Pump Up Your Book Chats with Tom Weston

Originally from England, Tom Weston now resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Before becoming the full-time author of the Alex and Jackie Adventures, Tom headed a systems consulting company. His other works include non-fiction books, screenplays and audio/video. For further information, visit him at his web site, http://www.tom-weston.com. Thank you for this interview, Tom.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece?

Some small pieces, parodies of classics, just for my own entertainment. My first publications came from the business side, before I became a full time writer. My work in consulting required me to write: articles, speeches, then business books, but then I made this leap of faith from non-fiction to fiction with the Alex and Jackie Adventures.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Proof reading my own work is definitely my least favorite task. I’d like to make this distinction between proof reading and editing, because the editing process is a distinctly creative and rewarding part of the process. But proof reading has me pulling out my hair. In my previous life as a systems consultant, when we were acceptance testing new systems, the common understanding was that for every bug we found there were 6 more waiting to be discovered. That’s how it is with proofing – just when I think I’ve got them all, I open the book to a random page and discover another error. On the other hand, the biggest joy has been the feedback and support I’ve received from the readers. When someone takes the time to tell me that they enjoyed the work, and especially when they tell me that they felt the emotional response that I was trying to elicit, then I tend to run about the room, punching the air in victory.

The Elf of Luxembourg by Tom Weston (click on cover to purchase)

I’m married and I couldn’t do what I’m doing without my wife’s support. Before I turned to writing, I ran a business. My wife supported me in that too. So for us there is no distinction between doing this and what I did previously; my objectives may have changed, but we still approach it in a business-like fashion. It also helps to understand the difference between support and advocacy. We both have jobs to do. I can support her in her job with feeling that I need to comment on every aspect of it. And the feeling is mutual. There are pieces I’ve written that she has liked, there are pieces she didn’t care for, there are pieces she hasn’t even read, but I feel no pressure to push my work or defend it to her. So like most married couples, we’ll talk about what we did today, what issues came up, what we achieved.  Sometimes we’ll say, ‘well I would have done it differently,’ and sometimes I’ll even agree with her and change a piece of text, but mostly we have a non-interference pact.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?  Where do you like to vacation?  Can you tell us briefly about this?

There are some things I do, golf is one of them, but I wouldn’t say that they are any more fun than what I do for a living. You don’t get many golfers say that they’d rather be in the office than on the course, but that’s how I feel about it. If I’m required to take a break, it’s usually less fun, not more. I don’t think I distinguish between life, work and vacation anymore. When I’m not actually sitting down at the desk and writing, I’m researching, or thinking of plot line or dialogue. When I visit other cities, even on vacation, I’m looking at how such and such a place would feature in a story. So in this respect, the line between life, work, vacation and fun is non-existent.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

Well today, I’m here in Boston, so I won’t say that, in spite of the love for it I shared with the world in First Night. I’ve spent the better part of the past year writing and talking about Luxembourg, and fond memories keep surfacing. So it will be there. It will be dinner time. I can see my wife and me at our favorite table in l’Accadamie, with a glass of St. Emillion, and Cosmi just about to tempt me to try the Lapin (rabbit). Of course, an hour will not be enough time.

Who is your biggest fan?

This is a tougher question that you could imagine – I have some really enthusiastic supporters, who purchase the books by the case load and hand them to all their friends. There are others who are equally enthusiastic with their correspondence and praise. We’ve already mentioned that my wife is my biggest supporter, but doesn’t necessarily make her my biggest fan. If we define my biggest fan as the one I write for, then that would be me.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I have an office with a big window overlooking the street, so I can see people pass by. It may seem distracting, but I can’t get the creative juices flowing in an isolated environment, I’m too busy wondering what is happening in the outside world.

Do you have any pets?

No. Given the lives that we lead, my wife and I are on the road a great deal, it would be a logistical nightmare to have a pet. And it wouldn’t be fair on them to keep leaving them behind.

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

I use chapter headings in the Alex and Jackie novels. In each book, there is a chapter heading which is taken from a song title by one of my favorite artists.

What’s on your to do list today?

First I will be completing some assignments for my upcoming virtual tour. Then, I’ll be reviewing some set design for an animation that we are producing, called There be Monsters! This is from a story of the same name that I wrote for my last virtual tour. I have a new short story that I wrote for this tour. It’s become a tradition. I end the day by making dinner – Today, it will be Shrimp Alfredo.

Now I’ve got a couple of fun questions for you.  If Tom Hanks, in the movie Cast Away, unearthed a copy of your book, how would that help him find a way off the island?

Well, he could build a Paper Mache raft, but I think it would be too small for both him and Wilson, or perhaps he could burn it to signal to a passing rescue ship. On a less practical note, if he tried to learn something by reading the book, he would find that, when compared to the years, centuries and millennium that I make my characters endure in The Elf of Luxembourg, the time he has spent on the island is relatively short. It may not help him get off the island, but it would help to keep him sane.

You have a chance to appear on the hit talent show for authors, American Book Idol, with judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi and the newest addition, Ellen DeGeneres, to determine whether your book will make it to Hollywood and become a big screenplay where you’d make millions of dollars.  What would impress them more – your book cover, an excerpt or your author photo – and why?

God forbid that it be the photo – I am the least photogenic person I know. And you can’t judge a book by its cover. That would leave an excerpt. One chance to impress the Judges is what people on the show get anyway. The following excerpt is from Chapter 7, King of the Mountain. The date is 1597, the place is South America. The great King of the Aroimaia, Topiawari, is talking to Sir Walter Raleigh’s Captain, Francis Sparrey: “Raleigh tells me fanciful tales of a great and magical queen who sits on a golden throne,” laughed Topiawari. “I don’t believe a word of it. The Aromaia have an old saying, ‘trust, but verify.’ I have sent my son, Cayworaco, to be my eyes. The Spanish tortured me for information. A man being tortured will tell the stories he thinks his captors wish to hear. Raleigh on the other hand requires no torture to spin his tales. He just needs an audience.” “It is an internal torture,” replied Sparrey. “The good Knight is his own inquisitor.” “And so he believes his own stories! As do you, my friend. I tell you, settle down with a good woman or two; you’ll be happier for it.” “But I won’t be any richer for it.” “The English play as children,” complained Topiawari. “When will their queen send some adults?”

You just got word that your book has received the 2010 NY Times Bestselling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony to give an acceptance speech.  Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom.  What would you say and who would you thank?

I would use the opportunity to educate the world about the terrible plight of the California blonde, and call upon the Government to add them to the endangered species list, and to protect their natural habitat. And I have way too many people to thank; we would still be there when the 2011 ceremony started. If anyone could invent a device which, no matter who I was actually thanking, automatically inserted the name of the listener, it would be a great help. But I’d save my best thanks for last – for my wife, Leigh.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in May via a virtual book tour.  Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

I did this last year with the first Alex and Jackie book, First Night. Then I did it because I wanted to get as much exposure for me and the book as possible, and that is equally true of The Elf of Luxembourg. But in addition to this, and an equally valid reason for the tour this time, is the interaction and correspondence with fans and others that resulted from that tour. I think that is something that a regular book tour doesn’t provide. There, the dialogue with a reader ends with the exchange; here the exchange can be just the beginning.

Thank you for this interview, Tom. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you for hosting me.

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