Here is a non-fiction book about life and what we’re doing in it. We welcome Stephen Paul Tomie!
The Quest blurb:
This book is looking at yourself through the five (5) Ws. The why, the when, the who, the where, and the what. Why these factors entered your life, how they affected your life, the reason or logic behind them in your life, trying to explain your life’s action, and the real reality of them in your life in the first place, or in this case how all these factors contributed to me in making me who I am, and the right and wrong of my actions taken.
Handbook of Life:
- Learn to live with what you have.
- Feel free to share your love.
- Always show others you care.
- Try to speak without harsh words to anyone.
- Seek happiness throughout your life.
- Solving problems helps make you strong.
- Heartache is a part of life.
- Do not be afraid to fail. Success will be your reward.
Buy link:
Amazon
Meet Paul and his book:
NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
SPT: It just came to me as an idea that would be fun to write as well as examining my own mental processes and emotional state by looking inward to try and understand what makes me tick. It also allowed me to take a walk down memory lane and see what was stored away in the back corner of my brain. It was enlightening to recall my childhood antics and my major pitfalls in life so there were smiles and painful moments where I wished I’d either not done or been sharp enough to have avoided in the first place.
NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
SPT: There wasn’t any research as it all revolved around myself and what I could remember at that time. It actually helped stimulate the brain and possibly stave off dementia?
NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
SPT: The main thing I want readers to take away from this book is twofold. One, they can have a laugh at my expense, and two, it may cause them to stop and think about their earlier life and what memories are stored away. It may even cause them to realize they were either a good child or like me a little devious hinging on a little bad, but not terrible. Hopefully they too will be shocked with what they recall and not recall of their youth.
NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
SPT: A fun fact about writing this book was how amazed I was that my brain could recall incidents of my childhood I thought were lost forever. Also, to be able to laugh at myself once again at my behavior and the corners I’d painted myself into.
NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
SPT: No, I don’t have a day job and not for the last ten years. Every day is now a Saturday and my schedule every day is what I want it to be, except for professional appointments. It is nice to boycott early mornings after forty years of an alarm clock
NA: What started you on the path to writing?
SPT: It was just something on my bucket list of things I wanted to do and now I’ve had the opportunity to try it. I wasn’t sure if I could write a book but as they say, ‘you will never know unless you try.’ My wife’s illness and watching how brave she was as she fought her cancer astonished me. In her near-death stage, how thoughtful she was to organize what she wanted done, her funeral, flowers, music, versus to be read, and the after service visitation. She knew in my hour of grief I would be a basket case and unable to function well, so she took that responsibility off my shoulders. I had to honour this lady. Writing “Now You Have Her.. Now You Don’t” is a tribute to a wonderful lady, to let the world know what she’d done in her life and her fight for life. It became easy to describe in this book as the pages seemed to flow.
NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer
SPT: The biggest surprise I had after becoming a write was from friends and relatives on how impressed they were by my books. Another surprise came from readers of “Estate Planning & Executor Guide” telling me how helpful it was as a resource, especially for executors of family estates. That my book actually helped others faced with the difficult task of clearing up a family estate is worth more than money. The second biggest surprise was a Palliative Care hospital was willing to put all my books in their library for family members visiting sick relatives. Priceless to me.
NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
SPT: No, when sitting down to write a book, I just jump right in with both feet, so I guess it’s a seat of your pants approach. The subjects I write about are very familiar or have affected my life or felt as in my poetry. Its expressing emotions and trying desperately to reach the reader to experience what I was feeling at the time.
NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
SPT: I don’t think I have any quirky writing habits but then I have never told myself that I do. I guess in all honesty, I don’t like to take a break from what I am writing until I get to a certain point where I feel comfortable to leave it. Sometimes my body lets me know I’ve been at it too long as I am stiff and sore. I don’t watch the clock!
NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
SPT: I like to go to the gym three times a week for about two hours. This frees up my brain from writing and life issues that bother me, and it helps prevent medical problems. Also, visiting friends over a glass of wine and catching up on their news is very rewarding, Believe it or not, grocery shopping, I love to fill the grocery cart as full as possible and see at the check out how carried away I got.
NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
SPT: My only concern is that it coordinates with the pants I chose. I’m a bit of a clothing horse, as the expression goes, as I have closets for winter outfits and closets for summer outfits.
NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
SPT: If I have to set the alarm for an appointment that’s in the early hours, I roll over and say to myself just a few more minutes. I might fall back asleep and wake up knowing my whole day is thrown off because I didn’t get up what that confounded alarm went off!
NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
SPT: The most famous person that I would like to have dinner with would be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who wrote the Sherlock Holmes novels. I have the utmost respect for his writing skills and the way he lays out the stories. I would love to just sit and talk with him and find out where he gets his inspiration and the characters he creates.
NA: What are you working on now?
SPT: I am currently working on “When Your Time Is Up” which delves into my theory that we are given a number at birth and when you come to earth we are working on a time table and likely you won’t have a have a choice when the Angel of Death comes for us Or is it possible we can cheat death through our own actions or some outside forces?
NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
SPT: I would like some feedback from your newsletter readers on their opinion of The Quest. Their opinions and suggestions would be welcome and appreciated.
[NA: Please do let us know if you have anything you’d like to pass on to Paul. Either Jan or I will get your questions/comments to him.]
Where to find Stephen Paul Tomie:
What a great interview! I know Paul put a lot of his heart into this book and it is indeed very thought provoking. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed the interview with Paul and look forward to his upcoming new book!
Oh I just loved this interview!!! I am definitely going to get this book and am excited to read. I especially loved your comments about your late wife and the way that you write.
You won’t be sorry Jeanette