March 2024 Interview with Steve Milken,
featuring sound advice about marketing and social media​
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
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My name is Steve Millken, and my first and only book, LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER,
was 20 years in the making. I’m a former comedian turned high school English teacher
who finally channeled my love of storytelling—and a lifetime of procrastination—
into a published book. Think of me as the guy who always made the class laugh
(and the principal sigh) but also the guy who handed in his homework a couple of decades late.
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What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
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LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER is an entertaining memoir inspired by a lifetime of storytelling. Its humor is enriched by heartfelt moments and the occasional burst of wisdom. Inspiration also came from realizing my life was essentially a book waiting to happen, and that I wasn’t getting any younger….
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Do you have any unusual writing habits?
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I tend to rewrite obsessively. Drafts, to me, are like bad first dates: awkward, messy, and brimming with potential. I keep at them until they’re compelling enough to introduce to the world. I also have a strange habit of arguing with my past self while revising—turns out, he has some strong opinions. It’s an odd process, but oddly productive.
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What authors, or books have influenced you?
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My influences are as varied as my reading tastes. Dr. Seuss was my earliest favorite, sparking a lifelong love of rhythm and playful language—his books were the first to show me the magic of words. Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes became classics of my childhood, fueling my love of clever twists and intricate mysteries. They taught me to savor the art of piecing clues together—and, of course, that everyone’s a suspect…. While my own writing leans more toward humor than whodunits, their ability to keep readers hooked left an undeniable mark on my appreciation for great storytelling.
As a teen, I clung to The Catcher in the Rye like it was a life manual, with Holden Caulfield’s raw, honest voice shaping how I thought about my own teenage angst. After college, A Confederacy of Dunces taught me to embrace the absurdity of life and find humor in the unexpected. And finally, David Sedaris became my modern-day muse. His knack for finding humor in vulnerability and awkwardness inspired my own approach to writing.
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What are you working on now?
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I’m creating a series of short, scripted comedy videos where I perform excerpts from my book and sometimes mix in new material, along with some of my alter egos, each bringing their own unique perspective to the comedy—often in full makeup and costume, because I spare no expense (LOL). It’s a mix of memoir and comedy, with plenty of laughs along the way. Keep an eye out for these videos across social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. When they air, you’ll be able to follow for more laughs!
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What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
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Social media is my secret weapon. While platforms like Instagram and YouTube let me share short, funny videos that give readers a taste of my comedy, I also reach out to online magazines for reviews and connect with influencers to help spread the word. It’s like I’ve hired a virtual publicity agent—except it’s me doing all the work, and I don’t have to pay myself $5000 a month. (Game-changer savings, usually accomplished while rocking my most fashion forward baggy T-shirt and sweatpants ensemble) I take every opportunity to get the word out—and if I can make someone laugh while doing it, even better. Because if they’re laughing, they’re likely sharing, and if they’re sharing, I’m winning.
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Do you have any advice for new authors?
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Don’t wait for inspiration—it’s notoriously lazy. Write every day, even if it’s just a few sentences, because consistency is key. And remember, the first draft is just you shoveling sand into a sandbox—the real magic happens when you build the castle. Don’t fear rejection; every “no” gets you closer to the right “yes.” Believe in your voice and use feedback as a tool, not as a reason to retreat into a blanket fort… unless that fort has Wi-Fi, delicious carbonated beverages, and salty snacks.
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What is the best advice you have ever heard?
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Writing is about showing up, even when your muse is on vacation. Write for yourself first, then for the audience. If it doesn’t resonate with you, it won’t resonate with anyone else. Always aim for advancement, momentum, and headway in your work. The road to a great draft isn’t about perfection; it’s about making progress—just try not to run over any metaphorical pedestrians along the way. Take no prisoners… unless they’re a willing audience.
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What are you reading now?
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I’m reading memoirs by other LGBTQ+ authors. It’s fascinating to see the many ways they weave humor and heart into their stories, as I do in my own unique way. It’s humbling—and a little surreal—to think Late Bloomer Baby Boomer is sharing the shelf with such talented writers.
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What’s next for you as a writer?
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I’m working on turning my essays into an audiobook version because humor just hits differently when you hear it; and, it can be the ultimate road trip companion. Picture it: you and me on the open road—what could go wrong? Well, maybe ending up in the wrong state because you’re too busy laughing to check the GPS….
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If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you, what books would you bring?
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A Confederacy of Dunces would provide a daily dose of absurdity, so I wouldn’t feel so bad about talking to inanimate objects. The Catcher in the Rye, the ultimate guide for existential angst, would be my go-to for sulking about being stranded on such a “phony” island. The Raven would remind me to never ask a bird for advice because all they ever say is “nevermore,” and, of course, LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER because what better way to pass the time than re-reading the hilarious moments of my life?
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Author Websites and Profiles
Steve Milliken Website Steve Milliken Amazon Profile
Steve Milliken’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile Facebook Profile
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December 2024 Interview of Colleen MacFarlane
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​Interview conducted by Rita Chapman​
This week it is my pleasure to interview Colleen MacFarlane. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life? Answer: Thank you for inviting me to your website, Rita. It’s fun to be here. Here’s a short synopsis about me:I was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and spent my entire career there as a Licensed social worker, addictions counselor, and financial planner and educator. Seven years ago, my husband and I relocated to Raleigh, NC in search of warmer weather. We’ve acclimated to southern living, made new friends and enjoy the North Carolina weather, still with four seasons.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? Answer:I self-published Listening to Her Own Voice in 2020 as a tribute to my 2nd great aunt, Rosa Kerker. She immigrated to Minnesota with her family in 1866 from Switzerland. I’d been studying my maternal genealogy for several years and had easy access to tons of information because they settled just a half hour drive from my home. By 2020, I was ready to begin writing my book. Six months earlier, I had spoken with a 95-year-old woman who’d known my aunt and had taken piano lessons from her in the 1930’s. She sent me a brief biography about my aunt and when I read it, I said to myself, this is a book and I’m going to write it! I wrote it as an historical fiction novel. There is much dialogue in it, so as to illuminate the emotions and humanity of the family. I’m now republishing the book with a half dozen changes, re-editing, and authentic pictures at the end of each chapter with the intent to convey to the reader that these events were real. However, the genre is still going to be historical fiction, and the new title is: Listen to Your Heart. It will be available on Amazon as soon as I can organize the pictures and format the book on KDP.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? Answer: I mix it up because I write what inspires me. I know when I have a book in me and have to express the storyline. I view writing in different genres as a fun experiment. For example, I wrote Life Lessons from Lucy the Schnauzer as a tribute to my grandchildren. I also have a schnauzer named Lucy. I looked at my Lucy one day and asked her what I should write about, and in an instant, she told me. She knows how to ask for attention and get her needs met. I turned this into a children’s book with ten lessons, about a boy who tells his cousin that Lucy has taught him everything he needs to know about life. My book is filled with simple, but important lessons for children, such as doing your homework, getting enough sleep, exercise, eating well, asking for attention, playing with friends, brushing your teeth, and being kind.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? Answer:I tend to organize my thoughts beforehand. Most often, I’ve spent hours, even months, thinking about the length and depth of my characters and plots. Then I sit down to a blank page on Word and rough out chapter titles. I prefer an outline to help me stay on track and I think it helps me in achieving the completion of my project in a timely fashion.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books? I’d be happy to. I’ve just finished a fiction book titled: Fatal Funds. Hopefully, it will be available this month on Amazon. My protagonist, Elaina, has taken ill in 2024 and has also fallen prey to an unscrupulous financial planner who is stealing his clients’ investments in running his Ponzi scheme. Elaina and two other female clients form an investment club with the intent to learn more about how to manage their financial futures. They realize, a little late, that their planner is a greedy louse. My book is for adults of all ages and written with the purpose of educating the reader about important investing terms wrapped in an emotional story. The excerpt is from chapter Nine, titled: Greed is a Deadly Sin. The Villain, Sandy, is out with his wife, Ursula at a local jazz club for dinner for a date night. They’ve kept their finances separate and Sandy is hoping his wife might give him a sizeable loan. After settling in, they talk about their week:
“I’m running into a bit of a cash flow problem, but I’m sure things will work out. I’m considering raising my fees from one percent to one and a quarter percent for all of my assets under management. I’ve also been buying more individual stocks for my clients, and that means more commissions on all the trades I make.
“How many clients do you think you’ll lose?” asked Ursula.
“Not one.”
“They trust you. Nonetheless, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m sure it helps that so many of them are old college buddies or church acquaintances.”
“And fellow golf club members, too,” said Sandy. “I’ll do everything I can to see that they benefit from the trust they’ve put in me. What about you? How’s your week been going?”
[Ursula never stuck her nose into Sandy’s business affairs but had begun to have her doubts about his skill and his bookkeeping. Eventually, Sandy does raise his fees and w/o informing his clients. Rapid trading of stocks is called churning, an illegal and unethical act.]
Who is your favorite character and why? Answer: In Fatal Funds, my favorite character is my protagonist, Elaina. She’s a champion for women, she’s determined, she survives, she’s decisive, she hones her trust in honoring her intuition, and she forms an unbreakable bond through the pain and agony she’s living with in 2024.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? Answer: That’s a great question; and a difficult one to answer. My heart and soul went into writing Listening to Her Own Voice. I felt inspired by Rosa, my protagonist. I felt as though she was in the room with me, along with the rest of the family. However, Fatal Funds, was the book I most wanted to write. It was supposed to be my first book. Instead, it is my fifth book, and delaying writing it has made me a better writer, and the book is much better as a result. Fatal funds is based on true events in my own life. The information contained in the book is factual for beginning investors and I’ve provided a list of sources as references.
What is the best marketing advice you have received? Answer: While talking with a fellow writer and friend, he’d told me how his books had met with success. He was a teacher, and lecturer, and before he published his books, he began his marketing campaign and developed an email list for marketing. When his book made its debut, his audience had already been identified, and his readers were eager to purchase.
How would you describe yourself? Answer: Thoughtful, tenacious, determined, kind, enjoy a good challenge, an inveterate learner, busy, and fascinated by human behavior. My avocation is nutrition and fitness. When I write, I base my characters on my prior experience in counseling and financial education, and use my experience to put my characters in impossible dilemmas from which to wiggle out of.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? Answer: Giving my undivided attention to my mini-schnauzer, going for walks, weight-lifting, half hour on the elliptical trainer, and much time in the kitchen, as I make many dishes from scratch so as to minimize eating processed food.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? I’ve been to Switzerland once, and I would like to return to live there for several months. My maternal side is from St. Gallen, Switzerland. The town has a magnificent Abbey there, containing some of the oldest books in the world, in addition to their church. It is stunning to look at, and I would love to visit there. While there, I would continue on my genealogical research.
If you own a pet, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Answer: Yes, in another book of mine called Ivy’s Epilepsy, Ivy’s dog, Audie, keeps pushing Ivy’s calf with her nose, as if to alert her to something. In fact, she was trying feverishly to alert Ivy that she was about to have a seizure. This is a true story in my own life when Lucy pushed her nose on my leg for two full weeks, trying to tell me something. I had a grand mal seizure and she knew it. At the time, I had only owned Lucy for four months. I’d say my dog, Lucy, has earned her keep in my household, and I shower her daily with hugs and kisses.
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What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? Answer: In another life, I would have been in the fashion industry, so historical fiction books on fashion, Paris, and World War II are books that I love to read. The book cover, the prologue, the first page and the back cover are sections that I read before deciding whether to purchase. I assess the quality of writing and how well these segments inform me what the book is about.
Do you own your own website? Answer: Yes, my website is: www.colleenbooks.com. I can also be reached by email at: cbmacfarlanebooks@gmail.com. Other contacts include: www.twitter.com@BruceColleenMa1;www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-macfarlane-b40439220; www.goodreads.com/sloanekerker; www.pinterest.com/6374pint.
Are you working on a new book at the moment? I’m currently working hard to self-publish the 2nd edition about my 2nd great aunt. The new title will be: Listen to Your Heart. I’m also making a few changes to Fatal Funds before publication, hopefully available this month. Other than that, I’ve written four short stories over the years. My goal is to collaborate with another writer who is able to contribute four short stories and together, we’ll publish a book containing our eight stories.
