Part 2, The Art of Writing

Jamie Wasserman continues his interview with Patch.com's columnist, Valencia Wood, about his debut novel, Blood and Sunlight, and writing. Here's Part II of our conversation.

Patch: When we last spoke, you were talking about your writing journey and background. Please continue with that conversation.

Jamie: I take a little heart in that I'm told Stephen King writes in much the same manner. There is a bittersweet story he relates in his memoirs about a dying woman who wanted to know how the Dark Tower series would end. Sadly, she wouldn't be around to read it. King told her that he didn't know himself, that the story was creating itself as it went along.

My writing background is academic and literary. I wrote poems. For many years, in fact, I did a mix of literary things: a reading with Natasha Saje; published Pulitzer Prize winner Henry Taylor and former Maryland State laureate Michael Collier; and, even worked with the estate of Canadian luminary, Gwendolyn MacEwen to launch some of her work to the web. Also, I've met, published, or had the opportunity to work alongside some other wonderful writers: Margaret Atwood; Carolyn Forche; Lucille Clifton; J. Michael Yates; Kim Addonizio and many others. I did readings in London and New York and published dozens of my own poems.

My writing journey and career took me to another continent and other countries before I went on hiatus. But, when I did return, it was back to poetry and with more of a genre-theme – horror and fantasy. It seemed less emotionally intensive and far more creative than anything else I had done before. It was nice not to write about me. I saw a good deal of success with getting my poems published in the Rhysling Anthology and honorable mentions in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror.

Patch: Wow! You've definitely been around the literary world. Your list reads like a Who's Who. Tell us how you found the time to write Blood and Sunlight?

Jamie: Throughout Blood and Sunlight, I wrote daily Monday thru Friday -- committing myself to at least a few paragraphs a day. Otherwise, I knew I'd never follow-through. Late afternoons were the best time for my writing, although I found I often did my best thinking in the early morning on the way to work or in the shower. My brain felt more lucid and there were none of those ugly little life distractions to interrupt me.

Right now, I'm having a hard time getting into a groove for the next book. Just like swimming, the hardest part is jumping in.

Patch: Aspiring writers always want to know if their favorite writer had a mentor? What about you?

Jamie: Dr. Steve Watkins was probably the single greatest influence on me. He was my creative writing professor in college and the author of some pretty acclaimed books: The Black O; My Chaos Theory; and Down Sand Mountain. The most important thing he taught me was to grow a thick skin. Otherwise, you're not going to survive the rejection slips and cruel editors along the way. More importantly, he also taught me to separate myself from my writing and to listen to constructive criticism from others. He deemed these important factors as the first steps in transitioning from a good writer to a great writer.

I'm still working on that.

I also found a lot of inspiration from some wonderful writers like The Brothers Grimm, Poppy Z. and Bram Stoker – to name a few. The vampire myth is so malleable and I really appreciate those writers who are able to take this traditional legend and build something very personal and unique with it.

Patch: It's a really great thing to have that one person in your career to give guidance and to learn from other writers. With that being said, what are your feelings about rapid changes in traditional and digital publishing?

Mixed. On one hand, the rapidity of digital publishing allows for almost anyone to get a book online and available to the world. Some amazing writers, who ordinarily would never get a chance from the big houses, are being discovered. On the other hand, some truly horrible stuff is being published and it muddies the waters a bit. We're talking books that have not been edited or seen by another human eye until it hits the virtual shelves.

This fast track to publishing is "dumbing down" the canon in the same way that emails have "dumbed down" the art of letter writing. But the medium is new and I'm hopeful that traditional print venues will learn to embrace the technology and expand their own forays into this market.

What I keep hearing is that ultimately digital publishing will supplant its paper counterpart. I think that'd be a real tragedy. You might be able to curl up to a Kindle, but it'll never be able to curl up to you.

Patch: With publishing's transition to digital formats, did you find it difficult to find a publisher or an agent?

Jamie: I have a lot of writer friends from my days as a literary editor. The one advice that everyone of them gave me when it came time to think about publishing was get an agent first!

It's virtually impossible to get your foot in the door of a major publishing house without one. Unfortunately, agents work on commission and don't take a lot of gambles on new writers. So getting one, especially a credible one with a solid reputation, can be an uphill battle.

