I’m
joined today by Nathan Hystad, known on the Chrons forums as Ratsy,
and a new entrant to the publishing game. [Disclosure: being a
writer, I have submitted short stories for consideration in
anthologies, and have a short story in The Haunting of Lake Manor
Hotel].
Thaddeus White: You’ve recently set up a small press, Woodbridge
Press. Given how challenging things can be for small publishers, what
drove you to establish your own firm?
Nathan: That is a very good question. I’ve been a reader my whole
life, and always had aspirations of being an author growing up. While
other kids wanted to be hockey players, firefighters, and astronauts,
I wanted to tell stories. Then the reality of it hit and I became an
adult. Fast forward to a few years ago when I decided to give my
passion a try. I have worked hard at the craft, and have been blessed
enough to see my short stories being published in some books, online,
and in magazines. I learned a bit about the business from being on
the other side of the anthologies, and for the most part, it was a
hard one as a writer. For most of them, you get a rough theme, a word
limit, and a deadline. Then you send a story in, try to fight your
way to the top of the 500 submissions, and months later get a form
rejection email. It can be disheartening but it also motivated me. I
had an idea of doing some shared world collections, through invite
only, and wanted communication to be key. I was going to be totally
transparent to the authors about how many copies were selling, where,
and all marketing details. I started Woodbridge Press, even while
hearing about other niche genre presses going under, with high hopes
and faith that if I put the work in, it will be successful. So far I
have nothing telling me this won’t be a thriving business.
TW: As you’ll be aware, there are a hell of a lot of writers and
would-be writers, so you must be swamped with submissions when
anthology slots appear. How do you go about whittling down the number
of submissions to a final list of stories to publish?
Nathan: I am only one man, and without hiring outside help I could
not have the time to read through slush piles of submissions, so I
have not, and may not, have an open submission call. For the two
Woodbridge collections, I did open submissions to the SFF Chrons
only, because that is the one place I want to give something back to.
For Explorations I was so happy to have Ralph Kern on my team to help
me read the submissions and make decisions on those last couple spots
(which turned out to be four spots because the quality was just so
high) Even the rejected stories were done with a heavy heart and some
serious deliberation.
TW: I’ve seen the lineup of authors (selected rather than picked
from general submissions) for the forthcoming sci-fi and fantasy
anthologies. How many goats did you have to sacrifice to Apollo to
get the likes of Julia Knight, Douglas Hulick, Adrian Tchaikovsky,
Ralph Kern, Stephen Palmer and Jo Zebedee on board?
Nathan: With Lake Manor, I invited authors. Some I knew from the
Chrons, others I knew from the horror world, and I was so happy with
the results. For Explorations, I first approached Ralph about it,
since he is an active Chronner, and I love his books. I’ve been
lucky enough to beta read his last two novels, and it was easy to ask
him if he would be interested in taking part in a shared universe
collection. He was immediately on board, and with his support, I
canvassed a group of awesome indie and small press published Sci-fi
authors. It really was like a snowball, and before I knew it, I had
an amazing list of authors who wanted to take part. The same thing
happened with the third collection. It is a fantasy themed anthology
with the journey or quest as the central focus. I asked Teresa
Edgerton, an editor and writer whom I truly adore and respect, to
edit and contribute to the collection, and as I started to reach out
to authors, I was getting people saying yes, who I have bookshelves
full of their material. It was surreal, and it really just drove me
to make the end product even better than I ever thought possible.
I didn’t have to sacrifice goats, so far, just my time!
TW: What advice, in general terms, would you give to authors who are
thinking of submitting to anthologies (whether yours or another
publisher’s)?
Nathan: I think it is to follow the guidelines. Make sure you type
the proper thing into the subject line, follow the manuscript format
they are looking for. Each anthology seems to have different rules
and they can be tricky to get just right. And don’t take rejection
as a failure. I have been rejected so many times. It is entirely
subjective. The story may be amazing, but just not fit in the
collection because it is slightly off theme, or they already accepted
one with a similar shtick. Keep your head up, keep subbing it, and
eventually you may find a home, but while you’re doing that, move
on to writing the next piece. I couldn’t tell you how many shorts I
have just sitting in a folder at home. All were not lost causes,
because I learned from each and every one of them.
TW: Early days, so this may be tricky, but what’s been the best
moment so far from a publishing perspective?
Nathan: I would have to say I’ve had a couple. The first getting
unread, unpublished material from authors I have read for years. I
remember getting the email from Julia Knight with her short story for
the fantasy collection. I was like a kid in a candy store, and that
was when I knew Woodbridge was going to be something special. I
devoured the story and just sat there looking at the screen. I’ve
repeated this feeling a few times since, and I don’t think it will
ever get old.
The second was getting the final printed Lake Manor in my hands. I
had put so much of myself into it, and obsessed over getting it done
for the previous few months, and when all the hard work and dust
settled, it was done, and I could share Woodbridge’s first book
with the world.
TW: Self-publishing has never been easier. Given that, what are the
advantages offered by being traditionally published, and are there
any downsides for a writer?
Nathan: This is a great question and one that I really don’t have a
definitive answer for. Yes. Self-publishing is easy. It’s the rest
of it that is hard. Anyone can write a book and self pub, but then
they need to get people to read it. Most get dropped on to Amazon and
sit there, gathering virtual dust, never getting visibility, and that
is key. If they don’t get an eye-catching cover, professional
formatting, and editing, let alone a story people want to read, they
will have a hard time selling it. That is what a good publisher will
bring to the table. That being said, there are many awesome indie
authors who make a great business from writing and do all of these
steps, and invest the money to bring the world a good product. There
is a lot of bad rap to indie publishers but like anything, there are
many levels to them. Just like there are good small presses and bad
ones. I think an author needs to weigh their options before making a
decision, but at the end of the day, many end up self-publishing
because they couldn’t get that agent, or Big 5, then small press to
pick up the book. And they can have success that way too.
