Interview with authors Lillian and DaveBrummet

Recently, BookHookup sat down to interview authors (and entrepreneurs), Lillian and Dave Brummet. They are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes Dave’s music studio and percussion repair services, numerous award-winning non-fiction books, a YouTube channel and 2 popular blogs. Here's what they had to say:

 

Author Interview: Lillian & Dave Brummet

BookHookup: How many books or short stories have you written?

Lillian: I've only written a couple non-fiction short stories, numerous non-fiction articles, both product and book reviews, and a total of 7 published books, if you count an e-book (Jump Start For Writers) that no longer exists. Currently we have a 2-book series on green living (Trash Talk), 2 books of poetry (Towards Understanding; Rhythm & Rhyme) and there's marketing advice for writers (Purple Snowflake Marketing). Our most recent release is a cookbook: From One Small Garden that, as you might derive from the name, focuses on recipes that help people take advantage of garden harvests and reduce food waste.

BH: Where do you find sources for your research?

Dave: I do most of my learning online, for instance when it comes to understanding a new program for vector graphics I will comb YouTube for tutorial videos. Somewhere online there is a video explaining everything you need – and more usually. I would never have attempted repairs to household appliances or automobiles if I didn't have access to tutorial videos. Learning how to do things yourself can save you a bunch of money as an entrepreneur too. However it also means that you have to be able to learn, have the patience and then actually apply that new skill. Not as easy as it sounds, believe me.

 

BH: What do you do when you are not writing?

D: I play drums in a rock band when ever possible. I also teach both drum kit and hand drum lessons. I have an active repair shop in which I build, fix and tune djembe drums (among others) and manufacture a few percussion accessories as well. I enjoy doing the graphic design work for all our marketing and that is a never-ending learning journey in itself, but certainly an enjoyable one.

 

 

BH: Who, or what, inspired you to pursue a career in writing?

L: The first writer I ever knew was my mother, who dabbled at the craft for a short time. Later, teachers would comment about my writing, truly moved by what I wrote. These were the earliest influences, slowly pointing me in this direction. Some of my poetry was published, then I won some writing awards... later I took some career evaluation tests and writing kept coming up as a career option. Dave's emotional support and strategic skills have been of great value; having that strength, someone to mull over challenges with, split the work with, and just share the experience in general. 

 

BH: What have you learned about while working with your spouse?

D: We do some of our best creative work when we are just discussing stuff together over a cup of coffee during a break. And, we always have a note pad to jot down the ideas that come bursting out because, sure enough, the best ideas are the ones that slip your memory if you don’t.

BH: Describe a typical writing day.

L: There is no real typical day for us; 2-3 days per month are dedicated to managing the blogs, about 16 hours are spent networking, advertising, sending out queries to media and following up on marketing opportunities every week, a few hours per week are spent managing social media. Any one day can also involve cleaning the office, workshop, studio... assisting Dave where I can. However, I'll share an example of a 'behind the scenes' look at one day: upon waking, we have breakfast and coffee and deal with the fur kids, get some house duties done, check emails/messenger/text messages for any important communications, and after a brief discussion about what each other's goals are for that day, split off in our different directions. I'm in the office responding to interview questions while Dave is in his office working on images and ad creations for our cookbook (From One Small Garden). After this interview, I plan to complete a few touchups to some articles we wrote last week. We always take a break to make lunch and clean up after. Depending on what Dave might need from me, I may take on the task of going through the emails etc. one more time, responding and dealing with what I can... or I might start some seeds for the garden and do some laundry. Perhaps I'll be dealing with garden harvests or taking an online course during the afternoon hours. 

 

BH: How do you manage social media, what social media have you used, which do you like to use the most and why?

D: I personally use Facebook for networking with specific groups and for general announcements, YouTube for posting video content and blogging for building a presence and sharing information with followers. Lillian is the one that handles the blogs and a majority of the social media and I am happy for that as she is very good at it and knows the ins and outs. She has a lot of relevant connections from over 20 years experience of promoting our business and books.

