Interview with Gale Laure, author of Evolution of a Sad Woman

Gale Laure, a native Texan, is the international selling author of Evolution of a Sad Woman, a mystery, suspense, thriller and romance novel. She resides in a small suburban town in the Houston area with her husband and family. Laure’s hobbies include genealogical research, movies, creating stories for the children around her, involvement in her church and people watching. She is busy at work editing her second novel, The Bunkhouse, and writing. As mysterious as her novel, Laure writes under a pseudonym. Adamant about maintaining her privacy and the privacy of her family, she keeps her identity a mystery! For more information about Gale Laure or her novel, Evolution of a Sad Woman, visit http://www.galelaure.com or her blog http://www.evolutionofasadwoman.com . You can also find Gale Laure at http://www.twitter.com/wwwgalelaure.com , http://www.facebook.com/Author.GaleLaure , http://www.myspace.com/galelaure-author , http://www.goodreads.com/galelaureauthor , http://www.authorsden.com/galelaure .

Welcome to The Writer's Life, Gale. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

Gale: I am an international selling author living in the Houston area of Texas. I write under a pseudonym to protect my privacy and the privacy of my family. My strategy for life is that a person can do anything they set their mind to do. Evolution of a Sad Woman is my debut novel.

It took me about six months to write Evolution of a Sad Woman. During that time my well-meaning husband decided to surprise me and upgrade my computer while I was out of town. Needless to say, the entire system crashed. The only backup I had of my book on a CD was corrupt. After a mourning period, I began writing my novel again. This time it took me about three months. The second time I wrote Evolution of a Sad Woman, it was better than ever!

Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?

Gale: My debut novel, Evolution of a Sad Woman, is a mystery, suspense, thriller and romance novel.

It is about five men – strangers – who are brought together by their love of the same beautiful, unforgettable woman, Kizzy. When she is brutally murdered, they join forces to solve the mystery of the murder. Police detective Evan Picard, attorney William Newton, former pro-football player turned used car salesman Tom Hastings, Catholic priest Father C.D. Casmiersky and former male model turned cabdriver Jimmy Smithson find stress as personalities collide. Little do they know, but there will be more than just the murder mystery to solve. They are taken down a dark, dangerous road of cruelty and crime.

I wrote Evolution of a Sad Woman because it popped into my head. Once I decided to be an author, I had no idea what to write about. So I prayed. The next morning when I awoke, Evolution of a Sad Woman, was there – inside my head. The entire story poured from my fingers into the computer. I did not have to think or consider or even imagine. The characters were around me as I wrote. It was the easiest thing I have ever done.

After my well-meaning husband destroyed my book, once again I sat down, and it poured forth.


What kind of research was involved in writing Evolution of a Sad Woman?

Gale: I read three books and one article. They covered subjects from the Mafia to Catholicism. Most of my research was done with people. I interviewed two attorneys, two police officers (one of which is now a judge) and a staff member at a Catholic church who was very knowledgeable about Catholicism.


Has it been a bumpy ride to becoming a published author or has it been pretty well smooth sailing?

Gale: Bumpy ride? You have no idea.

I sent out many manuscripts to many publishers. I received letters saying mainly that my novel was not the trend at that time. One editor believed in my novel and tried her best. But she was only one editor on a panel of many. Again it was denied because of the trend at the time.

Then disasters began hitting my life. I had many trials and family problems of illness that included myself with pneumonia, my husband with cancer twice and the ongoing illnesses of my two elderly parents. During these trials my book was put on hold. I received several more letters from publishers that I laid aside unopened. My very sick husband opened some. But we acted on nothing.

When things slowed down a little he remembered one of the letters that had arrived from my current publisher when he saw one of their advertisements in a magazine. He brought it to my attention. The rest is history.

I became a published author in late October, 2007. After my book was published, my home was destroyed when a tornado met a huge pine tree. The huge pine tree lost the battle and ended up on top of my home. Most everything was destroyed. We escaped in the middle of the night during the eye of the hurricane with our very lives. This slowed down my promotion of my mystery, suspense, thriller and romance book.


For this particular book, how long did it take from the time you signed the contract to its release?

Gale: It took about four months. There was one rewrite in the mix.
Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?

Gale: I do have an agent. I chose an attorney who is a copyright/patent lawyer for my agent. I wanted someone who could read a contract and help me protect my rights as well as shop my book around. I am most pleased with this gentleman. I trust him completely.


Do you plan subsequent books?

Gale: Yes. I do. I am currently editing my second novel, The Bunkhouse, a historical, mystery, suspense, thriller and romance with a science-fiction twist. I wrote it for my husband who is a sci-fi fan. The characters from Evolution of a Sad Woman make a brief cameo in The Bunkhouse. There is a clue to the second Evolution of a Sad Woman sequel.

