My guest this week is Margot Kinberg, a mystery novelist, blogger and professor who lives with her family in Southern California. My sources tell me that she is only dangerous when she writes ;-).

I’m honored to have you as my guest this week, Margot. Please, tell the cool peeps a little bit about yourself.

Thanks for having me, Molly! I’m originally from Pennsylvania. That’s where I went to college, married my college sweetheart, and spent most of my adult life until we moved west. I still consider Philadelphia my home. My husband and I are very proud parents and grandparents, and are happily owned by two dogs ;-).

I’m always fascinated by how different people set out to turn their ideas into novels. Some plot meticulously, some plot a little, and some just fly by the seat of their pants. As a mystery writer, do you have to plot meticulously? Can you describe how your books take shape?

I’m not that rigid when it comes to my fiction, but I do use a process, so in a sense it’s meticulous. I always start with the victim and oddly enough, that person often just pops into my mind. Very unscientific, I know ;-). Then I ask, “Who is she or he?” And then I ask why anyone would want to kill that person. As the character of the victim takes shape, that leads me to the other characters in the novel, and then the events. And the outline.

I outline the people and events and then I start writing. As I’m writing, new characters and scenes come up. I write them in, too. The basic points of the story are there from the start, but as the story takes shape, I add things spontaneously.

Once the draft is finished, I go through to pick up obvious mistakes. Then it’s off to my first readers, and then I revise. I start with plot and characters and look at mechanics later.

Tell me about your style of writing. How is it influenced by your academic career?

Since the academic writing I’ve done is formal, I don’t have a really “folksy” writing style. I don’t use a lot of long words but my style isn’t as “chatty” as I think it would be without that background.

Also, I tend not to be very wordy. In fact, I’ve had to learn how to flesh out characters and scenes so that readers can get into the story.

You’ve just finished writing the third book in a series. That’s a serious hat trick. Congratulations. Please, tell us about the series.

Thank you ☺. My novels feature Dr. Joel Williams, a former cop-turned professor in the Criminal Justice Department at fictional Tilton University, in fictional Tilton, Pennsylvania. Tilton is a small college town, so it’s a mix of university types and locals, which gives me lots of flexibility.

Because of where Williams lives and works, my mysteries are academic mysteries. Still, that allows for all sorts of possible characters and plots. For instance, this third novel takes place mostly in and around Philadelphia. And one other thing: My stories aren’t exactly cozy mysteries, but they aren’t graphic.

All writers put themselves into their books. Years ago, I remember a famous author (whose name escapes my cluttered mind) say that the more books he writes, the less of him the reader can find in each book. That stuck in my head because it made a lot of sense. How much of Margot is in your books? How have the different places you’ve lived played a part in your books?

Oh, there’s definitely Margot in my stories. I’ve spent just about all of my adult life on and around college campuses and I love them, so my choice of setting definitely reflects me.

As I mentioned, I’m from Pennsylvania, which is one reason it’s the main setting for my series. I live right now in Southern California, and that, too, has found its way into my writing. For instance, in my second novel B-Very Flat, one of the main characters is from Southern California, so her backstory has been influenced by my more recent experiences.

(Philadelphia Museum of Art)

(Residential neighborhood in Center City Philadelphia)

Do you plan to continue writing mysteries, or is there another genre that intrigues you?

I love crime fiction. I love reading it and writing it, talking about it and learning about it. So for the moment, I think I’ll probably continue in that genre. But honestly, I never say never. I think if I did write in another genre, it would be historical fiction. I love that genre, too, and I enjoy history very much. In fact, I toyed with becoming a history major when I was an undergraduate.

Please, tell us more about your academic career as an associate professor. For starters, what do you teach?

Most of my academic career has been in the field of teacher preparation. In my time, I’ve taught educational psychology, introduction to students with special needs, multicultural education, adolescent development, literacy and other courses.

But since my main research background is in language I mostly teach courses in that area. I usually teach second language teaching methods, sociolinguistics and teaching English to non-native speakers.

I know you have a great interest in second language acquisition and foreign language pedagogy. What are your special areas of research? What have been some of your most surprising findings?

I’ve always liked language. In graduate school I decided to really look at how we learn second language, and in particular, how second language immersion programs work. Those are programs in which students who speak one language are taught only in another. I’ve mostly focused on two-way immersion programs, where students who speak one language are grouped with those who speak another. Instruction takes place in both languages and in the end, all students become bilingual. One of my finds is that while most of us know that our first language influences our second language, we may not know that our second language also influences our first.

(Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park)

(Covered Bridge in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park)

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

You’re quite right about publishing. No longer are traditional publishers the only way for an author to get her or his work “out there.” Authors can opt for independent publishers or they can self-publish. There’s also the question of format. Most books are now available in electronic format, and studies suggest that format will continue to rise in popularity.

Today’s authors have to be aware, more than ever, of their options. Authors need to decide what their target market is, learn how other authors reach that market, and know what the market demands. They also need to find out what the implications are of aiming for a traditional publisher versus an independent or small publisher versus self-publishing. Remember that the reader is the ultimate priority. Readers want interesting stories, engaging characters and well-structured plots in a professionally-presented format. There isn’t just one way to do that, but anything that takes away from that also takes away from an author’s reputation.

It’s hard to know what the future of publishing will be. Ten years ago I would not have predicted the rise in social media as the way to promote one’s work, but here we are with social media one of the most important avenues for promotion. That said, though, I think global communication and the ease with which authors and readers can reach each other directly will continue to change the way authors market and book lovers buy. Also, authors will have to be increasingly flexible about the way they write, present themselves, reach readers and market their work.

Social media can be a freakin’ crazy, demanding, and time-sucking beast. I know many peeps have a serious love/hate relationship with it. How do you feel about it? What do you think are the best and worst ways to feed “the beast?”

Social media really is time-consuming. But it has allowed me to reach readers, fellow authors, publishers, editors and agents from all over the world. I’ve learned more from those resources than I could have imagined, and I’ve gotten wonderful support. I believe savvy authors are comfortable with and use social media, and they have blogs or websites. That way readers can “meet the author,” publishers, editors and agents can sample the author to see if there’s a fit, and other authors can learn from and teach the author.

But…the beast needs to be controlled ;-). The best way to do that, in my opinion, is to decide on the persona one wants to present online, make that identity clear, and keep that persona consistent across all media, choosing those media carefully. Also, it’s important to be professional and never say anything, anywhere online that one wouldn’t want a potential publisher, agent, editor or fan to read.

If you could have a dinner party and invite your favorite fictional characters, who might we see seated around the table?

You’d see a full room! Here are just a very few. Since it’s a dinner party, I’d have to invite Andrea Camilleri’s gourmand sleuth Salvo Montalbano. I’d like to also invite Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, Åsa Larsson’s Rebecka Martinsson, Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple and Charlotte Macleod’s Max Bittersohn. There are lots more, too, but how many people can you have to one dinner party?

What do you know now that you wish you knew five years ago?

I know a lot more about blogging and other social media than I did. And I am always learning more about good writing.

Why do you hope to know in five years that you don’t know now?

I hope to know the proper way to thank everyone as I receive the Nobel Prize for Literature – just kidding ;-). Seriously, I mostly hope to learn and use more of the “tricks of the trade” that my favorite authors use.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I’m picky about carelessness (including my own). There are myriad ways to write well, tell a good story and express oneself effectively. But do it carefully. Revise the story, proofread, edit and fix weaknesses before submitting or posting. Nobody expects perfection, but writers shouldn’t “go through the motions.”

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs? Where can people find you online?

Since you asked… ;-). I’ve just finished my third Joel Williams novel. No publication date yet but meanwhile, you can check out both Publish or Perish and B-Very Flat on Amazon. My online “home” is at http://margotkinberg.wordpress.com. Besides my main blog, there’s a Writing tab where you can check out my novels, other interviews and other places to find me.

On Facebook? I’m at: Margot Kinberg, Author

Are you a tweeter? I’m @mkinberg

Thanks so much for having me, Molly!

(Margot’s biggest fan — her gorgeous granddaughter, Lelah.)

Tags: B Very Flat, Margot Kinberg, mystery author, Philadelphia author, Publish or Perish, second language teaching methods, sociolinguists, teaching English to non-native speakers

This week, my guest is Shykia Bell, who developed a love for writing at a very young age and often dreamed of authoring books, but her career took several turns before she penned her first sci-fi/fantasy novel, Camileon. At present, she is working on two sequels to her self-published debut and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband Max, their cat and cockatiel.

Welcome, Shykia. It’s a pleasure to have you here. You grew up in my favorite city, New York, but you mentioned that your neighborhood in Brooklyn was pretty rough. What were your childhood years like? What did you do to escape the harsh reality outside of the confines of your home?

