A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story by Charles Franklin Emery III - Q&A + Blog Tour + Giveaway

Charles Franklin Emery III was born in Los Angeles, California in 1956. He joined the US Navy Submarine force in 1977 and spent the following six years on Fast Attack and Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines as a Sonar Technician and Sonar Supervisor. He forged a career in commercial Nuclear Power and is now a Consulting Engineer to various electric utilities. He is an avid fisherman and hunter, enjoys working on his 1964 Plymouth Savoy and collecting colonial American coins. Drag Racing is also a passion and his 1964 Plymouth Savoy Nostalgia Super Stocker provides the needed outlet. He now resides with a Boston Terrier horde and his wife Sherry in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Charles owns and operates his own publishing imprint, Bunkiedog Press. The website address for Bunkiedog Press is http://www.bunkiedog.com. Bunkiedog Press has published Dad, Dog and Fish & A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story and A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story - Second Edition. He is currently working on the memoirs Moondoggie and the Boston Terrier Horde, Gearhead and Bubblehead.


Welcome to The Writer's Life, Charles. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

Charles: I'm a Consulting Engineer to the nuclear utility industry with an emphasis in Relaying and Controls. I'm 53 years old and sometimes I feel like I'm 18 or 118. I've been writing for the past few years now that I have the time. Very little, but some time.

Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?

Charles: I wrote A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story - Second Edition to commemorate the best canine friend I've ever had, Bunkie, a yellow Labrador Retriever. I had him for 14+ years and shared many a laugh and tear with Bunkie. The book is my way of sharing him with others and is a small tribute so that he will be around long after I'm gone. He got me through some tough times and I owed him this. I also did the same for my Dad in my book Dad, Dog & Fish. Both Dad and Bunkie deserve remembrance.

What kind of research was involved in writing your book?

Charles: These are memoirs, so I look at pictures to spur the old brain and write from the mind and heart.

Has it been a bumpy ride to becoming a published author or has it been pretty well smooth sailing?

Charles: Once I started my imprint, Bunkiedog Press, it's been smooth. I'm my own critic along with my wife Sherry and the Boston Terrier Horde. Sherry critiques and the dogs listen. The dogs like it, it must be good.

For this particular book, how long did it take from the time you signed the contract to its release?

Charles: Not applicable in this case, as I publish through my own imprint and retain all rights as well as the headaches.

Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?

Charles: No, I have never had an agent. At this point in my life I don't see me ever using one but never say never.

Do you plan subsequent books?

Charles: Yep. Moondoggie and the Boston Terrier Horde, Gearhead and Bubblehead are current projects due in 2010 sometime

Can you describe your most favorite place to write?

Charles: I write in my garage, quiet out there, aside from the Boston Terrier Horde making unannounced and rather raucous appearances.

If money was no object, what would be the first thing you would invest in to promote your book?

Charles: I'd buy the internet and have Chuck TV running on all web addresses

How important do you think self-promotion is and in what ways have you been promoting your book offline and online?

Charles: I'm a private person and find talking about myself and books to be difficult. It's very important to self-promote, but alas, I'm a slacker in that department by choice. I do feel that A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story - Second Edition is worthy of promotion, so I''m sucking it up and doing what does not come natural to me.

What’s the most common reason you believe new writers give up their dream of becoming published and did you almost give up?

Charles: The Query rejections and the lack of available publishing space through traditional publishers. I never gave up and just bypassed the whole deal by establishing Bunkiedog Press.

Any final words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?

Charles: Keep trying and think outside the box. Keep a good sense of humor and realize that they may be able to kill you but they can't eat you. Persevere.

Thank you for your interview, Charles. I wish you much success!

Charles: Thank You

We're having a giveaway! Leave a comment or a question for Charles between now and January 22 and you could be the winner of an autographed copy of Charles' new book, A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story! Or simply write "I love Bunkie!" in the comment section!

Only those leaving email addresses with their comment or question qualifies.

The winner will be announced on Jan. 25.

Good luck!