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The book cover for the 2nd edition of Listen to Your Heart, formerly Listening to Her Own Voice, is still under construction, but below is the drawing representative of the Kerker women in my book and will serve as my book cover:
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In July of this year, I was also invited to submit a short story about my family genealogy. My submission was enthusiastically accepted by the editor and the book: A Family Tree, was published in August 2024. Pictured here:
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November 2024 Book Review
Amy Lyle, Author of "We’re All A Mess, It’s OK"
This best-selling book is also a Goodreads Top Humor Pick!
Life is full of pain, disappointments, and failures—but given enough time, they often become our funniest stories. We’re All A Mess. It’s OK is a refreshingly honest and unfiltered look at life’s most absurd moments. Packed with hilarious essays and razor-sharp one-liners, this book embraces the messy, imperfect, and utterly relatable sides of being human.
From disastrous internet dating adventures and bizarre co-workers to vacations gone hilariously wrong and the worst holiday gifts ever, this anthology of real-life disasters will leave you laughing, cringing, and nodding in agreement. It’s a celebration of life’s chaos, reminding us all that even our biggest blunders are worth sharing—and laughing about.
If you’re a fan of Jenn Mann, Samantha Irby, and/or Jenny Lawson, you’ll love We’re All A Mess. It’s OK. This laugh-out-loud book makes the perfect gift for your funniest friends—or anyone who could use a good dose of humor and hope. Packed with witty anecdotes and a heartfelt message, it’s an easy read that reminds us all that we can survive even our worst failures. In the end, being a mess isn’t just OK—it’s what makes us human.
One reviewer shared, with a touch of humor, that it made her feel 32% better about her own life! Buy the book, and follow the author on social media: Get This Humor Book. Visit the Author’s Facebook Fan Page. Visit the Author’s Twitter page.
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Author Bio: Amy Lyle is an award-winning humorist, author, TEDx speaker, talk show host, actor, and magazine contributor celebrated for her candid and hilarious take on her missteps, inadequacies, and faux pas. Her books, The Book of Failures and We’re All A Mess. It’s OK, have both earned the distinction of being #1 bestsellers in Humor & Entertainment on Amazon and were recognized as Top 10 Humor winners on Goodreads. Her work has been featured in prominent outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NPR, NBC’s Atlanta & Company, 400 Life, What Women Want, Shoutout Atlanta, TrueHumor.com, My Forsyth Magazine, Points North Magazine, The Marietta Times, GA Followers, Thrive Global, Alpharetta Lifestyle, and many more.
The humorous essays and quips are about the blunders and snafus, and of everyday life that most of us can relate to. It's like "Chicken Soup for the Soul" if you threw in snark and expletives. If you like Jenn Mann, Samantha Kirby, and Jenny Lawson, you will love "We're All A Mess. It's OK." Get a copy for your funniest friends, or for grouchy people to cheer them up.
The book is an easy read and offers a real message that we all can survive, even the worst of failures and ultimately, even though we're all a mess, it's OK.
The number one best-selling author of "The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book Of Failures" brings you her newest gem, "We're All A Mess. It's OK." Over one hundred contributors share their failures, setbacks, and most embarrassing moments for this compilation of hilarity with the hopes that their stories would give the embarrassed and struggling souls some comic and inspirational relief. A Goodreads Top 10 Best Humor pick!
Life is riddled with pain, disappointments, and failures, but given enough time, they're folly. "We're All A Mess. It's OK" captures life's most absurd moments honestly and without a filter. It's filled with funny essays and one-liners that highlight the grainier sides of being human and imperfect.
The book covers everything from horrible internet dating experiences, the strangest of co-workers, vacations that went array, to the worst holiday gifts of all time. It's an anthology of real-life disasters.
You'll enjoy, "You Must Have Me Confused With Someone Else" which depicts Dane Levent's severe behavior problems with her golden retriever, Buddy, after picking him up from boarding, only to find out a week later that she had the wrong dog.
And... "He's Worth the Wait" by Bes. D describes her mother-in-law's long-term relationship with a convicted felon she had met on Meet-An-Inmate.com.
And... "Saying ‘I'm Sorry' Will Not Fix This Situation" by Ashley P. is a hilarious tale of turning her best date into her worst date by leaping onto her partner's lap, causing what is called in medical terminology, a penile fracture.
And... Follow along with Traci Jo's daily embarrassment by her mother, picking her up from school wearing different wigs, such as Dorothy Hamill and Marilyn Monroe.
And... Read an entire chapter dedicated to strange conditions, such as Shelley Miner Gardler's need to gather her pets before she goes to work to tell them goodbye and to assign one to be in charge while she's away.
And... Discover why Christine T sorts M&Ms in ROYGBIV order and eats them first by frequency until they're even, and then one of each color in order until they're gone.
These humorous essays and quips are about the blunders and snafus, and of everyday life that most of us can relate to. It's like "Chicken Soup for the Soul" if you threw in snark and expletives. If you like Jenn Mann, Samantha Kirby, and Jenny Lawson, you will love "We're All A Mess. It's OK." Get a copy for your funniest friends, or for grouchy people, maybe it will cheer them up.
The book is an easy read and offers a real message that we all can survive, even the worst of failures and ultimately, even though we're all a mess, it's OK.
Snarky women, quip, short stories, essays, funny, humorous essays, humor essays, gifts for women, funny stories, dating, relationships, failures, work, family, cats, dogs, alpacas.
October 2024 Interview
Kathy Keller, Author
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1. Question: To begin, please tell us a little bit about yourself, where you hail from, and any hobbies or activities you enjoy doing when not writing.
Answer: I grew up in north central Pennsylvania in the Williamsport area. People may know Williamsport as the home of Little League Baseball today. In the 19th century, it was the lumbering capital of the world with a tumultuous history. My roots in the area go back to the 18th century. I also come from a line of writers, so I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I would be an historical fiction writer. Or that my mother, an award-winning short story writer, and I would be inspired by Williamsport’s past to collaborate on two novels—Millionaires’ Row and Millionaires’ Row: The Legacy, aka. the Douglas Saga. After graduating from the American University, Washington, D.C., I left the Williamsport area for greener pastures. Family has recently brought my husband and me back to Virginia. Writing is my obsession, but occasionally I do need a break from it, and that’s when I turn to my second love—decorating. My husband would prefer that I stick to writing.
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2. Question: How many books have you written?
Answer: I’ve written eight novels encompassing the genres historical fiction, historical romance—what can I say, I’m a romantic at heart—and time travel. For the time being, I’ve turned my attention to writing screenplays for a new challenge. An LA agent is currently shopping my feature-length Christmas script, and a dramedy is under consideration. I’m currently working on another feature-length dramedy. As the movie industry isn’t partial to period pieces, I’ve had to switch gears to writing contemporary stories.
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3. Question: What’s the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Answer: My last novel was Lady of the Sea, an historical romance that takes place in Boston and Algiers in 1795. I wanted to do a pirate story, but not the usual swashbuckler. For a long time, I looked for a different angle and was about to give up, when I read about the Barbary pirates. I like to craft stories around important events that history has largely forgotten. The Barbary pirates certainly qualify.
4. Question: Can you discuss the difference between historical fiction vs. historical romance. For example, is there a difference in how you conduct your research?
Answer: In historical fiction, a story rooted in history is the main focus, and there may or may not be an element of romance. In historical romance, the romance is the main event supported by some historical detail but not so much as to be distracting. When crafting an historical romance novel, I blend the two genres for readers who like a little spice with their history. I find this approach allows for the introduction of more suspense, gamesmanship, and unpredictability in the story. So, my research process is the same whether I’m writing historical fiction or historical romance.
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5. Question: How long does it take for you to write a book?
Answer: I do extensive research, and I try to visit the locations of my books, so it generally takes me a year to write a book and six months more to feel comfortable releasing it.
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6. Question: What do you love about writing?
Answer: A better question is what motivates me to want to write? The simple answer is I write for the love of it. I love creating stories and characters, being the wizard behind the green curtain, and having another world to escape into when this one becomes too much. I find it challenging like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. My greatest reward comes in knowing that readers enjoy what I write. Writing is also a wonderful outlet for personal expression. I am amused by irony, mystified by coincidence and fate, and outraged by hypocrisy—underlying themes you’ll find in my novels. Since I can’t sing, draw, or play a musical instrument—I missed out on those genes when they were passed around in my family—writing satisfies my need to create.
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7. Question: I noticed that in a few of your books, you decided to publish a second edition. Can you inform my readers about what went into your decision and what changes did you make?
Answer: My first two books—The Homeward Heart and A Love Too Proud—were published by a traditional New York publisher. In those days, traditional publishers controlled the distribution and were the only game in town. They also owned all rights to writers’ books for a period of time—in my case 10 years. I was required to write to a formula and felt financially ripped off, so I quit writing for this publisher. I published two more books—Millionaires’ Row and Destiny’s Shadow—with a print-on-demand publisher, but there was no distribution, so that went nowhere. The advent of e-books and print-on-demand through Smashwords, Ingram Spark, and KDP was a gamechanger. They offered writers worldwide distribution, retention of all rights to their works, and a larger percentage of royalties. So, I became an indie writer. When I was able to reclaim the rights to my early books, I reedited them and released them as 2nd editions. The stories are the same but contain greater historical detail and characters that are more multilayered—in essence the stories that I had wanted to write in the first place.
8. What’s the most successful marketing method that has helped your book sales?
Answer: Marketing is the elephant in the room for authors. When considering various marketing approaches, I always keep in mind—particularly if cost is involved—that surveys show these methodologies increase eyes on a book, but usually don’t translate into a big upswing in sales. I’ve found word-of-mouth and reader reviews to be my best advertisement. An editor from Kirkus Book Reviews—the industry gold standard—contacted me to say that her friend had recommended she read Lady of the Sea. She did and loved it and said she was going to read Millionaires’ Row next, also recommended by her friend. I couldn’t afford press this good.
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9. Question: I think it’s wonderful that you have marketed on You Tube. Can you inform my author readers how you began marketing on You Tube?
Answer: I started a channel on YouTube as a place to upload video trailers that I produced on my books. I haven’t really done anything with the channel and am surprised to see the traffic on it. It is definitely something I need to turn my attention to.
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10. Question: You’ve been a writer for a long time. What is the best advice you’ve received as an author?
Answer: I once read that writing is subjective. A writer is not going to please everyone. I have always kept those words close to mind. I pull them out whenever a disappointing rating threatens to shake my confidence.
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11. Question: Designing a book cover is a challenging endeavor. Every author wants their book to catch the reader’s eye. What is your process on designing a book cover? Do you hire a firm to assist you?
Answer: My sister designed two of my covers—A Love Too Proud and Millionaires’ Row.
Unfortunately, she retired. Now, I design my own covers using Swift Publisher software and images purchased from various websites. I know best what I’m trying to convey, and I enjoy the creative process. A word of warning to new writers—there are a lot of people who will want to sell you book design, editing, and marketing services. They are costly and, contrary to what you are told, do not ensure success for your book—or failure if you don’t avail yourself of them. Consider your royalties and how many books you would have to sell to pay for those services and be realistic about your choices. I know too many authors who have gone down this rabbit hole, and the only return they got was an empty bank.
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12. Contact information: kathykeller.com; kathy@kathykeller.com
Where to Buy My Books:
All of my books enjoy worldwide distribution and are available in hardcover and paperback through all on-line bookstores, i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, Walmart, Books A Million, etc. My books are also available from your local bookstore. If they aren't on the shelf, they can be ordered.
If you prefer a digital eBook, my titles are available wherever eBooks are sold. While Amazon and Barnes and Noble support their own readers (Kindle and Nook), Smashwords.com offers a variety of formats.
The best way to search for my books on the internet is to type in the book title followed by Kathy Keller, i.e., The Homeward Heart Kathy Keller. This avoids books by other authors named Kathy Keller—yes, there are a few—from popping up in your search results.
I invite all of my readers to check out Kathy’s website for updates on her current projects. She provides details about her screenplays and she writes a blog that is a worthwhile read.
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August 2024 Interview
Paul King, Author
Question: Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was a professional journalist for nearly 40 years, working first in daily newspapers and then transitioning to trade magazines; specifically, the foodservice industry. I retired from my last job in 2015 and began to pursue my passion, which is history. I have written 3 books. The first, Iconic Pittsburgh: The City’s 30 Most Memorable People, Places & Things, was published in 2020 by The History Press. The follow-up to that is called Colorful Characters of Pittsburgh, and it was released in October 2023. The third, Whitsons’ Way, is the history of an unusually successful, family-founded food management company on Long Island, NY. It is set for publication later this year.
