Author Interview:
What inspired you to write this?
I’ve been writing “Learn To Tie” books for about 35 years. I was inspired to write the first one after getting a quick lesson in how to tie a necktie from charming salesman. Since then, I’ve written about 6 stories in my Learn To Tie With The Rabbit And The Fox Book Series.
Are the characters based on anyone?
The characters are not based on people but there is an old mnemonic about tying a neck tie by following the moves of a fox chasing a rabbit through a forest. I’ve used those characters for teaching how to learn to tie neckties, bows and shoelaces throughout my series.
Do names have a special significance for you when writing, and how do you choose them?
Names have mattered to me when titling some of the books in my series. For example I used the name Ned in one and Nellie in another because they flowed with the titles, “Ned Knows How To Knot A Neck Tie” and “Nellie Knows How to Knot A Neck Scarf”. I used the name Cleo for “Cleo Can Tie a Bow” because that was a good name that just fit with the word “bow”. I used the name Boo in “Boo’s Shoes” because it rhymed with shoes. There were no named characters in the other “Learn To Tie” books.
What’s the hardest part of writing/publishing? (first draft, editing, etc)
The hardest part of writing/publishing for me is marketing and promoting. Mainly because of interviews! 😊 Interviews are hard, yet all the rest of promoting is actually my favorite part of the entire book creation process.
Do you have a favorite time of day to write?
I write best any time of the day or night. Sometimes, I awake from a good night’s sleep with a writing idea ready to go. Other times I can’t fall asleep because the ideas just keep coming. There have been countless times, I actually have to get up and write things down so that I can finally go to sleep.
When did you first consider yourself an author?
I considered myself an author when I self-published my first book and it was available for sale to the public on the internet. That’s all you need. Anyone can do it. But it does take more persistence than anyone would ever dream possible. You have to get creative about finding potential readers. One of the things I’ve done to entice people to look at my books is to set up book stores on my blog that are related to the subject matter of my books. I offer “Learn To Tie” books by all of the other authors who write those same types of books in The Rabbit and The Fox Book Store on my blog at sybrina.com.
What’s your favorite holiday?
My favorite holiday is Christmas. It seems to be the one time when people are thinking of all the things they can do for all of their love ones. It’s a time to truly feel merry and bright.
Would you rather be covered in fur or scales?
Oh Fur, of course. I love the luxurious feel of it.
Is a hot dog a sandwich, why or why not?
It’s a sandwich if it is on a bun with all the fixin’s. Otherwise, it’s just a tube of meat.
Lisa s Everyday Life