I am so excited to have Bob on my interview today. I have had the privilege to getting to know him over the past couple of years through our local witer’s group. Bob is one of the sweetest and funniest people I have ever met. AND he is a fabulous author. Tell them Bob, why did you start writing?
About ten years ago I realized that there were events in my life that my children and grandchildren would never read in a history book.
I started making a list, with the first event that had been responsible for many more events and direction in my life.
It was New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1947. I was a Military Policeman with the First Army stationed at Fort Jay on Governor’s Island in New York Harbor. I was on guard duty at the airstrip in a blinding snow storm. There was an event that President Harry Truman heard about it. This was the first of many events.
You certainly have a lot of stories to tell. -Did you have writing experience in your life?
Not really. I wrote reports when I was an insurance investigator and when I was a management consultant with M.K. Sheppard and Associates, a management consulting firm in Cleveland, Ohio.
How did you get published?
I was attending a Naples Press Club two day event that featured publishers, editors and agents. On the first day I met an agent from East Florida. I had completed my manuscript and planned to have a couple dozen copies printed at Quick Copy for my family. After talking with her for a while she suggested that I send her three chapters. I was delighted.
On the second day she had more question about my book and at the end of the day she suggested I send her all of the manuscript. The next day I overnighted the manuscript to her.
Three weeks later she called and said she would like to represent me. We signed an agreement within ten days.
Three months later she had a contract for two books if I would change the voice from third person to first. I had written the story as if I was reading it to the children.
I completed the change in three months and had a contract for two books with AecheBooks a traditional publisher. In October 2006 The Cloisters of Canterbury was published by ArcheBooks.
That is a dream come true for most of us authors that wait years and years to find an agent. You made it sound too easy. I know that is not the end of the story. Please continue.
You are correct Joanne. Two years later when my second book was ready to be submit the book business was in a slump and based on the firms production schedule it could be four or five years before my book would be published.
My second book Peace at Lambeth Bridge was published by iUniverse, in November 2008.
In 2013, Peace at Lambeth Bridge, Second Edition was published by Create Space.
Dead Man Talking was published by Create Space March 2014.
How do you compare Traditional Publishing with self-publishing through Create Space?
I had very little to say with ArcheBooks and received very little marketing support.
Create Space gives the author the opportunity to change prices and market.
I think price sells books. But you need a good cover and a good story.
There are no free lunches.
That is for sure, Bob. Can you tell us the premise of Dead Man Talking?
Just before his death on a sandy beach in Anguilla, British West Indies, David Lee Casady, a former CIA operative reveals the true story of the overthrow of Juan Bosch Dictator of the Dominican Republic. Casady held a gun to his head, a Bloodless Coup.
Thank you so much for being on my blog. Below are the links to buy Bob’s books.
Writing Under Fire 