It’s time for a new interview series… like NOW. No really, actually it’s called NOW (Newly Omniscient Authors). This blog has been publishing since 2011, and some of the earlier posts feel dated. To honor the relaunch of the site, I thought I’d invite some of my past guests to read and ruminate on their answers to questions from oh-so-long-ago to see what’s changed between then and now.

Today’s guest is Colleen Houck, author of the bestselling Tiger’s Curse series. Her latest, The Lantern’s Ember, combines the moodiness of Sleepy Hollow with the romance her fans love her for.

Has how you think (and talk) about writing and publishing changed, further into your career?

You know, it’s an interesting time in the world of publishing. I think it’s harder than it’s ever been to get a book published, even for established authors. I used to think it was just about the writing but in today’s climate an author really needs to be a jack of all trades. If you can’t stay on top of the game or, preferably, ahead of it, you’ll risk falling by the wayside.

Let’s about the balance between the creative versus the business side of the industry. Do you think of yourself as an artiste or are you analyzing every aspect of your story for marketability? Has that changed from your early perspective?

It was easier when I was naïve. Yes, a part of me is always thinking about marketability. Not so much readability. I don’t doubt my material is readable. What I end up doubting is whether or not it’s sellable. That’s not something I can really control. The market changes constantly and that drives editorial purchasing.

The bloom is off the rose… what’s faded for you, this far out from debut?

Sadly, it’s good news. When my agent calls to say we have a nibble on a book or someone is interested in signing up a project for a film, I’m happy but I hold off on celebrating. Each baby step is a step forward but there are a lot of “falling on your bottom” moments when you need to wrestle yourself back to your feet.

Likewise, is there anything you’ve grown to love (or at least accept) that you never thought you would?

I have become slightly more comfortable with the editing process and holding my own. I’ve learned to let go of some things that I clung rigidly to in the past knowing that I can just rework or hold over the material to share with fans at a later date as bonus material. Getting the story out there is the most important thing. I’m not going to be 100% happy with every finished book. It’s just not possible. I guess the bottom line is, I’ve learned not to wince at flaws and past mistakes and see them as steppingstones instead.  

And lastly, what did getting published mean for you and how was it changed (or not changed!) your life? 

My publishing journey has impacted not only my life but every member of my family. We’ve been able to do incredible things and meet so many amazing people because of conferences and book tours. Having said that, I’m fundamentally the same person I’ve always been with the same friends and likes. It’s just drawn my core team closer and empowered us to do some things we otherwise might never have been able to do.