Interview with Bill Munro
Published 2013-09-14.
How do you approach cover design?
One, does it match the style of the book, two, does it have a real impact and three, is it bold enough to show up as a thumbnail? This last is often overlooked, as on line, that's all you see!
What do you read for pleasure?
Mostly non-fiction, particularly biographies and history. Fiction has really got to grab me, and the last books that did have me really hooked were those in Steig Larssen's Millenium Trilogy. For modern British life, try Andrew Crofts
What is your e-reading device of choice?
At present, a Kindle Fire, but I will move to an iPad Mini soon, as it does so much more besides running more ebook formats than the Kindle and of course it syncs with the iMac and iPhone
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Word of mouth and a reputation built because many of my own titles are an extension of my personal interests
Describe your desk
Not as tidy as I'd like it! Because there are several strands to my writing and publishing work, I've always got a number of projects on the go and it takes a concentrated effort to keep track of it all. Physically its as big a modern desk I can fit in the office with the iMac in a corner and a veneered wood top that's starting to wear where I move the mouse. Above my head are my most important reference books, including software how-tos, books on grammar, linguistics, typography and the reference books related to my own projects
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I'm born and bred a Londoner, so my key subject, London taxis (driving one is still the day job) is in my blood.
When did you first start writing?
I always enjoyed writing at school and in my teenage years wrote for a new magazine a car club I belonged to was publishing. I also learned to operate the small hand printing press they had, setting lead type by hand to print the club's letterheads, business cards and compliments slips. We even printed some Christmas cards, using a Santa Claus print block that needed to be printed twice because it was a two-colour block! It's from here I gained my love of the printing process and its technicalities and it is definitely what led me into the publishing business
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Money! That, and the desire to start up a new business. I'd lined a up a specialist publisher to produce a new title, but sadly the man died. As I'd been editing and typesetting a car club magazine and had the software, I decided to publish the book myself. I had experience in retail so knew how to price things to make a profit. When I took on other authors I saw that producing trade paperbacks needed, at the time large print runs, which meant significant layouts of cash, so producing an ebook version was a way of adding a revenue stream. Now, ebook versions are the priority, and although the latest print technology allows short-run of a paperback edition at a commercial price, it's the ebook that is now the real earner.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
It's got my authors' books into overseas markets that I could not have even dreamed of considering. To be honest, at present Amazon earns me more money, but Smashwords is definitely on the up, and the new author tools coming in will help that a lot
What are you working on next?
I have several projects, but the next Smashwords title I publish will be another memoir, 'Dairy Cows and Duck Races - a Northumbrian Farmer Remembers'. This is scheduled for May 2104. Farming is international, so it should have a wide appeal, but author Philip Dixon is a bit different, in continuing to run a farm after losing the use of his right arm. There is also a sequel to 'An Italian Home' due in about a year's time.
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