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 too hopeful 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 for the NOW is Laura Griffin, author of Deep Tide, the story of an undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who must team up when a local barista is found dead in their coastal Texas town.
Has how you think (and talk) about writing and publishing changed, further into your career?
I used to rely on bestseller lists and rankings to point me to what to read, thinking rankings equated with quality. But now I know that a book’s commercial success can sometimes be attributed to random factors. So now I rely much more on word of mouth. If a trusted friend or fellow author tells me a book kept them up all night or changed their worldview then I quickly add it to my TBR list, sight unseen.
Let’s talk 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?
To me being an artiste implies someone who is passionate about their work. I think passion is key, no matter where you are in your career. Readers can tell when that spark is lacking, which is sometimes the result of an author (and possibly an editor) who are under pressure to cater to some specific trend in the marketplace instead of what comes naturally.
The bloom is off the rose… what’s faded for you, this far out from debut?
Experience in this business can be a good thing in terms of keeping an even keel. I no longer get upset out over little bumps in the road, such as a moved pub date, a disappointing cover design, a negative review. But it’s important not to get jaded and to celebrate all the wonderful victories along the way. I love, love, love going out to celebrate pub day. It so exciting when my new book is out in the world!
Likewise, is there anything you’ve grown to love (or at least accept) that you never thought you would?
I have come to accept that it is not possible to please everybody. It’s such a basic idea and also so liberating! You don’t need everyone to love your book. You just need a collection of people to love it as passionately as you do! Finding those people, and hearing from them how about your story and characters touched their lives, is one of best parts of being an author.
And lastly, what did getting published mean for you and how was it changed (or not changed!) your life?
That first book contract is such an exciting milestone. Getting published meant that I had the green light to pursue the career I had dreamed about since I was a child. I always wanted to write stories, and did from an early age. Being a published author meant I could put that dream front and center in my life. To aspiring authors I would say you don’t need a publisher to give you permission to do that. You first have to do that for yourself. If writing is important to you, prioritize your writing time and resist distractions. There are so many homes for so many different stories, so don’t give up!
Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Booklist magazine calls Laura's popular Tracers series "the perfect mix of suspense and romance." Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel. Visit her website at http://www.lauragriffin.com and on Facebook