Author Interview:  Carol Duval

How would you describe the type of books/genre you write?

My first book, Trying Lives: A House Sitter’s Tale, is a travel memoir covering a four-year period, mostly spent in other people’s homes in a few off-the-tourist-trail spots, which provided ample time—and material—to ponder life, the universe and everything. I enjoy writing from life so my next project will be something similar but with a broader sweep.

What motivated you to start writing?

I’ve always loved writing, starting in primary school with teachers who also loved story telling. I began dabbling in nonfiction writing when I was working as an editor in Hong Kong and later in Washington, more as part of my job than any burning desire to follow that path.

It resurrected my childhood enjoyment of writing though, so I started a travel blog for family and friends while living overseas. I must admit to having mixed feelings when some of my friends said they were a bit sorry that I was returning home as they’d miss reading my blog! But because so many of them suggested turning it into a book I took up the challenge and Trying Lives is the result. However, a blog and a book are two very different animals and though the blog and accompanying photos were useful as memory prompts, in reality I had to write from scratch.

Tell us the journey you went on to get your books published (e.g. direct on your website, self-published, assisted-publishing, traditional publisher)

A few years ago I spent a couple of months interning at a literary agency in DC when I was revamping my publishing skills at George Washington University. Every week I’d spend a day going through their ‘slush pile’ deciding which submissions to pass on to the agents and which to discard. This gave me a reality check as to how difficult it is to find a publisher in today’s saturated market.

Nevertheless, I submitted my book to a number of likely agents, all to no avail. But I also knew from my years working in publishing how long it took to move from submission to print and at my stage of life didn’t want to spend a year or so going through a process that would end up with a book no longer feeling as if it were mine.

I was pretty sure any publisher would want me to change the voice, tone and much of the content in order to open it up to the widest possible market so it was a bit of a trade-off. I’d have to either change the book and reach a wider audience or keep control and write a book that might not be widely read but more faithfully reflected my character, thoughts and experiences.

A recent experience underscores this concern quite dramatically. I swapped books with an acquaintance who had also written a memoir although she had found a publisher. Soon after our exchange she asked if I’d be willing to take her advice about making improvements.

When she showed me her suggestions I was horrified. She’d crossed out vast swathes of what I’d written, leaving a thin, soulless recount. That’s when I knew I’d made the right choice to self-publish.

I’m not interested in bland, one-size-fits-all writing. It’s either my own voice—quirks and all—or nothing.

My decision to go the self-publishing route then, was to save time and keep control of my writing. I asked friends who’d either self-published or knew the ropes in other ways and after weighing all their suggestions, chose FeedARead though I later decided to go with Amazon for the e-book version.

I asked friends to recommend an illustrator and was delighted that Amanda Asplund, now living in Norway, agreed to take part after reading my first draft. I gave her a free hand, only asking her to make a couple of small changes to better reflect the story.

I constructed my own website and linked it to my travel blog using Wix, which also has a marketing feature. It was certainly a steep learning curve but I’m pleased with the result.

What publishing elements do you most enjoy and most like to avoid, and why? (e.g. design, marketing, formatting etc.)

I really enjoy the planning and editing the most. The actual writing should be the most interesting part but against all received wisdom, I can’t resist editing as I write, which slows me down hugely.

I enjoy the freedom involved in planning what to write, jotting down my ideas, working out chapter headings and how the material might best be arranged. It’s a bit like solving a puzzle. I know I’ll figure out a solution in the end—I just have to let the creative juices mingle and allow time and the unconscious mind do their work.

The best part for me though, is working on the second draft. The hardest part of the writing has been done and now the polishing can begin. With most of the material in place, the task of rearranging, cutting, culling, rephrasing and seeing something elegant emerge from the rough draft is a joy.

The part I’m most nervous about is the formatting but thankfully, my husband Richard has taken to this with relish and does a lovely job. As for the marketing side, I don’t like it at all. Being an introvert, it’s not in my nature to self-promote so I’ve not done well with this really important aspect of publishing.

With the hindsight of being a published author, anything you would have done differently?

I’d probably not use FeedARead again. I’m very happy with the book’s quality but their distribution system has been hugely expensive for buyers who are ordering anywhere but in the UK. In Australia for example, the postage cost for one book was greater than the cost of the book itself.

I paid a fee for a distribution package with major booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. However, most of the sales have been through Amazon so I probably should have gone with them in the first place as a lot of potential buyers were put off by the high FeedARead postage costs and their rather clunky website.

