First of all, I have to ask about the name. It's a bit unique. Why did you choose it?

    The easiest way to reply to your question is to break the company name down.

   Aspirations - basically implies a hope or ambition to achieve something some call it a dream or vision. I feel everyone has a hope/dream inside of them waiting to be realized. Unfortunately, it is often stifled and left unfulfilled. One of MY hopes is to provide writers, artist and other creative people an opportunity to allow their ideas to flourish, their dream/hopes to come to pass, and thereby live a more fulfilled life.

   Media - AMI's vision is to expand into all types of media not just the written word, thus the word 'media' in the company name instead of 'press' or 'publishing house'.

   Inc - of course stands for incorporated. My lawyers told me this would give me more credibility and it was the only domain name available on the Internet.

So what type of publisher is Aspirations Media, Inc. anyway? What are they about?

   

    As stated on our website www.aspirationsmediainc.com, a shameless plug, AMI is an independent publisher that opened its doors in July 2005. Without getting to philosophical or preachy - we are all for the unpublished and little known creative person. That being said I don't think we would turn away Stephen King or Nora Roberts if they submitted something to us, either. Through experience we understand the frustrations and waiting to have your work accepted or denied. Every effort is made to make the process as stress-free as possible by communicating on a regular basis and involving the creative person's voice in the production and marketing aspects of publishing their work.

It seems like a lot of publishers are avid readers. Is this true with you and if so, what do you tend to read?

   

    I'm not sure where you got that information. Logic would say a person who publishes books must be an avid reader - if that is correct I don't know. As for me I have enjoyed reading from around the age of nine when I spent much of my free time reading Greek and Roman mythology. During Junior High and early High School I loved to read biographies and autobiographies and ancient history. In college my reading was quite often selected for me depending on what classes I would be taking at the time. When I did find time I would spend it reading history and biographies. In recent years I have read many self-help and motivational books and coaching books (I am also a high school volleyball and basketball coach). The past years I have added adventure, fantasy, action, mystery, children's books, and poetry to my repertoire since these were submitted to AMI by various authors. In addition, for much of my live I have always enjoyed comic books and reading my bible.

    Am I an avid reader? - As Bill Clinton might say it depends on what the definition of avid is.

Since you're a new publisher you have a great opportunity to work with a lot of up and coming writers. However, as many can attest, not all of these writers will make it in the way of getting published. What are you looking for in new writers who want to get their work published?

   

    The author should be someone I can work with, a person of integrity, keeps deadlines, open-minded, not full of himself yet confident, these are ideal qualities - I get along with just about anyone.

    As for their books I look for the same things most readers are looking for in a book, after all they are the ones that will be purchasing the book.

   

        1) I first find out if the book is morally acceptable to me. AMI does not publish books with vulgar language, explicit sex,                            

        hate messages, or excessive graphic violence. Ideally, it would contain some type of moral/ethical positive message for the            

        reader.

        2) Does the book grab the reader early on and says READ ME?

        3) Is it a story that I don't what to stop reading? - Is it a 'page turner'?

        4) How does the story flow? - Does it have a lot of dead time where it doesn't move along?

        5) Do I feel people will buy it? We are in this to make money for everyone.

        6) Very importantly, do I feel good about the possible book and led to publish it?

Publishing in general is a tough business, especially for a new company. What did you learn along the way to the publication of these and now the other books AMI has in the chute for release?

   

    There is a vast amount of work that goes into turning out a finished product. Work that most aspiring authors are not aware of as they become impatient with the waiting for their book to hit the store shelf.

    Some of the things I've learned along the way have been:

   

        Publishing is a very time sensitive and costly business involving countless decisions and much research.

        Anyone can print a book; it is creating the demand/selling the book that is a challenge.

        It is very difficult, for me, to turn down a submitted manuscript - I feel the rejection myself.

        I need other experienced people and divine guidance to do my job. So as I rely fully on God everything is provided for me.

Speaking of books and authors (since we're on an author's website), what attracted you to The Divine Gambit Trilogy in the first place?

   

    Having helped with the editing and proofing of Chad's first edition exposed me to the book and the great world he has created. Chad has a style of writing and a storyline that would not let me stop reading the manuscript. I grew with the characters and felt their emotions and experienced everything they went through - just what a great book should do.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in either of the books (Seer's Quest and Path of Power) you wish to share?

   

    In Seer's Quest I felt the most attachment to Dugan. I'm not sure if he is my favorite but if you are reading a fantasy-adventure book you have to love the headstrong muscle bound guy who's not afraid to mix it up a little. Since he, in a Celtic way, wore his emotions on his sleeve, so to say (most of the time he didn't have sleeves), I knew how he felt and where he stood on different issues. His oath of revenge bothered me and I always wanted him to find a way out. - Book Two didn't allow that to happen and it saddens me a little.

    In Path of Power I found myself getting in touch with my feminine side. Clara's level headed thinking and acceptance of others created a bright spot in my heart for her. But it was Cadrissa's whole experience and the chance to finally get to know her as more than a brunette bimbo I found enjoyable. Her love and expanded search for knowledge made her appealing to my intellectual side and I feel there is more in store for her in Book Three. Again, I really like all the characters and look forward to the conclusion of the trilogy.

Do you have any thoughts about the world of Tralodren in general that you wish to share?

   

    Wow! I want to know all about it. The whole world seems to be exploding with story upon story. I hope we will hear more from Chad about Tralodren; its history and people.

Is there anything else in the future coming out from AMI for Tralodren or other Corrie scribed works that you can share at this time? Inquiring minds (namely this website) want to know.

    Gambits End: Book Three of The Divine Gambit Trilogy will be coming out in early 2007.

    Tales of Tralodren: The Beginning (the first graphic novel set in The World of Tralodren™) is slated for release at about the same time - 2007 (probably later in the year though).

    Knowing Chad's energy level and a seemingly endless source of ideas he will be coming up with more to be published in the very near future.

So if a writer is reading this interview and interested in sending some of their work for consideration for publication by AMI what do they have to do?

    It is real simple - sign on to AMI's website www.aspirationsmediainc.com go to the submissions page and follow the guidelines listed there. If you have any difficulty or any questions contact the Submissions Editor at that same site.

Is their any type of work AMI is looking for in particular?

   

    Not really. Fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure, and children's books are what we are doing the right now but we will look at just about anything as long as it meets our guidelines.

    We are in need of artists to illustrate covers and/or who can do sequential comic book art as well.

   

    Thanks so much for your time and answering these questions. Hopefully this will help shed some light on just what is going in not only in future things for Chad and his work but also with Aspirations Media as well.

    If you haven't checked out their website you should do so as from what they are putting out now and the plans by which they are doing it, you'll probably be hearing a lot more of them pretty soon.

©2006 Corrie, Inc. All rights reserved.

No use of this interview may be used without written permission of Corrie, Inc.