BRIAN L PORTER’S MERSEY MYSTERIES

TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING – BRIAN L PORTER’S AWARD-WINNING MERSEY MYSTERIES

When Brian L Porter entered the world of professional writing just over twenty years ago with his award-winning novel trilogy based on the Jack the Ripper murders in London’s Whitechapel in 1888, any thoughts of creating the current successful series of Mersey Mysteries were far away, buried in a then unknown future. Novel followed novel, and as his success grew, so too did the idea that he would like to write a novel set in his family’s home town of Liverpool, on England’s West Coast. Home of The Beatles and birthplace of the1960s ‘Merseybeat’ sound, the city of Liverpool held many childhood memories, but, for some reason, the author held the belief that any book he wrote would fail to do justice to the city and its people.

            All that changed however, when in 2014, ITV Productions released a three-part mini-series based on the early life of British singing superstar, Cilla Black, a native of the city and one of the famed Brian Epstein’s incredible ‘stable’ of 1960s singing talent. Watching the series brought many of Porter’s childhood memories back to life and finally, he felt able to put those memories to good use, by basing his next novel in and around the city. To try and ensure a sense of realism to the characters and events in the book, he based many of the central characters on members of his own family, much as he remembered them in his youth.

            So, the book A Mersey Killing was born and the author set the book partially in the early 1960s, as the new music scene began to take place in Liverpool, which would soon reach out and conquer the musical world. He cleverly placed the rest of the book in 1999, the eve of the millennium and readers have since paid great compliments to the ease with which the book slips so easily from time period to the other, and back again.

            In what seemed like no time at all, the book was written, edited and published. Much to the author’s pleasant surprise, readers responded positively and the book really ‘took off,’ attracting some terrific reviews. Such was its success that the publishers, Creativia,org, asked Brian if he would be interested in creating a series, based on the central characters and his fictionalised Merseyside Police, Specialist Murder Investigation Team. Book 2 in the series, All Saints, Murder on the Mersey, quickly followed and enjoyed equal success to A Mersey Killing. Readers have really taken to Detective Inspector Andy Ross, his partner, Detective Sergeant Izzie Drake and the rest of the team, and the characters have gradually developed as the series has progressed, some of them attracting their own personal following. 

            More books in the series soon followed, with A Mersey Maiden, A Mersey Mariner and the recently released A Very Mersey Murder being added to the list. Brian is currently working on book 6 in the series, Last Train to Lime Street.

You can find all of Brian L Porter’s Mersey Mysteries by visiting http://getbook.at/MerseyMysteries a universal link that will take you to your own Amazon website anywhere in the world.

Book of the Year, 2018

As well as each of the books having achieved Amazon bestseller status, book 3, A Mersey Maiden recently won the Readfree.LY ‘Best Book We’ve Read all Year, 2018’ Award, and is currently nominated for yet another award, the TCK Readers Choice Award,  2018.Voting is open until December and you can support Brian’s nomination by voting for A Mersey Maiden (In the Mystery Category) at https://tckpublishing.com/2018-readers-choice-voting-page/

So, what are these Mersey Mysteries about?

Here’s a short intro to each book in the series so far.

A Mersey Killing http://getbook.at/merseykilling

Liverpool, 1999. Skeletal remains found in the docklands lead Detective Inspector Andy Ross and Sergeant Izzie Drake into a journey through time, as the investigation takes them back to early days of the Mersey Beat.
Whose bones laid beneath the mud of the River Mersey for over thirty years, and what links them to a young woman, missing for the entire time?

All Saints, Murder on the Mersey http://getbook.at/AllSaints

What connects bloody graveyard murders, a former mental asylum, a young girl’s suicide and an enigmatic priest?
After the discovery of a body in the graveyard of St. Matthew's Church, another corpse surfaces in St. Mark's churchyard.
Detective Inspector Andy Ross and Detective Sergeant Izzie Drake must lead their team in a race against time to prevent further atrocities. But what links the dead men with an old mental hospital, now an orphanage, and the scarcely reported suicide of a teenage girl?

