Guest Post Interview Tips & Lessons From a Holocaust Survivor

Aloha,

Seven years ago, I was at the home of a Holocaust survivor.

In the midst of an interview with Shlomo Fleischmann, (now 90), about his life before and after WWII, I looked up from my notes and asked had he ever forgiven the Germans for what they did?

The question popped into my head while we talked, and turned out to be the *money* question of the entire interview. He opened up, became more relaxed and that interview with Mr. Fleischmann remains a highlight in my writing career.

A beat reporter for years, I ran hundreds of interviews and eventually discovered what worked for my editors. (Never mind the readers - reporters write for only one person - their editor.)

I don’t think some Bloggers work nearly hard enough to ask their own *money* question.

Obviously, I do what works for me, a Pulitzer-less winning journalist. You are your own writer. I do, however, hope a few of these suggestions will at least make you ponder your questioning prose. 

·         If you’re part of a promotional bloghop, don’t ask bland questions. The usual Where do you write? When do you write? and Where do you get your ideas? will be asked by multiples of somebody else.

·         Instead, wander outside the box. Research your interviewee – with a trusty notebook and pen by your side. Read her bio. Peruse recent posts. What are his writerly hot buttons? Look at the sidebars? Why did she win the Sweetest Tamale in Town award?

·         Keep the interview under 500 words (excluding brief intro, links and questions.) Readers will stick ‘til the end – if they know it’s a quick read. (After clicking several pages in a fruitless search for the buy links, I always suffer from Scrollitosis and click my way to the next blog.

·         Utilize your curiosity. You like this Blogger enough to want to interview him, so ask unique questions – but keep the answers short and sweet. Make sure your interviewee understands the edit pen will be wielded – if the post strays over 500 words.

·         Offer the courtesy of a first read. Many won’t bother – they trust you already – but those new to your blog will appreciate that no surprises await them.

·         Include a picture (as long as the interviewee is not someone called no-hyperlink-needed Alex.)

 

Back in Florida, Mr. Fleischmann said there were many reasons he was able to forgive – but never forget.

We walked across the room to a closed cabinet door where he revealed two large oval frames, each filled with a collage of family pictures.

On the left was all black-and-whites. On the right, each picture was ablaze in color, and each featured a grandparent or parent with a young child.

“Eighty-two direct members of my family were murdered by the Nazis,” Mr. Fleischmann said, pointing to the left. “These,” he said, smiling at the right oval, “these are the survivors and the future of my family.

“Today, some of my good friends are Germans. I don’t hate them or their generation. Why should I? This was not their fault.”   

Shlomo Fleischmann, April 2006 (Courtesy: Hometown News)

Interview with Carrie Butler, author of STRENGTH

Aloha,

I wanted to jump on the happy paddy wagon to celebrate Carrie Butler's first book, STRENGTH, which dropped this past Thursday.

Carrie was kind enough to agree to one of my abmormal interviews...

You're also a graphic designer and very generous with your time and talents... where doze skillz come from? Is that the day job?

Thank you, Mark! The skillz are mostly self-taught. I've always been "artsy," but I didn't have a chance to explore the digital side of things until I found myself jobless and in serious need of a distraction. (Womp, womp.) I'd really like to get a full-time writing/designing career going, though!

You spoke a lot about NA Monday and it's fair to say your feathers were a wee bit ruffled... so, how did you end at NA and not some other genre that is perhaps not applicable (or n/a :)

Me? Ruffled feathers? Pfft... ;)

With this series, I needed a contained environment to keep the momentum going—circulating rumors, frequent run-ins, growing relationships, etc. But at the same time, I wanted my characters to have the freedom to come and go as they pleased, and the opportunity to make mistakes with real consequences. What better setting than a college campus? Perfect NA material! P.S. I see what you did there. :P



How do you work writing around a family? Is there a Mr. Carrie and mini Carrie-ettes running around? How do you balance your writing time? Do friends look at you strange when you explain you are an author?