Thanks, Molly. I’m thrilled to be here. New York is great, but like in any big city, some neighborhoods are rougher than others. Growing up in East New York, my younger sister and I would joke that even the stars were afraid to come out at night. Luckily, we had amazing parents who protected and educated us as best they could. Drawing and coloring became my escapisms during my grade school years. I also took solace in a show called Reading Rainbow. It was a refreshing contrast to the drab concrete jungle around me. Writing soon became my newest hobby during what was probably the happiest point in my childhood, when I could freely explore my imagination since I couldn’t explore the world beyond the bullet-pierced windows of our apartment.

(Beautiful Brooklyn sunset)

(A sketch Shykia made of Lord of The Ring’s Gollum)

What were your dreams in high school and how did they change after graduation?

I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life during my high school years. I now realize that’s because I had already abandoned what I believe I was born to do—writing. In many ways I felt like a character from Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes. He was described a compass swinging aimlessly, searching for its True North. I studied fashion design in high school and applied to FIT, but decided to shift gears when I couldn’t get into my desired major. In 2002 I graduated from New York City Technical College with a degree in Communication Design. During my attendance there, I met my husband, who would later play an important role in reawakening my dream.

I know that you’ve written a novel born out of your admiration for Brent Spiner’s performances in and beyond Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST:TNG). Please, tell the Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike how this came to be.

Brent Spiner played a huge part in the rekindling of my passion for writing since his work led me to write fan fiction stories based on the characters he portrayed. So many stories distorted the characters he painstakingly brought to life for over a decade and I felt the need to write something that would honor his work. The next thing I knew, I’d written three more before penning my novel, Camileon. Incredibly, I recently realized that as a result of Brent’s work, my novel hadn’t been created, but resurrected. You see, I actually began writing the first few pages of Camileon in a journal while back in high school, but ended up forgetting about it. Years later, and several months after self-publishing Camileon, I came across those very pages I had written in my late teens. To me, it was a physical manifestation of just how deeply the story was enrooted in my soul. Equally amazing is that LeVar Burton, Brent’s friend and ST:TNG co-star, was the host of Reading Rainbow. It all seemed to come full circle and I actually got to meet Brent a few times, which was an enormous honor. I also have to give credit to my patient and talented husband, Max, who set these events in motion. He encouraged me to leave a toxic environment and to write and publish my original work.

Max has been a comforting beacon through the most trying times of my journey, much like the steampunk inspired nightlight he recently made. He’s great at creating things, including custom knives and jewelry.

(It was an enormous honor for Shykia to meet the great Brent Spiner.)

(Steampunk inspired nightlight, created by Shykia’s magnificent husband, Max.)

I’ve read your blog many times, and girlfriend, you do write beautifully. What are your literary aspirations? What writers have inspired you?

Thanks, Molly. Your words truly honor me. I would love to write a modern classic that will resonate through time. I guess I’m seeking immortality through my work. I’ve always admired the work of Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Rod Serling and Gene Roddenberry. They have boldly and unflinchingly explored the depths of the human condition at its best and its worst.

How do you spend the bulk of your time on an average day?

These days I spend most of my time working on, and doing research for, my two upcoming novels. The intensity of the plotline has hurled me into the most involved research I’ve ever done. It’s exciting and scary at the same time since there’s a great deal of responsibility in telling the story properly without sacrificing historical accuracy.

Finding free time to read is elusive to many of us these days, but if we took a peek at your Kindle or to-be-read shelf, what books are awaiting your eyes? What are some of your favorite books of all time?

My Kindle is my buddy and I’m constantly adding books to it. My most recent read was Octavia Butler’s Kindred. My work has been compared to hers and I must say I’m very honored by that. Other titles on my Kindle include such classics as The Odyssey, Anna Karenina, and several Jane Austen titles. Some of my all time favorites are The Bluest Eye, the Harry Potter series, and The Giver.

Handling rejection is a huge part of achieving success in one’s given field of endeavor. Do you have any thoughts or philosophies about rejection that you’d like to share?

In one of my blogs I wrote: “Failure is an initiation some people go through before achieving victory.” I feel the same way about rejection. Lord knows I’ve had my share and will undoubtedly see much more of it in the future. Rejection is a catalyst that brings us to the important question: “How badly do I want this and how much am I willing to sacrifice and endure in order to get it?” Everyone should have a chance to do what keeps them happy. Depression is often the result of a malnourished soul. I should know, my soul had been starving for a long time.

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

It certainly is. The publishing industry is a cutthroat business and for a long time self-published authors were on the sharp end of the blade. Now that the ebook industry is exploding, there’s a great opportunity for those thirsting to achieve their dreams to publish their work. There was a time when if you couldn’t land an agent, your fate was sealed. There was also a time when self-published authors were basically viewed as the Hester Prynnes of the literary world. Luckily, times are changing. As the ebook movement continues, we’ll see many more independent authors hitting the best seller lists, proving that the ones with the most power in the literary industry aren’t the agents, publishers or even the authors, but the readers.

