Q&A with author LINDA MORRIS

Please welcome author Linda Morris to the blog for a little Q&A.

Q--Thanks for being here today. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?

A--Thanks for having me. I'm a technical writer/editor by day, romance writer by night, although those roles seem to bleed into each other all the time! I live with my husband and young son, so between work, writing, and being a mom, lots of idle time is not a problem! I have two stories out now. Montana Belle, a western romance, and Forget-Me-Not, a romantic suspense that just released last week. Both are out with The Wild Rose Press.

Q--Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?

A--Oh, definitely. It's kind of interesting watching my son, who is six and also shy. I really think that it's just part of his make-up from birth, almost, and seems to have been from mine too. It's somehow comforting to know that I can struggle against my shyness and try to keep it from holding me back from things I want to do, but I can't really change it or put an end to it.

Q--In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?

A--Hmm, I don't really think it's hindered my writing. Having a story in your head you can escape to is a wonderful thing. It's been more difficult on the promotional end, however. I have a hard time telling other people, "My story is great, you should read it!" It also gives me the willies to think about people I know only casually reading my work, I have to admit. (A good friend reading my work doesn't bother me, and a total stranger reading it, doesn't either, but imagining an acquaintance reading my stuff and drawing conclusions about me kind of bugs me. Hmm, maybe that's more a neuroses than shyness! Hard to tell the difference sometimes.)

Q--In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?

A--I am a writer in large part because I'm shy. I feel that the "outsider looking in" personality is born to be a writer. If you were always the most popular kid in class, captain of the football team, or head cheerleader, you probably didn't grow up to be a writer. Something about that role of observing is prime training for a writer.

Q--What’s the hardest part of this business for you?

A--Promotion is tough because it's just not in my nature. Time management is really tough. I just need 5-6 more hours in the day and I'll be fine!

Q--Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?

A--Ack. I have an interview scheduled at an Internet radio station devoted to romance novels. I really can't believe that I signed myself up for it. I'm not even really letting myself think about it!

Q--What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?

A--Get older . Approaching forty does have some big pluses: I just don't give as much of a damn about what other people think! I'm not sure I could have published a romance novel in my 20s because I would have worried too much about other people's reactions, like them thinking that romance novels are trashy or something. I still care a little, I guess, but not as much, and certainly not enough to let it stop me from doing what I really want to do.

Q--Where can my readers find you on the web?

A--My blog at http://lindamorriswriter.blogspot.com/. Thanks for having me!

Thanks for the great interview, Linda!

Pam Beason: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

Please help me welcome author Pam Beason to the blog.

I'm a lot shyer than most people realize. When I was a child, I would burst into tears if anyone other than my parents said anything the slightest bit critical to me. This happened even if the person spoke to me out of concern for my safety, such as saying, "Don't sit on the arm of the sofa, dear, you might fall off." I used to make my little sister ask our neighbor if we could visit her, even though we'd visited dozens of times and I loved this neighbor. When strangers held out a plate of cookies and asked if I wanted one, I frequently said no, although I lusted after that cookie. For some reason, I couldn't stand being the focus of attention from a stranger, even for a minute or two.

My shyness continues into adulthood. I always feel more comfortable with perfect strangers than I do with folks I've met only once or twice. I can say anything to a stranger I'll never meet again; but if I suspect I'll need to interact with that person from now on, it turns my insides to mush—what will they think of me? My friends consider me humorous and thoughtful, but people who don't know me often find my jokes snarky and my directness a little blunt.

I got married with only a minister and witnesses present, and being the focus of attention for that short time gave me a whale of a headache; I don't understand why anyone would want to walk down the aisle in a fancy dress. I work as a private investigator, and I easily do my sleuthing on the computer or in courthouses behind the scenes, but when I have to talk to a subject, especially on a pretense, it always gives me the jitters beforehand. But I make myself do it. Once in awhile, I stand in front of a crowd with a microphone and talk or teach. And although I always wish I were anywhere else before I venture out there, I know I'll do a good job.

How do I know I'll do okay in the spotlight? It's all because of a camera. When I was hired as a teaching assistant in graduate school, I had to take a short course for new college teachers. A lot of the instruction was routine—how to take attendance, report grades, handle the classroom, etc., and—being an A student—I aced all that. But then the instructor announced that for the last part of the course, we would each be videotaped and critiqued. Omigod! Could it get any worse? Having to stand up in front of a class was bad enough; being videotaped made it more awful, and then having to sit through a playback of the video and be critiqued by everyone in the class? That had to be my worst nightmare.

The assignment was to teach a typical twenty-minute lesson in our normal subject. I taught Spanish, so I decided to teach a lesson on giving and understanding directions. When my day came to teach before the camera, I soon had everyone reading maps and saying right, left, two blocks south, and so forth in Spanish. I was quaking inside the whole time, knowing that camera was recording all my blunders. After my lesson, we took a short break while the instructor set up for the critique session. I chugged a quart of water from the hallway fountain, wishing the liquid was tequila instead of simple H2O.

Back in the room and now in the audience, I watched the videotape of my lesson. To my utter amazement, I didn't look nervous on screen. I appeared and sounded professional. The only critique I received was that perhaps I smiled too much. Whoa! What an incredible confidence boost!

No, the experience didn't erase my shyness. But I now know that I can successfully play the part of a poised teacher or investigator. I'll never feel relaxed standing before a crowd, but I do feel that I can do that job well.

So—want to overcome that nauseous feeling before you go on stage? Get out the video camera and tape yourself in action. In the worst case, you'll have a chance to curb your nervous mannerisms before your big performance. In the best case, you may find that, like me, you don't look uneasy at all.

About Pamela: Pamela S. Beason received the Daphne du Maurier Award for unpublished authors a few years ago. Now she has published a quirky romance called On Shaky Ground (The Wild Rose Press) that includes earthquakes, vandals, and arson. She's also self-published a romantic adventure novella, Call of the Jaguar, available in ebook form everywhere, and a mystery novel called The Only Witness will also be available any day now. She has a three-book contract with Berkley Prime Crime for her Sam Westin mysteries. The first book in that new series deals with the search for a child missing in the wilderness, and will be available this coming December.

You can find out more about Pamela here www.pamelasbeason.com and here http://psbeason.wordpress.com

Resolving the Midlife (Career) Crisis

I'm delighted to welcome Lori Gray to the blog. Lori is a yet-unpublished writer of romantic fiction. She began writing at an early age, but set her dreams aside for a “real” job. Now well into her forties, she’s giving her earliest dreams another shot at the big time. She plans to be published by age 50. You can travel along with Lori as she journeys toward her writing goals at http://lorwrite.blogspot.com/

Here's Lori: One of my earliest childhood memories has to do with books, not just reading them, but writing them. As a preschooler, I was fascinated with Dr. Seuss. My teenage uncle (and regular babysitter) was going on a trip and asked my parents for books to read on the plane. I desperately wanted to write him a book myself, but I didn’t know how to write any of the big words yet. So I copied every word from The Foot Book, my favorite, onto construction paper and tied the pages together with a shoe string. My four-year old mind didn’t much care whether my book had illustrations. All I knew was that I was a WRITER!

Years passed. Childhood dreams gave way to teenage angst. Adult responsibilities quickly followed. Having just passed the 25 year mark being a full-time office cubicle dweller (the female version of Dilbert, eyeglasses and corporate uniform included), I began to question my own professional existence. So, I decided to make myself a Bucket List. Skydiving and safari had no interest for me. But, there were things I DID want to do:

1) Finish my bachelor’s degree

2) Write and publish a novel

3) Re-learn to play piano and perform professionally

Over the years I wrote now and again. I published dozens of articles in paralegal magazines and worked part time as a stringer for our local paper. I even managed to complete several novels, albeit decades ago. I guess none of it ever seemed as prolific as Dr. Seuss’ words, “foot, foot, foot!” So, I kept working. Even my childhood piano sat idle in my living room.

What’s interesting in this journey of life is that some of the roads not taken in our youth reappear later on. About a year into my college courses, I was offered a opportunity at work to learn technical writing. Two years later I am now writing full time instead of filing!

