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Rhonda Carpenter Interview 3/29/2010 9:14:20 PM
Author and podcaster Rhonda Carpenter shares in her writing adventures. LTS: Once again, Twitter has proven to be a great resource in my quest to search out literary talent. For today’s guest blog, I’d like to introduce you to author and one of the masterminds of PodioRacket.com, Rhonda R. Carpenter.
I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers. You have one of the most varied and fascinating professional lives of any author I’ve come to know so far. Not only are you a writer and podcaster, you are a clinical hypnotherapist, handwriting expert, dream analyst, professional psychic and Reiki Master. Am I missing anything?
RC: Well, Lorna, I think you hit the highlights. I am also an animal lover, 5 cats and 2 dogs one of which is writing a free ongoing picture book titled, "The Book of Bubba, Words of Wisdom from the Happiest Dog in the Universe." Found at www.rhondacarpenter.com. I am the mother of three adult boys and wife to the nicest man in the world.
LTS: Qualified in so many fields, how and when did becoming a published author fit into all of this? And was it always a lifelong dream to become published?
RC: The Mark of a Druid is my first novel, but not my first book. Until now I have written several technical courses and a dream analysis book which are available on my work site www.lifefirst.com. In 2004 I started this journey into writing novels. I started for fun and for me. I love to write and novels seemed the natural next step for me. As for the lifelong dream part, no it was not one of my life goals to be a published author. But it is certainly now something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life.
LTS: I understand your debut novel ‘The Mark of a Druid’ involves a young hypnotherapist trying to unravel a mystery. What is the inspiration behind this story and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Eve McCormick?
RC: The inspiration for The Mark of a Druid was a dream I had in 2004. One night I dreamed the captive scene in the book and from there it spiraled into this work. Eve McCormick is a young hypnotherapist researching reincarnation. She has a grand mind but when it comes to love relationships Eve has some challenges. When she has a dream that leave physical marks on her body the universe takes over her life and she must figure out why.
LTS: Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the reader when they crack open ‘The Mark of a Druid’?
RC: Drama, drama, drama! This is an intense ride in both time frames. In the ancient druid world of Aileann there is the story of a prophecy, abandonment and love. In the modern world of Eve McCormick nasty people are trying to take what is hers. Revenge and loss lead her to find true love and her inner power. The tension in this book drives the reader to turn the page and I am told by my fans they want more pages to turn in this series.
LTS: The road to publication is difficult at the best of times. Was it difficult for you to land an agent? Do you have any advice you’d like to share with the author struggling to find representation?
RC: I don’t currently have an agent. I took the new media route in getting my work out there for the public. After hearing the same thing from 8 publishing house, (Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I have no idea how to market this…) I decided to do it on my own.
LTS: The publishing process via traditional means can be very frustrating indeed! I feel for you, Rhonda. What advice would you like to share with the aspiring author standing at the crossroads of publication as they consider their options?
RC: My advice to those just starting out is don't let anyone tell you no. We have a ton of choices in this modern world of publishing. Look at all of them decide what is for you and then go for it. As a new author it is so hard to get picked up by a publishing house. Don't be afraid to build your audience with your first or even second or more books. Publishing houses want sales. They want you to be able to prove you can sell the book. Never give up keep writing and hone your craft and by all means get an editor!
LTS: I understand your novel is available in print, as an ebook and audiobook. Of these three, which form has been most popular and why?
RC: The Mark of a Druid is out in any form you can consume a book in. So far the audio podcast of the book has had the most action well over one hundred and fifty thousand in downloads. The e-book versions are running a close second with print versions not doing bad, but defiantly bringing up the rear. I think that the podcast is doing so well because of the audience at www.podiobooks.com. Let's face it they have a built in readership and dedicated listeners. It is free on Podiobooks for download there is always something to be said for free. But I have received many kind donations from the readers at podioboooks.com too and I am grateful to every one of them. My fans are the best! You might even want to ask now why give your book away in audio for free?
LTS: Okay, I’ll bite. Why do you give your book away in audio for free?
RC: It was a conscious decision on my part to begin to build a platform as a novelist. I didn't expect to make a dime on the first book so why not give it to the audience and let them spread the word and they have! I have actually received many emails from one spouse that listens who love the book and then bought it for their significant other. You have to love that!
LTS: I’m curious about your writing style. Are you one of those disciplined writers who must dedicate a certain time each day to producing so many words, or are you more relaxed and tend to write when it strikes your fancy?
RC: There is no discipline in my writing style. I write when the story is ready to be told. I write at night, late at night, usually between 10 pm and 2 am. It is quiet then and I don’t have to worry about being interrupted while in flow.
LTS: Still on the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser? The readers would like to know if you tend to plot out your story line in great detail or if your writing is more organic with the characters and events unfolding as you write.
RC: LOL! Now that is a funny question. I tend to plot in my head and then write by the seat of my pants frequently slipping off the chair. As Emerain Rich author of "Night's Knights" says, "as long as you don't plot in your pants, I think you're safe." My characters truly set the story and the pacing. I am just the conduit that writes it all down and cuts it apart the story they want to tell. I will usually have a flow in mind but I don't always stick to it.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
RC: I am a coffee fiend. That being said, I do have a ritual I follow. I light candles, (liquid paraffin, in glass containers) there are three of them on my desk at all times. I dim the lights to just a swing arm over my keyboard. I take a few minutes to close my eyes and let everything from the day go. Yes, this is meditation. Then I read out loud the last page of what I wrote at the last sitting. I will often play music while writing. For ‘The Mark of a Druid’ I listened to a ton of Lorenna McKennit and K.T. Tunstall. For ‘Ethers Descend’ I have been listening to some off the wall Celtic tunes from Fairies Ware Boots and for Truth Slithers I am listening to early 1900's gospel. The weather also plays a large role in my writing. Don't ask me why, but fog makes me want to write.
