It is time for me to write about someone I never thought I would have to discuss: Kim Kardashian.
If you define success as wealth and fame, she is very successful. However, she has accomplished little other than to be an attention hog. There is little merit to her popularity. Not since Paris Hilton was the darling of the media has there been such a magnet for unwarranted and undeserved attention.
I mean, what has Kardashian done that is of any value except hawk products, play her dumb self on a stupid reality show, and be interviewed by a brain-dead media about what it’s like to be her?
Why all the bitterness, you ask? Well, it concerns me that she has gotten so much media exposure that is way out of proportion to her true news worthiness. Even by celebrity standards she has gone way past her 15 minutes of fame. When will the madness stop? Is she a good example of why the media fails to cover hard news, discuss real issues, or interview quality authors about their books?
The media cannot do it alone. They need people to tune her out so they can stop covering her. But of course the more she is covered, the more people tune in to her. It’s a vicious cycle. Apparently big butts and a bigger mouth can allow someone like her to find a following. But society, as a whole, is getting dumber every time she opens her mouth. Can anything stop her from almost single-handedly melting our brains?
Interview With Author Jane Pollard
- Why in the world do you think people need your book? Because I have researched thoroughly and, being of mature years, have sufficient insight into the human condition to be able to bring the people and period to vivid life. My books open a door into the past and allow readers to live there for a while.
- Do you feel to be a writer carries a certain burden? I feel a responsibility to be as accurate as possible about life as it was. History isn't simply a matter of dates and events, it's about attitudes, beliefs and behavior.
- What role does fantasizing play in your writings? A huge one. The research gives me all the information, but then I need to immerse myself in the location, season, daily life etc through my senses: what does it smell like, taste like? I also need to live the events of the story, seeing and feeling them through the eyes and emotions of my characters. These are real people to me, and I need to make them just as real to my readers.
- How about the role of evading your life in your writing? Having twice been a single parent with young children, evading my life was never a possibility. But writing offered escape into a different world for a few hours at a time. It was, and is, a life-saver.
- If you didn't write books do you think you would have killed someone or yourself by now? The short answer? Yes, without a doubt, probably myself.
- Have you told parents, siblings, friends or lovers to screw off for not supporting you as a writer? No, because you can't change people or make them do something they have no desire or interest in doing. We are all ultimately responsible for ourselves. My parents used to refer to my writing as 'Jane's little hobby' until I became successful. Then their attitude changed. Most of my friends are writers which gives us a lot in common. My present husband is hugely supportive, built me a fabulous office, but is not a writer, having more practical interests. It works really well.
- Which legal addictions help you write well – smoking, food, gambling, sex? I don't smoke, don't gamble, don't drink (never got the taste for it) enjoy food - I find baking therapeutic and a great opportunity for day-dreaming about plot situations or character reactions - but I'm a moderate eater as I want to remain healthy and active and die in my own bed in my sleep. Sex? Mind your own business.
- Would you rather write about taboo topics and take a politically incorrect approach – or play it safe and turn out what is commercially viable? As I write historical fiction much of what is now acceptable was then illegal or taboo. Though I never set out to be a trailblazer, I write about characters, people, so it is who they are, the choices they make, and the consequences of their actions that drive the plot. Being true to the culture and social mores of the period often means writing situations that may now be considered politically incorrect. But you can't airbrush historical fact simply because it might offend current sensibilities.
- Do you write better after an argument? It depends. An argument is usually personal and involves emotions. A heated discussion might be about politics or corruption in government or the Catholic church. Both stir powerful feelings. I've learned to channel these into writing so I make a positive out of a negative. Often the strong emotions engendered by a row are worsened by a sense of helplessness and frustration if you are not in a position to change anything. As nursing grudges and ill-feeling is harmful to your health, I refuse to allow anyone that power over me.
- Do you need to get high or blitzed from booze to write? No. Never have, never will.
- Do you secretly believe your book is the best and yet cannot understand why publishers, literary agents or consumers won't support it? I've been fortunate – and there is a huge element of luck involved in offering the right book to the right publisher at the rights time – every book I've completed has been published, that's 28 so far. Certain titles were released in hardback, large print and audio only, which did limit sales due to price. But the advent of epublishing and the publication as ebooks by Accent Press of six of my historical novels gave sales a huge boost, so much so that all six titles are being issued in paperback over the next twelve months. Award-winning Accent Press is also reissuing six of my Harlequin contemporary romances as ebooks, and AudioGo another six. I have just completed a new historical novel of 129,000 words and am currently writing character biogs and a story outline for a new one.
- Do you want to quit your day job and be a full-time writer? Writing is my day job, and has been for 35 years. I'm truly blessed.
Her book is out shortly: Eye of the Wind: paperback: Accent Press: April 2013 For more information, please connect with www.janejackson.net
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This blog is copyrighted material by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2013
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