K.C.'s Write For You

Swan Song

2008-08-28T05:21:00.001-05:00

I would like to thank everyone that visited K.C. Writer's Blog and participated with our authors in the Summer Great Book Giveaway. I would like to offer a very speical thanks to Suzanne Franco over at www.freelancedaily.net who so generously sponsored the giveaway in the form of advertising to reach more writers. It was a real treat getting to know all of the authors and read the great questions that reader/writers had as well. If you haven't received your books, I will definitely get them all out of my office by next week.
I've been doing this blog now for nearly 4 years. In the beginning, it was an outlet for some political/social columns, which help land me a paying column gig. I then switched the focus as an extension of my teaching and mentoring of new writers at Johnson County Community College - which eventually moved off campus and online.
The focus of my writing business has changed now to niches in business, pets/animals, sustainable/green living, travel and antiquing. I'm also writing a true crime book of shocking Kansas murders for a publisher this year and I'm working on another book proposal about our move to a 480-square foot cabin in the woods.
Since I last looked at my business plan for 2008, I've been trying to figure out a way to keep K.C.'s Writers Blog in the mix with the limited time we all have each day. However, I knew I couldn't maintain the blog with quality, frequent posts. My focus has to be now on the book and my other paying work.
At the beginning of the summer, I decided to send the blog out with a bang and give readers the chance to ask questions and win books.
I hope you've enjoyed reading K.C.'s Writers blog as much as I have writing it. It will remain up for you to read through the archives. I also urge you to visit all of the writing sites listed in the links section. They're great resources for writers.
You'll see an increase my posts to my green blog, www.goinggreenintheozarks.blogspot.com to Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
And I hope you all will look for my book, "Blood on the Prairie: Shocking Kansas Murders" in September '09. Kansas not only has the distinction of having the first recorded serial killers in the country known as the Bloody Benders, the state has continued to spawn other shocking crimes - the Clutter (In Cold Blood) murders, Richard Grissom, John Robinson - right up to BTK.

My Best to all of you and Happy Writing!
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell

A Self-Help Book Ends The Summer Great Book Giveaway

2008-08-26T05:07:00.000-05:00

Today, for the last author of the Summer Great Book Giveaway, I have Pat Olsen talking about her recently released book, “How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister and Not Lose Yourself.” I recently read that self-help books are harder to get published these days. Read about how Pat did it and if you have questions of your own, just click on "comments" and ask by 5 p.m. CST today. If I randomly draw your question, Pat will answer your question and you'll win a copy of the book!

Tell us about yourself.
I'm mainly a health and business journalist. I've been writing for the NewYork Times for eight years, and I write executive columns for two business trade magazines. I also write for several health publications, and I've written about substance abuse and recovery quite a bit. Not to drop names, but I was a technical writer for years, the same as Amy Tan and Marion Winik. (OK, to drop names.)

Tell us about your new book, “How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister and Not Lose Yourself.”
Substance abuse, treatment, and recovery has long been one of my interests, since I come from a family of alcoholics. Looking back on my relationship with my brothers few years ago, I realized that I had learned a few things that others like me might benefit from.
While my parents were alive, there were four family members around me who all had drinking problems. I spent a lot of time taking care of my parents as they got older. After they died, and it was just my brothers and me and I was able to focus on just the three of us, everything sort of telescoped. I had been learning more about the disease, and I had gained some distance so I was able to look back with new understanding.

How did you find your co-author? How did you decide who wrote what and who is doing the marketing?
I had interviewed Dr. Levounis for an article I wrote for Hemispheres, United's inflight magazine, on executives and substance abuse. He was so eloquent and had so much wisdom. When an agent suggested I needed an expert coauthor to interest a publisher in this book, I immediately thought of him.
We both knew we had to find a format that made sense for a reader but that would also work with his schedule. We decided that he would comment and lend his expertise at points throughout the book that made the most sense. We're both marketing the book. For example, Dr. L. belongs to numerous professional associations and has done many radio interviews. I'm doing a number of things regarding the associations I belong to, and I think radio and blogs will be great for word of mouth selling, too.

This book must have great personal significance for you. Did you ever encounter emotional issues while writing it? What advice would you offer other writers who may face similar challenges?
It was very difficult at times and I still get emotional when I read the epilogue about my younger brother. He died while we were writing the book and although it's been over a year now, it's like it was yesterday. I wish several things had been different. I tell readers that it's best if you try not to have regrets when it comes to family members who have this difficult disease, but I'm not always good at taking my own advice. I'd advise others to ask writer friends for their opinion and trust their editor. Whenever I was getting into my own story too much, my wonderful editor Renee Sedliar would reign me in.

I don’t think there are many books out there on this subject. How did you convince a publisher that there’s an audience for this book?
I don't think I had to do much convincing once I had the format right. (My first proposal was too memoir-ish.) It stands to reason--if there are almost 22 million Americans who are addicted to or abuse alcohol, many if not most of them have siblings. If a publisher deals with recovery books, then they reocognize our numbers. My story must have convinced mine there was a need for this book.

Your audience is also a pretty narrow one. How are you promoting your book?
I think it will sell mostly through recovery radio programs (I'm signed up for my first one), and through professional organizations and other people in the field of recovery. I hope it's a book therapists will want to give to clients, too. I have some essays in mind to send out as well.

Did you do a lot of research for this book, or did you focus more on your personal experiences?
I did do a lot of research. I briefly told my story and the stories of four other siblings. Dr. L. provided a lot of information, too. I'm so indebted to him.

What do you think is the most important thing for a writer of a self-help guide to remember while writing it?
That you may think something is too basic to include because you know the subject, but you should include it anyway. There will be people who don't know the information you were going to leave out.

Were there any surprises in either the writing or publishing process?
I knew that an editor can improve a manuscript exponentially, but I was amazed from day one at how talented my editor was, and I'm not just saying that. I also didn't know there was both a publicist and a marketing department at the publisher and the two are different.

....And now Pat is awaiting your questions!

The Opposite of Love Winner

2008-08-21T05:04:00.000-05:00

Irreverent Freelancer is this week's winner and Julie Buxbaum is answering her question from Istanbul. "Irreverent," please send me your snail mail address so I can send you Julie's book! And, Jodi, I'm still awaiting your address as well.
fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com

Question:

As someone who lost my mother as a teenager, I only recently
fully grieved that loss when I recently lost my grandmother (who took
over the motherly role). I don't know how much of yourself goes into
your writing, but did you find yourself reliving some of your own
losses while writing this book? And if so, did you find the process
painful or cathartic?

From Julie:

I find the act of writing cathartic pretty much regardless of the
topic. It would be naïve of me to say that none of my own experiences
with loss went into THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, but since Emily's story
wasn't my own story, the experience was never painful. (Though it was
painful on those mornings when I just couldn't articulate what I
wanted to say!). Oddly enough, the scenes in the book that most made
me cry when I wrote them--and to be honest, I'm not sure whether most
writers are weird like I am and make themselves laugh and cry--were
scenes that even if I had wanted to I couldn't find a parallel in my
own life. (For example when Emily fights with her dad in the
hospital.) That said, in my second book I keep finding myself
returning to certain themes--loss being one of them--and so I do
wonder if a huge part of why I write is purely for the cathartic
experience of it.

From Rainy London....The Opposite of Love

2008-08-19T07:54:00.000-05:00

Today, I have Julie Buxbaum, author of the new novel, "The Opposite of Love." Come and read how this Harvard Law School grad got into writing fiction, found her publisher and ended up in London. Click on comments and ask a writing related question before 5 p.m. CST today and if I randomly draw your question, you can win a good read in the Summer Great Book Giveaway - which, like the summer, is fading fast.

Tell us about yourself.
It's funny, I always seem to have the most trouble with this question. Let's see--I'm thirty years old, soon to be thirty one, which amazes me, if only because it feels like my last birthday was just yesterday. This year, which was a big one for me--my book came out, I got married--has flown by a little too fast for my comfort. I currently live in Los Angeles, but will be moving to London this summer. And I am a recovering lawyer, turned novelist, and couldn't be happier about the career switch.

Tell us about your book, "The Opposite of Love."
THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE is about the complexities of love and loss, how we find personal fulfillment, and what happens when we delay grief. The story is told from the perspective of Emily Haxby, who is dealing with a romantic crisis and a familial one, as she is finally dealing with the death of her mother fifteen years after the fact. She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Andrew, just as he's about to propose, and her beloved grandfather is beginning a descent into dementia. At the same time, she is a lawyer at a large law firm, and is forced to work on a morally reprehensible toxic tort case for a boss who can't keep his hands to himself. The book follows her emotional journey as she finds the courage to take back control of all aspects of her life, and face the fears that have long haunted her.

Wow. You have an impressive resume, Harvard Law School, big law firms in NYC and L.A. Many writers leave other lives to follow their dream of being a full time writer (I did). Do you feel like you wasted that part of your life, or did it help prepare you somehow for your life as a writer? And if so, how?
Though it would have been nice to have started my writing life earlier, if only because I wish I had taken the opportunity to study literature and literary theory in college, I can't say I regret my decision to go to law school or even to become a lawyer. My three years at Harvard were probably the most intellectually rigorous of my life, and I enjoyed them immensely. And my years as a lawyer not only helped me gather material for my novel, but also taught me to appreciate my new life as novelist. I am not sure I would have understood, had I not spent that time, what a blessing it is to have a career that I enjoy and find stimulating and fulfilling.

How did you develop the story for "The Opposite of Love."
With THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, I worked backwards. I started thematically, because I knew I wanted to explore the consequences of delaying grief. From this idea sprung my main character Emily Haxby; once I fully understood her strengths, faults, motivations, etc., once I could picture her as a living, breathing person in the world, the plot unfolded from there.

Did you take any classes to learn how to develop plot, dialogue, etc?I took a couple of novel writing classes at UCLA Extension at night, which were really helpful.

What was most helpful in assisting you to learn about the writing process?
I think the most helpful thing was having been a voracious reader my whole life. I find reading critically and widely and constantly, more than anything else, is a prerequisite to becoming a writer. I believe that's the best way to internalize the art and the craft of the novel form.

You just left your life as an attorney two years ago, did you work on the book before quitting law?Not really. I had started to think about my main character just before I quit, but I didn't actually start any real work on the book until afterwards.

How did you find your agent/publisher?
All I can say is that I had amazing amounts of luck. I quit my job as a lawyer in January of 2006 to write. After working for about eight months full time on THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, and after generating many, many drafts, I felt it was ready to be sent out. About two weeks later, I landed an agent, and less than a month after that my agent sold the book to Dial Press (my publisher.) I still can't quite believe how everything fell into place so quickly, and I feel extraordinarily lucky considering there are thousands of talented novelists out there who never get to see their work published.

What's next for you?
I am currently hard at work on my second novel, which has been a lot of fun. And I'm getting ready for the big transatlantic move. I definitely need to buy myself an umbrella.

And now, Julie is awaiting your questions!

Joid- You've Won Final Curtain!

2008-08-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay. Jodi is the winner of Richard Jordan's book- please email me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com with your snail mail addres.
Here's her question with his answer!

Jodi:
Do you find it difficult shifting from one type of book to another? NOw you're doing mysteries--do you plan on trying any other genres?

Richard:
I wouldn’t say that it’s more difficult shifting from one type of book to another, just different. I started publishing nonfiction with a book titled BUT DARLING, I’M YOUR AUNTIE MAME! That was very demanding, because of all the research and interviews project required. It was extremely time consuming––years, actually. And God, I was terrified of getting facts wrong! Although I checked and rechecked data, interviewees often had totally different recall about the events I was attempting to chronicle. To a certain degree I also research my fiction, but I don’t have to worry about a reader wagging a finger at me and pointing out a staggering historical blunder. (Although I misspelled the French champagne Veuve Clicquot all the way through REMAINS TO BE SCENE, my first Polly Pepper mystery! I drink the stuff! You’d think I would have known how to spell my favorite bubbly! WARNING: Don’t drink and type!)
As for any problems with switching genres in fiction, a good story is a good story. I started my career writing erotica for the summer beach book market. When I was offered an opportunity to pen “cozy” mysteries, I found it extremely fulfilling to knock a character off, and then engage my amateur sleuth, Hollywood icon Polly Pepper, to solve the crime.
I never say never, but at the moment I don’t foresee moving into another literary genre. I’m too busy fulfilling my publishing commitments, working at Disney, and I’m about to produce a movie. (Whew!) Although perhaps I should try screenwriting. THAT’S WHERE THE MONEY IS! I’m the only one in Hollywood without a script to sell!
Again, thanks for the great questions.
Sincerely,
R.T. Jordan

Winner of Final Curtain

2008-08-14T05:35:00.000-05:00

There's been some email problem with Richard and since he is in California on Pacific time, the winner will be posted later this morning. Please check back!

It's Not the Final Curtain for R.T. Jordan - or Polly Pepper

2008-08-12T05:07:00.000-05:00

Today, I have a real treat, Richard T. Jordan, author of the Polly Pepper mystery series talks about his latest book, "Final Curtain." Read about Richard's life as a staff writer for Walt Disney Studios and how that has affected his book writing, his former life as a writer under another name, and even why he attended Karen Carpenter's funeral. Richard says he's shy in public, but this is one of the best interviews of the summer! Ask Richard a question before 5 p.m. CST today, by clicking on comments, and if I randomly draw your question, Richard will answer it and you will win a copy of his book!

Tell us about yourself.
Talking about myself isn’t exactly what I do best. However, I suspect that when one first meets me in person they naturally assume that I’m gregarious and that I enjoy being the center of attention. False! It’s a role I play: the “it’s time to be social” role. I actually don’t enjoy being the center of attention at all. I turn beet red in staff meetings whenever I’m called upon to discuss a project. If I can come home from the office on Friday night and not have to leave my home or see anyone until Monday morning, I’m a very happy man. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy entertaining and being invited to others’ homes for intimate dinners. I do, enjoy those things. But with my career at Disney and my second career as a novelist, “free” time is something that I value almost above all else. I especially enjoy time to be with myself.

But for the sake of a bit of background information, I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts. “A good place to be from,” I always say. I guess I had a relatively happy childhood in New England. In fact, I suppose it was a darn good childhood. But I was in a hurry to grow up and get out. Everyone who ever knew me back then, was aware that I had my sites set on California. I always knew that’s where I belonged. I left home right after high school and moved to Los Angeles. I didn’t know a soul in this city. I didn’t have a job or a place to live. In retrospect (and it sounds easy for me to say this from my current position), I sincerely knew that I’d land in clover. I arrived in L.A., found a room to rent in an old, cockroach-infested house, found a job as a gopher at an insurance company (the worst job!), and started to live the life that I had dreamed of all those cold winter mornings in Massachusetts.

I enrolled part-time at UCLA and then ended up as an assistant at The Walt Disney Studios. I started moving up the proverbial ladder and I’ve been there ever since - Twenty-five years in September 2009!

Along the way I fell in love with the old Roz Russell movie, “Auntie Mame.” That film actually started my career as a writer because I decided to write a book chronically the history of the fictional Auntie Mame. I had learned that Patrick Dennis had written a novel called AUNTIE MAME, and that it was adapted for Broadway by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Then it became the movie that I first loved. Then it was turned into a Broadway musical by Jerry Herman, starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur. However, when Hollywood came calling again, it flopped as a movie musical. Still, I wanted to write this book. I remember that I wrote a proposal and shopped it to every agent and editor in the world. Nobody wanted it. Finally, my first agent, the now deceased and much missed Dorris Halsey, read the proposal and found a small publishing house to accept it. The book, BUT DARLING, I’M YOUR AUNTIE MAME! became the biggest seller in the 30-year history of the now-defunct (it wasn’t my fault!) Capra Press. Then, the book went on to have another wonderful life when my fantastic editor at Kensington, John Scognamiglio, reprinted a revised edition.

Other trivia. I’m not leaving this planet until I’ve done everything that I’ve ever wanted to do. With that in mind, ever since I was a kid, I had wanted to learn to figure skate. So, about four years ago, I started taking lessons. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. I recently had to curtail that activity because of too many injuries, but I had a blast while it lasted. What else? I love to travel. The UK, especially Scotland, is my favorite places to visit. I’ve taken a baby step toward actually living there by purchasing a timeshare in Edinburgh. However, the U.S. dollar sucks so badly that I don’t know when I’ll actually be in a position to become an ex-pat. I enjoy wine, classical music, ROAD RUNNER cartoons, the old FRASIER television series. Also, any movie that stars Angela Bassett or Meryl Street. And I’ll never get over the death of Karen Carpenter. I even went to her funeral. That’s me in a nutshell.

Tell us about your new Polly Pepper book, “Final Curtain.”
FINAL CURTAIN is the second volume in my Polly Pepper “cozy” mystery series. After writing a bunch of “summer beach books” under the pseudonym Ben Tyler, I switched to mysteries because I definitely needed a change of pace. Polly Pepper is your typical, run-of-the-mill international celebrity icon. She earned her status as a living legend during the years that she hosted one of the most successful television musical/comedy shows of the 1980s. However, after a receiving a ton of Emmy Awards, Peoples Choice Awards, and every other honor that could be bestowed upon her, Polly’s show, THE POLLY PEPPER PLAYHOUSE, was eventually cancelled. Now, she picks up work wherever she can find it. And, curiously, wherever Polly goes, dead people follow.

In FINAL CURTAIN, Polly has finally won one of the most coveted rolls in musical theatre for an actress of a certain age. She’s starring as Mame in a low-rent production of the musical in Glendale, California. It’s not Broadway, but she’s been promised that if the reviews are any good, the show might transfer to The Great White Way. Polly can only hope. Alas, the production gets off to a rotten start when the director is murdered. Now it’s up to Polly, her adult but still-living-at-home son Tim, and their maid, Placenta, to figure out who did the terrible deed. Of all the books I’ve written (I think this is my 10th), FINAL CURTAIN is without question my favorite. Sure, we love all our children, but there’s always one that we’re most proud of. For me, it’s this book. The novel is funny, and suspenseful, and fast paced. I think I hit my stride with this one. This is the first time that I’m not shy telling friends to buy the book!

Why did you write under a different name before and why did you decide to change and use your real name now?
I wrote four novels and three novellas under the name Ben Tyler because I wanted to distance myself from Disney, where I work as a senior publicist. Those books were the antithesis of what The Walt Disney Company stands for so, as a courtesy to this great company I decided it would be best use a nom de plume. However, it didn’t take long for word to spread, at least here at the studio, that I was the guy behind the the title TRICKS OF THE TRADE. Most of my colleagues thought it was great. Others, not so much. But I’m still here.

What other ways has being a staff writer for The Walt Disney Studios affected your writing?
For about sixteen years I was the staff writer in the feature film publicity department at Disney. (The job was eliminated a few years ago, so I became a photo editor.) They were the best of years, they were the worst of years. Frankly, I don’t know how I survived the pressure. There was a period in which we were releasing forty films a year. I was the guy who created all of the press kits, and wrote hundreds of feature articles, thousands and thousands of bios, production information notes, which are essentially a history of the making of each film, and so much more. The deadlines were outrageous. The pressure nearly took me to the breaking point. On the one hand, it was hell. On the other, I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. I wrote and wrote and re-wrote, sometimes working eighteen hours a day for twenty days straight without a day off. I had one boss who was never satisfied with my first and sometimes second or third drafts of material, and made me start over. But the job forced me to hone my skills, and I’m actually now grateful to that nefarious boss because she made me realize that things improve with rewriting. I never thought I’d do this, but I’m going to dedicate my next novel, A TALENT FOR MURDER, to this particular Boss Lady.

How did you conceive the Polly Pepper character?
Polly Pepper first appeared in a novella that was published a few years ago in a Christmas anthology. At the time, she wasn’t an amateur sleuth. Polly was just an aged out legend who wanted to find a boyfriend for her gay son as a Christmas present. I loved the characters, and when I wanted to stop writing as Ben Tyler, my absolutely wonderful and brilliant editor suggested that I write a mystery. That novella was my favorite published work at the time, and I thought that Polly, Tim, and Placenta were strong enough to carry a full-length novel. I confess that I was scared to death of writing in the mystery genre, but now I can’t imagine anything else. I get a real kick out of the Hollywood world in which Polly and her troupe live. Readers (and a few critics) have said that I modeled Polly after Carol Burnett. Actually, I didn’t, or at least I didn’t mean to. However, I can see some similarities. If these books are ever made into a movie, Carol would be great in the role. Michele Lee is attached for TV or film, and she’ll be wonderful. She has all of Polly’s positive traits. And she’s very glamorous. The producer who optioned the books is pitching the idea to Lifetime and a few other places. I’d love for Polly to have a wider audience. I’d especially like the dollars that go with it! Remember, I need to live in Scotland. Preferably in a castle!

Do you find your characters to be extensions of different parts of your own personality?
I’m not so sure that Polly, Tim, or Placenta are extensions of my own character. I guess to the point that Polly likes a lot of the things that I do, and on the other hand, loathes the same things I do, is one way to look at it. But I’m not at all an over-the-top in my personality. I’m the opposite. Polly and her son and maid are probably more like people that I have come in contact with during my years in Hollywood, rather than aspects of me. Polly is all the glitter and glamour of a film premiere. She shines brightest when the spotlight hits her. She craves attention. As I said earlier, I’m just the opposite. Now that I think of it, perhaps Polly does reflect me. Maybe she has the type of personality that I would like to have. Hmm. I’ll have to think about that.

How is writing a series of books different from writing a single-story book? Writing a series of books with the same character is actually a lot more fulfilling for me, than just a stand alone novel. I need a large canvas when I write. That’s why I’m not a screenwriter. I can’t cram a story into 110 pages. I need five hundred manuscript pages! And with a series, such as the Polly Pepper Mystery Series, I can tell her story over the course of an unlimited number of books. Of course, there’s the problem of possibly unintentionally putting Polly into similar situations, from one book to another. I’m terrible at remembering what happened in previous books. Readers sometimes talk about characters from the Ben Tyler books and I swear to God, I don’t remember them. I suppose this is the result of the fact that I finish one book and almost immediately go into writing another. Everything gets smushed together.

Do you ever have a problem with continuation from the previous novel, or do you write each book to stand on its own?
Each of the Polly Pepper Mystery books can stand alone, but I think it’s fun to follow her and her family through her various murder cases. However, one does not need to start with REMAINS TO BE SCENE, to know all one needs to know about Polly in FINAL CURTAIN. Hopefully, when readers discover FINAL CURTAIN, they’ll want to go back and find out what sort of chaos Polly has created in the first book, and the same with the next volumes. The sleuths may be the same, but they have different assignments.

How do you do market the books, as a book or a series?
With regard to marketing my books, I think my publisher, Kensington, cross promotes them as both part of a series, but also as standalone novels. Just as my favorite mystery writer, Laura Levine, has her ongoing “Jaine Austen” series, her hysterically funny novels can be thoroughly enjoyed one by one. And, with Laura’s work, one novel is not enough. Readers are so enamored of her intelligent and laugh-out-loud writing that they want to read everything she writes. In my next lifetime I want to be Laura Levine!

Do you have an idea of how many books will be in the Polly Pepper series? If you ever decide to end it, do you have ideas for a different series? I’m having so much fun with Polly, and Tim, and Placenta that I don’t want the series to end. I’m contracted for four books, but it could go on and on. Cross your fingers for me, because Polly et al have become family to me. I’d miss not visiting with them every day. That’s not to say that there are time when they irritate me. As with every family, we have our good days and out not so good days. There are times when Polly doesn’t want to be cooperative and reveal more of herself to me. That’s frustrating. But I’m a patient guy, and Polly Pepper always comes around for me. I’m blessed to know Polly and her troupe. They add so much to my life.

And now Richard is awaiting your questions!

Commuting to a Winner

2008-08-07T05:33:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Wendy Burt-Thomas, you've won a book in the Summer Great Book Giveaway! If you email me your address (fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com), I'll send a copy of Tina Tessina's book, "The Commuter Marriage." As always, the Summer Great Book Giveaway is sponsored by www.freelancedaily.net where you can save time by having freelance jobs posted to one daily e-letter that arrives in your mailbox.
Here's Wendy's question:
I've been hearing that the military divorce rate is much higher than the non-military. Do you think the military as a whole is doing enough to keep marriages strong? If not, what do you think they could use help with?

From Tina:
It's hard to tell the truth to a counselor if your job depends on it. Counseling in the military should be as confidential as counseling outside. Then, couples could go and tell the truth, and marriages could be helped. I hear that some of the armed forces are offering classes now in improving relationships, which is helpful. The military code of "closing the ranks" and protecting fellow servicemen (for example, by not reporting that you know a soldier is abusing or cheating on his or her spouse) prevents any improvement of relationships. Soldiers who return from combat with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can severely impact their relationships, and the military lags behind on treating this emotional disorder.

The Commuter Marriage

2008-08-05T07:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting this morning. My lovely ISP that I swear, was developed in 1992 and hasn't been upgraded since, was down. One of the hazards of living in the mountains in the woods with the animals.
Today, on K.C. Writer's Blog, I have a writer whose book I needed last summer while my husband worked in Kansas City and I lived down here in the mountains. Tina Tessina is a psychotherapist and author of 13 self help books. Tina talks about her latest book, “The Commuter Marriage: Keep Your Relationship Close While You’re Far Apart," and gives her own advice for writers wanting to write a self help book of their own.
The Summer Great Book Giveaway continues. Ask Tina a writing related question through the comments section by 5 p.m. today and if I randomly draw your question, you'll win a copy of Tina's book and she will answer your question on the blog on Thursday! You don't even need a google account to sign in. How easy is that?

Please tell us about yourself.
I'm a licensed psychotherapist in S. California, with 30 years experience in counseling individuals and couples and author of 13 books in 16 languages, including Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can
Ruin Your Marriage (Adams Media Jan 2008) The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again
(Wiley) and the forthcoming The Commuter Marriage: Keep Your Relationship Close While You're Far Apart. (Adams Media, June 2008)
I also publish The "Happiness Tips from Tina" e-mail newsletter; the "Dr. Romance" blog at
http://drromance.typepad.com/dr_romance_blog/and hosted a weekly hour long radio show:"The Psyche Deli: delectable tidbits for the subconscious." I am an online expert, answering questions at www.CouplesCompany.com and Yahoo!Personals at http://personals.yahoo.com/us/static/content_date.

Tell us about your new book, “The Commuter Marriage: Keep Your Relationship Close While You’re Far Apart.”
Between war deployment, different work shifts, business traveling and relocation, and jobs like trucking and firefighting which keep people away from home for days at a time, many couples today live in Commuter Marriages, or the equivalent. Commuter Marriage is designed to give them the information, examples and skills they need to navigate this treacherous terrain and keep the intimacy and connection alive in their relationship. It explores every avenue of long-distance relationships: communication, problem-solving, fairness, finances, intimacy, change, stress, and the growth that comes from successfully dealing with these issues.

What motivated you to write this book?
Working with many couples who are dealing with various kinds of separation and commuting.

Has answering relationship questions online helped you build a platform for writing your books?
Yes, it has. I get questions in my e-mail every day, and it helps me know what issues people have that they want help for.

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of writing self-help books?
Promotion, and helping the people who need the book find it. Once people find my books, I get a lot of positive feedback; but the number of books out there is huge, and reaching the reading audience isn't easy.

How did you find your agent/publisher?
My agent, Laurie Harper of the Sebastian Literary Agency and I have been working together for twenty years -- she found the publisher.

How has being a psychotherapist influenced your writing?
It is the reason for my writing, and the reason I have the experience and knowledge to help people through books -- the books are an extension of what I do in the counseling session.

Do you do speaking engagements to help market your books? What is involved in your marketing plan?
Yes, when I speak at bookstores, and in lectures like the one I'm giving for IWOSC on June 21, http://www.iwosc.org/calendar/index.html#seminars it gives me a chance to reach an audience and let them know what is in the book that might be helpful to them. I list all my events on www.booktour.com, and then export the RSS feed to my website, my Facebook page, my Amazon Connect author page, etc.

What advice would you offer people planning to write and sell a self-help book to a publisher?
Platform, platform platform! Start building the platform even before you begin the book. Use pieces from the book in a blog, interview as an expert (try Peter Shankman's helpareporter.com), get out and speak. Keep a mailing list of everyone who is interested in your information. Search for groups interested in your topic, and get connected. Developing a platform will help you interest a publisher in your book, and help you sell it once it's published.

And now, Tina is ready for your questions!

Minnesota is Cool and Blog Readers Are Fun

2008-08-01T05:41:00.001-05:00

Wow! We had great participation the other day, asking Amy Rea questions about her writing and about Minnesota. All of the questions were such fun that Amy would like to answer them all! Amy will be answering them on the comments section of the original post later, so stop back by this later or tomorrow!
Now, here's the winning question from Diane! And Diane, I need you to contact me within 7 days so I know where to send your book! fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com All other previous winners who haven't contacted me by Saturday, 8/2 - your book will go to someone else!Hi,
Because of the enormous amount of material covered, did you feel this book was really finished? Or did you feel you just had to wrap up when you reached a deadline? PS - thanks for the yarn shop recommendations!

Diane

From Amy:
Good question, Diane! There’s an old saying that goes something like this: You never finish writing something, you just stop. That’s how this book felt—but that’s part of the nature of a travel guide. No sooner had the book gone irrevocably to press than restaurants I’d covered began dropping like flies, and new interesting stores opened, and I discovered even more interesting festivals that I didn’t know about, and there’s been talk of a new state park on the North Shore, and…in other words, the only way for the book to be published was to close the file and send it away. That’s one of the reasons I’m happy to have my blog (www.flyover-land.com) that I can use to update information and add new things as I discover them.

Oh, and I’m glad you liked the knitting info. It was my personal goal to make sure knitters everywhere knew how to find yarn in Minnesota.

Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes

2008-07-29T04:35:00.000-05:00

The Summer Great Book Giveaway continues today. During a college trip to Minnesota, I brought home a t-shirt that read,"Minnesota: spring, summer, fall, winter, winter, winter." Minnesota really is a cool state - and I don't just mean in the weather sense. Today, I have Amy Rea, author of "Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes." Read what Amy has to say about travel writing vs. travel guide writing. Click on comments today before 5 p.m. CST (U.S.) and ask Amy a writing related question. If I randomly draw yours, Amy will answer it on Thursday - and you'll win a copy of her book - now how cool is that!

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a nearly lifelong resident of Minnesota (other than a brief stint in Vermont). I was born and raised in northern Minnesota, in an itty-bitty town called Tenstrike (don’t know it? South of Blackduck? Does that help?). I ended up in the Twin Cities, attending the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and pretty much have been in the Twin Cities, including St. Paul and suburbs, since then. I majored in English but knew I wasn’t cut out to be a teacher, so I wandered a bit, managing a maternity store and spending several years as a travel agent before finally putting that English degree to work as a freelance writer and editor. I went into full-time freelancing 10 years ago and love it. I’ve been able to write for a variety of publications and companies, with most of my work on the corporate side. Currently my biggest project is developing a curriculum for an afterschool health and wellness education program (www.sajaifoundation.org). I also write fiction. I had my first “professional” short story published last year (for pay!), and I’m currently working on my second novel. On a personal level, I’m your average married suburbanite, two kids (both boys, 15 and 12) and two very spoiled, overly pampered dogs.

Tell us about your new book, “Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
It sounds sappy, but I really do love this state. Having lived in both extremes—very rural and heart-of-the-city—I was ready and willing to look at all the different aspects of touring Minnesota. As the book editor explained to me once when I was having panic attacks about not being able to include Every Single Thing I could think of, this book is meant to help people with more money than time make choices about how to use that time. I guess you could say the book is designed to help travelers be the Decider. J I provide options, the traveler can choose among them and hopefully not feel too overwhelmed at all there is to do! I also had some latitude as far as tone went, and I worked hard to make it friendly (and occasionally a little sassy).

Do you think researching this book would have been more difficult if you weren’t a Minnesota native?
Absolutely. I went into the book knowing the geography of the state, some of its history, regional differences, what areas tend to attract the most visitors and why. And it’s a sizable state—it’s the biggest Midwestern state, and 12th largest of all the states. But there’s also an advantage in “knowing” the state as only a resident can. I read the local newspapers, the local blogs, I hear the “buzz.” I know what’s potentially hot, probably not, what’s causing controversy and consternation among the locals. The other helpful aspect of being a native and living here most of my life is knowing so many other people from here. As one friend said, he realized he was a full-blooded Minnesotan when I asked what some of his favorite spots were, because he could name so many and was so heartfelt in his response. You can do a ton of research via books, magazines, and the internet, but personal connections really make a difference. It was also helpful, from a cost perspective (since it was not an expenses-paid project, but a flat advance), that I live in the southern half of the state but have family in the northern half. I was able to keep hotel/meal costs pretty low. It’s much cheaper to take my parents out to dinner as a thank-you than to pay for several nights’ hotel!
That said, I put literally thousands of miles on my car last year, traveling for research. I’m thankful I’m not trying to log those miles this year, given the price of gas!

What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing this book? What did you find to be the easiest?
The most challenging: the overwhelming amount of things to do in this state! Frankly, it almost paralyzed me when I sat down to write. My office was buried in stacks and stacks of paper, newspapers, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, things I picked up on the road (LOTS of things I picked up on the road), things I downloaded. My camera’s memory card was bursting. There were times when I’d be sorting through hundreds of photos and stare at something and have no memory of ever having been there—but clearly I had, because I’d taken several pictures of it. It’s a big state, and there’s lots to do and see. Trying to condense it down into a book was difficult.
The easiest: The exact same thing—there’s so much to do and see. And while traveling the state doing that part of the research was tiring and demanding, it was also an extraordinary amount of fun.

How did you get involved in the Explorer’s Guide series?
I had done some writing about different areas of Minnesota for some travel websites (now sadly defunct). When I saw a market guide through Freelance Success that mentioned Countryman Press was looking for a writer for a Minnesota guidebook, I jumped at the chance to put together a proposal.

What were your motivations for creating a blog for the book?
Well, marketing, of course. But I also hope to start a conversation. My other blog, www.knitthink.typepad.com, has been running over three years, and it’s proven to be a great place to connect with people I might not otherwise meet or get to know. I’ve ended up learning a lot from the readers of that blog, making friends, finding resources I would never have heard of otherwise, and I hope the book blog (www.flyover-land.com) will grow and expand the same way. I’ll use the blog for updates (such as closed businesses or new businesses), for information that didn’t make it into the book, and to look at Minnesota and tourism in general.

You say you would like to publish a novel. I find it difficult to switch from reporting to fiction. How do you make the transition?
Very painfully. Two things that seem to help are: writing fiction first thing in the day, before I get to the paying work (which then takes over), or going somewhere else—coffee shop, library, etc.

Your first book faced many rejections. What was your motivation to keep trying?
The rejections were all personalized and encouraging, and they came from editors who had requested the entire book based on the synopsis and sample chapters. I know—pretty sad that simply not getting a form rejection made me happy! But throughout that process, I was continuing to write the novel I’m revising now, and I know this one is better. I’ve learned so much. That’s the best way to learn to write—sit your a$$ down and do it. I look at that first book as an apprenticeship. It may never be published, and that’s OK. I grew a lot as a writer while writing it. Currently that book is shelved. Maybe someday I’ll go back to it; now and then I have sparks of ideas that would improve it, but for the moment, I want to move forward.

How is writing a travel guide different from being a travel reporter writing shorter pieces?
It’s much more intensive. And it’s a much longer commitment. In some ways, it felt like writing a lot of shorter travel pieces, because the book is divided regionally, then subdivided within those regions. I had a different kind of reader in mind; instead of the Internet reader who’s trying to grab some quick info, a guidebook reader is going to be more invested in spending time in a location and wants more in-depth coverage. I’ve never done photography for any of my online work, but the book required me to provide photos, so that was quite a change. It forced me to change my Luddite ways and get a digital camera, which, of course, turned out to be wonderful. A final difference is that I didn’t think about marketing an online article; but with the book, I’m slowly becoming aware of the work involved in having a book in the marketplace, and what it takes to keep it there. It’s a whole new world for me.

Ok, Amy is awaiting your questions!

Camille Claudel Winner

2008-07-28T05:35:00.000-05:00

Amy - You've won Camille Claudel, as well as having your question answered by Alma Bond. Congratulations! I'll need you to contact me within the next 7 days with your postal address so I can send you the book. Shoot me an email at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com
Also, the winner of Kathleen Reilly's book, SHBuesche, needs to contact me by the end of the week, so I can send your book to you.

Here's the question and answer:

Amy: Have you ever considered writing a novel about Jackie O rather than a biography?

Alma: I AM writing a novel about her, not a standard biography. It probably will be called, "I, Jackie." I have done a number of such "autobiographies," and find I can best get into peoples' heads with that format.

Best wishes, Alma

Camille Claudel, a Novel

2008-07-22T05:16:00.002-05:00

Ah, the summer is on the downhill slide now. My summer writing project is ending next week and Correna, my assistant, is getting ready to start college. You can actually tell that it is getting darker just a little bit earlier. But never fear, the Summer Great Book Giveaway continues!
I still need to hear from last week's winner so I can send your book to you! If I don't hear from S.H. by next week, I'll draw another winner.
Today, I have Alma H. Bond talking about writing her book, "Camille Claudel, a novel." Alma took an interesting and unique approach writing about a real person by not writing a biography, but instead turning into a novel.
Read how Alma's research was affected in her decision and why she decided to write a fictional novel rather than a biography. How do you win a book? It's easy. Just click on "comments" before 5 p.m. CST today and ask Alma a writing question. You don't even need an id, or to even sign in. However, I do ask that you leave your first name in case you win. It's a little difficult to send a book to "anonymous." If I randomly draw yours, Alma will answer your question and you'll win the book!
This week, I will be traveling, without Internet access, so I will not post the winner until Monday, July 28.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a psychoanalyst who retired from a flourishing Manhattan private practice to write full time. Since then I have had 15 books published. I am the mother of three and the grandmother of seven, with a new one coming along in Sept.
2. Let’s hear about your book, “Camille Claudel: A Novel.”
Here is some PR that was sent out by Major about the book:

Women of the 1800s were often seen as second-class or rejected in the business world, and especially in the artist world. But, very rarely do the stories in history books expose the severe impact on the women of that day. Author Alma H. Bond's new book "Camille Claudel, a Novel" offers a close look into the heart of a woman who aspired to be an artist during the 1800s, but was ultimately rejected despite her amazing talents.

You must have conducted quite a bit of research for this novel. Did you encounter any difficulties in finding the truth of the events in Claudel’s life and was this the reason you chose to do a novel rather than a non-fiction biography? Not too much is known about her. I read everything I could find about her in both English and French, and visited her home town where she lived and the asylum where she died.

Did your background as a psychoanalyst make a difference in your research and writing? Was it beneficial?
It makes a tremendous difference to everything I write. I believe it distinguishes me from my honored literary colleagues. I try to hide the psychological truth in words that a layman can understand.

Why did you choose to narrate from Claudel’s point of view?
I thought I can best demonstrate in her voice what went on in her emotions.

As a female writer, have you ever encountered a situation similar to that which Claudel dealt with in a male-dominated world? Do you think this is still an issue in the 21st century?
As a young psychoanalyst I found it much more difficult to start my practice than men of similar education and ability. Once it began, however, it flourished, until I earned more than any other female analyst I knew.

Having written 15 books, do you find it easier to get books published and noticed?
I get reviewed easier, but it is still difficult to find publishers. Although many talented writers cannot get published at all.

What did you do to promote your novel?
I sent out postcards to every list of sculptors I could find, as well as to many artists. I checked out their websites, and personally contacted any I thought sculpted like Camille Claudel. I advertised in many newspapers, including the NYTimes, and in art magazines, and sent out at least 50 review copies of the book.

What advice do you have for authors preparing to promote their books? The marketing is at least as important as the writing. What good is your masterpiece, if no one but your mother knows about it?

What's next for you?
I am presently writing a biography of Jacqueline Kennnedy Onassis.
My book, Margaret Mahler: A Biography of the Psychoanalyst was just published by McFarland Press.

Ok, readers and writers, Alma is awaiting your questions!

And we Have a Winner...

2008-07-17T04:51:00.000-05:00

SHBueche is today's winner for Kathleen Reilly's book, "Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself" Congratulations! I will need you to contact me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com so I know where to send your book. Kathleen says she would also like to answer the other questions posed today, so watch the original post and she will answer the questions on the "comments" section.
Visit the blog on Tuesday, as I will have Alma Bond as a guest. The Summer Great Book Giveaway is sponsored by www.freelancedaily.net.

Now, here's the winning question:

Hi Kathleen, I am a member of Freelance Daily and saw your posting. I am
also a dog writer (member of DWAA, dwaa.org) and a parent. I would love to
read a copy of your book and donate it to the school library.

My question? How do you combine your interest in rescuing canines with your
love of planet Earth?

SHBueche.

From Kathleen Reilly:

Thanks for the question! I wish I had a really cool answer like "My dogs are
named Gaia, Eco, and Greenie" or "I taught my dog to pick up litter," but no
such luck (although one beloved dog who's no longer with us could clean up
all her toys and put them in her toy box when asked). To be honest, though,
I do think that it was my love of dogs -- since early childhood I was gaga
over them -- that initially gave me my love of the outdoors. Spending time
hiking, camping, exploring, and even just flopped down on the grass under a
tree with my dogs was my favorite way to spend my bachelorette years. From
there, it was natural for my interests to expand to encompass the
environment around us and care about its health.

What's more, well over ten years ago, I also started feeding my dogs a
natural diet, which led to *me* eating a more natural diet, which led to me
being more sensitive to the planet that provides that food to us. A funny
chain reaction, but true story. Which, if we wanted to get all philosophical
about it, is interesting because that's just like Earth: One big,
interconnected network of systems, a living chain reaction.

Thanks again for participating!

Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself

2008-07-15T05:41:00.002-05:00

Kathleen Reilly is the guest on K.C. Writer's Blog today, discussing her new children's book, "Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself" a book with activities about the environment. Kathleen discusses writing children's books and how her love of environmental topics landed her this book deal.
The Summer Great Book Giveaway is still going on - and still sponsored by www.freelancedaily.net.
Click on comments and ask a question by 5 p.m. today (7/15) and if I randomly draw your question, you could win Kathleen's book - and have her answer your question on Thursday!

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a mom of two boys and a freelance writer in North Carolina. Oh, and I'm
also a dog trainer, a master balloon animal-maker (although it still freaks
me out when they pop during production), a beginning guitar player, a great
pizza-maker, and I can juggle three tennis balls for five minutes straight
(but not in high winds). I've always been a real geek when it comes to
learning, so I've tried to find really fun, hands-on ways to teach my
homeschooled kids. As a writer, I channel my geekiness to tackle writing
projects (like this book) that let me learn cool subjects and write about
them. I've been incredibly fortunate to be able to pursue my interests.

Tell us about your book, "Planet Earth."

I'm really excited about this book. The first half explores the elements of
our environment -- wind, water, the sun, life -- and lets kids get hands-on
to really discover what's around them. There are projects like a
wind-powered bubble machine and a worm castle that my kids and I loved
creating. The second half of the book tackles some of the problems our
environment faces -- like pollution, global warming, and the thinning ozone
-- and offers projects about those topics. It's also got plenty of cool
factoids about our planet.

This is the first book you have written. Did you find the process
to be very different from writing articles?

Well, it's much longer, that's for sure! I'm pretty organized when it comes
to writing, so I just broke it down by chapter, then by section, and tackled
each section just like it was a mini-article. After a couple months, all
those "mini-articles" added up to one whole book!

What was your main motivation in addressing this book to children?

Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" made an impact on me. The idea that
today's kids might not have the same curiosity and affinity for nature that
we did growing up is really hard to accept. My own kids love being outside
camping, hiking, and fishing, but I know not all kids have had the
opportunity to be exposed to the outdoors like that. I would be thrilled if
my book got a child excited or curious about the environment and got him or
her outside to explore a little. Our planet is so amazing and there's so
much for kids to discover while they're just outside, playing and getting up
close and personal with the environment.

Is it difficult to change your writing style when alternating
between adult and child audiences?

