An author wears
many hats. Yesterday, I put on
my website manager hat, tidying and updating my website that I had toiled
over, building myself, over three years ago when I began this career of
writing. I can't help but look back on those days of hope and blind
excitement that seems so long ago now, and wonder how many
hours of research, editing, writing and rewriting I have invested in my
new lifestyle.
Sportster can tell
you. His new napping spot is next to the computer because that is where he
finds me eight to ten hours a day.
The evidence lies in
my new, ergonomically correct chair that cured the tingling sensation
in my fingers as they pounded the keyboard, placing those
twenty-six letters of the alphabet on a white screen, arranging and
rearranging until the imaginary characters in my head sprang to life onto
paper.
And my Wizard of
Winnebago motor home will make testament on its odometer. After miles on
the road, carrying Sportster, Jack Incarnate and me to RV rallies,
libraries and book signings, from California to Florida, to Oregon, Vermont, and
New York, and all states in between, not only do the years add up, but the
places and miles do, too.
Yesterday, I
retrieved my motor home, which will be my home for the next three
months, from Canyon Lake Auto, a sister company of Bradley Auto
Center in Sun City, California. (Bradley Auto is also a
fictional place in my book, MASADA'S MARINE)
Feeling good
from the most thorough checkup it had received in years, the Wizard hummed
all the way home, purring like Sportster as I backed it into its parking
space alongside my house.
"Only ten more
days," I said. "And we'll be on the road again." The sun
flashed a wink off the headlight as I closed the gate and went in my
"stick" house.
Redesigning my
website, I came across an interview I had with Nick Russell, New York
Times best-selling author and creator of The Gypsy Journal RV Travel Newspaper along
with his readers' comments.
Here it is. I hope you
enjoy.
This is the first in a
series of interviews on self-published authors I will be running. Some of the
authors are very successful and sell hundreds of books a month, while others
have enjoyed more modest success. Their backgrounds, writing styles, and genres
may be different, but they all have one thing in common; the desire to share
the stories inside their heads that are clamoring to get out.
I first met Judy Howard
at a Gypsy Journal RV Rally in Yuma, Arizona and was impressed by her dedication
to succeeding as an independent author.
Where Do You
Live: Sun City, California
What Genre Are Your
Books: My first book,
Coast To Coast With A Cat And A Ghost, is a memoir. My second book, Going Home
With A Cat And A Ghost, is a mystery-romance. My current work in progress,
Masada's Marine, will be general fiction.
Book Title(s):
Coast To Coast With A
Cat And A Ghost
Going Home With A Cat
And A Ghost
Masada's Marine
Tell Us About Your
Background: I was born in Illinois
and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. I have owned and operated a
pet grooming salon, The Canine Beauty Salon, since I was eleven years old.
After my husband of 25 years died in 2004, I began traveling more in my motorhome,
and three years ago I began writing.
How Long Have You Been
Actively Writing: Only three years, but I am addicted and cannot stop.
Indie or Trade
Published: Working as a self-employed business owner all my life, becoming an
Indie Author came naturally.
E-books Or Printed: My books are available in print and as
e-books.
Is Writing A Fulltime Activity, And If Not,
What Is Your Regular Job: I am transitioning to retirement from my dog grooming
business. I will write full time by the end of the year.
Who Are Some Of Your
Favorite Authors: I am fickle. I am
drawn to what I am researching at the moment. When I had time to read for
pleasure, I did not seek out the great American novels, but was attracted to
the mainstream authors, Nora Roberts, Joseph Wambaugh, James Patterson, Jean
Auel and even Daniel Steele. As an author now, I regret not mentioning them
all. But today, Carlos Luis Montelvan’s, Until Tuesday, Garth Stein’s, The Art
Of Racing In The Rain are just a few.
What Brought You To
Indie Publishing: As
I said before, I have been self-employed all my life and I find it difficult
to partner with others. I have many author
friends, many who have hired publishers who have not made them wealthy, so what can I
say?
What Is Your Writing
Schedule: I write every
chance I get. Many times my grooming business and my traveling threaten to push
my writing aside. If I allow that to happen I get irritable and restless. So,
for the most part, I rise between five and six A.M. to insure writing time,
before reality takes over the day.
What Are Your Writing
Goals: My goal is to be
completely retired from my grooming business so that I may travel and write. My
hope is my books will inspire and bring change to my readers’ lives.
How Do You Promote
Your Books: I mainly blog and
Twitter. I attend as many book signings and author affairs as I am able. I
support other authors. I am a strong believer in a supportive community of
authors. I also perform writing workshops to inspire others who have the desire
to write but have not yet delved into the sea of words.
Where Do Or Would You
Like To See Yourself In 5 Years: Writing and traveling. I hope that I will be an author of
some prominence, traveling, speaking, and writing.
What Do You See As The
Future For Indie Authors: I have always believed in capitalism – the concept of competition
and theory of supply and demand. Social media has made it possible for an
author to soar to the bestseller’s list, if he/she writes well. If
you do quality work and work your ass off, you will survive and thrive.
What Advice Would You
Give A New Indie Author: A best-selling author said something similar to this: Work from
daylight to dusk, and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
What Else Would You
Like Our Readers To Know About You: First of all, through my research for my current book, Masada's Marine, I have acquired a deep feeling of gratitude to all of our veterans.
Second, I am always asked if I am afraid, traveling alone. The answer is, “Yes,
but I do it anyway.” And third, people ask why I write. My answer is the same
as President John Kennedy’s when he explained why we choose to go to the moon.
I choose to write not because it is easy, but because it is hard.
Thanks Judy, I wish you
much success in your publishing efforts.
That interview was a year and a half ago. Today I am retired, writing and traveling. I wonder, where the next year and a half will lead?
Check out my newest
book,
MASADA'S MARINE , The Story of A Service Dog and Her Wounded Marine Warrior.
Every hour a veteran
commits suicide.
Sportster and I hit the road early Sunday morning with my
friend, Julie April and her three dogs trailing behind in their fifth wheel. Light
traffic allowed us to arrive at the Coalinga Elks on schedule where we spent
our first night on the road. Three digit temperatures motivated us to rise
early the next day for the second leg of our journey. 
Suzi led me from the ground floor gallery where her pastels
and water colors hung like captured vistas from a coastal safari. We climbed
the spiral staircase up into the depths of her studio and then up even higher
each level with a window of inspiration gazing out upon the surf. I imagined the
feel of reading a good book in one of those cozy, small rooms on a stormy winter’s day.
Don't forget to read MASADA'S MARINE, The Story Of A Service Dog and Her Wounded Marine Warrior.
