“I do a detailed outline with an index card for every scene. Some have oodles of detail and some are just a sentence.  It’s my screenwriting training. I was taught to write beat-sheets and plot to the paradigm, knowing every scene before I started churning out pages.”

Monique Martin 4 March 2011

The Back Flap

Professor Simon Cross has spent his life searching for evidence of vampires and avoiding emotional entanglements. When a mysterious accident transports Simon and his new assistant, Elizabeth West, back in time, Simon finally finds both the proof that he’s been looking for, and the romance that he hasn’t.

In 1920s Manhattan, there are more than mobsters vying for power in the city’s speakeasies. Will Simon and Elizabeth’s developing relationship survive the vampires’ teeth? Will they survive to make it back? Or will they be forever out of time?

About the Book

What is the book about?

Out of Time is a time travel romance with a paranormal twist. A professor of the occult and his assistant are accidentally transported back to 1929 New York City where they have to survive until the next eclipse can take them home. It’s a little adventure, a little fantasy and a lot of romance.

When did you start writing the book?

I actually started years ago, but left it in a drawer. I finally finished it and shopped it around to a few agents. Came close, but never found the right match. So, back in the drawer it went. Until I heard about Amazon’s self-publishing early last year.

How long did it take you to write it?

About a year. I had a full-time soul-sucking job at the time so it was difficult to carve out writing time.

Where did you get the idea from?

I was watching a documentary about gangland Chicago in the 1920s and was struck with the idea – what if the underworld of crime was ruled by the Underworld? It changed a lot from there, but that was the genesis of the book.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I’m one of those plotters. Pantsters (people who write by the seat of their pants ) amaze and confound me. I plot out everything in pretty good detail before I write. But, that doesn’t mean, I don’t stuck. I think like many others, the hardest part was the ending. How to end it really vexed me.

What came easily?

Charlie. The character was just born fully formed in my head.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Entirely fictitious. I didn’t want “reality” to interfere in my fun!

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?

Oh, so many. I’ve always loved mysteries and but didn’t discover Sir Arthur Conan Doyle until just a few years ago. I love the Holmes stories. Other authors who I admire include classic writers like Hugo, Dumas and Austen. I’m also a big Marvel comics fan. The economy with words and story telling is amazing!

Do you have a target reader?

I’m sure the book appeals more to women than to men, but my target reader is anyone who wants a good adventure and hot buttered side of romance.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My process is pretty boring. Plot, plot, plot. I’ll do a detailed breakdown of each act and even the sequences within them. I’ll have it all mapped out before I write a word. See? Boring.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do a detailed outline with an index card for every scene. Some have oodles of detail and some are just a sentence.  It’s my screenwriting training. I was taught to write beat-sheets and plot to the paradigm, knowing every scene before I started churning out pages.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I will revise (lightly) as I go, but not much. I do share my work with a few betas as I write to get input, but I don’t actually revise until later.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I’m lucky to have a dad who was an English major and attorney for many years. He’s a great editor. The sex scenes were a little embarrassing to go over, but he’s fantastic!

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

When I was working on Out of Time, I listened to a lot of period music. Generally, I listen to 70s music – just like the groove. When I write BIG scenes, I tend to go with something classical, and usually, overwrought.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did. I perused that angle for about 6 months and came close, but never quite found the right fit.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

There wasn’t any one event really. I had the book sitting in my virtual drawer and I read about Amazon’s self-publishing tool for Kindle. I thought about and it figured – what the hell! I had no expectations of being bestseller at that point. It would take a few months of being a published author before I realized I could make a go of it.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I did it myself. I had no idea what I was doing. I think it turned out well, even if it’s not your typical romance cover. I think, though, I’ll hire a professional for the next book. It’s so critical that your cover is the best it can be. First impressions and all…

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I had no plan for the first 6 months. My friends and family got sick of me. 🙂 I discovered the KindleBoards and read and read and read what other authors were doing. It was wonderful advice. I don’t have a plan per se, but I do try to make sure my book is out there. I submit regularly to blogs for review, for features, interviews (thanks again, Simon!) and the rest. I have paid for some advertising, but the best marketing is getting readers who love your work.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Go for it. But, and this is important, don’t rush it. Make sure your book is well-edited (and that means more than rereading it yourself a few times. Make sure your cover is as a good as any put out by the Big 6. Find a good writers’ discussion group and listen to what’s being said. Don’t expect to be a bestseller right out of the gate. It takes time to build momentum. You’ll have to market yourself. It’s not easy for many authors to do, but if you’re going to be an indie, you have to get out there!

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Houston, TX and spent some time living in Greenwich, CT, but have lived most of my lfe in sunny Southern California.

Where do you live now?

I live in Los Angeles. I love it here!

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I love them? Seriously. Every reader is an amazing thing. I’m getting a chance to live my dream – to be a professional writer. It’s exciting and humbling to know that people I don’t know are actually willing to take a risk on little unknown me.

What are you working on now?

I’ve got a few projects going, but my focus is on “When the Walls Fell” the sequel to Out of Time.  It’s another adventure for Simon and Elizabeth. I love spending time with them and I hope my readers will too!

End of Interview

You can buy Out Of Time on Amazon US, Amazon UK and at Barnes and Noble.