Jenny Socks, author of Whiskey in the River, talks about her approach to writing and her plans for the future.
Why do you write? Is it something you’ve always done, or always wanted to do? Or is it something that you started fairly recently?
My writing started fairly recently, within the last year. Writing a book is something I wanted to do but could never find the clear-cut path to do so. I guess one could say tragedy cut the path for me, causing me to dig deeper to get it to paper. Life changes made it such that I yearned for expression.
Tell me a little about your book.
Whiskey In The River is a narrative written to my now grown son. It is a story of our lives from the fairytale beginning to the stomping black boots of death in the end. It tales from his birth to present day and the harrowing trials from a life. The deaths of my brother, my husband and my father caused our lives to shift off it’s axis. This book represents me trying to right this life of mine. It is a book about learning wisdom and to let this life be what it is meant to be. The truths I’ve found in this life became whiskey in the river to me and I, now, pass that bottle to my son so that he might garner these truths.
Are there any authors who inspire you?
Maya Angelou
How do you write? Do you make yourself write a certain number of words per day?
When it strikes, it strikes and I like to strike while the iron is hot when writing. It varies per day, sometimes 2,000 words a day, some days 10,000 words, and some days zero words, I’ve learned to just go with it. I try not to push it, preferring to let it flow. Forced words are no good to me.
Did you try to get a conventional publisher or agent interested before you opted for self-publishing?
I queried agents which turned out to be very time inhibiting. Waiting is not something I do well.
What goals have you set yourself? Do you want to sell a certain number of books in 2012? Is there some way you measure success, on your own terms?
My goal is to complete another book, which I’ve already started. Of course, I want to sell a million books! In gambling terms, I have to ask myself, is that a probability or a possibility. I believe it to be both, singing another verse in the High Hopes tune as I always do! I harbor high hopes for Whiskey In The River and the measure of my success remains to be seen. If belief was enough, well, then I own it and success is right around the corner!
How have you marketed your books?
Currently, I utilize Facebook, Twitter, Author’s Den, WordPress, Goodreads, Book Daily and a few other sites to cultivate social media and hype for Whiskey In The River. Any place that will allow me to spot the book, I do it. As of yet, I have not used any paid advertising, but, I am certain I will down the road. I feel advertising is vital if you are to reach your audience.
Have you signed up for KDP Select?
The book is for sale on Amazon, but I have not signed up for the KDP Select yet because of the exclusivity clause. I did not want to remove the book from other sites to utilize KDP Select. I have the book for sale on Smashwords. It is listed on the premium catagory, which takes the book to Apple, Barnes & Noble, Diesel, Sony and a variety of other outlets.
Do you worry about Amazon gaining a monopoly in the ebook market?
No worry, really, if that happens, I will make adjustments. Move forward and roll with the changes.
What’s next? Are you working on anything at the moment? Do you have anything new coming out in 2012?
I am working on a second novel titled Don’t Drink The Bong Water. It is another book in the narrative vein rehashing experiences and sharing the wisdom of pulling up short of drinking the bong water in this life to avoid catastophic errors in judgement. I expect this book to be completed in the fall 2012.
Whiskey in the River by Jenny Socks is available from sites such as Amazon and Smashwords. You can also follow her on Twitter and find her on Facebook.
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