Here are some quotes I swept up off the cutting room floor here at the Dime Store from the interview with Nyree Belleville, aka Bella Andre, Bella Riley and Lucy Kevin:
The interview ran in the Albany Times Union on August 14,
2011:
“I’m happiest when I’m writing. When I sink into a story those are my best
hours. My friends joke I’m the most
bounce-back person. I might be down one
day but the next, I’m like—‘I’ve got plans!’
I think I’ve got a good sense of when to quit. I used to be a singer/song-writer, I played
with Crosby, Stills & Nash, I toured the world, and at some point, I said,
‘I think I’m sort of done with this.’ I was
definitely bummed when my contract with Random House was not picked up again,
but it was the best thing that ever happened, because I got into
self-publishing. It’s ridiculously
rewarding. I don’t say when a door
closed a window opened—it’s like the whole wall flew off!”
“I have a copy editor who also does content when I need it
and a proofer. And my critique
partners! Last night I was on the phone
for a couple hours with one of my critique partners and as a result of that I’m
going to throw out my ending."
“It helps that I had 11 books out through publishers. I know the reader set and the process. The upside to self-publishing? It’s fun, I can say, ‘I’m going to do
whatever I want!’ But there are nice things about having a publisher, and an
editor, someone at the end who gives you the final rubber stamp that means
you’re done. That’s the toughest part of
self-publishing, looking at your book before it goes up and asking, ‘is this
good enough?’”
“I’ve always felt if I give up I’m not there with my lottery
ticket. You have to keep plugging
away. Keep putting stuff out
there.”
“I check Kindle boards a couple times a day. It’s my news source. Amanda Brice was on there well before her
book came out, being involved, taking note.
I can see why she’s taking off.
She was out there picking up the knowledge. She came out already breaking into the upper
2,000.”
For more info on this fun and clever writer, visit her website:
