interviews

A Fun Interview

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

 

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Recently, my author friend, Jen Cary, interviewed me for her monthly newsletter. Some of the questions she asked got some buzz, so I thought perhaps you would find them interesting, too. I am including a few of them here:

Question 1:  Tell us something about yourself we don’t know.

My husband and I have  renovated 26 homes in 28 years. We also built our own log cabin. We are not flippers. We actually live in each home. At about the one year mark, with the work completed, we get the itch to find another house that “needs us.”

Question 2:  When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I think I was born wanting to write. I sidelined my love of writing to become an elementary school teacher. After retiring, I revisited my dream of writing a book. Runaways: The Long Journey Home, was published in 2015. So far, I have written seven others (three are Interactive Picture Books for Alzheimer’s patients).

Question 3:  If you could be anything—except a writer—what would it be?

I would love the chance to do a variety of jobs I find interesting. I think it would be fun to be a restaurant owner and walk around mingling with guests. I’d also like to be a cashier, a receptionist, a watercolor artist, a photographer, work at a carwash (yes, really), or work at the White House or other famous site as a tour guide.

Question 4:  What is the funniest thing to happen to you as an author?

Last year, when shopping at Goodwill with my sister, I ran across a copy of Runaways. I guess you’ve made it big if you find one of your books on their shelves. My sis bought the copy. (She’d loaned hers to a friend and it hadn’t been returned). We had our picture taken with the book in the store. I’m sure other shoppers wondered what these two crazy ladies were doing…

Question 5:  What do you do for relaxation?

I enjoy movies, shopping, and eating out. But my real passion is reading. I read a couple of books each week. I taught myself to read before I was old enough to attend school.

Question 6:  Cheetos, fried or baked?

Ah, a trick question. Fried, of course! (Tip: try them crumbled as a crunchy topping on scalloped potatoes or baked macaroni and cheese.)

 

 

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When It Comes “Write” Down To It

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

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Yesterday, I spent 4 hours in my booth at an outdoor Art Walk—and sold two books—my marketing tip for today will try to answer the age-old question:

What is the best use of a writers’s time?

Given one hour of an author’s time, which is the most productive/profitable?

Book signings, creating Amazon ads, making display posters, making new giveaways—bookmarks, business cards, etc., doing podcasts/interviews/speaking engagements?

First, let’s agree on what it is NOT.

It is NOT checking your emails or texting for the nth time.

It is NOT vegging out in front of the television.

It is NOT allowing yourself to be lured into the mall for hours of shopping madness.

What it IS very much depends on YOU.

If you like those things mentioned in the third paragraph (not the fifth, I said the third), and if they bring you into contact with others whose ideas stimulate your creativity, and if they get your name “out there,” then they can be a good thing.

However, in the articles I have read, most authors will agree on only one consistent finding. 

It is this:

Give your writing a value. Let’s say, just for the sake of conversation, that you feel you are worth $30 an hour. Then, take a look at the list above. See what the going rate is that you would have to pay someone else to do that job for you.

If the person you would hire costs MORE than $30/hr, then you may want to do the job yourself.

If the person’s hourly rate is LESS than $30, then you may be wise to hire someone to do the job for you.

Then YOU can spend that time WRITING.

Because, when it comes “write” down to it (sorry, I just couldn’t resist) most authors agree that their time is most efficiently/profitably spent by actually WRITING.

HUM.

Imagine that.

Do the math: what is the best use of your time?

Do An Interview

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

 

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Another way to uniquely promote your book and create more sales is to do interviews. Opportunities to do radio, newspaper, and magazine might be more realistic at first. However, do a great job and you may be invited to do a podcast or television interview.

Many of us are members of Goodreads—if you’re not, you should be! This site invites author interviews after a short submission process, including writing a short blurb about why the author feels his or her interview would be interesting to their readers.  (Is there something unique about you or your writing that readers would like to know about?)

All Things Visual

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

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Lately, it seems all the buzz is about U-Tube videos, podcasts, and interviews.

All things visual.

There are websites which help authors do book trailers, podcasts, and interviews.

But, of all these, which really bring results? Which equate to book sales?

Glad you asked.

My next few posts will deal with each of these, individually. I will bring you the latest numbers in a concise manner.

See you next week for the first installment.