Author Mike Allegra, featured last week here, is kindly hosting me on his blog this week. Check it out!
Hi, Betsy! Come on in. Pull up a chair. How do you like your waffles?
Thanks, Mike! I’m so honored to be here. As to my waffles, normally I just have syrup, but since this is a special occasion, I say go all out: gimme some whipped cream, blueberries and strawberries. I feel like living large today.
Then live large you shall. How did you get started in the advice book business? Was there an epiphany, an aha moment when you thought, “Hey, this stuff I’m doing might help others?”
There kind of was. I remember lying in bed one night running through a potential scenario with my kids, advising them how to handle whatever situation had befallen them, as I tended to do whilst trying to fall asleep, and I thought, these situations may never happen, but I should still write this stuff down.
And then I never did.
Months later, a publishing connection fell into my lap, so I decided to pitch the idea of a humorous parenting book. It was accepted, and I finally made good on the promise to myself to let the thoughts in my head come out and play.
Congratulations on your new book, Be a Happier Parent or Laugh Trying! How would you describe your own parenting style? Has your style changed as you’ve had more children?
Keep reading, and please show Mike some appreciation by liking this post on his blog.
Thank you!
You are a wonderful interview subject, Betsy—even if you can’t speak Polish.
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Kielbasa! There! 🙂
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What a title–Waffles for Writers. It does make me think warm, syrupy thoughts. I’ll go check out the rest of the interview!
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Does sound yummy. Wish we could’ve done this in person with real waffles. Mike lives near Vermont, so I’ll bet he could get the real deal on syrup, too. Thanks, Jacqui!
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New Jersey ain’t exactly “near Vermont.” Am I nearer to Vermont than you, Betsy?
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It’s near Vermont when you live in California.
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The more I read about you the more impressed I am by you. And just out of curiosity how does a publishing connection ‘fall into your lap’? I need to hear this story!
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I was shopping a publisher for my boss. The acquisitions agent at OSV responded to me with a no. In the signature of that email was a list of all the book topics they published, including humor and parenting. After waiting a respectful amount of time after my boss’s book found a home with a different publisher, I asked if she would mind if I pitched my book to this publisher. You know the rest. 🙂
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Well by gosh…..it was meant to be!!!! 🙂
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I know! Thank you, Lord!
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Mmmm, waffles! Reminds me of Shrek, when Donkey offers to make “waffles!” Off to read the rest of the interview 😀
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This sounds like an adorable book.
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Thanks, Kelley! 🙂
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🤗❤️️
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Waffles brings out the best in all of us. Even Mike.
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Haha. Good one, Cricketmuse.
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“Thoughts come out and play.” LOVE it.
You are so funny.
What a lucky husband you have. 😉
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Snort! I would only marry an equally funny man. Well, almost equally. 😉
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That is awesome! It was definitely meant to be! Congratulations!
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Thank you, Diane! 🙂
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Congratulations, Betsy! How thrilling!
And what wonderful stories to tell! Such an endearing and adorable cover.
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Thanks, PP! And, yes, the cover is great! I was happy with it too. 🙂
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