First of all, don’t be afraid. Sure, it’s almost like the Wild West out there, but if you take the time to do your research, it becomes a lot less scary. Secondly, do your research! You can’t just upload an ebook and expect it to sell.

Richard A Lester – 14 August 2013

The Back Flap

Failing grocery store manager Larry Prescott just wants a quickie. With a frigid wife waiting at home, Larry decides to have some extramarital fun with an employee named Maxine Watkins. Though he has no way of knowing it, Larry is sowing the seeds for a crime spree that will be dubbed “The MegaSaver Massacre?”

The Check Out is a satirical thriller that will appeal to fans of Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Moore. It is the story of a $10,000 giveaway, and the employees who independently decide to heist the money on the same night. An ensemble piece, each chapter focuses on the motivations and actions of a different main character. Larry Prescott is an arrogant drunk whose affair quickly spirals towards danger. Maxine Watkins is a scheming liar, determined to claw her way out of indigence. Terrence Claybrook, the assistant manager, is an escaped convict trying to keep his past from catching up to him. Roland Tillman, a blood thirsty fugitive, reunites with his former cellmate during the MegaSaver robbery. Brad, an addiction ridden stocker, tries to turn his life around while picking up the pieces of a broken marriage. They each see the prize money as their only lifeline, and are determined to do everything necessary to grab it.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The Check Out is about a group of unsavory people who work at a failing grocery store. Each of them have their own issues that they are struggling with- drug addiction, a secret past, an illicit affair- which lead them to plot to steal $10,000 worth of prize money on the same night.

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing the book nearly two years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft was completed in about 4 months. The rest of the time was spent rewriting, editing, and awaiting edits to come in from other people. During that time, I was also working on the cover design, and researching my options for publication.

Where did you get the idea from?

Well, I was working at a grocery store at the time, and frankly, was bored with it. I just kept wishing something crazy would happen to break the monotony. One day, something clicked, and all the pieces just pretty much fell in place.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The hardest part was figuring out how to introduce all the characters, and have the readers understand that they were part of the same story. I rearranged the opening chapters quite a few times.

What came easily?

The entire plot really came together very quickly and easily. Each character knew what they wanted to do, and it was hardly a struggle to come up with the material. I had spent so long playing out the events in my head that the actual writing went smoothly.

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

There are definitely very small nuggets of influence in each character. Most of the time, there are certain personality traits that get exaggerated or twisted to fit the story. Many of the characters are molded from several different people, or entirely fictitious. There’s no one that you could definitely point to being a copy of someone I know in real life. I wouldn’t hang around people like the characters in my book!

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?

Carl Hiaasen has been the greatest literary influence. I love his mix of action, satire, and great characters. His books are fast reads, with fantastic storylines. There is always a great sense of humor to his writing that I really respond to.

Do you have a target reader?

Initially, I would have said that I was aiming for fans of pulp writing, or edgier fiction. What I’ve come to realize is that there is a much broader audience for my work than I was expecting. Given the types of books that are climbing the charts, I thought my book would be a hard sell. Luckily, it seems that readers are more open than I thought.

About Writing

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

This is actually a topic that wrote about on my blog a few weeks ago. When I was younger, I would stay up all night writing if I was hit by inspiration. These days, I carry a notepad or piece of paper with me. When I get an idea, I jot it down. I then spend the next few hours turning it over in my head while I’m going about my day. After I have enough of an outline kind of formed, I sit down to write.

I, just like everyone else, have a hectic schedule, so I plan my writing in advance. I either get up early to do it, or set aside a couple of hours in the day to go to a local coffee shop. I’d never be able to get anything accomplished otherwise.

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

I spend months outlining before I ever sit down to write. I generally go from a page with a bunch of ideas about characters (or just traits) and images, to a more structured outline. From there, I mold the material into a shape that allows me to plot out the bulk of the book. Once I have the framework, I feel free to indulge myself in the details of the story.  Many times, I’ll find a plot point or something else that I wasn’t expecting. If I have to change the story, then so be it.