 

BH: How do you go about choosing a book title?

D: For me the title almost always comes near or at the end of the writing process. If ever I have had an idea of the title first it was usually changed by the time the book was done. A title for me has to explain the book’s purpose or intent in some way. I like it to be catchy and not too wordy. Like a good melody that you can easily whistle, a good title should be memorable, appropriate and roll off the tongue easily.

 

  

    BH: What is your contribution to society?

D: As a drum teacher I hope to help the next generation of drummers by passing on the knowledge of drums and percussion I have accumulated in my career. I run a program called Drum it Forward that I was inspired to create years ago. I go to the schools and offer my services as a drum doctor armed with all the spare parts I have amassed along the way and fix their gear. The schools don’t have the budget to pay for this and the poor teachers don’t necessarily have the time or knowledge, so I do it as a donation. All I ask is that if they have any spare parts or pieces laying around that they consider donating it to the cause to perpetuate the program.

 

BH: Tell us the process of creating the cover for your book.

D: From One Small Garden’s cover was a process that evolved over the years. By the time the final title was decided on the concept of what we wanted to portray was clear - How to cook with fresh produce. If you look at the front cover closely, in the background is an image of our actual garden ghosted out with dishes of prepared food in the foreground – from the garden to plate in a sense. The back cover concept is similar but with images of our freshly harvested produce in place of the food dishes. All from one small garden - is what we have lived for the past 30+ years as a life style and a health choice and we know it saves a bunch of money while having you eat like royalty. 

 

BH: How many (books) bookshelves do you have in your home?

L: A walking tour through our home and studio reveals 3 wall units upstairs, 4 shelves in the studio and 1 shelf in the kitchen - all of them filled with books. I'd guess at perhaps 6-dozen novels, and probably 8-dozen reference books ranging from photography, music, computer programs, gardening, writing and health.

 

BH: Why did you feel your cookbook needed to be written?

D: I think the times we are living in dictate a turn towards people growing more of their own food in their backyards. With this in mind and the fact that we have been doing exactly that for over 30 years we felt our collection of well-refined recipes could be very relevant and well received. We have had people showing keen interest ever since we started the project so many years ago. Another twist of the book is that it is not as meat-heavy as the average North American diet tends to be. As former vegetarians, we realized a compromise is all too possible. Like the Asian style of diet they have a small serving of protein with a lot of vegetables and rice or noodles. The typical North American plate has a big chunk of meat with a small portion of vegetables possibly. I always feel less energetic after a meal heavy in protein unless I have just been on a big hike or ride and have the need for that kind of portioning to replace what I burned off.

BH: What was your path to publication?

L: From One Small Garden started out as a collection of recipes we gathered from friends and family or created ourselves and over the years this developed into 2 binders filled with recipes. We decided to systematically go through them deciding on the best-of-the-best and organizing them for ourselves. It helped that at the time (1998), I had been in a car accident and was home to do this task. After we became writers and had been in the career for a few years, we decided that this collection needed to be published. That was some 18 years ago... and since then the manuscript has been worked on sporadically, set aside while we took on various life challenges, business and work projects, publishing 6 other books and renovated and landscaped 2 different homes we bought/sold. Finally in 2019, we again took up the task of completing the cookbook project, organizing for beta testers/readers, editing, book cover design, etc. and by early 2021 it was released.

 

BH: What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

D: The surprise was that the work only increases after your book is published. As a self-promoting team we have to do everything we can to get the book to the attention of the audience we wish to target. Of course this was different decades ago when you might have a publishing company involved in this, but the world of books has changed. Unless you are a big name you are going to be on your own for the most of it and it can be intense. You need to have a well thought out plan and stick to it in order to get noticed. Flexibility is the key – always be ready to adapt to what ever comes your way. It will keep you pliable and ready for anything.

BH: What is your proudest writer moment?