The other option I considered was to submit directly to small press publishers. And, this can be a type of literary death. Small presses will not get your book in stores and their advertising budgets are almost zero. As a result, you have to switch hats from writer to marketer just to keep your work out there and relevant. This can be a full-time job, taking you from the one thing that really matters—writing.

The last option I considered was self-publishing. Amazon has made it extremely easy to publish books in print and digitally on the Kindle, and at little to no start-up cost.

I received many rejections, however, I didn't allow that to stop me. Finally, I opted for the small press route thinking if this first book did reasonably well, then I might be able to pick up an agent for future works. I focused my search on those companies that specialized or at least dealt with paranormal and horror books and who would bring out a paper edition of my book. I love the digital medium -- but there is something so earthy and real about holding your own book in your hands.

Patch: It sounds like you really researched the different modes of publishing before deciding on a path. Is there anything that you'd like to add about the ever changing book industry?

Jamie: Yes. Some independent writers are successfully establishing themselves in this new medium. I believe that this poses another challenge because legitimate publishers will stay away from anything (and anyone) related to "vanity presses." And, once again, you'll need to wear a full-time marketing hat.

Ultimately, I ended up with Penumbra Publishing—a small royalties publisher out of Tennessee. The editor was incredibly forthcoming about what I should expect from publishing with them; one might say brutally honest to the point of cruelty, and I liked that. More importantly, they liked my book.

Patch: Is Blood and Sunlight available both in print and digital formats? Also, do you plan to release your title across multiple formats?

Jamie: Yes. The book is available on Amazon in both print and for the Kindle. It should also be available to download on the Sony Reader and other digital formats for my fans' convenience. Additionally, the book is coming to Borders soon.

Patch: Well Jamie, you know with the twisted story of Blood and Sunlight, your fans want to know what's next. Maybe (pause) – a second installment to the series?

Jamie: When I started writing the book, I intended it to be stand-alone. But, by the time I finished writing, I could see the potential for a series. Right now, however, the characters feel very much at peace with me.

I'm comfortable with the way things rest and am working on a different book. It's about vampires – of course.

Because they're not quite out of my system, the new book is much more of a traditional romance and geared for a young adult audience.

Patch: In the meantime and between releases, how do you engage and stay connected to your fans?

Jamie: I post updates on the book to my Facebook fan page. I'm active on several message boards, which allows me to interact with my readers. I also maintain a homepage with my contact information (www.jamiewasserman.com) and, most importantly, I reply to every email I get.

Patch: Is there anything else that you do to promote your books, your brand and yourself?

Jamie: I'm very busy with message boards, review sites, and Facebook— the 21st century writer's best friends. You can reach thousands of people with a shared interest instantaneously. I try to post somewhere every day. I recently re-joined the Horror Writer's Association (members are mainly writers and editors) after many years away. The people there are wonderful in assisting you get your work out there.

Amazon also has some author-targeted forums. I've also posted notices on dozens of vampire-related groups and other indie author sites, which focus on self-promotion.

Patch:  Are you scheduled for a book tour, special appearances or events to promote your titles?

Jamie: I'm hopeful that some recent discussions with the Ellicott City Welcome Center will lead to participation in some Howard County-specific events. Since this is a local book, I would love to be involved with as many local events as possible. In addition, I'm arranging signings at local Borders. Also, several reviews of the book will be out this month and I'm hoping that sparks even more involvement.

Patch: Has Hollywood called you to turn any of your books into a film, etc.?

Jamie: No, but I do check the phone regularly just to make sure there's a dial tone – LOL! I would actually love to see a film or comic adaption. It'd be thrilling, really, to see a visual artist interpret my book and to see a world that I created re-envisioned through someone else's eyes.

Patch: Before we wrap-up our interview, is there anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself, your writing career or books?

Jamie: I am a voracious reader and, to this day, I continue to exist on a literary diet of nothing but vampire books. I believe in full immersion when I'm working on a project -- no matter what I write.

When I'm not writing or reading or playing with the kids, I'm cycling. I just completed a nearly 200-mile trip across Connemara in Ireland.

Patch: Thank you Jamie for taking the time to interview with us. Lets do this again!

Jamie: You're welcome! It's been my pleasure and thank you for having me.

Look for excerpts of Wasserman's novel later today and the chance to win a free copy of the book!