Interview with Award Winning Author – Donalisa Helsley

Donalisa will be chosing 1 LUCKY Winner to receive a FREE ebook from Amazon so make sure to leave a comment to qualify. :o)

Thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview. I’m so proud to have you as a guest on my site!

Thank you for inviting me. It still is weird to think anyone would want to know about me!

When and why did you begin writing?
I was not allowed to watch tv except for one show on Saturdays. So I read and eventually started writing little stories in about the first grade. When I’d read all the books in the house and it wasn’t time to go to the library I would write my own stories and read them to my friend who lived in the mirror (yes, I do know that was actually my reflection).

What inspired you to write your first book?
Are we talking about my first book ever or my published book?

You are also an award winning author I see? Congratulations! Tell us about that.
My 1st published book, The Day No One Played Together: A Story About Compromise won a Mom’s Choice Award.

What author influenced you most as a child?
When I read the Little House on the Prairie series I decided to write my own autobiography. I realized my life wasn’t quite as exciting as Laura Ingalls Wilder’s so I would make my own paper dolls and then write stories about them.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found work best in your genre?
Unfortunately, because I am busy with finishing my masters in social work (May 2012, yay!) I have not been doing much marketing. I talk about my book on FaceBook and I have a website. Hopefully soon I can start booking signings and school visits. It is wonderful because of people like you who take time out of their lives to spread the word about my book. Thank you, I appreciate you so much!
What book are you working on now?
I’m finishing up a fairytale with a twist,a story about the uniqueness of individuals and a story about a big bad bully.

Describe your book in just a few sentences.

“Here is a VERY ruff draft!” ;0)
Honey P. Badger was the meanest little badger in town.
For everyone she passed, she left them with a frown.
She was mean to all the animals in the school
She thought being a big bully made her super cool.

Now for the fun part…

Tell us something funny or interesting about yourself.
After reading, I love music and I have certain songs I use as mantras and certain types of music or artists that seem to fit my moods. When I am overwhelmed/down I listen to Gloria Gaynor’s or Tina Turner’s “I Will Survive” full blast and dance around like a spaz with my kids. When I am angry I turn up Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” and jump up and down like a spaz with my kids. When I am in a normal mood I like to listen to Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Bob Marley, Maroon 5 etc… and twirl around like a spaz with my kids. When I want to chill its Kenny G, Norah Jones and Cris Botti…the only time I don’t act like a spaz. Ha ha ha, you sound like me!! :o)

What’s your favorite food?
Chinese food … my parents used to joke I would turn Chinese I ate it so much, but instead I had a ¼ Chinese baby. Even the people at the Chinese restaurant I go to all the time used to joke “You eat so much Chinese food you have Chinese baby!”

That’s too funny! My parents used to say I would turn into a pizza!!! Thankfully my kids didn’t come out with a meatball nose. LOL.

What’s your favorite color?
purple

Coke or Pepsi?
Mug Rootbeer

If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be and why?
Tigger, because Tiggers are wonderful things and fun,fun, fun, fun,fun!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Everywhere, anywhere….Italy. Definitely off to find some unexplored world, maybe another dimension. Oooh maybe to the other side of the mirror!

What is your favorite book or who is your favorite author? (This can’t be your book)
James Patterson is one of my favorite authors and my favorite book is Oh, The Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss

What book are you reading now?
I constantly have books spread out everywhere that I will be. I am never reading just one. One of the worst things that could happen to me is to find myself somewhere without a book. I end up in a foul mood. There is nothing worse than sitting in the Dr.’s office and I have already finished a book on my iPad and don’t have another on. Aaaargh!
I am currently reading:
Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll
If I Should Die by Allison Brennan
Letters to A Young Therapist (for the 3rd time) by Mary Pipher

Wow! That’s alot to read at once, but I guess you had alot of practice as a child. :o)

Thank you very much!
No, thank YOU very much!

The Day No One Played Together is available on the author’s Website . She will sign your copy to whomever you request.
Also available on Amazon and B&N.com
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Don’t forget to leave a comment to qualify to win the FREE ebook!!! :o)