Question: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is actually in the writing phase. The working title is “Trailblazers & Influencers: Pennsylvania Women Who Changed History.” When I was researching Iconic Pittsburgh, I discovered that there were a number of women who had made contributions to the betterment of the city, the state, and even the world. Yet they were not considered “iconic” by most people. I decided I wanted to tell their stories. Surprisingly, when I took the idea to my editor, he told me the publisher wouldn’t consider it because “books about women don’t sell.” That sealed the deal; I don’t like to be told “no.” So, I am seeking a new publisher for this book.
Question: Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual? I think most normal people would consider all writers’ habits “unusual.”
Question: What authors, or books have influenced you?
In my genre, my “holy trinity” of historians would be David McCullough, Walter Isaacson, and David Grann.
Question: What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Because I have a traditional publisher, I have a dedicated marketing person who helps to promote my books. But sometimes, that’s not enough. To augment that I have turned to Facebook. When I was writing Iconic Pittsburgh, I used to post updates on FB, introducing the profiles and throwing out a fact or two about each.
After Iconic Pittsburgh came out, I set up a page called Paul King’s Pittsburgh Books to help market it and to generate interest in Colorful Characters of Pittsburgh. For that book, I created a contest called Who Am I?. I would post a brief description of a person, and the first reader who could guess the name received a signed copy of the book when it was published. Lately, however, FB has become more trouble than it’s worth. I have been getting messages telling me that my page has violated some copyright law, and that the page is going to be taken down. They’re all bogus, but I’m tired of seeing them and FB security can’t do anything to stop them. So, I am going to transition from the page to a website, which I am in the process of setting up.
Question: Do you have any advice for new authors?
For writers starting out I would say, if you are not willing to immerse yourself in the business of writing, don’t bother. Writing is hard work, and depending upon what you are writing, it can also be a painful process. You have to be prepared to embrace that and endure it. For me, the act of writing is simple and breezy. But the process of taking that first draft and making it over into something that is publishable is agonizing. In short, if you find that writing is easy, you are doing it wrong.
Once you have completed a manuscript, be prepared to seek out–and accept–criticism. There is not a successful writer out there who hasn’t been edited by someone else. I liken it to athletics. No matter how much talent you have, without a teacher or coach, you are never going to succeed. I knew a man who claimed to have written 5 novels, but he had never had any of them published. Why? He told me that every time he approached a publisher, he was told that the book would be successful if he was willing to change this, that or the other thing. He always refused, saying that changing the book would ruin it. Don’t be that guy.
Finally, understand that self-publishing is not a panacea. Too many authors turn to self-publishing because it’s easier than turning your book over to a traditional publisher, or even finding one who will take on the project. Self-publishing isn’t easier; it’s just different. All of the rules still apply. You just shift the burden from someone else to your own shoulders. The biggest benefit, in my mind, of having your book published in the traditional manner is the knowledge that someone else believes your work is good. An unbiased outsider has told you that your manuscript is good enough for public consumption, good enough that someone is willing to take on the burden of printing and promoting your work. In self-publishing, you earn all of the profits, but you will have to do all of the marketing yourself. And you may not know just how good your work actually is. I’m not saying, “Don’t self-publish.” I’m simply noting that you should weigh one against the other, and not be afraid to open yourself up to the criticism of a traditional publisher.
Question: What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you want to write, read. Read anything you can get your hands on, and absorb all that you learn.”
Question: What are you reading now?
“August Wilson: A Life,” by Patti Hartigan, a biography of the Pittsburgh-born poet and playwright who told of the African-American experience through a series of 10 plays that includes “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Question: What’s next for you as a writer?
Even as I work on my book about influential women in Pennsylvania’s history, I already have begun researching my next one: From Chipped Ham to Cheesesteak: A Culinary History of Pennsylvania.
Question: If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you, what books would you bring?
Only 3 or 4 books? Kill me now and end my suffering.
**Posted with permission from Awesome Gang Newsletter.
June 2024 Interview
Robin Hall, North Carolina Author and Weaver
Question: Please tell my readers a little bit about yourself. Where do you hail from, what interests you in fabric art, and how do you connect with other weavers in North Carolina?
I teach creative writing to children, yoga to all ages, and live in Pittsboro, North Carolina on a tiny farm with one husband, five children, four dogs, three looms, and too many chickens to count. I grew up in Winston-Salem and spent my summers out west where my Grandpa Robinson repeatedly taught me to knit and crochet. My mom taught me to sew when I was pretty young. She helped me sew all my skirts and dresses and even to make a queen-size quilt.
It would be easier to say what doesn’t interest me in fabric art. I’m curious about how to do All-The-Things! I love to learn and have so many hobbies because I want to know how to make everything! I’m also a member of the Triangle Weavers Guild and enjoy meeting weavers and spinners at the guild. While researching my picture book, I was able to talk to a lot of textile artists from Western North Carolina. They taught me so much. I especially appreciated all I learned from Susan Leveille.
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Question: When did your writing journey begin?
I wanted to be a writer in first grade when my teacher, Mrs. Queen, helped me write my first book for the young authors program. I still have that book. I wrote on and off growing up, but pursued other passions until I started writing seriously in 2010. I went to writing conferences and classes and learned and learned and learned and read and read and wrote and wrote and revised. I still do a lot of that! I even earned an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Question: How many articles, stories, or books have you written?
I have written ten novels and over twenty picture books. The Littlest Weaver is my first published story. My second picture book will come out in 2026 called Cock-a-doodle-Dino about a boy who learns his chickens are descended from dinosaurs and becomes afraid of his backyard flock.
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Question: How did your idea for ‘The Littlest Weaver’ take shape?
I wrote the first version as a short story in response to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011. I had learned about a man who lost his entire family. He went back to try to save them and watched them all be washed out to sea. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, so I wrote a story to give that man closer and a glimmer of hope for a positive future. Years later when I started writing picture books I dusted this story off. It went through many revisions, including moving it specifically to North Carolina and making the sad man be from Diamond City, NC, destroyed in 1899. (Not that I have that in the story, but it helped me to place it).
Interviewer: Here is the book blurb:
Far from the sea in the hills and hollers of Appalachia’s great Southern Highlands lived Laurel, the littlest weaver, and her pa. Together they wove story rugs filled with honeysuckle and summer sunshine. For Laurel, though small, had a gift for weaving as if her mama’s angel hands guided hers.
Laurel and her father weave beautiful rugs for the people of their mountain town. When a stranger moves to town with sadness in his eyes and a lonely doll on his table, Laurel wants to help. With gorgeous illustrations of the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and depictions of the Appalachian weaving tradition, The Littlest Weaver shows us how to hold space for grief and warms your heart like a woven blanket.
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Question: How long did it take for you to finish this delightful book, and how did you find your illustrator?
It took years to finish this story. 12 years from inspiration to publication. I did not find the illustrator. The art director at Familius, my publishing house, matched me with Stella Lim. She did an incredible job. I cried when I saw what she’d do with my story.
Question: It appears as though you went through the process of traditional publishing. If this is correct, what was your process with locating an agent and a publishing firm?
Yes, I went the traditional route. I sent it to this publisher who allows author submissions. The editor, Michele Robbins, gave me a significant R&R. It took me three years before I finally knew how to fix my story and sent it back to her. Thankfully she still wanted it and we entered into a contract.
Question: What has worked best for you in marketing The Littlest Weaver?
To me all that is still a mystery! I do a lot of school visits and have gone both the Rhinebeck (NY Sheep & Wool) and the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
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Question: Can you name a few authors who you enjoy reading?
Boy, could I. I read all kinds of things, so I’ll give you a few recent favorites:
PB: Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter
Woven of the World by Katey Howes
MG: A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
YA: Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt
The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold
Adult: The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
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Question: Is there any social media platform in particular that has worked for you? Pinterest? Facebook? Goodreads? Twitter? Linked in? And do you manage most of your advertising yourself?
I use Instagram @robinhallwrites and do my own marketing.
Question: Do you have a current project that you’re working on?
I’m revising a middle grade historical novel set in 1948 during the polio epidemic when a boy afraid of the water has to go live with his lighthouse-keeping father. It’s both a joy and a struggle to work on this project.
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Interviewer: If you like, Robin, tell my readers about your website(s) and how they can follow your progress on your writing or weaving. I’m aware that you have a newsletter. Please tell my readers how they can sign up.
You can find me at robinhallwrites.com, Instagram @robinhallwrites and @robinahllweaves
You can sign up for my quarterly newsletter, News from the Nest, on my website.
Interviewer: Thank you, Robin, for sharing your fascinating and creative journey in writing and weaving with everyone. You certainly have a busy life! I was very excited when I first viewed ‘The Littlest Weaver,’ and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to feature you on my website, and I look forward to following your future adventures.
April 2024 Interview
Donald Vaughan, North Carolina Author
For this month’s newsletter, I interviewed a prolific and talented writer. Read below to learn more about how he got his start as an author. For authors who reside in North Carolina, Mr. Vaughan started the Triangle Association of Freelance Writers.
Question 1: What was your earliest memory that piqued your interest in writing?
I fell into writing because I failed algebra in high school. I didn’t need the math credit, so I transferred to a class called Mass Media that was essentially about freelance writing. I learned a lot, pitched some stuff to MAD magazine that was, understandably, rejected, and realized that writing was something I wanted to pursue professionally. I honed my skills on the school paper, and pursued a BA in Communication with a specialty in Journalism at Florida Atlantic University. However, my biggest influence was my grandfather on my mother’s side, Quentin Mott. He worked on several dailies in NYC and retired from the New York Daily News while I was in college. He red-inked my homework until it looked like a murder scene, but I never made the same mistake twice. While in college I became a staff writer on my home town’s weekly newspaper, and a few years later joined a national health and medical magazine published by Globe Communications. And that’s how I joined the tabloids, which I enjoyed tremendously.
Question 2: Please elaborate on your journey into being a contributor or collaborator on books vs. being the single author.
I’ve collaborated on only a couple of books, mostly autobiographies by minor celebrities and a couple of “instant books” for AMI. The celebrity bios have been the only book projects that I have pitched myself. All the other books I’ve written were essentially assigned to me as works for hire.
Question 3: Thank you for starting Triangle Association of Freelancers. Please tell us why and how you got started with this project. Their annual conference is just around the corner so feel free to discuss what exciting things are planned for the conference.
Triangle Association of Freelancers (tafnc.com) sprang from a freelance writing glass I taught at Wake Tech. Every semester there would be one or two students who showed genuine talent and I quickly realized that they would need some additional mentoring if they were to succeed, so we started meeting monthly to talk about what they were working on and how I could help. After a couple of years, we decided to see if other writers in the area would like to get together regularly for networking and more, and the answer was a resounding yes. TAF was formally established in 2003 and became a nonprofit in 2017. We have around 150 members throughout NC and surrounding states, and we even have one member in Canada.
Since 2008, we have offered a one-day, multitrack spring writing conference called Write Now! Write Now! 2024 will be held on Saturday, April 27, at The McKimmon Center at NC State in Raleigh. Our Fiction Guest of Honor is award-winning SF/F writer Nicole Givens Kurtz, and our Nonfiction Guest of Honor is Amy Jones, editor-in-chief of Writer’s Digest. Both will be presenting a keynote address and a craft session. Breakout sessions include Mining Your Life for Article Ideas (I’ll be presenting that one), The Art of Short Story Writing, The Art of the Interview (with National Magazine Award-winning journalist Sean Flynn), Developing Believable Secondary Characters, Style Manuals and How to Use Them, Memoir Writing and a primer on self-publishing. The fee is $109 through March 31, and $119 April 1-25 and at the door. The fee includes all conference activities, morning coffee/tea, catered box lunch and door prizes.
Question 4: The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing (WD Books, 2015) (contributor). Let my audience know about this book, where they can obtain it, and what marketing strategies you deployed to advertise your book.
The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing was written by former Writer’s Digest editor Zachary Petit. My primary contribution was a sample query letter; I wasn’t involved in the books’ marketing. The book is available through Amazon.
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Question 5: One book in particular, titled - Nature's Force: How Climate Change is Altering Our Planet (with Mark Cantrell) (Tango Publishing, 2012). You published this book nearly 14 years ago; long before the picture of climate change became increasingly bleak. Can you discuss what compelled you to write about climate change?
I’ve long been interested in and concerned about climate change, and have written about the issue for a variety of publications, but Nature’s Force was essentially a work-for-hire. Mark Cantrell came to the project with a strong knowledge about weather (he authored The Everything Weather Book for Adams Media) and we split the writing 50/50. It was a fascinating project, and one of several bookazines that Mark and I were involved in.
