Author Interview – Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, Ed.D., D.D.
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life
Tell us something about yourself.
I served for thirty years as a congregational rabbi, consultant, and part-time chaplain, primarily in Boston’s North Shore and in upstate New York. Prior to that I was ordained as a Conservative rabbi in New York City in 1972, a few years after growing up in LA and graduating UCLA. I went on to earn my doctorate in gerontology (Ed.D.) two years later at Columbia University Teachers College. I began writing my book nine months after my July, 2006 retirement, following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Soon after that I began a companion blog: www.ConquerProstateCancer.com
What inspired you to write this book?
I began writing my book exactly a week after my April 12, 2007 operation for two primary reasons: I was extremely impressed by my pain-free surgery and rapid recovery, and I wanted to help others resolve some of the initial confusion many men and their wives/partners have experienced when confronted by prostate cancer and all too many treatment options.
Why did you decide to self-publish your book?
After a few months hesitation I decided to self-publish by establishing a family publishing company called Health Success Media, LLC. The book is officially published and owned by my daughter, who has multi-media training. I did not want to go to traditional book publishers since I wanted to retain complete control over the entire book, such as keeping its title. In addition I didn’t want to spend the extra year it might take to be published traditionally. Last I didn’t want to deplete the potential book income that authors lose when their books are published by others.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
For me the hardest part of writing is refraining from writing too much, that is, limiting my words so I covey my thoughts as succinctly as possible. The other difficulty I’ve experienced is constantly having to find the appropriate keywords to maximize search engine optimization (SEO) in order to get known and grow my list of subscribers.
How do you do research for your books?
I start by writing my experiences. From time to time I check primarily online for resource that will sharpen or corroborate my views. After I finish the book I check comments I’ve written and corroborate them further and end up with many end notes.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I’m now exploring the possibility of collaborating on a book about prostate cancer and tantra sex.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Write before you edit. But edit one segment of a few paragraphs or a chapter subsection at one time for uniformity of style, rather than going back to each sentence one by one. Expect to completely re-edit your book when you feel all your chapters are done – several times. When satisfied, make sure you get the best available editor for the money, and likewise select the book designer who has other samples of book design you admire. Above all see what other writers have done AFTER you’ve written much of your book, to insure that your content and writing style are unique and not derived from others
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I do my best to blog, tweet, facebook (is that a verb?), and appear in the media with an increasing number of print articles or radio and TV interviews. Promoting a book and developing related products is an ongoing effort. Marketing is far more difficult than writing, although it starts with the first words you write.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
You can learn more about the book and me at www.ConquerProstateCancer.com and www.ConquerProstateCancer.com/Media.
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Author Interview – Candace Czarny, CFM, ASID, LEED AP
What is your most recent book?
The Master’s Secret Key
Tell us something about yourself.
My business background comes from the corporate world however, I spent 5 years as an apprentice to a Feng Shui Master and have been studying esoteric sciences for over 25 years
What inspired you to write this book?
People are struggling daily to live a life of happiness. I wanted to give the opportunity to have the simple tools to change that and begin living a life of joy and abundance
How did you publish this book?
I self publish on line and through print on demand (amazon).
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I did not really want to be a writer but I did want to help people.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Focusing on the message instead of writing a book.
How do you do research for your books?
Life.
Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?
It’s not as difficult as you think.
What are you reading now?
Eclipses by Celeste Teal.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Don’t try to eat the elephant in one sitting.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
www.artofplacement.com
www.themasterssecretkey.com
Tags: author interview
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Author Interview – Catherine McKenzie
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
Here’s a little bit about SPIN, my debut novel: Katie Sandford has just gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It’s the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate — and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn’t get the job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they’ll reconsider her for the job at The Line.
Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has to make a decision — is publishing the article worth everything she has to lose?
Tell us something about yourself.
I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. I’m a lawyer (I’m a partner in a litigation firm where I practice civil, commercial and constitutional litigation). I’ve always written (poetry mostly) and started writing novels about four years ago.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’m always on the lookout for book ideas! A couple of years ago, several young celebrities were going in and out of rehab and there were all sorts of stories leaking from rehab about their behaviour. I wondered to myself why no paparazzi had ever gone undercover into rehab. My next thought was no isn’t that an interesting idea for a book.
How did you publish this book?
When I completed my first “real” novel (i.e. not a semi-autobiographical account of my life) I decided to try to get an agent. I was lucky enough to get one to represent me and she spent a year and half trying to sell that novel. In the meantime, I wrote SPIN. She then started trying to sell it and I got the offer from HarperCollins Canada soon after. How could I say no to a great publisher like that?
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I don’t think I ever decided to be a writer, it just sort of happened. I got an idea for a book and started writing it, and then once I finish something I’m not the kind of person to just put it in a drawer. That’s not to say that I didn’t (and don’t) work had at being a writer. It is hard and it takes work!
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Learning how to write when you’re not inspired. If I waited until the spirit moved me I’d still be writing my first book.
How do you do research for your books?
The internet is very helpful if you’re careful about your sources, but it depends on the topic. For this book I also consulted friends and family who were psychologist to make sure I got the broad outlines of treatment right.
What are you reading now?
Jon Krakauer’s latest book about Pat Tillman. Really interesting.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?
I read a pretty eclectic group of books. Some of my favorite authors include Jane Austen, Jon Krakauer, Nick Hornby, and James Frey. They are all authors who’s books grabbed me from the first page and kept me reading deep into the night.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
My next book is scheduled to come out in January 2011, and is, for now, entitled ARRANGED. Don’t want to say too much more about it yet since publication is so far away.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Keep at it. Find someone unconnected with you to give you a real appraisal of your work.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
Various things, but mainly a blog tour that starts on January 11, 2010. Details are on my website.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
www.catherinemckenzie.com. You can browse inside the book from there.
You can follow me on twitter @CEMcKenzie1.
I also have a fan page on Facebook.
