Author Interview Magdalena Ball
Magdalena Ball is our featured author today. We welcome her to our writing blog where she is discussing her book Sleep Before Evening. Find out more about the story line, how she wrote and published the book and what she is doing to promote it.
YVONNE: Begin by telling us the author/pen name used for this book.
MAGDALENA: I use my real name: Magdalena Ball
YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
MAGDALENA: Sleep Before Evening is an affirmative coming-of-age story which follows the descent and redemption of a young woman as she peels back the layers of her life, and journeys from sleep to awakening. The young woman is Marianne, and when her influential father figure grandfather has a stroke during one of their weekly chess sessions, her neatly mapped out world slowly begins to crumble. Ultimately the book is about how we give our lives meaning.
YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
MAGDALENA: No. I've also published Quark Soup -- a poetry book, and The Art of Assessment: How to Review Anything -- a nonfiction book on how to review. Sleep Before Evening is my first novel however.
YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book?
MAGDALENA: I started writing it when I was pregnant with my first child, who is now ten. So from first beginnings to book in the hand, about 10 years. But there were many points along the way when I thought I was finished, and there were many long periods of waiting to hear back from publishers, or waiting for publication, or waiting for responses during that period (first thing you learn is that you've always gotta wait). The actual writing time was about 6 years worth.
YVONNE: How did you publish your book?
MAGDALENA: It was published by a small, traditional publisher BeWrite Books, based in the UK.
YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent?
MAGDALENA: No agent. I did all my own queries and submissions.
YVONNE: Where is your book(s) available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
MAGDALENA: The book can be purchased at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/2rzbq5 or Barnes and Noble http://tinyurl.com/2pmbm7 or at any good bookstore -- just ask for it!
More on the book, including reviews, book trailer, audio files, and information can be found at:
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/SleepBeforeEvening.htm.
YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?
MAGDALENA: I like print/radio promotions (I've yet to crack TV but am working on it), but I do tend to do a lot more online publicity for the simple reason that it's quicker, easier, and I have a good online profile and lots of contacts which means that I see opportunities (like this one!) often. The other nice thing about online promotion is that it's permanent -- it leaves a trail. So the podcast you did 5 months ago is still working for you, while the newspaper article has long since been consigned to the fire.
YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? Have you worked with a publicist on any of your books?
MAGDALENA: No publicist. I've done everything myself. The budget is small!
YVONNE: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
MAGDALENA: Here's a blurb from my most recent review: "What a brilliant novel. I started it on Saturday evening and have just finished it. This is a novel I won't forget for a long time. It is both a complex novel theme wise and a page turner. The characters come alive better than those in many a novel from high grossing authors." Jan Mitchell, Fellowship of Australian Writers.
Thanks for another great opportunity to reach readers Yvonne. You're terrific!
YVONNE: Thank you for sharing your writing and knowledge with us. You may also enjoy my podcast interview with Magdalena.
Compulsive Reader website at 
