Sam Sarkisian is an up-and-coming fiction writer. His debut novel, The Institute, is a dystopian thriller about misinformation in the media and political spheres. Sam is a teacher and Writing Lecturer at Boston University.
When he’s not writing, he likes to play amateur pool, hike with his dog, Mango, and rock climb.
My hope is that The Institute provokes my readers to think about the volatility of information overload and how it affects our beliefs, actions, and anxiety. The news cycle has become so truncated, so vociferous, that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and not try to verify the stories that come into your social media news feeds.
Also, for them to have some fun while reading the book. While the content might be dystopian, I tried to write it satirically and with a light heart, so I hope they get a few laughs from it.
What were the top three mistakes you made publishing your book what did you learn from it?
While I might not have three explicitly, I’d have to say underestimating how many moving parts and contacts it takes to get a professionally formatted book with an established readership on the release date. It’s exhausting, but rewarding.
What must happen for you to consider your book a success? and when do you predict it will happen?
I’d like to see it on some more bookstore shelves. When I walk past a bookshop in a faraway city, and it’s right there! Hopefully within the next year — local booksellers around Boston are already carrying it, so if folks keep requesting it, then they’ll stock it.
Getting emails from fans is success enough, though. When you get that first email from someone you don’t know and they ask some deep questions, questions that you can really tell they thoroughly read your book, it’s just surreal.
Writing a book is an unruly beast, and sometimes you might feel some imposter syndrome, questioning your ability to actually write the damn thing. Do it anyway, and have fun while you do it. If you don’t enjoy what you’re writing, then no one else will either.
What is the one thing you wished you knew before publishing your first book?
There’s a lot of folks out there with industry knowledge to help you. The old-school method—write manuscript, send query, get agent, sell book to publisher—might still work, but it’s getting clunky and outdated. And it takes a long time. Getting your foot in the door when you know you have the right stuff can vault you into success faster than you think.
Don’t underestimate the power of your own network. Have work email lists? Even 500 social media followers? Friends from school? You’d be surprised at how many of them will be impressed that someone they know published a book.
Don’t be afraid to push a little bit—people get it. It’s okay to shamelessly plug to your network.
Also, try to angle your work to be timely. Reporters are looking for stories to cover all the time. That only increases your exposure (not to mention it feels good to see your name in print).
If you only had $100 dollars to write, publish then promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I’d spend it on the cover — it’s the first and last marketing tool you have. Your friends, family, coworkers, and network contacts will still be there to support you, but it’s easy for a stranger to quite literally “judge a book by its cover”
How can we get in touch with you?
To find out more information about my upcoming work, I welcomes you to follow me:
Sam Sarkisiann’s Book- The Institute
- Sam Sarkisiann website
- Twitter: @sammiesark
- Instagram: @samsarkisiann
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