As a writer, you always want to push the boundaries. The hope is that in the process, I grow and mature as an artist. Last year I published a thriller titled On the Tip of Her Tongue. Did I go too far?
Read moreA conversation with author Jerry Roth
For those who remember— last month I was scheduled for a Zoom conversation held by my local library. But because of a scheduling conflict I couldn’t keep the date. Instead, I took some questions and created my own video to make up for it. I promise to have a live event soon :)
Following the Breadcrumbs
Art by Ross Nischler
If you boil everything down to their essence, writers are only the paths they choose. We do it with our ideas—that grow or wither—we do it with our characters. Sending down a path we ourselves can’t predict.
Read moreReviews Feed Authors
Reviews for an author are what turn the wheels for a book. But with my debut novel Bottom Feeders making the rounds with reviewers this year, what have I learned?
Disclaimer: No reviewers were hurt in the making of this blog post.
The Good
When I first published my book, I was a complete novice when it came to what reviews were all about. I tried to follow every review—not only my book—but any I could find. “Consumed” wasn’t a strong enough adjective to describe my obsession with the new art-form I discovered (sorry reviewers if I annoyed you)
I soon discovered that regardless of what the author thinks, reviews are for the reader. Don’t get me wrong, there are those rare gems hidden in the harshest reviews that shed light on the weakness of a writer. Unfortunately, some critiques are more about the reviewer—their background, their baggage, and even the mood they were in when they took your novel to bed with them.
But in the author’s heart of hearts, reading a stellar review is a small validation for all the endless, lonely moments writing and rewriting their child. In my naivete, I thought I’d become friends with some of the reviewers but soon realized that no matter how much they loved your book—they were onto the next one.
Let’s face it, if you’re not with one of the “Big Five” publishers—you are hustling for reviews. What I learned is that as a writer’s career progresses, the author becomes more insulated—removed from reviewers. This is both a blessing and a curse. The curse: an author loses touch with the people that drive sales and do the hard work of pouring over millions of words a year. The blessing: the author doesn’t have to carry a “bad review” with them all day long. Breakfast (thinking of the review), shopping (thinking of the review), tucking the kids into bed (thinking of the review).
At their best—and I’ve seen a few amazing reviewers—he or she reads the work objectively to pick out the gems of a story, revealing to their readers what was special or unique about each book. A great reviewer understands that a book is an author’s labor of love and because they didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean it wasn’t good.
The Bad
Although no one is perfect, there are those reviewers who read every review of a book before they settle in with it. As you can tell from how I phrased the sentence before, I’m not a fan of this approach. I think most authors are hoping for a fair shot at a decent review. Reading a book’s glowing review before you tackle the pages can be a positive thing—sweetening the pot—so to speak. The opposite side of the coin is when someone wants to promote how much they didn’t like a novel or proselytizes an author’s flaws. I’ve seen reviews go South like a contagion when reviewers see other bad reviews—the novel starts behind the eight ball in these cases.
Another unfortunate part of the review process is the reviewers that elevate themselves above the authors they read. Best-case scenario: the author and reviewer are equal participants in the thing they love—books! But in some rare situations, reviewers believe they wield power over the authors, holding them hostage for a rating that they need. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen too often and not for long. Both authors and readers get wise to these kinds of reviewers fast.
And the Ugly
I want to say that MOST reviewers don’t fall into this category—they are the ones that hold grudges with an author for no reason, lashing out like a jilted lover. All authors have experienced the “anonymous” 1-star rating left without even a review. Or the 1-star review because it wasn’t what they expected. Life isn’t fair, and this truth comes out in reviews more than anything else I’ve seen. But the worst of the worst are the reviewers that want the author to know that they’re giving them a bad review. These wonderful humans will tag the author. In all fairness, not many reviewers are doing this and the ones that do, are losing authors willing to hand over their pride and joy to such a person. Every author is working as hard as they can to put out something a reader will love. A public critique can hurt like anything else.
The Takeaway?
Reviews are an important part of book sales. A reviewer is doing a job like everyone else and almost never compensated for their services. The best an author can do is to write the best book they can—dot all the Is—and cross all Ts and send their baby out into the world with optimism. Once the public finds a book, it no longer belongs to them the same way a song takes on a life of its own. Oh, and the best advice to give any author (that they will never accept)—“Don’t read your own reviews” 😊
Melina Lobo Interviews Jerry Roth
Interview with Jerry Roth, author of the thriller novel, Bottom Feeders.
