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Author Interview: 4 Questions about Andrew Crusoe’s Hawaiian Travel Memoir

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Craving travel adventure? Check out Andrew Crusoe!

Thanks to the Internet, I’ve made some wonderful friendships with other writers; I count Andrew Crusoe as one of them. Back in 2015, I even had the pleasure of meeting him in-person. (Scroll down for proof!)

When we first met, we were both primarily travel bloggers. Now, we are both book authors and speakers. It’s been fun to see how our lives and our writing have evolved!

Andrew’s latest book project is a memoir about his life on Hawaii called Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise. I really enjoyed it! In addition to following Andrew’s personal journey, readers learn about Hawaiian culture, language, customs, food, and all the unique characters he meets along the way. Andrew lets us in on his emotional journey as well, which kept me eagerly turning pages right up until the end!

Since the 3rd installment of Andrew’s trilogy is about to be released, I’ve invited him over for another one of my 4 Question Author Interviews. I hope you enjoy it! 

1. Tell me about Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise. What made you decide to write a memoir?

I love this question. The funny part about it all is, the word “memoir” didn’t even enter into my mind until after I’d finished writing the first draft. I just wanted to share how Hawai’i, aka. the Big Island, completely changed my life. Only after I’d finished did I realize that, technically, I’d just written a memoir. And the best part was yet to come.

2. Was it always going to be a trilogy?

That’s another element that I didn’t plan. My first draft was around 750 pages, which is more than twice the length of any book that I’d released up to that point. I considered how much work it would be to edit a book of that length and polish it to the level I desired. (I’m a perfectionist with my books, often reading them multiple times, out loud, to see how they sound, before I publish.)

I reflected on this dilemma for months as I read it for the first time. At one point, I even broke it up into 6 parts, until it hit me: since I’d lived in 3 different places, the story lent itself most naturally to 3 volumes: Arrival, Tribulations, and Reckoning.

3. What did you learn from writing about your life? Were there any surprises?

At first, it took some adjustment. Being the main character and also the author can be a strange experience, almost like lucid dreaming. It would have been trivially easy to sweep my mistakes under the rug and fall into self-aggrandizement.

But as tempting as it was to leave out some embarrassing moments, they added to the story and painted the most accurate picture of my time work-trading and exploring the Big Island. It was also a fun opportunity to share some behind-the-scenes aspects of when I was writing my Tropical Sci-Fi novel, The Island on the Edge of Forever.

It’s quite easy to succumb to fantasy when talking about the island, but I wanted to go deeper than that. I wanted, as much as possible, to show the full picture, the full reality of living on the Big Island, an island so large that all of the other Hawaiian Islands could fit inside of it. As I wrote, I realized that this goal fired me up the most, so I ran with it.

I think the most surprising part came when I saw patterns that I hadn’t noticed before, things that only clicked together when I was editing Volume 3: Reckoning, which comes out November 29th, 2019. I won’t spoil anything, suffice to say that thoughts DO become things, especially on the islands. Also, I noticed that certain things were foreshadowed months before they actually happened, like doing the 10-day silent Vipassana course. That felt pre-destined.

4. What can readers expect from you in the future?

Honestly, this will be my 3rd book release in 12 months, so I’m going to be taking some time to reflect on how I want to move forward. I have an idea for another Tropical Sci-Fi book, something that’s more sophisticated, and frankly, weird, than anything I’ve done before, but I’m not putting any timeline on that project quite yet.

In the short-term, I’m going to be focused on marketing, really taking intelligent steps to get these books in front of the people who will benefit most from them. Who knows, maybe I’ll finally figure out a Facebook ad that’s worth it! But my mailing list continues to be my favorite way to remind people that I exist (as well as give free stuff away).

In fact, I give the first 4 chapters of the trilogy away for free in EPUB & gorgeous PDF to everyone who signs up for my monthly mailing list. About once a month, I spend an ungodly amount of time crafting a few paragraphs that will delight you. I know people have a million places to turn to for entertainment these days, so I work hard to rise to the top and provide something inspiring and of quality. It’s called the Crusoe Mailinglist, and you can subscribe and unsubscribe anytime on this page: http://bit.ly/THELOOP

Thanks so much, Tui, for having me here today. Considering that we originally connected through our travel blogs, it feels perfect to be interviewed by you about this book about my Hawaii travels. Since my first blog focused on travel, I feel that my career has come full circle, and I can’t wait to see the bright things the future has in store for both of us :)

Learn more about Andrew Crusoe:

BIO: Andrew Crusoe is an author, podcaster, and speaker. His first novel, The Truth Beyond the Sky, gained attention for successfully predicting gravity waves, years before they were proven by LIGO in 2016. Plus, it’s a really fun tropically-inspired Sci-Fi adventure that still manages to have a high average rating after all these years.

He also has a Patreon, where, for the cost of a cheap cup of coffee per month, you can get early chapters of upcoming books for free, and even unreleased photography from his True Hawaii adventure. http://bit.ly/growjoy

He also lives on Instagram way more than he should: http://bit.ly/alohacrusoe

Before you go… Want to keep up with Tui Snider?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out every Sunday. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: Andrew Crusoe, author, book, hawaii, indie, indie author, indie publishing, memoir, scifi

2019: Trick or Treat Reads – Get Your Free Books Here!

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Get FREE Books as Halloween Treats!

Six years ago, my pal and fellow author, Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine had a brilliant idea. She calls it Trick-or-Treat reads, and this is how it works:

For those of you who don’t know, Trick-or-Treat Reads is a Halloween event where authors put their books for free and readers go trick-or-treating to get the books. BOOKS ARE THE CANDY!

 

trick-or-treat-book-blog-hop-banner_orig-1

 

Grab my Halloween Freebie, then trick-or-treat for more:

So, for the 2019 Trick-or-Treat Reads, I’m offering a free music album & lyrics book. 

Yes, in addition to writing books, I’m also a singer/songwriter who plays several instruments. A while back, I recorded a 10-song album featuring my own original songs and lyrics.

Come to My Senses:
To claim your FREE copy of my indie music album Come to My Senses, leave a comment on this post requesting a copy from now through November 1st. I will send you a unique download code for the album to your email address as well as a pdf with all the lyrics to the songs on it:

What’s the music like? You can hear sample tracks by clicking here and I’ve pasted some reviews from Amazon and CD Baby for you to check out below:

“I loved this album! The music is interesting and unique. It’s so nice to hear a fresh take on music these days. Her voice, and musical tones will have you feeling like you are in a magical place.”

“Unique and Inspiring: I love the way Tui’s music makes you feel. It is dreamy and yet excites the mind.” “Mystical and Magical!: Damn, I love this music. It really needs to be showcased in a movie soundtrack. Beautiful. Thank you Tui!” 

“A Magical Adventure!: Listening to this album is like being swept away into a magical land. It’s soft and billowy and inspired. You won’t be disappointed buy today!”

“Mystical Awesomeness: A beautiful album meant for a movie soundtrack and music that was made from the soul. I love it.”

***But don’t stop here, scroll down & blog hop for more FREE books!*** 

Follow this blog hop on October 31st for more Free Books:



Hey, you! Want to keep up with me?

BLOG POSTS: I’ve got 700+ articles here and am constantly adding more!

READ MY BOOKS: Check out my books, including Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

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Filed Under: #TuiSnider #Texas #author #musician, Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, Haunted Travel, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, author Tui Snider, blog hop, free books, Halloween, indie, iphone photographer, iPhone photography, photographer, Tui Snider

Author Interview: 4 Questions for Julie Reeser

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Need creative inspiration? Check out Julie Reeser!

I’m not sure exactly when I met Julie Reeser, although I know it was through the writing tag #StoryDam on Twitter a few years ago. Of course, as a hat aficionado, I instantly noticed the spiffy topper she wears in her profile pic.

Julie lives in Montana and I’m in Texas. As I’ve gotten to know her from afar, I’ve come to admire her creativity, poetic sense, and her outlook on life. I love supporting her on Patreon because the monthly postcards and tiny books she sends out are such a treat. (She also posts essays and weekly etymology posts that are fascinating.)

Since I can’t have Julie over for espresso, I’ve invited her to pop by my blog this week for a quick peek into her creative projects.

We’ve kept the interview to 4 questions. Here they are:1. Tell us about the poetry zine you’re starting in 2020. How did you come up with the name “Beyond the Gate”?

Beyond the Gate was a flash of an idea because I noticed the lack of steps to take readers beyond the gateway of Instagram poetry. A lot of people want to go further but get overwhelmed.

There’s a history of snobbery in traditional poetry that prevents readers from exploring and learning. It reinforces fears and locks them out of the conversation. I want to change that. I want people to feel joy and surprise as they explore the vastness of poetry, not unwelcome and small.

For instance, the first issue of the zine is about Haiku. A little history, a little rule-breaking, and scattered throughout are names they might research further if they like those included poems – plus art!

2. How will your poetry zine be distributed? Will there be physical copies of Beyond the Gate, or will it be digital, or both?

I plan to offer them in my Etsy shop, and maybe I’ll try and leave my forest hermitage and set up a table at a local fair or two. I rarely offer digital work. I am a texture-oriented person, so that comes out in my project choices.

I like the idea of someone jotting notes in the margins of my chapbooks, tacking a postcard on a bulletin board, or tucking a tiny book into their pocket.

3. Tell us about your Patreon account. How did you decide to start one? Who is your Patreon account for, and what are your goals with it?

I started the Patreon because my mail was anemic and tiring. So many days, I’d just dump the mail straight into the trash. There’s no joy. We have this amazing system of communication with the potential to brighten someone’s day, and I wanted to tap into that. The postcards seemed like a great start.

Julie Reeser creates adorable tiny books - cute to look at and fun to read!
Julie Reeser creates adorable tiny books for Patreon supporters. They are cute to look at and fun to read!

Also, traditional publishing of any genre is slow as lazy snails and pays very little. Another lost moment of joy, in my opinion. Patreon gives my work an audience, supports my creative experimentation and whims, and gives me permission to self-publish my collections. The pledges allow me the opportunity to try new things with less risk.

4. What makes you excited about your creative projects right now?

I’m really into learning how to draw right now. In between writing short stories, I’m taking time each morning to practice with different mediums. The goal is to offer illustrated short stories to Patrons and in the shop. I’d really like to make it feel wondrous and special, the way a Hogwarts letter would. We all get so excited by that concept, don’t we? Reading is a portal to that, and I’d love to give people that moment of excitement!

And, of course, I’m still working toward signing with an agent and getting into the SFWA. While I did pro-panel last year, getting that membership means the world to me. So, I’m also doing the work to reach those milestones – namely, writing.

Learn more about Julie Reeser:

BIO: Julie Reeser’s beak is full of tongue, and like a crow, she holds a grudge. She retired from her nursing career in 2009 for medical reasons, and decided it was finally time to write that book! Her work tends toward fantasy, and has been published in over a dozen magazines. She has written two full novels and is currently querying for an agent. An early draft of her story, Ten Thousand Cranes, won a Silver Honorable Mention from Writers of the Future.

Julie’s first poetry chapbook was Terracotta Pomegranate and chronicled her journey of recovery after trauma though the language of the seasons. Beak, Full of Tongue, her second poetry book, peers through a lens made of feathers and dirt and tides with a curious and reflective eye at the ease with which death threatens to step over the threshold, glistening and damp, full of story.

She runs a Patreon where she shares poetry postcards, handmade tiny books, and writing inspiration. Julie is currently developing her next project, Beyond the Gate – a poetry zine for those who love the idea of poetry, but need a comfortable path to expand their understanding and appreciation.

Find Julie Reeser online:

Etsy Book Shop
Patreon
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
WordPress
Amazon

Before you go… Want to keep up with Tui Snider?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out every Sunday. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, author Tui Snider, book, ghost, necklace, paranormal, paranormal texas

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Paranormal Texas – Free Necklace Deal!

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Here's an example of how the actual glass cabochon pendant necklaces look! (c) Tui Snider
Here’s an example of how the actual glass cabochon pendant necklaces look! (c) Tui Snider

Love Haunted Places? Want a Unique Necklace?

Yes, I make jewelry, too!
I make unique pendant necklaces featuring some of the beautiful images I have photographed in historic cemeteries all around the world.

Here’s the special free necklace deal:
If you preorder the ebook for $2.99, I’ll either send you a copy of the paperback when it comes out OR I’ll send you one of my handmade necklace of your choice. Let me know which one you would like. But hurry: I only have 25 books and 15 necklaces left to give out!

Here’s how to get your FREE necklace:
1. Simply pre-order Paranormal Texas for only $2.99 (This is less than half-price. The eBook will sell for at least $5.50 when it’s released.)
2. Here’s a direct link to the book: Paranormal Texas 
3. Email me your receipt at TuiSnider at gmail dot com.
4. Tell me which necklace design you want in your email. (I numbered them in the graphic below.) OR if you want the paperback instead of a necklace, let me know.
5. Include your snail mail address so I can send you a unique necklace created from my historic cemetery photos as a thank you!

Fine print: This is a limited time offer and applies to US residents only. (Can’t afford postage elsewhere.) Offer good while supplies last. Enjoy!

Historic Cemetery pendant necklaces (c) Tui Snider
Historic Cemetery pendant necklaces (c) Tui Snider

 

Thank you for your support!
Writing books and giving talks is my day job! I greatly appreciate your support and I hope you enjoy wearing your necklace.  ~Tui

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out every Sunday. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, author Tui Snider, book, ghost, necklace, paranormal, paranormal texas

Quick Tips: How to Participate in a Twitter Chat

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How to join a twitter chat- here are quick tips

What is a Twitter Chat and Why Should I Bother?

Chatting on Twitter = Fun!
Even though I’ve been on Twitter since 2008, it wasn’t until the fall of 2011 that I began participating in Twitter chats. Up until then, I resisted the idea of using Twitter for live chats.
Silly me! Once I finally took the plunge, I discovered that chatting on Twitter is a blast.

Why join a Twitter chat?
Twitter chats let you connect with others to pool information. You will make friends and you can learn a lot.

What is a Twitter chat?
Here’s the deal: people gather on Twitter at a predetermined date and time to have a live Twitter Q&A session about a specific topic.

The topic can be anything: travel, writing, Texas, steam engines, marketing, spiny lobsters – whatever! There really is no limit to the subject matter.

Quick Tips: How to Participate in a Twitter Chat

When is it?
Once you know there is a chat on a subject you are interested in, you need to log into Twitter at the right time and day.

Get there early
Actually, I recommend showing up at least 5 minutes before the chat is scheduled because – just as in real life – it’s fun to mix and mingle before the meeting is called to order.

Use Tweetdeck to follow the chat hashtag
There are a lot of options out there, but I have used Tweetdeck for years. It’s such a great tool and it’s free.

If you don’t already use Tweetdeck, go to Tweetdeck.com and login with your Twitter account. Make a column specifically for the Twitter chat that you will be participating in.

For example: If you are coming to #AuthorsMarketing chat on Thursday from 6-7pm Texas time, then you will want to make a column to follow the #AuthorsMarketing hashtag. Here’s a 1-minute YouTube video that shows you how to do this: How to add a column in Tweetdeck.)

This lets you follow along with the Twitter chat conversation
Adding a column in Tweetdeck lets you see the entire conversation. Using #AuthorsMarketing as an example once again, each time someone sends a tweet that includes #AuthorsMarketing, it will show up in that column.

Now you can follow along and join the conversation as it flows by. If you lose your place, you can scroll back down and catch up.

What if you’re on your phone?
I don’t recommend using your phone for Twitter chats, but it can be done. It’s just much harder to keep up. There is a Tweetdeck app, but I’ve never used it. It’s probably great.

But what I do on the rare occasions that I have to use my phone for a Twitter chat, is that I simply type the chat’s hashtag (for ex: #AuthorsMarketing) into the search bar on Twitter. Please note: Make sure you then click on the tab that says “latest” so that you will see all the newest tweets.

How to participate in a Twitter chat Q&A
During a Twitter chat, the person leading the conversation will start tweeting questions every few minutes. These questions are usually formatted something like:

Q1 Why do you like chatting on Twitter? #AuthorsMarketing

As you can see, the first question is labeled, “Q1,” and it ends with the name of the particular chat group.

Now that you know what the questions look like, how should you answer them?
During a Twitter chat, when you reply to a question labeled Q1, you should format it like this:

A1 Because chatting on Twitter is fun! #AuthorsMarketing

Use A1, A2, A3, etc for your answers to specific Q1, Q2, Q3, etc…
You want to use the A1, A2, A3, etc in your tweets so that people know you are replying to specific questions and not just carrying on a side conversation. (It’s fine to have side conversations!)

Important: Remember to include the Twitter chat hashtag in all your tweets!
You want to include the name of Twitter chat (in this case #AuthorsMarketing) in your tweets, so that people attending the chat will see them.

Tip: Remember to follow other people who came to the chat
I have made some really wonderful friends through Twitter chats and you can, too. And just like a face-to-face conversation, you may find you really hit it off with certain people. Remember to follow those people and like a few of their tweets so they know they’re on your radar.

Tip: Scroll back after the chat
Twitter chats tend to fly by, so after yours ends, take time to scroll back through all the tweets. I often find interesting tidbits this way.

Lather, rinse, retweet!
That’s all there is to it, folks. Beyond this, my only advice is to simply lather, rinse and retweet! Don’t be discouraged if your first couple of Twitter chats are a little confusing. It gets easier the more you do it!

Want to learn more? Grab my book for more Twitter tips
To learn more about Twitter, grab my 99 cent book, Twitter for Writers on Amazon. It’s chock full of easy-breezy tips for making the most of Twitter, especially if you are a writer. Here’s the link: Twitter for Writers

 

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out twice a month. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author Tui Snider, Twitter, twitter chat, twitter for writers, twitter tips

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