I met J.M. Pierce through the Kindle Boards. A good place to hang out for authors and readers alike. When you read some of the posts in there, one of the things you’ll quickly come to realize is that ninety-nine percent of indie authors are one hundred percent committed to their chosen profession.
They work hard to put words on a page. They work hard to edit, produce a decent cover, and they work hard to get the word out about their book. Their diversity, talent and sheer hard work now has an opportunity to shine. J.M. Pierce is one such Indie author. Enjoy!
“Then I stumbled onto some articles about some Indie success stories. The more I investigated, the more it appealed to me. There are so many legitimate writers within the Indie community and some of them are experiencing giant successes right now. They inspire me to work hard and know that there’s hope for bigger things.” J.M. Pierce 22 December 2010
The Back Flap
You know him, but you can’t remember his name. He is the one that is always there, in the background, all but invisible to those roaming the hallways. What if he had a secret? What if it was a secret that even he didn’t know?
Test Davis has always been a blur to those around him. He’s a shadow like a million other kids–not smart enough for the academic team, not beast enough for the football team, not extroverted enough for the drama crowd. In all things Test is just…not, which is why no one ever notices him.
But what happens when someone does notice him– Nicole Paxton, a cheerleader, no less? What happens on the night that Test finds out there’s nothing average about him and that a powerful gift has been hidden within, secretly waiting to be set free and alter his life forever? The question is, will that power save him and those he loves or tear them apart?
About the Book
What is the book about?
Failing Test begins as Test Davis enters his last weeks of high school. He is a good kid with a horrible home life, a lack of self control, and a crush on a Nicole Paxton. When he finally gets his chance with Nicole, it doesn’t go as planned and, once more, his anger gets the better of him. In a drunken fit of rage, he discovers a power that had been resting dormant within him. His life then becomes the ultimate test (and failure) of self control as his secret is revealed to the world.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing Failing Test in the winter/spring of 2009.
How long did it take you to write it?
I finished the first draft in June of 2009. I did several more edits over the summer and then deemed it complete sometime in November of 09.
Where did you get the idea from?
For years I’ve had lucid dreams where was able to fly and control things without touching them. They were so fantastic and incredible that I thought it would make a good base for a story. Failing Test is not a reproduction of those dreams, rather an evolution of an idea to story like a spark to flame. It’s funny, now that I’ve written the book; I rarely have the dreams anymore.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
There were times when it seemed there was a road block up and I couldn’t get through a scene. I knew where I wanted the story to go, but I was having trouble getting there. It might have taken a week to write a single page, only because I’d start over several times until that eureka moment hits and everything is just right.
What came easily?
The characters were a blast. I love to close my eyes and picture a fictional character. I can hear their voice and laugh at their quirks. Character development seems to come easily to me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The majority of them are entirely fictitious, but of course life has influenced fiction. Someone once asked me if I wished I’d started writing at a younger age. Part of me says yes, but at the same time I think that having lived life, both the good and the bad, has served as a great inspiration for my writing.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
There are many. Some may seem popular and cliché; some are so taboo (it seems) that people are surprised that I’ll even mention their name. John Steinbeck is one of my favorites. His characters are so real and even today I think people are identifying with them.
There was a stretch of time when I was addicted to Michael Crichton. The amount research that he had to have done for much of his work is evident and it impressed me. It really made his stories a place to live; something that I strive for.
Stephenie Meyer is another one of my favorites. Without having read her work, I think that the romantic aspects of Failing Test would be non-existent. The story of her success is inspiring as well.
I have also been greatly influenced by Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame. Heroism aside, there are some amazing stories within those brightly colored pages that rival any novel.
Do you have a target reader?
Failing Test is ideal for the young adult crowd. When I say that, I know that there are far more than just teens reading YA these days. When writing FT, I intentionally put myself back into the high school frame of mind, thinking that my readers would only be teens. I’m pleased to say that my readership seems to be comprised of a much broader range of ages.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My writing process is pretty fluid. Typically, I’ll just sit down and let my mind go. If I get an idea for something that I want to happen later on in the story, I’ll type out the idea on a “notes” page that I create below the current page. I try not to let my writing interfere with family time. Generally, I only write after the kids go to bed or over lunch at work. I have an aversion to bright light, so my ideal writing space is dimly lit and quiet. Music does inspire me, but I can’t listen to it while I’m writing unless it fits the scene that I am currently working on.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I don’t outline. I don’t have anything against it; I just have never done it that way.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I absolutely wait until I’m finished. When I first started writing, I continually went back and it made the writing process take forever! For my own sanity, I now save the editing until the story is complete.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did on Failing Test and was horribly disappointed. I paid a penny and a half per word and thought that when I received the edit back, it was ready to go to print. The first week of its release I had people contacting me about errors and it made me furious. I did learn a lesson that I hope aspiring writers will learn as well. Just because you paid for “professional” editing, doesn’t mean you should trust that your book is perfect. Read it again and make sure. Knowing what I know now, I will use a pro editor again, just not the same one. In saying that, beta readers can be a very valuable resource. You just have to make sure that those you have chosen can be honest and have an understanding of grammar and punctuation.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
As mentioned previously, I usually don’t write while listening to music. Music is, however, a major part of my life. It is a huge inspiration in both my writing and in my everyday existence. While writing Failing Test, Pearl Jam’s Greatest Hits (the second disc) pushed the story for me. “Nothing As It Seems”, in my mind, is the soundtrack to FT. “Nothingman” is even mentioned in the book.