🦄🦄🦄
Book Blurb:
After leaving an abusive relationship with Morris, her ex husband, Jenny starts to notice a change in their son’s behaviour whenever he came back from his Father’s house.
A string of drawings by her son leads her to believe that Morris is behind the abductions of several boys in the area and she sets out to prove his guilt.
Robert, Jenny’s current husband is the new prison warden and has his hands full when he learns about a secret that has been kept hidden under his very feet.
The Devil.
🦄🦄🦄
Author Interview:
1. Tell me (and the readers) a little bit about yourself, including a quirk that you have.
A. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, and I graduated from The Ohio State University. I’m a huge movie fan and devour the classic horror films from the past. One of the hobbies that possessed my life was the sport of Disc Golf and even had the opportunity to write sports articles for the Disc Golf Pro Tour for a season.
One thing about me is that no matter what—if I start a novel, I gotta finish. I’ve heard others say that life is too short—if a book isn’t working—you must let it go! I hope to be in that camp someday, but I just can’t do it. I think I’ve learned far more from the novels I didn’t want to finish than the ones that made me turn the pages at break-neck speed.
One of my quirks as a writer—I always write my first chapter of every novel LAST. I always find myself flailing to finding direction on the first chapter so, I start with chapter two and go right into the action—later, I’ll go back (since I know how the story ends) and write a compelling first chapter.
2. How did the idea for your book, Bottom Feeders, come about?
A. If you are a reader of Thrillers, Suspense, or Supernatural, then you know what you’re getting when you crack open the book. This wasn’t so true when I was growing up. Authors that I cherish: Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Saul (for example) were creating the expectations for their genres that we have now. Before, we, as readers, were afraid to sink into “Popular Tropes,” these pioneers novelist planted the seeds of what we want in our reading.
When I first sat down behind my keyboard to create Bottom Feeders, I thought to myself, what excited me when I was young? Although this novel is no way intended for children, I wanted to capture the excitement of treasured things such as The Twilight Zone television show. Every week Rod Serling would twist our expectations to leave us reeling but, more importantly—leave us thinking back to what just happened.
Another inspiration came in the form of the prison in the story. What some readers might have missed is that every character in this novel is in a prison of their own—some trapped by their past—some by their destiny, and others by their circumstance. I savored the idea of showing the reader that although you don’t see walls around the characters—invisible or not, they’re still there.
More than anything else, I wanted to write a novel about the supernatural with elements of horror—grounded in the real world. Early novels by Stephen King showed ordinary people in extraordinary situations. I wanted to create a novel that was a love letter to the stories I grew up with and cherish, still today. I hope to bring the reader into my story so that they can feel what the characters are feeling and give them a nostalgic taste of what I experienced when I first discovered the paperback novels and got lost within the covers.
3. Are you planning to release another book anytime soon?
A. I’m never more content than when I’m writing. My goal is to create three books a year, and so far, I’m right on that pace. I would say that Suspense/Thriller/Supernatural stories are my strong suit, but I’ve been branching out to include an Urban Fantasy novel that I just completed.
One concern from me is my reader’s expectations. Over the years, I’ve watched other, quite successful authors, struggle to spread their wings—only to have their readership dismiss their evolution. I know that I don’t have much control over my reader’s expectations, but I still want to write many different genres.
As for when I will release another novel, I can’t say. Bottom Feeders is getting such a great response from readers and reviewers, but because this is my debut novel, I will need to gain more of a following before I can think about sending another book into the world. But with help from great reviewers (like yourself), people are finding my book, and good things are starting to happen.
More than anything else, I want every book to be better than the last (easier said than done), but that is my goal for the reader who spends money to read what I write. People nowadays have so many choices to spend their money on, and books have slid down the list as a priority. So, when someone buys my novel, I don’t take that lightly.
4. Did you always know you wanted to be a published author/poet?
A. From the first moment I could read a book myself, I knew I wanted to be a writer. One of my earliest writing creations was a handful of blank papers folded in half and stapled to make a spine. In this crude first book, my Uncle Mark helped me design simple “Star Wars” panels of Tie Fighters and X-Wing Fighters flying through the galaxy—along with dialogue bubbles saying dramatic words like, “Laugh now…but cry later,” Darth Vader said. It was in these handmade comics that I learned what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Years later, riding the bus back and forth to school, I soon became the kid that told stories about the movie trailers I saw on television—I wasn’t old enough to see these adult movies myself. Not seeing the movie didn’t stop me—far from it! I would just make up my version of what I thought the film would be like. It got to where my friends on the bus asked me to describe the plot of the latest Friday the 13th flick or Dirty Harry or the latest Rodney Dangerfield movie—to pass the time on the bus.
