'TWAS THE NIGHT: AUTHOR Q&A with Marin @fontrealbooks #blogtour
Today's guest is children's picture book author Marin. His new book is 'Twas the Night and he is on a virtual book tour this month with Pump Up Your Book! We're very glad to have him here today to talk about his book, writing and what surprised him about getting his book published.
Welcome to The Writer's
Life! Now that your book has been
published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the
beginning? When did you come up with the
idea to write your book?
In our politically correct world
of consumerism, people increasingly lose connection with the true meaning of
Christmas; we have even replaced the expression “Merry Christmas” with “Happy
Holidays.” My goal was to provide readers, especially children, with a present
they can open again and again. I chose to develop this story solely with
pictures and no text to encourage readers to participate in the creative
process. My intent is to gift everyone, both the young and the young at heart,
the opportunity to reimagine the Season's wonder, and the freedom to script
their own lines to go with the images.
Who is your publisher and how did
you find them or did you self-publish?
I owned an advertising agency for
many years, so it was relatively easy for me to start swimming in the waters of
the publishing world. The publishing house, Fontreal,
is my youngest baby. I write, illustrate, design, and publish my own books. I
produce my own book video trailers with a $68 software installed on my desktop
– I even create custom-made fonts to make my publications truly one-of-a-kind.
In one sentence, with minimum expenses (printing being an exception!) I create
high-quality products with no expiry date.
Is there anything that surprised
you about getting your first book published?
As a newcomer in the publishing
industry, I found two challenges. First, there is stigma about self-published
titles. Second, there is an expectation that all authors must sell on Amazon. I
felt compelled to address these issues and perhaps change people’s attitudes. I
am committed to create quality self-published titles and entice the mighty
reader, without resorting to the 800-pound gorilla Amazon.
Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling
process?
Human eyes guide us all the time, even when it is pitch-dark. Our eyes
help us distinguish the good from the bad. A book cover is the packaging of a
product; and let’s face it, good packaging sells! Although, sometimes our eyes
trick us and there is little value under the wrapping paper.
How hard was it to write a book
like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the
journey easier for other writers?
Leo Tolstoy said that "there are as many minds as there are heads." To me, this means that every individual is unique. Fortunately, I am able to solve artistic problems quickly and the process is nothing but pure bliss. My one piece of advice to fellow writers is: Stay true to yourselves through the ebb and flow of the creative process - I guarantee your work will reflect your uniqueness.
What other books are you working
on and when will they be published?
Since mid-2017, I have developed
nine children’s books and only one of them was not illustrated by my hands –
for good luck! All of the books are available on my website
https://fontreal.com in MOBI, EPUB, PDF and audio format. At the moment, ‘Twas the Night is the only story
printed, and it is a hardcover book manufactured in North America.
I am currently working on 11 other titles that are in various stages of
development. In 2020, more publications will be added to my small book catalog.
What’s one fact about your book
that would surprise people?
The surprise awaits readers on
the very last page!
Finally, what message are you
trying to get across with your book?
Keep dreaming big!
Thank you again for this
interview! Do you have any final words?
A few years ago I developed a
catchphrase for my first small (but successful!) book campaign on Kickstarter: Earth
is the greatest planet – it has air, water and books. Don’t you agree?
Welcome to The Writer's
Life! Now that your book has been
published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the
beginning? When did you come up with the
idea to write your book?
In our politically correct world
of consumerism, people increasingly lose connection with the true meaning of
Christmas; we have even replaced the expression “Merry Christmas” with “Happy
Holidays.” My goal was to provide readers, especially children, with a present
they can open again and again. I chose to develop this story solely with
pictures and no text to encourage readers to participate in the creative
process. My intent is to gift everyone, both the young and the young at heart,
the opportunity to reimagine the Season's wonder, and the freedom to script
their own lines to go with the images.
Who is your publisher and how did
you find them or did you self-publish?
I owned an advertising agency for
many years, so it was relatively easy for me to start swimming in the waters of
the publishing world. The publishing house, Fontreal,
is my youngest baby. I write, illustrate, design, and publish my own books. I
produce my own book video trailers with a $68 software installed on my desktop
– I even create custom-made fonts to make my publications truly one-of-a-kind.
In one sentence, with minimum expenses (printing being an exception!) I create
high-quality products with no expiry date.
Is there anything that surprised
you about getting your first book published?
As a newcomer in the publishing
industry, I found two challenges. First, there is stigma about self-published
titles. Second, there is an expectation that all authors must sell on Amazon. I
felt compelled to address these issues and perhaps change people’s attitudes. I
am committed to create quality self-published titles and entice the mighty
reader, without resorting to the 800-pound gorilla Amazon.
Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling
process?
Human eyes guide us all the time, even when it is pitch-dark. Our eyes
help us distinguish the good from the bad. A book cover is the packaging of a
product; and let’s face it, good packaging sells! Although, sometimes our eyes
trick us and there is little value under the wrapping paper.
How hard was it to write a book
like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the
journey easier for other writers?
Leo Tolstoy said that "there are as many minds as there are heads." To me, this means that every individual is unique. Fortunately, I am able to solve artistic problems quickly and the process is nothing but pure bliss. My one piece of advice to fellow writers is: Stay true to yourselves through the ebb and flow of the creative process - I guarantee your work will reflect your uniqueness.
What other books are you working
on and when will they be published?
Since mid-2017, I have developed
nine children’s books and only one of them was not illustrated by my hands –
for good luck! All of the books are available on my website
https://fontreal.com in MOBI, EPUB, PDF and audio format. At the moment, ‘Twas the Night is the only story
printed, and it is a hardcover book manufactured in North America.
I am currently working on 11 other titles that are in various stages of
development. In 2020, more publications will be added to my small book catalog.
What’s one fact about your book
that would surprise people?
The surprise awaits readers on
the very last page!
Finally, what message are you
trying to get across with your book?
Keep dreaming big!
Thank you again for this
interview! Do you have any final words?
A few years ago I developed a
catchphrase for my first small (but successful!) book campaign on Kickstarter: Earth
is the greatest planet – it has air, water and books. Don’t you agree?
Meet the Author
I studied nuclear physics, art, and literature, but I enjoyed art the most. As a young artist, I was eager to succeed, winning prizes from various countries. I later became a partner in an advertising agency and switched my attention to serving clients. My last award was somewhere in the early nineties – The Best in the West by Corel Draw Corporation.
Oh, a few more boring things about me: I do not drive, I do not drink carbonated beverages, I have never consumed food from McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC or any other fast food restaurant, I do not have a mobile phone, I have never used legal or illegal drugs (except Gravol when I fly), and I have never visited my GP (much to the disapproval of my wife).
I read. I read every day. I am what I am today because of books. This publishing house is my little “thank you” to all of them.
website & Social links
Website → http://www.fontreal.com
Twitter → http://www.twitter.com/fontralbooks
Facebook → http://www.facebook.com/fontreal/
Inside the Book
Title: ‘TWAS THE NIGHT
Author: Marin
Publisher: Fontreal
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Author: Marin
Publisher: Fontreal
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
BOOK BLURB:
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