This interview is also extra-special because Lynn is also a PBS member, (ChWriter). 
PBS: Thank you. Lynn for allowing us to interview you for the PBS Blog.
Lynn: My Pleasure.
PBS: What made you decide to become an author?
Lynn: I didn’t choose writing as much as it chose me. I was already writing descriptive text and crazy stories shortly after I learned as a child to form letters. Even if I hadn’t done this for a living, I would still be writing in my free time. It’s not just a job to me, but rather a part of who I am.
As to how I became a professional writer, that’s a different story. I would have liked to have chosen writing as a career early on, but because of various factors, including that there wasn’t much money in it, I chose a different career path. It wasn’t until I had my first child 20 years ago, and wanted something to do while I was at home with my son, that I came up with the idea of trying to write professionally. There were few start-up costs, no significant risks and I could do it anywhere and anytime. It seemed a perfect opportunity to see if I could make it as a writer, and the rest is history.
PBS: Being a successful author of Children’s Books, what was it that made you want to write a book about Frankenmuth, Michigan?
Lynn: I’m not a “children’s writer” as much as I’m simply a “writer”. I’ve always written lots of things, from gardening articles and parenting advice to inspirational material. It was when my first children’s book hit the bestseller’s list I began to be labeled a “Children’s Author” in the media…but I have books on other subjects as well. On a daily basis, I also do a lot of freelance work—writing those questions you see at the end of college textbook chapters, certification exams for various professions, etc.
When I heard that the publisher of Tourist Town Guides was looking for someone to do a book on a nearby touristy area of Michigan…I proposed they do a book on my town as well—and that led to me getting the job. As an established writer, nearly life-long resident, and descendant of one of the founders of the town (from back in 1845), I was a perfect choice.
PBS: What has the reaction been in Frankenmuth since your book was published?
Lynn: Frankenmuth is one of the top tourist attractions in the state, but there had never been an independent, national guide on the town, so my guidebook filled an important role. There had always been promotional material in town as well as available in neighboring areas/states, but an independent guidebook is more far-reaching and gives the town greater exposure.
PBS: As an author, you are also a member of PaperBackSwap. Would you share your thoughts with us about book swapping in general and PaperBackSwap in particular. Do you see PaperBackSwap as helpful to you as an author?
Lynn: I’m almost as big a reader as I am a writer, so I love PBS. It saves me lots of time searching for the books I want, and of course the savings in money is significant as well.
As far as being useful to authors…while PBS deals in used books, I think it’s still beneficial because it gives authors greater exposure, and helps connect readers to their work. I know a lot of people who tried a new author because they could get the book on PBS, which led of course to the reader purchasing that author’s future releases. Especially now in the age of the internet, eBooks, etc…the trade in used books really isn’t the issue for authors that it once was.
PBS: Tell us a little bit about your experiences of your membership here at PBS. How did you find PBS?
Lynn: I believe I learned about PBS through a woman I bought books from on eBay. I was always searching for used books for reasonable prices, so PBS was just perfect for me. Prior to PBS, I could barely keep myself and my family in reading material. Now I have a very tall TBR pile in my den. Little did I realize that what I thought was simply a means by which to swap books would become an obsession. LOL—I’m in the forums many times during the day. For someone like me who sits at a computer all day long, it’s wonderfully refreshing to be able to click back and forth between work and the forums to get that much needed break from time-to-time.
Another thing that’s great about PBS is that it’s a great source of information about almost anything. I can ask a question about getting ink out of a shirt, manage a difficult relative or even find out what to order at an area restaurant…and someone (usually many people), will have something intelligent and/or entertaining to say about it. I’ve participated in other online forums before, but I can definitively say that PBS has the nicest people! I’ve made some great online friends here.
PBS: What would you like our members to know about you?
Lynn: They should know that I’m always looking for an excuse to take a break from my work throughout the day. So feel free to PM or chat in the forums any time.
I suppose it would be good to know that I’m also willing to answer questions about writing. When I first started, I didn’t know anyone I could ask even the simplest question of, so I try to be there for others who are starting out. I’ve seen too many people disappointed because they didn’t understand the basic issue of “rights”, or thought self-publishing was the same as traditional, etc. I hate to see that sort of thing happen to people.
PBS: What is your favorite Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer book? What book was the most fun to write?
Lynn: I don’t think I could say that I really have a favorite, but I do “favor” the children’s books and my “Real Mom’s Devotions” because they’re all true stories about my family. They record some special moments in my family life.
As to the book that was the most fun to write, that would probably be the Frankenmuth book. Since I had already been to just about every place and festival in town, a lot of the knowledge was already in my head—so it was fast and easy to write up the basics. That left me with just the fun part of exploring those lesser-known elements of the town, and that even led me to discover some things about my own heritage that I hadn’t known previously.
PBS: What are you reading now?
Lynn: I read a wide-range of things, but mostly a mix of quirky non-fiction and fiction. Right now I’m reading Tinkering with Eden by Kim Todd (which is the natural history of exotic species in America), and The Eyes of Laura Mars by Gilmour & Carpenter. I like to switch between something educational/interesting, and something simply entertaining (depending upon my mood at the moment).
PBS: Do you have any new books in the works?
Lynn: Right now I’m awaiting the release of another children’s book. It’s already done and I’m just waiting for it to come out. Other than that I’m doing freelance work, currently writing test questions for a substance abuse exam, and working on a new book proposal.
Lynn has graciously offered an autographed copy of her book, Frankenmuth: A Guide to Michigan’s Little Bavaria to be given away to a PBS member. It will be awarded to a member who comments here on the Blog. The winner will be chosen at random.
