Ever since I became a full-time author I’ve wanted to collaborate on joint projects with other authors. Initially I thought the only way to achieve this was through a formal and structured author collective, but my author collaboration happened more organically and now I’m working with the AlzAuthor’s team to self-publish their annual anthology. I had the pleasure of project managing the production of AlzAuthor’s first anthology last year, which was a collection of articles about authors who have written fiction and nonfiction books about dementia. I’m actively working on formatting the ebook and print versions of the second volume as we speak, in time for Brain Awareness/Alzheimer’s month in June.
Today’s author interview is with prolific fiction writer Carmen Amato, she writes gritty mysteries and thrillers, but is joining us today to share her experience of pulling together and editing a travel anthology featuring the Best of Mexico. Her anthology project happened just as organically and mine, and I think a travel anthology is an exciting concept for travel bloggers and writers to hear about. Many minds are better than one, so sharing multiple perspectives within one travel guide is a great way of delivery true value to the reader. ~~ Jay
Author Interview: Carmen Amato
How would you describe the type of books/genre you write?
First, thank you very much for the invitation to chat.
I write mysteries and thrillers, notably the Detective Emilia Cruz police series, but am very proud to have edited THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICO.
It is an anthology of stories about favorite places and great moments from 42 different authors, artists, chefs, educators, travelers, business people—in short, a collection of essays from people who have experienced Mexico in many different ways and felt it was important to share those experiences.
What motivated you to start writing?
THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICO was a not a crowdsourced book but a “groupsourced” book. The Mexico Writers on Facebook is administered by publisher Mikel Miller, who brought together a diverse group of authors who live in or write about Mexico. The purpose of the group is to share publishing and marketing tips as well as to support each other as professionals. I’ve met some amazing authors through this group, including Jinx Schwartz, Penn Wallace, Jeanine Kitchel, Lynda Lock, Michael Hogan, Francisco Goldman, and Alfredo Corchado, to name a few.
We decided to collect the stories into a small volume as a billboard of sorts to help promote all of us collectively, something with links to our websites or books on Amazon.
Tell us the journey you went on to get your books published (e.g. direct on your website, self-published, assisted-publishing, traditional publisher)
I started collecting stories from group members in 2016, created a little ebook, and sent all the participants a copy to share with friends and perhaps use as a magnet to grow their email lists. It was a fun project and I didn’t think it would go any further.
But it proved to be so unique, with great feedback from friends and family, that we expanded it for a larger audience. I reached out to Mexican food and travel bloggers as well, and we ended up with 42 contributors, each telling the tale of a favorite restaurant, beach vacation, moment in history festival, or encounter with Mexican art.
In June 2017 we formally published it on all ebook platforms. As there was really no way to calculate payments to all 42 contributors, the book is free everywhere.
What publishing elements do you most enjoy and most like to avoid, and why? (e.g. design, marketing, formatting etc.)
I love graphic design almost as much as writing fiction. The incomparable Matt Chase designs all the covers for my Detective Emilia Cruz police series and he indulges my love of discussing colors and motifs, but I designed the cover for THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICO. I got great feedback from members of the group, not only with regards to the cover but also in terms of formatting and proofreading the final drafts.
On the other hand, like many other authors, I find marketing to be less than fun. Time consuming. An ever-changing playing field. What worked for book sales a year ago won’t work today; 75% of what we try won’t break even. Scammers abound, too.
With the hindsight of being a published author, anything you would have done differently?
I would have recognized earlier that being an author also means running your own small business. You’re a solopreneur.
Even now I struggle with attacking things—like marketing—from the standpoint of being in business. I should be more organized. Track metrics. Make data-driven decisions.
But I’ll also say take time out for projects you love, like THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICO. Editing these essays into a comprehensive book was truly a labor of love on so many levels.
This project not only gave contributors a chance to create a self-promotion vehicle but also to counter all the bad news coming out of Mexico. For me personally, it was a way to reach out and have meaningful discussions with other authors. As a writer, life can become solitary. A project like this creates energy and community.
What tips or advice would you give an aspiring indie author who is looking to self-publish?