Now my co-workers are words instead of people. Spending my entire workday managing grammar instead of grumpy bosses has released floodgates of new ideas. I find myself less frustrated and more excited to see what else is possible in the future. Enthusiasm for romance writing has found me again, and I am attempting new things, like blogging! You lucky souls are reading my very first!

Are you wondering what else is possible in your life? Make a list. Take a risk. You never know what’s around the next corner. Just follow your feet!

HEALTHY MONDAYS: The Winter Doldrums

This time of year is always hard for me. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where most of the days from October to April are gray, drizzly and dark. Although I grew up around here, I never realized how much the weather affected my moods until I moved to sunny Boise for 9 years. The winters there might be cold, but the skies were usually blue and sunny.

But here…ick. There’s nothing worse than getting out of bed in the morning, opening up the blinds, and not being able to tell you just opened up the blinds because it’s so dark and dreary outside.

About a year ago, I went to my doctor for what I thought was depression: I was always tired, grumpy, quick-tempered, hungry, grumpy, sad. Did I mention grumpy? She suspected my Vitamin D levels were low. And boy were they. Bottom side of “normal” is 25 whatevers. My number was 11. She said it was one of the lowest levels she’d seen. “No wonder you’ve been bitchy,” she said. She diagnosed me with SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to Wikepedia, “It has been estimated that 1.5-9% of adults in the US experience SAD.”

Symptoms of SAD (according to MayoClinic.com)

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating and processing information

After my diagnosis, my doctor put me on a mega dose of Vitamin D, told me to get outside for 20 minutes on non-rainy days, and suggested I order a light box. It couldn’t be one of those cheapy ones you can get at any retail store, but it must be 10,000 lux in intensity. She told me to sit in front of it for 30 minutes every morning.

So, I started doing what my doctor told me to do. I took my vitamins, I went outside more often, and I bought a light box. Every morning, I sat in front of the “happy light” for 30-45 minutes while I drank my coffee and wrote in my journal.

Holy cow. Within the week, I was noticeably less grouchy, had more energy, and no longer required an afternoon nap. This year, I started feeling those tell tale signs again. I didn’t recognize them for what they were at first, until my husband asked, “When was the last time you used your light box?” Well, duh.

Anyway, I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on TV or write about them in my books. I just wanted to share with you my experience. If you have any of the symptoms of SAD –and even if you don’t—you might want to talk to your doctor about testing your Vitamin D levels. My doc said 80% of the women she tests come back deficient in this crucial vitamin.

Benefits of Vitamin D (from the Medicalnewstoday.com website):

• Maintenance of healthy bones

• Regulates the immune system

• May reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis

• Linked to maintaining a healthy body weight

• Can reduce severity and frequency of asthma symptoms

• May reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women.

• Lower risk of developing cancer, compared to people with lower levels of Vit D

Have a healthy week!

Tongue-Tied? Try Toastmasters

Allow me to introduce this week's guest blogger: Keli Gwyn

Scared of Speaking?


Knocking Knees. Hammering Heart. Perspiring Palms. What do they have in common?

All three are symptoms of the #1 fear

And what is that?


Public speaking tops the list of things that terrify us. According to numerous sources, not even the fear of death surpasses it. The mere thought of standing behind a podium with people peering at us can turn even the most outgoing person into a stammering, cotton-mouthed scaredy-cat.


Writers and Speaking
Why do we, as novelists, need concern ourselves with public speaking? Especially those of us, like me, who freely admit we’re shy writers? After all, don’t we spend most of our time alone in front of our computers with only our characters (and perhaps a pet or two) for company? Aren’t non-fiction writers the ones who have to build a platform and speak to promote their books?


I’ll answer those questions with one word: readers.

We want our books to be read and enjoyed by many, right? One way for that to happen is for us to interact with our readers, potential readers, and writer friends who serve as reviewers and influencers.

And how do we reach them? Sure, we use email. But we also speak—in our writer groups, at meetings, at conferences, in the classroom, in those all important pitch sessions. Sometimes we’re even given (or can actually be brave and seek) opportunities to speak, which enable us to reach a number of people at one time.


Speak? Shudder. Who is she kidding? I’m no speaker. The thought terrifies me.


If thoughts like those run through your head at the idea of addressing an audience, you’re not alone. But help is available.


A Proven Solution
One of the best programs for improving as a speaker is Toastmasters. Founded in 1924, Toastmasters International (TMI) has over 250,000 members in 106 countries and has helped countless people improve their speaking skills and develop in other ways too. How do I know? I’ve been a member for two years and have benefited personally. If you’ve considering joining Toastmasters but don’t know what it’s about, I’ll give you an inside look.

How do I find a club?
Many communities have a Toastmasters club—often more than one. To locate a club near you, check your local phone book or newspaper’s club section. You can also visit the TWI website, www.toastmasters.org, and click the “find” link on the home page. Club locations and meeting day/times are listed.


Can I check out a TM club before I join?
Most clubs are open to the public and are eager to have you visit—more than once if you’d like. If more than one club in your area meets at a time that would fit into your schedule, I suggest visiting both. Although clubs follow the same format, each has its own style or atmosphere.

What is the format?
Most club meetings, which are generally an hour long and take place once a week, follow a similar format with five major components.

1) Business meeting – After the Sergeant at Arms calls the meeting to order, s/he will introduce the Toastmaster (TM) for the week. This position, along with the others, is filled by a different member each week. The TM introduces the members who are serving in various roles and invites them to explain their duties. Some of these roles are Timer, Joke Master, and Grammarian, who will announce the Word of the Day.

2) Prepared Speeches – The TM introduces the members scheduled to speak that day. These members prepare their speeches in advance, using guidelines outlined in a manual. New members work through the first manual, the Competent Communicator, which contains ten speeches aimed at teaching the basics, such as organizing a speech, using vocal variety, and incorporating body language. Once a member has completed the ten speeches in this first manual, he or she has a choice of many manuals from which to choose, such as The Entertaining Speaker, Storytelling, and Humorously Speaking. Each speaker must stay within the time constraints of his/her speech to qualify for the awards given at the conclusion of the meeting.

3) Table Topics – The Table Topicsmaster leads the extemporaneous speeches portion of the meeting. S/he chooses a topic for the week, which is often related to the theme for that week’s meeting. The members who volunteer or are chosen to speak address the given topic in a one-two minute impromptu speech. To qualify for the awards, the speakers have to meet the minimum time requirement and incorporate the Word of the Day into their speeches. This portion of the meeting tends to be a great deal of fun. Visitors are welcome to participate.


4) Evaluation – The General Evaluator (GE) leads this portion of the meeting. S/he introduces the members serving as Evaluators, who provide two-three minute oral evaluations of the prepared speakers. The GE then asks for the Grammarian’s report. The member serving in that position reports on good use of language. In some clubs, s/he will also mention the use of crutch/filler words used by members, such as “um,” “ah,” or “you know.” The GE concludes this portion of the meeting with an overall evaluation of the meeting.

5) Conclusion – The awards/ribbons for Best Prepared Speaker, Best Table Topics, and Best Evaluator are presented. The TM turns the meeting over to the presiding officer, who deals with any club business and concludes the meeting.

How much does it cost to join?
A new member pays a one-time $20 membership fee, which covers the cost of the first two manuals: Competent Communicator and Competent Leader. A monthly fee, currently $4.50, is paid to TMI. Collected every six months, this fee entitles a member to receive the monthly Toastmaster magazine. In addition, each club assesses a monthly fee to offset operating expenses. Mine charges just one dollar a month.

What are the benefits of Toastmasters?
1. Improved Presentation Skills -- A member learns to prepare an organized, engaging speech. In addition, s/he practices the skills needed to present a polished performance and maintain the audience’s interest. Among these are good use of voice, body language, timing, props, and humor.

 2. Thinking on Your Feet -- TM members get practice speaking without a script as they fill the various roles and participate in Table Topics. Learning to be more comfortable speaking extemporaneously would help a writer in many ways: interacting with readers, other writers, friends, and family members. Table Topics practice could help when we’re put on the spot, such as when we get that unexpected opportunity to pitch our projects in an “elevator speech.”


