Carol: What are your New Year resolutions
for your book goals in 2009?
Avie: To finish the biography of Charles Rand
Penney that I've been working on for two years,
and then publish my horse and dog memoirs, and
then finish a novel I started, and publish one
I've finished... ACK.
Carol: What can you tell us about yourself?
Avie: I have been writing for many years, and
although I'm retired I'm still writing when I
can. I was the social editor of our local city
newspaper in the 80s and 90s, and had a weekly
column. I dabbled with fiction while at the newspaper
and sold stories to the Trues. Then I took a fiction
writing course from Writer's Digest and published
my first novel in 2002.
Carol: What is the name of your current book
and give a synopsis of it?
Avie: The current book is non-fiction, the biography
of Charles Rand Penney, art collector, philanthropist
and world traveler, whose family ancestry is recorded
in history books. The Burchfield-Penney Art Gallery
in Buffalo is named after him and Charles Burchfield,
a renowned artist.
Carol: Who is your publisher and how do you
feel about this publisher? Would you recommend
this publisher to other aspiring authors?
Avie: My publisher for the Penney book is Back
Channel Press, and they are being very kind and
patient with me. Each time I think the book is
finished, Mr. P gives me more information and
more photos.
Carol: What is your publishing journey? How
did you get started in writing?
Avie: I always wrote, but took a non-fiction
course from Writers Digest and got brave
and applied for a job as a feature writer at the
newspaper, and was hired the next day. I loved
working at the paper, and if anyone has seen the
movie with Michael Keaton, it was exactly like
that when I worked there.
Carol: Do you have an agent? If so, why and
why not?
Avie: No agent. I had one, who offered to represent
me for my first book, but she wanted me to add
more sex to the scenes, and as the book was about
an innocent woman, I couldn't do that. Sometimes
I want to kick myself for doing that, but other
times I'm glad I kept the integrity of the book,
though it didn't make me any money.
Carol: Did you self-publish or go the traditional
route?
Avie: I have done both. Non-fiction has been
with Arcadia Publishing, wonderful people, and
fiction has been helter skelter.
Carol: What are you views on the writers of
today?
Avie: So many new writers now, who can judge?
I don't like that soap opera stars and movie stars
are writing books. It makes me mad that they will
get picked up because the publisher knows their
names will sell books. But then again, publishers
need to make money.
Carol: Who is your favorite author and why?
Avie: No real favorite. I like Toni Morrison's
tales. I guess if I had to pick a favorite in
the fiction category, it would be a tie between
Nora Roberts and Mary Higgins Clark. I tell people
if they like those authors they might like my
work.
Carol: How do you feel about writing?
Avie: I love writing. It's a release.
Carol: Is writing a hobby or a full-time goal?
Avie: As I run an animal rescue now and have
10 horses, 6 dogs and 11 cats to care for, they
have become my full time job and the writing takes
a back seat. Then there are the six grandchildren...
There are not enough hours in a day.
Carol: What is your genre of writing? Explain.
Avie: I enjoy truthful stories, creative non-fiction
or actual events replayed in a book. For example,
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote got me interested
in that genre. All my fiction is based on fact.
Carol: What are your other published books?
Avie: 
Newfane
and Olcott, Wilson,
Albion,
Medina,
and Carlton
and Point Breeze, all by Arcadia. Winter
Mournings, out of print... Unconditional
Love, A Pet book, also out of print.
Carol: Who inspired you to write and why?
Avie: My Uncle Clyde, who died when I was four.
His room was lined with books from floor to ceiling.
After he died, I took some of them for myself.
I still have them.
Carol: What is the message in your book?
Avie: Always remember your roots.
Carol: Would you self-publish, and if so why
and why not?
Avie: I would, but be very careful. I am currently
involved in a class action suit against the publisher
of Winter Mournings.
Carol: What are your views on traditional
publisher?
Avie: If you can get one, shout it to the rooftops.
Carol: Do you write short stories and poems?
Avie: Short stories, but they usually end up
being novelettes. No poems.
Carol: Have your stories ever been in an anthology?
Why or why not?
Avie: Many anthologies. I like that genre. I
have a lot of books on my shelves, each containing
one of my stories.
Carol: What success has the publication of
your book done for you?
Avie: Book signings, radio interviews, recognition.
Carol: Have you done a book signing? If so,
was it successful?
Avie: Many signings... some great, some horrifying.
Carol: What are your tools for marketing?
Explain some of them, and why?
Avie: I am lucky to know people in radio and
newspaper, so I send them press releases. Arcadia
has its own staff for that, which is lovely.
Carol: What voice do you write in and why?
Avie: Varies.
Carol: What advice would you give to other
writers?
Avie: It's a long hard struggle, taking years.
If you think you have a good book, and people
have critiqued it and love it, hold off for an
agent or publisher. Don't self publish.
Carol: Do you have a website? If so, please
showcase it to our readers?
Avie: AvisATownsend.com
Carol: What is your email address where readers
can learn all about you and your books?
Avie: Refer to website.
Carol: Do you belong to a book club?
Avie: Not anymore. Too busy.
Carol: Have you attended any writing classes,
or workshops? If so, explain.
Avie: Numerous classes and shops, as well as
writing groups.
Carol: Do you have an editor? Why or why not?
Avie: I have hired independent editors for my
fiction. Bob Rich from Australia was excellent.
Carol: How do you come up with your stories?
Avie: Personal experience, either from me or
people I know.
Carol: Do you write them in long hand, on
the computer, or does someone type them for you?
Avie: Always on the computer.
Carol: Who supports you in your writing and
why?
Avie: I am my own person.
Carol: What book are you reading now? Give
the title, the author, and a synopsis.
Avie: No book right now. Too busy.
Carol: If you had three wishes, what would
they be and why?
Avie: Money to run my rescues more efficiently,
being 30 years younger, and having an agent to
do my running around. |
Introducing Avie Townsend...