The Paris Wife – Author Interview, Excerpt – Paula McLain

The Paris Wife Virtual Book Tour

Paperback Writer welcomes Paula McLain, author of the historical novel, The Paris Wife. Find out about her typical writing day and what her morning smells like?

About the Author

Paula McLain received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been a resident of Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She is the author of two collections of poetry, as well as a memoir, Like Family, and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family. You can visit Paula McLain’s website to learn more about The Paris Wife at www.pariswife.com.

Visit Pauls’ tour page at Pump Up Your Book

Purchase the book at Amazon;

About The Paris Wife

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time—Paris in the twenties—and an extraordinary love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

In Chicago in 1920, Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and finds herself captivated by his good looks, intensity, and passionate desire to write. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group of expatriates that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

But the hard-drinking and fast-living café life does not celebrate traditional notions of family and monogamy. As Hadley struggles with jealousy and self-doubt and Ernest wrestles with his burgeoning writing career, they must confront a deception that could prove the undoing of one of the great romances in literary history.

Welcome to Paperback Writer, Paula and thanks for stopping by on your virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.

It’s my pleasure to be here.

Q:  Give us an example of a typical writing day.

After my younger kids (4 and 6) are off to school and preschool, and the house smells like waffles and syrup, I usually dig right in by rereading what I’ve done the day before. If I’m not loving that I’ll try to move on anyway, and keep things moving forward. That can be hard, when the first impulse is to delete, delete, delete! I usually work until 2, and then run errands or buzz quickly to the gym before I have to meet my daughter’s bus at 3:30.

Q:  Do you write on a computer or with pen/pencil and paper?

 

I write on a sleek little Mac laptop. I have writer friends who do whole drafts longhand, and I find that beautiful and admirable, but I know it wouldn’t work with my process. I seem to need to do an awful lot of futzing around with sentences, and I just don’t think I have the patience to do that longhand.

Q:  Biggest Pet Peeve about the writing life.

It can be frustrating to work your heart out writing a book, and love it, and want it to have a great life, and then have it land in the world without even the slightest noise. Don’t get me wrong, I’m endlessly grateful to have the career I’ve had, but I’ve gotten many, many royalty statements with numbers in the negative column, and that’s tough.

Q:  Worst rejection you’ve ever received?

When I was between agents and searching like crazy for representation for my first novel, I had an agent (very well known, though I won’t name names) leave me a voicemail rejection saying that she found my characters deeply disturbing, and that they left a bad taste in her mouth. My characters. I wanted to run out into the street!

Q:  Do you have a writer’s studio? Describe it for us and what is the view you see from the window?

My desk is in my living room, surrounded by windows and overlooking a playground where children shriek on the swing set. Was it Joyce Carol Oates who said she liked her desk to face a wall so that her imagination might be more fully engaged? I need windows!

Q:  Time Frame: From start to finish

The first draft came like gangbusters, in seven months or thereabouts. It needed two more drafts, which were a little wilier and more resistant. About two years all told.

Read the Excerpt!

The very first thing he does is fix me with those wonderfully brown eyes and say, “It’s possible I’m too drunk to judge, but you might have something there.”
It’s October 1920 and jazz is everywhere. I don’t know any jazz, so I’m playing Rachmaninoff. I can feel a flush beginning in my cheeks from the hard cider my dear pal Kate Smith has stuffed down me so I’ll relax. I’m getting there, second by second. It starts in my fingers, warm and loose, and moves along my nerves, rounding through me. I haven’t been drunk in over a year–not since my mother fell seriously ill–and I’ve missed the way it comes with its own perfect glove of fog, settling snugly and beautifully over my brain. I don’t want to think and I don’t want to feel, either, unless it’s as simple as this beautiful boy’s knee inches from mine.
The knee is nearly enough on its own, but there’s a whole package of a man attached, tall and lean, with a lot of very dark hair and a dimple in his left cheek you could fall into. His friends call him Hemingstein, Oinbones, Bird, Nesto, Wemedge, anything they can dream up on the spot. He calls Kate Stut or Butstein (not very flattering!), and another fellow Little Fever, and yet another Horney or the Great Horned Article. He seems to know everyone, and everyone seems to know the same jokes and stories. They telegraph punch lines back and forth in code, lightning fast and wisecracking. I can’t keep up, but I don’t mind really. Being near these happy strangers is like a powerful transfusion of good cheer.
When Kate wanders over from the vicinity of the kitchen, he points his perfect chin at me and says, “What should we name our new friend?”
“Hash,” Kate says.
“Hashedad’s better,” he says. “Hasovitch.”
“And you’re Bird?” I ask.
“Wem,” Kate says.
“I’m the fellow who thinks someone should be dancing.” He smiles with everything he’s got, and in very short order, Kate’s brother Kenley has kicked the living room carpet to one side and is manning the Victrola. We throw ourselves into it, dancing our way through a stack of records. He’s not a natural, but his arms and legs are free in their joints, and I can tell that he likes being in his body. He’s not the least shy about moving in on me either. In no time at all our hands are damp and clenched, our cheeks close enough that I can feel the very real heat of him. And that’s when he finally tells me his name is Ernest.
“I’m thinking of giving it away, though. Ernest is so dull, and Hemingway? Who wants a Hemingway?”
Probably every girl between here and Michigan Avenue, I think, looking at my feet to keep from blushing. When I look up again, he has his brown eyes locked on me.
“Well? What do you think? Should I toss it out?”
“Maybe not just yet.”
A slow number starts, and without asking, he reaches for my waist and scoops me toward his body, which is even better up close. His chest is solid and so are his arms. I rest my hands on them lightly as he backs me around the room, past Kenley cranking the Victrola with glee, past Kate giving us a long, curious look. I close my eyes and lean into Ernest, smelling bourbon and soap, tobacco and damp cotton–and everything about this moment is so sharp and lovely, I do something completely out of character and just let myself have it.

Thanks for visiting!

