Our
Interview
Tell
us how your self-published novel came to be.
Growing
up in Venezuela, I had read almost no modern
commercial fiction at all (having focused primarily
on the "classics" in school). In the
early 90s, while studying acting at the prestigious
Lee Strasberg in New York, I found myself next
to Broadway. My favorite shows were not the
musicals but the drama -- Isben, Tennesee Williams,
Sam Shepard, Chekov, Arthur Miller, to name
some of them. What I enjoyed the most was improvising
monologues and dialogues. I was not much in
love with the sort of Stanilawsky method because
I began fantasizing about writing my own scenes
and story. Several years later, I began working
on my first novel. Forever Art was published
in August 2004.
What
process did you go through to pick the name
of the title for your book?
Since
the beginning I was very specific about the
story. The title then was “ Living to
tell the tale.” However, as I was visiting
the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum of Art in Madrid,
and in the lobby of the museum there is a giant
portrait of the donator Thyssen-Bornemisza ,
with a plaque saying,” The most important
donator of Art ever in Spain”. I found
the art very appealing and suitable for my book.
What
methods did you use to test your book's marketability?
How did you know it would sell or not?
I
used the trendy youth and individuals in the
fashion world as my test market, since I perceived
them to comprise much of my target market. I
receive so many wonderful reviews. There is
a great interest in fashion, music and art these
days and there are a myriad of forward thinking
people out there.
Did
you put together a business plan before or after
your book was printed?
I
did not, but now that the books have been released,
I am open to have a conversation with people
who see the potential of doing a movie based
on my story.
Did
publishing your novel cost more or less than
you thought it would?
Books
are expensive to publish, no matter which avenue
you use. That is one of the major reasons why
new authors find it so hard to obtain the most
appropriate agent.
What
was the most difficult part of publishing your
own book? The most rewarding part?
Certain
agents look for very specific topics so finding
the one who will find your book palatable is
a tedious project. In addition, it is also difficult
for agents to accept authors. The most rewarding
part was turning the manuscript into a book.
What
has been some of your most successful book marketing
techniques?
Word
of mouth, talking to my target market by attending
fashions weeks (shows) in New York and Paris,
creating a savvy website, as well as going through
web marketing and web hosting.
What
methods do you currently use to drive traffic
to your Website?
Finding
links to my web in the topics of my book.
Your
Website is very attractive, did it cost a lot
of money to have it designed?
Not
much, it requires time and magic and good friends,
for instance I did the book cover, but most
of all, the web site is the continuity of the
story, it is the soul of your work and what
you want the people to perceive, the website
is the product you people to see. Like music,
your site is the video of your work. I have
had over 8,000 hits the last 2. 5 months.
Have
any plans to publish future titles? If so, what
will you do differently this time around?
Great
question. While I wait for the prince to knock
on my door ( the right agent) I wrote a fiction
comedy, but since my first book has been published,
I changed my mind and began writing a second
international thriller, which I hope it will
be in the market next summer. Watch out for
it.
Do
you feel that self-publishers should look into
getting an agent or publicist?
Yes,
indeed, at some point you need an agent, but
at that point, you are proving to an agent your
capability not only to write and publish your
own work, but that the story sells.
What
is a good starting point for someone who is
interested in publishing their own book?
Contacting
people like you! I think you are a great resource
to anyone interested on self-publishing. Well-written
story and editorial reviews are critical.
Any
general advice for writers?
Since
I am a new writer, my only advice is to have
a great website and keep writing and turn your
manuscript into a book with a great cover.
Contact
Information:
Visit
http://www.danielaruiz.com
