Interview with Erik Schubach

Author of Urban Fairytales: The Hood of Locksley

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

My parents found me under a rock in Lakenheath, England.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

When I was two, and they were sure I could pass for human-ish, my parents whisked me away to a magical place called Spokane, Washington in the United States. After some wanderlust when I came of age, I returned to the Spokane area and currently reside in Nine Mile Falls.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My nieces are lesbian, and could not find any books with characters they could identify with. It was like mainstream media was ignoring the LGBT readers, and if they did have any LGHT characters, they were all the same… the quirky gay best friend or the flamboyantly gay assistant. So I set about writing a series of books with strong female characters who just happened to be gay. Where being so was not the focus of the books, it was just one aspect of the protagonists, like being a redhead, or right handed.

Over a hundred books later in multiple genres, I’ve been supplying them with characters they can identify with for years.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

It depends on the genre. I have so many SciFi, Fantasy, Paranormal, Dystopian, Cozy Mystery, Young Adult, and Romance series that there is a little for everyone.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Anyone who wants to feel like they are a part of the story and worlds I create, and want to feel a connection like friends and family in the main protagonists. People who want full immersion into a book.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

That the actual self publishing process is not as daunting as it may seem, and anyone can do it.

Besides that, I’d have to say that it was surprising to find just how interactive a fan-base can be in modern times. With the Internet an author can connect with people all over the world in an instant, whereas just thirty years ago, it would have been virtually impossible to reach out like we can today.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

Just write.

Oh, and keep your imaginary pet platypus out of the chocolate eclairs if you want any. Mine, Frank, raids mine constantly.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

One meeelion people. Oh, I don;t know, as many people as there are who would enjoy the stories I tell. I have always professed that I am not a writer, just a storyteller who wants to spin a good yarn.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Keeping my pet platypus out of my eclairs.

I haven’t really had many challenges, but the only inconvenience is just the fluctuation in the book buying market. There are certain times of month and certain seasons where people buy more books, or less books.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I think my biggest strength is my imagination, I write by the seat of my pants and the stories flow freely and I have so many ideas waiting in line to be written

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I’d say my biggest weakness is promotion. I do a fairly decent job on social media as my main outlet for spreading the word, but as this is my full-time job, I am loathe to spend money on any sort of advertising since the times I attempt it, the return just isn’t there. I like to eat and do silly things like that, so throwing advertising money out like a shotgun blast to see what might work just isn’t for me.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I am currently writing two books simultaneously in separate series that will both be published at the end of August. I release one novel a month most of the time, but am being ambitious this month.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am 100% self published and have been quite successful with it. As I said, I have over 100 books published now as well as some short stories and novellas. I release in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.