October Contest – Win a Copy of the novel Black Child to Black Woman by Cheryl Bannerman

Contest – Win a Copy of Black Child to Black Woman

Today we are starting the month with a book contest. Our guest author is Cheryl Bannerman, author of Black Child to Black Woman and she is on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. Cheryl will be visiting today and tomorrow. We will be giving away a copy of her book at the end of her book tour.
To become eligible to win, all you have to do is ask a question or leave a comment either today or tomorrow. One lucky reader who comments with their email address is put in a pot to win the book.
To recap:
• ask a question or leave a comment either Monday or Tuesday or comment on this post any day during the month
• leave your email address
• optional to subscribe for email updates
• A winner will be picked on October 29, and be notified by email
• The winner of the contest will be announced on this blog
• You will receive a copy of Black Child to Black Woman 1 – 2 weeks after the winner is announced

About Black Child to Black Woman

Black Child to Black Woman is a ‘live diary’ experience that will grab your attention right from the start. Tara Walker speaks directly to the reader as she adds entry after entry into her Journal. She documents her experiences, her family life, her triumphs, as well as her interpretation of life and the world as she saw it. As she grows, so does the language and tone of the diary, which matches her maturity and speech patterns as the time passes.

Experiences are mere images engraved in our minds that we recall when future events occur such as a tragedy or even when a song is playing on the radio. Tara has captured those moments in time in her diary, even the painful ones. Although she came from a loving home with both parents, she struggled to come to grips with siblings addicted to drugs, molestation, attempted rape, broken hearts, and so much more.

Her diary experiences will make you laugh, cry, scream, sigh, and gasp aloud. As Tara struggles to keep her head above water and fight through the tribulations of her life, she continues to smile, continues to grow as a person, continues to be successful in her career, and continues to survive. Through it all and through her daughter, she eventually discovers the true meaning of unconditional love.

Come discover life through the eyes of Tara as she grows from a black child to a black woman.

About Cheryl Bannerman

Cheryl McNeil (pen name, Cheryl D. Bannerman, her birth name) is CEO of a small virtual training company based out of Central New Jersey. She works out of her home office and creates classroom training materials, e-Learning modules, job aides and much more for corporate employees and their clients. She holds a Bachelors in Business Management and a Masters in Project Management. She is also the (divorced) single mother of a beautiful eleven year old girl.

In her spare time she loves to read murder mysteries, watch movies, try new restaurants and cuisines, shop with her daughter, and in the summer, walk the boardwalk and take in the sun on the beach. Although her works are fiction, she has incorporated many of her life’s experiences into her stories.
You can find Cheryl at www.bannermanbooks.com
Follow along on Cheryl’s tour, http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2010/10/02/black-child-to-black-woman-virtual-book-tour-october-10/

When Love Ends and The Ice Cream Carton is Empty – author interview – Jackie M. Johnson

Jackie M. Johnson is an accomplished author and freelance writer who has a passion for helping people who’ve experienced brokenness. Her first book, Power Prayers for Women has sold almost 200,000 copies. 

A Milwaukee native and graduate of Trinity International University, Jackie lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 You can visit Jackie online at http://whenloveends.com/ and at her blog http://anewdaycafe.blogspot.com/.

About the Book:

While most books for singles tell readers how to get the next guy, When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton is Empty encourages a healthy healing process. Practical and biblically based, each chapter guides the reader through a metaphorical day of restoration. Twilight recognizes and deals with endings, night validates and grieves the loss, dawn awakens hope, and day is the new beginning based on the solid assurance of Christ.

Hi, Jackie M. Johnson.

 

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

 

Would you share with us how you came up with the idea for your book?  Sure, the idea for When Love Ends came as a result of my own breakup experiences.

I’ve been through a few relationship endings, but the last one hit me the hardest. So I went to my local bookstore and I couldn’t find a suitable resource to help me process the pain. There are a lot of books for getting over a divorce, but not many for singles to get over a dating relationship. The few books I did see gave me a more shallow view of heart healing, and I wanted something deeper.

I learned that how people handle their losses (or don’t) will greatly determine their ability to move forward and find the lasting love they long for.  Unresolved grief and emotions can hinder the process, and we can get stuck in our story. So When Love Ends covers some of the topics I wanted to read about when I was hurting. It’s the book I wanted to read after my last breakup but could not find.

Some of the topics in the book include: finding the comfort and support you need, dealing with rejection, grieving losses, learning why it’s so hard to let go and how to get unstuck, rebuilding your shattered self esteem and finding confidence and joy again.

Was it a light bulb moment or something that you thought about for a very long time? After a painful breakup a few years ago (okay, six years ago) I was a mess. There are many books that tell you how to get together in a relationship, and not many books for singles that help you through the shattering when it falls apart. So, yeah, I thought about it for a few years and then decided to act and pursue publication.

How did you come up with the title? The book is about how an ending of a relationship is also a new beginning, so it caused me to ponder, “When love ends, then what?” When love ends, healing can begin. When love ends…you have choices about what you will do in your healing process. Will you be intentional about it? Or, will you ignore your hurt and pain? I wanted to provide a helpful resource for single and single again readers to get through a relationship breakup, and When Love Ends came from that desire.

How did you find an agent and publisher? When I attended my first writer’s conference years ago, I learned about the importance of having an agent. Most publishers today don’t take unsolicited manuscripts, so it’s crucial to have an agent to represent your work. I was in the right place at the right time when I found my literary agent. He was new, and had the time to review my work. He submitted the manuscript for my current book to about a half dozen publishers, and we chose the one that showed interest and was a good match for my goals and the manuscript.

Who reads your work in progress? I have a few close friends who read my first drafts and give me insightful feedback.

Who made a difference in the book’s quality? God. My editor.

How long did it take you to complete the first draft? Well, the concept had been marinating in my head for about five years. Over that time I’d jot down ideas and put the notes in a file—bits of ideas that I’d write on scrap paper in a restaurant or in the middle of the night, or pretty much anywhere when an idea came to me. So by the time I sat down to write, it took about seven months to complete the manuscript.  

 How long did it take from start to publication? From the time I signed the contract until the book was released: fourteen months.

Do you have any advice for new authors? Yes. Hone your craft. Go to writer’s conferences. In addition to taking classes, you also have the opportunity to meet with editors and agents to pitch your ideas. Know your market and make use of the myriad resources available like Writer’s Market Guide, The Christian Writer’s Market Guide, or Guide to Literary Agents to name a few. Hold on to your passion. Have courage—and lots of tenacity. 

Thank you, Jackie M. Johnson for stopping by Paperback Writer on your virtual book tour. I wish you continued success through the rest of your tour. Thank you! It was good to be here.

EXCERPT FROM WHEN LOVE ENDS

Twilight is a time of transition. As late afternoon fades into evening, the vivid colors of day disappear, and the sun, low in the horizon, dips slowly into earth’s edge. In the dimness before nightfall it becomes increasingly hard to see. Soon it will be dark. Likewise, a relationship ending is your own “heart

sunset.” Good-bye day; good-bye love.

WHY BREAKUPS HAPPEN

As early evening settles in, dusk becomes an ambiguous zone. With less light, things can seem uncertain or unclear, like why your relationship ended. Sometimes you are left without the answers or closure you want, and you wrack your brain trying to figure out what went wrong.  He was indifferent, he just couldn’t commit, or he was immature. Maybe you were the one who

couldn’t do it anymore, and you were just plain done. Perhaps you finally realized that you didn’t really have that much in common after all, or the timing was bad, or he found someone else. Maybe you know exactly why you split up, and it makes you livid, depressed, or resentful. There are as many reasons as there are relationships. There’s always the “I don’t know what I want right now” explanation or the fear factor. Maybe you never had any good role models in your life of what a healthy love relationship or marriage looks like and it scares you to death. You’re afraid to trust because you don’t want to end up in an unhealthy, dysfunctional, or boring relationship—or one

that falls apart again.

I was surprised when a man I’d been getting to know online for a few months sent me an e-mail to break things off by saying, “I was looking at my calendar for the next year and I’m going to be really busy.”Well then what were the past four let’s-get-to-know-each-other-better months about? Was he really busy or was he afraid of a commitment? I guess I’ll never know. Sadly, you may never know the real reason why the person you once shared everything with will now tell you nothing.

Whether the final send-off came gradually or you were blindsided, endings are never easy. Katy and Will enjoyed a year of Saturday night indie films and Starbucks runs before Will shocked her one summer afternoon when he said he couldn’t see himself marrying her. But he still wanted to “hang out,” and Katy,

not wanting to lose him entirely, continued to see Will for six more months—and in the process lost herself and her self respect. Finally, she could no longer endure the emotional turmoil of longing and lack, hoping that one day he would come around. As she began to learn more about her true worth and value, she courageously broke it off entirely.

Unlike Katy’s drawn-out breakup, Chaundra’s ending was sudden. Darren exited as quickly as he entered her life. He was a “comet” dater—burn fast, burn

bright, and burn out. From the day they met at her best friend’s house, Darren called her every day (sometimes two or three times a day). After a few weeks of spending all of their free time together, he just stopped calling. No explanation. The next Saturday Chaundra saw Darren with another woman at a café and she was heartbroken.

RESPONDING TO “THE END”

Then there’s your story. When you end a significant relationship, you may feel a hundred different emotions, from some snarly name-calling or a disillusioned, “I really thought this would go somewhere,” to a despondent, “How am I going to get over him? ”You’re sad, angry, confused, hurt, depressed, and some days you just want to sob with your two new best friends, Ben and Jerry (and their ridiculously good frozen treats).

Everyone responds to loss and pain differently. For some of us it takes longer to absorb the changes, adjust, and begin again. Whether you were together for a long time or a short time, you may have had a close, deep connection. Your personality, temperament, and background all make a difference in how you deal with emotional pain (or don’t) and how long it takes to heal.

If you’re the one breaking it off, you may be hurting someone you care about (or once cared about) and that can bring a host of emotions from guilt and shame to remorse and blame. No matter what the guy says—like the classic, “it’s not you, it’s me”—or how he says it (in person or by phone, fax, letter, e-mail, text, or other electronic media), your relationship has ended .Game over. You’re not together anymore. Now what?

No Experts Needed – Author Interviews – Louise Lewis

Paperback Writer welcomes author Louise Lewis, author of the inspirational book, No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You! (iUniverse, Inc., May ’07), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

WIN PRIZES!
As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

About the book:
Losing a job always delivers a hard blow, but it was especially hard for forty-something author Louise Lewis, one of many victims of the technology industry’s dotcom implosion. No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You! tells the story of how she pulled herself together and discovered a new life of meaning.

Just minutes after being “set free”, Lewis, a single woman with a mortgage to pay, sits in the San Jose, California, airport panicking over her future. While toying with the option of giving into depression, she receives a powerful message from God that instantly releases the weight of her worries. “This is just a new chapter in your life. You hold the pen, I’ll guide your hand, and together we’ll write one hell of a chapter.” Through Spirit’s continued involvement, Lewis is inspired to ask normal, everyday people to answer Spirit’s question: what is the meaning of life?

No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You! weaves through a vast collection of spontaneous, thought-provoking answers and inspirational stories that demonstrate how the simple act of listening to Spirit can add meaning to every moment of your life.

Hi Louise,

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

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

The idea of asking people to answer one question during my travels
around the world (and my own backyard) came from Oprah. One
particular show aired just a few weeks after I got “set free” (laid off)
from my job. …No accidents in life!

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

More like a thunderbolt! While watching that Oprah episode, I got so
excited that my toes couldn’t stop wiggling in my shoes! Never before
watching that episode had I ever thought of doing a project like this.
And the even better story is when Spirit told me what question to ask.

How did you come up with the title?

I asked an ex-coworker to participate in the book. After asking
her the ‘meaning of life’ question, she replied: “If Plato and
Socrates and those guys couldn’t come up with an answer, “who
am I to even try?” In hearing her reply, the hair on the back of my neck stood on
end. “Oh, noooooo!” I thought, “You don’t need an expert to tell
you your own meaning of life!”

Now don’t get me wrong, reading about what the “experts” have
to say is okay. There are many great minds in our world (past
and present.) But I think to find contentment, peace in life, you
must learn to think for yourself…rely on yourself and trust the
Truth you hold in the silence of your heart.

How did you find an agent and publisher?

I tried for a bit the agent/publisher route. But when I received
enough “Dear Author” letters to wallpaper my office, I knew I
had two choices, to keep up the search, which may take
forever to never or publish it myself.

The driving force for me to self-publish was that I wanted my
Mom to see it in print before she would pass away. (Thank God,
the old girl is still with us!)

Who reads you work in progress?

Mostly my family and close friends.

Who made a difference in the book’s quality?

It was a joint effort with my relationship with the publisher.

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

Forever!

How long did it take from start to publication?

About six years. Since No Experts Needed tells the story of
my Spirit-led adventure, I had to first live it and then write about it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Always follow your Spirit. It will answer all the how/what/when
questions that arise.

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

NO EXPERTS NEEDED VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ’09 will officially begin on January 5 and end on January 30. You can visit Louise’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in January to find out more about this talented lady!

Rebel in Blue Jeans – Author Interview – Beverly Stowe McClure

Paperback Writer would like to welcome Beverly Stowe McClure, author of the young adult novel, Rebel in Blue Jeans (Twilight Times Books, Oct ’08), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOU MIGHT JUST BE A WINNER!

As a special promotion for all our authors and commentors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comment on our authors’ blog stops. Your name will be entered into the raffle and a luck winner will receive a winners notice at the end of the month.

About the Book:

What’s a girl to do when her mother runs away with the drummer in a rock band, her friendly relationship with the boys on the neighboring ranch starts to change, and a handsome college guy takes an interest in her? Sixteen-year-old Rebel Ferguson faces these challenges with courage and humor and decides to do three things:
1. Bring her mother home where she belongs.
2. Show her neighbors, Will and Sully Garret, she’s not interested in a serious relationship with either of them.
3. Prove to the Garrets, and to herself, that Rick, the cute college guy, is a gentleman.
Nothing turns out the way Rebel plans, however, and she discovers that people are not always what they seem, and she’s a lousy judge of character. If only humans were as trustworthy and dependable as her puppies, cat, and horses. Can she forgive everyone who has disappointed her?

Hi Beverly,

Welcome to Paperback Writer

Thank you for inviting me. I’m happy to be here.

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

BSM: You bet. In today’s world many children and teens live in single parent homes. We hear a lot about how children are affected. We tend to think that teens are older and can deal with grown-up situations. The teen years, though, are hard, and teens face many challenges in their lives, one of them being torn between a mother and a father they love, but sometimes have to choose between. Rebel faces such a dilemma.

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

BSM: I seldom outline, but like to let the story flow naturally. The way the characters act, the things they say and do sometimes surprise me. If I get stuck in a story, I might type possible scenes of what could happen in the next chapters, but no strict outline.

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

BSM: I generally have a rough idea of how I want the story to end, but my characters often take me in a different direction. I’m very flexible.

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

BSM: I usually fill out profile sheets for them, basic stuff at first: hair color, eyes, age, etc. Then as I write I get to know my characters better and add more detailed information, like things they like, things they hate, their family life, their goals, etc. For my latest work-in-progress, I’m letting the characters write in journals to tell me their thoughts and what’s going on in their lives. I found this idea on a message board and really like it.

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

BSM: Consciously, I don’t pattern my characters after me, but in looking at some of them, I’d have to say they might be a little like me. If my main character is shy, that’s me, and I try to make her brave and outgoing the way I wish I had been. My latest heroine, Rebel, is me in that she loves animals, which I do.

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

BSM: One of my favorite parts (I have many) is the scene where Rebel is visiting her mother and new boyfriend and what Rebel discovers while she’s there. I’m not telling what because you have to read the story to find out.

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

BSM: When the book was complete.

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

BSM: It’s been a long and discouraging road, as it is for many writers. I started my career by writing magazine articles for children and a few of them were published. My book manuscripts were rejected, over and over and over. The big New York publishers were not interested. I was encouraged, however, when a couple of my stories received nice letters and the editors asked for revisions and then a second look. After months of rewriting and resubmitting, each of them was returned. I just was not querying the right publishers, I decided. It took awhile, but I finally found the perfect home for my first young-adult novel, Twilight Times Books. Lida has published two of my books, with two more under contract. Also, and this is cool, the chapter book I’ve revised for several different editors now has a home. It will be published in 2010.

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

BSM: For me, I think having a reader tell me how much she liked the book and when is the next book coming out, and I should write a sequel made all the years of frustration and hard work worthwhile. (I haven’t written a sequel, but may someday.)

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

BSM: I think I’d like for readers to remember that for every situation in our life we have choices. Like Rebel says “What was that serenity prayer? Something about accepting the things you cannot change….”

PBW: Do you have plans to write another book?

BSM: Oh, yes. In fact I’ve just finished a young-adult contemporary that I’m shopping to agents. I’m also working on another young-adult contemporary and a middle-grade ghost story.

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

BSM: It has been fantastic. Cheryl has lined up some awesome blog visits. The interviews have been great. And I hope my guest posts have given readers a small glance into why and how I write. I don’t consider my books just for teens, but for everyone from 12 to 100 that likes to read.

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

BSM: Amazon.com and Twilight Times Books

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

BSM: Yes. Please visit me at http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com
http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com
And Rebel has a blog: http://rebelinbluejeans.wordpress.com

Thank you, Beverly 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.

My pleasure. Rebel and I have enjoyed every moment of chatting with you, and we’re always glad to answer your questions.

The Rebel In Blue Jeans Virtual Book Tour ’09 officially began on January 5 and will end on January 30. You can visit Beverly’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in January to find out more about this talented author!

Five Steps to C.A.L.M. – Author Interview – Robert Patterson

Paperback Writer welcomes Robert Patterson, author of the business book, Five Steps to C.A.L.M. (Career and Life Management) (Booksurge, 2008), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December and January on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

Leave a Comment win a Prize:
As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A father once told his young son, who was going out into the world on his own, “Son, whatever you want to become, be The Best.” This course teaches you how to be “The Best.”

It begins with instructions on how to put “The Best” of Writing Your Resume. Then, later presenting “The Best” of you inyou on paper, Preparing for an Interview.person

You’ll begin with the basic Resume Content, noting what should and should not be included in your Resume. After mastering the content, then begins the formatting of the Resume.

The author has thoughtfully provided you with a Resume checklist. Some of the questions are as follows:

Is the Resume two pages or less?
(Do you realize the importance of this question?)
Are the dates consistent on the left (or right) side, and limited to years?
Does the language “flow” (neither stiff nor stilted)?
Are Action Verbs used to your full advantage?

I would like to make a comment here; this is one of the many sections that you will utilize not only in your job search but also in your everyday associations.

C.A.L.M. gives you access to nine different categories for Action Verbs. They are listed under the headings of:

Communication Skills
Creative Skills
Detailed Skills
Financial Skills
Helping Skills
Management Skills
Manual Skills
Research Skills
Teaching Skills

You’ll be surprised how many Action Verbs from this section you will be able to include in your Resume, which will help make it more impressive to your employer.

Didn’t I tell you that employers would be impressed with your Resume? Now, you have been called for an interview! The next section of the book takes you into “Interviewing Techniques.” What other book walks you through an all-inclusive “Pre-Interview” session? Well, C.A.L.M. does, and once you have completed this lesson, you will indeed be CALM during your interview, no matter how many people may be on the panel of interviewers.

Included in the “Interviewing Techniques” section are Fashion Recommendations, which takes you step by step through the protocol for the business interview dress code, how both men and women should dress when going to an interview. Remember, your Resume may have “opened” the door, now your personal appearance may get a “foot” in that door. Here is where you put the lessons you have learned from C.A.L.M. into practice. Here’s where you sell The Product – Yourself! Don’t worry. C.A.L.M. has fully prepared you for any of the possible questions that you may be asked during the interview. You are ready for them, and you will remain CALM.