A Mersey Maiden http://getbook.at/amerseymaiden

Winner of the Readfree.ly Best Book We've Read all Year Award, 2018

A peaceful cricket match on a warm summer's day turns to murder and mystery, as the star player Aaron Decker lies dead in his bed, his girlfriend sleeping soundly beside him.

The case takes on a new twist with links to the disappearance of a German U-Boat and a British warship in 1945. With the mysterious Aegis Institute hovering in the background of the investigation, D.I Andy Ross and his team find themselves in their most complex case to date.

With events in Britain, Germany, the U.S.A and a secret submarine base in Canada all involved, Ross and his team need to work together with international law enforcement agencies and a respected German historian to not only solve the murder of Aaron Decker, but the strange case of U3000's last voyage.

A Mersey Mariner http://getbook.at/merseymariner

Death arrives on the morning tide.

Soon after the aging cargo liner Alexandra Rose steams into the fog-enveloped Mersey Estuary, one of the ship’s passengers is found dead in his cabin, leading into Detective Inspector Andy Ross’s most baffling and complicated case to date.
Another death soon follows, and Ross discovers that his case has its roots in the depths of the Amazonian Rainforest. A billionaire entrepreneur, passengers who may not be exactly who or what they say they are, a team of medical researchers and a team of vicious mercenaries combine to confound and complicate what begins as a simple death aboard an insignificant ship.

A Very Mersey Murder http://getbook.at/amerseymurder

1966. England wins the soccer World Cup at Wembley. The same night, the body of a young barmaid is discovered close to an abandoned lighthouse near Liverpool. Two more murders follow, and all remain unsolved.

2005. Detective Inspector Andy Ross and his team are called in when a disturbingly similar series of murders begins in the same location. If their estimates are correct, Ross has one week to solve the case before the third Lighthouse Murder takes place.

In A Very Mersey Murder, D.I. Ross and Sergeant Izzie Drake return in a tense race against time, as they seek to identify and apprehend a vicious killer who seems to leave no clues and no evidence. The price of failure is death.

Coming soon

Last Train to Lime Street

When a late night train from Manchester to Liverpool hits the naked body of a man as it approaches its destination, it sets in motion a strange case which apparently has no motive. Andy Ross and his team seem to be groping in the dark until slowly, clues begin to be revealed after the dead man is identified as a well-known producer of pornographic movies. Suddenly, the suspect list grows, and the killer of Joey Slimani is painstakingly tracked down by the Specialist Murder Investigation Team.

To see all of the author’s works, including his award-winning true-life dog rescue series, please visit his Amazon author page at  https://www.amazon.com/Brian-L.-Porter/e/B00466KITC  

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Quinn MacCann from K.S. Jones' Current WIP

MEET MY CHARACTER

1.   Who are you?

o   What is your name?

·   Quinn MacCann

o   Are you a fictional or historical character?

·   I am a fictional female drawn from the strength and moral fabric of so many pioneer women who braved the frontier.

o   What should we know about you?

·   I am a twenty-two-year-old woman born of Irish blood. I do not believe in true love, but I married anyway only to find myself quickly widowed. Alone with nowhere to go, I've snatched a "Women Wanted" flyer off the church bulletin board and, in answer, I have used my last coins to hire a wagon to get there.

2.   Tell us about your story:

o   When and where is your tale set?

·   My story takes place in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. It is 1849 and the Gold Rush has captured the attention of almost every man, worldwide.

o   What is your personal goal?  I mean, what do you ultimately want?

·   A woman should never be wholly dependent upon a man—they are not dependable in the least, nor are they trustworthy. It is my intention to become an independent businesswoman so that I will never need to rely on another.

o   What is standing in your way?  What conflict(s) do you face?

·   Gold country is in dire need of women, but the occupations are unbefitting me: Saloon girls, a schoolmarm, wives for lonely men, and a cook.

·   A saloon girl, I am not. I do not possess the friendly nature required, especially to men whom I have little use for anyway.

