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Author Interview: 4 Questions for Dianna Gunn

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Since 2011, I’ve led a chat every Thursday at 8pm ET. Called #StoryDam Writing Chat, this hour-long Twitter conversation is a major source of creative camaraderie for me and other writers. #StoryDam is a friendly crew and I’ve made some dear friends there, many of whom I hope to meet in person one day. Among those is Dianna Gunn! There really isn’t space in this post to share all that she does (burlesque, hosting a Spoonie Podcast, etc) but I hope you enjoy learning a little bit about her in the following 4 Question Author Interview:


1. Hi Dianna! Thank you for being part of my 4-Question Author Interview series! Let’s start by having you tell us a little more about yourself. What makes you so passionate about writing? What’s your writing routine?

Dianna: I was lucky enough to grow up in a very bookish household. We were poor, but the one thing we never lacked was books. Once I got the hang of reading, I devoured books like candy. It honestly didn’t occur to me that I could write my own books until my mother made some off-handed comment about JK Rowling getting rich. My mind basically imploded. Wait, you can… Write your own books? I thought all the books had already been written by dead white guys (an unfortunate indictment of traditional publishing). To know I, a young girl, could write my own books, and that writing books was a job, was revolutionary.

I decided right then and there I would become an author. I have cursed myself for that decision sometimes, because writing is hard and publishing is harder, but I have never once considered quitting.

As for my writing routine, that’s a little more convoluted. I have insomnia and a variety of other health problems, which make it difficult to keep a stable routine. The one thing I am consistent with, however, is that I do a warmup before I start a big writing session, usually in the form of worldbuilding or a character development exercise. This helps me get into the right mindset for my work and allows me to achieve a state of flow more quickly when I do turn to my main work in progress.

I do also like to do my writing right after a workout and breakfast, but sometimes that’s not possible. My health, and the freelance work that currently pays the bills, have to take priority, which means some days I write last and occasionally I don’t write at all.

2. Tell us about Branding for Fiction Authors: A Workbook for Authors with No Business Experience.

Dianna:  Branding for Fiction Authors is a printable mini-workbook designed to help fiction authors build a brand around their work. The workbook provides a step-by-step process for creating an authentic author brand so you can build a devoted fan base.
By the end of this workbook, you will have developed the following essential aspects of your brand:

• Brand definition
• Brand aesthetic
• Brand voice
• Brand keywords
• Book profiles to establish how your existing works fit within your overall brand

You will also receive the tools to create important marketing materials, including author bios for a variety of contexts, book titles, and book blurbs.

3. Why did you create Branding for Fiction Authors?
Dianna: I run the #WeeknightWriters Twitter chat on Thursday nights at 7PM EST, and people are always asking me to cover business topics. However, when I created chats around those subjects, I quickly learned that most authors need far more extensive help than what I can provide in an hour-long social media discussion.

Over the same time period, I started paying more attention to the resources available. I noted that all of the self-publishing blogs and podcasts I followed came from a specific type of author. These authors had run multiple businesses in the past. Many had worked in consulting or accounting. They were people with an instinctive understanding of how business works.

Because this knowledge was instinctive for these authors, they developed a laser focus on specific tools and strategies for publishing. This is all great knowledge, but without a basic grasp of how branding and marketing works, the information is overwhelming.

The type of writer coming to #WeeknightWriters, however, had spent years or even decades perfecting their craft. Most had some desire to improve their brand and marketing, but were so intimidated by the advanced resources available that they never even started.
Branding for Fiction Authors aims to bridge this gap. I introduce basic concepts related to branding and marketing, then provide exercises to help authors apply these concepts to their body of work. By the time an author finishes the workbook, they should be able to approach marketing with confidence.

4. You are obviously passionate about sharing what you’ve learned with other writers. Which writers, in turn, inspire you?

Dianna: So many! In terms of writing craft, I am constantly awed by NK Jemisin. Her worlds are all radically different from one another, the stories are incredibly complex, and the characters are fascinating and diverse. I’m not sure an author has ever so thoroughly smashed my heart and left me still loving them anyway.

