Gene Wolfe
Interview with Author David Keck, Part Three by Mary W. Jensen
David Keck, author of In the Eye of Heaven, has graciously answered my questions on writing and publishing. I enjoyed his responses very much. David is a Canadian, currently residing in New York, where he teaches at a Junior High. In the Eye of Heaven was published by Tor Books on April 4, 2006, and is available in paperback as of March 6, 2007. Check out what others have had to say at http://www.keckbooks.com/KindWords.html.
On Publishing
Mary: Why did you choose a traditional publisher for your book?
David: I was immensely pleased when Tor offered to publish my book (and the two books that complete the story). I know quite well that most editors see an enormous number of manuscripts – and that they are sometimes unable to buy even the books that they love. It’s quite easy for good books to end up without a publisher. Only if a writer is very fortunate will his book land in right lap at the right moment.
Mary: What was the publishing process like? Was it what you expected? Did you use an agent?
David: I began my search for a publisher by hunting for an agent (although even the search for an agent was more an ending than a beginning).
Years and years before my book reached a publisher, I took classes, joined the local writer’s guild, and took part in writer’s groups. People from those groups have gone on to win awards and even to make a living at writing (an amazing feat). I have attended conventions and been personable around the right people.
In the end, several agents agreed that they might take a look at my work (they hate to agree to such things). The first agent who saw In the Eye of Heaven happened to be the right man.
Mary: Would you recommend the same method for other writers?
David: There is no magic formula for getting a book published. The road I took helped me learn the nuts and bolts of putting words on paper, helped me to develop an understanding of the profession, and got me to meet some people who were in a position to give me the chance I needed. It’s a very practical strategy, but it took a long time.
Mary: How long did it take to get your book published?
David: I wrote a Short Story in 1996 about a knight who felt that he was in the wrong story. My first novel is the prequel to that story. I finished the earliest draft of In the Eye of Heaven (a ghastly thing called Childe) in 1997. Tor bought the book in 2003 or 2004. It came out in 2006. (I remember shaking my head when a couple of readers supposed that I’d been influenced by Gene Wolfe’s recent Wizard/Knight books. My life would have been a good deal easier if the whole process had taken so little time).
Mary: Will your second book be published with Tor as well?
David: Tor is publishing three books, all in a series. I’ve got plots and titles for the whole set, so they shouldn’t run away from me. In essence, my friend Durand, has to get back to that old short story!
Mary: What steps have you taken to publicize your book?
David: I’m not a publicity powerhouse, but I’ve managed to get myself a reading or two, and I’ve been on a few very big panels at the largest conventions. (In one case, sitting next to George Martin). You will find a web page or two with me behind it. There has been a TV interview. My book managed to top the bestseller list back home in Winnipeg after a little blitz back there. And, of course, I’ve worked hard to be personable.
Conclusion
Mary: What advice do you have for other writers?
David: Writing isn’t an easy career to get into. The apprenticeship can be very long – and there may never be a big payday in the end. You must know that editors look at the heaps of manuscripts sent to their office as something they need to get rid of. So. You must love what you’re doing. You must write (and not pretend). You must not settle: not line by line, idea by idea, or anywhere else. You will have to work hard (and it may not be enough). You will certainly learn how to take a punch (as very few writers succeed without failing). And, if you are very lucky, you might get your chance.
About the Author
Mary W. Jensen is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/
which is a site for Creative Writing. She is an editor for the Writing.com Fantasy newsletter, and the cofounder of an offline writing group. Mary is writing a fantasy novel, Emergence of the Fey
Gene Wolfe interview (Wizard/Knight)
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