Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Kari Aguila, and I have recently sefl-published my first novel, WOMEN’S WORK. I was a geologist for the USGS for many years before I started having children and decided to be a stay-at-home mom. For the first six years of mom-hood, I read several books every day, but they always seemed to have little duckies, pooh-bears, or fairies in them. When all three of my kids were finally sleeping more than two-hour stretches, I took a deep breath and dove back into reading, soaking up so many great stories that I had missed during the baby years.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When my oldest daughter started Kindergarten and the two younger kids were in pre-school one morning per week, I suddenly found I had three whole hours of freedom! Each week!! I had no idea what real people did with such vast swaths of time — I could clean the house, exercise, do laundry, or finally write that novel. Well, I certainly didn’t want to do a few of those things, so… WOMEN’S WORK is the result of those three glorious hours of freedom.
The story was inspired during a long walk through Discovery Park, along the coast of the Puget Sound. There are all these old dilapidated roads in that park, and I started thinking about a whole neighborhood struggling to survive after the infrastructure falls apart. A couple nights earlier, I had heard an interview with a female member of the U.S. Congress. She was asked why the government wasn’t able to get much done and replied, “If there were more women in Congress, we’d get more done.” The women in the audience cheered, and the man interviewing her was obviously offended. It got me thinking about that idea, and the story in WOMEN’S WORK evolved from there.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tried to write at home, but was easily distracted. Instead, I started bringing my laptop to a local coffee shop and writing there. I have heard that coffee shops get mad when a person just buys one cup of tea and then sits at their laptop all morning taking up space, so I tried to sit at the bar section, and once each hour I would buy another cup of tea.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like books with strong female leads. Unfortunately, strong women are usually overcoming terrible things — rotten childhoods, awful men, oppression — so I have to make sure not to read too many depressing stories. The Outlander was an unusual story that I enjoyed, and of course Handmaid’s Tale was a real game-changer for so many people. When I look at my bookshelf (I still read paper books, so my bookshelf takes up several walls in my house) I notice I have several Cormac McCarthy books. This is very strange, because I never like his books! Yes, they are amazing works of fiction. Yes, they absolutely transport the reader to a time and place. Yes, the characters are memorable. But, they are so bleak and dark and ‘manly’. And yet, every few years, I wind up with one of them in my hand at the check-out line of the bookstore.
What are you working on now?
WOMEN’S WORK just came out about two months ago, so I have been spending a lot of time publicizing that. I don’t have an agent, so I have been reading a lot online to figure out how to go about getting the word out about my book. I have two story ideas in my head that will need a lot of research, but the characters are beginning to take shape. Next year another one of my children will start Kindergarten, so maybe I’ll find the time to start writing again then.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve sent out dozens and dozens of emails to bloggers, but have only gotten a few responses. I think they are really inundated with book review requests these days. One blogger is highlighting WOMEN’S WORK on her blog in February when she focusses on the theme of “Smart Is Sexy”. Amazon has a list of their top 1000 reviewers, and I sent emails to some of them asking if they would write a review. Got a couple of hits there. So far the best exposure I have had is on the GoodReads site. I have sponsored two giveaways of my book, and many many people have requested it and added it to their to-read shelf. I will be hosting a Q&A there in March, and hope to hear readers questions and comments at that time.
There are several pay-for-review sites. I have sent WOMEN’S WORK to the Portland Book Review, San Francisco Book Review, Indie Review, and Publishers Weekly PW Select. Each of these cost money, but they guarantee a review in their publication, and will hopefully drum up some readers. Kirkus Review is very expensive, and I was able to get three of these other reviews for the price of one Kirkus, so decided against using them.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are often writing groups you can join if you live in a mid- to large-sized town. Check at your local college or university. This would be a great resource for info about writing and publishing. If you don’t have a writing group, start telling people you are writing a book — you’d be surprised how many people you meet have also written something! Bookstores try to have book signings and launch parties — go to them and meet the authors. Writing can feel lonely and it is easy to lose focus, but if you connect with other authors, you will start to feel like part of the community.
Don’t get discouraged when you get your beautiful, perfect, wonderful novel back from your first editor and find it completely ripped to shreds. Almost all of their comments are going to help you make your story even better. And you have to hire a stranger to edit for you. A friend isn’t going to be able to point out all the weak spots without hurting your feelings.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If god gives you a daisy, don’t try to make it into a rose.
Ok, that’s not necessarily about writing, but it could be. If your work is your daisy, you have to treat it with respect and kindness. Be positive and love it for what it is. Believe in your story and let it grow into what it will — the ending you thought you had when you started your book isn’t necessarily the ending you wind up with.
What are you reading now?
I have read a few great books lately — Blindness, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Transatlantic, Tell the Wolves I’m Home. I have just started West of Here and like it because I live near the Olympic Peninsula and can relate to the setting in the book. I’m interested in learning more about the history of the Pacific Northwest, but don’t usually like non-fiction history books, so this is a compromise.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Ideally, I’d love to find an agent who can help me navigate the world of publicizing WOMEN’S WORK. It’s been like a part-time job for me during the last two months, and I’m not sure I’m spending all my time in the best ways. I really believe this book could take off once sales reach a tipping point — it’s gotten a lot of very positive reviews so far.
As for my next project, one of the story ideas in my head is set in the Philippines. My husband’s family is from there and I have visited twice, but would want to go back again with this story in mind to really do some research. My kids are still a bit young for that big trip, though, so it might take a couple years to get there. I’m also looking into some local writing groups and classes to help me hone my skills and become a better writer. One can always get better.
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?
Leaves of Grass — Walt Whitman’s best book of poems.
A Tale of Two Cities because I love it.
Anna Karenina because I’ve never read it.
A very thick empty notebook and pencils.
Author Websites and Profiles
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