Tips For A Long Term Writing Career And Writing Historical Fiction With Colin Falconer

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It's always fantastic to speak to authors who have been writing professionally for a long time, as the perspective they bring comes with the weight of a lot more experience of the publishing industry. In today's podcast interview, Colin Falconer speaks frankly about his own experiences and lessons learned, and I think you'll be fascinated by his point of view.

In the intro, I talk about The Twelve and the forthcoming Deadly Dozen ebook box-set with 12 bestselling thriller novels on sale for just 99c. I'll be doing a promotional competition on 24 Feb so keep an eye out for that. I also mention that I am interviewed on the Self Publishing Podcast this week, on 13 Feb, episode 93, about speaking for authors and foreign rights exploitation.

The podcast is usually sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, but today I'm introducing ‘Shadows at Moonrise Bay‘ by Jack Dunigan.

A tale of one man's exploitation of power and his desperate acts to hide the secrets that could destroy him and the organization he has built, Shadows at Moonrise Bay is a page-turning mystery you won’t be able to put down.

Available now on the Kindle as well as Nook, Kobo, and in paperback. Visit Jack’s website at JackDunigan.com

Colin Falconer is the international bestselling author of over 40 books translated into 23 languages, described as similar to Ken Follett – books with romance and high adventure, drawn from many periods of history.

• How Colin started out in advertising as a copywriter because his early manuscripts didn't get published. He moved into scriptwriting for TV and other freelance work for magazines. After one article helped him get an agent, he started writing novels.

Does writing get easier after 40 books?

• Colin it has got easier but he has only thought ‘he knows what he is doing about 3 years ago. So it was faking it while you make it for about 25 years! [ I think this makes all writers feel better.] You can only learn so much from books and classes, and in the end, you just have to do it.

On writing historical fiction

• Isabella, Braveheart of France, Colin's latest book, is based on a story he found fascinating. Isabella was married to a king who was actually gay, and loved another man. This is a very contemporary predicament in the 13th century.

• How much of historical fiction needs to be ‘true' and how much is fictional story. Colin's writing speculates on real history, and in the end, he cares about the story first.

• On writing religion and walking the line, for example, in Colin's Jerusalem series.

• On gender issues with writing romance – or love stories – as a man.

How travel is a key part of Colin's life … and his books

• On deciding to write books based on places he wanted to travel to. [I do this as well!]

• About ‘The Year We Seized The Day,' which is more of a moving travel memoir, written under the pen name Colin Bowles

On the publishing industry and the future …

• Colin is a hybrid author, working with Cool Gus (indie idol Bob Mayer's imprint) as well as working on contracts with big publishing. Colin talks about some of his books that have failed miserably under print publishers but have succeeded spectacularly as ebooks. He talks about the anger and frustration of authors treated shabbily by large publishers, even to the point of having to change his author name due to the vagaries of the Bookscan system.

• The positive side of the ebook revolution and the way the internet connects authors directly with authors. It enables readers to discover new writers, as many are sick of the same authors and same stories delivered over and over again in the bookstores. Instant gratification is also fantastic! Readers also have a stronger voice now, which is a mixed blessing in terms of reviews. But hearing from readers and talking to them directly is a much more symbiotic relationship.

• On marketing. The blog as a connection with readers, but you don't know what will happen in the future, so you need to make sure you have your own site, and email list … just in case. We are still in the early stages of the revolution!

• On global markets. We talk a little bit about the Australian market and Colin sees a change in the year he has been gone, because ebooks seem to have gone mainstream, as opposed to being ‘that American thing.' Colin has always sold well in Eastern Europe and he's like a rock star in some of those countries, even recognized in airports. Harem sold 180,000+ in Germany, but didn't do anything in the UK, Australia or USA. It just goes to show that we can never know where our readers are.

Colin's lessons learned from 25 years in the publishing game

• Don't diversify your genre. The really top authors have not diversified. Being a one trick pony is not a bad choice. Learning about author branding is critical. Be more cautious about rights. Publishers may seem like your friend when they make an offer, but Colin has done a lot better with many books of his through ebooks than print. It's worth taking a good look at the contract as opposed to being seduced by the dream.

If you have any comments or questions for Colin, please leave them below.

You can find Colin at his site, ColinFalconer.org and on twitter @colin_falconer.

His latest book is ‘Isabella, Queen of France.'

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel.

12 year old Isabella, a French princess marries the King of England – only to discover he has a terrible secret. Ten long years later she is in utter despair – does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death – or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight – but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage – and England apart.

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England – and win.