Tell us about yourself.
I have cycled through all 50 U.S. states, crisscrossing a vast network of roads and trails. With 25 marathons and other endurance events under my belt, I retired from a successful career in the aerospace industry as a chemist, engineer, and operations manager, responding to God's call to a different direction in an otherwise comfortable life. While pursuing my cycling goals, I seek to inspire others to chase their dreams through my writing.
I grew up in Canfield, Ohio, and now live in Louisville, Ohio, with my wife, Barbara, a former Spanish teacher and high school guidance counselor. I graduated from Greenville College (now University) with a double major in chemistry and English, hold a Master's degree in Analytical Chemistry from Youngstown State University, and have an MBA from Walsh University. We married in 1979, have two sons, and are active in the Nazarene church at the local, district, and denominational levels.
I have been accused of being a coffee snob but deny it, confessing only to the pursuit of a perfect cup of the beverage through one of my 12 home coffee makers. My current favorite is the Cuban cafecito produced with a Moka pot
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Northeast Ohio, and I began cycling on the local roads and parks at an early age. Initially, it was utilitarian, biking to play pickup team sports at nearby friends' homes, but gradually grew into longer distances, including my first 100-miler while still in high school. The sights, sounds, smells, and sensations from the perspective of a bicycle seat captivated me. Adventures emerged without warning, and I considered documenting them to remember the details. Eventually, the notes I took became the basis for my current book, Pale Pink Roads.
What was your journey to getting published like?
Just like a 100-mile bike ride on a sultry summer day, my publishing journey was filled with highs and lows. I tell others that it was much easier to ride 100 miles than it is to write about it, connect it to other trips, edit it, and go through the mechanics of publishing and marketing. And just like the bike ride, it was harder than I thought it would be, with many surprises along the way. Still, the rewarding feeling I have when I hold my book in my hand for the first time is comparable to arriving at the last hotel of a 1,000-mile bicycle trip!
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
For those familiar with the Meyers-Briggs personality test, I'm a strong INTJ, meaning I'm an introvert and VERY reluctant to share my feelings. The best advice I received came from my first editor, who constantly challenged me to share my feelings on a deeper level. It was uncomfortable (and still is), but I realize that readers relate to me better the more I share what I'm going through.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
First – don’t expect to get rich. Second, be prepared to make marketing part of your author journey. No one knocks on your door, asking if you wrote a book. But in the end, holding your published book in your hands for the first time is an incredibly rewarding experience. The key for me is to maintain consistency; I try to write something for at least an hour every day. And make sure you perform due diligence on the publishing options available. The choices can be overwhelming, and one size does not fit all.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I'm not sure this is a fun fact, but I am a spreadsheet nerd. When the Commodore 64 came on the market in the early 1980s, I was quick to purchase one and programmed a spreadsheet to accept data. Soon, Lotus 123, Excel, and Google Sheets provided a better alternative for recording everything – health statistics, training logs, and much more.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
I love reading books about the Cleveland professional sports teams that I have been a long-suffering fan of since the early 1960s. I don't learn much more than I already knew, but the books always conjure up more favorable memories of the games that they lost.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{“The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.” Christopher Morley
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
My bicycles are always ready to take me on an adventure if the weather is halfway decent; otherwise, I read.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I don't remember the first story I read, but after reading Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy at 15, I wanted to write a story that made others feel they were right there, a part of the action, and seeing and feeling everything.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I have been blessed with good health and the opportunity to see the United States from the perspective of a bicycle seat, and I want to share my incredible experiences with others. I love to tacitly imply heroic tales from Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, C.S. Lewis, Beowulf, The Odyssey, and Moby Dick into my stories. I love the format used by Primo Levi in The Periodic Table and John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
I worked in operations management for 20 years before retiring, and the negative feedback far outweighed the positive. Since book reviews and feedback have been the inverse of that experience, I'm good. My self-worth is not determined by someone else's opinion; however, I do try to understand their perspective and make changes as constructive criticism when appropriate.
How do you connect with your readers?
Most of my connections are on social media, but I have recently started doing podcasts. My favorite way to connect is at book signing events. I love meeting folks at coffee shops, and if no one buys anything during the two hours, I still made some friends and drank good coffee!
What’s next for you as a writer?
My two published books only cover the first 14 states I've ridden in. I'm hoping to cover the remaining 36 in my next book, but I'm willing to accept that it might turn into two more. After that, I'd like to try a sci-fi short story.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Yes, there are many as referred to in my inspiration comments.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
Since my characters are real people, I try to use their words as accurately as I recall them, using abbreviations to reflect the different dialects I have encountered across the North American continent.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
You may not be able to ride a bike across the country or run a marathon, but get outside and do what you can, even if it's a hobbled walk to the corner and back. I keep my dad's canes in the corner next to my treadmill to remind me where I'm eventually headed if I live long enough, and to never take good health for granted. Being outside in God's creation is good for the soul!
Joe Tarantino’s Author Websites and Profiles
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.