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Author Interview—Monique Honaman

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Monique A. Honaman is the author of The High Road Has Less Traffic, a straight from the heart, inspirational and humorous guide to navigating love relationships and divorce. In the book, she shares her personal journey so that others can learn from it…but make no mistake, this is not some dry self help book.  This is a pull-no-punches, tell-it-to-me-straight and make-me-laugh-through-the-hard-parts read.

Thank you, Monique, for sharing your story with our PBS members.

PBS:      Have you ever written anything before? Why did you feel compelled to write this book?

I did feel compelled to write this book about taking the high road after I was forced to make a similar choice myself when I experienced a relationship implosion of my own, and suddenly found myself staring down the face of divorce. I quickly came to realize the kind of pain and destruction that divorce can inflict on others, especially on children. I decided that I would take my experience and turn it around to help other women who were in the same situation. I began to counsel women facing relationship troubles and divorce, and before I knew it I was fielding calls and emails weekly from women who were friends, or friends of friends, or friends of acquaintances. I found that there were certain pieces of advice that resonated with my newfound circle of friends. I decided to package my experiences and insights into a book that summed up my personal philosophy: that the high road has less traffic, less breakdowns, and more room to accelerate toward your destination. Given a choice, the high road is the best path to take in life, especially when dealing with marriage and family!

I love to read and when I was going through my divorce, I was looking for that book that would be that “girlfriend” who would really lay it on the line for me – who would be funny, raw, honest, smart, let me cry, and make me laugh. I couldn’t find that book, so I guess I took matters into my own hands. While I had written business articles in the past, I had never written (or attempted to write!) a book.

I sat down one night and just began outlining chapters of advice that told my story and how I dealt with my divorce. I thought about all the things I wish I knew, or all the things that people were calling me about. Things like how to tell your kids, how to tell your friends, why telling your mom is one of the hardest things to do, who you need to include in your support network (like a CPA and your gynecologist!), how to hire an attorney, how to adjust to those times when your kids are gone for the first time, how to find forgiveness (I joke about how I went from dropping the F-bomb, to finding a more powerful F-word in forgiveness!), how to start dating again, and how to learn more about yourself so you don’t make the same mistakes again. Before I knew it, I had 22 chapters outlined and it went from there. It was cathartic for me, and it’s been so helpful to others.
 

PBS:    While the idea behind the book is how to take the high road while navigating a divorce, it is actually full of information and ideas about how to manage a marriage and never actually reach that point. Comments?


Yes! When I began to write the book, I envisioned my audience would be women going through divorce. As it evolved, the thoughts began to encompass words of wisdom about maintaining healthy relationships, thoughts about the power of forgiveness in any context, thoughts about being true to yourself, and thoughts about taking the high road in every aspect of life. The response that I have received from both men and women, single, married and divorced, young and old, has been incredible. There are certainly portions of the book that are really relevant to anyone.

One of favorite pieces of feedback came from a married man who told me he read the chapter on making sure you do the little things in marriage. He told me how he made coffee for his wife the morning after reading my book and brought it to her as she got ready. She was thrilled. His message was this: it only took my 5 minutes, but the payback was tremendous. Another married woman told me as a result of reading the book, she and her husband had sat down and really discussed their finances and were able to make some joint decisions about saving and spending. Their communication improved greatly!

PBS:  What advice does your book have for women who are on the fence about what to do or who are facing the hard decision of making this huge change in their life?

My advice is this: relationships are hard work and need to be tended to on a daily basis. You can’t get lazy. Divorce is difficult. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s hurtful and damaging. I am not a proponent of divorce. I encourage people to make sure that they aren’t rushing to the decision to divorce. Often times people can rebuild their relationships, and frankly, make them stronger than they previously were because of renewed communication and intimacy.

On the other hand, there are those marriages which are clearly over. In those cases, I encourage both parties to ‘take the high road’ in dissolving the marriage. No matter how hateful or bitter things have become, these two people were at some point in love enough to exchange vows and get married. Too often divorce leads to low road behavior which is negative and hurtful to all involved … the husband and wife who once pledged true love, any children who may have been born from this marriage, the extended family, the friends … the ripple effect is tremendous. Taking the high road is the best way to get through this situation and still be to look at yourself in the mirror!

PBS:  We’ve all heard the saying “nice guys finish last”? Some might feel that taking the “high road” is just another example of women being expected to the “nice” one and not assert themselves or stand up for what they need. What are your thoughts on this?

I disagree! Taking the high road does not imply being a door matt that others can walk on. Finding forgiveness doesn’t mean you aren’t going to hold the other person accountable for their actions. It doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for certain behaviors. What is does mean is that you aren’t going to stoop to low-road behavior as well. Taking the high road means engaging in behavior that allows you to look in the mirror every day for the rest of your life knowing that you did what is right by yourself, your family and your friends. Being nice does not equate to being a doormat. You can be assertive, stand up for your rights, and take the high road all at the same time. This is not mutually exclusive behavior. I argue that you accomplish a lot more in life by treating others with respect and kindness, than with low road behavior.

PBS:  What advice can we give our children now, especially daughters, to help them later should they ever be in these types of difficult situations?

Great question. I don’t think anyone ever marries with the expectation that they will find themselves divorced in the future. That being said, 50% of marriages in the US end in divorce. The high-level advice I give to my children is that they need to always take the high road and be honest in everything they do. The practical advice that I will give my children is that need to constantly work on their relationships, that they need to always maintain some level of awareness of their financial situation, and that they need to maintain marketable, employable skills.

PBS:   If you find yourself already on the “low road” in a divorce situation is it too late to move over to the “high road”?  What happens if you are trying to stay on the “high road” but fall off from time to time?

It is never too late to get off the low road and switch lanes to the high road! It will make you feel better! People often tell me that it’s hard to stay on the high road when their partner is engaging in low road behavior. Yes, it is! But, if you stay focused on what’s important to you, you can avoid getting sucked into that behavior as well. I’ve found that focusing on being a strong role model for your children is often the motivation that people need to get on, and stay on, the high road.

Every study out there about how children of divorce fare in the future highlights the post-divorce interactions between their parents as being indicative of how well they cope with being “children of divorce” in the future. To me, that was all the motivation I needed to be sure that my ex- and I handled the divorce, and our post-divorce communications, in a high road manner. We will be forever bonded by our two children and they don’t want to see their parents not getting along constructively. The guilt that comes along with that is huge, and I don’t want my kids, who are innocent bystanders in this divorce, to have to deal with those emotions. The reality is that we now have to co-parent together, and it’s much easier to do that when we are able to communicate about our children constructively.

PBS:   Looking at you now, so pulled together and happy, it is hard to believe you ever hit the low point you describe…how long did it take you to reach this new, good place in your life?

Yes, I am incredibly happy now, and in a way I never imagined. And yes, being blindsided by divorce was clearly my low point. I was incredibly bitter, angry and hateful. I was emotionally fragile. It was difficult to concentrate. These are all incredibly natural feelings that every person has to navigate through. Kind of like Elizabeth Kubler Ross’s stages of death and dying, I believe there are natural stages of emotion that every person going through a broken relationship must also deal with. I also believe that there isn’t a specific timeline as to how long these stages must last. Some people go through these faster than others.