5. Did you look up to any author or poet while growing up?
A. When it comes to poetry, I’m no expert. I read the usual required reading in college by Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allen Poe. But because I was such a Stephen King fan, he turned me on to his wife Tabitha King. I came across a poem she wrote called “A Gradual Canticle for Augustine.” I think you can look it up on the internet. It’s one of the most moving poems I’ve ever read. Poems to me are like paintings—I don’t know how to do it, but I know when I like something, and I know when it’s great. Check out Tabitha King’s work, you won’t regret it.
There were two authors that had the most influence on me growing up. One was Roald Dahl and the second was Stephen King. I’ve already gushed about King, but Roald was an author that I believe showed generations of children how to imagine. I guess you can make an argument for Dr. Seuss but if there was an author that bridged the gap between childhood reading and adult fiction, it would have to be him. In my mind, Roald Dahl was the bike you had with the training wheels secured tight for safety, and he taught you to be brave enough to take them off.
6. I’ve always talked about this, but if your book was made into a movie, who would you want to play the main characters?
A. Because I’m such a movie fan—this is the hardest question of the bunch! Without giving away too much of the twists and turns in Bottom Feeders, I would have to say that for me Robert Deville—Joaquin Phoenix. He’s such a versatile performer and his acting range could lend such depth to the character. As for Jenny Deville—Charlize Theron has tackled such brutal roles in the past that she would bring a universal humanity to the character for all women dealing with abuse—and overcoming the past.
7. Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers out there?
A. Writing is such a strange thing. There are writers (like myself) that have been practicing the craft for their entire lives, and you only see their breakout moment—and assuming they were born that way. Succeeding in writing is about getting up every day and writing something or reading something even if you aren’t in the mood (especially if you’re not in the mood).
My advice to aspiring authors is to change. Don’t be afraid to evolve. It’s taking criticism and applying the critique that will make you a better writer and help you find your voice. I can’t say hearing something is wrong with your writing won’t sting, but by the end of your journey, you will grow.
🦄🦄🦄
Links:
My Complete Review on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAml17zAiQc/?igshid=1in5xavmdzfz0
Jerry Roth on Instagram: https://instagram.com/_jerryroth_?igshid=1pz84v2criox
Amazon India: https://www.amazon.in/Bottom-Feeders-Jerry-Roth-ebook/dp/B088KQJX67
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Feeders-Jerry-Roth-ebook/dp/B088KQJX67
Bottom Feeders on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53362521-bottom-feeders
Melina L. 🦄
I published a novel! So, what?
“People come to books looking for something. But they don’t come for the story, or even for the characters. They certainly don’t come for the genre. I think readers come for the voice.”
― Stephen King
A writer’s voice
Finding your voice, obsesses writers. The moment you take the craft seriously, you listen to established authors tell you that you need to find your voice. Is voice an actual thing? The quick answer is yes. But I think what some new writers don’t understand is that getting to your voice is shedding the things that make you afraid as a writer or ashamed. There are grammar rules to follow (or at least you should), but there are some gray areas like in every art form. And artists that push those boundaries of what’s acceptable are the ones that discover who they are. So, what is the voice? Being comfortable in your skin.
As I read hundreds of books with a wide range of writing styles, I understood what I liked and what I didn’t. I know that not everyone will love my novels, and that’s the hardest lesson for an author to learn. But what finding a voice does for a writer is cement a sense of security when there is none. When I look into the mirror and see my reflection, I know there is nothing I can do about the features staring back at me. In a way, that’s comforting. Here I am, scars and all. I apply the same philosophy to my work. After years of study and practice—what you see is what you get.
Are there two voices a writer must discover?
If an author talked about their journey—been there—read that! What I didn’t understand until my publisher released my book into the world was, I needed to find my voice as a public person. A writer spends most of their early years scribbling things down for no one to see (spouse excluded), and when the outside world starts to read your work, your self-perception changes. In a matter of days, I went from a writer who wants readers—to a writer who wants customers. How did this happen?
If you are an author for a small publisher or one of the BIG FIVE, your expectation is to have platforms to reach your audience, and there is an underlying expectation with any partnership in the writing business to sell.
