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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Rachel Berry, author of Family Pictures

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
Rachel Berry, author of Family Pictures
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With..
(LuLu.com)

Family pictures is the family saga about two women with too many secrets, and the up and down relationships with the people they call family.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Family Pictures?

Rachel Berry: I got the idea after observing family photos. We all have them, smiling faces of gathered loved ones. But in every picture, in every family, each person is dealing with challenges and celebrations, stories the eye can’t see. Secrets and life lessons are internal to all families. That’s what this story is about. Everyday people.

JP: Many times, the person we portray ourselves to be is truly different from the person we truly are. What interesting situation has a reader relayed to you due to reading Family Pictures?

RB: I had a reader tell me that after buying the book for her sister to read, her sister revealed to her about being sexually abused. She felt open to talk about it after reading the book. The reader said she was astonished. After knowing her sister all her life, she had no idea that had happened.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Family Pictures getting out to the public?

RB: Determination. I had a story I wanted to be told. Perseverance and patience also are tools. It takes a lot to self-publish. I didn’t want a book that looked like an amateur had put it together. Also research. You have got to know as much about the business and literary world as much as possible. Research is an ongoing venture.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Family Pictures?

RB: I write as much as I can whenever I can. I carry a notebook and tape-recorder with me. I write in my head at night and jot it down in the morning. I write in my head as I drive and write it down when I get to work.

I have full plate, so I don’t get to write as much as I’d like to. I wrote this book ten years ago. It took me about a year. I had at least fifteen drafts before I said, “It’s a wrap.”

JP: What’s next for Rachel Berry?

RB: More books. I plan to release a YA novella I wrote before Family Pictures this summer entitled A Slip In The Right Direction and Between The Tears And The Laughter this winter. My works in progress include another chapbook of poetry, my first novel series Mixed Blessings, and hopefully next year a spoken-word CD.

*Family Pictures made the EDC Creations list for best books of 2009

rachelwrites2@yahoo.com
http://www.rachelberry.webs.com/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Lady-Serenity
http://www.twitter.com/wordfairy
http://www.blackpearlsunited.org/

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html.

P.S.S. Rachel Berry has provided a copy of Family Pictures to JoeyPinkney.com to give to the winner of the book giveaway. Berry is also an advertiser with JoeyPinkney.com.

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22 thoughts on “5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Rachel Berry, author of Family Pictures”

  1. Sounds like an interesting book. She hit the nail on the head when she talked about research. A little research can save you a lot of time and money. Best of luck to Rachel!

  2. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) ???
    3) ???
    4) ???
    5) ???
    6) ???
    7) ???
    8) ???
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

    1. Many times, the person we portray ourselves to be is truly different from the person we truly are. Unfortunately, this is such a true statement. Congrats to Ms. Berry and I would love to read her book.

  3. Wow. I’d never heard of Rachel Berry before, but you can bet I’ll be checking this out now! This sounds like a fascinating story… Thanks, Joey!

  4. This sounds like a great book. That’s true that pictures are the windows to stories that you may never know and that is in every family. That was great advice about research..that’s the key for any venture. I had not heard of this book before the interview but I will definitely be adding this to my book list.

  5. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) ???
    5) ???
    6) ???
    7) ???
    8) ???
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

  6. This book sound awesome! I got pulled in just by looking at the cover. You all know that I love a good book that helps us reveal our deepest darkest secrets and then talk to others about it. It’s the only way to begin the healing process! I can’t wait to get a peek inside! Ms. Berry (Berry is my maiden name lol) is definitely on my list of new books to read for 2010! And what she has cooking for the near future sounds great as well. Wonderful and very interesting interview!

  7. This sounds very interesting I would love a copy of this I have a lot of stuff I need to know about family and those many family secrets and to see someone has ideas about research and ideas about helping family members cope with family demons

  8. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) Barbara Grovner
    5) Joyce Dickerson
    6) ???
    7) ???
    8) ???
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

  9. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) Barbara Grovner
    5) Joyce Dickerson
    6) Pauline
    7) ???
    8) ???
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

  12. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) Barbara Grovner
    5) Joyce Dickerson
    6) Pauline
    7) N.S. Ugezene
    8) ???
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

  13. Add me to the list. I heard such great things about this book with AAMBC and hate I did not get to read to review this book. I will add this to my collection in the near future or hopes to win it!

    I love the word “research” of which many of us do not do anymore. I feel like this is my second name now–Research and well needed with my degrees besides writing.

    I wish her the best success.

    Adrienna Turner, author of The Day Begins with Christ

  14. One of the first ten people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) Barbara Grovner
    5) Joyce Dickerson
    6) Pauline
    7) N.S. Ugezene
    8) Adrienna
    9) ???
    10) ???

    Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview. One of the first ten people to comment will win a FREE copy of this book.

  16. One of the first nine people to comment on Rachel Berry’s author interview will win a free copy of Family Pictures.

    Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Family Pictures by Rachel Berry
    1) KL Brady
    2) Jess C
    3) T Harper
    4) Barbara Grovner
    5) Joyce Dickerson
    6) Pauline
    7) N.S. Ugezene
    8) Adrienna
    9) Richard

    I will randomly pick a winner shortly.

  18. Thank you all readers and Joey for this opportunity to meet you and introduce my book. I appreciate you and your time. Please take a moment to visit my web site, leave a comment in my guest book, subscribe to my newsletter (RHASAN) and I’d love for you to buy either of my books. Congrats to the winner Adrienna!

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