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An Interview With Christine Hohlbaum

Tell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you?

I am an American writer living near Munich, Germany. It is my goal to bridge the gap between worlds through words.

What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?)

I run a PR consultancy for authors under the name PR Diva Queen. My CD-Rom, "The Author's Companion: A Self-Guided Course on Book Promotion", is a turn-key marketing program I developed after experiencing great PR success with my books. I am married with two children.

What is your favourite food?

Chocolate croissants (is that really a food?)

What is your favourite colour?

Red

What is your favourite sound?

The laughter of children

Who is your favourite person?

I had a lot of favorite people. I'd have to say my sister.

What is your favourite place?

Chicago

What is your favourite memory?

The day my first child was born

What is your favourite article of clothing?

My jammies

What is your favourite word?

love

What is your favourite writers' quote and why?

"Not fare well, but fare forward, voyagers." T.S. Eliot

He was just so smart. His writing is delicious.

What is your most favourite quality about yourself?

I am passionate. I really like that.

What is the least favourite quality about yourself?

I am impatient. Goes with the territory, but it's hard to handle sometimes.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

The farm where I grew up. I miss it.

What inspires you to write and why?

I am a Gemini, and I swear to you that my "twin" is a muse which resides by my side. She is plugged into the divine. When she gives me a nudge, I listen. It's as simple as that.

What is your favourite book and why?

As a lover of books, I would find it hard to tell you just one favorite. "The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen sustained my attention for over 800 pages. His writing is masterful. It made me weep.

What is your favourite genre and why?

I love historical fiction. It feels real, yet you know it is a story. You can delve into a world that is both imagined and real.

List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why?

Toni Morrison -- that woman's got power
Ken Follett -- his fiction lives on in me
Andre Dubus -- his words are hauntingly beautiful, his own story a tragedy

What do you think makes a writer successful?

You've got to know what people really want. You need to be brash and abashedly honest. You need to dig down into the dawgone dirty and tell it straight from the heart. If you captivate people with your prose, you can be wildly successful.

Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer?

People tell me time and again,

"It was like I was really there. You made these characters, this story, this scene incredibly real. I learned to hate that mean mother-in-law and cherish your protagonist."

You want people to care about the characters you create. I think my readers do that. There is always an underlying message, a subtext which is reflected in a side phrase or a word choice. You don't want to be too obvious and tell people what you mean. Show them. Then they will love your writing.

What are your goals as a writer?

I want to publish my finished novel, complete another one and write another non-fiction book. I'm looking at a timeline of 15 months.

What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers?

Be open to peer critique. It is astoundingly refreshing to hear how your writing occurs to other people. Be open to learning, improving your craft, and never, ever give up.

What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing?

Entertainment and enlightenment. I want to add to their lives through my words.

List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS).

www.AbsoluteWrite.com -- the writing is smart and resources helpful
www.WritersGazette.com -- Kristen is adorable!
www.poynter.org -- the journalists there have integrity, and offer great information

If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse).

"Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff" (ISBN: 0595280404, iUniverse, 2003) was my first book. It is still selling pretty well, and by promoting this book, I built a strong platform as a mom expert. It is available at Barnes & Noble and at all online booksellers.

"SAHM I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe" (ISBN: 1932279148, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2005) is the sequel to "Diary of a Mother". The publisher actually came to me after reading "Diary of a Mother"! It is available at every bookstore (even in Munich!) and online.

"The Author's Companion: A Self-Guided Course on Book Promotion" (2005) The CD-Rom is available via Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing or amazon.

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

"Diary of a Mother" -- 18 months
"SAHM I Am" -- 4 months
"The Author's Companion" -- 12 months

What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience?

I would gather endorsements 6 months ahead of the pub date. I would also build a marketing plan way ahead of time. I learned with SAHM I Am that lead times vary depending on the media outlet.

What have you learned about the publishing world?

It can be very harsh, and that marketability is valued over good writing.

This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them?

Thank you for your support, your interest, and your generosity. I truly appreciate each person who writes me a note. Thank you all!!

What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing?

It is something I love to do. To move someone with my words is powerful, and I am so grateful to have the ability to share myself in this way.

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