Ryan Callaway's Blog - Posts Tagged "stephen-king"
Interview with David Wisehart Part 2
DAVID WISEHART: What was your journey as a writer?
RYAN CALLAWAY: A long one (laughs). I've been writing since I was a child; short stories, fan fiction, and the like. At the age of 17 I wrote and finished my first original novel, Six Faces. It was self-published, then traditionally published, and is now back in my hands again. I've also written a sequel, another couple of horror novels, and an action/suspense book as well. I suppose two words that would sum up my journey would be "always learning." I'm always checking out the books on the bestseller lists, observing different techniques and styles. My own writing has developed nicely over the years, thanks to the authors I admire, as well as two really good editors I've worked with. I'm still, hopefully, at the beginning of what I hope will be a successful and, more importantly, fulfilling journey.
DAVID WISEHART: What is your writing process?
RYAN CALLAWAY: First a story or idea comes to mind—which can literally happen anywhere. Sometimes I'm driving along a dark road and something creepy pops in my head, or I see something in the news, or I'm having a conversation with a friend. I've got a bit of a weird mind so a single sentence can spring a deep, intricate plot. Once I've got the idea I usually map out the characters and get to know them as well as possible—making sure I've got the appropriate people to carry us through whatever journey the book takes us on. Then I do chapter by chapter planning—I don't like to plan out every detail because spontaneity can be important—but I need to know where it's all going. Sometimes that changes though. My own characters can surprise me at times or a subplot or roadblock pops up that really adds to the overall story. Then once it's all planned I get to work.
DAVID WISEHART: What authors most inspire you?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Nathan Archer, SD Perry, Danielle Steele, Ted Dekker, and Frank Peretti. The first three may sound a little odd coming from someone who writes mostly horror, but I've read more of Perry and Archer's novels than any other author, including Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Their writing style is what dragged me in, as well as their methods of developing characters. Although descriptions are vivid, they don't drown me in unnecessary details. I remember one of my readers commenting that they liked the fact that I didn't take 2 pages to describe the sun coming through trees. Although that takes talent, if I'm reading a horror novel—or any book other than some literary masterpiece, I want a good story, and description that adds to it—and doesn't take away or distract. Dekker's themes are deep and creepy whether you agree with his ideology or not. The man is a genius storyteller. Same for Peretti. And Danielle Steele is just amazing all around.
DAVID WISEHART: How did you create your cover for Lights Out?
RYAN CALLAWAY: I usually take pride in coming up with creative ways to do my covers when the choice is mine—not this time. I found the photo, which I think is awesome, on a free stock photo site. With some cropping, color editing, and a neat font, I had my cover.
DAVID WISEHART: How have you marketed and promoted your work?
RYAN CALLAWAY: I haven't done enough, to be honest. Mainly I've just tried to do it by word of mouth. I was posting chapters up on a website while I was writing the story—that enabled me to get feedback early on, and it also gained me some additional fans who were awaiting its publication. Since then, I've continued to try to let people know that it's out there. Both new readers and those who have read and enjoyed my past work. I think the basic idea is one people find compelling, so it's just a matter of spreading the word.
DAVID WISEHART: Why publish on Kindle?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Ebooks seem to be taking over the literary world. They're usually a little cheaper than paperbacks, and they also are more convenient to some readers. They don't take up shelf space, get old and yellow, or get lost at a friend's house when they want to borrow one (except for those kind enough to loan out their Kindles). For any publisher or author to ignore this rising trend would be foolish.
On the other hand, it's also more beneficial to authors. With Amazon's new 70% royalty offer, it allows us to keep a lot more of the money we earn. It's really a shame that most authors only make 5-10 percent of the profit from each book sale, especially when books are going for $5-10. Not to mention publishers usually charge a lot more than they need to. Kindle publishing allows us to set our own prices and maintain control. It also puts us before a growing audience.
DAVID WISEHART: What advice would you give to a first-time author thinking of self-publishing on Kindle?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Go for it! You really can't lose anything. Some publishers will be more hesitant about accepting a previously published book, but others won't care. Especially if you've managed to be somewhat successful on your own. That ought to give them greater confidence in what they'll be able to do with the book. Publishing on Kindle is a great option and as I said above, that's where the market seems to be going.