We can probably all think of someone who is holding onto a grudge for something that someone did to them at some point in the past. They can recall every single detail of the ‘infraction’ and they relive it and rehash it every day. That is so tiring and burdensome. It holds you back and keeps you locked in the past. And frankly, the person against who you are holding the grudge is moving on with their life and completely unaware (or doesn’t really care) that you are stuck rehashing this every day. It’s only hurting that person, not anyone else.

As I looked in my life, I did see a few people who had been ‘wronged’ in the past who had never made that decision to forgive. Decades later they were still holding onto bitterness and anger and I knew I didn’t want to live that way. I knew I would have to find forgiveness in my heart in order for me to heal and start moving forward. The decision to forgive was absolutely life-changing for me. Holding onto the anger and bitterness was only hurting me. Nobody else, just me! I learned that forgiveness is a selfish act. I made the decision to honestly find forgiveness in my heart and I felt better. I didn’t need anyone else’s approval or blessing to forgive. I felt the burden lift. I went from being consumed with anger, to being able to see the future and think more logically rather than so emotionally. Carrying around negativity and anger are not attractive features that inspire people to want to hang out with you! I know I would never have started dating and remarried if I hadn’t found forgiveness and begun to move forward with positive momentum.

PBS:   Was the decision to remarry difficult for you? What were your fears?

You would think the decision to remarry would have been a difficult one for me, but actually it wasn’t. When I met my husband, I immediately felt such a strong connection and we communicated so well, that any fears I had (and I did have them!) were immediately discussed and dismissed. You can’t (or rather, you shouldn’t) go through a divorce without turning the mirror onto yourself and learning more about who you are and what role you played in the demise of the marriage. This can be really difficult to do. It can be painful and raw, but it’s so important. I had taken a deep, introspective look at myself, what I contributed to relationships, and what I wanted out of relationships. Entering into a new relationship, and subsequent marriage, I was incredibly clear on what I wanted, and the importance of keeping that connection alive. I tease my husband now that I don’t keep things bottled up … any emotion I have gets expressed immediately … what I like, what I don’t like … and I encourage him to do the same. That level of communication is very healthy for our relationship.

PBS:   Do you have a mantra or personal pep talk you give yourself when things get tough?

Yes! I live by many mantras. I love quotes, and I have signs all over my home expressing certain thoughts that I choose to live by. In fact, every chapter in my book starts with a quote relevant to that chapter. Readers have really responded to these quotes and often email me telling me how much a certain quote has really spoken to them.

One of my favorite mantras that I rely on every day is: “I can’t control what happens to me, I can only control how I react to it.” My kids each have a plaque in their room that says: “Integrity is doing what is right even when no one is looking.” Lastly, I have a strong faith and love the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that says “’I have a plan for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Please add your comments!

Monique will be reading the comments and respond to specific reader questions. We will choose from the comments to award 2 lucky winners an autographed copy of The High Road Has Less Traffic. Winners will be chosen at random.

Congratulations to Kaoru Y. and Adrienne!  They will both receive an autographed copy of The High Road Has Less Traffic!  Thanks for your comments…..

The High Road Has Less Traffic is available for purchase in the PBS Market

www.highroadlesstraffic.com

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Interview with Author Jeri Westerson

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Jeri Westerson is the Author of the Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Series, which includes Veil Of Lies,Serpent in the Thorns, The Demon’s Parchment, and her newest book, Troubled Bones, due for release in October 2011. Thank you very much Jeri Westerson for providing us with this interview!

And a very special thank you to Jerelyn H. (I-F-Letty) for doing this interview with Jeri Westerson for us!

 

 

Jerelyn: I would like to thank historical mystery writer Jeri Westerson, who has graciously agreed to be interviewed for our own PBS blog, and for also agreeing to participate in the discussion of her book Veil of Lies which will be our June read-along book in the Historical Fiction Discussion Forum.

You have coined the term “Medieval Noir” to describe your work. Would you tell us about this?

Jeri: When I set out to write this series, I knew that I would have to have a different kind of hook for the medieval mystery. What was going to set mine apart from the others out there? So I took a look at the kind of books I liked to read, and besides historical, I liked the hard-boiled fiction of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Dorothy Hughes. The stilted prose, the tough guy dialogue, the hard-hitting action. It all sounded like a lot of fun to put into a medieval setting. Now THAT was a book I wanted to read. So I set about figuring out how to do it so it wouldn’t be anachronistic. And then I had to come up with a catchy name to call this hybrid, and “Medieval Noir” fit the bill.

Jerelyn:  Is there any particular reason you chose late 14th century London as your canvas for this book?

Jeri:  There were a lot of interesting things going on at this time. First, there was the boy king, Richard II. He came to the throne at ten years old. His father, the Black Prince, would have been the king but he died before he could achieve the crown. So we have a monarch who succeeded to the throne with a lot of promise. But as is the case with many a king who was crowned as a boy, the reign does not go well. In 1399, Richard was deposed and murdered. An unhappy end to an unremarkable career. But during the time of his reign, is the ongoing hundred years war, knights jousting, the amazing statesman the duke of Lancaster on his campaigns, and the age of Geoffrey Chaucer where English is spoken not only by the common man but by the nobility, a language flowering into its own. So in the background of Crispin’s life on those mean streets of London is all these other events that get to creep into the plots.

Jerelyn:  Who Is Crispin Guest and how did he reveal himself to you?

Jeri:  As soon as I decided I was going to write a “Medieval Noir,” essentially hard-boiled detective fiction set in the Middle Ages, I knew I needed a strong protagonist that would take the reader through many books in the series. I was looking at the tropes of the hard-boiled detective: a tough-talking loner often down on his luck, good with his fists, and a sucker for a dame in trouble. So I knew I needed a fellow like that. I also wanted a man who could read and write, had a facility with languages, could fight with the best of them, and always fell for the wrong kind of woman. The idea of a knight seemed perfect, but to give him enough angst, he needed to be a knight who had lost it all, who had to re-invent himself in the poorer end of town. And then I started researching John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster. Here was a man eminently qualified to lead a kingdom but who didn’t seem to have any ambitions to jump the line of succession. But there were certainly rumors about him doing just that. And when I read that, I knew I had my man Crispin and his reason for losing his wealth, status, and knighthood. He will have been caught up in a conspiracy to put his beloved mentor John of Gaunt on the throne and convicted of treason. Once all that fell into place I knew exactly who he was.

Jerelyn:  Your books often deal with religious relics and medieval prejudices and superstitions. Why is this?

