Chuck Sambuchino – An Interview: Published Book, Writing and a Writer’s Life (Part 1)

Please welcome Chuck Sambuchino to my blog today.

I want to thank him for taking time out for this interview to answer some questions on his recently published book, writing and publishing.

~How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino is the one and only comprehensive survival guide that will help you prevent, prepare for, and ward off an imminent home invasion by the common garden gnome ~

Imagine with me my friend – we’re in an English garden (you, Chuck and me) surrounded by hundreds of garden gnomes. They look a bit like the gnome on the book cover on the left. Their hands are behind their backs. They may have axes. I can’t see behind them. There are so many of them. They seem innocent enough (and small, knee-high – harmless right?) but I’ve heard rumours. I’m scared. Chuck? Should we be scared? Chuck smiles and shakes his head like a Buddha who knows things. He seems confident so I relax a little. I touch your shoulder. Relax I say to you. We breath in and…relax. For now.

~ Interview  begins~

What was the time gap from thoughts of writing to actual writing to being published? Was there one or was it a spur-of-the-moment thing?

Well I drafted up a nonfiction book proposal pretty quickly—with sample chapters, then there were several months where my agent shopped it around and secured a contract.  Once that happened, I was held at gunpoint (well, almost) for three months to finish the book.

~

You’ve been an established editor, a journalist, a playwright, a musician etc. If you could only choose one and do one, what would it be? Was it a natural succession toward writing with writing as the goal or was it accidental?

I’ve always wanted to write and see my words come to life, but I’ve never really had a focus.  Plus, I tend to get bored easily.  That’s why I write in so many different areas and play music.  I suppose it’s an ADD thing, though I was never formally diagnosed with ADD.  If I had to choose one area, it would probably be nonfiction writing.  I found fiction wonderful, but a good true story even better.

~

What are you really bad at when it comes to writing?

Sticking to one project.  I just want to write and start 8 projects at once.  I find first drafts are infinitely more fun than rewrites, so I tend to move on to new things too much, rather than polishing something to the point where I can sell it.

~

What are you really good at when it comes to writing?

Just getting my butt in the chair to write.  Besides hanging out with my wife and playing music, I can think of nothing I’d rather be doing than writing.

~

What inspired you when it came to this particular book?

I was thinking of the movie The Full Monty, which has a quick scene with a garden gnome.  I started to think of how much I dreaded gnomes, and then the book just started pouring out.

~

Are you planning to write more? Are you writing something now?

Yes indeed.  I am writing a second humor book and there has also been talk of a sequel to the gnome attack book.  Besides that, I am rewriting a screenplay with a buddy at work.  And I am always at work on the next editions of the two resources I edit: Guide To Literary Agents as well as Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market.

~ Thanks Chuck ~

Chuck Sambuchino is the author of How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will), a humor book released in Sept. 2010.

He is also the editor of Guide To Literary Agents (2011 Guide To Literary Agents edition in stores now) and runs a large and popular blog on publishing: Guide to Literary Agents. You can find Chuck on Twitter @chucksambuchino and on Facebook. Besides that, he is a magazine freelancer, playwright, husband, owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog, cover band guitarist, and all around chocolate chip cookie fiend.

~

Part 2 will be posted next Monday. Come back and see what happens to us in the English garden. Will we survive? There are hundreds of them you say. Yes, I know. Chuck is having a chocolate chip cookie. Let’s do what he does. Here, have a cookie. Tea?

Any thoughts?

Want to share?

Leave a comment. It’s good to know.

Sean Ferrell – The Author Talks About Writing

Sean Ferrell – The Author Talks About Numb the Character

Sean Ferrell – The Author Talks About the Book Trailer Numb

“When you decide what you want, it has to manifest…but only at the level of your belief.”

Rich German – Author

CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)

What l have learnt:

• Post-Publication Book Marketing Activities by Rick Chesler. Good to keep the list handy for later.
• The F-word – To What Extent Do You Tolerate The “F-Word” in Fiction? (via The Blood-Red Pencil).
• What not to open with – Secret Agent Message (via edittorrent).
• It’s all White Noise. It’s good to be reminded (via Pub Rants).

What I have done:

• Slowly getting back to novel writing, blog posts, Twitter and online activities.

WORD COUNT: Night Walker 157,000 words in total. Tuesday 14 September wrote 1,000 words; Wednesday 15 September wrote 1,000 words; Monday 20 September wrote 1,000 words.

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