantasy after that.
During my college years I learned about CS Lewis starting with The Chronicles of Narnia. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I soon discovered that Tolkien and Lewis were good friends. I also discovered that Lewis wrote a science fiction trilogy, 'Out of the Silent Planet'. Lewis patterned his protagonist after Tolkien. I read that series more than once also. The final volume of the trilogy 'That Hideous Strength' accurately portrayed the devaluation of humans.
I loved Sherlock Holmes also. Though I didn't read anything else by Doyle. Now I think I want to read about Sir Nigel. I just bought an illustrated edition of 'The White Company' published by Rutilus Classics.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/26/2021 05:52:09 pm

Oh, Good! I'm so happy to hear you bought The White Company! I hope it was illustrated by N.C. Wyeth, one of my favorite artists. I think you'll love it. I read that one first, too, then went back to Sir Nigel. It didn't matter what order... both books are great.
I never read C.S. Lewis, I'm embarrassed to say. I'll have to fix that.

I don't use anything special for my writing; just Microsoft Word. You can upload a Word document for Kindle, and you can export to PDF for the paperback. The most difficult part is formatting (chapter headings), which can be learned with some proper help from Google.

In my research, I read the sources again and again until I have internalized the important events in my story. The minor stuff is in the back of my head and I admit sometimes I have to do a lot of backtracking to find a nagging reference. Keeping track of the days surrounding a specific event is my hardest task, and in this I rely on old-fashioned notes—usually a single piece of paper with the dates and who was where when. Then I throw it away! The cast of characters can be challenging; you can't introduce them all at once and a lot of people surrounded the king. I often have to straighten them out in my second draft.

Mark

10/27/2021 08:59:36 am

I am looking forward to reading it. My TBR pile is so big my Kindle is getting heavy. ;-)
That is good to know about The White Company and Mr. Nigel.
I think the majority of authors use MS Word, in all of its iterations. It has a large, worldwide userbase. I use it also because so many authors do and it can convert other formats into something Word can work with.
I can easily see how hard it would be to keep track of all of the many characters in a book.
New questions.
This shouldn't be an issue writing Fictional History but 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 at home, or do you need quiet?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/27/2021 11:29:07 am

My first book, HEIR TO A PROPHECY gave me a merry chase. I wanted to follow the story of Fleance, son of Banquo after he fled from his father's murderers in Macbeth. In the beginning, I had no idea that Banquo was the ancestor of James I, but I'm certain Shakespeare's contemporaries knew it. Fleance was going to be my protagonist. Imagine my surprise to discover he got himself killed pretty early on, after getting the princess of Wales pregnant. I had to write the story about his bastard son Walter, who carried on the witches' prophecy. My single historical source took him to Normandy and he ended up fighting on the Norman side in the battle of Hastings. That took some fancy plotting on my part, though I needed some help from the witches to move the plot forward. It's the only book I wrote with supernatural agents, and you can blame Shakespeare. Interestingly enough, though again I knew nothing about it, one of my minor characters, Alain le Rouge, Count of Brittany became one of the wealthiest men of all time (Forbes placed him 9th in the list of most wealthy historical figures). Not bad for an accident!

As for music, no I require total silence while writing. This is not easy when my husband is downstairs watching television, for I work in a loft with an open floor plan. Luckily, his office is on the opposite side of the house, so I have to time my writing hours carefully.

Mark

10/27/2021 12:22:13 pm

You did some serious scrambling in that story. The supernatural influence was interesting and it caught me by surprise. I was shocked when flints was killed. I had to Google back and read that again just to be certain I had caught it correctly.
I am like you, I need quiet when I am proofreading. When I am reading it doesn’t matter as much.
New questions.
action dialogue or narration, which is easiest for you?
Of the five senses which is easiest to use in writing and which is the hardest?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/27/2021 12:35:31 pm

Whenever possible, I prefer dialogue. I think it's the best way to "show, not tell". Why is a character acting the way he does? How can I get across the implications of his actions? I love to work this out in dialogue, because I can give it every angle and let the character choose what to reject. Of course, when possible action can put you on the edge of your seat. Who can pass up a good murder scene? My biggest challenges are depicting a battle. Does one try to watch it from a distance like a general, or should I get into the eyeball-to-eyeball level? Too close and you lose the gist of the battle; however, so do the fighters. Too far and you risk spending too much time in description. I hope I hit a happy medium in the Battle of Shrewsbury, which was difficult because major events were happening simultaneously across the battlefield.

The senses are a good one. Touch and taste are hard for me, mostly because I forget about them. I do well with sight and hearing, especially because I like to distract my characters, especially in high emotional states. Sometimes I think I spend too much time in my character's head and I have to force myself to look at his world!

