Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing and editing, working both freelance and for book publishers, for decades. In the early 1990s, I founded Tamarack Books, Inc., and we traditionally published nonfiction Americana. After a huge number of requests, I also founded Towanda, Inc., a book production company for self-publishers. After selling my companies about 15 years ago, I retired, got bored, and started writing again, first blogs for my websites, next 2 books teaching self-editing to writers (for I have been going crazy reading self-published books that need editing!), and Training Your Puppy with Love along with a working journal to supplement it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Editing Fiction, Detect and Correct
My first self-editing book dealt with nonfiction writing, but I had requests from fiction writers to do the same for them. It is a basic manual primarily for a beginning author (but experienced authors can benefit too) to teach him/her how to self-edit manuscripts before he/she publishes or sends it to a professional editor.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am starting a project, I usually outline it first. Then I walk around for days, creating paragraphs in my head of what and how I want to explain things. I go back to the outline constantly, revising and filling in the blanks.
I also spend a huge amount of time researching the topic and have pages of notes before I begin the actual writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Over a lifetime, there have been so many. Alistair Cooke and Kenneth Clark with their mega-history volumes, Dorothy Gilman with her cozies, The Brontes, Mark Twain, Dickens, Harper Lee–there are so many. My tastes are eclectic so I read classics and mysteries, literary fiction and best sellers. I just like any well-written book that can hold my attention.
What are you working on now?
I have three projects going:
1. an online class for Training Your Puppy with Love (with a collaborator)
2. an online class for self-editing nonfiction
3. an online class for self-editing fiction
This is a bit of a change for me, doing online. I have always been in the classroom and on zoom before this. New challenges are good.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method of selling books is to constantly “be stirring the pot.” I do like using the newsletters for promoting my books, for that is also the way I discover new authors. I look forward to working with Awesome Gang on promotions.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t talk about your book/topic to everyone in the world. I know you are excited, but all of that energy spent talking is energy you are not going to put into writing your book. If an author talks constantly about their book, they tend not to get it written. Be judicious when talking about your book. Better yet, don’t talk. Write!
There is another facet to this: if you have a good idea, someone else probably has that same idea. So, get your work out there before they do!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The book is done! In other words, know when to stop writing.
What are you reading now?
The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie by Osborne
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have another four nonfiction books that I would like to write, but that is going to take me another couple of years–at least.
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?
Boy, that is hard. There are so many I would like to have, read, and reread.
Bible – because of all of the good stories and thoughts
Complete Collection of Shakespeare – that will keep me going for a while, plus I can memorize the sonnets and great lines.
Blank journal with pen – to write down my thoughts as I live on the island.
(Can’t I take a few more???)
Author Websites and Profiles
Kathy Gaudry Website
Kathy Gaudry Amazon Profile
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