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Author Interview – Chynna T. Laird
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
My most recent book is titled, Not Just Spirited: A Mom’s Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder (Loving Healing Press). The book is about a mom’s journey to finding the right diagnosis and treatment for her daughter. Our daughter, Jaimie, suffered greatly for the first few years of her life with…something. Not only did we not understand what was wrong with her we had no idea how to help her. And the worst part was that no matter how hard we pressed for people to see what we did, nobody listened to us. Then we met a wonderful occupational therapist who figured out what was wrong with Jaimie after spending only an hour with her: Sensory Processing Disorder. This shows a story many parents have: getting people to listen, finding the right diagnosis, then fighting to get their child the proper treatment.
Tell us something about yourself.
I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. I started writing when I was in elementary school. In Grade Three we had a representative come to our classroom to teach us all about the publishing world. We got to write our own little stories, have them “published” then put into the library for other students to take out. My story was called SuperBug a superhero of the Bug World whose only weakness was a size 10 shoe. The whole process of “publishing,” or having the book laminated and put on the library book shelf, was awesome to me. Many years later, my younger sister came home with a book she was so excited for me to read to her: SuperBug! I took that as a sign that writing was to be part of my life in some significant way.
As for recent stuff about me: I’m a psychology student, freelance writer and author living in Edmonton, Alberta with my partner, Steve, and our three daughters [Jaimie (almost seven), Jordhan (five), and baby Sophie (eighteen months)] and baby boy, Xander (three). My passion is helping children and families living with Sensory Processing Disorder and other special needs.
You’ll find my work in many online and in-print parenting, inspirational, Christian and writing publications in Canada, United States, Australia, and Britain. In addition, I’ve authored a children’s book, a memoir (now available!) and a reference book about the Sensory Diet coming January 2011.
What inspired you to write this book?
The book started of as journal entries. I often journal to work out feelings or thoughts. Then I began meeting many parents with similar stories as ours and decided that more of us need to tell our stories. You see, there are many in the medical field who don’t acknowledge SPD as a separate disorder with its own symptoms, assessment process and treatments. A child can have SPD without being, say, Autistic or AD/HD. I wrote the book to show this. SPD is real…as real as my daughter Jaimie and her struggles with it.
How did you publish this book? Why did you decide on that publisher?
This book was published traditionally through Loving, Healing Press. I tried for almost two years to get the book out there. I had many agents and publishers interested in the story but because our story is such a specified niche and a memoir, it was tough finding someone to take the risk with it. But Victor at Loving, Healing Press has helped many stories, such as ours, get out there. He took our project on as enthusiastically as if it was his own story and that meant so much to me. A writer wants her agent or publisher to take her story because they believe in it not just because it could make money or to be an extra listing on their site. That’s so important.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I never planned on being a published writer. I just knew I loved writing. I found it soothing and therapeutic. I was inspired to keep journaling after my sister came home with SuperBug. I just kept writing stories and journaling then I shared one of my stories with a friend called, “The Gray Felt Hat.” She told me to enter it in a contest or get it published. I didn’t understand that. Who the heck would want to read my stuff? So I entered it a contest and it won first prize. Then I sent the same story to Angels On Earth magazine, who accepted it and the rest is history. I never had any intention of becoming an author. That sort of just happened. =)
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Finding the time. I have four children—three with special needs—so my attention is constantly grabbed away from the computer. But they are my number one priority so I just squeeze the time in whenever I can.
How do you do research for your books?
Read, read, read. Then I make a point of interviewing experts in the field. So far, I’ve done nonfiction projects that I have personal experience and knowledge in. But I never take on something without referring to the experts. You don’t want to give out false information, especially when dealing with subject matters such as the one I write about. Then you aren’t helping people, right?
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
Yes. I learned a lot about the publishing process and how things work. It’s a l-o-n-g, careful process with much editing, re-editing and making sure things fit together just right. I’m grateful for the experience, though, because I understand so much more now. Getting your book out there is much more than writing your awesome story; it’s making it look nice, getting it out to the people and making sure it stays out there.
What are you reading now?
I’m in my last semester at school (B.A. in Psychology, majoring in teaching/caring for children and families with special needs) so most of what I’m reading are textbooks. HA! But I’m taking a course in Aboriginal Women’s Health, Violence Against Women in the World Perspective, and Alternative Health. VERY cool stuff.
For fun reading, I started Murder Takes the Cake, by Gayle Trent and just finished another Brian Doyle book (Canadian YA author). I love Brian Doyle. I have many books waiting for me to read them on my shelf. Once I’m finished school, I plan to tackle them all.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
My favorite genre to read is thriller/suspense but I enjoy mysteries, comedy, nonfiction projects…actually I’ll read just about anything that makes me think and has a message I haven’t seen in the way the author has presented it before. That’s why I like authors like Brian Doyle, Sandi Ault and John Grisham because they do just that.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I’m finishing up another nonfiction reference book tentatively called, The Sensory Diet: Setting the Sensational Child Up For Success. It’s about treating children with the holistic approach of nutrition and exercises specific to the sensational child’s needs. It’s a mixture of personal experience and insight with tips from the experts.
I also have two Fiction projects waiting for publishers. One is a thriller the other is a YA book. I’m very excited about these projects because they are very different from what I usually do. And that’s FUN!!
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Ask questions, be patient and don’t give up. It’s rare when a project gets nabbed up right away, especially for first-time authors. But if you believe in your work and stay excited about it, you’ll make someone else excited about it too. HEY! It took me two years to have someone take on my memoir. And I know the book is in the right hands. That’s the most important thing: finding a person who’ll take on your project with the same passion YOU have for it.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I’m currently doing a Book Blog Tour through WOW-womenonwriting. We’re sending the book out for review to top-notch review magazines and Zines. And I’m sending the book out to people I know in the SPD community and special needs communities that I think could most benefit from our story. I know the book will get into the hands of those who need it the most.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
Readers can come to my personal Website at www.lilywolfwords.ca. They can get to know me, my work and the stuff I write about as well as my book projects. They can also check out my blog at www.lilywolfwords.blogspot.com. It’s sort of a spin-off of my newsletter I put out through my website. And I’ve started up another blog totally focusing on nutrition (because kids with SPD need brain-friendly eating!) at www.goingforfeingold.wordpress.com). I also blog over at WOW from time-to-time.
Tags: ADHD, Author Interviews, interviews with authors, sensory processing disorder
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Author Interview – Dana Lynn Smith
Tell us a bit about your books.
I write and publish a series of books to help authors and publishers learn about promoting books effectively. Some of my titles include The Savvy Book Marketer’s Guide to Successful Social Marketing, Twitter Guide for Authors, and The Savvy Book Marketer’s Guide to Selling Your Book to Libraries. My next book, due out in February, 2010, is The Savvy Book Marketer’s Guide to Blogging for Authors.
How did you publish your books?
I have published all of my books as ebooks in PDF format. Most of my books are about online marketing, so the ebook format allows me to make updates as necessary. Ebooks are also less expensive to produce, which is important because I am publishing a series of books on niche topics.
What inspired you to write these books?
Regardless of how they are published, authors are primarily responsible for promoting their books. There are lots of general books about book publishing and marketing, but I see a need for in-depth training on specific aspects of book promotion. My goal is to give authors the tools they need to succeed.
How do you do research for your books?
Although I have a background in publishing and marketing, I spend a lot of time studying online marketing using blogs, articles, teleseminars and ebooks. Online marketing didn’t even exist when I was studying for my marketing degree, and the field changes so fast you really have to keep up.
What are you doing to promote your books?
My favorite book promotion techniques are blogging, writing articles, social networking, and doing teleseminars and podcasts. I’ll be doing a virtual book tour for my new blogging book.
What is the best advice you could give other authors?
For aspiring authors, it’s vital to begin building your author platform as soon as you decide to write a book – start networking, blogging, writing articles, and making contacts. Also, learn everything you can about publishing and book marketing, so that you can make informed decisions about the best ways to publish and sell your book.
My advice to published authors is to learn how to effectively promote your book, develop a written book marketing plan, and make time every day to implement your plan. For ideas on what to include in a book marketing plan, visit www.CreateYourBookMarketingPlan.com.
Tell us something about yourself.
I’ve been writing since high school (yes, that was a long time ago) where I was news editor of the newspaper and editor of the yearbook. I have also written and published several print newsletters. After a career in convention management and 13 years with a business book publisher, I started my publishing consulting business. I live on a ranch in Central Texas. I love to travel and I do some travel writing when I can find the time.
What types of books do you like to read?
I enjoy mysteries and I mostly listen to audio books. There’s always one in my car and at my bedside. I’m listening to The Lost Symbol now. My favorite author is Elizabeth Peters. I love her series of novels about Victorian archaeologist Amelia Peabody Emerson and her series about museum curator Vicky Bliss (Night Train to Memphis is the best of the Vicky Bliss series!)
Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
My Savvy Book Marketer Guides are available at www.SavvyBookMarketer.com. For book promotion tips, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter, visit my blog at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com and get a copy of the Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you sign up for my free newsletter at www.BookMarketingNewsletter.com.
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Author Interview – Carl Bozeman
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
The title of my “new” book is: On Being God-Beyond Your Life’s Purpose
It is a Self Help/Spiritual book written to help all of us discover the unique and divine self that exists within us. The five main themes of the book are as follows:
We are gods; not a part of a higher consciousness or the physical incarnation of life forms through which God can experience three dimensional existence but real gods in our own right with all the creative power we give to the God “out there” somewhere in the heavens.
Three dimensionality has conditioned us to accept, as reality, an illusion that life is what we see it as through our five senses and that anything outside of that is un-provable and therefore unreal.
A significant part of the illusion we are conditioned to accept is that there is “sin” in the world. The idea of opposites permeates every aspect of life which throws us into the judgment of that which is good versus that which is evil. Good and evil is a metaphor for the infinite range of possibilities we, as gods, have before us. Sin does not exist as anything other than our conditioning defines it. Gods have no sin!
We can rediscover our true nature, our divinity, and see past the illusory life we live and upon discovering our true self we can experience life in a way unimaginable while in the illusory state.
Ultimately there is no purpose in life other than to experience every aspect of it and enjoy everything about it hether we consider it good or bad experience. Life is wondrous beyond anything the illusion we live under allows us to see.
On Being God shatters the illusions which we are all caught up in and awakens us to our true reality. A reality that exceeds our grandest thoughts, dreams or accomplishments and that challenges everything we believe about ourselves.
Tell us something about yourself.
I have always 
been spiritually connected and driven to know the higher purposes of our existence on Earth. Over my lifetime I have sometimes felt haunted by the “otherness” of life we routinely fail to comprehend in the hustle and bustle of a very narrow view of awareness we all seem to accept as reality. That “otherness” is about which I write. What makes me qualified to write such a book is that in my own search to find truth he found what Jesus refers to as, “the kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom of heaven is not within us, rather it is us! We all possess it as well as every other soul on this planet past, present and future. We need only find it to begin to comprehend our own unique greatness.
I have been a resident of Broomfield, Colorado since 2007. Prior to that I was a longtime resident of Longmont, Colorado. I am a divorced father of four who had a thirty year career in various High Tech positions including Manufacturing Management, Product Test Management and New Program Product Management. I write full time and plan to release a follow on book to On Being God later this year.
What inspired you to write this book?
In the introduction of the book I recount a story about watching the DVD “The Secret” with my children in California to kill time before going to a late night movie. In the story I tell how I was completely shaken in a way I had never known before. Not necessarily by the content of the movie but it seemed as though it was a catalyst for something that was going to happen anyway. It was almost an out of body experience as I was watching my kids from behind (they were strongly affected as well) and being downloaded by “something” I am remiss to describe. It was an experience that included an awakening to the idea that I was being called to something and that people from all walks of life were searching for. It altered my life completely in that I left my marriage of thirty two years, my career and pretty much the life that I had been living to embark on this journey.
How did you publish this book? Why did you decide to self-publish?
The book is self published through Booksurge/CreateSpace. I wanted to get the book out as soon as possible and large Publishing houses we slow to respond or wouldn’t respond or were not interested. In addition they wanted guarantees that I would account for the direct sales of large quantities of books (ten to twenty-five thousand copies) so I decided that if that were the case why not self publish and get the book “out there” as soon as possible. It is a good way to go, I believe.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I didn’t know I would be a writer. I thought I would speak to large groups but after the event I describe above some unseen power took over my mind, hands and body and compelled me to write. I still look at the words of the book and wonder where they came from.
It started not long after the experience (above) while I was reading from one of the works of Thomas Troward and I received this rush of in-site about ‘sin” and I had to start writing. I found a notebook and pen and my hand took over. that is how it was for the entire book and the concepts came in the order they were written. It has been a wonderful experience and quite humbling.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Publishing, marketing and promotion. Writing was actually easy and very enjoyable.
How do you do research for your books?
I did no research for this book other than to recheck a few quotes that fell onto the pages as I wrote. It was all written in longhand as I could not keep up with the flow of words on a keyboard. In fact there were times that the flow of words were so fast that my writing (longhand) is nearly illegible because of the limited ability of the hand to keep up with the mind (or whatever it was that took over my mind, body, hand).
What did you learn from writing this book?
I learned that something seems to work through me and wants to express something profound and wonderful about all humans. I think the message of the book is very apropos for the spiritual times we seem to be in. I mean there seems to be an awakening, about, to higher things in life. I believe I am a part of that and that this book is just a beginning for me.
I also learned how the world of book publishing is changing drastically. As I approached large publishing houses I noticed that many of them were introducing their own “self publishing” brand o keep up with the industry. They are becoming less and less significant in determining what gets put into print. The self publishing world is really exciting and very affordable.
What are you reading now?
I am reading the Aquariun Gospel of Jesus the Christ right now along with Moments of Forever by Dr. Bill Path. I have a pile and typically have two or more going at the same time.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
I love metaphysical books, physics, philosophy, new age and spiritual genre’s. I also love the classics. My favorite classic is Les Miserables (Victor Hugo), followed closely by Don Quixote (Cervantes), Moby Dick (Mellville), anything Dickens, and well I love them all! My favorite authors include Carlos Casteneda, Jane Roberts, John Hillman, Einstein, Eric Butterworth, Joel Goldstein, Neville Goddard, Thomas Troward and so many others it is difficult to list them.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I am working on a follow on book that will be a companion to On Being God. On Being God establishes the divine nature of everyone in human form and how we have been caught up on in an illusion that has blinded us to our true nature. However, once we get to the place where we begin to see through the illusion and recognize the god within us we still have to exist in a world where most are blinded by the illusion we once were blinded by.
My next book will help those with this new awareness find a place in the “illusory” world while being in a higher state of awareness. It will be a guide to help from falling back into the illusion of life we have all created for ourselves.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
To writers I would say “Write.” If you have that gift just do it and your words will find their way to those who are looking for them. Writing is just like any art form. As in painting many great artist never saw fame or recognition in their lifetimes but there works are timeless and we are profoundly blessed by their creative works. Writers are the same. If you are a writer the creative spirit within you is manifest through your writing….so write!
On publishing I really don’t have any advice. It is tough to get a publisher to look at you if you are a new writer. I do believe that like great art creative expression always finds a way. Don’t be discouraged.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I’ve created a website that is content rich and is attracting a steady increase in viewers every day. I have a blog that I need to “blog” on more. I use social networking and participate on many on-line forums. I know there are many from all walks of life who are searching for the truths I have found and they will find them. It is happening.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
The book is available at Amazon. There you can find more information about me and read excerpts from the book. It is also available at the Colorado local bookstore “The Tattered Cover.”
More information is available at the website www.spiritual-intuition.com and on my blog; http://cbozeman.wordpress.com/. There is also a video trailer on YouTube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvLH720ir7Y
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Author Interview – Suzanne Lieurance
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
My most recent book is The Lucky Baseball, My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp. It’s a middle grade historical novel written for Enslow Publishers Historical Fiction Adventures series. It tells the story of Harry Yakamoto, a little boy who grew up during WWII and was sent, along with his family, to an internment camp – called a relocation center – in the California desert. The book tells of the struggles Harry and his family went through – facing discrimination even before they entered the camp – and how they survived there for over three years and then went on to rebuild their lives after they were released.
Tell us something about yourself.
I’m a full time freelance writer, children’s author, and writing coach living and working in Kansas City, Missouri. I was a classroom teacher for many years, but about 10 years ago I decided to quit teaching and write full time. Now I write mostly children’s books and coach other people who want to become full time freelance writers, too.
What inspired you to write this book?
Many people don’t even realize that so many Japanese-Americans living in California during WWII were rounded up and sent to live in internment camps. Yet, what these people made of their lives in these harsh environments is simply amazing. I wanted to learn more about that and then help readers learn more about it, too.
How did you publish this book? Why did you decide on that publisher?
Actually, I had written an earlier book for this same series from Enslow Publishers, Inc. It was about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. That book is called The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. After I wrote that book, the publisher asked me if I’d like to write another book in the series. I thought it would be interesting to fictionalize an account of life in the Japanese-American Internment Camps of WWII, so I chose that topic.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was in the 5th grade and my teacher, Mrs. Smith, let us perform plays for the class every Friday as long as we WROTE the scripts for those plays ourselves. I found I LOVED writing the scripts, even more than acting out the stories.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
For me, developing the initial storyline is the most difficult part of writing. Once I have a basic plot created, I LOVE writing and rewriting to get things “just right.” But it can also be difficult to stay focused if you don’t set a regular writing schedule and then stick to it. I still struggle with that sometimes.
How do you do research for your books?
