Shiny Things, or What My First Real-life Media Interview Was Like

One of the greatest joys that I have as a writer is connecting with people and having my work connect with readers. The difficulty in this process is the same as we find in a chemical reaction or a dating hot-spot, namely that the two components need to collide in the correct configuration at the correct speed in order to interact. For molecules in biological sensibilities there are enzymes, while dating zones usually dispense enough liquid courage (booze) to float a canoe (thus lowering everyone's inhibitions), but what about the lonely writer who has a story to tell in a busy world filled with other indies and with big-name authors?

We make shiny objects, hoping that you - the reader - will stop or slow down long enough to take a look. This blog post is a perfect example (I mean, just look at that perfect title!), along with sparklingly fresh website(s), pithy and entertaining book reviews, compelling author pages, and erudite, humorous Tweets. Every so often, though, if we are lucky, someone gives us an unanticipated shiny thing boost... a favorable review, an retweet, a kind word, or an offer to publicize us on a blog. Or, rare as hen's teeth for indies, an interview with a traditional media outlet.

I got my first taste of that this week when I was interviewed by a local newspaper about my books and myself. The interviewer was kind and asked great questions. She spent about half an hour listening, clarifying, and shaping her inquiry. It was a fun process, and next Tuesday, there will be a genuine newspaper article printed about Blood Roses and me. It's a milestone and I'm thrilled.