Frequently Asked Questions:
You're Dutch! Why do you write in English?
I started writing in Dutch, but due to my extensive reading in English, every time I was looking for words, the English words floated up to the surface. So I tried writing in English. Since I can simply throw the switch and think in English, even I have trouble translating my work back to Dutch. So, there are no Dutch versions of my book available yet.
What does the title of the sequel, Peccadillo, mean?
peccadillo [ˌpɛkəˈdɪləʊ]n pl -loes, -los
a petty sin or trifling fault
[from Spanish pecadillo, from pecado sin, from Latin peccātum, from peccāre to transgress]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 2003
a petty sin or trifling fault
[from Spanish pecadillo, from pecado sin, from Latin peccātum, from peccāre to transgress]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 2003
When did you first realize you'd like to become an author?
I've always been a great liar. No, strike that. I've always enjoyed telling grandiose stories. However, if you tell grandiose stories and people assume they're true before they find out that they're not, you will be labeled 'liar'. And I'm not. I'm a confabulator (from Latin confabulatus, past participle of confabulari, from com- + fabulari to talk, from fabula story), someone who fill gaps in memory with fabrications. A storyteller, not with the explicit intention to deceive, but to amuse.
During a brief sojourn in unemployment and without the financial means to go out on the town, my friends and I told stories to amuse each other. My stories were praised and people told me I should write a book. Although I'm an avid reader, I didn't really like writing essays at school, so I nixed the idea, but it hovered around in the back of my mind.
A few years later while working long boring night shifts as a security officer, I would often spend six hours out of every eight-hour shift reading and studying. I had an idea for a story and started writing, first in Dutch, later in English. At first I wrote on a typewriter, but when I received my vacationing money, I spend it on an Apple Powerbook 150, which I carried everywhere. From that moment on, I took myself seriously as a writer. As I couldn't follow classes on writing crime fiction in Amsterdam, I bought self-help books for writers and became an autodidact.
During a brief sojourn in unemployment and without the financial means to go out on the town, my friends and I told stories to amuse each other. My stories were praised and people told me I should write a book. Although I'm an avid reader, I didn't really like writing essays at school, so I nixed the idea, but it hovered around in the back of my mind.
A few years later while working long boring night shifts as a security officer, I would often spend six hours out of every eight-hour shift reading and studying. I had an idea for a story and started writing, first in Dutch, later in English. At first I wrote on a typewriter, but when I received my vacationing money, I spend it on an Apple Powerbook 150, which I carried everywhere. From that moment on, I took myself seriously as a writer. As I couldn't follow classes on writing crime fiction in Amsterdam, I bought self-help books for writers and became an autodidact.
Where do you get your ideas?
I've always enjoyed stories about assassins, but my opinion on assassin differed from the books I read. Since most fictional assassins are antagonists, they are often warped individuals, with freaky childhoods. However, I've come across mercenaries (basically the same field), who are pretty regular people. Sure their view of the world differs from ordinary citizens, but they're not 'warped'. This made me want to write about an assassin who has no deep-seated frustration or abused childhood, but who just realized that killing was what she was good at and who had the appropriate world view and lack of conscience to pull it off.
Why do you publish the Amsterdam Assassin books as e-books? Are there publishers interested?
In the past I tried to get a publisher, but since I'm based in the Netherlands, it's hard to make contact with US/UK publishing houses and literary agents.
In 2010 I entered Reprobate, then known as Peccadillo, in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest [ABNA], where I reached the Quarter Finals. Although I didn't do it for validation, I did get a positive Publisher Weekly Review: "Fast-moving and intricately plotted, this manuscript of Dutch intrigue follows assassin Katla, who’s renowned for her ability to cover up a job. When the U.S. DEA’s base in the Netherlands catches wind of a heroin ring within the U.S. military, they set up an undercover operation. When the heads of the drug ring discover the plot, they arrange for Katla to assassinate the undercover agents, but the assassination doesn’t go as planned. As Katla recovers from injuries sustained in the botched job, DEA agent Deborah Stern and her colleagues investigate. Violence, drugs, and sex abound in this intense story, and the plot is less farcical than a lot of the thrillers clogging the shelves."