Not so much. I don't really write very technical stories for adults -- my
stories are usually pretty casual and my tone is fairly friendly, so it
wasn't too hard to make the switch.

Were there challenges with this book? Do you have any advice for
writers who find themselves out of ideas?

I loved the topic so much that it was actually a blast to research and write
-- so I guess the only real challenge was scheduling all my work and family
stuff. Writing a book is definitely time-consuming! As for running out of
ideas, I'd say get out and play! Channel *your* inner geek (you know you've
got one) and think about all the things you really love to do or even little
stuff that may have sparked your interest at one time.

How have you used your life experiences and interests in your
writing? Do you think that's important for an author?

Like I've mentioned, I've been really fortunate to write about things that
interest me. I've written on dog topics that let me tap into my dog training
and vet tech experiences. I've done stories on education that have allowed
me to share some of the super-cool teaching methods I've learned. And I've
even been able to interview a handful of celebrities that I've admired. I
think it's definitely helpful for a writer or author to be interested in
what she's writing about -- your enthusiasm and passion for the topic makes
the work that much better. (Plus you have more fun doing the work!)

There are many different articles and books relating to the
environment. Did you find it easy to break into the market with your own
idea?

I had a great time writing this book. I think it's different from other
books about the environment because it includes both basic elements of the
environment plus the problems the environment faces. And it's loaded with
some great projects that aren't just ho-hum experiments -- these are things
kids can have fun assembling and then go out and use (like one of my
favorites, the garbage picker-upper that also comes in handy to reach
runaway books that fall behind the sofa).

Your first book has been very successful, and you have two more on
the way. What else do you think the future holds for you?

Wow, good question. Right now, the future holds a date with the vacuum --
like many writers, when I go full steam ahead on writing projects, little
things like housecleaning seem to be forgotten. But you probably meant
professionally, eh? I've got a proposal for a fourth book making the rounds
right now, and I'm really hopeful that will get picked up because it's on
another one of my all-time favorite topics (sorry, I'm too superstitious to
share that info just yet!). And I'm really hoping the future holds a
completed fiction manuscript, because I've been working on one for about a
year now (a children's novel). But right now...I gotta tackle this messy
house.

And, now Kathleen would love to have your questions!

Najua Takes on the Trust

2008-07-10T05:14:00.000-05:00

And our winning question this week was posted by Najua! I need you to contact me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com within the next week Najua, so I know where to send your book!

Hi Steve,

How long did it take you to complete the research for the book and then how long did it take you to complete a first draft and the subsequent revisions until the final draft?

Thank you.
Najua

From Steve:

Thank you for the question, Najua.

Because I have chosen to earn most of my living as a book author and magazine feature writer, I usually juggle several journalism projects, with a book always in the mix. For most of my books, I need to receive an advance to make my life work financially. That means between six months and a year researching/writing the book proposal, with regular feedback from my literary agent. After I receive a book contract, my research, writing and rewriting generally take about five years. That is partly because I select topics that require depth and breadth, partly because I'm methodical (some might say "slow"), partly because I seek editors who will provide lots of valuable feedback, which usually means extensive rewriting bolstered by additional research. During those three to five years, some days are devoted mostly to magazine features and book reviews, to generate cash flow. Whenever possible, I propose magazine features and book reviews related to my own book in progress.

I hope this addresses your question adequately. Again, thank you.

Taking on the Trust

2008-07-08T05:24:00.002-05:00

Today, I have Steve Weinberg, a University of Missouri School of Journalism professor and author of "Taking on the Trust, The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller," how an investigative journalist brought down Standard Oil.
The Summer Great Book Giveaway continues this week after a break for the holiday. Click on comments (you don't even have to sign in) and ask Steve a question before 5 p.m. CST today. If I randomly draw your question, you'll win a copy of Steve's book and he will answer your question on Thursday. Happy Reading and good luck!

Please tell us about yourself.
I started out writing for newspapers with a bit of freelancing on the side, then moved to magazine staff writing with lots of freelancing on the side, then became a full-time freelancer, with book writing in the mix. The common denominator: to gain time and word count so that I can tell in-depth narrative stories involving lots of complicated reporting. I have taught part-time at the University of Missouri Journalism School since 1978, with long intervals of not teaching at all. The students are superb and faculty colleagues are brilliant, but teaching has not been and never will be my primary calling. During seven of those years (1983-1990), I also served as executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors, a 5000-member group physically housed at the Journalism School but independent in every other way. Even during those seven years, I continued reporting and writing. To me, it's akin to breathing.

Tell us about your new book, "Taking on the Trust."
It is a dual biography of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller, a female journalist and a male industrialist, charting the unexpected collision course that changed history about 100 years ago. Tarbell's 1904 expose in book form forever altered the previously positive views of Rockefeller, as well as leading to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1911 breaking up the gigantic, powerful Standard Oil Trust (think of the word "antitrust" to put the old-fashioned sense of "trust" into focus.)

Tell us about the research process.
Researching the book involved immersion in the Tarbell archives (primarily at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.), the Rockefeller archives (primarily in upstate New York), and oil industry archives (primarily at the Drake Well Museum, Titusville, Pa.). Finding the material was generally no problem. Turning it into a compelling narrative with two main characters was a challenge.

What inspired you to write about the battle between Tarbell and Rockefeller?
I wanted to understand how Tarbell came to write her classic expose, The History of the Standard Oil Company, how she became the first modern investigative journalist while also overcoming gender barriers.

Is the market for the book limited? Who is your target market?
The market for the book does not feel limited. At minimum, it should appeal to those who care about general American history, corporate history, journalism, feminism, fame and the craft of biography.

In your book you make references to Wal-Mart and Microsoft. Are you hoping to inspire other investigative journalists to look into these corporations?
Of course I am. I hope I can find the time to do some of the necessary investigating myself. In general, investigative journalism is thriving at hundreds of newspapers, magazines, tv stations, radio stations and web sites. Unfortunately, hundreds of others do little or no investigating or even in-depth explanatory journalism.

What do you feel is the most important thing to keep in mind when writing a biography? Was it difficult to write about two opposite people and illustrate how their lives were intertwined?
The most important quality is to treat people as complex human beings, to avoid reductionism by understanding that no person is simple, is driven only by greed or love or whatever. Yes, portraying two lives in a parallel fashion is much more arduous mentally than focusing on one life.

Ok, Steve is awaiting your questions!

Brought to you by....

2008-06-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Summer Big Book Giveaway is being sponsored by FreelanceDaily.net (www.freelancedaily.net) a daily newsletter compiling freelance writing job listings in one place. I've been a member for a few years now and always find more than enough new clients to pay for my membership.
Since my husband and I were supposed to be on vacation next week, there won't be any postings. But the Summer Big Book Giveaway will be back on July 8 with Steve Weinberg, a U of Missouri journalism instructor and author of "Taking on the Trust: How an Investigative Journalist Brought Down Standard Oil."

And now, for this week's winner, Suzanne:
Wow! Jill, this book is going to be a blessing to a lot of people. I did not battle infertility but had a friend who did.

Hopefully I was not one of the people you mentioned as unintentionally saying something hurtful. I did always feel guarded around her and I had a hard time expressing my joy (and trials) about pregnancy and about my children.

She did eventually get pregnant and I thought things would be “different.” Well, she and her daughter left my son’s 1st birthday party after snapping at me, “Let me guess, you’re pregnant again!” I was indeed pregnant with my 3rd and I just stood there in shock not knowing how to respond.

I could see that she was hurting through those years but I didn’t really know how to help her and I’m betting your book would’ve been that comfort she needed.

My question is from the consumer standpoint … would a book like this be a well-received gift from a friend or family member or would it be considered insult to injury?

BTW – I took a quick look at your site Belated Baby and it looks great! The shirts are cute and I love how you’ve used them to help others.

Jill, I wish you much success with your book and a “thank you” to you and to Kerri for a great interview.

Jill's response:

Thank you for your response and question--and kind words of encouragement!

My sister called me after reading the book, apologizing profusely, worried, like you, that she had said or done something wrong. That's just the heartbreak that comes with the infertility territory, though. But Kelly and I DO believe that this book will serve as comfort to others like us who've been through it.

To answer your question, I just sold some books to someone who plans on giving them as gifts to three friends: One who's in the midst of treatment, one who's newly pregnant with twins, and one who just had triplets.

In the case of someone who's going through treatments, we believe the messages in the book will give them hope that there IS life after infertility. You WILL become a parent if that is your choice, whether through adoption or pregnancy.

The book is probably best suited for those who are about to become parents or who recently became parents. Since we interviewed 50+ people for the book, readers will see that they're not alone in their feelings of parenting after enduring infertility. In the end, infertility doesn't kill you--in fact, it can make you a more patient and stronger parent! It's a hopeful message.

Thanks again for your post!

Jill (S as in Suzanne!) Browning

The Belated Baby

2008-06-24T05:23:00.000-05:00

Today, I have Jill Browning, who along with Kelly James-Enger, co-authored "The Belated Baby: A Guide to Parenting After Infertility." Jill talks about parenting writing, juggling her own writing with 8-year-old triplets and the co-authoring process. The Summer Big Book Giveaway goes on. Ask Jill a question before 5 p.m. CST today and if I randomly draw your name, Jill will answer your question on Thursday and you will win a copy of their book!

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a full-time mom of triplets who just turned eight years old two weeks ago. Laundry, baseball games, PTA meetings, YMCA visits, multiplication tables, library visits, Sunday school, haircuts, grocery shopping, etc., fill my days. I'm also a part-time writer. I've written for Chicago Parent and Parenting magazines, and I'm currently focused on corporate projects.

Let's hear a little about your book, "The Belated Baby: A Guide to Parenting After Infertility."
Kelly James-Enger (my co-author) and I convinced the publisher that all of us belated mamas groan when we hear infertility described as a "journey." It's a trip no one wants to take, and the word "journey" just sounds like a Lifetime movie!

In any event, the book lets you know that just because you've finally become a parent after infertility doesn't mean the emotions you've experienced along the way will disappear. You still might feel different from other parents, since a kid didn't come easily. For example, you might be annoyed when someone complains about being pregnant or feel guilty when you feel overwhelmed as a parent. (This is what you wished for, you think, so you have no right to complain about late-night feedings.) Ultimately, though, like any life adversity, going through infertility can make you a more grateful, grounded and wiser parent.

Was this book conceived out of personal experience?

Yes it was conceived--so to speak--from personal experience. My husband and I tried to have kids for three years. Kelly experienced infertility for six years.

Do you believe going through this experience helped you understand the emotional deficit faced by people who've struggled with infertility? Why or why not?

You definitely understand a situation better when you've gone through it yourself. For the book, we also talked with 50 other women and men. Our experiences are similar. There is a tremendous emptiness and sadness that comes with not being able to build your family through pregnancy. And not just emotional, but financial, too. Without meaning to be cruel, family and friends say things that are hurtful. "Why don't you just adopt?" "Have you tried acupuncture?" Sometimes even after the kids come, these feelings of inadequacy remain.

How did you sell the book idea? Did you have an agent and where did you find your publisher?

Kelly has authored eight books. We worked together to create a book proposal and used her agent to find a publisher. I was lucky to be able to piggyback!

