www.marybalogh.com

About the Book:
She was unlike any woman he’d ever met in the ton or the demimonde. But Sir Gerald Stapleton frequented Mrs. Blyth’s euphemistically dubbed “finishing school” for pure, uncomplicated pleasure—and nothing else. So why was this confirmed bachelor so thoroughly captivated by one woman in particular? Why did he find himself wondering how such a rare jewel of grace, beauty, and refinement as Priss had ended up a courtesan? And when she needed protection, why did Gerald, who’d sworn he’d never get entangled in affairs of the heart, hasten to set her up as his own pampered mistress to ensure her safety—and have her all to himself?

For Priscilla Wentworth, the path leading to Sir Gerald’s bed had been as filled with misfortune as it suddenly seemed charmed. But Priss couldn’t allow herself to believe she’d ever be more to a man like Sir Gerald than a well-cared-for object of pleasure. Now, despite Gerald’s deep distrust of marriage, neither scandal nor society’s censure can keep them apart—only the fear of trusting their hearts.

Hi Mary Balogh,

Welcome to Paperback Writer

Thank you for having me!

Q: Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

A: A PRECIOUS JEWEL is a Regency-era romance with a difference. The hero, Sir Gerald Stapleton, is a beta male whose self-esteem was taken from him during childhood by a cold, insensitive father and a stepmother who betrayed his love and trust. He is afraid of relationships and so satisfies his needs with frequent visits to a high-class brothel. The heroine, Priscilla Wentworth, well-born but forced by circumstances into prostitution, becomes his “regular” and later his mistress. It is not an auspicious beginning for a love story, but that is exactly what their story becomes. I love to take on a challenge as a writer, and there was none greater that this.

Gerald was a minor character in THE IDEAL WIFE (re-published in 2008 by Bantam Dell), best friend of the hero. In that book he was struggling with the loss of his long-term mistress (Priscilla), who had left him to marry a former beau. My mind played with the usual what-ifs as I wrote THE IDEAL WIFE. What if Gerald really loved Priscilla? What if she really loved him? What if the former beau and impending marriage were fictitious, an excuse to get away from a liaison that had become intolerable to her? What if…

Gerald intrigued me to such an extent that I had to tell his story. Actually, it became an obsession with me. I knew I could not write it. He was not the alpha male readers expect their heroes to be. Priscilla was a working prostitute. It was all quite impossible. A few fellow writers on whom I tried the idea agreed with me. I did not even ask my editor about it. But those two characters would not let me alone. Finally I wrote their story during a hectic two-week period and put the manuscript up on a shelf in my office for a long time before deciding to send it in just to see what the reaction would be. When I phoned about it some time later, I discovered that the book was in copyediting! All this was back in 1993. Now Bantam Dell has republished A PRECIOUS JEWEL.

Q: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

A: I try to plan. How relaxing writing would be if I knew in advance exactly where a story was going! Or so it sometimes seems. But perhaps the story would be less dynamic if it did not constantly unfold on the screen before my very eyes, often surprising even me! My stories are character-driven. And because characters reveal themselves to me gradually as the story progresses, I can never decide in advance what they are going to do in a given situation. Sometimes I think I know, but when I get to that part of the story I realize that the characters as they have become would never do that particular thing. Planning ahead is a little like trying to plan out the lives of one’s children as soon as they are born (or conceived). It can’t be done!

Q: Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

A: I write love stories. I write happy endings. I always know who the hero and heroine are, and therefore I know that they will end up together facing a lifetime of potential happiness and love. It is the road to that ending that I do not know. I may have some idea of the scenery and various road blocks along the way, but it is all pretty hazy.

Q: Do you have a process for developing your characters?

A: I like to know my characters soul-deep. It is not enough to know about them, no matter how long the list of facts and characteristics may be. I could list for you a hundred things about myself, but you still wouldn’t know me. Sometimes I don’t even know myself. I’ll do or say something and then go “Huh? Where did that come from?” I struggle with my characters all through a book, especially at the beginning. I always feel that I know them well enough to make a start, but they constantly flummox me. I find myself staring at the screen and asking them aloud, “Who are you?” And if that doesn’t work, I jump inside their head and ask, “Who am I?” Experience has taught me that the answer often lies in another question, “Where is your deepest pain?” Once I know the answer to the questions, especially that last one, I can go back and adjust the character and his behavior accordingly. I hope the whole thing seems seamless to the reader who reads the resulting story, but the creation is certainly not seamless!

Q: It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

A: Oh, yes, it is inevitable. What I find admirable will appear in my heroes and heroines. What I find despicable will not—not as they are by the end of the book, anyway. Their philosophy of life will often be mine or at least one of which I can approve. Just a few minor examples: None of my heroes enjoy hunting even though hunting and shooting were favorite pastimes of Regency gentlemen. Few of my heroines like to have cut flowers in the house—they would prefer to see them to live out their span in the garden. Most of my heroes and heroines make a distinction between being in love (romantic, euphoric, ephemeral) and loving (a deep, lasting commitment that embraces romance and friendship and is unending and unconditional).

Q: What is your most favorite part about this book?

A: It is difficult to pick a favorite part, because that implies that the rest of the book is less favorite and therefore inferior. However, the part I enjoyed writing most and enjoy rereading most is the middle (unusual when many books suffer from the dreaded sagging middle). Priscilla and Gerald, alone together in the country, fall in love even though neither says a word about it to the other. Disaster looms and is surely felt by the reader—it is too soon for happily-ever-after to dawn. But the calm before the storm is tender and beautiful. Or so I believe.

Q: When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

A: I already had a publisher. The only question was—would that publisher accept a book that was so radically different from the norm? And I have a publisher now. A PRECIOUS JEWEL was one of the first of my older books that I suggested for republication, and it has become a particular favorite of my editor at Bantam Dell.

Q: What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

A: It was a long time ago! My struggles were few, all thanks to the fact that I was such a greenhorm I had no idea how to go about getting published. When I had finished my first Regency romance, A MASKED DECEPTION, I bundled up the whole manuscript and sent it off with a very brief letter to a Canadian address I found inside the cover of a Regency romance I had enjoyed reading. That address turned out to be a distribution center! However, someone there read the manuscript, liked it, and sent it on to New York. Two weeks later I was offered a two-book contract. I never looked back after that.

