Friday, May 16, 2014

Interview with Deirdre Thurston Author of the Book of Short Stories - Caught -Capturing Moments Worth Treasuring in a Women’s Life.


Caught Book Tour

Name:  Deirdre Thurston
Book Title:  CAUGHT
Genre:  Short stories, vignettes, essays
Publisher:  Koehler Publishing

About Caught

A collection of short stories, literary sketches and vignettes each capturing a moment in the life of someone a lot like you. Each story delves into human themes: expectation, desire, hope, loss, fear, joy, peace, suffering, redemption. The narrative is filled with subtle irony, humour and touching observations. The stories highlight our era of increasing social disconnection, in which technology is replacing intimacy and life occurs at a pace that challenges people’s ability to stop, observe and interpret their own existence and its relationship with those around them.

It highlights the everyday moment and provides nourishment for the harried soul. The overriding message in Caught is: that any moment in every life can be viewed as worthy of treasuring. Whether that moment is filled with despair or joy; they provide entertaining relief and nourishing benefits.







Interview
Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
Deirdre: I have always dreamed of writing a book from when I was a little girl. That was after I decided becoming a nun wasn’t really ‘it’ for me anymore. I was 5 years old.
Is this your first book? 
Deirdre:  Yes
With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
Deirdre: I sent the manuscript to a book publisher in the USA as I wanted a traditional publisher. I did not want to self publish.
Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?
Deirdre:  Cons: You have to put yourself out there and be critiqued/judged. There is little time left to write because you are busy doing things for the publisher, social media, etc. Pros: All the above and the excitement of seeing your work in print and knowing you have accomplished what you set out to do.
 What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
Deirdre:  My journey has been amazing. My publishers have been a delight to deal with. They had humour and empathy all the way through the process. Everything was discussed with me and my wish to keep the antipodean voice in my stories respected.
Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Deirdre:  Yes but we are all different so do what you think is right for you
What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
Deirdre:  Start writing. Don’t worry what about. Just sit down and free flow. Morning pages is an excellent beginning.

Author Deirdre Thurston
About Deirdre Thurston
I’ve been an observer of people my whole life, always intrigued by the unfolding of everyday events and what those events take on in the eyes and lives of ordinary people.
As well as seeing — and feeling — the angst and the pain, the fragile hopes and dreams, the joys and the frustrations that make up the human condition, I’ve also always been able to see the funny side.

My vantage points have been from the perspective of a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother, an aunt, a friend and a confidante — I’ve looked at life through many lenses, yet always my own observations have been enriched by the points of view of the other players in those unfolding dramas.

And always inside of me, from the time I was five years old, has lurked a writer — framing my observations and cataloguing them. Storing them up until I was ready to capture them on paper.

At 57 I began crafting my lifetime of observations into sketches and vignettes. Two years later I knew it was time to start sharing my stories with the world.

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