Mark

10/27/2021 04:06:57 pm

I think dialogue, especially when combined with action beats, is a great way to 'show, not tell'.
With narration it is so easy to step over the invisible line and wind up in the middle of an information dump. A sure-fire way to start losing readers. It is tough to deliver the right amount of information, only enough to keep the story flowing.
An up close and personal action scene can be very effective in almost every genre. The panoramic view can lead to boring a reader also if it goes on too long. Giving airtime to too many characters at one time can really slow a story down. The tight focus is usually more effective.
Most authors have given a similar answer about the senses. What we see and hear has a certain amount of objectivity but as we know there are multiple factors affecting the objectivity we presume to have.
New questions.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How did you decide to end the book at that spot?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/27/2021 04:23:08 pm

Interesting question. I keep asking myself which draft is more difficult: the first or the second? The first draft is where I try to get all the history right—and keep the structure in place. My second draft is where I put in the necessary emotions, imagery, and what I call filler—tying all the incidents together. Both drafts take about the same amount of time, though I can't say how long in months, because most of my work is done in spurts. I work according to the weather and my "real job" schedule, which also goes in spurts (I sell Real Estate). If the weather outside is beautiful, I'm in the garden!

Anyway, I usually write my first draft until I get to somewhere around 80,000 words then stop after a major event. The second draft usually adds around 20,000 more words. That's why I'm not entirely sure how many books it will take me to cover a particular person's life. I don't take much out. If this means I overlap two protagonists in the same book, that's all right with me! They tend to overlap in real life anyway. The book I'm writing right now will segue way into Henry V's reign if that's how it works out. Or maybe not. I just don't know yet. Keeps it interesting for me.

Mark

10/27/2021 05:17:19 pm

I am not surprised. You don't have to be a plotter because the plot is more or less established for you. You are not a pantster for the same reason. Like most authors you are somewhat of a hybrid, but for different reasons than most.
Getting the history is very important, however you are at the mercy of different experts and pedants in the field. Choosing to follow one over the other could bring criticism your way from the party you have not followed.
Have you ever run into that, how did you handle it?
The filler part. That is the wonderful, gooey stuff that brings the characters to life. That is what gives us modern readers something to recognize and enjoy. Otherwise, it's just another boring history text book to be avoided like in high school.
I can see how you haven't gotten bored with your writing. That makes a lot of sense.
I already asked one question above. Here is another.
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript for this book?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/27/2021 05:45:19 pm

So far, I'm happy to say, I haven't run into criticism for choosing one side of the story or another. The trick, I think, is to explain my choices in the author's notes after the story. I point out my sources and why I went with one instead of the other. Don't think I don't agonize on occasion! In the previous novel (Richard's Retribution), I had a heck of a time deciding whether Richard abandoned his army in Wales and rode north to Conway (after Henry's landing), whether he was a coward about it, whether his army abandoned him first, or whether he kept his promise to join the army in Conway that was supposedly waiting for him. Did he run away in the night or did his leaders know he was going? All those things were declared by chroniclers and historians, and of course they contradicted each other. I had to go the way I felt his personality dictated (I don't think he was a coward), and the way that made sense for the plot. It was a tough decision but nobody took me to task for it. Of course, I had the added advantage that few know the history, anyway!

As for my drafts, in my mind, the first draft is the skeleton, the second draft the muscles and ligaments, the third draft the flesh, and the fourth draft the make-up. After four drafts, for the most part, I'm ready to go. I usually send the book out to my beta readers after the third draft, and their comments tend to be very much appreciated. I often incorporate suggestions into the fourth draft, which is fine-tuning, really.

Mark

10/27/2021 07:06:34 pm

The 'Author's Notes' in the back of the book have worked well for you. That was a great idea.
You have a good system for your drafts. I love the metaphor of the human body. Obviously, you know your material and characters quite well. With the care you take in the first draft you avoid common plot holes, misspelling names and places.
In long books, some authors experience misspelling names of characters or places, especially in the fantasy genre. I have to assume that they don't enter the names in a personal dictionary on their computer.
New questions.
How did you find your beta-readers?
Did you give the beta readers an e-version like a PDF, access to Google docs or a hard copy you printed?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/27/2021 09:03:38 pm

I do remember getting names wrong on occasion; fortunately, I discovered my errors before the book went into production. Some of those Anglo-Saxon names got me into trouble.

Beta readers are worth their weight in gold. I find them on social media; they are always writers, so I can return the favor. We start up a conversation and usually share the same ideas about writing. Interestingly, it helps to find more than one because each person brings something different to the table. I'm hoping my beta reader will tell me when there's something missing, when the story doesn't exactly make sense, or when it starts to drag. One beta reader was a nit-picker on historical detail, which kept me out of trouble! I like to send them a Mobi copy because when I read their beta version on my kindle, it's easy to make corrections "on the fly" and bookmark the page. Of course, I can't figure out how to export my notes in a logical way and I end up transferring the corrections to a Word doc anyway. Sounds complicated but it only takes me a few minutes.

