Author Bio:
Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. After moving to their dream location (in the Kootenay Region of BC, Canada), they have been methodically converting the abused lot over to the little park it has become – and in doing so have gained certification with bee, pollinator and wildlife organizations. Their home, too, has become energy efficient via the many upgrades they have done. Their business includes Dave’s music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work as well as numerous award-winning non-fiction books and popular blogs. Today we help them celebrate their latest book release – From One Small Garden, with over 300 delicious, nutritious recipes!
What inspires you to write?
The thing I like most about in the non-fiction genre allows us to find a problem, an issue that people are facing or have difficulty with and providing a guide to help them navigate through that issue. It is important for us to feel like we are leaving a positive legacy behind, that our lives had meaning, that we made a difference, that we lived proactively and encouraged others to do the same. That is what inspires us the most. Hearing back from readers who reach out to tell me they enjoyed the book that our work helped them, the poem moved them, that we opened their eyes to another side of the issue – these are powerful motivators as well.
Tell us about your writing process.
Dave and I do a lot of brain-storming and information gathering before we start on a project. Personally – I'll have lots of "barf" pages, where I just pour out all my thoughts on the project without worrying about construction, pacing, timing… I just put it all out and then go back to organize it into categories like marketing ideas and promotion opportunities, notes about the type of reader I am writing for, whether this bit fits in the beginning or middle or end of the book, etc. I am a planner however – a master list-maker and a dedicated organizer. I like to know what our plans are, where we are going to focus our energies on this week, who is going to be dealing with what, and I like to refer to the annual business plan in order to check on where we are, how we are doing, what we could do better and what is holding us up. That said, I'll likely use an outline guide for the next upcoming book since it is such a big project.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
When it comes to my short-story fiction writing – I am often inspired by dreams where I have experienced epic journeys, mystical wanderings and exciting adventures. These have me blindly reaching for a pen, racing to get the imagery down on paper before I forget too much of the dream.
Who are your favorite authors?
I really enjoyed reading and rereading The Ovum Factor ( Zimmerman), Watership Down (Adams), Shibumi (Trevanian)… I've read most of Agatha Christy and Dick Francis books. Tolkien's of course. For light summer reading I'll often turn to Clive Cussler's adventures.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Originally, Dave and I were working with traditional publishers, eventually moving on to smaller publishers when those contracts came to completion. Later we settled with self-publishing via Amazon, but only because we have been in the industry now for 20 years as both authors and members of the media and as such we have developed enough skills to be able to go out on our own.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Because of the wide array of genres it is difficult to specify exactly so I will speak in general terms. The interest in print books is fading fast, with the exception of romance, non-fiction and children genres. Most ebook readers want to have discounted or free material. Audio books seem to be picking up while these other modes start fading out. I think this is because people have less time and want to multi task. Perhaps they are doing mundane chores, exercising or driving to work – but they can still hear an audio book. I personally use audio books to fall asleep. I prefer hard copy books, myself, because I'm working at the computer so much and want to get away from the screen.
What genres do you write?
non-fiction, poetry, green living, green business, business advice, gardening, cooking, nutrition, writer advice, book marketing
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Lillian and Dave Brummet Home Page Link
Follow Lillian and Dave Brummet On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Brummet's bookstore
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
