One thing stands between fiction and non-fiction. Reality. As a novelist, I’ve written stories about killers and their victims but those characters live only in my imagination. The killers and victims in Warren’s books are real and that raises the stakes considerably. These are not simply characters, but traumatized people whose lives and futures were snuffed out and whose surviving families must live on with that knowledge.
These are people who Warren personally interviews and that impresses me. I know it takes sympathy and understanding to talk with victims affected by crime. Alan Warren jokes that his autism allows him to be poker-faced and unemotional in meetings with killers and the victims’ surviving family and friends, but his altruism and compassion shine through in what he chooses to reveal in his books, what he chooses to omit, and how he approaches each word.
Murder Times Six: the True Story of the Wells Gray Park Murders is a book about “justice.” The question Warren continues to return to is this: should David Shearing, confessed murderer of six, be allowed parole? Shearing has applied for parole before and can do so again in 2021. Warren asks: “Do we want people who commit such violent crimes, like murder and rape, out in free society? Would you want him living next door to you?” This book presents the case against Shearing. Why should he be allowed to live a “normal” life with the wife he married while incarcerated when his victims’ lives were snuffed out for one selfish reason? Shearing wanted two young girls he’d noticed in the bush and become obsessed with. This is a “story of a family trying to live and enjoy their lives.” It’s not a story intended to glamorize David Shearing. You will not find graphic details here. This is a book that honours the victims and survivors.
In August 1982, three generations of a Kelowna family went camping at Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia — Bob and Jackie Johnson and their daughters, thirteen-year-old Janet and eleven-year-old Karen, along with Jackie’s parents George and Edith Bentley. None of them ever returned. Many people know that their charred bodies were discovered later — the remains of four adults piled into the back seat and the two young girls (sisters) in the trunk.
Forty years later, Warren interviewed David Shearing at Bowden Institution, a medium-security prison in Alberta. He also interviewed Shearing’s wife, Heather. One thing I appreciate about Warren’s book is the detailed research he’s done into subjects such as hybristophilia: an intense love and sexual attraction for a man who’s committed heinous crimes. This “potentially lethal disorder” is more common than we think and there are several prison dating sites that enable it. Warren also explains the Canadian prison and parole system and discusses pedophilia and cutting-edge “treatments” as this topic relates to Shearing’s motives for murdering this family.
The book is divided into three parts. First, the story of the family, their excitement about going camping together, their disappearance and gruesome discovery, and finally Shearing. Next, police interviews with Shearing, his changing stories and confession, subsequent trial, and incarceration. And finally, tributes to the family and victim impact statements that will break your heart.
Warren documents a long list of references — everything from parole hearing reports to the genetic predisposition of humans to kill each other — but what makes this book are the personal words and touches along with Warren’s own insights into Shearing and the people he destroyed. The city of Kelowna continues to mourn the loss of this family — three generations gone because one man wanted two young girls who’d not even set foot in high school. He wanted them and he took them.
Alan R. Warren is a host and producer of NBC news talk radio show House of Mystery which reviews True Crime, History, Science, Religion, and Paranormal Mysteries. He is also the best-selling author of several True Crime books and can be found at www.alanrwarren.com
In an age where murder is sensationalized through television drama, the reality of a real cold-blooded “murder times six” by a ruthless and selfish killer, begs to be heard and acknowledged. Warren does important work and I applaud his dedication to sensitively bring justice to the victims of violent crimes.
Interviewers ask so many interesting questions, some that really make you think. Sometimes it takes me days to think about the question and craft a decent, honest answer. I particularly hate anything about “favourites” — what is your favourite . . . ? Who can have just one?
Jean the Book Nerd opened doors into my mind where I had to ramble and reminisce. These were all valid and pertinent questions. Not all interviewers ask such questions.
In “Writing Behind the Scenes” I talk about my creative process and venture into mystical territory that I haven’t revealed before. I hope you enjoy the interview. Please leave a comment or question that doesn’t ask about favourites!
I recently guested as an Indie author/publisher on a Publishing Panel for Toronto East End Writers 20th Anniversary Celebration, along with True Crime Writer Nate Hendley, Blue Denim Press Publisher Shane Joseph, and historical fiction author Tom Taylor as moderator. This is quite informative and speaks to different publishing and marketing experiences. See my two latest journal posts (So, You Want to Indie Publish, parts 1 & 2) for details.
Writing is like most other jobs except the work is so tied to your sense of self, it can turn into an emotional roller coaster. One minute you’re euphoric; the next you’re a trainwreck. You spend hours, weeks, and years writing a book, and then move onto the publishing and promotion phase. The ups and downs during writing are a mere microcosm of the unpredictability experienced after.
