Pastime With Books: Author Interview

You say that now is the best time ever for indie artists such as writers, film makers and audio book producers. What do you mean by that? The internet provides endless opportunities to share or sell your work. Writers can publish their novels as e-books and skip all the headaches and rejection letters from publishers. Film makers can post their “shorts” on YouTube. Independent audio book producers can sell their projects on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Artists can photograph their work and sell it on their own websites.

Who are there some business gurus who you follow? Russell Simmons – Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Simmons advocates using a spiritual element in the workplace to create an inspired sense of purpose.

Michael Hyatt – Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

This book talks about the importance of social media and how to stand out in a media form where everyone is trying to get their message spread at the same time!

David Schwartz – The Magic of Thinking Big

Schwartz offers a lot of practical ideas for anyone in business. Schwartz covers a combination of good business practices along with advice on how to adjust your attitude to affect a positive outcome.

Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? The last time I got a bad bout of writer’s block I wrote about a character with the same problem. In this case it was Blue McKenna, the protagonist in Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book. While I wouldn’t recommend pulling any of the crazy stunts that Blue McKenna is fond of, solving her problem helped me move past my own.

Can you tell us about your main character? Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book is about a marijuana enthusiast name Blue McKenna who uses reality TV as a way to cure an apocalyptic case of writer’s block. Although Blue is prone to extreme behaviors, I think a lot of women can relate to her trouble with men. Why is it that guys who can’t commit are so alluring?

How important do you think villains are in a story? Humans are very complex. Most people aren’t “all good” or “all bad.” What I try to do with villains is give some background as to why they perform certain acts. I don’t justify the bad behavior of my characters, but I do like to provide some context.

What books have most influenced your life? My favorite books in elementary school were The Great Brain Series by John D. Fitzgerald. These stories had everything I liked – humor and unique adventures, all beautifully illustrated by Mercer Mayer. I was so intrigued by The Great Brain Series it made me want to visit Utah – now I live here!

One of the books I’ve read as an adult that I try to think about every day is The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz. Using Toltec beliefs, this book explains how to live a life filled with love and peace. The best part is, I only have to remember four things!