Another author who inspires me on a craft level is NS Dolkart. I read his debut trilogy, The Godserfs Trilogy, and was obsessed. The worldbuilding, the diversity of the characters, the way multiple storylines were woven seamlessly together into one. A masterpiece.

The other way authors inspire me is through the work they do to nurture other writers and writing communities. You are definitely on that list, Tui :) [Note from Tui: Awww! Thank you, Dianna!]

I also want to mention Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford, the creators of Writing the Other. Writing the Other offers a variety of courses to help writers create more inclusive worlds and storylines. They also offer a variety of payment options and an extensive scholarship program. I’ve been lucky enough to get scholarships to three of their courses, and they have enormously improved my writing skills. They have also given me something to model my own workshops and courses after, as I love their discussion-focused approach.

Learn more about Dianna Gunn:

BIO: Dianna Gunn is a freelance marketing consultant, dark fantasy author, podcaster, and indie author community mentor. She runs the Business for Authors newsletter and the #WeeknightWriters Twitter chat (Thursdays at 7PM EST). Her first workbook, Branding for Fiction Authors: A Workbook for Authors with No Business Experience, was released in November 2019.

Find Dianna on Twitter @DiannaLGunn or on Instagram @d_l_gunn.

~Dianna

Freelance Writer

www.thedabbler.ca

Stories of Strong Women Overcoming Trauma

www.authordiannagunn.com

Helping Authors Become Entrepreneurs

www.businessforauthors.com

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, book, book marketing, dianna gunn, indie, indie author, indie publishing, marketing, storydam

Author Interview: 4 Questions for B. Alan Bourgeois

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A passion for helping other authors

I first met B. Alan Bourgeois through a rather cheeky exchange on Twitter. A few years ago, when I saw his tweet about the Authors Marketing Event (AME), I replied by asking if they needed someone to give a presentation on the topic of Twitter for Writers. Long story short: he said yes, and I’ve been attending (and teaching at) this wonderful (and FUN!) annual event ever since.

Alan doesn’t just write, he also spends time and energy helping authors learn to promote themselves. And I mean a LOT of time and energy. Frankly, I don’t know when or if he sleeps! Even though I see Alan every summer at AME, there’s always so much going on and he’s always so focused on making the event run smoothly (no easy feat!) that I’ve never really had the chance to ask about him. What makes him tick? I know he writes; I know he loves helping other writers; but why? I just wasn’t sure where all that came from.

After seeing his responses to my interview questions, I have a better understanding of Alan. At the lowest point in his life, he threw himself into helping others. I hope you enjoy learning more about B. Alan Bourgeois in the following 4 Question Author Interview:

B. Alan Bourgeois
1. Tell us about your writing routine, i.e. do you write every day, or at a certain time, or in a certain place, etc? 

Alan: I have a double writing routine.  First for my book and short story writings, I need to be locked away from TV, phone and other distractions so my mind can relax and I can allow for the spirit or energy to be released and for the story to unfold.  I write it out by hand on paper first and then I will edit it via PC.

My second writing routine is for my businesses.  As someone who helps authors around the country, it is important to keep them one step ahead of the publishing curve, so when something new is happening, or changes occur in the industry, I drop everything and write what needs to be said.  Making sure that the authors are up to date as quickly as possible so that they may succeed.

2. Like you, I’m passionate about helping fellow writers, especially with promotion. My passion was born out of years of isolation and bullying. The internet, and especially Twitter, helped me find my tribe. So I’m curious about you; where did you get your tremendous passion and drive to help other writers from?

Alan: I have had the drive to help people from when I was a teenager.  I was able to do this through a lot of programs over the years in a lot of forms.  My desire to help authors came from my time as a publisher.  While I was getting books published for authors around the world in the early 2000’s, I saw and felt how important marketing was and the massive growth that laid ahead for getting published.