L: Our Trash Talk series is probably the project that I find the most pride in. Through this series we have influenced people all over the world to live more proactively, consciously saving money and reducing consumption of resources, while helping their own communities. My proudest moment came when the Recycling Council of British Columbia presented us with an award for "outstanding use of various media in on-going outreach work to reduce waste in our environment" and then we were recognized as Community Heroes by the LiveSmart BC program. Mere words cannot describe how it feels to hear from our former radio listeners, and our readers over the years... their stories of how we influenced them to become proactive and make a difference.

 

BH: What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

D: The learning of new software and web design has been a big challenge in my end of things. There is always something to learn in the realm of graphic design but it is a challenge I love to take on as it only increases my knowledge and ability to do all of our own promotional projects for all aspects of our business. 

BH: What is your writer life philosophy?

L: Find a problem that affects people's lives and the health of the planet, solve the problem and provide a step-by-step guide for others to follow. For me, the task of making that information palatable and enjoyable for the reader comes afterwards. Writing is a way for me to leave a positive legacy, to make a difference for others and to have a lasting impact on the environment.

BH: What is the wisest thing anyone has said to you?

D: My African friend and drum mentor David Thiaw once said to me: “Share the information I have given you with others to perpetuate the craft of drumming. Don’t keep it to your chest like a thing to be hoarded, but give it willingly and share it with anyone that will listen”. I take this approach with everything I write or teach my students. I founded my drum studio on the premise that absolutely everyone goes away with some tidbit of drum, percussion or music knowledge that was not known to them previously. 

BH: When starting a book project do you choose the title first, or does that come later?

D: Sometimes the title might be preconceived but usually by the time the manuscript is finished the title has gone through a few changes. It really depends on the market you are aiming to sell to and also what is relevant to the times. Often by the time you finish your book maybe someone else has used a title similar to yours so you might change it based on that.

 

BH: What impact do you hope this book will have on the reader?

L: I hope that people are able to reduce food waste and enjoy a more frugal menu plan that is filled with fresh, locally grown produce. From One Small Garden encourages the concept of growing food, even if it is just a few pots on the front step or a vine trellis with beans or cucumbers growing up it, blocking the sun on the deck. It encourages composting, and gives some tips for energy and water conservation. I hope that people are healthier and have found ways of extending their budget based on ideas we share in the book.

 

Visit the Brummets @: https://taplink.cc/brummet

-&- drop by their Amazon Author page @: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet

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Author interview with Jorah Kai

 

Book Hookup sat down with Jorah Kai recently, author of Amos the Amazing, for an author interview. His insights, life experiences, and writing advice make for an interesting read. Here is what he had to say: 

 

BH: When did you consider yourself a writer? The time you realized you had crossed the line from ‘want to be a writer’ to ‘I am a writer’.

JK: I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I was an avid reader as a child and remember writing stories at about 8-10 years old. I first published a short story at about 11 in middle school and got a lot of encouragement along the way. I wrote stories growing up and published short stories and poems in college. That said, I was not a published novelist until I moved to China, and actually, the catalyst was the beginning of the pandemic. I remember looking at a bookshelf full of printed drafts and binders of books in development and felt a creeping horror, similar to Hemingway’s musings in The Snows of Kilimanjaro when he realized he wouldn’t have the chance to write all the stories in his life he put off. 

Suddenly, I had to tell my story, and I started to blog about my pandemic. That became Kai’s Diary (The Invisible War), a book published in multiple countries, editions, and languages. I realized that the only difference between a book almost finished and a published book was my desire to take it seriously enough to put in the time and hard work to get it done. 

 

I promised to repeat the success of that 2020 book, and this, Amos the Amazing, is my next book and first (published) fictional novel in 2022. I’m proud of it and hope to keep writing like I’ve got a fire under my butt because, as the great stoic philosopher Seneca said, life is short, but if you use your time wisely, it’s long enough.

 

BH: Do you feel you have more than one voice in your writing?

JK: I definitely do. My life has been full of colorful experiences, so when I write nonfiction and my ongoing column, journalist work, etc., I never doubt my voice and can write and publish quite quickly. Novels are a different kettle of fish and take a lot more time to refine. Even in one book, Amos the Amazing, there are many voices of many characters, all containing a little of me, but I try to make them quite unique. 

