Archive for the ‘Author Interviews’ Category

Author Interview – Tell Cotten

Posted: April 30, 2013 in Author Interviews
Tags: , , ,
1

Debra: Welcome to this edition of Talk Radio with NO Radio!  Today’s guest is Tell Cotten and he has arrived a few minutes early so we don’t get to talk about him beforehand like we usually do <winks> but let me start off by telling you a bit about Tell before we start asking him questions today.  He is a seventh generation Texan, grew up in the ranching business and is still in the ranching business with a large cattle ranch in west Texas.  Let me share with you that if that didn’t put an image of a real cowboy in your mind already, add the long sleeve, pearl button snap shirt, wrangler jeans and the boots and hat that he is wearing today and you are there!  No surprise to read Confessions of a Gunslinger and then meet Tell as he appears he could have been a character in his own book!  He brought a picture today of him and his son riding together and it’s so adorable…see for yourself:

Tell:  Thanks for the introduction Debra!  I’m very excited to be here.  All my life folks have been telling me that I have a great face for radio, and now, I finally get to NOT be on the air!tellNson

Debra:  <laughs> Ok, ok, let me also share that my first question when I met Tell was, “Is that your real name?” and it is!  He shared with me that there was a movie in the 70’s called The Sacketts starring Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot. Sam Elliot’s character was named Tell, and his parents liked it.  I’m a huge Sam Elliot fan myself so I have seen that show too.  How very cool to have such a unique name and perfect for a writer’s name I think, too!  Do you get teased or asked about that a lot?

Tell: Yes, growing up I got teased some. My last name is Cotten, and folks would call me Cotten Tell rabbit and things like that. When I introduce myself to older folks they always say, “Tell me your name?” And I’ll say, “Tell”, and they’ll reply, “Tell me what, now?” And then I’ll have to spell it out loud. But it’s okay. I like having a unique name!

Debra:  Very cool!  I think we all got teased about our names in one way or another, it amuses me now but was hurtful when we were kids.  You sound like you were a good sport about though!  I’m going to grab some coffee real quick, leave you entertaining our audience for a moment, would you like some coffee?

Tell:  Yes, please, would love some.  <moves to the picture window over my writing desk> Wow, I really like the mountains! We don’t have any mountains where I come from. Back home it’s just one oil well after another.

Debra:  I can’t imagine living anywhere else…<is in kitchen now>

Tell:  Hi!  <into microphone, waves, thinks outloud> Entertain the audience while she makes coffee….hmmmm….Ah-hah! <sings> I got no dia-mond, tho-ugh I’m shy, still I think I’-m a luc-ky guy <fingers snapping the rhythm> I got the sun in the mor-ning and the moon at night, Got no man-sion, got no yacht, Still I’m hap-py with what I’ve got-Oh, you’re back! <grinning ear to ear>  Didn’t know what to say, so what do you do on the radio…sing!

Debra:  Wow, what a voice!  I recognize the lyrics, Dean Martin but you didn’t quite sound like Dean, good but not Dean.

Tell:  My wife says I sound like Ricky Nelson.

Debra:  That makes sense!  Well done <clapping>

Tell:  <takes a bow, pure cowboy style, hat and all> Thank you, little lady.  <Great John Wayne impersonation!>

Debra:  Wow!  You are too funny and not the least bit shy either.

Tell:  I think a lot of people expect that shy cowboy persona but I’m really not.  I grew up playing guitar, and as a kid I sang and played in church. I also teach guitar now. In fact, I even wrote a song once, but my wife won’t let me play it in public. I don’t know why. It’s called, “I still miss my wife, but my aim’s getting better.” Catchy, don’t you think? <blows imaginary smoke from imaginary finger six shooters and puts them back in imaginary holsters, grinning ear to ear, waxing silly head to toe>

Debra:  <laughing, must stop to respond> Yes, very catchy, Tell, your wife must be proud of your great song writing talent!  <laughs again>  Sorry!  You crack me up!  Oh, here we go, focus, we are on the air…okay.  <deep breathe, sits up straight and looks at notepad with questions on it>  Thanks for sharing that with us and on that note, folks, let’s jump right into the Q&A then?  <Tell nods while sipping the coffee, no longer silly and looking like nothing out of the ordinary just happened> First, tell us a little something that folks might find out of character for a cowboy that you do for fun?

Tell:  I’m an excellent chess player. I have a rating of over 1800 on chess.com, and I’m very proud of that! In my opinion, playing chess teaches you how to solve problems and deal with conflict.

Debra:  Neat!  Now let’s talk about that book!  I loved it and I don’t read westerns…you’ve got to tell our audience what it’s called and in 20 words or less, what is it about?

Tell:  Confessions of a Gunfighter is the first-hand account of Rondo Landon, gunfighter. It is a character and dialogue driven story about a boy that must cope with the circumstances of the time.

Debra:  Tell us a bit about how you envision your target audience for this book?

Tell:  There are plenty of westerns out there that are filled with language and adult situations. And, I know a lot of folks that are turned away by that. I purposely wrote Confessions of a Gunfighter to be family friendly. There is some violence, but I was careful not to make it too gruesome or gory. And, as a result, almost anyone can read it.

Debra:  Is there a supporting character who took on a life of their own or turned out to be far more popular than expected and if so, do you have plans to feature them as the lead character in a story of their own?

Tell:  Yes, I have received a lot of feedback on my character Lee Mattingly. He’s an outlaw, but there’s also some good in him. There’s a battle of good versus evil going on inside him, and I think a lot of folks related to him. As a result, he has a big part in my next novel, Entwined Paths.

Debra:  Ewww, a little sneak peak in there too, well done.  Can’t wait to read that one too!  What is it you love most about writing?

Tell:  It’s hard work writing a novel. And, the most rewarding part to me is when someone tells me how much they enjoyed reading it. I think that is the best that any author can hope for!

Debra:  Is there anything about you or your writing that makes you unique from other authors?

Tell:  I grew up riding horses and working cattle, and I also know how real cowboys talk and what their mannerisms are. I think that separates me some from a lot of western writers. I’ve been there and done that, so to speak.

Debra:  What would you say is your biggest strength as a writer?

Tell:  I really enjoy writing dialogue, especially western characters.

Debra:  That makes sense, there was a lot of dialogue in that book, you wrote it very well and I think that may have been a deciding factor for my enjoyment as well…it made it so different from other westerns I have opened and put right back down.  If you were to write a story featuring a fictional character from another author’s novel, who would you choose and why?

Tell:  Tell Sackett, from Louis L’amour. I would love to be able to write some dialogue for him!  Of course!

Debra:  What advice would you give to publishing houses with regard to how to go forward and adapt to the industry over the next few years?

Tell:  EBooks are getting more and more popular, so I think publishers are going to have to learn how to become more and more digital. I’m lucky that I have a great publisher. Solstice publishing is very current with the times, and they do a great job of promoting our books. However, every author has to realize that if they want their books to sell then it’s up to them. They have to learn how to promote their own books, or else they probably won’t make it!

Debra:  That seems to be more and more the case, even for the authors that have the more traditional contracts these days, unless they are already famous and sell on name alone, I see more and more self-advertising or paid advertising but from the authors and not just the publishers these days.  Can you list a few other books which you feel would appeal to a similar audience as your own book?

Tell:  The Long Shooters by Dan Chamberlain is a very good read. I’d also have to recommend Double Crossing by Meg Mims. And, if you’re looking for a western with some humor, try Hustle Henry and the Cue Ball Kid by Jack Strandburg.

Debra:  Would you rather have great reviews but average sales or great sales but average reviews?

Tell:  I’d much rather have great reviews but average sales. That would mean that almost everyone that read Confessions of a Gunfighter enjoyed it! And, so far I haven’t received any bad feedback, and I am very happy about that!

Debra:  Tell, <reaches over and shakes hands>, thanks so much for coming today and doing this interview-

Tell:  Thanks for having me-

Debra:  Anytime and is there anything you want to say to the audience, just to wrap things up for us today?

Tell: Getting published has been a dream come true for me, and I have been very humbled by the positive responses I’ve received. Solstice publishing took a chance on me, and I want to thank Melissa and Nick for taking that chance!tell book 031

Website/blog

http://tellcotten.wordpress.com/

Amazon author page

http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Cotten/e/B00BTNWC4Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1363220555&sr=8-1

Barnes and Nobles

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/confessions-of-a-gunfighter-tell-cotten/1113818966

Smashwords

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256428

Solstice Publishing

http://store.solsticepublishing.com/confessions-of-a-gunfighter/

Be sure and check out the book reviews for Tell’s book, one here on my site but also the many great reviews on Amazon!  CLICK HERE for book review

Author Interview – Simon Okill AKA Phantom Bigfoot

Posted: April 23, 2013 in Author Interviews
Tags: , , ,
1

Debra: Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of Talk Radio with NO Radio!  Today my special guest will be Simon Okill, AKA Phantom Bigfoot and make sure you have the time for this broadcast right now, you won’t want to miss a thing.  This author is hysterically funny and I have no idea from one minute to the next what to expect, just from our email discussions to set up time for the interview, so I can only imagine what having him-<boom, boom, boom on the side of the studio walls> What the-?

<Jumps out of chair and heads for the big picture window, peering through, only inches from the glass and suddenly a big hairy head pops up right at the window, Debra screams and launches backwards across the room!

