#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Rebecca Saltzer

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I’d like to welcome Rebecca Saltzer to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Quitting my job on Wall Street with no plans other than to take a trip to Europe and then come home and write a mystery novel.

Something you chickened out from doing: Trying to actually make a living as a writer. I went to graduate school instead, got my PhD in earthquake seismology, and saved some money before picking the writing back up.

Things you always put in your books: Independent, smart women. They’re fun to read about and are the type of people I choose as friends.

Things you never put in your books: Sex and gratuitous violence. For me, the interesting part of a murder mystery is understanding the motivation behind the crime and solving the puzzle of who did it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Murder Over Broken Bonds is loosely based on a real fraud I investigated when I worked as a bond analyst at a NY City investment bank. My second and third novels, Not Accounting for Murder and A Golden Opportunity for Murder, borrow from the Enron collapse and the 1963 Salad Oil Swindle, respectively. And, a drunk trader really did throw up after a company party, all over my coat and shoes.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I’m occasionally asked if someone actually got murdered because of the fraud. (Not that I know of.)

Something you’re really good at: Recognizing when something doesn’t add up—it’s my protagonist’s superpower too.

Something you’re really bad at: Letting things go. If something doesn’t make sense, I will keep poking until I get to the bottom of it. On Wall Street, that saved traders from costly mistakes. That said, my husband would probably prefer if I applied it only to fiction.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: In college, I co-hosted a Friday afternoon news program on the local radio station with a friend.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: One time on the radio show, we managed to play two songs at the same time over the air. When we realized what had happened, we offered a free pizza to whoever could identify the two songs. Not a single person called!

Things to say to an author: Did the stuff you write about really happen when you worked on Wall Street?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Have you read (fill-in-the-blank-with-a-completely-different genre)…? Maybe you could write something more like that.

Your favorite movie as a child: ET. It was fun to watch his adventures after being stranded on earth and so sad when he had to leave!

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): A horror movie called Have You Seen the Children? My sister and I were in high school and my parents took a trip abroad leaving the two of us alone at the house. At 4 am the phone rang, and I leapt out of bed. As I ran to grab it in the other room, I kept thinking of the murderer’s creepy voice asking “Have you seen the children??????” It turned out to be my mother, calling from the airport during a layover stop to say hello.

My favorite book as a child: Charlotte's Web.

A book I've read more than once: Same answer— but the amazing part is that a few years after reading it, I actually met the author, E.B. White. He lived on an old farm on the coast of Maine and showed me the barn that inspired Wilbur and Charlotte. His writing spot was a small cottage apart from the house, with a view of the ocean — I still think about that when I imagine my own ideal place to write.

Words that describe you: Curious, analytical, and perceptive. I spent years on Wall Street learning that the line between ambition and greed is razor thin—and that everyone has something to hide. It's the theme running through my whole Wall Street Mystery series, honestly.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Skeptical. I never believe the obvious explanation. My characters (and family) find this exhausting. Fortunately, my readers seem to appreciate it.

Hardest thing about being a writer: It’s solitary. You work for long periods of time, alone. To make sure I’m not writing in a vacuum, I link up with fellow authors through various writing organizations and belong to a critique group. It’s a great place to get candid feedback about which parts of the narrative work and, more importantly, which parts don’t.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Rewriting the story. You can’t do that in real life.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Saltzer worked as a bond analyst on the trading floor at Lehman Brothers in New York City in the financial heyday of the eighties. Like the protagonist in her novel, she sometimes encountered fraud and other questionable business practices, except in real life, none of it led to murder. In 2021, Rebecca received the William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking with her two rescue dogs and exploring the great outdoors.

Let’s Be Social:

Author Website:  www.saltzerbooks.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebecca.saltzer.14/

Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/RebeccaSaltzer

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Diann Floyd Boehm

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I’d like to welcome Diann Floyd Boehm to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time:
It depends on the city we are visiting, but I love exploring museums, going to the theater, and enjoying different restaurants.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to-do list.
Mopping the floors. I like having the kitchen swept and the floors clean, but mopping is not my

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave:
The most important thing I need is my computer. Depending on the story, I also use music to help set the mood. When I was writing my young-adult historical fiction, I listened to music from the 1920s. When I am writing children’s books, I may play children’s songs to put me in the right frame of mind. One of my favorites is Joe Scruggs’ “Peanut Butter,” which was also one of my children’s favorite songs.

