Interview with Ed Williams

Welcome to Wednesday Spotlight. Today my special guest is Ed Williams. Ed has agreed to tell us a bit about his upcoming release from Champagne Books. ChristmaSin will be released in November. Here is a brief excerpt.


For me, today is gonna be busy. I’ve gotta make a quick run over to Jenny’s this
afternoon in order for us to exchange gifts, and then I’ve gotta get back here in
time for dinner. On Christmas Eve we usually eat right at six pm, and then we havethis little family type traditional thing that we do. We all go into our living room right after dinner, fire up the fireplace, and then sip on coffee or egg nog together. That’s pretty nice, ain’t it? There’s also the slight chance that if we beg, plead,
or just plain get on Mama’s nerves enough that she might let us open one Christmas
gift. Underline the word “might.“ We’ll be really lucky if that happens, though,
because Ed Jr. and my mom believe in opening gifts on Christmas morning only. Mama
says we do that to be sure we celebrate Jesus’ birthday when we’re supposed to, Ed
Jr. says that we open them then so that he doesn’t have to listen to any pissing
and moaning about us not having any gifts left to open. He adds that if anyone has
a right to a peaceful Christmas, it’s him, as he has to cut down and put up the tree,
deal with mama’s relatives, and pay the tab for our entire Christmas. Not to mention
the fact that he’s a Korean veteran. You‘ve got admit his logic is not bad, at least
it‘s pretty original.

Let’s have a warm cyber applause for Ed Williams! Ed comes on our cyber stage here doing the M.C. Hammertime dance as Roll On Down The Highway by Bachman-Turner Overdrive blasts in the background.

Welcome to Wednesday Spotlight, Ed! Grab a seat and make yourself at home. And just for you, I have plenty of Atomic Fireballs to keep this interview fun and lively. Help yourself. Let’s get rolling with this interview, shall we? You’ve written a realistic story of a deep Southern Christmas from the perspective of a sixteen year old boy that lived it. Let’s talk a bit about that. What prompted you to write this tale?

Ed: Sharon, first, many thanks for havin' me, I mucho appreciate it! To get right to your question, I'll simply say this - most of the Christmas literature I've read over the years ranged from mildly to almost sickeningly sweet material. Apparently a lot more people lived out Cleaver-type Christmases than what I was used to. I don't mind a heartwarming story once in awhile, but I also like to howl at the moon as well when appropriate, and the Christmas stuff I was reading was wax sandwich-like at best.

That made me think - when I was growing up in Juliette, Georgia (its one claim to fame is it's where the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed) we had some very sweet Christmas traditions that were passed down over the years. We also had the yearly Christmas cockfight that the men put on. They'd typically have it a week or so before Christmas, and it was the only chance some of them had to earn money for Christmas gifts for their families. Chicken fights and gambling aren't very pretty, but they were a reality during our holiday time, a way to help some families enjoy a better Christmas. So, I got to thinkin' about it all - if I took those things, added in some other Christmas happenings that occurred in Juliette over the years, and then added in a 17 year old Ed Williams who is turbo-hormonally charged and telling the whole thing, that it might end up being something a bit different than the usual Christmas story. And I've learned over the years that bein' different seems to be a lot more fun than being seen as yesterday's drawers, so I figured I'd try writing it. And I did.

Sharon: LOL Ed, you’re a hoot and a half, I’m sure this book will be a real crowd pleaser. So can you tell me what genre ChristmaSin is considered?

Ed: Sharon, I would categorize it as early Juliettian Christmas literature. (Tami might tell you that it's humor or at least a stab at it). <>Tami would say Southern Humor!

Sharon: I find it interesting when a book doesn’t necessarily meet the guidelines of a certain genre. To me, that makes it a unique read and makes me want to read it all the more! So is ChristmaSin your first book or have you written others

Ed: My first book actually came out back in 1998 - I horsed around and wrote this wild ass collection of stories about things we did back when I was growing up in Juliette - things like accidentally running over my virginal steady girlfriend's dog when I was slippin' out with another girl a bit more morally challenged, the night my father and I caught the choir leader at our local church exploring the panties of one of the choir ladies in the back seat of his car, stuff like that. Through a huge series of flukes these stories got published under the title, Sex, Dead Dogs, and Me: The Juliette Journals. It ended up being printed in both hardback and paperback versions, and the book actually got picked up by BAM nationally and B&N regionally. Then, in 2003, a sequel came out entitled, Rough As A Cob: More From The Juliette Journals. It was released in both hardback and paperback versions as well. In 2007, a story of mine, Sally the Screamer, appeared in the Southern humor anthology Southern Fried Farce. And now ChristmaSin' is about to be released. I've been truly blessed publishing-wise, I genuinely feel like the Forrest Gump of Literature due to the flukey nature of my publishing experiences.

Sharon: Let’s have a big round of cyber applause for Ed! That’s some publishing history—and one to be proud of. Mega congrats! Could you tell the readers a bit about your favorite genre and why this type of book appeals to you?

Ed: I love biographies and historical type books, there's something about real life happenings and people who do remarkably good or infamous things that fascinates me. When it's real, I can feel something.

Sharon: And there ya have it folks, a man after my own heart! Good answer. Now, Ed, what type of emotions are you hoping to draw from readers with ChristmaSin?

Ed: Sharon, the truth is, like most writers I hope its readers love the hell out of it. If they don't, however, I hope that they hate it like whiskers on a mother-in-law. I learned long ago that indifference is a person's worst enemy, and that's even more true in the literary biz. I don't want to bore anyone if I can help it, making someone mad or indignant is much better if it comes down to that.

Sharon: LOL Ed, Whiskers on a mother-in-law! what a scream! No one could ever accuse you of using the same old, same old. I love those clips you throw in, very catchy. Now, how long did it take you to write this book?

Ed: About ten or eleven months if I remember correctly. It was pretty easy to write once I got the sequence of events down in my head. My biggest worry wasn't the writing of it, it was the hope that it'd be readable once I'd completed it, more than a few drops of sweat beaded up on me over that. This is literally my first ever shot at a novel, and that fact did make me a bit nervous.

Sharon: I hear ya. That’s something writers all experience. But with your sense of humor, no doubt it’s carried over in your books. Now let’s talk about Ed Williams. How long have you been writing and what prompted you to start writing:

Ed: Sharon, I started writing back in 1995, and began totally on a dare. I'd gone to a business-type party one evening, one of those business after hours type deals, and told a wild country boy story to a group of guys there. You know the kind, the kinda stories where you shut up talking if a lady happens to walk up on you. After I told it, one of the guys in our group said, "Hey man, you ought to go home and write that down."

I went home and did exactly that - from that point on I guess I've never really stopped writing.

Sharon: The birth of a killer career, I’d say. Now, do you enjoy reading as much as writing or do you use reading to enhance your writing skills?

Ed: I write strictly for fun, and it's just like sex - when I feel like it I do it, there's no rhyme or reason as to when or how it happens. It's just the way it happens for me, and I like it like that. A lot.

(Laughter explodes from cyber space)

Sharon: Okay, Ed, brought the house down with that one. Now, what drives you to write? To keep plugging away at the keyboard even when you run into major stumbling blocks? Tell us about some of your major stumbling blocks and what you do to get past them.

Ed: Sharon, the truth is, writing for me is just like eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard over at the Dairy Queen, it's just pure fun. I don't think I've had a minute of writer's block ever in my life, and if it became anguishing for me to write I'd just find something else to do. Fun is the name of my game, and I aim to have it - if writing ceased to be enjoyable, it'd just mean that there'd just be more time for me to ride mega roller coasters or go to Vegas, two of my favorite personal entertainment options.

Sharon: Do you have any superstitions you’d like to share with the readers? Something you feel brings you good luck when you write?

Ed: When I write, I do so in a quiet environment, I'll suck on an Atomic Fireball and maybe occasionally get up and read a few strips from The Calvin And Hobbes Treasury in order to keep it all loose and fun. If I really need a literary kick in the ass to get movin', I just put on the Bachman-Turner Overdrive classic hit, Roll On Down The Highway. That song always makes me feel good, it can make me want to write, sing, have sex, and do the M.C. Hammertime dance all at once!

Sharon: Ed, you are indeed one in a million! Can you tell us something that makes you unique? Is there someone or something in your life that drives you? Pushes you to find your inner muse?

Ed: I'm proud to be the grandson and son of Ed Sr. and Ed Jr., I know exactly who I am, and I aspire to be nothing more or less. I figure I was put here for a reason, I think all this writing related stuff is happening to me for some reason, and I aim to do my very best at it. I really don't worry about what other people think of me, I love a very pretty lady, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, classic Nintendo video games, and not getting caught at hell raising. Being all the different facets of me is what really drives me, writing is but one part of who I am.

Sharon: And there you have it, folks, a well-balanced man! Well, Ed, that brings us to the end of this interview. I have three trivia questions I always ask my guests. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why? If you could choose any era in history in which to live, which would it be and why? And last but not least, if you could star in any literary fiction, which would it be and who would you want playing your leading lady?

