In the month of January, I'm doing a Twitter Interview (Twitterview) of many of the participants of the #BookMarket chat. These are people who come and generously share their wisdom week after week. The Twitterviews give them a chance to shine.
Today, I interviewed Beth Barany, @Beth_Barany. She is the award winning author of Henrietta the Dragon Slayer.She is also a type of author coach, support person.
My take on the interview: Beth is an experienced author with all kinds of experience. The thing that impressed me the most about Beth was the handle she had on her character and book. Most of us, when we talk about our books, stammer a lot more or aren't able to paint an entire picture of our books and character. I think there's a lot to learn here.
ClaudiaC Q.1 - What 5 words would you use to describe your coaching company?
Beth_Barany My coaching co is specialized to ea. client; fun; empowering; publishing-oriented.I only have up to 10 cts :-)
ClaudiaC Seems like w a small number of clients you could do a little of everythng. Do you love 1 thing most?
Beth_Barany I love the deep change work I do w/ my clients, + also helping them really get their msg & their audience
ClaudiaC It sounds like you're more of a 'writer's therapist' than a coach? Is that right?
Beth_Barany I also like helping my clients connect w/ their audience and sell books! :-) I'm not a therapist; I'm definitely in the coaching world + now I do transformational NLP 2 w/ my clients
ClaudiaC Q.1b - What 5 words would you use to describe your writing?
Beth_Barany I write fiction + nonfiction. They all are: adventurous, empowering, engaging; fun; & useful :-)
ClaudiaC I don't want to get stuck on this but I'd love to hear more about the NLP, that's fascinating. Maybe a chat?
ClaudiaC Q.2 - What is your favorite thing about the publishing/writing world today?
Beth_Barany Today there's lots of opportunities to reach our target audience directly; i love that.
ClaudiaC Q.2b - what are you favorite ways to reach your target audience?
Beth_Barany A.2b: I don't have a fav way of reaching my audience; I do love Twitter/FB/blog tours & face-to-face!
ClaudiaC You're right. It's kind of amazing that we can 'meet' each other in these various forums.
ClaudiaC Q.2c - Occurs to me...You've been in this business a long time.Do you like publshng better now? then?
Beth_Barany Glad I'm right tho not sure abt what! LOL I also love doing live presentations & workshops. I've been in journalism since 1991, then bkselling, then novel writing for the last 10+ yrs; I LOVE now! I do think now in publishing is better than ever. So many more opp to be a leader in our creative lives. Yes, I love meeting in these various forums!
ClaudiaC Q.3 - If a reader was totally dialed into what you write, what's your message?
Beth_Barany A.3: You can be the hero of your life. Be a leader. Build your team to reach your goal. Together we can.
ClaudiaC Ooh I love it! :) Q.3b - Why YA fiction?
Beth_Barany A.3b: LuvYA fiction b/c it's adventurous unlke adult fiction. + I like lots more action than talk :-)
ClaudiaC Q.4 - Let's talk about your genre. How did it find you? What drew you to Dragon slaying?
Beth_Barany Henrietta The Dragon Slayer is really about a girl who becomes more than just a hero; she becomes whole
ClaudiaC Oooh you know I want to know more - what do you mean whole?
Beth_Barany As girl I always luvd fairy tales & folk tales but wntd Girl Hero. Now I have Henrietta The Dragon Slayer
Beth_Barany A.4: Actually, I deeply love dragons, so Henrietta The Dragon Slayer is a twist on the trad tale. Henrietta The Dragon Slayer always wanted to be a Hero. When tht life disappoints her she leaves. Alone. The Dragon Slayer thinks she's a loner, but has to work with her new friends to save the day. I think girls & women want wholeness & heroism, but so oft we don't see that in our stories. I want to see tht! LOL
ClaudiaC Q.4d What is the #1 thing you wish all authors knew right now?
Beth_Barany A.4d: To authors: Writing is part art, part craft + part business, + you need at be good at all three
ClaudiaC Q.4b - Why coach authors?
Beth_Barany A.4b: I am one. I'm gd at teaching strategy for overing all the hard pts
ClaudiaC I think it's an interesting question. Can an action hero be whole? Seems like they are usually damaged in some way.
Beth_Barany Action heros, male or female, wll always be damaged in some way, to be interesting and human And they can be whole 2 -1:40 PM Jan 12th, 2012
ClaudiaC I have to say that I love the way you speak about Henrietta. speaks to what you give your clients.
Beth_Barany I'd love to hear what you hear. I do feel a strong thruline in my fiction +nonfic, how I wrk w/my clients
Beth_Barany I believe in the paradox that the gd/bad news is 'We're all alright!'
ClaudiaC Very nice! Will Henrietta return in a series of books? Or is this a one shot story?
Beth_Barany Henrietta The Dragon Slayer is Book 1 of The Fate of The Five Kingdoms
ClaudiaC That's very fun! :) When do you expect Dragon Stone to drop?
Beth_Barany The Dragon Stone (Book 2) is due out this summer!
ClaudiaC How many books do you expect the series to be?
Beth_Barany I know that the Fate of The Five Kingdom series will at least be 3 bks, tho 5 wld be nice!
ClaudiaC 3 is nice! Reminds me of Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea. She said she was unable to put them down. I think there's 6 total of those. 3 originally and the others over time.
Beth_Barany I've had readers say, "I couldn't put it down. I read straight thru the night!" Luv it!
ClaudiaC Q.5 - Everyone has a super secret ninja skill. What's yours?
Beth_Barany A.5: Taking all the pts of message, art, client's skills, audience + bringing them together into a bk people will buy
ClaudiaC That's a pretty powerful super-ninja skill! :) Yay!
Beth_Barany I like complicated puzzles w/ lots of moving pts incl. people and actions! LOL You're so welcome. Thanks so much for having me for this conversation! And for the #bookmarket wrk you do!
ClaudiaC Next #twitterview is with @gratitudem tomorrow at 2p ET! :) Should be interesting!
Previous #twitterviews:
Eco-fantasy and @Harmonygirlit
Serial fiction, Moody vampires, and other fun with @TechTigger
Publishing with Kate from @CandlemarkGleam
Self publishing with @FriesenPress
Historic fiction with @CarolBuchananMT
Conversation and Confusion with @DavidRozansky
Caring and connection with @DanBlank
What's important to a reader with @Girl_Who_Reads
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