Things that distract you from writing:
Music with lyrics I know can be very distracting. If I sing along, I lose my train of thought because I want to join in or because the song brings back wonderful memories.

Hardest thing about being a writer:
Facing a blank page. I may know what I want to write about and who my characters are but finding that first sentence is often the hardest part. I have learned to simply begin writing, then go back and revise once I am in the zone.

Easiest thing about being a writer:
Visiting schools, meeting children, and reading to them. Seeing their faces light up as they tell me about a favorite character or illustration brings me so much joy.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online:
An electric wine decanter that I bought as a gift for my husband.

The thing you wish you’d never bought:
A dog ramp for our car. It did not work very well with an SUV, although it would probably be great for a sedan. I donated it to Goodwill in hopes that someone else could use it.

Favorite snacks:
I am a sucker for freshly baked chocolate cookies—the more chocolate, the better.

Things that make you want to gag:
The smell of brussels sprouts cooking. My husband enjoys them, but I cannot stand how they make the house smell. He usually cooks them when I am out with the girls and airs out the house afterward.

Something you’re really good at. I enjoy singing and I am working on a Christmas song list that I hope to perform at nursing homes. I also enjoy serving on the board at St. Michael’s Episcopal Day School. It is wonderful to stay connected to a school, learn about new teaching techniques, and know that I play a small role in supporting teachers and their students.

Something you are really bad at:
I am terrible at ice skating. I would watch my brother, Danny glide on the ice, skating with our aunt. I would hold on to the wall because I was so afraid of falling. I also do not trust myself on skis.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid:
I wanted to be the next Singing Nun. I loved that the real Singing Nun, Jeanne Deckers, because she could sing professionally while still being a nun. I admired the idea of sharing love and joy with people through music.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do. I never imagined I would go spelunking in Dubai, rappelling in Costa Rica, or dog sledding in the Arctic. When those opportunities came along, I decided I could not pass up the chance to have those experiences.

Something you wish you could do.
I wish I had a gift for languages like my husband does. It is wonderful to be able to understand and communicate with people in other countries.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do:
I honestly cannot think of anything I have learned that I wish I had not.

Last best thing you ate:
When John and I were vacationing in Colorado, we went to a restaurant that served an incredible bruschetta appetizer, fig spread topped with a thick layer of whipped feta cheese. It was so delicious that we went back the next night just to have it again.

Last thing you regret eating:
I ordered fish at a restaurant that was not nearly as good as I remembered it being. I knew right away that I would not order it again.

Best thing you’ve ever done:
Marrying my husband was, and still is, the best thing I have ever done. Forty-seven years, three children, and one grandchild later, I am living a dream life.

Biggest mistake:
When I was a little girl, my dog got out and followed me to school. I took him back home three times, but eventually I had to get to school because I was already late. Sadly, he was hit by a car. I remember walking into my classroom crying hysterically, and my teacher could not calm me down. Eventually, he had a friend talk with me at recess and he gave me time alone to grieve. I have always wished I had stayed home with him that day, even if it meant missing school. I loved him very much.

 About Diann

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international children’s author, educator, storyteller, and humanitarian based in Austin, Texas. Her stories encourage young readers to be kind, believe in themselves, and let their imaginations soar.

Diann writes children’s picture books and young adult historical fiction, drawing on her life in the United States, the Philippines, and Dubai to bring heart, hope, creativity, and a global perspective to every story. Her work celebrates kindness, peace, imagination, curiosity, confidence, and the power of storytelling to build bridges across cultures.

Her books include Boomer Sees the Town! - Boomer Hears the Forest! - Boomer the Curious Bunny, Book II, Rise! A Girl’s Struggle for More, Ruby Takes Chicago, and A Song of Peace, among other beloved titles for children and young adults.