·   And although I am well educated having attended the Oregon Institute, I am certainly no schoolmarm.

·   Being a wife again is clearly out of the question, and what I know about cooking wouldn't fill a spoon. Oh, have I mentioned the rumor of food poisoning that surrounds the death of my former husband? For now, I'm keeping quiet on that matter.

3.   How do I get a copy of your book?

o   What is the title or working title for this piece?

·   The title is still undecided, but for reference purposes is it ONE TRUTH.

o   Is it available now or when can we expect to see it released?

·   It is not available yet. It is truly a Work-In-Progress (WIP) in its polishing stage. I am talking with publishers, but it is not ready to submit at this time. Hopefully, it will be on the market in 2019!

Check out the other books by K.S. Jones

REVIVED - Available in both eBook and Paperback!

REVIVED
a Young Adult Romance
Featuring scientific concepts and Coastal Salish traditions about Bigfoot

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A mysterious friend reappears in the lives of cousins Hannah and Jenna, and revives a haunting past. Tragic loss and prejudices lead to a search for answers about ancient myths that thrive in the Snoqualmie Valley of Washington State.

Does modern science hold the key, or does the truth lie in something supernatural? Heartbreak and hope encourage an unlikely romance while drawing out the darkness of unexpected enemies.

Can the strength of their bond protect the friends from a fearful future?

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K.S. Jones' Current WIP

WIPs and New Releases

1)  Tell us about your work-in-progress, or WIP, as it’s known in the industry, or your New Release…

Ø  What is the story about?

·       A refined young widow sets out in search of her fortune during the 1849 Gold Rush. She is determined to be a respectable businesswoman in this rugged man's land. Though unskilled in domestic matters and lacking commerce know-how, she opens a restaurant, battles blackmail, and discovers independence doesn't always mean doing it alone.

Ø  Who is the main character?

·   Quinn MacCann, twenty-two, recently widowed, and nearly penniless.  

2)  What inspired this tale?

Ø  How did the story come to you?

·   I love simple, adorable Mail-Order bride stories, which is what I'd decided to write when this story began. It seems, however, that I can't let loose of my love for accurate, detailed historical novels, so this story quickly gained more depth than originally planned!

·   It is Women's Historical Fiction with a romantic flair.

Ø  Did you have to research for this novel, and if so, why?

·   Oh my, yes! Lots and lots of research, but mostly focused on cooking in the 1840s.

·   The East Coast had lots of luxuries the West Coast did not have at that time. It was a big deal to own a cooking stove in the Gold Rush settlements, so having a character determined to open her own restaurant caused many, many hours of research and experimental cooking with a cast iron pot over an open fire. Especially using authentic ingredients only!

Ø  If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn, and why?

·   Stagecoaches! In 1849, most of the country had access to stagecoaches. But in California's gold country, there were none yet. Quinn, the refined young widow, must get from Oregon to a town near Sutter's Creek in California. In the story's beginning, she certainly isn't a rugged woman, so to climb atop a horse, or grab the reins of a worthy wagon, just didn't fit. I had planned to put her on a stagecoach, but research showed that stagecoaches were not in operation until 6-12 months AFTER she was scheduled to arrive. What a surprise! Thank goodness, some in-depth research provided a solution.  

3)  Do you relate to your character?

Ø  Is your protagonist anything like you, personally?

·   Maybe a little.

Ø  If yes, then how?

·   Quinn is a determined woman, so we do have that in common! We are both of Irish descent. We are hard workers. We care about the "underdogs." Most importantly, neither of us will tolerate a bully.

Ø  If no, how do you differ from one another?

·   I learned to cook at an early age, and I still love to cook! Quinn hasn't learned to boil an egg or cook a pot of beans. She prefers Staffordshire china and a fine table setting, whereas I'm happy eating off paper plates around a campfire.

Ø  What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

·   I love Pioneer stories, especially about women. They were strong, courageous, and inventive. Many women decided to leave civilized lives in the East when their husband's dream was to go west to the unsettled territories of Oregon or California. That's when I realized I had a story: A woman who rises from poverty to wealth and finds happiness is no match for the woman who falls from wealth into poverty and does the same.  

