Okay, so this is really an interview with Frank Hall, who runs Hydra Publications. I’ve had several of his authors on the blog recently, and he graciously agreed to spend a few minutes answering my questions.

I always start with the personal stuff. Tell me three things about yourself that you think everyone should know, and one thing that almost nobody knows.

Well lets see three things that everyone should know about me. First off i am a HUGE geek. Plain and simple. Another thing is my passion about books. I love them. My house is covered with books……and games….like i said geek. I am also a big animal lover. Hmm something that almost nobody knows. There was a time i thought about becoming a professional musician.

What is Hydra Publications?

Hydra is a small press that i started a few years ago as part of the bookstore that I own. It has quickly grown into a mind of its own. 

What is your role at Hydra?

Owner/Editor/marketer/press secretary/general contact/whipping post….you get the idea.

What type of reader likes the books Hydra publishes?

All types. When i first started out i was planning on doing Speculative fiction only. You know Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror. So naturally our first book came out and it was a Historical Romance. There is something for everyone in our titles.

What’s the hardest part of being a small publisher?

Dealing with expectations that people have that are just not realistic. One wanted their book to come out at a certain time and got offended when I told them that it was next to impossible to do that….2 weeks.

What’s the best part of being a small publisher?

I would say the best part is finding that new Gem that either someone else missed or has never seen. I love books so being able to see what people come up with before anyone else is a big perk to the job.

What could an author do to increase his or her chances of having a manuscript accepted at Hydra?

There are several things, the most important being write a good story. Then do the submission right. We have guidelines on the site for how to submit to us and it amazes me how many people do not follow them. I delete a lot of messages just because it was not submitted correctly.

What would definitely cause you to reject a manuscript?

As i said earlier submitting wrong is a biggie. If you cannot follow simple instructions off of a website then I do not want to work with you. Also if it is apparent that you didn’t even look over the manuscript when you finished it then that is a big one too. If I open it in Word and red lines start showing up everywhere then its a no. You have not taken the time to make sure your book is good and I won’t either.

What should I have asked you, if only I had known you well enough to ask?

You should of asked about the purple monkey!

www.HydraPublications.com