1. Sea Island, Georgia - beautiful white sand beaches and the most private environment imaginable. I really dig it.

2. If I could live in any era of history, I'd have made sure that I hit age sixteen back in 1956. I mega love Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, and Little Richard, I just wish I could've been alive to experience all of them in their prime. Any of them can still outrock just about anything goin' today!

3. I did actually star in some literary fiction - Trish (Graves) Jensen wrote a book years ago called Send Me No Flowers, it was a Precious Gems Romance. It was about this South Carolina sheriff, who attracted a decent share of female attention, and Trish modeled him after me, I was so amazed. She dedicated the book to me as well, I'll always love her for that.

Sharon: Awesome! And finally, where can readers get in touch with you and where can they buy ChristmaSin?

Ed: They can find me at the following places:

www.ed-williams.com
www.twitter.com/ELW3 Y'all come join us for Twitterganza, October 2009!
www.elwiii.gather.com

I love emails from readers, shoot 'em to me, I answer everyone personally!
<Tami pokes him on the shoulder - hey Ed, give her the email address>
Oh, sorry darlin' it's–
ed3@ed-williams.com

Sharon: Thank you for a close up and personal with Ed Williams! It’s been a lot of fun and I hope you come back when your book’s released to chat with readers. Best of luck with the release of ChristmaSin and all future books, Ed. It’s been a pleasure! Now folks, keep a watchful eye for ChristmaSin to be released in November. And here is a sneak preview to the trailer.

Interview with Tami Winbush

Today I have another special treat. Tami Winbush, Co-Founder from You Gotta Read Reviews is my guest. Tami is such a busy woman she makes my head spin. Not only is she a reviewer and co-founder of an awesome review sight, but she is going to college for accounting. And if that isn’t enough, Tami has just earned the title of Promotions Manager of Champagne Books. Let’s hear it for Tami Winbush. Welcome, my friend!

Tami: Hi Sharon, cyber hugs to you darlin'! Sorry it's taken me so long to get over here.Champagne has been keeping me very busy, along with You Gotta Read, the garden, the kids, the boyfriend, and.....phew, now where was I? Oh yeah, I'm so excited about my new position with Champagne!

Sharon: Congratulations on this wonderful achievement! Let’s talk a little about that. Pull up a seat and grab a glass of sweet tea. So tell us all about Champagne Books. What will being the products manager entail?

Tami: Mmmmm......Sweet tea.....girl you know me too well. Hope you got it from McDonalds. Did I ever tell you that when I moved to NY I told my dear boyfriend that I wouldn't move if they didn't have McDonald's sweet tea? He almost went into a panic, but luckily for him, they carry it everywhere but Canada! But again I digress.....
Well lately I have been working on setting up a blog specifically for readers to
get to know our Champagne authors. We have excerpts, interviews, publishing and writing
tips, promo days and Friday free-for-alls! You should stop over sometime and visit
us. (http://champagnebooks.blogspot.com) And I am also very busy getting together something that is very exciting for me,and new for Champagne, podcasts!

Sharon smiles and holds up the Golden Arches.

Sharon: You have it going on, girlfriend. Doing podcasts will be a real crowd pleaser! How exciting. Now, I can’t help but wonder where you find the time to do all these things. What’s in that sweet tea? Iron? Mega energy boosters? Pass me a glass! So how about it, Tami. How do you fit it all in? Any Wonder Woman secrets you’d like to share? Inquiry minds want to know!

Tami: How do I do it? Not quite sure. Massive doses of caffeine, lack of sleep, hours
on my laptop, insomnia, and the fact that everything that I do isn't a thing like
work. I have WAY too much fun doing it. I enjoy reading, reviewing, talking to authors,
making friends, and just being out there and getting things done!

Sharon: Amazing. Now being a reviewer, you read quite a lot of books by a lot of different authors and genres. Do you have a favorite genre? And was this genre something you have always enjoyed reading?

Tami: Favorite genre, geez, that's very unfair of you to ask. You have to promise not
to tell the other genres this, but I love paranormal romance the best though I try
not to show it. I love anything that bites, shifts and casts spells! I've always
loved things that were "otherworldly"! I guess that stems from being a little off
myself. LOL

Sharon: One more question about reading and then we’ll move on to writing. When you read a book, either short or full length, do you prefer reading it as an eBook or a print book? And why is that?

