Interview with Warren Cain

Author of The Order of the Redeemed

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

I was born in Marceline, Missouri. After some time away in the Military and living in the Kansas City, Missouri Area, I moved back home to raise a family.

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

I’ve always been passionate about writing. Years ago, my first attempt was a science fiction novel which I quickly deleted after completing about half of it. I was not pleased with the outcome and didn’t feel it was what I wanted to put in front of potential readers. With my new book, “The Order of the Redeemed”, I chose to write a Christian Fantasy book that dealt with real struggles: Loss, guilt, forgiveness. Too often Christian books and movies lack realistic problems and good story lines. With more life experience to draw from, my second attempt become the book that I decided was worth publishing.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

“The Order of the Redeemed” is a story of overcoming guilt and loss. The main character in the story is living with guilt from a past mistake. With the help of an organization that was established in Biblical times, he is taken on an amazing journey that helps him discover who he truly is and the redemption that has eluded him for years.

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

I think people who have “dealt with their own demons” or have struggled with guilt. The characters in the story are easy to relate to. I attempted to make a story that dealt with these issues and still had a back story that would be of interest to a larger group of readers.

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

So many things come to mind! One that stands out to me was how good I felt about what I had written, and I had reviewed it many times, but when my customer service representative called me the first time and asked what my book was about, I was caught off guard and didn’t really explain it very well. I had a synopsis that I was incredibly happy with but to just give an overall explanation verbally was something I had not worked through. It was the last time I was asked that question without a good answer.

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

Finish the book ASAP. I spent too long getting this book to the publisher. I think that a lot of the reason for this was fear of getting it out in front of people. When you publish a book, the first people to read it are family and friends. There is a little fear that it won’t be received well. I think it is mostly because you put yourself in your writing if you’ve done it correctly. Even the part of yourself that you don’t always show people and that can be a little intimidating. I would have to tell my past self to get it out there and start working on the next one.

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

This is a tough question. I think realistically, after looking up how many books the average author sells, if I sold 3,000 copies, I would be incredibly happy. I think most authors are dreamers though and would always like to see their book on a best sellers list.

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

The biggest challenge is deciding how to get that book out there. Do I self-publish? Submit to a traditional publisher? What publisher has a good reputation? I looked at a lot of reviews before deciding who to go with. There are many horror stories from authors whose books were ruined by poor publishing. I put a lot of time and effort in my book and did not want to see it destroyed by poor publishing quality.

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

I think one of the strengths that is helpful in the marketing process is being a good public speaker. I recently had a woman tell me that she would like to write a book, but she didn’t want to do all the things that come with promoting it. Fortunately, I’ve had a fair amount of jobs that required public speaking and public relations. This defiantly helps when it comes to book signings and public speaking events for promoting the book.

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

Procrastination with my writing time! “Find a time every night to write for a couple of hours.” That’s what they say. Right? Most of us authors are still working 9 to 5 jobs and raising kids, but yes, sometimes I procrastinate when I should be writing.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am working on my next book. It will be an “Order of the Redeemed” series.

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

I self-published. I have been very happy with the process. I would only suggest if you are planning on self-publishing that you do your research. There are plenty of good ones out there just look for the reviews from authors who have published with them.