Interview with Shawn Cooke

Author of A Magnet to a Flame

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

I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, but I currently live in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia.

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

School, and then work, has taken me to many places in the eastern United States. I attended college in Mississippi, followed by graduate school in Washington, DC. My first job took me to Long Island, New York, and from there to Richmond, Virginia, where I live now.

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

My book is a collection of short stories, so I did not really know I was writing a book at the time! I began to notice that many of the stories were similar in both theme and style, and fit together naturally as a collection.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I write stories that take our world and change one thing, and then see how real people react to the consequences. You would class my books as speculative fiction, but I don’t write epic fantasy or hard sci-fi.

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

Anyone who gets excited at the word “if”. My stories explore big concepts through a small character lens, and hint at a wider world than is presented in the story. If you ever found yourself standing in the shower one morning, thinking about the implications a story you read the night before, then you’ll probably enjoy my books!

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

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy self-publishing can be. There are thousands of professionals out there who can help with editing, formatting, cover design, marketing, and all of the other aspects of getting a book in front of an audience. In was great to feel that I had support!

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

Don’t wait. I could have published this book five years ago, but I was put off by the self-publishing learning curve. Once I began that journey, I discovered it wasn’t as difficult as I feared.

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

Just one — the next one. I’m honestly not motivated by sales, although healthy numbers are nice! I’d much rather have a single reader who loves the book, than a dozen who put it unread on their shelves.

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

Self-publishing attracts a lot of predatory companies and individuals, who see a first-time author is a target to drain of money. If a marketing service is primarily set up to attract authors, consider — how are they going to get your book in front of readers? Your book, not your money, is your strongest asset.

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

My greatest strength in writing is in translating a concept into an outline. Not coincidentally, that’s my favorite part of the process! I love the careful planning involved in revealing a concept, bit by bit, so that the reader has a sense of exploration and discovery.

My greatest strength in publishing is my willingness to rely on others who have greater strength in publishing! I am not adept at cover design or interior formatting, so I made use of professional services that could perform those functions better than I ever could.

As for marketing, my greatest strength is patience. Word of mouth does not build overnight. Reviews don’t come in on release day. If I’m clicking “refresh” on my sales numbers, I’m misdirecting my energy. I’d rather spend that time writing the next book.

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

My writing weakness is how easily distracted I can be. My problem has never been a lack of ideas. Instead, I get a new idea, and suddenly that becomes the story I want to write… at least until the next idea comes along. I have a hard drive full of story treatments and half-written stories, enough to fill half a dozen books. Driving a piece of writing to completion is something I need to work on.

As for publishing, I have a hard time letting go. To publish a work is to declare that it is finished, to release it out into the world, flaws and all. That’s hard! It takes discipline, but it’s worth all the anxiety in the end.

I’m not a natural self-promoter, so marketing can be challenging for me. I’ll post on social media, send copies for review, and generally carry out my end of the marketing bargain. But I’m not willing to devote the same level of attention to promotion as I do to writing.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I already am! I’m just not sure which of my current projects will actually come next. It’s easier to find motivation to write now, knowing that the end goal of a published book is something I can actually reach.

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

I am self-published. At this stage in my writing career, I think it is more valuable to put out content and build an audience, rather than waiting for a traditional publisher to find me.