4)  Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

·   One should never doubt the tenacity of an Irish woman already long mistreated by perhaps the one man she should always be able to trust.

5)  When will the novel be available for purchase?

·   This novel is almost finished, but needs a bit more polish.

Ø  Has the book already been published, or is it available for pre-order?

·   No, in fact, it is not ready to submit to a publisher yet. But soon, I promise!

In the meantime, check out the other works written by K.S. Jones!

K.S. Jones' Character, - Sooze Williams

MEET MY CHARACTER

1.   Who are you?

o   What is your name?

·   My name is Sooze. Sooze Williams. Sometimes folks think my name is hard to pronounce, but it ain't really. It sounds the same as sayin' Sue's, like "Sue's got a stomach ache," or "Sue's got an 'A' on her English paper," or "That's Sue's hair ribbon, ain't it?"

o   Are you a fictional or historical character?

·   Meg, Amy, Beth, and Jo March are made-up girls, so I guess I am, too. They're in my favorite book, called "Little Women." I guess that makes me fictional, just like the March sisters.

o   What should we know about you?

·   I just turned sixteen, but sometimes I feel a whole lot older. I have chores to do on our family farm, but my favorite is planting the garden and keeping it weeded and watered. Oh, and it's probably important to tell you that I love to read and I'm devoted to my family.

2.   Tell us about your story:

o   When and where is your tale set?

·   My home is in Coaldale, Arkansas, which is not fictional, like me. It's on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border and it's the prettiest place you could ever see. But, 1932 brought hard times. It seems no man can find a job that pays enough to support his family, so lots of folks are leaving here looking for a better place.   

o   What is your personal goal?  I mean, what do you ultimately want?

·   Want and need are two different things, and what I want don't matter much. What I need is to help my family put food on the table, buy clothes, and maybe even put some money back to save up for a college education for my little sister, Cora. If I was daydreamin' though, I'd tell you that what I want is true love, just like my Mama and Daddy have for each other   

o   What is standing in your way?  What conflict(s) do you face?

·   I've made the decision to marry my first and only boyfriend, David Huckabee. Now, don't get confused—David is not my true love. Fact is, sometimes I don't even like him much, but his Mama and Daddy own the General Store and he's the richest boy I know. He's nice enough to me, but he sure don't like my family, which aggravates me to no end. But, if I marry David, I'll get a job working in the store earning enough money to really help Mama and Daddy. I won't be a burden to them anymore.

3.   How do I get a copy of your book?

o   What is the title or working title for this piece?

·   My story is told in the book, SHADOW OF THE HAWK.

o   Is it available now or when can we expect to see it released?

·   SHADOW OF THE HAWK was released February 2015 and hit #11 on Amazon's list of bestsellers for YAHistorical Fiction. It has won the 2015 Literary Classics International Book Award, the 2015 Chaucer Award, the 2016 RONE Award, and the 2016 WILLA Literary Awardfor Children and Young Adults.

NYT Bestselling Author KAT MARTIN Is In My Office!

My Interview with KAT MARTIN!

Amazon Author Rank

#44 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#65 in Kindle eBooks > Romance > Mystery & Suspense > Suspense

#74 in Kindle eBooks > Romance > Mystery & Suspense

The Texas Trilogy

I love to interview literary personalities because each person has a unique story to tell.  I am very excited to be able to interview you today, as you aren’t just traditionally published, but you’re a NYT bestselling author and well known in 25 countries for having written over 65 suspense novels in the historical and contemporary romance genres.  I feel authors and reader alike will get a fascinating perspective of the publishing world from our discussion.  Thank you for taking the time to meet with us!

1.     I always kick off my interviews with the same question.  Therefore, please, tell us how you’d describe yourself?

I’m a hermit.  And a workaholic.  Doesn’t sound like much fun, does It?  But I do love to travel and that’s when I come out of my shell.  Just back from RWA conference in Denver.  We drove 900 miles each way.  Gorgeous scenery. 

