Book Talk at the North Highlands-Antelope Public Library

Last year I did this event at the Rancho Cordova Library. It was pretty cool. A bunch of people showed up, some whom I've never met, and many friends from the community.

My book, El Tiburon, is set in Antigua, Guatemala. Before I wrote the book Joe and I went there for a month for language school. I was won over by the people and the history. After a month I had a good feel for the town's layout and the daily vibe. We were there during Semana Santa (Easter Week), which I used for several scenes. We returned for another month of language school and to be the Godparents for our Godson's wedding. That was a great event for us. We were able to be part of the community. We still stood out like sore thumbs, but it was really great. (Check out my travel blog; A Dashing Bold Adventure in November 2009 & August 2013).

I will bring textiles, photos of the city inside the garbage dump, and various items. I will also bring books for you to purchase IF you want to, but I would love it if you came to this event even if you already have El Tiburon. I will also be donating a book to the library.

I also want to remind my audio-readers that El Tiburon was released back in August. Let me know if you would like to review it and I'll get you a copy. I only have a couple of free copies, so make sure you get in touch with me.

El Tiburon- Audio Book

My book, El  Tiburon is officially released as an audio-book through Audible.com. If you are new to Audible, you can grab it for free by signing up with them as a first time member. Here's the link;

El Tiburon - Audible

Cordova Library's Meet the Author Event

I was invited to speak at the Rancho Cordova Public Library about my new release, El Tiburon. I can’t tell you the last time I went to a public library. It was actually pretty neat. The quiet hushed atmosphere, the respect for other people’s space and concentration. My event was called “Book Talk, El Tiburon by H. Schussman,” and I was warned that five to ten people would actually show up, mostly to eat the snacks.

Luckily for me, a fan set me up to be interviewed by the local newspaper. Margaret Snider from the Grapevine Independent wrote a great article about me being a local author and how people should come meet me. It worked! I had about twenty readers show up. They asked about Guatemala, the garbage dump, writing, and how to get published… I talked with them for a good hour and could’ve kept going!

I was especially intrigued by a lovely couple from India who were visiting their son in Rancho Cordova. They read the paper and decided since they were also authors, they should come see this American author. They were delightful, asking relevant questions and having their photo taken with me.  A week later found us sitting in their hotel room amongst children and grandchildren eating Indian snacks and drinking American wine. Both are doctors and opened a hospital in a small city in Western India. They specialize in Medical Tourism. By the time we left them (five hours later) we had promised we would come to India and stay with them. I can still see Rajeev’s face as he held out his hands and said, “You come to India, and we will show you the underbelly of our country!” For those of you who know us, you won’t be surprised that this sent a shiver of excitement through me. Visiting a nearby forest to meet an indigenous people-group and stay in a house on top of a hospital with two lovely doctors… oh the joy of a serendipitous meeting. 

Jennifer Bryce Interview

H. Schussman’s interview with Jennifer Bryce, author of Haley's Song.

Heidi:

So, Jennifer, tell us about yourself.

Jennifer:

I’m a quirky mother of 3 boys and a full time nursing student.  I got my acceptance letter to nursing school and my book on the same day, I couldn’t choose which one to do, so I did both. I can’t wait to get out of school so I can write on a regular basis again. I have many interests from jiu-jitsu to baking.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Jennifer:

Mostly young adult romance. Depending on the subject matter I’ve dabbled in time travel, speculative fiction, historical, and paranormal. I have a few non-fiction reflective essays published as well. My over active imagination serves me well in this arena…not so much with my anxiety.

Country Living

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Jennifer:

I started writing about four years ago when I was put on bed rest with my last pregnancy. I had plenty of time and nowhere to go. I read so many books they became predictable. I also ran into some books that left me wondering why the rubbish was ever published. So…I wrote my own.

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Jennifer:

I’m currently working on an adult speculative fiction about the Fountain of Youth and a guardian that keeps the secret safe. Of course, it’s a romance, but I also have a drug cartel adding some danger to the story for a little excitement—it balances out the ooey-gooey love junk.

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Jennifer:

The problem is I love them all. They become like family, but if I had to choose one today it would probably be Ben from Haley’s Song. Margret and Ben’s story is coming together in my mind and I can’t wait to show the world of Ben.

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Jennifer:

I pictured myself as Sarah in Haley’s Song, but I also put little pieces of myself in each of my heroines.

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Jennifer:

Drum rolls…the kitchen table or the couch! I don’t have a fancy office or writing space. Sometimes if I’m feeling really adventurous I’ll occupy the front porch.

Heidi:

Who are your all-time favorite authors?

Jennifer:

Okay, this list might be really eclectic. Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre is one of my favorite stories. Pat McManus is an absolutely fantastic storyteller; my husband would read to me at night his hilarious stories would have my crying from laughing so hard. Erma Bombeck has turned her witty musings about motherhood into a fine art. Marcia Lynn McClure is my favorite romance writer because she makes really strong male romantic characters and the heroines have spunk and femininity. My favorite book of hers is The Fragrance of Her Name.

Heidi:

Did you find writing a query letter a challenge? If so, how did you overcome it? Do you think there was a key phrase or idea in your query letter?

Jennifer:

I went to a writer’s conference a couple of years back and Aprilynn Pike, author of a fabulous fairy series, helped me with my first query letter. Wowzars, she in a very kind and comical way told me that my query letter was junk, but then helped me figure the darn thing out. Pretty embarrassing, but I understand query letters now. I always put a hook line in my query letters like for my next book it’s, “Some secrets are better kept…” The key idea is secrets.

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Jennifer:

Same thing that author Donna Hatch told me…”Getting published is 90% work and 10% talent.” Also, develop a thick skin—editing that bleeds red on your manuscript and numerous rejection letters are the pits.

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their assistance and faith in you?

Jennifer:

Two people actually;

Jennifer Griffith, author of Big In Japan encouraged and taught me how to write more than any class I could’ve taken. I look up to her in every way. She is my writing Yoda. J Her writing “voice” is really something to aspire to. She helped me edit Haley’s Song and figure the ins and outs of publishing.

My husband has been so patient with this expensive little hobby of mine, even babysitting while I attended conferences and writing retreats. He is AMAZING, but that’s why I picked him.

Getting Published

I finished my second novel El Tiburon about a year ago and began the laborious process of having it edited. Once that was completed I began looking for which publishing company would be the best fit for me.

Absolute Write is a tremendous resource for any writer. This is where I first stumbled upon the publishing company, Vinspire. Their website drew me in like a moth to a flame … that’s gross, how about a moth to a light bulb? Anyway they have a great tag-line “Your Travel Guide to Adventure”. As most of you know, I travel a lot. I also write a travel blog; A Dashing Bold Adventure.

El Tiburon takes you to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico. I read the Vinspire submission guidelines to see if they were interested in my genre (a must when submitting a query letter). They were, so I spent several days crafting my query letter and sent it off.

I was completely stunned when they asked me to join the Vinspire family! Since then it has been like starting a new job. They needed cool stuff like my acknowledgment page and biography. They also needed not-so-fun stuff like re-formatting my manuscript and tax info.

For me this is a major adventure. I get to read about what the other authors are up to … Jennifer Bryce, Terry Spear, Diane Wylie, and many others. It feels like sacred ground.