Mark

10/28/2021 08:08:24 am

Unusual names can be a real source of spelling issues. I know that very well from my proofreading.
That is a great way to find beta readers. It is wonderful when a favor can be returned.
I like to read books on my kindle also, it is easy to annotate errors on the fly. I find spelling errors in every book I read. I do the same thing concerning sharing the errors with the author and I wish there was an easier way also.
New questions.
What kind of questions did you ask them to get feedback about a particular point or topic or did you let them provide feedback without particular questions?
Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any way particular?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/28/2021 10:33:11 am

I'm glad it's not only me! It's one of those things, I guess. Technology is only fabulous when it works the way we want it to work!

I don't lead my beta readers in any way. A good beta reader doesn't need guidance. If they come back with few or no comments, I won't ask them again! The best reward I can think of is to return the favor. So far, I've been able to do that with all but one, who takes a long time to finish his novel. I'm a good beta reader. Too good for some!

Mark

10/28/2021 03:01:46 pm

It's not only you. I have been playing with the Kindle app on my laptop. I discovered I can not only read and annotate a book I can also export my notes. However, the exported document is not very helpful to another person, it doesn't identify the highlighted word beyond the page number, a line number would be far more helpful to an author trying to find the misspelled word on the page. I think I will go back and highlight the entire sentence on my kindle. That should be easier.
You do have some great beta readers. Since they are authors they should be good. Returning the favor is a great reward.
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?

mercedes rochelle

10/28/2021 03:11:36 pm

My first memory of my own potential was in fifth grade. I wish I could remember the name of my English teacher, but she made a point of telling me I had a special talent. She even gave me personalized reading assignments. I would thank her today! I never took creative writing courses. I don't think I took myself seriously until after I was in college and changed my major to English literature. Even then I didn't write much. I have one (count them... one!) short story in my file that I wrote because of a dream. I read it the other day; it was ok except the plot was weak. I never particularly enjoyed short stories except for Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allen Poe. Poetry, no. So I am really a late bloomer and my first serious work was my first novel. Go figure. Looking back, I don't know how I did it, except that I was a voracious reader and something must have "stuck". Oh, and I was good at grammar.

Mark

10/28/2021 04:12:42 pm

Nice story. Your talent was showing even back then.
I didn't have a talent for writing. My biggest talent in the fifth grade was my ability to get into trouble. And reading. I was reading well beyond my grade level.
Some people are late bloomers, no question. There has to be a certain amount of security in a person's life, the basic needs of survival must be secure; only then can the creative impulses be given a chance to blossom and flourish.
Reading a lot and being excellent at grammar are a great foundation for a writer. I marvel inwardly when a writer reveals that they don't read much in their genre. They claim they don't want their ideas tainted by the work of others. I know not to have very high expectations for the book.
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?

mercedes rochelle

10/28/2021 04:32:06 pm

You hit the proverbial nail on the head! I had a very unhappy and insecure childhood and you're right. Who had time to be creative under those circumstances? And I agree about non-readers. Although I admit, I don't like to go outside my genre. I have to force myself.

You're right that this publishing business is a long learning curve. My most recent experience relates to my audio books and the whole Audible brou-ha-ha. As you may know, for the last year there has been quite an uproar when a software glitch with Audible exposed many, many layers of misapplication of authors' royalties (to put it mildly) or outright fraud (to put it harshly). The jury is still out. But Audible made a concession and permitted authors to end their exclusive contact and go "wide", which I took advantage of. Big mistake! I did as instructed and my books were taken out of circulation for four months before the errors in production were sorted out. This meant no one knew of the existence of my audio books because they did not show up in Amazon. Going "wide" (i.e. publishing with outside distributors) did not make up the difference. Hopefully in the long-term I'll be encouraged.

The industry has changed so much since I wrote my first book that my learning curve changed along with technology. I will say this: I learned not to put so much emphasis on finding an agent. They are focused on profits like everybody else, and unless you are an extraordinary find, you are likely to get short shrift. The disappointment can be devastating (it was for me). I learned to lower my expectations; the competition is enormous, to say the least. I learned not to give up my day job; when I remember that I lost twenty years of my working life doing odd jobs rather than sacrifice my writing to a career, I really kick myself. I never caught up, career-wise. Once I hit 40 I got tired of being poor and started my own business, but it was too little, too late. Such is life.

