The Deep is an adult horror/historical fiction that is perfect for lovers of ghosts and titanic. Written by Alma Katsu, this novel hit the shelves on March 10, 2020, and is published by Transworld Digital. In this post, I’m excited to have the author tells us about her journey to becoming a novelist. I loved hearing all about it and hope this will bring wisdom to your life as well. Bonus: US Giveaway and Book Excerpt inside! 🙂
This amazing tour is hosted by The FFBC Tours. Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of the book!
My journey to becoming a novelist by Alma Katsu
I got the news while in the office, my day job working for the federal government. It was from my agent. We had sold my debut novel, THE TAKER, months earlier. The news that day: my publisher (at the time) Simon & Schuster had decided to make THE TAKER one of their “Big Books” at Book Expo America. There would be a multi-city tour including San Diego Comic Con. Appearances at regional booksellers’ conventions. It was like getting Willy Wonka’s golden ticket.
But that’s not really where the story begins.
Was did it start when I was eight years old and knew that I wanted to be a writer? Or as a sixteen-year old stringer at the local newspaper? Or writing columns on the Washington DC music scene while working full-time for the government?
Until I turned forty. The short story here is that I got really, really sick and that gave me time to think about what’s really important. For me, that was returning to writing. I wanted to see if I could learn to write a novel, a good novel. That led to a 10-year journey to write THE TAKER. During that time, I also went to a graduate writing program, attended The Squaw Valley Community of Writers, joined writers’ organizations. Met people, learned craft.
But mostly I rewrote and rewrote. THE TAKER wasn’t the only thing I worked on during those years but I couldn’t give up on it. Rewriting is how you learn what works and doesn’t work in a novel. Too many jumps in time or place. Your protagonist isn’t likeable. Your villain is more interesting than your hero. How many third-person narrators can a story sustain? What tense should you use?
Like all authors, I submitted to agents too early. I got rejected. Everyone along the way was very nice and just encouraging enough to keep me going. Finally, I got the manuscript to a place I knew was good: not perfect, but good. By then I’d learned the ropes: only submit to agents who have sold books that are very, very similar to what you’ve written. I finally got an agent, one who had managed the well-received debut of another DC author. The book went to auction. UK rights went in a pre-empt.
The story’s not done yet. Not even close.
My UK editor, head of her imprint and super supportive, jumped houses two weeks after THE TAKER came out. I was effectively orphaned.
My US editor left the publishing imprint around the same time my third book, the last of the trilogy, came out. But support at my US publisher had waned long before that point.
Then I changed agents. There was a reason behind this, but it’s not the kind of thing you discuss on the interwebs. It could’ve ended my career. It was a very, very rough time for me. I was extremely lucky to get a new, great agent, not long afterwards.
And he got me a great book deal. THE HUNGER came out in 2018. My publisher, GP Putnam’s Sons, is a dream to work with. With their adroit guidance, THE HUNGER did very well. It made a number of “best books of the year” list and was nominated for some prestigious awards. Ridley Scott optioned the film rights.
I had to stop writing, both fiction and the newspaper work, shortly after starting my federal career. When you work in intelligence, your employers don’t like you writing for the outside world. I decided to commit myself to my new career—and there was plenty to learn, believe me. And I stopped writing.
And now, THE DEEP. I’m very proud of this book. It was a huge challenge to write, combining all the challenges I faced with THE HUNGER and turning it up to eleven (for all you Spinal Tap fans). THE HUNGER dealt with a cast of one hundred: THE DEEP, which deals with the sinking of the Titanic, has a cast of thousands. There are legions of Titanic buffs, and it’s daunting to think of them picking up the book! You can’t let those things stop you, though. You have to roll up your sleeves and commit to doing the absolute best work you can.
Here’s what I think are the two most important pieces of advice if you want a career in publishing:
· Make friends with authors before you sell your first book. These are the people who will advise you, console you, keep you from losing your mind and making dumb mistakes. You need a good network to survive in this business. And be a friend, too. Don’t just take; give.
· Craft is important but so is understanding the business. You are a sole proprietor dependent on your partnerships with your publisher and agent. Be the partner these people want to be in business with. Be fair, patient, knowledgeable. Always acknowledge the contribution of your business partners.
Alma Katsu is the author of five novels, a former intelligence analyst, and current consultant in emerging technologies. Find out more at www.almakatsubooks.com.
The Deep – SYNOPSIS
Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic.
This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner’s illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers – including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher – are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes.
Years later and the world is at war. And a survivor of that fateful night, Annie, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic’s sister ship, the Britannic, now refitted as a hospital ship. Plagued by the demons of her doomed first and near fatal journey across the Atlantic, Annie comes across an unconscious soldier she recognises while doing her rounds. It is the young man Mark. And she is convinced that he did not – could not – have survived the sinking of the Titanic . . .
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Book Excerpt – The Deep by Alma Katsu
The-Deep-by-Alma-Katsu-ExcerptAbout the author, Alma Katsu
The Taker, her debut novel, has been compared to the early works of Anne Rice and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander for combining historical, the supernatural, and fantasy into one story. The Taker was named a Top Ten Debut Novel of 2011 by Booklist, was nominated for a Goodreads Readers Choice award, and has been published in over 10 languages. It is the first in an award-winning trilogy that includes The Reckoning and The Descent.
Ms. Katsu lives outside of Washington DC with her husband, musician Bruce Katsu. In addition to her novels, she has been a signature reviewer for Publishers Weekly, and a contributor to the Huffington Post. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Program and Brandeis University, where she studied with novelist John Irving. She also is an alumni of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.
Alma Katsu is the author of The Hunger, a reimagining of the story of the Donner Party with a horror twist. The Hunger made NPR’s list of the 100 Best Horror Stories, was named one of the best novels of 2018 by the Observer, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s Books (and more), and was nominated for a Stoker and Locus Award for best horror novel.
Prior to publication of her first novel, Ms. Katsu had a long career in intelligence, working for several US agencies and a think tank. She currently is a consultant on emerging technologies. Additional information can be found on Wikipedia and in this interview with Ozy.com.
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GIVEAWAY
Prize: Win a finished copy of THE DEEP by Alma Katsu (US Only)
March 10, 2020 – March 24, 2020