All of these things are very time consuming too, so there are some
authors who would rather just write than worry about the ins and outs
of the business side.
TW: One thing I struggle with when self-publishing is deciding on a
price tag (there are arguments for and against just about every
number). How do you decide on this, and do you vary prices with
early/intermittent discounts, or just keep the price fixed?
Nathan: Well I am a sponge. I am new to this, but am a quick learner,
and I keep an eye on what the big guys are doing, what the middle and
small presses are doing, and what the indie guys are doing. I do know
that it will vary with genre to an extent too. There are a few indie
SF authors I keep a close eye on to see how they price, and what
their marketing strategies are. You do need to think outside the box,
and I have some stuff up my sleeves, but I also don’t think we need
to reinvent the wheel. The good news is, I am coming up in what I
call a change of guard out there for book publishing. The big guys,
who deep discount their paperbacks in grocery stores, while indie and
small press are taking market share in ebooks. Adapt and be reactive
is what I think. Keep your finger on the pulse of what the market is
doing. There is a lot of data out there saying that 3.99 US for an
ebook is the sweet spot. I will let you know better in a year’s
time
TW: How difficult is it to decide how many books to release?
Obviously you can take more care with fewer, but releasing more may
help to build up a readership more quickly.
Nathan: I am taking it slow, and the reason for that is because I
want each book to have my undivided attention. I have to commission
cover artists, hire editors, format, and that is after the stories
come in! There is a lot to putting a book together and then I have to
promote, get reviewers, and work the social media angle. I do have a
full-time job, which is my livelihood, so this is all done at 6am,
after work or on weekends. So this year I have published Lake Manor,
Explorations should be out late summer, and the fantasy collection
will either be out in time for Christmas or early 2017. My goal is
three books a year moving forward, but this may change as we go.
TW: Heart Blade by Juliana Spink Mills is Woodbridge Press’ first
novel signing. What’s the premise of the story, and is it a
stand-alone or part of a series?
Nathan: I am so excited about this book. Heart Blade is the first
volume of The Blade Hunt Chronicles. I first beta read it over a year
ago, and loved it instantly. When I started Woodbridge, I wanted to
do some collections, and move into novels quickly. This is the book I
thought of. When I asked Juliana what had become of it, we started
talking and after another read, I had to make an offer on it. She is
such a great person and author and I honestly feel so happy that she
was willing to work with Woodbridge. Teresa Edgerton has been hired
as editor, and this is going to be something special. Here is the
summary:
The Heart Blade is the cornerstone of the myth-shrouded Blade Hunt
prophecies. Once summoned, the sword will lead the way to light, or
push everyone to the edge of a new Dark Age. Not many believe the
stories, but those who do know the countdown has begun.
Two years ago, Del was gifted a demon’s blood on her deathbed. Now,
pressured to sever the last ties with her lost humanity by making her
first kill, the teenage half-demon escapes from her pack, the
infamous East Coast Hunt.
Vanquisher Jimmy finds Del alone and penniless and gives her
Sanctuary, despite having every reason in the world not to trust a
demon. To complicate matters, Jimmy and Del are falling for each
other. Soon Del is on the run again, except this time Jimmy is at her
side and the demons and Vanquishers are on their trail.
But the pack has more than one quarry. For seventeen years the
Brotherhood has done its best to hide orphan Lila from the demons.
The centuries-old Heart Blade prophecy is supposed to take place any
time now, and Lila is the key player.
The hunt
for both Del and the Heart Blade is on, and when the threads tangle
and demons, Vanquishers, and the Brotherhood converge, Del finds
herself unwittingly in the center of things.
Heart
Blade currently is scheduled for publication Late 2016/Early 2017.
TW: The
Haunting of Lake Manor Hotel is out now and I mentioned Heart Blade
above, but what else can we expect from Woodbridge Press in the next
12-18 months?
Nathan: Well as I said, Explorations: Through the Wormhole, is out
this summer, then the still untitled fantasy journey collection, and
Heart Blade on Valentine’s Day 2017. We plan on releasing the
second Blade Hunt book later next year, and I have some ideas on
other collections, depending on the success of these ones.
Thaddeus, thank you so much for having me on your blog, and if the
world doesn’t know yet, your story Dead Weight will be in
Explorations, making you the only author to appear in Woodbridge’s
first two books! Pretty cool. I look forward to working with you
more, and it’s been a pleasure so far. [TW: Very kind, although I
do find your lack of goat sacrifice disturbing].
Bio:
Nathan Hystad is an author from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. He is
the founder of Woodbridge Press, an avid reader, and a writer of
words. He has stories in the upcoming Aliens, and Space: Houston we
Have a Problem from Tickety Boo Press, and A Walk in the Park, is in
the new Nine Tales, out June 22.
https://www.amazon.com/9Tales-Told-Dark-14-ebook/dp/B01F2IJUU0
If you feel like trying Woodbridge’s first book, with Thaddeus’
awesome story, Forget Me Not, please click the link! [TW: at the time
of writing Lake Manor is a #1 bestseller in 3 categories on Amazon
UK]
Many
thanks to Nathan Hystad for the interview, and keep tuned for
Explorations and Heart Blade.
Thaddeus
