Steve Weber - Amazon's Bookseller & Author Of " Plug Your Book!: Online Book Marketing for Authors "

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing his views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Steve Weber, author of "Plug Your Book!: Online Book Marketing for Authors." He offers an inside look at successful marketing techniques, possibilities via the internet, how to make sales and have the world take notice of our books.

Mr. Weber discusses the various Amazon programs, how to build author Web site, Myspace interactions, blogging with other authors, networking to promote and sell your book.

His idea are great for both fiction and non-fiction author. Hey, for a self-published book, his ranking at Amazon is #3,368 and it’s only been out since February of this year ’07. How about that for a success...

E. I. Thank you for dropping by Mr. Weber, tell us what were you like as a teenager? Please tell your readers more about Steve Weber -- the man behind the author?

Steve Weber: I was a bit of a bookworm. I read all the books in our house, and I read the encyclopedia too. In school, I was mainly interested in English and literature, and I couldn't have cared less about math, although I was fond of science. I could never force myself to pay attention to algebra or calculus -- I have a mental block against that stuff. I also had some of the typical teenage pastimes like sports. I had a paper route.

E. I. What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Steve Weber: Rewriting. I'm pretty good at looking at my draft through the eyes of the reader and recognizing what's not any good. But it's an agonizing, slow process for me. Part of what I enjoy so much about writing is finally being finished -- getting to the point where my idea is expressed well. I get wonderful satisfaction from that.

E. I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Steve Weber: No one person in particular, but my parents and some of my teachers in school recognized I had some ability in writing and they encouraged me. I always felt it was the one thing I was really good at. My Mom always raved about the letters I wrote when I was young, and that's the joke in our family: I became a writer because Mom told me I wrote good letters.

E. I. Did you start writing this book with a different plan specifically in mind?

Steve Weber: The book was really unfocused; I had to cut two-thirds of it. I've never learned to write from an outline, so I ended up with too much. I had whole sections on how to manage your writing as a "business," and advice on how to get published. In the end I decided the book should be limited to the subject of author promotion on the Internet.

E. I. Let’s shift gears... tell us about your book ‘Plug Your Book ’ what is the premise? And how did you come up with the title and idea?

Steve Weber: When I started promoting my previous book, "The Home-Based Bookstore," Google's Adsense was all the rage. I experimented with those pay-per-click ads and Yahoo Publisher ads because I'd heard they were so effective. I discovered they are not effective in selling books. After about three months I gave up on advertising and started blogging and participating on MySpace and other social-networking sites. Around the same time, I started recruiting some Amazon Top
Reviewers to read and review my book. That's when my book started selling, and it was such a revelation. All those things I'd been spending money on to promote my book were basically a waste of time, while the grassroots techniques that cost nothing were extremely effective. So I thought it would be very helpful to new authors to have the benefit of that experience.

E. I. Can you tell us what is different about this book from others? What should readers expect about this new training manual for marketing a book?

Steve Weber: It's the only book that covers Internet book publicity comprehensively. Some other books touch on this, but none of them are as current and complete. Of course, the book doesn't claim that you should abandon other traditional forms of book promotion -- such as bookstore signings, for example. Those topics have been covered in other books.

E. I. In your own opinion what do you think is the biggest misconceptions of authors about promoting, selling their book, and selling themselves as a writer?

Steve Weber: For new writers, the biggest misconception is that once your book is out there, it will sell itself. But the greatest book in the world won't sell a single copy until people are made aware of it. And most of this responsibility rests with the author. Many authors detest the idea of "selling." But if you believe your work is important, you've got to help spread the word about it.

E.I. In what ways does your writing benefit from your training as a bookseller?

Steve Weber: Since 2000, I've been an online seller of books as my primary occupation -- new, used and collectible books. Most of my business comes from Amazon buyers, and about 20 percent comes from other sites. I've sold books to more than 100,000 online buyers, so it's given me a bit of insight into the decision-making process that online buyers go through when they buy a book. I think Amazon's book reviews and the ability to search for titles and authors has been a boon for
readers, publishers and authors.

E.I. How did your books get written? Is it inspired creativity, or a more disciplined hard work approach, with detailed outlines, scheduled writing times, etc.?

Steve Weber: I can't write by outlines or schedules. Once I get the idea I just start doing it and I hate to stop until it's finished. So often I'll work all day and night when I'm almost finished. It's not really discipline, it's obsession.

E.I. Can you tell us a little about your writing schedule, editing and revision process, development, etc.,? How long did it take you to write ‘Plug Your Book’?

Steve Weber: Since I write nonfiction, I send my draft to several people who know about the topic and agree to peer review it. Then I'll do another rewrite using their suggestions. Then I'll have a content edit and a few rounds of proofreading. It took me about nine months to write "Plug Your Book." I must have rewritten most of the sections 40 or 50 times.

E.I. Who are your favorite authors, and why do they inspire you?

Steve Weber: I like Malcolm Gladwell and Tom Friedman. The notion of taking ideas out of your head, putting them on paper, then getting millions of other people to talk about those ideas is really inspiring to me.

E.I. What are your media tastes – books, movies, and music?

Steve Weber: I like middle of the road stuff. Current events, economics. Classic rock. I like chick flicks. I really
like to read reviews before I consume, though. I like to know what to expect and I hate to waste my time with a movie or book that turns out to be awful.

E.I. What can fans look forward from you in the coming months?

Steve Weber: I have two book ideas I'm working on. One about book collecting and one about social networking.

E.I. For those who are not familiar with you... would you tell the readers what job did you do before you took up writing seriously?

Steve Weber: In College I studied journalism and I was a news writer before taking up bookselling.

E.I. Mr. Webber, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to work with you. Would you like to close the interview with a writing tip for young aspiring authors?

Steve Weber: Start a blog. It's a great way to practice your craft and build an audience. Keep at it.

