Karin Abarbanel
Co-author,
Birthing the Elephant: The woman’s go for it! guide to overcoming the big challenges of launching a business
(Ten Speed Press, March 2008)
www.birthingtheelephant.com

Author Bio Karin Abarbanel:

I’m an author, speaker, and small-business owner. I have a passion for helping women realize their dreams. I started my own solo communications firm in the 1990s because I craved a more independent work life and wanted to spend time with my baby son.

I love the flexibility that my business gives me but I know firsthand the demands involved and want to arm women emotionally for the ups and downs they’ll face.

In addition to co-authoring my newest book, Birthing the Elephant, I’ve published four other how-to guides. I love writing and sharing what I’ve learned, especially with other women. I also have a love of playwriting and am making a foray into fiction.

I received my MA from Columbia University and a BA from Middlebury College. I live in New Jersey with my husband, son, and my nonvirtual assistant, Dr. Watson, a sheepdog-shepherd mix who holds a PhD. in Snackology.

Author Interview:

What compelled you to write your first book?

Karin Abarbanel: I fell into writing my first book! I was in graduate school working on my MA in English literature and not enjoying it, when I happened to see a flyer in the student aid office.

It described a women’s career guide in search of an author. I took the bait and ended up co-authoring the book. It was both an overwhelming and an exciting experience. I was in way over my head, but I was excited about writing a how-to guide for women that would really make a difference in their lives. I just loved being a published author!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Karin Abarbanel: Yes, always! I was always reading, writing poems, making up stories, and plays – living in a fantasy world was very satisfying to me as a kid. Even now, I get excited when I sit down to write. I love that blank-page feeling: anything is possible. And paper is so forgiving! Reading has always been an emotional experience for me – and that’s one of the reasons I write: I want to evoke a feeling or provoke an action in someone else.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s. What are their titles; which is your favorite if you have more than one, and briefly let us know what they are about.

Karin Abarbanel: I’ve written/co-authored five books. My first was The Woman’s Work Book, a career guide for women. My third book, How to Succeed on Your Own is a special favorite because I was the solo author on it and it took a very creative look at being your own boss. My fourth book, The Dollar Bill Knows No Sex, is the rags-to-riches story of a woman entrepreneur I knew very well. It was really challenging and fun to write.

I spent about 6 months just interviewing my subject and the next six months writing her story: capturing someone else’s voice and style in print was very satisfying.

My newest book, Birthing the Elephant: the woman’s go for it guide to overcoming the big challenges of launching a business (co-authored with Bruce Freeman), was also a wonderful writing experience. The women entrepreneurs interviewed were so creative and awesomely persistent in pursuing their dreams. They were tremendously generous in sharing their advice and mistakes. The emotional aspects of launching a business are so important, yet they’ve been largely ignored. This book breaks new ground by taking women step by step through the launch cycle — I’m very proud of it!

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?

Karin Abarbanel: I just love words and playing with them. When a wonderful phrase pops into my head, I just feel so excited. I think what inspires me most is simply the urge to express myself, to be heard, to share what I’ve learned, either from my own personal triumphs and heartbreaks or from the accomplishments of other people. I seem driven to share ideas with people that I believe will move them and help them. Must be the Pisces in me!

What about your family? Do you have children, married, siblings, parents? Has your family been supportive of your writing?

Karin Abarbanel: My 17-year old son Alex, my husband, David, my two sisters, Stephanie and Judy,and my brother, Peter are very supportive of my writing. So’s my dog, Watson. Sometimes, though I get a little intense and obsessive about what I’m working on and people don’t really understand. I’ve been working on a play and biography of Sojourner Truth, the African-American evangelist, for quite a while. I just think she’s a fantastic person and feel driven to bring her alive. I get a little crazy with it!

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Karin Abarbanel: I have loved Willa Cather ever since an inspiring teacher introduced me to her in the 6th grade. I first read a short story of hers called, “Neighbor Rosicky” and I just was so moved by it. She is such a lean, yet emotional writer. So much is unspoken in her work.

I read many of her novels and marveled at her range.