Simple answer: I don't. There is no Mr. Carrie, nor are there any mini Carrie-ettes running around. I'll probably end up adopting a clowder of cats, with whom I shall spend my golden years, whilst yelling at neighborhood kids to get away from my yard... That's kind of sad.

Quick, someone buy my book to distract me! *Grins*

Seriously, though. Being single allows me to have a flexible writing schedule. I can stay up until five or six in the morning, if that's when inspiration strikes. And as for friends looking at me strangely... well, they've always looked at me that way. I can't imagine why. ;)

OK, so I've gone through your Personal Blog (but I had a chaperone) and there is a *LOT* of weird stuff that happens in and around Zanesville. Has anyone ever considered changing the name?
You mean the fact that we had fifty-some exotic animals on the loose? Or maybe you're referring to the freak storm that knocked out our power last summer? Yeah, it's an interesting place to live. Maybe we should change the name—go for something a little less zany. I propose The Sovereign Kingdom of Carriopia. 

What's next? From your personal blog, it seems like this a series... will Paul (I just named Cover Guy - sue me why don't you:) make it back to the cover of STRENGTH II? Will he still be in his pants?
It is a (proposed) series! In fact, I'm almost done with the first draft of the sequel. :)  And I hate to break it to you, Mark, but you actually have more in common with Wallace (the book's hero) than you might think. You're both referred to as the Madman, you're both known for being shirtless, and you both... have eyes. Anyway! If it's up to me, I'd like to feature Rena (the heroine) on the sequel's cover—which means I should probably keep the "pants" theme going.
GOOD LUCK, CARRIE :)
Thank you! :D


About STRENGTH:

Links:BOOK PAGE | GOODREADS | PUBLISHER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOK TRAILER

 

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.

 

Retailers:

AMAZON  |  KINDLE  |  BARNES AND NOBLE  |  NOOK  |  SONY READER STORE  |  KOBO  |  DIESEL  |  BAKER & TAYLOR

Praise:

“Carrie Butler is now on my must read list.” ~Lynn Rush, author of Violet Midnight

"I carried Strength with me everywhere. Grocery shopping, the dinner table, you name it. The storyline was addictive, and the characters were hilarious. I couldn't put it down." ~Jessica Therrien, author of Oppression

"...Carrie Butler’s debut novel is brilliant, riveting, imaginative and seamlessly written." ~Lisa Regan, author of Finding Claire Fletcher

“This is definitely one to buy for the bookshelf.” - All's Fair with Pen and Paper

“I love that Carrie took so much time in building the relationship between them. Yay for no instalove!” - Read It, Reviewed It

“I freaking loved every last word on every page.” - Scelest's Journal

“I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's interested in reading a bloody good book. :)” - The Life of a Total Book Nerd

“I devoured this book in two days - staying up until the early hours because I didn't want to stop reading!” - Kyra Lennon, author of Game On

“I love when a ‘bad guy’ has me feeling unsure about his ‘bad guy’ status. I won't say more, as to not give anything away, but Butler does a fabulous job walking this line.” - Kelley Lynn, author of Fraction of Stone

 Title: STRENGTH
Series: Mark of Nexus - Book 1
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release Date: March 07, 2013
Formats: E-Book & Paperback
Paperback ISBN:9781938404351
E-book ISBN:9781938404368

 

Guest Interview: Libby Heily (one tough gal :)

Aloha,

My turn to interview Libby Heily who recently released her debut novel, Tough Girl.

As it’s also Libby’s birthday month (she will be twenty-one for the 14^th time), I’ll start with:

You’re thirty-five this month. Happy Birthday and what, if any non-writing goals do you look to achieve?

Thank you!!!!   Also, good question.  Thirty-five is my goal age.  I gave myself to thirty-five to learn the basic things in life: where I want to live, who I want to be, how to file my taxes, rent an apartment, buy a car, travel, etc.  Most of those things are what people just know or they figure it out at an early age, but I'm a slow learner.  More or less, I gave myself to 35 to learn to be comfortable in my own skin, my own life.  I'm happy to say that I'm just about there.

