Wednesday, May 9, 2012

On Tour With.....


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!!



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. Dara decides to open up a very unusual new dating service geared for perennially single, romantically challenged people who want to figure out what they’ve been doing wrong all their lives. At MateSearch, clients are encouraged to divulge everything about themselves, warts and all, in hopes of attracting true love. They are also asked to post reviews of their dates, which of course gets Dara into all sorts of trouble! With her company threatened and a publicity stunt gone haywire, Dara is forced to join the ranks of her lonely heart clientele and finds that saving her business means finally facing her lifelong fear of falling in love.

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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