LTS: At one time or another, most writers hit the wall and their work stalls because of the dreaded writer’s block. What do you do to get around or over this mental wall to resume writing?
RC: I guess I am lucky. I have never dealt with writer's block in the way you mean it. It is usually real life that gets in my way. I find it hard to write when family stuff is going on. It is like I can't get past the family crisis to open up enough to write. And the last year has been full of family stuff. I am currently working on a second life class that will help writes by using self hypnosis to break down the block and get the writer going. When it is ready it will be announced on www.lifefirst.com on the Got Insight Blog and on www.rhondacarpenter.com.
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
RC: Who is my favorite author? Hmmm that is a tough one. I am involved with so many writers now because of Podioracket that it is hard to choose. I guess if pinned down Jack Whyte, Barbara Erskin. Both of these writers astound me with their ability to take a magically preserved happening and make sense out of it in a scientific way what make the reader stop and say, "oh yeah, that is how that could have happened." Of the new writers coming on the scene it would be Brain Rathbone, Starla Hutchton, J.C Hutchins, and Alex White, today. They are inspirations in the new media field. They are not afraid to put it out there and see what happens. They are gracious and kind people who truly get the new view in publishing even if they don't all agree, they are will share they experience and be forthright about it. All this could change at any moment. I consume books faster than meals and I always have a new fav. I often talk about them on my blogs.
LTS: Oh, I do like Jack Whyte! He's a talented author and he's one of my favourite writing instructors (was a wonderful and humbling experience having him critique my work)! Now, what is the most profound discovery you’ve made in terms of your writing and how it has touched the lives of others?
RC: Great question. I learned so much with this first novel. Don't be afraid to write, you can always edit. Editing is the bulk of the work in writing. If you have a story that needs to be told, tell it! You can always edit it to an expectable length or change the problem areas. You are the writer; change what you want. Tip: one of the best ways to edit yourself is to podcast (even if you are not going to release it.) Reading into a mic and listening back with print in front of you following along and even editing the audio will catch so many errors and will help greatly with your reader's ability to understand what you wanted them to understand. I get tons of fan email and reviews all the time. The most profound for me was one reader was that reading my book said it made her think she too had a story to tell and now she is writing. Another was that the hypnosis portions of The Mark of a Druid opened the mind of one reader to the power of the human mind. To be able to inspire others is a wonderful thing.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
RC: That in today's world of crumbling publication houses and new media… That it is up to you to sell your book no matter who publishes it. You have to be willing to put just as much time into pushing your book, maybe more, than you did in writing it. Don't be afraid to tell everyone you wrote a book and it is available.
LTS: Good advice and very true about book marketing! So, what are you reading now, and how did this particular book make it onto your to-read list?
RC: I am reading "The Jade Owl" by Edward C. Patterson and it made it onto my Sony reader as a gift from the author because we are both involved in Operation E-book Drop, a program that give e-books to deployed troops all over the world.
LTS: Being a multi-talented, multi-faceted lady, not only do you have a busy professional life, but you are also one of the masterminds behind PodioRacket.com. Can you tell our readers about this and the goal of PodioRacket.com?
RC: Podioracket.com is a website that blogs and produces short 25 minutes audio shows and hour long Blog Talk Radio live shows about what is new on podiobooks.com. When Heather Roulo author of "Fractured Horizon" and I finish our podcasts of our books we were talking one day. What is next we kept asking each other: It is out there in full how do we let others know and how will they choose the books they listen to? Then we talked about how we wished there was a podcast that covered the new releases and completed works on podiobooks something that would give the potential listener a quick intro to the authors and their works. We are now in season 3 of Podioracket and have expanded into anthology creation. It is a great place to find new authors and new books you probably wouldn't have heard about any other way. Our goal is to provide an inclusive podcast for listeners on upcoming Podiobooks.com releases and give authors a voice in promoting their works to an interested audience.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out into other genres? Can your fans expect ‘When Ethers Descend’ in the near future?
RC: I have already branched out into some short story horror and inspirational picture books that you can get on my writers site, www.rhondacarpenter.com. ‘When Ethers Descend’ book two in the series of ‘The Mark of a Druid’ should be ready by the end of 2010. ‘Truth Slithers’, my first foray into Murder Mystery, should be out in mid 2011 unless life gets in the way.
LTS: Thank you for a fascinating interview, Rhonda. And for those of you who haven’t caught Rhonda Carpenter on PodioRacket, she does great interviews and fun giveaways. She even gave away one my Imago Fantasy novels earlier this year when she interviewed Brian Rathbone of White Wolf Press!
For more information about Rhonda and her novels check out:
Website: www.lifeflirst.com, www.podioracket.com, www.rhondacarpenter.com, and the book site www.themarkofadruid.com.
Follow Rhonda on Twitter: .rhondacarpenter or .podioracket
Where to buy the book: everywhere Amazon, local bookstores and any online distributor including Smashwords.com and Mobipocket. There is a full list of where the book can be purchased at http://www.themarkofadruid.com/novel/buy-now/ and you can always listen for free on iTunes, the book site and www.podiobooks.com.