Jeri:  It seemed like a fun thing to do. When I started writing this series, I had come off of about ten years of writing historical fiction that editors didn’t want to buy. I was writing the stories I wanted to read, and I didn’t want to read about the Tudors ONE MORE TIME. After a few years of this, a former agent recommended I switch to writing medieval mysteries as the mystery market was much bigger than the historical fiction market. I had never written a mystery and didn’t have a clue (pardon the pun) on how to write one. So I went to one of my favorite hard-boiled books, THE MALTESE FALCON, and literally took it apart scene by scene, arc by arc, to see what made it work. And I liked the idea of what Alfred Hitchcock called the “McGuffin,” the object that propels the plot, that everyone wants to get their hands on. And it seemed to me that if I added a “McGuffin” to the books, not only would it give me focus, but it could serve as an interesting side note to the plot. Because sometimes the relic or venerable object is vitally important to the plot, and sometimes it isn’t. I didn’t want to fall into something formulaic. This way it can generate all sorts of plot angles.

And let us not forget that this was the age of faith where religion was an intimate part of a medieval person’s everyday life. They are surrounded by the sounds of church bells calling monks and nuns to prayer. The bells marked the hours. Religious festivals marked the seasons. Superstitions went along with all this and so it wouldn’t be uncommon for someone to take communion one moment and consult their astrologer the next. It makes for interesting ways to bend a plot and for commenting on contemporary issued while couching it in a medieval setting.

Jerelyn:  I love Jack Tucker. Did you always see Crispin with a side kick?

Jeri:  No. As a matter of fact, Jack was going to be in the first book and then sort of show up occasionally and that was it. But my agent really liked him as a character and readers did, too, so he gets more to do. And he has become important to the arc of the stories. He provides someone that Crispin can bounce ideas off of and occasionally rescue from peril. And we get to see him grow up throughout the series offering a balance to Crispin, which shows Crispin internally growing right alongside him. You see, for me, the books are all about the characters whose lives get interrupted with a murder mystery. I’m far more interested in them than I am in the mystery.

Jerelyn:  What are the unique challenges you face writing about crime-solving in a medieval setting?

Jeri:  Well, I don’t have to worry about forensics. And in a way, it’s far easier. It takes time. He can’t just pick up a cell phone and call someone. He has to walk all over London and Westminster if he wants to find out something or ask a question. And instead of pulling guns, people pull daggers, so there is more intimate encounters when it comes to choosing violence or not. Crispin has to rely on his wits far more than he would have to if a lab gave him the answers. And there is no police force either so he is essentially on his own, going into places he doesn’t belong. He gets beaten up a lot for it. But he often gives as good as he gets.

Jerelyn:  What are the challenges you have when interweaving real historical people into your plots?

Jeri:  You have to make sure that the history is first. That is, you can’t be changing the history to suit the plot, and so if real people make an appearance in your book it’s a good idea to know where they are at any given time. The duke of Lancaster, for instance, was only supposed to be a walk-on character in the first book and that’s it. But he wouldn’t go away and subsequently shows up in all the books. But I’m writing number five right now which is set in 1386 and he is out of the country until 1389. His presence is important to Crispin’s conscience and his whole reason for being a detective, the Tracker, as he is called. I can’t have letters from Lancaster in Spain to Crispin in London—that wouldn’t be emotionally dramatic enough—but that means we move his son Henry Bolingbroke into the role Lancaster would have played. It always makes the plots more interesting when you must follow the history.

Jerelyn:  Your fourth Crispin Guest book Troubled Bones is due for release in October. What is up after that?

I’m working on number five, called BLOOD LANCE, which will involve a bit of jousting, which I love. That book should come out in 2012. And then after a brief break, I’ll be working on Crispin number six, called SHADOW OF THE ALCHEMIST, which should be released in 2013. (Are you loving these titles? I hope so!) In the meantime, my agent has my manuscript for a brand new medieval series about thieves and con men called OSWALD THE THIEF, a much more light-hearted fun and funny series, a sort of Ocean’s 11 in the Middle Ages. I hope to sell that to my publisher so we’ll have two medieval series out there. Ideally, they’d be released six months of each other so readers can have one fun read while waiting for the other.

Jerelyn:  As a member of PBS I love the community of readers I found here, what are your impressions of PBS?  Do you see a book trading site as helpful to you?

Jeri:  I was briefly a part of another group called Bookcrossing that left books around on park benches and in other public places for strangers to pick up and enjoy, so I get the concept. I think book trading and libraries are all a good idea in any economy. How else are most people to learn about new authors? I’ve found authors I like to read, too, that way. That being said,  there does come a point where I hope readers will buy NEW copies of their favorite author’s books, because that is the only way for authors to get paid for their work and for publishers to see profits. If publishers don’t see profits from authors then they don’t offer them contracts. So I’ve always seen libraries and book sharing sites as advertisements and enticements to readers to find and love new authors, but certainly not the end all.

Jerelyn:  Do you think social media is having a positive effect on getting your work spotlighted?

Jeri:  It’s very hard to quantify blogging, and going to libraries to speak, or social media sites. How many books does one sell from any of these outlets? You can’t tell because it’s not necessarily about impulse buying. These things have a cumulative effect. But, I do know of specific sales I have made by using social media sites like Facebook (Crispin has a page there so go ahead and “friend” him www.facebook.com/crispin.guest). I also know of sales made by those viewing my book trailer. Book trailers, ads, my character’s blog, all of these things provide added value to readers so they see they are getting far more than merely the novel-reading experience. That is important to some readers, not important to others. But I did learn from one book group I visited, that the more there was out there for readers to learn about me and my characters (like the book discussion guides I offer on my website), the better. I try to provide that.

Jerelyn: How do you feel about e-readers, do you think they will be the death of printed books?

Jeri:  No, I don’t. Readers still like the tactile feel of a book. They like to see them on their bookshelves at home. They like to get books signed by authors. By the same token, the convenience of an e-reader can’t be beat, especially if you travel or have difficulty holding a book because of physical ailments. I think they’re keen, though I don’t yet own one. There is room for both. I know people who own e-readers but they still buy print books. Libraries like print books (and that’s where the money is for publishers—sales to libraries). We still use pens and pencils even though we have tons of ways digitally to write. There’s room for both.

Jerelyn:  I always wonder about how a writer becomes a writer.  Is there an author or book that made you think “I have got to do this!”

Jeri:  It was more a case of “How can I make a living and stay at home with my toddler?” The arts were all I was interested in. I could do three things well: perform, draw, and write. I wanted to be an actress and aimed all my energy in that direction while in school. But I also always drew and I also always wrote stories for my own enjoyment. I never pictured a career in art or in writing. True, in high school I did write for the school newspaper and even became news editor, but I did that because it was way more fun than taking English Comp!

After being in plays in college I set out for real world auditions and decided that this often humiliating endeavor was not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I switched majors to art, because I realized designing all those programs and posters over the years had a name: graphic artist. I got my degree and freelanced in Los Angles for the next fifteen years or so and semi-retired to have a baby. After my son was about two I thought I’d get back into design but during my retirement the whole industry had turned to computer graphics and I couldn’t afford the computers or the lessons. I thought I’d become a novelist, the other and last thing I knew how to do. My husband was surprised because he never knew I wrote novels (it was something I did in secret), but I showed him the pile I had written and started researching the industry and set to work. Naively I thought, “How hard could this be?” Fourteen years later, I knew. That’s when I finally got a publishing contract. In between those years that I wrote novel after novel without a contract, I also became a reporter (so that journalism thing paid off). And that performing thing paid off, too, because I became a soloist and choir director for a local church for a number of years as well. You just never know what you are going to need along the way in life!

Jerelyn:  What was your favorite book as a child?

Jeri:  I had several. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE because I loved good and interesting illustrations; THE CANTERBURY TALES (the child’s version) because I loved the Middle Ages; MY FATHER’S DRAGON series by Ruth Stiles, because of the fantasy (while other little girls were collecting unicorns I was collecting dragons!) Later, when I was a teenager, it was THE LORD OF THE RINGS series because I never knew there were such books out there, this whole world-building experience that joined Celtic and Norse myths with a magical world. The first novel I ever finished when I was sixteen was a Tolkien-esque quest fantasy.

Jerelyn:  Do you have an author that is an “auto-buy” for you?

Jeri:  Arturo Perez-Reverte. He writes literary fiction with all kinds of twists, supernatural or something else. Prose is to die for.

Jerelyn:  I would again like to thank Jeri Westerson for taking the time to be interviewed for the PBS blog,  To read more from Jeri please go to.  www.jeriwesterson.com; you can see her blog of history and mystery at www.getting-medieval.com; and you can read Crispin’s blog at www.crispinguest.com. You can also friend Crispin on his Face book page or follow her on Twitter.

I would also like to tell the members about the read-along of Ms. Westerson’s book Veil of Lies on the Historical Fiction Discussion Forum in June.  Ms Westerson has agreed to join us to answer your questions.  So watch the forum for details.


Please add your comments! We will choose from the comments to award a lucky winner a autographed copy of Jeri Westerson’s book, The Demon’s Parchment. A winner will be chosen at random.

There are also 2 additional prizes from Ms. Westerson for 2 more lucky members who comment. Good luck to all!

 


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Interview With Author Jess Lourey

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Jess Lourey is the author of the Lefty-nominated Murder-by-Month series set in Battle Lake, Minnesota.

Thank you for letting me interview you, Jess Lourey.

PBS: Your Murder-by-the-Month Mystery series is set in a small town, Battle Lake Minnesota. What lead you to setting this series there? Do you hail from a small town yourself?

JL: I grew up in Paynesville, Minnesota, a small town not unlike Battle Lake. Battle Lake is also a real town, and I was living there when I wrote May Day, the first in the series. They say write what you know, and I’ve always been fascinated by the small town sociology.

PBS: Your main character, Mira James is a bit bawdy, but at the same time has her own moral code that she will not break. Can you tell us about her and how she came to be the heroine of your series?

JL: I loosely based her appearance and hometown on mine so that I wouldn’t have to remember those details, and she grew out of that, this brave, wounded, neurotic, curious, self-deprecating amateur sleuth.

PBS: My favorite Mira James line in May Day is, “Plus there’s not much to do with a four-year degree in English, short of opening a English store.” What are your favorite Mira lines?

JL: Ha! That’s actually one of my favorite lines, too. I have another line, in August Moon, that I really like. Mira is falling for a nerdy woodtick museum curator, and they “bat their eyes at each other like two geeks comparing pocket protectors.”

Here’s my new favorite paragraph, from the upcoming November Hunt (March 2012):

The thermostat on my car was out, or so I figured as I used the tender meat of my hand to scrape a peephole on the inside of my windshield. Thirty years in Minnesota teaches you these handy bits: mosquitoes are attracted to white clothing and pretty much anything else you’d like to wear, a three-party government with a former professional wrestler at the helm isn’t the laugh riot you’d think it’d be, and if your car runs great except for the heater, it’s probably your thermostat.

PBS: Do you already have a plot for your books before you begin writing a new book, or does the plot develop as you write?

JL: When it comes to writing mysteries, I’m a plotter, not a pantser (as in “seat of your pants”). I like to have a rough outline with all the major plot points and the ending sketched out. The story evolves as I write, which is a lot of fun, but I need that road map or I feel like a cornered animal.

PBS: Can you tell us a bit about your newest book, October Fest? And was it fun to write?

JL: I always think they were fun to write when I’m all done with them. 😉 October Fest was inspired by our current political climate in the U.S., where it seems like being mean and vague are more valued than being kind and clear. In the book, two politicians come to Battle Lake, both of them running for a House seat. Here’s the official description:

What do you get when you cross beer, a conservative politician who keeps planting her foot in her mouth, and polka music? Octoberfest in Battle Lake, Minnesota, that’s what. Sarah Glokkmann, hot on the campaign trail, faces off with Arnold Swydecker in a debate held at the cusp of Battle Lake’s premier fall festival. When a too-curious reporter covering the event winds up on the no-breathing list, all fingers point at Glokkmann. But is she being framed? Mira James couldn’t care less. That is, until her best friend ends up in intensive care and Mira must solve the murder to save her friend.

Kirkus Reviews call the book “…funny, ribald, and brimming with small-town eccentrics.” If I manage to make people laugh when they read and guess up until the end, I’ll have done my job.

PBS: What can your readers expect from you in the future? Do you have any plans for books outside of this series?

JL: Thank you for asking! I’ve written a historical novel that is fully-drafted but not yet complete. The novel takes place on an Indian boarding school in 1893 South Dakota. I also have begun work on a young adult series with an edge, and have about 60 pages fleshed out on a magical realism novel that looks at three generations of gifted women.

The Murder-by-Month series are my first babies, though. Last week, I sent November Hunt, the seventh in the series, off to my publisher. I’m thrilled with how that one turned out. It’s my favorite in the series so far. I’m under contract for Death Loves December and plan to have that hammered out before next March. By the way, the title is temporary, so if any of your readers have December title suggestions, send them my way! (www.jesslourey.com)

Comment on the Interview! Five lucky winners will get a signed copy of one of Jess Lourey’s books! The winners will be chosen at random from the comments and we will announce the winners on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

Thank you everyone, for your comments! We will announce the winners of the signed copies of Jess Lourey’s books right here in  tomorrow’s Blog!

Thank you Jess for your interview, comments and for sending us 5 books for our members to enjoy! You Rock!

 

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Interview with Carla Buckley

Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Carla Buckley

Carla Buckley

Carla Buckley’s debut novel The Things that Keep Us Here from Delacorte Press has received critical acclaim and a devoted readership.   She is not only a Paperbackswap member but also belongs to SwapaDVD and SwapaCD!  She was kind enough to speak with us from her home in Ohio.

PBS: First of all I wanted to say that I enjoyed your book very much.  I found it unusual in that is it set in a world crisis but we are shown only the limited perspective of one family. I thought it made the book much more personal and scary. Do you think your being a mom informed your decision to tell the story that way?


CB: Thanks for your kind feedback! Yes, being a mother absolutely drove my telling of this story. My husband and I had just moved to Ohio with our three children. We knew no one here and the news was filled with dire predictions that a lethal influenza strain had appeared overseas that scientists were watching closely to see if it would turn into a pandemic. I had read about the 1918 Pandemic years before and had been shocked to learn that twenty percent of mankind perished during that pandemic. But scientists were saying that this particular strain was worse: fifty percent of the human race could be obliterated if this virus became pandemic.

So there I was, home alone as my children went off to school and my husband to work, and I thought about what I would do if the worst came to pass and a pandemic developed. How would I keep my children safe without the support of nearby friends or family? One night I had a nightmare in which the pandemic came to pass, and I was forced to make a terrible decision. The very next day, I began writing the novel that became The Things That Keep Us Here. From the beginning, I wanted to talk about how a global crisis such as pandemic could play out in one average American family, in one average American city. The human story is as important, if not more so, than the pandemic itself.

The Things That Keep Us Here

PBS: Was this the first book you ever wrote?

CB: Far from it! I’ve been writing for fifteen years, while I stayed home to raise my children. During that time, I finished seven novels, all traditional mysteries. For four of them, I was represented by my literary agent, who stuck by me even though none of those books sold. It wasn’t until I put aside writing mysteries and wrote The Things That Keep Us Here that I finally realized my dream of being a novelist.

PBS: What do you hope the reader “takes away” from reading your book?

CB: Discussion! The Things That Keep Us Here is about an unhappily married couple, Ann and Peter, who have been forced back together by circumstance as the pandemic takes hold and the world around them start to crumble. An art teacher and mother of two girls, Ann is completely focused on taking care of their daughters, and would stop at nothing to keep them safe. Peter, a veterinary scientist, has a more global perspective and very much feels his responsibilities to his community and his neighborhood. The two of them battle throughout the novel, culminating in one pivotal scene that lays bare their souls. But who’s right, and who’s wrong? That’s what I hope the reader gets out of reading my novel. What is more important: our obligation to our family or to our community? What happens when those obligations conflict?

And I also want my readers to get the flu shot!

PBS: (hopefully) Do you have another book coming out?

CB: I’m finishing up my next novel, also about a family in conflict dealing with a crisis bigger than themselves. In it, a woman returns to her hometown after a long absence to find her sister on her deathbed, and others in town sick from the same disease. Although I don’t want to reveal the nature of the culprit, I will say it’s a real scientific threat about which I predict we’ll be hearing a great deal about in the upcoming months.

PBS: What’s on your nightstand now? Any great reads to recommend?

CB: I’m a huge thriller and mystery reader, and just finished CJ Box’s latest mystery set in Wyoming, Nowhere To Run. One of the reasons I’m such a fan of Box’s work is because not only is he a wonderful writer, but he also is that rare find: a male mystery writer who wants to talk about family! His protagonist is married with three daughters, and they play just as important a role in the story as the mystery that swirls around him.

I also just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Next up is Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay, The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens, and a reader just recommended A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.

PBS note: we have a lot of C. J. Box books – and  Linwood Barclay books currently available for swapping at PBS.

Comment on the interview!  One lucky commenter will get a signed copy of The Things That Keep Us Here. We’ll do a random drawing and announce the winner on Wednesday the April 21st @ Noon EST.

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Author Interview with Jessica Conant-Park

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Special thanks to PBS member Lori Gondelman (thebookpimp) for obtaining this author interview for us.   Tune back in within the next couple of weeks as Lori interviews Jessica over the phone as well.

Jessica Conant-Park

Jessica Conant-Park

We would also like to thank author Jessica Conant-Park for the interview.  Please visit Jessica Conant-Park’s website to read her full bio, find a full list of books by her & her mom (Susan Conant), join her newsletter,  enter contests and much more!

Now on to the interview!

What’s your writing day like? Where do like to write (office, in front of the TV, in bed)? How long does it take you get finish a book?
It’s very glamorous. I begin the morning by donning my handmade silk robe, flowing through the house towards the lavish office, and seating myself at the mahogany desk. The maid serves me fresh coffee and eggs Benedict. Once fueled, I begin. I draw my quill from the ink well and instantly pen page after page of witty and moving prose, usually completing the manuscript within a week.

Cook the Books

Oh, you mean how do I really write? I stumble around the house in the morning, slugging coffee and getting the kid off to school. I do very important research (also known as wasting time of Facebook) and occasionally peek at the document I have open. Then I bang my head a few times and get going. Generally I write in bed. (No this part is true. Stop laughing.) Not like under-the-covers in bed. Actually sitting up. Part of the reason I work in the bedroom is that it’s in the basement of the house where it’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer. I have very particular temperature needs. Some days I write better in the first part of day and I’ll work until two or so, and other days I really get my flow around noon and will work until six or seven, depending on what’s going on with the kid after school. Sometimes he needs eighty-seven snacks and sometimes he’s pretty self-sufficient.

I go through phases where trying to write is a total nightmare… I’ll get one page done in four hours. (Speedy, huh?) My biggest challenge is starting a new book. I hate writing the first forty pages. Laying the groundwork, giving back story, setting up characters and settings. I want to jump right in. I want the fun dialogue, the silly scenes, I want all the action! The romance! The lust! The tearing off of clothes and heaving bosoms! (Oh, wait. I don’t really write those kind of books…) But with the Gourmet Girl books, this process actually got faster with each book and I wrote Cook the Books in about seven weeks.

The non-mystery book I’m working on now, though, is a whole new battle. I really froze up for a while with this one. I have a great outline and know exactly what I want to do, but the hitch has been all the pressure I’ve been putting on myself. I’m worried that the actual book won’t match up with the one that’s in my head. The initial pages are extremely important and there is a lot of information that needs to be delivered to the reader in an interesting, natural way. I remind myself repeatedly that nothing is set in stone: I have a malleable, open, working document and after I finish the rest of the story and really, really know my characters, I can go back to early pages and make whatever changes I want. And yet I hate writing thinking that I’m just inserting placeholder after placeholder. But I’m plowing through.

Once the groundwork is set, there are days that I don’t want to do anything but write. My agent is shopping a YA novel I wrote last year, and that one took me about three months to write. I had many ten or twelve-hour days on that book and will admit that the state of our house was none too impressive over that time period.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what else did you want to be “when you grow up?”
My original goal was to be Wonder Woman but that horrid, selfish Lynda Carter just wouldn’t give it up. Actually, it had never occurred to me to be a writer. I wasn’t the high school student that wrote for the paper, I didn’t major in creative writing in college. I didn’t have notebooks filled with poems or short stories. I was a good writer when it came to academic papers, etc. but was never the person whose head was exploding with wild stories that had to be told.

I thought there was a good chance that I’d go into psychology, like my father, but once I suffered through social work school (see hatred for sw school in Gourmet Girl books 1-5) I gave up the ridiculous notion that being a therapist was my field. While I think I actually could have been a very good therapist, I found that my interest was much more academic that practical. I was crazy (pardon the pun) about learning about all sorts of interesting disorders and psychopathology, but I just didn’t care to do much with it. An expensive error. Ahem… moving on.

How did you and your mom start writing together? How does that work?
We started writing together because I was a nutcase after my son was born. He was an awful baby. No, he was. Fussy, cried all the time, exhausting, draining, difficult. (Don’t call social services.) I love that kid to pieces, but my God, he was demanding. Very interesting baby and toddler, though. So my profound fatigue coupled with a lot of time alone with a baby led me talk to myself. (Again, no social services, please. It gets better.) I talked to myself and baby Nick all the time, narrating baby events and funny episodes, writing my mother long funny e-mails, humorous mostly because sleep deprivation can make anyone punchy and silly. My chef husband was full of tales of the outrageous things that go on at restaurants and, after the millionth e-mail, my mother (already a prolific author herself) insisted that we write together.

I was too tired to say no, thus the birth of the Gourmet Girl mysteries.

After collaborating general ideas, she writes the outline for us, usually a detailed twenty-five pages with major events and necessary plot points. I write the bulk of the manuscript off of that, but she leaves lots of room for side stories and romantic entanglements. Then she does a lot of the editing (blech) and tries to sneak in words I don’t know. (This is unfortunately true. I was flipping through an early copy of Cook the Books and caught sight of some word I had never heard of. I can’t remember what it was, but if you see a word you don’t understand, that’s it!)

What do you love the most about being a writer? Hate?
I love creating characters and imaginary settings and when I’m on a writing roll, I can get totally lost in another world. I remember feeling almost heartbroken when I finished writing my YA. I missed the father in that story and finishing the book actually left me depressed. I didn’t want to leave him and my other characters, but that’s the kind of attachment that really drives me to write.

The community of writers and readers is almost unbelievably wonderful. I had no idea that other authors would be so generous and supportive… despite tough markets these days, I have yet to meet an author that has demonstrated any sort of selfish or competitive spirit. I’ve made great friends, many of whom I’ve never actually met, and authors have been so willing to give me blurbs, help me with plots, get me through writer’s block, etc. I knew something was missing with my most recent outline, and author Heather Webber read through it and immediately picked up on what needed to be done. She was amazingly helpful! Karen MacInerney is now my writing buddy and we check in with each other via e-mail and phone calls to report on our progress and help keep each other get motivated. Michele Scott is an unfailing source of encouragement and an overall energizing spirit. And the readers? I love my readers. Love, love, love my readers. Getting positive (and unsolicited!) feedback from fans is just… well, there’s nothing like it. I had one woman who wrote me to say that one of my Gourmet Girl books got her through a terrible day at the hospital while her husband was there having a litany of tests. She said that if it weren’t for the laughs she’d had, she wouldn’t have made it through the day without coming unglued. I love that.

What are your thoughts on the state of the book industry today. How is the kindle/e-reader affecting you as a writer (sales/being published at all, etc.)
Oh, God. Am I allowed to swear here? No? Hm… Okay, I’ll try not to. The entire publishing industry is a mess. More and more series are getting dropped and publishers are giving out new three-book contracts to new authors at near miniscule rates. The ones that really take off will be renewed, and others will be dropped faster than you can say filing for bankruptcy. Everyone is sick of hearing about the economic crisis in this country (yeah, I’m waving my hand too!) but it’s just a fact that people are buying fewer books, or at least are less likely to buy authors they haven’t read before. I doubt the James Pattersons of the world are hurting right now, but the rest of us (demeaningly known as “mid-list” authors) are being hit hard.

It’s a very interesting time in the writing world and I think we’ll see some incredible changes over the next five years. The self-publishing craze has taken off and while there are downsides to this (any yahoo can now publish whatever unedited junk he or she wants), authors who have solid readerships have potential to make some decent money. It’ll be fascinating to see what happens in terms of opportunities for distribution with self-pubs. And the e-book market is exploding. Absolutely exploding. I should check my contract (!) but I believe that e-book sales dole out roughly the same royalty rate as paperbacks, so buy up, people! I think sites like PBS are great because they keep people reading, which is what we all really want, but as an author who’s career depends solely on sales numbers, I’m required to tell you to keep buying books by authors you love or you’re likely to find their careers flailing.

Who has mostly influenced you as a writer?
Huh. I don’t know that I’m terribly influenced by other authors… As much as I love reading, I keep my own writing very separate from what I take in with other stories and styles. There are plenty of cozy authors that I adore, but when I’m writing a cozy I actually read much less than usual because I don’t want to be influenced. I want my books to sound very me. From the non-cozy world, I am absolutely crazy for Elinor Lipman, Brendan DuBois, Mameve Medwed, David Sedaris, and Stephen McCauley, and in my dreams I can write as well as they can!

Do you draw on your “real life” for your book ideas?
Oh, yeah. Although less now than in the earlier Gourmet Girl books. But while comparisons can be made between me and Chloe, she is really her own character. I am more likely to use real life events rather than people. So many of the kitchen stories (nightmares) came from chefs and other hospitality workers and I used to have piles of notes floating around the house with funny restaurant anecdotes.

I did have an old college friend call me up once to complain that she didn’t like how she was represented in the book. She thought Naomi was annoying and went on to pitch a total fit about how vegans are not annoying. I repeatedly tried to explain that she was not the model for Naomi, nor did Naomi represent all vegans… This dreadful conversation went on for way too long until I finally hung up on her. So there are moments when nobody will believe that an author actually just came up with an idea on her own…

How hard was it to “retire” Chloe? Did you feel like you were leaving a part of yourself behind?
I miss her. But it was time. I had five Chloe books in me, and I think more would have been pushing it. I hate when a series goes on and on and the characters become caricatures of themselves by book ten. Some authors can keep a series going without losing any steam, but I just knew I was ready to stop. I’d done what I wanted to with Chloe and was really ready to move on.

Any tips for new writers?
This is going to sound rather obvious, but: Write. Sitting around thinking about what you’re going to do is not going to work out well. Don’t be afraid to write and hate what you’ve done. It’s okay. That’s what the delete button is for. I like an outline because it gives me a clear understanding of where I’m going. Other authors never write from an outline, so you’ll need to decide what you style is. But be careful that you don’t write yourself into a corner you can’t get out of. Even experienced authors do this, so be warned!

Show your work to people. You have got to be willing to have people read what you write. Holing up in isolation and keeping your book a secret with the thought that only your agent and editor will look at until it’s published is a bad idea. You’ve got to be willing to take criticism along with praise, and the help you get from others is truly invaluable.

Which book in the series is your favorite?
I’m not just saying this because it’s coming out in a matter of weeks, but Cook the Books really is my favorite. It’s clean and focused, funny, and full of the Josh/Chloe romance that I’ve had such fun with.

What is your biggest writing joy? Disappointment?

My biggest joy is when people send me things. I like free stuff. A lot. Lori sent me a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card last summer and that is the main reason we became friends. Also received a lovely Glee chain in the mail from a FB fan. It’s all about the swag, kids, so bring it on.

Okay, I’ll be serious (ish). The people I’ve met and the friends I’ve come to love. Really. And then it’s those “firsts.” The first time I saw my book in a bookstore was just amazing. Getting my first review from Publishers Weekly, getting nominated by RT for “Best Amateur Sleuth.” Oh, and most importantly, the first time Harriet Klausner reviewed my book and misspelled all the characters’ names and gave away the ending and made bad puns and… Oh, you all know the drill.

