Interview with Best-Selling Author Michael Stadther

Best-selling author Michael Stadther went from rags to riches by captivating the hearts of children. He wrote and illustrated "A Treasure's Trove," but his book was more than just text and pictures. "A Treasure's Trove" also took his readers on a hunt for hidden tokens, which could be redeemed for treasure.

Stadther self-published "A Treasure's Trove" in November 2004 and it has sold more than 600,000 copies! Still, Stadther's success was not only in sales, but he also found victory when his book made its way to the number two spot on the New York Times Best-Seller List, and then it made its way to number one on the Publisher's Weekly Best-Seller List. But wait, Stadther's success kept growing, and where did it take him next? It took him to appearances on national television -- the Today Show (three appearances), CBS Sunday Morning and Inside Edition.

In our interview with Stadther, he told us about his success, shared some of his marketing tips and much more. Keep reading to find out more about Stadther, "A Treasure's Trove," the sequel to "A Treasure's Trove" and much more.

Misti: What is the most important thing you would like to achieve with your writing?

Michael: To write an interesting story that appeals both to young and old -- boys and girls.

Misti: How do you get readers involved in your books?

Michael: My readers usually hear about my books through my school readings, media (such as television) and my Internet sites: "A Treasure's Trove" and "Secrets of the Alchemist Dar."

Misti: How do you find ideas for your books?

Michael: My books are very complex and integrate a story line, clues to a treasure hunt and jewels; all of these things work together to generate ideas. For example, in my next book, "Secrets of the Alchemist Dar" (the sequel to my first book, "A Treasure's Trove"), I picked Aaron Basha to design a jeweled ring collection as the treasure, and then wrote the story line involving the main characters' wedding anniversary, which included a jeweled ring.

Misti: Have you begun marketing the sequel to "A Treasure's Trove" yet?

Michael: Yes, the marketing program began several months ago. Because the sequel launches a worldwide treasure hunt, I decided to market the first book outside the U.S. so that readers in other countries could read it and the companion solutions guide, so they will understand how the hunt works.

Misti: When do you recommend for authors to start marketing their books?

Michael: It is difficult for authors to do a lot of marketing, because it is getting very expensive. But, it is getting easier with Internet sites such as Amazon, or my new book authoring and selling site, Everyone Gets Published.

Misti: I understand that "A Treasure's Trove" has already sold more than 600,000 copies to date. Based on your success, can you share with our readers some of the marketing techniques you used to make "A Treasure's Trove" so successful?

Michael: I hired a small marketing firm and started small: First, I got articles in the local newspapers, and then interviews on the local TV stations. As more people responded favorably, the larger newspapers and TV stations became interested. Eventually, I was interviewed on the Today Show, and the country went wild; I got 150,000 orders the next day.

Misti: Is "A Treasure's Trove" the first of your books to reach The New York Times Best-Seller List? If so, how did it feel to make The New York Times Best-Seller List for the first time?

Michael: "A Treasure's Trove" was published in both soft and hardcover at the same time, along with the "Puzzle Companion"-- a paperback book that presented stories of real treasure, along with some puzzles and brainteasers. At the time I was so busy with book sales, interviews and school readings, I didn't have much time to think about getting on The New York Times Best Seller List. After the fact, I really appreciated the wonderful readers who bought the book and got it onto the list. I am deeply honored.

Misti: Later, after your book became so successful, were you contacted by any of the major publishers who rejected you before you chose to self-publish the book? What happened?

Michael: Yes, several contacted me, but the offer from Jack Romanos, CEO of Simon & Schuster, to meet me at my house, won me over. We now are affiliated with S&S, and they are the distributors for my next book, "Secrets of the Alchemist Dar," plus five coloring and activity books ("Pook's Tale," "Zac's Forest Friends," "Wings and Rings," "What Booger Knows" and "Doths in Danger"), and the second Puzzle Companion book ("101 NEW Puzzles, Clues, Maps, Tantalizing Tales and Stories of Real Treasure").

Misti: In terms of self-publishing, is there any thing you would've done differently?

Michael: There are many things I would do differently. For one, I now know that my best marketing activities -- in terms of effectiveness -- include national TV and radio appearances, and reading to children through my school reading programs.

It is still very difficult to get large sales when you self-publish, but soon the Internet, authoring sites and e-book readers will change that.

Misti: Please share any other advice with authors on how they, too, can make their own book a success.

Michael: Promote it, any way you can -- readings to schools, retirement homes, libraries and etc. Sell it from the back of the room if you make presentations, or give speeches that relate to it. If you have a store, sell it in your store. Sell it from your car. List it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and etc.

You can also contact one of my new companies (Everyone Gets Published) and get print-on-demand books. Two of our authors this month transitioned from self-published to being sold in bookstores. One book, "Become the CEO of You, Inc." by Susan Bulkeley Butler, is selling several hundred copies a month.

Misti: Do you have any additional comments you would like to add?

Michael: I know it can be very frustrating trying to get a book published, and if you self-publish, it is hard to get the book marketed and distributed. But with hard work, it now can be done.

Soon, it will get even easier. Print-on-demand books will allow authors to get directly to the reader, and the Internet will be a fast, cheap way to market books. This will also reduce the enormous number of manuscripts coming to the publishers, and allow them to spend more quality time reviewing the manuscripts that deserve traditional publishing. I suspect that self-publishing and print-on-demand may even make the traditional publishers look for more new writers, and take more risks to go after a shrinking supply of new manuscripts. In the future, print-on-demand may even happen in bookstores, reducing the large amount of shelf space that the stores have to pay for. Perhaps, further in the future, bookstores will look more like restaurants with only a few preprinted books; your book will be printed and bound for you while you sip coffee and eat danish.

I enjoyed this interview and found Stadther's style of creating treasure hunts throughout his books to be very interesting and unique.