I thought about this last night while fighting another round of insomnia. Yesterday, I received my first two agent rejections and the results came out for an international awards contest I really hoped to win. Nope, my name appeared nowhere. I didn’t feel terribly affected at the time; after all, agents get hundreds of queries per week and an international contest involves zillions of entries worldwide. It’s akin to entering the lottery, knowing your chances are slim but hoping just the same, and feeling that crash when your numbers don’t come up.
Meanwhile, a week ago, I did one of my best interviews yet with two terrific hosts on Sci Fi Saturday Night and was euphoric for days. This month alone, I’ve been featured in several online magazines (UrbanLit, Uncaged, Jean the Book Nerd); I’ve been interviewed on two video podcasts (Pen for Hire, She Blurbs), and two audio shows (Sci Fi Saturday Night and Douglas Coleman in Las Vegas). I received some wonderful reviews, met fantastic authors and media folks in our monthly publicity meeting, and participated in a lively publishing panel with Toronto’s East End Writers. Fantastic! All of it.
And I’m writing. I submitted three reviews this month and am three-quarters of the way through writing the first draft of a new romantic suspense novel. I’m marketing four Hollystone Mysteries and pitching a small town romantic suspense novel. With all that juggling, it’s no wonder I’m battling tendonitis: the result of too much repetitive motion AKA typing and clicking.
My shoulder and bicep is screaming “Take a break and find some balance!”
“But this is what I do!” I scream back. “Can’t stop now.”
Dictation is not an option. I’m a visual writer. I need to see those words on the page and mess with them. Last night I thought about other jobs I could do that don’t involve a computer. Psychic tarot card reader? Workshop host? I remember Milton screaming at God when he lost his sight after too many candle lit nights. God’s reply involved the word “patience.” Perhaps, that’s what I’m missing—the patience to get up and walk away and stretch and REST. When my dog pushes my fingers off the keyboard with her nose, I need to listen.
Still, all I need is one “send me more of your manuscript” and I’ll be ecstatic again.
Do you ride an emotional roller coaster? Tell me about it.
Our Publishing Panel is gathering Wednesday May 26 for the East End Writers – 20th Anniversary Celebration. You can access it here through Facebook. The event runs from 4-6pm PST and our panel comes up for the last half hour.
After my Lulu foray — which I honestly consider a mistake because I was all exuberance and no strategy — I re-edited To Charm a Killer, and republished it in 2016. I’d retired from public school teaching that year and “came out” as an author using my own name: W. L. Hawkin (Wendy Louise.) This made me feel a little more like a “real” author.
This time, I purchased the services of Shane Joseph at Blue Denim Press as I knew Shane, slightly. We met, discussed my project, and agreed on a contract. Shane offers “assistance in preparing manuscripts for submission to other publishers or for self-publishing.” His business also offers: manuscript evaluation, substantive editing, copy editing, formatting for production, and proofreading. I hired Shane specifically to format my manuscript for print and ebook. This meant, he had to create three separate and distinct files: a pdf for print, a mobi for Kindle, and an epub for all the other platforms (Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, etc). Shane graciously introduced me to his style of publishing and gave me lots of information. For example, when the zip file came back containing my cover, mobi file, and inside images, all I had to do was upload it on Amazon and it magically appeared as an ebook right before my eyes.
Shane asked me for input and then gave me a choice of covers, and I must say, this cover is still one of my favourites! He formatted my print book and sent me all the different files with instructions as to how to upload to IngramSpark book distributors for (print and epub). IngramSpark charges fees to upload to their site ($49US for print or for print and ebook or $25US for just an ebook; however they frequently run free promotions so, if you can time it right, you can avoid the set-up fees. I still use IngramSpark to print and distribute my paperbacks, but I now use Draft2Digital for epubs (Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Nobles, etc.) Draft2Digital are incredibly author-friendly. You can upload your manuscript and try out their different themes; actually see them and digitally leaf through the book. You upload for free and they take their cut when the book sells.
Tip: If you’re planning to mail your print book, make sure the finished wrapped copy will fit through the letter slot at the post office. The book Shane produced was beautiful but did not fit and cost $15 to mail. This is not cost effective ($20 for book + $15 for postage = too much to ask.) When I revised it to fit with my trilogy in 2018, I used a slightly smaller font and made sure it fit through the slot. My books now cost $5.50 to mail in Canada.
Going it Independently
In 2018, I completed the sequel, To Sleep with Stones. I am comfortable with technology and had spent years writing and formatting newsletters and desktop publishing, so felt confident that I could do what Shane had done. And I mostly could; though I probably went a little greyer around that time.