Mark

10/28/2021 06:17:47 pm

Audible-gate, as some have termed it, has been devastating to authors on so many levels! The lack of financial transparency is so abhorrent and should be criminal.
I am not the least bit surprised that Amazon punished you. They don't take kindly to their slaves escaping the plantation. Perhaps "slaves" is too harsh, but they work very hard to prevent authors from going wide.
A book is not allowed in Kindle Unlimited unless it is exclusive to KU. That contract lasts for months from what I have heard. OTH, KU is a good example of marketplace forces choosing the best books. If a reader gets bored they will close the book and the author receives no more micro-payments from that book. Authors are paid a fraction of a penny for each page read. Amazon, however, makes all of their money.
Speaking of the 8,000 pound gorilla, Amazon, the entire publishing industry has been decimated by Amazon. So many publishers have gone out of business at all levels. I think we are down to 4 big traditional publishers now. I do not think the traditional publishing industry will ever recover. They are still doing things the same way they did decades ago. Their profit margins are so slim, they cannot afford to take a chance on anything that is not a sure bet.
Agents are the same way. They don't make any money until a contract is signed. It is a dying profession that will always be hanging around looking for authors to suck their blood. Ooh, that was a bit harsh. It is also true. The agents have the contacts and the relationships with the publishers. Some publishers won't talk to an author, they want the agent to save them time by getting the dross off the molten gold. I feel sorry for agents in some way.
I understand how you are kicking yourself. That was a tough choice and the long-range bet didn't win. That happens to a lot of us.
New questions.
Have you looked into Vella or other episodic platforms for your writing?
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/28/2021 06:52:19 pm

Well, I certainly got you going, didn't I? I hate to sound like a victim but I really did feel like I was being punished. Luckily, the brave folk who are putting together a class action lawsuit asked me for my story and I gave it to them in full, for what it's worth. I will admit that at the end, a kind soul in ACX customer support took pity on me and actually forced the issue, and my five titles were released thanks to his efforts. Another case of the corporation being the bad guy but not necessarily the employees. On the other hand, it could have been gross incompetence all along. I'll never know.

As for the publishers, in a way they are responsible for their own decline, aren't they? The system was certainly stacked against the authors, once again. It seemed doomed to failure (from the outside looking in). Perhaps it was time for a shake-up.

The episodic concept is interesting; after all, our classic writers published all their works in a serial form before turning them into books. I was just reading last night that Alexandre Dumas put it into his contracts that he would have the rights to consolidate his volumes into printed books after they were finished in the magazines. I don't know about doing it myself; it's something I need to research.

Do I have a hero? Peter O'Toole. I think he was one of the greatest actors of our time and his face was so extraordinary.

Mark

10/29/2021 08:06:31 am

Yes, you certainly did ring my bell.
I am glad you got the opportunity to share your experience. That is wonderful that your titles were released. What a nice and reasonable person.
Publishers are responsible for their own demise. They have steadfastly refused to embrace e-books and have barely tolerated them for several years.
You are about Dumas and contemporaries, so many books were published first as episodes.
Good choice of Peter O'Toole, he was an amazing actor.
New questions.
Why and how did you choose this particular time period?
Was the research hard for your first book?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/29/2021 10:51:10 am

Back in my college days, I watched the new BBC Shakespeare Production of Richard II with Derek Jacobi. I had never heard of Richard, but I watched this play with growing fascination and by the end, when he sat in prison bemoaning the fate of kings, I was hooked. You know, I carried him around with me for over forty years, intending to write his story some day.

Jumping forward three hundred years from the Anglo-Saxon era, which I was very familiar with, was a daunting prospect. I essentially had to start over, for I only knew the basics of the period and much of my knowledge was gleaned from Shakespeare. Alas, the great bard was a dramatist, not a historian—no matter how much credence we give him! As it turns out, the play RICHARD II only covered the last three years of Richard's life. None of it had anything to do with my first novel. Ditto for Henry IV. It took me a year of research before I was comfortable enough to put "pen to paper", and while I was writing my first book I was researching the second, and so on. By the time I got to Usurper, I was pretty well versed in the period.

Mark

10/29/2021 11:31:23 am

It was nearly love at first sight for you and Richard II. Very sweet.
I wondered about that gap, it was quite significant. Many quote the Bard as if he was a historian. You had to immerse yourself in the lives of these men and their contemporaries. You did a fine job, hence my thoughts on your book. I daresay Usurper was the easiest of the three to write because you knew the people and the period so well.
New questions.
In historical fiction, how far can you stretch the truth or bare bones of the facts?
Do you write notes by hand or on the computer when you are starting a book?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/29/2021 12:31:36 pm

I always thought the word "truth" was an ambiguous one. It seems we never know the real truth; it's so subjective. And so it goes with history. It blows my mind that there are holocaust deniers, and that's within living memory (not much longer). The farther back we go, the more muddled the truth becomes. Or does it? It seems that the more documentation we have access to, the more opinions we have to sort through. Back in the Anglo-Saxon days, we have almost nothing to go on—at least as far as contemporaries go. Any feasible interpretation can be acceptable, unless it goes in the face of accepted "fact", like who won the Battle of Hastings. Then we are sliding into the "alternative history" genre, which I stay away from (I have a hard enough time absorbing the accepted history without confusing myself). I have no difficulty embellishing the bare bones. As far as I'm concerned, that's our job.

I never wrote by hand; it's too slow. Using a typewriter was certainly a challenge before correction tape (remember that?). I started using a word processor in the DOS days (remember Word Star?). I make so many corrections that a handwritten document would be unreadable, I think. I do still write cursive, though.