<silence, the hairy head in the window is gone, but where?>

Debra: Oh my, I don’t, I can’t explain what just happened, something’s out there! <knock, knock from the front doors> Oh, Simon is supposed to be here anytime, I’d better let him in, maybe he saw something…<runs to the front doors and there stands Simon, holding the costume head of a big foot creature under one arm and smiling as he knocks on the doors again>

Debra: <opens doors> YOU scared the crap out of me!

Simon:  <laughing hysterically>  I know <tears are forming, he is laughing so hard> I thought you’d <laughing>, I’m sorry, I thought you’d get it right away after all our joking around on email and knowing I was coming.  Sorry!  No, not really! Didn’t mean to make you jump like that!  I wish you could have seen yourself, you flew across the room! <laughing overtakes his efforts to talk, Debra is staring in complete disbelief  and thinking this guy’s got a screw loose>

Debra: <started laughing too, somewhere around trying to envision herself flying backwards across the room> Simon, I will get you back for that!  Oh my goodness, you got me good!  Please, come in, come in, we are live you know?

Simon:  The Phantom Bigfoot abides.tassy pic

Debra:  What is this thing you are wearing, aren’t you burning up?  <Simon is in full costume, having removed the head piece so Debra will know it’s him but in a big foot costume, well, it just looks like it is too hot!>

Simon: It’s a little hot in here, but well worth <starts laughing again, hand in the air, waving apologetically as he tries to get laughing under control> sorry, it’s worth it for the reactions I get!

Debra:  I imagine so!  Oh wow, what a start to the show!  This is one of those times that I wish this was TV and not NO Radio…so everyone could see you right now!

Simon:  No, no, let’s not give them too much, I want to still be able to sneak up on people ya know <starts laughing again>…

Debra:  We’re live Simon, we should get started, won’t you have a seat and let me get you a cold beverage and then we can do these questions?

Simon:  Before we start, I’m thirsty after such a long drive on the ‘ole hog and all this sweating.

Debra:  What would you like to drink, Simon or is it Phantom Bigfoot? Simon is fine and beer would really hit the spot. <always prepared for her guests, Debra reaches into cooler near sitting area and pulls out two beer bottles, Simon snags them both!>

Simon:  <Phshhh! Slurp! Burp!> Thanks Debra. Yes, I am a nut job, it’s okay, you have this deer in headlights look about you, relax!  <laughs>  Being a total nut job really helps me as an author and that’s what the reader will see in my book. I’m not kidding, I’ve been poked and prodded by many a psychiatrist during my PTSD days. Writing sends me on wild quests to the forests of my mind where Phantom Bigfoot lurks. He’s lurking more with each book I write.

Debra:  <Simon is bouncing around the room, Debra is still recovering from the shock and now worrying over how she is going to get him to answer questions and focus on the interview, returns to sitting area and gets herself a beer from the cooler, finds Simon has stopped bouncing and is now trying to play her old acoustic guitar with huge bigfoot paws still on his hands, sounds terrible> Hello?  Simon?

Simon: <singing?  At least it drowns out the awful strumming noise from the big paws> I’m a Bigfoot, I’m a Bigfoot, No-bod-y Lo-ve-s a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Ba-a-b-b-b-e-e.

Debra: <clapping>  Wow, that was…well, something!

Simon: <takes a bow> Thank you, thank you! <laughs>  Ok, I have to get out of this costume, it is too hot!  <starts shucking the costume, thankfully, has jeans and a shirt on!>

Debra:  Wow, that’s just all I can say, Simon, you are a nut and I love it!  Shall we get comfortable and start our interview then?

Simon:  Sure, I rode all this way, might as well!

Debra:  Good point!  So, first question, where did the inspiration for your first novel, “Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe”, come from?

Simon:  I read Stephen King’s “Needful Things” many times. Love that book. Then after one too many beers and a TV-fest of Twin Peaks – the episodes where Spooky is the transvestite agent, and The Broken Lizard’s Super Troopers, the inevitable happened. I had this crazy-assed dream where the FBI have to search for this goof-off teenager always playing pranks saying he’s been abducted by a Bigfoot Babe. Only this time it would be real. Cool!

Debra:  Very cool!  I am a huge Stephen King fan and own all of his books, Hardback First Editions of course, <points up at library shelves along the top of the walls around the studio> and Needful Things is my favorite!  Is your book a Standalone, or part of the series? If it is the latter, how long do you think will it go on?

Simon:  Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe is the pilot episode, Debra. I intend to write 6 more episodes, each one more ludicrous than the last.

Debra:  Oh that’s fantastic news…I read it and would love to read more.  I loved this book, well you read my review.  <CLICK HERE to open a new window for the review>  Why did you choose this title? Was it your first choice?