Q: What has been the best part about being published?

A: It was (and is) the fulfillment of all my dreams. From childhood on I wanted to be a writer. As a child I used to write long, long stories. Being published enabled me to give up my teaching job and remain home with my growing family. It opened another world to me. It enabled me to make a comfortable living out of my imagination. What more could anyone ask of life?

Q: What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

A: Basically, I would like readers to heave a great sigh of satisfaction at the end of the book and think, “How romantic! How absolutely lovely!” I would like them to feel convinced that love really is a powerful enough force to heal all the wounds of life that can prevent people from realizing their full potential and stop them from finding happiness in a committed relationship. I would like them to believe that love is a powerful enough bond to carry a couple through what remains of their lives no matter what obstacles the future might hold.

Q: Do you have plans to write another book?

A: I always have plans to write another book! I have just completed a quintet of books about the Huxtable family—three sister, their brother, and their male second cousin. The first four books were out during the spring of 2009. The fifth, A SECRET AFFAIR, Constantine’s story, is set to be released in hardcover at the end of June, 2010. Next up will be two “left-over” books from other series—a prequel to MORE THAN A MISTRESS and NO MAN’S MISTRESS featuring Lady Angeline Dudley and Lord Heyward, and a story for Gwen, Lady Muir, a minor character in ONE NIGHT FOR LOVE, A SUMMER TO REMEMBER and a few other related books.

Q: Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

A: It hasn’t started yet except that I have been answering questionnaires like this one and preparing short essays for blog discussions. I am thoroughly looking forward to the whole experience. A tour from the comfort of my own office chair!

Q: Where can readers find a copy of your book?

A: Everywhere books are sold, I hope. The “Buy a Book” page at my web site ( www.marybalogh.com ) will take readers to numerous on-line bookstores in various parts of the world.

Q: Do you have a website for readers to go to?

A: Yes – www.marybalogh.com. Among other features there, readers will find an excerpt from A PRECIOUS JEWEL.

Thank you, Mary Balogh for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

Thank you.

MARY BALOGH is the New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Slightly series and Simply quartet of novels set at Miss Martin’s School for Girls, as well as many other beloved novels. She is also the author of First Comes Marriage, Then Comes Seduction, At Last Comes Love, and Seducing An Angel, all featuring the Huxtable family. A former teacher, she grew up in Wales and now lives in Canada. To learn more, visit the author’s website at www.MaryBalogh.com.

Paperback Writer is pleased to announce our author for today, Robert Tuchman, author of The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: He joins us during his virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

About the Book:
What do running with bulls in Pamplona, watching contestants scarf down record numbers of Nathan’s hot dogs and witnessing the crowning of the newest Vincent Lombardi trophy recipient at the Super Bowl all have in common? According to Robert Tuchman, they all deserve to be in his new book, The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime, published by BenBella Books this month.

As president of Premiere Corporate Events, Tuchman has spent most of his years traveling to hundreds of events on the top of any sports fan’s ultimate wish list. While at these events, organizing and accomplishing corporate outings, he gained very valuable information about said events. He spent two years researching details for the 337-page book, a veritable Frommer’s guide for sports travel fanatics who want to delve the live sports events world but do not know where to start.

Using live appeal as the main criteria, Tuchman breaks down one hundred events in more than 30 states and 15 countries into an easily readable list format. His pick for the top place: the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta. In the 100th spot? A no holds barred Ultimate Fighting Championship in Las Vegas. Also included: the Tour de France (#13), the Rose Bowl (#26) and a basketball game at Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park (#76).

“It doesn’t matter if you eat, sleep and breathe sports, or if only learned what the Iditarod was during last year’s presidential campaign,” says Tuchman. “There’s something in here for everyone.”

Hi Robert Tuchman

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

Q: Would you share with us how you came up with the idea for your book?

A: Sure. I am in the sports event hospitality industry and have traveled to hundreds of different sporting events throughout my life. I was at the World Cup in germany in 2006 and all of a sudden it hit me that all these people from all over the world were traveling for sports more then ever. The time was right.

Q: Was it a light bulb moment or something that you thought about for a very long time?

A: It was a light bulb moment that was the result of years of experiences at various sporting events. The light should have gone on earlier but im not the quickest one.

Q: How did you come up with the title?

A: “100 Sporting Events You Must See Live” is kind of an obvious choice but one that I thought worked well and that was to the point.

Q: How did you find an agent and publisher?

A: Friends of mine are in the industry and pointed me in the right direction. One thing you learn in order to be a successful entrepreneur is that you need to use your network as allies.

Q: Who reads you work in progress?

A: People close to me whose opinions I trust and value who I know give me honest critiques.

Q: Who made a difference in the book’s quality?

A: All those people who helped me gather information as this book is very heavy on data.

Q: How long did it take you to complete the first draft?

A: I would say that the first draft came together over a period of eight months while still working and running my company.

Q: How long did it take from start to publication?

A: Everything came together over a period of two years.

Q: Do you have any advice for new authors?

A: Yes, don’t be afraid to write about what moves you. If you think it is a good idea, take the steps necessary to make other people see what you see.

Thank you, Robert Tuchman for stopping by Paperback Writer on your virtual book tour. I wish you continued success through the rest of you tour.

100 SPORTING EVENTS BLOG TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on November 2 and ends on November 27. You can visit Robert’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

Paperback Writer is pleased to introduce our guest author for today, Joan Hochstetler, author of One Holy Night as she joins us during her virtual book tour.

About the Book:
An unforgettable story of forgiveness and reconciliation, One Holy Night retells the Christmas story in a strikingly original way—through the discovery of a baby abandoned in the manger of a church’s nativity scene. Destined to become a classic for all seasons, One Holy Night deals compassionately with the gritty issues of life—war and violence, devastating illness, intergenerational conflict, addictions, and broken relationships. This moving, inspirational story will warm readers’ hearts with hope and joy long after they finish reading.

Hi, Joan. Welcome to Paperback Writer!

It’s great to be here! Thank you for inviting me.

