Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a syndicated columnist and freelance writer for multiple publications including Senior Wire News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, HuffPost, and many more. This is my first book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called Rats, Mice and Other Things You Can’t Take to the Bank, an Inspirational Collection of Essays From Humorous to Simply Human. Yes, it’s a mouthful for a title, but when you read the book, you totally understand where the book name comes from. Some of the essays include previously published works of mine from various small publications, others just needed a home. After many years of illness, I was forced to go out of work just as I was turning fifty. I wasn’t going to let my illness or my age end my life. In writing about my experiences, I found a way to become the healthiest happiest sick person I know. I wanted to share my lessons in becoming happy no matter the circumstances. That’s how the book came to be. My hope is that readers relate to these stories by seeing themselves within the pages and nodding as they read…yes…she’s just like me!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I keep a running list of story ideas that I dictate into my phone. Basically, my whole life is writing. As I go through any given day, or even wake up in the middle of the night, ideas for stories pop into my head. I have to take note of them right away, or sadly, they will be lost forever. My life is one big senior moment. If I think I’ll remember the idea later, I’m always wrong. Ask me how I know this about myself.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I’ve ever read has influenced me, but I would definitely have to say that other essayists have been my biggest influence. Think everything from Erma Bombeck to Jenny Lawson. If the author writes with personal candor, that’s always got the biggest impact on me. I only know how to write honestly…straight from the heart.
What are you working on now?
I continue to publish essays through my syndication and freelance work, and I’m enjoying speaking at events and swapping stories with readers at book clubs.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know that I have a best method. Book promotion is tough. I have a wonderful publisher who handles some of the promotion. Most of us writers, well, we just want to write. I totally enjoy meeting my readers and hearing their stories, but I sure wish someone else could handle all the selling and promoting.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you love to write, write. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation and spelling. Just write. The rest will come.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ha! Now this story goes way back. When I was a teenager, we had a family friend from New York City. I grew up in the south so her accent and her manner were quite foreign to me. She used to always say “you don’t ask, you don’t get.” I used to think this was so crass. As I got older, I actually realized that this was quite good advise. You don’t have to ask rudely for what you want. You can be kind, but still be assertive. I found out that when I would like something, I just had to ask. The worst that could happen was that the answer was “no.” Sometimes, just sometimes, the answer was “yes,” and I never would have known if I hadn’t asked.
What are you reading now?
I’m almost always reading one fiction and one nonfiction book. I just finished reading “Tortilla Curtain” and I’m in the midst of Darrell Sifford’s “What Do You Think.” Unfortunately, I believe Sifford’s book is out of print now, but it’s a heartfelt collection of what were some of his favorite essays, so of course, I love it.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll continue to write for my syndication as long as they’ll continue to have me, and I’ll continue with my freelance work. I’d like to see where this first book takes me. If it resonates with readers, perhaps they’ll be a book two.
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?
Nope, can’t go there. There’s no way I could ever be limited. As they say, “so many books, so little time.” I’d be like the Burgess Meredith character in the old Twilight Zone episode when he finds the world has come to an end, but he finds the library full of every book he ever wanted to read and all the time in the world to read them. If you’re old enough to be familiar with the episode, you know it doesn’t end quite so well, but I’ll be positive in that way I know so well. Otherwise, you can read the essay about Murphy’s Law in my book, and you can figure out for yourself how it turns out. Hint: I keep getting lucky.
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