You're a mother to 7-year-old triplets. Did you ever struggle in finding time to write this book and what did you do to overcome the challenge of time?

Struggle for time? Yes! (I've been interrupted about seven times while composing this response to you!)

I'm an early riser, so try to crank out as much as possible during the morning hours. If you keep your bottom in the chair, words become sentences, sentences become paragraphs and paragraphs become pages. Pages equal a BOOK!

I know that this time in my life with the kids will be brief, however, and I don't want to outsource the caring of my kids to someone else. I've decided to be with them full-time, and I fit writing in when I can. In her book "Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True," Elizabeth Berg coaches that you need to accept that you can't find major time when you have little kids around. I appreciate that advice. More time will come in time.

How did the co-authoring process work between you and Kelly? How did you decide who wrote what and who had what tasks? Who handles the marketing, etc.
Working with Kelly was like playing volleyball. I'd toss something over to her, she'd polish it, then toss it back, and vice versa. One of the most satisfying parts was when we couldn't tell who had written what in the end. We'd blended!

We're both taking pieces of the marketing plan and writing articles for various fertility organizations. Also, she launched www.belatedbaby.com. We also have some fun tees that we hope will catch on. On the front it states "(b)elated mama," for all of those who are parents after infertility to wear proudly!

This being your first book, were there any surprises in the process?
The biggest surprise is that the book exists now! When you talk about it and write the proposal, it is all in the abstract. Then POW--it's a manuscript. It is immensely satisfying to have an idea of something, and then hold it physically in your hands. (Kind of like becoming a parent!)

What's your best advice for writers wanting to get into parenting writing?
Be genuinely interested in kids and families and write about what might make a difference in their day. Read as many old and new books out there, and be passionate about the subjects you'd like to cover.

And now Jill is awaiting your questions...

Anna Gets Her Answer

2008-06-19T05:29:00.000-05:00

Anna- You won the book - and to have your answer posted here. I need you to contact me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com with your address! Please get in touch with me within a week. Thanks to everyone who visited and to those who asked a question. We'll see you back here on Tuesday for another interview with a great author! Lorna has also been kind enough to answer the other questions posted to her interview, so check out the comments section. Here's Anna's question:
Lorna,
Great interview!
What do you think is the single most important consideration for someone to do before deciding if you should seek a traditional publisher or go through a print on demand publisher.
Thx!
Anna

From Lorna:

Dear Anna,

If you have a way to sell your books yourself, you should consider print on demand or other forms of self-publishing. Can you reach your audience without a middleman? Do you have the time and energy to devote to marketing and distribution, in an effort that could involve years? The traditional publisher serves the role of middleman for most writers, by getting your book out to stores and providing publicity to attract buyers. But if you are already in a position to provide this yourself, then you can cut the middleman and earn those profits directly. For example, someone who does a lot of public speaking might be able to write a book about his or her topic and sell it at speaking engagements. Someone who is part of a niche group with a concrete way to reach that group might be able to write a book directly for the group, and wouldn't need a publisher's help in reaching an audience.

The key is to be honest and realistic about your abilities. I know a novelist who self-published in the vaguely optimistic belief that she would be able to sell her novel off her website, based on assurances from her website designer. She published her book, sold it to friends, and then nothing much else happened with it. I think she thought all she had to do was put her website up and readers would magically appear through the wonders of the Internet, requiring no promotional effort on her behalf. I know another writer who self-published but put a lot of work into promotion, both on the Internet and "in real life" (by calling bookstores, doing book fairs and book signings, submitting her book to book reviewers, etc). Despite all her efforts, her sales also have been minimal.

Sometimes a book is simply not going to attract buyers, no matter how much promotion is put into it. This could be due to its topic or -- and here's why you need to be honest with yourself -- how it is written. I can't tell you how many self-published novels I've picked up and been appalled by, due to grammar mistakes, misspellings, and overall poor writing. I don't know whether friends are afraid to be critical with these writers or why exactly they think they can write a book, but I do think it's important for authors to find someone independent to critique his or her manuscript before even thinking about publishing (whether self-publishing or traditional).

Traditional publishers are looking for great ideas that appeal to large groups of buyers, which also are well-written (which is especially true with fiction). But this is not enough for traditional publishers. They also demand a "platform" -- a way that the author can reach the public. Maybe the author is a celebrity or an established expert in the field or has a blog that gets 100,000 hits a day. But in some way, the author usually has to be able to bring more to the table besides a great book, well-written, to get a book deal from a traditional publisher. If you think you can provide those things, then you might as well try to get a traditional publisher before striking out on your own with POD -- unless, as I said before, you have an easy way to reach your audience and distribute your book yourself.

I also wanted to make a distinction between self-publishing and POD. If you are able to afford self-publishing, where you pay a large upfront cost to have a large quantity of books printed and stored, then you might want to consider this over POD, because you will make a lot more money per book so long as you can sell them. That is a big "if," though.

Sorry if I've rambled a bit, but to sum up: The key consideration in deciding whether to self-publish or use POD is the ability to actually get your book to your audience. If you have a book that you know you can sell to a specific group of people, and you know how to get the book to them (through distribution channels or directly), AND you have the time and considerable energy to commit to this for what may be years to come, then consider self-publishing or POD.

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Best,

Lorna

Tilli's Story: Even Great Stories Sometimes Don't Attract Traditional Publishers

2008-06-17T05:12:00.001-05:00

Today, on KC's Writers Blog, I have Lorna Collier, a Chicago-area based journalist and author. Lorna talks about her book, "Tilli's Story: My Thoughts are Free." Read about her experience with traditional publishers and how this book ultimately ended up being published through iUniverse, a Print on Demand Publisher and how they've sold over 5,000 copies and had the story optioned by Hollywood. This is truly one of the most beautifully designed POD books I've seen and the story is amazing. Click on comments and ask a question of Lorna today by 5 p.m. If I randomly draw your question, Lorna will answer it on Thursday and you'll win a copy of this great story!

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a freelancer in the Chicago region with a background as a newspaper reporter, TV producer, and magazine editor. I write about a lot of different topics -- pretty much anything that interests me, whether it's about the challenges atheist parents face raising moral children, how Internet urban legends get started, or why some women cry more than other people and how this affects them in the workplace. My specialties are education, health, technology, and business, with articles appearing in the Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, Smart Computing, PC Novice, and a variety of other newspapers, magazines, trade publications, and websites. As a child and through my teens and early twenties, I wrote a lot of fiction and dreamed of being a novelist, but then took a newspaper job, fell in love with feature writing, and haven't been able to re-enter the fiction realm, though someday I'd like to.

Tell us about your book, "Tilli's Story: My Thoughts are Free."
"Tilli's Story" tells the true story of a young East German girl's experiences living under first Hitler and then Stalin, before escaping to freedom by herself at age 16 in the bottom of a potato wagon. The book shows what life is like when lived under totalitarian regimes and demonstrates the value of freedom. It also shows that not all Germans supported Hitler, but that some, like Tilli and her family, were powerless to resist. The book portrays what happened to East Germans after the war, when the Russian Army invaded with a vengeance, and Stalinism was instituted (a story not often seen in contemporary literature). The book is written in a narrative nonfiction, novelistic style (a la "Angela's Ashes").

"Tilli's Story" was first published through iUniverse in 2004, after 10 years of rejections from traditional publishers. One small press in downstate Illinois signed us to a two-year contract, but then never produced the book, probably due to financial problems. We chose iUniverse because of its Star program, which offers the potential for national distribution in Barnes & Noble stores to certain high-performing titles. Our book ultimately was chosen for the Star program, so it was re-issued as a Star title in 2005 with a new ISBN, new book jacket, and a publicity campaign funded by iUniverse (we were assigned an agent and publicist, and the book's terms were re-worked to make it comparable to a traditionally published book: bookstores can return it, they get the same discount as with a traditional book rather than POD, etc.).

To date, we've sold close to 5,000 copies of the book and done quite a bit of speaking, mostly in the Illinois/Wisconsin area, to all kinds of groups: schools (everything from elementary to college level), book clubs, library groups, senior citizens' groups, historical societies, and business groups such as Rotary Clubs. We've heard from people all across the U.S. who have read the book -- we even did a book club teleconference with a club in New Jersey. At least one school in Germany is using the book in English-language classes. We also signed a film option with a producer in Hollywood a couple of years ago, though so far, no film deal is in the works.

I know I've been contacted through the years by different people to ghostwrite a book for them, because everyone thinks they have a story that could be a book. Tell us how you knew this woman had a story worthy of a book.
When I met with Tilli for the first time, I learned I used to be her neighbor in the town where I grew up. This personal connection set the stage, but then when I heard more about her story, I thought it was an important one. I hadn't seen any books like it in stores -- nothing that showed what life was like when the Soviets took over Germany after WWII, and few books that told what it was like to be an ordinary German growing up with Hitler's propaganda. Also, another friend of mine, a writer at the local newspaper, had worked on the project for a year and thought Tilli's story would make a good book, so her recommendation weighed into my decision as well. I thought the book was a way for me to explore dramatic story-telling and the use of literary techniques in narrative, something I had been missing in my journalistic writing, so that was another reason for me to get involved with the project.
Since then, I have had other people contact me to write their stories, but have turned them all down. I've never felt that spark since; I think it was just a one-time lucky set of circumstances. I have no desire to write another book like this, or to become so intimately involved with someone else (Tilli and I have become great friends, almost like mother and daughter, but on a different level.)

Tell us about the collaborative process, how did you two decide you would take credit, rather than ghostwrite?
Tilli always insisted that I take a byline; she never wanted to pretend she wrote the book. The first edition of the book had my byline first. However, when iUniverse reissued the book under its Star imprint, they asked to flip the bylines, because they said it would make selling the memoir easier. They then set up a publicity tour with Tilli as the sole interviewee, but Tilli balked at that, and insisted I be included. So, she has been good about crediting me.
Regarding the collaborative process: I interviewed her at length based on her notes about her life in Germany, which spanned 13 years. I asked for as many sensory details as possible so I could describe it through her eyes. After each session, I would imagine myself in her place and write a draft of that particular time period or incident, then show it to her. She would correct anything I had misinterpreted or misunderstood; the process often brought up more memories for her, which she would tell me about, and then I would add these to the draft.

How did you get the story from her?
In addition to the interviews, we visited antique shops in the area to look at farm implements, dishes, and other things that she grew up with. We looked at a lot of old pictures, both ones she owned and pictures from books. These things helped me flesh the story out further, and helped me know what additional questions to ask her. She was quite open about her life and possessed a wonderful memory, perhaps because so many incidents were traumatic and thus burned into her recall.

Authors usually want to know how to charge someone for doing a project such as this. How did it work for you?
Yikes - I had no idea what to charge. I began working with Tilli near the start of my freelance career, in the early 1990s. I had already written a book for a local church for its 100-year anniversary, and used that fee to establish a rate for Tilli, but really, the book soon became a labor of love. If I were approached about such a project today, I don't know what I would charge, but no doubt it would be much more than I charged Tilli.
Once the book was published, we agreed to go 50-50 on profits.

