Straight from the Mouth of Dr. Randy Overbeck, Author of 'Blood on the Chesapeake'

IT’S NOT ALL FANFARE AND APPLAUSE

…OR SUNSHINE AND ROSES

When you ask a successful author—even using the word success here loosely—to reflect on what it took to reach the pinnacle, they will usually give you the good stuff. You know, the sterling reviews, the excitement of that book signing, the enthusiastic response of readers.

I’m no different. I’ve been thrilled by the early response to my new novel, Blood on the

Chesapeake. Early reviewers have been kind and even effuse in their praise. (“Blood on the Chesapeake is a tale to be savored in a darkened room, with an eye to all the possibilities lurking just out of sight.”—William Kent Krueger, Edgar Award winner and best-selling author of Ordinary Grace) And I can’t wait for the first book signing to look across at an excited reader and ask, “Who should I make this out to?”

 But that only tells one part of the story.

When asked, I usually leave out the soul-crushing responses I received from almost 100 (count them) agents, who politely, or not so politely, turned down the manuscript, after I meticulously researched them, selected them and sent them a carefully scripted query. (Not to mention the agents who never even bothered to acknowledge my query or send a “no thanks.”) I’m usually too embarrassed to mention the several writing conferences I attended—and the money and time invested—in hopes of talking with an agent, face to face, who might recognize the possibilities of my new novel. I also don’t usually bother explaining about the numerous agents (fifteen, maybe) who asked for partial or complete manuscripts, only to have NONE do anything with it. “I really liked your manuscript and believe it has potential, but I’m just not in love with it, so I’m passing.”) Give me a break.

I’ll also leave out the funds I put out for an editor to review my manuscript with the hope of “fixing” it so it will be closer to what “they” are looking for. And I certainly do not tell them about the “Query Conference” I attended in New York City in the frigid cold—which boasts that one-third of participants secure an agent by the conclusion—only to have to admit I wasn’t in that hallowed number.

Still, with the launch of Blood on the Chesapeake, published by a small, but formidable press, The Wild Rose Press, set for this month, I’d say the struggles have been worth it. When I’m sitting at the book signing, autographing copies for some excited readers, I probably won’t be thinking of all the trials then. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten. Even if my Blood on the Chesapeake does have some success, I’ll know I have to climb that proverbial mountain all over again to get the next one to print. Maybe, I’m a glutton for punishment, but I’ll probably stick my shoulder against the boulder, ala Sisyphus, and start pushing all over again.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a writer, educator, researcher and speaker in much demand. During his three plus decades of educational experience, he has performed many of the roles depicted in his writing with responsibilities ranging from coach and yearbook advisor to principal and superintendent. His new ghost story/mystery, Blood on the Chesapeake, will be released on April 10, 2019 by The Wild Rose Press. As the title suggests, the novel is set on the famous Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, home to endless shorelines, incredible sunsets and some of the best sailing in the world. Blood is first in a new series of paranormal mysteries, The Haunted Shores Mysteries. Dr. Overbeck’s first novel, Leave No Child Behind, a thriller about the terrorist takeover of a Midwest high school and one teacher’s stand against the intruders, won the 2011 Silver Award for Thrillers from ReadersFavorite.com. Dr. Dr. Overbeck is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and an active member of the literary community. You can follow him on Twitter @OverbeckRandy, friend him on Facebook at Author Randy Overbeck or check out his webpage, www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

Straight from the Mouth of Darden North, Author of 'The Five Manners of Death'

Darden North’s mystery and thriller novels have been awarded nationally, most notably an IPPY in Southern Fiction for Points of Origin.  His newest thriller, The Five Manners of Death, also follows Wiggle Room, Fresh Frozen, and House Call. Darden North has served on author panels at writing conferences including Killer Nashville, Murder on the Menu, SIBA Thriller Author Panel, and Murder in the Magic City. To book Darden for a book club, book signing, or presentation contact: Darden@DardenNorth.com. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist practicing at Jackson Healthcare for Women in Flowood, Mississippi, Darden North is Chairman of the Board of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Foundation and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Mississippi Medical Association. He lives in Jackson with his wife Sally and enjoys family, travel, and, outdoor activities. The Norths have two adult children, who also work in the medical field. Author website: www.dardennorth.com 

Purchase links for The Five Manners of Death:

• Amazon: https://goo.gl/PPRqHx

• Barnes & Noble: https://goo.gl/1Lg5HM

• Smashwords: https://goo.gl/jRjXoQ

• Square Books: https://goo.gl/wUk4hi

• Lemuria Books: https://goo.gl/McpYiU

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?

    

     I wanted to be more famous than I already am.

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?

    

     The main perk of being a published author is getting to meet a whole bunch of interesting folks. Writing novels and promoting them propels you out of your comfort zone, exposing you to new ideas and people—and maybe some different places—that would have been off the radar in your “other” profession. The demands of writing successfully lie in crafting unique stories about characters mixed-up in troubling situations and in the challenge of getting those novels published.

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

    

    

My first three novels were self-published; the next two (including my newest) were not. Having someone else in charge of book design, layout, and the process required to make the book available to stores and electronic devices is a relief. However, authors these days have to do a lot of their own promotion regardless of the publishing route.

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?

    

    Sometimes they think I’m crazy. (My other job as a full-time ob/gyn physician keeps me busy enough!)

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

     My wife and I have two small dogs, each about 10 years old, a Chihuahua (Valerie) and a Pomeranian-rat terrier mix (Foxy). Yes, Foxy really does resemble a fox. Valerie and Foxy love me best because I feed them on a regular basis and pay them the most attention. They are devoted to me, particularly Foxy. After endless time glued to my laptop during a writing session, Foxy will give up and sit at my feet, while Valerie will stand a few yards away and let out a piercing, ear drum-splitting bark to announce that I’ve been at it long enough. Valerie also tries to find her way onto my desk somehow to check for any candy or gum I might be hiding there.

Are your plants actually still alive?

     I love plants too. Fortunately, my lawn sprinkling system remains operational, and I can still afford the water bill—and the potted plants are just outside the exits to our house, so it’s difficult to ignore them. My wife is not a plant lover.

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?

    It’s OK for the phone to ring because it might be Hollywood calling. As for my boss, I do try to balance my time with wife and family. (Personally, I think I do a good job with that. Maybe you should ask them.) I do not cook, and when my family needs dinner, I just hand them the credit card for take-out.

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

     One weekend after a book festival in Memphis, my wife backed over my laptop with our car. She still swears it was an accident.

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

    

     Opinions certainly vary here, but I have found Facebook useful in spreading the word about a new book release or related event. My author page on Facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/DardenNorthAuthor and it’s kept up-to-date. With sharing and boosting post options, I have noticed that book sales do respond to online messages and posts. I’m also on Instagram: @dardennorth.

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

      For my newly released novel, The Five Manners of Death, my publisher WordCrafts Press made pre-release orders available online to get a jumpstart on sales. In addition, my publicist arranged the blog tour for me upon release of the novel, and I have scheduled book signings in bricks-and-mortar book stores.

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

    

     What author doesn’t want to hit The New York Times Bestseller List? A movie or TV series deal based on one or more of my novels would be even better.

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?

     What I love about being a published author is the privilege of sharing my stories with others via the printed page, whether on paper or per electronic device. Of course, it’s great to have a couple of my novels, Points of Origin and Fresh Frozen, published on digital audio as well. Being able to piece sentences into paragraphs and then into pages to complete a novel may indeed be an art—or maybe it is a gift. However, I do strive to capture the minds of readers and make my fiction seem real.

—Darden North