My next books will push my boundaries in new directions because I don’t want to get typecast as one kind of writer. I always want to expand my voice and style, constantly improve and challenge myself to do something different with my work. That said, I will return to Amos, and I enjoy writing in a setting and developing it, but I have no rush to return. It’ll happen when it feels right [...] and I will take the time to do it right.

 

BH: What kept you writing while getting rejection letters or struggling with writer’s block?

JK: I have been fortunate because my first book happened organically. First, with a nationally and internationally syndicated column, I didn’t have to deal with the typical process of querying and rejecting. My agent offered the book to a major traditional publisher in China, and they said they wanted it off the bat. There were a few in Canada that were interested as well, but my last book was a Chinese story, so we wanted to give them the first crack at it. That doesn’t mean the process was easy, but I bypassed the years of rejection letters typical in this industry, and for that I do feel fortunate. 

With this second book, we also hit gold and got a very prestigious Chinese publisher to take on the book, and I hope it can be a big commercial success. Their last big science fiction novel (The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu) was the biggest Chinese sci-fi novel since the Qing dynasty- that’s about 150 years! And it’s been published in more than 30 countries and languages sold millions of copies and is currently developing both a Chinese movie series and a Western adaptation from the former showrunners of Game of Thrones and Netflix. So if they can find a little magick in my story and it can be a fraction as successful as their last big release, I’ll be over the moon. 

Seeing my work take on its own legs as a novel, as a story for others to enjoy, and then as an audiobook with a fantastic voice actor is so unique and rewarding. To see it on the big screen would be the thrill of a lifetime. By teaming up with a good friend, Garrett H. Jones, and using a boutique imprint, More Publishing, to get an English version out to market in 2022, I was able to amplify the stakes and improve the quality of the book that I gave to the Chinese publishers, and able to hold it in my hand, after years of world building and planning - what an incredible feeling! I’m so grateful.

 

Amos the Amazing audiobook preview

In terms of how to get over writer’s block - well - I think I had it for years when I didn’t take my writing seriously, I treated it as a part-time hobby, and that’s what it was until I realized how short my life is and that if I don’t do something now my life will pass me by, my writing was just that, a hobby. In the last two years, I’ve published two books and have plans for 20 more at least. Life is short, but I want to make the most of it! So I sit down and work every day. Some days it is hard, and I struggle to get 1000 words down; other days, it flows, and I can write 4 or 5000, but I aim for about 2000 words or one chapter a day when I’m drafting a new book - and I use outlines and plan well - and it seems to be working well for me. So much of the magic comes in the revision, working with talented editors who push me and my work farther, and just having the patience to rework the page until I feel it’s ready - or my publishers demand it - and then I hand it in and move on. I do the best I can and know that my following books will improve, so I take solace in constantly growing and challenging myself. 

 

BH: Do you use certain tricks that help prevent you from straying from your goal?

JK: For me now, it’s all about planning and structure. I set daily goals and strive to meet them, no matter what. If life gets in the way some days, I get back on track the next day. The main thing is showing up to meet my Muse at the desk and working at it until the magic strikes.

 

How did you come to set this goal?

After a dozen abandoned 150-page manuscripts, I realized writing by the seat of my pants was not for me. Now, I use outlines and work with beats, and if I don’t feel artistic or creative one day, I write the scene as I see it, as I would imagine it in a movie - matter of factly - and then move on. So some of my first drafts can be pretty sketchy in some places, while others are much more artistic and fleshed out, but either way, I get the draft done and know that in rewrites, it will all be developed as it should be before it gets published.

 

BH: Tell me about any workshops you offer.

JK: I have also taught writing at an international school in China for the last decade, as well as art history, which I really love because art through the ages is just an amazing thing to study and so much inspirational fuel for my work. I’m working with my friend Garrett on some online writing courses in China, one we call the Hemingway course, and we have more in development. We’re working on expanding those in 2023 to teach people all over the world on multiple platforms. Teaching people to slow down and appreciate their lives, to write diaries and stories and record their treasured memories, and for some - to become published authors- is an incredible joy, only second to me in fulfilling my dream of becoming a novelist.