 How did the character of Tough Girl come about? Is she an alter ego?

I thought of Tough Girl while I was training for a marathon.  I was obsessed with the idea of siblings in a crime family and I kept anchoring all my ideas on the eldest child, a girl.  Stories about gangs or the mob tend to be very male focused.  I just could not get over the idea of a strong, young female living as a criminal in a gritty world.  Developing a tenacious character while completing ten to twenty mile runs just seemed the most pertinent thing to do.

 You describe yourself as a beer snob. So, Belgian or English ale?

Belgian.  Always go Belgian.  Unless you're talking brown ales, then English. 

 You mention being a sometime filmmaker; that you’ve studied acting, video producing and writing. Have you always been creative?

I don't know if I've always been creative, but I've definitely always been a dreamer.  Even as a kid, I tended to live half in this world and half in my imagination.  I would sometimes adopt characters and pretend to be them.  When I was in elementary school, I created a role for myself on The Golden Girls as Dorothy's granddaughter.  I spent hours pretending I was on that show. 

 A friend inherits $10,000 and gives you $5,000. You’re not allowed to donate or give it away directly to a charity, but you must use it to benefit others. How would you disperse the funds?

I'd go to a hospital, find a family who has a member that needs an operation but they have no idea how to pay for it.  I'd pay what I could of their hospital bills with that money.

 How long did Tough Girl take from conception to holding a copy in your grubby, little hands?

I should wash my hands more.  And they are quite small.  Wow, I can't believe you're telling people how ugly my hands are.  They're like Frodo's feet. Tough Girl took two years to write.  I rewrote the entire novel four times.  Four complete rewrites and many, many, many rounds of editing.

What’s next? Do you have a WIP or are you planning a break after the current blog tour?

I'm working on Bizarlington.  It's structured like Trainspotting and takes place in Arlington, Virginia.  And that's all I'm prepared to say at this time.  :)

 Cooking seems to be a fun distraction. If a few bluddies (blog buddies) came for an informal dinner, what’s on the menu?

Mexican Chicken Lasagna because it can feed an army and is quite tasty.  I would also make chocolate pecan pie.  Both of which are recipes I borrowed from an old roommate.  She was a terrific cook and never ate leftovers.  Best.  Roommate.  Ever.

 Why writing?

I love stories.  Writing is the most pure form of storytelling.  I liked filmmaking but the story is processed through the writer, director, producer, and technicians.  Same thing with playwriting and theater.  Writing is just me and the reader.  There are also no budgetary concerns.  Producing a play or film can be very expensive.

 Any advice to someone with a new blog or a first WIP?

Blog advice - make friends.  Visit other blogs and leave comments.  Learn.  Participate in blog hops.  The blogging community is amazing, but you have to participate.

WIP - Keep writing and grow a thick skin.  You need to get critiqued and you need to learn how to accept critiques without allowing them to destroy you.  This is a skill in and of itself.

Thanks Mark!!!!!  That was fun. 

 

Thanks Libby for being a sport and congrats on your birthday. All the best with Tough Girl.

For information, click Amazon here, Barnes and Noble here and Goodreads here.

 

Interview with Tammy & Merry Christmas :)

PATIENCE...

Aloha,

 

If you've ever wondered about life as an anti-interview, you gotsta check out my interview with Tammy Theriault.

Tammy is hilarious and her questions are like none I've ever seen before - (I'm just happy I escaped from O'Koopmans Island in the Lambfervan...)

Huh?

Read about it here - but be warned, Tammy is actively looking for her next challenge. Do you have what it takes to scratch your head and belly laugh at the same time? If so, click here.



In related news, this will be my last post until Jan. 2 when IWSG kicks off the New Year :)

My sincere thanks to every single one of you who took the time to read - and comment - on my many different posts.

I may not be the poster blog child for "following a set theme or schedule," but, I am a better writer because of your input, support and friendship.

Onward and upward, I say :)

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year from the Koopmans Ohana to you and your Ohana.

