It’s here! It’s that day! The official launch date of TIARA TROUBLE! Yay! Wahoo! Woo! *confetti*
Kate Eileen Shannon has a review on her blog, Rantin’, Ravin’ and Reading–she calls TIARA TROUBLE “criminally funny”, and there is an excerpt up on Lavender & Camomile Press. Check out both blogs for even more reading goodness.
Right now, though, for Author Monday…How exciting is this?! I get to interview myself.
So a little bit about me. I’m Lane Buckman, and I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My first major work was some decent tabloid journalism, cataloging bits of information I had overheard at an adult’s party, carefully transcribed and hand copied, and delivered to the doorsteps of all pertinent neighbors. I expected they would be thrilled to find themselves included in my fledgling newspaper. Thus, I learned all about bad reviews at the age of 7. My mother fired me from my own tabloid, and I went to work on a novel about a duck who goes into land development. Thus, I learned all about the importance of writing from a perspective you actually understand at the age of 8. (and the importance of having a good book cover. Ducky Wonder was done with glitter. it was beautiful.)
Tiara Trouble is my first cozy mystery, and I could not be happier to present it to you. Without further adieu, here is me, interviewing me.
The Outside Lane: Lane, how did you come to writing?
Lane Buckman: I come from a long line of story tellers. It was just natural that I start telling my own. Since I can remember, my parents and grandparents have been entertaining me with fact and fiction, and now I do my best to entertain others.
TOL: How do you craft your ideas to build a novel?
LB: I’m not very organized. I roll things around in my brain, working them like a puzzle until they fit. When that last piece clicks into place, I write like a monkey on crack. I do use Scrivener to list out my characters. I am terrible with continuity and have to keep notes so I don’t end up writing about 1946 when it’s really 1972. Otherwise, it’s scraps of papers with notes, napkins with bubble charts, and emails sent to myself with ideas.
TOL: What’s been the biggest learning experience of your first release?
LB: The amount of marketing required has been staggering! It’s really funny because you labor so long and hard to produce a book, and it’s really like childbirth. Then, you have your book in your hands and, just like your child, you still have to raise it. Calling and setting up author events is a bit like trying to get your child into that super exclusive play group. You want what is best for your baby, and you work to get it.
TOL: What are your plans for your next novel?
LB: I am finishing up the second Destinee novel, Miss Mayhem. Right now, that’s the only goal I have. December 31.
TOL: What advice do you have for writers looking to be published?
LB: Find a good editor. I really believe that having Arwen Bicknell edit Tiara Trouble for me made the difference in how quickly it sold. It certainly made the difference in how proud I was to show it. Thank you, Arwen! I was also extremely fortunate to have Darice Moore and Nancy Wardle doing simultaneous tertiary edits after Arwen had taken two go’s at it.
TOL: What is your best advice for published authors who are trying to market their work?
LB: Have your sales pitch ready. Marketing is just a different sort of querying. Expect to be called upon to tell bookstores why they should have you, your book, your bookmarks in their stores–be ready to tell them why you, your book, your bookmarks are awesome, special, and why they will make the store some money. Above all, be gracious. Be extremely gracious.
TOL: How did you come to your publishing house?
LB: I pulled lists of agents and publishers who were interested in cozy mysteries, and I started working my way down the lists deciding which ones best matched my work. Then, I started to query. Patricia Rockwell, the managing editor and owner of Cozy Cat Press contacted me and the rest is lovely history.
TOL: Lane, thank you so much for being with us today! You are delightful, and brilliant, and your hair smells like love. What is the best way for readers to contact you?
LB: Thank you! This is my favorite blog. I come here every day. Readers can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and can email me at lane (at) theoutsidelane (dot) com .
The Outside Lane 