A former classroom teacher in the United States and at the International School of the Philippines, Diann is a passionate visiting author and educator. She has worked with students and teachers in schools throughout Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and numerous U.S. states. Through author visits, workshops, readings, Q&A sessions, and creative-writing activities, she inspires young people to read, write, create, practice kindness, and believe in themselves. She also appears at museums, book festivals, and community events, engaging audiences in conversations about imagination, and creative writing.

Diann is also a dynamic speaker and media personality. She previously served as an expert correspondent and on-air host for USA Global TV & Radio and co-hosted the live-stream program Royally Confidential with Helena Chard. Drawing on her background in musical theatre and stage performance, she brings an energetic, engaging presence to events for audiences of all ages.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, as well as Kindergarten Certification from The University of Texas at Austin. Diann has received multiple honors for her international body of work in children’s books and young adult historical fiction, especially for stories that promote kindness, peace, self-esteem.

Beyond writing and speaking, Diann remains involved in humanitarian projects that support children, education, and connection across cultures. Shaped by extensive travel and years living overseas, her mission is simple, to use stories to uplift, encourage, and connect hearts around the world.


Writing Mixtape - Do You Keep an Observation Journal?

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Authors, have you thought about keeping an observation journal? It’s a great way to keep track of ideas and thoughts that you may want to use later in a book.

There are so many things that you hear and see every day that you may want to remember for a future writing project.

No one is safe around me. I am always jotting down cool names and snippets of interesting dialog. Originally, I wrote these down on sticky notes. My purse, briefcase, and lunch bag were always full of notes. A journal is a single, organized place to record notes, so it’s a great way to get organized.

If you don’t have a way of recording your thoughts and ideas, think about pulling out one of those pretty journals that you’ve been saving and start recording your observations. After a few weeks, you’ll be surprised at what you’ve collected.

Do you journal? And do you ever use what you record in your books?

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Alice Fitzpatrick

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I’d like to welcome Alice Fitzpatrick to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need absolute silence.

Things that hamper your writing: I can’t listen to music. As a singer, if the music has words, I want to sing along. As a dancer, if the music is orchestral, I mentally choreograph.

Last best thing you ate: It’s always vegan mac and cheese.

Last thing you regret eating: A large pizza but the regret was because of its size.

Favorite music or song: Anything by J.S. Bach, Stephen Sondheim, or George Gershwin.

Music that drives you crazy: Country and western music is tiny and whiny and grates like nails on a blackboard.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Vegan chocolate ice-cream

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Pictures or descriptions of animal abuse

Things you always put in your books: My mysteries always have at least one dead body.

Things you never put in your books: I could never hurt a child or animal, even fictional ones.

Things to say to an author: I can’t wait for your next book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Why haven’t I hear of you? This was actually said to me at a recent in-person sales event.

Favorite books (or genre): Traditional British mysteries, especially any book written by Elly Griffiths

Books you wouldn’t buy: Westerns and military fantasy.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Scottish crime writer Val McDermid. The last time she was in Toronto, my Sisters in Crime chapter took her out to dinner. She sat next to me, and once she learnt I was a vegan, she told me all about her vegetarian son.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Any writer who doesn’t update their social media headshots for twenty years.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I’m a classically trained singer and dancer.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: I began to write a literary novel with no idea where it was going. Consequently, it went nowhere.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: In the first book in my Meredith Island Mysteries series, my protagonist’s investigation into the death of her aunt fifty years previous mirrored my lifelong attempt to understand the death of my uncle who died before I was born I’ll never know the truth of how my uncle died, but at least I was able to give my protagonist some closure with her aunt.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Because I have multiple university degrees, readers may assume that my analytic, academic protagonist is based on me. In reality, I am a combination of her and her sidekick who is an impulsive, imaginative artist.

My favorite book as a child: Alice in Wonderland

A book I’ve read more than once: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Your favorite movie as a child: The Wizard of Oz

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Shining is the ultimate horror story for writers. Despite having all the time in the word with few distractions, Jack Torrance can only write nonsense.

