How To Write A Novel with A Client That Lives Out of Town- Even in Another Country!

If someone had come to me when I first started writing and asked if collaborating with an author in another country was possible, I would have told them they were nuts!

However, think of it. Probably 20 years ago, it wouldn't be possible. Why? because the internet was just getting off the ground. Instant messaging wasn't even a glimmer in the eye of technology yet.

That being said, it still amazes me how I co-wrote a novel with another author that lives in Beijing, China and never once spoke to him by phone! All communication was done via instant messaging and email. Including discussions on direction of the plot, characters, contests to enter, royalties and the like. Everything you could possibly imagine discussing with another author was done from laptop to laptop.

If you are still shaking your head on how this was done, I'll outline the way Alan Solomon and myself conducted the business at hand.

Primary Challenge and How We Adapted

If it is 7pm in Nashville, TN USA then the time in Beijing, China is 7AM the next day. How in the world do you sync up to discuss questions in live time?

Well, I soon found out that it was rare that I needed to discuss any issues in live time unless we were running into a deadline issue. But, if I did need to discuss, I would simply log on to my laptop and IM (instant message) Alan at 8pm my time and catch him just starting his day in Beijing at 8AM the next day. Otherwise, I emailed him and he reciprocated.

I found I needed a headshot of him and wanted to know what songs sounded like that he mentioned in the rough draft of the book. No problem, he emailed his photo and attached the music in a downloadable file. I was able to even create a Book Trailer with the info and music he sent me! Amazing, huh?

All other communication was done via email. The graphic design of the book was done by a talented young lady by the name of Joyce Teo who knew Alan rather well. She did a beautiful job for us and again, we described what we wanted via email and she sent revisions back and forth via email attachments!

Since the writing of the book, we have a blog detailing our long distance journey, a yahoo group who wants to read and discuss the book, a Book Trailer on You Tube that is very popular and the book is scheduled to be shown at the Beijing, China International Book Fair and will be competing for Best Fiction Novel for USABook.com.

Book Signings? Well, we can hold virtual ones if we want to do it together, but that will most likely be done separately! Want an autograph of both authors? With a little help from the postal service and each author, it can be done! In fact, Alan wants to order quite a few books and send them to me for my autograph and then send on to him so he can add his autograph as well. Then, he will sell to friends, family and colleagues.

I've already started selling the book. I am confident it will be a hit. The name of it is "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road". Want to see what the finished product looks like? Buy yourself a copy and I will be happy to autograph it for you if you like. http://www.lulu.com/content/1019489.

If you want to check out the blog: www.MangoTreeCafe-LoiKrohRoad.blogspot.com

It just goes to show you that regardless of the distance challenges, you can write a book with someone regardless of whether you live next door or a world away!

Check us out!