Whether I’m writing a book for children or a book for grown-ups, I usually start researching the topic by going to the library and finding all the children’s books about that topic that I can. I read those books and they give me a good idea of what kinds of additional information I need to before I can start writing. Then I look for books for adults about these topics. I also do a lot of research online, where I usually look for official websites, like government sites, etc. so I know the information is accurate at least MOST of the time. I also like to find primary sources, so I try to find people I can interview, or get old diaries or journals that give me personal accounts of the times or the incidents I’ll be writing about.
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
I learn all sorts of information from every book I write. From this book, I learned a lot about WWII, as well as how the Japanese-Americans were treated, and how well they survived in these internment camps. It was amazing!
What are you reading now?
Every weekday afternoon I host a talk show about children’s books called Book Bites for Kids on blogtalkradio, so I’m always reading the books I will be talking about on the show that week. This week I’ve been reading 3 a.m., a collection of short stories by Dallas Woodburn, and Lorenzo and the Pirate by Lila Guzman.
I also just finished reading a novel by Marcia Willett called A Week in Winter, and Anita Shreve’s latest novel, A Change of Altitude.
I love, love, love to read, and I’m usually reading at least 3 books at the same time, which drives my husband crazy. He just doesn’t see how I can keep up with the stories in 3 different books at once.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?
I like to read anything and everything. I used to read mostly nonfiction. But since I’ve been writing more fiction, I seem to be reading more fiction, too.
My favorite authors are Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, Rosemund Pilcher, Sophie Kinsella, and children’s authors like Suzanne Selfors, Keri Mikulski, etc., etc.., etc. There are SOOOO many authors whose books I love, it’s difficult to choose only a few favorites!
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
Right now, I’m revising several picture book manuscripts. I’m also working on a cozy culinary mystery for adults. That’s all I can tell you at the moment.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Take your time. Just focus on the writing itself and publication will naturally follow.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
Doing interviews, like this one, and on the radio, etc. Speaking at writers’ conferences and making author visits to schools, book fairs, etc. I also network with other children’s authors a great deal and I’m the coaching coordinator for The Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
They can visit any of my websites:
www.suzannelieurance.com
www.workingwriterscoach.com
www.writingforchildrencenter.com
www.buildyourbusinesswrite.com
They can also find out about The Morning Nudge, which is something I offer to help other writers – it’s at www.morningnudge.com
Tags: author interview, baseball, interviews with authors, Japanese internment
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Author Interview – Suzy Spencer
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
My most recent book is an updated edition of my first true crime book, WASTED, which was a NEW YORK TIMES bestseller. I think the original cover copy describes it best — a rich lesbian, her beautiful young girlfriend, and the killer that came between them. Of course, I always read that cover copy in a breathy, melodramatic tone. In actuality, the book is about abuse — be it alcohol, drug, or sexual abuse or physical or emotional abuse — and how denial of abuse destroys lives.
Tell us something about yourself.
I’m from a small in town in east Texas, went to Baylor University (the largest Southern Baptist university in the nation) where I graduated with a degree in journalism, then moved to New York City and worked for FORTUNE magazine. Two years later, I relocated to Los Angeles where I freelanced before getting my MBA in finance and marketing, followed by a Master’s in Professional Writing, both from the University of Southern California. Eventually, I returned to Texas where I sold my first nonfiction book. In 1998, that book was published as WASTED. I’ve since published three more true crime books and am currently under contract with Berkley Books for a look at Americans’ sex habits.
What inspired you to write this book?
I never wanted, dreamed, or expected to write true crime. I fell into it. A friend of mine came to me and said there’s a really trashy story out there and YOU have to write it. I asked her why she didn’t write it. After all, she’s a writer. But she insisted that I HAD to write it. I checked into the story. It was interesting. I mentioned it in a casual letter to an editor I’d met — giving it a one or two sentence synopsis. Unknown to me, she bumped the letter up to her editor-in-chief. Six months later, I got a phone call asking me if I wanted a contract to write the book.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I write because I have to write. It’s the only thing I can do. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane (though it drives me to insanity, too).
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
There are two things that are hard about writing, one is in-process and the other is after-process. The in-process is just the day-to-day discipline of writing when you don’t want to and writing when friends, family, and other details of daily life are demanding your attention. The after-process is keeping up the writing spirit after others slam your writing and abilities.
How do you do research for your books?
I scour court documents, I attend trials, and I interview hundreds of people — from killers to cops, from family members and friends of the victims to family members and friends of the killers, and, oh, so many more.
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
I learned so much about sexual abuse and how ignorant our teachers and even judges are about the signs of abuse and the damage done. I learned about the physical, emotional, and mental damage inflicted on a child by a parent’s drug and alcohol abuse. I learned how blessed I am that God loves me as much as he loves a killer. And there’s so much, much more that I can’t put in a simple paragraph.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
As I mentioned before, I’m working on a book about Americans’ sex habits. Initially, it was to be an overview of alternative sex habits. But, at the request of my editor, it’s been turned into a memoir. I don’t know how my editor likes to describe the book, but I like to describe it as an uptight, white Southern Baptist’s research into alternative sex. And, oh, yeah, did I mention that she’s single and menopausal?
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
One, if you can do any other thing, do it. Two, if writing is the only thing you can do, don’t give up, don’t give up, don’t give up, don’t give up. No matter what others tell you, no matter what flak they give you, no matter how much they discourage you, don’t give up.
One day, I mentioned to a friend that I’d received, literally, 200 to 300 rejections from agents and editors. At that, she told me to give up. But I didn’t. Less than a year later I sold WASTED. And let me repeat — and repeat to her — WASTED became a NEW YORK TIMES best-seller and it was a finalist for the Violet Crown Award, nonfiction category.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
www.suzyspencer.com
www.suzyspencer.com/blog
www.facebook.com/suzyspencer
Tags: Author Interviews, Suzy Spencer, Wasted
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Author Interview – Lin Ennis
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
Let Your Mortgage Make You Rich! tells the story of four homebuyers who purchased the same-priced home at the same interest rate but paid for their homes differently. The one who paid the least, saved $245,785 on her $250,000 house! Let Your Mortgage Make You Rich! is an illustrated how-to manual that teaches you how to change the way you pay your bills, and compares the results of different approaches so you’ll know which approach would work best for you. The objective is to help you pay as little interest on your mortgage as possible, regardless of your interest rate.