C.A.L.M. guides you step-by-step through the entire interview: from the Beginning of the Interview, during the Interview, and through the Closure of the Interview. After completing this course of study, you will glide through your interview with confidence and a sense of achievement. You will have left a favorable impression with the employer, and all because you put into practice your C.A.L.M. course of study.

While the employer is checking you out, C.A.L.M. also instructs you on how to compile a checklist of pertinent company information. Information that is important to you in helping you decide whether or not you would want to work for this firm or company.

The author has thought of everything in preparing you for the job search. He has included a web-site listing for those of you who want to do your job-hunting via the Internet.

C.A.L.M. answers all the questions you may have ever had in your previous job search. The “Who,” the “What,” the “Where,” and the “How.”

If you are willing to strike a Faustian Bargain, that is, willing to sacrifice anything to satisfy a limitless desire for knowledge, then C.A.L.M. is, without a doubt, the course of study for you.

Hi Robert Patterson Sr.,

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

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

Robert: The idea for my book came to me while teaching Job Search Seminars. I wanted to simplify the process, so I arranged the Job Search Workshop seminar into five lessons and called it Five Steps to C.A.L.M. (Career and Life Management). This did not happen over night, it took fifteen years of trial and error to come up with my final plan.

PBW: How did you come up with the title?

Robert: I wanted the Job Search process to be a less stressful procedure and have people be calmer while undergoing the entire process of either changing from one job to another or seeking a job.

PBW: How did you find an agent and publisher?

Robert: This was my first book and being new to writing the first place I went looking was the Internet.

PBW: Who reads you work in progress?

Robert: That task goes to my wife and my very close friends.

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

PBW: There is no way that any good author can put a quality well written book out without a good editor.

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

Robert: I worked on my first book for about five years. Give or take.

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

Robert: Around eighteen months.

PBW: Do you have any advice for new authors?

Robert: Advice for new authors would be to study your craft. What I mean by that is to do your research. Make certain that you are not putting something out there that already exists. There are plenty of books out there about resumes or Cover Letters made easy, howeverI wanted my work to relate to the whole person. Have them find-out more about themselves and everything they had done in the way of the job market, skills, accomplishments, work related values, work related preferences. All of these things are necessary prior to planning and forming a serious job search strategy, and being successful at the end of your efforts, landing that job that is right for you.

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

’09 officially began on January 5 and end on January 30. You can visit Robert’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in January to find out more.

Recovering Me, Discovering Joy – Author Interview – Vivian Eisenecher

Paperback Writer welcomes Vivian Eisenecher, author of the how to book, Recovering Me, Discovering Joy: Uplifting Wisdom for Everyday Greatness (KTW Publishing, Nov. ’08), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion

Leave a Comment win a Prize:

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

Book Excerpt:

Recovering Me, Discovering Joy is for anyone who has ever had to forge ahead after a negative life event. If you have ever had to bounce back from a failed relationship, convalesce from an illness, recoup any kind of loss, or just recover from a bad day, then this book will be beneficial. It will help you with your recoveries, and it will help you move on to live a richer, easier and happier life.

Recovering Me, Discovering Joy takes a good honest look at how I, my husband and countless others have used recovery not as a disadvantage, but as an opportunity and springboard to an improved life. We learned that it’s not about recovering to normal – it’s about recovering to a better normal…from anything.

This book is about my transformation from a depressed, anxiety-laden alcoholic to a successful, grateful and joyful woman. For me, it took my total collapse and complete failure to finally understand that I wasn’t just battling alcoholism, I was fighting two other distinct disorders as well. Believe it or not, this realization paved the way for me to finally enjoy life. Until then, my life had been a struggle, an uphill climb within the grim-looking landscape of my mind. My newfound love for life was such a complete turnaround that, to benefit others, I wanted to commit to paper pivotal parts of my journey. It took the diagnosis and successful treatment of not only alcoholism but also my chronic low-grade depression, called dysthymia, and my social phobia or S.A.D. (Social Anxiety Disorder) for me to recognize that these two lifelong disorders were ‘triggers’ for my alcoholism. They were the ugly underbelly of the beast. Substance abuse was a mere symptom of two underlying disorders that were not discernible to anyone, not even me.

All my life, I had wondered why everything seemed so hopeless, why my life seemed so meaningless, and why I was unable to experience any real joy. Along with that, I had a deep, lifelong fear of encountering people who I deemed ‘better’ than me (anyone with more money, better educated, etc.). Even though I had never known anything different, somehow I knew the way I felt wasn’t right. I had no idea that I was depressed and anxiety-ridden until I was curiously (and serendipitously) treated for both conditions.

Hi Vivian!

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

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

VE: I had an incredible life transformation and I wanted to give other alcoholics a chance for a better life, too. I had suffered from dysthymia (a chronic low-grade depression) and social anxiety most of my life and it compromised my goals, my habits, and my attitude which severely impacted my life. These ailments developed into full blown alcoholism and it took months in various rehabs for me to realize that I suffered from co-occurring, diagnosable and treatable illnesses. It took the sudden clarity of thought in recovery for me to realize that I had a tremendous amount of experience to share. And I knew others would benefit from my discernment.

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

VE: I thought about it for a very long time because I had to make sure I could explain to others what happened to me in a way that would make sense. In rehab, it was suggested that we journal and I’ve always loved words. I started reading and researching and found my experiences validated by everything I read.

PBW: How did you come up with the title?

VE: For the longest time the title was going to be: All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Recovery. But as I continued to write, joy had become such a big part of my life that I felt it was important to include it in the title. Also, as I worked on the book, it became more and more evident that there were really two parts. 1) about my recovery from anxiety, depression and alcoholism and 2) about how I’d found a much better way to live.

PBW: How did you find an agent and publisher?

VE: I searched for both an agent and a publisher and when that didn’t work out, I realized that what I had written was important enough for me to move forward and self-publish. My passion is to help reduce the stigma of substance abuse and mental illness. So, I knew I had to get my book out to the public.

PBW: Who reads you work in progress?

VE: Recovering Me, Discovering Joy is broken down into a number of different parts so it was really easy for me to take various sections to three different writers’ groups. My writing was well received and that encouraged me to keep it up.

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

VE: Just off the top of my head, I would say that the person most responsible for improving the quality of my book was Geoff Whyte (www.whyteink.com.au). He lives in Australia but even being on the other side of the world he was a terrific find.