3. Listening Skills -- When serving as an Evaluator, one learns to listen better, which would help a writer in communications with his/her agent and editor(s).


4. Business Skills -- A member learns leadership and time management skills, both of which would benefit a writer in handling the business side of writing.


5. Dealing with Criticism -- Learning from the Evaluations of one’s speeches helps a member improve his/her speaking skills. In addition, this experience could help a writer learn how to accept constructive criticism such as s/he receives from agents, editors, mentors, and writing partners.


6. Increased Confidence -- One of the greatest benefits of TM, especially for shy writers, is the growth in self-confidence. Facing a fear takes courage. Doing something to minimize that fear is empowering.


7. Fun and Friendships -- TM meetings can be a lot of fun. I look forward to seeing my TM buddies every Wednesday at noon, knowing we’ll have a great time together. We learn in a mutually supportive environment. And we laugh—a lot. Facing a fear with friends who become allies in the battle builds special relationships.


8. Financial Rewards -- Once you’ve joined TM and have grown more comfortable as a speaker, you may find it easier to interest groups in having you as their guest. The fact that you are a trained TM will add credibility, and you may find that you can charge a fee and get paid to speak. Plus, once you’ve sold a book, speaking endears you to an audience, and you’re apt to gain new readers from those who listened to your presentation.

From Cotton-mouthed to Confident

After two-years in TM, I no longer get quite as nervous before a speech as I used to. That doesn’t mean I’ve overcome my inherent shyness. I still deal with dry-mouth during a speech on occasion, but most of the time, my audience doesn’t know I’m scared, which I count as progress.

Fear of public speaking is real, but we can do something about it. If you want to face yours, I encourage you to explore TM as an option. I have a hunch you’ll be glad you did.

If you have questions about Toastmasters that I haven’t covered, please leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Keli writes inspirational historical romance and was a double Golden Heart® finalist in 2008. Her Christmas present this past year was an offer of representation from Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary. Keli and her extremely supportive hubby, who serves as her plotting partner, live in the heart of California’s Gold Country. In addition to writing and participating in her local Toastmasters club, Keli enjoys taking walks down the narrow streets of her small town while admiring the Victorian homes gracing them. She has a fondness for Coach handbags and is a long-time Taco Bell addict.

To learn more about Keli, visit her website or her popular blog, Romance Writers on the Journey

Conducting the Research Interview, from Start to Finish

Please help me welcome award-winning writer and new Kensington author, Kristina McMorris. Her fictional work has garnered nearly twenty national literary awards and two nominations for the highly coveted Golden Heart®. A proud member of several literary organizations including RWA® and Rose City Romance Writers, Kristina looks forward to the release of her debut novel in February 2011 from Kensington Books!

Aside from being an historical author who spends just as much time doing intense research as writing her actual books, she's also been a weekly TV host for nearly a dozen years of her life, requiring her giving countless interviews. Check out her website for more details.


by Kristina McMorris
If the mere mention of the word "interview" has you breaking out in hives from dreaded anticipation, you're not alone. Unless your day job entails working in HR, an interview typically carries the sense that we're about to be examined and judged—most likely for something we consider vital. A job interview. A college entrance interview. A scholarship interview. Even a media interview.

Well, folks, when it comes to interviewing someone for research purposes, rest assured that, as a writer, this is YOUR turn to run the show. To best avoid all that nervousness we're accustomed to, however, the key is being fully prepared to conduct the interview like a pro. And today, I'm happy to share some tips I've learned in order to do just that.

As a WWII novelist, interviews have become a necessity to ensure that my world building rings true. Initially stemming from fear of receiving death threats from WWII experts (and yes, fanatics) for getting my facts wrong, I've conducted interviews that include WWII infantrymen and airmen, Japanese-American internment survivors, Military Intelligence Service vets (secret wartime interrogators and code breakers), legendary baseball players, museum directors, star violinists, and the list goes on and on.

And let me tell you, once you find your comfort zone and build confidence in the interview process, you'll gain so much more information than you ever imagined possible, and you'll wonder why you ever dreaded an activity brimming with such enjoyment and information. So, without further ado, here are ten tips to help the Katie Couric in you emerge:


1) DO YOUR RESEARCH
The more prepared you are, the more confidence you'll have. And just as importantly, you'll know which questions to ask, saving both you and your interviewee time.


2) HAVE QUESTIONS READY
Type your list of questions beforehand, in a logical/related order of progression, leaving space between each for answers. Also, create an area at the top of the page for the interviewee's name and contact info to make your life easier when organizing afterward. If you type your answers on the computer while chatting with the person, be sure to hit save on a regular basis! If this step adds stress, take notes by hand and type them in later.


3) WHO TO INTERVIEW
Google the subject you're covering to find direct contacts. Look for museums, historical societies, archivists, librarians, chat rooms, related organizations, and articles featuring experts (which can easily lead to contacting them through a website). In other words, start with approaching people who, indicated by their trade, most likely WANT to talk about their subject.


If they can't answer your questions, ask them if they can refer you to someone who can; this gives you a nice "inside" referral to then utilize in your email to the next person. And as we all know, referrals make a difference in any industry.


4) CONTACT SEVERAL SOURCES
We're all busy today. The world seems to be spinning faster than ever before. So don't be surprised if someone you contact doesn't respond. I typically follow up once, and will let it go if I still don't hear back. So long as your approach is professional, chances are high it's not about you; it's just the challenge of juggling busy lives (or perhaps THEY'RE the ones who are nervous about an interview!). Thus, when possible, I like to contact three experts in whichever field I'm researching. Out of three, I'm almost certain to receive at least one positive response. And that person quite often can suggest others for you.

Whatever you do, don't give up! Get the information you need to make your book sparkle. Also, it's wise to save your correspondence, so there's never a question of when/who to contact.

5) HOW TO CONTACT
Since most people (even many of my war vet buddies) have internet access, I've found that emailing is a very calm, efficient, approachable way to make initial contact, and even conduct a full interview when the questions are very detailed or, on the flipside, when there are only a few quick questions.

As for my usual initial emails, here is an example of one I used recently, producing successful results:


Dear Mr. XXX,
As an historical novelist, I'm writing to you in hopes that you'd be willing to answer a few questions regarding the USC baseball program in the '40s. XXX XXX referred me to you and claimed you'd be a wonderful source of information.

Please let me know if I may email you some questions, or set up a phone interview, should your schedule allow.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you!


Kind regards,


Kristina McMorris
www.kristinamcmorris.com


5) SCHEDULE THE INTERVIEW
So they responded with "Yes, I'd be happy to answer some questions." Now what?


I then ask if I may schedule a time that works for me to call them. Unless they tell you otherwise, you should always be the one calling them, not the other way around. And be sure to be punctual.


If the interview is in person, you could offer to buy them a coffee and snack at Starbuck's in their part of town (or wherever is convenient for them). Should you like to tape record the interview, now would be a good chance to ask if they're comfortable with that, so no one is surprised come interview time.

Also, whether in person or over the phone, it's helpful if you can give them an estimate as to how long the interview will take, so neither of you will feel rushed. You should have a general idea of how long it will take based on your prepared list of questions; still, some interviewees love to ramble (and there are plenty of gems that can be found in that rambling), so pad yourself with time just in case.


6) KICKING OFF THE INTERVIEW
First off, I thank them for their time, let them know I have a list of questions for them, but if at any time they need to leave/go that they shouldn't be afraid to tell me (this relieves pressure from both sides). If possible and appropriate, I then offer one ice breaking question or conversation starter (e.g. (if they're from Madison, WI) "I see that you live near my husband's family. How long have you lived in Madison?" People typically love talking about their hometown, their alma matter, their kids, etc.


In turn, they might very well ask you a related question. ("Oh, where does his family live in Wisconsin?") And now, voila, you're having a conversation—versus a pressured interview for both of you—and you're ready to ease into your interrogation.

7) THE MOST ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF AN INTERVIEW
Aside from asking at least one question, the key to a great interview (just ask Barbara Walters) is......ready for it?.....LISTENING. I would venture to guess that your closest friends tend to be, and not by coincidence, great listeners. We love it when people take time to show us how interesting we are, and that we have something of value to say. This is the crux of an interview. Listen to them. And I mean, really listen. You'll be amazed at how many fabulous questions you'll come up with on the spot (keep a blank page handy) that you hadn't predicted, based solely on the information they end up providing.

