Quirky? Yep!

Interview with Bridget Straub

I'm so intrigued by Bridget Straub's characters. Read on and you'll be too.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I have a very vivid imagination that helps to pass the quieter times of my day and I love to draw and paint, although that is clearly not my expertise. I have three beautiful children, and live in Los Angeles where great weather and inspiration abound.

What genre do you write in?

I write in the here and now. I guess it could be called contemporary fiction or chick lit, or even women’s fiction, but I find those to be limiting terms. I mean guys have read my books and found themselves caught up in the stories just the same as women, and chick lit sounds like fluff to me.

Do your books have a central theme?

Overall, I think they do. Family is a strong subject, as is the struggle to make sense of the relationships and situations we find ourselves in. I try to tap into the humor that exists even when things seem bleak because I think our sanity is maintained in those funny moments.

What books have you published?

“Searching for My Wand”   Glenda was named (incorrectly) after Glinda the Good Witch and therefore, subconsciously, has spent her entire life trying to live up to the reputation of a fictional character.

 “On a Hot August Afternoon”   Stacey is an artist with a rock star husband, Pete, whom she loves with all of her heart. With two young children, and the financial security to pursue her career only when it suits her to do so, she and the kids are about to join her in-laws at the family compound in beautiful South Lake Tahoe for her sister in-law’s wedding. There, she’ll be reunited with Pete, who has been out on the road with his band for several weeks. However, she is blindsided when she goes to her mailbox and discovers an envelope of photographs, explicit photographs of her husband and another woman. Suddenly, she’s left questioning everything she thought she knew about the man she never meant to fall in love with.

Have you published traditionally or are you self-published?

I have chosen to self-publish. I considered going the traditional route, but after much research concluded that with the amount of material I have, this was the way to get my work seen sooner rather than later.

What has been the biggest challenge in self-publishing?

Without a doubt it has been marketing. I have been blessed with really great reviews, but getting the word out when you have little to no budget has been difficult. It requires hours and hours of work and a fair amount of patience. Patience is not something that comes easily to me.

What is next for you?

I am in the process of preparing my next novel, “The Salacious Marny Ottwiler” for publication, and I am also trying to come up with the best way to raise funds to mount a production of my musical “Room to Grow”.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t be discouraged by the current state of the publishing industry. It takes a relentless determination to get published regardless of which route you take, but the rewards can be exhilarating.

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In a House Full of Women

It's 

How To Get Balanced Thursday

 Today's guest is author, Bridget Straub

Finding balance in a house full of women is not always easy, especially as I am the menopausal mom of two teenage daughters. Okay, to be honest my youngest is only twelve, but she is right on the cusp and a performing arts student besides, so I think it’s safe to say she’s teenage by association. I love my girls dearly, and yet I am a writer, working from home, trying desperately to gather an audience for my first published novel, “Searching for My Wand”. You would think that at this age, my girls would understand and respect this. They do not.

I remember way back when I had my son, now (gulp) twenty six, someone said, “You think they need you most when they are little and unable to fend for themselves, but just wait until they reach middle school, because that is when they will need you the most.” I had no clue how true that was until now.  When my son hit adolescence and was turning into a teen, I was having two more kids. I assumed any neediness on his part was as a result of that. He did, and still does, adore his little sisters, but it seemed a no-brainer that he would fight for attention with all of the changes taking place.  

This time it’s different. There are no new siblings these girls are adjusting to; they just want my full attention to be on them at all times. This is not to say that they are horribly demanding, either. As kids go, I have been lucky. They are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves for substantial periods of time, just so long as I don’t try to accomplish anything. It is downright freaky how my beginning to type a post for my blog, or researching some new marketing strategy, can send them running into my room. Often it is to complain that they are hungry and they need me to review for them what is available to eat, because God forbid they look for themselves. Occasionally, I’m forced into the role of referee when they are battling over the TV, but more often than not they are just coming in for some love or to review what has happened at school, and this is where the problem is. I can’t send them away.

I want to know what is happening with them; I’m their mother. Likewise, I love that they still climb into my lap and want to connect with me, and that they find comfort in my arms. They are my joy and my inspiration, as well as the reason I work as hard as I do. Sure, I want my writing to sell because it is thrilling to create characters that others relate to, but I also want to show my children that you can follow your dreams. I want them to grow up to feel passionate about whatever they choose to pursue in life. So balance is elusive in my house. I write whenever I can, and mostly when my girls are at school. At times it’s frustrating, but in the end I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Bridget Straub began concocting stories to entertain her younger sister when she was seven years old, and hasn’t stopped since. When she’s not writing, doodling, or hanging out with her kids, she’s probably cursing at her computer. Her first novel “Searching for My Wand” was published in Dec. 2011. Her next novel will be released in spring 2012. She has also collaborated with Laura Hall on the musical “Room to Grow”.