Q: Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

A: I came up with the basic idea for this story back in the late 1980s when I was working with another author on a book of short stories that revolved around Christmas. I was assigned to write a miracle story, so One Holy Night started out as a short story with the same basic theme but a different setting. When the project got shelved, I put it aside and forgot all about it for a long time.

Around 1998 or 1999, I got it out again, set it during the Vietnam era, and then worked on it off and on for a couple of years. Then 9-11 happened, and right around the same time a young mother in our church was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and then died within a year. The following year my parents both died as the result of a car accident. The war against terrorism was in all the headlines at the time, with commentators comparing the Iraqi war with the quagmire of Vietnam—a conflict I was well acquainted with since I was in high school and college during those years.

So all my ponderings started to find their way into this story set in 1967 about a family in a small town in Minnesota that is grappling with the kinds of gritty issues we all face, while their son is away, serving in Vietnam.

Q: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

A: I’m what’s known as a seat-of-the-pants writer. I do a minimal amount of planning when I begin a story, though I always have a general idea of the storyline. But characters and the details of the plot pretty much develop as I write.

Q: Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

A: Not always, though I do know which direction the plot is tending. But by the time I’ve written about a third of the story, I always know exactly where and how it will end. At that point I write the final chapter, which helps tremendously in figuring out the middle of the story.

Q: Do you have a process for developing your characters?

A: Um . . . I just start writing, and somehow they spring to life and start talking and doing stuff. Sometimes stuff that surprises me. Occasionally stuff that annoys me because it complicates the action.

Q; It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

A: It’s probably impossible not to put yourself into your characters at some level. I think some authors are very recognizable in the characters they create, but I’ve been told that’s not very obvious in my stories, at least not in my series on the American Revolution. Little do they know! But in One Holy Night, Julie definitely did inherit a lot of my characteristics, from her strawberry blonde hair to her efforts to persuade everybody in her family to get along and be happy. Maggie has some shades of me too. For one thing, she has a hard time setting aside time and energy to take care of herself as I do, which I think is a tendency we women have. We’re nurturers by nature and also by upbringing, so we feel guilty if we’re not putting others first.

Q: What is your most favorite part about this book?

A: I love the last few chapters, when Frank is finally forced to face his personal demons and come to grips with his hardness of heart and unforgiving spirit. And then the scene in which little Katie leads them all to the church on Christmas morning, where they find a real baby in the manger. The end of this story is full of so much hope and joy after all the pain and sorrow the characters experienced. All because of a baby, just like Jesus’ birth.

Q: When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

A: Not until the full manuscript was finished. That took a while. This story stayed with me for a number of years and through several other manuscripts and a lot of life changes before I finally finished it.

Q: What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

A: It’s been a rocky road, that’s for sure. I started writing in 1977, began submitting to publishers and agents in the early 1980s, and finally got a publishing contract in 2002. Then I lost my editor, the new editor wasn’t interested in me and my books, and my agent finally ended up terminating the contract in 2005. At that point, nobody would look at any of my proposals, and as an author I was at a dead end.

It turned out to be a good thing, though, because it forced me to found my own small press, Sheaf House Publishers, which has been an adventure and a blessing. My partner, Joy DeKok, and I now have 15 authors under contract, with 3 more soon to sign, and 8 books out as of October. We have a full list for 2010 and 2011, and we’re beginning to schedule projects into 2012. God keeps opening doors and raining down blessings.

Q: What has been the best part about being published?

A: Feedback from my readers. I just love to hear how the stories God has given me have touched readers’ lives and hearts. I’m always incredibly blessed and encouraged when they take the time to contact me.

Q: What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

A: When I look back at all the times the Lord has restored my life, strengthened my faith, and given me hope and joy in the midst really bleak circumstances, I have to rejoice. I want readers to know that no matter what circumstances they’re facing, nothing is impossible for our God! Nothing! Even when we can’t see it, God is constantly working for our good. He will accomplish His perfect will for each of us individually, and for our country and the world, if we’ll just believe in Him and trust Him to lead us.

Q: Do you have plans to write another book?

A: Actually, I have several projects going at any one time. Currently I’m working on book 4 of my American Patriot Series, Crucible of War. I also have a romance in the works that’s based on my Mennonite background and another that’s a fictional retelling of the well-known story of my Hochstetler ancestors, who came to this country in 1738 and were attacked by Indians in 1757 during the French and Indian War. There are a few other works in progress hanging around as well.

Q: Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

A: It’s been fantastic! I just love the thought and care they put into designing a tour that fits the individual book and author instead of being the one size fits all kind. The interviews are all really different and fun, and writing articles for sites with different focuses is a blast. I’m having a great time!

Q: Where can readers find a copy of your book?

A: My books are available from any local bookseller and from your favorite online retailers. They’re also available on the Sheaf House Web site at www.sheafhouse.com.

Q: Do you have a website for readers to go to?

A: That would be www.jmhochstetler.com.

Thank you, Joan, for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

It’s been wonderful. Thank you so much! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

About the Author;
J. M. Hochstetler writes stories that always involve some element of the past and of finding home. Born in central Indiana, the daughter of Mennonite farmers, she graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Germanic languages. She was an editor with Abingdon Press for twelve years and has published four novels. Daughter of Liberty (2004), Native Son (2005), and Wind of the Spirit (March 2009), the first three books of the critically acclaimed American Patriot Series, are set during the American Revolution. One Holy Night, a retelling of the Christmas story set in modern times, is the 2009 Christian Small Publishers Fiction Book of the Year and a finalist for the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Long Contemporary Book of the Year.

Hochstetler is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, Nashville Christian Writers Association, and Historical Novels Society. She and her husband live near Nashville, Tennessee.

You can find Joan online at www.jmhochstetler.com or at this book’s blog http://oneholynight.blogspot.com

Paperback Writer is pleased to introduce our Author for today, Susan Chodakiewitz, author of Too Many Visitors for One Little House.

Hi Susan Chodakiewitz,

Welcome to Paperback Writer

Q: Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

A: Too Many Visitors for One Little House is based on the wild summer that we moved to our new house and every aunt, cousin, uncle and great uncle — decided to visit –ALL– at the same time. I tried to persuade some visitors to come another time but they would not hear of it. My sister was already on her way with 4 kids, a husband and housekeeper in a giant BOUNDER…the biggest camper you ever saw. My sister-in-law was determined to make a clean slate after a divorce was already at the airport plane with her 3 kids with her kids and housekeeper when the call came that THEY also were coming! My parents stowed aboard my sister’s camper to SURPRISE me…and they dragged my newly arrived uncle from Russia along, to show him the USA! On one of my many trips to the grocery store that summer a scraggly dog followed me home. I guess he sniffed the truckload of yummy food I was bringing for the BIG family at home!

The whole summer was very chaotic and bigger than life… I thought I would write the story as a humorous novel or a movie script…Didn’t realize it would become a picture book… that was a surprise to me.

Q: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

A: I don’t outline when I write a children’s book. I do outline when I write musical theater, Came move on with out that step. But with children’s book I allow the story to flow. Usually I sit down and write the first draft in one sitting. Sometimes the story takes on a new direction takes totally surprises me.

Q: Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

A: I start out with a story line, a character or a concept first. Then I think of an ending that has a payoff emotionally. That helps me develop the story line. The ending may change of course as I develop the story and learn about my characters.

Q: Do you have a process for developing your characters?

A: I write the first draft with a title, a storyline in mind, the characters and an ending in mind. I don’t realize that I don’t know the characters at this point. As soon as I get to a point of not knowing which way to take the story I realize – I don’t know my characters. They I start figuring out the characters. ALMOST every problem is solved by knowing my characters better. What do they like? What do they hate? What are they afraid of? What is their strength? What is their weakness? What is their dream? This knowledge comes later as I re-write and re work. I also like to develop a back story for them…what were there parents like…etc.

Q: It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

A: Of course! I use my own life and family as substrate for my children’s stories. There is a lot of humor and craziness in my family life.

Q: What is your most favorite part about this book?

A: I love the part where the scraggly dog appears and is attracted to this joyful home. I also love the part where the neighbors boogie-to-the-beat despite their apparent uptight nature. But my favorite scene is the scene with all the family dancing and playing music together. That is A LOT like my home life.

Q: When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

A: It took about a year of crafting and tweaking before I dared to send it out to publishers.

Q: What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

A: Many rejections as everyone who writes can attest to.

Q: What has been the best part about being published?

A: The best part of being published is having readers and getting feedback that readers love your book! When a parent tells me how much their kid loves reading my book, or that it is the book they ask for before going to bed, or that they sing the repeating chorus around the house…That is a GREAT feeling of accomplishment. Makes all the work worthwhile. It is a wonderful feeling to know you have impacted a child in some way and brought them joy through reading.

Q: What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

A: Too Many Visitors is a joyful story about the fun and happy chaos of family. One of my readers wrote me that after reading this book to her grand kids she suddenly appreciated her family more and that though she sometimes found her family annoying to be around, experiencing the joy of family from reading the book made her appreciate how blessed she was to have family that cared. That is something I would love readers to carry with them after reading my book.

Q: Do you have plans to write another book?

A: Two books in the wings. Dogstoyevsky – about a dog who wants to be a writer but can’t find his own artistic voice because he doesn’t believe in himself enough and gets confused by listening to everyone but himself about what it takes to write well.

I am also working on a sequel to Too Many Visitors for One Little House featuring the dog as a main character.

Q: Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

A: Dorothy Thompson is very professional and an excellent promoter. I would do it again!

Q: Where can readers find a copy of your book?

A: The book is available at Amazon.com, select Barnes and Noble books stores and accessible through the Booksicals website www.booksicals.com

There is also a musical version of the book which is downloadable now on the website. download for FREE until through Dec 31. The Booksicals Repertory Company performs the book at schools, libraries and special events – encouraging a love of reading through the arts.

Q: Do you have a website for readers to go to?

A: Visit www.booksicals.com to read my blog, get Nanny’s delicious apple strudel recipe from the book, get arts and crafts ideas for the kids, listen to the musical version of the book as well buy the book .

Thank you, Susan Chodakiewitz for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Wednesday and our author Lady Colin Campbell, author of the biography/psychology book, Daughter of Narcissus (Dynasty Press Ltd, October ‘09).

About the Book :
Daughter of Narcissus is a stunning analysis by Lady Colin of her own dysfunctional family positioned at the heart of upper class Jamaican society from the middle of the 20th century to the present day. Covering the end of the British Colonial Age and the rise of a liberated generation, whilst addressing the narcissistic personality of her mother, the author brilliantly interconnects the sociological, political and personal. As she dissects the family dynamics lying beneath the appearance of wealth and power, Lady Colin’s understanding of personality disorder is revelatory: compelling the reader to comprehend the destructive and tragic reality concealed by rational language and behavior.

Set against a backdrop of glamour, wealth and fame, this compulsive book is both a fascinating history of one socially prominent family, and a uniquely detailed analysis of narcissism, its manifestations and how to survive them in order to lead a purposeful and affirming life.

Hi Lady Colin Campbell, or Georgie as she prefers to be known.

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

Q: Would you share with us how you came up with the idea for your book?

A: I wish I could claim credit for the idea for Daughter of Narcissus, but I cannot as it was not actually mine. I was in New York staying with a dear friend and we were talking to the eminent psychoanalyst Dr Erika Freeman about our narcissistic mothers when Erika suggested I write
about mine. Although I was initially horror stricken by the thought
of doing something so invasive of my mother’s privacy, Erika argued that she had every confidence that I could do the subject justice and, since my mother as dead, I would not actually be violating her privacy.

Q: Was it a light bulb moment or something that you thought about for a very long time?

A: It took me quite a few weeks of thought before I decided that I might be able to run with Erika’s idea. I then needed to see what my sisters’ attitudes were, for they were a part of the story and I would not have proceeded with the book had they been against it. To their credit, neither of them tried to block me and both of them have been supportive in their own ways.

Q: How did you come up with the title?

A: I had described my mother previously as a daughter of Narcissus and I thought the description was not only apt and succinct but would make a good title. Fortunately my publisher agreed. Not all my other books bear titles that I came up with – I have no problem with my own ideas being shot down if others seem better.

