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Author: James V. O'Connor

ISBN: 978-0-61551652-3

Publisher: Post Mortem Press

Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, James V. O'Connor author of Another Man's Treasure: A Search for hidden riches and lasting love and Cuss Control, The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing.

Good day James and thanks for participating in our interview

Norm:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, how did you get started in writing and what keeps you going?

James:

I’ve wanted to write books since I was in college, but work, family and life got in the way. I wrote my first book, CUSS CONTROL, when the kids were grown and I had my own public relations firm with a flexible schedule. What keeps me going to the pleasure of writing, creating, and communicating.

Norm:

As Another Man's Treasure: A Search for hidden riches and lasting love is your first work of fiction, how was the writing process different from your first non-fiction book, Cuss Control, The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursin

James:

I thought writing a novel would be easier because you just make stuff up, but it was more difficult than my first book. You have to make every character and every scene interesting. Every sentence is important.

Norm:

Do you believe you have already found “your voice” or is that something one is always searching for?

James:

I’ve always had trouble understand the concept of voice, but I assume I have one. It includes wit and subtle humor. Without it, no one would have read my book about swearing.

Norm:

Do you share drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

James:

I was very confident with my writing in CUSS CONTROL. My publisher changed less than 25 words. I had several people read the drafts of my novel, and was able to distinguish their good advice from the not-so-good. Their good advice was critical. The publisher of Another Man’s Treasure didn’t change anything.

Norm:

What are the preponderant influences on your writing?

James:

I’m not sure. I have no favorite writers. I prefer short chapters and dialogue over long descriptive narrative in novels, so that’s the way I write.

Norm:

Why did you decide to create two plots in Another Man's Treasure and did you find it difficult to connect them? Why was the book set in Albany, New York? Did you know the end of your book at the beginning?

James:

I intended for the search for riches hidden in a decaying Victorian mansion to be the primary plot, added a romance to appeal to women readers, but personally got caught up in the romance. Combining the two story lines in the middle of the book was easy and was one of the twists to the story. I developed the surprise endings of both story lines, and build the rest of the book from there. I did not want the story to take place in my hometown of Chicago, and I love the Hudson Valley area. I needed a city to size of Albany—big, but small enough for the characters to run into each other.

Norm:

How did you go about creating the characters in Another Man's Treasure and is there much of you in Ted McCormick?

James:

I tried hard not to make Ted appear to be me, but he is a composite of who I am and who I would like to be. The vivacious and flirtatious personality of the divorcee hoping to seduce Ted is based on a woman I knew years ago. The scavenger, a minor character, is modeled precisely after an amazing man I knew in the seventies. The other characters just came to me.

Norm:

In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point. But how much is too much?

James:

I was a bit concerned about that. Ted is a man of character and integrity, but I made sure he wasn’t too righteous. I did take the liberty of having him do one thing out of character just to get him in trouble, but such liberties are often necessary to add conflict and tension.

Norm:

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

James:

Absolutely nothing. I love it the way it is.

Norm:

I noticed on reading your bio that your first book Cuss Control was a media sensation and that you appeared on more than 100 TV shows including Oprah. How did you manage to achieve such success and what will you be doing for promotion for Another Man's Treasure?

James:

The media went nuts over CUSS CONTROL because a self-help book on how to stop or reduce your use of profanity was unique and addressed a common issue that everyone has an opinion on. Still, much of the media coverage was initiated by me and my wife as publicists. Novels are more difficult to promote, but we are using many tactics.

Norm:

Where can our readers find out more about you and your books?

James:

On my official WEBSITE.    Also on www.cusscontrol.com and www.anothermanstreasurebook.com

Norm:

What is next for James V. O'Connor?

James:

I have ideas for another novel, but I’m going to see how well this one does.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to share with our readers?

James:

Yes. If you want to write a book, write for the pleasure of writing and conveying messages and for the thrill of accomplishing it. Don’t write a book with the goal of making lots of money. You will probably be disappointed.

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors

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