Author Teresa Geering: 2016

Hello my little chickadees

How are we all?

Look, I've told you before, I'm not really interested. I'm just being polite get over it 😊😊😊😊

On my blog today I have the macho Mr fit Tom Winton (he works out you know. You didn't? Oh yes indeedee)

Here he is then and I won't steal his thunder. I'll let him tell you everything

Tom Winton

Who is Tom Winton?

I’m just a guy who decided at age 50 to sit down and write a novel. After the completed manuscript spent eleven years sitting at the bottom of a closet, I took it out and it was published. Since then—seven years ago—I’ve put out seven more books and had the good fortune of having them all become bestsellers.

Where do you live Tom?

I grew up in New York City, spent many years in Florida, and now live in a quiet town in the southern reaches of the Appalachian Mountains.

Any hobbies – apart from writing?

I love taking road trips to new places and suppose that’s a hobby of sorts. I’ve also spent thousands of hours fishing the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and countless bays, rivers, lakes and creeks. I love connecting with the natural world and believe early mornings on the water or in the woods is as close as I’ve ever come to nirvana.

Pets?

Four months ago my wife and I lost our beloved terrier “Ginger.” After being pals for 16 years, there are no words that can describe exactly how distraught we were. But much sooner after Ginger crossed the rainbow than we ever dreamed, the misses and I adopted a lovely beagle. We named her “Solace”, because that’s what she has given us.

Tom and Solace in their own bit of heaven

What do you do to chill out?

My favorite way to chill is to sip two or three beers in the afternoon, usually when I finish a writing session at the keyboard.

Do you work?

Aw c’mon, Tee! Work is a four letter word.

Tee: Sighs. You've got that right sunshine.

Tell me about your books. When you first started writing. How many are completed. Is there a work in progress?

As I mentioned earlier, I started writing at age 50 and now have had eight books published. Presently I’m 26,000 words into a novel about a well-to-do man who suddenly finds himself penniless, heartbroken about losing his wife and daughter, and living on the street. He is befriended by a down-and-out ex-professional basketball player who has been forced to hide from the law after being wrongly accused of two very serious crimes. Known only as “The Prophet” by the homeless people in West Palm Beach, Florida, the highly intelligent older man with mesmerizing gray eyes takes the main character under his wing and together they have some wild-and-wooly adventures as they try to right their lives.

Do you prefer the heat OR cold?

Now go figure this one out! Even though I absolutely detest the heat, I lived in Florida for 35 years. It was largely the once fabulous fishing that kept me there, but I’ll take the four seasons over constant heat anytime.

Fantasy holiday… Where would you choose to go if someone else was picking up the tab?

If somebody was picking up the tab I’d like to spend two weeks in the-middle-of-nowhere, Alaska, and after that shoot down to Las Vegas to spend another two weeks yanking the arm of a slot machine.

Tee: Now you’re talking.

Tell me about self publishing, the highs and lows.

I love being my own boss. And now, being an independent author, I’m exactly that. But I’ll tell you this, if a deep-pocketed publisher wanted to republish my books—and I was guaranteed they give them a big marketing push—I’d jump at the opportunity. One of the biggest downers of being an indie author is the mandatory, never ending marketing. It eats up an awful lot of writing time. What are the highest of the highs I’ve experienced, you asked. One has to be seeing all my books get on bestsellers lists, along with names like King, Grisham and Patterson. Another high was being listed quite a few times as one of Amazon’s “Most Popular Authors” in Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers, Literary Fiction, and I believe Romance as well.

Tee: I loathe the marketing side as far as my books are concerned. It always makes us authors sound so needy. I'd much rather promote other folk which I find much easier.

Favourite meal (hot and cold)?

I like my weather cool and most of my food hot. Love Italian, Mexican and seafood.

Your favourite drink (hot and cold)?

I like my coffee in the morning, and in the afternoon those few brewskies I mentioned earlier.

How hard do you find book promotion?

The only promotions that have really paid off for me are paid promos on the bigger book site such as BookBub and Ereader News Today. Unfortunately though, BookBub has now priced their features so high that I can’t really afford to pay for them. “C’mon Random House or some other big publisher! When are you going to come a knocking with a contract in your hand?”

Any tips or hints you’ve found that were successful for you in promotion?

Besides the paid features I’ve mentioned, I also post on Facebook and Twitter for about a half hour each day.

Tee: Lord how I hate twitter. All that twittering and twirling drives me nuts, and in my case encourages the nuts!!

Favourite genres to read and write?

Whether it’s reading or writing, I’m a self-admitted genre jumper. But let me say this to any new writers who might be reading this interview, you’re best bet is to stick to one genre, and write a series of related books. If you stay with one genre it is far easier to build your brand, and readers absolutely love series. Had I only written Florida-based suspense novels for the last seven years I KNOW I would be selling far more books today.

You’ve set up your own publishing house using FB writer friends to help run it. What would you name it? Who would you choose to run the different departments? As the owner, how would you ensure the FB staff achieved success for you?

Okay, for starters I’d probably name my publishing house something like Must Reads Press International. Ha! My marketing manager would definitely be Sarah Jane Butfield, because her energy is boundless and she’s done a terrific job at Rukia Publishing—her terrific support group. For my editors/proofreaders I’d go with Hannah Warren, Suzanna Burke, Sheila Belshaw and Ian Roberts, all of whom are exceptional writers. Lastly, I’d signup you, Tee Geering, as my PR head honcho. We’ve been good buddies for the past seven years that I’ve been back in the writing game and I deeply appreciate all you’ve done to help advance my success. Thanks heaps for having me here today. I had a super time.

Tee: My pleasure Tom and watch out for that Ernest Hemingway on your travels. I bet he's watching over your shoulder at times 😊

So there you have the lovely Tom Winton. He was one of the better behaved victims of my cave.

Guess what? He used all my torturous instruments as a work out!!! What can I say?

Laters Potaters

Links to Tom Winton's books:

A New Dawn in Deer Isle

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B01B8MZMQA

Amazon UK -http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B8MZMQA

Beyond Nostalgia

Amazon US – https://amzn.com/B00650O686

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00650O686

Forever Three

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B00S8JKS5M

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/150767791X

Four Days with Hemingway’s Ghost
Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B008FBXENQ

Amazon UK -http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008FBXENQ

The Last American Martyr
Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B005GFM764
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005GFM764

Within a Man’s Heart

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B00B29JHR0

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Within-Mans-Heart-Tom-Winton-ebook/dp/B00B29JHR0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1479652873&sr=1-1&keywords=Within+a+mans+heart+by+tom+winton

A Second Chance in Paradise

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B00GM2IR64
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GM2IR64

Tripping on Coconuts

Amazon US - https://amzn.com/B01FGKDVMM
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FGKDVMM

Hello my little chickadees. How are you all?

Oh for goodness sake it was just a general question, I'm not really interested,

Ok... so what is it this time, manacle burns again?

Oh! mange and lice.

Well if you insist on letting all that hair grow on your body....

Now go and sit at the back of the blog and sulk there. I’ve got an interview to do.

Fresh out of the dark side of my cave is an Irish Coleen by the name of Mary Bradford who hails from the Emerald Isle.

Take it away Mary Bradford and tell us all about yourself,

Bio

Mary Bradford, is a mother and an expert in hugging, is a published writer of short stories in magazines, newspapers and anthologies both in Ireland and internationally, mainly in the United States. Her novel 'My Husband's Sin', contemporary fiction, is with Tirgearr Publishing. She writes historical westerns and adult romance also. Mary too, writes plays and has seen her work both short-listed and performed.

Where do you live?

I live in north County Cork in Ireland.

Hobbies

My hobbies include reading, crochet, cross-stitch, chatting with family and friends

Pets – furry or human

We have a Labrador, Buster and a cat, The Kitten.

What you do to chill out

Read

Day job

I’m a stay-at-home Mother, so when not looking after my family, I read, craft or write

Tell me about your books. When you first started writing. How many completed. Work in progress?

I’ve been writing short stories for many years while the children were small. One day I started a short story that grew and grew which ended up being my 1^st novel, My Husband’s Sin. It is traditionally published with Tirgearr Publishing. I have four books published and I am at present working on a sequel to my novel and I am editing another adult romance novella.

If you could have any animal from time immemorial as a pet for long freezing days and nights, what would you choose and why?

I love cats, so I would choose a cat to be with me always. I enjoy when my cat, The Kitten, curls up in bed with me and we snooze contentedly.

Do you prefer heat OR cold?

Mmm…. I would go for a happy medium. I am a cold person by nature but intense heat kills me. I am a-stay-in-the-shade person on sun holidays. But if pushed, I suppose I’d pick heat.

Fantasy holiday… Where would you choose to go if someone else was picking up the tab?

I really want to visit America.

Are you with a traditional publisher or self-published?

I am both. I am traditionally published with Tirgearr Publishing and I also self-publish my westerns in conjunction with The Writers of The West.

Favourite meal (hot and cold)?

Meal-wise, I love Shepherd’s Pie and also a chicken salad.

Favourite drink (hot and cold)?

Tea and still water.

How hard do you find book promotion?

Hard enough. It is a constant struggle to get your books out there. Every day, I try to connect with someone or a site that will help me promote. I find Facebook very good, I am not a great Twitter user. It is a very time-consuming part of being a writer.

Any tips or hints you’ve found that were successful for you in promotion?

I find helping other writers helps me. By sharing each other’s work on our blogs/websites, gives us opportunities to reach new readers. I do believe in what you give out you get returned.

Favourite genres to read and write?

I will read almost all genres except for sci-fi and fantasy. I like a good thriller and western. At present I am writing cross-genres, I have contemporary fiction, America 1800’s western feel, and adult/erotic romance, plus a small bit of horror written. I cannot say for definite but I am leaning towards contemporary fiction with paranormal thrown in.

You’ve set up your own publishing house using FB writer friends to help run it. What would you name it?

Wow, I wouldn’t know where to start with it. A name? The Poison Pen, maybe?

Who would you choose to run the different departments?

I know so many writing friends that it would be easy enough to staff it I would think. But I wouldn’t like to name anyone as I am bound to offend someone by leaving them out!

As the owner, how would you ensure the FB staff achieved success?

I think by all of us doing the position we were given to the best of our ability, would make the company a success. Sharing the same success and being kind to acknowledge each other’s input would help us all.