di Luciano Anelli
INTERVIEW with Jane PORTER
During the 2013 edition of the International Festival of Women’s Fiction ( WFF – Women’s Fiction Festival) in Matera, among the many interesting meetings , during one of ” Female digital publishing of the future” I have been impressed by the participation, among the speakers , Jane Porter , the American writer has also become well established publishing company, in manifesting his astonishment simply had not thought to be a peculiarity , so call to tell his experience in this international event . Now , in addition to being a writer, is also publishing not only for herself but also of other aspiring and established writers . This is not a reality very frequent in Italy , so I decided to interview for the readers of this magazine.
– Hello Jena, be writer and editor not only for themselves in the U.S. is a normal?
Hi Luciano, Thanks for inviting me to an interview. Every writer always edits their own work and many also share and have it edited by friends. I’ve written more than 40 books and developed my editing skills. When I first started out 15 years ago, I couldn’t have done it but today I have more experience and my writing skills are also better. I think with practice and time a writer can become a better editor too.
– We begin to know you better as a writer. How many books have you written and what are the most popular and best-selling ?
I currently have over 45 books to my name and my most popular one is Flirting With Forty. It was a July 2006 release and by September of the same year, it had already gone back for its 7th print run. This book was picked by Redbook Magazine as a ‘Red Hot’ Summer Read and was also optioned by Sony as a Lifetime TV movie here in the USA. It still airs on TV every year.
My latest set of books, a trilogy about the Brennan Sisters series (The Good Woman, The Good Daughter and The Good Wife) have also proved to be quite popular with readers.
– Your books have also been successful outside the U.S. ? where more?
My books have been translated into over 20 foreign languages and are available for sale in more than 25 countries. My Harlequin Presents novel, The Italian’s Virgin Princess was #1 on the Australia BookScan for 2 weeks! My Harlequin novels are also translated into Italian, right from the first book I wrote, The Italian Groom.
– Did you start writing books published on paper? When you went to e -book and why?
Yes, I started writing for print books but the world is changing now and more and more publishers are making their books available in digital format for readers on the go. Technology is evolving and with it, so are readers and as authors we have to adapt with them. Ebooks have become a viable option for authors in the USA today. Europe is also catching up. I know the ereader is not very popular yet in Europe but in the next few years, I think it will be.
– What made you decide to become a publisher too ?
I created Tule Publishing because I saw a need to help authors get the best for their work. My publishing company was founded for authors by an author to ensure that the author earns the lion’s share in the publishing process, with the publisher earning enough to pay overhead and be excited about its authors, and making sure it could get the best stories to the reading, buying public.
– But you produced initially only your books or you immediately thought of the publishing house ? already called?
I named my publishing company ‘Tule Publishing’ because the word ‘Tule’ means ‘parchment’ and it really resonated with me. Tule also has some mythic connotations and generates from the place I was raised in California. Tule is another word for the low, marsh land found in Northern California. When the Spanish colonized Mexico and Central America, they borrowed the word from the Native Indians which originally referred to bulrushes found in the area but then over time, the meaning of the word was extended to the marsh land where the bulrushes grow.
– How you went also to make the decision to also publish other books (women only ? ) ?
Tule is open to publishing books by both, men and women. It’s not restricted to just women. Yes, we are new right now with most of our books in the romance and women’s fiction genre but in time, we hope to expand to include many other genres as well, including mystery, non-fiction, young adult and maybe even poetry. It all depends on what is submitted. We are open to new ideas as long as our main requirement is met – quality writing. We want the best.
– As a publisher you always published books in e-book or even on paper?
Tule’s agenda is to publish digitally to begin with but then bring out the book in print. We have a set of novellas that have been published in digital format already but will be available in print later this year.
– How many years of life has your publishing house ? , And how many people work with you? all women?
Tule was just established earlier this year and we currently have 2 full time staff members who are both women, to manage the company. We also have a good sized voluntary street team to help us get the word out about our books.
– In creating it you kept into account in particular of female creativity or everything has evolved without much thought and according to the professionalism that you needed ?
I wanted to create a company to help encourage women who are creative and need an outlet to write the kind of stories they want to write – from the heart. I believe in stories for women about women and I’m quite happy with what Tule is doing. I’m a strong advocate for women in the professional field who are competing for success.
– Now you consider yourself more a writer or editor?
I will always be a writer, first and foremost. Everything I’ve learnt about this business has been as a writer and its helped me stay in touch with what’s best for authors – what can help us, what can be bad for us and what can empower us to be better in our craft.
