Creating Your First Novel received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Hank Quense.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Creating Your First Novel. Published on 10/15/2023
What’s the book’s first line?
Creating a novel is an awesome achievement, but it isn’t achieved without a lot of effort and that effort is expended over a lengthy period of time
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Are you writing your first book? Or are you thinking about writing it?
Do you have any idea what you’re getting into?
No? Let’s talk about it.
Most aspiring authors concentrate on writing the book to the exclusion of all else. However, the reality is that creating a book is a long-term, multi-phase project and writing it is only one facet of the project.
The complete project involves five separate phases:
- Planning the book
- Writing the book
- Publishing the book
- Marketing the book
- Author business issues
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I was thinking about the usual way a novel is created by first-time authors. First, they write a book pretty much oblivious to all other concerns. After that they facing the daunting task of getting the book published and that is like the start of a completely new project. Then they realize they have to market the book. And when they get tax statements for their royalties, it dawns on them that they have a business to run. This is an accurate description of what I went through with my first book and it describes the journey of several other authors I know.
I decide there had to be a better way to prepare authors for their maiden journey. That was the genesis of the book.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book enlightens would-be authors that creating a book is a long-term, multi-faceted project. Armed with that knowledge, they are less likely to be surprised by events. The more these authors know about the book creation process, the less likely they are to be sucked in by scam artists.
When did you first decide to become an author?
At the time of my fiftieth birthday I was a sales manager for a big corporation with an office in Manhattan. I decided I needed to come up with a second career because it was only a matter one time before the corporation decided it no longer needed me. I decided to write stories and began writing them on my commute to work. That was way back in the last century.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I spend most of each morning writing or working on my author business. I often spent more time on those activities in the afternoon and evening,.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is seeing a great review for one of my books (but that’s not limited to being an indie). The hardest parts are trying to get name recognition and marketing when you don’t have a publisher backing you.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
For quite a while now I’ve been motivated by a need to do something different. Something new. Something I haven’t done before. Something that makes me learn new stuff.