I'd like to splash you with serenity this week. You could win your choice of my three books by checking out Kathy Maher's blog. http://Kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com
Kathy Maher, award winning author of historical fiction, asked me some fun and several serious questions on her author interview. Learn who influenced my life and win a free book at
It was a joy encouraging couples to look at their spouses as gifts to treasure and not idiots to tolerate on the G-ZONE this morning. Listen in below my name.
Tony Danza said, "If you have fun doing your interview, people will have fun watching [or listening]." I agree.
This week I hope to have fun doing two interviews and I trust you'll have fun listening. The first is Wednesday with Giovanni Gelati who interviews lots of authors on The G-Zone. He's a hoot. This is our second interview. Expect some good laughs and great advice. Check us out at www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop.
On Thursday at 10 a.m. I join Rita Schulte LPC on her Heartline Podcast. Rita is passionate about matters of the heart and so am I. This interview will be helpful to anyone whose heart loves or would like to love. We'll be talking about marriage. Listen at www.ritaschulte.com/category/podcasts.
If you are an author, being interviewed is a fact of life. Here are author interview tips to help you shake off those willies, prepare, relax, and have fun:
1. Pray and have others praying for you.
2. Read your book through before the interview. The interviewer could ask an obscure question. Good to have your book fresh in your mind.
3. Write out every question you think you could be asked and write down your answer. Review this sheet before your interview. You can send a list of suggested interview questions to the interviewer (some request this). Don't expect to stay on script, though.
4. Interviewers will ask about you, your book, and why you wrote it. Be prepared to answer these questions. Relax and be yourself and show your personality.
5. Have in front of you main points you want to highlight.
6. Don't try to tell the whole book in ten minutes. Grab one thought from your book and expand on it.
7. Be a real person. Tell funny personal stories.
8. If the interviewer asks a hard question, say, "I don't know the answer to that, but what I do know is ... (then go to one of the points you want to highlight). Politicians do this all the time.
9. Engage the interviewer in the conversation, but don't take over. Imagine your conversation like a ping-pong ball bouncing back and forth.
10. Don't answer with "yes" or "no." Keep your talk interesting.
11. Speak slowly and clearly.
12. Drink plenty of water before an interview to avoid a dry mouth.
13. Practice your answers.
14. Remove distractions from your mind and your desk.
15. Have a beginning and closing statement memorized,but don't be married to it. Stay flexible and go with the interviewer's flow.
16. Don't be nervous. Have fun. Trust God for the words. Be yourself and speak from your heart.
17. Dress comfortably. If televised, dress professionally.
18. Keep water handy.
19. Picture your audience in your mind, relax, and talk to them.
20. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth.
21. Have a conversation. Enjoy yourself and your audience will enjoy you.
22. Smile. Even if you are on the telephone. Smiles will show in your voice.
23. Stand while talking if the interview is on the telephone. You'll sound better.
24. If the interview doesn't go well, let it go. There really is no such thing as bad publicity, and audiences forgive and love seeing the human side of you.
25. Send a thank you note.
I'd love to hear any other helpful tips you may have. Meanwhile, I'm reading my book and preparing for some fun this Wednesday and Thursday. Hope you listen in.
Oops! Below is an interview I wasn't expecting and I didn't prepare for, but we sure had some good laughs. Enjoy! The jokes on me.
Exciting times here as tomorrow, Nov 8, from 4:30 to 5:00 EST, I will be the guest on Tricia Goyer's radio show, Living Inspired. http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired.
Tricia is the author of 30+ books with a message to cast aside discouragement and fear to live real life inspired. Sounds like a splash of serenity to me! Tricia's bio is at the end of this blog post.
I'll share the Living Inspired hour with Lynn Eib (she'll be speaking from 4:00 to 4:30 EST). Lynn is the author of When God and Cancer Meet and 50 Days of Hope — Daily Inspiration for your Journey Through Cancer.
The last 15 minutes of each of our 30 minute interviews you can call in with questions at 1-877-864-4869. We'd love to hear from you!
Please listen and learn as Tricia and I encourage you to live real life inspired. Please go to http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired to hear the broadcast. Don't miss the free book giveaway!
Tricia is the author of 30 books and has published over 500 articles for national publications such as Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman and HomeLife Magazine.
She won the Historical Novel of the Year award in both 2005 and 2006 from American Christian Fiction Writers, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Book Award in 2005. Tricia's co-written novel, The Swiss Courier, was a nominee for the Christy Awards.
In her fiction novels, Tricia writes contemporary and historical stories that feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She recreates historic wartime eras with precise detail through perseverant and comprehensive research.
Tricia speaks to groups interested in her writing, research and the publishing world.
She also speaks and conducts workshops for women and teens around the nation, and offers programs to assist teens and teen moms. Tricia has been a workshop speaker for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Convention and Hearts at Home. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana.
In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms To Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com and HopeforWomenMag.com.
I enjoyed my interview on WSYR TV Bridge Street today.
Lessons learned: newscasters are really nice people,some green rooms are gray, I laugh when I'm nervous, wearing a solid bright color and lip gloss are a good idea, and you most certainly do look ten pounds heavier on televsion.
I hope you learn a bit about cherishing the marriage God gave as a gift to you. Enjoy the following television clip:
The Rome Sentinel, my hometown newspaper published an article about me. Thankful for this opportunity to share my faith and my work with the folks in my community. http://romesentinel.com/news?newsid=20120801-142056
Many who hear I live in New York feel sorry for me thinking I'm in a bustling city riding subways. No. I'm four hours from New York City.
Rome is a city rich with central New York history. We live on the edge of the Adirondack Mts. and boast Ft. Stanwix (from the Revolutionary War). http://nps.gov/fost/indexhtm
As well, the first shovel of dirt to dig the Erie Canal happened here. Hence, the name Rome. Italian immigrants settled here and worked building the canal.
My husband, Dan, is the Northeastern District Superintendent of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. We live in the District parsonage. The corner window on the left is where I spend my days writing.
In our backyard is Delta Lake Bible Conference Center (http://www.deltalake.org) and Delta Lake (http://nyspartks.com/parks/66/detais.aspx. There is a view of the lake through the trees. Actually, the lake is a distraction as well as an inspiration. This girl loves to swim and play and write.
I splash and bask in beautiful surroundings. I ride my bicycle to the post office and my kayak around Delta Lake. It's a great life! I thank God for it all.
May your days be filled with Splashes of Serenity!
Tummy hungry, brain overloaded, body weary, I strolled into Dreyer Lodge at the Montrose Christian Writer's Conference with hopes of filling my tummy, de-stressing my brain, and relaxing my body. Up jumps Jim Willis, fellow faculty member, blogger and marketer extraordinaire, asking for an interview. Too tired to be serious, I'm a bit giddy in my You Tube debut. I admit to not sleeping well the night after this was taken with thoughts of "My career is over!" running through my head. I share it with you so you can have a giggle too, and hoping there really is no such thing as bad publicity.
Thanks for the interview, Jim Willis. You are a great marketer. Thank you for marketing moi!
