Book Blog Tour: Guest Post and interview with author, Bill Rosencrans

Author Interviews

13 May

Today on The Australian Bookshelf we have author Bill Rosencrans on tour with Diversion Press. He is promoting his novel, Dakota: A Work In Progress. Welcome Bill!

I COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED THAT THE AUSTRALIAN BOOKSHELF HAS DECIDED TO HOST MY BOOK, DAKOTA: A WORK IN PROGRESS ON THE FIRST DAKOTA: A WORK IN PROGRESS BLOG TOUR ON MAY 12TH, 2011. JOIN IN ON THE FUN. I WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. YOU MAY REACH ME AT DAKOTATHEBOOK@GMAIL.COM OR AT WROSENCR@NYCAP.RR.COM

ABOUT ME [DSC00097.JPG] Dakota: A Work in Progress is a very funny book about the world's most neurotic dog and it is appropriate for all ages. You will be laughing out loud as you read each short story about this one of a kind golden retriever named Dakota. Stanley Coren - author of How Dogs Think and The Intelligence of Dogs wrote Dakota: A Work in Progress is a cheerful and amusing romp through the life of a manic but sweet and endearing dog. If you love dogs and need a smile this book is for you. Sonny Brewer - author of Cormac, The Tale of a Dog Gone Missing wrote - Bill Rosencrans' book about his wonder dog Dakota is a long love letter, really. It's a treat for the rest of us that we get to read of Dakota's doings over Bill's shoulder, reminded on every page why we ourselves love our own doggies. This book has been published by Diversion Press and you can order it through any bookstore. The price is $14.95. To purchase, click here.

Interview with Bill Rosencrans

Thank you Bill for stopping by my blog to guest post and answer some questions.Could you please sum up Dakota in 5 words? Always in trouble but lovable.What inspired you to write Dakota’s story? This is a book that wasn’t meant to be a book. From day one, I could see that Dakota was not your average dog. Not by a long shot, and so I began jotting down all of those things that he was doing that left me laughing out loud – those things that were too good to forget. I knew that in time those memories would begin to fade, and I didn’t want that to happen, so I began taking notes. Those notes to myself became essays, and when I showed what I had to my wife Rita, she was laughing out loud and said to me “This should be a book.”I have an adorable and mischievous cocker spaniel and I often jot down his antics. Do you have any recommendations for dog lovers like me who would like to see their pet stories in print? Yes, pursue it by all means. Those type of books are so much fun to read, and the adults enjoy reading these stories as much as the children do. The response I got from Dakota’s book (which is being sold all over the world) was overwhelming. Below is an e-mail I received.>>> Lynnette Pannucci 2/6/2009 11:14 AM >>> I have to tell you about some good friends of ours who received "Dakota" from us for Christmas. Kathy, the wife, started reading the book before Jon, the husband. They have always had "Dakota" kinds of dogs during their 30+ year marriage. All of their children are now out of the house working or at college. Recently they adopted a very young, frisky, and "not so bright" female named Quinna. Well, when Jon returned from work one night Kathy read a chapter out loud to him. He laughed out loud and asked Kathy to read another chapter. And that's how they read the whole book. Kathy read it aloud to Jon while he had Quinna on his lap - a couple chapters each night. We got the funniest thank you card describing the entire process. They described every detail - including getting Quiinna into her "coat" to go outside for a "potty break" during one of the chapters. Another couple we gave the book to have a 13 year old special needs daughter (their youngest) and after reading the book themselves, they read the book to her aloud. Now she has been trying to read it aloud to them. Because Dakota is "just like" their dog, Sasha, Nathalie's interest level has been so high her ability to read the book has been remarkable. Everyone has truly enjoyed their experience with the book! Not to mention that I have been given great accolades for being the best gift giver ever!! It will certainly be hard to maintain that reputation, unless of course book 2 comes out for the next holiday season.Tell me what it was like to publish your novel.Dakota: A Work in Progress, is not a novel, but a collection of funny short stories or essays about the life I share with Dakota, that are 1-4 pages in length. This book was published by Diversion Press Inc. It was a lot of fun having this book published, and going to all of the book signings and getting to meet everyone. They were mostly dog lovers that had stories to tell me about their dog’s antics, which was always fun to hear. It was always a good time. There were also people there that weren’t necessarily dog lovers that have read Dakota’s book and loved it. I think it might have something to do with the way in which each story is told. I constantly have people asking me when Dakota’s next book is coming out.How is Dakota coping with his celebrity status? He loves all of the attention that he gets from everyone on a daily basis. All of the dogs love him too, and they all want to come here to play with him because he’s such a nut and never stops getting into trouble. He also has his own swimming pool in the backyard that he shares with them when they come over. He is a celebrity. I have tons of new friends now thanks to Dakota. He knows everybody, and everybody knows him.What authors most inspire you? Mostly southern writers. Sonny Brewer (The Widow and the Tree) Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees) Peter Matthiessen (Shadow Country) David James Duncan (The River Why) and the list goes on and on. I love great description, and the clever use of metaphors.What book are you currently reading? Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen.What’s next for you? I am in the process of rewriting Dakota: Still a Work in Progress. Once I am through with that, I will go back to converting my screenplays into novels, which is where the serious writing comes into play. The first screenplay which I have converted into a novel is being published by Wild Child Publishing. It’s entitled St. Judy’s Comet. It is with their editors now. I don’t have a release date just yet. The style of writing that I used with that book, was quite a departure from the style of writing that I used when writing Dakota’s books. Dakota’s books are fun and easy to write.Is there anything else you would like to add? Yes. Read Dakota: A Work in Progress if you haven’t already. I promise you, you won’t regret it. It makes for a great gift book too.Thanks for taking your time to answer these questions Bill and good luck with the book blog tour!