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Where can I buy your books?
Ideally, from my publisher or from Amazon. You may sometimes have to resort to Lulu, Etsy, or eBay.
How much do you earn from each book I buy?
For anything you buy from Double Dragon, I get 8% for each print book ($1.36 if the book is $17) and 30% for each ebook ($1.80 if the ebook is $6). If you buy it from me at a signing or reading and I am selling from my personal stock, I am probably clearing much less than that owing to the percentage that may go to the venue. (And that is not taking into account any expenses, like gas to get to the venue. Generally, I am operating at a loss.)
If you bought from Cave Drawing Ink, congratulations! I am impressed at your craftiness, that is no easy thing to do. I don't receive anything.
Why would you operate at a loss? Don't you like money?
I would love to be able to get an enormous royalty check for all of my sales. However, to do that, I need a fanbase. That will only come if I get copies of my books in the hands of readers. For now, that sometimes involves spending more on gas to get to an event than I possibly could earn while there.
Do you charge for autographs?
I don't. You can actually get signed copies of my books through Etsy for about the retail price. If someone is selling a copy of one of my books for much more than that - and they do on Amazon and Etsy sometimes - you probably would do well not to buy it.
I would like to support you, but I don’t have any money right now for books. May I steal them?
I will thank you not to pirate my books as that is not terribly supportive. Instead, please ask your local library if they have a copy of my books. Usually, they can get a copy through interlibrary loan at no cost to you. Failing that, they may be inclined to buy a copy or two in order to meet demand.
But isn’t that the same things as pirating? I mean, you wouldn’t get any extra money from me reading a library book, right?
No, but I would get that initial book purchased and any replacement books from people who damaged or did not return them. Also, I am a huge proponent of the library system, having worked in many.
I am going to pirate anyway! Information wants to be free!
I do not approve, but make sure you steal a good copy, not one full of typos that does not match the published version. They exist far more than "good" copies. If you are going to rip me off, at least don't insult me with poor translation/transcription.
If you like it, buy a legit copy.
Will you read my story/poem/novel-in-progress?
I would prefer not to. Partially, this is to protect the "purity" of my own writing as a published author. If you send me your unpublished sestina about spider gods and then realize that I have the son of Anansi working at a diner in my Night's Dream series, you might want to threaten that I have infringed on your copyright. If I haven't read it, I am protected. I am sure my publishers would prefer to avoid these issues, too.
Also, I really do only have so much time in the day and, if I have a few minutes, I would like to (in order) be writing my own work, be editing, be reading something I enjoy, reading my friends' work to help them, or reading a published book for review.
Wait, you will read your friends' books, but you won't read mine?
Yes, because they are my friends, I can be guaranteed of a certain quality and know they are not litigious. Also, I tend toward critical brutality and I know they can take it without seeing it as a personal attack.
Will you read and review my legitimately published book (which is to say, not self-published)?
Possibly, but know that I default to being nitpicky and highly critical (read any of the reviews here if you think otherwise). I also do not like a lot in my genre.
Do you read fanfiction of your work?
Officially, no, I do not. I am aware it is out there, but I don't much feel the need.
Unofficially? It is hilarious to listen to my friends reading it in silly voices.
What about slash fiction about you?
That's not a thing, right? Let's say it isn't.
Where can I see you/get your autograph/listen to you speak?
I will do my best to keep the Events page updated with my coming appearances.
I would like my library/bookstore/community center/college to host a reading. How do I go about doing this?
Have the person in charge of scheduling contact me at thommquackenbush AT gmail DOT com. I will warn you that, if the site is too far from the Hudson Valley of New York and expenses are not paid, I will be reticent.
I would like to interview you. How do I go about doing this?
Write to me at the above address. I am generally accommodating, more so when offered something more in depth than a list of generic questions to pick from.
How many books do you intend to write in your Night's Dream series?
At present, I have notes sketched out for nine in total. Four are published and the rest as various files and outlines.
I see that you are listed as the head writer for Parallaxis. What is this and when is it coming out?
That was a collaborative fiction project being created by Cave Drawing Ink in the spirit of Rise of the Outlanders!. My team ended up writing about two thirds of it after another team backed out. However, despite there being character sketches floating around the web, the artists did not wish to illustrate the story and it floundered.