For me, the public persona has been the most challenging part of publishing a novel. I can’t speak for all authors, but I sometimes feel like a crab forced out of its shell when I must do anything other than write. Let’s face it, drafting stories is what we live for, and everything else is work. Although the temptation to hide away is strong, I am making a conscious decision to reach out beyond my haven.
What has publishing a book taught me?
What I learned a few weeks after my first book launch—I want my audience to read my books! I hope my readers finish one of my books and say, I wonder when he will write another? Jerry Roth took me on a ride, and it was worth every penny spent. Authors are not car salespeople—not working at a lemonade stand, and we are not barkers at carnivals trying to corral an audience for the next show. So, what can you do to gain an audience without bashing them over the head? If a colossal publishing company signs you—you might get away with mentioning your book a few times a year and let the marketing team do the rest. What about the rest of us?
If you are an author in 2020, then these are only a few of the things that consume your time. Some authors follow the rise and fall of their sales—or other author sales. Why did my sales climb? Why did they fall? Was the spike of sales because of a holiday or because we turned the clocks back? You could drive yourself crazy with the trivial details, and I don’t want to do this!
Proud of your book? Highlight the positive aspects that don’t relate to the dollars and cents. Got a good review? Share this with your audience. Did someone you respect interview you about your novel? Scream it from the mountain top!
The Takeaway
As a writer, I had to find my center when developing my craft, and there isn’t much difference when it comes to the business of selling my novels. Selling is a chore—which is why a lot of authors don’t even bother to do it. Whether the author sells one book or a million doesn’t matter—peddling their art to the public feels vulgar. For me, I think the answer lies somewhere in between. Making a real connection with your readership should be my number one goal. Sure, I’ll lose myself in the marketing and sales aspects of the machine from time to time.
When I was a child creating my first writings (in comic book form) with crayons and magic markers, I never thought about my perfect demographic audience—an acceptable price point that will bring in customers. In between deciding if my Evel Knievel, knockoff character, will land his mile-high jump with or without a parachute, I never wondered how many likes or impressions my story could get. When I think back to the young writer I once was—there was an excitement when someone wanted to read my work. Would I tell myself back then all the ways to get more customers?
I want to focus on what I can control—keeping the world of Likes, Impressions, and sales statistics in the background—where they belong. How about you?
My First Step into a Larger World
From an early age, I always loved to tell stories. When I look back into my youth, everything appears clearer. Anxieties—the joys, and even my daily boredom hid where my path was leading me. The hobbies, for most of us, remain only an exciting daydream. We all want to make the fantasies of our childhood a reality—a major league baseball player—an astronaut, a race car driver. These are the things we often leave behind when adulthood takes hold—when responsibilities squeeze out wishful thoughts.
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have parents who read bedtime stories to me nightly. It was in these memories I understood the power a story had to transport me to another world. Authors skillfully create destinations inside our heads, and it was that kind of power that called to me.
One of my earliest writing creations was a handful of blank papers folded in half and stapled to make a spine. In this crude first book, my Uncle Mark helped me design simple “Star Wars” panels of Tie Fighters and X-Wing Fighters flying through the galaxy—along with dialogue bubbles saying dramatic words like, “Laugh now…but cry later,” Darth Vader said. It was in these handmade comics that I learned what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Years later, riding the bus back and forth to school, I soon became the kid that told stories about the movie trailers I saw on television—I wasn’t old enough to see these adult movies myself. Not seeing the movie didn’t stop me—far from it! I would just make up my version of what I thought the film would be like. It got to where my friends on the bus asked me to describe the plot of the latest Friday the 13th flick or Dirty Harry or the latest Rodney Dangerfield movie—to pass the time on the bus.
In my teen years, my childhood friend Adam and I scoured the city for worn paperback novels. They were always in our hands, bought for a dollar at our local used bookstore, and treasured. I didn’t know it then, but I was studying my craft—forming my writing voice. Lost in the possibilities, the well-told stories captured me.
As soon as I graduated to adult fiction, my greatest hero was and always will be, Stephen King. The ideas that sprung from him were nothing less than magical. His strength to push the boundaries of what it meant to be a horror/suspense writer was an inspiration to every author I knew. I’m proud to say that after years of working at the craft, I will get my book “Bottom Feeders” published. I want to thank everyone who believed in me along the way, and I hope you enjoy my novel.