The Smashwords interview
with author Peter Blakeborough
 |
| Mark Coker, CEO and founder of Smashwords |
Smashwords is based in Los Gatos, California and is the
world’s largest publisher and distributor of e-books. The company was founded by Mark Coker in 2008 and has grown rapidly
to include 276,000 titles written by 83,000 authors. The Smashwords community
and turnover is now equal to a small country.
Below is the full Smashwords interview with Peter
Blakeborough:
What is your e-reading device of choice?
A Kindle while traveling. It takes up so little space and can
hold such a lot of reading. At home I read on Kindle for PC. I just find it
convenient when I spend so much of my time on the computer.
What book marketing
techniques have been most effective for you?
When I had print books for sale I took them direct to bookstores
and libraries. The books really just sold themselves with almost no paid
advertising. But I was fortunate to receive a lot of free publicity from
newspapers, radio and television interviews during my travels. Speaking at a
variety of meetings about my books and writing also generated lots of sales.
 |
| Author Peter Blakeborough |
Describe your desk
Cluttered! Whoever said that a tidy desk indicates a tidy mind
was probably talking about someone who was unemployed, or was running a
business that was awaiting its first sale. From my desk I research books, write
books, design books and I sell books. Everything is at my fingertips, even if
it is several layers down.
Where did you grow up,
and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in rural districts of New Zealand. On dairy farms a
young person learns to be skilled at many different jobs while keeping in touch
with nature. It was a wonderful way to grow up and it provided a good
background for creating plots for novels. Later, I lived in cities and small
towns, and that has enabled me to include both town and country scenes in my
novels.
When did you first
start writing?
At school I had a flair for storytelling. But that was a talent
that later lay dormant for many years. I always wanted to write novels, but
believed that first I needed a broad experience of life. I did quite a lot of
non-fiction writing; editing club newsletters, that kind of thing. In 1966 I
published my first non fiction title, The Coinage of New Zealand and it sold
3,000 copies. After that I became the editor of a national monthly magazine for
coin collectors. It wasn't until 1995 that I started writing my first novel,
Nathaniel's Bloodline.
How has Smashwords
contributed to your success?
Smashwords enables me to reach a wider market with prices that
print books cannot compete with.
What is the greatest
joy of writing for you?
No single answer here. It gives me a wonderful feeling to review
what I have written and I have to ask myself often, "Did I write
that?" I still get a thrill when I pick up one of my print books and thumb
through the pages, pausing to read a passage or two. But the greatest joy with
writing comes from the readers who come back for more books and to tell me how
much they enjoyed the books they already have.
What inspires you to
get out of bed each day?
The need to put into a manuscript a scene that has formed in my
mind in the early hours. I do my best writing in bed.
When you're not
writing, how do you spend your time?
It's a busy life for someone who is supposed to be retired. I
just love to travel. I like being with people, and taking them on coach tours
is a great way to see happy people while beautiful scenery passes by. I'm a
paid tourist. Many years ago I was a pilot and flew more than 50 aircraft
types. Now I fly with a flight simulator which means that I can enjoy a private
flight in a Boeing, Airbus or WWII fighter without breaking the bank. I have a
motor-home and enjoy time away in that with my wife. We also go to country
music events where I pretend to be Johnnie Cash or Merle Haggard. It's a busy
retirement and I have no idea how I ever managed to work full-time.
Do you remember the
first story you ever wrote?
That's a good question. I do remember being praised for excellent
work at school, but I now have no recollection of the story itself. Whatever it
was it must have been all lies.
How do you approach
cover design?
It is said that a book should not be judged by its cover - but
many people do just that. The cover can be the most important part of the book
because it creates the first impression. The experts say that the cover should
be designed by a professional and I'm sure they are right. But I design my own
covers, not because I'm good at design, but simply because I love to play
around with different designs and styles. For me its part of the challenge and
when it's finished it is my book completely.
What do you read for
pleasure?
My reading habits have long been wide ranging. I like history,
technical subjects, travel, news and current affairs, biographies, politics.
About one in three books that I read will be fiction including historical
fiction, romance, thrillers, crime and mysteries. I think novelists should keep
a balance between fiction and non-fiction reading.
What are you working
on next?
I often work on more than one book at a time. Currently I have a
non-fiction title, The New Zealand Tour Commentary, which is being updated. It
was previously sold as a print book only, but the new edition will be on
Smashwords along with my other books. I am also working on another novel, as
yet unnamed, which may be completed within the next year.
Who are your favorite
authors?
Early on I read authors like Neville Shute and Ernest Ghan. More
recently my favorites have been Bill Bryson, John Grisham, Ruth Rendell, Robert
Ludlum, Maeve Binchy and Arthur Hailey.
Click here to download a free sample.
Happy reading.
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