Mandy Trouten – Interview
I recently met Mandy Trouten on Facebook and thought it would be cool to interview her. I have a question sheet I send out for online interviews that has almost 100 questions listed and I ask interviewees to please answer 8-15 of these questions and send the answers back. Mandy, as you will see, got a little over-zealous. 
1. When did you start writing?
–I started writing books in 2006, with what will be my second book Shadows of Night. As it turns out, that book took almost 6 years to write, which is a good thing considering how much has changed since then.
2. What inspired you to do it?
–I was inspired to write Shadows of Night, a nonfiction, after I began researching peer sexual abuse in 2005 and discovered that there was virtually no info, never mind a book. I found statistics and, after a while, I found legal cases and news stories, but it was a while longer before I found anything like what I was looking for, which was what peer sexual abuse looks like and why the “little” things I remembered were affecting me like they were. Similarly, I was inspired in 2010 to write Maybe Today with the realization that, before a person will read Shadows of Night, they have to already be sufficiently interested enough in learning about peer sexual abuse to seek research material. In addition, I wanted to really convey how victims of peer sexual abuse feel and the personalities of perpetrators, as well as the attitudes/decisions of others in their lives. When someone reads Shadows of Night, they’ll gain this understanding, but it won’t be as personal, as real, as when that same person reads Maybe Today. I hope Maybe Today will give people an understanding of the damage peer sexual abuse does to children/teens, without first being victimized themselves.
3. Do you find that it is hard to get people excited about what you do?
–Sometimes. After 7 years of advocacy work–online, in the form of school projects and, occasionally, through disagreements with coworkers–I’m not having as many problems as I used to, but there are still more than enough people who think it’s a nonissue and/or one whose solution lies in ignoring the bully.
4. What projects have you done?
–As mentioned in the previous question, I used peer sexual abuse as a subject for school assignments, from writing two papers for English Composition I to including my advocacy work in the designing and redesigning of my portfolio. A few years ago, a couple friends and I started a short-lived handmade jewelry company, part of which centered on bringing attention to sexual abuse.
5. Any new projects coming up?
–I’m now in the process of creating inspirational and advocacy posters, as well as another line of necklaces, bracelets and keychains. As is being done with child abuse and breast cancer, I hope to bring the same level of interest to peer sexual abuse. I am also about to start the process of, hopefully, getting my book in every local high school and public library.
6. Do you find it hard to share your work with others?
–As long as I’ve been an anti-abuse advocate, talking about sexual abuse is still awkward sometimes. I do it anyway.
7. What is your opinion on people who post bad reviews?
–If your dislike is based in some way on the book, I think most authors/readers will want to hear about it. Just try to keep it professional and keep your comments relevant to the actual issues. For example, difficult to follow dialogue, lack of imagery, too much imagery, rambling narratives, etc. Don’t go on and on about how the author is a loser and the book should never have been published. Likewise, if your dislike is of a personal nature–for example, you hate everything about my book because it’s about peer sexual abuse–that’s unfortunate, but I can’t please everyone and I don’t intend to try. I hope only that you’ll choose to view the characters as real people, dealing with a real problem.
8. Do you have any particular networking groups you would like to share that have helped you move forward with your success?
–I would say probably every advocate/advocacy group that works to stop sexual abuse has helped me succeed. So far, my favorite for information is AAUW (American Association of University Women) and my favorite local groups are Defenders for Children and the network headed by Traci Young Fant and Dexter L. Reaves.
9. Are you an independent artist or are you represented by an agency?
–Both. I was fortunate enough to have my book picked up by Tate Publishing, which includes marketing work, but a lot of my success depends on me. It’s part of the package. There are things the company can/will do as part of the contract, but as much or more is on me. I don’t really mind though. Money and lack thereof aside, I graduated with a degree in Visual Communications right as the economy went downhill. The details of the contract give me the opportunity to use my skills, which I hope will get me into the graphic design field later.
10. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
–Before you send your manuscript off to the publisher, be aware of the work that will be involved. Unless you’re lucky enough to get picked up by a major publisher, complete with a monetary bonus, there’s going to be a lot of networking, advertising work, promoting, and time involved just to get your book off the ground. If you’re a visual communications major like me, this can actually be fun, but it also gets old. So, make sure it’s something you really want to do. That said, I wish you the best of luck. If you want to look me up online, I’ll be happy to recommend some connections. Last, if you really want to write a book and see it published, go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you not to shoot for so lofty a goal. You can work your job and/or do your schoolwork and still be trying to publish/promote a book. The entire time I was writing Maybe Today, I was working fulltime in a McDonalds.