About Alice:

Alice Fitzpatrick has contributed short stories to literary magazines and anthologies, including the Crime Writers of Canada 40th anniversary anthology, Cold Canadian Crime. She is a fearless champion of singing, cats, all things Welsh, and the Oxford comma. Her summers spent with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire inspired the creation of the Meredith Island Mysteries which include Secrets in the Water and A Dark Death (finalist for the 2026 Crime Writers of Canada award for Best Traditional Mystery). The traditional mystery appeals to her fascination with what makes seemingly ordinary people commit murder. Alice lives in Toronto but dreams of a cottage on the Welsh coast.

#WriterWednesday with Joel McKay

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I’d like to welcome Joel McKay to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Building and maintaining the discipline to write even when it’s painful.

Easiest thing about being a writer: It doesn’t require any special tools – a pencil and paper will do.

Something you’re really good at: Running public sector organizations

Something you’re really bad at: Keeping my mouth shut

The last thing you ordered online: Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain

The last thing you regret buying: These hippie shorts that looked ridiculous and wound up just being cheap and too small.

Things to say to an author: I read your book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I don’t have time to read fiction.

Favorite places you’ve been: Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Yucatan Peninsula … so the Caribbean

Places you never want to go to again: Surrey. If you know, you know.

Favorite books (or genre): Stephen King books, Raymond E Feist books, Anne Rice vampire books, Stephen Graham Jones books, Susanna Clarke books

Books you wouldn’t buy: Non-English books – I don’t speak or read fluently in any other language (for now).

Favorite things to do: Hangout with my partner, hike, bike, golf, fish, swim, watch TV, read, play vids

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Sitting through long, pointless meetings

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I paint D&D miniatures for fun … I rarely even play! I enjoy the meditative challenge of it.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: A time travel novel I got 30k words into and lost the plot. I’ll go back to it eventually.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The Batman Forever soundtrack on cassette.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Top 40

My favorite book as a child: The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop

A book I’ve read more than once: Magician by Raymond E Feist

Your favorite movie as a child: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (still is)

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The X-Files or The Outer Limits or Fire in the Sky

About Joel:

Joel McKay is an award-winning former journalist and author. His books include the horror comedy novella Wolf at the Door, young adult fantasy adventure The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan, and the short anthology It Came From the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations. He lives in Northern British Columbia.

Let’s Be Social:

X - @joelcmckay  

LinkedIn - @joelcmckay  

Instagram - author_joel_mckay

Threads - author_joel_mckay

Website - www.joelmckay.ca

#WriterWednesday with Author Tricia Copeland

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I’d like to welcome author Tricia Copeland back to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: I get really anxious hoping that readers will love my book.

Easiest thing about being a writer: All the ideas swirling in my head.

Favorite music or song: I love feel-good peppy dance music, think The Killers, Mr. Brightside, wait, that’s the opposite, right? But it’s definitely danceable.

Music that drives you crazy: I shouldn’t think this because this genre is probably the most creative for a musician, but jazz drives me nuts. The unpredictable rhythm makes me anxious. Are you seeing an anxiety theme? LOL

Things you’d walk a mile for: Good pizza.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Onions, ick!

Things you always put in your books: A romance plot line and happily ever after.

Things you never put in your books: I never write gruesome, gross scenes or detailed sex scenes.

Favorite things to do: I love running, walking, hiking, and being with family and friends.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Folding laundry.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Published a book.

Something you chickened out from doing: Riding a roller coaster.

The funniest thing to happen to you: I spewed milk from my nose laughing at someone’s joke in high school. It takes talent.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: My skirt fell off in the middle of a sock hop contest. Fortunately, I had the crinoline under skirt still.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I worked at a summer camp for the blind during college. It became the inspiration for my YA paranormal book Drops of Sunshine.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Hmm… maybe that I’m secretly a vampire or a fairy. But I’m pretty honest about that, I sooo want to be! 😉

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: Ratt, Out of the Cellar, 1984, it was my rebellious phase. My parents would never let me buy or listen to hard rock music.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: It’s horrible to say because I know it’s such a creative genre, but I can’t do jazz. The unpredictable rhythms throw me off. Wait, did I already say that above?

My favorite book as a child: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz was my favorite book series growing up.