(On vacation, taking time to smell the flowers)

Social media is terrific, but it can be a great big time vampire, too. Everyone has different thoughts about the use and misuse of it. What are yours?

Social media can be a great marketing and communication tool when used responsibly. Yet, finding the right balance can be challenging and this is something I continue to work on. I’ve found myself hypnotized by the seductive vampiric charm of social media more than once and on each occasion I wound up hemorrhaging time.

Although I don’t live in New York City, it is not all that far from Swansea and I visit every chance I get. For me, there’s no place on earth like it. Please, tell the cool peeps what it’s like from your point of view to be a New Yorker.

Being an insomniac, it’s only fitting that I live in the city that never sleeps. Having lived here my entire life, I sometimes find myself longing for a quieter, slower paced environment. Yet, I really do love living here. What I love most is how accessible everything is, especially food and entertainment. To top it all off, I can see some of the most gorgeous sunsets right outside my window. In addition, the personalities here range from the good, the bad, the eccentric and the completely insane (and that’s just on the subway)!

(Another lovely Brooklyn sunset – panoramic view)

(Outside the Metropolitan Museum during a rainy day in New York)

You have a cat and a cockatiel. That’s way cool. I have a cat, but if I had a cockatiel, I think the only thing he/she would learn to say is “Are you freakin’ kidding me?” Does your bird talk? Is it tough to have a bird and a cat?

Yes, I have a black cat named Bazik and a cockatiel named Nuggets, who I found on my fire escape several summers ago. His arrival actually preceded my cat. When we brought Bazik home, he squawked: “Are you freakin’ kidding me?” In all seriousness, Nuggets doesn’t actually talk, but the bird’s got lungs on him! The two didn’t get along at first. Believe it or not, Nuggets was the instigator until one day, I guess Bazik had enough. I returned from work to find the cage busted open on the floor. Luckily, I found the bird perched on the curtain rod for dear life. Bazik’s nearly eighteen pounds now and Nuggets no longer tempts fate.

(Shykia’s cockatiel, Nuggets)

(Shykia’s cat, Bazik)

(Shykia’s cat, Bazik taking over the sofa.)

Tell us more about yourself. Favorite foods, music, pet peeves, vacations?

Being a big foodie, I have more than one favorite. I do love a good slice of pizza. Not the type from those commercial chains. I’m talking good old-fashioned New York pizza (preferably from Lenny’s or DiFara’s). Fughettaboutit!

I don’t often connect with today’s music. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a few artists who remain true to the craft and don’t rely on skin and spectacle to sell records. Yet, I think the music of yesteryear was more genuine and enchanting. The genres that resonate with me most are jazz, instrumental, R&B and neo soul. I love artists who are unusual and are able to express themselves with class.

My biggest pet peeve it the blatant disrespect and superficiality currently spreading throughout our culture. People are placing higher value on reality TV degenerates than in some of the most talented and educated people in history.

My last vacation was my all-time favorite. My husband and I spent a week in Antigua. The island is smaller than Manhattan, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in sheer gorgeousness! We drove around the entire island in one afternoon and visited some pretty amazing sites. I daringly (or stupidly) zip-lined across the rainforest despite my crippling fear of heights. My heart was pounding like a frantic Calypso drum player, hyped up on caffeine.

(Half-moon Bay in Antigua)

A Cenote in Cancun, Mexico. The water was freezing!

(Shykia posing in front of a restored windmill at Betty’s Hope in Antigua)

(Max and Shykia taking a break during their awesome drive around Antigua)

(Max next to a canon in Fort James, Antigua)

(Antigua sunset)

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I guess what I’m most picky about is having things planned in advance. Spontaneity unnerves me, sometimes. I like to know what’s coming down the pipeline, but life doesn’t always grant such an advantage.

Where can people find you in cyberspace?

I’m on Twitter nearly every day. I’m also on Facebook, Goodreads, and Myspace (yes, I’m still there). I hope to have my revamped author website up by the fall.

Twitter
Facebook
WordPress blog
Myspace
Goodreads

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs?

Camileon has grown into something unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I originally planned it as a trilogy, but the plot has gotten so intricate that I think it will demand a spin-off. I’m working tirelessly to bring it to my readers and fellow word warriors soon. Please subscribe to my blog and check out my entries. Like Camileon, they’re a prelude to the remarkable journey I’ll take you on within the pages of my upcoming novel. I’d be honored if you gave me a chance by joining me as a valued guest in my world.

