Thursday, November 24, 2016

Interview with author Diana Madaras



The Colors of Tucson

The name Diana Madaras has become synonymous with Tucson and her bold, colorful artwork recently earned her Tucson's vote for Best Visual Artist for the seventh time. Dozens of newspaper and magazine articles have been written about her and her work, and she has been featured on television shows produced by NBC, CBS, and PBS affiliates. She is president of the nonprofit Art for Animals Foundation, a charity she founded that has raised more than $200,000 to help abused, injured and orphaned animals. The “Colors of Tucson” is Diana’s third book. Her recently published coffee table book entitled Private Spaces includes 152 paintings as well as the story of her unconventional artist journey. Her first book, “Kitty Humbug’s Christmas Tale,” is a delightful, beautifully-illustrated children’s’ book about two cats who save Christmas at the veterinary hospital.

1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea
or experience and conveying it into a book?
I had an extra day in Chicago after my husband and I competed in a ballroom dance competition, so we spent the afternoon visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. In the museum shop, I noticed a book with small colorful photos on a white cover titled “Color” something. I never had a chance to look through the book,  but as we walked down the flight of stairs outside the museum, the idea struck me- I want to do a book called the “The Colors of Tucson.”  Ideas often come via a little voice in my head, and this one was shouting. I was still enthusiastic about the idea a week later, so committed to the project.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe us your targeted reader? 
The book features 92 colorful paintings of my beloved Tucson created over the past 25 years with many fun facts about the desert southwest.  What makes the book especially fun is the color bar on each page signifying the predominate colors in the paintings on that page. Each two page spread also includes a subtitle that categorizes the paintings, for example, Historic Tucson, or Succulents, or Sunsets. The targeted reader is the visitor who wants a memento of their trip, as well as the Tucson resident who loves the “Old Pueblo.”

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your
book? What should remain with them long after putting it down? 
My hope is the reader will experience the touch of joy I feel when I paint this place I call home, and discover a side of Tucson previously unknown.

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? 
Just do it. I run two galleries and create the inventory for both. I still made time to write this book. Don’t let excuses get in the way.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading? 
I know reading on electronic devices is becoming the standard, but there is nothing like turning the pages of an actual book in-hand.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book? 
The greatest challenge in writing this book was devising a layout that was novel and appealing and would relay the story in an organized fashion.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours? 
This book is a little treasure. One can actually buy color and joy for under $20!

For more information, please see: www.madaras.com

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. 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 is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2016 ©.
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