Ask the Author: Brendan O'Meara
Answered Questions (8)
Brendan O'Meara
I found an old love letter on the ground one day, written in Portuguese. There's an email address on it and it's signed with the young women's lips in red lipstick.
It's dated 2011.
Is she still in the country? Who is she? Did she find her love? This would make for a good nonfiction story.
It's dated 2011.
Is she still in the country? Who is she? Did she find her love? This would make for a good nonfiction story.
Brendan O'Meara
I think I'd have to go with Jim and Pam from The Office. I know that's not from a book, but they put a smile on my face. A close second is Andy and April from Parks and Rec.
Brendan O'Meara
Hey, Steve, I know I answered this question in an email, but I'm going to answer it here as well for others who may have the same question.
I saw this image in late June/early July and I remember telling myself, "If my book gets published, and Rachel Alexandra does something special at Saratoga, I want THAT picture to be my book cover, and I want it to be the ENTIRE cover."
I was struck by the sky, the colors, the sweat, the veins. People have been critical of it because you can't see Rachel's face, but I'm okay with that. I wanted to change the cover for the paperback, but my publisher didn't get back to me on that and I failed to press the issue. Plus, it's a Saratoga book, not a Rachel book (another point of contention for many readers).
It just so happens that the photo was from the Mother Goose that year and that the saddlecloth coincidentally matched her's from the Woodward.
From Day 1, I wanted that to be the cover and the head of SUNY Press went to bat for it when nobody else liked it (because there's no face).
So, it wasn't a mistake, I was struck by Nick Aquilino's photograph and we went with it.
Thanks, Steve!
I saw this image in late June/early July and I remember telling myself, "If my book gets published, and Rachel Alexandra does something special at Saratoga, I want THAT picture to be my book cover, and I want it to be the ENTIRE cover."
I was struck by the sky, the colors, the sweat, the veins. People have been critical of it because you can't see Rachel's face, but I'm okay with that. I wanted to change the cover for the paperback, but my publisher didn't get back to me on that and I failed to press the issue. Plus, it's a Saratoga book, not a Rachel book (another point of contention for many readers).
It just so happens that the photo was from the Mother Goose that year and that the saddlecloth coincidentally matched her's from the Woodward.
From Day 1, I wanted that to be the cover and the head of SUNY Press went to bat for it when nobody else liked it (because there's no face).
So, it wasn't a mistake, I was struck by Nick Aquilino's photograph and we went with it.
Thanks, Steve!
Brendan O'Meara
No such thing. Just get to the page and start hammering. It may be garbage, but that's for the rewriting phase.
Brendan O'Meara
Being in nonfiction forces me to meet and talk to people. As a result I get to see and do interesting things with passionate people.
Writing sure beats being in a coal mine.
Writing sure beats being in a coal mine.
Brendan O'Meara
1. Journal three pages every morning.
2. Experience cool things.
3. Write about cool things interestingly.
4. Meet people.
5. Be curious/Ask lots of questions.
6. Share your work, what I call "DVD Extras."
7. It's work, so do the work.
2. Experience cool things.
3. Write about cool things interestingly.
4. Meet people.
5. Be curious/Ask lots of questions.
6. Share your work, what I call "DVD Extras."
7. It's work, so do the work.
Brendan O'Meara
I'll loosely quote the great Neil Gaimen here: If I wrote only when inspired, I wouldn't get anything done.
Sit in the chair. Do the work.
Sit in the chair. Do the work.
Brendan O'Meara
The book I'm working on, a memoir about my father and baseball, took root when I went to watch him play in a senior slow-pitch softball tournament.
I was intrigued in this idea of the son watching the father play ball. It was a good way to explore our relationship through sport and the changing roles as we age.
I was intrigued in this idea of the son watching the father play ball. It was a good way to explore our relationship through sport and the changing roles as we age.
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