On that note, don't be afraid to detour from your preplanned questions. And once that spontaneous tangent has run its course, it's okay to ask them to wait a moment while you scan your questions, since they likely covered some of your other inquiries. Just know, unless you run a tight, rigid interview (and what fun is that?), you're often going to hop around a bit. Though sometimes challenging, this should be expected. So don't worry if you don't get answers to every question during the first interview. That's what follow up is all about.


8) THE INTERVIEW IS OVER—BUT EGAD, YOU'RE NOT DONE!
Do your best to stick with the estimated time frame you had provided them. If the entire scheduled hour is over and you only have a few questions left, let them know you'd love to ask a couple more but would be happy to email or call another time if that's more convenient for them. Chances are good they'll say, "Oh, it's okay, I have time now if you'd like to ask more."

If you happen to have a lot more questions, ask if you could schedule another interview. This will also give you time to review the answers they gave you, and to form new ones.

9) COMPLETED INTERVIEW and FOLLOW-UP
Congratulations! You did it. You came, you saw, you got your answers.

Now, even if you've covered all the questions, you'll very likely think of more later. So, just to be safe, I ALWAYS thank them for their time, and ask if I may contact them later should any other questions arise. This leaves the door open, and you won't feel bad contacting them again.

10) THANK YOU
I send every interviewee a thank you by email, card, or even a small gift if warranted. Putting them in the acknowledgments section of your book is obviously a great way to show appreciation, as well as sending them a complimentary copy of the book. For interviewees or researchers who went above and beyond, I've sent a small box of truffles on a few occasions, and even a floral arrangement. No matter how small or large the token, what's most important is to merely show your gratitude. While this seems a basic golden rule, sadly it's one that has too quickly faded from our society—so keep it alive, and your interviewees will be delighted they helped you out!

How To Use Body Language to Appear More Confident

Please help me welcome my guest blogger, Julia Hunter. Julia is a public speaker throughout the nation and is a 20-year veteran law enforcement officer. She’s a pre-published fiction writer and teaches workshops on gadgets for busy writers, law enforcement and body language. Her website is at http://www.julia-hunter.com/.

by Julia Hunter

Do you think because you’re an introvert, it’s hard for you to succeed in business and social situations? Do you want to appear more accessible and out-going?


Most people who know me assume I’m an extrovert; in fact, they would swear I’m an extrovert. However, I’ll share a secret -- I score off the chart as an introvert. So how do I manage as a public speaker? I prepare, listen, and watch for body language cues.


Despite the label you identify with, the bottom line is that you are who you are. You know how you feel when you’re in a group, or when you’re giving a presentation, or when pitching your story – so my suggestion is to focus on where you are at and where you want to be.


Nothing will substitute for preparation, but body language can help with the transition from “about to vomit” to confident interactions.


Public Speaking: Book Signings, Workshop Presenter, Media Interviews


DO: Pick your clothes carefully. I tend to jingle change in my pocket and put my hands in the pockets. The former gives off a signal that I’m nervous and the latter gives a signal that I don’t want to be there. Although both may be true, I have a job to do so just take away the temptation and wear something with no pockets. Most of my suit jackets still have the pockets stitched up. Extra tip: If there is a possibility of television press coverage, wear any color shirt except white and choose solid colors vs. patterns


DON’T: Point when you talk to people. A study comparing audiences of the same speech delivered with different body language, found that 68% of audience members who were pointed at didn’t hear the message and left with a negative opinion of the speaker.


DO: Talk with open palms – it conveys sincerity and trust


DO: Locate receptive/engaged people seated in the left, right and center of the audience and rotate making eye contact with them. It will appear you are looking at everyone in the audience but won’t seem so intimidating for you.


Social Settings: Mixers, Parties, Conferences


DO: Stand with feet no wider than your shoulders (less for women), and keep your arms in an open position. Hold a drink if you need a crutch; it’s small enough to not appear as a barrier.