A book I’ve read more than once: Twilight, the whole series, by Stephenie Meyer, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and The Tala Prophecy series by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Your favorite movie as a child: I loved, not surprisingly, The Wizard of Oz directed by Victor Fleming.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): I was equally enticed by and freaked out by Lost in Space produced by Irwin Allen. I’m sure more than a few of the monsters in my dreams were inspired by that show.

About Tricia:

Award-winning and best-selling author Tricia Copleand believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, viewing a beautiful sunset, or reading a book that transports us to another world. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. Find all her titles from contemporary romance, now penned under Maria Jane, fantasy, and dystopian fiction at www.triciacopeland.com.

 

#WriterWednesday Interview with Maria Gallucci 

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I’d like to welcome author Maria Gallucci to the blog today for #WriterWedensday!

Words that describe you:

Determined, compassionate, optimistic, resilient, and just a little stubborn.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

Impatient and overly ambitious. I always have a million ideas and not enough hours in the day.

Something you’re really good at:

Connecting with people. Whether it’s through real estate, my book, or everyday conversations, I genuinely love helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Something you’re really bad at:

Sitting still and relaxing. Even when I’m supposed to be taking a break, I’m usually thinking about my next project.

Things you’d walk a mile for:

Coffee, great Italian food, a good book, and quality time with people I love.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room:

Negativity, unnecessary drama, and people who talk more than they listen.

Things you always put in your books:

Heart, humor, hope, and reminders that connection matters.

Things you never put in your books:

Anything intended to tear people down or make someone feel small.

Favorite places you’ve been:

Italy is at the top of my list. I also love Hawaii and anywhere I can experience a different culture and meet interesting people.

Places you never want to go to again:

I honestly can’t think of one. I usually find something to appreciate wherever I go.

Favorite things to do:

Traveling, reading, spending time with family and friends, hanging out with my pug Ray Ray, and helping people find a place to call home.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:

Folding laundry. I’d rather negotiate a complicated real estate transaction.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

Writing and publishing Raised in Silence. Sharing your life story with the world is both terrifying and incredibly rewarding.

Something you chickened out from doing:

Skydiving. I keep saying maybe someday, but that day hasn’t arrived yet.

The funniest thing to happen to you:

I’ve accidentally started signing to hearing people who don’t know ASL and not realized it until they gave me a very confused look. Growing up in a Deaf household, it happens more often than you’d think.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you:

Walking confidently into the wrong meeting and introducing myself before realizing I wasn’t supposed to be there.

The coolest person you’ve ever met:

My parents. They are both Deaf and taught me resilience, determination, and that communication is about so much more than words.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video:

Most celebrities seem shorter in real life than they do on television! Like me!!! 

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

That Raised in Silence opened their eyes to a world they had never thought about before and helped them better understand the Deaf community and the importance of inclusion.

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

That they laughed, cried, and stayed up way too late because they couldn’t put the book down.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

Building businesses that bring people together. From real estate to advocacy work, I’ve always loved finding creative ways to connect communities.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:

I’ve had plenty! But some of my biggest lessons and best opportunities came from projects that didn’t go according to plan.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books:

One of the stories in Raised in Silence is helping my Deaf parents navigate the home-buying process when I was just a kid. That experience shaped not only my life but eventually my career in real estate.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not:

Readers sometimes assume every detail and conversation happened exactly as written. While the book is based on my life, some scenes were condensed or combined to help tell the story.

My favorite book as a child:
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

A book I’ve read more than once:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Motto: Just Try 

About Maria:

Maria Gallucci is a bestselling author, REALTOR®, entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusion. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), she grew up bridging the Deaf and hearing worlds, an experience that inspired her book Raised in Silence: Lessons on Listening, Love, and Loud Family Dinners From a Child of Deaf Adults. Maria is passionate about communication, belonging, leadership, and helping people connect across cultures, communities, and differences.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: Home - Raised In Silence by Maria Gallucci

Facebook: Facebook

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Michael Hingson

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Author Michael Hingson is my guest today for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Coming up with new book possibilities

Easiest thing about being a writer: Talking about my books and what I put in them, especially teaching moments.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Collaboration as I prefer to work with someone. We feed off each other which spirs my creativity.

