Interview with author Phillip Tomasso-first author interview
CHARACTERS, BEEN SCARED . . . I GET VERY INVOLVED WHEN WRITING. AND IN WRITING A SERIES--SOME OF THE CHARACTERS I HAVE CREATED FEEL MORE REAL AND LIKE FRIENDS TO ME THAN REAL FRIENDS.
SUITE: What type of book promotion do you feel has worked best for you?
PHILLIP: I LIKE BOOK SIGNINGS. I LOVE MEETING AND TALKING WITH THE PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE SECOND BOOK IS OUT--I HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF REPEAT CUSTOMERS. I LIKE THESE ON-LINE INTERVIEWS. THEY ARE VERY BENEFICIAL TO GET READERS AT LEAST FAMILIAR WITH MY NAME--AND MORE THAN THAT, MY PERSONALITY. WORD OF MOUTH MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY. I LOVE TO HEAR SOMEONE BOUGHT A BOOK AND PASSED IT ON TO A FRIEND. FORGET THE SALE I MISSED, PEOPLE ARE READING AND ENJOYING MY STORY.
SUITE: Can you ever see yourself not writing anymore?
PHILLIP: EASY ANSWER. NO.
SUITE: Pets? Types and names, please.
PHILLIP: I HAVE A NINE-YEAR-OLD BLACK LAB, WHITNEY. I AM NOT THE BIGGEST ANIMAL PERSON, BUT IF I HAVE TO HAVE A PET (AND WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS, I HAVE TO HAVE A PET) WHITNEY IS IDEAL. SHE LETS THE KIDS JUMP ON HER, JIGGLE HER JOWLS, WHATEVER. SHE IS A HARMLESS, LOVING DOG--AND A GREAT WATCH DOG--THOUGH THE WORST SHE MIGHT DO IS LICK AN INTRUDER TO DEATH, BUT MAN, WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO GO :-)
SUITE: What part of you shows through in your writing? What does your writing say about you?
PHILLIP: GENERALLY, I AM ALWAYS MY LEAD CHARACTER. IN MIND PLAY, I WAS RANDY COOK. IN THE SERIES, I AM NICHOLAS TARTAGLIA. NOT THAT THEY ARE ME, BUT I ENVISION MYSELF AS THEM. THEY HAVE MY DRY SENSE OF HUMOR, MY OUTLOOK ON LIFE--BUT THEY HAVE UNIQUE PERSONALITIES AS WELL. AND THEN I GUESS PARTS OF ME ARE SPRINKLED OVER EACH OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS, AS WELL.
SUITE: Where do you get your character names?
PHILLIP: I LIKE TO USE THE FIRST NAMES OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THEY ALL LIKE THAT. IT IS A WAY TO HONOR THEM, I THINK. OCCASIONALLY I USE A LAST NAME, TOO, WITH THE PERSON'S PERMISSION. OTHERWISE, A LOT OF THE TIME I FLIP OPEN THE PHONE BOOK AND POINT--AND WHAM--THERE'S THE CHARACTER'S LAST NAME. I MAY HAVE TO DO THIS MORE THAN ONCE, LIKE IF I AM LOOKING FOR AN ITALIAN LAST NAME, OR IF I JUST HATE THE ONE I AM POINTING TO.
SUITE: What about writing is
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