Q: How did you find an agent and publisher?

A: I have had three agents in my working life. The first I met through Barbara Taylor Bradford. The second was recommended through another agent. And the third I met through a friend of a friend. My agents have usually found my publishers, though my present publisher found me, so to speak.

Q: Who reads your work in progress?

A: No one reads my work in progress. The publishers of my first two books did look at the first parts of the manuscripts, but when they saw that I was handling the material competently, they let me get on with things without interruption. Since then, I have been my own critic – I write and rewrite until I am satisfied that I am communicating what I want to. And only then do I tick the box and move on to the next part.

Q: Who made a difference in the book’s quality?

A: Once I had finished Daughter of Narcissus to my satisfaction, I handed it over to the editor, Ken Hollings, for him to do the chopping and changing, and to clean up the inevitable grammatical errors to which that all writers are prone.

Q: How long did it take you to complete the first draft?

A: The first draft took me about twenty-one months to write, after which I began the honing and polishing process for another few months.

Q: How long did it take from start to publication?

A: The book took about two and a half years from start to finish, and the production process has taken another nine or so months.

Q: Do you have any advice for new authors?

A: I am not a great one for giving advice, as I feel that each person’s circumstances are different, and what is appropriate for one person might not be so for another. But I would encourage all prospective writers to stick to their guns and not allow rejection to deter them.
Some of the greatest bestsellers of all time have been rejected time and again. The Day of the Jackal was rejected 42 times, if memory serves me correctly, and that was at a time when writers were utterly dependent on publishers and book shops. This is not necessarily so any
longer: The internet will most likely change publishing in the next few years in ways that we will find difficult to imagine right now.
Already writers can self-publish and web-promote their works and that trend, I suspect, will give new writers options they would not have had in days gone by.

Thank you, Georgie, for stopping by Paperback Writer on your virtual book tour. I wish you continued success through the rest of you tour.

About the Author

Lady Colin Campbell is a highly successful and prolific author of several books, including London and New York Times bestsellers, and has been a prominent and often controversial figure in royal and social circles for many years. She perhaps is best known for her international bestselling book Diana in Private, 1992, and her subsequent extended and revelatory biography of the Princess of Wales, The Real Diana published in 2004. She has written books on the Royal Family, been a long term columnist and appeared numerous times on TV and Radio as an experienced Royal Insider and expert on the British aristocracy. In 1997 she published her autobiography, A Life Worth Living, which was serialized in The Daily Mail. Born in St Andrew, Jamaica, she was educated there and in New York, where she lived for seven years. She is connected to British royalty through common ancestors and marriage. She has two sons and lives in London.

You can visit Georgie online at website: www.dynastypress.co.uk or blog:
http://Ladycolincampbell.blogspot.com

Happy Friday and thanks for stopping by Paperback Writer. If you haven’t seen our latest Thursday Thirteen, Thirteen Things to Know about Deputy Tempe Crabtree from the novel Dispel the Mist scroll down to below this post, but be sure to come back here and read the interview with the creator of Deputy Crabtree and find out how author Marilyn Meredith came up with the idea for her latest book.

About the Book:

A Tulare County Supervisor, with both Native American and Mexican roots, dies under suspicious circumstances. Because of Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s own ties to the Bear Creek Indian Reservation, she’s asked to help with the investigation. To complicate matters, besides the supervisor’s husband, several others had reason to want the woman dead.

Tempe has unsettling dreams, dreams that may predict the future and bring back memories of her grandmother’s stories about the legend of the Hairy Man. Once again, Tempe’s life is threatened and this time, she fears no one will come to her rescue in time.

Hi Marilyn,

Welcome to Paperback Writer

Q: Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

A: While I was researching information for the previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery concerning Big Foot, I came across information about the Hairy Man on the Internet. As it turned out the Hairy Man is our local Indians legend similar to Big Foot. In a place called Painted Rock, there are pictographs (paintings) of the Hairy Man is wife and a child. Of course I was curious and was invited by the local college’s anthropology class to go with them on a field trip to the Painted Rock. That’s all it took, I knew Tempe would indeed have an encounter with the Hairy Man which happens in this latest mystery, Dispel the Mist.

Q: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

A: Though I don’t do what someone might call an outline, I take a lot of notes before I begin. I did my research about the Hairy Man then I had to figure out how he could be in a mystery that Tempe would have to solve. There are several sub-plots in the story as well as the murder mystery.

Q: Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

A: I have a vague idea how the book will end, though often it doesn’t work out quite like what I had in my head. As I’m writing more ideas arise and I just them down as I go along so I don’t forget. Sometimes I get ideas in the night and I definitely need to write them down or I won’t have a clue in the morning.

Q: Do you have a process for developing your characters?

A: Because I’m writing a series, I have ongoing characters I know a lot about. However, the ones I need to develop are the murder victim and the people important to the victim including the suspects, and of course the murderer. I come up with the names, descriptions, individual characteristics and write them all down before I ever begin.

Q: It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

A: Because my heroine is much younger than I am and part Indian, which I’m not, the only part of me that is in her character is how she feels about things. I’m a woman, a wife, and a mother, so those are things about her that I can relate to and write about.

Q: What is your most favorite part about this book?

A: You can probably tell that I am crazy about the Hairy Man. I found legends about him that I’ve included in the book. There have been fairly recent sightings by credible people—just like with Big Foot. Do I believe there really is a Hairy Man? Why not.

Q: When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

A: Mundania Press has been publishing all my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries so it was merely a matter of sending them a query and then the manuscript.

Q: What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

A: I’ve struggled mightily along the way. My first book was rejected nearly thirty times before finding a publisher. The editor who finally took it moved on to another publisher when I was ready to send in another book, and the new editor wasn’t interested. I’ve had two publishers die, been involved with three dishonest publishers, and had one publisher decide to give up the business.

Q: What has been the best part about being published?

A: When I’ve spent so much time writing a book, of course I want to have people read it. When a reader writes and tells me they loved the book, that makes it all worthwhile.

Q: What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

A: I hope that readers will like Tempe and understand her struggles as a female law enforcement officer in a male dominated profession—and the prejudice she faces as both a woman and an Indian. Tempe is as real to me as any of my relatives or friends and I hope she seems real to those who read about her.

Q: Do you have plans to write another book?

A: I already have another Tempe book finished and with the publisher. Because I write two series, the other is the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, I am always a year ahead and write two books a year.

Q: Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

A: I enjoy doing virtual book tours and have done several with Pump Up Your Book Promotion—the questions are fun to answer and of course I love talking about my book and my characters. I’ve always been well taken care of on these tours.

Q: Where can readers find a copy of your book?

A: Dispel the Mist is both an e-book and a trade paperback. The book can be purchased directly from the publisher: http://www.mundaniapress.com or from any bookstore online or it can be ordered through your local bookstore.

Q: Do you have a website for readers to go to?

A: My website is http://fictionforyou.com and my blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

Thank you, Marilyn Meredith for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

About the Author:
Marilyn Meredith is the author of over twenty-five published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Dispel the Mist from Mundania Press. Under the name of F. M. Meredith she writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series. No Sanctuary is the newest from Oak Tree Press.

She is a member of EPIC, four chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, WOK, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She was an instructor for Writer’s Digest School for ten years, served as an instructor at the Maui Writer’s Retreat and many other writer’s conferences. She makes her home in Springville CA, much like Bear Creek where Deputy Tempe Crabtree lives. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com

Could you name Thirteen Things about your favorite character from any novel? Today, author Marilyn Meredith enchants us with Thirteen Things about her character, Deputy Tempe Crabtree from the novel, Dispel the Mist.

About the Book:
A Tulare County Supervisor, with both Native American and Mexican roots, dies under suspicious circumstances. Because of Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s own ties to the Bear Creek Indian Reservation, she’s asked to help with the investigation. To complicate matters, besides the supervisor’s husband, several others had reason to want the woman dead.

Tempe has unsettling dreams, dreams that may predict the future and bring back memories of her grandmother’s stories about the legend of the Hairy Man. Once again, Tempe’s life is threatened and this time, she fears no one will come to her rescue in time.

Thirteen Things About Deputy Tempe Crabtree
1. Tempe is Native American and the resident deputy of Bear Creek, a mountain community in the Southern Sierra.

2. She’s married to Hutch Hutchinson, a minister, who isn’t always happy when Tempe uses Indian mysticism to help solve a case.

3. As a young widow, she raised a son by herself until he was a teenager and she married Hutch. Blair is now in college studying Fire Science.

4. Tempe has disturbing dreams with scary images. Though she doesn’t understand them, often they foretell the future.

5. Former adversary, Detective Morrison, has come to rely on her to help him solve puzzling cases—especially if they involve Indians. What he doesn’t understand is because she doesn’t live on the reservation and wears a uniform, the Indians don’t trust her anymore than they do him.

6. Tempe remembers legends told to her by her grandmother when she was a child. These legends are about a creature similar to Big Foot. Tempe isn’t sure what to think about such a creature. Surely, he couldn’t possibly be real.

7. When a popular county supervisor with roots in both the Indian and Mexican communities dies under suspicious circumstances, Detective Morrison calls Tempe in on the case.

8. Tempe and Hutch decide it’s time they buy cell phones even though there is no service in much of the area where they live, including most of the Indian reservation.

9. A friend on the reservation takes Tempe and Hutch to the Painted Rock to see a five-hundred to a thousand year-old pictograph of the Hairy Man.

10. While helping with the investigation, Tempe finds there are many who not only had a reason for wanting the supervisor out of the way but also had the opportunity to make it happen including her husband, a community leader, her sister, and even Nick Two John.

11. Native American Nick Two John is responsible for Tempe’s awakening to the spiritual side of her heritage. He’s also a good friend, confidante, and ally.

12. Tempe helps a young woman with Down Syndrome who wants to become more independent and move out of her own mother’s home, though the community care facility where she wants to go is targeted by a malicious vandal.

13. A phone call directs Tempe to the Painted Rock site on a dark and rainy night, putting her life in danger.

To learn more, read Dispel the Mist, by Marilyn Meredith, available from http://www.mundania.com has an e-book and trade paperback, as well as other online and regular bookstores.

About the Author:
Marilyn Meredith is the author of over twenty-five published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Dispel the Mist from Mundania Press. Under the name of F. M. Meredith she writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series. No Sanctuary is the newest from Oak Tree Press.

She is a member of EPIC, four chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, WOK, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She was an instructor for Writer’s Digest School for ten years, served as an instructor at the Maui Writer’s Retreat and many other writer’s conferences. She makes her home in Springville CA, much like Bear Creek where Deputy Tempe Crabtree lives. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com

The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault

Paperback Writer spotlights Emily Arsenault, author of the fiction book, The Broken Teaglass (Delacorte Press, Sept. 09), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in October on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Book:
The dusty files of a venerable dictionary publisher . . . a hidden cache of coded clues . . . a story written by a phantom author . . . an unsolved murder in a gritty urban park–all collide memorably in Emily Arsenault’s magnificent debut, at once a teasing literary puzzle, an ingenious suspense novel, and an exploration of definitions: of words, of who we are, and of the stories we choose to define us.

In the maze of cubicles at Samuelson Company, editors toil away in silence, studying the English language, poring over new expressions and freshly coined words–all in preparation for the next new edition of the Samuelson Dictionary. Among them is editorial assistant Billy Webb, just out of college, struggling to stay awake and appear competent. But there are a few distractions. His intriguing coworker Mona Minot may or may not be flirting with him. And he’s starting to sense something suspicious going on beneath this company’s academic facade.

Mona has just made a startling discovery: a trove of puzzling citations, all taken from the same book, The Broken Teaglass. Billy and Mona soon learn that no such book exists. And the quotations from it are far too long, twisting, and bizarre for any dictionary. They read like a confessional, coyly hinting at a hidden identity, a secret liaison, a crime. As Billy and Mona ransack the office files, a chilling story begins to emerge: a story about a lonely young woman, a long-unsolved mystery, a moment of shattering violence. And as they piece together its fragments, the puzzle begins to take on bigger personal meaning for both of them, compelling them to redefine their notions of themselves and each other.

