Since Tracy Sharp, author
of the Leah Ryan Thrillers series, and I released new books during the same
week, I thought it would be a good idea to interrogate, I mean
interview each other over an imaginary cup of coffee. So grab a real cup of
coffee, or tea, or shot of whiskey, whichever you prefer, and get to know us a
little better. It's probably better to read this while listening to ABBA's
'Knowing Me, Knowing You'. That's just a suggestion.
Getting to Know Tracy
Tracy: I'm from Northern,
Ontario, Canada. I just finished my interview and test to become an American
citizen. I've been in upstate NY for 14 years. I love this country.
Paul: What made you decide
that you wanted to be a writer?
Tracy: It's the one thing I
love most in the world to do. I'm better at writing than any other job. And
I've tried plenty of jobs. Even spilled a tray of drinks on a very tough
motorcycle chick once. I just kept buying her beer all night. She was cool with
that. Didn't make much in tips that night.
Tracy: The first book I
published was through Liquid Silver Books, and it was Repo Chick Blues in 2005.
I then wrote Finding Chloe and published that one through Liquid Silver as
well, in early 2007.
Paul: What did you learn
from your first release? Mistakes? Were you pleased with the results?
Tracy: Repo Chick Blues was
primarily an action thriller. I didn't know quite what I was doing, but I had a
ton of fun with it. I've learned a lot since then, about structure and
character. The hero's journey. I've updated Repo some since that early release.
I know a lot more about constructing a story than I did then.
Paul: You self-publish now. What
made you choose to go the self-publishing route?
Tracy: I never liked that I
had no control over anything in publishing. I was with a small press, both
times, and although they were very nice to me, I had no control over anything,
and didn't make much money. There was no promo. Any promo I did, I did
myself.
Now, I can choose what
promo I want, and everything else about my book, and I reap the benefits from
any promo I do. I can choose the cover, editor, formatter, when to publish. I
like having that control. And I make more money now than I ever did with a
traditional publisher.
Tracy: Mystery, Thriller,
Suspense, Romantic Suspense and Horror. I did a YA Horror novel that I loved
writing, also.
Paul: How do you find time
to write?
Tracy: Back then, I wrote early in
the morning or late at night, and on weekends. I didn't have a family, but I
did have a full-time job, so I gave it all I had when I wasn't working.
Paul: Do you give yourself
a word count quota for the day?
Tracy: 1000 words a day is my
quota. I try to do more, if I can, and many times I can, but 1000 words is my
mark.
Paul: Do you have a writing
ritual?
Tracy: Really, I just sit
and do it. I don't edit myself in the first draft. I just get everything down.
Paul: What do you listen to
while you write?
Tracy: While I was writing
Red Surf, I would listen to ocean waves crashing against the shore. Usually,
though, I don't listen to anything because I get too caught up in the music.
Sometimes I'll listen to a song that is a theme song for a character. Two Doors
Down's Duck and Run is Leah's theme song.
Paul: How do you stay
productive?
Tracy: I finish one book and
begin another, usually the same day. I'll start the research on whatever comes
next. The idea for the next book usually comes to me while I'm writing the
current one. I write the idea and known scenes on index cards that I keep in a
freezer bag. Each book has a freezer bag of index cards. When I begin the book,
I start pinning those cards to a cork board, and I can just move them around as
I'm creating.
Paul: How long does it
usually take you from idea conception to final draft to publish a book?
Tracy: It takes about three
months. That's for about a 60,000 word novel.
On Marketing
Paul: Finding an
audience is crucial for self-published authors.
Tracy: From a marketing
aspect what have you done to make yourself more visible to readers. Giving away
free books is what I've found reached the most readers. People get a taste of
your writing, your characters, and if they like what they read, they will come
find you again. I'm the same way with what I read. If I find a writer I love, I
read everything they write.
Paul: If you could offer an
author who is about to hit the publish button for the first time a piece of
advice what would it be?
Tracy: Have a great cover,
and a great product. Your book is a representation of you. Be professional.
Meet Leah Ryan
Tracy: Leah Ryan is a reformed car
thief, turned vehicle repossession agent, turned private eye. She kind of fell
into the private eye thing while she was repossessing cars. I didn't think
about her character while I was creating her. She's a thrill-seeker with a
rescue complex. She just started speaking to me and hasn't stopped.
Paul: With four full-length
novels and short novel collaboration with Joe Konrath, where should readers
begin if they want to catch up with Leah Ryan?
Tracy: I would suggest
reading Jacked Up first, because it's a great little introduction to Leah Ryan
and to Joe's Lt. Jack Daniels. I'm a huge fan of the Jack Daniels series and am
so honored to be giving the opportunity to write her. If you enjoy Leah Ryan in
Jacked Up, Repo Chick Blues is the first in the Leah Ryan series, but it isn't
necessary to read the Leah books in order. I've written them so that they can
be enjoyed no matter where you begin in the series.
Paul: What’s next for Leah
Ryan?
Tracy: I'm throwing Leah
into the horror novel I'm writing right now. Seems to be working out. After
that, I'm not sure. But it'll be something exciting :)
Final Words
Tracy: Currently reading BONE ANDCINDER: A POST APOCALYPTIC THRILLER by Scott Nicholson and Joshua Simcox. It's
outstanding. Really high tension and suspenseful. I love thrillers like that.
Paul: “Me” time is scarce
when you’re a self-published writer juggling family and work also. How do you
find time to take a step back?
