Bookpleasures.com onceagain welcomes as our guest, Gary D. McGugan author of Three Weeks Less A Day, The Multima Scheme and Unrelenting Peril.

Gary is here today to discuss the second novel in the Multima series, The Multima Scheme. 

Good day Gary and thanks once again to participate in our interview.

Norm: Many people have the skills and drive to write a book, but failure to market and sell the book the right way is probably what keep a lot of people from finding success. Can you give us 2-3 strategies that have been effective for you in promoting your books?

Gary: It’s great to be with you again, Norm! Your question highlights the most significant challenge virtually every writer faces, and I still have to discover the silver bullet that hits the mark for optimum success.

Social media has been helpful. Starting with friends and family, I’ve leveraged relationships with Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Instagram to let followers know about progress with book development, release info, reviews, and personal appearances.

I encourage visits to my WEBSITE at https://www.garydmcguganbooks.com, where I post regular Blog articles and publicize upcoming events. But much of my success results from the outstanding support provided by Canada’s largest bookseller with opportunities to hold author events in individual Indigo/Chapters/Coles outlets where I meet customers personally and introduce my stories.

Norm: With your experience as an author, is it difficult for you to read a novel just for the pleasure of being the reader?

Gary: No, it’s not difficult at all. I enjoy learning and try to learn something from every piece I read. To me, learning is a satisfying form of entertainment and I pick up some new bit of knowledge or gain insight from almost everything I read.

Norm: When you first wrote Three Weeks Less A Day did you ever think that there would be sequels? 

Gary: Initially, I didn’t expect there would be a sequel. But as I developed the story, I realized more novels using the same characters would be a natural evolution. By the time I finished Three Weeks Less a Day, I’d already decided a sequel would follow and constructed its ending to lay the foundation for another story.

Norm: What was it like writing the second book in your Multima Series? Was it easier or harder than writing the first one? 

Gary: Writing The Multima Scheme brought different challenges. I design each of my books to be great standalone stories. So, I take care that readers who have not read Three Weeks Less a Day can identify with characters quickly, while readers who already read the story wouldn’t find information links to the first book annoying or repetitive. I think I struck that balance well.

Norm: How did you decide you were ready to write the sequel? 

Gary: As I was putting the finishing touches on Three Weeks Less a Day, I felt my internal excitement about the next story growing daily. I realized the potential for most of the major characters and started working on The Multima Scheme even before the first book was actually printed!

Norm: What was your editorial approach in writing The Multima Scheme? 

Gary: I like to think of my approach to editing as linear. I read the novel several times as I’m writing, starting from the beginning each time to assure flow and consistency. I update my work after each read.

When a story is complete, I do a final read and touch-ups before using an editing software package. Once I complete the manuscript, I have 5 or 6 ‘Beta Readers’ review the story and share their impressions and comments.

These readers help with any story inconsistencies and provide specialized knowledge such as legal or police issues.

Once those changes are incorporated, I ask a professional editor to review, comment, and suggest. I decide which recommendations I’ll accept and re-write any problematic passages. Then, I ask a second editor to review and repeat the process.

For The Multima Scheme, I actually used four professional editors, including the resource provided by Tellwell. Finally, I use a professional proofreader to catch any remaining spelling or grammar problems.

I’m proud of the outcome before I sign-off for the book layout and publishing. 

Norm: What do you believe is the key to any successful sequel and how did you write one that would stand alone?

Gary: I think one key to a successful sequel is achieving a delicate balance between creating an exciting new plot while intertwining bits of familiarity from the first. Another is to develop more fully one or more characters from the first story to become major influences in the second. 

Norm: What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing The Multima Scheme?

Gary: This may sound a little boring but I don’t recall any dramatic surprises in the writing process for The Multima Scheme.

As I like to say often, rarely a day passes that I don’t learn something new. Because I approach life with genuine curiosity and an expectation that I’ll discover something new every day, I process fresh information with satisfaction and occasionally delight, but rarely feel the sensation of surprise.

Norm: How did you come up with the title, The Multima Scheme? 

Gary: Readers told me they loved the title Three Weeks Less a Day, but some lamented the name Multima didn’t appear in the title.

As I set out to name the second story, I was determined to find a way to incorporate Multima Corporation in some way. The plots of The Multima Scheme each involve some degree of conniving and planning. And the word ‘scheme’ implies a little deviousness – something out of the mainstream -- for many people. The Multima Scheme captures the involvement of Multima with a certain ambiguity that invites exploration. I think it fits well with my positioning of the story as a “novel of corporate intrigue.” 

Norm: What was the most difficult part about writing The Multima Scheme?

Gary: The most difficult part about writing The Multima Scheme was the same challenge as all writing – managing my time. Amid all the other great things going on my life, it’s always a challenge to enforce the personal discipline to plan, then execute, all the required time to effectively complete the task. 

Norm: What has Three Weeks Less A Day taught you that you have been able to apply to The Multima Scheme?

Gary: Your interview doesn’t have nearly enough time for me to list all the things I learned from my first novel! Let me just say this. Three Weeks Less a Day took 4 years to complete. I think The Multima Scheme is an even better story and it took 15 months to prepare. 

Norm: The Multima Scheme sees some major turning points for cast of characters. Which character’s journey was your favourite to write in this book?

Gary: Howard Knight is a complex character with many layers. I love writing about him and I think readers enjoy watching him evolve in each of the stories. 

Norm: I believe you have self-published your series of books. Are you still happy with your choice to pursue the indie publishing path?

Gary: I worked with publishers Friessen Press for Three Weeks Less a Day and Tellwell Talent for The Multima Scheme. Both specialize in helping new authors publish their work. I found both very capable and helpful.

I learned much about publishing from them and value the experience. But for the third book in the trilogy, Unrelenting Peril, I elected to self-publish and am delighted with the results.

The quality of my books is high. Booksellers around the globe can order all my novels from their conventional providers. And readers can buy in either paper or digital format wherever they usually buy their books. If a store or site doesn’t have a copy in stock, they can order it in. 

Norm: Have you heard from your readers concerning The Multima Series? What kind of things do they say?

Gary: I hear from readers regularly-- by email, comments to my website, or when I meet readers during personal appearances. A few have told me The Multima Scheme is the first book they have ever read in a single sitting. Most tell me they had trouble putting the book down once they started. And readers I meet in Chapters or Indigo stores usually ask me when a third one will be ready. Since February 28, I’m able to tell them Unrelenting Peril is available now!

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavorsNorm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors

Follow Here To Read Norm's Review of The Multima Scheme

Follow Here To Read Norm's First Interview With Gary