I am writing the first sequel to Evolution of a Sad Woman entitled Alana – Evolution of a Woman. It is a mystery, suspense, thriller and romance book. It has a very complicated plot. There is a serial killer, a stalker, a kidnaper – and yes Kizzy is back! Need I say more?

I am researching my fourth book, Time in Vieux Carre, a historical, mystery, suspense and romance novel set in New Orleans, Louisiana, one of my favorite cities.

My fifth book will be the second and final sequel to Evolution of a Sad Woman. I prefer not to give the title away, just yet.


Can you describe your most favorite place to write?

Gale: My favorite place to write is in my home – alone. There must be no one else in the house. I must see my characters. I must envision the story. I write in my office usually. Although since hurricane Ike I am forced to write in my living room, sitting in my wing back lounge chair with my laptop balanced on my lap. I have been unable to find the perfect furniture for my office. I am very particular about the desk and chair that I use.

If money was no object, what would be the first thing you would invest in to promote your book?

Gale: I would implement a huge marketing campaign that would include several things.

Television commercials, billboard commercials, movie theatre commercials, magazine commercials, radio commercials about Evolution of a Sad Woman would be everywhere!

I would attend all the trade shows and conventions. They are wonderful. I would also go on an extended brick and mortar book tour internationally. I have readers all over the world that I would like to meet.

During the Christmas season I would go on another virtual blog book tour.
How important do you think self-promotion is and in what ways have you been promoting your book offline and online?

Gale: Self-promotion is key to success in the writing business.

I have done brick and mortar book signings. I have done book signings at trade shows. I have been on radio. Newspapers have interviewed me. And now – I am on a virtual blog book tour.

I have been currently working with the Mystery Advertising Agency, an Internet advertising company. This agency helps me obtain free book advertising and marketing courtesy of the search engines using search engine optimization.

This company has many other unique strategies for marketing and sales via the Internet.

I hand out business cards to people I meet. I also sent out postcards to booksellers everywhere when my book first was released.

First, an author must sell himself or herself. My father who was in the sales game for over fifty years always taught me that people buy from people. If they do not like and trust you, they will not buy what you are selling. Thus, I am on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Authorsden, MySpace, YouTube, Podomatic and Shoutlife. I want readers to get to know me.

I have made videos of me reading my novel, which are on YouTube. Book trailers of Evolution of a Sad Woman are also on YouTube.

I have been a busy lady.
What’s the most common reason you believe new writers give up their dream of becoming published and did you almost give up?

Gale: Authors give up when they feel their work is not wanted. Publishers are in control. Letters from these publishers can destroy an author’s dream. I hope authors will remember that editors are only people with an opinion. You have to find the right editor that believes in your work. It is a hard road to travel. Know that editors have to go with successful trends in writing at the time. They have superiors to answer to. Their decisions must be right. There is no room for error. Keep searching until you find the right editor and the right publisher. If you do not believe in your work, no one will!

Any final words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?

Gale: Persevere. Do not give up! If you truly believe in your work and your dream, follow it. If you do not believe in your work, no one will.


Thank you for your interview, Gale. I wish you much success!

Gale: Thank you for this wonderful interview. It was very nice to be here.


6 comments:

  1. Good morning - or should I say good afternoon - everyone. My day started off with computer problems. Then our electricity went out for over an hour. The electric company was trimming trees in the neighborhood and something happened. So I am getting a late start. But I am here. And I will be here all day to take questions and comments. Blog in.
    GL

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6:37 PM

    I am a mystery book author on a shoe-string budget. You mention that, "I have been currently working with the Mystery Advertising Agency, an Internet advertising company. This agency helps me obtain free book advertising and marketing courtesy of the search engines using search engine optimization".

    Are you referring to free book advertising from Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or other type of promotion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous,

    No. Even though you definitely need to advertise your book and yourself in the social media like Twitter, Facebook, etcetera, I was referring to something different.

    My Internet advertising company guy told me that my "Evolution of a Sad Woman" blog content is being used by the search engines. For example: the search engines are taking from the site what they need. They then, put the information in different categories for different searches. So one website gets multiple listings.

    I will be assisting him with an article on this within the next month entitled "Viral Book Advertising With Help of the Search Engines".

    Thanks for blogging in.

    GL

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:08 PM

    I noticed your mystery-romance book has a Catholic priest, Father C.D. Casmiersky, as one of its characters. Did Kizzy have a love affair with a Catholic priest?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous,
    Kizzy was Father C.D.'s temptation. But Father C.D. was a good man. Did he give in? You will have to read the book to find out. Father C.D. saw a gentle kindness in Kizzy. He saw a side of her some of the other men did not, and Father C.D. loved her for her goodness.
    Thanks for blogging in.

    GL

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you The Writers Life for hosting me on your blog today. It has been fun. I love the Live Traffic Feed on the side bar. It is fun seeing who is visiting.

    Thank you to all your bloggers/readers who blogged in today.

    It is after nine here in Texas. I must say good night to all.

    GL

    ReplyDelete

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