Pump Up Your Book Chats with Monica Brinkman

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Monica M. Brinkman lived in the Philadelphia, PA area, relocated to the California Bay, where she resided for thirty years and now resides in the St. Louis, MO area, which was the inspiration of her latest book, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel. She views herself as a citizen of all the States, finding that people throughout the country are warm, caring and most wish the same things in life… to enjoy their passions, make a living and be surrounded by those they love. In her own words, “Life is truly an adventure. I believe in giving everyone the opportunity to go after his or her passions in life. To not do so, creates hostility, depression and emptiness.”

A free-lance author and poet, she embraces stories that have meaning and purpose. Though a bit of a rebel, when some authors told her that no one would ever read a story set in the Missouri Ozarks, nor would they wish to read a mixed genre, that was all it took. “How dare they insult the intelligence of our readers by placing them in a box”. Off she went, and wrote this exact type of story, set in the small rural college town of Raleigh, MO. It is a mixed genre of suspense, horror, spirituality with a touch of the paranormal. Monica is working on the sequel, The Wheels Final Turn, set in the State of California. She has performed radio commercials, produced and acted in community theatre productions, worked as a singing telegram and has belonged to various vocal groups and bands. She also dabbles in oil and acrylic painting, preferring landscapes and still life.

Find wonderful stories, articles, videos and inspirations at Ms. Brinkman’s web site, Meaningful Writings, http://www.monicabrinkmanbooks.webs.com She has performed radio commercials, produced and acted in community theatre productions, worked as a singing telegram and has belonged to various vocal groups and bands. She also dabbles in oil and acrylic painting, preferring landscapes and still life. To look inside her book, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/tags-on-product/0984615466/ref=tag_dpp_cust_edpp_sa

http://monicabrinkmanbooks.webs.com/apps/blog/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/monica.brinkman2

The Turn of the Karmic Wheel

Thank you for this interview, Monica. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

I have been writing since I was able to hold a pencil in my hand. It was poetry and flowed from my fingers effortlessly. I had my first piece published in a school newspaper and I’ve included it in my latest book, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel. Only for the last few years was I able to overcome my fear of writing longer pieces and have found I thrive on the adrenalin rush to put down in words, the story inside my head.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Marketing is the most frustrating; as I am sure, most authors will agree. We want to write and marketing our book is outside of our comfort zone. To know you have written a book, those who have read absolutely fall in love with, but to be unable to place it in front of the masses, is very discouraging. Most authors do not have the thousands of dollars to put into mass marketing and that is shameful. To tell you the truth, as a reviewer of new works, I have found the best stories coming from the unknown authors of the world. This is one reason I started our radio show, Six Unsynchronized Souls on blogtalkradio. It gives the unknown authors a chance to connect with the world, while speaking on specific subject matter. We are giving away a book a month in our monthly contest so others can see why I find these books amazing.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

I am married, for 27 years and very thankful my husband is the most patient, understanding and supportive partner in the world. We do have our moments, though. Of course finding that balance to give him attention is an on-going challenge. Most days, I find myself writing into the wee hours of the night, knowing I must get up for work the next day. Nevertheless, you must make time for each other, even if it is a mere half an hour a day or so. I know he gets jealous of the computer, well; at least it’s not another man, right?

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

My latest book, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel, was written in mixed genre of suspense, horror, spirituality and the paranormal. Explaining the book is a challenge in itself as I have found each person who reads the book, gets their own take on what the meaning is. What my book is about is unique to the reader. Some feel it is good versus evil, others see it as a wake up call to the masses while others think it is about justice for deeds and acts performed in life.”

Can you share an excerpt?

This one is my favorite as it awakens peoples’ eyes to a rare, incurable, genetic disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB, for short.

I wanted to let the readers know, also, that every sale of my novel will create a donation to EBMRF, the only research foundation that uses 97% of their funding on actual research. They are starting to come up with promising research results. I can only hope and pray we will see significant results in the near future.

Miriam gazed at her daughter and saw pure beauty where others would see only the gauze bandages covering her thin, tiny arms, legs, feet and hands. Most people who saw her believed the lovely little girl was a burn victim. If only that were so, Miriam thought to herself. Yes, that she could live with, knowing her Tessa would get better and grow to a ripe old age. Often she wondered why such a disease as Epidermolysis bullosa, E.B. for short, existed. For what purpose were these children born into this world? Their reality was constant pain and misery. E.B. was a cruel trick of nature indeed. The doctors had explained that it had to do with genes that she and her late husband carried. Rather like Russian roulette. No one knew when, or if, a child would be born with E.B. There were no tests to find out if an adult had the gene, they’d told her—well, not until a child was born with E.B. Then the medical field was able to take DNA from the child and compare it against the parents’. Even then, she’d been told, the disease could simply be the result of a mutant gene that popped up out of nowhere. In truth, the doctors knew very little about this genetic disease and as much as admitted that each afflicted child was, more or less, a training tool for the medical field. The extent of the disease varied from mild to extreme cases.

Miriam knew that to the world, her daughter was a freak. Moreover, she knew that Tessa was growing weary of the long stares, rude questions, and out and out gawking whenever she went out in public. Miriam felt like telling Tessa to give ’em the finger the next time an adult stood next to her gawking openly. That would serve ’em right, but two wrongs don’t make a right, and it was better for Tessa to ignore them and not buy into their discourteousness. Miriam laughed to herself just thinking of Tessa lifting up that finger at some moron.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

The answer is not interesting but it is in my home office that I feel most relaxed. I can shut the door and get lost in imagination. Just don’t enter the room as it is in a chaotic state most of the time.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

My book hits hard without too many flowery adjectives so most people can read it with ease. I wanted it to be universal and though I may have my very own thoughts on the meaning of the book, each person reading it will place their own perspective and personal beliefs as to the message throughout the book. It is full of characters you will either fall in love with or downright hate. It is a reflection of real life woven in a tale of mixed genre. So, in final analysis, the fact it is personal to each reader makes it very different from most books out today. It was a challenge to write in this unique form and I am thrilled to hear the positive response I have, thus far, received from the readers and reviewers. The closest anyone could come to comparing my writing to another author was ‘a mix between Nora Roberts and Stephen King.’ Not too shabby of company.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

With all my heart and soul, thank you and please share the information about the book with others. Without readers, an author’s life would be meaningless.

Thank you for this interview, Monica. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

You are so welcome. It has been a pleasure to have this great opportunity to discuss a bit about the person, Monica Brinkman, and my novel. I’d welcome any chance to talk with you again.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach