Finding Fiction Friday - Firebrand Publishing COO Amy Cancryn

After a one-week break, Finding Fiction Friday is returning with a rare treat.  Instead of a new author, today we are pleased to welcome the COO of Firebrand Publishing, Amy Cancryn!  Firebrand presents a little bit different business model than either traditional publishing or vanity publishing.  Whether you are an author or a reader, I hope you will enjoy getting to know Amy and her vision.  First, a brief bio ...

Amy Cancryn is a little introverted, but fun (when she decides to loosen up a bit.) She fell in love with reading in elementary school and continued to devour books whether she worked for a toy store, retail clothing store, International Banking Company, sold cars or cosmetics.

Amy has a seven year old daughter who is going on sixteen, and an almost two year old son who thinks he's mini Thor. Amy lives with her wonderful husband Gregory, who has to put up with Amy constantly forgetting their wedding anniversary. (He forgets too.)

Amy works with her husband (and no, neither of them have tried to kill the other...yet) in a suburb outside of Atlanta, where they currently live.

Her first children's book, Hope Learns To Jump Rope, releases November 2013.

Amy, how did you get started in the publishing business?

Three years ago I finished my third novel and wanted to get it published. I had no idea where to start.

I started doing research by googling every idea or question that came to me. I started to familiarize myself with the steps needed to get published.

To get published I had to find a literary agent, they would have to sell my novel and I would then wait to get published.

All the research led me to the conclusion it would take me between 5 - 10 years of querying, writing, etc, before I would possibly get published. The first-time authors who do get published right away are few.

I also researched self-publishing and decided that was the right path for me.

It was a ton of work, but I was able to publish my first book in 2011. It came out well, and my book sold well.

Self-publishing is a lot of work.

I published a few more books for close friends and realized I could help authors publish their books.

I felt authors should be able to experience the benefit and opportunity that self-publishing offers whether they want to put in the time to learn and do it themselves.

So a group of us created Firebrand Publishing, the “publishing house” for indie authors.

We are their production house.

Authors come to use and we produce their book to their specification.

Hassle free self publishing.

What genres does Firebrand Publishing work with?

Firebrand Publishing publishes all genre's.

Thriller, Romance, Action, Horror, New Adult, Young Adult, Kid Lit, Children's picture books, Christian, everything.

We have not been presented with a story or genre we will not publish. However, there are a few caveats, Firebrand Publishing will not publish. Books that glorify rape, incest, bestiality and or hate type books and stories.

Tell us a bit about the philosophy behind Firebrand.  What makes it special, to you?

"Ebooks for dough, Print for show."

Ebooks are the future. With ebooks, self publishers can compete alongside the biggest names in publishing and gain success.

The profits from publishing will come from ebooks.

All of our packages start with ebooks. Ebooks are the default.

With ebooks and professional publishing of books, we feel our authors will recoup the investment made publishing their books, within 3-6 months, many times sooner.

Ebooks are forever, like diamonds :)  So our authors continue to earn profits and royalties long after they have made back the investment from one of our packages.

Professional book publishing, 100% royalties. We feel authors deserve to have their work published, and published to the highest standard. So much so, that we maintain a 100% money back guarantee.

We work until our authors are thrilled with each phase of the book production process.

If they aren't happy we will make as many revisions as necessary. Our authors have the final say.

At Firebrand Publishing, we feel, if you pay to publish your book, you should receive all profits from the sale of your book.

It's a simple concept, but everyone wants a piece of your royalties. Not us.

We don't understand the concept of accepting payment to publish a book AND taking 30-45% of royalties. We feel that's a bad deal for authors.

So,

100% royalties, Professional book publishing with a 100% money back if you are not happy with your book.

If you could tell prospective authors one thing to NOT do, what would it be?

Don't give up. Keep going. You will get there. Never ever ever give up your dream of writing or publishing your book.

People want to read it, people will love it. You are good enough and it matters what you write.

Do you have any big news you’d like to share about Firebrand Publishing?  Any big stuff happening in the next few weeks or months?

At Firebrand Publishing, we are in the process of publishing 8 books in the next 2 months. We are over the moon ( cliche? :) )

We are very excited to present the work of our authors to the world.

The first is a children's picture book, Hope Learns to Jump Rope, by me, Amy Cancryn, which releases November 26, 2013.

The next is a cute story about a little boy and a lamp (Larry the Lamp) by Andy Fox.

A memoir about a woman who was abandoned by her mother at an early age and how she has learned to cope called, Finding Anna.

We have a Thriller/Horror story about a young twenty-something girl who takes a drug at a party and is never ever the same again called Dream Slave.

An erotica called Spark (3 book series). I'll leave the description of that one out. This seems like a family blog :) Let’s just say, it’s very hot and exciting.

A New adult story about a journalism student that gets too close to the wrong people.

A follow up to Hope Learns to Jump Rope.

And a beginner chapter book about two families that go on vacation to Paris and the mayhem that ensues.

...how many is that (counts fingers. I write, not that good at math)

I think that's all of them.

Plus we speak to prospective authors daily.

Are there any recent developments in the publishing industry that have either surprised or inspired you?

I am surprised at the speed of change in the industry. What worked 6 months ago, may not work now. For instance amazon kdp select, when it first came to be, many authors were successful, now the kdp program is so saturated, success with it is a hit or miss.

I am surprised about the merging in publishing. I am surprised that Penguin bought author solutions.

I am surprised that self publishing has gained such prominence in the last few years.

I love the fact that self published authors are finally earning a good living off the creativity of their work. We want to help more authors reach that level.

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one.  Here they go!

1. What is your favorite word? Success
2. What is your least favorite word? Can't
3. What turns you on? Porn. Clean version "Hard work and perseverance"
4. What turns you off? Laziness"
5. What sound or noise do you love? The laughter of my husband and kids
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Screeching
7. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Engineer, OBGYN, Dancer in a dance troupe, Movie producer, Beyonce
9. What profession would you not like to do? A port-o-potty worker. The person who cleans out the port-o-potties. I have a phobia of public restrooms.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? "Oh, you look like you've lost weight. Have you been working out?" while Frank Sinatra croons  "I did it my way"
11. What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? Can you hold this 10 million dollars for me?

Amy, thanks so much for spending time with us.  Can you let us know where to follow Firebrand Publishing?

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, www.firebrandpublishing.com or call us 888-338-2767.

Thank you for having me, this has been fun. If your readers have any questions, I'll be here all day to answer them.

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Patricia, Dawn, and I can also be followed here:    Facebook              Twitter

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in Patricia and my published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe