Spotlight on Canadian Authors: Interview with Joel A. Sutherland

Canadian author Joel A. Sutherland writes mostly horror (He's also written children's fiction and a book on writing and he edits.) His current novel has been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and he's working with Leisure Books (Dorchester Publishing) on another. Horror just happens to be my favourite genre, so I was delighted to find a new Canadian author to read. I was also pretty excited when that author, Joel, agreed to answer a few of my questions.

Toronto Publishing Examiner: Your novel, Frozen Blood, was nominated for the Bram Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a first novel. That must have been an exciting day. How did that feel? And also, does it help in terms of future novels and marketing?

Joel Sutherland: Hearing the news was an indescribable rush. I was at work when my wife called from home with the news. I was actually speaking with a co-worker's daughter who had aspirations of becoming a published writer -- she was asking me questions about writing and getting published, and just as I'm starting to think to myself, "Who am I to spout advice? This is only my first novel," I found out that that first novel had been nominated for the award. It was a surreal moment.

There's no doubt the nomination helped advance my career. I traveled to Los Angeles for the award ceremony and although I didn't win I met Don D'Auria, the publisher of Leisure Books, Dorchester Publishing's horror imprint, and gave him a copy of Frozen Blood. A few months later he contacted me, told me he loved the book and asked to acquire the mass market paperback rights for the novel. And now, the new cover says "Bram Stoker Award Finalist" right up at the top.

TPE: Is that a children's book I see on your website? How do you balance writing in fantasy, horror and children's fiction? Do you plan to shift your focus to just one genre?

JAS: Many years ago, back when I was just beginning to think of making the jump from writing for fun to writing for publication, I focused all my efforts into children's writing. The book you're talking about, The Teddy Bears of Tomorrow, was actually a short story I wrote for a Writing for Children course I was in at the time, and was published as a chapbook by a small American publisher. Although I've become more known over the years for writing horror for quote-unquote grown-ups, my next book to be released is a children's non-fiction book, Be a Writing Superstar. It's being published by Scholastic Canada on the first of September.

I'm currently writing a horror novel that's going to be published by Leisure Books in 2011, and then we'll see what I feel like working on after that, but I definitely have an interest in writing in many genres and for different age groups.

TPE: I noticed that you are published by Lachesis Publishing, a Canadian press. Do you feel it is important to publish in Canada or was that not a consideration when you sought publication?

JAS: The way that came about was I sent them a short story for an anthology they were working on, and although they turned it down because it didn't fit well with the other stories, they liked the idea and asked if I'd be interested in expanding it to a novel. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back.

This is going to sound terribly unpatriotic, but no, I wouldn't say it's important to publish in Canada. It's so hard to break into publishing that I'd recommend writers take any opportunity they can get. Having said that, however, there are some incredible Canadian publishers and if your writing finds a home there, well, the fact that they're Canadian is a bonus!

TPE: Not unpatriotic at all. In fact, the more we learn about writing and publishing, it's a very realistic point of view. In terms of publishing in Canada, how difficult was it to find a publisher?

JAS: For me, I have to admit I was pretty lucky -- I never even considered writing Frozen Blood until Lachesis asked. For others, it can be considerably more difficult and take much longer. The best advice I can give is this: don't stop writing and don't stop submitting your work. You never know when your break will come, but if you never get the courage to send out your writing or if the mountain of rejections you receive -- and everyone receives them -- force you to throw in the towel, I can guarantee you'll never see your work in print.

TPE: Great advice. Is there any steps or tips you can give new authors who are trying to publish their books?

JAS: Read, write, submit. Repeat. Simple as that. But I also can't stress the value of networking enough. Not only social networking, either, but the good old fashioned kind, too. You know, actually leaving your home from time to time to meet with other writers, publishers and editors. Find a writing group in your neck of the woods and if one doesn't exist, start one yourself. Go to every convention, workshop and literary gathering you possibly can. Don't be shy. Writing is such a lonely pursuit but making friends and contacts that are in the same boat can be exceptionally helpful.

TPE: Yes, I realized that when I woke up one morning and found I hadn't been outside in two full days...must get outside. That's important. What authors do you feel influenced your writing?

JAS: So many! It fluctuates over time but right now my favourites are George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Naomi Novik, and rereading the Harry Potter books (to get excited for the final films) has re-inspired me to write a children's novel.

TPE: A children's novel? Keep us posted on that. At what point in your life, (and for what reason) did you decide to 'be a writer'?

JAS: It was more of a gradual progression than a specific time I can pinpoint. I always enjoyed writing from a young age and I tried my hand at screenwriting in film school, and then I eventually found myself writing short fiction and novels. Somewhere along the way I decided I wanted to go from being a writer to a published writer. My wife has certainly played a large role in my recent success as a constant source of encouragement, support and understanding.

TPE: If you could sum up what writing means to you in five words or less, what would you say?

JAS: Escaping reality and exploring new worlds. (Shoot! I went one word over. Here's my final tidbit on the topic of writing: editing is tough!)
 

Editing is very tough, we'll pretend ‘and' isn't there. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your writing and your words with us. I'll keep an eye out for Frozen Blood as well. It sounds like something I'll enjoy.