Tami: Again a toughie. I really don't mind either print or eBook anymore since I have
my iPhone. I have Stanza on there and can convert any of my eBooks to that program
and take it on the road with me, but I always, always have a paper book in my purse
in case the battery runs low on my phone. I used to like full length books, but
now that I am so busy, I prefer the shorts or novellas. I just don't have time for
full length anymore. But sometimes when Champagne and YGR isn't looking, I sneak a full length book and close my laptop, just don't tell them, OK?

Sharon: The FBI couldn’t bribe it out of me. LOL All right. I always ask that question because of the variety in answers. We’re all set in our ways to a certain degree. I personally like sitting in the sun with an audio book. I find it very relaxing. Now let’s move on to writing. You and Val are working on a book, a WIP. Can you tell us a little about the story? The setting? The plot? And where did you come up with the idea?

Tami: Yes, we certainly are. But unfortunately, I am a little slow in the groove right
now. But for some reason I think that the powers that be are trying to tell me to
get off my butt. I went to our local library which is only a block or so from the
house and told the librarian about the book, and he happened to be the president
of the Colton Fire Department and agreed to give me a tour. Since then he has been
ordering books on arson investigation for me without asking. It's great living in
a small town.

So, from that little bit, you can tell that it's going to be a firefighting story.
We still have to nail down the female character but there is going to be some question
as to why mysterious fires keep happening and someone from her past. The handsome
fireman that she doesn't want to get involved with is the key to stopping all the
fires and all the inner turmoil that she is facing, if only she will let him in.
But will she?

Val and I brainstormed the concept up from a submission call that I was given by
a dear friend of ours, Kissa Starling! **waves** She's trying to get me more motivated
in my writing and is very helpful with sending things along that spark my interest.
(No pun intended.)

Sharon: I’d call that doing your research well. I imagine two authors writing a book together might be challenging. Hmmmmm. You girls must be on the same wave length to write on the same page, literally! I’ve heard of critique groups that write a story together, chapter by chapter. One person will pick up at the end of the next chapter and flow with it. Is this the model you and Val will use?

Tami: Val and I have decided that we are going to do it this way: One chapter is in the
POV of the male lead, the next in the female lead. She will be the female lead and
I the male and we will edit each others work so it flows together smoothly.

Sharon: What a novel idea! Sounds like a recipe for success! Don’t look now, but here comes the snacks I ordered, a cheese tray, just for you! But I must admit cheese is my personal weakness, too—next to potato chips. How about it, Tami, what other foods do you have stashed in your computer desk or kitchen for energy boosters? We all have our food fetishes. Do share! And which of these is your favorite cheese?

Tami: Mmmm mmmmmfff mmmffmmmf ....... **clears throat** Sorry about that, I really like
Muenster cheese the best! When I was a kid I loved to eat the orange "skin" off of
it. It was just the best. Well I don't really stash things, I am more of a craving
kinda gal. If you didn't know better you would think that I have been pregnant for
the past 18 years of my life. I will get in the mood for something and I will crave
that for weeks and then switch. It's rather odd. Right now it's orange, yellow
and red bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. I have a taco thing every once and a while
and a BIG grilled ham and cheese thing every couple of months.

Sharon: A girl after my own heart. Hmmm. Pass me a big ol’ hunk of that Muenster cheese with one of those wheat crackers. Oh and we have your favorite peppers and cherry tomatoes as a special treat! Dig in. Now you like to crochet. I must say I admire anyone who has this gift. My aunt once tried to teach me to crochet and after one big tangled web, she politely told me perhaps I’d best find a new hobby. LOL So tell me about crocheting. How did you get started and what kind of things do you crochet?

Tami: Oh, that's a good question. When I was pregnant with my son 14 years ago, I was
put on bed rest because I was going into premature labor. So the ladies from the
church went to WalMart and got me some yarn, and a hook and went to the library and
got me a How to Crochet book. I sat down and taught myself to crochet. Since I
couldn't do anything else for over a month I got pretty good at it.
My favorite things in the world to crochet are stuffed animals. I also crochet sweaters,blankets, and scrunchies. Here's a pattern I actually came up with a very long
time ago.

http://www.crochetnmore.com/tamiwinbush2003scrunchie.htm

Sharon: Well there you have it folks. What a talent Tami Winbush is! Now another one of your hobbies is photography. This is such a window to life’s many adventures. What kind of things do you like to take pictures of? And don’t animals love to ham it up for the photo! What is the sweetest photo you ever snapped of your dog?

Tami: I like to take pictures of nature. I've always found a peace there when I get stressed out and a little on the frazzled side. So I tend to look to nature photos to calm me down. Sweet pictures of the dogs? I don't know about that one, LOL. They are
only sweet when they are sleeping, but I do remember when I was a kid, I took a picture
of my mother's dog yawning and when the picture came out (back in the day before
digital cameras) the tongue looked like it was about 2 miles long. We all had a
good laugh at that one. Now the cats on the other hand, I get all kinds of cute
ones of them pretty much telling me off, especially after their baths. I do want
to include a picture of my Kurgan who we had to put down recently. This picture
made her look like an angel before her time. We miss you darling.

Sharon: How adorable! Look folks, isn’t Kurgan just the sweetest thing? (Sharon holds up the photo)

Sharon: I’m sure you have this one framed as a treasured keepsake. Now let’s talk more about Tami Winbush, the inside scoop. What is your strongest asset? Your weakest? What is the message you’d like to leave behind as your own special footprint on this earth?

Tami: My strongest asset? My loyalty to my family and friends. Those that have been there for me through thick and thin, good and bad, they are the ones that deserve that
undying loyalty. And oddly enough, I have a lot of those friends from online. You
are counted among them!

My weakest point? I tend to believe the goodness in everyone. I know that sounds
like a good thing, but I will believe the best in everyone and get stomped on. I
have been hurt too many times over that one, so I am learning to make people earn
that trust a little bit more instead of just trusting in the inherent goodness in
all.

The message to leave the world. Let those that you love know that you love them.
Every single day. Do not let a minute go by in their days that they might doubt
that you loved them. Almost 5 1/2 years ago I lost my husband to a heart attack.
We were talking at 9:00am and at 11:15am he was declared dead. You never know when
your last moment, or your loved ones last moment will be. So as the song goes, Live Like You Were Dying. Love with all your heart and soul!

Sharon: Beautiful words to live by, Tami. Now let’s talk about your great sense of humor. There’s nothing like a great belly laugh to change our mental health and well being, is there? Tell us something that still makes you laugh, no matter how many times you’ve heard or told the story?

Tami: I was driving down the road with my daughter and a friend of mine and the song GetDown On It by Kool in the Gang came on the radio. The person I was riding with didn't want to listen to the song and turned the station. My daughter (5 years old) screamed at the top of her lungs, "Turn that back, I wanna Get Down On It!"

Sharon: Out of the mouths of babes! LOL! My side is hurting, stop! That is too funny! Now how about movies. Do you like to see comedies? Sad stories? Love stories? Are you a hopeless romantic? What is the most romantic thing a man has ever done for you?

Tami: I love romantic comedies. They are the best. I do also like suspense, and action,
but not horror. Oh I get nightmares badly. I remember sitting in the theater for
Dreamcatcher and hiding behind my husband's coat the whole time hiding! It was horrible.He laughed at me the entire time.

Oh, that's EASY! My boyfriend, he's the sweetest ever! He wanted me to see Battlestar
Galactica with him. So we started with the mini series. For some reason we couldn't
get the closed captioning to get off the screen. After a while you just ignore it
and I just forgot it. We were watching, and I said, "Hey, rewind that! My name was
on there!" He looked at me like I was nuts.

"No, seriously, rewind it!" So, he willingly obliged. I told him to stop, and on
the screen it said in the closed captioning:

Tami: Do you know that I love you? Rob

Sharon: (reaches for a tissue) Sniffle sniffle. That’s romantic with a capital R. Rob sounds like one in a million. Now let’s reverse the situation. What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for a man?

Tami: I brought my husband velvet roses to his job. He didn't like real flowers because
they died and fake ones would last forever. I have something really romantic planned
for Rob's birthday/Valentines (same day) next year though. But I can't tell you,
he might find out!

Sharon: (crosses her lips with an x) Mum’s the word. Can’t wait to hear all about it! Well, Tami. Time flies when we’re having fun. Our time is just about up. But before I let you go, I have three trivia questions for you. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? If you could live in any era in history, which would it be and why? If you could play the leading lady in any literary fiction, who would it be and who would you pick as your leading man?

Tami: Crete - and I don't know why, but always wanted to go there since I was 16 years
old.
Knowing what I know now, I would stay in this era only because I don't want to live
without my electricity and music and indoor plumbing. :)
I would be Janie (I know I'm not black, but the work was so well done) from Their
Eyes Were Watching God, and Taye Diggs would be my leading man cause he is just whew.....

Sharon: Great answers! Well, thank you so much for the awesome interview, Tami. I hope you come back again. I love you and everything about you and can’t wait to read your books. Best of luck with your new job and mega congratulations my friend. You deserve it. Here’s wishing you all good things. Cheers!