(Shykia explains what it was like to write Camileon.)

(Q & A with Shykia’s wonderful audience.)

(Photo op with a reader at my Barnes & Noble book signing.)

Camileon is currently available in print via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

(Shykia wearing an earring and pendant set Max created.)

Tags: Antigua, Brent Spiner, Brooklyn author, Camileon, cockatiel, LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow, self-published author interview, Shykia Bell, social media, ST:TNG, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Trekkies

This week my guest is the ultra cool Ranee Dillon. She is an aspiring author, blogger, prose poet, and proud mother of three beautiful children. Ranee is currently bi-coastal, splitting her time between California, Virginia, and West Virginia. Aside from writing and her children, Ranee is passionate about helping aspiring writers develop their voice and encouraging them to seek publication.

Welcome, Ranee. It is such a pleasure to have you as my guest this week. Please, tell us a bit about yourself.

Morning, sweetie. I’m a proud mother of three beautiful children and one grandbaby. In my not so off time I’m busy writing, blogging, and tweeting. My current project is a fantasy adventure novel called The Binding of Twelve. It’s scheduled for completion this August. When I actually have free time, I love to listen to music, hop in the car and get lost on country roads, and there’s my small (read: out of control) Twitter addiction.

Your current work-in-progress (WIP) sounds quite intriguing. Can you share any of it with us?

The Binding of Twelve is a planned series following the adventures of 20-year old Allison Binder. She lives in a small town in the eastern United States called Willow Creek with her “crazy” grandmother. Allison learns through a series of bizarre events that the folklore stories about a distant clan are true. After tragedy strikes, she must decide to follow her “people” on a quest to destroy the evil Iska or use the power of the Binding objects to fulfill her destiny.

(Springtime in the Mojave Desert)

Finding a supportive writing community is such an integral part of nearly every writer’s life. Sometimes, that is easier said than done for some people. What are some of the ways you would recommend that a writer develop his/her presence in the writing community?

As a budding writer, I needed to find ways to connect with people like me. Let’s face it, writers are a different breed and only we can truly understand the struggle with word counts and editing. I was fortunate enough to stumble across social media early in my writing career. If I don’t start by mentioning Twitter, it’s quite possible an angry mob will begin to form in the feed.

The journey began when I entered Twitterverse sometime in August 2010. Initially, I followed publishers and agents, and then branched out to other struggling writers/poets. From there, I learned about writing/critique groups as well as finding valuable writing resources.

Bottom line, if you’re a writer looking for support plug into social media. Drink it up with your morning coffee and pass a few cups out to the stream.

(Sunset from the Santa Monica Pier)

Okay, so I have this blog. It’s a way for the cool peeps out there to get to know me (and the fine company I keep.) Many writers have blogs, and many don’t. Some people are way more comfortable with blogging than others. Some don’t feel it is necessary. Can you explain why blogging is so important for writers?

Writing today is about visibility. Sure, you can write an epic novel and pound the query pavement, but the question on every agent and publishers mind today is “where are you?” Meaning, where and how have you promoted your writing career to this point.

The budget for marketing is tight. Built-in readership is a must when you begin to approach agents. This is where blogging comes in. A writer with a blog brings to the table a built-in readership which translates to a foothold on some part of the market.

A secondary bonus is that people get to know your writing style. This builds a relationship and expectation to see more. It also creates one of the largest marketing forces available: Word of Mouth. Agents use this tool when presenting your work to publishers.

Example: “She’s a new author, but she has a substantial following in social media and blogging.” Publishers see built-in marketing and readership. Translation: Less money they have to spend in order to promote your book.

Let’s talk about social media. How does it help a writer build a readership?

The writing universe is jumping into the digital world like lemmings off a cliff. Given that social media is about interaction through writing it makes sense. For us writers, it’s about exposure. How do we get our work out past the bubble to reach the masses?

Enter social media. Imagine millions of people all over the world in one place waiting to be entertained. They’re begging someone, anyone to take them out of the reality of bills, kids, and long hours of grinding work. In order to build a readership, we simply have to be there with a little fantasy or funny when they hit the power button. I think that comes about as close to writing heaven as it gets.

(Crossover from Maryland to West Virginia)

Although most people use social media, lots of peeps still don’t understand it or really know why Twitter is so different from Facebook. Can you talk about this?

I put Twitter and Facebook into two distinct categories: interaction and promotion.

