Pump Up Your Book Feature Interview: James S. Kelly, Author of I Didn’t Forget

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I Didn't Forget 10

“The clock struck twelve. Lucille and three of the other laundry workers took off the scarves protecting their hair, looked in the mirror, applied some lipstick, walked down a long corridor and up two flights of stairs to the main cafeteria. It was Tuesday and meatloaf was the special today. To Lucille, it brought back memories of family meals with mashed potatoes, kernel corn and buttermilk biscuits. Most of her family had passed away; she wondered why time had passed so fast.”

— From I DIDN’T FORGET by James S. Kelly

James S. Kelly

James S. (Jim) Kelly is a retired United States Air Force Colonel with over 100 combat missions in Vietnam. Prior to his retirement, Jim was Program Director for a Communication’s Program in Iran, working directly under the Shah. Jim and his wife, Patricia own and operate High Meadow’s Horse Ranch outside Solvang, California. All of his novels use Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley as a setting. Over the past 15 years, Jim and his wife have been active in a charity supporting our troops in forward operating locations, in hostile territory, overseas. To contact Jim, email him at jkelly2020@outlook.com.

Website: www.kellywritings.com

Interview

Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself?

I read about three books on how to write.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub?

Initially, I tried to obtain an agent and was unsuccessful

If self-published, did you hire someone to format the ebook version for you or did you do it yourself? Can you tell us what that was like?

The formatting was done by Graphics Ltd near my home. It was fairly simple

If self-published, how did you determine the price?

I initially check with several self publishing houses and settled on CreateSpace

If published by a publisher, are you happy with the price they chose?

Did you purposefully choose a distinct month to release your book? Why?

No. I wasn’t that astute.

How did you choose your cover?

I gave my designer a broad outline and we worked from there.

Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went?

Yes and many times.

Did you come up with special swag for your book and how are you using it to help get the word out about your book?

I’m still a neophyte when it comes to marketing.

What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book?

That’s one form of marketing. I’m not sure it works that well.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?

Make sure it’s edited, reviewed several of your friends and reviewed by an independent third party.

What are the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?

Have a stiff drink and move on to the next project.

What kind of pre-promotion did you do before the book came out?

Established a web page and added my new book to the page.

Do you have a long term plan with your book?

No.

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?

I’d always wanted to write a civil war novel and touch some of the relevant issues of the time such as slavery and women’s rights. The heroine in this book is an independent thinker and some of the issues she tackled ere quite bold for her and that era.

I Didnt Forget

Book Description

The double murder of two long time friends has caused hysteria in the small town of Solvang, Ca. Its up to Clay Wrens, the county’s premier detective to solve the murders and calm the townspeople.

Complicating the investigation is a local politician who’s afraid the Wrens will uncover his financial transgressions, while a female reporter, with her own agenda, is suggesting that Wrens be replaced

As the investigation moves to a climax, Wrens is drawn to a twenty five year old murder and the convicted murderer, who’s just been released from prison.

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