Pump Up Your Book Chats with Paul Levine

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The author of 14 novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald fiction award and has been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity,International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. His critically acclaimed and bestselling “Jake Lassiter” novels have been published in 21 countries. The first of the series, “To Speak for the Dead,” was named one of the top ten thrillers of the year by the Los Angeles Times, and is now a bestselling e–book. A former trial lawyer, he wrote more than 20 episodes of the CBS military drama “JAG” and co-created “First Monday,” starring James Garner and Joe Mantegna. He is also the author of the “Solomon vs. Lord” series and the thriller “Illegal.”

His next novel will be “Lassiter,” due in Fall 2011 from Bantam. http://www.paul-levine.com

On “Flesh & Bones”

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

I became fascinated with the subject of “repressed memories” after reading about a California man convicted of killing a child 20 years earlier based on his own daughter’s recovery of lost memories. (The conviction was later overturned…after he’d spent several years in prison). I researched the psychiatric and medical issues and came up with a murder plot I thought was both plausible and entertaining.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

For me, the hardest part is the planning. That means outlining the story in the 3 act structure handed down to us from Aristotle. Exposition, Complication, Resolution. After doing a tight, organized outline, the writing is easy. Okay, not easy. But easier than concocting the story.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

I like to think all of my books have themes, but I’m reluctant to state them. Each reader should draw from the book his or her own lessons. But it’s safe to say that I frequently write about the hellish consequences of greed and lust.

On Writing

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I was sitting on a beach in Maui, having been injured windsurfing. I had a yellow pad and ballpoint pen and started writing the first Jake Lassiter book in longhand. (I like the term “writing bug” because it sounds like Lyme disease, and I always thought the itch-to-write was an illness).

Q: What’s the most frustrating thing about becoming a published author and what’s the most rewarding?

Just ONE frustrating thing!? Frustrations come in many sizes. There’s the feeling that comes with not getting the story right. Or the scene right. Or one key line of dialogue right. There are the frustrations of the marketplace, too many to describe! Most rewarding: having a readers say how much they enjoyed the book.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Plant your butt in the chair.

On Family and Home:

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

I grew up in Pennsylvania, went to Penn State, then worked for The Miami Herald as a reporter. I went to the University of Miami Law School and practiced law in South Florida for 17 years. For the past dozen years, I’ve lived in the hills above Studio City, CA where rattlesnakes roam…and I don’t mean Hollywood agents. I worked a few years in network television, writing for “JAG,” the military show on CBS.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

My study is the bottom floor of my house, which is set into the side of a hill. It’s a long, narrow room, 14 feet by 65 feet long. Sort of a bowling alley. I pace a lot.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

Drink tequila, straight. Clase Azul, if you’re buying.

On Childhood:

Q: Were you the kind of child who always had a book in her/his hand?

I grew up in a very small town with a miniature library and no bookstores. Every couple weeks, the blue Bookmobile would come to town. I can still remember the smell of books mixed with gasoline. Yep, I was a regular.

Q: Can you remember your favorite book?

I was very young when I read James A. Michener’s “The Fires of Spring.” Much later, I would learn he didn’t publish his first book, “Tales of the South Pacific,” until he was 40. Guess what. I sold ny first novel, “To Speak for the Dead,” when I was 40.

Q: Do you remember writing stories when you were a child?

I did write stories. At the time, I thought all kids did.

On Book Promotion:

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

If you mean “Flesh & Bones,” the book was originally published in hardcover in 1997. When I put it on Kindle and Nook, I started promoting on Facebook and Linked In.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

See above answer.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

From real tours that are now prohibitively expensive to virtual tours.

On Other Fun Stuff:

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

One is not enough.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

If there were such a place, I’d be there.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

The gangster who extorted the Pulitzer committee.

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"THANK YOU for all of these graphics!!! That was a valuable added perk of working with you on the VBT! Thank you for all the work you put into those, and into the organization and follow-ups on the tour itself. It's been a pleasure working with you, Dorothy!"Allyson Rice, The Key to Circus-Mom Highway

"Oh, awesome!! Thank you so much! You ran such a lovely tour. Those images are great, I look forward to using them and will miss seeing the regular postings on Twitter ;-).
I really appreciate your steadfast and ongoing support. It means a lot!!"Palmer Pickering, MOON DEEDS

"Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you again for the amazing blog tour and to tell you that we will be adding the tour to Mark's author website in the next few days. We will of course be recommending your company to other authors we know. And when Mark's next book is out, we will use your services again." Kirsten Grenside on behalf of Mark Grenside, FALL OUT

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Maria Andrade, DEFIANCE AND REDEMPTION

"Everyone did an excellent job. The blog pages were beautiful, and the trailer was so clever and funny. Thanks for sending these lovely "souvenirs" from my tour. I will be able to use all of these posts on Twitter. I enjoyed this so much and look forward to my next tour!"
Irene Woodbury, HONEYMOON ROULETTE

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Arabella Sheraton, THE LORD BLACKWOOD REGENCY ROMANCE SERIES

