Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Joni Sauer-Folger on Self-pubbed and Other Wrting Formats


This week we’re going to find out a little about author Joni Sauer-Folger. February’s theme is ‘Self–pubbed/traditional/other writing formats – why?’ So, Joni will be talking about various forms of writing and publishing. She’ll also tell us a little about herself and her writing, and answer some fun questions.
A native of Oregon, Joni Sauer-Folger spent twenty-two years with an airline traveling and moving around the country before settling down near the beautiful Pacific Ocean with her three very spoiled cats. She writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance under the name J.G. Sauer, and Cozy Mysteries and Romantic Suspense under Joni Folger. When she’s not spending quality time with the characters she creates, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and working in local theater.

Beverley: Are you self–pubbed, traditional or both?
Joni: I’ve been both. Got my rights back for my cozy mysteries last April and re-released them at the first of the year. All my paranormal romance & urban fantasy books are self-pubbed.
Beverley: What made you chose that path?  And tell us how it worked for you.
Joni: My favorite genres are paranormal romance & urban fantasy, but traditional publishers weren’t buying when I began to pursue publication. I was told that, though readers were still buying, the market was saturated in those genres. My agent suggested that I write a proposal for a cozy mystery. Cozies were hot at that time and my proposal sold fairly quickly. So for two years, I concentrated on the mysteries to fulfill the contract. Then I went back to writing what I loved. My agent was actually the catalyst for me going indie with my paranormal/urban fantasies, but that’s another story for another day. LOL
Beverley: Have you written in any other writing formats? (non-fiction, journalism, flash fiction, poetry). If yes, can you share why you tried them and how it worked for you?  And how has it affected how you write today?
Joni: Nope – fiction only, novels & short stories…though I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a play.
Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like to share about differences in self-publishing and traditional publishing for today’s writer?
Joni: I suppose there is a certain security in traditional publishing. Getting an advance and having a recognizable publisher’s name behind your work – not having to worry about paying for book covers, editing, etc.… On the other hand, publishers don’t do as much as they used to, so much is left up to the author anyway, like promotion – not to mention loss of rights. With self-publishing, I can write the stories in my head in my own way without constraints—which is amazing—and I retain the rights to every word I put down on paper, so to speak. However, the flip-side is that I have to do, and pay for everything myself, which takes time and effort – time and effort away from the joy of simply writing and not worrying about the rest of it.
Beverley: How long have you been writing?
Joni: Off and on since going back to college in the early 80s…though in those early days, more off than on…LOL
Beverley: What genre do you write in and why?
Joni: I write cozy mysteries under Joni Folger, and paranormal romance & urban fantasy under J.G. Sauer.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Joni: When I went back to college, my major was theater with an English minor. I had a creative writing professor that was an avid theater fan. One night after a performance, she came backstage and told me something that has stuck with me over the years. She said that while she loved to watch me on stage, she hoped that I never stopped writing because I had an incredible gift. Though it took me way too many years to come back to it, I’ve never forgotten those words.
Beverley: What obstacles did you have to overcome to begin creating your work?
Joni: Probably my own bull-headedness.  Theater is my first love. In childhood, we all ‘play pretend’, and acting/directing is my way to ‘play pretend’ into adulthood…just to someone else’s words. I’ve found that writing gives me that same joy…and I get to use my own words – the stories & voices in my head!
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Joni: Finding an interesting idea & imagining where it could go – pulling on that thread.
Beverley: What will stop your creative muse the quickest?
Joni: Fatigue. I work 40 hours a week for Tillamook County, so sometimes after a particularly grueling day, I’ll sit down at the computer and find that I just can’t put two coherent words together. Instant buzz-kill! I envy those authors who can work at a day job, have a family to contend with when they get home, and still put out three or four books a year. Boggles my mind.
Beverley: What do you have for breakfast?
Joni: It varies. Sometimes I have oatmeal & fruit or cereal & fruit…sometimes it’s just coffee & donuts. Though I LOVE a full country breakfast – biscuits & gravy, bacon & eggs…Mmmm.
Beverley: What do you wear when you are writing?
Joni: That varies as well. Sometimes it’s the cliché of just my pajamas. LOL
Beverley: Where do you do most of your writing?
Joni: I have a section of my family room that is set up as my office. I write on my laptop there.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Joni: I loved the Jetson’s & Top Cat (he had all that stuff in a garbage can!) But Mighty Mouse is probably my favorite. He was justice itself in a small but…well…mighty package.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
Joni: Wow…that’s a hard one, almost impossible to choose. I’m assuming you mean a ‘living person’, but there are way too many choices. I would love to meet the Queen of England - so much history there. Stephen King – the way his mind works fascinates me. Barbara Streisand – HUGE fan. Now, if you mean anyone…oh man, the pot grows exponentially!  Shakespeare, Vivaldi… (sigh)
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Joni: Uh…read??? Ha!
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Joni: I just started work on book 2 of my urban fantasy Guardian series, Sandman’s Lullaby. I hope to have it out by July After that, I’ve got an idea for a Christmas/New Year release that I’ve wanted to do for several years but have always run out of time. It’s a paranormal romance with a slightly different take on the Alice in Wonderland story. Should be fun…

Blurb for Immortal Savior – Immortal Prophecy, Book Two:
ISBN: 978-0-9983201-0-6
Immortal Dory Winthrop hasn’t been the Chosen One for long, but she’s already discovered that the responsibility doesn’t come without its share of trials and triumphs. Now, she and her Warrior—the man she loves, face a new threat: someone is targeting Immortals, and they aren’t excluded from the list. Together, they must discover the motive behind the deaths and unmask the killer before the lethal plan spills over into the mortal world placing humanity at risk.

New Immortal, Warrior Kaden Crenshaw, is an ex-cop abruptly pulled into a compelling and mysterious world filled with limitless possibilities, a world he’s just beginning to explore.  But with this new threat on the horizon, there’s not much time to get up to speed. He’ll need to adapt quickly and lead his team with fierce determination, if he wants to protect the Chosen One and ensure the safety of all.

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/zzg3tpe
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/zurseyh
Google Play:http://tinyurl.com/zbq6ozw
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/h52rms2

You can find Joni at:
www.jonisauerfolger.com
https://www.facebook.com/JG-Sauer-145724772218876/
https://www.facebook.com/JoniFolger/
www.facebook.com/groups/JonisMagickMysteryTour/

Don’t forget to check back next week for another author interview and discussion of genres.

5 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun book. A lot of danger! I wish you well with all your endeavors.

    ReplyDelete
  2. *waving madly* at two favorite girls. Joni, I'm with you in wanting to meet Vivaldi. I'd sit in a corner and listen for days.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can't believe you were a Mighty Mouse fan, too! LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
  4. An area of the Joni Sauer folger where you can find the the new self published pattern. With the safe link of http://www.articlerewriters.org/ you can enjoy the new blog. You can also get the better writing formats with this zone and enjoy the new page.

    ReplyDelete
  5. She's excellent within the woman's understanding as well as composing abilities when i possess study among the woman's guide from go now exactly where your woman writer which with regard to additional college students.

    ReplyDelete