Tuesday, April 9, 2013

AUTHOR AUTHOR: DANA JOY WYZARD, PART II

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

To read the synopsis of Treadwell by Dana Joy Wyzard, and the first part of my interview with this "amazing" woman (as Sherry Ellis said, and you'd better not doubt Sherry Ellis), please click HERE.

And now for the rest of the interview with the amazing Dana:




Q. What if Treadwell was made into a movie? Who would you want playing the lead roles?

A. Oh, no!  As if I haven't already laid out the cast!!  Nelda would HAVE to be played by Helen Mirren, or Glenn Close (if Helen refused).  

And there's no one else who would do as Wosie Mae except for Kathy Bates.

And if Lindsay Lohan shows up to play Laura, I'm going to personally shut down the set.

Q. What have you learned from the publication process? What do you wish you'd known before you started?

A. Well, I've honestly learned there is nothing GOOD about the publishing process.  In fact, I'll make this easy with a list:

(1) There's no such thing as a good query letter.  
(2) Agents have assistants, and their only job is to shove your query into the circular file, and not bother the agent.
(3) Assistants are usually college kids looking for the next HUNGER GAMES so their boss will pat them on the head.
(4) Even if you pay a proofreader to check for mistakes, don't take it on faith that they found all of them.
(5) DO NOT proofread your manuscript on your laptop.  You'll get comfortable and start scanning instead of inspecting.
(6) Print it out and proofread the real words off of real paper.  You'll be amazed at how many times you mis-spelled broccoli.
(7) Everyone will look at you as an impostor if you pay to have your book published.  Get used to it.  It was the only way it was going to happen in this economy.

Q. Tell me something about the book that makes you feel really good.

A. My bucket list is now finished.  And if I hadn't gotten that manuscript published, it was going to stay in the back of the drawer, making fun of me for the rest of my life.

Q. This is the question I always asked last during interviews when I was a reporter: What do you most want the world to know about you?

A. Anything but the truth!


Tomorrow, you'll get my review of Treadwell, which you can purchase at http://www.amazon.com/TREADWELL-Sheltered-foothills-Southern-reclusive/dp/1483603644 or http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0131151003/TREADWELL.aspx. And be sure to visit Dana in her guise as Little Lotta Joy at her blog, WITLESS RELOCATION PROGRAM.

\
Dana made those bullet holes in the cover herself.
I really think you should buy her book.


Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


13 comments:

  1. That's a great feeling of accomplishment- congrats on the book AND on marking it off your bucket list.

    I've enjoyed getting to know you through Janie's interviews~

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    Replies
    1. Shelly, Dana answered you just a little below Beth's comment.

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  2. Replies
    1. Oh, the real review will be tomorrow when I give you the goods on what I think about the book!

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    2. Beth: I wish I would have had Janie to interview my first husband. That would have been nicely taken care of before the fact.

      Shelly: You're as welcome as the flowers in May to come to my blog and get to know the real me. Janie is too kind.

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  3. Boy I know what you mean about proofreading on your laptop. When I post, I try to proof it, but as soon as I copy it into the post and send it off, the mistakes turn a bright, blinking red. I'm just glad my Peeps understand I am an old man and don't browbeat me with corrections.

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    Replies
    1. We don't browbeat you with corrections because we know you well enough to understand what you mean. And we love you.

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  4. Ha! Thanks for the shout out. And yes, you should never doubt what I say. I'm the Mama! ;)

    I will keep my fingers crossed that Lindsay Lohan does not show up. If she does, I will personally come and ask her to leave (nicely, of course).

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    Replies
    1. I've never felt any reason to argue or disagree with you, so yes, you're the mama (and I'm the old mama).

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    2. Sherry, I don't think Lindsey does "nice", and I will pull Nelda out of my bosom (do they use that word anymore?) and use her to beat the crap out of Lindsey.

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  5. Janie, you are too good for Elvis Aaron Schwartz and too good to me. If I can ever thank you. . . and I'm thinking of sending Coffeypot to do the deed. (after all, the way he spells, we'd never be able to read his letter saying he's being held in your back room)

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    Replies
    1. I'm not too good for anything except Dr. X. But please don't send Coffey to me. I'm afraid Judy would refuse to take him back.

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  6. Great job, Janie! You ask great questions. And the answers were great. I like the explanation of her difficulties with the publicaton process.

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