Pump Up Your Book Chats with Tim & Debbie Bishop, Authors of ‘Two Are Better’

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Tim Bishop
Originally from Maine, Tim Bishop has over thirty years of experience in business, first as a CPA, then for many years in various roles in the corporate world. In addition to consulting for small businesses, Tim serves as a Hope Coach for TheHopeLine, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reach, rescue, and restore hurting teens and young adults.

Debbie Bishop
Debbie Bishop has taught for over twenty-five years, for the past ten years as a literacy specialist in Framingham, Massachusetts. She has a passion for reading and seeing that young people do it well. She also has high interest in recovery issues and encouraging others with her own triumphs over struggles earlier in her life. Debbie also serves as a Hope Coach for TheHopeLine.

Visit the authors online at www.openroadpress.com.

———— INTERVIEW ———–

Thank you for this interview, Tim and Debbie Bishop.

You’re welcome. We appreciate this opportunity to share our thoughts with readers.

Can you tell us why you wrote Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast?

When one is blessed with profound, life-changing experiences, sharing them can benefit others, if not inspire them. We decided to share our unique story of finding true love in our fifties and bicycling across the country in celebration. Both endeavors required motivation, perseverance, and teamwork. So will a successful marriage! Two Are Better contains the rich assortment of truths that we learned as we embarked on our new journey of holy matrimony. We also discovered beauty in our new surroundings. Most people travel through America by car. From bicycles, our dual narrative and our color photography provide a new perspective.

Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

Trying to make the book more than a travelogue was a challenge, as was co-authoring. We wanted to share each of our perspectives, but we didn’t want to interrupt the flow. We experimented with different formats and researched other co-authored books. Placing Debbie’s narrative inline and in magenta, with appropriate transitions where necessary, seemed best for the reader. Issues surrounding midlife courtship, marriage, and other changes—and the lessons that we learned along the way—make Two Are Better more than just a travelogue.

Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

Yes, there are several. But perhaps the strongest underlying message is that it is NEVER too late for your dreams to come true, and for your desires to be fulfilled. There is always hope. Another strong theme is that simplifying your life in this complicated world in which we live can be liberating. When “the clutter” is discarded, true meaning and purpose are easier to see.

Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Have an editor or an experienced writer review your manuscript before you get too far into it. We received some very helpful feedback early on, which we believe improved our book.

Would you like to tell us about your home life?

We have a condominium where we spend a lot of time, but we are not crazy about it. Debbie bought the condo in 2004. When we married in 2010, Tim moved in. We consider it more of a temporary launching pad than a permanent home. Neither of us is a homebody. We adapted well to motel rooms, and even a few campsites, during our bike tour. When you think of home as being with the love of your life, we can enjoy that anywhere!

What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

We actually learned how to blog during our bicycle trip in 2010 with no intention of writing a book. When we started writing Two Are Better, we began another blog at www.openroadpress.com, which we used to share new content and to connect our followers with our material and happenings. In addition to blogging, we needed to research how to publish and promote a book.

Hiring a publicist has been extremely helpful in promoting our book. We would recommend to others to consider this step early in the publication process, particularly if you’re not backed by a large publishing house. For writers who are serious about spreading their message, a publicist can really help jump-start the process.

What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

To be perfectly honest, getting both of us on the same page was most frustrating, ironic since our book title is Two Are Better! Debbie was working full time in the public school system when Tim started writing, so it was more difficult for her to find the time to participate. Also, the book publishing industry presents unique challenges for many, but particularly for first-time authors. Anyone getting into this vocation take note!

What is the most rewarding part of being an author?

Getting feedback from readers has been most encouraging! Just as a musician needs an audience, so does a writer. Otherwise, the work is for naught. A musician can see their audience and receive instant feedback. As authors, our audience hides in the bushes, and chooses if and when to partake in our creative work. It is gratifying when people who don’t know us (and those who do) comment on how they couldn’t put our book down once they started reading it! Whenever a reader has an emotional response to our work, it suggests that we are really connecting with our audience. That’s rewarding! Some have said that they laughed, cried, and felt like they were riding right along with us throughout the book. When we hear from someone, we also realize that someone in the sea of readers has chosen our work. And, of course, when we sell books…that is always rewarding!

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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.

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