J.W. Nicklaus - Author Guest Post

It is my pleasure to welcome J.W. Nicklaus, author of The Light, The Dark & Ember Between, to Cafe of Dreams! I thank you, Mr. Nicklaus, for taking the time to write a wonderful guest post for us!!

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A Few Things I Learned About Being a Published Author

When you lift anchor on your maiden voyage through publication you’re excited by salty smell of sea air, the water as it crashes and sprays against the fore bulkhead, and the adventure that awaits as you near the mouth of the bay and sail into the Big Blue. What you don’t immediately anticipate are rough seas and storms, or even sea sickness.

Your manuscript is through final edits, and maybe even on to galley before final proofing. You’re apt to think “Phew, I’ve done my part, now I’ll let the publisher take over.” Not so fast there, Davy Jones.

CHAPTER I

Ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.

I freely admit the number of writers I’ve interacted with, much less those who’ve been published, is in the low double digits. But I can tell you with a high degree of confidence that not a single one has told me their publisher is providing all the marketing for them. When I relate this to non-writer folks they seem a little taken aback; those days are long gone.

I personally haven’t heard any stories about publishers not being supportive of an author’s efforts, but that’s a far cry from being the well-oiled marketing machine some still associate with publishing houses. Fact is, it’s not only accepted that any author (with precious few exceptions) will self-promote, it’s expected.

CHAPTER II

Plan, and then plan some more . . . and it still won’t be enough.

There’s nothing original in the following sentence: Once you’ve finished writing your book your job has just begun, not ended. Your creative thinking doesn’t stop with the last word in your book. It just takes a different fork in the road—or a different tack, if I may extend the sailing metaphor.

Now you have to begin planning how you’re going to promote your labor of love, and that plan of attack will be different depending on what your target demographic is and the material presented. You have to read up on all the different ideas and approaches to selling yourself. Me, I’m no salesman—I believe in letting a product speak for itself. But if you can’t convince people to listen then the product will never whisper a word. When you’ve come up with what you think is a solid home run for your promotional effort, you can’t forget that there will be another at bat. Just because you knock one over the wall doesn’t mean you get to hit the showers. You may use a different bat next time, and certainly will face a different pitcher.
And the devil is in the details. You can’t expect each promotional event to be the same static thing time after time. Be dynamic, and plan for your audience, not for you.

Next step, just like shampooing your hair: lather, rinse, and repeat.

CHAPTER III

People are impressed with someone who’s been published—before they so much as breach the front cover.

I had told a few people about my book months before I knew it would be available. I had the cover to show them, but that was about it. Their eyes lit up at the mere mention of being published. You get to field lots of questions, ranging from your inspiration to the cost of the final product and where to get it. But the fun doesn’t stop there.

Not long ago I had taken the first batch of review books to the post office for postage. I walked up and started setting the big envelopes on the counter. The very first one, the clerk picked up and looked at the label. I had a color image of the book cover on the label, and she stood there and read the title aloud. I didn’t think much of it at that moment. Then she set it on the scale and casually went about her business with applying postage. As she punched in zip codes and labeled the envelopes, she asked “Are these gifts?”

“No, I wrote it,” I replied. “I’m sending them out for reviews ahead of release.” She stopped mid-process and smiled big. “I love to read!” she exclaimed. Like an idiot, it hadn’t occurred to me to bring an ARC or two along. The cost of one book may have been a pittance compared to the goodwill and potential free word-of-mouth marketing it produced. So next time I’ll be taking a couple with me.
Believe me, people seem to hold most authors in some positive esteem, a kind of gentle, respectful celebrity. I confess, it’s kind of cool.

CHAPTER IV

Be yourself, no matter what. People, especially readers, are generally pretty good at spotting poseurs.

I’ve noticed that when I’m asked about what I do (besides work), the instant I tell them I enjoy writing—well, I’m sure you already know the first question everyone asks:

“Ever had anything published?”

I say “Yes,” because I can now, and most people become very animated. My take on it is that they want to know about you. Sure, I’d bet they’re interested in the book, but getting to meet someone who has accomplished something of a public nature like writing a book is a very human-connection moment. At our core we’re very social animals, we like to know what makes others tick. For instance, my son and I recently got to tour Chase Field, the home for our Arizona Diamondbacks. We didn’t get to meet any of the players, they were all down on Tucson for Spring Training. Point is, we love going to the ballpark and being able to tour behind-the-scenes what a real kick. We even got to go into the DBacks dugout. Not one ball player was around, but the aura of just being in the place was exciting.

More to the point, as I’ve run into people I can very quickly tell that they’re reading non-verbal cues and subconsciously watching me. If I try to pretend to be some big-shot writer they’ll sense it and call me on it, one way or other—most likely by not caring to read the book. No author wants to suffer those slings and arrows.

Frankly, it’s too much work to pretend to be something I’m not, so I’m perfectly okay with it.

YOU DON’T REACH “THE END” FOR A LONG TIME

Just as with any entertainment related endeavor—movies, music, theater, festivals, etc.—there is so much more going on in support of it than the consumer knows. As with many things that look easy, the reason it looks easy is because there’s been plenty of preparation and thought applied well before you get to enjoy it.

My ship is just now approaching the mouth of the bay. The dock is a memory and back on the horizon now. I know the wide open ocean ahead holds a good number of challenges for me, but I hope to make the best use of my time with the other folks on board before we reach our last port of call.

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About The Light, The Dark & Ember Between:

A collection of short stories, each a splinter's reflection of the human condition, firmly centered upon our oft tenuous, sometimes tensile bond with Hope, and careening flirtation with Love.

Fifteen stories: From the wispy fog of a love lost at sea, to an orphaned child who delivers a present of her own during a war-torn Christmas. These stories are gentle reminders to each of us of what it is to be human, and certainly of our affinity for the slightest glint of Hope.

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About J.W. Nicklaus:

J.W. Nicklaus resides in a place not entirely fit for human habitation about five months of the year. No pets to speak of, only the apparitions from which all romantics suffer.

An Arizona native, he’s been from one coast to the other, and a few places in between. College brought an AA in Journalism with a minor in Photography, and a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications. His work experience has run the gamut from Creative Director for a small advertising firm in Tucson to a litigation support bureau in Phoenix (and assuredly some awkward stuff in the mix).

Snow has been featured prominently in his stories, perhaps because of the seasonless cli-mate he lives in. Nature was meant to be enjoyed and experienced, not hidden from the senses. So to that end, he hopes someday to live amongst those who are able to live through four true seasons, and not just blast furnace and warm.

He enjoys the occasional Arizona Diamondbacks game with his son, as well as watching him grow up. The experience of being a single dad has taught him far more about himself than he ever thought possible.

Within the expanse of every waking moment, he hopes his guardian angel keeps its arms open wide and heart ever watchful, for there but for one true Hope goes She.

For more about J.W. visit http://www.avomnia.com/