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

VE: About a year. It took that long because I wasn’t exactly sure how the whole idea would shake out.

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

VE: About three years. I had to set it down for awhile to make sure that I was comfortable enough in my sobriety to become vulnerable to criticism.

PBW: Do you have any advice for new authors?

VE: Writing a book is a great accomplishment but an equally important part of publishing is the marketing. Be sure and save enough of your time talent and treasure to make sure that your voice is heard.

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

RECOVERING ME, DISCOVERING JOY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ’09 officially began on January 5 and end on January 30. You can visit Vivian’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in January to find out more about this talented lady!

Perfect on Paper – Author Interview – Maria Murnane

Paperback Writer is joined today by Maria Murnane, author of the romantic comedy, Perfect on Paper (Wink’s Ink, February 2008), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December and January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

WIN PRIZES!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner(s) will be announced on December 31!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maria Murnane is currently an independent business writer and works mostly with technology and financial services companies, but like the main character in her book, she used to work in sports PR. One day she quit her job and ended up in Argentina for a year, where she played semi-pro soccer and also wrote the first draft of what would eventually become “Perfect on Paper”. She has dedicated the book to any woman who has ever been on a really bad date or realized halfway through the workday that her skirt is on backwards.
Maria graduated with high honors in English and Spanish from UC Berkeley and received a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She lives in San Francisco and can be reached at maria@mariamurnane.com
Visit Maria’s website at http://www.mariamurnane.com/

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Anything can look perfect…on paper.

When her fiance calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she though it would…or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said.

“Perfect on Paper” is a humorous tale of Waverly’s efforts to cobble the pieces of a broken yesterday into a brand new tomorrow. What does the future have in store for her? Will she finally find what she’s looking for?

Her dates? Cringe-inducing at times, definitely entertaining.

Her friends? Often amused, definitely supportive.

Her new crush? Possibly intrigued, definitely a catch.

The results? Hardly perfect, definitely just right.

 

The Interview

Hi Maria,
Welcome to Paperback Writer. Thank you for having me.

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

Maria Murnane: When we used to live in the same neighborhood, my good friend Alison and I would get together before work semi-regularly to go for a long walk, about an hour, which in the steep hills of San Francisco can be a great workout! Anyhow, we’d talk about everything under the sun and always referred to it as “free therapy”. A lot of the things we talked about on those walks were pretty funny, and eventually there was just so much material there that we started talking about trying to turn it all into a book about life as a single professional woman in San Francisco. I think part of me always thought it would be cool to write a book, but it was those walks with Alison that really got me thinking about doing it for real.

PBW: Do you plan your stories first with an outline or does it come to you as write it?
MM: When I first decided that I was going to write a book, I sat down and sketched out notes on what the main character would be like, who her friends would be, what her job would be , etc. Then I made some notes about other things I wanted to include in the book, including somehow weaving the greeting card idea into them, the infamous Brad Cantor character, funny bad dates, etc. Then I started making a brief outline for the plot, or at least the first part of the plot, because I honestly didn’t know where it was going to end up. But I knew enough about what I wanted to write to get me from about A to D (assuming an entire book was A to Z), so I just started writing and figured that I would figure it out as I went along.
Once I got going, the writing process was pretty regular. I was living in Argentina at the time and playing on a soccer team that took up most of my time during the day, so I would write for a couple hours every morning, and then a couple hours every evening. And in between I would jot down a lot of notes to myself on a little notepad. Many times I’d wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for something I wanted to include in the book, so I’d keep the notepad by my bed. I remember being on the bus when it hit me how I wanted to end the book, so I scribbled it down in another little notebook I had in my backpack, right there on the bus on the way to soccer practice. I think I was even standing up at the time.

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

MM: I knew in general, not with any detail at all. (See above)

PBW: Do you have a process for developing your characters?
MM: Not so much a process, more a style. I’ve realized how important it is for characters to show their personality through what they say, as opposed to telling the reader what a character’s personality is. As a writer, when you’re able to look at a line you’ve written and think “hmm, that doesn’t sound like something so and so would say,” then you know you’ve created a real character.

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

MM: Oh yes, that would be Waverly (the main character). My friends all say that reading “Perfect on Paper” is like listening to me talk for 320 pages, so that should answer the question! I like to say that Waverly Bryson’s life is essentially my life—if my life were more exciting. Personality-wise we are very similar. For example, I tend to care too much about what other people think of me and of what I’m doing with my life, and I’m always making random observations like she does. I also tend to stick my foot in my mouth when I get nervous. But in other ways we are very different. My family situation is a good example of that—my parents are happily married and are extremely supportive of me, and I have two sisters and a brother who are awesome, as are their spouses and kids. Waverly missed out on the big family thing, but I felt it made the story more interesting to have her as an only child with a less-than-perfect relationship with her dad.

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

MM: Wow, love this question! I think it’s that there is so much of me and my life in the book—many of the funny things that happen to Waverly and her friends happened first in my real life, and it’s neat to see them as part of the story. I also put some small things in there just for fun. For example, the name of Waverly’s company is called KA Marketing. That’s short for “kick- ass marketing,” which is a total inside joke between me and Alison. A guy I once dated used to say that he had come up with a “kick-ass marketing plan” for his company, which made us cringe. So I put it in the book. And the whole scene about “dating disqualifiers” came from a time I had pizza with a soccer team I’d played for as a guest—and speaking of that team, it’s called the Rookies, which is also the name of the drink that dooms Waverly at the SuperShow. It was really fun putting little things like that in the book.

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

MM: After I finished the first draft, I came back from Argentina and was lucky enough to sign with an agent pretty quickly. She told me that she’d been waiting fora book like mine for years, and that mine was the funniest voice she’d heard in ages. She was pretty sure we’d get a two-book deal, so needless to say I was pretty exited. At that point it was all like a dream come true. I thought maybe I would even be on Oprah!
But when my agent shopped it to all the major publishing houses, the reply was pretty unanimous—no thanks. Apparently “chick lit” wasn’t selling well, so no one wanted to touch it unless it sounded really unique. And apparently mine didn’t.
Then my agent basically fired me. From Oprah to fired. Talk about an emotional roller coaster.
I cried for about three days, then spent about six months rewriting the book. Then I went to a writers conference and pitched it myself to four publishing houses and three agents, and they all said it sounded great and wanted to read it. So I was pretty excited again!
Then after a few more months I finally heard back from all of them with more or less the same story I’d heard the first time around: Great read. Great writing. Great dialogue, Great humor. Doesn’t stand out enough for us to gamble on though– sorry. In other words, no thanks.
I didn’t know what to do at that point, so for about six months I left the book sitting on my computer and started doing freelance writing for technology companies to start earning a decent living again. Then one day my dad (perhaps the nicest man on the planet) sat me down and handed me a book on self-publishing that he had read, along with a little plan he’d written for what I needed to do to publish on my own. He told me he loved my book and that I couldn’t let it go, so he was going to help me publish it myself. It nearly made me cry.
So I found a designer to do the interior and cover for me (www.authorsupport.com), got Alison and my other friends Somill and Christine to proofread the manuscript, wrote the back cover copy, had a family friend take my photo, and then finally submitted it all for publication to a “print-on-demand” company (Booksurge).
And now here we are! It’s been a long haul, and very difficult at times, but wonderful too because I truly have done it all on my own (with a LOT of help from my highly underpaid administrative assistant/PR rep, aka my dad). I remember telling my mom a couple years ago that if even ONE PERSON I wasn’t related to bought and enjoyed my book, it would make it all worth while. And now I’m getting emails pretty regularly from people I’ve never met telling me how much they loved my book. A couple months ago I saw a random girl at a café reading it—I seriously nearly had a heart attack.
So that is a very long answer to your question—I hope it wasn’t too long!
PBW: Not to long at all, in fact, I think it helps us to get to know you better as an author by elaborating on the process and your struggles on the road to being published.

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

MM: The response to my book so far has been amazing, so I am very hopeful that a publisher might pick it up. So if any of your readers out there who have enjoyed my book would like to help, here are three quick things they can do to help prove that there is an audience for my writing:
1) Write a review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098004250X
2) Become a fan on Facebook and write something on the wall (you can use the “share with friends” link here too if you want: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Perfect-on-Paper/26239620721
3) Post a comment on my Web site: http://mariamurnane.com/reader-comments/
Doing those three things would be fantastic—so thank you in advance to any of your readers who take a few minutes to help out!

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

MM: I hope readers enjoyed living Waverly’s world for a little while, and that the book made them laugh. I also hope they remember to tell their friends about it!

PBW: Do you have plans to write another book?

MM: A lot of people have asked me if I’m going to write a sequel—everyone seems to want to know what happens to Waverly! I would love to write another book, but it’s a ton of work, especially when you have to do all the marketing on your own– on top of the writing itself. So right now I’m focusing on trying to get “Perfect on Paper” picked up by a publisher. If your readers are interested in a sequel, please tell them to email me! I can be reached through my site at http://www.mariamurnane.com

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

MM: It’s been great! Fun way to reach a lot of potential readers, and everyone has been super nice.

PBW: Where can readers find a copy of your book?
MM: At http://www.mariamurnane.com or on Amazon. It’s also being sold at a few stores in San Francisco—they are listed on my Web site.
PBW: Do you have a website for readers to go to?
http://www.mariamurnane.com

Thank you, Maria 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.
The pleasure was mine. Thank you!

PERFECT ON PAPER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ’08 officially begAn on December 1 and end on December 23. You can visit Maria’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in December to find out more about her latest book!

A Full House – But Empty – Author Interview – Angus Munro

 

 

 

Paperback Writer is pleased to announce our guest author, Angus Munro. Angus is on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Angus’ new memoir, A Full House – But Empty, is the gripping story of young Angus’ life growing up in the Depression years based on the positive lessons he had learned from his father during their somewhat traumatic and hectic years together. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for the interview as Angus answers questions as to how he came up with the idea for this book and his advice for new authors.

Leave a comment and you might be a winner. Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops

About the Book:

Filled with anecdotes, lessons learned, and an inspirational message for everyone who believes that hard work breeds success, this moving autobiography shares the remarkable story of Angus Munro.

Munro is just three when he suffers from appendicitis and spends several weeks in a Vancouver hospital as his family struggles to survive the Great Depression. After finally arriving home, Munro asks his sister, “Where is Mummy?” and is promptly told his mother doesn’t live there anymore. It is this traumatic event that changes the course of Munro’s life forever. His father is suddenly a single parent while simultaneously turning into Munro’s mentor and hero. He teaches Munro the motto, “Always do the right thing,” while raising his children in an environment that is at the very least hectic, and more often completely chaotic.

Through a potpourri of chronological and heartfelt tales, Munro reveals how he learned to view incidents in life in terms of responsibility, recognition, personal conduct, and consideration of others. Despite dropping out of school at a young age, Munro perseveres, eventually attaining professional success.

Munro’s memoir is a wonderful tribute to his father’s legacy and the greatest lesson of all – whatever you do, follow through.

Hi, Angus

Welcome to Paperback Writer.

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

I retired in 2003 after completing 39 years in hospital administration. I had been a workaholic most of my life. And being divorced for several years and without children, my career was paramount in my life. After I retired, I went through a very reflective period – bringing me back to my early childhood that was during the Great Depression. I have always enjoyed writing – all business related in terms of general correspondence, updating and restructuring procedural manuals, preparing special project reports, newsletters, etc. I thought it would be interesting to revisit my childhood on paper.

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

As I stated above, it was all sort of transitional – reflecting on my past. When I completed my childhood draft, I was encouraged by my family to continue the story and write a full autobiography. They thought that I had a very interesting and fulfilling life and could share my varied experiences. A potpourri journey, as in anyone’s life, some sad, hectic and very happy moments and addressing both positive and negative issues and events. All summed up – it was a practice run – lessons learned! Overall it was a cathartic adventure revisiting the past as a mature and hopefully rational adult.

I started as a grade-school dropout. As they say, “Youth is wasted on the young!”

How did you come up with the title?

The title of my book appears somewhat contradictory. A Full House – But Empty.
We, my two sister and myself, were raised by our father – a single parent. My father was a very moral man; however, he was a partygoer and he had a penchant for playing poker. Our house was a mini Grand Central Station every weekend with a party or poker game and always lasting most of the weekend. Thus, A Full House depicting that poker associated expression. But Empty – refers to my insular existence as a youngster living in this solely adult environment.

How did you find an agent and publisher?

For the sake of brevity, I quickly learned that publishing companies and/or their literary agents had little interest in a non-celebrity writing his memoirs. After going through the normal rejection period, I decided on self-publishing.

Who reads your work in progress?

To begin with, I have an excellent memory and I simply poured my thoughts on paper. I believe I have been blessed with an organized mind and I was able to place all stages of my past in tandem order throughout the entire process.