Tracy: Evenings I set aside
for my husband. We watch shows like Breaking Bad, Homeland, Orange is the New
Black and The Walking Dead, among others, and time with my son comes after the
writing is done for the day, usually around 3 pm. Family time is important.
Tracy: I think that if a
reader enjoys tense, hard-boiled female protagonists they might enjoy my Leah
books. They are not for everyone, but I have a loyal fan base who come back
again and again, and some readers who email to find out when the next Leah book
will be available. I write for the readers who enjoy my books. I just want to
entertain. These books wouldn't be considered "Great Literature" by
any stretch. My job as a writer is to tell a good story and entertain the hell
out of readers. I hope that I succeed in that.
Paul: What’s the best piece
of advice you’ve taken away from life so far?
Tracy: Don't give up. Unless
you don't want to put the work into it. There are a million other jobs that are
easier to do. If you love it, and you really have to, you need to show up each
day and treat the writing like a job, because that is what it is.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite quote that inspires you?
Tracy: "Just do
it!" or "Get 'er Done!" I say those things to myself all the
time. Along with a lot of gibberish. I talk to myself a lot.
Paul: What’s next for Tracy
Sharp?
Tracy: The next book. Whatever
that will be. I like being surprised.
Getting to Know Paul
Tracy: How do you juggle work
and writing? How do you carve out writing time?
Paul: During the daylight
hours I am the Director of Content for Showcase Magazine — a regional publication
in Southern Virginia. So, I get to write pretty much all day. At night, I work
on fiction. Having a job in publishing affords me the opportunity to learn
different styles of writing and it's helped me tremendously to improve my
craft. I'm somewhat scatterbrained, so as I'm driving or even walking through
the mall, dialogue or a scene will come to me and I have to jot it down. Many
times it's not even for a story I'm working on.
Tracy: What have you learned as
a writer over the years?
Paul: First and foremost — to
check your ego at the door, and to wear thick skin because the forecast calls
for heavy criticism.
Tracy: How do you motivate
yourself to write?
Paul: I'm easily motivated. It
usually starts with a simple idea maybe from a situation I witnessed at the
mall or from a lyric in a song. In about an hour, I have the basic outline for
a story in my head. I have an evernote notebook full of these ideas. Music is
probably my main motivation though. As a kid, I didn't read as much as I
listened to music. Jim Croce and Jerry Reed taught me how to tell stories
through their songs. Bob Dylan probably could have as well, but I couldn't
understand him.
Tracy: What is the hardest part
of writing a story/book for you, and what is your favorite?
Paul: The hardest part for me
is actually finishing the book. I tend to have the beginning and end of a book
played out in my head before I even start writing. I just published the first
book in my Morning Star trilogy, but I knew how the series was going to end
before I put the first word to paper for the first book, Chasing Fireflies. My favorite part is being
able to fight through the demons of knowing how it ends and finishing the book.
Tracy: What is your writing
process?
Paul: I don't have a daily
goal. I set a weekly goal of 10,000 words. I miss it more than I hit it, but I
don't beat myself up over it. Some days I'm just disconnected from my characters.
The day writing feels like a chore is the day I fall out of love with it. This
philosophy turns out to be pretty productive. This year I've written two
novels, two short stories, and I'm a fourth of the way into the second book in
the Morning Star series.
Tracy: Do you use a writing
group or beta readers?
Paul: This is an area I still
need to work on. I belong to a writer's group, but I don't utilize it like I
should. And I'm getting better at networking, so hopefully I can find a few
beta readers for future releases.
Tracy: What methods of
marketing have helped you so far, and what hasn't?
Paul: I'll start with what
hasn't — doing nothing. I made a big mistake when I published my first book
last year. I didn't invest time in researching marketing. I assumed I'd write
the book, hit publish, and watch downloads come in. Reality kicked my ass. I
think networking with other authors is the most valuable form of marketing. The
thing I love most about being part of the world of writers is that most are
incredible helpful and genuinely want to see each other succeed. Finding a
group of authors to share what works and what doesn't is invaluable. From an
advertising standpoint, so far bknights on fiverr has amazed me with level of
results I've received.
Tracy: What is the best tip
you've ever gotten as a writer?
Paul: Fear played a big part
in me waiting until last year to publish a book. The best advice for me, in
life as well as writing, comes from Jim Morrison. He said, "Expose yourself
to your deepest fear; after that fear has no power."
Tracy: What would you tell a
newbie who asked you for advice?
Paul: I would say to research and understand the
marketing aspects of self-publishing. Writing the book is the easy part. I'd
also start following authors like Hugh Howey, Barry Eisler, Joe Konrath, and
David Graughran. The wealth of knowledge you can obtain from following their
blogs and social media accounts is priceless.
Tracy: What genre is your
favorite to write and read?
Paul: To write — I have
two favorites, horror and crime fiction. To read — I go through spells. But
mostly it's horror and thrillers. Right now, I am on an autobiography kick
though. I just finished Meat Loaf's To Hell and Back. I tend to read two or
three books at a time, depending on my mood. I recently started Soft Target by
Iain Rob Wright. So far, it's great.
Tracy: What's next?
Paul: The plan is to finish the
second book in the Morning Star trilogy, Babylon Sister. I'm also working on a
monthly serial about a woman who desperately wants to find out who she is while
a bunch of baddies want to find out where she is, because there's a possibility
she may be the only person that can save mankind from a coming war. Then I'm
going back to horror for a bit.
You can grab Tracy's latest, Red Surf for $.99 for a limited time. And you can pick up Chasing Fireflies for $.99 also.
Thanks, Paul! This was fun :)
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