Interview With Author Nancy Oleksy

 

 

1.  What inspired you to write this book?   This book began as a dream I had one night during the Covid Pandemic.  The dream was so vivid and it seemed like it took all night to play out.  It was like watching a movie…sometimes I was in it and sometimes I was watching it.  When it ended it was morning and I couldn’t believe the whole night had gone by. The story and characters stayed in my mind very brightly and I decided to write down an outline of the night’s events.  It laid on my desk for several days and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.  I decided to put it into story form and Rumor 1 filled the pages.  That dream is the first third of the book.  

2.  What exactly is it about and who is it written for? The story comes to life in a small town where the main character works for the local newspaper as the Community News Editor.  She is a single mom of two teenagers and has four close friends that all play major roles in the book.  Inadvertently, the perky Community News Editor somehow starts an “innocent” rumor that spreads like wildfire throughout the town and everyone finds a way to get involved.  When a second rumor gets rolling, speculation abounds and almost the whole town is curious and engaged in all kinds of activities to solve the rumor puzzle.  If you can imagine, a third rumor comes to life and spreads like soft butter on warm toast.  This time, the future of the small town is at stake.  There is a peek into family life and values, humor, a bit of mystery and unexpected outcomes.  

This book was written initially for me, the author!  I had no intention of doing anything else other that writing and making myself laugh, but as I finished up Rumor 1, I thought perhaps another rumor could circulate for the towns people and I kept going. I was reading the finished pages to my husband as I went along and pretty soon the idea came that I could share it with other people too.  Who would read it?  I thought it might appeal to anyone who had ever lived in a small town or wanted to, also to anyone who enjoyed a little mystery and a little humor surrounding it and anyone who wanted to go to a happy place in their mind for a few hours here and there. That’s when I thought about publishing it.  

3.  What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope people will feel optimism about life and what it could be if people came together and accomplished worthwhile things.  I hope people will feel the joy of family life and sweet new relationships.  And I hope that people will enjoy a book free of swear words, violence or poor behaviors.  The world seems to have an abundance of negative influences.  I hope readers find a positive approach to life to be refreshing.  

4.  How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title reflects the 3 stories contained within the book.  Each story could be a story all its own and all are based on rumors that just took off in a small town.  The cover is a representation of Main Street USA and a hardworking Editor who is at the center of it all.  

5.  What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Because I wrote this book during the pandemic, I had quite a lot of free time.  So I wrote slowly, here a little and there a little.  I think it made the process so much more enjoyable.  If you can take time to enjoy what you are writing, a better book emerges, a book you will be happy with.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see – and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Getting your book to a big publishing house is extremely difficult it seems.  Self-publishing or using a service to self-publish seems to be working for new writers.  You must be willing to invest some money upfront and be sure the service you use has integrity in their business dealings. My publisher, Covenant Books, was a joy to work with, honest and timely.         

7.  Where there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Oh, yes!  Rumor 1, 2, 3 is almost autobiographical!  Many of the situations in the book actually happened to me.  Also having a working knowledge of your subject, be it medicine or working in print, is a real asset to making the story honest and believable. 

8.  How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I would describe my writing style as honest, real, positive, a little humorous, maybe a bit inspiring and sometimes, tender.  I keep my writing standards elevated in a way I can feel good about.  I’d never include anything less just to sell a book. I don’t know if my writing is similar to anyone really.  It’s just me.  

9.  What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I was actually a single parent at one point of my life and trying to remember how that felt and how I handled my day to day tasks of working, caring for kids, finances, and loneliness, among many others, brought back some tender moments.  When you are writing about real life, you must be prepared to think of the good and the not so good.  

10.  If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? There seems to be an enormous amount of negativity in the world right now and few places to find relief.  For a few hours, a person could curl up with Rumor 1, 2, 3 and live in a place that feels real but also feels safe.  I have given my book as a gift to friends and family who needed a pick-me-up or who were homebound while doing chemotherapy and it has comforted them.  If a reader feels this way or knows someone who does, Rumor 1,2,3 would be a great book to buy.  

About The Author: It seems I have spent my life seeking the most positive aspects of living.  It wasn’t always easy, but I found that being optimistic in all parts of family life, my spiritual life and career brought me the most peace, humor and happiness.  I am married with two grown children and six grandkids!  And boy, do I love them all!  Medicine and writing have been my lifelong calling and my career path lead me through medical assisting, paramedic school and nursing school and writing for local newspapers and magazines.  The Covid pandemic gave me plenty of time to pursue my writing and RUMOR 1,2,3 was born.  It was fun to write and those who have read it say it takes them to a happy place and that…makes me smile! Please see: https://covenantbooks.com/books/?book=rumor-1-2-3  

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.