A Word Please

Author Greg Dawe is a fascinating guy. Want to know why? Just read his bio! Greg is here today to talk about his new – and first – book Theta Head. Strange title? You might think so, particularly if you aren’t a science geek. But a glimpse at Greg’s book will tell you that you don’t need to be a science geek to love his book. When asked about the genre Theta Head falls into, Greg puts it this way: Theta Head is a novel which sits somewhere between contemporary fiction, speculative fiction, and present day science fiction. At its heart it is a modern-day mystery, one that explores the theme of how technology can bring people closer to themselves, as opposed to others. The central questions is: Will technology develop a mind of its own, or can it have ours?

Before we move on to his book, let’s get to know Greg:

Born in London, Greg has been writing since he was 12. Just as the web was emerging in ’93 his interest in new technologies led him to study the UK’s first multimedia degree.

He then worked in London for as long as he could before buying a one-way ticket to South East Asia, where the laidback lifestyle gave him the peace, space and time to write more persistently. Drifting in and out of teaching English to sustain this writing habit, always more at home in a foreign country, Greg is still wandering in Asia, slowly learning that wherever he goes, there he is.
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About Greg’s Book:

Stark naked consciousness is exposed like a raw nerve as Georgia’s search for her missing boyfriend, Ben, takes her from London through Asia.

On route she discovers that Ben has been using a neuroscience technology – one that offers the potential of complete liberation to anyone who uses it. It is a technology Georgia must embrace if she is to find Ben, but one that is such an intimate catalyst for change Georgia isn’t sure she can handle the side of herself it uncovers.

It is only her desire to find Ben which drives her on; a force which leads her to the Theta Heads and a choice: continue using the technology to hack away at her layers of mental static and find the real reason he disappeared, or let go and face a future without him.

Theta Head – technology doesn’t need a mind of its own, it can have ours.
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Greg has written an article to share with us, on his publishing experience with a small press in the U.K.

The benefits of being published by a raptor among lumbering herbivores.

As a recently published debut novelist, I’ve worked much more closely than I’d anticipated with Caffeine Nights Publishing, both in the editing process and in shaping a promotional strategy for my novel, Theta Head. It’s been very much a two way exchange of ideas and information and that strategy is evolving even as I type. Really, it is; as I write this I’ve pinged a few emails back and forth with my publisher discussing the creative side of editing Theta Head’s book trailer/author interview video. I couldn’t ask for a closer, more creative relationship than that.

So what exactly does my publisher do for me?

To begin with all I have is my book, which I wrote for a reason. That reason was because I hadn’t seen many contemporary novels which dealt with technology and character in an intimate way before. The theme of Theta Head – technology bringing people closer to themselves as well as to other people – was one I was keen to explore. So I researched who else was interested in this topic and gradually built up a picture of my target demographic. That’s great, I thought, but what do I do with that list?

This is where a small publisher is so invaluable. As a professional media company Caffeine Nights has the contacts, the press lists and press kits, which I do not. They are able to take my information and then directly target this group of potential book buyers. And they have the experience to get the most out of those contacts, something, as a non-professional media person, I would more than likely make a blubbering mess of.

Author/Publisher Intimacy

Working this closely has given me invaluable insight into how publishing works, how much leg work is involved in getting things off the ground – especially promotion – how much persistence is needed, and how being with a small publisher has many advantages, the main one being author/agent intimacy. Small publishers are dynamic, able to react quickly to get reviews or interview requests out. Above all, they listen. They want to know what my opinions are. They take into consideration my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to marketing. And last but not least, they don’t laugh at me when I look puzzled when they say things like ‘you need to develop a platform.’ Plat… what? Form… of plats? So now I know what a platform is and I’m slowly developing one. But like I said, it’s a two way dynamic exchange if ideas and information, one which is evolving as I type, and one which I genuinely hope other authors have the benefit of experiencing.

Caffeine Nights Publishing Response:

(What do they bring to the table for marketing and promoting?)

The Internet has rapidly changed the way publishers work. It is easier for a smaller publisher with a sustainable roster of authors to work on a one to one level and make them part of the whole process of publishing from collaboration on artwork and editing to gearing a specific marketing/public relations plan for the book and author. Publishers need to remember that each book and author is different. What worked for one author may not suit or work for another so building a relationship of trust and collaboration is vital. Greg has been very proactive and conducted lots of research into areas he wishes to influence. By working closely together we can target those areas with greater effect. We are constantly looking at new tools and ways to reach people with our books and also to make the process of working with an author easier. We have a good grounding in public relations so we have had success on all media with our books and authors and that includes TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and specialist websites. Where possible we will also make films with our authors and distribute them through our own website (cnpublishing.co.uk) , YouTube channel (Caffeine Nights Films) video distribution services and importantly social media.

(What guidance do they lend after the book has been released?)

Small publishers do not have the advertising or marketing budgets of the mainstream publishers – nowhere near it. So we have to be smart, we also have to be realistic and tell our authors the chance of their book flying off the shelf from day one is low and then some. It is more a case of building a profile for the book and author. Our investment is pretty much long term and we aim to sustain interest in titles for as long as we can. We don’t have 30 to 40 titles out a week and it’s not a case of pumping the title out there and moving on. We will publish only 8 to 10 titles in a year so we can concentrate on each author. For us a key word is sustainable, everything has to be sustainable. The book industry is one of the dirtiest in terms of waste and carbon footprint and our environmental ethos is reflected in the way we work with authors. Authors ask will my book be in the book shops, the question should be “Will it sell in the book shops?” . We could go down the route of printing thousands of copies (like the mainstream publishers) flooding the stores and then passing the remainders on to supermarkets to be sold for £1.99 or returned to landfill but we want to be different. We will do our best to create the demand, we will support authors, we will arrange books signing, we will send books for review, we will run good PR campaigns for each and every author. The public decide if it will sell.

(Do they work with authors as a team or send them out into the world on their own?’)

We work as a team, though many aspects are daunting for authors, such as the first public engagement or book signing. We brief our authors for media and what to expect. Most will have had some form of experience in front of our cameras to help them prepare for interviews. We try to be as pro-active as possible and look for new ideas. Working with an author is paramount to any success the book will have to not do so would be a wasted investment.
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You can learn more about Greg and his work in the following places:
http://gregdawe.com/
http://www.cnpublishing.co.uk/

Here in the U.S., you can find Theta Head on Amazon:

Intrigued? I know I am! I haven’t had a chance to read this one, yet, but it’s high up on my list!

Tags: author interviews, Greg Dawe, Guest Authors, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Theta Head