Caroline George, author of The Prime Way Program and The Vestige, resides in Nashville where she spends the majority of her time in hipster coffeehouses, sipping lavender mochas and undertaking over-the-top projects. She is a two-time Georgia Author of the Year nominee, speaker, blogger and writer for teen magazine Pursue.
Caroline studies publishing and public relations at Belmont University and works as a publicist for local artists.
**************************************
(Nashville, Tenn.) – The publishing industry has transformed over the past decade due to technological advancements. Traditional models of publication have unraveled, allowing authors, agents and publishers to conduct business through new channels and mediums. Because of the change, many publishing professionals, authors and readers have pondered the question: Has the publishing world come to an end?
Caroline George, author of The Prime Way Trilogy and The Vestige (Evernight Teen, June 2017), adapted to what some would consider a post-apocalyptic publishing landscape by incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship into her writing platform.
After agents told her she was too young to have an author career, teenage George self-published her first two books without professional assistance and started what would become a thriving business. George recognized new opportunities within media and publishing, noted the needs and desires of readers her age, then structured her marketing plan accordingly. “Authors are entrepreneurs,” said George. “To be successful in the publishing industry, a writer must be able to view their art as a product and then strategically discover ways to sell the product. If authors, agents and publishers aren’t willing to adapt to market trends, they become irrelevant and ultimately, won’t survive in post-apocalyptic publishing.”
************************
Q&A
1) What inspired you to write a book showcasing the danger of ignorance?
I was sitting in Starbucks when I realized my life was pretty. The people around me sipping their lattes were pretty. The shopping mall across the highway was filled with pretty things. But when I checked my Yahoo news feed and saw disturbing headlines, I concluded that my life is nothing more than an illusion: The world isn’t a pretty place, yet it is unbelievably easy for people to go throughout their day without noticing the dirt. This realization led me to ponder the questions: What if the end of the world has already occurred? What if our final demise happened slowly, secretly . . . and we’ve been oblivious to it all?
If we live in a pretty bubble of shopping malls and Starbucks, could we miss the truth because we’re too comfortable to see it?
Unlike my other books, The Vestige is a call to action, a call to awareness.
2)If you had to pick an end of the world theme song what would it be?
Great question! If I survived the end of the world, my theme song would be Until We Go Down by Ruelle. If I was an apocalypse victim, which would most likely be the case, my theme song would be Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan.
3)You published your first two books while in high school. What are some of the most important things you learned during the publishing process?
- Stubbornness trumps talent.
- To be successful, an author must know the current publishing market and act as his or her own advocate.
- Rejection isn’t personal. I view each NO as a closed door, and someone cannot mourn a door that was never opened to them.
- Don’t settle for what everyone else is doing, rather find a need and meet it. Think beyond the normal.
- Criticism is motivation to continue.
- Age shouldn’t limit someone from achieving their goals.
4)What would be your weapon of choice in a zombie apocalypse?
Good ole’ tactical shotgun.
5)There's a lot controversy about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, though self-publishing is becoming more widely accepted. What are your thoughts on that matter?’
When I first self-published, the model was new and considered the option for “unwanted authors,” meaning authors rejected by traditional publishers. However, self-publishing is more an entrepreneurial option, giving authors complete control of their work and a higher percentage of royalties. What most people don’t understand is the extensive work each author must do to successfully self-publish a book—people also don’t realize the publishing industry has completely transformed due to social media, the internet and retailers like Amazon. Self-publishing and boutique publishing are more feasible than ever before.
Discrimination shouldn’t be channeled at self-publishing as a mode of content delivery. Criticism should instead be directed at the quality of content.
6)Marvel or DC?
Marvel, without a doubt. I’m a huge fan.
****************************************
With five years of publishing experience, 20-year-old author Caroline George defies odds and steps into her next career chapter with latest apocalyptic book, The Vestige.
THE VESTIGE (COMING SUMMER 2017)
What if the end of the world has already occurred? What if our final demise happened slowly, secretly . . . and we’ve been oblivious to it all?
Julie Stryker has spent her life in the scenic streets of Charleston, South Carolina, bicycling to the local college, working at a coffeehouse, watching her family fall apart and back together. She has plans, dreams—all of which seem out of reach. Then she meets a handsome stranger at work, and she believes her life is on the brink of a much needed change.
But after a tragic accident, Julie is whisked away from the only home she’s ever known and confronted with a life-altering secret: The end of the world has already occurred and a portion of humankind has been kept oblivious.
Tossed into a hidden world of deception, Julie must confront the truth within herself and reveal the government’s layers before the end of the world becomes a permanent reality.
Title: Genius: The Game 