You have two choices should you decide to publish independently: you are publishing for fun OR you are building a business. If you are serious, your book is your product. Polish that manuscript. Have it professionally edited. Get a professional cover. Study the best sellers in your genre to see how to write a compelling sales page description.
Start building your author brand with a good website, Amazon author page and matching Facebook page. If you don’t have skills to set those up, hire or barter to get someone who can.
What marketing or promotional tools or techniques do you use to reach your readers?
THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICO, with 42 contributors, was published with 42 influencers already talking about it! Many contributors belong to other Mexico-related Facebook groups and Pinterest group boards, and the guide is often shared there. We do little marketing beyond that, able to rely on word-of-mouth to keep it high on the Mexico Travel and Travel Essay categories. Travel bloggers occasionally put it on lists of “must-reads” for Mexico and downloads soar when they do.
On a more personal level, my newsletter is my main marketing effort. Every other Sunday, readers get my book news, an excerpt from what I’m writing now, and a review of a mystery I’ve enjoyed and think they will, too.
Many readers are introduced to Detective Emilia Cruz because I offer a free Starter Library to subscribers on my website: http://carmenamato.net. After that introduction, they buy the books on Amazon, Nook, Apple, or Kobo.
What impact do you want your books to have on your readers?
I want to entertain, but I also want to inform. Mexico isn’t all El Chapo and immigration drama. With a rich and complex history, Mexico is a culturally vibrant country with wonderful art, architecture, and vacation spots. Yet so much is threatened by the drug trade and official corruption.
By putting out a collection of travel essays, I think that the Mexico Writer’s Facebook group is more influential that we could be separately. If nothing else, our book is a thoughtful antidote to the crisis-driven news cycle.
My Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series, even while taking plots from Mexico’s headlines, sends the message that there are still good people in Mexico willing to fight for their country’s future.
When I write the, I do it from Emilia’s deep point of view. Through Emilia’s experiences, I want the reader to feel the heat of Acapulco’s sun and smell the salt tang coming off the ocean, but to also know the danger of being a cop in Mexico’s homicide capital.
What’s your book’s elevator pitch or key selling points?
“I’m a retired CIA officer and I write a series about the first female police detective in Acapulco, the homicide capital of Mexico.”
I find that sentence invariably gets my audience’s full attention.
What’s next on your writing journey?
I’d love to do a companion volume—THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF MEXICAN HOLIDAYS, but no plans just yet.
The 7th Detective Emilia Cruz novel, RUSSIAN MOJITO, is in the works for a Spring 2019 release. A murdered Russian pitches Emilia into the explosive world of Mexican fuel thieves, even as she scrambles to find her kidnapped stepfather and fugitive human trafficker El Acólito.
Due to the connections I made editing THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE BST OF MEXICO, I’ve partnered with crime fiction author Jeanine Kitchel to write a series of literary essays on the narco noir phenomenon. Criminal Element recently published our first entitled “The Ascent of Narco Noir: A Literary Gamechanger.”
Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat!
#AuthorInterview with #TravelAnthology editor and contributor Carmen Amato. Find out about her author collaboration for this #Mexico travel anthology. Click To Tweet
About the Author
Following a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato created the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series, which pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico’s cartels, corruption, and culture of machismo. KIRKUS REVIEWS called the books “Consistently exciting” (CLIFF DIVER) with “Danger and betrayal never more than a few pages away.” (KING PESO) The series was recently awarded the Poison Cup for Outstanding Series by the CrimeMasters of America.
Visit Carmen’s website at carmenamato.net to get a free copy of the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library. The Starter Library features “The Beast,” the story about how Emilia became the first female detective in Acapulco, which was first published in The Huffington Post. You’ll also get “The Angler,” the story based on a real life murder mystery, plus the exclusive “Who’s Who” guide to the series and the bi-monthly Mystery Ahead newsletter.
See why Amazon Hall of Fame reviewer Grady Harp wrote: “For pure entertainment and a gripping story likely resulting in nail biting, read Carmen Amato’s addictive prose. She knows this territory like a jaguar!”
Readers are invited to join me at any of the links below:
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