Mark

10/29/2021 01:20:52 pm

Truth does have some ambiguity to it because sometimes it is dependent upon the observer. Other times truth is not subjective, it is objective and it doesn't matter who is observing. Gravity is an easy example.
The Holocaust deniers amaze me also. Talk about sticking your head where the sun doesn't shine.
I have read an alternative history book, it was interesting but left me feeling a little strange.
I remember correction tape and carbon paper quite well. The first novel I proofed in the 70s was a carbon copy.
WordStar rings a bell also. I was learning to navigate DOS and bulletin boards in the 70s also.
I can write cursive, but I must take care or it will be unreadable for me as well as others. I was studying architecture in the early 70s and learned to print quite well. All original drawings, architectural and engineering had to be lettered by hand. I worked in a drafting pool and though I spent hours practicing my lettering, everyone knew my lettering right off.
New questions.
You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?
What are common traps for beginning writers?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/29/2021 01:35:24 pm

I've never known a draftsman who writes in cursive! Ha! My spouse included. I understand they don't even teach it in school anymore, which is a shame.

Even though my book sales are modest, I never write strictly for myself. It's too difficult! I don't find writing easy. In fact, I'm one of those authors who don't particularly enjoy writing, but we love having written. Yes, that's me. Of course, writing for publication is very much a delayed gratification, and the gratification is fleeting. There are many times I ask myself why I'm doing it and I don't have an answer. I only know I was miserable when I took a few years off!

So the easiest answer to the "common trap" is high expectations. Of course, I already talked about that. Also, I learned not to worry too much about the first draft. Some people think the first draft is the only one they need, and that is the worst pitfall of all, as far as I am concerned. No, no, no. Give it some time if you need to, but go back. You'll be amazed at the goofs you created. Things get left out; assumptions get made; words get repeated. At the same time, if you get stuck in the first draft, force yourself to go on and leave the confusion behind (with a note to yourself). When you go back to it after the book is finished, you may already have the answer.

Mark

10/29/2021 03:33:05 pm

If I hurry too much all of my handwriting is hard to read! But I do print most of the time.
I have heard of writers like you. You all are a slightly odd bunch. I think I understand, as you said, writing is hard. It is hard. An easily read story is the result of a lot of hard writing. The satisfaction of having written a good story is... priceless!
High expectations. They arrive in so many forms. And they all lead to a spectacular crash with reality eventually. I already mentioned the guy wouldn't read in his genre because he didn't want to pollute his 'stellar' ideas and writing with that of others. He was shocked when I found so many errors in his book. He almost cancelled the interview. There are also those who won't use beta readers because they are afraid someone will steal their idea. They don't realize that there are no truly new ideas and plots, only new and unique ways of telling them.
The perfect first draft, what an exercise in futility. I think a lot of beginning writers think they can write a perfect first draft. Most of them get discouraged and quit before they are done because they lose their muse and/or get mired in writer's block. We will never hear from them because they had unrealistic expectations and never bring a book to market.
You bring some good advice to the table. You are echoing the advice given by one of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall. He wrote a great blog about non-linear writing. He suggests writing the easy parts first. Here is a copy-and-paste link: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing I think it's a good idea.
New questions.
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?
Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader? Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/29/2021 04:24:05 pm

I just read Rick's post. Very interesting. The only thing I fear is that all the nasty chapters will stack up at the end (for me). Anyway, I must admit that I don't always practice what I preach and I do sometimes get bogged down with that nasty chapter. But I eventually move on and go back to it. I do tend to be a linear writer, myself, because I'm a linear thinker. If I skip to all the fun stuff it's kind of like eating the dessert first. Then you have nothing to look forward to. Although I do like his concept. Maybe I'll try it. Sometimes it seems to me that every key event I write about is a challenge (when all the reference books get scattered around my keyboard). There are not too many chapters when I get to "wing it", though when I hit the dialogue I move a lot faster.

I think all writers must have a strong ego, or else why would you expose yourself to criticism? I think I see the ego as equivalent to a thick skin! You have to be so sure of yourself that you'll let things bounce off, or else wither under the abuse. Not everyone will love our work and we have to be confident enough not to let that get us down.

What can I say? My ideal reader loves history. Otherwise, they probably won't "get it".

Mark

10/30/2021 08:43:54 am

That is an interesting way of looking at it. Eating dessert first, I never thought of it that way. Then, I am not a writer. It seemed to me that some of the harder chapters might get easier when the other chapters are done.
Writing dialogue for you would be the easiest part because you can leave all of the reference books aside for that part of writing.
A strong ego does equate to thick skin. Just as every book has an audience it also has a non-audience, yes, there is always someone who won't like any particular book. I do appreciate when someone tries a new genre, especially if they discover that they don't like that genre.
New questions.
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
What is the biggest obstacle you face in writing now?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/30/2021 09:45:01 am

I surround my little writing space with items that appeal to me. I have a tiny viking ship picture made out of little pieces of wood. I have a little brass rubbing of St. George. I have a map of 14th century London in front of my face. Are these lucky charms? That's the closest I come.

