Straight from the Mouth of AA Freda, Author of 'A Police Action'

AA Freda is an award-winning author. He’s written several novels with a third to be released in the first half of 2018.

His first novel, Goodbye Rudy Kazoody, an award winner, is a coming of age work about a group of teenagers growing up in a New York City neighborhood during the early 1960's was acclaimed by the critics.

His second piece and just released, A Police Action is another coming of age story about two confused young adults caught up during the free love and Vietnam era of the late 1960's.

The inspiration for his books are always his lifelong experiences and people he’s met along the way.

Freda was born in Italy but grew up in New York City and now resides in Easton, CT, a suburb of New York City that offers him a tranquil environment that allows him to keep his finger on the pulse of the city he loves so much. A graduate of Bernard Baruch College at the City University in New York, he has served as an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Freda also served in Vietnam the subject matter of A Police Action. In addition to writing, in his spare time, Freda enjoys fishing, hiking, climbing and shooting pool. 

Questionnaire:

Thanks for letting us interrogate you!  Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author?

It wasn’t because of a professional choice. And it certainly isn’t for the money. I just love to write and tell a story. I just love when I find a reader fascinated by one of my stories.

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be?  I mean what are the perks and what are the demands?

Well if you are after fortune, you’ll be disappointed. I’m still working on the fame part. My first book, Goodbye Rudy Kazoody was an award winner and was critically acclaimed. My second A Police Action has also been well received. So the fame part could still come.

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like?

I chose to be independently published. This is the quickest way to market. I want to share my works. I believe I write a good quality product and I want people to enjoy my stories.

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you?

I love the writing and the publishing route. The more difficult part of the business for me is the marketing and promotion side of the business. I’m mostly shy and introverted and socializing about my works is difficult for me.

Do your pets actually get their food on time or do they have to wait until you type just one more word?

I don’t own a pet but I’m constantly cat sitting Roland the cat for my son who travels a lot for his job. Roland lets me know when his dish is empty. He sits on my computer keys until I get up to feed him

Are your plants actually still alive?

This is why I have all fake plastic plants. A hired gardener takes care of my shrubs and grass. You would not want to see my yard if I had to do it myself.

In writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late?

Since I own my own business, I don’t have to deal with a demanding boss. Clients are a different story. When I’m in the middle of a furious writing session I put all my calls through to voice mail.

What was the craziest or insane thing that happened to you in the book publishing process?

Realizing after my first book was published that in spite of my careful proofreading, I still had seven errors.

How about the social networks?  Which ones do you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid?

I’m still evaluating. I don’t believe Facebook has been very helpful. I’m having better luck with Twitter. The jury is still out on Goodreads.

Book sales.  Don’t you just love them (or lack of?)?  How are you making the sales happen for you?

This is the part of the self-publishing business that I believe needs the most help. Publishers are of no help at all. There are pros on the outside that can be useful but they come with a price tag. It’s been trial and error so far but I’m getting better at evaluating the good from the bad.

What is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about?

The positive critical reviews I have received on my first two books, Goodbye, Rudy Kazoody and A Police Action. My star rating on Amazon and Goodreads exceeds those of some of the classic books.

Okay, too much sugar for you today!  Here’s a nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch the waves roll in.  Now…can you tell us what you love about being a published author and how all those things above doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you wouldn’t have it any other way?

Well that is certainly true. But, I do intend on making a profit. I just need to figure out the formula. I have the first part done and that is to provide the customers, the readers, a good quality product. Now I just need to bring that product to market.

Straight from the Mouth of 'The Cavalier Spy' S.W. O’Connell

S.W. O’Connell is the author of the Yankee Doodle Spies series of action and espionage novels set during the American Revolutionary War. The author is a retired Army officer with over twenty years’ experience in a variety of intelligence-related assignments around the world. He is long time student of history and lover of the historical novel genre. So it was no surprise that he turned to that genre when he decided to write back in 2009. He lives in Virginia.

Found out more on Amazon. 

Questionnaire:

Thanks for letting us interrogate you!  Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author? 

Because I failed as a publisher! Seriously, I used to publish a small history magazine. And I wrote some of the articles for it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So, as I folded the “book” I made a mental note to self that if I ever got into the business again it would be as a writer.

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be?  I mean what are the perks and what are the demands? 

There are no perks that I can note, unless you count no social life, few friends and little fresh air. The demands are dedication to the work. Tedious hours at a computer screen (my penmanship is has led some to believe I am a doctor). Let’s see, what else. Bad golf scores, no travel. Little vacation and that with said laptop on lap. I spent the last previous two summers at the Outer Banks and got into the ocean once. Basically, you have to give it your all.

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like? 

I have been fortunate to have a traditional publisher. I did the usual internet searching for literary agents and found that to be an exercise in self-flagellation. Lots of work sending out queries, etc. very little feedback, even little negative. It’s mostly a void. I did connect with two, however. And I found them through people I knew who knew people. So although I haven’t done it, which probably means an aspiring writer should network with other authors, both in the real world as well as and virtual. The agents I hooked up with were really pumped at first but essentially kept me in a wait mode for two years. I did gain some feedback on my work, but it was painful.

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you? 

I think they just pretend I’m back in the Army and deployed somewhere around the globe. I do make time for meals and church, however. That buys some points!

Do your pets actually get their food on time or do they have to wait until you type just one more word? 

I have a black Lab named Jeb. He gets fed on time. And it’s nice to have him lazing around but not disturbing the flow. And his “constitutionals” offer an excuse to take a break and stretch.

Are they actually still alive? 

Yes! But not because of me… Seriously, the ideal situation is one-room efficiency in a three story walk up in Paris where you share the bathroom down the hall. No responsibilities but write.

In writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late? 

Ignore phones, enjoy cold food, I’d say.

What was the craziest or insane thing that happened to you in the book publishing process? 

You mean besides even starting?  Probably finding my publisher. I was coming up snake eyes after I parted with my second agent when a friend sent me an email. He had pitched his second book, a Cold War non-fiction piece to Twilight Times Books. When they informed him they only did novels (at the time), he mentioned my work on The Patriot Spy (the first novel in the Yankee Doodle Spies series). They said sure have him send it. The acceptance process was amazingly swift and painless. Did I mention surprising?

How about the social networks?  Which ones do you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid? 

I use Facebook, Blogspot and Twitter to, I think, good effect. I have a certain advantage. I write historic fiction on the Revolutionary War. Much of my social media content is based on that. So I am feeding folks historical facts and nuggets on the war’s people, places and things. And maybe twice a week I shamelessly hype my novels. But anyone who follows me on even one of those will expand his or her knowledge on this little understood and critical event in world history, and the people that lived it. I ‘ll take this opportunity to pitch them to your readers. My Facebook Page is called Yankee Doodle Spies. Detailed daily posts on the war’s events. With visuals. My Facebook Timeline is as S.W. O’Connell. I include some of the history but more current events related to the American Revolution. For example if there is an event upcoming at Mount Vernon, etc. I tweet as @SWOConnell – mostly shorter versions of the other stuff. My blog is called Yankee Doodle Spies and is on Blogger www.yankeedoodlespies.blogspot.com  These are slightly richer articles about some aspect of the American Revolution or my writing.

Book sales.  Don’t you just love them (or lack of)?  How are you making the sales happen for you? 

Chewing gum and spit, mostly. My publisher has a nice on-line campaign going for The Cavalier Spy. My first novel, The Patriot Spy, was reviewed in the US Army’s Military Corps Association (MICA) publication.

What is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about? 

That people are reading books less and less. And the world we live in is proof of it.

Okay, too much sugar for you today!  Here’s a nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch the waves roll in.  Now…can you tell us what you love about being a published author and how all those things above doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you wouldn’t have it any other way? 

That’s a long but very easy question. I thirst to get the stories out. That’s all that matters. I get drunk on the stories: the ideas, the creating, the polishing, and the publishing. If even one person gets joy from the work, or learns from it or are inspired by it; then I have made a difference. How cool is that?

Straight from the Mouth of 'Flight of the Blue Falcon' Jonathan Raab

Jonathan Raab is the author of Flight of the Blue Falcon, a post-modern novel about the war in Afghanistan. He served with the United States Army from 2004 – 2013, and based the novel on many of his experiences.

Check out Flight of the Blue Falcon on Amazon. 

Check out the author's website.

Questionnaire:

Thanks for letting us interrogate you!  Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author?

Sure. Ever since I was a kid, I knew that books held a special power. I thought it was amazing that one person could tell a story that so many people would get to experience. That they got paid for it was all the more amazing.

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be?  I mean what are the perks and what are the demands?

Writing is time-intensive. It’s hard to fit it into your schedule if you’re a busy person. Really good writing often comes at the expense of social time, or even sleep. Still, when someone reads your work and responds to it in a positive way, that makes it all worth it.

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like?

I went with a small press—The War Writers’ Campaign—because I had previously published a few small pieces with them and had done some editing work on a couple of their projects. I’ve self-published short stories as part of larger collections that have others’ work, but don’t see myself self-publishing longer works anytime soon. While I know and respect many successful self-published authors, I don’t see that as the route for me. I would caution first-time writers against self-publishing until they’ve got a few credits under their belt. There are exceptions, of course—and I know a few of them.

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you?

My wife is very supportive, but she lets me know when she needs my attention, or when I need to focus on other things. We’ve struck a good balance. She’s very proud of me, so she knows the work often pays off. She understands that this is something I need to do, and encourages me every step of the way.

Do your pets actually get their food on time or do they have to wait until you type just one more word?

Egon, our pitbull/mutt, always gets fed on time. He lets me know when it’s time to eat!

In writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late?

“Real life” always takes priority. I try to write when I’ll be free of distractions or other responsibilities. It’s hard, but you can make it work. Sit down to write rather than sitting on the couch, and you’ll suddenly realize you do have the time.

What was the craziest or insane thing that happened to you in the book publishing process?

I sold a pre-release copy to a more senior, career NCO who happened to be at the convention at which I was set up. He loved it—I figured a guy like him would hate it!

How about the social networks?  Which ones do you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid?

I really, really hate Facebook, but a writer friend of mine recommended I re-join for promotional purposes. It’s extremely helpful in that regard, but I often use it to waste lots of time and get in stupid arguments with people, because I’m an idiot. GoodReads is probably the best social network for authors—especially their giveaway program. It’s great.

Book sales.  Don’t you just love them (or lack of?)?  How are you making the sales happen for you?

It’s been great working with a publisher, as they help share the promotion duties. Most sales come from in-person events, honestly. I set up tables at different conventions and community events, and get to talk to my audience directly. People are more likely to buy a book directly from the author, especially if that author is local.

What is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about?

I don’t want to draw attention to myself like that. I’m crazy enough as it is.

Okay, too much sugar for you today!  Here’s a nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch the waves roll in.  Now…can you tell us what you love about being a published author and how all those things above doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you wouldn’t have it any other way?

Getting published by a third party is very validating, of course. I’d be lying if I said that recognition and publishing credits were irrelevant. But I would keep writing, even without them, sure. But I write for myself, and to share my stories with others. It’s a balance. That said, I hope to continue to build my audience. I have a lot more stories to tell.