Rene Schultz – Author

Rene Schultz has spent much of the past 30 years in a world where courting big business is second nature and a single conversation over a corporate lunch could likely spawn several bestselling concepts.

But, it was not until she withdrew permanently to the tranquillity of a mountainside retreat that she penned her first Novel; Searching4MrRight.com. A tongue in cheek look at internet dating; her novel had mass appeal and was snapped up by Barnes and Noble back in 2008. But, despite penning a Bestseller, Rene did not enjoy the experience of traditional publishing and quickly withdrew, taking the rights to her book with her…. She retired from the pen for over 5 years.

It was only the intervention of her son that eventually lured her back to the QWERTY; a place where she certainly appears most comfortable and her talents truly shine. Agreeing, somewhat hastily, to decide the future of her writing career by the toss of a coin, fate landed on the side of the reader and she was sent spiralling back into the word game. Earlier in 2013 Rene Schultz delivered an excellent piece of contemporary fiction Bishop Street which sported one of my favourite covers of the year.

Rene’s diverse writing skills have proven to be prominent in the genre of contemporary fiction, where they might tragically have lay dormant and undiscovered had it not been for the influence of her son and the subsequent release of Bishop Street. The thought provoking storyline in this latest novel has quickly gained mass praise throughout dozens of 5* reviews.

But the story by no means ends there and I have been amongst the privileged few to catch a preview of the cover of Rene’s third novel Done Deal, which is currently in final editing and has the potential to deliver an instant hit, already tantalising those fortunate enough to gain a preview.

Rene Schultz’s wealth of experience in the why’s and wherefores’ of the corporate world has certainly done her no harm in developing a talent for expressing; true to life, heart wrenching and hard hitting storylines filled with moral and ethical dilemmas, and I am delighted that she has agreed to run the gauntlet of Simons 10 Q Interview….

“I’ve never jumped out of a plane, climbed Mt. Everest, or seen the Northern Lights of Alaska. But, I have danced in the rain, sent a message in a bottle, and I’ve rode my motorcycle down The Pacific Coast Highway on sunny California days!” Rene Schultz 2013.

Stand by to embrace the world of Rene Schultz…. Good Morning Rene….

SD Q1: Your first book; Searching 4 MrRight.com was picked up by B&N and gained you some acclaim. A highly entertaining novel based upon your own experience of internet dating. What is the profile of your ideal man?

RS A1: I’m laughing at your question! Is there such a thing as an ideal man, or was that concept simply a figment of my imagination? When I started on my journey to find Mr. Right. after leaving a long marriage, never in my wildest dreams had I considered dating. I hadn’t dated in twenty-five years. Then one day, my girlfriends started pushing me toward the new wave of technology called; ‘Internet dating’. I wasn’t looking for a perfect ‘Prince Charming’ – just someone who had good communication skills (able to converse with more than one-syllable answers); a great sense of humour (but not a quirky comedian); close to my age (experienced in life-but not looking like my grandfather); financially stable (not living under a freeway underpass); and someone who on occasion likes to live on the edge (but, doesn’t jump off!). Not an exemplary list of qualities but all a ‘must’ in my book! After years of dating and stories that brought my friends to fits of laughter, I decided to chronicle my hilarious experiences in Searching4MrRight.com.

SD Q2: In promoting Looking 4 MrRight.com, you embarked upon a 100 store signing tour. That must have been somewhat of a logistical nightmare. Which store and cities hold the fondest and worst memories for you during the tour and why?

RS A2:

Best Memory: Six years ago, the online dating scene was just beginning to explode. Lucky for me, I was right in the middle of this booming new industry of matching-up singles! With this new concept of dating, and my entertaining sense of humour, I was asked by the corporate offices of Barnes and Noble and Borders to schedule book signings where ever I wanted. I love to travel and meet new people; so the book signings were just an excuse to take another road trip! I live thirty miles north of Los Angeles, nestled in the hills of Malibu. Los Angeles is the largest arena for all kinds of major, media blitz. Located in the heart of L.A. is The Grove. It’s an upbeat, upscale shopping area that is centred around a large grassy knoll, water fountains that shoot straight-up and paired with music, and an old-fashion cable car that goes from end to end. It’s also considered a major hub for the Who’s Who in Beverley Hills and frenzy for celebrity sightings. In the middle of the shopping centre is a Barnes and Noble bookstore. A month before the book signing, they showcased a (6’ by 6’) poster of me in the storefront window. There I was, in all my glory, sitting on my motorcycle wearing a big smile. That was a very surreal feeling looking at my poster in the window at – The Grove. Especially when the poster next to mine was Ray Bradbury! That night a very large crowd of family, friends and bystanders showed up and it turned into a typical ‘Hollywood Shindig’.

Worst Memory: I can honestly say I didn’t have a worst. I thought they were all unique and different. Each city had their own idiosyncratic clientele from within their area.