Simon:  My book first breathed words under the name of “So, I Married a Bigfoot Babe”. A lot of people screamed at me to change the title and content, a bit too animal-loving. I then had a dream where Duane, the lead character, wrote this song about Bigfoot. I rushed downstairs and got the entire lyrics down before reality kicked in. The first line of the chorus goes – Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe.

Debra:  That makes perfect sense actually, well to anyone after they read this book!  Was there a scene that you didn’t want to add or remove in your finished work?

Simon:  Two wonderful scenes had to go, on orders of my writer friend and my publisher – the amazingly stupid autopsy scene and the zombie discussion scene.  Not to worry, I saved them for future episodes.

Debra:  Well, since we will be reading them later, I won’t ask for more details on them, as much as I would really like to!  Do you already know what you are going to work on next?

Simon:  Bigfoot 2 will be ready later this year. “Eternally Yours” Part 1: The Blood Hunt is complete just final editing and formatting for kindle. Eternally Yours Part 2: The Eternal Moon is nearly done – a traumatized young woman is sent to an asylum in France 1925 for treatment. As her true love and psychiatrist delves into her mind to piece together her past, he unleashes her Eternal vampire with catastrophic results. “SS-steppenwolf” is nearly there too, think SS Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf, based on fact.

Debra:  Wait, please expand on this last, Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf and based on fact isn’t quite making sense to me.  Can you, without spoiling anything?

Simon:  Yes, of course, the SS were addicted to a drug that made them ferocious and invincible and they soon swept across Europe like a hot knife through butter, but as the drug supply depleted so the fortunes of war turned against Germany. Based on Himmler’s experiments to create the perfect fighting machine ramped up to werewolf proportions. Hint – Fact – SS Werewolf Units were used during Battle of the Bulge. General Omar Bradley was so terrified that these SS Units were real werewolves he ordered all bodies to be burned. The entire WWII history is explained using werewolves as instigators and it all makes sense. Disputed Fact – Himmler escaped death by using a doppelganger actor to be caught in his place.

Debra:  Very cool, I have to read that one.  Have you ever written a supporting character who took on a life of their own or turned out to be far more popular than expected and if so do you have plans to feature them as the lead character in a story of their own?

Simon:  Oh Yeah! Walt Flucker, the town plumber, whose dumbass son gets abducted by Bigfoot. As soon as Walt was introduced I knew he’d refuse to go quietly in the night. He’s the guy Duane has to protect Bigfoot from. He’ll feature heavily in future episodes. There’s even a song about him in the book. Would you like me to sing it for you?

Debra:  No time for that, Simon, sorry-

Simon: Suuuuurrrrreeeee, you are, just didn’t like my singing did you? <sounds hurt>

Debra: Uh…no, we just really don’t have time but could you tell us how long it took for you to write it, take us from the idea to the moment you published and share any quirks about it all that might be funny or interesting to our readers today?

Simon:  O-K…How many crappy B-movies are out there portraying poor Bigfoot as a bloodthirsty monster intent on rape? Too many! I thought, hold on a minute, what if Bigfoot were these sweet-natured hippie types with only love on their minds. From there came the idea of Duane, a guy who literally risks death to save his beloved tribe of Bigfoot. After the book was finished I started to do the rounds of contacting agents and publishers. After so many rejections from people who could never think outside the box, I decided to give USA a shot.-

Debra:  Wait, before you go on, where did you query first, before the US?

Simon:  UK.  Seriously, I had one agent read my vampire novel due out soon and her reply was that I should be locked away for describing vampires drinking people as if they were bottles of wine.  That is what we authors have to put up with in the UK.

Debra:  Wow, I hadn’t thought about how that aspect of being an author would be so different.  It makes sense of course, USA tends to be the most liberal in so many things.  Please go on…

Simon:  So, Bang! The first publisher snapped my baby up quicker than a gator in a river full of chicken wings. I even thought of renting a Bigfoot suit to advertise my book – go running about in the local woods of South Wales, UK and spook a few ramblers. Sad to say, at 5 feet 7 inches no one would ever take The Phantom Bigfoot seriously. The rest is history.

Debra:  You might have gotten a UK agent if you’d shown up, manuscript in hand, wearing the suit ya know?

Simon:  Not with hands full of pitwoofy and no, I probably would have been arrested!  <laughs>

Debra:  Right!  <sharing a laugh first>  On the lighter side for a moment, I just want to ask you a question to see how quick your imagination runs off with you…If you could travel through time, what would you do first?

Simon:  I’d suddenly appear with my man Elvis on stage in Las Vegas.

Debra:  Perfect!  I love it!  If the book was made into a movie, who would you want to play the main character and why?

