Interview with Steven Oliverez

Steven Oliverez self-published his sci-fi fantasy novel "The Elder Staves" in 2005. Shortly after his novel hit the markets, it rose to number 25 on Amazon's best-seller list for fantasy novels! As of this date, Oliverez now offers "The Elder Staves" as a free e-book download from his Myspace blog. This special offer is his way of thanking everyone who supported his success. Keep reading to find out how Oliverez made "The Elder Staves" such a huge success.

Misti: As of today's date, approximately how many copies of "The Elder Staves" have you sold?

Steven: Just shy of my 2,000 goal. The biggest hurdle for self-published authors is not being available in brick-and-mortar stores, so I feel lucky that so many people have actively searched out the book and purchased it online. Since I made "The Elder Staves" available for free as an e-book at the end of last year, several thousand more readers have downloaded a copy. Since the majority of self-published books rarely break the 100 mark, I feel very proud and grateful for the successes I've enjoyed.

Misti: Congratulations on making Amazon's best-seller list in 2006 for fantasy novels! Can you share with our readers some of the marketing techniques you used to make Amazon's best-seller list?

Steven: I don't believe any marketing techniques will ever be as successful as word-of-mouth. I am fortunate enough to have several dedicated fans who not only recommend my writing to friends, but who have actively gone to bookstores and coffee houses around the country and promoted it. I think my presence and availability on social marketing sites like Myspace have allowed me to connect on a personal level with many readers. It's been a boon to sales, but more so to my own morale as a writer. When you spend months or years putting a manuscript together, you've invested a lot of yourself and you can't help but take its eventual fate personally.

Misti: Before making the decision to self-publish "The Elder Staves," did you try the traditional publishing route, and how did that work out for you?

Steven: Yes, for several years actually. Like many aspiring authors, I have my over-stuffed shoebox full of rejection letters. What was disheartening was not that they didn't like my writing, but that they refused to even look at it. There came a point when I decided that if my books were going to be published, I was going to have to do it myself. It was a learning experience, though, and I'm glad I took the time to do it that way.

Misti: Where do your ideas come from?

Steven: For my short stories and literary fiction, a lot of ideas come from observation -- primarily the day-to-day relationships between people. The settings of my fantasy writings are taken solely from imagination, but I try to keep the characters real and easy to empathize with by applying those same observations to their interactions with other characters in the story. I often try to present familiar things in a unique light, and it has greater affect if the reader can connect on a personal level.

Misti: Can you share any advice with our readers on how they too can make their book(s) a success?

Steven: Work hard. I can say that if you're in it for the money, get out now, because there are plenty of other professions that are more lucrative and require less effort. That said, the most important thing is to make sure you've got something marketable. It can be the most insightful piece in the world, but if nobody wants to read it, then it's not going to be a success financially. After that, it's just a matter of hitting the streets (real or virtual) and getting the word out. Work hard and never miss an opportunity to network.

Misti: I see you gain a lot of your success through Myspace. Do you have any tips for authors that use -- or may be considering -- Myspace for exposure?

Steven: It's very easy to spend a lot of time on social networking sites, primarily because of the 'social' aspect. It's important to decide what you're trying to accomplish online and then work to achieve it. I started posting on Myspace to network with other writers and journalists, and to receive feedback on my stories, and things grew from there. For people looking to start out, Steve Weber recently published a book called "Plug Your Book" that goes into depth about this subject.

Misti: Is there any additional information, tips and/or advice you'd like to add?

Steven: My advice to authors who contact me is always to exhaust the traditional publishing route first. Even if nothing comes out of it, it gives you time to really work on your writing and decide if publishing is really for you. If you do go the self-publishing route afterwards, make sure you're ready to put in a lot of elbow grease.

If you'd like to read some of Oliverez's writings and see how he presents himself and his books on Myspace, visit him at Myspace.