What inspired you to become a self-published author? 

I don’t think it was inspired as much as realized the risk/reward of being able to become an independent author was a really cool prospect. I looked at the process of querying agents and finding a publisher and saw the opportunity to self-publish as a de facto querying process. Essentially saw self-publishing as the “if you build it, they will come” model with a lot more hard work involved and not just hoping that ghostly baseball players read my books. 

What challenges did you face during the self-publishing process, and how did you overcome them? 

There are a TON of challenges to self-publishing, especially my first book, but the most difficult was formatting. Formatting is a highly specific skill and the second that I can afford to have someone else format my books I will do so (and will probably get my whole catalog reformatted while I’m at it. To overcome the problem on my own I had to do a lot of independent research. There are so many little things about books that no one outside the industry knows or maybe even sees, but the second you learn about it you cannot unsee it. The best example of this is the first page of each chapter in a novel normally does not have a page number. It’s there and gets counted for the whole page count, but does not show up on the page so you have to skip those numbers when putting the book together. It can be...problematic. Overall I have garnered an enormous amount of respect for the people who can naturally format a manuscript because it is a beast.

Can you tell us about your favorite character or scene in your book? 

My favorite character shifts a lot during each book whether it’s due to the cadence of the story or the overall arc I’m working on, but usually Bob, Clint, or Kevin are my tops. They’re great characters to write and have the perfect emotional response for their characters. My favorite scene though is after the team attends Brandt’s command BBQ and Deck joins him on the porch at night. There’s not a whole lot of intense action or dialogue, but what it does is open James as a character more than before while also showing how close Deck is to James as a friend. The moment spells out the intuitive observations the rest of the group has and highlights a soft skill not easily described for most characters.

How do you manage your time between work and writing and promoting your books? 

That’s been an ongoing struggle and evolves every day, but it comes down to a team effort. I am HORRIBLE with social media, mostly because I made a conscious decision not to use it personally a long time ago, but also because I’m just bad at thinking to post pictures or videos ever. Promotion is very much in my wife’s wheelhouse though and she keeps me on track thinking of ways to connect with others like me who might enjoy the story.

What tools or platforms do you find most helpful for self-publishing authors?

I think that will be specific to each writer, but Reedsy was a key marketplace for finding help. Editing and graphic design are crucial to anyone who’s publishing. I cannot draw, and no one should be the only person who edits their work. Reedsy gave me a leg up in finding high-quality, professionally experienced individuals.

How do you handle criticism or negative reviews of your work?

Put simply, not well because getting a negative review sucks. I spend far too much time thinking about bad reviews than I do relish in the good ones which is a really bad thing to do. But, what I try to do is take what I can from the bad ones that merit my attention and adjust my storytelling or direction as needed. However, I would not change my approach entirely because one or two people don’t like what I do. Everyone will have their detractors and that’s just the hard truth of releasing something for the masses.

What's the biggest misconception people have about self-publishing?

That self-publishing is not a legitimate business or publishing option. I think that bugs me the most, hearing and seeing traditionally published authors who disparage people who work their asses off across all aspects of publishing AND writing a book is dumb. There are definitely a huge number of self-published authors who do not put the same effort into the business as some of us do, but that doesn’t mean we should be grouped the same. The same problems and authors exist in the traditional publishing world.

How do you stay motivated throughout the writing and publishing process?

I love the story I’m writing. I have wanted to do this since I was a little kid so having the ability, dedication, and support to write is living out my dream. I know I have a long way to go, but when you start thinking about becoming an author when you’re in fifth grade and don’t stray from it then it’s easier to stay focused. However, I do get burned out on occasion and try to take a month off writing every summer.

Are you currently working on any new projects, and if so, can you give us a sneak peek?

I am always thinking about other projects, but nothing I’m ready to talk about outside of the Crafting Humanity universe. Within the Crafting Humanity world I have a couple of short stories that I will work on this summer and want to release in the fall. I’m also almost done with book 3 and should be able to start book 4 by next fall.

What do you think sets your books apart from others in your genre?

I think my characters stand out against other characters that are normally written in my genre. I play into tropes and caricatures as much as the next person, but the detail and thought I hammer into their personalities is so important to me. Plot, setting, timeline, etc.. Are all very important, but if you don’t care about the people inside of those elements then why keep reading? Not everyone will agree on what constitutes a great plot, but everyone knows the feeling of reading a book and not being able to get the character out of your head. If you haven’t had that and want suggestions I am always willing to throw some great examples out there (Pierce Brown’s Red Rising is one of the best I can think of....).

How important is cover design in attracting readers to your books?

I did not know this until I started writing, but I have been judging books by their cover since I started reading. It is HUGELY important. Don’t just have an AI generate your artwork for your cover. That might be ok for promotional or marketing materials, but when it comes to your book, the thing you’ve poured your time and energy into, spend time to find a graphic designer that you can work with and understands your vision. That being said, graphics can be expensive so go in with a budget.

Can you share any memorable experiences or interactions you've had with readers?

There are a few that stand out to me in particular and while they are all unique the common thread across them all is every memorable reader experience has happened at book festivals. It is so cool to me that people want to read my book in the first place, but to meet them while they’re buying it and interact with them on a personal level is something I never expected to love.