The Raines of Wind Canyon 9 TITLES

2.     In the first set of questions, I would like to address you as a reader.  So often, one’s love of literature and reading/writing comes from our childhood experiences.  I am interested in learning who influenced you and what encouraged you to choose this career path.

·     I understand you’ve always been an avid reader.  At what age did you begin reading, and what book(s) and/or author(s) drew you into the written word?

o   I started reading as a way to get good grades in high school.  I was determined to go to college, but we had no money, so I needed to do well in school.  I didn’t really start reading for pleasure until I graduated from the University of California in Santa Barbara.  With no idea what would hold my interest, I started reading whatever I found on the bestseller rack in the grocery stores.  I discovered great authors.  WilburSmith was one of my favorites, Sidney Sheldon.  My mother recommended Anya Seton and Frank Yerby, then Danielle Steele came along and later KathleenWoodiwiss, JanetDailey, writers of that era.  

·     When did you find your passion for Romance novels, both as a reader and a writer?

o   The early romance writers I mentioned were a great inspiration.  I have loved romance novels ever since. 

·     I love historical fiction, especially prehistoric tales, but I tend to write primarily in YA/NA. Do you find yourself reading in a different genre than you write in?  Why, or why not?

o   I read all genres.  I read a ton of historical when I was writing them, mostly that was my interest at the time.  Now I am mostly reading romantic suspense, which I am currently writing.  I read non-fiction occasionally, literary fiction, pretty much anything someone I trust recommends.

·        Were you a fan of your husband, L.J.Martin, before you met? 

o   He had just written his first novel when we met, a big historical Western saga, called Shadowof the Mast, that was very romantic.  It was a huge influence in my decision to start writing.

·        How did you transition from reader to writer?

o   Helping my then boyfriend, now husband, edit that first book.  Working on it opened the door to the process and I wanted to try a book of my own.

3.     I would like to ask you about your writing process and how you became published.  Therefore, I will focus on these topics in this section of our interview.

·        What is the perfect writing setting for you, and why?

o   I like complete quiet.  Complete privacy.  I don’t always get it, but that is my preference.  I like to see the computer screen as a movie screen projecting the story onto the page out of my head.

Ø  Do you like to use an outline, or do you let the characters and story drive you forward?

§  I used to do a complete outline, 20 pages or so.  Then the story lines got so complex that approach no longer worked for me. 

§  I start with a story concept, know the characters, some of the middle and hopefully the end.  I trudge my way through it as I go.

Ø  How does your knowledge of history effect your research, if at all?  Additionally, how does your research potentially impact your writing choices?  Have you ever had a storyline derailed by something you discovered?

§  I’ve always been a pretty good historian, which is why I started writing Historical romance.  I was comfortable in the past.  Writing Romantic Thrillers, which is what I do full-time now, I still do a ton of research, and yes, it often changes the direction of a book.

§  My upcoming novel (as yet unnamed) was supposed to have a portion set in Venezuela.  I thought the dangerous political climate would be perfect.  It turned out it wouldn’t work geographically, and the politics weren’t right, either. The research steered me into Colombia. 

·        Was your interest and formal education in both history and anthropology the reason you began writing Romances in the historical and western-themed genres?

o   I started in that area because I was comfortable and knowledgeable in those areas.  I still write an occasional thriller set in the West.  I’m currently in Texas.  Beyond Control, my latest novel, was set on a ranch about 70 miles east of Dallas.   I have four more books set in Texas.  After that, I’d like to do a trilogy set somewhere in the mountain states.

Ø  What era speaks to you most, and why?

§  I loved writing the Regency and Victorian Romances.  It was such a glamorous time.  But writing in the present gives me a lot more literary freedom.  The morals of the times are completely different, the language, etc.   

Ø   How do you think anthropology helped you with character development?

§  I studied cultural anthropology.  It taught me that people are all basically the same.  If you understand a human being, you can understand what he might do in a certain situation and be fairly credible.  It’s helped me a great deal with my characters.