"Thank you so much for The Shadow of Atlantis tour. I've really enjoyed all the posts and seeing my book being promoted. I will definitely come back to you with another of my titles!"
Wendy Leighton-Porter, THE SHADOW OF ATLANTIS

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M.B. Lewis, THE PILATE SCROLL

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Kathleen Shaputis, HIS KILT DROPPED HERE

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Joni Ankerson, TO KILL OR BE KILLED

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Aiken Brown, SON OF A SOLDIER

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Laura Preble, ANNA INCOGNITO

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Lena Gregory, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES

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Jennifer Chase, FLOWERS ON HER GRAVE

"This has been one of the best things I’ve done as an author. Not only am I getting the word out about my books but I’m learning about my own work and my readers along the way. I love it!"
Elysia Strife, A PROMISE IN ASH

"Today my blog tour ended, with another great review which made me end the tour with a big smile! What a fun way to end this incredible 4-week tour. I will surely miss it. I want to thank you for arranging it so well and for being there for me whenever I needed. Thank you!!!"

Miri Leshem-Pelly, SCRIBBLE & AUTHOR

"I think you did an excellent job last time, thank you!"
Shami Stovall, KNIGHTMARE ARCANIST

"Just wanted to thank you for the book tour. :) You did a great job. :)"
Suzanne M. Hurley, THE TEDDY BEAR EYE CLUB

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Sharon House, BRIMSTONE AND WATER

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Christine Donovan, BLACKJACK

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Michael Allan Scott, GREY DAZE

"Just wanted to thank you for putting together a great tour for You Won't Remember This. I think the author was pleasantly surprised and overall very pleased."
Bacon Press Books

"Dorothy, thanks so much for another great VBT!!! The Twitter-Party was a new feature this time that I particularly enjoyed. I will continue to recommend PUYB to my writer-friends, because you are simply the best!!!"
T.M. Wallace, WINTERGARDEN

"Thank you for a great blog tour for my “Depression and Your Child.”
I’m in the middle of my third book and will definitely call on you again when it’s time to market it."
Deborah Serani, DEPRESSION AND YOUR CHILD

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Ashley Fontainne, GROWL

"Thanks for a very good experience with Pump Up Your Book. Fighter Pilot's Daughter has sold out of the first printing (still available as POD on Rowman & Littlefield's site, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.). My editor at R & L says there's a very good chance the book will come out in paperback in the summer. He asked me "Did you hire a publicist or something?" I told him about you, and he was impressed."
Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Lee Papa, TEMPLE OF ALL KNOWING

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Madeline Wynn, DAUGHTER OF THE FALLEN

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Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Lauren Carr, Best-Selling Mystery Author of Mac Faraday, and Lovers in Crime, Mysteries

"Thank you again for all of your help and support for my recent book tour. You were so supportive and responsive, and I enjoyed working with you. It was a great tour and I really enjoyed it, especially when my book hit the top 100 in the two subcategories! That was awesome! Thanks for "pumping up my book!""
Monique Roy, ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES

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Kaylin McFarren, BURIED THREADS

"Thank you for a great virtual book tour. I thought it went really well and it was great to have a wave of PR that flowed through the two month period of my book release. I'm working on my next book - and will definitely reach out to you when it comes time to market! You were a delight to work with and really made me feel looked after. As I've mentioned before, I just don't know how you do it all."
--Deborah Serani, DEPRESSION AND YOUR CHILD

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--R.K. Avery, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

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--Lila Munro, LOVE VINDICATED

"Thank you so much for all your hard work in putting together the virtual book tour for The Sixth Power. I appreciate it so much."
--Carol Nicolas, THE SIXTH POWER

"Thank you SO MUCH for such a great blog tour!"
--Sandra D. Bricker, ALWAYS THE BAKER, FINALLY THE BRIDE

"Wow - you are absolutely fantastic. Can't believe how lucky I was to find you :)"
--Jo Sparkes, THE BIRR ELIXIR

"I just wanted to let you know that tonight Steven Manchester's Twelve Months became The Story Plant's first #1 Kindle bestseller. This couldn't have happened without you. Barb's cover is an absolute showstopper, Sue's copyediting boosted the overall work, Jackie's proofreading kept all of us honest, and Tracee Gleichner's blog tour started what has become an avalanche of great reviews."
-- Lou Aronica, STORY PLANT

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-- Alicia Singleton, DARK SIDE OF VALOR

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-- Suzanne Jenkins, PAM OF BABYLON SERIES

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--Kathy Holmes Eckardt, REAL WOMEN WEAR RED

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–Vincent Zandri, MOONLIGHT FALLS and THE REMAINS

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–-World Ahead Media

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--Phyllis Zimbler Miller, MRS: LIEUTENANT

"I used Pump Up Your Book promotions a few months ago for my novel, Nephilim. My publisher is a great person, but when it comes to promotions, she encourages authors to do that on their own. Enter Dorothy Thompson at Pump Up Your Book. I had 8 reviews of the book and was featured as a guest author every day of the week at various websites during the month that I used her company. Amazing! She secured everything for me which was really nice and I didn't have to do anything but write a few blogs or answer interview questions. I would use Pump Up Your Book again in a heart beat!"
--Mary Ann Loesch, NEPHILIM

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach