Author Interview with Tanzeela K. Hassan: 7 Questions about Book Publishing Process & Mindset
Don’t sit back and wait for an agent to pick up your book. Get yourself out there and build your audience, says Tanzeela
In this exclusive author interview series, “7 questions to ask an aligned author“, Tanzeela K. Hassan–author of the thriller Hunger will empower us with her book publishing process and mindset strategies pertaining to editing, marketing & sales, publishing platforms and more. Read her preceding interview on the book writing process in case you missed it out.
Tanzeela–an emerging fiction author from Pakistan–has authored four books so far giving her the necessary recognition and foundation to build upon her author brand. Her self-published works include Hunger, That summer, The Variant and a fiction/activity book Temoli–Thazbook’s Anthology journal. She’s sets a great example for us with her healthy writer’s mindset, initiative, thinking out of the box personality. Her story will help us see how to turn writer’s fear and lack-mindset into faith and abundance. Apart from being an author, she helps print and publish the works of other emerging authors in Pakistan.
Here are her seven best tips for book publishing process and mindset you must not miss out on.
7 Author Interview Questions about Book Publishing Process & Mindset Answered
#1 What type of publishing i.e. self-publishing or traditional do you recommend and why?
Personally, I would recommend both. It depends on where you live and what you’re writing about. My strategy is to first get recognized through self publishing and then go for traditional publishing when I have accumulated a pile load of reviews and sales to accompany with my manuscripts.
#2 What are the different types of editing you used for your books? Did you self-edit or hire a professional editor and why?
First, I self-edit. I read the entire manuscript thrice, correct any plot changes that are due. Then, I use one element at a time technique i.e. focus on one of the things that needs to be edited and work on the entire manuscript. For example, if I take the word ‘was’ in mind, I focus on correcting its usage in the entire manuscript. Then, I move on to other items like passive voice, sticky words or repetitive words.
For my thriller Hunger, after I finished the self edits which took around 40 or so rounds, I hired an editor from Pakistan to see if the Pakistan side of the manuscript is good to go. Then, an another proofreader from NY. Lastly, I got it read by as many beta readers as I could.
#3 I heard a published author once say that it was pretty normal to have proof-reading errors in the first print edition. What’s your opinion on this and what would you recommend aspiring authors in this regard?
This is true, especially if you have self-published your book. Personally, I printed a few proof copies of my book in the beginning, got them read by beta readers, proofreaders and polished the manuscript again. I repeated this at least four times before I got the book printed in bulk.
#4 Which platforms are your books available for purchase? Are there any relevant costs, limitations or requirements to upload these platforms?
Currently my books are available online on Amazon. Additionally, they can also be purchased online at Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Parestan—a local Pakistani eBook store and Self-Publishing Portal.
All of these are self publishing websites and allow free book upload and publishing. They take between 30 to 70% royalties. Unfortunately, none of the above platforms really work for local sales in Pakistan. I needed a trusted platform for myself and other new aspiring authors in Pakistan. Therefore, I decided to actively sell through my own website www.thazbook.com and also offer better & customized promotions to my readers.
#5 What’s the best investment you have made in yourself as far as marketing & promotion of your books is concerned?
I believe it’s my website—the money and mostly the time I spent on it. I built it myself and now its helping in promotion and sales of my own books along with a few other authors who have printed their books through us and have their books on sale at our website.
#6 What’s the best advice you can share on publishing books?
Don’t sit back and wait for an agent to pick up your book. Write some new short fiction and start self publishing them. Get yourself out there and build your audience.
#7 What’s the best way to market your books?
Being active on social media is important and number one on my list. It means actively participating in the book club activities, adding value and making yourself known.
Second, make your product—book—good enough to get noticed. Spend time and money on the cover, edits and the story. If your book isn’t good enough in presentations, it won’t sell. Conduct giveaways, ask reviewers to review your book, send them complimentary copies.
What I did was to publish two small 50 pages short fictions in paperback form, merely for promotional purposes. Both of them have my main novels introduction at the end and I send these to everyone and anyone. In this way, I get recognized as an author and build potential readership for the future.
Publishing is as important a step as writing your book. Answer #7 is my personal favorite. What’s yours? Have more questions regarding self-publishing? Comment below to get them answered. #thealignedwriter
Follow Tanzeela
Website http://www.thazbook.com/
Blog https://thazbook.com/blogs/
Amazon Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/thazbook
Instagram http://www.inatagram.com/thazbook
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thazbook
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/thazbook