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Arthur Daigle- An Interview
As a writer of Christian romance novels, it really doesn't take too much imagination to sort of toss a story line together. (The hard part comes afterward; editing, cover design, marketing). At the most, I have to beg my fellow Indie authors for fresh ideas.
This next author, however, has imagination in spades. From goblins to highwaymen, and magic bottles of hope, Arthur Daigle has won the hearts of his readers with his William Bradshaw series. Read the article below to find out the answers he gave to my questions.
Me: Have you always wanted to be a writer?
AD: My original goal was to be a biologist and work at a zoo or forest preserve, with lab work coming in a distant third. This didn’t work for several reasons, in part because jobs are scarce in these fields. I’ve also learned that zoos, arboretums and forest preserves are addicted to unpaid volunteers and give little attention to people who expect pay for their work.
I took up writing as a pastime. I enjoyed it and enjoyed sharing it with others. Over time both friends and family members suggested I submit my work for publication. I was doubtful my work would be taken seriously, but eventually I started sending it around.
Me: What are some of the greatest struggles you've faced to further your writing career?
AD: I’ve found that writing is fun, even editing my work enjoyable, but marketing is hard work. Once a reader has started my books I generally have a fan, but letting them know I exist is difficult. There is lots of competition for people’s attention, and not just from other books. I have looked into ads for books, but they tend to be expensive and rarely pay for themselves.
Me: Do you do all your own editing? What about the covers?
AD: I edit my books with help from friends and relatives who beta read for me. Together we find the typos and plot holes that need fixing. As for covers, while I dabble in drawing fantasy and science fiction, I’m nowhere near good enough to produce my own cover art. People do judge a book by its cover, so you need a trained artist for the job. I hire professionals to make the covers.
Me: Would you be interested in finding an agent or traditional publisher someday?
AD: I never had an agent, but I had a traditional publisher for my first book. When initial sales were low he lost interest and turned his attention to another author. We eventually parted company, and after that I couldn’t find a new publisher willing to print a previously published book. My choice was to either drop my book and write a new one or go independent. I had invested so much time and effort into my writing and had no wish to abandon my work, so I republished my first book through CreateSpace and all subsequent work with them as well.
I’m not sure I would accept a traditional publisher or agent at this point. It’s nice to be able to select my own cover artist and have full control over what goes into my books. Another bonus is that a publisher can drop books that don’t sell well, which happened to me and also happens to a lot of other authors. A great many books are turned into wood pulp when they don’t sell in their first year. As an independent I can keep trying to sell my books without someone else saying no.
Me: Have you found it hard to find the time to write? If so, when do you schedule it?
AD: Time is less of an issue with me than having something worth writing. When I have an idea in my head I can put down a 5000 word chapter in a week. To some authors that must seem slow, but it’s enough for me. It’s generating good ideas that takes the most time.
When I need story ideas I go for walks. I go alone with no electronics, just a plastic bag to collect recyclables. These walks last about an hour and I take one a day when time and weather permit. I find these walks a great time to come up with stories, jokes and new ideas. Once I have the basic ideas I can sit down and write them fast.
Me: What is your goal or mission as a writer?
AD: I want to make people laugh. Turn on the nightly news and you’ll get all the misery you can deal with. It was once so bad my father stopped watching the news or reading the papers for years. I strive in my work to make people laugh as loud and often as I can. If I can discuss important issues at the same time, so much the better, but I want my readers to pick up my books knowing they’ll feel better when they put them down.
Me: How can readers discover more about you and you work?
AD: There are several places where you can see my writing and buy it if you’re interested. I’m active on social media and can be found on the following sites:
I post my short stories on the following sites:
Booksie: ArthurD7000
My books are available on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Daigle/e/B00JACHZNY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1455893632&sr=8-1
I think my kids may have found a new series to dig into this summer! I'm sure you will join me in visiting Arthur's page and downloading his books. -AJ