The biggest disappointment? Finding out how rude and nasty a few people are. It’s the negative side of the Internet. Any idiot can write whatever they want about you. I don’t expect everyone to like my books. I don’t. But I cannot understand what possess someone to go to Amazon or a blog and behave like a damn monster. I’ve had my share of crummy reviews, but the ones that sting are the ones that hit below the belt. I had someone on Amazon question my relationship with mother; she wondered what kind of mother would write such smut with her daughter! Although I was amused that she was so offended by the idea of a twenty-something woman ever having sex that she only read five pages before she was so horrified that she had to run to the computer and type of something obnoxious. And it’s not just my reviews. I’ve seen so many cases where a “reviewer” clearly has no compassion, or maybe no understanding, that authors read their reviews. Authors actually have feelings and are not here just for you to insult. I know, shocking, right?

What’s up next for you?
I have my fingers crossed that my YA will get picked up because I totally drowned myself in writing that and am dying to get it out to readers. I’m also working on another stand-alone novel now. I’m nuts about this story and if I can get it on paper the way I see it in my head, I think it will be really good. We’ll see… you never know what’s going to sell these days!

Now for some fun things that readers should know about you J

Coke or pepsi? Diet Coke. Or preferably a Coolatta. No whipped cream.

Skittles or sprees? Blech. Reeses. Or Bugles, which are the most underrated snack ever.

Hardcover or paperback? Both. Unless it’s a big fat book, like one of the Harry Potters. Wish I had a Kindle for those monsters.

Early bird or night owl? Both. More of a night owl at this stage, but when the kid was younger I was always up and functional by six in the morning. I can still do it if I have to.

Football or baseball? I’M READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAALLLLLL! (The Patriots’ Wes Welker is my secret hottie boyfriend. He’s mine! Everyone back off!)

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate. All the way.

Rick Springfield or anyone else? (Hee hee) I don’t think this is a funny question at all, Lori. Making fun of my Rick Springfield obsession is just rude. I think you’re jealous that he and I have a soul mate type connection that you don’t have with him.

Pen or pencil? What the hell is a pencil?

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Meet the Author: Gloria Hass

Monday, December 21st, 2009

A special thanks to Gloria Hass for taking the time to let us interview her. Gloria was nice enough to send us a signed copy of her new cookbook, Giving Back to Your Community Cookbook.  We’ll have a random drawing on the 23rd including all of those who comment on the post. Can’t think of a comment? …What’s your favorite way to give back to your community? …Favorite charitable organization?

Gloria Hass

Gloria’s Bio:
Gloria Hass is a published author, evangelist and a patriotic and public speaker.  She conducts women’s healing seminars in churches around the United States. Gloria is a survivor of domestic violence and is an advocate for helping the less fortunate.

Gloria lives in the beautiful state of Arizona and enjoys desert living. She also enjoys traveling and meeting new people.

Gloria has two more books coming out next year.
We asked Gloria:
I love the idea. How did you come up w/ a Cookbook that addresses  giving back to your community?
In 2006, I was thinking of writing a cookbook only I didn’t want it to be the run of the mill cookbook. I wanted this cookbook to stand out and contribute more than recipes. At the time, I had helped in feeding the homeless at one of the Tucson area churches and thought about what other ways someone could give back to their community. Some people I had spoken to didn’t know how to organize a progressive dinner and other people said they wanted to know other ideas in how they could help. Thus, my cookbook was born!

Do you have a favorite local or national charitable organization that you work with? …or what are some of the ways you like to give back to your community?
Actually, I have helped area churches feed the homeless with donating food for their food closets. I also run Touch of God Ministries and with funds donated, I have helped some people. I was able to help someone pay their car insurance premium. I have given crocheted afghans, a Christian music CD and poem to people diagnosed with cancer. With funds tight, I’m no longer receiving the donations like I had in the past.

I have just received a few boxes of men’s clothing and that will be going to a ministry that helps the homeless in Quartzsite, Arizona in January when I am in the area.

Right now, all I’m able to do is call someone and given them an encouraging word which is important with our economy the way it is. People just need to know that someone is listening and that they care.

What kind of food allergies do you have?  I know lots of our readers have food allergies. Can you give our readers any tips for dealing with their allergies?
I am allergic to some food additives, preservatives and food colorings. I am also allergic to food binders. I used to be able to eat everything and now my diet is quite limited. I had to learn to adapt my mental outlook from being a junk food junkie to a health food nut. I could no longer eat food with yeast or any leavening agent, so I experimented on making an unleavened bread. While the bread is heavy, my stomach adapted to it over time.

It wasn’t easy for me to adapt and over time instead of looking at the candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream and other gooey stuff that I could no longer eat, I had to tell myself that being healthy and eating to live was more important than living to eat. I had the help of my doctor in educating me on how being healthy was more important than being overweight and unhealthy. My doctor told me I could accomplish more in life with losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. I have lost 60 pounds and have kept it off. I feel so much better! I changed to eating organic food and I have better mental clarity than I had in the past. Before eating organic food, I felt as if I walked around in a fog and I had difficulty concentrating. Now, I can concentrate as well as feel clear headed.

I know you’re going to say that I have the gooey stuff in my cookbook. There are people that can still enjoy the sweet snacks and why not give them something they’ll enjoy? Just because I can no longer eat the sweet snacks doesn’t mean that others have to stop. Besides, eating in moderation is the key.

How long have you been cooking? When did you become interested in cooking?
I started cooking when I was 9 years old. I didn’t have a desire to cook at all. I enjoyed watching my mom and grandmothers cook but I didn’t want to be a part of it. My brother and I were getting older and my mom decided that both of us should learn how to cook. Every two weeks, my brother and I took turns in cooking something. I enjoyed baking more than cooking. I loved making desserts and learned that was my forte. My mom insisted we learn how to cook all the different components of a meal which my brother and I both did. Through this experience, I enjoyed cooking as well as baking but it took a few years.

From whom did you learn the most about cooking?
I learned the most about cooking from my mom. After I learned to cook, I wanted to see if I could make my favorite recipes that my mom made, just as good as she did. My mom told me I was a better cook than she was but I disagree. I still think my mom’s food taste better than mine.

The person I learned the most about baking desserts was my grandmother.

She taught me how to cook ethnically and gave me the Jewish family recipes that were handed down from my great grandmother.

If you had to choose a favorite recipe from your book, Giving Back to Your Community Cookbook, which one would you choose and why?
Oh, they’re all good! My favorite is the Potato Salad recipe on page 62.  This recipe I learned from my mom and I always looked forward to her making her famous Potato Salad so I could eat it.

Your bio says you like to travel with your dog.  Where do you like to go & what kind of dog do you have?
I like to travel to places in the United States and Canada that I haven’t seen before. I look forward to going to eastern Montana some day as well as the Carolinas. While I have been through most of the states, there are still places I haven’t seen yet and I look forward to traveling there. I hope, through my book signing tours, I will be able to accomplish this. It will take time and time I have. I hope in my travels I do hope to help as many people as I can.

I have a Miniature Schnauzer. We have shared our lives for the last 7 years. She loves exploring the new places and enjoys our walks together.

How did you find out about PaperBackSwap.com?
I heard about PaperBackSwap.com on a book reading list when you first started. I signed up and became a member. I am still a member and enjoy trading books for ones that I am unable to find locally.