Obstacle? Only within my story itself. The execution of Archbishop Scrope and the multi-phase rebellion that led up to it was probably the most important event in King Henry's reign (that had the most repercussions). This rebellion involved my favorite, Henry Percy, but to what extent, nobody knows. It's an impossible set of contradictions, and I've been juggling it for months. That's when the writing is so difficult. Once I've actually gotten to that point I must commit myself. Usually a sentence or two does the job. After all that agonizing! And once I've taken the plunge a great weight gets lifted from my shoulders and I can move on. I never go back and change it! Sounds kind of melodramatic, but in my head a battle is going on. Can you imagine what I went through trying to decide whether Richard II gets killed or not? That was the biggest digression from the "truth" I ever took, and I wouldn't have done it except that the evidence was so convincing.

Mark

10/30/2021 11:01:11 am

Those mementos sound lucky to me. They serve to remind you of different things and different times. They must be nice souvenirs to have.
I didn't realize how much difficulty you went through in writing crucial events. It does make sense because they are pivotal and a kingdom can rise or fall on such as these. You followed the evidence as closely as you could and there is no fault to be found in that venture.
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, why or why not?

mercedes Rochelle

10/30/2021 12:21:58 pm

Pseudonyms give us a great opportunity to make a statement, if we so desire. In my case, my pseudonym is a tribute to Alexandre Dumas. Mercedes is the heroine in The Count of Monte Cristo, and Rochelle comes from the siege of La Rochelle in The Three Musketeers. Fancy that! I originally used the name "Mercedes de La Rochelle" during my thirty years in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and I dropped the "de la" for my pen name. Mercedes stuck and I've been using it ever since, though it causes a problem in my Real Estate business.

BTW, last night I started reading a new Dumas novel I never knew existed, taking place under Napoleon. Did you know that Dumas' father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, served under Napoleon? He was a huge black man, son of a slave, and experienced more than his fair share of racism. He got screwed over by Napoleon, imprisoned and left penniless, so Dumas had mixed feelings about the emperor.

Anyway, in the unlikely event that I change genres, I would keep the same name. I worked hard enough to reach recognition! Why start all over again? I keep thinking about Anne Rice, who wrote erotica under a different name. What happened? Once she became famous, the books read "Anne Rice writing as Anne Rampling". Kind of counter-productive, isn't it?

Mark

10/30/2021 02:05:07 pm

That is a 'novel' way to develop a pen name. I love it. Sorry, not sorry. ;-)
One of my very best friends, now deceased, was an active player in SCA. He would set up a small forge onsite and participate in that function. He inspired me to make my 13th century helm. Since I made the helmet as a project in my sheet metal apprenticeship I built it without the benefit of a forge or welding. You can see the helmet on one of my blogs. Search for the word 'medal' using the search box at the bottom of this page.
I did not know any of that about Dumas. That is certainly fascinating. Racism has existed for millennia, unfortunately. What is the name of the book?
That is pretty funny about Anne Rice in particular and pen names in general.
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?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/30/2021 05:10:21 pm

The book about Dumas' father was called "The Black Count". It was a real eye opener for me. The Dumas book I just discovered is called "The Last Cavalier", AKA "Hector de Sainte-Hermine" (the name of the hero). This is supposedly the last novel by Dumas, written in serial, of course, before he died. I'm not sure, but I think it's unfinished. The book is over 700 pages long!

The genre that sticks out for me is the "detective fiction", though I'm a little reluctant to call it that. Maybe it's a bit of mystery fiction as well. One of my favorite crime finders was a Roman (Giordanus the Finder), a series by Steven Saylor. Again this is part historical fiction as well, so maybe I'm not being fair. I also fell in love with Nero Wolfe, especially after seeing the Television series (as per your second question). Again this takes place in the past. I recently discovered Raymond Chandler (OK, I'm a late bloomer), but I haven't ventured too far into his work. Don't like modern stuff, though. It's too real.

Movies have been a big inspiration for me—especially the actors. As I said earlier, once "discovered" Jon Finch, I can't ever have another Henry IV. Ditto for Peter O'Toole's Henry II. So I guess characterization in movies means a lot to me. And the dialog.

Mark

10/30/2021 05:22:51 pm

700 pages is a hefty read.
Historical crime fighting is an interesting genre. I read a book several years ago and really enjoyed it. It was an alternate universe type of thing with some magic thrown in. The protagonist was not very good at the magic. I hope I can think of the name later, it escapes me for now. I think the author is from Turkey and he is one of my 60,000 followers. The proverbial needle in a haystack.
I agree with you about the modern shows, they are too real and gory at times.
I think every actor strives to play a role so well as to be unforgettable.
New questions.
At this time, do you read any books for entertainment or just research homework?
What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/30/2021 06:31:26 pm

I have a very strict schedule for my reading. At night, about 60-90 minutes before I go to sleep, I crawl into bed with whatever novel I happen to be reading at the time. If I'm really lucky, it won't keep me awake! If it's too interesting, I'll switch to something more boring—or at least, which has a proven record of putting me to sleep for whatever reason. Some books are just like that. Every morning, with my cup of coffee, I take 30-45 minutes and read my research material; I'm awake by then and can concentrate. At the gym, I read an action novel while on the treadmill (usually about Vikings!). I keep more research material on a table for my bathroom reading (when I can only take a page at a time!). Sorry to say I'm so boring I don't have any "guilty pleasure" material. Or maybe I'm just too old!