Simon:  James Roday from Psych would make a perfect Duane Dexter. Duane is one helluva nutcase, not taking life seriously except protecting his Bigfoot tribe from hunters. He’s scruffy, doesn’t care about his appearance, can charm the socks of a Bigfoot and the women adore him. James, in his Psych role, is always fooling around, very un-PC and only gets down to it when he’s needed. Can’t say if the ladies love James, though, except Maggie Lawson of course.

Debra:  Why should people buy your book?  What do you think makes it special, what’s the hook that will have readers not wanting to put it down?

Simon:  In these grim times, Debra, my book will lift readers’ spirits and give them something to laugh about. No matter how troubled the reader is, they’ll find it hard not to chuckle along with Duane’s antics. The reader would also need to be very open-minded, sophomoric (Animal House) and it would help if they like The Broken Lizards’ films. I can honestly say, and even my publisher failed in this regard, I haven’t been able to find any other book similar in style or content. It goes all the way outside the box, <Burp!> it has never been done before. Really, I have searched the web for another book like it and failed.

Debra:  I don’t know a thing about The Broken Lizards’ and I can’t stand that show Psych but I absolutely loved this book and it truly made me feel better.  When I read it, there was a lot going on, financial stress, family drama, etc. and I just felt better during and after reading it!  So, can you tell us something about you that we won’t find on the internet?

Simon:  I love real ale, I fart a hell of a lot due to no fault of my own, I am small for my size, I do not have big feet and I have left my body on occasion. I have witnessed several UFOs and I believe we all come from another planet. I know I do!

Debra:  You’re a trip!  Your opinion, how do you see the publishing industry changing over the next few years?

Simon:  EBooks will become even more in demand. Paper will go the way of the dinosaur. Due to the ease with which an author can self-publish – a route I didn’t take, the big publishers should be more open to new authors and not stomp on them without mercy.

Debra:  What do you think stimulates sales the most; positive reviews or advertising?

Simon:  By far the most important advert for a book is great reviews. The more reviews the more readers will be interested. Problem is getting readers to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. As for blogs, when I first started marketing I was at a total loss. But, after flooding Twitter and Facebook with crazy quips from Phantom Bigfoot, this is another promo weapon I stumbled upon – get a catchy hook, I was invited to join ASMSG writers’ circle. From there I had world-weary friends willing to help me. They all have great blogs willing to post members’ book promos. So to all newbies out there – join a writers’ group! And set up a blog on Goodreads and start reviewing then you can put your book on lists and get voted.

Debra:  Great advise Simon, thank you for sharing that and unfortunately, we have to wrap up now, we are so over on time today but well worth it to get to know you a bit!

Simon:  Thanks Debra and thanks for the <burp!> beers too!

Debra:  Of course, I really enjoyed meeting you Simon!  Have a safe trip and stop by anytime, just don’t scare me like that again, good grief!

Simon:  No promises!  Later! <gathering up his bigfoot costume, he is on his way>

Debra:  And there you have it folks, the wacky, zany character behind the wacky, zany characters!  What an amazing imagination he has!

So, as always, I close with some links for you:

Http://www.christophermatthewspub.com/nobody-loves-a-bigfoot/bigfoot_simon okill

www.independentauthornetwork.com/simon-okill.html #IAN1

Http://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phantom-bigfoot

http://facebook.com/simondokillwriter

http://twitter.com/simonokill

https://www.amazon.com/author/simondokillwriter

http://goodreads.com/tassyoneill

US Kindle

UK Kindle

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Loves-Bigfoot-Like-ebook/dp/B00AAL9UB4

US Paperback

http://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Loves-Bigfoot-Like-Babe/dp/1938985036/

UK Paperback

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Loves-Bigfoot-Like-Babe/dp/1938985036/

Author Interview – Lori Verni-Fogarsi and ENTER TO WIN Announcement!

Posted: April 19, 2013 in Author Interviews
Tags: , , , ,
11

Debra:  Hello!  Welcome to another edition of Talk Radio with NO Radio and I have a special treat for you today!  Two time award-winning author of Momnesia, and Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs, Lori Verni-Fogarsi will be in the house, any moment now.  Lori’s new book, “Unexpecting” is releasing today through Brickstone Publishing and we are privileged to be one of the first stops on her blog tour.

While we wait for Lori to arrive for her interview, I want to officially announce that YOU CAN WIN A COPY OF “UNEXPECTING” by entering to win between now and the 29th.  I will close the contest on the 29th and then randomly select the winner – 1 entry per person on the interview and up to one per day for RT’s of this interview post.  Here’s how to enter:  SIMPLE!  Enjoy the interview and then make a comment at the bottom about something discussed in the interview.  RT the tweet for this interview (no more than 1 time per day) for additional entries.  (The winner will be able to choose either Kindle or paperback. However, in order to choose paperback, they MUST be at a Continental US Mailing Address.)