To learn more about Steve Weber please visit him at:
BLOG: http://www.weberbooks.com/publish.htm

Susan Henderson - Author, Of Motörhead & Recipient Of Academy Of American Poets

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Susan Henderson. Her debut novel will be published by St. Martin's Press in Spring of '08. She is a Pushcart nominee, and has a grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation.

Along with Stephen King, Dave Eggers, Kurt Vonnegut and over one hundred fifty writers, Ms. Henderson is a contributor to 'Future Dictionary of America'. A book that was conceived by Jonathan Safran Foer, Nicole Krauss, and the staff of McSweeney's to promote progressive causes in the November 2004 election.

E.I. What were you like as a teenager? Please tell your readers more about Susan Henderson-- the woman behind the author?

Susan Henderson: By the time I was a teenager, I had already been an alcoholic, a fire-starter, a pill popper, a hitchhiker, a bully, a forger, and a
runt. I was bused back to my own neighborhood for high school and separated from my peer group, and suddenly I found a much more stable side of me. My teenage years were pretty peaceful by comparison.

From the outside, I looked like this: I was athletic (crew, shot put, weight-lifting). My hair was long. I was kind of pretty but didn't wear make-up and didn't do anything with my hair except let it air-dry. I grew up in Virginia, just outside of DC, so I had a slight southern accent, which I've since lost. I was in the gifted program for English and all of my sciences, and was the poetry editor of the school magazine. My big passion was dancing and reading. I also took care of a little girl with a brain tumor every day, so that probably shaped me more than anything else.

I think I appeared to fit in well, and in many ways I did. But I always felt a little different. When I hung out with other kids and we got to talking, my conversations always went in a vastly different direction than theirs. I would feel the most alone whenever I was in a group. My closest friend was the janitor. He wrote poetry, and we'd stay after school and read his poems and listen to opera on a little tape recorder.

E.I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Susan Henderson: I write because I love the quirky nuances of people. That's the stuff I care about and what comes easily to me. I'm trying so hard to teach myself how to plot better, and particularly, to plot first and not try to jam a plot under a near-finished piece of writing. A couple years ago, I spent several months reading nothing but bestsellers to try to see what it was that made people buy them, and that was a really useful way to spend my time. It makes me understand what my writing
was missing, and I plan to outline the plot of my next book before I get going with it – though my heart is with the characters, the quiet moments, and the words.

E.I. What is your response to the public perception that writers' creative insight and energy is frequently the product of personal conflict?

Susan Henderson: Hmm, I didn't know that was the public perception. I suppose we may gain our hyper sense of awareness from old wounds. On the other hand, my brother, who had more or less the same childhood I had, is a doctor and doesn't create art at all. And my mother, who is very much a creative type and extraordinarily perceptive and attentive to details, doesn't write – though I think she'd be good at it. Maybe it's a temperament thing? Maybe a combination?

E.I. Do you express your inner self in your writing, or do the persona's you create exist only in your imagination?

Susan Henderson: I'm very much inside of my characters. Sometimes I'll push them to do something more daring than I would in real life, but I have an intimate understanding of their sensibilities.

E.I.What would you tell those authors considering applying to an M.F.A. program? In your opinion how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

Susan Henderson: I don't have an MFA in writing – my Master's is in counseling - so I can't say. I'm certain the more contacts you have in the business is a plus, so that alone may make it worth someone's while.

I strongly believe that reading good books is more than half of what makes you a good writer. It trains your ear. It opens your mind to the possibilities of words and adventures. And other than that, like any job, you just work at it. You write and write and write and write, and surround yourself with writers just above your caliber.

If putting yourself in an MFA program surrounds you with good books and good writers and opportunities to write, then it's all good. I've heard it said that writers tend to lose their natural voice and storytelling style in MFA programs, but I don't believe any of that can be lost permanently.

E.I. Do you let anyone read your manuscript,before you send it to your editor or agent?

Susan Henderson: I used to solicit A LOT of feedback from my writer friends. I think that's a good thing at a certain stage in your writing career. But
after a while, you start to know what works, and sometimes the tweaks other people make to your work don't have your voice in their head, so they disrupt the rhythm or the quirkiness of your thought process.

When I finished the novel I just sold to St. Martin's, I didn't share it with anyone. I just knew it was ready, and now, only my editor will give me feedback on it.

E.I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Susan Henderson: I have my school papers saved all the way back to Kindergarten, and it's pretty clear I always thought of myself as a writer. The trick, I think, is that no one discouraged me along the way by telling me I sucked or that being a writer is unrealistic. I didn't get that kind of feedback until I'd already committed.

I stuck myself to anyone who believed in me – it's always been my one great instinct: seeking out people who make me a better person or think more of me than I think of myself. So there's a whole trail of teachers and friends and strangers who took me to this place. Also there was one book – "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by "http://www.mayaangelou.com/">Maya Angelou – that kind of turned my head in a significant way about the power of giving voice to your experience.

E.I. Let's shift gears... tell us about your book 'Motörhead' how did you come up with the title and idea?

Susan Henderson: Motorhead is actually just a short story, but it's probably going to be part of the new book I'm outlining. It's about a lot of things I
know well – first love, hiding aspects of yourself so people will continue to love you, feeling alone in a crowd, relating better to book characters than to real people. The title comes partially from the music setting for the story – there are lots of references to heavy metal and the band, Motorhead. The title also describes the way the main character's mind races – her head is full of books and melodramatic thoughts, and she is less skilled at being in the moment or communicating any of those thoughts. It was a fun story to write.

E.I. How much of Lucy's life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with her or with any of your characters?

Susan Henderson: Stories come to me in lots of ways – often one scene at a time. Or, more maddeningly, a few words at a time. Sometimes I'll see the wallpaper and the knickknacks but no characters show up.

Lucy is a character that has my ear. When she pops up in my head, all I really need to do is grab a pen and keep up. Motorhead came to me in one big burst, and I like to read it that way, too, kind of breathless to match the speed of her thoughts.