Tell us something about yourself.
As a child, I wrote what I called “poetry.” It was Pollyannic, loosely-rhymed verse really. But when I won a school poetry contest in the 6th grade, I knew I was a writer! In high-school, I daydreamed about being a writer. My pen name was going to be Sondra Hutchins. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1985, I told a friend I wanted to write instructions, because every can or box label I read was so badly written! She said that would be impossible, because Los Angeles was flooded with technical writers who were failed screenwriters. That’s where I started writing commercially, in Los Angeles. In 1988, I founded a company called Editorium, a writing, editing and graphic design firm. There seemed to be more call for graphics than writing and editing, so I learned design from books. By the time I was a really good designer, I started getting full-time writing and editing gigs: training materials and electronics instruction manuals. I love making complex things simple!
What inspired you to write this book?
I learned how 
to use my house to pay for my house from someone else’s book. I recommended it to all of my friends – and gave them my Amazon affiliate link to buy it! When I checked back with them months later to see how they were doing accelerating their mortgages, not a single one had started. They all said it sounded too hard or too risky. My friend John’s house had burned down, so he and his wife were 100% mortgaged, with two small children and one income. I pled with him to use the same technique I had used to cancel $50,000 interest in the prior two years. He said, “Explain it to me one more time, Lin.” About three weeks later when he was at my house again, he said, “This is brilliant!” Being an Internet marketer, he added, “We have a product! We have to tell people about this.” I told him I would write it as a training manual if he would build a website and do the marketing. We became partners on the project. That’s why you see the name John R. Barker beside mine on the book. Plus, John is a mathematical genius!
How did you publish this book? Why did you decide on to take the route you did?
We published first as an eBook. I’d written two previous eBooks that did pretty well online. With eBooks, people are aware they are paying for the value of the information, not the printing or the fancy cover. Therefore, price points can be considerably higher. Let Your Mortgage Make You Rich! sells for $97—a steal, considering the information can save someone $50,000 to $1,000,000! Then I built a print-on-demand version with Lulu, which we had spiral bound to reinforce the idea of training manual. That cost us at least one sale that I know of—J.D. Roth of GetRichSlowly.com. I mentioned the book in a comment on his blog. When he didn’t find it on Amazon, he told me I lost credibility. But when we first published, Amazon wouldn’t carry spiral-bound books. They now have it through their consignment program.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
The hardest part of writing is making money at it!
How do you do research for your books?
Internet, mostly.
Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?
I learned a great deal about mortgages, compound interest and financing. I rewrote sections as I faced both common and my own misconceptions. Did you know that interest on a 30-year loan at only 6% adds up to over 115%? I didn’t either, till I got into the research for this book!
What are you reading now?
A Brief History of Everything, Hyperspace and Food, Inc.
What types of books do you like to read?
I love biographies and parables. I just finished Infidel and The Go-Giver.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
Currently I’m writing online and newspaper articles and blogs. Lots and lots of blogs.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
One way to become a best-selling author is to invent your own genre. That’s what I did with my first eBook, The Email Marketer’s Cookbook: Stirring Recipes for a Sizzling Campaign. Being the only fill-in-the-blank workbook for creating email marketing campaigns made it the best-selling fill-in-the-blank workbook for creating email marketing campaigns.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I’m writing online and newspaper articles and blogs. Lots and lots of blogs.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
I have two blogs that promote the book: http://letyourmortgagemakeyourich.com and http://thegreatmortgagerevolt.com. My personal blog is at http://linennis.com/blog
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Author Interview – Kiki Howell
What is your most recent book?
Rituals, A Novella published by eXcessica in ebook and print, or read it in my anthology of eXcessica releases, The Healing Spell & Other Stories.
After a Wiccan ritual opens her eyes to her old friend, Maddie’s first week together with Ryan, goes by in a blur of knots and ropes. Creative in their endeavors, they tie each other to everything from the coffee table to the kitchen cabinets while also implementing various positions. Neither the sash of her silk robe nor the curly ribbon on a present is left unused as a device of sensual torture.
Together, they find the freedom they seek in bondage. But, when Maddie’s controlling ex-husband returns hell-bent on taking her back, will Ryan and Maddie be bound by the past or become tied to each other?
Tell us something about yourself.
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State University, and began a Master’s specializing in creative writing until two high risk pregnancies took me away from that life. After taking about a ten year break from writing to raise my two little miracles, I just knew I had to write again. It was hard to get back into it, so I was doing some writing exercises. One said to write in a genre you were not comfortable with to get the creative juices flowing, and at the time I had just read my first erotic book after looking at different publishers. Inspired by a call for submissions, I wrote two short paranormal erotic romances when my husband was away on a trip. When he got back and read them, he encouraged me to submit them to see what they would have to say. I got a contract for both in late 2007!
What inspired you to write this book?
A combination of factors, actually. I like to read non-fiction books on Wicca. I have always found the strength and belief systems of the women who practice it inspiring. A ritual caught my eye, and a story formed in my head. This is often the case, my mind takes a spell or something else I read and runs away with it into some paranormal world. Only this time, I wanted to write the story in the genre of Magic Realism, keeping it to Wiccan practices as they happen in the real world. Another factor was a sad story I heard that kept bumping around in my head, so a similar situation became the back story which called for the spell to be down. I was able to write out, I guess, what was bothering me by giving hope and a better life to my character. Although I write paranormal stories, I find things weighing on me often find a resolution in my stories.
How did you publish this book? How did you decide on your publisher?
