Monday, November 1, 2010

Phyllis Johnson's "Hot And Bothered By It!"


We're happy to have Phyllis Johnson with us today talking about her book, Hot And Bothered By It! To learn more about Phyllis and her book, read on!

Publisher: Community Press

Cover blurb: Do you suffer from Oreo-porosis? Is there an instant Mess-age at your house when you go away? Is a period just punctuation found in your romance novels while you fan yourself? If you can relate to any of these circumstances, you may be going through a midlife chrysalis. If you find yourself with a group of women playing such games as the "Millionaire Purse Game," wearing red and purple together and eating chocolate until you pass out, then this book is for you. HOT AND BOTHERED BY IT contains fifty poems celebrating the midlife experience for women. This book is the perfect companion for entertaining you and your friends at your next night out. This book is also GREAT for your reading group! (And it’s perfect for milestone birthday gifts for girlfriends.)

1) How did this story come to you?
 I wrote a poem about a senior discount because my husband was teasing me before we hit fifty that he couldn’t wait until he got one. I kept writing midlife poems and before I knew it, I had fifty poems and a book was created.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
First I contacted the Red Hat Society but when they wouldn’t endorse it, I started sending it out to publishers.
A friend in my local writing group told me about Community Press and the publisher, who is also an illustrator, did the illustrations too. I’ve had a great time reading the poems at book signings. My last adventure with that was at an art gallery event. As the artists painted, they laughed and wound up buying lots of my books. One night I had a reading at a wine tasting. The women laughed, sipped wine and bought books too.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’ve acted for The Discovery Channel in FBI Files, New Detectives, Diagnosis Unknown and Psychic Investigator. That was all a blast. Meeting new people on the film set is always exciting. As a teenager, I dreamed of modeling. It actually came true for me when I turned 50 and I modeled for hotel ads. Another thing people wouldn’t know about me is that I twirled fire batons when I was a high school majorette. Boy, that last part is really scary to me now.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m marketing a YA suspense novel, titled Inkblot, co-written with Nancy Naigle. I’m also writing a collection of funny high school stories. My day job is in a high school library and funny stuff happens in a high school. A lot of it just screams to be written about and so one of my latest projects, School of Rock, got started.

5) Parting comments?
 I love the contact with readers through these blogs. It’s a great way to promote and network. My advice to other writers is to never give up and follow your dreams. That applies to readers too, no matter what your dream might be.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.phyllisjohnson.net/ I’m on Twitter and FB too.
My email is pjwriter7@aol.com

15 comments:

  1. I would love to have a copy of this book! Going through midlife is tough enough, but you must have humor while doing it :) Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    I'm a follower/subscriber of your blog.

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks for the giveaway. Nice interview.



    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like a fun read! I am a subscriber and GFC follower.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm on the verge of this myself so your book looks great. I think that most of the women in my book clubs would think it hilarious! Thanks for doing the interview.

    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. This book looks so good. How cool that you have acted in all that you have! That is sweet!

    Loved theinterview.

    Val Pearson
    lastnerve2000@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Boy, I can relate. What an exciting life you lead! Loved this interview!


    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like an interesting book of poems! lol. Mid-life is hard, and it's hard to keep your humor intact as well. I could use a laugh of two. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a fun read and I can soooo relate.

    Pegg
    twinwillowsfarm[at]gmail[dot]come

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love to read this book, it sounds like the kind of humor that I coulde use now that I am retired!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds fun! Loved the interview. sdeeth at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Please enter me in this giveaway!
    THANKS!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for all these great comments. It's been so much fun sharing this book. One guy friend of mine actually bought 7 of these books for his female friends' birthdays. It's great for ladies' nights out so sit around and laugh it up with a glass of wine (or tea), whatever floats your boat!

    ReplyDelete
  13. a great book...please count me in...thanks :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance. I'm an email subscriber.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  15. That mid-life crisis doesn't end after 50 or 60. I'm 72, and it still continues..only now I'm sitting in front of a pc trying to imagine stories to entertain. Phyllis's book sounds quite entertaining and it would be fun to read to my aging daughter-in-laws and other family members who suffer with this calamity. I love to laugh, it's so healing and healthy; also good for the stomach muscles. Thank you for the giveaway and the chance to win this poetic creation. Sure hope I do.

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete

Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...