God bless and if you are in need of a smile: May the Farce be With You.

...IS A VICTORY :)

Guest Interview: C. Lee McKenzie (Author of "Alligators Overhead"

Today, I’ve the honor to pick the brains of a wonderful blogger friend by the name of C. Lee McKenzie, (she of the awesome sauce blog, The Write Game.)

Aloha Lee,                        

Thanks for dropping in and agreeing to be my latest victim guest interviewee.
Aloha back! I only wish I could say that to you in person. It's been too long since my last visit to the islands. Gotta do something about that!

In late July, you published your first MG book, Alligators Overhead. Sincere congrats on that, but I have to ask: Why alligators? You seem very nice and normal, and alligators are mean and abnormal (I lived in Central Florida for three years and one nearly ate me…)

First, thanks for the "nice and normal" compliment, Mark. You obviously haven't talked to my family or you might not have written that about me. Sorry about the traumatic alligator encounter. That would put me off those critters for sure, but they've been on planet earth for over 65 million years, so they got here first. We have to give them some space and what better place than a lovely swamp?

So why alligators? I guess I wanted to write a story without a cat in it for a change. There are cat stories all over the place . . . and dog and horse ones, too. In my opinion, alligators are underrepresented. And as for those cats, well, I love cats or I did. Have you read the news on my blog about what those cats are up to? They want to ban my book. Very unreasonable demands! They're calling for a total rewrite of the story, taking out the alligators and putting themselves in as the witch familiars. This is a battle, but I'm determined to win.

Am I allowed to be bold? Why C. Lee? (I’ve always wondered what the C stands for :)

C. Lee McKenzie

I wanted a new persona when I started writing for young readers. I didn't know any simple way other than to alter my name. Beside I found a Cheryl McKenzie online who was a stripper and I didn't want people to confuse the two of us. For the record: I'm not, nor have I ever been a stripper. Do you know what the F. stands for in F. Scott Fitzgerald? or the C. S. in C. S. Lewis? How about S.E. in S. E. Hinton? (ANS: Francis, Clive Staples and Susan Eloise) I was always curious about those initials of authors, too. I'm glad you asked.

How did you come up with some of those awesome character names like Lucy Thricewater… she must have a very clean and filtered family history J

Clean and filtered she is, indeed. Each of the characters needed something special about them and I began with their names. (Do you see some kind of pattern in my life? Naming seems to be important. Maybe that came from something in my childhood.) The problem about the names in this book is that I had to put them into my spell check so I could spell them the same way throughout book. I mean Stiltencranz and Wartgob and Frankenhoff aren't too easy to say, let alone spell. But I loved the quirky names and they fit the quirkiness of the story. I kept the MC pretty common (Pete Riley), but then I had to tweak his sidekick's name a bit. I had a neighbor once that we called Weasel. He hated that nickname. Hope he has a good laugh if he ever reads my story. Either that or he'll write me a nasty letter to tell me how much hated me for calling him Weasel lo these many years ago.

If *they* said you could not be an author, and you had no choice, what is the one job you would most least like to do – and why?

How about witch for what I'd like most to be? That's an ancient and honorable job. They don't burn witches anymore, do they? That would be a downside to that career choice. I'd least like to be night watch woman. I'd also be almost totally unemployed, too. I'm an early riser, and I'm definitely an early to bed person. If I had to guard anything after ten, whatever I was guarding would pretty much be up for the taking. So there you have it: witch woman but not watch woman.

Can you remember when you finished your first ever story? How old were you, and what was it about?

I was about 8. It was actually a play about vegetables. (You're laughing? And that would be because . . . ?) I took my play seriously, and I created my cast only after giving it a lot of thought. There was Miss Tomato, Mr. Cabbage, Mrs. Carrot, and I think an onion or two. When I cast my play I could recruit the tomato and the carrot, but no kids wanted to play the cabbage or the onions. I had to do a rewrite and make the cabbage into a cucumber. I forget what the onions became. It was first experience with critics.