 

BH: What inspired you to write Amos the Amazing?

JK: That’s a complicated mix of my observations as a Canadian in China for the past decade, seeing my international students travel to remote rural areas in China and teach children there, and a love letter to the thousands of magic, fantasy, and fairy tale books full of classic tales and mythology I loved growing up. I tried to bring all of that into the story of Amos and share with readers a Solarpunk vision for the future. Set in 2038, we have overcome many challenges, working together and employing incredible technologies to improve the world. I hope some young readers who enjoy the book this decade will continue to help curate and invent the technologies tomorrow that will do just that.

 

BH: How long will we wait for the next book?

JK: Amos has several iterations ahead of it, from the audiobook release in early 2023, the Chinese language release later in 2023, and a special hardcover edition. I am writing a novel set in 1920 in Paris with a horror twist, and I can’t wait to share that when it’s finished. I plan to publish it about a year from now. The next Amos book will come after because I have many stories left in that world to tell, there are so many characters, and they have goals, desires, and plans within plans. I’ve been developing that world for years, and what you see in Amos the Amazing is just the tip of the iceberg. I also love writing nonfiction and have several other books and series drafted that I could work on. If I'm lucky, I will be busy for years and have many stories to offer before I’m old.

 

BH: How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

JK: I wouldn’t say I use any formula, but sometimes I’m inspired by aspects of people I know, characters I’ve read, and ideas I’ve had. I’m sure all my characters have a piece of myself in them and, sometimes, people I’ve known over the years. I spent about 25 years as a touring music performer as a young man, so luckily have seen and known many people in many places and have this vast, weird, wonderful experience of life to tap into and inspire my writing.

 

BH: How do you develop ideas for your writings, and why do you feel you choose some over others?

JK: Luckily, I get many ideas and write them in journals, and the most challenging part is deciding what to put my time into developing further. I have several ideas that I’ve marked as a trilogy or more… I think it’s important to listen to my dreams, find inspiration everywhere, and be as curious as possible. I ask many questions and try to imagine how far I can take those ideas.

 

BH: How much time do you devote to marketing your book, and what kind of marketing do you recommend?

JK: This is a good question. I honestly prefer to write first and foremost and think that’s the most important job of a writer. Of course, I have spent time on my website, building content, and have made some YouTube videos, but I prefer to focus on my writing because that’s the expertise I want to craft. Some people have told me that if you want to get traction as a writer, you have to put out five videos a week, but that sounds exhausting! I have teamed up with an American PR agency to do some marketing. I hope my continued partnership with American, Canadian, and traditional Chinese publishers will help get my work out to the world. So I do a little bit, maybe an hour a day, of social media and marketing, but after I get my writing goals done, it sort of decompression before I move onto the day-to-day management of my life and family time.

 

BH: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future? 

JK: I would love to write on the moon, in a lunar cafe, staring out at the brilliant beauty of space. My wife says she prefers to stay on Earth, but I’m thrilled about the idea of space travel. I don’t think we’re that far off! I’m patient. I’d love to see my books in many languages and countries and eventually follow humans onto other planets. You know, what every writer hopes for, I guess.

 

BH: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? Any special memories that you would like to share...please, oh, please? 

JK: Honestly, I’ve already fulfilled my life dream by publishing nonfiction and fictional novels more than once and writing fantasy novels. That was my life dream; the rest is just icing on the cake. A special memory? Holding my copy of Amos the Amazing around Halloween this year, flipping through 400 pages and realizing that it had all come out of my imagination. Putting it on my bookshelf, next to my favorite books, and watching how it owned that space next to those giants and feeling incredibly grateful for my opportunities and blessings. A finished book is more than a dream come true - it’s 1000 or more days when I conquered the resistance and procrastination of life and accomplished some great writing. It’s all of that dreaming and planning and more, manifested in a physical artifact, 110,000 words, painting a world of my creation that will live forever, and when I’m gone, it’s where people can still go to find me. That’s the magic of writing.

