Interview with Terry Tracy - Author of the Literary Fiction A Great Place for a Seizure..
Terry Tracy was born in Virginia, but moved around Latin America in her childhood as a military brat. After college Terry worked as a receptionist, then left to work for free in Honduras at an orphanage. She returned to work in a human rights organization in Washington DC, then left for Guatemala to work as a free-lance journalist. By this point, it was clear that she had developed an addiction to moving around. Nevertheless, in denial, she jumped over the Atlantic to Cambridge, England to get a Masters in a completely irrelevant, but intriguing, subject matter about 16th century judicial sytem in the Spanish colonies.
Upon her return she decided to join the establishment and started working for the US Government. She left her job at the State Department in 2007 to take turns with her husband and become a stay-at-home parent in London.
Terry has had epilepsy for 30 years and with the extra time at home decided to write a funny, sad, strange, and moving novel about a sarcastic epileptic. Terry is Asian-Irish American with a German husband and a German-American daughter (who tries desperately to teach her mother German). They currently live in London.
Interview with Terry Tracy
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| Author Terry Tracy |
Terry Tracy: Essentially it has been non-fiction in terms of news articles, human rights reports, diplomatic cables and my thesis on the obscure topic of 16th century indigenous litigation in New Spain. But somehow, by leaving Washington DC and coming to England it's as if this creative writing student from decades ago was released. Reading a lot of fiction for the first time in my life brought be realize the bliss in writing, not just the satisfaction of transmitting information accurately, but the joy of creating your own universe on paper and inviting people in to come in.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
My favorite writer of fiction is Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) and of non-fiction, Marcus Aurelius (Meditations) and David Sedaris (The Santaland Diaries). I know they make an odd combination; an American woman from the Deep South and a Roman Emperor but there is an essential honesty, simplicity, and wisdom in their writing that appeals to me. Harper Lee created her childhood world and through innocent eyes of Scout transmitted these deep experiences of racism in the south, incest and poverty, and disability (through the character of Boo Radley).She created an atmosphere where you soaked up the feelings, the smells, the touch of the time. I remember her opening chapter when she describes the heat of her region by observing that by evening southern ladies' were like frosted teacakes from the sweat and talcum powder.
I like Marcus Aurelius for his kind wisdom. My favorite quote about not whining in life is: "Is your cucumber bitter? Then throw it away."
I like David Sedaris for his wry celebration of absurdity in life. He can talk about tragic situations and see the hilarious side of it. It entertains but he also shows the value of humor as a lifeboat.
They are my greatest influences and I hope that I combine them well enough in my novel: A Great Place for a Seizure.
"Whatever I do, I have to write."
When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
In 1994 when my contract was up at the human rights NGO where I was working. Someone asked me what I wanted to do in life and I replied, "Whatever I do, I have to write."
Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?
I write between 11:30 and 2am.
What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
The easiest is part is when I find myself “in the zone” and words are just pouring out time passes and I feel more like a channel not just a person. I feel like I'm in touch with something that goes beyond me and not just me and my fingers tapping the keyboard. That's probably why I write at night because if I write during the day then I forget to pick my daughter up from school, do the shopping, or call the electrician to arrange a visit.
The hardest is the proofing part, when you just have to force yourself to go over it 30-40 times and make sure there are no typos, misplaced commas, forgotten words, etc. I go blind after about 3 attempts to proof a piece and yet I'm compelled by pride to keep trying to correct my mistakes but I become worse and worse at doing it each time I read the piece over again.
Terry, please tell us a little about your Book 'A Great Place for a Seizure'.
In short, Mischa Dunn is a Chilean American whose parents flee Chile in the aftermath of a coup.They come to the United States and settle down.After a few years Mischa has her first seizure and so begins life with epilepsy. But the book is not about epilepsy it's about the fascinating life of Mischa divided into 27 short stories that together combine into a novel that travels from Chile to the United States, to Guatemala and England.
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| Click to Read an Excerpt |
What inspired you to write the book?
Oddly enough the idea came from reading The Idiot, by Dostoevsky. Frankly, I do not like "the Russian novel." Those books have far too many pages and the writing is very heavy. If I were stuck in a dacha, in a blizzard with a bottle of vodka, perhaps they would be more entertaining. But I'm not. Nevertheless, I was always curious about The Idiot because the title-character was epileptic as was Dostoevsky. I have epilepsy as well. The main character is Myshkin, who I think is best described as a carpet because he lets everyone walk all over him. As an epileptic, I found it irritating that the most famous portrayal of us is the pathetic and humorless Myshkin. One day I wondered, “What if I wrote a novel and the main character was a sarcastic epileptic. I created Mischa Petra Dunn, who is the antithesis to the 19th century weakling Russian and a 20th century Chilean American living in the United States.
Who do you see as your target audience and where can we buy the book?
My target audience is anyone who wants to live a life along-side a character who travels and encounters interesting people and grows inside as a result of her experiences. She is a flawed person, not necessarily heroic. She is the kind of person who would be in and out of your life. When you see her name in your IN BOX, among the 63+ other e-mails, you smile and immediately click to open it as you wonder what adventure she is having next and hope that she is going to take you with her.
"[...] my novel is getting an audience."
How would you describe the success of your book so far? (Sales, Awards, Reviews)
Sales have been good. I've stayed in the top 15% of Amazon book-sales. I was a finalist in the 2012 Indiereader Discovery Awards competition. I've been invited to speak a few times, most recently on the BBC World Service. There is a program called The Forum, which is going to be aired on Dec. 29th. I read an excerpt and then participate in a panel discussion. I think slowly but surely, by word of mouth more than anything, my novel is getting an audience.
How long did it take it to write the book?
Three years.
Please, tell us where you self-published the book.
Through Amazon's company: Createspace.
" There are VERY few good professional proof readers."
How smooth went the self-publishing process? Any issues? What are things to look for when self-publishing a book?
It was pretty smooth, there were bumps, so I have some advice.
My first piece of advice is to proof your book very well. My second piece of advice is to proof your book very well and then make sure you find someone honest to look over drafts (even if you have to pay a professional reader) and tell you which parts are absolutely ridiculous, do not work, and are gems that will carry your book, teach you what are your strengths, and probably point to where you have to go in terms of plot and character development.
Also, guess what? There are VERY few good professional proof readers. So you probably need friends and family who care along with the ones you pay. I have journalist friends, along with those who are obsessive compulsive grammar junkies, and they say that even the major newspapers have a huge number mistakes. This has increased exponentially because proofing is no longer accepted as a profession. People think it can be done electronically, but really "spell-check" can only do so much. You really do need human eyes looking over your manuscript, SEVERAL times to avoid simple errors. Otherwise you produce a poor product the credibility of your book immediately comes into question when a reader sees a typo within the first chapter.
Did you hire an editor and/or Cover Designer for your book?
Yes, I hired two editors but only told them to tell me where the book lost pace and make suggestions for fixing horrific sentences. I also asked them comment on where the book became incoherent. Finally I asked that their last reading of the book include a light proofing, though I also paid two other proofers. I designed the cover of my book after spending about $1000 dollars on ridiculous attempts by disinterested graphic artists.
"[...] it should be a pleasure to review your book over and over."
Can you give some tips for other Indie Authors regarding the writing and self-publishing process?
Proof and get others to read your work and give you an honest opinion. Also, prepare to write at least 3 drafts of a book. To think that your first draft is your last one is a sign that you might not have the vocation to be a writer. Editing is almost therapeutic, it should be a pleasure to review your book over and over in the hope of making it better.
Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
I've been invited to speak at an annual conference of novelists, publishers and professors of creative writing. I almost want to wear a badge saying “I'm self-published and I still got in!” I'm going to speak about stories about disabilities that aren't really about disabilities. Right now I'm writing up about how Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is born from the author's experience with a bi-polar disorder and is essentially the wisdom that he derived from that experience and not disability, but you would never have had that iconic book without the disability.
Are you planning to move forward as an Indie author or are you looking forward to have one of your next books to be traditionally published?
I think I had one novel in me and it is written. Of course I have the fantasy of a Random House editor on his knees begging me to publish that novel and translate it into 100 languages whilst holding a check with a six-figure advance. Nevertheless there is a real excitement to being part of this publishing revolution. The novel has been a certain amount of attention. It tells me that I'm on the right path, more is to come, and this is a good place to be.
Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
Oh no, please, I need paper books. I hope record stores and book-stores figure out how to partner up and make themselves into an experience. They should merge with coffee shops and record-stores to be live cultural hubs vs. virtual ones that are replacing them now. What about occasional jazz trio performances, readings, quiet spots for working, craft corners in the children's section etc.?
Do you write full-time or do you have a day job?
I write and read part-time and work as a mom during the day.
How can readers connect with you?
If they buy the book the e-mail is on the copyright page (in the e-book and paperback). They can send me an e-mail with A GREAT PLACE in the subject line. That way I know to click on it immediately among the other 63+ regular e-mails I get.
Thank you very much for the Interview, Terry
About the Book A Great Place for a Seizure
.jpg "A Great Place for a Seizure (Terry Tracy)") |
| Click to Read an Excerpt |
With an engaging balance of humor, insight, and sensitivity Mischa draws the reader into a vivid tale that travels across three continents over thirty years.
- "Wow! This book was amazing! It has taken me through the journey of an amazing life. I felt what it was like to be in her shoes and felt everything she felt. It is not just about the story about someone living with epilepsy....it is so much more. It is a story about life, love, losses, gains, emotions...I could go on and on. Incredibly well written! A MUST READ! I will not be surprised if Oprah gets her hands on this!" - Astrid Steinhäuser"
Links to the Author and the Book
Link to the Book A Great Place for a Seizure with Excerpt on Amazon (UK)
Link to the Book A Great Place for a Seizure with Excerpt on Amazon (US)
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