What was the reason to rush to publish, why not just keep looking for traditional publishers?
Traditional publishers and agents told us that the WWII market was flooded and that non-celebrity memoirs weren't salable. We disagreed, based on responses we were getting from test readers as well as our own market analysis. Another reason that we chose to self-publish was Tilli's health. She had polycystic kidney disease, which killed Erma Bombeck, and began kidney dialysis in January of 2004. She grew quite weak and ill with her thrice-weekly dialysis sessions, and didn't know how much longer she had to live, so we chose to go ahead and get the book out there rather than wait. If she hadn't had this condition, we probably would have persisted longer in trying to attract a traditional publisher.

Nearly 5,000 copies sold and a book tour that's lasted 3 years - and you've had to turn down speaking engagements. How did you handle publicity to generate that kind of a response?
The biggest reason for the initial success of the book was a lucky break: when the book was in its final proofing stages before going into production at iUniverse, I asked my friend, the Rockford Register Star newspaper columnnist who had worked with Tilli initially, and who had brought us together, to give the manuscript a look-see to catch typos. Instead, my friend turned the ms. over to the managing editor of the newspaper. He read the book in a day, fell in love with it, and asked to excerpt it. The newspaper wound up taking 30,000 words, starting on the Fourth of July (perfect for the book's message about the importance of our liberties in America), and continuing thrice-weekly until the end of the summer. For this excerpting, the newspaper offered us no pay, but tons of free publicity, including TV interviews with a sister station, newsbox pictures, and promotion through the week. We were nervous to accept the deal -- we worried that maybe people would read the excerpts and be satisfied with those, rather than buying a book. It also went against my grain as a professional writer to write for free! But this turned out to be wisest gamble we ever made. The resultant publicity touched off a local tidal wave of interest in our region, resulting not only in large sales but speaking invitations (which led to more sales and more speaking invitations).
I'll never forget our first book-signing, which was held at Tilli's beauty shop. We got there about an hour early to find a line already forming! The line continued to grow, wrapping well outside the shop and onto the sidewalk. The beauty shop started getting calls asking if they were giving free haircuts. We had no cashbox and had to borrow change from the hairstylists for customers who wanted the book. The first customer bought 20 hardover copies. We wound up selling more than 150 books in two hours. I was stunned. Even more than the sales, I was struck by the reaction of people who came -- several women were in tears (either because they had been victims of abuse, or they had lived through that time in history). So many just wanted to give Tilli a hug and tell her how much their story had touched them.

Was that the single most successful publicity?
Yes.

How did the collaborative process work with regards to what to leave in/what to take out?
We were in harmony with this. The first draft was quite a bit longer than the final draft, and I started getting feedback from agents and publishers that a book such as ours should be in the 90,000 - 100,000 word range. I kept re-reading and tightening. Tilli was agreeable to what I proposed. She also was open to my decisions about style, such as whether to write the book in past tense or present (I did the ms. both ways before settling on present tense for most of it). She left the creative decisions up to me, so long as the book remained accurate and true.

And now, Lorna is awaiting your questions on the writing process, POD publishing or other questions!

Hey, Justin - You Won!

2008-06-12T05:20:00.001-05:00

The winner of the random drawing this week is Justin! Justin, I need you to email me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com so I can get your address to mail Cynthia's book, "Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays."
I want to thank everyone who visited and submitted a question to Cynthia. She was so impressed with the questions, she will be on the comments section later today to answer each one. Thanks, everyone and thanks Cynthia. This was a great discussion.

Now, here's Justin's question and Cynthia's answer:

Justin:

Hi, Cynthia.

I can't get the idea that some things shouldn't get the Complete Idiot's Guide treatment out of my head. I buy what you said about Shakespeare, that his stuff was originally meant for entertainment. That's fair, and I can see the need and justification for a CIG to his works.

But...

Do you worry at all that this could lead to CIGs for other authors/pieces that might be better left alone, that people might, instead of reading and appreciating the original works, just learn the gist from the CIG version and be done with it? Or am I just a pretentious and/or elitist ass for worrying? (My mom would say the latter, so don't feel like you need to be nice answering.)

Cynthia:

Justin,

First of all, I don't think your question is pretentious or elitist at all. You raise a fantastic question, and one that I, as a former teacher of Shakespeare, had to address before writing one word of my book. If I can digress a bit here..... Honestly, when I taught Shakespeare's plays at Wharton County Junior College during the late 1980s and 1990s, I had a strict policy about the use of Cliffs Notes in my classes. I didn't care if my students used them but I didn't want them to be quoted as secondary sources in written materials. So I found ways to force my students to read every word of the plays through exams and term papers. During that time that I developed a healthy respect for Cliff'sNotes and SparkNotes. They helped many of my students (not just the less motivated ones) fall in love with Macbeth and King Lear, by helping them decipher the plays' language and meanings. Today The Complete Idiot's Guides to Shakespeare's Plays helps students and readers overcome being intimidated by the texts, by encouraging them to watch the plays on the stage and screen whenever possible. But as you acknowledge, a CIG is certainly no substitute for enjoying the original plays. (I probably echo that sentiment about 25 times in the book, implying to you, the reader, that my book is no substitute for the original text!)

But to address your question - can a CIG to Shakespeare's Plays lead to a similar treatment for authors that should be read and appreciated in the original? Like a CIG to the world's greatest epics (The Aeneid, The Odyssey, The Iliad, and others) or a CIG to the novels of Henry James? And shouldn't such books be avoided at all cost?

I have no doubt that teachers and scholars fear the very sort of thing you allude to -- that the great unwashed will opt to read a CIG-style summary of a Henry James novel instead of "the real thing"...pardon the pun. And there are many who prefer to depend on Masterplots-style summaries of the classics, instead of reading the original. But I believe that CIGs do the opposite of what you suggest. Instead of pushing readers away from reading difficult classics, they encourage readers to seek them out. (Serious readers are truly curious, and they'll always seek out the original works, because they know better.) But many don't seek them out under any circumstances, because they are too difficult. So they need a boost!

In my view, CIGs and CliffsNotes are vital, and here's why. Because if one person reads my CIG (who wouldn't ordinarily give Shakespeare a second look) and it prompts him to get excited enough to crack open Romeo and Juliet or rent Zeffirelli's production on DVD, then I've created a convert. The same goes for a CIG to Henry James. Such a book might convince 20 readers in the U.S. to take a peek at The Portrait of a Lady or The Ambassadors. But without it, I doubt those same 20 could be bothered to slog through James, unless they were forced, by a dreaded English Lit professor.

This also might reassure you - convincing book publishers to issue new guides to the classics isn't easy. They have to be convinced there's a sizable market for such books. CIGs to Shakespeare and Jane Austen are one thing - these authors have blockbuster appeal on the big screen. But I doubt you'll ever find a CIG to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. There's just not enough popular interest in most of the classics, CIG or no CIG.

Thanks for posting your question!

Cynthia

To Be a Critic and Author of an Idiot's Guide

2008-06-10T05:35:00.001-05:00

Today, I have Cynthia Greenwood, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays." Cynthia discusses being a theater critic in a shrinking market, how she found her publisher and the process of writing a book in the Idiot's Guide family. The Big Book Giveaway continues today. Click on the word "comments" and ask Cynthia a writing-related question by 5 p.m. CST today. If I randomly draw your question, Cynthia will answer it on the blog on Thursday and you'll win a copy of her book! It's easy - and I even cover the cost of shipping! So, it is completely FREE!

Tell us about yourself.
I am an arts journalist and critic, as well as a consultant. As a freelancer, I began writing on a variety of subjects in 1990. I did some news reporting on juvenile crime, for example, and I wrote about education, business, and other topics. During the nineties I also taught literature and composition at Wharton County Junior College full-time, before I left in 1998 and began working on my own. I live in Houston, and I'm married to a district court judge who shares my passion for novels, nonfiction books, and plays. We are also avid playgoers. At home we have two extremely spoiled cats.

Tell us about your new book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays."
The new book is a comprehensive guide to Shakespeare's more familiar, popular plays - 20 of them, to be exact. It aims to assure readers that Shakespeare wrote his plays as entertainment, as works to be watched, heard and enjoyed. (Most people are introduced to Shakespeare in school, where dissecting his words on the page can be very frustrating.) I wrote the book for a broad audience: students of English and drama, teachers of Shakespeare, actors, theatre critics, playgoers, and the general reader who may feel as if he or she may have missed a lot when studying Shakespeare in high school and college. What makes the book unusual, I think, is that it focuses on the essence of plot and language, supplemented by original commentary by directors and actors who regularly stage the plays. It takes you behind the scenes with theatre people, suggesting that there are a variety of ways to interpret the plays. Using tips about good stage and film adaptations, the book encourages you to see the plays in performance, whenever possible.

How did you get interested in the performing arts?
I've come to the performing arts as a young student of piano and as a reader. I've always enjoyed reading plays, ever since I started reading classics by Miller, Ibsen, Wilde, O'Neill, Shakespeare, etc. in college and grad school. Also, Houston has a fantastic theatre, ballet, and opera scene; many arts presenters here are internationally renowned. So I've always taken advantage of that. I started reviewing opera, ballet, and other musical stage works for the Houston Press in 1998. Later I branched out and began filing news reports and features on prominent musicians, interesting and controversial productions, and the city's major arts presenters (Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera, for example.)

I've heard that being a critic is getting tougher, due to the shrinking markets - and being a theatre critic provides even fewer markets. Have you found it necessary to broaden your niche, or just develop a better platform within the same one?
I've never written exclusively about the performing arts. It just happens to be my principal passion. When I stopped reviewing for the Houston Press, I freelanced for arts editors at metropolitan dailies and eventually saw some of those markets disappear, as my editors assigned less and less. My arts writing is subsidized by steady work for a great client who essentially regards me as an employee. I review for the markets that still make assignments and seek new ones, of course. I also write regular reviews for BlogCritics, an online magazine.

Did you come up with the idea for your book, or was it presented to you? Tell us about that.
Yes. I came up with the idea and had an opportunity to pitch it to an editor at the ASJA conference in New York. She was very receptive. I spent several months researching and writing the proposal, which was accepted more than a year ago.

How was it working on an "Idiot's Guide" book, and is there a particular formula you must follow?
It was challenging and satisfying, largely because book writing allowed me to explore my subject in-depth, which better suits my mindset and my academic background. In terms of the content itself, you don't follow a formula for the Idiot's Guide books. There is a scheme for the layout - prescribed chapter lengths and ways of organizing the material to make room for sidebars, but there is complete freedom in how you write and present your material. If there is one chief requirement by the editors, it is this - the book must be an entertaining read. And while my book is aimed at college-level and secondary-level students studying difficult Shakespearean masterworks, it remains accessible and engaging. At least, that's what many readers are telling me so far.

How did you find your agent? Or, if you don't have one, what is the advantage of that?
I didn't have an agent. Instead, I worked with an attorney specializing in intellectual property and she helped me review the publisher's contract and negotiate a few changes. This process worked very well for me. I have a very experienced attorney whom I trust. In the future, I will seek an agent if I have a novel or a nonfiction book that is harder to sell on my own.

How has the publisher assisted in marketing your book and what have you had to do yourself?
The book just came out last month so the publisher and publicist have been busy since February. They send out a newsletter listing the book, review copies to major media and pre-publicity markets, press releases to coincide with the release itself, and pitches tied to viable dates like Shakespeare's birthday. They have assisted my efforts in whatever way is possible. In turn, I have worked up my own publicity plan and plan to market the book to different segments over the coming weeks, months, and years. They continue to support my efforts at pitching reviews and promotion in general.

