Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a full-time secretary at Benco Leasing in Erie and throughout my career I’ve written several books but this is the first novel that I’ve had published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my debut novel is ‘The Early Bird Cafe’. This was originally a short story before I expanded it into a novel. The short story only took place in the cafe so I felt that was a great name for it. Once the characters took me on this journey into their lives, I couldn’t help but keep the name.
As Jim, the main character, is working on his second novel, he writes much of it in the cafe. I felt that it would have influenced his book as much as it influenced mine!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m pretty flexible about when and where I write, so I don’t need a cold drink or a cat in my lap. I prefer drafting right from the keyboard instead of relying on hand-written drafts so mostly you’ll find me at the computer bouncing back and forth from maintaining my social media presence to a round or two of Bejeweled Blitz. If anything, it seems that, the more I have going on, the better I’m able to focus my energy on writing!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is an impossible question for me as I’ve never had a favorite author unless you want to say Charles M. Schultz! I read anything I could get my hands on when I was little, from reference books to fairy tales. I’ve probably read one book from just about every major author, but rarely two.
More than feeling that I’ve gained writing influence from books and other authors, I’d have to say it is a genetic disposition bred in me. My parents are born storytellers and I was always encouraged to talk about my experiences at school and work from start to finish. As my vocabulary and my attention grew, I saw and heard more…thus, my daily stories got longer and longer. They shared their love of learning new things, so couple that along with a child eager to please and you have the perfect ingredients to cultivate a writer!
What are you working on now?
I’m excited to share that I’m working on a sequel to Jim and Eve’s story along with a series of books about the mob. I’m also continuing to juggle my marketing on ‘The Early Bird Cafe’ and handle everything at my day job. Although it’s a logistics company, I’ve taken over their newsletter and website. So, I’m all about writing and marketing all day no matter which hat I’m wearing!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love a multi-faceted approach to my personalized marketing campaign. Internet marketing these days is as individual as the authors out there. So I like to work on my website’s SEO the most. Having the right keywords puts me in the running towards building a website that isn’t “invisible” to the search engines. Later this year, I will be pushing to launch a newsletter with exclusive content for fans, and I’m full of ideas for a future vlog. Most people are going to start with Amazon, naturally, so I work a lot on my author central profile.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just like my main character, Jim, I feel that keeping a regular journal is an indispensable tool for any author. Not only does it keep the juices flowing from day to day, but it helps to let off steam, vent frustrations and catalog inspiration. I highly suggest everyone try it – not just authors. I’ve been able to use pieces from journals to inspire my fiction writing. I’ve been able to grow as a person by re-reading those old entries. It has become a catalog of me that I can’t do without.
Also, take life by the horns. Steer your own ship. Don’t allow anyone to intimidate you. This is your book, your writing, your time – so enjoy every minute! You are fearfully and wonderfully made – nobody can tell this story as perfectly as you can. Trust yourself and take that step. Because, at the end of the day, you have to be able to lay your head down at night and tell yourself that you did the best you could.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best thing I ever came across was actually in Linda Ashcroft’s book ‘Wild Child’ about her alleged relationship with Doors rocker, Jim Morrison. In it, she claims he once wrote to her: “To Write, Write.”
Now, I know there’s a lot of controversy surrounding her and that book, even to this day, but whether he really wrote that to her or not, the logic is sound. So many people wish they were writers and they get caught up in the social media buzz and the Pinterest boards and the dreamcasts and getting everything just right in their minds before they begin that they talk themselves out of the actual act.
Whether or not you are going to be the next New York Times bestselling author…whether or not yours will be the next Great American Novel…life is short…so short. If you want to write, write. If you have a story bubbling up inside of you, write. If you’ve always had a dream, write. If people told you it would never be good enough, write. The answer will ALWAYS be no if you never try anything. If you just write it there is a good chance that you will create something wonderful – you will touch a new part of you.
Like him or not, druggie, drunk or existential philosopher, Morrison gave good advice to Ashcroft and all of us.
What are you reading now?
I stash a book in every room of the house – literally! So, on my Kindle Cloud Reader app on the desktop, I’m reading ‘HellBounce’ by Matthew Harrill
In the bedroom, I’m reading ‘30,000 On The Hoof’ by Zane Grey
In the den, it’s ‘The Mystery In The Snow – a Doc Savage thriller’ by Kenneth Robeson (a 1934 thriller)
My reading nook is where I’m currently reading ‘The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from history to astonish, bewilder and stupefy’ by Rick Beyer
In the car is a current edition of Forbes Magazine and a copy for lunch of ‘Edged Weapons’ by Frederick Wilkenson
My Women’s Health magazines are always in the bathroom!
I hate carrying one book everywhere I go, so I just read a different book in every room instead. There’s even a turn of the century novel in my mother’s van currently, though the name of it escapes me!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next is to cultivate my audience and begin sharing great blogs and newsletters with them while ‘The Early Bird Cafe’ spreads its wings and takes flight! Through my publisher’s reach with the Ingram catalog, it’s already been picked up in several countries for sale online…from Canada to Japan! So, I want to be sure and give ‘EBC’ the attention it deserves marketing-wise.
Of course, my writing skills are also needed at my day job for their newsletter/website/social media content. Then there are the circle of friends that I write letters to. There’s no time for a ‘down moment’ when it comes to me and writing. That’s just how I love it to be!!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wanderer of the Wasteland – Zane Grey
The Holy Bible
Encyclopedia of Entomology by John L. Capinera
Author Websites and Profiles
Carrie Aulenbacher Website
Carrie Aulenbacher Amazon Profile
Carrie Aulenbacher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account