The Author’s Little Red Guide to Editing shows readers the ins and outs of publishing and editing and helps them understand the process and know what to look for. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I found I’d been posting lots of advice snippets online for new (and newish) authors. As a nine-time author who went from vanity publishing to a traditional publisher to being self-published, I wanted to bring all that I knew out in the open for other authors to benefit from. I remember what it was like to feel like there was too much to learn, and it felt insurmountable.

What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?

To provide great examples that show that finding an editor and all things related to becoming an author needn’t be stressful or overwhelming. I also wanted to present the material in an entertaining way, so rather than employing a formal structure, I served this up with a series of easy-to-read questions and answers.

What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?

There wasn’t one singular experience. It was slowly realizing that I had all these exciting ideas inside me and wanting to see where my stories could take me.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your book?

That they can find an editor they can rely on, one who has their back, and one who is responsive and will take the time and care to explain the editing process. This goes especially for after the editor has submitted the manuscript back to the author. Many times, authors don’t know how to incorporate the editor’s suggestions or even how to move forward and take things from an exercise in perfecting a story to making it a real book – the stuff a newbie’s dreams are made of. In this book, I tell people not only how to choose an editor and what to look for, but I also discuss self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, choosing your title, naming your characters, and things like book covers, uploading and formatting – about 95 tips to walk you calmly and easily through the process.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website