SD Q3: You took some time out from writing before coming back with a vengeance delivering an extremely well written and presented novel; Bishops Street. Had it not been for your initial success, would Bishop Street still be locked away in the memory banks or was it always on the cards?

RS A3: Six years ago, I was working on Done Deal when I slipped in a non-fiction book, Searching4MrRight.com. I signed a 3-year contract for S4MR with a ‘traditional’ publisher. It was a smaller publishing house and fairly new on the scene. When Searching4MrRight.com came out it was very successful and the publisher used the revenue of my book to publish 16 other books. When they couldn’t pay my royalties, things got complicated, and I sued for my ‘copyrights’ back. It was a big fiasco, and one I did not wish to repeat—ever again. So, I quietly slipped into a reclusive state of mind, and continued to write. As I was writing Done Deal, I began thinking about Maggie, my main character in Bishop Street and outlining the storyline in my head. Sounds crazy, but I don’t document outlines or take notes whilst working on my stories. I just sit at a computer and let my characters dictate the plot. After a year or so, I had finished my two novels and I found myself writing three screenplays; High Stakes, Left Behind, and Bishop Street.

Three months ago, my son, who is a major player in the field of technology, convinced me to self-publish. With technology taking over the world and paperbacks on the verge of becoming obsolete, I thought it was a great time to test the waters with Bishop Street. Being a newcomer to the world of self-publishing, I joined the field of ‘Indie’ authors, and absorbed all the knowledge I could find about self-promotions. I wandered through Facebook pages and found two amazing reviewers (Sue Ward and Philomena Callan – ’2 Friends’ – FB page) from the UK. They asked to review Bishop Street, so reluctantly I sent them a copy. To an author, it’s like handing your baby over to strangers, and hoping they will give it back – without destroying your dreams. They read it that night and within hours my email box was full. Every since, they have become my biggest fans. After Bishop Street they coerced me into letting them Beta read, Done Deal. They loved that too and are anxiously awaiting its release. But, it was the acceptance of Bishop Street by both reviewers and readers that has finally made me feel comfortable wearing my ‘author shoes’!

SD Q4: The cover of Bishops Street is what initially turned my eye to your work, indeed it might be something I would have hanging, framed, on a wall. Where did the inspiration for the cover come from and what importance did you place on presentation when deciding upon the appearance of the cover?

RS A4: It is very important to an author to have a eye-catching cover. I wanted one that could easily relate to the storyline. For months, I searched through thousands of pictures looking for a perfect image for the book. I searched all kinds of websites, including photography sites like ‘Flickr.’ One day, I went into ‘The Library of Congress’ and rummaged through their old pictures of orphanages in the 1950’s. I knew that exact moment, when the picture popped onto the screen, I had finally found my cover. Those little children in that picture is exactly what I visualized in my dreams while I was writing Bishop Street. It wasn’t until later, that I found the second picture. I sent it off to Michael Price and his artistic talent with double-exposure, ultimately created my perfect cover.

SD Q5: Bishop Street is based around the main character Maggie and her struggle in coming to terms with being physically abused as a child. What inspired you to write about such an emotionally draining subject and what effect did your research have on you personally?

RS A5: I think that most authors draw from the different areas of their lives and lifetime experiences when writing. I did do research for some parts of the book, but most areas I relied on my innermost feelings from childhood. I had a very dysfunctional childhood that was surrounded by abuse. As a child, I would fantasize of what it would be like to be part of a ‘normal’ family. So I would watch television shows like: Ozzie & Harriet; Leave It to Beaver; Father Knows Best. Those shows were always a constant reminder of what I was missing. As I grew up, I realized that life is not perfect and it’s all about, what you make of it. I never dwell on my past, I always think of today and how lucky I am. I think every character in Bishop Street is a small part of who I am. Maggie the successful author who struggles with life; Elizabeth the mother who finally finds happiness through her family; Randolph the recluse; and Lucy brings out that emptiness I sometimes revert back to. I mention this as an acknowledgement in the book. As a survivor, this was a very cathartic book for me.

SD Q6: Your new novel A Done Deal is currently in final edit. Is there any set date that we can expect it to become widely available and as a self published author this time around, how will you be promoting it?

RS A6: I’m hoping to get it out by the end of November. It’s in the editing stage right now. Editing is such an important part of a successful author. But finding a seasoned editor who relates to your style and voice is sometimes difficult.

Unfortunately, technology has closed the doors of a lot of bookstores, and paperbacks will soon be a thing of the past. Electronics of all varieties have become the wave of the future for the new generations of readers. The Internet has a resourceful community for ‘Indie’ authors and gives us a variety of places to promote our books. It exposes us to great supporters like; reviewers, readers, bloggers and other authors. Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Twitter, and online bookstores are another form of communicating with others and gives us the ability to target the readers. If you’re technology challenged like me, it not easy! But that is where you will find me, on a daily basis!

SD Q7: You have given a graphics student the opportunity to design your latest cover and use it within their portfolio. An admirable gesture indeed. What level of importance do you put on giving something back to the community and is this a precedent that you envisage following on all of your future Novels?

RS A7: Actually, I found Michael Price by pure accident. I found a unique picture on ‘Flickr’ of an old orphanage in Galveston. I wrote the photographer and he wrote me back. He was a student of Art/Design in Texas who loved to take pictures. I didn’t use his picture, but he offered to help me with my book cover. In return, he used it in one of his classes and tucked it into his future portfolio. When I found my picture in the Library of Congress, I set them to him. He did an amazing job with the first picture; then I threw him a curveball. A week later, I found the bottom picture of the older, ruffian type children and sent it to him. We collaborated and came up with a unique and artistic cover for Bishop Street. Months later, I shot him off an email to see if he had the time and wanted to team-up again for Done Deal. He was excited, so I sent him a vision of what I was looking for. A week later, I knew he had captured exactly what I had pictured.

I believe that everyone needs a break. I was given a break when I first started writing. A known author took my first three chapters of Done Deal and critiqued it. She shredded it down, from 16 pages to 4. Her helpful advice was—“get rid of the backstory and make the first chapter your hanging ‘hook’.” Along with—“make sure each sentence has value and moves the story along, or get rid of it.” Her critique made me work harder at becoming a better author. I still hear those words when I sit down and write. And for that I am thankful. Now, over the past few years I have mentored a few young talented authors myself. I think it’s important in life to ‘pay it forward’. I’m a big believer in giving back and helping each other.

On my Facebook-Author page (Rene-D-Schultz-Author) everyday, I post an inspirational quote from famous people and then I give my own spin on it.

SD Q8: You’ve spent almost 30 years surrounded by bankers; knowing of your artistic talent and themselves completely out of ideas on how to get the economy moving, a group of bankers lure you into one of their vaults. It’s full to the rafters with every design of twenty, fifty and hundred dollar bill ever produced…. they refuse to release you until you come up with three new faces to inspire the American nation and be printed on the obverse side of a new set of the dollar denominations described. With carte blanche on artistic licence, which three people (or characters) would you come up with and why?

RS A8:

$20 Bill $20 - I’m going to take it one step further and instead of people or characters, I think with all the upheaval that is surrounding our government this past few months, symbols would be appropriate. As the world is facing unrest in many countries and others are simply trying to survive, my focus is for peace, humanity, and feeding all those hungry children. So if I had carte blanche on an artistic license, an abstract picture representing all of those elements would be my choice.

$50 Bill $50 – Statue of Liberty – The Statue of Liberty represents friendship between nations and freedom from oppression.

$100 Bill $100 – The American Flag – Representing a nation undivided. It is the symbol of life, strength, resolve and perseverance of the American people.

SD Q9: Your new novel a Done Deal is based upon another subject that will tug at the heartstrings of many; three books, three very different but widely appealing subject matters. What will book four be about and what will you do to ensure it has the same level of appeal?

RS A9: With the new age of technology, hackers become a reality and new Robin Hoods’ emerge…

Done Deal is about an ordinary woman, who leaves an unbelievable, but extraordinary ‘legacy.’ Single-handedly, she forfeits her integrity and financially takes down major pharmaceuticals and insurance companies— leaving the government desperately searching for answers. With the rising costs of medications, costly clinical studies, and insurance companies unwilling to pay for expensive drugs to save the lives of patients… a hero steps forward! My next book is going to have a ‘moral to the story’ type feel to it. It’s about a very bright twenty-eight year old young woman who learns one of the biggest lessons in her life — ‘Beauty is only skin deep…’

SD Q10: You have been a City dweller and a Country lady. Which has brought you more joy and why?

RS A10: I was raised in California. I got married when I was young and had two sons. My ex-husband worked in Beverly Hills during our marriage, and continues to work there as a Private Banker. I have met many rich and famous people. I have socialized in circles, many would be envious of. But when it came to raising my two sons, I chose to move to a safe, small rural community, nestled in the hills just outside of Los Angeles. I wanted them to experience a much calmer, and quieter pace of life. I’m a very private lady who enjoys listening to the birds singing in the morning on my patio, shopping at our local farmer’s market and volunteering in the community.

SD Comment: Rene, it has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with me and I wish you all the best with your new book Done Deal when it is released in the near future.

If you are simply itching to get your hands on a copy of either of Rene Schultz’s novels then why not visit her amazon sites below;

Searching4MrRight.com

Bishop Street

Interviewer Simon Duringer’s 5* Amazon rated thriller Stray Bullet can be purchased at;

The Rene Schultz interview took place on 18 October 2013

Simon Duringer © 2013.