E.I. Readers and fans often like to get behind an author's writing routine. Would you like to share with them your typical writing day schedule?

Susan Henderson: Ha! Well, I don't recommend anyone copying my "routine" because the only thing routine about it is how much I like to horse around and waste time.

Okay, my routine involves placing myself among creative types all day long. On any given day, I might interview authors, read galleys of books, critique stories, blog at "http://www.LitPark.com/">LitPark, play soccer or eat Indian food with musicians. In my experience, surrounding yourself with people who are passionate and creating art rubs off. My writing builds up and comes out in spurts. I might not write anything formal for weeks, and then in one 45 minute sitting, I've written a short story or a chapter of a book. Once a character claims me, I can't stop writing until I'm absolutely spent. It's like someone else is doing the writing and I'm just trying to writing it down fast enough so I don't lose it.

E.I. What can the readers look forward from you in the coming months?

Susan Henderson: Well, my big project is my novel, which will be published by St. Martin's Press in the spring of '08. My editor and I are doing final edits and trying to re-title it right now, and I'm also working with the artist Tommy Kane on the cover. When that's done, I'll spend the summer outlining the next book.

I have some work coming out in anthologies soon – one is a six-word memoir project with Harper Collins, and another is an essay about James Frey's impact on memoirist. I also filmed a reality TV show last March, and that may air this fall. I play a workaholic writer.

E.I. Thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for_me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

Susan Henderson: My writing tip is to read. Read at least a book a month. Read authors who blow your work out of the water, and also read as many different types of genres as you can stand. The best writers I know read as much as they write.

To learn more about Susan Henderson, please visit her at:
Publishers Market: Publishers Market: Susan Henderson
Maya Angelou: http://www.mayaangelou.com/
LitPark: http://www.LitPark.com/
Tommy Kane: http://www.TommyKane.com

George D. Shuman - Former Washington D.C., Undercover Detective Turned Bestselling Author Of Murder Mystery "18 Seconds"

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing his views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with George D. Shuman, author of the highly imaginative novel, 18 Seconds. The first book in the 'Sherry Moore' series, an explosive thriller—brutally authentic in detail novel.

E.I. Would you please tell your fans what were you like as a teenager? And tell us more about George Shuman -- the man behind the author?

GDS: My High School could best be described as a farm school. We were the Future Farmers of America or soon to be coal miners, steel workers and trades people. You didn’t move far from home where I came from, you didn’t dream beyond the confines of your county, there were clear lines drawn between races and choices of music and dress and you were suspect if you crossed those lines. I wasn’t a great student, hell I wasn’t a good student. I daydreamed a lot. I was far more interested in the music of Ricky Nelson and Neil Sedaka and later of course the Beatles than sports or academics. And yes I had a guitar and played in a rock and roll band and never made it to college, though I did well in law enforcement and later private industry. I was one of those people who had to meet education on my own terms.

E.I. What is your response to the public perception about your creative insight with your book?

GDS: My number one thrill is reading fan mail from around the world from people who have emotionally connected with my characters. I love to hear I have made them cry, or have kept them up all night, or worried them over what is going to happen to Sherry Moore in the future. That connection was what motivated me to read in the first place, and it is so very cool to realize I am moving others.

E.I. Can you share with us some of the challenges you faced to publish your first book ‘18 Seconds’? Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

GDS: Simply put, I ended up doing it the hard way. Fifteen years of rejections, emotional ups and downs, rewriting and rewriting and rewriting every time someone in the business made a suggestion to improve my manuscripts. I was living, like many authors, for those scraps of hope penciled on the margins of form letters that read “Not for Me.” I found hope in comments like, “compelling read, needs editing, punctuation, character development…” because I knew some human had actually read three of my chapters and taken the time to give me advice. We are pathetic beings who save our marked up form letters, who wait impatiently to be rejected again and again.

Were I to do one thing different, it would have been not to have altered my manuscripts for every Tom, Dick and Jane who had an opinion about my work. You learn that once you get published, everything you scribble suddenly becomes genius. And let me add that I absolutely cry for the wonderful stories out there in bottom drawers of dresser bureaus that will never see the light of day.

E.I. What surprised you most about the publishing process from the writer’s perspective?

GDS: For me, it was the speed of which the industry, my publisher and so many well established authors embraced me. I am humbled by it all and ever so thankful.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community as a twenty-year veteran of the Washington D.C., Metropolitan Police force and that you also served as an undercover narcotic detective. Are any of the character in your books actually based on real people in your life?

GDS: No, and I can’t say this loudly enough. I LOVE to write fiction. The residue of my years in law enforcement can’t help but bleed through the pages, any more than my years farming or sticking rivets in the steel mills, but I have no interest in dredging up history. Everything I write is of my imagination, that’s what makes writing beautiful to me.

E.I. If your book is purely fiction what was your inspiration for the book?

GDS: Setting. My family vacationed in Wildwood New Jersey when I was a young teen. I was impressionable. I never forgot the “anything could happen here” kind of feeling the boardwalk had at night. I was also interested in writing a story (certainly because of my experience in law enforcement) about crime interrupted. This happens all the time in real police work. A series of heinous crimes suddenly stop leaving the cops to wonder if the perpetrator is dead, in jail, or moved to other parts of the country.

E.I. Now... let’s shift gears and talk about new book, ‘The Last Breath’ which I understand is to be published by Simon & Schuster August of 2007. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?

GDS: LAST BREATH is the story of a man who witnesses something as a boy that drives him to obsess over human breath. Or should I say a human’s last breath? This is a terrifying read.

E.I. What challenges or obstacle did you encounter while writing and creating your blind psychic protagonist ‘Sherry Moore’? How did you overcome these challenges?

GDS: Purely half the fun of writing is researching for me. I am no longer the disinterested student. I can’t get enough knowledge in my head and my research leads me on long pursuits that I sometimes have to reign in to get back to my writing. I’m still learning about the blind and can only say I hope to do better in the future. It has become important for me not only to do it right, but to open the seeing world’s eyes to the amazing accomplishments of the blind. Google Erik Weihenmeyer if you have any doubt.

E.I. How did you develop ˜Sherry Moore?" Did you work it out in advance, or did she evolve as you wrote the story?

GDS: Sherry Moore evolved and slowly. In fact she started out as Jack. First she had this unusual gift based in science, not the paranormal. Then I thought what if she was orphaned and didn’t have sight? What if she was beautiful and self possessed. I liked all the contrasts.

E.I. Readers and fans often like to get behind an author's writing routine. Would you like to share with them your typical writing day schedule?

GDS: I’m all over the place and part of that is because of my love of research. I get distracted. I tend to binge at whatever I do. Long long stretches of reading, followed by long long stretches of writing. I wrote the better part of LAST BREATH in six weeks. I don’t recommend it as a style.

E.I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

GDS: I remember first being moved by the genius of writers like LaCarre, Ludlum, Forsyth, McMurtry… but in all honesty, it was the books I picked up that were dull, witless and bereft of emotion that made me believe I could write. If anything the masters would have scared me away. I must thank those unnamed authors whose work should never have been published in the first place. They are the reason I thought I could do this too.

E.I. Would you call yourself a plotter?

GDS: That would be a definitive no. I have no idea, whatsoever where my characters are going to lead me from day to day.

E.I. What’s up next for your fans?

GDS: I am way excited about the book I’m working on now. Let’s just say Sherry meets her match in more ways than one. We have a former dictator’s Secret Police commander operating one of the most inhuman criminal organizations in the western hemisphere in a terrifyingly exotic setting. There is something for everyone in this thriller.

E.I. Mr. Shuman, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

GDS: Oh, yes… in a word I would tell you to believe! You know if you can write or not. If you can, your worst enemy is not the industry, but self doubt. You must believe in yourself in spite of the odds. You must believe in spite of what other people tell you, even at times the professionals. For every hugely successful author out there, there are a dozen agents—and or publishers—who wished they hadn’t turned them down. Ask the ones who had a shot at J.K. Rowling’s manuscript.

To learn more about George D. Shuman, please visit him at:
georgedshuman.com/

Barbara Taylor Bradford - Internationally Renowned Bestselling Author Of Popular Women's Fiction

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Barbara Taylor Bradford. It was 20 years ago that British-born writer Barbara Taylor Bradford burst onto the popular literary scene with her first novel, "A Woman of Substance". Since then she's written one bestseller after another, many of which have been made into movies, miniseries and nominated for two Emmy awards. Barbara Taylor Bradford has been one of the world’s most cherished storytellers and best-selling novelists, with total sales of more than 62 million books in 39 languages in 89 countries. It all started in 1979 when Doubleday published the novice novelist’s sweeping saga of the indomitable Emma Harte, which stayed on the New York Times bestseller lists for 15 months.

E.I. What were you like as a teenager? Please tell your readers more about Barbara Taylor Bradford -- the woman behind the author?

BTB: I actually went to work as a teenager. When I was sixteen, I went to work at the Yorkshire Evening Post as a typist. This wasn't the reporter job I envisioned, and I wasn't a fabulous typist. However, one thing to another and I managed to get a few articles written, which I submitted in other people's names. Eventually, I was figured out and the editor called me onto the carpet. I thought I'd be sacked, bit instead I was offered a job as a reporter. From there, I moved up quickly. I became an editor at eighteen. Then I moved to London, where I became a magazine fashion editor.

E.I. What is your response to the public perception about your creative
insight with your books?

BTB: I'd say the perception of my work by my readers is very different from that of the critics. Going all the way back to the beginning, I've always gotten great response from readers. They've made all 22 of my books into bestsellers. The critics were wonderful at the beginning (A Woman of Substance), but with time have cooled, as they often do with authors who often hit the bestseller lists. The number 1 stigma that I get is that I write "romance," which is not really accurate. In truth, I write popular women's fiction.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community of having your books sold more than seventy-million copies worldwide, and ten of your books made into television movies, making you the #1 bestselling women’s author of the last 30 years. Do you ever feel pressure or insecure, or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

BTB: I feel pressure to repeat my success with every new book. I am an author who feels the need to make each new novel satisfying for my readers. I have a 25 year standard to live up to. I also feel great pressure when a deadline approaches. I've never missed a deadline with any of my publishers to this point. I aim to keep it that way. When I'm under a tough deadline, I tend to get anxious, but also more focused on the task at hand.

E.I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

BTB: I developed a love of reading and books when I was a child. My mother, Freda Taylor taught me to read when I was four, and when I went to Kindergarten at this time I was the only child in my class who could read. My mother was a voracious reader herself and read to me every night before I went to sleep. She took me with her to the public library twice a week and that's how I learned to read, appreciate books, and to love libraries and book stores.

E.I. Has there ever been a character in one of your novels that people clamored to see again, but you just didn't want to bring back? If so, which character?

BTB: Going back some 20 years ago, I made the mistake of killing off my most famous character, Emma Harte in the book Hold The Dream. Emma was an old woman and had led a full life, so it seemed logical. But as the years passed, readers and publishers alike would bombard me with mail, and later email, asking for me to find a way to bring back Emma. Well, it took a bit a creativity, but I managed to bring Emma back in a recent novel, Emma's Secret. No, I didn't revive her from the grave, but I did have her old diaries found by her great grandchildren, which enabled me to revisit the "missing years" of her life.

E.I. When you look back at your work, do you have a favorite lines or sections in each of the books?

BTB: I'd say my favorite book of those that I've written is: The Women In His Life. This story was quite personal, as I based it in part on the life of my husband, Bob and his boyhood escape from Nazi Germany.

As for favorite lines: there is this moment at the end of A Woman of Substance where Emma Harte's granddaughter asks what Emma's secret is to life. Emma simply answers: "To Endure."

E.I. Would you describe yourself as a confident writer, always ready to face the next new challenge? Or do you have to psyche yourself up to try different venues?

BTB: At the beginning, I actually tried and failed to write four different novels. A lack of confidence was one issue. A lack of interest in those stories was another matter. But with each of my 22 novels to date, confidence has grown. I don't need any special self-pep talk to get myself going when I begin a new book. However, I sometimes get nervous about taking on something very unusual, or ambitious... at least until I have all my research line up.

E.I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

BTB: BACK IN THE MID 1970S WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING TO COMPLETE MY FIRST NOVEL, I WRESTLED WITH THIS VERY ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I WAS A GOOD WRITER AT THE TIME, MY APPROACH WAS ALL WRONG. IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT I READ AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WRITER, GRAHAM GREEN, WHO TOLD TIME MAGAZINE THAT "CHARACTER IS PLOT." TILL THEN, I WAS TRYING TO WRITE STORIES FIRST AND FILL IN THE CHARACTERS. SUDDENLY, I HAD THIS IDEA FOR EMMA HARTE: A STRONG WOMAN WHO ENDURES A DIFFICULT UPBRINGING TO BECOME A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE. THE CHARACTER WAS MY STORY. EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE AFTER THAT.

E.I. What is your favorite thing about being a writer? And what is your least favorite thing?

BTB: My least favorite aspect of writing is the deadline. It is a great motivating factor, but also a daunting one. Many peaceful nights of sleep have been sacrificed in the name of meeting deadlines.

My favorite aspect of being a successful author is getting feedback from my readers. Writing can be a lonely exercise. Everything is done in virtual isolation. But then the readers start writing in with their feedback. Or I get to meet fans on the road when I do my signings. And suddenly I rediscover just what keeps me going.

E.I. Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor?

BTB: I have an editor in London who I've worked with from the very beginning. She gets to read along with me as I am typing the chapters. I also have an excellent editor here in New York and I work her at different stages of the story. I don't love the idea of anyone tampering with a work of mine while it is in-progress. But I do a reasonable amount of polishing once the manuscript is turned in.

E.I. Can you tell your fans a little about your writing schedule, editing, revision process, and novel development etc.? How long does it take you to write a story?

BTB: I SET A STRICT WRITING SCHEDULE WHEN I AM ON DEADLINE. I USUALLY START IN MY HOME OFFICE AT 6AM. I WORK STRAIGHT THROUGH UNTIL LUNCHTIME. AROUND 1PM, I USUALLY PROOFREAD MY MORNING'S WORK BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER. I NEVER WORK MUCH PAST 6PM. I AM AT MY BEST DURING THE MORNING/AFTERNOON. I TYPE MY NOVELS ON AN IBM LEXMARK TYPEWRITER, NOT A COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER IS ONLY FOR RESEARCH. I AM A STRONG CREATURE OF HABIT.

E.I. How do you choose which chapter or pages to read from your book when you do a book signing appearances?

BTB: I never conduct "readings" for my books. When I go around to stores and luncheons, etc, I always give a talk for about 15 - 20 minutes about my career and the current book. Then I take questions from the audience. On very rare occasion, I've been asked to read a few pages by someone in the crowd. On those odd moments, I let the reader pick the page for me to begin reading.

E.I. Who are some of the authors you keep returning to as a reader because of their ability to create vivid, three-dimensional characters?

BTB: My personal tastes in reading fall into two categories A) I enjoy (tremendously) reading English history. I also enjoy biographies and autobiographies, and this non-fiction is mostly what I read. Fiction falls into several categories. I like historical fiction, crime fiction and some general fiction by certain authors. For example, I very much enjoy books by Bernard Cornwell and Philippa Gregory; crime novels by P.D. James, Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George. My friend, Margret George is another of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read her latest history books, mostly about famous women. they are fabulously written as novels. I believe I enjoy the above because these authors write in depth and are never shallow. They create "meaty" books, ones worth reading. I own a huge collection of books at home. These are numbered in the hundreds and hundreds, are housed on shelves in the library, my husband's den, my office and in a guest bedroom. All very tidy; I' m neat and extremely well organized as a person. No spilling piles. I hate messy rooms.

E.I. What would you tell those authors considering applying to an M.F.A. program? In your opinion how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

BTB: Coming from an author who never even graduated college, I'm probably not best qualified to answer this question. I will say that in today's marketplace, there are so many more writers out there than when I began. So anything today's writer can do to provide them with an edge is certainly in their favor. That said, I don't generally agree with the notion that a published author, or even a successful author "needs" to get a special degree because there are so many out there like myself who found their way to success by simply learning to hone one's craft and come up with a few good stories.

E.I. Ms. Bradford, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

BTB: First and foremost, you need to be serious about your desire to become a published author. It takes an extraordinary amount of time, effort and dedication to hone your skills and produce a work worthy of publication. But like anything else, if you possess the talent, the thick skin and the determination, you will likely succeed.

To learn more about Barbara Taylor Bradford, please visit her at:
www.barbarataylorbradford.com/
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/bradford/
www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/barbara-taylor-bradford

Best-Selling Author - JA Konrath - He Is A Fiction Writer Of Mystery, Thriller, And Horror Genres

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing his views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with JA Konrath. His books are known for combining his humor with terror. In the writing community he is well known for self-promotion. He believes that writers must play a large part in marketing their own books. In his blogs, A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, focus on Mr. Konrath’s self-promotion. He is a very outspoken individual, controversial on his views on advertising, the publishing industries and the Internet publicity.

JA Konrath mailed closed to 7000 letters to libraries across the US in 2006, with fellow mystery authors promoting their books to librarians.

E.I. Welcome, and thank you for dropping by. Mr. Konrath, what were you like as a teenager? Please tell your readers more about JA Konrath -- the man behind the author?

JA Konrath: I was a creative type---shooting goofy videos with friends, acting in plays, writing stories. Basically, doing everything I could to ensure that I'd never have a girlfriend.

Then college came along, and creativity became cool. I went to Columbia College in Chicago, where I majored in Budweiser. I took creative writing classes, and got Cs.
Right after college, I decided I wanted to be a thriller writer, since no one wanted to hire me as a late night talk show host opposite David Letterman.

E.I. Could you describe your path to publication--any stumble along the way? Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

JA Konrath: I garnered 450 rejections for nine unsold novels before I landed a book deal. I was a slush pile success. No prior publishing credit. No friends in the publishing business.

If I did it over, I would have tried to hone my writing and querying craft on short stories, and would have gone to conventions to meet fellow writers, editors, and agents. Plus, I would have eaten more bran.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community for self-promotion. And that you believe writers must play a large role in marketing their own books. Could you share with your fans about your challenges in Marketing your first book Whiskey Sour ?

JA Konrath: There are over 100 novels released every day, and almost half of these are by James Patterson. How are you going to compete?

The answer: Build a brand.

You need to get your books and name out there. You can do this by visiting bookstores, conventions, and libraries, meeting fans, and havign a large Internet presence.

Only 1 out of 5 books makes a profit, and it's harder to sell your second book than your first. Once your book is in print, you're no longer a writer. You're a salesperson. If you don't like that, don't quit your day job.

E.I. Let's talk about a few of your most recent titles. How about DIRTY MARTINI, coming from Hyperion in July of 2007? What were your challenges in bringing back Lt. Jacqueline “JACK” Daniels?

JA Konrath: I love writing Jack books, and I've never had as much fun writing a book as I did Dirty Martini. It's larger in scope than the previous books, and it's also funnier. Plus, it's going to scare the crap out of people.

I took some criticism for my last book, Rusty Nail, because of the level of violence. Dirty Martni has no real violence in it---the villain is a poisoner who is spreading boutlism toxin around Chicago. The challenge was to make the new book frightening without using any blood. Early readers tell me I pulled it off.

I also believe that Dirty Martini is the most cinematic of my books so far. It has a big ending, and a lot of fun scenes. Since it's a dream of mine to some day have a movie made from one of my books, I'm thinking more about how the narrative would translate to the screen. Do I have a big hook? Do I have enough romance? Do I have any parts for hip young actors?

This is called "selling out." I highly encourage it. Artistic integrity is great, but it can't buy you a house in Hawaii.

But seriously, you should always keep your audience in mind while you're writing. Especially if you're pennign a series. They have expectations. Your job (and writing is a job) is to meet and surpass those expectations, if you want them to keep buying your books.

Treat your fans right, and eventually Hollywood will come calling.

E.I. If you were allowed total control of the Hollywood version of ‘Lt. Jacqueline Daniel who would be in it? And in your opinion who do you think should direct?

JA Konrath: Sigorney Weaver would make a great Jack. I also like Geena Davis, Rene Russo, Mary-Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Mariska Hargitay. But I'd be happy if they gave the part to Rob Schneider in drag.

Actually, "happy" may not be the right word. But I'd still cash the check.

Naturally, I would want to direct. Though Renny Harlin would be a suitable replacement.

E.I. How have you seen your writing evolve over the years? What new directions are interesting to you?

JA Konrath: I'm taking more chances with my writing, being more experimental. For the fifth Jack book (Fuzzy Navel, coming in 2008) I used eight different POVs (two of them first-person) and did the book in real time, like the TV show 24. It's fun to stretch your creative wings.

I've also learned to cut the fat. My stories are more pared down these days. For example, Dirty Martni has a lot more action that Whiskey Sour, even thoguh the books are the same length. Less description and backstory means more conflict.

E.I. What would you tell those authors considering applying to an M.F.A. program? In your opinion how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

JA Konrath: Why are you working on an MFA when you should be at home writing?

An MFA is great if you want to teach. If you want to be published, you need to finish the damn book you're working on. School will get in the way of that.

E.I. What are the tougher aspects about your writing life?

JA Konrath: Promoting is hard. I work about 60 hours a week, and very little of it is writing. Traveling, keeping up with Internet activity, visiting bookstores---that all takes about about 85% of my time.

E.I. What's next for your fans?

JA Konrath: We're all going out for a beer. Then, Twister.

E.I. Are you interested in speaking to groups? If so, how can interested parties contact you?

JA Konrath: I always enjoy speaking groups. Email me and I'll come visit, as long as you pay my outrageous speaking fee.

E.I. Mr. Konrath, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

JA Konrath: Get off the Internet and get back to work.

To learn more about JA Konrath, please visit him at:
www.jakonrath.com/
jakonrath.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/jakonrath

Melissa Walker, Former Editor At Ellegirl Magazine Turned Freelance Writer & A Novelist

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Melissa Walker. She’s the author of soon to be released novel “Violet on the Runway” from Berkley Trade in September 2007.

E.I. Good Afternoon Ms. Walker, would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager with your readers? Tell us more about Melissa Walker -- the woman behind the author.

M. Walker: As a teenager, I think really wanted to be known—I was yearbook editor, on the tennis team, in school plays. I had a great group of friends, and yet I still felt unseen/unheard somehow. That said, I have great memories—and great friends, still—from high school. I’m still quite close with my high school boyfriend and his family, too!

E.I. Ms. Walker, how did you get started in publishing? Did you set your sites right after college?

M. Walker: I loved working on the yearbook in high school and the newspaper in college. In the summer between my junior and senior years of college, I applied for magazine internships in New York—I landed one at McCall’s, a women’s magazine. After college (and after a year waiting tables and working at a pop culture dot-com in London), I returned to New York and went back to work with the same editors I’d interned under at McCall’s, but now it was ROSIE, Rosie O’Donnell’s magazine.

E.I. Please tell your readers something about your experience as a Senior Editor at Ellegirl? What was the career path that lead you to the level of Senior Editor?

M. Walker: After a stint at ROSIE as Editorial Assistant and Assistant Editor, I got a job as an Associate Editor at ELLEgirl. There was a small staff, so I was writing, assigning stories and editing quite a bit. After a year, my boss realized I was doing a senior editor’s job, so she gave me the promotion.

E.I. After ELLEgirl, what made you decide to leave your Senior Editor position to become a freelance writer and a novelist?

M. Walker: ELLEgirl folded in April 2006, about a month after I got my book contract for three YA novels. It was a good timing for me—I was wondering how I was going to work full-time and do my books. Suddenly, I had no job, but I also didn’t have to make the decision to leave a place I loved, which made things easier.

E.I. Do you think that your experience as an editor helped you succeed as a writer?

M. Walker: Definitely. It’s been extremely valuable to me to be able to see writing and editing from both sides of the table. I know what writers love and hate, and I know what editors love and hate, more or less. It’s a delicate walk on both sides, I think.

E.I. Do you still write for periodicals? What are the do's and don'ts of writing for periodicals, and how does the discipline differ from writing novels?

M. Walker: I do. Most of my income is from magazine writing (books aren’t quite paying the rent yet). The disciplines are quite different. For one thing, with a magazine article, a deadline is a deadline—there’s no pushing it back. You also have to be much more concise with magazine stories. 1000 words means 1000 words, not 1200. I think magazine writing hones certain skills like making every sentence count—that helps in fiction, too.

Also, when I’m writing magazine stories, I’m working on non-fiction. These three books are the first foray into fiction I’ve made, and at first it was hard for me. I kept thinking, “How will I know what my characters say if I can’t interview them?” My boyfriend suggested I do just that, so I have a pre-interview with my main characters that I can go back to if I need to figure out how they’d react to a certain situation. It helps, because I’m really used to reporting more than imagining.

E.I Would you give your readers ideas on how you as editor work with writers?

M. Walker: As an editor, I’m very sympathetic to my writers. I know that sending out a pitch is tough—and I make sure none go unanswered. I also respect writers’ voices within a piece, but there are always edits to be made. I know it’s hard to get that revision note, but I also know that it’s a writer’s job to give the editor what he/she needs. There’s nothing I dislike more than a writer who can’t follow instructions on a revise—that’s part of the job! That said, someone who maybe turns in rough first drafts but is very flexible about revisions might get repeat assignments because they’re easy to work with.

E.I. Now... let’s shift gears and talk about your first soon-to-be-published novel “Violet on the Runway.” What inspired you to write this novel?


M. Walker: Honestly, I read a lot of YA books at ELLEgirl and I realized that the bestsellers all had this “glam” element to them, but they didn’t necessarily have the greatest underlying messages. When the goal of the book is to fit in with the rich/snobby girls, that doesn’t equal a happy ending for me. I wanted to write a book that had a touch of glamour and a strong main character who could come to some helpful, hopeful realizations about what real friendship is.

E.I. Can you share with us some of the challenges you faced to publish your first book? What surprised you most about the publishing process from the writer's perspective?


M. Walker: My main challenge was having to write some of the book before I was sure it would be sold. I’ve been writing on assignment—with guaranteed pay—for so long in the magazine world that I had trouble finding time for something that wasn’t a sure thing. In the end, though, I wrote two chapters of VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY over two months, and I showed them to an editor who had expressed interest in the idea. She called and offered a two-book deal. That’s when I knew I needed an agent! So I got one before I signed and we shopped the book around, got another offer, and ended up going with the original publisher (Penguin’s Berkley/JAM) for a better deal and three books.

E.I. How has actually writing your first book changed the way you look at writing?

M. Walker: With magazines, 1000 words is a semi-long feature. When I’m on deadline for my books, I write 1000 words a day, minimum. I’m a lot less of a perfectionist with my writing now—when you have to get 1000 words on paper, you can’t agonize over a paragraph the way you can with a magazine article. I definitely think working on the book has helped my magazine story first drafts come a lot quicker.

E.I. What do you like most about your writing? Do you consider having your book adapted to film in mind?

M. Walker: What I like most is writing details that make people become three-dimensional. I think every author dreams of having their book turned into a film, and I’m no different. It’s a long shot, but I’d love it, of course!

E.I. If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood adaptation of 'Violet on the Runway', what actors would you cast? And who would you want to direct?

M. walker: Ooh, tough question. Honestly, I’d like Violet to be an unknown—someone who’s new to Hollywood. In terms of directors, I’m really not sure, but I wouldn’t mind if Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator-writer of Gilmore Girls, wanted to pick up the rights.

E.I. What was your inspiration for the book? Are any of the characters in the story actually based on real people in your life?

M. Walker: My inspiration was working at ELLEgirl and interviewing models, seeing that world and all its quirks. As far as the real personalities go, though, I think each character is an amalgam of people I know. And yes, Violet and I share a lot of opinions on things, and I did work at a movie theater in high school (those theater-worker characters may be lightly based on some people I know… you couldn’t make them up!).

E.I. Do you have any interesting experiences while writing, or researching the book?

M. Walker: I did spend 24 hours in a male model apartment(http://www.melissacwalker.com/media/ellegirl-male-models.jpg), which was fun. I actually pictured their apartment when I described Violet’s, bunk beds and all!

E.I. What is a typical work day schedule when you are in full writing mode? Would you tell us a little about your process for editing, revising, and novel development? How long did it take you to write ‘Violet on the Runway’ including the time it took to research the book?

M. Walker: When I’m in the thick of things, here’s how it goes: Get up, eat, go to the gym (this ensures that I get dressed and have at least a teensy bit of human contact). When I come home, I shower, put on something comfortable and climb into the overstuffed chair in my bay window. I sit there and write until I have 1000 words. No lunch until I reach 1000. Then lunch, and after lunch is all magazine work—writing articles, pitching new stories, reporting. I really try to divide my day sharply like that because the mediums are so different.

E.I. What is the premise of ‘Violet on the Runway’, which I understand is to be published by Berkley Trade in September 2007?

M. Walker: I’ll start with the tagline: A wallflower in the spotlight can do two things: wilt—or blossom…

A self-described mousy geek with stringy brown hair and glasses resting on her bigger-than-Minnie Mouse ears, 6’1” Violet Greenfield has two goals for her senior year at Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina: To make it through the next nine months with as little humiliation as possible and to not get any taller. But when a modeling scout from New York City approaches her at her movie-theater job and offers her a plane ticket on the spot, Violet’s world is shaken. A first-class makeover—complete with hair, makeup and photo shoot—turns Violet into something more than pretty. She becomes Tryst Models’ new It Girl. As she books runway shows and faces her own image in magazines—an image she barely recognizes—her life explodes in ways she never could have imagined.

E.I. Please tell us about ‘Violet Greenfield’ and ‘Angela Blythe.' What was your biggest challenge in developing these characters?

M. Walker: Violet is the average, insecure 17-year-old who really hopes college will be better than high school. She has her two best friends, Julie and Roger, but she feels like her life is nothing special. Until she meets Angela.

Angela Blythe is a top agent at Tryst Models. When she sees something she wants (like Violet), she goes after it, barreling through any “no”s that might stand in her way. Violet learns from Angela’s ruthless behavior, but will she be able to stand up to her intimidating agent when it really matters?

Both characters are incredibly strong, but Violet has an inner strength, whereas Angela’s is a more raw, overt power. My biggest challenge in developing Violet was to let her grow into some sense of self-esteem without completely losing her appealing soft nature and vulnerability. With Angela, I wanted to write a funny, tough character, but I didn’t want her to be one-note—and I wanted her to be slightly sympathetic as well.

E.I. How did you develop these characters? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story?

M. Walker: Violet I knew inside and out—I’d been thinking about her as a character for a while, probably since I was in high school myself. Angela came quickly as the book evolved—I know a lot of people like her who work in the fashion industry, so I could practically hear her voice and the way she yelled. I knew instantly what she would say or how she would react to certain situations.

E.I. What's up next? Is there another book in the works? What can you tell us about it?

M. Walker: The second book in the VIOLET series is called VIOLET BY DESIGN, and it’ll be out in the spring. In this book, Violet heeds the siren song of modeling once again and travels to Brazil and around Europe to do fashion shows. She battles pressure to lose weight as well as the expectations of new fans (and Angela) as she soars into the spotlight. And she also learns of a secret love that her best friend Roger has been harboring for years…

E.I. Ms. Walker, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to work with you. Would you like to close the interview with a writing tip for young aspiring authors.

M. Walker: Read, read, read. Read as many books as you can. You’ll develop an ear that will serve you as a writer.

To learn more about Melissa Walker please visit her at:
www.melissacwalker.com/about.html
www.melissacwalker.com/writing.html
www.myspace.com/melissacwalker

Interview With New York Times Best-Selling Author Sandra Brown

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with New York Times bestseller Sandra Brown. She's the bestselling author of romantic novels and thriller suspense novels. Ms. Brown has also published works under her pen names of Rachel Ryan, Laura Jordan and Erin St. Claire.

E.I.Please tell us more about Sandra Brown - - the woman behind the author.

Sandra Brown:As a teenager, I was very much like I am now -- hard working and anxious to please. I was a class officer, on the Student Council, National Honor Society, very active in the drama department and the choir at my church. Then, I strived to make straight A's and please my parents. Now I strive to make best seller lists and please my readers.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community as a bestselling author of romantic novels and thriller suspense novels. Could you share with your fans about your challenges in marketing your first book?

Sandra Brown: I'm the first to admit that I was extremely lucky in getting my first book published. I was advised by a published author to write romances, because that was a burgeoning market in the early 80s when I started writing. I bought dozens of them, read them, studied them, and began plotting stories that fit the genre. The owner of an independent book store, whom I met at a writers' workshop, offered to read one of my manuscripts. She liked it and recommended it to an editor. The editor bought it and asked for another. And then another. I had an acceptable product at a time when there was a demand for that product.

E.I. How do you choose which chapter or pages to read from your book when you do a book signing appearances? Do you feel more pressure, or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

Sandra Brown: I never read aloud to an audience. Instead, I talk to them about selected books, how I got the idea and developed it. I make it casual and conversational, involving the audience as much as possible. Then I do a Q&A, because I want to address what they're curious to know about me, the books, and writing as a career. I guess all that time spent in the drama club in high school paid off! I'm a natural ham and don't suffer stage fright.

E.I. When you look back on your enormously successful career, is there anything you would've done differently? If so, what and why? If not, how do you manage to move forward without regrets?

Sandra Brown: I worked alone for several years, negotiating my own contracts, and was successful at it. However, in hindsight, I would have retained my agent much sooner. Nowadays, beginning writers have little choice except to have an agent from the get-go. In many ways I wish I had. I didn't make any catastrophic errors, but my agent's expertise would have saved me from making any.
Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor?

Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor?

Sandra Brown: It's sent to my editor and agent simultaneously. They're the first to read it.

E.I. What's next for your millions of fans?

Sandra Brown: PLAY DIRTY goes on sale August 28, 2007. It's about a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, who was caught throwing games. The story opens the day he's released from prison for racketeering. He's paid the price for breaking federal law. But in Texas, this game is a religion, and he committed a cardinal sin. He's a pariah. That's why he's surprised when the wealthy owner of an airline offers him a very unusual job -- and it's not to play football!

E.I Ms. Brown, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better.

Standra Brown: Thanks, E.I.

To learn more about Sandra Brown, please visit her at:
www.sandrabrown.net/
http://www.sandrabrown.net/biography/
http://www.myspace.com/officialsandrabrown