Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A Strengthened View

I am so fortunate today to have
Marlayna Glynn Brown
as a guest. 

She has just released her latest book, City of Angels.
READ ON!



Interview:
What inspired you to write your first book?

I've long been an ardent journalist. I made the decision to craft my journals into a book and then found that recording some events I had not shared with others (including my own journals) affected me greatly. The completion of some chapters left me feeling jubilant and free.  Some caused me to lay my head on the keyboard and cry.  Recording these events gifted me with an entirely strengthened view about life that I felt inspired to share with others.  

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

As a memoir, Overlay is unique in that it tells the tale of one girl coming of age in 1970s casino era Las Vegas. In the 1970s Las Vegas attracted a transient motley crew of bizarre characters.  Alcoholism and addiction were rampant, and Nevada boasted one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the 1970s. The overarching message is that one can survive and shine, no matter the circumstances of their birth and childhood.

City of Angeles, the sequel to Overlay, takes the story from the other characters and places it squarely in the lap of the main character.  She moves from helpless victim to strong victor. The message in City of Angeles is that one can and must learn to navigate life in order to succeed and thrive, regardless of the past and its pitfalls.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write according to what works for you.  I sit down and write as the spirit moves me.  I may write 15 hours a day for three weeks and then not at all for a month.  I’ve learned the hard way that I cannot force the muse.  She arrives when she pleases and departs just as easily.  

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been most successful?

I am a prolific writer and marketer so the list of techniques I have utilized is quite long and ranges from tapping my immediate network to reaching out across email, social media, websites, blogs and other sites.  I’ve been very direct in contacting local bookstores, libraries, book clubs and other clubs and have offered to speak.  Most successful at this juncture has been my Kindle Promotions with Amazon.com.  There is an entire subculture of ebook-lovers that feed and market to each other.  I've written a short handbook available on Amazon detailing the techniques and sites I have utilized called Promoting, Marketing and Publishing Your Book. 

Why should we buy your books?

My memoirs are true stories of success against all odds.  If I managed to become the first college graduate in my family, remain relatively sane, and raise four fantastic children - then anything is possible. I'd like to share that light with others, and inspire them  to rise above those who have transgressed against them, caused them pain or injured them in some way.  I've reached a point in life where I am truly thankful for all of my experiences, both good and bad, as each has given me an opportunity to grow and thrive in ways I couldn't have imagined. 

I am currently crafting the third and final installment in the trilogy Memoirs of Marlayna Glynn Brown which will be a painstaking biopic on surviving the devastation of divorce while single parenting four beloved children.  Simultaneously, I am also writing a non-fiction account of my solo travels as a responsibly hedonistic single woman in her forties with one goal in mind: to say yes to everything.  I'm currently enjoying the research for my travel book very much.

Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

Anywhere as long as it is silent.

What is your POWER WORD?  Why this word?

Great question.  My power word is thankfulness.  I am always grateful for the ability to learn, thrive and grow.  Many times throughout the day I say to myself, “Yes.Thankyou.Moreplease.”

Please feel free to add any additional question that a reader might ask you, and answer that question. 

Have you forgiven all of the characters in your memoir?

Not only have I forgiven them, I have felt immense gratitude for their roles in my life.  Coming up against the big dogs early in life taught me how to stand up for myself, fight for what I believe in, set 
boundaries, and most importantly - how to say NO.
________________________

Marlayna Glynn Brown Bio
I am a published writer and an award winning photographer.  These are the primary ways I communicate my personal experience to humanity. I am also a screenwriter, actress, producer, poet, yogi and photographer. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and base many of my unusual characters and unexpected story lines on true events.

My first memoir, Overlay - A Tale of One Girl's Life in 1970s Las Vegas, was published in March 2012 and is available in print and Kindle format. I published City of Angeles, the next sequel to Overlay, this past July. My 2009 short film, People That do Something, is based upon a chapter from Overlay and can be viewed at www.marlaynaglynnbrown.com and Youtube. 

My promotional representation company, mgbrepresents, allows me to assist other authors, photographers, artists, musicians and creative spirits in exploring the best ways  to communicate their personal experiences to humanity.  We are each on our own journey and no two journeys are identical.  Doesn't that absolutely fascinate you?  Learn more at www.mgbrepresents.com.



Find her amazing books at Amazon.com
                                      City of Angels
                                      Overlay

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