 

BH: How do your friends and family feel about your writing venture in general?

JK: My friends and family are really proud of me and find it inspiring. They know how hard I work at it, and it’s great to see so much hard work finally culminated in a tangible goal. The key is to stick the new book on my shelf, smile, and then move on to the next goal. There will always be another mountain to climb!

 

BH: What do you do to unwind and relax?

JK: I mean, the first step was moving to a mountain in China, retiring from being a touring DJ/music producer, and focusing on meditating, mindfulness, stoicism, exercise, good sleep, nutrition and listening to my own thoughts. I did that in 2014, my last world tour was 2016, and I’ve spent the last most of a decade sort of relaxing and trying to get ready for my next career. My life was too busy when I was gigging to really put the time in to write well and clearly, and so that was a first step for me. I love my quiet, simple life in Chongqing, China, with my wife and family and I couldn’t get this quality of work done with out the peace and quiet.

I started playing guitar this year, finally, and I really enjoy it. It’s a different skill than writing, and although I used to make music as a younger man, I never played guitar before. It’s so relaxing for me, like therapy. I love to cook with my wife also, and we love watching films together. I really love taking in all kinds of stories. My new habit is to slow down and really appreciate life, every moment, as much as I can. I have begun to really watch the credits at the end of shows and films, and think about the amount of work that went into them and celebrate all the individuals that made that possible. Plus, you’ll never miss those end-credit scenes when you take the time to really soak the credits in!

 

BH: If you had to do it over again, would you do anything differently?

JK: Everything! And nothing at all! I’ve had a wonderful, bonkers, absolutely crazy, at times exceptional, and also tragic life, full of ups and downs, but where I am today is where I want to be. Amor Fati, according to the Stoics, means love your life and love your fate, for it brought you here today. Memento Mori means remember you will die. Together, those pillars remind me to use the time I have in every day to its fullest and don’t feel bad about my mistakes because they brought me to where I am today.

 

BH: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

JK: Yes. Just do it. There are so many reasons to feel like you’re not good enough yet, to want to procrastinate writing until you’ve got a better space, better gear, have read 100 more books on craft, gotten another degree or two, but actually, the most important part of being a writer is just sitting down to write and putting the time in. Trying, failing, rewriting, and eventually landing on something you’re happy with or that someone else picks up and runs with. If you feel like a writer, if your heart says, this is what I need to do, then just do it. Don’t be afraid to fail because failure is part of the process, and just keep going, keep writing, and keep rewriting. It’s the only way you’ll really learn, and the only way you’ll go pro is by treating it as more than a hobby. I feel like it took me way too long to learn that for myself, but we all get there eventually.

Thanks for your time! I really appreciate all the support. Compared to the relatively ‘instant’ gratification I used to feel when writing a new song and getting to play it out, writing a story or a novel and sharing it can be a long, lonely road full of quiet contemplation and solitude. Still, actually, I’ve grown to love it, and building a community of writers and even finding some very old, dear friends delighted to see my new success, means the world to me. I couldn’t be happier

 

Author Bio: Jorah Kai

Someone once told Jorah Kai to write what he knew, but since he was 12 and knew very little, the avid reader set off on a lifelong journey to master a variety of esoteric lore. He’s been a lifelong student, martial artist, musician, English teacher, writer, newspaper columnist, editor, web designer, dance music producer and touring DJ, black rock city existential detective and philosopher, fire-breathing gypsy circus performer, standup comedian, and family man; which offered many profound insights into the human condition before uprooting his life and moving to a city of 34 million people halfway across the planet.

Kai enjoys conversing in foreign languages because it’s more mysterious, and he enjoys playing guitar and eating pizza as much as he hopes you love this book. He lives at the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Yangtze and the Jialing, with a large and loving family for many years as a human being and then forever after as the most immortal of all supernatural beasts, a writer.

 

Social Media: @JorahKai, www.jorahkai.com