Spotlight Interview with Author Tracy Kaufmann

Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tracy! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.  

A: Hello, I'm Tracy Kauffman a new author and I have written Southern Adventures-a coming of age fiction book. It is about a woman evaluating her life.  She recalled things that she loved about her life, the trials she overcame, and the experiences that she appreciated God for giving her.  

Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.

A: I started writing poems when I was in high school and then short stories.  My first book, Southern Adventures took about six months to write.  I started to write it when my son left home for the military.  It helped me forget about his leaving and gave me a way to expess how I felt.

Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?

A. It is a fiction book about my life growing up in Alabama.  The book came easy to me and I enjoyed writing about the funny things that happened when I was a small child.    

Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are  woven into your book, if any?  A. Most of the story is my life.  Not only am I a writer, but I am a registered nurse and I believe I have incorporated that into my writing as well.    

Q5. How did you get published?  

A. I started querying publishers, agents and Tate Publishing is the one that approached me first.  They said they liked my style of writing and I really like that they are a Christian based publisher.          

Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the  book writing and/or publishing process?  

A.  The biggest surprise when it comes to publishing is the amount of time and work that goes into the finished product. It doesn't take days, but months to professionally edit, proofread, design and layout the final touches of a polished book.      

Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?

A.  I would have started this project anyway, but I wished I knew more about the Publishing Business in general.

Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book.   What would you hope to hear them say about it?

A. I wish to hear that they thought it was interesting, funny, inspiring, and encouraging.      

Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or  would surprise them.

A. I am a registered nurse and work at a local nursing home part time. I enjoy Nursing, but it is a very stressful job, but it has its rewards.    

Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?  

A. My advice to new authors is make sure you have time to market yourself.  It is never too late to start promoting your book or yourself.      

Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.

A.  My life is crazy, but rewarding.  Each day is different.  The days I go to work, I get up and check my emails, do an audit of my marketing ads and then get dressed for work.  I usually work two or three days a week at the nursing home, which I assess patients, give out medications, and handle any situations that need to be handled.   On days that I don't work at the nursing home, I spend an enormous amount of time marketing, planning, writing, reading, and coming up with new ways of promoting myself through social media, articles, ads, and so forth.  I would say I spend at least eight hours a day on the computer on my off days from the nursing home.  I really do not take a day off, except on Sundays I go to church.  Even then, I check my emails and media sites for anything new.  

Q12:  Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?  

A.  Since he is away in the military, I have made my son's room into my office.  I have a small desk with my computer, router, printer, my phone, paper and pens.           

Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?

A. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.

Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?

A.  Southern Adventures will be released shortly.  I have a children's book that is currently available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my website.  My website is http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com.  My blog ishttp://tracykauffman.blogspot.com.  My twitter handle is @Kauffmantracy.  My fanpage is: http://www.facebook.com/TracyKauffmanFictionAuthor

Authors.com profile: http://www.authors.com/profile/TracyKauffman