With the changing market making publishers less likely to take chances on a foreign writer, I decided to go for e-publishing through Amazon, strengthened by the impartial PW review and the input of writers like J.A. Konrath who used to have print contracts but nowadays prefer self-publishing. Not just for the higher royalties, but also the increased control over the content/cover. Also, I'd rather spend my time and energy writing than pursuing a print contract. So, if you want me to keep writing the Katla series, buy my books! Even if you don't have an e-reader, you can download 'Kindle for PC' and e-books on your computer.
In 2010 I entered Reprobate, then known as Peccadillo, in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest [ABNA], where I reached the Quarter Finals. Although I didn't do it for validation, I did get a positive Publisher Weekly Review: "Fast-moving and intricately plotted, this manuscript of Dutch intrigue follows assassin Katla, who’s renowned for her ability to cover up a job. When the U.S. DEA’s base in the Netherlands catches wind of a heroin ring within the U.S. military, they set up an undercover operation. When the heads of the drug ring discover the plot, they arrange for Katla to assassinate the undercover agents, but the assassination doesn’t go as planned. As Katla recovers from injuries sustained in the botched job, DEA agent Deborah Stern and her colleagues investigate. Violence, drugs, and sex abound in this intense story, and the plot is less farcical than a lot of the thrillers clogging the shelves."
With the changing market making publishers less likely to take chances on a foreign writer, I decided to go for e-publishing through Amazon, strengthened by the impartial PW review and the input of writers like J.A. Konrath who used to have print contracts but nowadays prefer self-publishing. Not just for the higher royalties, but also the increased control over the content/cover. Also, I'd rather spend my time and energy writing than pursuing a print contract. So, if you want me to keep writing the Katla series, buy my books! Even if you don't have an e-reader, you can download 'Kindle for PC' and e-books on your computer.
As to self-publishing vs. traditional publishing:
I know that Reprobate might drown in a sea of garbage, however I'm convinced that good writing and good storytelling will prevail. And Amazon Kindle has the advantage that you can download free chapters to see whether you want to download the entire novel - like scanning the first pages of a book in a book store, but more comfortable. Ultimately, if your writing isn't up to par or your story-telling abilities are lacking, you won't be downloaded.
In traditional publishing, debut novels often have to prove themselves within six months with almost no support and sketchy distribution, before they are returned to the publisher and destroyed. A return rate of 30-50% is common! That's a small window of opportunity. And the publisher will have the rights to both my print and e-book novel, for a long period. Even if Reprobate sells 'well', I will receive about 8-10% royalties. For that, I won't be able to decide on the cover, am powerless to prevent changes of the title or other changes. And if it goes out of print, readers who like the sequel won't be able to read the first novel.
By contrast, the shelf life of a debut novel on Amazon is indefinite - Reprobate will remain available for as long as I want it to be there. So if Reprobate doesn't sell well the first year, it might take off the second year when the sequel comes out. I'm quite sure the 70% royalty rate will allow me to recuperate the costs of the Reprobate cover. And I will remain the sole owner of the rights.
In traditional publishing, debut novels often have to prove themselves within six months with almost no support and sketchy distribution, before they are returned to the publisher and destroyed. A return rate of 30-50% is common! That's a small window of opportunity. And the publisher will have the rights to both my print and e-book novel, for a long period. Even if Reprobate sells 'well', I will receive about 8-10% royalties. For that, I won't be able to decide on the cover, am powerless to prevent changes of the title or other changes. And if it goes out of print, readers who like the sequel won't be able to read the first novel.
By contrast, the shelf life of a debut novel on Amazon is indefinite - Reprobate will remain available for as long as I want it to be there. So if Reprobate doesn't sell well the first year, it might take off the second year when the sequel comes out. I'm quite sure the 70% royalty rate will allow me to recuperate the costs of the Reprobate cover. And I will remain the sole owner of the rights.