Someone gives you $5,000 to give away. You’re not allowed to spend it on friends or family, or donate it directly to a cause...  but you do have to spend the money in a charitable way. How would you pay it forward?

That's easy. I'd buy up tons of books and send to libraries all over the world, especially ones that were small and in poor areas where they needed books for young readers. Could you make that $10,000?

Wow… You’ve been blogging since 2007. How did you first hear about “web logs,” and was it like just you and like six other people here on Blogger? (I bet one was Alex J. Cavanaugh  :)

Yep. Them was the good old days. To tell the truth, I hated blogging. I only did it because my editor told me I should. I not only hated it, I was rotten at it. Then I started connecting with writers and readers and that changed how I looked at this new way of sharing ideas. I started enjoying it. I started having a lot of fun. I'm glad I kept at it. I mean if I hadn't, I never would have joined the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I never would have met you or all the other great bloggers!

What’s next on the writing front? Is Alligators Overhead going to be part of a series?

I'm finishing up another MG fantasy adventure, but it's another stand alone and it doesn't have any alligators in it . . . No cat either. I have a hard time with series. I can read them; I just don't think I have the talent for writing them. I'm also in the final stages of a rewrite on another YA that I hope to put out next year. In between those two books, I hope to get away and find an island paradise where I can locate some inspiration for some future stories. Any suggestions in your neck of the woods, er, water? (Stay away from Tahiti… they’re always filming The Final Bachelorette there…)

Reading your five fabulous moments here I’m going to hazard a guess you don’t live in Manhattan or Downtown Chicago. Are you all country – or a recent import?

I'm a long time hick. I love visiting cities, but they make me jittery after a while. If I have a perfect day it has to be a walk in the forest or along a creek. My next best one is a sandy beach day. I really love the sounds that nature make and prefer them over our noisy man-made ones.

You walk into a classroom, full of first-year writers, and you’re *the* teacher. What three points would you want to impress on this group of fresh, eager author-interns J

First, I'd ask if they've consider coal mining? It's honest work and when they go home at night they won't have to face letters of rejection or critiques about their current WIP. Seriously, I guess I'd want them to know that everyone can write stories. Then I'd want them to know that not everyone can write them well, but they can learn with practice and by paying attention to good writing. Third, I'd want them to know that if they are truly passionate about writing and sharing their stories with others, they can never give up. Giving up is the only sure way to guarantee failure.

Lee, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my random questions – and much success with Alligators Overhead.

What great questions, Mark. You did your research! I really appreciate the time you took to put this together.


Alligators Overhead is available from Amazon  and a variety of sources via Lee's blog, The Write Game.



Guest Interview with Leigh Covington :)

As part of my regular schedule, I’m giving a shout out to some wonderful Bloggers. This month, the Irish eyes are smiling with Leigh Covington – but not at her eye candy J


Aloha Leigh,
You are such a genuine, caring person. How did this happen? As a child, did your parents drop you on the ground?
Oh my goodness… remind me not to drink water (or anything else for that matter when talking to you. Water is not pleasant coming out of your nose, but it sure beats Dr. Pepper. Lol.
Okay… and they didn’t drop me. I don’t think. Although it is possible and I just don’t know. I’ve just lived enough to know that life’s a waste of time if you’re not your true self.

I’ve asked your help in several areas (such as blog buttons) and I’m sure others have, too. You always come through in amazing fashion.
How do you balance family, “normal” blog stuff and the extra stuff like blog fests, guest posts, weird requests, etc.?

Aww. Honestly, I think I told you I’d help if you ever needed it and you took me up on it. I like to help people. And I know you do too. In fact, I think you’re one of the most caring people I know. (Look at you, Cass & Morg sending me flowers when I lost my BFF.) Honestly, it just feels good to help. It takes my mind off my own troubles, and I usually get to make a new friend! As for juggling… this is a bad week to ask. I feel like I’ve done an awful job at everything because I’ve overbooked myself. I have no real answer except that I make it work. I spend time with my kids and give them the attention that they need, I blog in between house work during the day, and I write at night when everyone’s asleep.

