Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, Tracy Lane, who was fascinated by the paranormal when she was very young. She always felt like someone was around her even when she was alone. Those experiences inspired her to write a paranormal book where a teenager can see and hear ghosts, and actually makes friends with one.
Tracy loved to write short stories in school and had always wanted to be a writer. But raising children and working jobs got in the way of indulging her passion of writing. Then she realized her children had grown up into teenagers and they didn’t need her as much. She started toying with the idea of writing once again. So setting aside 5 to 10 minutes per day to write at least one page she thought she could end up with a book a year. Now Paranormal Properties is published and she still has a list of at least 8 more books to write. She doesn’t think she’ll be slowing down anytime soon.
Don’t miss the rest of Tracy’s interview:
Part 1 @ Terri – Wednesday, July 24
Part 3 @ Emily – Friday, July 26
Part 4 @ Sandra – Monday, July 29
Part 5 @ Vicki – Tuesday, July 30
PART #2: THE WRITING LIFE
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at home or at the library/Starbucks, etc. I found that since I wake up at 5 a.m. and the house is really quiet that it was a great time to get a page or two of writing done. So I’d get up, make coffee and then write before the world around me woke up.
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life? It is hard at times, I don’t feel like writing every morning. I work 7 days a week and some days it takes it’s toll on me.
What has been the most surprising reaction to something you’ve written? I had a top 100 amazon reviewer mention a line I had written in Paranormal Properties. This is what he wrote. (Note – It’s one of my favorite images from the book) “Toots spat out a rusty belch from his trumpet before a long, low note sang clear.” That’s cool. Really cool.
What is the strongest criticism you’ve ever received as an author? The best compliment?
The strongest criticism was a lady who said I should not call children overweight. Tank, Jake’s friend, is a tomboy who is overweight. She thought I was contributing to the problem of children being called names. What I meant to do was show how she was accepted lovingly by Jake’s family no matter what she looked like.
Other than your family, what has been your greatest source of support? My friends are
my greatest support. They help me by passing out promotional material, telling their friends and family about my book, and telling me how proud they are of me.
How do you deal with rejection and/or negative reviews? I have not had a rejection. After submitting Paranormal Properties I had a contract in hand 2 weeks later. My reviews so far have all been 4 or 5 stars. I am hoping I do not have to deal with anything lower. lol
Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:
Website: http://www.tracylane.us
Blog: http://tossysbooks.blogspot.com/
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549273.Tracy_Lane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TossysBooks
Amazon book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982727178/?tag=wwwpantsonfir-20
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BMHF6X6/?tag=wwwpantsonfir-20
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tracylane
Other: http://www.paranormalproperties.us
PARANORMAL PROPERTIES: The Weir family has just arrived in Dusk, North Carolina, one of the most haunted cities in America, to scope out some of the town’s 127 reported “paranormal properties,” which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake Weir doesn’t know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk’s oldest, most famous ghost: Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, “Barroom Eyes.” Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access TV. Jake enlists the only friend he’s made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed “Tank,” to help him track down Frank’s killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank’s killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for the Halloween special?