Some interesting facts about Lori – she was born and raised in New York City before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina in her mid-thirties, happily married mom of two, stepmom of two more, and has two cats, both rotten.  Lori says she does some of her best writing at Lake Gaston, where she sets up in the sunroom and lets the creative juices flow while also keeping an eye out for heron. On the opposite side of the spectrum is that a lot of her writing is also done on her laptop in her car while waiting in the dancing school parking lot for her daughter!

So there it is, enter to win your FREE COPY OF “UNEXPECTING” RELEASED TODAY and I hope you enjoy our show.  And, I love it when they have perfect timing, I just heard a vehicle pull up outside so let’s go greet our guest!

<takes microphone, goes out double doors and finds Lori pulling a kid’s hair tie from the leg of her jeans and points to the one stuck in the strap of her sandal, notices Tiara, perched on Lori’s head, shoos the dogs away but Lori is no help as she is playing with them so they are ignoring me>

Debra: Hi, you must be Lori, sorry ’bout the dogs, my son apparently didn’t put them in their pen before he left for school today.

Lori: Kids! <chucks hair ties back into her SUV and closes the door> Nah, don’t put the dawgs away, they’re too precious!<Lori is now on the ground, getting dog hair all over her beautiful blouse and just laughing and teasing with the dogs>

Debra: Welcome fellow dog lover!  So many folks are afraid of these two but they are just big babies, great guard dogs too!

Lori:  Did you say guard dawgs?  Pit bulls right?  They get such a bad rap, it’s a shame, since they’re so friendly.  I saw two other huge dogs when I first pulled up, why aren’t they out too?

Debra:  Yes, they are, Fancy and Smokey, now you two go play and leave Ms. Lori be, shoo! <off they go, heads hanging but obeying> Those are Great Pyrenees and they aren’t very social, they are livestock guardian dogs, their instinct is to scare you away from their pen.  They are friendly but just not used to people.  You would love to pet them, though, they have the softest fur!

Lori:  Oh, I would be covered in that long fur, I just know it and wouldn’t care a bit!  It’s really beautiful here Debra, you are very lucky!

Debra: Wait until you see my writing nook in front of the big picture window!  So, Lori, I just announced that our readers can enter to win a copy of the new book, anything you want to say right away to our audience?

Lori: <laughs but tries to stifle the laugh> Oh, we’re live already?!  Hi, everyone, thank you for being here today!  So exciting! <waves to the microphone and they both laugh>

Debra:  Shall we?  <leads the way to the studio doors>  Lori, I love the tiara and your boldness for wearing it in public, tell us about that, would you?IMG_0365

Lori:  Oh, my coffee mug!  I dropped it when I saw the dawgs, oh, here it is-

Debra:  I have a kitchen and a fresh pot of coffee inside, no problem!

Lori: Fresh coffee? Thank goodness! Now I know we’re soul mates! Oh, and the tiara, well, nothing monumental necessarily happens, as the author, on the official book release day. However, since it is monumental to me, I wear my jeweled tiara for the day in my own personal celebration. And of course, my husband and best friend, Mark and I will drink lots of wine later! <follows Debra into kitchen, rinses off the coffee mug and is searching for the coffee pot>

Debra: <pours coffee from the pot and grabs a big bag of M&M’s and a bowl, Lori’s eyes are wide and watching what Debra does with the bag as she follows her from the kitchen and to the sitting area>  How wonderful and you should celebrate, it is a big day and I am honored to be part of it with you.  I noticed you have several things planned for each day of the tour, you have put a ton of planning into all of this and its been truly amazing for me, to look to you as an example of how to market in this eBook commerce that is our reality today as authors.

Lori:  Thank you!  I’ve enjoyed working with everyone that signed up to do this tour with me and it really has been a great experience. <grabs a handful of M&M’s as Debra pours the bag into the bowl on the coffee table, chuckles>

Debra:  So, shall we get started then? <grabs some M&M’s, shuffles through papers to find the interview questions>

Lori: Mmm <chuckles>, yes, of course, I’m sorry, I keep chuckling because we sound so different and I am having a hard time understanding everything you say.  Between your Southern accent and my New York accent, we sound like complete opposites!

Debra: I know, right?  I am struggling a little too, you talk so fast but I actually did a lot of work with New Jersey and New York executives back in my corporate America days so it’s a little easier for me.  You could slow down a little though, it’s how fast you talk that is throwing me off?

Lori:  I’ll try!  <drags out the two words and laughs>

Debra:  <laughing> Ok, Lori, you’re killing me, you are such a hoot and have tripped my giggle switch!  Ok, here we go, ladies and germs, first question- Lori, set aside all the author, book, blog tour stuff and just share something about yourself, what do you do for fun?

Lori:  Ok, here’s a little tidbit, pretty personal and you can laugh… we do!  There is a local wine bar my husband and I go to occasionally, and my favorite thing of all is boating on Lake Gaston. We love to just ride around looking for birds, turtles, and other wildlife, and we call ourselves “The Sunset Hunters,” where we try to find the best spot to view the sunset in the summer. We fancy that we’ll have our own TV show!

Debra:  Oh, that is awesome!  Sounds like you and Mark, was it?

Lori: Yeah, Mark-

Debra:  Sounds like you and Mark might have the next great reality show there!  Can you tell us all a little about the tour, maybe more about the live launch party?

Lori:  Last year’s live launch party for “Momnesia” was amazing! Almost 100 guests attended and we all had a great time… especially me! I felt SO honored to have an actual line of people wanting to chat with me and have their book signed! I am extremely (no seriously, over-the-top!!!) excited about the upcoming live launch party for “Unexpecting,” as I anticipate potentially 150 or more guests, and can’t wait to meet new readers and see some of my existing fans! Plus, this year it will be even more organized, as I will have several lovely young ladies (my fifteen-year-old daughter and some of her friends) helping out with the prize entries, technology for the Kindle book buying on-site, etc. AND, my stepson is being our designated driver, so my husband and I can party the night away and not have to worry about driving!

Debra:  Amazing!  I really appreciated the invitation too, Lori, I am sorry I couldn’t make it but will come to the next one, I promise and as successful and talented as you are, I am sure there will be another one!   Another questions then, tell us, what’s the best and worst thing about being an author for you?

Lori:  Without question, it is the fluctuation in emotions during the stopgap of time between when my book is completely finished, and when readers first start reading it and posting reviews. One minute I am confident that my book is fabulous and the next moment I’m certain that it’s not fit for human consumption. It isn’t until I start getting feedback from actual readers that I’m able to just relax and accept that most readers do enjoy my books.

Debra:  That is hard, that waiting, I tend to try and focus on something else and it never works!  <laughs>  Do you have a favorite review or has anyone expressed a particularly nice compliment about your writing which stands out as your most memorable piece of praise?

Lori:  I have received so many wonderful e-mails from readers telling me that I changed their life in some way, and those have been the most meaningful to me. Whether a mom who was struggling with maintaining balance in her life, a woman who felt understood, or a pet owner who was spared from feeling like they need to get rid of their dog, they are the ones that mean the most.  As for professional reviews, there have also been some really good ones, including:

“An unforgettable journey laced with humor and reality.”

“Smart, crisp dialogue and a fast-moving, entertaining plot make [the book] a fun, 5-star read.”

Debra:  Do you need more coffee, yet, I am going to grab a glass of water, want anything? <is up and walking towards kitchen>

Lori:  Nah, I’m fine thanks, I’ve been watching past your shoulder at those two watching us though, can’t we let them in?

Debra:  <turns and looks at the brats leaving slobber on the double glass doors, rolls eyes at them>  Sure you can, if you’re sure they won’t be distracting for you?

Lori:  <jumps from chair and opens the doors, dogs rush in and settle around her feet as she sits back down, Debra returns from kitchen and bursts out laughing>

Debra:  Traitors!

Lori: They just know a dog lover when they see one, sorry, I do spoil pets, can’t help it!  This is so casual and comfortable and I was expecting a more formal radio interview, nice to have this break in the hectic pace of these past few weeks!

Debra:  Fantastic, that just made my day Lori!  I do this stuff for fun, a creative outlet if you will and to do something original and different and I always hope the authors enjoy the experience.  So, just for fun, could you sum up the new book, “Unexpecting” in 3 words?

Lori:  Makes you feel.

Debra:  Nice.  I started reading it, I am about a third of the way through it and will be finishing it tonight if I have to stay up way past my bed time…it’s amazing.  I am not old enough to relate to Shelley at that level and I only have one teenager but there is so much about her and the experiences that you wrote so well about in the book that I totally relate and love all of the characters.  Even the teens that are such pains in the butt and I love that Shelley and David are so realistic about dealing with their teens…I try to be with my son and maybe that’s the aspect I related to the most.  Anyway, I was wondering if you ever feel yourself becoming quite emotional when writing a particularly intense scene and is there a specific passage in particular where this was the case?

Lori:  It’s interesting that you asked this because I didn’t experience this with my other books, although “Momnesia” did contain a lot of emotion. However, with “Unexpecting,” I was surprised at the intensity with which my emotions became overwhelming at times. I actually had to take a break for a few weeks when writing the part about the Big Terrible Incident with David, and I was bawling my eyes out while typing the book’s ending.

Debra:  Wow, now I want to cut this short and finish the book right now-but we won’t!  What changes would you like to see take place in the publishing industry over the next few years?