What’s on your nightstand?
Besides a dog toy, my Bible is on my nightstand along with my cell phone and the book I’m currently reading.

– Find out more about Gloria Hass by visiting her ministry’s website TouchofGod.com, Twitter/Gloria Hass

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Meet the Author: Tim Link

Monday, December 14th, 2009

A special thanks to Tim Link for taking the time to let us interview him and get to know him and his special talent a little better.  Tim was nice enough to send us a signed copy of his recent book “Wagging Tales” .  We’ll have a random drawing on Friday including all of those who comment on the post. Can’t think of a comment?  …What do you think your pet would communicate with Tim about? …What was your favorite pet? …Strangest pet experience?  Congratulations to Gale G. (badgerdoglover)!

Tim Link

Tim’s Bio: Tim Link is an author, writer, speaker, president and CEO of Wagging Tales and is a full-time animal communicator. As part of his passion for helping animals, Tim also has mastered Reiki – an ancient art of energy healing – which he uses on animals.

Tim has recently been featured in numerous newspaper, television and radio shows including the Associated Press, “FOX & Friends”, “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet,” “Good Day Atlanta,” Forsyth County News, The Bronx Times, Species Link, “Live Your Legacy”, “Cumming Home”, Luxury Las Vegas, Woman2Woman, Atlanta Magazine, “Everyday with Marcus & Lisa”, Detroit Free Press, “Good Day Columbus”, “Good Morning Texas”, Gwinnett Daily Post, “Colorado & Company”, “Good Day Colorado”, Shirley MacLaine’s “Independent Expression” internet radio show, Pet Gazette, “San Diego Living”, Aquarius, “Mornings with Lorri and Larry”, “Sonoran Living”, “The Pat McMahon Show”, Palladium-Item, “Arizona Midday”, Tails, “Tennessee Mornings”, “More at Midday”, Animal Fair and remains a regular guest on two internet radio shows. Since May 2008, Tim has been a featured AJCpets.com expert for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Tim Link with Better Mornings Atlanta host Jennifer Valdez and her dog, Sadie

Tim Link with Better Mornings Atlanta host Jennifer Valdez and her dog, Sadie

Tim grew up in Richmond, Ind. He married his high school sweetheart, Kim, and graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in sales and marketing. After graduation, he built a successful twenty plus year career in sales management for the telecommunications industry, earning numerous awards and promotions for his achievements. He was living his dream as an all-American guy.

We Asked Tim:
When and how did you come to realize you had this special ability to be able to understand and communicate with animals?
I realized, with much surprise, that I could communicate with animals in February 2004 while attending an animal communication workshop. During the workshop, which had about 10 participants, we would practice asking questions of the pets that were present at the workshop as well as pets that were represented in photographs at the workshop. Once we were through asking the questions and receiving answers, we would relay the answers we received back to the pet’s human companions to see if what we received was correct. I was totally surprised to learn that all of the answers I had received were correct from each pet that I communicated with that afternoon.

Like many other talents, is this something that was difficult at first and you had to work/study to get better at, or could you tell right away you had a special talent?
I realized right away that I had the gift to communicate with animals. At first, the information came as a few words or an image or two. Over the years, as I have used my gift more and more, the way in which the animals communicate with me has expanded to include feelings, emotions, tastes, smells, full sentences, etc. Any sensation that we can experience as humans, they can experience as well. So, they communicate with me in whatever way they are most comfortable.

You are probably most often contacted about cats and dogs, but can you communicate with all types of animals, and what is the strangest animal that someone has asked you to communicate with?
The most unusual animal that I have been asked to communicate with has been a wart hog. After receiving Jack Hanna’s endorsement on my book, I was sent four pictures of animals that he would be working with in Kenya. One was a wart hog.

Are some more difficult than others?
I haven’t found it difficult to communicate with any type of animal. What is sometimes challenging is determining what the animal means when what they say has no meaning to me. That is when it is helpful for the human companion to be a part of the conversation. Usually, when an animal says something, it definitely has meaning to the family they are a part of.

Wagging Tales by Tim Link

How do you respond to the doubters?
When someone contacts me to help them with their pet I don’t mind if they are a little skeptical. It’s only natural. However, during the consultation I am able to share things that the pet tells me that no one else would know. That is when they know that the gift I have is real. After all, we all want what is best for our furry friends and that is what I am here for.

How many pets do you have?
I have 2 dogs, 8 finches, 1 turtle, 1 rabbit and 4 fish tanks.

Do you feel like you are able to understand what they are thinking all the time, or just at certain times?
I don’t have my gift “on” all the time. However, if I notice that one of the pets is acting differently than they usually do, then I will communicate with them to find out what the problem is.

What is the most unusual animal problem you have been contacted to help with?
The most unusual problem that I’ve been asked to work on is a horse that had stopped eating and drinking over a two week period. The vet said that there wasn’t anything medically wrong with the horse. So, the human companion called me. When I asked the horse why it wasn’t eating or drinking, the horse initially only communicated the words, “Green water”. I didn’t know what that meant and neither did the family. When I asked for clarification from the horse, he showed me an image of the pales in his stall that he ate and drank from. So, I asked the family if there had been a change with these pales in the last two weeks. They said that they used to be green but, about two weeks ago they put new ones in the stall and they were blue. So, I recommended that they put the green pales back as soon as possible and remove the blue pales. As soon as they did this, the horse resumed eating and drinking as usual.

I see you are from the Atlanta area- Do you have a favorite place to go with pets in Atlanta?
I love to take my dogs to the locally owned Red Bandana pet supply stores. When my dogs walk in the door, the look on their faces is priceless. They act like they are in “doggie heaven” with all of the food and treats that they smell. It’s great!

Part of the proceeds from your book, “Wagging Tales”, is donated to animal rescue organizations. Which ones?
During the book tour this year, I partnered with a lot of local rescue organizations in the cities that I visited including Little Shelter in Long Island, NY, Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth, TX, Denver Dumb Friends League in Denver, CO, Arizona Golden Rescue in Phoenix, AZ, PAWS of Coronado in Coronado, CA, Humane Society of Forsyth County in Atlanta, GA and Lifeline Animal Project in Atlanta, GA. Throughout the year, I also participate in a lot of rescue organizations’ charitable events at which I donate a portion of my proceeds back to those groups including Gwinnett Humane Society, Rescue Me! Animal Project, Our Pal’s Place, Mostly Mutts and Good Mews. In partnering with local groups, it helps them to gain exposure for their organization and donations through the sale of my books.

Have you found animals that are rescued to be different ‘spiritually’ from ones that are not rescued?
Not at all. Each animal is as unique as each human being. They all have their own personalities, likes and dislikes and reasons for being here.

How did you learn about PaperBackSwap?
I initially learned about PaperBackSwap from one of my friends. That same week, at the Georgia Literary Festival, I met someone that worked for PaperBackSwap. He suggested that I participate in an author interview when I had time.

What do you have on your night-stand?
I am usually reading the latest pet/animal-related book.

Find out more about Tim by visiting his website Wagging-Tales.com.

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