18Q Joyce Spizer Foy

Joyce Spizer Foy

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

I was a Private Investigator for several decades. An Assistant DA in Orange County, CA., suggested that I enroll in creative writing classes because my reports to his office on serial killers were humorous.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

PI for several decades, have a PhD in marketing, a MBA in business.

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

I’m a writer? I don’t think I even know it now!

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

Muse driven.

5. What is your writing process?

The muse enters the room and shakes my right brain. I throw up on paper and save it. The muse leaves the room. Later, I go back and edit from my left brain so the flow appears fluid and without interruption.

6. What was your path to publication?

Painful and long.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

When the B&N in my small home town only ordered three copies of my book, I found a small local “used” book store and pitched the idea of her holding book signings on new books as well. Whenever I speak around my town, I urge people to go to her shop and not B&N. I’ve sold hundreds, if not thousands of copies of my books from her store. My latest book is in its 4th edition. B&N in that community has never ordered it. Work outside the box. Don’t buy the box.

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

Bad books are published -- but they have great marketing plans. The marketing is more important than the actual writing. It’s sad, actually.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?

Hunger, housing, and gas money inspire me to write. People contact me with great stories they want my help on. My first three books (a mystery series) were actually fictionalized accounts of real cases I worked during my career. Life is the source of my creativity. Being aware of everything around me.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?

After being rejected 72 times, the 73rd publisher loved my work so much that he offered me a three book deal. No rejections since that time. Also, having Ray Bradbury as my mentor.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

Your third chapter is your first chapter.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

Being served with a Grand Jury subpoena by a police officer while I was book signing at a B&N in Ohio. I was there promoting my true crime, The Cross Country Killer, the Glen Rogers Story, and the DA’s office thought I knew something they wanted to know about one of the many murders covered in the book. HOWEVER, television reporters got wind of it and followed me and the ACLU everywhere for the next three days. I made all the major networks. And boy, did that sell books.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

Making money. DUH! Seriously, I salted a bank account I set up as an author. I work hard to keep my expense records to offset the income.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

Write because you have to. I never gave up on myself, and I won’t let you either. After teaching creative writing for years, I wrote a darling little book called Rejections of the Written Famous that contains all the philosophy that keeps me going.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

Not writing? What would I do if I didn’t write all the time? I’d probably get some sleep. I love my Dallas Mavericks and Cowboys. Work out at the gym, travel, golf, racket ball, read mostly non fiction, looking for a new fella in my life, I’m a good cook, respect his right to the remote control, hey, is this a dating blog?

16. Who do you like to read?

Almost anything non fiction. And Ayn Rand. I read Nell Harper Lee’s only book after seeing Capote recently. I read political things from Thomas Sowell, Bernard Goldberg, Freakanomics I highly recommend. Also a book called Donkey Cons. I read Keith Richburg and Jesse Peterson. And on a recent cruise, I read, Love Janis, the life story of Janis Joplin.

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

Take classes, go to conferences (like the Las Vegas one where you’ll meet me next year), LOL, join critique classes, join writing organizations, and read everything you can about writing. Two bibles you MUST have in your personal library is Manuscript Submission by Scott Edelstein and the Chicago Manual of Style. I tell my students you must act like you’ve arrived, the publisher or agent just hasn’t discovered you yet. That’s why your work must be perfect when submitting. There are no real “editors” anymore. Max Perkins died a long time ago, and Michael Korda retired. You’ll have to do all the work yourself. Those two books will take you to that higher level.

When you get ready to develop your marketing plan (and that should be in place about 18 months before the book is published) -- consider adding my award-winning Power Marketing Your Novel to your writing library.

18. What are you currently working on?

On a recent spread sheet I have listed as PENDING -- 7 screenplays, 10 books, 5 ghost writing assignments (paying gigs) and 5 book editing (paying gigs) jobs. I’m still on tour with my last book, Only Make Believe, the life story of Howard Keel. I produced a made-for-TV movie that we finished filming last weekend called D U Bone. I have many projects in development right now as you can see. I’m the multi-tasker from hell.

Joyce’s 18Q