All Rileyed Up

Thanks to Scott Gale, for doing this interview with me about his upcoming book, Your Family Constitution. Sign up on his website to read the first chapter and be notified when the book comes out.

1. What is your book about?

The book is a road map that parents can use to identify their core values and build effective family structure around them.

2. What prompted you to write this book?

I had a Mother’s Day meltdown with my son that culminated with me walking 14 miles homes. It gave me a lot of time to think and made me realize the need for change within my own family. After completing the Family Constitution for my family and living with it for a while, I decided to share it with other parents through this book.

3. Who do you hope will read this book?

Any parents with kids in the home or anyone thinking of becoming a parent.

4. What are the top 3 messages you hope to get across to your readers?

1) Clarity, consistency and commitment are the three keys to effective family management
2) Failure to step back and plan because you are too busy only fuels the fire of frustration and chaos
3) Parenting is what you make of it. You have to make it fun for you and your kids. All the other good stuff will follow.

5. Are your wife and children excited about this book?

My wife is nervous because she feels like I’m airing our dirty laundry to the world; nevertheless, she supports me on this journey. My kids don’t really care, as they don’t sense any impact of the book to their world.

6. What was your writing process for completing this project?

I wrote a complete draft, then submitted to a few close friends for review. After I received feedback, I basically re-wrote the entire thing to provide a more personal voice.

7. Do you have any other writing projects in mind?

Kind of. I want to write a comedy screenplay about competitive eating.

8. How did you decide come up with the title?

I just described the product.

9. What was your favorite part about writing this book?

Even though I basically discarded the first draft, the initial writing process really allowed me to think. It was very therapeutic.

10. Least favorite?

Editing. It is like pulling teeth after you have read through something 100+ times.

11. What advice do you have for other first-time writers out there?

Start with a framework. Define your voice and your audience. Then start writing.

12. Where can readers buy/pre-order your book?

They can go on my website and download the first chapter for free. They can provide their email and I will let them know as soon as it is available for sale.

13. Anything else you’d like to say?

I want to reinforce how much effort it takes to make change in your life. It will always be inconvenient, as the life of a parent is by definition crazy. But, it is so worth the effort.

Go check out his website for more details. Thanks, Scott!

This post contributed to Thursday Thirteen.

A couple weeks ago, I read “12 Star-Powered College Roommates” on Mental Floss, and among the roommate pairings were Frank O’Hara and Edward Gorey.

Gorey was described as a “creepy illustrator” and not knowing who Gorey was, I Googled him because such a description piques the interest, no? Lo and behold, Gorey’s illustrations are indeed creepy, but in a fun way, like Chistina Ricci as Wednesday Addams.

I’m a homicidal maniac, they look just like everyone else.

I checked out The Unstrung Harp at the library and as it turns out, The Unstrung Harp is about the writing process! How serendipitous is that?

I think every writer should read about the hilarious trials and tribulations of Mr. Clavius Frederick Earbrass as he embarks on his latest novel-writing journey. I read it in all of 20 minutes while sitting in the parking lot at my niece’s high school waiting for her cheerleading practice to end, and I laughed so much I bet it would embarrass my niece if anyone saw me and knew we were related.

Mr. Earbrass’ tale sums up the tale of every writer I know (which is a little unnerving, seeing the book came out in 1953) and his visit to the second hand bookstore, the antiques store, and his opening and closing lines for his book are moments to savor in this little story told through pictures. Lovely. Just lovely (In that good creepy/lovely kind of way).

I visited this new site, FieldReport, which is self-described as the following:

“On the outside, FieldReport is a contest, big enough to get a lot of people involved. On the inside it’s a community of writers and readers dedicated to great storytelling and to breaking down walls of human isolation.

The message of FieldReport is a simple one: The only thing that really matters about life is how you open your heart to it.”

It’s an interesting site. I’m still getting the hang of it. Actually, there’s not much to get – Write or Review. Write your own life stories of 2000 words or less and read ones written by others. You have to review five in order to write one. Winners are judged by other members of the FieldReport community (Fun! Who wants to buy me?).

There are monthly contests to win $1,000 and a grand prize for $250,000. Which is no small chunk of change. It could buy you a sweet Harry Winston ring. Or a house or something. (Which begs the question – who is funding this? Maybe John McCain doesn’t know he’s fronting the prize money.)

All in all, looks pretty cool. The one piece I’ve reviewed so far got a ten from me, about a mother bringing a second child into the home and its effect on the firstborn. I think all of us parents of more than one child remember that feeling of “the second time”… If the rest of the writing is this high quality, you’re in for a treat as a reader.

Go check it out for yourself. Currently, I’m reviewing under the name Riley, but I’m still debating changing the name of my writing persona. It’s a toss up between Glorious Beastmaster and Amiable Anaconda.

Tough call.