Twitter can be used for promotion, but I think its main purpose is to interact with your readership and fellow writers. This is a place people can come to meet the “you” outside the book. As you build personal relationships, people will develop a connection which allows loyalty will grow past the page.

Facebook is the perfect place to create an “about the author” website without the hassles of web design…or the cost. Use it to create an author snapshot, post your latest work, and respond to comments that aren’t blog post specific.

I know that “authenticity in tweeting” is something you feel strongly about. Please, enlighten us.

Mind if I bubble dance for a minute? Sorry, had to get that out.

I’m not sure writers understand how important authentic tweeting is when building a following. Our first instinct is to create a persona. I mean we’re writers, right? We spend countless hours creating fictional characters for stories. So I understand the instinct, but if the goal is publishing we have to think ahead.

Whether going traditional or hitting the Indie trail, we will meet with our readers in person at some point. If you’ve created a persona that is bubbly, witty, and interactive while tweeting they’ll expect to see that same person. It goes back to building personal relationships and loyalty.

Imagine, though many of us don’t need to, meeting a quirky, bubbly writer you’ve spent time getting to know in twitterverse. Your head tells you they can’t possibly be the same in person, even though your heart hopes you’re wrong. They sit down at the table for lunch and as you begin to talk they lean back, withdrawn. The more you engage, the less they say and pretty soon you’re looking at the clock trying to force the hands to move.

How do you feel? Deceived? My point here is in order to build readership loyalty you need to be yourself. When they meet you at a book signing or on the street, they’re expecting to find the product purchased with time and energy. As a writer in the ever expanding world of social media, the product you’re selling is yourself not your book.

(Antelope Valley, California)

I’d love to get your input on dressing a manuscript for submission. Many writers do their own editing because they can’t afford a professional. Many don’t bother to properly format their work for myriad reasons. In what ways do you feel that a writer can best create a readable manuscript and maximize his/her chances of success?

The questions I ask people: How would you show up to an interview? Would you wear jeans and a tee shirt?

My point is the first interview you have with an agent is through your manuscript. Sending it off with grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors is like showing up in jeans and a tee. Now, I understand money is tight for everyone, especially writers. If you can’t afford an editor then search for quality beta readers who understand basic writing conventions and grammar.

As for the formatting, that’s pretty simple; open the last few novels you read. Look at the dialog structure, how and when the writer adds description, and where they start and stop chapters. This will give you a baseline for proper formatting. Sometimes it helps to be genre specific, because writing flow and format change slightly depending on the subject.

Number one most important thing: read and reread your manuscript until your eyes bleed (a little graphic, I know) and then trust the rest to the writing gods.

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

It’s difficult to predict the flow of most changing markets. Having said that, I don’t foresee publishers shutting down. While it’s true the digital world is quickly taking the book scene by force, people still like holding a good book in their hands. Nothing beats the smell and crack as you open it up to fall into those first few words.

I suspect, at some point, publishers will dip into the Indie market more. Most people who publish Indie already have a marketable readership built in. As budgets decrease the appeal of taking on the self motivated and educated Indie authors should grow. I mean, why spend marketing dollars when you have someone willing to put in the time and effort? Of course, this all depends on the quality of writing and the effort put into creating a polished final product.

(Remnants of West Virginia)

If you could have a dinner party and invite your favorite fictional characters, who might we see seated around the table?

Don’t I already have enough people in my head? You want me to add more?

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I can’t agree more, sweetie. I tend to be picky about little things. Such as my coffee needs to have the right balance of cream and sugar before I’ll drink it. Clean sheets with none of those little fuzz balls is an absolute must for me to sleep. But the single biggest thing is my writing environment. I need a certain type of music depending on the subject and no distractions to interrupt my zone time.

(Pathway to my rabbit hole)

Where can people find you in cyberspace?

Look me up for some chirpy chatter here on Twitter.

Interested in light reading? Please visit my blog.

Want to spend some quality friend time? Find me on Facebook.

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs?

First, I want to thank you, sweetie, for allowing me the opportunity to chat with your wonderful audience.

Second, Be yourself, always. Follow your heart; it knows you better than you think. Never let anyone suggest you’re not a writer, because even if you’re just scribbling notes on the corner of a napkin you’re writing. Who really knows where the next epic novel will come from? For all we know it could be a bunch of notes scribbled on a napkin hiding in the glove box.

Now go on out there and take over the world you talented writer you!