Lori:  Ooh, I’m so glad you asked! With the explosion of indie authors and boutique presses, I think there is a great need for the industry to mature: I am so disappointed when I pick up a book that is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors! No matter how great the story is, or how wonderful of a writer they may be, every book needs professional editing and it is unfortunate that there is not yet any regulation in the industry to help weed out those that have not taken the steps to do that.

Debra:  Oh I couldn’t agree with you more.  I designed the structure of my editing business to meet this need specifically…editing is so expensive and by eliminating overhead I can offer access to great freelancers at much lower pricing than the industry standards.  What’s interesting is that the freelancers on my team, worked for those big firms and now make the same as they did then – the markup was huge for the companies.  I hit that hurdle myself when I wanted to publish my first book so I took a step back and decided to provide a service that these newer authors couldn’t afford otherwise, the number one reason they are publishing without it.  They dream and write and then hit the editing hurdle and can’t afford it but they don’t want to give up on the dream…that was me, too, I just had the editing experience to do something about it, so I am trying.  I hope to see some regulations at some point, there needs to be a centralized society like there is for published authors I think, we could chat on about this for a while!

Lori: In my opinion, it’s like this: When you’re published by a large, traditional publisher, they put money into necessary things like editing and marketing, but you receive a much smaller royalty per book. With independent publishing, you need to invest in that editing and marketing yourself, and receive the return when your royalties start coming in. Just like you wouldn’t launch a pizza place without investing in ovens up front, neither should you publish a book without investing in editing up front. Plus, you’re likely to make much more money over time when readers are not “turned off” by your books in the first place!

Debra:  Well said, absolutely.  It’s such a shame that they can so easily ruin their reputation and affect all future book sales if they don’t realize this right away before making the mistake.  How about something else about you that we won’t find on the Internet?

Lori:  My husband and I dream of an unusual type of retirement: We want to have a small, manageable home on Lake Gaston (in NC/VA), but go and live for 1-3 months at a time in various places around the world. The list of places is huge but just a few on our dream list include Portugal, Italy, Argentina, and Hawaii. As you can tell, we believe in dreaming big!

Debra:  You have to dream big, is there any other way?  So, what other indie author would you recommend to readers and why?

Lori:  Without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read by an indie author was “Scent of Triumph” by Jan Moran. It is beautifully written, well researched, and really takes you back in time, while integrating the concepts of a strong, modern woman.

Debra:  What would you say is your biggest strength as a writer?

Lori:  I think that what readers enjoy most is my conversational writing style that feels almost as though you’re chatting with a friend. That aspect combined with the commiserative feeling of being understood, make readers enjoy both an escape and personal validation at the same time.

Debra:  Lori, that nails it for me too, exactly what I am enjoying about the book right now!  I want to take a minute to tell our audience a couple of things and then we can wrap up?

Lori: Sounds great, and thank you so much for hosting me on your blog! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and I hope to get to know some of your blog’s readers too. Maybe they’ll comment below? (Hint, hint! Wink, wink!)

Debra:  So, I think Lori has an amazing website and you can learn more about her here: http://www.loritheauthor.com/about-lori/ and make sure you check out this page too as it tells you all about this blog tour we kept mentioning, huge event, lots of prize winning opportunities and this is an author that you should be watching…she is going far!  http://www.loritheauthor.com/unexpectingrelease/  A special thank you to Lori for the time she spent helping me understand how to be part of the tour, it was all new to me!

Here’s the book synopsis (from Lori’s amazing website) and a link for you to buy the book:Unexpecting-cover-198x300

Shelley and David are a couple of almost-empty-nesters whose children are just about all off to college. Preparing to embark on the next stage of their life, they’ve just ordered white furniture and are planning the vacation they’ve waited their entire lives to take.

Everything changes when Alexandra, seventeen and pregnant, shows up on their doorstep and announces that she’s the daughter he never knew he had! Their life is catapulted in a completely different direction, abounding with dilemmas: Not only do they have an additional child, but also a baby in a household that had been just about to become serene. How much should they help her? And how could they not?

Shelley feels like she no longer fits in anywhere and to top it off, having two seventeen-year-old girls suddenly plunged into being sisters and school mates is not exactly warm and fuzzy. When Alexandra’s behavior starts to become erratic, the couple is faced with even tougher decisions to make.

Hold on for an emotional yet witty ride as you join this family of characters in a story of love, loyalty, heartbreak, and humor that will stay with you long after you turn the last page!

If you’d like to buy a copy of “Unexpecting” now, please click here! Available in paperback and Kindle.

Bye bye – until next time!  Coming soon, Simon Okill and Kenneth Fore….

Request your author interview by email at mrsdlhartmann@gmail.com

Older Entries
Newer Entries