Who made a difference in the books’ quality?

Initially, I had a professional writer read my entire draft and he offered some general and a few specific suggestions that I accepted as valid. Overall, he was ebulliently very complimentary regarding my writing skills and book structure which really pleased me.

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

It is difficult to say. I would write several segments and submit them as examples to publishing houses and agents as per their submission criteria. Sometimes, I would discontinue writing awaiting replies. Hindsight is a great teacher!

How long did it take from start to publication?

I learned by osmosis, that self-publishing would be my best course of action. I learned of iUniverse from a representative at our local Barnes and Noble. I also purchased the iUniverse book – Get Published. I contacted their office and sent my draft and it was reviewed and in final print within about 90 days. I was very pleased with the entire process.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Yes, just simply follow your dreams. And in the process, whatever you do, follow through!

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

You can reach Angus at his new site; www.angusrmunro.com

 

A FULL HOUSE BUT EMPTY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ’08 will officially begin on September 2, ’08 and end on September 26, ’08. You can visit Angus’ tour stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in September to find out more about him and his new book!
As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors’ blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on our main blog at http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on September 26!

Featured Author Dyan Garris

 Ever wonder how glamorous a writer’s life really is, with all that free time to sit and mediatate and write at their leisure. Join us now at Paperback Writer as we take a glimpse into a Day in the Life of Dyan Garris as she virtually tours the blogosphere this month of November, promoting her new book, Voice of the Angels Cookbook, Talk to your Food!  

 

  A Day in the Life of Dyan Garris 

5:00 A.M. – The raucous blast of a telephone ring breaks startlingly into the quiet reverence of a peaceful desert morning, where a fiery sun emanating a heat that seeps deeply into your very bones has not quite yet shown its cheery face over the mountains.  I fumble around for my voice which apparently is still slumbering in some undiscovered dimension. “Hello?” I manage somewhat imperceptibly. The caller is from the east coast where the day has perhaps already reached a particular level of civility.

“Did I wake you?” The caller seems completely astounded that I am still in the twilight zone.

“No,” I squeak out. “I’m just not in my body yet. Can I call you later?”

“Well, yes. . . I’m having a spiritual crisis. I need a reading. What time will you call me?”

“You know I retired from readings a year ago. You can still get a free card reading on my website.”

“Yes, but I really need to talk to you and it’s just one question. . .”

And so the day begins. I am not just promoting my Voice of the Angels Cookbook. I am in the middle of promoting my line of CDs, cards, and other books as well.

 

5:15 A.M. – A mixture of green tea and herbal tea gently enters my body and caresses my very soul. I absorb its warm peacefulness with a substantial twist of gratitude.

6:00 A.M. – I’m in the pool. Every day begins with a one hour swim. The water is a comforting and silky embrace and we joyfully become one. It is meditation, deliberate mindfulness and euphoric bliss.

8:00 A.M. – Another call from the east coast. My meditation basket and relaxation basket are going to be featured on a TV episode. They are calling for script approval and they need it soon. There is a production deadline. I review the script. It needs a rewrite. I rewrite it and send it on its way through the ethers of cyberspace.

9:00 A.M.  – I attempt to write the Daily Channeled Message. I actually channel this message, which means I must go into a light trance. Husband with seemingly fine-tuned Daily Channeled Message radar pops into the room like a cannonball. “Honey,” I admonish him. “I’m trying to do the channeled message.”

“I know, but the graphic artist is on the phone and wants to go over the revisions for ‘The Book of Daily Channeled Messages.’”

“Please tell her I’ll call her back.”

10:00 A.M. – I signed up for a Virtual Book Tour. Dorothy Thompson of “Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion” has e-mailed me several interviews that need to be answered. My other e-mail is like a Pacific Ocean of correspondence and orders that need fulfilling. We’ll get to it. Everything gets done in its own time. I follow my own incessant advice to everyone and breathe deeply.

11:00 A.M. – I am sending out a press release through PRWeb for the cookbook. They call and request some revisions. They are very thorough. We examine every detail and every paragraph like we’re having an MRI. I am grateful. They are the best. I rewrite and e-mail it back to them. They call again. We’re good to go. Whew!

12:00 P.M. – I hear bells. Lunch is calling. I make time to talk to my food.

1:00  P.M. – Phone again. This time it’s the fax. The radio promoter is faxing over the contracts for the CD radio promotion which I need to read, sign, and fax back. They also want me to ship them 200 “Release” CDs. I promise they will go out today.

2:00 P.M. – I am revamping my press kit into a little booklet, rather than twenty sheets of paper that I send out with orders and other correspondence. The printer has e-mailed and tells me they cannot locate the cover photos and they also need me to read the proof and send them the revisions, if any. They need it today if they are to meet my deadline.

3:30 P.M. – My friend calls. She tells me she had an interview with a newspaper reporter and they would like to give me some ink. Can I send over my press kit? Soon. She mentions that she just heard one of my songs on the Soundscapes cable TV music channel. I am thrilled!

4:00 P.M. – The distributor needs one-sheets with descriptions, UPCs, and catalog numbers for the CDs. They also need signed contracts and demos. This I cannot do today. Another distributor has placed a large order for inventory. This can go out tomorrow.

5:00 P.M. – Another friend calls. She is representing my product line. “You know those greeting cards we wrote years ago?”

“Yes….”

“We should polish those up and add them to the line.” OK, it is on the list.  “Oh, and I was reviewing the line and I think something is missing.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, you need to have a meditation journal for use with the CDs along with the journal that you already have for use with the cards. It makes everything complete.” It makes sense to me. I put it on the list.

7:30 P.M. – Back to computer things. I need to update my Amazon.com account and my CDbaby.com account because I’ve added new products. I upload product images and write descriptions. And I wade through a sea of all the other e-mail that requires response. In there I discover a request for interview from a magazine I’ve been waiting a year to hear from. Do I want to do it? Absolutely! I also find a request to be a guest on a radio show. That’s exciting. Count me in.

8:30 PM – I visit my two MySpace pages and my other networking sites. I answer friend requests, comments, and reciprocate with a few of my own.

9:00 PM – I remind myself that we are all responsible for our choices and I hold myself  fully accountable for what I’ve created. At this point in the day, I can’t resist a little humor. I smile my sweetest smile. “Honey, will you take me to Barbados?  No? Can we go to Fiji then? I flash a bigger and more engaging smile. No? Hawaii? No? Florida it is. I will make the reservations.” Soon.