(Where you’ll find me)

Tags: Authenticity in Tweeting, building readership, importance of proper manuscript preparation, picky, Ranee Dillon, social media advice, social media for writers, The Binding of Twelve, Twitter vs. Facebook

This week, my special guest is author Christa Polkinhorn. Originally from Switzerland, Christa lives and works as writer and translator in Santa Monica, California. She divides her time between the United States and Switzerland and has strong ties to both countries. Among her many interests, aside from writing, are traveling, studying foreign languages and cultures, drawing and painting, meeting people and forming friendships.

Welcome, Christa. I’m excited to have you as my guest this week. Please, tell the cool peeps about yourself.

Thanks, Molly, for having me on your wonderful blog. Here is my life in a nutshell: I was born and raised in Switzerland in a small village near Zurich and lived about half of my life there and a little more than half in California. In my early twenties, I came to the United States and ended up staying, got married, moved back to Switzerland with my husband, moved to California, got divorced, and live now in beautiful Santa Monica, California. I spend several months each year in Switzerland. I love both countries and feel at home in both places and when people ask me where I want to live when I “grow up,” I have to say I don’t know.

(Home in Switzerland)

(Santa Monica, CA)

(California coastline)

I had always wanted to see Switzerland since reading Johanna Spyri’s “Heidi” as a little girl. Now, I can proudly say I have been to Switzerland. It is breathtakingly beautiful. What was it like growing up there?

One thing that’s different from the United States is the closeness to foreign countries. Switzerland is a tiny country in the middle of Europe where you only need to drive about three to four hours and end up in a different country. Growing up there, you automatically come in contact with foreign languages and cultures. Switzerland itself has four national languages: German (standard German as well as a bunch of dialects), Italian, French, and Romansch. I think that’s one of the reasons, I developed a love for language and traveling. I have always enjoyed exploring new countries. This is also visible in my two novels which take place in Europe, the United States, as well South America.

(Some places in Switzerland where you can still feel like Heidi)

(Christa’s favorite pond near her home in Switzerland)

I know you have a great love for reading. Where did that begin?

I grew up almost as an only child. My only sister was eighteen years older. Living in a small town, where not that much was going on, I had to find ways to entertain myself. I became a voracious reader and I lived vicariously through the books I read. Fortunately, my parents shared my love of reading and so there were always books in our home. I was also an adventurous child and I knew early on that I wanted to come to that—in my mind—most fascinating country in the world: AMERICA.

(Christa’s mom (middle) at one of her birthdays. She lived to be 102.)

(Christa’s Father)

I’m a reporter at the moment, but am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up. ☺ When did you know you wanted to be a writer? When did you start seriously writing?

Although I have always loved to read and I studied literature and linguistics both at the University of Zurich and later at the University of California, I started my own creative writing fairly late in life. In fact, I took many detours on my path to becoming a writer. I started out going to business school (my father, who was an artist as a young man, wanted me to have a “solid” foundation in life), worked as a secretary in Switzerland and the United States, went back to school to study literature, took another detour into computer programming, became a translator, and ended up a writer. I must have been a gypsy in one of my former lives!

Your native language is German, but you write in English. You also do translation work. I’m fascinated, Christa. Tell us more.

Most of my education in literature took place in the United States and it was here that I began to take my writing seriously. Consequently, I ended up doing all my creative writing in English and not in my native German. However, I do my translation work from English into German and so I switch a lot between the two languages, which is both an advantage and a challenge. The advantage is that I can draw from both languages in my writing. The challenge: Although I am fluent in both languages, I’m not perfect. I sometimes mix up idioms and use slightly odd ways of expressing myself. That is one of the reasons I always have my manuscripts edited by a native English speaking editor.

You just published a new book, An Uncommon Family that is a prequel to your first novel, Love of a Stonemason. Some days I write in reverse order, too, but not on purpose. How did you come to write the prequel second? Tell us about the books and their characters.

Well, I guess “writing in reverse order” is not quite the correct term here. I wrote about Karla’s childhood (Karla is the main character in Love of a Stonemason and one of the main characters in An Uncommon Family) in an earlier manuscript, which I abandoned. I didn’t seem to be able to get past the novella stage. Then a few things happened in my life that inspired me to write my first full-length novel, Love of a Stonemason. At the end of 2005, I lost my mother and found myself to be the sole survivor of our immediate family in Switzerland, my only sister and my father having died earlier. Death and its impact—the pain of loss and loneliness—play an important role in Karla’s life in the novel.