11. Anything you would like to share with readers on a personal note that would allow them to get to know you better?
–My favorite TV shows are Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, Burn Notice, Unforgettable and Criminal Minds. I love country music, contemporary Christian, some metal, some rock and most 80s music. I love dogs and cats. I love reading, especially historical fiction, historical romance and suspense thrillers. As a Christian and an anti-abuse advocate, I would love to bridge the social gap between the two groups. It galls me that there are so few Christians and Christian groups speaking out against abuse, when the Bible is very clearly against it, just like it galls me to hear liberals and athiests claiming that the Bible condones abuse. I’m proud to say that I’m slowly hearing more Christians/groups talking about abuse. Likewise, I’m slowly hearing more people talking about sexual and nonsexual abuse in schools. Both are the start of what I hope will be a revolution.
12. Have you made any mistakes along the way…for example, do you want to share anything be it a publishing company/agency that people should avoid?
–It’s a constant learning process, but I can’t think of any notable mistakes made.
13. What are your habits when you sit down to create? Do you have to be in a certain room? outside?
–I usually write in the living room on my laptop, but that’s where the “habits” end. I’ll write with music or without, usually on my laptop but sometimes with paper. The type of music, when applicable, varies by mood and what kind of scene I’m trying to write. Sometimes, I’ll write in my room or even in the notepad section on my cellphone while walking down the street. It completely depends on where I am and what I’m doing when an idea occurs to me or when I’ve actually made the decision to sit and write.
14. If you had one chance to get people interested in what you do, what would you say to them to get them to want to buy your art?
–That’s a question I’m still trying to answer myself… Everytime you talk to someone new, it’s essentially your one chance to get them interested because you don’t know whether or not you’ll ever see or hear from them again. Depending on whether it’s at a networking event or by email, I’ll either start out by talking about the issue of peer sexual abuse in schools or I’ll put more emphasis on Lauren (the main character) as a person.
15. Any favorite bands? Do you use music to inspire you as you create your art?
–Quite a few, the most notable of which right now is Sanctus Real. Yes, I do. The bands I like best frequently get mentioned in my books, often in the form of a song that happens to be playing when the main character turns the radio on, enters a building, is sitting in the park, etc. Often, I’ll also choose what band to listen to by what scene I’m about to write, which is to say what mood/tone I want to convey.
16. What steps have you taken to succeed?
–I’ve been an anti-abuse advocate for almost 7 years now. While writing Maybe Today, and after, I l ooked up every publishing company I could find and kept/tossed them according to who was accepting manuscripts, when, from where and whether they require an agent. After Maybe Today was accepted by Tate, I focused on expanding my online network and promoting the book. I’ll use networking events and abuse-related events, both as an opportunity to address peer sexual abuse and to promote my book. Attending an event is also beneficial for the intended purpose of learning more about whatever it is the event is about, like succeeding as an entrepreneur or improving your networking skills. Business cards aren’t strictly necessary, but they’re very helpful. I’ll join new networks here and there, I’ve done a radio ad and, later this summer, I should be appearing on a news show. As an anti-abuse advocate, I’ve succeeded by caring more about individual people than about sales. Whether or not a person will ever buy my book is not a deciding factor in whether I give my time to them. I want to be a financial success, ideally as an author, but it’s much more important to me to see sexual abuse eliminated, to see perpetrators held responsible and to see victims/survivors heal from what was done to them. As such, whenever I have the time, or whenever someone contacts me, reaching out to victims/survivors becomes a priority.
17. Did your art come from just a need to express yourself or a particular experience that you had?
–I was sexually abused by classmates in high school, beginning on the first day of school and continuing until the last weeks of 12th grade. My fictional books are based largely on these years and my experiences since.
18. Do movies inspire you and if so, which ones?
–Sometimes, but I’m more often inspired by Catherine Coulter, Iris Johannsen and Mariah Stewart books and by TV shows like Law & Order: SVU and Criminal Minds.
19. Do you prefer YA or Adult?
–Either
20. Anything exciting coming up in the near future?
–I hope so
21. What is your opinion on Indie publishers versus Self publishing?
–Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe they’re one and the same. That said, good for them and I wish the market and marketing field were more open to them. Self-publishing as a rule is notably harder than publishing through a company, but it’s doable. It’s just a question of whether you’re wanting to stick exclusively with e-books and, if not, what kind of book binding you want to use.
22. How did you get started?
–I became an anti-abuse advocate about the same time I became an author. I began researching peer sexual abuse in 2005 and was not overly pleased with what little I found. The article that directly influenced my first English Composition I paper on the subject suggested that sexual harassment is a routine part of high school. Though I think the author was referring to the frequency, not whether or not it belonged, I was peeved anyway and more than a little insulted at the prevailing social views at the time.
23. What has been the hardest thing during the process of creating your art?
–During the actual creation of it, I couldn’t say. Probably editing. As is inevitable, there were things the editor at Tate thought should be deleted or changed that I wasn’t about to budge on. We reached a midway point in the end though and I’m happy with the outcome.
24. 5 words to perfectly describe you.
–I’m. More. Complicated. Than. That.
25. Any shout outs to people who have helped you along the way?
–Every person or group that has dedicated part or all of his/her/their life to exposing and eradicating sexual abuse in schools and society, whether committed by an adult or a minor.
26. Give us a sample of your work.
–You can find a book excerpt at www.mandytrouten.com and at www.blogspot.com/mandytrouten. You can find me at www.facebook.com/mandytrouten.
27. How do you build your character world?
–The character world in Maybe Today is based almost 100% on real places. The character world in Silent Night, my next fiction, is realistic but, to the best of my knowledge, about 90% imaginary.
28. Favorite character you have written and why.
–Lauren Harrison and Bryan Redding from Maybe Today. Also Kate Lanford and Jesse Carmichael in Silent Night. I’m not sure why. Naturally, I like their personalities. Other than that, I guess it would have to be because the women are strong and stubborn, yet kind, smart, etc. They’re what I want to be and/or what I was not too long ago. I guess it’s safe to say I like the guys because they’re my idea of perfect, or nearly perfect, in terms of their personalities.
29. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
–Living more comfortably than I am, promoting my 3rd or 4th book and having made considerable progress toward eliminating peer sexual abuse in schools.
30. Will you ever stop creating art? and have you ever had a moment that you felt like quiting and why?
–I don’t plan on it. I’ve thought about it a few times, primarily when I’m feeling as if it and I aren’t going anywhere, but it doesn’t last long. Even when it isn’t getting me anywhere, I continue because I want to, because I see meaning in it and because it might inspire someone else.
31. Do you think that the future is ebook or print?
–ebook. I like printed books better, but I’ve been informed that ebook sales are far outreaching printed books, whether because they’re cheaper or as part of the fad associated with Kindles and other e-readers.
32. Where have you had the most success in selling your work?
–I haven’t been out long enough to really answer that.
33. Do you use video to promote your work? Do you think that giving people a visual helps with sales?
–I have a couple videos on Youtube, but I’m not yet comfortable with that means of advertising. I know it helps a lot for many people, but whether branching out onto Youtube will benefit my sales, I don’t know.
34. How do you feel about erotic art?
–Not a big fan, but I guess it depends on how you define erotic. If you’re talking about porn, I’m out. At the same time, I hold some appreciation for graphic art when the body parts are censored, if only barely so.
35. Any websites you would like to share? Your own? or one that has helped you as an artist?
–nope
36. Have blog tours helped you reach more fans?
–I’m not at all sure what a blog tour is, but I hope that author interviews and the trading of advertising space will help sales.
37. Any causes you are passionate about ? You can include a website address if you like.
–Poverty and any kind of abuse, but I care most about peer sexual abuse in schools.
38. Do you even watch the news and if so, does it inspire you in anyway?
–Sometimes. Honestly, I rely more on the internet because it allows me to skip past all the depressing stuff and pointlessness and go straight to the stories I actually want to know about. As an anti-abuse advocate, I would say that news stories frequently inspire me. If you check out my wall at www.facebook.com/mandytrouten, you’ll find almost as many news stories as anything else.
