Teresa Geering
By R Grayling & Sammi Hide
Teresa’s first book, The Eye of Erasmus has just been released by Night Publishing. As Tee is one of Struggling Author's greatest supporters, both Sammi and Richard wanted to do the interview! They caught up with Teresa in the midst of the publishing whirlwind.
Sammi) It must be incredibly exciting to see your book coming to life after so much hard work! Can you tell us how you're feeling at the moment?
Very mixed emotions - I feel as if I’m in a bubble and I’m waiting for someone to prick it. I don’t think the enormity of it has properly sunk in yet.
Richard) Tell us a little about Shasta and Erasmus and where they came from.
One hot summers evening, I was sitting amongst the Shasta Daisies in my garden sipping a glass of wine. I noticed a spider spinning a delicate, but intricate web. A story began to form in my mind, and from this small beginning Shasta was conceived. She is a truly beautiful young woman with the gift of clairvoyance.
As I wrote the basic storyline, another character was eager to make an appearance, and Erasmus was also conceived. An extremely good looking, time travelling lover with attitude. If you as the reader, dare to look into his eyes, you will be lost within the black liquid pools.
Sammi) So when can we expect the next book[s] in the trilogy?
Well that will be up to my publisher Night Publishing of course, (just a small plug there) but Shasta The Enchanted Garden is next in the series and raring to go. This tells the story of a young girl named Poppy. Whilst staying with her aunt in a rather unusual village, she discovers she has a past heritage. Oh …. she also falls in love with a cat who was her lover in a past life...
Richard) You originally posted excerpts of your book on the Authonomy website - Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with an online peer critiquing site?
Authonomy of course is the Harper Collins web site as you know, Richard. I have mixed views about peer critiquing sites. When I first joined it was quite a novel experience. (unintentional pun there) I was lucky enough to have many amazing reviews. Several of which are in the flyleaf of my book. Generally on Authonomy, we would choose a book at random, or in some cases by request of the author (swap reads) and review it. If we considered it worthy we would back it. (I’m not an editor and reviewed books to the best of my ability/enjoyment.) However a different element began to creep in and I received many emails plainly stating…….”lets buck the system, no comments required, just back each other. This way we can get to the editors desk much quicker” I stress this was only a small element but enough to deter me from staying with the site. During my time at Authonomy I came across Tim Roux, and eventually interviewed him for SA. He explained to me his displeasure at the current publishing system. Many good writers were being passed over in favour of “good sellers” and the “celebrity writers.” Eventually he was approached on the subject by Bruce Essar another known writer. From this conversation Night Publishing was set up. They were determined that writers of good books should be published. At this time I had also joined them as a writer along with several others from Authonomy. Books for publication are selected in a monthly vote by members of NP, whilst the selection committee cherry picks what they consider to be worthy of publication. Bruce Essar in this capacity “head hunted” me, and eventually I agreed to NP publishing The Eye of Erasmus. A decision I have not regretted!
Sammi) Tell us a little about the last couple of weeks and what was actually involved in pulling the whole project together.
For the last couple of weeks I have been the renowned headless chicken! Many phone calls of congratulations to take, (Mops brow) I have done video shoots for Youtube, emailed all the local book shops asking for book signings. Local press and radio are yet to be informed as I need a copy of the book to show them, for achievement of best publicity. In the last couple of days I have been out and about amongst local farmers I know, asking for space on their farmers’ market stalls, or even among the hayricks of their farms. (I will go anywhere to sign and sell books!) I had no idea just how much work is involved… Gone are the days of finding a publisher and then sitting back on laurel leaves eating grapes. Unless your J.K.R. of course.
Richard) As a newly published author, can you give us an idea of what kind of web promotion you are now doing.
I'm blogging, tweeting and telling all my friends - the network I built up whilst waiting to be published is now paying off too! I have also had some videos uploaded to the SA Youtube channel where I did a book trailer, an overview and some of me reading from my book.
Sammi) So where can we buy a copy of The Eye of Erasmus then?
You can either go to my blog http:/tgeering.blogspot.com/ and click on the "Buy The Book" tab or go direct to https://www.createspace.com/3461744
*With myself to feed, a fat cat, and all his feathered friends in the garden I need all the sales I can make!
Richard) Finally, it wouldn’t be a proper Struggling Authors interview if we didn’t get a competition question out of you. Do you have one for us and would you do us the honour of providing a signed copy as a prize, please?
My absolute pleasure, hun. The question is... Name the two main characters in my new book.
*Click here to submit your answer. (Please put 'Teresa Geering Competition' as the subject line)
Both) Thank you, Teresa, for making the time to speak to us and for the autographed book. We hope you will come back soon and let us know what it’s really like to go from unpublished to newly published author.
It’s always a pleasure talking to you both. Just whistle - you know I can talk for England, Richard. AND just try and keep me away !!!
Best of luck
Tee
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