Book Tour Virgin is Will Clarke.com

The Pulpwood Queen's HRM Kathy Patrick Interviews Me At The Pulpwood's Toga Party In Honor of THE WORTHY

New Radio Interview With The "Click and Clack" of the Book World, Elisabeth Grant-Gibson and Pat Grant

I'm On Dallas' CBS 11 Morning Show

Talking to a book club....
Click here to watch the segment

An Interview With A Very Shiny Bald Guy... And It Ain't Kojak

New Radio Interview

www.bookreport.net

Eye On Books Interview

Thanks Be To Book People & Texas Monthly

Back in the day when I was toiling away alone in my apartment, trying to become a novelist, I would day dream about having a signing at Book People and being interviewed by Texas Monthly. Last night, I got to do both. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Wednesday night to come see me. And thanks to Mike Shea and Texas Monthly for the kick ass interview.

Kick-Butt Profile in Hometown Paper

Click here to read it.

At WWL-TV New Orleans Morning News

I go on after the Turkey Vulture from The Audobon Zoo. Later today, I will be signing books at GARDEN DISTRICT BOOK SHOP on Prytania. Be there if you can. It will be a wingding.

13 Questions for the Creator Of Lee Henry Oswald, One Of Fiction's Most Unlucky PIs

Meet my buddy, Harry Hunsicker. Commercial Real Estate Apraiser by day.  Super Ninja Noir Novelist by night.  His debut novel, STILL RIVER just came out form St. Martin's Minotaur this past May. The main character is the unfortunately named, Lee Henry Oswald, "Hank" for short. STILL RIVER has more thrills and near-death experiences than a joyride through Highland Park in a hotwired Camaro with a rockhead at the wheel. The book is exhilarating and dangerous and, well, fun in the heart -n-your-throat sort of way. It's the kind of book that grabs you by the shirt collar, slaps you around a little bit, and doesn't let you go until you finish.  Lee Child calls STILL RIVER, "A great new noir." That's THE Lee Child. 

Anyway. Harry and I are both in the same writers group in Dallas and we have both been working on our "careers" for the past 3 or 4 years. This past summer we both published our first novels with big fancy schmancy New York houses. So I thought I would ask Harry to tell us about the Summer he lost his book tour cherry.

So here it is.

1) How much weight have you gained or lost since your book came out?

HARRY: HUNSICKER: I’ve stayed neutral.

2) Your book came out in May 2005. Tell me what that month was like for you.

HH: Hectic, exhilarating and tiring all at the same time.  I had three official release parties, each designed to get media attention.  After that I was on the road every weekend for the next six weeks.  And I got sick three days before the official release date.

3) How many book events have you done to support STILL RIVER?

HH: I think I am up to about 35 signings and events.  I have a couple of more in September.

4) There are a lot of illusions that people hold about publishing a book. What’s the biggest illusion that you have been disabused of?

HH: Where are the groupies?

5) Do you read your own reviews?

HH: I had a signing in Tulsa not long ago.  The CRM  said, “I . . . uhh . . . read your KIRKUS review.”  I grimaced.  KIRKUS went out of their way to be cold-blooded.  (“Reads like a flyer for the National Rifle Association.”  WTF?)  The CRM looked from side to side and leaned a little closer.  “So did you screw that guy’s sister over or what?”

6) Did you take the tiny soap, lotion and shampoo from hotel bathrooms on your tour?

HH: I pocketed everything I could.

7) Your main character’s name is Lee H. Oswald. Any weird theater with conspiracy nuts during your book tour?

HH: Other than the death threat from a pair of sixty-something, Camelot-loving ex-hippies, no, nothing too weird has happened.  Well there was the pot head in Fort Worth, but he was pretty harmless.

8) The largest number of books sold at a book event? 9) The lowest number?

HH: I sold only one at my very first signing, at a Hastings in Wichita Falls, Texas.  That was before I learned the secret to hand selling:  Stand up; never ever sit down.  Always have a book in your hand and approach customers.  Speak to them.  Pitch the book.

My best signing (not counting release parties with family and friends in attendance) was last week at a Barnes & Noble in Plano, Texas.  I hand sold 22 books in two hours.  That’s a lot of work.

I think we sold 90 or so at one of the release parties.

10) Writers are solitary creatures for the most part. How did you prepare for the media and the public? Did you read books on this or take any classes? Did your agent or publicist coach you?

HH: I bought one of those Idiots’ Guide to Being a Dummy books on public speaking.  I read the first few pages, imagining the author sitting there in his underwear.  Didn’t help.  I tossed the book and hit the promo circuit cold.  Surprisingly, for someone with no public speaking experience, I’ve done really well.  I am a natural born ham I guess.  It helps that I’m talking about my passion as opposed to after-tax yields on mutual funds.

11) This question is for your wife, Allison. Do you have any tips for the spouses of writers who are just being published?

HH: Be supportive.  Learn where to get mood-altering prescription drugs on the Internet.

12) What do you wish someone had told you before you lost your book tour virginity?

HH:  Finish the second book, the one that’s already been contracted for and is under a deadline, BEFORE going on tour.   I’m just saying.

13) Cake or Pie?

HH: Chocolate pie from Luby’s.  With a mint leaf on top.  Eaten on a Sunday afternoon sitting next to a blue-haired woman wearing a lime-green pantsuit, an oxygen tank and walker by her side.  Memories are made of this.