I listen to everything: Merle Haggard, Alice in Chains, Testament, Pink, Paramore, Tool, Pantera, Waylon Jennings, Pearl Jam, Linkin Park, Beethoven…all of them are sources of inspiration to me.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I originally submitted to dozens of agents and was actually signed to a small agency for a short period of time. Thankfully, I realized that my agent wasn’t the right one for me and was able to opt out of the contract.
What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was actually a very difficult decision at the time; a decision of which came after a mountain of rejection emails. I was one of those that felt like “self publishing” was a cop-out. Then I stumbled onto some articles about some Indie success stories. The more I investigated, the more it appealed to me. There are so many legitimate writers within the Indie community and some of them are experiencing giant successes right now. They inspire me to work hard and know that there’s hope for bigger things.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?
I did the cover for FT myself. I actually consider myself an amateur photographer, so it was fun to create an image that fit the story.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I would love to say that I have a two year plan ready for action, but that would be dishonest. I market as much as I can without spending so much time on the computer that my wife would get disgruntled. It is a difficult balance, but one that I must be consistent in achieving.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Wow. I have learned so much, but still have much to learn. Patience is a virtue. I know we’ve all heard it a million times, but it’s a fact. Have there been authors that have scored big with their first novel? Yep. Is it likely? Nope. That’s not to say that your novel couldn’t achieve a large level of success, but don’t expect it overnight. Be prepared for slow sales, frustration, and bad reviews. Ah yes…bad reviews. We will all have them, no matter what. You must not let one destroy you. As an artistic breed, we writers tend to be overly sensitive and will let one bad review overshadow twenty good ones. For whatever reason, we will give credence to that one review and assume that the rest of them are wrong. That is ridiculous. The poor reviews hold no more weight than the good ones. Each is another person’s opinion. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t pay attention to the bad reviews. Quite often there is something in there that you can learn from and improve on. I’m just saying don’t let one bad review turn you away from your dreams. Do not EVER respond to a bad review. It has been proven time and again that this does nothing but create more problems. DON’T DO IT!
Read as much as you can. I know it is sometimes difficult to read while writing your next masterpiece, but the reality is that the more you read, the more well rounded your craft can be.
Write as much as you can. For me, life is more and more a challenge that is determined by the hours in a day. I write for my own reasons, but one of them is the possibility of providing a better life for my family. One has to be careful not to become too self involved in the process and alienate the ones that you are doing it for!
If you aren’t already, get involved with the Kindleboards. It is the most amazing community on the net and there is a plethora of authors there that are willing to show their support, condolences, praise, and honesty when needed.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Salina, Kansas
Where do you live now?
I own a small piece of land just outside of my home town. I don’t think that I could ever live in a city again.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I have so many hobbies that I wonder if my self described status as a “simple Midwestern man” is accurate. I am simple in my wants and needs, but I am passionate about the things that I love in life. I am a musician who at one point in time actually was playing bars across the state four nights a week. Our claim to fame was that we actually opened up for Slaughter. I’m settled down now with my wife and two kids and can’t really say that I miss it.
I have raised snakes for the last twenty years, selling hatchlings under the name Shade Tree Exotics. With the fall of the economy, the reptile industry has really taken a hit. I have decided to take a break and not do any breeding this coming season. Instead, I want to focus more on my writing. Not breeding will free up the summer because when snake eggs start to hatch, a couple hundred babies, on top of sixty adults, take up a fair amount of time.
What are you working on now?
With the completion of my new novella titled Duality; I am now back to work on the sequel to Failing Test. It is titled A Shadow’s Light. It picks up where Failing Test left off, following Test as he tries to make something of his shattered life. In this book, you will also learn the origin of Test’s powers! I am hoping for a late January/ early February 2011 release date. Stay tuned!
End of Interview