Question 6: It seems you also have a passion for writing about history, specifically the Civil War – (The Everything Civil War Book - Adams Media, 2000); and WWII. Please discuss how you approached your research on these two giant topics.
I’m a huge history buff, and enjoy writing about all aspects of history, but especially military history. I contributed to Military Officer Magazine for 24 years, and wrote often about military history. The Everything Civil War Book came about because a colleague dropped my name, knowing I had a strong interest in the Civil War. That led to The Everything World War II Book and The Everything Anti-Aging Book.
My research for the Civil War and WWII books crossed a lot of sources, including seminal books on the topic, government resources, various military associations, and more. Each book was 100,000 words, and I had only a few months to complete them. Toward the end, I was pounding out 5,000 words a day on WWII. I’m extremely proud of both volumes.
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Question 7: What is your best marketing advice to self-publishers?
Marketing is definitely not my wheelhouse. I primarily write nonfiction magazine articles, which don’t require marketing, and most of my books, as noted, have been work-for-hire projects that didn’t require promotion on my end. I’ve never self-published a book, so I have no insight.
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Question 8: I noticed that you have contributed a great deal to: The Armchair Reader. Please inform me, and my readers about
The Armchair Reader, how you first connected with them and whether others might contact them to form a professional relationship.
The Armchair Reader series was published by Publications International, Ltd, and has been defunct for a number of years. I forget now how I became involved in the series, but I believe it was through a referral by a colleague.
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Question 9: Is there a particular author (or authors) who have influenced your writing style?
I wouldn’t say other authors have influenced by writing style, but there are several fiction and nonfiction writers who have definitely inspired me over the years. For nonfiction, I’m a huge fan of Nathaniel Philbrick, whose book In the Heart of the Sea, about the whaling ship Essex, was made into a movie directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth. Nat writes about American history, and he does it extremely well. I’m also a big fan of Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down, and Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book.
When it comes to fiction, my inspirations include Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Kim Stanley Robinson.
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Question 10: If any of my readers want to find you, how can they best contact you?
I’m very easy to find. If anyone has questions about writing or freelancing, I can be reached at tarzanswings58@gmail.com. My website is: https://donaldvaughan.com/
Thank you, Mr. Vaughan, for sharing your insights, your process, and useful information about your talents and craft. I look forward to seeing you at this year’s annual conference.
January 2024 Interview
Brian Van Norman, Canadian Sci-Fi Trilogy Author
This month, I’d like to introduce Brian Van Norman to my writer’s network. Prior to devoting himself to a full-time writing career, Mr. Van Norman was a teacher, adjudicator, and theater director. I was delighted to converse with this talented author and I’m excited to share information about his life and his works with my readers.
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His first novel in his AGAINST THE MACHINE Trilogy series, Against the Machines: Luddites was published in 2020.
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Here’s a sample review from one of Brian’s novels, as posted on Amazon about his book: Against the Machine: Luddites
“I am consistently impressed by Brian Van Norman's talent for and attention to detail, his careful research and strong character development. He has superbly mastered the art of illustrative picturesque writing that honestly should place him in the category of celebrated classical authors. Through his words you can smell the heavily scented wild heather and crisp snowfall and hear the rasping clash of grating unoiled machinery. Many times, I find myself returning to past passages and rereading material in exquisite appreciation. Slows me down but the book is much too good to sacrifice content for time. One of my personal indicators of a great book is how preoccupied one is with the story and characters while away from reading.”
Brian Van Norman’s second in his trilogy is titled: Against the Machine: Manifesto. Take a look at his compelling and well-designed book covers. In many of the reviews I’ve read on Goodreads and Amazon, this author is frequently hailed for his extensive research and ability to provide readers with compelling page-turners.
His recent, and 3rd in his trilogy, published in November 2023, is titled: Against the Machine: Evolution.
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Here’s a quick peek at one of the reviews: “This grabs your attention right from the start, and doesn’t let go for a moment. The world-building is extensive and seamless, and surrounds you immediately. Set in the future, it seems to show the inevitable result of the way things are trending today. The plot moves along smoothly, with enough tension and twists that you’ll be reluctant to set this down for even a moment. Although this is the third book in a series, you don’t need to read the other two before diving in to this remarkable novel.”
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INTERVIEW: Let’s get to know a little bit about Brian Van Norman and his writing life, shall we?
Question 1: Mr. Van Norman, how did you originally conceive of the idea for your trilogy?
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I’ve spent a great deal of time traveling and as I visited various regions of the world, I began to notice that climate change was indeed real and happening before my eyes. Also, because I live in Waterloo, I have had access to a great deal of news on technology through the University of Waterloo’s advanced computer programs and learned through those the possibilities of Artificial General Intelligence. Finally, I noted the multiple layoffs of unskilled or specifically skilled workers as various companies either closed or changed courses due to the plethora of new technologies on offer. I begin to wonder if this had been the case in the past and where it might take us in the future. From there I began the research and interviews which allowed me to craft this
trilogy based on the theme of the human/machine interface over only 400 years.
Question 2: You’ve received many accolades for your detailed research. Please tell my readers how you approached your research in each of your books.
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Because each of the novels involve a separate time period my research techniques were quite varied. For ATM: LUDDITES, as a historical novel set in northern England, I travelled there and met a quite unusual individual who was very knowledgeable of the time period. I spent a great deal of time looking at the remains of what had been the first step in machine technology. Of course, there were books, novels and scholarly papers to read regarding the Luddite uprising as well as the culture and customs of 19th Century England.
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For ATM: MANIFESTO, the research was markedly different as the novel was set in 2012, Waterloo, Ontario. I spent much time interviewing assorted individuals, some of whom had lost jobs because of technology, those who had adapted their lives to new technologies and, of course, others who thrived because they were at the head of the drive for current and future technologies. I also made a study of the psychology of those who were left behind by the advent of new technologies.
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For ATM: EVOLUTION, because I had never written science fiction, I read nearly a hundred novels of dystopian fiction to get a sense of their styles of writing, their world building and their creation of characters. From there I researched hundreds of studies regarding Earth’s and its peoples’ potential futures. I used two computers… one to write and the other to check my writing with the research. I then used merely my imagination to construct a possible future for Earth based on what I had noted as significant in my research.
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Question 3: You’ve also been hailed for your skillful character development. Can you tell us about your first steps in conceiving of your characters? Do you go through any unique exercises to step into the viewpoint of your character(s)?
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Once I have entered the world I have conceived through my research, I like to gather my characters before I start writing. Again, each novel was different. For ATM: LUDDITES, the characters were there for me in history. I took each one and tried to give each a set of qualities from both my research and my understanding of human personalities.
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For ATM: MANIFESTO, I employed elements of all the individuals I had interviewed or met, using their own distinct personalities and a bit of imagination to flesh them out. I must say here that one of the best things a writer can do for his or her creation of characters is to simply observe the people around them, noting distinct characteristics for future use. It’s always an invaluable exercise.
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And finally, for ATM: EVOLUTION, I had to divine a set of characters from different environments and with separate purposes in life in order to eventually bring them together. I worked hard on these characters noting that, in addition to world building, I had to create individuals who, though they lived in different times, were still the humans with whom an audience could empathize. Fulsome characters are really the key, I think, to a successful novel.
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Question 4: Building on character development, are there any authors that you admire greatly and whom you draw from in crafting your characters?
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I’m not sure where to start regarding character and other authors. I read for pleasure but I’m always on the lookout for wonderful characters and how they were devised. To name specific authors both contemporary and from the past would be redundant. From Chaucer to Dickens to Atwood to King, just to name a few, there is a plethora of fine and beckoning characters from whom to learn.
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Question 5: Given the five-star reviews you’ve received, I’ll assume that you have given a great deal of time and investment in describing the settings in each of your novels. Setting and specificity engages readers. Do you have any particular style or ritual that you conduct in assembling a picture for readers? Do you find that you have to re-write often?
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I am so pleased with the reviews my novels have garnered. It’s gives me a sense that my work has been understood and enjoyed by people. In the case of the AGAINST THE MACHINE trilogy, each novel was set in a specific place and time. So for the settings of ATM: LUDDITES and ATM: MANIFESTO, I traveled to the first and lived in northern England for a time and for the second novel, well, I live in Waterloo and have for years so the settings were obvious. For ATM: EVOLUTION, I depended upon scholars prognosticating the future and used many of their conclusions to create the setting. The most important element is, I believe, in the details. Wherever writers might travel, it pays to notice small details in their environments so as to able to transfer those to the page, thus offering a believable and interesting setting. As to re-writing: each day I write I begin with the pages I have written previously and spend time attempting to provide them a realism and relevance the first drafts may not have offered.
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Question 6: Many of the people in my network are also authors. Can you share with us a little bit about your marketing efforts, and which of these have you found the most success with?
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I am published by a small but eminent publisher, Guernica Editions. Their budget rarely provides enough publicity to offer their products to the world. For that reason, I have employed outside companies to give my novels more recognition. I have used Reedsy, Bookbub, Open Road, Kindle and others to boost my novels’ perception factor. I have also made great use of Facebook and Instagram, joining writing and author groups through which to advertise my works. I don’t used a mailing list, though many authors do.
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Question 7: Do you have a new idea or project that you’ll be working on in 2024 and beyond?
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After the ATM Trilogy, I am deeply involved in sales and attempting to find more reviews. I have never written humor, and it’s a challenge I would like to take up. I have some short stories I’ve written which I am thinking of publishing. I’ll have to talk it over with my publisher first.
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Question 8: Please share with my readers your website and any other links or contacts so that my readers can learn more about your work and contact you if they wish.
My website is: www.authorbrianvannorman.com
My publisher is: https://guernicaeditions.com/
My Facebook: Brian Van Norman, Author page is: https://www.facebook.com/home.php
December 2023 Interview
Casey Tyler
I’m pleased to introduce everyone to a new author by the name of Casey Tyler. She’s written and published a book named: He Sang to Me. It’s a spirited work about a young woman whose dream it is to star on Broadway. Casey also designed and created the book’s cover. I thought the picture, the title, and the writing deserved a 5-star review on Amazon, so I wrote her a review. Below is the cover so you can easily spot it on Amazon. Please consider writing a review for this young and talented artist if you enjoyed her book.
"He Sang to Me" by Casey Tyler is an enchanting love letter to both the captivating city of New York and the heart-stirring world of Broadway. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Big Apple, the novel weaves a tale of love, dreams, and the indomitable spirit of the city that never sleeps.
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Question: Please tell my readers a little bit about yourself. Where do you hail from? How long have you been writing?
Answer: My name is Casey Tyler. I’m from New England, born and raised. I’ve been writing novels for only two years, but I’ve been a songwriter for about six years.
Question: What inspired you to write He Sang to Me?
Answer: He Sang to Me is actually based on a true event! A few years ago, when I was a front-row-seater seeing a new musical, the main actor sang the last line while looking into my eyes. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life, and I thought to myself how wonderful it would be for a love story to begin that way.
Question: Where would you say you get your creative talent from?
Answer: I was a homeschooler, and I think that allowed me to try out different creative pursuits before finding my favorite few. My mom is also my biggest cheerleader and has always encouraged me to go after my creative dreams!
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Question: Who are your supports during your writing journey?
Answer: My family and friends, for sure. I have a loving family that has never looked down on me for pursuing writing–they’ve only ever encouraged me when I’m sure some families could think that it’s a waste of time. My friends are the same way. I’ve chosen to surround myself with a select few friends who encourage my dreams and will always be there for me when I’m discouraged.
Question: Do you have any particular writing habits that you would care to share with readers?
Answer: I always keep a notebook/Notes App by my bed. When writing He Sang to Me, many of my ideas came in the middle of the night or right before I drifted off to sleep, so having the notepad there to jot them down helped me keep my thoughts organized and not lost.
Question: I love the artistic choice for the cover of He Sang to Me. How did you come up with the idea?
Answer: Thank you! I actually designed it myself. I’ve been a professional graphic designer for the past eight years, so I knew I would want to have creative control over the cover. It took a few tries to finally get it where I wanted, but I’d say the idea came from a desire to have a colorful, eye-catching design that told the story of the pages within in a visual way.
Question: Do you have any marketing advice for my readers, who are also authors?