Of course I do have a strong part of me that is an editor – but every writer is an editor. We have to be, in order to do our best, to provide our readers with the best stories, the best entertainment, the best art. If we don’t continually edit our own work, we won’t get better.
– You have slowed down the production of your books since you also editor ?
Tule has certainly taken up a lot of my time in recent months but now that I have really good, dedicated staff who know what they are doing, it’s becoming easier to take that step back from the day-to-day business of getting Tule established and running. I now have the confidence that I’ve put my publishing company in good hands and am able to take the time away to be a writer again and concentrate on writing more books. If I couldn’t keep writing, my readers would miss the stories I write and I have to keep them happy.
– During the conference you spoke also of your previous work experience in the Airport as Public Relations Officer and marketing, What ? How will this experience has been helpful in your work as a writer and as the editor? Also I have worked at the airport.
Any type of public relations experience can help us learn about publicity and dealing with people. The key is to take what you have learnt and fine-tune it to suit your current business and main purpose. I have certainly drawn on my experiences from my time in public relations as it taught me a lot.
– You have three sons, right? How have welcomed 4 males of the family these experiences? first as a writer and now as publisher also other ?
My men are wonderful. My sons and my husband all understand the commitment I have made to my work and my writing. They are very tolerant of my busy work schedule and have adapted as needed. But family is paramount in our household so we always make it possible to spend quality time together. We try to spend our evenings together over dinner or we take long walks or head down to the beach for an hour. My family doesn’t care what we do as long as we do it together.
– They help them or care little work your double ?
My family helps where possible. They may not be able to help with the writing or the business end of things but they are always ready to help ease the load of my responsibilities as a wife and a mother so I can get my job done on time. And they always understand when I have to lock myself up in my office to finish a project or meet a manuscript deadline.
– Dual ? I would say many, since you’re also a mother and wife. How do you reconcile all these activities ? already, but I forgot that you are a women and women can do well several jobs at once, right?
Historically women have always had to wear many hats – being a wife, running a household, being a mother, and now we are also breadwinners. It’s never easy to juggle life as a business woman and as a wife. I think women have to work extra hard today to be what is expected of them and also reach further to be what we, ourselves, want to be. We have to feed our ambitions while still fulfilling our other responsibilities. Can it be done? Yes. Is it easy? No. But if we want it badly enough, we can do it.
– Here in Italy, women are able with difficulty to establish itself at the top in the working world , as well as entrepreneurs . When we can have to endure many sacrifices because the company is still not complied with the masculine. Do you know the employment situation of women ?
Even here in America, women have to work very hard if they want to climb the success ladder in a corporation. We all have to make many sacrifices in order to do well in our work but I think it’s challenging for women because we are responsible for our children and trying to keep our husbands happy so it’s not an easy path. But we will keep trying!
– This double your work do you enjoy ? Gives you a mental and economic independence ? Do in other countries ? ‘re interested the status of women in the world?
Yes! I enjoy it greatly. Everything about the writing and publishing business is exciting to me. I have always been a strong supporter of women authors because I know it’s not an easy or glamorous life. I am hopeful it will help me and our Tule authors achieve more economic independence for sure. As for women around the world, yes, I am always interested in how women are perceived and treated around the world. Women have to help each other and do our best to help each other succeed.
– Finally , how did you come here to this Festival in Matera ? Who told you about it and who inspired you to be there?
I heard about it from my friend, Elizabeth Jennings. I had hoped to attend five years ago but couldn’t since I was pregnant with my third son so I was very delighted to go this year.
– Did you wonder why you were called among the panelists to tell you , why?
Yes, and I hoped it was to share about my views on the publishing industry today and also help empower writers by sharing all the options available to us today to help us succeed.
– What did you like most about this experience and what you take home a pleasant and again ?
The most beneficial part of the trip was learning about digital publishing in Europe today and the difference in various countries. I truly enjoyed meeting all the translators and foreign publishers and learned a lot.
– You will write a book about this experience in MATERA ?
I would love to use Matera as a setting in a future novel. I found Matera to be very beautiful and steeped in history. It would in fact, make a great setting for a story!
– You will remain useful and pleasant experiences and some contacts were born here in Italy and in Matera ?
Yes! I loved meeting a lot of people in Matera and Italy and hope to stay in touch with many of them and perhaps even see them again soon. Matera has been an incredible experience and I look forward to repeating it!
Thanks for your time and wish you much success both as a writer and as a publisher and hope to see you next year again in Matera to tell us about new adventures.