39. Do you prefer technical or free style writing?
–I’m not sure what either is, but I write however works best for me at the time. Sometimes, I’ll just start writing a scene and change things as I go. Other times, I’ll start with an outline and fill in the storyline from there. Actually, I begin my books in general with the plot. Then, I create an outline, while still filling out the plot. Then, I’ll start working from the outline–plugging in, changing details and moving things around as I go.
40. Are you a dirty or clean writer?
–If you’re talking about language and graphic content, I try to keep it as clean as possible because I’m working with a Christian publishing company and I’m not Linda Howard, nor am I a Harlequin blaze author. If you’re talking about writing carefully or scratching things out, I would definitely say dirty. I write what comes to me, when it comes to me. When I’m working with a pen and paper, I’ll scratch things out. Sometimes, I’ll scratch out the substitute and write the first one or something else. I’ll write in the margins too, complete with arrows and/or numbers.
41. If you could go back in time and meet one person who would it be and why?
–Christ. I’ll meet Him later I know, but I’d love to meet Him sooner. I think it would be great to see what He looked like as a human.
42. Have you received any bad reviews and if so how did you deal with it?
–I received bad reviews on some of the poems I wrote early on in my advocacy work. The ones I remember had to do with the expression that he/she didn’t like rhyming, the clear indication that he/she knows next to nothing about abuse and, thus, missed the entire point and/or pointing out that certain lines (lines I had never heard before) were cliché. Another said that peer sexual abuse was way over- discussed socially, while another said I shouldn’t bother because it’s always going to be around. This last one had some rather twisted views on social norms and their connections to sexual abuse. Still another said I clearly know next to nothing about sexual abuse and should leave it to the experts. Early on as it was, I didn’t handle all of these in the most ideal manner; but, in time, I tried to handle them as professionally as possible. To those who missed the point, I interpreted each line. To those who don’t like rhyming, I told them rhyming generally works for me, then recommended some nonrhyming ones that I thought they might like better. To those who claimed lines were cliché, I told them I hadn’t heard them before. The one that said it was way over-discussed got a detailed response on how often it happens, versus how many cases are reported, versus how often I hear it discussed. To the one who said it’s always going to be there and is actually a regular part of society, I told him murder, theft and drunk driving are too and asked if we are supposed to ignore them. To the last, I went off the deep end and spelled out my history and advocacy history for him…
43. If you always spoke with your heart what one thing would you say to us?
–Thank you for interviewing me.
44. First kiss….passionate or awkward?
–Ask me again when I meet someone I don’t mind kissing.
45. What animals do you have?
–none
46. Do you like vampires who sparkle or bite?
–I guess I would have to say biters, since I’m not impressed by Twilight, but I like Vampire Diaries.
47. Favorite book.
–I love books in general, so I find it easier to name my favorite authors: Catherine Coulter, Iris Johannsen, Jude Devereux, Tori Phillips, Lynn Dove, Robert Jordan and Frank Perretti.
48. If you could choose a paranormal lover, what would it be and why? examples…vampire, fairy, zombie (any paranormal creature)
–I wish I could answer that question, but I’m not that much into the paranormal.
49. Favorite movie or movies.
–Another tough call, but I enjoy movies like Honey, the Save the Last Dance movies, the Step Up movies, the Bourne Trilogy, Fireproof, Pride & Prejudice and Blood & Chocolate.
50. Are you comfortable with your sexuality and does it play a huge role in your art?
–Yes, I’m very comfortable being straight. Whether it plays a huge role in my writing depends on what you mean. Maybe Today and Shadows of Night barely address hetero/homosexuality and Silent Night doesn’t mention it at all, but you could argue that heterosexuality plays a huge role because, in Maybe Today and Silent Night, there is a budding relationship between the main character and a male friend of hers, as well as heterosexual relationships between friends of hers.
51. Pet peeves?
–Laziness in the workplace, bad customer service skills and unnecessarily rude customers. If you’re working somewhere, you should do your best. Likewise, having a bad day means you aren’t going to smile as often or as broadly, but it doesn’t excuse abusive and/or negligent behavior between employees or between employees and customers. If you respect people less for working in fastfood restaurants, eat somewhere else, but don’t treat employees like garbage, expect them to always be perfect or call them stupid or lazy. As I understand it, most fastfood employees are in high school, in college, have already graduated from college and/or have more than one job, with or without a family to support. Being a fastfood employee does not make someone less deserving of respect than the staff of, say, Olive Garden, or some degree-based job. It just means they’re getting paid much less to put up with way more, while being dissed on Youtube by hundreds of thousands of people who have never worked in fastfood.