Answer: Marketing is my current hurdle, so I empathize with any of you readers who are going through this right now! I’d say post, post, post. I have an Instagram (@caseytylercreative) dedicated to my books, and after consistently posting for about a month and a half, I’m finally starting to see some engagement. What I did was look at other writers/bookstagrammers who have been successful and try to mimic their feed. I also use only about 5 hashtags a post, and I make sure they aren’t saturated hashtags but ones that have less than 300k uses.
Question: Who are your favorite authors?
Answer: I love Sophie Cousens and Abby Jimenez.
Question: Please share with my readers a little bit about your next project.
Answer: My next project is currently being written, and I’m very excited about it! It’s going to be a summer vibe romcom. And yes, there will be brothers involved :)
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Thank you, Casey. Please take this opportunity to share any website or other links if my readers want to reach you.
Website: Caseytylercreative.com
Instagram: @Caseytylercreative
October 2023 Interview
(Reverend Protodeacon) George A. Haloulakos
> Owner – Spartan Research
> 4-Time Excellence in Journalism Award Winner (San Diego Press Club)
I’m VERY excited this month to introduce you to George A. Haloulakos. He is a successful writer, lecturer, Chartered Financial Analyst and college professor with decades of experience in investing and financing. In fact, Professor Haloulakos was one of my teachers while earning my MBA in Personal Financial Planning. While employed at City University in Seattle, Washington, Professor Haloulakos was given the distinction of teacher of the year. And I can attest from personal experience, the award was well-deserved.
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I recently interviewed Professor Haloulakos about his writing journey and experience. He is the author of four successful selling books: Dollars and Sense; Call to Glory; High Flight and Directed Studies in Advanced Financial Analysis.
I hope you enjoy reading about this talented individual as much as I’ve enjoyed knowing him.
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What inspired you to write Dollars and Sense?
My inspiration to write and publish Dollars and Sense: A Workbook on the ABCs of Investments came from recurring interest expressed by college students (young people and adult-learners) along with institutional and individual clients asking me to share my knowledge of Finance with my very own book. During the mid-to-late 1990s, my business model featured a "teaching" component that was generating stable, recurring revenue from teaching at various private universities and community colleges, financial seminars for corporations and neighborhood associations plus individual tutorials for people pursuing professional certification in the CFA, CFP, CMA and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) programs. I had developed a series of presentations revolving around six different topic areas in Finance, and so it would be a straightforward task to convert it into a workbook focused on fundamentals of investing. However, before undertaking this task, I compiled a list of people (with detailed contact information) who said that if I wrote and published such a book, they would buy it. This list was composed of students and clients, and when it reached a level where I believed such a venture would be able to be profitable, I moved forward with the process.
Please tell my readers a little bit about the books that you’ve written?
Since the release of Dollars and Sense, I have published three other books. They are:
> Directed Studies in Advanced Financial Analysis
> HIGH FLIGHT - Aviation as a Teaching Tool for Finance, Strategy and American Exceptionalism
> CALL TO GLORY - How the Convair B-58 Hustler Helped Win the Cold War.
Do you have any unusual writing or particular writing habits you’d like to share?
This answer requires clarification on where one's authorship fits with your portfolio of total activities. For me, being an author is NOT my sole pursuit. It is an important component of my total portfolio of activities that include Teaching, Consulting, Public Speaking, Ministry and Authorship. So, my answer here reflects this mix. Writing is an intensely personal process and each person crafts his or her own style to fit their life purpose, mission and reflect their core values. For me, what has worked has been to develop a theme or series of themes that helps to organize the research, writing and layout or presentation format. I aim for clarity and concision. With writing projects, I have adhered to a very disciplined approach to dedicate one hour per day to actually putting my thoughts or ideas into words. While one hour does not seem like much, please note that the "one hour" is the time for the actual physical effort of writing or typing up the topics or ideas that have already been thought out beforehand! I never sit down before the computer and wait for thoughts and ideas to come. For me, this is an inefficient use of time. I like to have things already organized in my mind ahead of time to get the highest return on investment from my writing. As one who constantly worked in the Wall Street Finance world where everything needs to be accomplished under time pressure and split-second decision making is required, this proved most useful and productive. When I was in college and graduate school, I did the same when writing my answers to exams. I always started out by looking over the entire exam, reviewing the questions, and then planning/organizing my answers before actually putting my thoughts into writing. Most people just jump right in without thought or organization. Paradoxically, this ends up being a huge time trap. With my students, I teach them to STOP: Stop, Think, Organize and Plan. Then, you can begin to write your answers. This approach has been helpful to me with my authorship. But in order to successfully execute this approach, one needs to really know their subject very, very well. This means putting in the time before the actual physical effort of writing.
Professor Haloulakos, you’ve had notable marketing success. Can you share your thought process about your approach with the other readers?
My success on the marketing side has been a result of two things: (a) an accurate estimate on book sales along with financial payback before starting a major writing project and (b) using my authorship as a brand builder or real point of differentiation in my Teaching, Consulting and Public Speaking. I have been able to accurately gauge the pull-through demand from my various book projects to calculate the financial payback and then leverage that publishing success as a real point of differentiation versus my peers in Teaching, Consulting and Public Speaking. My books have enabled me to secure plum teaching appointments, profitable consulting projects and prestigious public speaking engagements. Therefore, the TOTAL financial return from my books is not solely from the book sales alone but rather the incremental revenue realizations in my other professional venues arising from, or in connection with, the release of those books AND helping to build my personal brand. Published Authorship has increased my financial return from all of my other professional activities while increasing credibility with the general public. As a footnote, I would add that it is very helpful to always be in a marketing mode ("soft" rather than "hard" sell) in which you "share" information (e.g., business cards, commemorative bookmarks) -- if anyone has "interest" -- about availability of your books in all venues. This has enabled me to leverage all forms of media (digital, video, audio and print) as well as casual or personal contact in public settings while connecting with potential readers and/or buyers.
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Postscript about marketing -- and this comes from my prior experience in the fields of investment banking, institutional equity research and asset management -- it is always useful to create an "edge" or "advantage" by developing your own style. For me, I often use references to Literature, Classic Film & TV and Pop Culture when highlighting my published work. I was recently asked how I would craft an institutional research report if I were to write about the demise of General Electric [this followed a presentation I did for Accounting Day on the subject of diversified global conglomerates including General Electric] that would grab the attention of my target audience while conveying a thematic message. My answer was a tribute to a classic Spaghetti Western: "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." This approach allows me to incorporate my love of Classic Films into my Finance presentations in a relatable but teachable fashion.
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I know dogs hold a special place in your heart. Please elaborate on the human-canine connection as you view it.
Dogs hold a very, very special place in my heart. I believe the relationship we have with our precious pets helps us, and them, in our journey to salvation in union with God. Our family (along with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people) were immeasurably blessed by Our Precious Maggie (2010 - 2022). Maggie was a tri-colored Pembroke Welsh Corgi whose legacy and life story as a Service Dog can be found at: https://pawsintograce.com/in-memory-of-maggie-haloulakos/.
For more than a decade, Maggie worked with me daily in my Teaching, Caregiving, Ministry and Public Speaking. As a working dog Maggie left pawprints on our hearts. Now as I have gradually stepped back and selectively reduced my workload, we are equally blessed to have Cali the California Girl. Cali is a red-and-white Pembroke Welsh Corgi that is a retired AKC Champion Show Dog. We adopted Cali last year and she has helped not only to assuage the grief in connection with Maggie's passing but has accompanied us to various public speaking engagements and long weekend getaways. Cali is a very affectionate, playful, loving and inspiring Therapy Dog as we transition to a new, more relaxed phase in our life. Cali made a huge public splash earlier this year when I paid tribute to the Vietnam War Veterans with a speech on the Bell UH-1 Huey Helicopter at the Palm Springs Air Museum. She gave out lots of hugs and kisses to the veterans in attendance while passing out commemorative bookmarks featuring Cali and her namesake aircraft at the air museum!
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How can my readers find you if they have further questions?
If anyone wishes to contact me, please either send me an email or call or send me a text message. My contact points are:
Email: Haloulakos@gmail.com; Cell #: 425-241-5016
I greatly enjoy any and all correspondence. You can also connect with me via LinkedIn, where I have about 1,300 followers and post regularly on the subjects of Finance, Aviation, Game Theory, Strategy and Pet Therapy.
My LinkedIn profile serves as my website. The web link is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-protodn-george-haloulakos-cfa-bab6b43
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Do you have a website?
Given my diverse range of activities, the LinkedIn platform has proven to have the widest reach and easiest accessibility. At present, my books can be purchased via the UC San Diego Bookstore (reflecting my ongoing support of independent booksellers).
**The web link is: https://www.bkstr.com/ucsdtextstore/search/keyword/Haloulakos
Here is the web link to our most recent presentation at the Palm Springs Air Museum that includes Cali the California Girl. https://youtu.be/Zxj6JdW1xhM
If anyone experiences difficulty or challenges in trying to obtain my books or access my other published work, please contact me directly and I promise we will make it work!
(Rev Protodeacon) George A. Haloulakos
CFA Charterholder Finance Instructor / Owner - Spartan Research
Voice & Text Messages: Cell # 425-241-5016
4-Time Excellence in Journalism Award Winner (San Diego Press Club)
Author of CALL TO GLORY (ISBN 9780692475454)
View my LinkedIn profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-protodn-george-haloulakos-cfa-bab6b43
Thank you, professor Haloulakos for agreeing to be interviewed. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll look for your posts on Linked In. And in case anyone is interested, I’ve posted a picture of the professor with his sweet Welsh Corgi girl, Cali. Thanks a million, and I look forward to our continued discussions.
August 2023 interview
Interview with Kayla Cunningham, teacher and author of contemporary romance novels.
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have two education degrees and teach history to high school students and adult ESL classes. On top of that, I volunteer as a Hostage Crisis Negotiator. Right now, I’m working on my Ph.D. in Teaching English as a Second Language. My husband and I also enjoy taking flying lessons together, which adds some excitement to our lives.
One thing I absolutely love is traveling and meeting people from different cultures around the world. I’ve hosted six boys from China and have visited Asia multiple times. It’s always an incredible experience to explore new landscapes and learn about vibrant traditions.
I was born in San Luis Obispo and grew up near Santa Cruz, California. Nature and the environment hold a special place in my heart because of my coastal upbringing. I’m also passionate about addressing issues of racism, including the rise in Asian hate crimes during the pandemic.
In addition to teaching, I’m a writer. I recently published my first contemporary romance novel, “Fated to Love You.” I just finished the second book in the “Chasing the Comet” series, and I’m currently working on a Young Adult fantasy trilogy called “Storm Breaker.”
At its core, the Chasing the Comet series is a three-part story about finding true love in the face of adversity and racism. It explores themes of grief, loss, hope, and healing, and it is my deepest desire that readers will be transported by the characters’ journey and inspired to embrace diversity and love in their own lives.
The intricate plot and the beautifully developed characters will keep you invested and engrossed from start to finish. I can’t wait for readers to dive into this immersive continuation of the story that will take them on an emotional journey through love, loss, and perseverance. It’s an exciting and engaging read that fans of the first book won’t want to miss. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down once you start reading!
You can find more about me and my work on my website: https://kaylacunninghamauthor.com/. I’d love to connect with fellow readers, writers, and anyone who shares my passions.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fated to Love You and the Chasing the Comet series was written in response to the rise in Asian racism during the pandemic years. I write for change, because my pen is the most powerful tool God has given me, and it is not the time to be silent. Instead, it is time to #writeforchange. There is a great quote in the movie 42, about Jackie Robinson. The quote was, “Maybe tomorrow we’ll all wear 42, that way they won’t tell us apart.” Growing up in a baseball loving household, today I want to wear the #42. I do so with ink.
As a teacher and basketball coach, I had the privilege to host six boys from Asian countries. As a host mom, these boys became part of my family. I have visited them in China and Taiwan in recent years. These boys will always be like the brothers I never had. While Asian racism has always existed, there has been a sharp increase in harassment and violence against Asians since 2020. I witnessed firsthand some of the horrific things that were done or said to my ‘family’ because of their nationality, and I felt ashamed. The country I love no longer seemed as progressive or enlightened as I once believed. It was as if we’d stepped back in time. Some of you may ask, why did I feel guilty? It’s not like I said or did any of those hurtful things. What makes me responsible? It’s simple. Because there was nothing, I was doing to help promote change.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a full-time teacher during the day, with multiple other jobs to make ends meet, finding a few moments to write was a constant struggle. However, I knew that this story deserved my time and attention, so I would stay up late into the night, often past midnight, to work on the book.
What are you working on now?