Cleaning out the family home in Switzerland, I came across my father’s early paintings. I talked to a stonemason and sculptor about the tombstone on my parent’s grave. That gave me the idea for my main characters and their professions. I spent time with my relatives in the Ticino, the Italian canton of Switzerland, so the Vallemaggia became the central location. My trips to Peru and Italy also found their way into the novel.

(Machu-Picchu, Peru)

(Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy)

(Spectacular view of Florence from the top of the Duomo)

After I finished Love of a Stonemason, I was so used to the characters I created that I couldn’t let go of them yet. I remembered the abandoned manuscript and began to explore what happened to Karla as a child. I wanted to get to know her aunt as well and so my second novel became reality. An Uncommon Family takes place in Zurich, Switzerland, New York, and Guadalajara, Mexico.

I know that your novels take place in foreign countries? Did you write all of this from memory?

One of the fun parts of writing those novels was the research I did in different countries. I had been to the places I wrote about before, but I had forgotten a lot of details. So I had to go back and explore them again and this time through the eyes and minds of my characters. It gives research and traveling a whole different meaning.

(Old town of Zurich with Grossmuenster)

(Zurich with river Limmat and old part of town)

(A typical stone house in the south of Switzerland)

(Lago Maggiore, Switzerland)

(El Beso Sculpture in Lima, Peru)

What are the most important elements in your writing? Where does your passion lie?

Although the different countries the novels take place in are part of the stories, the novels are not travelogues by any means. The real focus in both novels is love and the relationship between men and women, between parents and children, and between friends. These are basically stories about love, compassion, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness—elements that are part of most relationships between people. A secondary theme is art and the healing aspect creativity can have on our lives. Those are the things I feel passionate about.

The world of publishing is changing so rapidly. It’s hard to keep up. Any thoughts about the ever-evolving landscape? Predictions?

You’re right; there is so much happening and so much change that any prediction will most likely become invalid within a short time. One thing, however, is certain: this is an exciting time for authors, particularly for those of us who decided to try it on their own, meaning without going through agents or publishers. Independent publishing will go through many different stages and will change with time. I think ebooks and ebook readers are here to stay, but I hope that paper versions will remain as well.

Since everything about publishing and writing is in flux, it is all the more important to be aware of WHY we write. If the goal is to make tons of money and become bestseller authors, we may end up sorely disappointed. If we write because it gives us joy, it gives our life meaning, or it is something we need to do, then we’ll do it no matter what.

Many people write their first book and have no idea how to begin to promote it. What advice would you offer? What are the best ways to use and not to use social media?

I published my first novel in 2010. I’m still a newbie to promotion, so I don’t think I can give a lot of advice yet. I use Twitter, Facebook, my own blog (I’m not very prolific and that’s one area I need to improve), and I have a website. I try to get my books reviewed, which helps as well. Interviews (such as this one) and doing guest blogging on book blogs are good ways to make yourself and your books known. One thing I did notice though. Trying to only push your own books, doing aggressive self-promotion tends to turn people off. Personally, I enjoy helping other authors promote their books by writing short reviews of books I like, re-tweeting their tweets, and pointing to their works on Facebook.

If you could have a dinner party and invite your favorite fictional characters, who might we see seated around the table?

Well, first and foremost, my own characters: Karla, Andreas, Lena, Jonas, Anna. Then some characters from other novels: Daniel, Julián Carax (The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón), Clarissa Dalloway (Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf), gee, there are a lot more but I think I need to limit myself. I’m not very good at cooking for a lot of people!

What do you know now that you wish you knew five years ago?

Hmm, that’s a difficult question. Let’s see. Perhaps the personalities of some of the men I got involved with (just kidding).

What do you hope to know in five years that you don’t know now?

Gee, Molly, you ask some tough questions. I hope I will keep improving not just as a writer but also as a human being. That probably doesn’t answer your question, but tough luck.

I’ve been forever called picky, but I maintain that we’re all picky creatures. What are you picky about?

I am very picky about typos and I absolutely hate it when I find them in my own novels after they have been edited and published.

Any parting words for the masses? Any shameless plugs? Where can people find you online?

Both my novels and also my poetry are available at Amazon (for the Kindle and as trade paperback), B&N.com (for the Nook), and Smashwords (different ebook formats). Here are the links:

My Author Page at Amazon
My Page at Barnes & Noble
My Page at Smashwords

You can find more about me on My Website and My Blog (and if you clicked the Follow button on my blog, that would be really appreciated!).
And I’m also on Twitter and on Facebook and Goodreads and I’m a member of The Independent Author Network.

Thank you, Molly, for your time and thanks to all the cool peeps who take the time to read this. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

(Christa when she graduated from the University of California)