Interview with Author Erica Miner

 

Award-winning Seattle-based author Erica Miner balances her reviews and interviews of real-world musical artists with her fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera. Drawing on her 21 years as a violinist at the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera, Erica guides her readers through a dramatized version of the opera world in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.

Aria for Murder, the first in the series, published by Level Best Books in 2022, was a finalist in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. The sequel, Prelude to Murder, released in September 2023, is set at the Santa Fe Opera. The third book, due for release in 2024, takes place at the San Francisco Opera.

Erica’s debut novel, Travels with My Lovers, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Her screenplays have won awards in the WinFemme, Santa Fe, and Writers Digest competitions. Erica lectures widely on opera for the Seattle Symphony, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and numerous Wagner Societies throughout the U.S. and abroad.

 

Question: What is the title and genre of your novel?  Why did you select them?

Answer: PRELUDE TO MURDER is a mystery. It is the second in my Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series. The title seemed the perfect segue to the title of the first book in the series, ARIA FOR MURDER, and reflects the musical world in which it takes place.

Question:   What inspired this novel? How did it come about? 

Answer: An opera house is a fascinating, colorful place, with loads of quirky, sometimes maddening people working there. During my 21 years playing violin in the Met Opera Orchestra, I witnessed any number of operatic disasters and nefarious happenings, many of them involving these people and their constant conflicts with each other. It occurred to me that the opera would be a perfect setting for murder and mayhem: art imitates life and vice versa. The drama unfolding onstage is nothing compared to what goes on behind the scenes. Sooner or later, someone’s going to want to kill someone. I let my wicked imagination take over, and voilà, the first novel in the series was born.

 

Question:  Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine and/or hero of your novel?

Answer: Intrepid young violinist Julia is a brilliant prodigy and a rising star in the orchestra pit at the Met. She has had a tough life, having lost both of her parents when she was a child, and has learned to fend for herself. But she is naïve in the ways of a prestigious opera house, where the professional politics are complex and difficult to maneuver, and the stakes are high. On the night of her first performance, a terrible disaster occurs, and much to her surprise she becomes entangled in a murder investigation. She then discovers she has an inner strength she never knew existed and must use that to escape from a life-threatening situation. 

Question:   Can you tell us about some of your other published novels or work?

Answer: Before I started writing murder mysteries, I wrote a romance, Travels with my Lovers, which won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Next came my coming-of-age novel, Fourever Friends. Aria for Murder was the first in my current mystery series. Prelude to Murder is the first sequel. The next sequel is due for release in September 2024. I also publish frequent reviews and interviews of performances and musical artists for major arts websites. 

Question:   What are you working on now?

Answer: I’m working on the next sequel in the series, title TBA, due for release in 2024, which takes place at the San Francisco Opera.

Question:   What made you start writing?

Answer: I actually started writing before I played the violin. At the time when I was growing up in Detroit—a very long time ago!—there was an excellent afterschool program in the public schools. I was placed in a program for Creative Writing. I suppose one of my teachers must have seen that “spark” in me. I don’t remember much of what I wrote, but I do remember loving the process of creating characters and plot lines and weaving them all together to turn into stories. My love for writing was generated from that experience, and I have been passionate about writing ever since.

Question:   What advice would you offer to those who are currently writing novels?

Answer: I would tell them to study the craft as much as they can before they attempt the writing. I know what it feels like to have an idea for a story and to want to let it flow as soon and as quickly as possible. But writing is a difficult process, and it’s essential to learn about the technique of putting the story together first. Once they’ve got that under their belt, their stories will be that much more compelling.

Question:  Where and when will readers be able to obtain your novel?

Answer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CFTR3CRM?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks&qid=1692203865&sr=1-1 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144067662?ean=9781685124427

Questions and/or Comments for Erica are welcome!

Tips on Publicity and Promotion

 

Many people in the public eye believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Publicity, positive or negative, promotes a career because it puts that person in the limelight. Of course, writers would like to be recognized for the quality of their work. Bad reviews hurt a writer’s sales and recognition as a serious author. Nevertheless, being ignored by reviewers is not something that authors appreciate either. Readers aren’t going to buy books they’ve never heard of. No reviews? No publicity? No sales.

So how do authors go about reaching readers, building a following among those who buy books? After all, it’s not just the small independent publishers who do little to promote their authors. These days even the major publishers do not put much effort and money into book promotion either. Writers must think proactively.

How should writers go about reaching and building a readership? I’m going to offer a few suggestions that won’t break your bank account. 

l. Use the internet:

a. Create a website. Every professional writer should have one.

b. Do social media networking such as blogging. Create your own blog and also guest blog on other sites. Interview other authors. Offer to do interviews on other sites, not those only for writers. Reach out to a more general, larger audience.  Create a presence on such popular internet sites as: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Bookbub, Booktown, etc.

d. Join internet writer groups of authors with common interests. Be an active reader and comment often in group and on their blogs. Not everyone can be an “influencer” but it helps to connect.

e. Be willing to read and review the work of other writers. 

f. Ask other authors in your genre to read and review your books as well. You want as many reviews as possible on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, etc. 

g. Send out advance review copies to internet reviewers who read in your genre. Reviews are important and we can’t always get them from the major review publications.

h. Possibly offer ARCs as giveaways both on your site, other sites. Is giving away free books a good method of increasing overall sales and getting publicity for an author’s brand? It appears to do so for ebooks. Many writers are offering free ebooks on Amazon. Usually this creates awareness of an author who has numerous books to offer. I don’t have the statistics on how well this is working out. If you do, please comment.

