Scott Steinberg wears a few hats. He’s the CEO of TechSavvy Global, a management consulting and market research firm, and serves as a strategic advisor to Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, universities and start-ups. Plus, he’s a bestselling author of books including The Business Expert’s Guidebook,  The Crowdfunding Bible, and The Modern Parents’ Guide, a series on how technology affects kids and families.

1)      What was the first eBook that you published on Kobo?

The Business Expert’s Guidebook – a complete guide to successfully starting, launching and operating any business using everyday, off-the-shelf technology solutions including popular apps, gadgets and online services. It’s been hailed by top editors, industry leaders and bestselling authors as “the one book every entrepreneur should keep handy.”

But it’s only the first by roughly 10 minutes: Thanks to the beauty of self-publishing, and user-friendliness of Kobo’s platform, it was quickly joined by other volumes such as The Crowdfunding Bible (a complete guide to raising money for businesses and startups online) and The Modern Parent’s Guide (world’s first high-tech parenting series) right after. Literally, in less time than it takes to answer these interview questions, anyone can take a manuscript and publish it to the platform – and, essentially, start their own publishing label and be bringing in income overnight.

2)      What is the most interesting thing about eBook publishing?

How fast, painless and utterly sensible it is – you can go from idea to final product in a matter of weeks or sooner, depending on how rapidly you work. This means that suddenly barriers to entry are nonexistent, and the field is completely democratized: Anyone, anywhere can publish what they want, when they want, and in record time. Consider the case of The Crowdfunding Bible: Built on the back of an emerging business trend that started to snowball just weeks before, from start to finish, it took less than a month to create.

Now, you don’t need to wait to be picked by a publishing house, waste months pitching concepts or receive anyone’s permission or validation to produce a work – and it can be any shape, size or format. This means that suddenly anyone with a great idea, or who sees rising interest in a topic emerging, can take their case straight to the general public. Instead of editors, publishers and agents getting to decide what sees the light of day and when, you do – and get to retain ultimate control over your vision. Likewise, you also gain the pleasure of enjoying a one-to-one relationship with readers: Who, through direct outreach, social media and other channels, may even influence the shape of the work or future volumes to come.

You, too can become a digital publishing pioneer. Don’t let traditional industry operators fool you: Our works have been featured in dozens of outlets from CNN to Inc. and Good Morning America, and recommended by bestselling authors and the stars of top-rated TV shows Shark Tank. You’d be amazed what independent authors can achieve today.

3)      What inspires you?

Two words: First or best. With a tip of the hat to GE, the motto is simple here: “We bring good things to life.” You could say we look for books that need creating – but more often than not, they seem to look for us.

Consider The Modern Parent’s Guide series: As a high-tech business consultant by day and full-time parent, it’s painfully obvious how powerfully technology has transformed modern kids’ and families’ lives – and yet precious few parenting books acknowledge this, let alone speak to the topic. And so the world’s first high-tech parenting series covering all aspects of connected life, and offering practical real-world strategies for managing its impact on the home, was born. Why? Because yours truly – an average, everyday working male – was staggered to discover than five years after the volumes should have been written, and in a form more digestible than the usual 500-page manual, they still didn’t exist.

If you look at our catalogue, you’ll notice a common theme throughout – the books teach, inform, and fill in knowledge gaps, or aim to address to subjects of rising interest that have previously been ignored. We usually wind up doing something simply because it needs to be done.

4)      What was the best piece of advice you ever received as a writer?

Just write! It’s all about training and self-discipline. Create a routine, set aside regular writing time each day, and stick with the habit. Practice makes perfect. As Lorne Lanning, creator of The Oddworld video game series once put it to me, the rules are simple: If you don’t train your [rear end] off, you’ll never win a gold medal. Don’t worry about being the next Stephen King or penning a great American novel™ – start small, build your talents, and succeed over time. A series of base hits can be just as effective at winning the game as the occasional home run.

Works don’t have to be War and Peace either: Today, even a manuscript as small as 36-48 pages can qualify as a book in some circles, especially given the digital age’s shortened attention spans. Sit down, say what needs to be said, edit and refine, and don’t be afraid to tie a bow on your book when it’s done – no work is ever perfect, and few go from zero to bestseller in a single effort. That’s the pleasure of self-publishing: You define success, and get to say when the volume is done. Always do your best, and give readers their money’s worth, but remember – a single battle doesn’t define the war.

5)      What advice would you offer to up-and-coming writers?

Publish now. Publish often. Stop making excuses. If you see an opportunity, go for it. Don’t buy into expensive coaches, consultants or marketing programs, and don’t expect to get rich overnight. Be yourself. Be original. Be arresting. Understand your goals and victory conditions before creating a single word. Believe in yourself – accept constructive insight and criticism, but understand that you’ve got to be your most ardent evangelist. Expect hardships and setbacks: It’s the ability to push through and persevere that defines true successes. Know when to say enough is enough and ship the volume. Know when you don’t know the answers – and whom to turn to for advice. Aim high, and don’t be afraid to try, ask or do: You’ll never know unless you make the attempt, and falling short of greatness can still mean landing well ahead of the pack. Recognize there are countless ways to win even if you lose (establishing subject matter expertise, creating network opportunities, building visibility, growing your skills, etc.), understand that there is no such thing is failure – only the price of education. Don’t lose your sense of humor… as they say, no good plan survives first contact with the enemy. Also: If you can, marry an understanding spouse – it definitely helps.

6)      Tell us about what you are reading now.

