The official blog for THG StarDragon Publishing. Publishing spiritual/paranormal fantasy and poetry, and open to non-fiction spirituality works. Please don't forget to visit the side pages and check out the main site as well. There is now also a podcast!
Selkies' Skins
Current book in series Temple and Skinquest. Enjoy Castle and Well from Amazon, B&N and Smashwords while waiting for that and the prequel's audiobook "Pearls of Sea and Stone: Book of Seals".
This was a quick unboxing. I haven't been well lately, so please excuse the shakiness, and the anxiety in my voice. It takes quite a bit of energy to do anything anymore and this is the first I've been able to sit at my desk (due to my back) for a long time.
This has taken quite some time due to my back injury messing with my ability to edit and illustrate. It takes much longer when literally flat on your back and unable to concentrate. Still, one last step for the physical edition... the final read.
Part Two of the Ian's Realm Saga is finished, ready, and available for purchase and download on Dianne Gardner's Gumroads store. You can listen to the story on any device that plays MP3 and are not locked into streaming only (unlike some venues can be).
It has been a pleasure working on this project. Part Three is in production and available for pre-order directly from the author. By ordering from the author directly you ensure that she receives more, especially in projects where narrators or illustrators are paid up front. Please also check out her other projects.
Here is my interview with author and president of Pen It Publications, Debi Stanton. As with all the interviews I am working my way through doing I hope to cast more light on the individuals that make the publishing world work. By illuminating these areas perhaps it will overall be a less mysterious place for those thinking about joining it.
===
Pre
Interview Questions:
a)
Is Debi Stanton your legal name or a pen name/DBA name? If so, would
you mind telling us why you chose one over using your legal name.
It is my legal name.
b)
Are you an author, poet, illustrator, editor, game writer, game
creator, publisher, or multiple? If you have multiple roles in the
publishing community then which ones are they? If you have multiple
roles feel free to answer each question with sections for each role.
I own Pen It! Publications, LLC with my husband, Ray. I am also
an author of 17 books and I always have more in the works!
c)
What books, games, or other publishing related projects have you been
involved in the production of? There are way too many to list.
We have published over 500 books in the past 4 years and have more
coming in every day. We are excited to be a part of each and every
author’s story.
===
1.
What got you interested in (writing/illustrating/editing, etc.)? I
have been writing since I was a child. I was a voracious reader and
writing was a natural transition. I minored in Art, but don’t
illustrate, it is much too hard! And editing…that is probably my
least favorite thing about writing, so we pay others to do it 😊
2.
What company or companies are you doing work for/with? (In case you
have more than one job and want to give them a shout out or it
impacts your publishing at all.) We own Pen It! Publications, LLC
which is a traditional publisher.
3.
You are the President of Pen It Publications. Can you tell us the
story behind the company and what caused you to get involved with it?
My husband and I got married in 2014 and he had just written his
first book. I had published a few. He was shopping his book around
to publishers and was just not happy with what they offered. Most
were vanity presses who wanted to charge him thousands of dollars. I
was already publishing Pen It! Magazine, a magazine for authors and I
had been traditionally published, but always felt like I was just a
number. So, I mentioned that I always wanted to start my own
publishing company. I knew a lot about publishing, but didn’t know
much about the business side of it. Ray had owned his own business
for over 30 years and said, “well, I do.” So within two weeks,
we were up and running. We hired 1 illustrator and 1 editor, and we
were in business. Now we employ around 50 people and have hundreds
of authors. I truly love what I do. Our motto is: Everyone has a
story…What’s yours?
4.
What projects are you currently working on?
I
am working on a series of books called: People Watching…. The
first one is People Watching…In the Airport. They are going to be
funny looks at people watching.
5.
Do you have any future projects in mind to take on? I have a
novel that I need to finish that I started a few years ago. I have
16 chapters done but just haven’t had the motivation to finish it.
I won’t share that title right now.
6.
What is your favorite project you have done? Wow, each project we
work on for our authors is wonderful…so I’ll talk about one I
have written myself. My favorite book is The Fellowship Flock. It
hasn’t been much of a seller, but we are going to do a new cover
for it and republish soon. It is set in Fairhope Alabama and
surrounds a little church and all of the comedy and drama that
ensues.
7.
Is this career something that you always wanted to do? Yes, I
started writing, transitioned into running writing groups, then to
publishing Pen It! Magazine and then into Pen It! Publications.
8.
Do you find it difficult, or find some aspects more difficult than
others? I truly hate editing. I tend to get sucked into the story
and skip over errors, so we pay others to do that job.
9.
Have you observed any way that an author or poet makes it harder for
themselves to find a publisher? Have a good query letter. I get
submissions all the time that are just attached to an email with no
query letter, no information about the story, etc. Also, make sure
that you have edited it to the best of your ability. It doesn’t
have to be perfect, but do the best you can.
10.
I have noticed and heard many younger people trying to figure out how
to become an illustrator. Do you have any specific advice or
suggestions for those budding artists? We do hire young talent.
The best tip I can give is to be diligent. If an author or publisher
gives you a book to illustrate, be timely, keep in touch and be
responsible to meet your deadlines. It’s very important to us and
to our authors that we publish in a timely manner.
11.
What is a normal day like for you? Is this your side job or main job?
Gosh, I work from about the time I get up until I go to bed some
days. I am always answering email, helping format books,
corresponding with staff. It is a crazy life, but I love it.
12.
How do you manage balancing this with family and any other work you
may have? It is important to do, but sometimes I find I neglect
things other than work. Ray and I take a vacation at least once a
year. Last year we went to Hawaii and Israel. I just have to say,
“I’m not working” and let the authors and staff know that I am
going to be away. They are very respectful of my time and know I
will be in touch as soon as I can.
13.
What hobbies do you have? Besides writing? I would say travel.
My husband and I love to travel.
14.
If you could be anything in the world besides this, what would it be?
Besides this huh? Well, probably a teacher at a college…teaching
writing of course. Or, I would lead conferences and seminars. I
love being in front of people and teaching them.
15.
Do you feel that school helped set you up toward following this path
in the publishing industry? Yes, definitely. I majored in
English and took multiple electives. I had one teacher, Mrs. Lloyd
who really inspired me. She was a creative and inspirational lady
and I admired her greatly. I have five degrees, so I guess I was an
education junkie. I have an Associates in Business, a Bachelor’s
in Business, a Bachelor’s in Computer Software Technology, a
Master’s in Business and a Master’s in Health Care
Administration…and lots of Student Loans! LOL
16.
If you could go back to school is there anything you wish you had
paid more attention to? History. I love reading non-fiction and
I wish I had been more into history.
17.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Don’t doubt
yourself. You can do it!
18.
What advice do you have for your age peers that may also want to take
part in the publishing industry and specifically with your area
within it? Publishing is time-consuming. It can take over your
life, but the rewards are so worth it. Be kind to people and they
will love working with you.
19.
Is there anything else that you’d like to add that we didn’t
discuss?
I
would just like to say thank you to all of our authors and staff.
You have made us what we are today. I am so very blessed to have all
of you in my life. I can’t thank you enough.
=Flash Fiction Only Pods=
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34
=Financial assistance for the projects=
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana
Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana
Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon
=Other places and ways to support=
Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:
THG StarDragon Publishing, Mythical Minstrelsy & Arashiryuu Productions Discord: https://discord.gg/hvswe2A
DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia
Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.
Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Publishing Blog: http://www.thgstardragonpublishingblog.com
Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana
Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com
Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org
=Reviews, Readings, and Requests=
Want to send me something to read on here or to review? Have a particular request?
Need to send something the old-fashioned way? Maybe you've got a hard copy of a book you want reviewed, or a copy of some of your own work for me to look over? Perhaps you have some of your work you'd like me to record?
THG StarDragon Publishing
Attn: Teresa Garcia
PO Box 249
McCloud, CA 96057
USA
Email necessary? Send me a note at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com but bear in mind that I have been having problems with it eating things sometimes from even verified senders.
This video was Patreon Patron only for a day to give them a chance to see it first, but as I knew I wasn't going to have the time intended to record a story as planned this is also the Sunday posting. Technically this is a bit of a story.
Original Tag Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuIil5h-vKk
Emmmabooks video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPNYNlDt4WY
Publishers I work with in some fashion
THG StarDragon Publishing: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Pen It! Publications: http://www.penitpublications.com
Gaming sites and groups I work with in publishing/content
Dragon Hearts RPG: http://www.dragonheartsrpg.com
Dreaming Twilight (SL group)
=Interviews with illustrators, authors, and editors are intended to happen for those that wish to partake from Pen It! Publications, THG StarDragon Publishing, and Dragon Hearts. Once these are finished I may open up spots for others.
=booktube real talk tag=
- questions -
1. What's something nobody told you about booktube before you started your channel?
2. What is your opinion on “typical” booktube videos? (wrap-up’s, TBR’s, hauls, etc.)
3. What is an assumption you had about booktube before you joined? Was it proven to be correct, or not?
4. What is something you’ve done that has actually helped you grow your audience?
5. What is a common mistake you see new booktubers making, or one that you made?
6. What are your thoughts on working with publishers and sponsorships?
7. Do you think booktube is dying?
8. Tag your friends!
Want to visit me, see some of my other works, or support me? Find me at:
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Amehana
Ko-fi: http://www.ko-fi.com/amehana
DeviantArt: http://amehanarainstardrago.deviantart.com
Dreamwidth: http://rainstardragon.dreamwidth.org
Livejournal: http://rainstardragon.livejournal.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Garcia/e/B009Q938VE
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TeresaGarcia
Storenvy: http://thgstardragon.storenvy.com/ Check now and then for new things, some I can't list just yet.
Paypal: http://paypal.me/thgstardragon
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/TeresaGarcia
Publishing Website: http://www.thgstardragon.com
Commissions Info: https://www.deviantart.com/amehanarainstardrago/journal/Commissioning-Information-566657935
https://www.instagram.com/amehanaarashi/
Podcast
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythical-minstrelsy-and-flash-fiction-fridays/id1461538463
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Iregmi7sag7o3fg6p3e32k5ghwq?t%3DMythical_Minstrelsy_and_Flash_Fiction_Fridays%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vLsYYcHOkDdasTFvqe9Ph
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teresa-garcia-34
Want to send me something to read on here or to review? Have a particular request?
Need to send something the old-fashioned way? Maybe you've got a hard copy of a book you want reviewed, or a copy of some of your own work for me to look over? Perhaps you have some of your work you'd like me to record?
THG StarDragon Publishing
Attn: Teresa Garcia
PO Box 249
McCloud, CA 96057
USA
Email necessary? Send me a note at ladyrainstardragon@hotmail.com but bear in mind that I have been having problems with it eating things sometimes from even verified senders.