Have you been published? And if not, what’s the passion and driving force that keeps you heading toward future success?
I think my only claim to fame would be my two short stories published in Rachel Harrie’s Campaign Challenges (published for charity.) It's fun to think of my name out there although those are published under my real name “Abby Fowers.” The big driving force behind my writing is I want my kids to see what I've done. I want them to know I had to work hard – but I did it. Then they will know they can do whatever they set their minds to. I wish I had this dream earlier in life, but I never thought it possible. I want my kids to know that anything is possible. :)

Looking at your home page, it would appear to my deducing eyes that you live on a farm-like dwelling.
What’s life like outside the city, and what did come first – the processed chicken breast or the Egg McMuffin?
Hehehe. I think it was the Egg McMuffin. At least it should be. Although I prefer the sausage biscuit with egg! YUM! And I don’t actually live on the farm. We are exactly 7.34 minutes away. Hehe. My in-laws live on the farm, my husband spends all his time there and we’re there quite often. Sooner or later I’ll be on the farm, too. It’s fun. The kids love to do farm work, and my girls are animal lovers, like me. Although my husband thinks of me as a “city girl” I only grew up about five minutes away from him.

I heard you have a new computer? Any tips to avoid ‘puter meltdown, and did you, in fact, release the tech repair guy without injury?
Dude! Do NOT bring up the tech repair! I may have my own meltdown! Grrr!
*deep breath* Let’s just say… always have an anti-virus and always make sure it clears all programs. I usually zoom through things so fast that I don’t pay enough attention. Now I do. I had a new guy repair that computer, but it doesn’t seem the same. Maybe because I’m in love with the new one! I don’t know. It’s so pretty!!! But after lots of persuasion, I convinced the hubs to break for a new one before I went insane. I cannot go without a computer. It’s torture. Don’t know how I survived before.

How would hubby describe you in twelve words (no adverbsJ)
No adverbs! Hmmm. I don’t think I can do that!
Slightly scary, has to be the boss, too independent, fun & perfect! (bahahaha!)

You, Cassie, Morgan, David and 97.63 percent of the Blogishere appear to live in Utah. Apart from your favorite restaurant, The Cheese Cake Factory, where would you bring a writer to “get” a little taste of Utah?
Oh man, you only dare mention the evil CCF because you’re not here in person, right? I’ll let it slide this once! ;) Okay, you must visit the Salt Lake LDS temple and walk around Temple Square. It’s beautiful, and everyone needs a taste of us “Mormons.” Also, we’d go to Park City and hit some awesome place to eat, and then go on the Alpine Slides. A 4-wheeling trip in the Rocky Mountains would be awesome, then we’d head to southern Utah to visit Zion National Park and Moab. Utah is absolutely beautiful with such a diverse climate and landscape. People are always surprised how much they like it and how pretty it is.

When writing – music or quiet?
Quiet. No contest.

When “Momming” – quiet time or quarrel-making activities?
I wish for quiet, but that’s only wishful thinking. My kids are as loud and crazy as I am. We’ve got to be active and busy or it gets scary. J

I think we all know (or were…) that one scared, about-to-quit writer – the one who’s always been told their writing is poop and a waste of time…

Finally, if you had one or two sentences (go ahead and splurge) to share with him or her, what would you say?
First, I would spout all of the wonderful qualities I know about them and their writing. That way they can recognize their strengths and their talent. Then I’d go off on how quitting will get them nowhere – and that’s the only way to ensure they never get published. We should all have a dream and if we persevere we will eventually meet it. We need to be the hero of our own stories and make it happen!

Mark… May I just say… it has been a pleasure! You have been an amazing blogging friend, always making me laugh and you have such a sweet heart! This has been a fun interview. Thanks so much for having me over!
No worries, Leigh, it was my pleasure!

You can find more about Leigh Covington, super-supporter of all bloggers – and future ambassador for Utah – here.
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