 2. Bookstore signings and events are great. However, unless you are a famous author, these opportunities have diminished. My advice is to see if there are any independent bookstores locally that you can contact. Be prepared to advertise your “event”/signing on your own. 

3. Library Events. Offer to do a program at your local library. You can have a book signing and selling afterward if the library approves.

4. Don’t forget to advertise every program you do. Contact the local newspapers and offer a “news release.”

5. Your college probably has a graduate publication, magazine or newsletter. The publication of your book is certainly a newsworthy item.

6. Consider selling books at various unexpected places. Book fairs sponsored by local libraries are great and so are craft shows, however, you might think of a more creative venue. Try to think outside the box. For example, suppose your novel is about a baker. Is there a local bakery that might display and sell your books on consignment?  Is your novel set in a beauty parlor? Would a beauty shop owner allow your books selling space for a cut of the profits?

7. Attending conferences. Many writers swear by them. It’s a great place for networking and connecting. You can meet editors, agents and other authors. At the very least, you can interact and get interesting feedback and share ideas. Since our work is solitary, this is a good way to know you are not alone.

8. Some writers publish their own newsletters which advertise the release of their new books as they come out. 

9. You might also keep friends and relatives in the loop through e-mail announcements.

10. Send out announcements to acquisition librarians, especially if your book has had good reviews which you can quote. This can be done inexpensively via e-mail. 

11. Podcasts are popular as are YouTube videos. TikTok has a BookTok where videos gain publicity. If you have a talent for creating either one, it might benefit sales. 

This article is as much for me as any writer. My latest novel 

HEART OF WISDOM was just published by Level Best Books in print and ebook:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144049440

Heart of Wisdom eBook by Jacqueline Seewald - EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States

https://bookshop.org/p/books/heart-of-wisdom-jacqueline-seewald/20598287?aid=11404&ean=9781685124014&listref=level-best-2023-releases

Have I left out anything that I should be mentioning? As a writer, what promotion and or publicity ideas have worked well for you and might work well for other authors?

Readers, what determines the books you select? I love to share ideas in this forum.

 

 

DEALING WITH BOOK RELEASE DATES

 

As writers, we often wonder: when are the best times for our books to be released? I’ve read that February and March are considered best because the weather is generally bad. People are more likely to stay at home and buy or borrow books.

I’ve also read that the biggest mistake authors make is assuming their book, no matter the genre, would make a great Christmas gift. Therefore, they want to release the book in Q4 and take advantage of the buying season. But this is not usually the case.  Books that sell well during this time of year are holiday themed books like holiday cookbooks, holiday children’s books, holiday novels and big movie tie-ins.  Any other type of book gets lost in the multitude of titles, making it hard to garner attention. 

My twenty-first novel, HEART OF WISDOM, was released on September 5^th by the publisher Level Best Books.  So far, only a Kindle version appears, and there’s no listing for the print edition as yet. I believe this will not take place until the end of September. So only one buy link as of now: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wisdom-Jacqueline-Seewald-ebook/dp/B0C8BRFM86/

 

This happens with many books from a variety of publishers. It is frustrating to writers like me. Several people have asked me when they can order the new novel. I’ve had to explain it’s published, but not fully. It’s embarrassing to have to say that. 

Nevertheless, I’ll introduce the book today on my blog. First off, I suppose you could call this novel multi-genre. 

Part I of HEART OF WISDOM is in the nature of an historical family saga featuring a Jewish immigrant family, husband, wife and four daughters, during the years 1920 through 1946 as they face the challenges of surviving life, love and loss in Newark, New Jersey. Part II is mainly Sora’s story, youngest daughter of the family, and develops as a murder mystery in which her husband is accused of a crime he did not commit. Sora with the help of a local lawyer is determined to prove Eli innocent. Some members of her family rally to lend support. 

I sent out several advance review copies in print and pdf. Here’s some responses I received:

“An excellent two generation family saga of Polish immigrants to America set against the backdrop of the Great Wars and The Depression. With Loyalty as a captivating theme, point of view character Sora caught my heart and never let go.”—Muddy Rose Reviews

“A steady tale of a tight-knit family with four sisters building their lives in a new country in changing times.” Author Susan Oleksiw

“Literally a genuine page-turner.” Author Steve Slavin

“Through the tumultuous years between 1920 and 1945, sibling rivalry, love, marriage, births, death, and an arrest for murder, the Demsky family knows, in the end, family is everything.”

Sandra Murphy, Author

“Heart of Wisdom is well worth reading: for its historical value, for its insights into the family life of the immigrants who made our country what it is, and for its elements of mystery. Highly recommend.” Author Erica Miner

Hopefully, readers will find this book worthy.