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Interview with Kathy Shawver

Published 2016-11-06.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
The thought of crossing off another item on my bucket list and at 3 more on my daily to-do list.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, doing housework, doing crafts, homework for my online classes, applying for scholarships and employment, going for walks or spending time with my kids or grandkids.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Depending on my mood I either browse by topic or simply download those with catchy titles--my tastes are pretty eclectic so I'm usually happy with the results.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes (cringe) I was 13 and it was horribly maudlin, clichéd and grammatically, a train wreck. But nonetheless I was hooked and while it took 50 years to work up the courage to publish I've been writing ever since.
What is your writing process?
rough draft, research, add details, 2nd rough draft, have a couple friends read it, make revisions , proofread and format, final draft.
How do you approach cover design?
Look for stock photos and clip art that match the theme and tone of the writing. Why pay someone else for something I can do myself , I prefer to do it all myself. That way my "baby" stays mine till I am ready to send it out in the world.
What do you read for pleasure?
Historical fiction
Fantasy (especially Celtic themed or those with strong female characters)
Faith based fiction and self help
Books on entrepreneurship and money management ( learning and improving skills is pleasure reading for me)
Mysteries
What is your e-reading device of choice?
the Kindle app on my laptop
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Since I am just getting started , I can't really say for sure. Facebook posting alone hasn't worked well yet but Im working on writing some catchier ad copy so hopefully that will improve.
Describe your desk
Organized chaos-- writing projects and publishing materials piled in one corner, office supplies jumbled a box in another corner, craft project in progress in another pile, laptop, at least a dozen sticky notes, e-cigs (usually buried under a pile) a cup of tea or coffee, a vase of flowers (when I have room) change jar and at least 3 small notebooks of to do lists, story ideas, phone messages etc.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
A farm in central Pennsylvania--plenty of inspiring events for material, lots of spaces (hayloft, milk house, root cellar, old maple tree fork and Dad's deer stand) to hide and read or write.
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Books by This Author

Beginner's Guide to Online Marketing by
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 3,500. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2016 . Categories: Nonfiction » Business & Economics » E-commerce / internet marketing
Based on both research and personal experience these easy to read and understand book is a must have for all would be online marketers. While focusing primary on the use of social media and online classified sites, it also provides useful tips for off line activities to further create leads and boost sales.
The Short (mostly) Happy Life of a Christmas Tree by
Price: $4.00 USD. Words: 1,580. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent, Fiction » Fairy tales
A short whimsical look at the many aspects of Christmas from the view point of a sassy and winsome young tree.The story incorporates family values, environmental awareness, the religious aspects of the holiday and first person narrative in a tale that should appeal to ages 5 to 10.