Welcome everyone to the blogiversary for Argyle Dollhaus!! Let the
good times roll…
**Knock knock**
I hurried to the door and opened it to see Lee Debourg holding a
bag of cookies while speaking to a young man beside him. They both turned to
look at my direction simultaneously. Immediately I recognized that this young
man wasn't just any young man, it was Hank Lawson from Young,Only Once. If I wasn’t already fangirling surely I was now.
I motioned them inside the Dollhaus. While entering Lee
handed me the bag of cookies in an exchange for a hug. Hug accepted and
delivered. Hank was up with a smile and arms extended as well. Hug number two
was happily exchanged.
Once all inside I led them to the living room where our drinks and
chocolate chip cookies were already waiting for us on the coffee table.
"Funny, I already had cookies. Looks like we'll just have
extras. Thanks though." I said.
"Sounds like a good problem to have. You’ll never see the
cookie monster complaining." Lee responded.
Couldn't help but to all laugh as we settled around the coffee
table.
Fully settled, I turned to hank.
“I want to thank you hank for coming today. It’s a great
surprise.”
“Yeah, Lee thought it would be a good idea for me to tag along to
see how all this works before I go fully on my own. It’s a big literary world
out there.” He said with a smile. J
"I’m sure you will do fine. Readers will love you. However
for readers who have yet to meet you, share a bit about yourself?"
"My
name is Henry “Hank” Lawson, a farm boy from Stoney Point, located somewhere in
the Upper Midwest. I attended college for a year, dropped out to work in a
steel mill for a year, then returned to earn a Bachelor’s degree. During my
final year I had the opportunity to learn downhill snow skiing while working as
a bartender at Snow Mountain ski resort. I’ve always known enough to button a
clean shirt before leaving the house, and to treat people with respect. I try
to behave and not annoy others."
"Tell us how it feels to share your story with the
world?"
"I
never studied psychology, indeed considered the subject vastly overrated. Then
I wandered off to Snow Mountain and was inundated with the stuff, more
precisely the female variety. I try to be consistent in my approach to all
people. The responses are anything but predictable. The story I’ve shared isn’t
so much the story of myself as it is the tale of several young women I became
acquainted with. My book is more the chronicle of their dreams and aspirations
at a stage of life, point in time."
"Is there anything you would have done differently while
working at Snow Mountain?"
"Stayed
away, solely because of the dysfunctional business environment at Snow
Mountain. Despite the chronic fatigue brought about because of overwork due to
cost-cutting measures, all the resort problems did have the silver lining of
presenting a training opportunity, working through the problem areas with a
savvy young lady progressing toward her MBA. Given the overall situation and
personalities present, I muddled through as best as possible. There are a few
touching memories as well, which will undoubtedly persist for a lifetime."
"Tell us what you're up to now?"
"I
stayed with the management training and corporate structure for a couple years,
before breaking away to join a smaller, more nimble firm. Oh, and I am married
to a wonderful woman, who is a wonder and a joy."
Hmmm. I wonder whom he married...
"It sounds like life has been good to you. On a final note,
is there anything you want to personally tell readers?"
"Hard
work and attention to detail are absolute requirements in life. The habits of
successful people include visualizing their goals and the willingness to adjust
course as circumstances dictate. There is only one responsible authority for
creating personal success, and that individual looks out of the mirror at you
every day.
Flowers are good to smell as well."
“Well said hank. Thanks for sharing that with us.”
We all smiled at one another and went back to eating our cookies.
I looked over at lee and was glad to have him over at the Dollhaus
for the second time.
“It’s great having you over at the Dollhaus again. Awhile back you
came to share about your debut novel, Concurrent Relationships, and now Young,
Only Once. How does it feel to have both Frank and Hank out and about in the
literary world?”
“My
characters, Frank in Concurrent Relationships and Hank in Young, Only Once are
finally free to find their own way in the world. I still have to assist with
promotion, but they are on their own feet. The Boys were raised correctly, so I
have full confidence in them. I wish them the best.”
And for that brief moment I missed frank…Sigh
“What’s next for you after you let hank go out into the world?”
“Eventually,
more tales will be related. Right now I am occupied nudging Frank and Hank
along. I enjoy the new friends I’ve made along the way!”
“What made you become an author?”
“Oh, the
voices within my head and the general insanity of life. I have heard and seen
much, and wanted to try my hand at capturing a few insights. When I finally
came up for air I had the rough drafts of two novels. I did not deliberately
set out to write about Relationships and Romance from a Male POV, but I guess
that is what I accomplished. I have never found much fiction that could hold my
attention. Errant spaceships, werewolves or zombies, the fantasy which is
romance, or questing after goals outlined by the old guys back at the castle
never did the trick for me. Daily life with a healthy dose of realism is what
fascinates me, the little steps we all take leading us through a lifetime. Life
is not always neat and tidy, people and situations all good or all bad. There
is much ambiguity and outside influence beyond our control. How we handle what
life throws at us can make for an interesting read.”
“Have you ever received a comment that made you feel good about
being an author?”
“One of my
regular adventures is editing academic work for my spouse as she pursues a PhD.
Upon seeing the completion of my second novel she posed an interesting
question: “What kind of War and Peace did you write?”
In my defense, Young, Only Once is only half the length of War and
Peace.”
“Now on to serious matters, you realize you’re eating the last
cookie, how do you react to this revelation?”
“Being a
proper guest, I did bring along a small bag for the hostess. If you glance
inside you will note two-dozen cookies, with white chocolate chunks and
macadamia nuts.
What shortage?”
Oh touché!
“As much as I wish to keep this going, do you have any last
comments that you would like to share?”
“The reader
is the most important variable in the literary equation. An author’s role is to
stay out of the way and present the tale. The STORY is of value, more so than
an over-inflated ego. As a reader, I don’t care who the author is, or how many
manuscripts they’ve polished. Give me a compelling STORY!”
Unfortunately our interviews have concluded, but it doesn’t end
there. Aside from bringing the cookies and inviting Hank, Lee brought something
else to share with the world! I’m sure you’re wondering what else do we have
that can top two interviews? The answer is simple. The book cover for Young,
Only Once! Yes you read correctly, the Argyle Dollhaus is honored and happy to
present to you the beautiful cover to a great story, but before Hank, Lee and I
reveal it we first want to thank and give credit to Midnight Whimsy. If it
weren't for her talent, we wouldn’t have a cover to reveal.
Now without a further a do, we present to you the cover for Young,
Only Once by Lee DeBourg!
I want to thank Lee for the goodies and the cover! I also want to
thank Hank for joining us at the Dollhaus for the first time in this grand
celebration.
XOXOX,
Argyle Doll