Realizing the high cost of marketing, I knew that most authors couldn’t afford to compete against the big publishers, or even the mid-size publishers.  But, without marketing an author will not be able to succeed as much as they want.  It is all about getting people to know you have a book and without them, you will not get book sales.

In addition, I saw how some companies were out to just rip off the author with false promises and that just pissed me off.  It was these two key aspects that led me to create the organization Texas Authors which is now the Authors Marketing Guild and helps authors worldwide.

When authors work with me and they see success, that is the happiest time for me related to this work.  I am tickled to see that happen often.  But, like me, an author has to work the programs and be determined in order to succeed.

B. Alan Bourgeois via TuiSnider.com

3. What is the Authors Marketing Guild? Why did you create it? Is it just for Texas authors? 

Alan: In August 2011 at my lowest time in life, I created Texas Assoc. of Authors to help authors succeed.  In 2018 I added the Indie Beacon group, which did the same things as Texas Authors, but for authors outside of Texas.  In 2019, we merged these two organizations and made it a membership owned business.

As Authors Marketing Guild LLC (AMG), we are able to grow stronger and increase our opportunities for authors to get more exposure and have more opportunities to succeed.  While our authors in the Middle East, or Eurpoe and Australia may have slightly different challenges then those in the USA, we work with them to get that help when possible.

It is exciting and scary to see how different countries are publishing books, or facing the changes in the electronic world.  All of these challenges gives me more to work with to help authors worldwide.

4. Tell us about the AME and what authors can expect? Do they have to attend in person?

Alan: In 2016 as we continued to grow, we created the Authors Marketing Event (AME) which is an opportunity for authors to learn in person from professionals on how to better market and sell their books.  This fun weekend includes the authors gala where we announce the winners of our two book contests, and celebrate being a published author.

In 2017 we began to record the sessions and put them online so people could access the videos and continue to learn all year, or even to refresh their memory during the year.  Our events are so full of information, that the attendees leave a bit overwhelmed with the great valuable information, so the videos help keep them on track.

While it is the authors benefit to be at the weekend event in person, we do offer the videos online so they can still connect to the educational process.  The videos are available for a fee, but those that attend in person get all the videos at no additional charge.  That’s over 24 videos and growing with great tips and tools to help them through the process.  Plus, those that attend the event pay less for the event and the video’s then if they purchase access to the videos on-line.

The Authors Marketing Event is a fun weekend event that continues to grow with attendees and value each year.

B. Alan Bourgeois via TuiSnider.com

Learn more about B. Alan Bourgeois:

BIO: B. Alan Bourgeois has been writing for over 30 years in a wide variety of genres and styles. He has won numerous awards for short stories, books and speaking during his career. All of this has led him to become one of the leading author advocates for Indie Authors in the past 7 years. This includes nonprofits and other organizations that have spot lighted Texas & Indie Authors and moved them into the category and recognition of traditionally published authors from New York, Chicago and the West Coast.

Through the years he continues to create programs and events that have gained recognition across the country and in many cases are now being copied in local areas. Yet, as he will tell you, his greatest work is still to come with the publication of two books; Authors Revolution Workbook (2019) and I’m Crazy Great scheduled for release in 2021.

Through both of these books, he will show authors how to regain their control and financial wealth as writers, while also inspiring people from around the world to stay true to their dreams when it means helping others, even at your own cost.

For more information about Alan and his various projects, follow these links:

Books: Books by B. Alan Bourgeois
Twitter: @BAlanBourgeois
Authors Marketing Event info: Authors Marketing Event (AME) [Note from Tui: On February 16, the price for this action-packed weekend jumps from $199.95 to $249. It will go up to $495 by the event date. So if you want to learn helpful book marketing strategies either in-person or online, now’s the time to grab your ticket!  I’d love to see you there!]

