IndieView with D.M. Barr, author of Expired Listings

I would constantly edit to add clues, cut out parts that were superfluous, etc. and then once it was all out and I saw what I had, I changed it. Five different times! Revision is where the magic happens.

D.M. Barr – 17 October 2016

The Back Flap

Someone is ‘deactivating’ the Realtors in Rock Canyon and almost no one seems to care. Not the surviving brokers, who consider the serial killings a competitive boon. Not the town’s residents, who see the murders as a public service. In fact, the only person who’s even somewhat alarmed is Dana Black, a kinky, sharp-witted yet emotionally skittish Realtor who has no alibi for the crimes because during each, she believes she was using her empty listings for games like Bondage Bingo with her sadistic lover, Dare. And yet, mysteriously, all clues are pointing her way.

Along with clearing her name and avoiding certain death at the hands of the ‘Realtor Retaliator,’ Dana has an even bigger problem: she’s inadvertently become a person of interest in more ways than one to Aidan Cummings, the sexy albeit vanilla detective investigating the case. While his attentions are tempting, Dana is torn—does she continue her ironically ‘safe’ but sterile BDSM relationship with Dare, or risk real intimacy with Aidan?

Kink, Suspense and Satire–Expired Listings masterfully combines all three while exploring the universal need for validation and the toxic nature of revenge.

About the book

What is the book about?

Expired Listings is about a kinky, emotionally skittish Realtor who suffers from blackouts and isn’t 100% sure she’s not responsible for the serial killings of her colleagues. Meanwhile, all clues are pointing her way and she’s become a person of interest, in more ways than one, to the detective investigating the case.

When did you start writing the book?

About 10 years ago, I came up with the initial concept, wrote about 5,000 words for an online class and then put it aside. I picked it up again in 2013 when I was taking an in-person writing class (more of a group critique class) and got it up to around 28,000 words. I had two people critique it—one did not like it—and I put it aside again. Then in March, 2015, I got some encouragement from a #1 New York Times bestselling author who insisted I send it to his editor, who liked it and gave me some times. That inspired me to finish it, at least up to 68,000 words.

How long did it take you to write it?

After I got re-inspired, about 4 months. And then I rewrote it around five times while I was submitting it for representation and publication. It finally ended up at 82,300 words.

Where did you get the idea from?

I am a Realtor and I could see what dangerous situations we put ourselves into. That is where the seed of the idea sprouted from. I also have friends in the “scene” and I wanted to portray them and their lifestyle more accurately.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I kept jumping back from third person to first person and then back again. POV was a difficult concept for me to master.

What came easily?

Dialogue. I love banter. And the foreplay scenes. They were the most fun to write.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Well, both my main character and I were former travel trade journalists who became Realtors. And Dare was a combination of a few people I met while researching the “scene.” Cassandra—the main character’s mother—is probably born from all the guilt I felt over working while my kids were young (and anger at the fact my own parents, who owned a business, always put business first.) But that’s about it. No Realtors I’ve ever met pull the types of things that the ones in the book do!

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I love, love, love authors that are pithy and combine humor with either mystery, horror or romance. So I like reading Marshall Karp, early Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben, Jeff Strand and Jennifer Crusie.

Do you have a target reader?

For this book, probably mystery readers (even cozy mystery readers because while there is some profanity, there’s no on-page sex, just kinky foreplay), people who are curious about what the BDSM scene is really like and Realtors who don’t mind laughing at themselves.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I wish I were more disciplined. When I had to get pages out every week, I did it. When it’s up to me, it’s whenever the mood strikes. I am someone who needs deadlines. When I write, it’s either at a coffee shop in a big comfy easy chair, or at home on my couch. And I tune everything out. My family can have conversations with me but I won’t hear a word they say, I’m that tuned into my writing and hearing the rhythm of the prose.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

When I started this book, I did not outline. I just wrote. I didn’t even intend there to be a romance between the main character and the detective but when he walked in and she saw him, that was it and I said, “Huh, okay…” When I got around 60% done, I knew what I wanted to say and I outlined the rest of the chapters, indicating a main goal of the scene and the number of words I estimated it would take to write it. Then I wrote one chapter a day until it was completed.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Both. I would constantly edit to add clues, cut out parts that were superfluous, etc. and then once it was all out and I saw what I had, I changed it. Five different times! Revision is where the magic happens.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I had a developmental editor, a copy/line editor and a proofreader. And then a story editor when I thought there might be things that needed to be changed. I was so worried that my story was cross-genre, I drove myself crazy with getting second opinions. And that was all before I decided I was going to self-publish; I wanted to get the manuscript in the best possible shape no matter who was publishing it.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No. But for what it’s worth, I did create a soundtrack for people to listen to while reading the book. It’s made up of many different musical genres, with themes such as houses, revenge, alibis, murder and perversion!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, 150 of them. I received 2 offers of representation and chose a well-known, NYC-based agent. I received 5 offers of publication for this book from small presses but ultimately turned them all down because I didn’t believe some of them could market the book as well as I could (some had typos on their website or terrible web layout and covers), others had ridiculous clauses in their contracts I couldn’t agree to. Ultimately, my agent and I decided I should self-publish and then move on to the next project. She will still handle selling foreign translation and movie rights for this book, if the occasion arises.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?

I didn’t want to share royalties with an entity that couldn’t market my work as well as I could, who wanted to buy rights I didn’t want to sell, that wouldn’t put the book out in paperback or audio book (I’m doing both in addition to e-book) or wanted to trap me into not using my pseudonym with any other publisher for five years. Authors really have to read contracts closely and not just jump to sign because someone wants to publish them.

Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was gradual. I really thought I wanted to be traditionally published and probably would have, had one of the Big 5 offered me a contract. But they all were put off by the cross-genre nature of the book; it didn’t fit into their narrow marketing parameters.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Professionally done. Kim Killion is the best! I knew the photos I wanted to use and she did a masterful job of turning it into reality.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a multi-pronged marketing plan to gain maximum exposure. But it is still an uphill struggle when everyone has a hand out, like the companies that charge $400 or more to review your book.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Learn everything you can about marketing. There is an intersection of art and commerce and that’s where you’ll be living, once you become an Indie author.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Long Island, NY.

Where do you live now?

The Hudson Valley, NY. Doesn’t sound like I went far, but as a travel writer, I traveled the world!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I was a nonfiction author most of my life. I never dreamed I could write fiction so I’m over the top that I actually completed a novel and people are enjoying it!

Along with my husband and two children, I live with two ultra-spoiled senior rescue dogs: Phoebe, a brilliant Newfoundland/Border Collie/Chow Chow mix, and Doofus, a Schnauzer/Poodle mix who earned his name. Senior rescues are the best; please consider opening your home to one in lieu of patronizing a puppy mill or pet shop.

End of Interview:

For more from D.M. Barr, visit her website, follow her on Twitter, or like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Expired Listings from Amazon US or Amazon UK.