Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Webb
Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I turned 40, I had a bucket-list idea of writing a book. I knew literally nothing about writing or publishing, so I was quite naive, but the idea seemed cool. I’ve always loved reading and thought the idea of creating my own story to share with a few friends and family sounded like a challenge I could get behind.
I had no idea if I could physically do it or not, so I started with one chapter. After reading it back, I decided it wasn’t awful, so I pushed on. I worked hard for 4 months to write the first draft of the Last Shadow Knight, which turned out to be MUCH harder than I anticipated.
As I was writing, I realized if I was going to put that much effort into creating something, I wanted it to be good. I wanted to be able to have it on a bookshelf next to “regular books” and people not point it out as not belonging. So I started doing a ton of research: how to write, how to edit, how to publish, how to market, etc. I listened to podcasts, read books, networked in Facebook groups. I learned SO much and discovered there was way more to writing a successful book than just writing a draft then putting it out in the world.
After the first draft was done, I revised it. Then I had friends read it and give feedback. Then I revised again. Then I hired a developmental editor and put in MAJOR work into redoing it. Then I got more feedback from beta readers. Then more beta readers. Then a copy editor. Then another editor. It seems like overkill compared to what most authors go through, but I needed it. That process of feedback and revision was my education on writing. And I’m thankful I went through it because my first draft sure needed the help.
Writing the first draft took about 4 months, but the whole editing/revision process took another 12 months. After all that work, I was so excited, because I felt the final product was one I could be extremely proud of.
On April 1, 2021, I published the Last Shadow Knight with no idea of what would happen. Feedback was instant and shocking. People loved it! My original goal was to sell 500 copies (which felt like a stretch) and I ended up selling over 10,000 in just the first half-year. The book sat in the top 15 of YA Epic Fantasy ebooks rankings for a solid 15 months after publishing. I kept thinking I was dreaming or that Amazon had made a mistake.
That surprise success launched me into this new career that was meant to be only a small one-time hobby. It was WAY harder than I expected, but I’m so glad I tried it out. Since then, I’ve published 5 more Shadow Knights books and 2 in a new treasure-hunting series. Total sales have passed 140,000, which has gone far beyond my wildest dreams. My intention now is to be a lifelong writer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My experience is quite the opposite of most writers. Usually new writers struggle at first. They put in the time. They write book after book, slowly building an audience. Then, at some point, something finally breaks through.
For me the breakthrough was instant. My first book knocked it out of the part, creating a smooth onramp for writing multiple books in that series.
The main struggle for me was about expectations. I got it in my head that all I needed to do was write X books, and I could make Y money. When I published Fortress of the Lost Amulet, the feedback and reviews were just as good as the Last Shadow Knight, but it didn’t take off in the same way. People loved the book, but not as many found it to read it. I realized that so much of the success of the Shadow Knights was in an intangible that was out of my control. That made it difficult to predict what any new book series would do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My books are epic fantasy. Not wizards, dwarves, and dragons, but more…castles, swords, and fictional worlds.
I try to infuse positive messages into my works. They’re not parables meant to teach a lesson, but I want them to subtly point people in a direction that emphasizes making the right choice, caring for other people, and being responsible for their own actions.
As far as content goes, I write my books to be accessible for all. I say I write them for adults but content appropriate for younger readers. As a result, I market them as Young Adult even though most of my readers are adults. There is not bad language or sex, but they do have some violence, on par with the Hunger Games or the later Harry Potter books.
I love twists and turns. One of my favorite things is to hear from readers who say how shocked they were when they read certain passages.
I also like books that are easy to read, not bogged down in too much description or metaphors I can’t understand. Because of that, I tend to write that way. They’re easy to read, fun, and full of excitement rather than confusing passages you have to read multiple times to figure out what’s going on.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about Atlanta is the variety you can experience. There are so many different neighborhoods with fun vibes. There are tons of great restaurants all around. Downtown has great experiences.
What I like least is easy…the traffic. That really limits my ability to enjoy the neighborhoods and restaurants.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michaelwebbnovels.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwebbnovels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwebbnovels
