Scroll Down For Part I
Tell us about the
music that goes along with the book.
I’ve been writing music ever since I was seven when my
father bought me my first guitar as he travelled through Mexico. I took to that guitar like hugging a
supernova. It just consumed my life and I
loved that.
Years later, two supernovas collided, as they were supposed
to, with the writing of the book and the music within it. With the storyline of the father leaving
behind both letters and songs for his children, the writing of the music along with
the book was the most natural thing in the world to occur.
But I have to tell you that as much as I love the writing in
the book, sometimes I love the music more. But music tends to do that to you—take over
your life and consume you. Which is not
a bad thing, especially if it’s music AND books!
How did you come
to create the "Whistle-Stop Book Tour?"
After the publishing of TheLegacy Letters, I realized I created something bigger than just a series of
life letters ensconced with a storyline. I had really created something
inspirational that people were using to inspire themselves in their own lives. My audience taught me what my book was about,
not only as an author but as a person, and that was to “live life to the
fullest.” Then I thought, let’s “walk
the talk” and create one-of-a-kind book signings that exemplify this idea of “living
of life to its fullest.” And thus I created
the following:
First-ever modern-day whistle-stop book tour along the
entire East Coast
First-ever digital book signing by an
independently-published author (and on horseback while riding up to Barnes
& Noble)
First-ever book signing on top of an active volcano (Mt. St.
Helens) and with a live radio show.
Signing books while river rafting and atop the Space Needle
The “Pop-Up book signing!
In just one year, I did over 100 book signings, over 50
radio, and numerous TV interviews.
What are you
working on now?
Now I’m trying not to work so much but that’s really not working
. . . Okay, I’m doing more exciting
first-ever book signings soon, so stay tuned.
I’m also working on the audio version of the book and the first draft of
the screenplay. We’re starting to get
some attention from producers so I want to be prepared when that time
arrives. I love to do TV interviews but
love doing radio more—you can sit around in your PJ’s, sip coffee, and do one interview
right after the other. So I try to do
lots of radio around the country, which helps to keep the book continually in
front of the public eye—which is the name of the modern marketing game.
Final words of
wisdom
I was asked two questions the other day at an interview in
which I wanted to answer them in some David Letterman/Stephen Colbert
style. But then I gave questions some
thought (or so I thought) . . .
The first was, “What advice would you give to your younger
self?”
I answered, “I wouldn’t give him advice. I would give him a big pat on the back and
even bigger thank you for staying true to himself for all these years.”
The second was, “For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks
or traditional paper/hard back books?”
I answered, “I’m biased.
I like my football in the fall, my Scotch to come from Scotland, and my
books to be made of paper.”
That’s all the wisdom I had left for that day . . .
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