Interview with Sharon Lucas, Author of Plan It! The Complete Resource Guide for Authors, Book Clubs & Literary Event Planners
Author's Bio: Sharon
Lucas is an author, founder/president of the Reading Divas Book Club, and the
planner and host of the Black Authors & Readers Rock Weekend, an annual
two-day literary conference. Since her retirement in 2010, Sharon has worked
tirelessly as an advocate for African American authors and book clubs. Sharon
and her husband David, the parents of three adult sons and grandparents of
five, are both retired and reside with their two cocker spaniels, in Bowie, MD.
What inspired you to write your
book?
I wanted
to share what I had learned about how a well organized book club can be
invaluable in spreading the news and about great books and talented authors, and
there is no better way to achieve that than by bringing the two groups together
in a well-planned and executed literary event.
Is there any particular author or
book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
No
particular author or book has influenced my journey. I have, however, been
greatly influenced by well written books and the African American authors and
readers who take pride in what they write and read. There is no substitute for
a well-written book whose characters look like you.
Is this your first book? How long
did it take to start and finish your book?
Yes it
is. I first wrote it over several months in 2013 but when I shared it with a
few people in the industry they told me they didn’t believe there was a market
for it so I put it away, but continued to brood about it. I felt the
information was useful and I believed in what I was trying to do. Early in 2015 I submitted the manuscript to
Victoria Christopher Murray of Brown Girls Books and she immediately responded that
Brown Girls was interested. The book was published in October 2015.
Do you write with an outline, or
just let it flow organically.
I let it
flow! I write a section, read and
reread, make adjustments until it feels right.
Do you listen to music when you
write? If yes, is there a theme song for this book.
There is
no theme song. I’m a T.V. listener and as long as Criminal Minds, Law &
Order, or Blue Books are playing in the background, I am in heaven. My only
requirement is uninterrupted time.
What are the keys to success in
getting your book out to the public?
From the
day a person decides to play any role in this industry, they should begin to develop
followers. Everyone you know and meet should be added to your email list, and
become a Facebook and Twitter friend. You should create a webpage to promote
you and your work. Start a blog or send out a regular newsletter. Join on-line
groups that you can contribute to and learn from. By the time I wrote Plan It! I had already developed a
presence as a literary event planner. As soon as I knew, I would be a published
author I used those resources to let people know about the upcoming book
release.
What advice would you give to new
authors?
Network!
Network! Network! And that doesn’t always mean spending money. Attend free
events at your local library and in the community. Talk with people. Give away
bookmarks, post cards, etc. Be prepared with a one-minute introduction that
will make people remember you. When you
can afford to, exhibit at local events -
if you can’t afford the fee, buy a ticket and mingle with other attendees. When
you sign on to an event, actively promote it by adding it to your calendar and
website and “talking it up.”
How about sharing an excerpt from
Plan It! The Complete Resource Guide for
Authors, Book Clubs & Literary Event Planners
“During a chat with another
reader, I asked what type of books her
club
read. She responded that they “used” to read only African
American
authors but now with so many authors self-publishing, they
decided
that level of support was no longer necessary. I was stunned.
In
conversations with other readers, I have learned they have never
heard
or read anything by many of today’s prominent African
American
authors. This is such a sad commentary on the state of our
literary
world. If we cannot count on African American readers to
support
African American authors, whom can we count on?
I
am not suggesting that we should be one-dimensional and not
read
works by authors who do not look like us, but rather that we
should
recognize the depth of need in our community to keep
our
history alive and for our authors to receive the recognition
they
deserve.”
What’s Next for you?
My first
short story, The Circle of Life, was
recently published as part of an anthology, The
Ex Chronicles, and I am currently working on a full-length mystery novel,
but so many people continue to have questions about book clubs and literary
events, I am also considering an updated edition of Plan It! Of course, I will continue to plan and host the annual
Black Authors & Readers Rock Weekend each October and to work with the
Wayne Curry Sports and Learning Center in Landover, Maryland to bring quality literary events to the
facility.
It’s
been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy
getting to know you and your work.
Dee, it’s
been a pleasure being here. Thank you for the opportunity to reach your
readers.
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