AUTHOR BIO:
Angie Mangino is a freelance journalist, author, book reviewer, & copy editor who can be found at www.AngieMangino.com.
AUTHOR Q&A:
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
AM: As a child, I wrote for my own amusement. As a woman, I kept a journal to sort out my thoughts. When my friend developed terminal cancer in 1992 I wrote an essay for a writing class to deal with the turmoil I felt. When she read it, she begged me to get it published to help others. After her death I set out to do that, and in 1995 it became my first paid published article and changed my writing into a career.
- How long does it take to write your book(s)?
AM: For the essays and articles included in anthologies the writing time is measured in hours. In writing my first book, the research took years, but the actual book writing took me about a year.
- What is your work schedule like when writing a book?
AM: I set aside a dedicated block of time each day to write a book, using a 50-minute focus technique I learned from Ed Gandia, founder of High-Income Business Writing, With phone and media off, I use a timer for 50 minutes to work, a 20 minutes break, then 50 minutes to work.
- Where do you get your ideas or information for your book?
AM: Since I’m writing a conversational series on the history of Tottenville and how this history relates to not just the local area but to its outreach on Staten Island, in New York City, and beyond the information is a culmination of years of research begun with a local grant to remedy the lack of written information on the subject.
- When did you write your first book?
AM: Over the years I have contributed articles and essays to published books, but my first solo project was in November 2018 with 17th Century Tottenville Comes Alive: Meet the People. Experience the Events.
- What do you do when you’re not writing?
AM: When not writing I’m reading, cooking, on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, traveling, sharing time with friends and family, as well as enjoying my two grandsons.
- What does your family think of your writing?
AM: My family is outstandingly supportive. Not only did they buy and read my book, they have taken to social media to promote it. That first Christmas after publication, my gifts from them included a magnet and mug depicting my book cover. I am blessed with amazing grown children that follow my writing career with genuine interest.
- What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?
AM: I wrote a history, but found the strength of the book came out when I discarded traditional historical writing and spoke to my readers in a down to earth conversation.
- How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
AM: I have this one solo book right now, with the next Kindle in the series to come out later in 2020 on the 18th Century. My writing is included in four other books, with two more being published in 2020. Tottenville is my passion, thus my favorite.
- Any tips/suggestions on getting started?
AM: Writing a book seems so overwhelming at its start. I mind mapped the many ideas, formed a general outline, and worked each day with dedicated time only thinking of what I was writing at the time, not looking at the entire project. Bit by bit it grew until that joyful day when I had achieved a completed first draft. Once it was all out there, I moved more quickly through the many revisions that are essential to writing.
- What do you think makes a good story?
AM: A good story educates or entertains by tapping into our shared experiences as people. It reaches not just the mind, but touches the heart.
- As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
AM: As a child I loved to read, as I still do to this day, as well as to write. I thought when I grew up I would use this as a teacher, which I did, but the strongest urge always was to be a writer.
LINKS:
Amazon Book Page: https://amzn.to/2Q4wlb3
PUBLISHED WORKS:
cristinaisabelauthor.com 