BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we talked to Teri M Brown about her writing and soon-to-be released book, 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure, a transformative journey of self-discovery (read the review here).

What does literary success look like to you?

I think most authors would love to be on a major best seller list and have their book turned into a movie, but the truth is that this doesn’t happen for most authors. For me, that’s okay, because I see success in a myriad of other ways from connections with others to the satisfaction of getting my story down on paper. I feel successful because I’ve had dozens o readers tell me that my words touched them and caused them to change how they view the world.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

It’s easy to believe that you have to do something else before you can get started writing, such as take a course, get a degree, read a specific craft book, or even be a certain age. The truth is that you can’t become a better writer unless you write. Sure, courses, degrees, and craft books are great, but without putting words on the page, you have no chance to hone the craft.

Once you start writing, it is also easy to fall into the trap that there is a right way to get the words on paper. Should you outline or simply let the words flow? Should you write every morning? Every evening? Every day? Should you use a computer? A typewriter? Pencil? Pen? Audio recorder? Should you write in your office? The library? A coffee shop? In nature? Should you start with meditation? Mood music? Hot tea? Should you aim for a certain number of hours? Words? Pages? You’ll find books that suggest a “right way” for writing, but the truth is that the right way is whatever works for you.

How often you read?

I read nearly every day. This year, I’ve read about six books per month. I love to read all genres and from a wide variety of authors. For me, reading is the best way to learn how stories flow and see how others handle character development, world building, plot, dialogue, and prose.

Do you read your book reviews? Do they please you or annoy you? Do you think you can learn a lot from reading criticism about your work?

I always read my book reviews. Sometimes I agree with what has been said and sometimes I don’t. But I never let a review discourage me. Instead, I see if there is anything I can learn that will make my work better. If so, I tuck that away for future manuscripts. If not, I remind myself that not every book is a good fit for every reader, and then I move on.

Would you rather read a book or watch television?

Read the book 100%! I have a very vivid imagination complete with what the characters look like to the sounds of their voices. I’m usually disappointed with how a director portrays the characters for a movie. I also really enjoy the internal dialogue that can happen in print that cannot happen in a movie. It’s easy to miss a lot of the motivation of a character without that dialogue.

Are you a feeler or a thinker?

I’m a feeler first, a thinker second. Whenever something big happens, my emotions jump in right away. I laugh. I cry. I rage. Once I get the emotions out, then I’m able to be logical about the next steps. This happened over and over again during the tandem bicycle journey. I’d stand on the side of the road and cry with frustration. Once the tears dried up, I’d get back on the tandem and ride.

Tell us some more about your book.

10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure is a book about my 3102-mile journey across the United States on a tandem bicycle with my husband, Bruce. While we were dating, he informed me that he had always wanted to accomplish a cross-country ride. I was hoping for some kind of big adventure to prove that I still had something to give to the world after getting out of an abusive 14-year marriage. We fulfilled our bucket list but I got so much more – healing after divorce, insight into my own strength, and a deeper understanding about life and the people in it.

The book is more than a travelogue. Instead, I look at lessons I learned while traveling at 10.4 miles per hour. Each chapter also has guided journaling questions to help readers discover their own rules for living an adventurous life.

Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why?

I love “Never Quit on a Bad Day.” In this chapter, you’ll learn how this rule came about. However, since coming home from this trip, I’ve used this rule on many different occasions. It helps me stop, take a deep breath, and really think about what I want to do and how I want to accomplish it.

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I hope readers will walk away with a better understanding of themselves, what they want from life, and a list of rules that will help them achieve it.

What’s next for you?

I have a children’s book about a train named Lola who wants to go to the moon. I’m currently working with an illustrator and hope to have this book out soon. I’m also writing a contemporary humor book about a woman going through menopause. And I have a great idea cooking for a historical fiction with a bit of mystery/suspense. Feel free to join my newsletter to keep up with my writing and my podcast Online for Authors. https://deft-pioneer-4478.kit.com/8cf7e706ee

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