Today, we are Interviewing J. Edwards Holt. He is an author of fantasy fiction. Mostly for young adults, although he does have one children’s book on the market.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey.
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I never considered I might actually be an author someday. I did a lot of writing in elementary and high school, but by the time I got to college, I was on kind of a bad path and forgot all about it. But years after college, I decided to try writing a book, and it all took off from there.
Who are your role models?
Authors like J.K. Rowling and Stephen King come to mind. Obviously, they’re great writers, but from what I understand they had to overcome various obstacles before becoming so iconic. Along with their writing, I admire their determination and drive to succeed.
What inspires you?
Movies, books, people who do good things for others.
Please tell us about your books.
My latest book is a young adult fantasy novel called “The Storyteller’s Diary”. It’s a collection of short stories that I’ve written over the years. It’s also set in the same world as my “Little Men, Big Treasures” trilogy.
What’s your most memorable experience?
My first book signing turned out to be a great experience. Lots of people showed up and I ultimately ended up seeking out of books.
Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?
Instagram is probably the best. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn work as well, but I typically get the most responses on Instagram.
What’s your greatest fear?
Not living up to my potential.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
Well, I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way – so much! Some lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way, like being taken advantage of by a publisher. You really have to be careful when submitting manuscripts – especially if someone wants money upfront!
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
One of the most things when writing and world building is establishing an author brand. What I mean by that is having a certain amount of consistency in your works. In other words, all your books and publications should have some similarities, so that someone can see the cover of your book, or read the back and say, “Oh, that’s a J. Edwards Holt book!”
What keeps you going when things get tough?
Writing – coming up with new ideas and stories.
Any message for our readers?
Yes! To anyone out there who has a dream, my advice is for you is to go after it. Chase that dream, and don’t stop until you achieve it. If I can do it, you can!
How can people connect with you?
They can visit my website, which has links to all my social media including Instagram and email.
Congrats on your success, J! Your fan base is really growing!
Yeah! That is so true! I completely agree with you 😉