My Love for Books: Author Interview – John Hartnett @johnjhartnett

Friday, December 20, 2013

Author Interview – John Hartnett @johnjhartnett

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? Probably Jesus. It would be very interesting to get the story straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. I’d also invited Bette Midler because she always seems pretty upbeat and would be great at breaking through any awkward silences. I’d also invite Salvador Dali, Wyatt Earp, Thomas Edison’s right hand guy, Watson, since everybody kind of glosses him over and Martha Stewart, assuming I still had enough burgers, potato salad and corn on the cob to go around.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? I play a lot of tennis, like to go out with friends, see movies, play guitar and avoid having to drive my kids anywhere.

Do you have any tips on how writers can relax? No, but I would love to leave my contact information should someone else have any ideas.

How often do you write? And when do you write? I try to write every day and since I enjoy writing jokes, I will use Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and my blog, The Monkey Bellhop to get content up and out quickly so I can hopefully get what may writers crave — instant feedback, attention and affirmation! I find that I can be most productive very early in the morning from 5am to 8 am or so or at night after dinner.

Do you have an organized process or tips for writing well? Do you have a writing schedule? I don’t have a set schedule for writing and the only tip that I can offer is to be consistent with it and to constantly read the work of others since so much of what you are exposed to in life, art and literature, informs your writing and your perspective.

Sometimes it’s so hard to keep at it – What keeps you going? I believe you have to write for yourself regardless of whether or not there’s an audience for your work. That said, what also keeps me going is receiving and email or running into someone who tells me they liked something that I wrote.

Have you met any people in the industry who have really helped you? I think the key phrase in your question is “really helped” as opposed to just “helped”. Facebook has been a great source of sales of my book and some of my FB friends who are established in entertainment and publishing have been very gracious about mentioning my work or sharing it with others. However, I haven’t had anyone approach me, place both of their arms on my shoulders, look me straight in the eye and say, “Your book deserves to be on one million coffee tables, night stands and toilet tank covers. Wait here while I see that it happens.” Although I do dream about it from time to time and it feels so real when I wake up and my wife informs me I was dancing in my sleep again. On the odd chance your question wasn’t rhetorical one if you know anyone in the industry who can really help me, I’m all ears and have no plans to leave my house or my phone until 2018.