Things that hamper your writing: Putting some of my hardest thoughts into words. Again, collaboration helps.

Words that describe you: “Blind World Trade Center Survivor,” Bestselling author, International acclaimed author, Kind.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Disabled, Visually impaired, Less than others especially those who can see.

Something you’re really good at: Collecting old time radio shows, doing my podcast, public speaking

Something you’re really bad at: driving a car but that skill will improve later, speaking languages other than English.

Last best thing you ate: Garrett popcorn

Last thing you regret eating: raw tomatoes

Favorite music or song: Big band music especially Benny Goodman

Music that drives you crazy: rap and hip-hop

The last thing you ordered online: treats for my guide dog, Alamo and treats I purchased for my cat Stitch

The last thing you regret buying: A ladder that didn’t meet my needs.

Things you’d walk a mile for: My guide dog and cat. Speaking at venues where people have an interest in what I have to say, Mint chip ice cream, Virgil’s barbecue.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: People who do not want to communicate and who think they are the only ones who are right. TV shows without much or any dialog. Pizza made with way too much dough and not enough toppings to balance them out.

Things you always put in your books: Life lessons I think people might want to read about. Stories about how I and other blind people live work and have fun. Things that are fun and enjoyable to read about.

Things you never put in your books: Condescending words. Political things unless I can present all sides in a way that won’t offend.

Things to say to an author: Hello. I want to learn more about you and your books. I would like to invite you to be a guest on my podcast, Unstoppable Mindset.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I am a better writer than you. I would like your autograph, (especially when I know they hate giving autographs). I want to be in your next book.

Favorite places you’ve been: New Zealand. All over the U.S. Canada

Places you never want to go to again: I have yet to visit a place where I wouldn’t want to revisit.

Favorite books (or genre): The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. Science fiction and cosey mysteries.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Most books on politics. Books that put some people down.

Favorite things to do: Talk with people. Cruising. Playing with Alamo and Stitch. Public speaking. Crafting a new book.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Eating raw tomatoes. Listening to people who won’t listen back. People who clearly don’t want to share ideas or consider learning from someone who has a different opinion than they.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Traveling from my home in California alone to Boston for the first time.

Something you chickened out from doing: So far, sky diving.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Peter Falk. Also Larry King.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Wouldn’t know about that, but I did see Adam West, (TV’s Batman), who acted like a jerk.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: You taught me a lot about blindness and blind people. I take your lessons to heart.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: While attending and speaking at a book club where everyone had supposedly read my book, Thunder Dog, the first question I was asked was “what were you doing in the World Trade Center anyway?”.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

Crafting and giving speeches. Hosting a podcast. Working with Ray Kurzweil to help develop the first reading machine for blind and low vision people.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Life in general. I always wanted to go into professional teaching at the high school or college level. However, while my life took a different direction, I have learned how I still am in reality a teacher.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Escaping from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My guide dog, Roselle, did all the work and “lead” me out of the World Trade Center. However, that is not what a guide dog does.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: A record by the Kingston Trio back in 1957.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: RAP and/or heavy metal.

About Michael:

On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle and the special bond that helped them both survive one of the country’s darkest days.

Immediately after the 9-11 tragedy, Michael was featured on the Larry King show five times. To quote Larry King…

“Michael Hingson is an international hero honored and awarded by top organizations worldwide.” This media exposure changed the course of Michael’s life and launched him into a speaking career that has spanned over nineteen years. He now travels the world as a keynote and inspirational speaker that can motivate audiences to action.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mhingson

https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/

https://www.facebook.com/Roselle911GuideDog/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1568642850718948

https://www.facebook.com/?paipv=0&eav=AfZNi2VDR2R4nC6SveyCvZIyKtyi9VOLOzOKcG-v0Hk1glaVssEHwdR920w1_u-8B-k&_rdr

https://www.facebook.com/?paipv=0&eav=AfZNi2VDR2R4nC6SveyCvZIyKtyi9VOLOzOKcG-v0Hk1glaVssEHwdR920w1_u-8B-k&_rdr

Twitter, https://twitter.com/mhingson

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson

Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCx2L9OVN38Dv4mX6udP8g.