I submitted the story to the publisher, eXcessica because they had already published my first story to start to fall into the genre of Magic Realism called, The Healing Spell. The publisher was great to work with, and I have met a great number of wonderful authors through them. They have an author’s loop which works as a constant support system for all of us published with them. The owner, Selena Kitt, is wonderful, understanding – so nice and real. It shows in how the company has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 2 years, too.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Ever since I can remember, I have been a reader. Always happy to be lost in a book. I found myself at a young age rewriting stories in my head as I wished they would have gone, or creating stories with the same types of characters, etc. In high school and college, I started to write myself thinking I would teach English and write books. Life had other plans, but I could not be more grateful for where it has lead me.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Of course, all of the submission business! The editing and formatting of the story to meet the intended publishers submission guidelines, writing the dreaded synopsis especially. I understand the need for it, but it doesn’t make it fun or less nerve-wracking! Then, there is the waiting…
What did you learn from writing this book?
To just write the story in your heart! I was most nervous about this one given the odd mixing of genres and situations in the story, but it has been my best received, getting me wonderful reviews and praise. You just never know! I think we can easily hamper ourselves when we over-think our stories, trying to see it as a publisher would. It is all so subjective, that you just have to be you and see what they say.
What are you reading now?
I am currently stuck in Annettee Blair mode, reading through a few of her series. I finished the first two of the Vintage magic series last week, loving them and now anxiously awaiting the third to release. A few days ago, I started the Triplet witch one.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?
I read mostly paranormal romance, but I have been moving into writing historical/regency romances. So, I have found a few where this time period also has paranormal elements. My favorite author to do this by far is Teresa Medieros!
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I am in the process, plot line completed, of starting to write my first mainstream historical, paranormal romance novel. I recently completed and submitted my first full length novel which actually combines historical, paranormal and erotic romance elements. It is called Torn Asunder, and places star-crossed lovers in 1820 England and includes battles of white verses black magic along with the scandals of the upper ten thousand! Given the mix of many genres, I wrote and released as a free read a novella written with the same mix (only vampires) to get some feedback from readers. If interested, you can find links to read the ebook, Bloodlust & Redemption many places on the web on my website, or even purchase it in print on Amazon. http://www.kikihowell.com/2009/10/free-novella-bloodlust-redemption-click.html Of course, although I think regency is very true to my voice, I find the books taxing to write, so I wrote a couple of erotic, paranormal romances in contemporary setting in between for the release. I am subbing them now.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
As I said before, be true to YOUR story. Don’t over analyse it. At the same time, experiment with different types of writing until you find your true voice.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I just did my first blog radio interview. I have typically done a lot of guest blogging and chats. I run my own blog as well called Authors By Authors where you will find authors reviewing books they read or interviewing each other. I spend some time each day on Facebook and Twitter, as well. Probably, the most unique thing I do though is have a shop on Etsy where you can purchase signed copies of my books along with items I have made that are inspired by them like book thongs and knitted book sweaters.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
http://www.kikihowell.com
http://www.facebook.com/kikihowell
What They Are Saying About Rituals…
“Maddie is a sweet woman, taking back control of her life. Ryan is a good guy who gets a second chance with the woman he loves. They’re both great characters and Ms. Howell wonderfully brings them to life. Ms. Howell tells a good story with a strong plot that keeps the reader interested.” ~Dark Diva Reviews, 4Divas!
“Rituals is a really sweet and touching love story. The subject matter is racy (the sex is wild!) and the romance is wonderful… The plot builds nicely to a tense climax and the resolution is very satisfying. I highly recommend Rituals to those who like romantic fiction with spice!” ~Manic Readers, 4Stars
Tags: author interview, erotica, Kiki Howell
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Author Interview – Julie Bauke
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
I wrote “Stop Peeing On Your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes That Screw up your Job Search” after working with clients for 10+ years who were in job search. I saw really smart, accomplished professionals make the same mistakes over & over again- mostly because no one taught them how to really do a good job search the right way. I focused my book around the most common mistakes- what they are and how to avoid & what to do instead. I use client stories and humor liberally to make my points.
Tell us something about yourself.
This was my first book and it flew out of my head in 6 weeks- it felt like an out of body experience! I live in Cincinnati in a house full of male creatures- a husband, two teenage boys and three male dogs…and I love it! I feel like I was born to inspire & educate people to really take back their careers…and taking charge of your job search is one way to do that.
What inspired you to write this book?
Seeing way too many people doing the wrong things and have nowhere to turn to get the clue they needed to turn it around
Why did you decide on to self-publish?
Because I wanted to get it done quickly- my way. Plus I had no idea how to find a publisher!
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
Writing is just part of what I do, but I do remember writing a story when I was in 4th grade about sisters competing against each other in a beauty pageant. I do remember that there was lots of jealousy involved and all of the girls were, of course, beautiful! So I must have been destined to write at least one book- just took me a “few” years to get there.
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
How hard it is for me to sit still!
What are you reading now?
A book I got for Christmas by NYT writer Gail Collins called American Women-When Everything Changed.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
For some reason that would probably require a diagnosis by someone with a couch in their office, I love True Crime stories. I am so fascinated by human nature- why people do what they do. Crime is such an extreme that I am especially fascinated by it.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
If I can do it, anyone can. There are so many resources available out there to help you with the stuff you aren’t good at. I have gotten a lot of feedback that I am a very strong writer, but getting the whole thing pulled together and printed, cartoons, done etc., I needed help on and found it –pretty cost effectively
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I am using a lot of social media tools. In fact, I posted my book on LinkedIn Chicago and a producer saw it, liked the title, and I was asked to come tape some segments for a Chicago morning TV show on job search.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
My website is www.congruitycareer.com and the book is available there as well as on Amazon.
Tags: Author Interviews, job search, Julie Bauke
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Author Interview – Kelly Smith
What is your most recent book?
My most recent book is Open Your Heart with Quilting (Dreamtime Publishing 2008). It is a non-fiction, inspirational book and part of the Open Your Heart series. It explores the holistic aspects of quilting, including how readers can use quilting to connect with family and community, carry on traditions of the past, help them heal from illness or grief, help them celebrate milestones in their life, explore their creativity, deepen their spiritual connection to the universe, and leave a legacy for generations to come.
The book is for quilters who have ever been asked “Why do you quilt?” and for non-quilters who want a broad overview of what quilting is and how people use it to express themselves, earn a living, or just make the world a more beautiful place.
Tell us something about yourself.
I am originally from New Brunswick, Canada but have lived in Michigan since 1997. I moved here to work for an IT firm and was with them for twelve years before I was laid off in the summer of 2009. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first “book” when I was six. I put that in quotes because it was just a pencil-drawn comic book with stick figures! But I’ve always loved to write and have written many short stories. I am currently working on two novels.
What inspired you to write this book?
When my friend Jeannette Cézanne (editor of the Open Your Heart series) put out a call for new authors I originally thought I had nothing to write about that would suit the series. At the time all the other Open Your Heart books were about sports of one kind or another. My passion – quilting – just seemed sort of artsy compared to the titles they’d already published.
But I spoke to her about the idea and she loved it! Once I realized that quilting was a viable topic for the series, I jumped in with both feet. I wanted to share my love of quilting with others and thought this would be the perfect way.
I didn’t start quilting until 1996. I tried to learn on my own using books, but that was a rough way to learn! In 1998, after I’d moved to Michigan, I found a shop that offered classes. My first and best teacher was Beth Ann Williams and she is the one who originally inspired me to follow my heart and make what I wanted, not necessarily what someone else said I should, and not necessarily what the pattern said I should make. Thinking of Beth is what really inspired me to write the book and she was kind enough to write the foreword for me.
How did you publish this book? Why did you decide on your publisher?
I was acquainted with the series editor, Jeannette Cézanne, through an online mailing list of copy editors. She posted about the series and asked for authors to send proposals. I put one together with her help. They liked the idea of a book about quilting and accepted my proposal.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I have always loved reading and writing stories. I wrote short stories all through junior high and high school. I took a break (although not intentionally) when I got to university. There were too many other demands on my time and writing didn’t seem like a viable career path. After I graduated I went back to composing short stories though, just for my own amusement and eventually I went into the IT industry with the intention of becoming a technical writer.
I didn’t get back into writing for fun until after I completed Open Your Heart with Quilting. A couple of weeks after I submitted the final draft of the manuscript I began work on my first novel. Since then I’ve joined a weekly novel-writing practicum led by Ami Hendrickson and I’d made a lot of progress. With inspiration from the novel-writing group I think I’ll have my novel complete and the first edit done by the end of this year.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
I think it varies from person to person, of course, but for me it’s just forcing myself to sit down and write. The maxim that “writers write” is true. If I’m thinking about writing, or talking about writing, I’m not writing. And even though I’m currently between jobs and should have “lots of time” that time seems to get filled up quickly.
I plan to make a concerted effort this year to make myself sit down and compose a certain number of words per day. Participating in the 2009 National Novel Writing Month proved to me that I could do that if I put my mind to it. Now I just have to practice what I’ve learned.
How do you do research for your books?
Research for fiction and non-fiction is very different. For my quilting book I interviewed about thirty-five quilters and asked them all the same basic questions. Each question related to a theme I wanted to focus on in my book. Their answers and the insights their response gave me into my own reasons for quilting make up the largest part of the book. There was also the nuts-and-bolts research of finding websites, books, and other reference materials for my readers. That was all done through Internet research.
My current novel is set in the 1920s. I don’t know anyone who was alive back then, so I’m relying on books, internet sites, and archives from the period such as newspapers and the archives of universities and other organizations, to help me fill in the blanks on what life was like back then. It’s an era I’ve been fascinated with since I read The Great Gatsby. I love the fashion and architecture of the era and for the story I want to tell, that’s just the right time period.
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
I learned several things while writing Open Your Heart with Quilting. One is that I really can write a whole book. Until you’ve done it, you’re never really sure you can. I learned that even people who share a passion for the same hobby can have widely differing views of why they do it, how they do it, and how it affects them and the world. I learned many things about the publishing process in general that I didn’t know before. No one ever really explains what it’s like – or at least no one had explained it to me, so that was an education in itself.
What are you reading now?
I am re-reading On Writing by Stephen King. It’s a valuable book for any writer. I’m also about to start a book called The 20′s by Frederick J. Hoffman that a friend loaned me. As far as fiction, I just finished The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood, Under the Dome by Stephen King, Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, and the second and third books in Lemony Snicket’s series.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?
I read all sorts of books. I like horror (King and Rice are my favorites), fantasy / science fiction (Pratchett, Douglas Adams), speculative fiction (especially Margaret Atwood) and historical books. I liked The Devil in the White City and other books of that nature. I’ve never really thought about why I like particular authors. I read whatever my friends suggest (and they’re usually great suggestions) but I guess I have a few standbys who I always return to. They tell a good story. They have engaging characters. They write books that I don’t want to put down. I’m sad when the book is over.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
My next book is a historical novel set mostly in the 1920s. It’s a saga about a very dysfunctional family who appear quite prim and proper on the outside, but things happen on the inside that no one talks about for decades. When the last member of that generation dies, her great grand niece discovers the body of a baby hidden in the attic and has to piece things together, gradually uncovering her family history as she does.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Two things.
One, write every day. You only get better by doing it a lot. There is something called the 10,000-hour rule that Malcolm Gladwell talks about in his book Outliers. All the very accomplished people he lists (and they’re all household names) put in at least 10,000 hours doing what they do in order to become the best at it. Writing is like sports – you have to practice a lot to make the majors.
Two, find a group of knowledgeable fellow writers who are not afraid to tell you when your writing sucks. Make sure they are brutally honest with you and don’t hold it against them when they are. Do them the same courtesy in return.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I have a website, which I’ve recently converted to a WordPress blog. It’s easy to update, I’ve been able to add an excerpt of the book and a shopping cart and all sorts of quilt-related information. I write a quilting column for Examiner.com. I Tweet on Twitter almost daily. I do speaking engagements and book signings and I hope to begin teaching quilting classes very soon.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
Website: http://www.redheadedquilter.com
Column: http://www.examiner.com/x-858-Quilting-Examiner
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/quiltinredhead
Tags: Author Interviews, interview with author, Kelly Smith, quilting
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