DON’T: Stand apart from the crowd or cross your legs and/or arms – you will give off signals that you are unapproachable.


DO: Smile. It’s contagious. It doesn’t have to be an animated toothy smile – just be pleasant.


DO: Walk slowly to mingle, look among the clusters of people for a friend or someone who makes friendly eye contact.


Pitches/Interviews


DO: Control what you can about the agent/editor’s body position. Offer to shake their hand when you approach. Hand them a business card as you sit down. This will open their upper body at least momentarily, which makes them more receptive to receiving information.


DON’T: Play with your hair when pitching as it depicts insecurity and shyness.


DO: Mirror their body language subtly. If they itch their face, then touch your face shortly after. If they take a drink then you might choose to touch your glass, pick it up or drink yourself. Mirroring is way to build rapport at the subconscious level. Watch (loving) couples in restaurants to see mirroring in action.


DO: Keep both feet on the floor and sit with good posture, leaning a bit forward if possible. If the agent/editor mirrors this position then you have an interested audience.


These body language tips will certainly get you started in the right direction. If you have an interest to use body language more extensively and efficiently, you will need to identify a person’s normal movements and read their gestures in clusters.


Do you have any body language suggestions that work for you? Do you have a situation/scenario that you’d like help with? Leave a comment and let’s discuss!


Best Wishes,


Julia

Next week's guest: 2008 Golden Heart winner and now NAL/Signet Eclipse author, Annette McCleave.

Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zones

Thanks so much for visiting my new blog. I’m really excited about it. I'm still trying to figure out the techie side of this, so please be patient with me if the format isn't perfect yet.


I’ve met a lot of writers over the years who are just like me: natural introverts. Some of us hide it better than others, some of us don’t try to hide it at all, nor do we want to. I’ve been wanting to do a blog for a while, but wanted to find a niche that was relatively untapped. One day I thought, what if there was a place on the web for others just like me, a place where we can embrace the wonderful aspects of being on the shy side, as well as learn to overcome the not-so-great parts of it? Thus, Once Written, Twice Shy was born (thanks to fellow Pixie Chick, Amy Atwell, for the name suggestion).


 I’ve got some great guest bloggers lined up. We’ll talk to a psychotherapist about what shyness is; we’ll learn how to do one-on-one interviews for research (I’d personally rather have a root canal); we’ll talk to a body language expert about how to appear more out-going; we’ll talk to an author who wrote a book specifically for shy writers, and much more. As soon as I have the specific lineup, I’ll post it so you won’t miss anything.


 Also, over the next few months, my sister (writer Laurie Lunden) and I will be going on field trips that take us outside our comfort zones. Watch for Laurie’s report of our visit to the shooting range. Guns freak me out, so this will be a challenge for me.


 Dealing with our shyness sometimes means stepping outside our comfort zones. I do this every day when I teach group exercise classes at my gym, especially when I teach Zumba®. (Side note: if you haven’t tried Zumba®, you MUST. It’s Latin-inspired aerobic dancing. Try it once and you’ll be hooked, even if you hate to exercise). Even though I’ve been teaching now for several years, I still get an upset stomach before every class. I still have to remind myself to look people in the eye and not stare at the floor as I teach. And my sister (my non-writing, fabulous Zumba®-taking sister, who’s lost 25 lbs just from these classes BTW) has to remind me to smile several times throughout my classes.


I never planned to be a group X teacher. I fell into it when the last gym I worked at was desperate for a sub. I couldn’t sleep for a week before that first class. Even though teaching had been a long-time dream of mine, I never had the courage to actually pursue it because I hate being in the spotlight, hate being center stage, hate being center of attention. But somehow, I made it through that class without puking or passing out, and now I teach six classes a week. But I’m always nervous beforehand and I always have to give myself a little peptalk before stepping in front of my students.


Here’s my question for you, my dearest introvert friends (If you’re not a natural introvert, that’s okay. Nobody’s perfect, and you’re still welcome here), what have you done in your personal or writing life that took you out of your comfort zone, OR what are you trying to build up the courage to do?


NEXT WEEK'S GUEST: Julia Hunter, a federal agent, shares body language tips to make you appear more self confident. Saturday, Sept 26.