One huge expense was the artwork. I love the cover and interior art but it came at a cost and is one that I’ll never recover. As this project was a labor of love that I never expected to be a money-earner, I look upon this expense in much the same way as skiers or golfers think of their equipment costs, club fees and so on. But for my next book I’ll do the artwork myself using photos and editing software, though admittedly nothing could be as wonderful as Amanda’s quirky drawings that so well capture the tone of the book.

Another thing I’d do differently is to have more than one proofreader as I found two typos once the book was printed, which annoy me hugely. The interesting thing is that only one person (so far) has noticed them, which is a relief.

What tips or advice would you give an aspiring indie author who is looking to self-publish?

Firstly, learn as much as possible from other indie authors. I was particularly inspired by the author interview with Nicos Hadjicostis who has a similar outlook to mine and whose production values are top notch.

Secondly, be realistic with your time line. A book takes a year at least to write, edit and proofread—even longer if you do your own formatting. Once you’ve written your first draft, I recommend reading it aloud to gauge how smoothly your sentences flow. Perhaps because I was a teacher, I’ve realised the importance of fluency when reading, even when it’s just the inner voice you’re hearing. It’s also a useful way to find typos. That’s how I found mine but sadly too late for the print copies!

Also, it’s important to figure out where your priorities lie. If you want to write for the pleasure of creating a product that is distinctly yours but you’re not fussed about building a huge readership or making any money out of the venture, then self-publishing is the way to go. If you’re looking at writing to make a living then you’ll have to be way savvier about marketing than I’ve been and perhaps enlist professional help.

What marketing or promotional tools or techniques do you use to reach your readers?

Because my travel blog was the original impulse for writing Trying Lives, my first foray into marketing was putting together a mailing list of all my friends and family who’d received the blog, along with most of the people we’d met through pet and house sitting, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and good old word of mouth.

I approached a number of independent bookshops by email or directly but found extreme reluctance on their part to take on self-published authors. I was hoping my local bookshop would have been interested and since they hold authors’ talks at the local library, I’d even prepared a talk ready for the expected invitation! But sadly they thought Trying Lives didn’t fit their target market so the talk remains mute in my Notes folder.

With my next book I might try harder to find a publisher, though again, I’m reluctant to lose control over the content or to change my ‘voice’. But with the new book having a greater number of potential readers since it covers decades of shared experiences rather than just a few short years, I’ll need to send the word out on Facebook and Twitter much more vigorously.

What impact do you want your books to have on your readers?

Most of all I hope to entertain my readers, bring a smile to their lips and the occasional nod of agreement. And perhaps once they’ve immersed themselves vicariously in so many different but accessible places with so many ordinary but fascinating people (and animals), they might even grasp the nettle and try travelling this way themselves.

What’s your book’s elevator pitch or key selling points?

Trying Lives: A House Sitter’s Tale is a gently humorous travel memoir about trying out different lifestyles, mainly through house sitting and swapping.

From caring for a dog-like duck in Australia’s hippy heartland or a dusty black Lab among Spanish olive groves, to renovating a crumbling chateau in France and almost joining the church choir in an English village, this book tells the stories of house sits and swaps across four years and five countries.

Readers will find plenty of tips on trying this way of travelling, what to look out for and importantly, what to avoid.

What’s next on your writing journey?

I’ve nearly finished the first draft of School Gaze, which is more of an autobiography than a memoir and includes musings on education as well.

Each chapter is a snapshot of life from the ’50s to the present day, viewed through a school lens, both before and behind the teacher’s desk. From Sydney at the start of the ‘boomer’ generation; to Florida and Bangkok in the mellow ‘70s; frenetic Hong Kong and DC in the ‘80s and ‘90s; and finally heading home via a very English girls’ boarding school, Bali’s Green School and a couple of years in Singapore’s exam factory, the book ends with an optimistic peek at the future.

About the Author

An Australian who married an American she met while backpacking in Europe, Carol has spent most of her life ping ponging around the world. With degrees in English and Education, Carol has taught in a wide variety of schools in Asia, Australia and the UK, specializing in English, Critical Thinking and Film Studies. She has also worked as an editor with the Readers Digest in Hong Kong and with the National Science Teachers Association in Arlington, Virginia.

Finally retired, Carol and husband Richard, not quite able to settle in any one particular place, still have a back-and-forth lifestyle. However, now the means are different—house sitting and swapping rather than ‘work’ make this lifestyle possible.

Connect with Carol:

• On her blog: www.ciduval.com/blog
• On Twitter: @CarolDuvalBlog
• On Instagram: @carolduvalblog