The second installment of the “Chasing the Comet” series is called “Threads of Fate.” Just like the first book, Threads of Fate is a contemporary romance full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Despite the odds against them, Cassie and Xuan remain steadfast in their epic love story, willing to do whatever it takes to find their way back to each other – even if it means braving the very forces of the universe that conspire to keep them apart.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads: Goodreads is a popular platform for book lovers. Create an author profile, add your books to your profile, interact with readers, participate in book discussions, and leverage their advertising options to reach a wider audience.
Book promotion websites: There are several websites dedicated to promoting books, such as BookBub, BookGorilla, and Bargain Booksy. These platforms offer various promotional opportunities, including discounted book promotions, author spotlights, and book recommendations to their subscribers.
Book bloggers and reviewers: Research and reach out to book bloggers and reviewers who specialize in your genre. Offer them review copies of your book in exchange for honest reviews, guest posts, or interviews. Positive reviews can help generate buzz and attract more readers.
Online book communities and forums: Participate in online communities and forums related to books and writing, such as Goodreads groups, Reddit’s r/books, or niche-specific forums. Engage in discussions, share your expertise, and mention your book when relevant (without being overly promotional).
Collaborate with other authors: Network and collaborate with fellow authors through author events, joint promotions, or cross-promotion on social media. By leveraging each other’s audiences, you can expand your reach and gain exposure to new readers.
Remember that promoting your books is an ongoing effort. It’s important to build relationships with your readers, engage with your target audience, and consistently share updates about your work. Each author’s journey is unique, so it’s essential to experiment with different methods and find what works best for you and your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Here are a few key pieces of advice for new authors:
1. Write consistently: Make writing a regular habit. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to work on your writing projects. Consistency is key to honing your skills and making progress on your manuscript.
2. Read widely: Immerse yourself in different genres and styles of writing. Reading not only exposes you to different storytelling techniques but also helps you understand what works and what doesn’t. It can inspire new ideas and enhance your writing abilities.
3. Embrace the editing process: Writing is rewriting. Understand that the first draft is just the beginning. Embrace the editing process, revise your work, and strive to make it better. Seek feedback from trusted beta readers or join a writing group to gain different perspectives on your writing.
4. Develop your writer’s voice: Find your unique voice as an author. Experiment with different styles and approaches until you discover the one that feels authentic to you. Your voice is what sets you apart and makes your writing resonate with readers.
5. Embrace constructive criticism: Be open to feedback and critique. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your writing. Separate yourself from your work and view feedback as an opportunity to grow and strengthen your skills.
6. Persevere and stay resilient: Writing can be challenging and discouraging at times. Rejections may come your way, but don’t let them deter you. Stay resilient, believe in your abilities, and keep pushing forward. Persistence is often the key to success in the writing journey.
7. Connect with the writing community: Engage with other writers, attend writing conferences or workshops, and join online writing communities. Surrounding yourself with fellow writers provides support, inspiration, and opportunities for collaboration.
8. Celebrate small victories: Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments along the way. Finishing a chapter, reaching a word count goal, or receiving positive feedback—these are all milestones worth recognizing. Celebrating small victories keeps your motivation high and fuels your writing journey.
9. Start marketing your book early! Publishers will ask for your different sites.
Remember, writing is a personal and creative endeavor. Trust in your unique voice, be persistent, and enjoy the process. With dedication and perseverance, you can bring your stories to life and share them with the world.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is to “embrace failure as a stepping stone to success.” It’s a powerful reminder that setbacks and mistakes are not indicators of our worth or potential. Instead, they serve as valuable learning opportunities and catalysts for growth.
In the creative process, including writing, failure and rejection are inevitable. However, it’s how we respond to those challenges that truly matters. Embracing failure means reframing it as a natural part of the journey towards achieving our goals. It allows us to learn from our mistakes, adapt our approach, and ultimately persevere.
This advice encourages resilience, determination, and a willingness to take risks. It reminds us that setbacks are not permanent roadblocks but rather springboards for improvement. By embracing failure, we cultivate a growth mindset, allowing us to push beyond our comfort zones and reach our full potential.
So, whenever I face obstacles or encounter setbacks in my writing or any other aspect of life, I remind myself to embrace failure. I see it as an opportunity to learn, evolve, and ultimately move closer to success. It’s a valuable lesson that has empowered me to approach challenges with optimism, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
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June 2023 interview
June 2023 Interview with Jennie Gunther, Tech expert and Genealogist
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a delightful woman by the name of Jennie Gunther. Jennie is a highly accomplished computer techy and environmentalist. Her avocation is genealogy, and that’s how we met.
Question: Jennie, please tell my readers about how you began your occupation in the computer industry.
Answer: My father worked for IBM – which stands for: “I’ve been moved!” I’m the oldest of ten children and our family lived in several different states in the USA, including Kansas, Texas and California. I’ve been involved with computers since the 1960’s.
Question: What interested you in computers at such an early age?
Answer: My dad got me enrolled in the IBM series of machine operation classes reserved for their customers. I learned keypunch, the sorting machine, and the 402 Tab counting machine. Little did I know that this would lay the groundwork for my lifelong career. I spent five years managing the IBM system for Homelite Chain Saws in Kansas City. Following this, I helped implement the Visa credit card system for the states of Kansas and Missouri.
Question: You really hit it out of the ballpark with your IBM training. Did you get any other type of training?
Answer: After I married and began having children, I decided to go back to work. By this time, I’d become very interested in politics. I knew then Senator Fred Harris in Oklahoma and began volunteering for his campaign for President. It was my idealism to save the world. I also noticed that most politicians were lawyers, so I enrolled in law school. In fairly short order, I decided being a lawyer wasn’t my bailiwick. I had enough training and education, however, to land a position with the Legal Aid services in Oklahoma City. This work served me well and nurtured my passion to help people and do good work.
Question: And then you and your husband were transferred again, is that correct?
Answer: Yes, we moved to Jefferson City. Because of my interest in the preservation of the environment, I applied for and was hired by the Missouri Conservation Department. This position introduced me to several opportunities. My employer witnessed my solid work ethic, and soon I was booking tours, setting up educational events, and authoring a number of articles for nature publications around the state. I also was a performer, of sorts, assisting the State’s Naturalist by dressing up in a prairie dress, telling stories to visitors about two sisters who crossed the prairie and encountering buffalo herds and lightening fires. My writing continued, and in this job, I also wrote the script about living in the prairie, which included music. The small production was a hit, with requests to do many repeat performances.
Question: Your career love was your time with the Nature Conservancy. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this non-profit, they’ve been around for over 70 years. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. To make the highest possible impact on the climate and biodiversity crises between now and 2030, The Nature Conservancy is developing breakthrough ideas, amplifying local leaders and influencing policy.
Please tell my readers of your passion about preserving our environment. Have you written any articles on behalf of the Nature Conservancy?
Answer: Since I was a young child, I loved the outdoors. My love of nature has carried through all of my life. I softened the angst of going through puberty by climbing the silver leaf maple tree in our back yard to read a book or cry teenage tears or just sit and enjoy the birdsong. To be able to work in the environmental field was a soul-satisfying career path. Looking back, I feel like I was able to ‘give back and give forward’ to my ancestors and descendants. During my time with the Nature Conservancy, I authored several newsletter articles. I loved every minute of it.
Question: I’ve learned that you feel that storytelling and taking the time to study history are a great combination for understanding genealogy and preparing a family history. Can you elaborate on how storytelling is important to you?
Answer: Storytelling gives life to the truths in our world in a manageable way – we might not be able to ‘handle the truth’ in its harsh reality, but stories can help us face reality. They color our world with the surprises of everyone’s experiences. And it is so shareable – a truly universal story that ties us all together.
Question: How long have you been interested in genealogy? What sparked your interest?
Answer: It was literally dumped on me. A relative gave me a box filled with notes, letters, and pictures, saying, “Here, this is our family history. Can you make sense of it?” I love puzzles and detecting how things interact, and that is definitely needed to research in genealogy. And the satisfaction of seeing how my life ties into my ancestor’s – gives a whole new point of view to history.
Question: Do you think you’ll ever be ‘done’ with your genealogy work?
Answer: No one can ever be ‘done’ with genealogy – there is always the next ancestor to discover, and then I move on to all of the collateral lines. Even if one could trace a direct line all the way back to Adam & Eve, what about all of those siblings and cousins from Cain and Able? And if I were to ever get to near-completion with my own ancestry, there are always friends to help out. Other people’s histories are equally compelling.
Question: Thank you for your volunteer work as a genealogist. Where do you volunteer your services as a genealogist?
Answer: I do my volunteer work through an agency by the name of Raleigh Senior Tech Ed. The organizations offer a variety of technology classes, and this includes genealogy, which includes research topics and challenges. I also participate in a Family History Group at NC State University. I also hold classes on how to write a family history and have conducted classes through the Wake County Library system.
Question: Jennie, there’s never a dull moment in your life, and you certainly stay busy. I was very excited to learn about your volunteer work at NC Reading Service. You were required to go through a voice audition, is that correct?
Answer: Yes, I was required to audition – first for possible placement as a volunteer announcer for WCPE Classical Music Station, and also for the NC Reading Service. My voice passed all of the tests, and I settled with volunteering with NCRS. I find it very satisfying, again with the desire to give back to my community. I particularly love recording the Children’s Story Hour – reading books for children which are then played on the Internet at scheduled times.
Question: It was a pleasure to listen to your lecture in my community about getting started in genealogy. I particularly enjoyed your power point and discussion about FREE genealogy resources in North Carolina. I’ve also reviewed your excel spreadsheet that you’ve compiled about free resources on the Internet. May I share them with my readers?
Answer: Yes, Colleen, please share them. I’m very enthused about this topic and I hope my lecture and spreadsheet inspires others to get excited about researching their ancestors. Thanks for interviewing me.
**Note: Please refer to my website, www.colleenbooks.com, for the PDF of the spreadsheet info about free online resources. Check under the ‘newsletters’ tab for this valuable info. **
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In closing, Jenn, I want to say what a pleasure it’s been to meet you and publish this interview about such an inspired life. I look forward to meeting with you at our monthly genealogy groups. Thank you for everything.
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May 2023 interview
Provided by Christine on her blog: https://thewritechris.blogspot.com
Thank you for allowing me to share the journey of this delightful author. Her inspiration also came from her personal genealogical journey.
Keep Sending out Queries! Author Interview with Robin W. Pearson
Prior to writing your first novel, what writing credits did you have?
I began freelancing as a writer and editor with educational publishers, magazines, novelists, and homeschool publications in 1997, after leaving Houghton Mifflin Company.
What made you decide to write that first novel?
I started my debut, A Long Time Comin’, after writing down pieces of our
family’s history and genealogy to pass down to my little people.
How long did it take you to write your first book?
The first draft took about three years, but the manuscript went through numerous edits before it was eventually published several years (and little people!) later.
Who encouraged you along the way?
Along the way, I was encouraged by my parents, my family, writer-mentors like Carrie Turansky, and by critiques from members of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Friends urged me to keep writing when I wanted to give up.
How did you go about finding an agent/publisher?
To find an agent I queried, queried, and queried again. Did I mention that I queried agents? I attended conferences such as Writing for the Soul and the Philadelphia Writers Workshop, participated in writing contests, subscribed to QueryTracker and Writers’ Digest, and…queried.
From the point you were offered a contract on that first book, how long did it take to make to print?
In September 2017, I attended ACFW’s conference in Dallas as a Genesis finalist and there, I watched Cynthia Ruchti accept an award for another writer. She blew me away with her humor and grace. A few months later, I learned she’d become an agent with Books and Such Literary, and I jumped at the chance to work with her.
I signed with Cynthia in February 2018 and ten months later, I signed a two- book contract with Tyndale House. Readers started digging into my debut, A Long Time Comin’, about a year later.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
I’m like most mamas, so letting go of my “baby” is probably the hardest part. I always think it can be better, that I need to rephrase one more sentence, insert a comma, or rework another scene. I suppose I feel my characters will always need me. Yet, there comes a point when I need to type The End and submit—both the manuscript and my writer’s spirit.
What does your editor remind you to do most often?
When my agent read my latest manuscript, she told me to ditch the semi- colons and watch out for over-used phrases. Now, I love semi-colons; they’re underappreciated punctuation. So, that direction cut right to my heart! With A Long Time Comin’, my editor kept me centered on nuts and bolts—the details—making sure ages and timelines matched, maintaining consistency, and deleting extra scenes and characters.
