Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Spunky 76 Year Old Velda Brotherton Restarts Her Career Through eBooks



Velda Brotherton at a
Holton, Texas Book Fair

   One of the most challenging things I've faced as a 76 year old author has been trying to restart a career in E books and all that goes with such an endeavor. Twenty-eight years ago, when I began writing on a portable Sears typewriter, I never dreamed of such a thing as the Internet and computers. Even when my first books were published by Penguin/Topaz, the word processor I used was a far cry from computers of today. And there was no Internet.
   By the time the mid-list crisis hit in the early 2000s, and book publishers began to fall like pins in a busy bowling lane, I'd had six books published in New York. Though sales increased with each release, it wasn't enough to hit the best seller list so, a victim of budget cuts  I slunk back to regional nonfiction publishing with my tail between my legs.  
   Two summers were spent on the road, the first researching and finalizing a nonfiction book, the second making three to five appearances every week in libraries, historical societies, museums and book clubs. By the end I had sold a lot of books but was physically exhausted. It was something I doubted I could do again. Meanwhile, I'd done a lot of fiction writing, but truly thought my career was over.
   Till the Ebook phenomenon exploded.
   Here was my chance, and I embraced it. I limped my way into using a computer, and everything about that process has been a tremendous challenge, but I love to write, so what was I to do?
   Having begun my career after the age of fifty, I was pretty long in the tooth to start over again. And I probably wouldn't have had it not been for Ebooks and Indie publishers. I'd cut my teeth on Indies for nonfiction, so it seemed natural to turn to them for fiction.
   My mother taught me to be tough and stubborn and do what I wanted no matter what anyone else said. So I refused to look at the calendar that told me I was getting too old to work. And at the age of 74 I embarked on a completely new learning process. I set some goals, the first of which was to obtain a reversion of rights on my out-of-print New York books available again. While waiting for something to happen, I'd had several nonfiction regional books published, one of which was a finalist in the WILLA Literary awards and I'd written a few novels in different genres just to keep busy.
   It wasn't long before I learned that converting my books to Kindle was going to be tough. I wanted to do it myself rather than pay someone. I had my work cut out for me. The first step was to have the books scanned because I had no computer copies of the manuscripts. When the scans came back, I edited them carefully, then set about learning how to format them for Kindle. That was the steepest learning curve I've ever encountered, but thanks to several writer friends,  I managed to learn this process. Then went on to create some decent book covers. This took almost an entire summer.
   While this was going on, I edited a couple of book manuscripts and sent them off to Indie publishers. They were accepted immediately. By the time I had a couple of books uploaded to Kindle I had my first two books published by two indie presses.
   Today I have seven Kindle books of my own available, plus all 14 of my previously published books are now available through Kindle, and a new one was released a few weeks ago. Two of the new indie books are also available in print.
   During the past year I've given four all-day workshops on publishing to Kindle and am currently learning everything I can about online promotion. I'll be 77 in February, 2013, and have no intention of slowing down in my writing, though I no longer hit the road much to promote. I am scheduled to speak at two conferences in 2013, but friends lend a hand when I have appearances to make. When I'm asked to speak somewhere I say yes if I can at all because I still enjoy being out among writers, but I don't go looking for engagements.          
Velda Brotherton at An Ozark Creative Writers Panel
   Oh, yes, I still co-chair a critique group that we formed about 26 years ago. We meet every Thursday, have 45 registered members and have anywhere from 12 to 21 people show up each week.
   Promotion online takes up a big portion of my writing time, but I'm working on a novella and another novel in The Victorian series for The Wild Rose Press. I have no intention of slowing down as of yet.
Velda Brotherton working on an oil painting. Some
of her paintings can be found on Muttonline.com. 
   Besides writing, speaking and giving workshops I love to paint and though I don't have as much time as I'd like to pursue that hobby right now.

About Velda's book, Wilda's Outlaw
Calder Raines and his outlaw gang may be more than Wilda bargained for. All she wanted was to escape an unwanted marriage, now she finds herself in the arms of a tantalizing man whose warm kisses arouse a storm of forbidden desires. Calder never wanted to rob banks, but it's a family tradition. When he embraces the alluring redhead, passion conquers good sense and he imagines a life he cannot have.
Wilda's Outlaw link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Y89PXW    
Some Other books by Velda Brotherton:
Stone Heart's Womanhttp://www.tinyurl.com/6q3fab5
  
Please welcome Velda  Brotherton to Spunky Senior Authors and Talents by leaving a comment. 

32 comments:

  1. What a TOTAL inspiration to all of us over 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 and beyond. I started this writing career late in life (at 57) and you make me feel better and more realistic about what I can do - which is EVERYTHING.
    Thank you SO much.
    Patti

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    1. Patricia, Thank you too for your nice comment. I wish you all the best with your career. You can do anything you set your mind to, no matter your age.

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  2. Welcome to Spunky Senior Authors and Talents, Velda.
    I'm thrilled about how you are so open to change. There are some who just give up and won't try anything, and they're missing out on a lot!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com

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    1. Thanks again for inviting me to Spunky Senior Authors and Talents. It is a pleasure to be here and see all these early comments. Today I'm formatting a book for Kindle and have a writer's meeting to attend tonight, so you can see the day is a busy one, but I checked out the post first thing. Ha ha first thing for me is about 9:30.

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  3. Good for you! I remember reading you "the first time around" and am glad to see you back.

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    1. Liz, how wonderful to hear from someone who read my books when they came out originally. Thanks for the comment.

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  4. Congratulation, Velda! I feel like a youngster! At 72, I have numerous works published through small epresses--I started at The Wild Rose Press in 2007--just five years ago, or so. Never wrote a thing in my life until 2004, and stories began to explode out of my head. I, too, had to learn the computer, and yes, a huge learning curve.
    I'm co-owner of Sweethearts of the West--we have 13 regular members and two slots a month for guests--the 10-11 and the 22-23.This is all Western Romance--mostly historical, some comtemporary. If you'd like a guest spot, email me at celiayeary AT yahoo.com
    I loved reading your history of publication, and admire you for starting over. The ebook revolution was made for us!

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    1. Celia, why I can remember well when I was a youngster like you. Congratulations on all your publications. Sounds like you're really having some successes. I'll email you soon about a guest spot, and thanks for the offer.

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  5. Hi Velda! Huge congrats to you. I, too, am 76, and a published author of erotic romance. Isn't life at this age great?

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    1. Desiree, that's fantastic. Erotic romance is really hot in the market today, and yes, life is great.

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  6. Hi Velda, What an absolutely terrific & inspiring post. You're just the best—and your books deserve all their great reviews. No wonder readers love you & your wonderful stories!

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    1. Ruth, Good to hear from you again. Thanks for the fantastic compliments. Make me feel so good.

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  7. Hi Velda,
    What an impressive story! You could be the patron saint of all working writers.
    JL Greger

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    1. Good morning, J.L. Thanks for your comment. patron saint, hmmm. Interesting.

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  8. I'm glad you've never stopped learning. Being flexible to changes in the industry can only mean good things for you.

    Thanks for sharing your story.

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    1. Cheryl, good to hear from you. Thank you for commenting.

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  9. Love this blog! So glad you shared your writer's journey with us.

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    1. Thanks. I'm so happy Morgan has such a good place for this kind of sharing.

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  10. For me, finding Velda was akin to finding the Lost Dutchman's Mine. She has a heart of gold and her stories are priceless journeys well worth taking. She gives of her time to help struggling writers get better. Thank you, Velda.

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    1. You're welcome, Jim. I appreciate the compliments and that you took the time to check out this post.

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  11. What a wonderful article. I'm glad to see you keep going and don't give up. You're an inspiration to us all. Just one question? When do you rest?

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    1. Thanks for your kind comment. From about midnight to 9 a.m. I do nothing. Well, maybe read or lie in bed and dream up new scenarios. I'm not a morning person and often get awakened by a phone call or knock on the door.

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  12. As one spunky senior to another, I love this post. Never give up.

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    1. Hi Janet, That's right. Thanks for visiting.

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  13. I love this story as well and I love Velda's books...she's like fine wine...LOL! And remember 76 is the new 46!!!

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    1. Elaine, you're so kind. That gives me lots of years yet, doesn't it? Thanks for your support.

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  14. Velda, my admiration is hereby placed at your feet! You are a marvelous writer and a spunky lady for sure. You keep going, girl! I continue to be grateful I can call you my friend. We've gone slightly different paths when it comes to writing and promoting in recent years, but we certainly share a love for and commitment to writing. I do wish--as I know you do--that we had more time these days to JUST WRITE! You're way ahead of me in technology use and, though all my books are available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and a lot more, my publishers did all of that. If it were up to me I probably would still be trying to figure things out.

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    1. Great to hear from you, Radine. I still recall all the book signings we've done together since we met so many years ago when you discovered that you were a sweet little Dove in one of my books. Thanks for the comment.

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  15. Velda, you are "Spunky Senior" personified! Not only did you take on learning this new technology, you continue to share it with all of us. Thank you for all the ways you inspire and share!

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    1. Jan, I appreciate all that you do as well. Thanks for taking the time to comment here. I know you're one busy lady.

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  16. Hello from another old "Spunky Senior." Velda, you've got grit and smarts and savvy. I love how you revamped, and regrouped. Congratulations on your success. I had to laugh at the blurb about Wilda's Outlaw. He never wanted to rob banks, but it was the family tradition. Love it!

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  17. Eunice, Hi there. Good to hear from you. Glad you liked the blurb for Wilda's Outlaw. I had a lot of fun writing that book that was a real change from Stone Heart's Woman. Thanks for the comment.

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