The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene (blame a personal obsession with strategy, war and negotiations) and Money Talks by Alan Weiss (a blueprint for building a professional speaking career). I’ve also been enjoying Delta Green: Through a Glass, Darkly, because I’ve read virtually every other book dealing with H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. Too much existential horror is never enough, and you know what they say about all work and no play. Sadly though, with a growing sprout here who is obsessed with reading, I’ve probably spent more time with Dr. Seuss than any other author in the past year. As soon as we find a decent babysitter, maybe I can catch up on my Suzanne Collins or John Grisham.

Check out Scott’s books on Kobo!

Steve Vernon is often described as Halifax’s hardest working horror writer. It might be because he seems to put out about a half dozen books each year.  His work is celebrated throughout the horror genre and Edward Lee (author of City Infernal) has said this about him: “It’s a rare thrill these days when the genre unleashes an utterly exclusive voice. Steve Vernon is indeed such a voice, a writer who knows how to manipulate the building blocks of the horror genre with the confidence of a veteran, while unveiling a style, a craft, and a creative perception that is excitingly original.”

Steve, who has recently begun writing various different young adult works, answered a few questions about his writing, injecting his trademark wry humour into his answers.

When did you first discover a love of writing? Is there a particular book that made you want to become a writer?

Wow. That’s a tough question.

My love for writing began early on. I particularly remember a class visit by W.O. Mitchell. He visited our school and at the time I remember thinking that I wanted to grow up to be just like this dude. He seemed so comfortable within his own skin – a fellow who truly knew the role that he played in life. I remember that he swore sometimes – right out loud – right in front of the class. I thought that was cool, as well.

Hey – remember I was prepubescent at the time.

It was about that year that I submitted my very first story to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. I remember how excited I was to actually receive a hand-written rejection slip. The way I see it – somebody in the editorial office must have had kids and took one long at my scrawled up and poorly-typed submission and decided to be kind to this poor misguided child. In hindsight, the story stunk so bad they probably needed a gas mask a smear of Vicks Vapo-rub under their nostrils before they even attempted to read it. Most likely some industrial tongs to yank the offending manuscript from out of its smudged up envelope.

I never did manage to place a story in Alfred Hitchcock, though.

Where do you get your story ideas?      

Under rocks. Usually big ones. My ideas generally have long wiggly legs and smell a little like recycled tea bags.

The best ones speak in tongues.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a writer?        

Writing is a game of patience. Don’t be in a hurry. Read, write and revise. Your first word is not always your best word. Don’t get discouraged.

This stuff takes time.

What made you decide to self-publish?

After all of that molasses about patience that I spread out in that last question – I’d have to say that the biggest reason I wanted to self-publish was impatience. I’ve got a lot of stories to tell – and I sometimes get tired of waiting to find the proper publisher.

Then too there is a distinct lack of good publishers out there for my sort of work. I have hooked up with way too many small press publishers who turned out to be either well-meaning amateurs who wound up making a royal mess of the whole enterprise – or else they turned out to be less-than-well-meaning con artists.

That isn’t to say that ALL publishers are rotten. No, no – this is not the ranting of one of those indie writers who swear that all publishers should be shot, burned, resuscitated and shot again. That’s not my outlook.

You see – what I should make clear right off of the bat is that I am what is known as a “hybrid” writer – in that I write both for a traditional regional publisher – Nimbus Publishing here in Nova Scotia – as well as independently publishing my own work. Besides that, I also have published quite a few e-books through an e-publishing company known as Crossroad Press.

I’m fisherman with more than one rod.

The traditional publishing is the foundation that I build my tower of yarns upon. The self-publishing is my wave to the future.

I stand on bedrock and reach for the stars.

Where do you usually write?    

In my office – at a desk that is so heaped and cluttered that the first words out of any casual spectator’s mouth is “This week on Hoarders…”

Do you believe in Writer’s Block?

There are blocks and obstacles in every profession. A good craftsperson will usually figure out a way around such obstacles.

I try and remind myself constantly that whenever I sit down to write a story or a novel or a poem or a dirty joke – that I am not doing anything more elaborate than nailing boards together to build a house. I try and think of myself as a craftsman and a tradesperson. If my client wants me to build him a box I am NOT going to sit there and tell him that I am box-blocked. I am NOT going to sit there and tell him that I must wait upon inspiration.

My muse is a three-toothed, unshaven, slouch-shouldered, slab-armed thug of a foreman named Bubba. He leans on the time-clock, breathing in great bearish beer-stained gusto, reminding me constantly that I’m getting paid for sitting here and looking pretty.

“Get to work you lolly-gagging chowderhead,” is what he lovingly tells me every morning when I sit down at my keyboard.

You see – a block is nothing more than a challenge thrown down in front of a writer. We must learn to fly over, run around, limbo under or smash straight through any obstacle or so-called Writers Block in our bath.

That’s why God invented airplanes, end runs, submarines and bulldozers.

If a reader came upon your eBooks for the first time, which of your titles would you recommend?

For young adult – and grown-ups who can’t spell the word dignified – I would definitely have to recommend SINKING DEEPER OR MY QUESTIONABLE (POSSIBLY HEROIC) DECISION TO INVENT A SEA MONSTER. I mean where else are you going to find a book that opens with a jailbreak, segues into a clothesline pole hijack and an impromptu Main Street caber toss – resulting in an accidentally drive-by dory sinking – and then commences to heat on up?

For folks with more sense of decorum I’d likewise have to recommend my hockey and vampire novella SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME.

And finally – I want to definitely jump up and down and wave a big bright lollipop colored flag over my continuing series FLASH VIRUS – which first episode is available on Kobo for absolutely free.

I mean – how can you resist a novel that starts out with the sentence – “So as near as I could tell the end of the world began roughly about the time that Billy Carver’s butt rang – about halfway through the War of 1812.”

Dig on that awhile, would you?

Check out some of Steve Vernons’s titles at Kobo.

Steve Vernon’s Blog:  Yours in Storytelling