~~ An Interview with Debra Womack from Whiskey Creek Press by Sue Waldeck ~~
 

Recently, electronic and print multi-genre publisher Whiskey Creek Press changed hands.  New owner/publisher Debra Womack is maintaining founder Beverley J. Haynes philosophy though – a quality product that is affordable and convenient for the customers.   

If you travel through WCP’s pages you’ll see that they are indeed multi-genre – adventure, inspirational, humor, YA, mystery, poetry, western, horror and even non-fiction.  Quiet an accomplishment in just over a year! 

So I welcome Debra Womack today, to talk about Whiskey Creek Press. 

SW – Debra, first introduce yourself a bit.  Where are you coming from?   What made you consider taking on a quickly growing company like WCP and what have you been doing up to this point in time?  

DW -- I grew up in Massachusetts and eventually moved to Wyoming via Indiana with my husband and children. My background is in education and I’ve done my fair share of editing, but one of my great passions has always been books and reading. When this opportunity presented itself I knew it was what I wanted! 

SW – Let’s talk about Whiskey Creek Press.  It was started just over a year ago and has grown very quickly.  That has to be a bit intimidating.  And probably exciting!  How are you going to maintain that growth?   

DW -- We are going to grow by maintaining our core product, great books by excellent writers, and offer convenience and affordable prices to our customers. We have nearly a hundred new titles coming out over the next several months, and we are expanding our selections, always giving the customer a great read in either an e-book format or traditional paperback book. We are very customer focused. 

SW – What can we expect to see in the way of changes over the next year?  New lines?  Where will WCP be in a year?  5 years? 

DW – Expect lots of new titles to join the great selection we’ve already developed. Our first of several science fiction titles, Daughter of the Stone by Arryn Heath, comes out in November, and we’re excited about two “coming soon” non-fictions, Decoding the Parable of Dreams by Florence Ellen, out in September, and an excellent look at learning disabilities, L.D. from the Inside Out by Carolyn Brubaker Lampman, a January release. Our romance titles continue to be very popular, including our growing Torrid Romance label, and we have new titles coming out in all our genres. We’ll more than double our current number of titles in the next year and our customers will find our author’s efforts a great place to get their reading pleasure. 

SW – Erotic romance is so popular right now.  A few years ago, we couldn’t get enough time travel romance.  Chic lit is said to have come and be waning already.  What do you think about the ebb and tide of genres, and how does a publisher anticipate what readers will want before readers even know? 

DW – There is a certain ebb and flow, but a good story that’s well written never goes out of style, and that’s what our outstanding Senior Staff looks for when a title is submitted to us for publication. 

SW – On electronic books, do you think they’ve proven themselves yet? What would you say to someone trying to decide whether or not to buy one?  I get people emailing me all the time asking if I can recommend them – I’m surprised how many people have never read one.  How would you convince a die-hard print reader that ebooks are worth trying?   

DW – The number of e-book customers continues to grow because of the ease and convenience of e-books. We get a lot of repeat e-book customers, and that’s a good sign for continued e-book growth. For the new e-book customer the key is to get a good hand-held device you’re comfortable with, if you don’t want to use your computer or laptop screen. The technology is improving rapidly and its becoming very convenient and user friendly. But tradition is a powerful force too, and we will always offer paperback books for most of our titles for the reader who likes to snuggle up with a good book. 

SW – There are so many review sites online now, and while they all offer the same basic service – a book review – they do it in so many different ways.  They have different policies, different philosophies, which means you’re going to get quite a varied response to a single book.  What do you think is the true value of a book review?  Is it beneficial advertising?  Or simply a service to readers?  Do they ultimately affect sales and, as some will suggest, can a bad one ruin an authors’ career?   

DW – Do reviews drive sales, for a movie, a Broadway show, a music CD or a book? That’s always been the unanswerable question. Do bad reviews hurt an artist…most mainstream reviewers certainly panned The Beatles when they first came out, but they still did OK! But a review certainly adds a sense of validity, to the author as well as the potential customer, and we continue to post reviews on our author pages.   

SW – WCP is accepting submissions at present.  I know writers who have written several works but are completely stymied by the thought of getting published.  What advice can you give authors looking to sell their work?  Where should they start?  What should they do before submitting?  

DW – Write a good story using traditional writing mechanics, then rewrite and rewrite again. Think of what sells. Is your work commercial, because publishing is after all a business. Develop a workable marketing plan, and be willing to promote your book. Getting an agent is always very difficult, and getting published by a mainstream publishing company is against the odds. That’s what Whiskey Creek Press offers good authors, the chance to get published, and the encouragement to keep writing! 

All of us at Whiskey Creek Press are excited about the great titles we have to offer our readers now, and all the growth coming in the next several months. We look forward to the opportunity to put a good read in the hands of our customers, time and time again! 

SW – Debra, I wish you the best of luck with Whiskey Creek Press.  Thanks for taking some time to introduce yourself and WCP to RTR visitors.   

DW-- Thank You! 

You can visit Whiskey Creek Press online at www.whiskeycreekpress.com