Sometimes when you’re parenting, you can get caught up in the lecture, not the lesson or the person. At times, that’s what I did in writing. Caleb reminded me to focus on the story; not to go down rabbit holes that led away from the plot. Painful, yet oh-so-necessary work.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I love when readers write to me and share how my characters remind them of a family member or that they’re still thinking about the book long after they closed the cover. This tells me that my writing has taken on flesh and blood; it lives and breathes and isn’t just words on a page. I want my work to elicit strong emotion so readers will identify with/love/hate my characters (emphasis on love) and jump right into the book.
We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
I always seemed to get this close in writing contests and lose, and the rejection hurt. Invariably, the feedback was either they didn’t like my Southern style of writing, they didn’t feel it was “Christian enough,” it was too religious, too multicultural, etc.
After a few stumbles, I had to push through by deciding to stay true to my style, my message, my characters, and my story—all inspired and provided by God. I learned to write in the wait, and at the right time, He brought a publisher and an audience that loved me and my work. I won where it counted without losing what made me, me.
What has frustrated you the most in writing or publishing?
Many may consider completing a novel while raising seven little people a Herculean feat. Yet, building a platform has posed a similar—and often greater—challenge. Managing social media—planning posts, balancing fun vs work time, and simply figuring out how to use Instagram stories— frustrates me; it’s a new world.
What has surprised you?
I’m quite surprised, however, how much this self-proclaimed introvert enjoys connecting with readers, other writers, and friends and family. Sure, I rarely post where I go for breakfast, but I love sharing how I feed my family spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Writing tends to be a solitary activity; it’s a one-on-one, woman-and-her- laptop relationship. I have to withdraw to produce, even if it’s only mentally while sitting smack dab in the middle of my family on Friday pizza movie night.
If I’d known how supportive and loving my writing community would be, I would’ve emerged from my computer-shaped shell, many moons ago and engaged with my critique groups, attended book clubs, conferences, and interacted with online literary-based organizations.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Don’t let anyone tell you how, where, or when to shine. You might write Christian fiction or general market, African American or Women’s, Southern Lit, Contemporary, or historical fiction. Children or YA. Any, all, or none of them. Find your own place in the sun and bask in it.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Write every day. Don’t let rejection, the (in)existence of a publishing contract or pressure of a deadline, or binge-watching “This Is Us” episodes keep you from putting fingers to keyboard. Tap out ideas, outlines, a paragraph, chapters. Write. You never know when you’ll need to draw from your well of words.
What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
Tyndale releases my second book in spring 2021. It follows more characters from the area around Spring Hope, North Carolina. This novel encourages readers to see that their scars, weaknesses, and mistakes don’t make them “less than” or unworthy of love and acceptance. They’re uniquely made, and so is their pain, and they are more than enough.
Sounds like an encouraging story. If you’d like to learn more about Robin’s work, here are some links to get started
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWPearson9
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19256622.Robin_W_Pearson
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Robin-W- Pearson/e/B07T8L3HSG/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
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April 2023 interview
Getting Validation as a Writer: Author Interview with Mary Ellen Bramwell - women's fiction
What inspired you to write about the trials of life? I read books from just about any genre, but I chose to write about life's ups and downs because those are the stories that stick with me. A mystery or crime is solved and then over with, but life is ongoing. So, the things we learn from living life, or the things we learn from reading about someone else's life, are the things that we ponder long after the trial (or story) is finished.
How long did it take to write the first book? My first book took six months to write and six months to rewrite. Many edits were done along the way, but I went through one major rewrite (unlike one of my other books that went through four).
What is the hardest part of writing for you? Probably being comfortable with the story early on. I've started writing several books that sounded great in my head but on paper just felt flat. It's hard to keep pushing on a story when it's just not working. I abandon those ideas before I waste too much time on them. When a story starts to write itself, I know I've found the right one.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? Several years before I wrote my first book, I published a couple magazine articles. The editor I worked with on the second of those said, "You're a good writer. You should keep writing for us." I never forgot that. When I began seriously writing, that always stayed in the back of my mind, telling me I could do it. Then shortly after starting writing books, I won an award in the Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition. It validated the earlier comment. It is so easy to doubt yourself as a writer. Having people who did not personally know me tell me I could write made a huge difference.
Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks? Marketing was what I was least prepared to handle, yet we all need to do it. I was fortunate enough to land a BookBub deal early on. That featured eBook had over 50,000 free downloads. That spurred pages read and follow-on sales. Several years later, I'm still getting new reviews and ratings every week.
Do you sell more eBooks or print books? I definitely sell more eBooks than print.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner? Just a better handle on mechanics. I've learned so much about how to be a better writer (from conferences, books, etc.) since I first started that I'm hesitant to read my earlier books. When I do read them, I'm relieved I still like them - even if I would have tightened up some of the language if I were to write them now.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? Hire an editor. You need to have someone else put eyes on it. And the caveat is be willing to accept the editing advice.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add? A lot of people tell me, "I've always wanted to write a book." I encourage them to do it. Just sit down and put pen to paper and begin. In a way, the comment is a slight on writers. ("I could do what you do.") So, I'm always happy to support and cheer other writers who are willing to put in the hard work and produce a book. It is always an accomplishment to be celebrated. I've found fellow writers to be so supportive, so I try to be the same.
Can you give me a short synopsis? I'm usually knee deep in another book, but I'm not right now. I have a series of children's books in the works (with names like It Was a Dark and Squeak Night), and I'm working on getting the approvals from involved parties to write a nonfiction book. Both of these projects are departures from what I've written in the past, but ones I'm excited to explore. At the moment, I'm spending most of my time editing for others.
That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Mary-Ellen's books, here are some links to get you started.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-Ellen-Bramwell/author/B00NA86N0U
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8514729.Mary_Ellen_Bramwell Website:https://maryellenbramwell.com/
Books by the author:
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The Apple Doesnt’ Fall Far
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In Search of Sisters
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Dandelion Summer
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When I was Seven
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March 2023 interview
Helen Erwin
Question: Helen, let’s start with telling my readers a little bit about yourself. How long have you been writing, and what do you like most about historical fiction?
Answer:
I’ve been writing my whole life really, short stories, children’s books, and collaborative projects with friends just for fun. But it wasn’t until I was in my mid 40’s that I took it seriously enough to do it professionally. My first historical novel, James’ Journey, was published in 2015.
What I like the most about historical fiction is getting into my characters’ heads and having them think about the social and political discourse of the times they live in. Their values and social norms were very different from ours, usually because of the information that was available to them and their circumstances. I love elaborating on that and delve into all those complexities, you get a very rich glimpse into the past that way. For example, in Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool, my characters are having a debate about what it is that causes rickets. They don’t agree. Some are sure it’s because the baby in question had been near an unwed mother, others are sure it’s because the baby wasn’t swaddled properly. Today, we know of course that it’s neither. It’s vitamin D deficiency, or an absorption anomaly but my characters can’t know that. It's a fun challenge to get into their heads that way and make sure my characters think like a person from the past would actually think.
Question: Your novel, Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool sounds fascinating. What compelled you to write on this topic. Please tell us about the role research played in writing this novel.
Answer:
Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool is about women’s rights – or the lack thereof, at the turn of the 20th century Sweden. One of my two main characters, Anette, is based on my great grandmother who was an unwed mother of several children. This was incredibly stigmatized during her time and for a long time after wards. People are very quick to judge, but there must have been circumstances that affected her decisions, and I wanted to give her a voice.
I also wanted to write about the women who took a stand against the patriarchy of that time, the ones who lobbied and petitioned for their right to vote and to become active participants in their government. It was this which in turn helped change things for women like Anette.
Hanna, my second main character, is an early businesswoman who forms a women’s temperance group which then evolves into a suffrage group. Hanna is a relation to me as well, but I can’t say how because it would spoil the plot. I did a lot of genealogy research, historical and social research for this book. I love doing research, it’s what inspires my writing.
Question: You’ve won awards and special honors for your writing. Please describe for us how your books caught the eye of the Foundations who honored you with your awards. Had you entered a contest?
Answer:
SWEA: Swedish Women’s Educational Association, which is an organization for Swedish women living outside of Sweden, heard of me and my work and got in touch. After that, I learned about their scholarships and applied. I was granted the SWEA New York Mona Johnson Scholarship for my upcoming novel and for The Foremothers’ Café, which is a Virtual World in the Metaverse inspired by Hanna’s café in Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool.
I learned about The Puffin Foundation from googling and applied, then was very fortunate to receive a grant for my Foremothers Café community.
Question: What project are you currently working on?
Answer:
I’m finishing a historical fantasy novel set in Sweden in the 17th and 18th century. It’s based on court cases involving two mythological beings who people believed were real during that time. It was very serious, people were jailed or executed when it was thought they had spent time with these beings. It’s a fascinating time in history.
The reason this book falls under the historical fantasy genre is that I’m writing from the mythological creatures’ perspectives. It’s a very interesting way of writing that I’ve never done before, and I have a lot of freedom to add things that would never work in a “pure” historical fiction novel.
Question: Now that you’re an experienced author, what advice can you provide to beginning writers about how to navigate the complexities of bringing a book to publication? In other words, is there anything you would do differently with your first novel, looking back, now that you have acquired publishing experience?
Answer:
There are several different ways to get your book published these days. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find a publisher or an agent, there are many options out there, not just traditional publishing houses. Claim your art! You deserve to get your work out there, writing is an art form and it doesn’t have to be perfect for people to love it.
Question: Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Answer:
I don’t think so. I write on my laptop, usually with an external mouse and an ergonomic keyboard.
Question: What marketing efforts have been most beneficial to you that have increased sales for you?
Answer:
Social media with a mix of art, historical details relevant to my stories, and more personal details about me. It really helps to share something more personal about my daily life. I didn’t use to do that the first few years, but I’ve noticed an uptake in engagement when I do. Holding author events and outreach to organizations interested in my subjects is also a great way to get more sales. Advertising is good as well, just spending a little money on it off and on, makes a difference.
Question: Please tell my readers how they can follow you. Please provide us with your web address, and all of your contacts on social media.
Answer:
Sure, and thank you so much for having me, Colleen!
https://twitter.com/helensbooks
https://www.facebook.com/helenerwinwriter
https://www.instagram.com/helen_historical_novelist/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-lundstr%C3%B6m-erwin-author/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11838475.Helen_Lundstr_m_Erwin
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February 2023 interview
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Friday, February 3, 2023
Consider your Manuscript Like an Architect's Blueprints: Author Interview with Kaya McLaren
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What inspired you to write that first novel? Did it get published?
In 1998, I was teaching in a small, isolated wheat-farming town. Since I was paying off student loans, I didn't have two dimes to rub together. When my television broke and I couldn't afford to replace it or fix it, I started writing to entertain myself...mostly imagining what my life would look like if I wasn't lonely and if I had supernatural powers to fix the things in life that I wanted to fix.
I began during a cold snap when I had to stay right next to my woodstove, but I had so much fun in my imaginary world that I wrote for about an hour each night while I took a bath! Isn't that funny? Yes, I wrote my first novel by hand on notebook paper in a three-ring binder. Initially it was published by DayBue Publishing, Ink and I couldn't tell you how many revisions we did except that I was grateful in the end for each one. Several years later, Penguin picked it up and we did a few more revisions. I blocked most of it out of my memory.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
The hardest part of writing for me is coming up with a plot because I don't like problems. This always makes me laugh to say aloud. Other people are fascinated by problems. I'm exhausted from real problems, so I'd really rather not create imaginary ones to solve in addition, you know? But since problems are central to a plot, I really have to force myself. My grandmother taught me that what I give my attention to grows, so I'm always afraid that by giving my attention to these imaginary problems, I'm going to create them in my real life. It's okay to laugh at all of that.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I always loved writing letters. There was a time in my life when I could no longer write individual letters to all of the people I had met along the way-- friends from summer camp, friends from archaeology projects, friends from college, extended family, etc...
and the Internet wasn't a thing yet, so I wrote these Xerox letters (sometimes illustrated) and mailed them out. I heard that two different recipients read them at dinner parties at their homes and that people who didn't know me looked forward to the next one. That was the moment that I realized that I might be able to make a little money at this-- at least enough to cover Xeroxing costs and postage stamps.
Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?
Oh, girl, that is the million-dollar question right now. It feels like such a moving target. I've watched this business change so much in the last twenty years and truly, I do not know what the rules are. I've decided not to worry about it and just do what I like doing. I like making friends with bookstore owners. Bookstore owners and managers are always really interesting, intelligent, compassionate, insightful people.
