Bonnie Trachtenberg!
I sat down with friend and co-volunteer at the World Literary Cafe, Bonnie Trachtenberg, and chatted about life in general and her newest book,
Neurotically Yours!!
Neurotically Yours!!
Where are you
originally from?
I was born in the Bronx and raised in a suburb of New York City
What inspired you to
become a writer?
My enthrallment with wonderful, inventive stories by great
authors and screenwriters inspired me to tell my own. I’ve always had an active
imagination and I excelled in the subjects of English, writing, and literature
so it was as natural as breathing for me to go in this direction.
How did you decide on
your book's genre?
It wasn’t even a decision. I was born to write romantic comedies.
I found writing both of my books this way to be an organic process.
What is/are your
favorite genre(s)?
Romantic comedy has always been my favorite genre to read
and to watch in movie form. I absolutely love great romances, especially when
told with charm and humor. Needless to say, Nora Ephron is a heroine of mine.
Making people laugh has always been so important to me perhaps because of my
immense appreciate for others who have made me laugh. Life can be hard. Comic
relief makes it bearable!
Are you currently
reading anything?
Yes, I tend to have one novel and one metaphysically related
book on my nightstand (or my Kindle) at a time. Right now, I’m reading Moonlight on the Nantahala by Micheal
Rivers and After Here by Elizabeth Maxim,
Ph.D. Of course I occasionally mix in
a good nonfiction book, too.
Who or what is the
driving force that keeps you going?
The inexplicable force that keeps me writing is some sort of
internal urge that I’ve never been able to quell for long (despite many efforts
in the past). I tried to ditch it for such unlikely career choices as lawyer (I
had a panic attack and walked out of the LSAT) and FBI agent (Note:
Girlie-girls need not apply) Now, I just think of Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain when he belts out
“Gotta Dance.” In my case, it’s gotta write! It’s become so second nature to me
and defines me in so many ways that I can’t even imagine not writing.
How do you balance
your personal life with your writing career?
Not extremely well, I’m afraid. Writing and marketing my
book just seem to overpower my life now. In between those long hours I run out
to dinner with my husband or plop onto the bed to read, watch a favorite
television show, or meditate. If I accept an invitation to a party or event, I
make sure I get a lot of work in beforehand so I can go with a clear head and
enjoy myself. If I plan a weekend away I tend to feel panicky knowing that I’m
not accomplishing on the work front and will most likely return to a very long
list of emails. It’s hard to relax knowing that.
Tell us about your
book.
I’m very excited to have just released my second novel, Neurotically Yours. It’s the story of
Dara Harrison, a single, tell-it-like-is advice columnist in Los Angeles
How do you create
your characters?
I start out with a seed of a person, infuse them with
opinions, emotions, attitude, and desires and somehow they come to three
dimensional life in my head. Then I really flush them out with dialogue, which
I consider a strong suit.
Do you have any
upcoming events or book promotions?
I’m in the throes of a month long blog tour and details can
be found on my blog:
Where can people find
you and your work on the web?
Read all about me and my books on my website:
Read my relationship column at:
Find me on Facebook:
Follow me on Twitter:
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