52. The last thing you ever want to hear.
–
53. Are you clumsy or graceful?
–somewhere in between
54. Dream place to live and why?
–I don’t know, but I hope one day to have the option.
55. Favorite holiday…Halloween or Christmas?
–Christmas
56. Favorite word.
–
57. Favorite Toy.
–a stuffed rottweiler puppy
58. Dream date, who would it be and why?
–
60. Why do you promote art?
–Usually in support of someone I know or just because I like the book, the cause, etc.
61. Why do you think that the paranormal genre is so popular?
–I think probably for the same reason superhero stories are popular–people enjoy the opportunity to enter a world in which the characters can do things we can’t.
62. Who would win in a stand-off? Vampire/Werewolf/Zombie? And why?
–Vampires are the fastest, werewolves are the strongest and zombies are already dead. I don’t think any of them would win on sheer virtue of their race.
63. Do you have any fun giveaways going on?
–Not right now; but, if anyone has a following and wants to do a blog about my book, I will send them a free copy of my e-book.
64. Where can we find your page/address?
– www.mandytrouten.com and www.facebook.com/mandytrouten
65. Did you find it difficult to get people to like your page? What did you do to get people to your page?
–No. I send out friends requests and people either accept or they don’t. So far, way more people are accepting than declining. I also take advantage of places where I can leave business cards and trade business cards at networking events.
66. Why do you think that people lie to get likes on facebook? Not everyone does, but I have seen a couple cases lately and I have no idea why people would be so stupid.
–insecurity complex
67. facebook or google+? Who wins in your book?
–good question… I use Facebook, but I’d like to think that Google has considerably better customer service skills.
68. If you had the chance to live in a book, what book and what character would you be?
–
69. Hottest character in a book.
–
70. Best books you have read.
–
71. Who does your cover art? Do you design it yourself?
–The final cover for this book was done by Tate Publishing. Though I designed the original cover, and hope to design future covers, company policy prohibits the use of outside designs.
72. Are you on goodreads? If so, please share your page address and has it helped you reach more fans?
–Not yet
73. Do you sell your work in any stores? If so, where?
–Maybe Today is available online through Tate Publishing, Books a Million, Barnes & Noble and Amazon
74. How do you feel about all the bookstores starting to close? Do you think that it is just the corporate ones in trouble? Or do you feel that the small/independent ones are in danger too?
–I think it bites. I have a general respect for bookstores and can’t help but feel that, if bookstores cease to exist, it won’t be long before books are almost completely electronic. As individual businesses, whether the small/independent ones are in danger very much depends on their owners’ management choices and the economy, as much as is true for corporate stores. The only real difference I think is that, with corporate-owned bookstores, one’s downfall automatically affects the others. On the other hand, small/independent businesses often have less money to work with and would I think have less to fall back on in economy trouble. Likewise, I don’t think a small business has the same credit/loan options as a store like Barnes & Noble would.
75. Do you think that ebooks have affected bookstores? Or do you think that there are enough people left out there who love to actually have the printed copy to save bookstores?
–Ebooks have definitely affected bookstores. There are many people who prefer printed copies; but, especially with the recession, the lowest price usually wins out. The fact of the matter is that ebooks will always cost considerably less than printed books and, as long as the customer has his/her own computer and/or an e-reader, as well as the ability to buy online, he/she is more likely to buy an ebook.
76. Any libraries you would like to mention who are taking donations?
–None that I know of
77. Any galleries taking donations that you would like to mention?
–None that I know of
78. Is your art organic or do you plan it out before you create it?
–”Organic “seems like an odd choice of words, but most of my books are planned in advance. Maybe Today and Shadows of Night were begun, then organized.
79. Where do you exhibit your art?
–www.mandytrouten.com and www.facebook.com/mandytrouten
80. How many hours a day would you say that you spend promoting your art or others art?
–3 or 9 hours, depending on the day. It’s a near 50/50 split between one half of the week and the other.
Thank you Mandy! As you can all see, Mandy doesn’t mind answering questions so feel free to leave some for her, or me, below.
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