I like road trips, and I like stopping in and introducing myself. There are some stores where I've enjoyed having events, though I haven't in a long time. I think events need to be more than book signings, though. Book club meetings are more interesting to me. I like discussions more than speeches. I appreciate that feedback from readers. I especially love it when they share a passage that was meaningful to them. Social media isn't a comfortable way for me to promote, though I do some. It's just that I'm an elementary teacher, and I don't want parents making judgments about the content of my stories and bringing any controversy around that into my teacher-life.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner? When I wrote CHURCH OF THE DOG, I really didn't understand the fundamentals of plot. At some point after it was out, I met an award-winning screenwriter in the Methow Valley who read it and told me that my main character wasn't who I thought it was because she didn't change; my main character was the one who changed. I read books about screenwriting that I checked out from the library there and that really helped me grow in ways I wanted to grow.
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? Write about what you know. Classic.
I tell people to go out and live an interesting life instead of holing up and writing in solitude all the time. HOW I CAME TO SPARKLE AGAIN was my biggest commercial success and I wrote it after spending a few winters skiing with a very animated group of friends from different walks of life. Go live. Live big. Let life feed you book material.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
I'd like to thank the librarian in Heppner, Oregon, who in 1998 saw me looking to see who published my favorite books and asked how she might help me. I told her about my manuscript and how I didn't know what to do with it, and she put a copy of THE WRITERS' MARKET and a copy of HOW TO GET HAPPILY PUBLISHED in my hand. In doing so, she forever changed my life. Libraries are the great equalizer. When I didn't have enough money for food and sure couldn't afford a fat book like THE WRITERS' MARKET, the library gave me access to it. Libraries are a beautiful thing.
I also want to say that being an archaeologist helped prepare me for the publishing process. In archaeology, there weren't a lot of opportunities. Back in the '90's, I'd send my resume to fifty or a hundred archaeology or environmental consulting firms and hear back from one or two. I understood that there just weren't many availabilities and that it wasn't personal. In the publishing world, publishing houses only publish a certain number of each kind of genre a year. Maybe they're looking for what you've got, or maybe that spot has been filled. Keep trying. Don't get discouraged. Most of all, be willing to rewrite.
The first draft is for you. Enjoy the process of writing it. If you don't want to change it, self-publish. But if you want commercial success, be humble and open-minded. Allow your manuscript to become something entirely different if that is what's going to happen. I see it like being an architect. Ultimately, I'm creating a product for a customer and I want that customer to be satisfied and come back for more. I see my editor/publisher as that customer, and as a representative of their customers. But that first draft, oh, enjoy writing it like you would enjoy falling in love during a vacation romance. Then, get back to work.
What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I don't know when my next book is coming out. I sent a manuscript to my agents last month.
I would like to plug my last book though, because I think it's the best one I've written so far. It's not the cheeriest. It's heavy, and it's not for everyone. I wrote WHAT'S WORTH KEEPING after my own experience with breast cancer, which left me reeling from trauma and feeling extremely disoriented in my own body and in my own life. I had to find a way to make peace with the uncertainty and absolute certainty of life and I really struggled to do so.
So, I changed the manuscript I had been working on and put Amy, one of the main characters, in the place that I was--the place where everything seemed like bullshit except nature and all I wanted to do was be with the big trees in the kindest forest I knew. Amy sets off from Oklahoma City on her way to Mt. Rainier National Park, visiting a few national parks and monuments along the way. Unlike me, Amy had a husband. Paul, a cop in Oklahoma City, had his own trauma from being a first responder to the Oklahoma City Bombing years ago, and had grown increasingly more distant ever since.
Their daughter, Carly, had always been the model of perfection until after Amy's cancer, when she learned of the genetic aspect to her mom's disease. After that, she saw little point in delaying gratification and went off the rails. Through no agreement of her own, she finds herself at Great Aunt Rae's in Chama, New Mexico, where she works with Clydesdales in her aunt's outfitting business. Amy, Paul, and Carly, all find their way out of trauma through different means-- nature, music, a project, the comfort of horses, and miraculously find their way back to one another.
While intense at times, it's ultimately hopeful. It turns out that medical trauma is a thing, and it's hard to talk about when we know many people weren't lucky enough to get the gift of more time. We know we should be grateful and we are-- but we also grieve the way our lives and our bodies were before everything changed. I think this book will help many people know they're not alone in those moments, and really help those who are close to someone going through it understand what is happening and why.
That's all for today's interview. Lot to absorb here. If you'd like to learn more about Kaya's books, here's the link to her website: www.kayamclaren.com
Posted by Christine L.Henderson at Friday, February 03, 2023
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January 2023 interviews
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I retired from the counseling field 8 years ago but even 3 years before that I started editing fiction, mostly. To date I have edited over 70 manuscripts, of which half have been published. Five of my writers (that I am aware of) have won either gold, silver or bronze medals for outstanding fiction.
I wrote my first book last summer over a 60 day period, 65,000 mwords entitled Bristlecone Magic, a YA Christian fantasy spurred along by a photo I saw in linkedIn. The words tumbled out of me but I took a year to fine tune the writing.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest is my only book as I mentioned above. However, during the last two years I have also written 5 short stories, a few of which are still ongoing.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, I write as the spirit moves me but I have never suffered from writer’s block or the dreaded what-ifs that can stop you in your tracks.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Books have not really influenced me, even though I have gladly read hundreds, but my writers have made a huge impact on me, especially those I have befriended over the years.
What are you working on now?
Currently publishing and marketing Bristlecone Magic.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t decided you but I have many solid contacts I can rely on to point me in the right direction.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do write but please write right, right?
Do NOT rush the process, anything rushed usually is sub par.
Do NOT take shortcut, if you do, your readers will see through them.
Never give up on your dreams.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do the right thing especially when no one is looking.
What are you reading now?
Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey
To Honour the Dead by John Dean
What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing short stories for an anthology in the future.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
9/22/63 by Steven King
Large print Bible
H G Wells Time machine
Author Websites and Profiles
DENNIS DE ROSE Website
DENNIS DE ROSE Amazon Profile
DENNIS DE ROSE Author Profile on Smashwords
DENNIS DE ROSE’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a forever college student always wanting to get more and more degrees and more knowledge. I love to read, crochet, writing, and taking naps. At this point, I have published one book and I am working on two more simultaneously.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called A Call Girl With Her Clothes On and it was inspired by my true phone conversations that I had with patients while I worked at a hospital call center.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to work on multiple projects at the same time and I don’t like jumping around chapters while I write.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Karin Slaughter and her creative twists, as well as Gillian Flynn.
What are you working on now?
It is a horror fiction book called The Boat of Dreams.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have had quite a bit of success with Facebook targeted ads, as well as talking about my book to everyone that I meet.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book, tell everyone, build up hype.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid to edit!
What are you reading now?
I am reading Billy Jensen’s Chase Darkness With Me.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, I am working on finding a literary agent and shopping film/tv rights for my book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring All the Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, Inkheart, and Harry Potter.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cozette Zimmerman Website
Cozette Zimmerman Amazon Profile
Cozette Zimmerman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
​​​December 2022 interview
Author Interview, About: Marketing
Taken with permission from Christine’s blog spot, who conducted the actual interview.
Don’t get stuck in Analysis Paralysis: Author Interview with Marina J. Bowman
Question: In reviewing your publishing history, I see you’ve published 10 books so far. What drew you to write children’s chapter books?
When I was a child, I struggled to focus on books because I preferred to be outside, exploring magical new worlds. With help from my parents and teachers, eventually I realized that there are new worlds to explore and adventures to be had on the page as well as off the page. I was drawn to write children's chapter books because I wanted to help young readers (especially reluctant readers) fall in love with reading and become lifelong learners. And the most critical time for kids is the gap between picture books and full-length novels.
Question: When I’ve attended writing conferences or webinars, I’ve often heard that this level chapter books are small niches, and many publishers and agents don’t want to deal with the genre. Is it as hard as I’ve been told it is to find sales?
It's true that it's one of the most difficult genres to sell, but I'm fortunate to be able to work with Devin and Don at Code Pineapple publishing, who share my values. Plus it's incredibly rewarding to hear from parents and grandparents that their child has discovered a newfound love of reading because of my stories.
Question: How much of the non-writing (formatting, cover design, website design, etc.) do you personally do?
Starting out I had very little experience with marketing and publishing. But I've learned a lot along the way. Almost all of the non-writing activities are outsourced to freelancers, which Devin and Don help take care of.
Question: What’s the hardest part of publishing and marketing your own books?
The hardest part about it is that we aren't able to speak directly to our readers - kids ages 6-12. We market to the parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians who care for those kids. Furthermore, I am forced to stay out of the spotlight to ensure the more unpleasant supernatural secrets I uncover don’t catch up with me. This makes it even more difficult to connect with my readers.
Question: Marketing is a big part of increasing book sales. What venue have you found most successful in not only getting clicks but sales as well?
Currently our biggest driver for sales is Amazon Ads. We've had little luck with Book Bub and Facebook ads. We also distribute off-Amazon through Ingram Spark and are looking to do much more to try to reach schools, libraries, and bookstores in the coming months.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
One of the hardest and most important parts about writing for me is coming up with a fully fleshed out character with a core desire that drives the story. I have to be careful not to fall into the trap of letting the story world run out of control to the point that the character is passively experiencing it. Another trap that's difficult to avoid is 'telling' rather than 'showing.'
The more obvious and easier way to include a character’s thoughts and feelings is simply by stating what they are. For example: Michael was very afraid of the dark. But showing is much more interesting. For instance: As his mother switched off the light and left the room, Michael tensed. He huddled under the covers, gripped the sheets, and held his breath as the wind brushed past the curtain.
Question: What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
The best encouragement comes from reader feedback. Whether via emails or online reviews, it's the stories of how my books are positively impacting kids and families that keeps me going. Comments like "It helped me get her excited for bed for a whole week." Or "My grandson and I started reading it and he is anxious to keep reading - that's a new thing for him." And especially "I like that she faced her own fears at the end... It proves to always face your fears and overcome them... I'm trying to face my own fear of the dark and it's kind of working."
Of course, it also helps to get positive editorial reviews! We recently received a Notable Book Starred Review from Blue Ink and an Editor's Pick from Book Life, which is great validation.
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Question: What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had understood writing to market sooner. It makes it a lot easier to market and sell your book. Then again, if I had focused on writing to market for my very first book, I may have become intimidated and never gotten started. So, I don't really regret the way any of this has played out. I've realized that you really just need to get started and learn as you go. Otherwise, you can end up analysis paralysis.
Question: What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
The best advice I have received and would like to pass on is this: done beats perfect. I like to say that I am a recovering perfectionist. Whether you are a pantser, plotter, or something in between - just do what you need to do to move forward. Start with whatever you know in the moment - the character, the world, the beginning, the end - and the rest will follow.
Question: Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Writers write. That's what they do. But that doesn't mean it's easy. The blank page can be scary. Debilitating even. I find that having a notepad to jot down ideas as they come to me is helpful. Flipping through a notebook of ideas is a great place to find motivation and your next story. Most writers, myself included, find that the more they write down their ideas, the more they can find ideas inspired by everyday life.
For example, your sister eating 3 oranges because she loves them so much might not be anything special. But when your imagination takes over, you suddenly start thinking, “What if aliens wanted to come to earth to try oranges because they’ve heard good things? But they don’t know what they look like, except that they are round. So the aliens come down and start tasting everything shaped like a sphere that they can find, from taking a bite out of baseballs to licking bowling balls.” So if you're stuck, go live life and you'll find writing inspiration.
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Question: What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
The next book coming out is in a brand new series! The working title is Misfit Magic School. Here's a short blurb: 13-year-old Ember Pearson failed her mandatory magic exam, and now there is only one place she can go - the school for magical misfits. All she wants is to transfer to a school for real witches, like her celebrity parents and perfect sister. When the only teacher that believes in her vanishes, Ember and her fellow misfits must find a way to bring her home. But with a mix of chaotic powers that include spotty invisibility, baffling psychic visions, and unruly fire manipulation, it won't be easy.
Sounds like an intriguing plot set-up. If you'd like to learn more about Marina's stories, here are some links to get you started.
Website: https://codepineapple.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marina-J-Bowman/e/B07N825NZC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codepineapple and
https://www.facebook.com/marinajbowman
Posted by Christine L.Henderson at Tuesday, September 06, 2022
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