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

I do very minimal editing while I go. I might make cosmetic changes as I write, but I save the heavy lifting until after I’ve finished the first draft. I find that editing as I go is a good way to burn myself out on the material before it’s complete.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I looked into several different professional editors. I got quotes and samples from them and then did the cost/benefit analysis. I had done a dozen edits myself, and each of the samples I got had only grammatical corrections. Luckily, I have friends that do editing as side jobs, so I was able to get them for very cheap. I wholeheartedly believe in editing. Along with the cover, I believe it’s the best use of money that you can spend on a writing project.

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

Most of the time, I do. I spent a number of years working in record stores when I was younger, so music is one of my passions. I try to find music that fits the mood of the scene that I’m working on. If I can’t do that, then I try something instrumental (like classical or a film soundtrack) that fades into the background easily.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I sent my book to dozens of agents. I think the number fell between 20 and 30. I did my research to really target people that I thought would like the book. Out of all of those, I got one bite. He wrote back that he enjoyed the material, but didn’t think he’d be able to sell it. All of the other letters that I got said virtually the same thing.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

While I was waiting on my editor to get back to me, I began looking into all of my publishing options. With so many rejections from agents, I knew that I was going to have to try something different. As I learned more about the process of self-publishing, I realized that it really excited me.  Here was a chance for me to take my work, package it the way I envisioned it, and really test my own abilities. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I also knew how rewarding it could be.

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

I had my cover designed by a professional I found through Crowdspring. I knew right from the get-go that I had to get a graphic artist to do it. I can’t draw a stick figure, so there was no way I could do it. I had also seen way too many bad photoshop jobs to even attempt that. I spent a bit of money on that cover, but I feel like it was completely worth it. As I said before, the two best uses of your money as an indie author are editing and cover design.

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

After spending all this time and money, I wasn’t going to leave my sells to chance. I set my release date months after the completion of my book just so I could research the marketing aspect.  I spent a few months reading books and websites about how to make money by self-publishing. There is a lot of conflicting advice out there, but there are definite do’s and don’ts that I discerned. At the end of the day, I believe there are tons of ways to market your work without spending a fortune doing so.

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

First of all, don’t be afraid. Sure, it’s almost like the Wild West out there, but if you take the time to do your research, it becomes a lot less scary. Secondly, do your research! You can’t just upload an ebook and expect it to sell. Take time to build up a buzz about your work, and find out the best avenues of promotion. Finally, make sure you’re dedicated. You have to spend time every single day promoting yourself. A lot of people don’t have the stamina to do so. If that’s you, then you may want to reconsider this route. There are plenty of people who will do it for you, but they’ll bleed you dry in the process.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Memphis, TN.

Where do you live now?

I have moved three times, but have lived in the same zip code my entire life! I travel all over the South (and occasionally the Northwest), so I tend not to get bored here. Eventually, I would like to move to Nashville. It’s one of my favorite towns to visit. There’s such a burgeoning music, movie, and literary culture there. It’s really exciting.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Unlike most writers, my first love isn’t the written page. I stumbled into being an author through my frustrations as a filmmaker. I wrote and directed an indie film ten years ago, and have spent much time since then trying to do it again. After a number of unproduced scripts, I gave up, and turned my attention to short stories and novels. My writing, therefore, is much more influenced by film than other novels.

What are you working on now?

I am about to finish a short story that I will give away to members of my email list. It is about characters who work at the same grocery store as the characters in The Check Out. I call it a “Check Out Lost Chapter.”

I am very eager to get started on my next novel. I am currently fleshing out the outline, and doing my research. This one is set in a different state, and will have a much different tone than my previous book. I’d love to tell you more, but it’s much too soon!

Thank you so much for taking the time to allow me to answer your questions. I appreciate all that your site does for authors like myself.

End of Interview:

For more from Richard visit his website, blog, or the website for this book, follow him on twitter, or become his friend on facebook.

Get your copy of The Check Out from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook), or Barnes & Noble.