Charged with wit and intelligence, set against a sweetly cautious love story, The Broken Teaglass is a tale that will delight lovers of words, lovers of mysteries, and fans of smart, funny, brilliantly inventive fiction.

Book Excerpt
How did a guy like me end up in a place like this?

Excellent question. It’s the very question that ran through my mind on my first day on the job, and for many weeks hence. How the hell did I get a job at the offices of Samuelson Company, the oldest and most revered name in American dictionaries? In the end, this might strike you as the greater mystery—greater than the one I’d later find in the company’s dusty files: How does a clod like me end up in training to be a lexicographer?

Now that you’ve paused to look up lexicographer, are you impressed? Are you imagining lexicographers as a council of cloaked, wizened men rubbing their snowy-white beards while they consult their dusty folios? I’m afraid you might have to adjust your thinking just a little. Imagine instead a guy right out of college—a guy who says yup, and watches too much Conan O’Brien. Imagine this guy sitting in a cubicle, shuffling through little bits of magazine articles, hoping for words like boink and tatas to cross his desk and spice up his afternoons.

Don’t get me wrong. When I first got the job, I was pretty excited. I’d been starting to doubt my employability, since I’d majored in philosophy. Admittedly, I’d applied for publishing jobs on a whim, having heard some English majors talk about it. No one at the big New York companies bit at my résumé, but someone at Samuelson must have liked all the A’s on my transcript in heady-seeming topics like Kant and Kierkegaard, and they called me just in time—just as I was starting to thumb through pamphlets about the Peace Corps and teaching English in Japan. My interview was with one Dan Wood, a pale, bearded middle-aged guy who didn’t really seem to know how to conduct an interview. He mostly just described the defining process quietly, peering at me occasionally as if trying to gauge my reaction. I guess I didn’t make any funny faces, because two days later Dan called me to offer the job.

Excerpted from The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault Copyright © 2009 by Emily Arsenault. Excerpted by permission of Delacorte Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

About the Author
Emily Arsenault has worked as a lexicographer, an English teacher, a children’s librarian, and a Peace Corps volunteer. She wrote The Broken Teaglass to pass the long, quiet evenings in her mud brick house while living in rural South Africa. She now lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, with her husband. You can visit Emily Arsenault’s website at http://emilyarsenault.com/.

“This book is a must read for all women. Although it is a fictional story the author has brilliantly captured the many issues that women struggle with and offers hope that can only be found in Jesus. She also shows how looking beyond our own circumstances can bring blessings into our lives and the lives of others. I’ve ministered to broken women for over twenty years and I’m thankful for resources like Rain Dance that will reach women who are hurting and give them hope.” – Sue Liljenberg, International Director, Healing Hearts Ministries International

“Rain Dance is truly a prodigious book…a must read.” – Ane Mulligan, Editor, Novel Journey

Paperback Writer welcomes our author for today, Joy DeKok, author of Rain Dance as she joins us on her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

Hi Joy,

Welcome to Paperback Writer

Q: Will you share with us how you came up with the idea for this book?

A: Although she didn’t mean it this way, Louisa Mae Alcott once said, “Housekeeping ain’t no joke.” I was cleaning house and the idea crossed my mind and never let go.

Q: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?

A: I love using index cards – one for each chapter with a few sentences on it. That’s enough to give me an outline and still leaves lots of room for creativity.

Q: Do you know the end of the story at the beginning?

A: Usually, that’s all I know for sure. While the index cards fill in some of that during my brainstorming session, I know a lot of what I jot down is going to change.

Q: Do you have a process for developing your characters?

A: Once I have the story cards completed I fill out an index card for each character. I used to get really detailed here, and while it was fun, it bogged me down and kept me from the real writing. I know the basics. As the character or story reveals something else to me, I’ll write what I learn on the card. I sometimes end up with an additional card for my main character.

Q: It is said that authors write themselves into their characters. Is there any part of you in your characters and what they would be?

A: Yes – I did this with Rain Dance. I didn’t want to and that’s part of the reason I resisted writing it for over a year. Jonica is me. Putting so much of myself on the pages was risky for two reasons: author intrusion is very big no-no and if the readers didn’t like her, they wouldn’t like me either. I prefer following the rules so becoming a rule breaker was difficult.

In my next novel, there’s a little bit of me here and there in the book, but not so much in one character.

Q: What is your most favorite part about this book?

A: When the characters dance in the rain.

A: When in the process of writing your book did you begin to look for a publisher?

A: As soon as I started writing it, I started talking about it at writer’s conferences to other writers and editors. The content raised a lot of eyebrows and editors were sure a first time novelist had no business writing an issue-based book. I kept writing it – it is the story I was given to write at that time – once I said yes.

Q: What struggles have you had on the road to being published?

A: Rejection is tough even when it’s in a form letter where it’s not personal. I received three interesting rejections though. At one point a publishing house wanted the novel and I’d been told by an editor I’d be offered a contract after their readers came back with their thoughts. One of those readers was especially negative although the others were positive. They decided not to take the book. Later, two large publishing houses rejected it with positive notes and both encouraged me to self-publish and even recommended a company. Two agents also said wonderful things about the book and encouraged me to consider self-publishing as well. So, I did. Eventually, I asked a small writing group I belong to if they’d read and endorse the book. I’d forgotten one of them was an editor. She liked the book very much and said she wanted to publish it. The truth is, without the first part of the journey, the second part would not have happened. Standing back and seeing the whole is exciting.

Q: What has been the best part about being published?

A: It’s a dream come true. I think we sometimes believe dreams will just happen or they are nice things to think about, but are not things we actually get to live. I’ve come to believe if you can dream it and are willing to do what it takes, it can be your reality.

The other best thing is readers. Oh my goodness the readers! They write me and tell me their stories and through them every single question I had about the story, the characters, or my writing in general has been answered positively.

Q: What do you want readers to remember and carry with them after reading your novel?

A: There is hope and healing in life and it often comes at times and from places we least expect it.

Q: Do you have plans to write another book?

A: Yes. I have an untitled series brewing. Book one is nearing the rewrite stage (a favorite part of writing for me – where I play before I polish).

Q Would you care to share with us how the virtual book tour experience with Pump Up Your Book Promotion has been for you?

A: I’m enjoying the different interviews and opportunities to guest blog, write about writing, and even share my favorite recipes. This is fun. The ideas Cheryl has found are a combination of the creative as well as in my genre and/or niche. I’ve especially appreciated the way she’s taken me outside of my preconceived boundaries. I am enjoying this immensely and will be hiring her again in 2010 when my next book (non-fiction) releases.

Q: Where can readers find a copy of your book?
www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, as well as all online and local bookstores. They can get a signed copy from me a www.raindancebook.com

Do you have a website for readers to go to?
www.joydekok.com or www.raindancebook.com

Thank you, Joy for sharing your book and characters with us today. It has been a pleasure and I hope you have had a successful virtual book tour.

Thank you – it’s been a blast!

About the Author
Joy DeKok and her husband, Jon, live in Minnesota on thirty-five acres of woods and fields. Joy has been writing most of her life and as a popular speaker shares her heart and passion for God with women. In addition to writing novels, she has also published a devotional and several children’s books.

Visit Joy online at: http://www.joydekok.com/, http://www.believe4kids.com/, and http://www.gettingitwrite.net/.

Paperback Writer introduces our author today, Stella Mazzucchelli, author of the biography/psychology book, Silk Flowers Never Die (Dynasty Press Ltd, October ‘09), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in October on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Book: Silk Flowers Never Die is an important and intensely personal memoir, powerfully showing with humanity and humor, the difficulties that exist for any family trying to cope with schizophrenia and mental distress. In a compelling story that reveals how much stranger than fiction fact is, Stella Mazzucchelli describes her determination to preserve her son from the worst effects of mental illness, while his young wife is dying of cancer.

In the process of trying to rise to these challenges, Stella is transformed from a beautiful, over-protected Society woman with alcohol issues, to an impressive, courageous earth-mother who now campaigns to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness by using her privileged position to positive effect. This moving book is informative on a host of subjects, ranging from the lifestyle of the International Super-Rich to the profundities of facing terminal illness and mental disease. Due to its intelligence, insight, and compassion the appeal of this amazing story and struggle should be universal.

Hi Stella,
Welcome to Paperback Writer and thank you for joining us today.

Q: Would you share with us how you came up with the idea for your book?

A: I had an urge to share the devastation I felt when my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and reassure those who were in a similar position as mine that they were not alone. To those who have no idea what a family lives through, I wanted to enlighten them on: the loneliness and secrecy accompanying mental illnesses, the anguish of seeing loved ones plucked out of a normal world and without warning descend into one of voices, phobias and torment. I believe that it is through lack of knowledge that society shies away from the word “schizophrenia”. I know, I was one them until it happened to my son. I’m sure that by lifting the cloak of ignorance that surrounds mental illness, we will help reduce people’s fear and highlight the fact that the majority of sufferers are sensitive and talented human beings. My son happens to be one of those giving persons. Not only did he cope with his own illness, he managed to nurse his wife Naomi after the birth of their daughter when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My aim is to nudge away the darkness so that mental illness can be seen in a more compassionate and gentle manner. I felt that the quickest way to make myself heard was through my writing. That was the beginning of ‘Silk Flowers Never Die’.

Q: Was it a light bulb moment or something that you thought about for a very long time?

A: My drinking was something I knew I needed to change. The hangovers and my blurry mind impeded my abilities.

Q: How did you come up with the title?

A: The title was the easiest, I came upon it even before I started the first page. My son and his Japanese wife Naomi were both of the Buddhist faith and staunch believers in Feng Shui. One of Feng Shui’s principal rules is to never offer fresh flowers to a patient, because if a bud tilts its head and withers it brings bad luck. Even dried flowers are a bad omen as they were once alive and of course are now dead. Therefore, wanting to offer Naomi (my daughter-in-law) a gift during her last days of terminal cancer in the hospital was a very difficult task. She no longer ate, clothes were unnecessary and reading was out of the question. Scouting the area close to the hospital, I came upon a quaint little boutique that offered scents, candles and colorful objects. The moment I spotted a cluster of silk Lillis I thought ‘Silk flowers never die’ and of course bought an enormous bouquet. Little did I know that according to Naomi’s Japanese belief, if one took silk flowers to a patient in the hospital, it meant that he or she would never leave alive.

Q: How did you find an agent and publisher?

A: Through a friend.

Q: Who reads your work in progress?

A: I test it on my friends and my mother, who unfortunately passed away before my book was published.

Q: Who made a difference in the book’s quality?

A: I think I would have to give credit to my mother and son for assisting me with the quality of the book.

Q: How long did it take you to complete the first draft?

A: If I’m not mistaken a couple of years. I did not have the luxury of writing without the telephone ringing, loads of kids gallivanting around and my dog wanting to sit on my lap.

Q: How long did it take from start to publication?

A: It took five years. If I had tucked myself away in a silent and calm environment, I am sure that it would not have taken me that long.

Q: Do you have any advice for new authors?

A: Do not doubt yourself. If you have a story to tell, tell it with “heart”. Don’t try and impress people with incredibly long words, move fast and be sincere. Most people prefer simplicity instead of having to reach for a dictionary to decipher a meaning.

Thank you, Stella for stopping by Paperback Writer on your virtual book tour. I wish you continued success through the rest of you tour.

About The Author:
Stella Metaxa Mazzucchelli was born in Athens, Greece and married, aged eighteen, Riccardo Mazzucchelli, the famous Italian businessman. During their twenty-two year marriage, they lived in Zambia and London, where she became a well-known figure on the social scene, and had a brief and successful modeling career at the unusual age of 28. Fedele is their only child. After their divorce, Riccardo married Ivana Trump in 1995, though the marriage was short lived. Stella now lives in Athens where she brings up her granddaughter Katerina. As well as being involved in the property and renovation business, which ensures she maintains connections with London, she is also a tireless campaigner for the better understanding of schizophrenia and mental illness. Silk Flowers Never Die is her first book.

You can find Stella online at www.dynastypress.co.uk and at her blog www.dynastypress.co.uk/news.html