DAVID WISEHART: Thanks, and best of luck with your books.
RYAN CALLAWAY: A long one (laughs). I've been writing since I was a child; short stories, fan fiction, and the like. At the age of 17 I wrote and finished my first original novel, Six Faces. It was self-published, then traditionally published, and is now back in my hands again. I've also written a sequel, another couple of horror novels, and an action/suspense book as well. I suppose two words that would sum up my journey would be "always learning." I'm always checking out the books on the bestseller lists, observing different techniques and styles. My own writing has developed nicely over the years, thanks to the authors I admire, as well as two really good editors I've worked with. I'm still, hopefully, at the beginning of what I hope will be a successful and, more importantly, fulfilling journey.
DAVID WISEHART: What is your writing process?
RYAN CALLAWAY: First a story or idea comes to mind—which can literally happen anywhere. Sometimes I'm driving along a dark road and something creepy pops in my head, or I see something in the news, or I'm having a conversation with a friend. I've got a bit of a weird mind so a single sentence can spring a deep, intricate plot. Once I've got the idea I usually map out the characters and get to know them as well as possible—making sure I've got the appropriate people to carry us through whatever journey the book takes us on. Then I do chapter by chapter planning—I don't like to plan out every detail because spontaneity can be important—but I need to know where it's all going. Sometimes that changes though. My own characters can surprise me at times or a subplot or roadblock pops up that really adds to the overall story. Then once it's all planned I get to work.
DAVID WISEHART: What authors most inspire you?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Nathan Archer, SD Perry, Danielle Steele, Ted Dekker, and Frank Peretti. The first three may sound a little odd coming from someone who writes mostly horror, but I've read more of Perry and Archer's novels than any other author, including Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Their writing style is what dragged me in, as well as their methods of developing characters. Although descriptions are vivid, they don't drown me in unnecessary details. I remember one of my readers commenting that they liked the fact that I didn't take 2 pages to describe the sun coming through trees. Although that takes talent, if I'm reading a horror novel—or any book other than some literary masterpiece, I want a good story, and description that adds to it—and doesn't take away or distract. Dekker's themes are deep and creepy whether you agree with his ideology or not. The man is a genius storyteller. Same for Peretti. And Danielle Steele is just amazing all around.
DAVID WISEHART: How did you create your cover for Lights Out?
RYAN CALLAWAY: I usually take pride in coming up with creative ways to do my covers when the choice is mine—not this time. I found the photo, which I think is awesome, on a free stock photo site. With some cropping, color editing, and a neat font, I had my cover.
DAVID WISEHART: How have you marketed and promoted your work?
RYAN CALLAWAY: I haven't done enough, to be honest. Mainly I've just tried to do it by word of mouth. I was posting chapters up on a website while I was writing the story—that enabled me to get feedback early on, and it also gained me some additional fans who were awaiting its publication. Since then, I've continued to try to let people know that it's out there. Both new readers and those who have read and enjoyed my past work. I think the basic idea is one people find compelling, so it's just a matter of spreading the word.
DAVID WISEHART: Why publish on Kindle?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Ebooks seem to be taking over the literary world. They're usually a little cheaper than paperbacks, and they also are more convenient to some readers. They don't take up shelf space, get old and yellow, or get lost at a friend's house when they want to borrow one (except for those kind enough to loan out their Kindles). For any publisher or author to ignore this rising trend would be foolish.
On the other hand, it's also more beneficial to authors. With Amazon's new 70% royalty offer, it allows us to keep a lot more of the money we earn. It's really a shame that most authors only make 5-10 percent of the profit from each book sale, especially when books are going for $5-10. Not to mention publishers usually charge a lot more than they need to. Kindle publishing allows us to set our own prices and maintain control. It also puts us before a growing audience.
DAVID WISEHART: What advice would you give to a first-time author thinking of self-publishing on Kindle?
RYAN CALLAWAY: Go for it! You really can't lose anything. Some publishers will be more hesitant about accepting a previously published book, but others won't care. Especially if you've managed to be somewhat successful on your own. That ought to give them greater confidence in what they'll be able to do with the book. Publishing on Kindle is a great option and as I said above, that's where the market seems to be going.
DAVID WISEHART: Thanks, and best of luck with your books.