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: AME, AMG, author, b. alan bourgeois, book, book marketing, indie, indie author, indie publishing, marketing, memoir, quirky, Texas

Author Interview: 4 Questions for Teal L. Gray about “Reading the Unwritten”

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Multi-talented author releases her 4th book:

My buddy, Teal L. Gray, has a fascinating new book out called Reading the Unwritten which Amazon recently named a “Hot New Release” in the “ghosts and hauntings” category. This is a book that’s been in the work for several years, and Teal’s fans have eagerly awaited its release.

It’s hard to keep up with Teal because writing books is just one of her many talents. She’s also an award-winning quilter, ordained minister, and podcast host, among many other things. As the “Lavender Crow,” Teal developed a line of home grown nature products infused with holy water, salt, and oils from her sacred site travels. Her new book, Reading the Unwritten, focuses on another one of Teal’s talents: her incredible gifts of intuition.

Unlike most of my author pals, Teal and I actually met in-person, rather than online. (In fact, we met at a seance, but that’s a fun story for another day!) Right now, I’d like to share my interview with Teal, which is the latest in my 4 Question Author Interview series:

Teal L Gray, author

1. I love the cover of your new book, but please tell me more about the title. What exactly do you mean by “Reading the Unwritten“? 

Thank you so much Tui. I chose the cover photograph because it captures how I feel when receiving messages beyond the veil. I am partly here on solid ground, but also partly holding out my light to be interacted with by unseen messengers.

I have always referred to my gift of intuition as “reading the unwritten” because it is a story of my, or someone else’s future I am bringing into a possible reality in the Book of Life. I see it as if it has happened, but in reality, it is only an unwritten possibility depending on choices made by me or you.

We have free will, so we are always in charge of our life story and situations we find ourselves in depending on our decisions. Nothing is written in stone for us. The pen is guided by our choices in writing our life story.

2. Who is “Reading the Unwritten” for? What will readers get from reading this book?

I kept the book brief so the reader can be inspired by some of my favorite techniques and get onto creating their dream life without getting bogged down by a long read beforehand. It is for people curious about who they might be speaking to when communicating with the other side. You can never really be sure, unfortunately.

I hope to enlighten the reader to possible light and dark energies they may encounter when dealing with the paranormal and provide prayers and protections to help them safely navigate the unknown realm. Understanding this has transformed me from being frightened of my gifts, into a realization that the unknown visitor can just as likely be a helpful, even angelic, entity rather than a negative, deceptive one.

3. “Reading the Unwritten” isn’t your first book, but it is your first solo effort. What made you take this route?

Yes, this is my fourth book but first solo endeavor. I wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with the reader. I normally love to include other voices and opinions to a topic but felt this was best coming only from my thoughts and views on the subject. Navigating the paranormal realms and getting otherworldly guidance is complicated enough.

Teal L Gray, author

4. What can readers expect from you next?

I have several books coming out soon. One will be an expected subject coming from me if you follow my lectures, called Forget Me Not- Memento Mori a World View. It will include beliefs (Yes, I cover the history of Sin Eaters!) and burial practices used worldwide by major world religions throughout history.

This book discusses the intricacies of how grief blends with the beautiful memento mori jewelry and hair art pieces. I share stories and photos of my vast collection of items that include grave rubbings, as well as the sub-genre of the Dance of Death art and more. I cover world histories of cemeteries, graveyards, symbolism and the famous stone carvers behind those beautiful last markers of a life lived, and the history of the funeral carriages that take them on that last ride.

I also delve into interesting and sometimes gruesome strange burials, contraptions, and protections from vampires and attempts to keep from being buried alive. It ends with taking you through many new burial options available to make your life remembered as you wish.

I am also very excited to be venturing into new territory with fiction writing. My first novel is called The Mermaid Club which is a contemporary tale. My heroine’s marriage ends tragically, catapulting her on a path of self-discovery with a group of unlikely women who become her salvation and catalyst for real change.

The Mermaid Club is largely set in my beloved homestate of Texas. As a native Texan, I feel there is no better place on earth to get your inner strength and spirit back. So, we hit the winding road from her current home in Chicago, through part of historic Route 66, and bring her back to her birthplace in Austin, Texas where a whole new life and romance await her.

Teal L Gray, author

Learn more about Teal L. Gray:

BIO: Teal Gray is a best-selling author and native Texan. She is an ordained minister fascinated with world religions and their varying belief systems. Her sacred site travels and experiences are reflected in various ways in her books. Ever curious, she hopes to make your reading experience feel like you are on the trail of answers with her. Her books include: Shades of Angels, Spirited Tales, Scared Senseless, and Reading the Unwritten.

Books: Find Teal L. Gray’s books on Amazon

Website: TealGray.com

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, book, david c. kravetz, indie, indie author, indie publishing, less beaten paths, memoir, offbeat, quirky, travel

Author Interview: 4 Questions with Offbeat Traveler, David C. Kravetz

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Planning a Road Trip? Check out David C. Kravetz!

Like me, David C. Kravetz loves road trips to offbeat and overlooked places. By sharing his playful travel and nature photos online, this self-proclaimed “selfie king” spreads cheer everywhere he goes. I truly admire David’s eagle eye for quirky goodness. Anyone who enjoys offbeat and overlooked road trips needs his “Less Beaten Paths” series.

If you’ve visited my site before, you may already be familiar with David C. Kravetz. He wrote an excellent guest post (All About Jackalopes), and I interviewed him when his first book, Unique Town Names, was released. David’s also featured on the #IndieBookmas Holiday Gift Guide, a shopping list that helps you find the perfect book for all the readers on your Xmas list.

David C. Kravetz is among the handful of writers I’ve met through Twitter whom I’ve also had the privilege to meet up with in person. It’s an honor to count him among my friends and I’m happy to share him with you as part of my 4 Question Author Interview series today:

1. Like me, you often write about quirky travel featuring offbeat and overlooked places. What makes these places so appealing? Why should we celebrate them?

To me, these places represent the ingenuity and creativity of people. They invite smiles and rolled eyes and even guffaws! Folks have been making quirky art since prehistoric times (ever seen the cave paintings in France?) Perhaps to some of these people, the creators of said art, there was some importance behind them.

As people started traveling on US Highways, the real birth of the “offbeat and quirky” roadside attractions gained steam as these people needed places to stop for food, drinks, and breaks from the road. It was a new opportunity to attract business. Just ask Wall Drug in South Dakota or the town of Bemidji, MN which is home to the giant Paul Bunyan and Babe, his big blue ox. Both of these have been drawing tourists and travelers since the 1930s and continue to do so nearly 90 years later.

2. Why did you start writing books?

Interesting question actually. For years I have been writing my Less Beaten Paths Travel Blog detailing all of the sites I have ventured into in my travels across the 50 U.S. states and many of the Canadian Provinces. Though most are quirky, not all are. I basically have written about National Parks, small and unique towns, art installations and, of course, the quirky and offbeat.

Since about 2008, many of my readers have asked for a book or books that include all of my travel stories so they have something they can take with them and refer to in their travels. So, in 2017, the first book was born and people were thrilled.

3. Please tell us about the books you’ve written so far.

As of this interview, I have three books. You can consider them part of an ever-expanding series of books, with each having its own theme. The Books are all titled “Less Beaten Paths of America” and then have sub-titles Unique Town Names (which is about towns with strange and colorful names), Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions (which has dozens of unique singular attractions such as big pink elephants, giant dinosaurs, car art installations and more), and finally, my third book is Beyond Description – More of the Strange and Unique (and features some of America’s best tourist destinations and tourist traps. It also features a special chapter about American artist Peter Toth, creator of the “Whispering Giants,” tall, hand-carved wooden statues of Native Americans).

In the future I plan on adding books about murals and wall art, National Parks and Monuments, Scrap Metal Giants and other Road Art, Unique Museums and Galleries, Offbeat Eateries and Diners, Geologic Wonder, America’s Highways and by-ways and more.

I should also point out that I do not write about any places I have not been to. All photography in the books is mine (except for a couple of instances). So, these can be considered my Travel Stories.

4. What can readers expect from you next?

I am already working on Book 4 which looks at murals, wall art, ghost signs and graffiti from all over the U.S. and Canada. In the past decade, this has become the new form of Art Gallery as many wall artists/graffiti artists have become world-renowned for their giant works of art on the sides of buildings and water walls.

The real challenge I have is that some of the places eventually become obsolete and, rather than write a book revision, I plan on keeping tabs and writing a book about the long-gone places and things I have been to but are no longer. They remain in the annals of the “Collector of Places.”

Learn more about David Kravetz:

BIO: David Kravetz, 63, resides in Lexington, KY and is the owner and creative mind behind Sumoflam Productions, where he works with dotcoms, writes blogs, and does nature and travel photography.

David is a freelance travelographer and focuses on the normal, the wacky, the wonderful and the quirky things of this wide world.  His popular travel blog is called Less Beaten Paths and has over 350 posts about offbeat and back roads travel. David also has sites that present photography of the world as he sees it.

Sumoflam, as he is known to thousands of friends and followers around the world, has a passion for traveling and has been to all 50 of the states in the United States, as well as five provinces in Canada, numerous states in Mexico, the Philippines, China and Korea.

He lived in Japan for 6 years and is fluent in Japanese. He is the father of five and has TEN grandchildren who call him Grampz. He has been married to his lovely wife Julianne for more than 40 years. He will admit that he truly Married Up!!

Books: Find David C. Kravetz on Amazon

Websites: LessBeatenPaths.com and Sumoflam.biz

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, book, david c. kravetz, indie, indie author, indie publishing, less beaten paths, memoir, offbeat, quirky, travel

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

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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!

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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

Author Interview with David Kravetz (my kindred quirky traveler!) about his brand new book

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Author Interview: David Kravetz’s “Unique Town Names” 

Today I’m bringing you an interview with first-time author, but longtime writer, photographer and quirky traveler, David Kravetz. Does his name sound familiar? Readers of this blog may recall his wonderful guest post “All About Jackalopes.”

[Disclosure: Some of these links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a few pennies at no additional expense to you if you click on them and make a purchase.]

Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz

 

David Kravetz: Kindred Quirky Traveler

I met David Kravetz several years ago on Twitter, and I immediately realized he is a kindred spirit. We both love exploring offbeat and overlooked places, and are especially fond of the quirky and humorous. We have even met in person!

David is a prolific blogger and photographer who has lived and worked all over the world, including China and Japan. He speaks Japanese fluently and has worked as a translator. There are so many things I could share with you about this talented fellow, but let’s dive in and hear all about his new book!

Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz

Interview: Less Beaten Paths of America – Unique Town Names by David Kravetz

TUI:  I’m so excited about your new book, David! I’ve seen it already and it’s GREAT, but please tell my readers all about it.
DAVID: The new book is entitled Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names.  It is Volume 1 of a planned 12 volumes detailing my travels across the United States.  This first issue looks at Unique Town Names such as Uncertain, Tightwad, Hell, Intercourse, Success and many more.
It covers towns from Boring, Oregon to Sandwich, NH and tells my firsthand stories of these interesting places.  Unlike many books about unique town names, my stories are all firsthand.
I have been to every one of the places mentioned in the book and include photos and anecdotal stories.  I have included maps in each chapter.  Nearly 50 unique towns are covered in this book.  Future books will include Quirky Places and Things, National Parks, Highways, Metal Sculptures, Wall Art and more.
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
TUI: Please explain your travel philosophy. What inspires you? What is your travel mindset?
DAVID: My main philosophy is “Enjoy the Ride.” When traveling alone, or with interested family and friends, the trips are grueling — from sunup to sundown.  I typically stop somewhere after sunset…you can’t see places in the dark!   As for the inspiration — I love the creativity of small town Americans.  The art, the humor, the whimsy.  If you aren’t on a back road you will miss it all.
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
TUI: How do you plan your quirky road trips? Are there any tips or tricks you can share with us? Any favorite travel apps, sites, or tools that you use?
DAVID: My “quirky” road trips are rarely “totally” planned.  I usually have a “destination” such as a family members’ house or a business destination.  I then look at a map and figure out a couple of “back roads” ways of getting there.
As long as I am not in a massive hurry, I just take what might be the most interesting route.  I then look at the roads and look for unique town names, state parks, or other things.  I then use the handy-dandy Roadside America app to see if there are any quirky or fun looking places not too far off the path.
Then I look at Google for the towns along the way and click on the Images tab to see if there are any interesting things in said places. I am typically willing to drive up to 30 minutes away for an unusual treat.
Finally, I just use my “quirk sense” as I drive through the small towns.  My eyes are always wide open and on the look out for something odd, or a mural, or a chainsaw carving or an old movie theater or ghost sign.
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
David is also a talented nature photographer! (c) David Kravetz
TUI: Seeing all the fun selfies that you share online has inspire me to take more of them! What are your thoughts on selfies? Do you think they get a bad rap? Should we all be taking more selfies? Why or why not?
DAVID: Indeed, I have nicknamed myself as the “Shamelessly Self-Proclaimed Selfie King.”  I take dozens of selfies a week.  With the technology of mobile devices and the cloud, selfies are great way to document where you’ve been.  “I don’t care where I’m going, I just want to see where I have been.”
I think everyone should take more selfies.  I am a journal writer and love to document my life for my posterity (I have 10 grandchildren).  What better way than to take selfies? Fun, serious or downright goofy, they tell the story about David Kravetz.
If others don’t like them, I’m fine with that.  Do “selfies” get a bad rap?  Sure they do.  But who cares?
I can look back on my selfies from Okay, Oklahoma or Winner, South Dakota and remember the trip.  I can review my selfies from Cadillac Ranch (TX), Carhenge (NE), Jurustic Park (WI) or Yellowstone (WY) and cherish the moments all over again.
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
TUI:  Do you have a favorite travel anecdote to share with us, David? Something surprising, funny, or fun?
DAVID: I have many anecdotal stories.  Perhaps my favorite was a “fail.”  On a trip to New England in 2016, we were heading back to Connecticut from Maine.  As always, we were on back roads.  I had the goal of hitting New Hampshire and Vermont as the last of my 50 states.
We left Portland, ME after seeing the wonderful lighthouse, and headed towards NH.  I had set my mind on taking a round about way to get there by going through Sandwich, NH.  I wanted to say “I ate a sandwich in Sandwich, NH.”  We got there and couldn’t find a place that had sandwiches.  I even went to the town hall and was told we would have to go out of town for that.
There was NO PLACE in Sandwich to get a sandwich!! (This story is in my first book.)
Another one comes from Tightwad, Missouri.  I was there and went for breakfast at the Tightwad Cafe.  There was a sign on the door that said “We don’t take credit cards.”
I asked Carrie, the owner, why not.  She said, “Ironically, I am not a tightwad, but I don’t want to pay the credit card service charges.  So, we only take cash.”
Ha!!  You can’t make these up!
Author of Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names (c) David Kravetz
TUI: How can we find you and your book online?
My book, Unique Town Names, is on Amazon: Click here for the paperback and click here for the Kindle ebook. Those who purchase the paperback can receive the ebook, too, at no additional charge!
As for finding me online:
Travel Blog – Less Beaten Paths
Best Photos for Purchase site – Sumoflam Photography
A HUGE repository of my travel photos can be seen (and purchased) at SmugMug.com

.

Hey, you! Want to keep up with me?

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 & presentations take you on a FUN adventure!

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

  • What I’m up to
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  • Any other fun news!

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.”






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Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: indie, indie author, indie publishing, patricia josephine, storydam

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