Do you have any pets? What are they? Tell us about them.

Karin Abarbanel: We have a sheepdog/lab/shepherd mix named Dr. Watson. He is my constant companion and keeps me company in my office. He takes me for walks and gets me out of my house.

He is a gentle soul and I really love him.

How long did it take you to write your most recent (or first) book? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long (or short)?

Karin Abarbanel: Writing Birthing the Elephant was a great experience. All in all, it took just over a year, from first interviews to publication. The book was actually finished in about seven months, but then editing, revisions, permissions, and design took about another five months. I was very disciplined about writing this book and worked on it every day.

Is there any one particular book that when you read it, you thought to yourself, “Man, I wish I’d written that one!”?

Karin Abarbanel: I love Thornton Wilder’s Bridge of San Luis Rey – what a mystical, magical book. Very spare, yet so rich in life and meaning. I’d love to write a work of fiction with that drive and moral intensity!

What is your main goal or purpose you would like to see accomplished by your writing?

Karin Abarbanel: I would say that my main goal or purpose is to inspire and move people to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Now, use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know?
I feel very blessed and fulfilled to be doing work that I love and to be able to make my living by my pen. I also really enjoy working on my own and running my own show – and champion this choice for other women. That’s why I loved working on Birthing the Elephant. I believe it really helps women who want to launch their own ventures and design their own destinies boost their chances of success. Doing work you love is so important, both for your own fulfillment and for your family.

You can find out more about Birthing the Elephant by visiting: www.birthingtheelephant.com

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Christie Silvers is a wife, mother, and writer. She resides in north Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She is the oldest of three children born to Ricky and Lynn Grant.

At a young age, Christie would devour any and all books that she could get her hands on. She loved reading anything that was adventurous and new. She was always the girl with a book in her hands.

At the age of seventeen, she married her high school sweetheart and they began their long journey together. At the age of nineteen, they were graced with the birth of their first daughter. Christie became a stay at home mom from that moment on.

Over the years, Christie thought that she would enjoy writing a book. She started many, but never found a subject that intrigued her enough to finish. It wasn’t until she was in her late twenties that Christie decided to jump feet first into the writing world. She now has over 170 articles, one humorous parenting book, and two paranormal romance novels for your reading pleasure.

Christie looks forward to many more books in her future. Hopefully one day she’ll even have whole days to write, but she doubts that will happen until all of her children are grown. Until then, she will enjoy the short amount of time that she has with her girls and will take those peaceful moments when she can get them.

Author Interview: Christie Silvers

What compelled you to write your first book?

My first book was completely influenced by my three daughters. By being a humorous, parenting book, Toddler Logic is as far away from my beloved paranormal romance genre as on can get. But, I was compelled to write it and am extremely happy that I did.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Actually, I had always loved the art of writing, but as a child I wanted to grow up to be a lawyer or an accountant. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that the desire to write became unbearable. I felt such a pull to the written word that the only thing I could do was write.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s. What are their titles; which is your favorite if you have more than one, and briefly let us know what they are about.

I currently have three books available.

Toddler Logic: 50 Things That You Toddler Wants You to Know is a humorous, parenting book full of little anecdotes about life with a toddler. All of the “50 Things” are things that I personally experienced while raising my three daughters. It was fun to write and will incite a giggle from anyone who reads it.

Next up is the beginning of my first paranormal romance series, A Midnight Infatuation. In this book, we are introduced to Alex and Fiona. Alex is a 150 year old vampire who become instantly infatuated with the lovely Fiona when he discovers that she emits a scent that he has never experienced before. Fiona is a werewolf who is being forced into an undesirable, arranged marriage. When she refuses the marriage, she is forced to battle for her life–which she ultimately loses.

Lastly, there is my upcoming release, A Birth at Dawn. This is the second book in the Alex & Fiona series. It will be released on April 1, 2008. So stay tuned!

Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?

A Birth at Dawn is my newest release, but I am currently working on two projects. One will be the third book in the Alex & Fiona series, A Twilight Abduction, and should be out arould October 2008. The other book is about a different set of characters, but will be in the same paranormal romance genre. There is no expected release date for this book at the moment.

Have you ever won any writing awards? If so, what?

Well, I haven’t really entered any contests, but I was a winner in the 2007 NaNoWriMo contest and I finished 7th in the Preditors & Editors 2007 Readers Poll. Those were fun!

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

Ah, that first book. Holding that first book was almost like holding my children for the first time. I was filled with giddy excitement, joy, exhilaration, and all of those other synonyms that could possibly describe my happiness. And it doesn’t end with just that first book, I feel that same excitement from the first copy of each new book. I hope to always feel that elation with future books.

What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write?

Oh, I love music! If I could play an instrument, I probably would have been a musician. I have to have music blaring into my brain when I write. I listen to loud, profane, heavy-thumping music when I write. Heavy metal and rock are my faves, but there are a few alternative groups and rap that I enjoy also. As long as it’s loud and has a good beat (and isn’t country), I can writer to it!

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk? Music? Lighting, handwriting?

I usually do my best fiction writing late at night. Everyone is in bed, there is only one lamp on in the room, and I’m in my favorite chair with my laptop on, well, my lap. I have music on and my MP3 player is plugged into my brain. It only takes a moment to get into character before my fingers start flying across the keyboard and words begin to spew onto the screen. I love it!

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Yes, I watch television. I watch a variety of dramas, comedies, science fiction, and mysteries. I enjoy shows like The Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Who, Torchwood, Battlestar Galactica, Ugly Betty, Lost, and numerous others. Thank goodness for reliable DVRs.

What about movies? Same as above.

I also watch a variety of movies, but my favorites are horror movies. There’s just something about being so into a movie that it can have a physical effect on you. You jump, your heart races, and you may even scream as the monster attacks the unknowing main character. It’s a thrill!

How long did it take you to write your most recent (or first) book? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long (or short)?

For each of my paranormal romance novels, it took six months from idea to completion. I didn’t know how long the first one would take, so six months didn’t seem too long or too short. With the second one, I was prepared for six months. I don’t know what the future will hold, but I’ll hang in there no matter what.

Many authors have said that naming their characters is a difficult process, almost like choosing a name for their own child. How did you select the names of some of your lead characters in your book/s?

Naming my characters was definitely a process. I always make a list of names that I hear, see, read, or just like the sound of. When it comes down to naming a character I will go to that list of names and try the name out for my character. Sometimes one of those names is just the right one, but sometimes they aren’t. So then I have to hunt, hunt, and hunt for just the right one. So, yes, I suppose it is as difficult as naming your own child. This is a name that your character will have to live with forever… just like your children.

Have you ever had a character take over a story and move it in a different direction than you had originally intended? How did you handle it?

My characters always take over the story. I always go into a book with an idea of how it will flow and move from scene to scene and then how it will end. Well, that idea always goes right out the window about two chapters in a book. I always say that my characters run the show, they tell me the story that they want me to write and I’m just the person taking dictation. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of person, so I just go with the story as it presents itself to me.

Now, use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know?

I have a website at http://www.christiesilvers.com. You can read chapter excerpts, find out where you can purchase my books, enter contests, sign up for my newsletter, and numerous other things while you’re there.

I also have a blog that I update regularly at http://christiesilvers.blogspot and a MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/christiesilvers. And if all of that wasn’t enough, you can even find me at my Coffee Time Romance Author’s Forum
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=374

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Rick R. Reed’s most recent published work includes a thriller about a serial killer using a gay hookup website to find his victims called IM (Quest Books, May 2007); a tragic vampire love story set in 1950s Greenwich Village and modern-day Chicago called In the Blood (Quest Books, September 2007); and a paranormal page-turner about a psychic reluctantly caught up in the murders of two teenage girls in her small western Pennsylvania town called Deadly Vision (Quest Books, January 2008).

Other published novels include A Face Without a Heart (a modern-day version of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray), Penance, and Obsessed. His horror short story collection, Twisted: Tales of Obsession and Terror was published in April 2006.

Upcoming novels include a sexy thriller called High Risk about a bored housewife who chooses a very handsome–and psychotic–stranger to come on to (Amber Quill Press, February 2008); a reincarnation love story called Orientation (Amber Quill Press, May 2008) that crosses boundary and sexual orientation lines; and Dead End Street, a young adult novel about five teenagers who form a Halloween Horror Club that takes place in a house that may or may not be haunted (Amber Quill Press, October 2008).

His short fiction has appeared in more than 20 anthologies. Rick lives in Miami, FL with his partner. Visit him on the web at www.rickrreed.com.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Rick Reed: Oh yes. I have been writing since I was six years old, when I wrote my first short story. Writing is something that’s constitutional for me; it’s not what I do so much as who I am.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s. What are their titles; which is your favorite if you have more than one, and briefly let us know what they are about.

Rick Reed: My books, from most recent to first, include:

High Risk (February 2008), a page-turner about a bored housewife who has anonymous sexual encounters while her lawyer husband works. And then she meets up with a very handsome—and very psychotic—stranger and it all goes to hell. Gruesome, scary fun.

Deadly Vision (January 2008), the tale of a reluctantly psychic single mother who begins having visions into the grisly fates of two teenage girls who have gone missing in her small town. This is one of my favorites not only because it’s a suspenseful story, but because of its final, hopeful message about the bonds mothers forge with their children.

In the Blood (September 2007), a tragic vampire love story that explores the link between art and immortality. I love the parallel story lines (present day and 1950s Greenwich Village) and the characters, who are all seriously twisted.

IM (May 2007), this serial killer thriller, about a murderer who finds victims in the cyber underbelly of online hookup websites, has been one of my most popular books and is the only one, so far, to have been optioned for film.

Twisted: Tales of Obsession and Terror (April, 2006) is a collection of my scariest tales, almost all of which have appeared in various horror anthologies over the years.

A Face Without a Heart (2000 and second edition 2006), this modern-day telling of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is also a favorite. Reviews have called it a really well-done update that holds its own against the original, which is huge praise for me, because I am a huge admirer of Wilde and his body of work.

Penance (1993; second edition 2006), this horror story about street kids in uptown Chicago and the pedophile who preys on them is one of my darkest stories.

Obsessed (1991; second edition 2006), is the story of a tortured serial killer who believes he is a vampire and is one of my most roller-coaster books.

Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?

Rick Reed: In May of 2008, my reincarnation novel, Orientation, will appear. It’s kind of a horror/love story that explores whether love is possible between a gay man and a lesbian, especially if one is the “second coming” of the other’s own love of his life. In October of 2008, Dead End Street will come out, my first young adult novel about a group of five misfit kids who form a Halloween Horror Club and that revolves around a mass murder that occurred in their town.

Have you ever won any writing awards? If so, what?

Rick Reed: A Face Without a Heart was shortlisted for the Spectrum Award and won the www.queerhorror.com website’s award for best novel of 2000. For 2007, IM and In the Blood are both nominated for Lambda Literary Awards. I’m waiting to find out if either will make it to the finalist round.

What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write?

Rick Reed: I need silence when I write. It helps me slip into the world of my characters better. Music would only distract me.

What one thing are you the most proud of in your life?

Rick Reed: Surprisingly, it’s not my books, although I am proud of them. But the truth is the first thing that comes to mind is my son, Nicholas, who will be graduating from college this May.

The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Rick Reed: I think my characters, both good and bad, all have aspects of myself…maybe they’re all me in a way. I’m not sure I could get into their heads otherwise. For some of my more monstrous creations, that might be a scary thing to contemplate…and I wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t have the outlet of writing.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Rick Reed: I really admire Ruth Rendell, a British mystery writer, and Stephen King. Both are remarkable genre storytellers who have transcended their genres by being writers who really have something to say. I also learned so much from my creative writing teacher in college, the late Milton White, who taught me to write simply, have something to say, and the value of telling a good story.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Rick Reed: I was a lonely child and books were a wonderful escape for me. I think they helped me become the writer I am today. The whole Wizard of Oz series were great books that helped me see how writing could really take people to places they’d never been.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Rick Reed: As I said above, Ruth Rendell and Stephen King. I also really admire the work of James Purdy, Denise Mina, and Patricia Highsmith. They all explore the darker side of human nature with great respect and skill.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Rick Reed: I do watch television; I always have. It’s more of a pure escape for me (unlike reading) and I revel in guilty pleasures like game shows (Deal of No Deal), reality (Judge Judy and Project Runway) and engaging fluff (Ugly Betty). Unlike reading, I like to use TV to shut off my brain and get away from writing for a while. It has never really inspired me.

What about movies? Same as above.

Rick Reed: Movies are more like books for me. They do inspire me and I think that’s why a lot of people tell me my books would make great movies. I’ve always loved movies and I think I tend to think in cinematic terms when I write. I sort of “see” the movie of my book in my head.

Author Bio: Charlotte Barnes

I’m a Florida poet, author, and humorist. I was recently interviewed on The Tony Kay Show on ArtistFirst Radio Network. To hear my show, go to www.artistfirst.com/bookshows.htm, and scroll down the alpha list and click on my name. It was my first-ever radio interview! I’m a new addition to the Internet, and you are welcome to visit me at www.charlottebarnesonline.com.

Author Interview Charlotte Barnes:

It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?

Charlotte Barnes: I do have a day job. I work for a government agency, but I won’t name it—that way my co-workers can still pretend not to know me if I say something stupid! Previously, I worked as a 7th grade Language Arts teacher.

What compelled you to write your first book?

Charlotte Barnes: I had always loved writing, but I decided to do my first book when I wanted to do a collection of gift/award ideas based on what I had been presenting at my monthly work/awards ceremony. That’s when “Creative Mojo: The Brainstormer’s Book of Gift Ideas for Anytime” came to be.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Charlotte Barnes: I always enjoyed creative writing assignments in school, and maybe on a dream level I would have liked to have become a writer, but I had not intended to become a writer. I was headed into teaching. However, when it became clear to me that I should be open to other opportunities, I had more free time and got into writing again.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s. What are their titles; which is your favorite if you have more than one, and briefly let us know what they are about. Pay particular attention to your most recent book and/or your first book:

Charlotte Barnes: My first book was “Creative Mojo: The Brainstormer’s Book of Gift Ideas for Anytime,” and “creative mojo” means inspiration. It’s a collection of gift ideas that you can use “as is” or you can adapt them for your needs. My second book was “Don’t Schedule Your Wedding on Game Day,” and is kind of a homage to my great love of college football. In it, I combine practical advice and football. My most recent book is the poetry collection “The Mansfield Lighthouse Cats,” and the title comes from the name of the first poem. The poem was inspired my curiosity about where the neighborhood cats might go all day. It’s fanciful.

Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?

Charlotte Barnes: My children’s picture book manuscript, “Stella Ducktropolis,” should be out in spring/summer 2008. It’s for girls about age 7. The main character works in a sticker factory by day and fights crime at night.

Have you ever won any writing awards? If so, what?

Charlotte Barnes: “The Mansfield Lighthouse Cats” recently won Book of the Year 2007 in the poetry category at www.books-and-authors.net.

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

Charlotte Barnes: It’s really a happy, giddy feeling. I always get such a feeling of accomplishment when I begin a task and see if through to completion.

What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write?

Charlotte Barnes: When I do listen to music, it’s mostly classical. More than music, I listen to motivational CD’s. I love anything by Nightingale-Conant. Some of my favorites are Napoleon Hill, Brian Tracy, and Tony Robbins.

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?

Charlotte Barnes: What inspires me the most is the desire to answer the question, “How great can I be?” By that I mean, “How much of my potential can I fulfill? How much service can I be?”

What one thing are you the most proud of in your life?

Charlotte Barnes: I am proud of the fact that I try to always treat others with respect and kindness. To me, if you do that, you’re a success no matter field of endeavor you pursue.

What about your family? Do you have children, married, siblings, parents? Has your family been supportive of your writing?

Charlotte Barnes: I’m not married, but my parents are still living and I have one younger brother. They are supportive of my writing, but even they don’t get any advance peeks at any of my work—I have a very fragile artistic ego!

The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Charlotte Barnes: I don’t set out to base characters on myself. I incorporate humor a lot. I think a lot of the time I base characters more on general patterns of behavior. Sometimes I might create a character based not on how I am, but how I would like to be.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Charlotte Barnes: I like Frost and Dickinson a lot. I’m a big Mark Twain fan. I don’t try to emulate other writers—I feel my work would only suffer by comparison. The closest thing I have to a writing mentor is my dear friend Mary, who does her own writing and sends sympathetic, supportive e-mails to keep me uplifted.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Charlotte Barnes: I enjoyed “The Little Gingerbread Man,” “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” and “The Little Engine That Could.” I was also fascinated by the adventures of Amelia Bedelia. We used to have a substitute teacher who was a favorite of mine because when she came she would always read us a new Amelia Bedelia story.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Charlotte Barnes: A current favorite is J.K. Rowling—she has a real gift for detail, for setting a scene. Most of what I’m reading currently is either of a motivational nature or of a biographical nature. I enjoy reading about successful, creative people in the hopes that I can find insights into how to make myself a more successful, creative person.

Hey, let’s get morbid. When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?

Charlotte Barnes: I would like for them to say that reading my books enriched their lives in some way. If even one person tells me, “I enjoyed reading your book,” I consider that a success. As for me personally, I would like for people to say that they felt they were better for having known me.

Location and life experience can sprinkle their influence in your writing. Tell us about where you grew up and a little about where you live now – city? Suburb? Country? Farm? If you could live anywhere you want to live, where would that be?

Charlotte Barnes: I grew up a few miles from the beach. You’ll find that influence, that love of Florida, creeping in a little more as I get to my next collection of poetry, which I’m working on now. I’ve tentatively titled it, “Poems from a Florida Girl.” If I could live anywhere, I would either live in the country in a nice little cottage with a hammock outside for a good nap, or I would live in Tallahassee within walking distance of Doak Campbell Stadium, so I could go see my Florida State Seminoles play.

Do you have any pets? What are they? Tell us about them.

Charlotte Barnes: I don’t have any pets, but I do love animals.

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk? Music? Lighting, handwriting?

Charlotte Barnes: I’m usually sitting at my lamp-lit desk, with a blue ink pen and a yellow legal pad. There’s complete silence so that I can hear my thoughts.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Charlotte Barnes: I watch a little. I enjoy Prison Break, NCIS, House, Project Runway, The Office, and Ghost Whisperer. I try not to let television influence me too much—there’s too much negativity!

What about movies?

Charlotte Barnes: Same as above. I don’t go to the movies as much as I used to—they just don’t draw me to the theater anymore. It seems like every other movie is a re-make of some television show or movie. When I do go, I enjoy action movies and comedies.

Focusing on your most recent (or first) book, tell our readers what genre your book is and what popular author you think your writing style in this book is most like.

Charlotte Barnes: “The Mansfield Lighthouse Cats” is a poetry book. It’s been described as “diverse” or “eclectic.” I don’t think I can pin it down to one influence.

How long did it take you to write your most recent (or first) book? When you started writing, did you think it would take that long (or short)?

Charlotte Barnes: I can write a book in three or four months if my “creative mojo” is flowing. If not, then it might take longer. I don’t keep track of time. I write what I want to write, then I move on to my next idea. I was a little surprised I had so much inside me to get out—I thought I would be one of those writers slaving away on a manuscript for years. I have a sense of urgency that spurs me forward, though.

Is there anyone you’d like to specifically acknowledge who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

Charlotte Barnes: I would like to thank my family members, my friends, and my co-workers for putting up with the mad scribblings and the missed lunches.

Anything else you want your readers to know?

You can find out information about me and my books at www.charlottebarnesonline.com. You can order my books through the publisher, www.publishamerica.com or any of the major booksellers. You can also listen to my recent interview at www.artistfirst.com/bookshows.htm. Scroll down the alpha list and click on my name. Then come and sign my guestbook and say hello!