I Answer Your 10 Burning Questions And Stuff

I typically hate random posts, but I’ve received so many questions lately on various, unconnected topics, I thought I’d answer what I can.

Here goes:

1) Is Broken Pieces a self-help book? No! I’ve never once classified the book as self-help and don’t plan to. I don’t have a degree in psychology and I have no plans to get one. I don’t want anyone to look at my book and think I’m giving them advice for their life. I’m simply sharing my experiences.

2) Did you really stop eating Nutella? Yes. I gave it up. I have a patch on my arm to keep me from withdrawals, though #kidding

3) What’s an avatar in social media? It’s your picture or logo. (and really? Google stuff, people.)

4) Do I need a Kindle to read your books? Nope. Nobody needs a Kindle to read books from Amazon because they have free reading apps for smartphone, computer, tablet, and cloud. Join the revolution. Broken Pieces will also be out in print this fall (I signed last week with Booktrope) for you tree killers. Yay!

5) What scares you the most? It’s a toss-up of S things: sharks and spiders. Not a fan of either.

6) Are you really a horrible cook? I can make basic stuff, but I have burned everything from pasta to cookies to my right inner arm. I’m still learning tha to Iron Door Salon. It’s best for all if I stay out of the kitchen — except to clean it, which is such joy. I’d rather eat a salad, heat something up, or go out.

7) Why do you write nonfiction? I studied journalism in college (it was my minor), so writing about real-life experiences has always interested me. I’ve also kept a journal since I was a teenager. Tracking the dramatic and the seemingly mundane — it all goes in there. People fascinate me, so I write about what I see and hear, or create vignettes in my mind of what their lives are like. I really write narrative (aka creative) nonfiction — which allows me to create stories based on real life.

8) Can I participate in #MondayBlogs if I blog on Wednesdays? Yes. I created #MondayBlogs (a blog meme where you share your latest post and retweet others on Mondays) to dedicate one day to this activity. However, you can blog any day of the week, or every day of the week. Just share it with the #MondayBlogs hashtag on Mondays only. A number of people use the #MondayBlogs hashtag every single day, which kind of defeats the purpose of assigning it to Mondays, right? Yea, I don’t get it either LOL. Follow @MondayBlogs if you wanna play.

9) What is your favorite genre to read? I enjoy practically everything: fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, erotica, paranormal, biography and memoir, historical fiction, poetry. I’m a total sucker for a great time-travel story! Like most avid readers, I’ll even read cereal boxes. I’ll review if I’ve read something I’d rate a 3-star or above, but I’m not a book blogger or book reviewer. If you request I read your book, I will turn you down — simply because I have no time, not because I’m being a bitch. I read for my own pleasure, and I read client books. Those are my priorities.

I do suggest you connect with BookBloggerList.com, which breaks out book bloggers and reviewers by genre. These people have much more influence than I.

10) How do you define success? I didn’t get into writing for the money. I write, like most writers, because I have to. Much of my professional life I spent in the corporate world and I hated it. I didn’t really know why, until I started blogging, writing, and publishing books — and I realized that smothering my creativity was causing me depression and even pain.

What it did teach me? About marketing and sales, which comes in handy for marketing and selling books. And how not to treat people.

 

Got more questions? Ask below!