Interview with Author Teri Mari Brown
Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity.
Not letting 2020 get the best of her, Teri chose to go on an adventure that changed her outlook on life. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to.
Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others. Teri’s debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, is a historical fiction set in Ukraine. Her second novel, An Enemy Like Me, launches in January 2023. Learn more at www.terimbrown.com.
Tell me more about your latest book
An Enemy Like Me is a WWII historical fiction. The main character is a first-generation German American who signs up to fight in the war. He believes he will fight the Japanese, but ends up fighting in Germany, where he soon realizes that he is more like the enemy than he is different from them. This book explores the concepts of war, what makes an enemy, and how war changes people from the perspective of a soldier, his wife, and his four-year-old son, as well as his son as an adult looking back.
Feathered Quill has said: Teri M. Brown’s latest novel, An Enemy Like Me, is a beautifully layered book that delves into the complexities of war and the effects it has on those who have an intense love of country, family, and one’s heritage.
Independent Book Review has said: While it is set during World War II, Brown makes it clear that this is not only a story of war, but of love and what we will do for it.
BookLife Reviews has said: The pro-Nazi Volksbund movement, its anti-German backlash, and the anxiety it induced in German Americans is seldom addressed in popular literature—and Brown’s depiction of a unique angst within a much-chronicled American era sets this novel apart.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?
Because I write historical fiction, the greatest challenge is to provide an accurate accounting of history through setting. This includes making sure that all aspects of the setting are correct. For instance, in one scene, Jacob was getting ready for a date. I wanted him to use Brylcreem but wasn’t sure if that would have been available in 1939. It was invented several years earlier, so I could use it. There have been times, however, when I realize that a word I wanted to use or a product wasn’t part of that time period.
What is your normal procedure to get your books published?
Although I would love to tell you that I have a very scheduled plan from A to Z, I don’t. I call myself a binge pantster. By this, I mean that I tend to write every day – all day – for a week or two to get the story out of my head. I do this without any written plan or outline. Then, once the story is out, I may not write again for several weeks.
Once I have binged the words onto paper and have let it sit for a time, I read the manuscript and look for plot holes, weak characters, lack of description, etc. Then, I binge edit, usually for another week or two. Once the manuscript has been to my editor, I spend another 40 to 60 hours, generally over a month or so, making the suggested corrections and additions.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
I view writing as a catharsis. It allows me to explore my emotions and experiences in a safe place. I can have my characters do things the way I wish I had done or see what happens if I do something completely different.
How many books have you written so far?
I’ve written two historical fiction novels.
- Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, January 25, 2022
- An Enemy Like Me, January 24, 2023
What’s the best way to market your books?
I’ve found that being a guest on podcasts is an excellent way to market a book. The host is friendly toward your cause and helps to explore your book and what their audience will find written there. It’s an easy back and forth that is then put out to their listenership, usually an audience to which I would not have access to.
How hard or easy is it to establish and maintain a career in writing?
I don’t believe that becoming an author is any more difficult than any other occupation. It’s a matter of wanting to do it and continuing to work at it. The one thing that many writers don’t realize is that a career in writing is a full-time job that requires both writing and marketing. Without marketing, no one will know your book exists. Without writing, there is nothing to market. The key to maintaining a career in writing is to find the balance between the two.
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
I suggest that aspiring writers do the following four things:
- Begin writing today. Don’t wait for a class or a course or a degree or even the world’s best idea. Start writing now because you don’t become a better writer by thinking about it.
- Once you begin writing, find someone you trust, but who will be honest and can provide feedback, to read what you’ve written. Then, listen to their feedback and make adjustments to your writing. It can be difficult to hear feedback because it may seem like criticism. However, it’s impossible to get better at writing if you continue to do the same thing over and over again.
- This may sound like a contradiction, but it’s not: Don’t listen to everyone. There is more than one style of writer and more than one style of reader. It’s great to listen to other’s advice, but not all advice will be right for your style. It’s okay to give something a try and decide it’s not for you. When that happens, just set the advice to one side and move on.
- Marketing is part of writing, so learn about marketing before you release your book. At the very least, you should begin marketing your new book at least 12 weeks before the launch date.
Visit Author Teri M Brown book links:
You can purchase the book on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Like-Me-Teri-Brown/dp/1639885455), Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-enemy-like-me-teri-m-brown/1142018249), and wherever books are sold. You can also purchase the book from my website at www.terimbrown.com.
The easiest way to connect with me is through my website at www.terimbrown.com. In addition to joining my newsletter, where you will get the list of “The 10 Historical Fiction Novels You’ve Never Heard of That Will Bring You to Tears,” you can reach out to me through my contact form and find links to all my social media.
For those who prefer going directly to social media, you can find me here:
Facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor
Twitter.com/TeriMBrown1
Instagram.com/TeriMBrown_Author
LinkedIn.com/in/TeriMBrown
Goodreads.com/terimbrown
Pinterest.com/terimbrownauthor
Tiktok.com/@terimbrown_author
Youtube.com/@TeriMBrown_Author
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/author/terimbrown
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