Author S. T. SANCHEZ: Interview with Carla Vergot author of The Mystery of Jane Dough

Today I would like to give a warm welcome to author Carla Vergot. Thanks for joining us today.

Carla, when you pick up a book which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

I’m 100%paper, which is weird because I’m known to be a bit of a conservation nut when it comes to protecting the planet. Ebooks for me are…well…let’s just say my relationship with technology is tenuous at best.

I love the feel of having a book in my hand, but when I travel ebooks are so convenient. Have you been given any helpful advice?

Sure! In life—dance with every guy who asks. In writing—don’t be afraid to cut a scene if it doesn’t work. But even more importantly, when you do decide to cut something, put it in a folder for safe keeping, because there’s a real good chance that same defunct scene will be a showstopper somewhere else in the story. Save everything.

That's a great piece of advice, and one I have never heard before. I will have to file it away for future use. Carla, if you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

I’m dying to get out to the Galápagos Islands for the nature. I’d love to see the night sky in Iceland.

I've heard Iceland is beautiful. Currently, what are you working on?

As of this interview, I’m 68,000 words into Book 2 of the “Lily Barlow” series. My goal is a minimum of 80,000 by the end of April.

How did you decide on what to title each book?

This is an interesting question. I knew I wanted a way to tie the series together, so my publisher and I decided to use “Lily Barlow” followed by something specific to each story. The first one is “Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough.” I have a working title for the second book, but I’m not quite ready to reveal it yet.

For many authors, one avenue of publishing they struggle with is marketing. How do you promote your books? Any tips you can share?

I’ve built a rickety social media platform using Facebook and Instagram which hasn’t been easy (reference my relationship with technology above). I’ve established a lovely community of uplifting writers and readers who have encouraged me along the way. Personal friends have done a lot to spread the word. And I try to promote myself in person as much as possible. I attend book signings, author events, book club meetings, whatever. I think opportunities exist everywhere. In fact, I’m in the process of talking my favorite grocer into hosting an evening with the author for a wine tasing and reading. I enjoy promoting the book in person like this, but it’s harder because you’re connecting with a small group of readers at a time vs. the thousands of people you can reach with a post on Facebook or Instagram. It’s harder, but more fulfilling.

Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

It’s a series, but if I’ve done it well, a reader who never read Book 1 can still enjoy Book 2. That was one of the trickiest parts for me—giving enough background for new readers without boring the ones who are already familiar with Lily.

Carla, what was your biggest challenge when writing? Did you have any writer’s block? If so, how did you work your way through it?

My insurmountable challenge was working full-time as a special education teacher. I didn’t have a drop of creative energy left to put toward writing. I can almost guarantee this book would still be lurking around in the shadows of my mind if my husband hadn’t offered me the chance to take a one-year sabbatical. That’s literally when it started to take shape, and I loved the writing process so much that I resigned from teaching permanently so I could start the second book.

What was your writing process like?

I’m a pantster (writing by the seat of my pants) vs. a plotter (meticulously outlining the story). More than that, though, I’m a schlogger. I write the way a person would walk through waist-deep muck in a Louisiana swamp—slowly and with a great deal of care. I’m constantly going back over what I just wrote to rewrite it or to layer in details. It takes forever. But when I’m done, I’m generally done. The cleanup doesn’t involve any sweeping changes.

In your novels, which character is your favorite?

Miss Delphine has a special place in my heart. Years ago, a friend and fellow writer once asked me what would be my “thing” when I was an old lady. Would I wear mismatched clothes? Would I only eat bananas on days that start with “T.” I’m not sure how I answered the question back then, but when I think about it now, I want to be like Miss Delphine—independent, devoted to my garden, maybe hiding a body out back… 😆

Carla, since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

Oh, I’d love to think I’m talented enough to expand into other genres, but I kind of want to get this one out of my system first.

I agree, writing in multiple genres is a talent. I am working on one, and have found it a lot harder to write in a new genre. Hopefully one day I will finish. What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

Turns out, this is a super touchy subject, and one I may not be qualified to address. I went the hybrid route. I couldn’t get a traditional publisher or an agent interested in my work, and I didn’t have the skill set to self publish (or the patience to learn how), so I hired a publisher. There’s such a stigma around paying a publisher, harkening back to the days of the vanity press. However, this industry, like every other industry, has evolved to meet the needs of the customers (writers like me). As with everything else, there are high quality operations, and there are ones that

will rob you blind, so buyer beware. Going the hybrid route allowed me to keep control of my story and to be involved in aspects like cover design. Having the backing of a publisher made it much easier for me to access the big stores like Barnes & Noble. I am very happy with the direction I chose.

Any last words?

Thanks for giving me a chance to share a little about “Lily Barlow.” I enjoyed your questions!

Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us. Find out more about Carla at the links below. Happy Reading!!