What's next for you?
As the book is released, I take the time to re-connect with my contributors in the Houston theatre community, as well as local playwrights who are very supportive. I am gathering information for new book proposals and promoting the book heavily. I'm also taking the opportunity to write about Shakespeare and his plays whenever I can. I also continue my research and study of of Shakespeare's works, and keep up with scholarly and popular works about him. And I continue to review books and plays by other authors.

And now Cynthia is awaiting your questions...

The Time to Announce a Winner

2008-06-05T06:05:00.000-05:00

Kerry Dexter won the book, "The Time of New Weather" and won the opportunity to have Sean answer her question here on KC Writer's Blog:

Kerry: Sean,
This may seem a bit off the wall, but after reading your interview the
question that comes first to my mind is what part does music play in
your creative process?

Kerry,
who spent several winters in Taos back around 1990 it is an inspiring
place, no doubt about it

Sean's reply:
Funny you should ask this question Kerry, as the next novel I'm working
on has much to do with jazz and the jazz world, which is one of my
particular areas of fascination. So your question isn't 'off the wall'
at all, though I wonder what made you think to ask it. I'm also a
guitarist and songwriter, and music definitely influences me in my
fiction in terms of rhythm, pace, and the poetry of word use -- if I
can't get it to 'sound right' I'm not satisfied. I'll often work over a
passage again and again until it seems to 'harmonize' in just the right
way. Music also provides me with much inspiration when I'm stuck in my
writing, and sometimes exerts a seductive influence, distracting me from
my commitment to writing. It's tough having several great loves...
Especially when they compete for my attention! Finally the
improvisational character of jazz and blues connects to my Zen
meditation practice in a deep way, since the only way to improvise well
is to be in a state of complete absorption in the moment. It's
meditation in action. I practice this form of meditation twice a month
with my friends John Nichols (author of The Milagro Beanfield War and
The Sterile Cuckoo) and Rick Smith, owner of Brodsky Books here in Taos.
Both are fine musicians and in fact, we play at the bookstore, which
brings the whole thing full circle in a way. And of course I do my best
to apply this same deep concentration to my writing work (and from time
to time, I may even succeed!)

Many thanks! Sean

Thank you, everyone who visited and participated in the Great Summer Book Giveaway and thank you, Sean!

The Time of New Weather

2008-06-03T05:40:00.000-05:00

The best part about doing the author interviews are all the great writers I've discovered and learned from and Sean Murphy is definitely one of them. Today, I'm really glad to have Sean, who talks about his new book, "The Time of New Weather." Sean won a Hemingway Award for his first novel, holds a MFA in writing and once taught with Natalie Goldberg. He talks about all of this with us today.
The Great Summer Book Giveaway continues. Ask Sean a writing related question by 5 p.m. today and you will be entered into a random drawing. If I draw your question, Sean will answer it and you'll receive his book.

Please tell us about yourself.

Sean: I'm a long-time practitioner of Zen meditation and the author of a book on Zen in America (One Bird, One Stone, Renaissance/St. Martins 2002) as well as three novels for Bantam Dell - including The Time of New Weather, released in mass market paperback April 29, 2008.
My first novel, The Hope Valley Hubcap King, took me 12 years to finish. When you announce that you're writing a novel, for the first few years friends and family ask eagerly every time they see you, "How's it going?" After several years they stop asking, but will still discuss it if you bring up the subject. A few more years and they will talk about it only under duress, or when they've been drinking. After a decade, if even the slightest mention of your novel enters the conversation they roll their eyes and slowly back away to the nearest exit. No one believes you'll ever actually do it. I hope to be an encouragement to readers who have long-term writing projects, because I not only finished The Hope Valley Hubcap King after 12 years, but won the Hemingway Award for a First Novel, a manuscript prize administered by Hilary Hemingway of the Sanibel Island Hemingway Festival. Fortunately an agent, Peter Rubie, came with that award, and since then I've had three other books published as well.

Tell us about your book, "The Time of New Weather."
When I first had the idea for this book, some years ago, certain concepts -- that the weather might spin entirely out of control and that America might be purchased in a corporate buyout -- seemed a little extravagant. Now people ask, "I thought you were writing fiction?" This was my third novel for Bantam Dell, and the writing coincided with the war in Iraq and concern over civil liberties here at home, so a lot of that seeped into the pages. The book is in part an homage to dystopian classics like 1984 and Brave New World, but it's set in near-contemporary America, has an optimistic outcome, and is leavened with its own peculiar brand of absurdist humor. It's a romance and adventure story as well as a satire -- imagine Kurt Vonnegut meets Terry Gilliam and you might land in the right territory.

You've had such an interesting education background and career, it's hard to know where to start. How did you end up in an MFA program at the Naropa Institute?
I'd been involved in Zen meditation practice for some years and I was fascinated when I heard about Naropa's renegade contemplative writing program, founded by a Tibetan Buddhist Lama, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, with Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. How could I resist? Actually my first introduction to Zen was through reading Jack Kerouac's novel 'Dharma Bums', so this felt like coming full circle.

Taos is such a mystical, spiritual place. Do your surroundings there help your creative energy?
I caretake a 42 acre nature preserve with a hot spring. The environment is hugely inspiring, and here in the wilderness I've produced four books – although the writing sometimes competes with broken fence lines, marauding elk, rattlesnakes, and drunken trespassers for my attention! But then there are tremendous gifts such as visits from the leaders of two sovereign nations -- Taos and Picuris Pueblos, both of whom regard this property as sacred ancestral land. It's not your everyday writer's life but I wouldn't trade it.

You won a Hemingway Award for your first novel, that's pretty impressive. Was it difficult then to live up to an award winning book for your second one?
Everyone at my publisher, Bantam Dell, knew that my first novel took me 12 years to write. I had to laugh because after the success of The Hope Valley Hubcap King, they said they wanted my next book in six months! But once you've written one novel you have an important factor in your favor: you know you can do it. The idea for my second novel came to me in a dream while I was writing 'Hubcap King' – I leapt out of bed and wrote 12 pages of notes before I was fully awake so I wouldn't forget anything. So I had basic ideas and characters, but no scenes or chapters written. But I cancelled everything, buckled down, and produced a first draft of The Finished Man by the deadline. Then came the rewrite process with my editor, allowing several more months to revise and edit. I ended up being very satisfied with the result, as was my editor, and Bantam Dell nominated the book for a Pulitzer Prize. It was a great relief to find that I could write quickly under deadline -- I'd already calculated that if the average book took as long to write as 'Hubcap King' I'd be lucky to get 3 more finished in my lifetime!
The thought never entered my mind to compare The Finished Man with Hubcap King – the two novels are very different. It's a bit like deciding which of your children you like more. You do the best you can with each one on its own terms. Winning an award is something of a set-up because you can't expect that to happen for every book. I just gave it my best effort without holding on to the outcome.

Many writers question if an MFA will help their career. How do you feel it has contributed to yours?
The most important thing – and I always tell my writing students this though they rarely believe me -- was the opportunity the MFA workshop environment gave me to revise the work of OTHER writers. Writers usually want feedback on their own work, but the real learning comes in spotting the problems in other writers' work and attempting to solve them. This develops a revision 'muscle' and an objective viewpoint that eventually transfers to your own writing. This skill has been invaluable for me. Of course an MFA won't help you get published -- it's important to realize this. But for better or worse teaching is the bread and butter of most contemporary novelists, and an MFA allows you to teach all college levels (unlike an MA which only serves for community college). This is important because in the career of even a successful author the income stream is rarely predictable!

You and your wife are both writers. How does working together everyday work for you? Do you have separate offices?
The house that comes with my caretaking position is comfortable but small. There's a little upstairs loft where my wife works, but I wrote my last two books on my laptop on an overturned milk crate while sitting cross-legged on our living room floor. I've got a corner 'rat's nest' in the living room that passes for my office space. In the summer I run an electric line outdoors to a cabin-sized tent I bought for less than $100. It all works just fine. There are never the perfect conditions to 'create' – but whatever your circumstances there's always something better to wish for, so my advice to other writers is just get on with it! As for being married to another writer all I can say is, "Thank God". No one else could ever possibly understand! We have different strengths and weaknesses, so we balance each other out, but we give each other plenty of space. Fortunately my wife is the single best reader of my work and her feedback is invaluable (and she's right, 99% of the time!)

You taught with Natalie Goldberg for a time, I loved "Writing Down the Bones," which was one of the first writing books I devoured at the beginning of my freelance career and is a book that stays handy on my shelf. Tell us about working with her.
Natalie and I met at a Zen retreat shortly after I moved to Taos, and I think we both quickly saw that we'd arrived at similar notions of how meditation practice can free the creative spirit, though we'd come to this in different ways. Working with Natalie is a genuine privilege. She's a deeply intuitive writer and a truly inspirational teacher. We still work together sometimes, and we'll lead a writing and meditation retreat together in June at Rose Mountain center in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The most direct answer to what it's like to work with Natalie is that she's simply the best at what she does. If you want to learn writing practice as described in 'Writing Down the Bones', or have been inspired by her books, don't pass up a chance to work with Natalie herself!

You told me you developed the idea for your current book (back when) the "notion that America might be acquired in a corporate buyout and the weather might spin entirely out of control seemed a bit farfetched." Now it seems almost prophetic, like that work of fiction that nearly foretold of the Titanic's demise years before it happened, or some parts of 1984. How do you think that works, is it just being in tune with what's happening and taking it further?
It's odd, since as I mention above, some of what appears in the book was imagined well in advance of current events. But then, in 'The Hope Valley Hubcap King' I invented two rival churches, 'The Church of God the Miniscule' and 'The Church of God the Humongous', which are forever at war because one thinks the reason for God's apparent absence on the earthly plane is that he's too infinitely small to perceive -- while the other believes he's too infinitely large. When my hero, Bibi Brown, tries to make peace by explaining that infinity extends infinitely in all directions, he's thrown into an insane asylum. I had the idea for that part of the book in the last years of the cold war in the 80's, long before the current world standoff between fundamentalist leaders and religions had come to the fore -- but then, religious wars are an eternal theme. So it now seems perfectly contemporary.
As for The Time of New Weather, I'd always wanted to write a narrative of a group of people who actually DO change the world, ever since I walked across the country with 600 other walkers on The Great Peace March for Nuclear Disarmament in 1986. The walk took nine months and gave me a deep sense for the landscape and culture of our country as well as a sense of what a group of determined people can do if they set their minds to it. Of course it's ordinary people who create change, and that's the only way these things usually happen (the abolition of slavery, votes for women, ending the war in Vietnam, etc. etc.) So in my fiction it's taking what's going on here and now and using the imagination to extend the picture a bit further. Of course, you never know if you're getting it right – remember all those 1960's projections of what the year 2000 would be like? Personal jetpacks to fly us to work and so on? Anyway, you do your best, dig deeply into your personal sense of what's going on in the world, elaborate on that, and hope it 'flies'. Only time will tell.

And now Sean is eagerly awaiting a question from you....