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Author Meeting Place Interviews Author Laurel-Rain Snow of Fresno, CA USA
Bio: After performing for more than three decades as a social worker, I finally turned to an old love writing. In my novels, I have combined personal and professional experiences to arrive at my characters and my plots.
Always "living in my head," with my stories writing themselves over the years, I finally sat down at my computer and began my first official manuscript. Previously, I had scribbled a few beginnings, but when I got the computer, I got serious!
With four grown children and seven grandchildren, I am now luxuriating in the writer's life.
How many book/s have you written? I have five published novels at this time.
Please share with us your book titles: "An Accidental Life," "Embrace the Whirlwind," "Chasing Stardust," "Miles to Go," and "Web of Tyranny."
What genre/s would you like to write in? I prefer the genre that is often classified as "women's fiction."
Please share with us who or what encourages you to write and why? In my childhood, my greatest encouragement came from teachers, who praised my writing skills and offered opportunities for growth.
Later, I discovered that my experiences as a social worker, from which I gained a great deal of perspective into human behavior, with all its flaws and foibles, became my greatest inspiration.
How long did it take for you to write your book/s?: I completed the rough draft of my first novel in nine months. But then I kept going back and "tweaking" it.
How long did it take for you to publish your book/s?: I began sending out queries and samples in 2001 and had a contract with a publisher in nine months. However, I later changed to a different publisher due to financial problems with the first publisher.
Who did you publish with and why?: After having my novel with a publisher for four-and-a-half years, with nothing actually published, I heard about BookSurge, a subsidiary of Amazon.com. I sent them a manuscript, and after they published the book within a very short time (3 months), I sent them my subsequent books, one by one.
My first book was published in 2006, with two in 2007 and two more in 2008.
The individualized attention, as well as their support and assistance, encouraged me; also, I was pleased with the results.
Please share with us how you prefer to market your book/s?: So far, I have combined online marketing, with various sites and blogs, and individualized and personal marketing through author groups and community events.
I belong to a group of Central Valley authors who have book signings and events periodically. Networking with other authors helps open additional doors and assists in "word-of-mouth" exposure.
Also, I always carry bookmarks and other publicity materials with me and hand them out whenever the opportunity strikes.
I left copies of my books at my gym and they offered a sales table on the holidays. I have participated in book club groups and panel discussions at the local library.
Please share with us any event/s that you have planned in marketing your book/s: So far, the events I have attended have been planned by groups to which I belong, or have sprung from meetings with people in the community.
For example, my invitation to participate in a panel discussion at the local library came about after I had donated a copy of each of my books to that branch.
From that action, came the offer from the library to buy copies of my books for the other branches, which they subsequently did.
Do you wish to share any additional information with our readers?: My personal experience exemplifies that, no matter what happens in life, you can use these events to facilitate characterizations and plots for stories and/or novels.
Additionally, the most important quality that a would-be writer can have is persistence. Never give up. And when others tell you it can't be done, ignore this and persist!
In equal parts funny and serious, Web of Tyranny by Laurel-Rain Snow is a proud, if poignant tale of Margaret Elaine Graham, a woman entangled in the trenches that epitomized her abusive childhood home only to flee into a stultifying marriage with Bob Williams. Seduced by the hope of achieving her goal of a college education and a life free from domination, she is blinded to Bob’s true qualities and in a very real sense jumps from the pan into the fire. Oppression begets oppression and as Meg walks a thin line of human betrayal, she learns to stake her own claim to happiness-no matter how high the cost. Her fight leads to politicking during the radical antiwar movement of the 60s and 70s, which manifests as a near-compulsion, which will turn her world on end. Enticed by the possibilities open to her and chafing at the strictures of the marital ties, Meg bolts from the marriage with her toddler son in tow where a whole myriad of troubles await her.
chezraine@yahoo.com
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