Mark

10/31/2021 09:07:14 am

I love your eclectic choices. I also like how you have different genres for different times and activities.
I listen to podcasts when I am fast walking or race walking on the treadmill. I am bouncing around too much to be reading.
My last hour of the day is reserved for reading books that I am going to promote. When that is caught up I read for fun.
New questions.
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?
What was the message you wanted to deliver when you wrote this book? Do you feel you were successful in getting that message across to the reader?

mercedes rochelle

10/31/2021 11:34:51 am

I kind of feel that creative people have suffered in their lifetime—whether they be artists, writers, or anything else. It seems the adversity gives one a wider perspective; if you get everything you want and never have to worry about anything, why expand your point of view? Perhaps I am biased, as a child of alcoholics. Life sucked. I needed escapism. It wasn't until I was an adult that I started channeling my chaotic thoughts.

I am a firm believer that no good character is entirely good, nor is a bad character entirely bad. Was Henry IV corrupted by the circumstances surrounding the usurpation? I tend to think so. He may have started out idealistic, but too many hard choices and rebellions pushed him over the edge. By the Battle of Shrewsbury, i think he became a bitter man. This could happen to all of us. I hope I got that across!

Mark

10/31/2021 05:21:33 pm

I agree, I also think that no one escapes suffering in this life. Every person has different kind of suffering. Some may look alike on the surface but the internal effects are unique for each person. Our favorite stories are always about overcoming the odds in one way or another.
I think you nailed it. A fully fleshed character is always a mix of good and bad. There is always a redeeming characteristic in the evilest of people. Even Adolf Hitler wanted to be an artist, as crazy as he was. The complete character in a story has to be a mix also. Otherwise they come across as one-dimensional, just a standing, cardboard cutout.
New questions.
If a new writer asked you for one piece of advice to be a good writer what would you say?
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/31/2021 07:30:54 pm

First of all, I would tell a new writer to read, read, read. Hopefully that won't be necessary, but I there are some who think they can get away without reading much. Not a good idea. After that, I would emphasize the need to edit and revise, but at some point, you need to end it. There is such a thing as overediting. The manuscript will never be perfect, and you might find that you can't ever let it go. It's hard to move on and start all over again on the next book. But it's kind of like letting your child grow up.

Personally, I find that non-writers are not interested in my work. Frankly, I almost never talk about it. First of all, they get bored right away (who ever heard of this stuff?), and secondly, they have no point of reference. Writing is such a personal task; you can't share it. Once in a while they pretend they are going to read my book, but what's the point? Although one time a lady with a broken ankle read it and liked it, so all was not lost! She was captive.

Mark

10/31/2021 07:38:36 pm

It is important for a writer to be well read in their genre. It is also important for said writer to read in other genres also. There are good lessons to be learned from the other writers and other genres.
Just one more round of edits. Many writers have used that excuse to avoid actually publishing their work. I think some of them are afraid of the cold drenching of reality when their book is not an instant bestseller. They are far more comfortable in their daydream of being a published author. At some point 'the end' must be written and obeyed.
That is a funny story about the lady with the broken ankle. You speak a lot of truth because your genre is not popular and a lot of people are less interested in history and far more interested in cheap entertainment. Such is life.
I, among your other fans, am glad you are still writing.
New questions.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
With the explosion of different streaming services, these companies are scrambling for content. Writers are going to be sitting on the top of the heap soon, because they are content providers. Have you considered shopping your content to these companies or an agent?

Mercedes Rochelle

10/31/2021 07:58:56 pm

BookBub really delivers on their Featured Listings, though up until now I couldn't afford to go "all the way" with their total service (Both US and International) which costs about $1000. At the moment I've applied for the big one but I'm still waiting for a response (they turn most of us down). I've run the International Only Featured Deal a couple of times (cost about $200) and I've more than made up my investment—almost double in sales. It's very exciting for a few days!

As for the other content providers, no one has been knocking on my door! At the moment I'm reading a book entitled "Wide for the Win: Strategies to sell Globally via Multiple Platforms and Forge your own path to success". I think that's what you are referring to. He encourages us to do Podcasts, Radio, Essays, Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Videos, Online Streaming... he goes on and on. My head was spinning! Sure, I know how to write articles for magazines, etc. but do I really want to stretch myself that far? It can be a big distraction. I have enough trouble keeping up my blog! Everything I work on takes me away from my novel, and I have enough trouble "staying on target". If I was doing it for the money, maybe. But I'm better off concentrating on my Real Estate. Much more potential!

Mark

11/1/2021 09:23:05 am

That is good to hear that the BookBub ad worked for you so well. Not everyone has the same experience. There are so many factors that come into play with these ads. Because there are so many books vying for eye time getting noticed is quite competitive.
That is what I was referring to. Who wrote the book? I think I have heard of it. I think your books would translate well into graphic novels and other visual media. I know those things are expensive. They are ideal projects for crowdfunding also. Graphic novels and video games have established the crowdfunding system solidly and authors can take advantage of that built-in market. Here is a copy-and-paste link about an extreme crowdfunding venture, but it shows the possibility: https://kriswrites.com/2020/07/22/business-musings-the-kickstarted-game-changer-part-two/
You identified the primary tension point between writing and the writing business. Both are equally important. An author has to keep putting books out and build their backlist. The author also has to keep promoting their books, not just the newest but the entire backlist because there are new eyes online everyday. Contrast that with the need to pay the daily bills and it's a tough balancing act. Balance and fortitude are required.
I haven't blogged in more than 3 years, I have been too busy with proofreading, promoting and website maintenance. The last I am perpetually behind on.
New questions.
Most of your books are in audio form also. How well has that worked out for you?
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.

Mercedes Rochelle

11/1/2021 10:48:38 am

The author of "Wide for the Win" is Mark Leslie Lefebvre. He originally was a high-level corporate guy for Kobo then went over to Draft2Digital, so he has a serious following.
Anyway, I was referring to BookBub Featured Deals, (Not Featured Listings, as I erroneous said). I just got turned down, so maybe next time. I do occasionally post BookBook Ads, which is another animal altogether. I admit my results are disappointing for the most part; I get click-throughs but few sales ouf of it. Some people swear by it, and there's a whole book by David Gaughran called "BookBub Ad Expert" which is enlightening (but didn't work for me).

As I mentioned earlier in my interview, I had a run-in with ACX and lost all momentum. They really do hold all the cards, in my opinion, even when they are screwing us. I can't seem to get the audio off the ground, having gone Wide, but everyone says it takes a while. Overall, it's been a financial money-pit for me; again, it probably has a lot to do with my genre. Just not best-seller material. On the other hand, I think it adds to an author's legitimacy to have books on audio so I don't regret it. I consider it a long-term investment.

Sorry to say I don't subscribe to any of those things. I used to get Writer's Digest when I was a novice and it helped a lot. At the beginning the industry can be intimidating. Of course, that was before POD came along. Too much advice, I feel, can also be intimidating and detract from one's personal mission. Doing things "wrong" isn't always a bad thing!

Mark

11/1/2021 11:08:41 am

I have heard of Lefebvre. It was Joanna Penn that did interviews with him. I have several links to podcasts with him on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
Sorry to hear your Bookbub listing was not accepted. Being in a minor genre is likely working against you.
Amazon and ACX do hold all the cards, no doubt about that. There are a number of authors who will have nothing to do with Amazon. They publish wide without including Amazon.
The more books, the more formats and the more platforms an author has all works to the long-run good. Slow and steady brings more success.
last questions.
What did you buy with your first royalty check?
How did you celebrate when you published your first book?

Mercedes Rochelle

11/1/2021 11:44:05 am

My first royalty check was back in the OOOLLLD days when I published my first of three Art Indexes by subject. This was before the internet, when it was difficult to locate works of art to illustrate articles. These were destined for libraries and I'm happy to say they did pretty well, although at the time I was terribly disappointed to only get a check for $5000 and change. HA! It went into the bank and paid bills.

So my first published books were non-fiction. By the time I got to the fourth index, I saw the proverbial writing on the wall and stopped there. Good thing! Getting my novel published was quite another matter, and although I found two agents along the way they couldn't place them and I got terribly discouraged. In fact, I put the first two books on the closet shelf and swore off writing for 20 years. So it wasn't until 2010 that I started up again, and my first effort was a POD book with Amazon. The cover was terrible and the book didn't perform. The title didn't help, either. So I screwed up my courage and went to a hybrid publisher in England and they took a chance with me (for a relatively small fee). By then, I was pretty wrung out and the excitement was muted. I didn't celebrate. Sigh. But I did feel encouraged!

Mark

11/1/2021 01:25:29 pm

"And now we know the rest of the story" said the famous philosopher, Paul Harvey.
I am not surprised that you gave up on writing for a while. You went through quite a wringer with those early novels.
Your fans, including me, are grateful that you picked up your quill again and continued writing.
I want to thank you for being a fabulous guest. This weeklong interview has been a lot of fun. I have another promotion starting tomorrow so I must bring this one to a close.
Until we meet again, keep on writing.

Mercedes Rochelle

11/1/2021 01:34:16 pm

Thanks, Mark! It was like having a real visit. I always enjoy your interviews. Looks like you're all caught up! I'll have to finish another novel. Until then... keep smiling.

The Usurper King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 3) By Mercedes Rochelle

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