I used Shane’s original Word file as a prototype to format my book using Word. I now know many Indie authors and many of them are still reluctant to take on Word. Honestly, it can drive you insane! However, I’ve recovered sufficiently and formatted enough books now to feel comfortable offering my own formatting service. To be specific, when you format a book for print on Word, you set up EVERYTHING from a blank document: headers, footers, page numbering, page breaks, front and back material, images, and it all has to look PERFECT on the page — at least for me. I will confess that a few times I’ve discovered one line dangling at the end of a chapter and actually gone back through the chapter and changed the wording to make that dangler fit on the preceding page. This depth of formatting requires hours and hours of intense left-brained concentration and perfectionism. There are other ways:
Tip: Many Indies I know recommend using Vellum. As they say on their site: “Everything for Print. No setup required. You’ll have a book that looks like it took days to create . . . in minutes.” For that you’ll pay $249.99 US for unlimited ebooks and paperbacks. The price is a drawback, but if you write and Indie publish many books, this can be a good investment. You only pay once and when you need to change a type-o, you only change it once. On Word, I have three files to fix when I find a tiny error. Several platforms will create your print book from your ebook including Draft2Digital and KDP (Amazon). Do your research and price them out. Then do what you feel most comfortable with.
Right about now, you might be asking: why does this mad woman continue to use Word when there are alternatives? Three reasons. One, my files are all on Word now. Two: I feel proficient in using it now. And three: I have more control over THE LOOK. For example, I found a jazzy Celtic font that suited To Sleep with Stones. I used it for the inside cover and chapter heads and my cover designer used it as well, so everything matched beautifully. I also cut and pasted Celtic knots for scene breaks in this book. Here’s the cover for my second stand-alone in sequence. I still like the detail in this cover and it suited Dylan McBride, who was the featured witch in this story. And check out the cloud face in the top right corner that happened by accident. There is an evil vampire in this story too and there he is!
At this point, I was using beta readers, joining organizations, learning the craft, going to conferences, and giving live readings. One of the beta readers reported that my character, Michael Stryker, had made a stupid mistake in To Sleep with Stones. I thought, Yes, she’s right. He did. At that point, I could change it, or leave it in, and see what happens. I decided to leave it in and the third book bounced off Michael’s stupid mistake!
Tip: Get experienced eyes on your draft. Find beta readers to give you feedback, join a critique group, and employ a developmental editor if you can afford it. Listen to what they have to say. Try not to inflict your drafts on your family and friends. They can’t really be honest and what you need is honest feedback.
My stories all follow in sequence and I rely on the characters to tell me what happens. I also do not outline or plan. I write the whole story intuitively by listening and watching what the characters show and tell me. I did things a little differently with my third book, To Render a Raven. I hired a developmental editor to read my final draft and comment. She really helped me create an amazing book and I’ve hired her twice since then.
By 2018, I had completed book three, To Render a Raven, and I had a trilogy to publish. I worked with another cover artist to create trilogy covers because who doesn’t love matching covers?
Now, you might be wondering if I ever tried to get my books picked up by an agent or editor and published traditionally at any point after that first conference. I did. Through conversations, again at the SiWC, I was told that no one wants to acquire a book that’s already been self-published unless it’s sold thousands of copies and is a major hit. And, more importantly, no one wants to pick up a series that’s already had one or two books published.
Tip: If you’re planning to write a series and want to traditionally publish, hold off on self-publishing. Really try and find an agent or editor. If you Indie published your first book and want to write more in that series, you must finish it first, and then query with a brand new book unrelated to your series. You should have a solid platform at that point with a website and social media links and that will help in your queries.
I suppose you could put your Indie published series on hold, query with a new book, and rework your old series later on, but what about your series fans? And how do you tell your characters they can’t come out and play?
I’ve written four so far in this series and I’m open to writing a fifth. In December, I worked with a graphic artist to design The Tattoo Editions. Every cover features the tattoo of a character in the book. I reformatted all of the books to match (yes I am a little mad) and recently released them. And I’ve learned so much during the last few years. The Internet can answer all your questions but you can also become mired in the sheer amount of information available regarding Indie Publishers. Be kind and forgiving with yourself and follow your passions.
Meanwhile, I’ve completed something new: a contemporary small town romance. I’m currently shopping for a home for it by querying agents. Being a hybrid author — someone who combines both Indie publishing and traditional publishing — is acceptable now. While I wait, I’m writing the draft of another novel. Having several projects at different stages and wearing many hats is what writing and publishing requires today.
Again, if you have any questions please ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction. There may be a part 3 to this post after the panel on Wednesday!