·     Does your writing style change when you’re working with a co-author?  Why, or why not?

o   I’ve only written one book with another writer, an early book with my husband just for fun.  I am too much of a perfectionist to collaborate.  And yes, two people together form a completely unique voice.

·     Writers can experience different forms of fatigue.  From being emotionally or mentally drained after writing something incredibly personal or intense to simple writers’ block.  Have you experienced this while writing, and if so, how you work past it?

o   I’ve experienced both physical and mental fatigue just from the stress of writing.  Just sitting in a chair all day is draining.   

o   Writers’ block is a curse for sure, and really exhausting.  To solve it, I talk to people, try to get some plot ideas.  Research is a great help, just poking around on the internet.  It’s never easy to get past it and start moving forward again.

Ø  Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

o   Everything you read or see on TV can give you an idea for a story.  You watch something or see something and find yourself thinking of a different ending, different characters, a different twist that would make it better.  It becomes the kernel for a book.

Ø  I know a lot of writers who no longer have time to read like they once did.  Having been an avid reader, do you make time for reading?  Why, or why not?

§  If you stop reading other peoples’ work you stop learning.  I can’t imagine not reading.  It’s such a great pleasure.

·     How did you go from real estate agent to successful author?

o   Not easily.  I studied the craft, went to dozens of different conferences, took lessons from writing instructors.  I had the discipline I had learned from being self-employed and that was a real asset.

Ø  What was your experience like querying for an agent, and what do you wish you would’ve done differently, if you could, and why?

§  I got my first agent by submitting to a woman I met at a writers’ conference.  She took both my husband and I with our first novels. 

§  I got my current agent many years later the same way, at a conference. 

§  It would have been nice to stay with the same agent from the start, but as an author you find that you tend to outgrow them.  Your goals change.  The way they think about you stays the same, so you end up moving on.

Ø  Do you think you would have a different pathway to publishing if you were starting out today?  How, and why?

§  No idea.  I think traditional publishing is still the way to be most successful.  Plus, I would rather write than try to massively promote, which is the only road to real success for self-publishing.

Ø  What was the best advice given to you, and why do you think it mattered?

§  Never give up.  Just put your head down and your tail up and keep working.  I think that is still great advice.

Ø  What was the worst advice given to you, and how do you think it negatively impacts your journey?

§  “The market is terrible.  You will have to take less money.”  Usually a BS line from publishers.  Don’t let them convince you that you are worth less than you are.

·     Having a traditional publisher, how much control do you have over the final product?

o   Not as much as I would like.  None on covers and not much on titles.  I have more say on editing than most authors because I refuse to make changes I don’t believe in. 

·     Have you always had the same publisher?  Whether you have or haven’t, do you have to pitch a book before it is picked up, or has that aspect of the process gotten easier with your popularity?

o   I’ve been published by almost every company in New York. 

o   No, I don’t have to pitch anymore.  I get to write whatever I want (within reason).  I wouldn’t try to write a sci-fi or something way out of the norm.  I have done a couple of books on my own time that I wanted to write.  A UFO story and a couple of literary type contemporaries.  Both eventually sold.

Ø  Do you still use an agent or are you able to go directly to the publisher?  Why, or why not?

§  I use an agent.  My current agent does a great job of sticking up for me.  We have had a couple of very intense battles with my current publisher that I would have lost without her.  Plus, the contracts are simply too complicated.

4.     I know you have written under the pen names Kat Martin, Kathy Lawrence and Kasey Mars  I am curious why you opted to do this, and how you decided on them?  Does each name have a different branding for a specific genre?

My real name is Kat Martin.   Not a pen name. 

The publisher I was writing for at the time did not want me writing contemporaries, so they insisted I use a pen name.  I chose Kasey Mars. 

Kathy Lawrence was also a publisher demand since my husband was co-writing that novel.   

My advice is not to use a pen name unless you have a very good reason.  Or they make you do it.

5.     There have been so many changes and innovations in the literary and publishing worlds.  Let’s talk about them, and what you think about the past, present, and future of our industry.

·     Do you think it is easier or harder to get published now opposed to when you first began writing?  How, and why?

o   Ridiculously easy to get published now.  Just put it up on the internet.  No rules, no editing, no standards.  That is the good/bad news.  It’s also destroying the market.  Millions of people putting up whatever they want.  So easy to publish, NOT so easy to make money with so much competition.  And I think readers are getting discouraged by how difficult it is for them to find the kind of books they want to read.

·     What do you think of the changes in the publishing industry?  Do you feel the indie movement has been a help or hindrance to authors?  Why, or why not?

o   As I said, easier to get published, much harder for your books to be discovered, much harder to make any real money.

Ø  With so many different avenues available to get published, what would you recommend to a new writer as the best route to take, and why?

§  First learn the craft of writing.  It isn’t something you do by osmosis.  You aren’t born a good writer.  You might have some talent, but it has to be developed. 

§  Once you have a finished, readable book, you can decide where to go from there.  Self -pub or traditional.  I would start at the top and work down.  So, go traditional if you can.  Get an agent if you can.  If not, self-pub and try to make it work.

Ø  Do you think you would have a different pathway to publishing if you were starting out today?  How, and why?

§  Same answer.  No idea.  I would do what I said above, and then figure out what my next step would be.

·     What do you think of reviews – do they matter?  Why, or why not.

o   Apparently, they matter a great deal in self-pub.  Not as much in traditional.  I ignore them if possible.  They can be very destructive.

Ø  For indie authors, reviews drive promotional opportunities and book/author ranking.  Do they impact you the same way?  Do reviews or sale matter most, and why?

§  Reviews don’t matter so much unless there are a lot of them with the same rating.  In other words, if they are all bad, that is going to be a problem.  If they are all good, that is great.

Ø  Do you read your reviews, and is so, how do you deal with negative feedback?

§  As I said, they can be very destructive.  I don’t read them because it is always the one bad review that sticks with you instead of the dozens of good reviews.  A writer has to be strong enough to keep going, and a bad review can really drag you down.

·     How much self-promotion or networking do you have to do?  Obviously, this is another huge aspect of publishing that indie authors face.  Is this a constant challenge for an experienced and renown author, such as yourself?

o   I do very little promo and networking.  I have an assistant who does ads and blogs for me, sets up promo for our digital mailing list. 

o   I am a dinosaur, one of the reasons I wouldn’t be interested in self-publishing unless I had no other choice.  I just don’t have the skills to promote the way the younger authors do.

Ø  Have the requirements on your time, appearances, networking, and self-promotion changed through the years?  How, and why do you think that is?

§  I used to do hundreds of book signings.  I think back in the old days, they worked pretty well.  Now they are useless.   You just can’t reach enough people in a bookstore or supermarket.  Better to work through the internet, reach as many readers as possible.

6.     What can we expect to see from you over the coming year?  Will you be collaborating with your husband again?

My husband and I travel very different writing roads.  So, no, we won’t be working together aside from the help he gives me with plotting and researching information.  He’s a good idea resource. 

Up next for me is WAIT UNTIL DARK, a novella out November 1.   It’s an introduction into my next series, Maximum Security, a detective agency in Dallas.   Readers met Chase Garrett, the owner of The Max, in Beyond Danger.  His story is the first novel, out in January of 2019.

·     What is your current WIP?

o   Currently I’m working on book #2 of the series. 

o   Jason “Hawk” Maddox is six foot four, 210 lbs, a total hunk and lots of fun to write.   The book is out in November of next year.

·     What is the best way for readers to connect with you and to find your books?

o   My books are available at Barnes and Noble and at your favorite local bookstore.  Also, at Amazon. 

o   My webpage is www.katmartin.com.  It’s easy to reach me that way.  Facebook KatMartinAuthor.  Twitter @katmartinauthor.  I love to hear from readers.

Again, thank you for taking time from your hectic schedule and allowing me to share you with my readers.  You are a fascinating person and I wish you the best in all life has to offer!

 

The Brodies Of Alaska Series