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!

12 comments:

  1. OMGosh - how could you not love Bunkie?
    My dogs are as loved as my children - I would love to win a copy of A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story!
    Thanks

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

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  2. Sounds a wonderful read - thanks for the chance to win

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  3. Pet memoirs are so wonderful. Good luck to all who enter.

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  4. Everyone, please leave your email address or he'll have to choose the winner from the ones who did. Thank you!

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  5. Glad to have you here, Chuck! I've read the book and I just loved it...love pet memoirs! Is there a next book coming up? Please make sure you put me down for a review, okay?

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  6. This cover makes me want to get a dog! Please enter me!

    vvperesk@gmail.com

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  7. This sounds like such a delightfully wonderful story. Great interview, Dorothy and Charles! Charles, do you ever see yourself writing other genres? If so, what types of novels? Also, are there any breeds of dogs that you prefer over others? We have a shih tzu and he is just like another baby boy around here, lol. Love him to pieces!

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  8. Hi Dorothy, I'm glad that you liked the Bunkie Story. I'm working on a few other books, "Moondoggie and the Boston Terrier Horde" is the next one. The alpha male is Moondoggie, his significant other is Gidget (dating myself here aren't I?). It's a story about life with our BT clan - not for the weak willed are these dogs. I've written and published "Dad, Dog and Fish" (the Bunkie Story is the center of this book), it's an Emery family memoir and put out by my imprint Bunkiedog Press.

    Send me your info at Charles_Emery@comcast.net and I'll make sure that you get a Moondoggie copy for review when it comes out.

    Thanks, Chuck

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  9. Hi April. Thanks for the great review Dorothy, it's great when someone likes your work. April, I've been bouncing an idea for a Hitchcock type thriller in my noggin. I have a name for the book, 'Donation', I'm doing the outline now and I scribble down thoughts as I work at my day job. I've also thought about doing some political commentary books but my views are to the right of Genghis Khan, so my audience will probably be limited.

    I love dogs and it's a subject that I feel strongly about, so I'll keep doing dof stories for sure. We're dominated at home by the Boston Terrier Horde, so it's hard not to think about the critters.

    I like all dogs. As you can see, I'm partial to Lab's. I like hunting breeds as that was what I was raised with and there is nothing like watching a dog work, magnificent. I have a special place in my heart for Boston Terriers, great dogs. I credit Moondoggie for helping my wife through some very rough times. In my book, there are no bad breeds. Dad had a few sayings, as follows:

    “Dogs are God’s perfect creation. Never has another animal provided so much love and companionship to the human race. The world would be a poorer place with no cold wet noses or sloppy face licks from a puppy, or an old dog for that matter.”

    “Dogs don’t live as long as man for one reason only; God has given them 100 years worth of love. They can’t help but give all their love away too soon. If you set down and figure it out, a dog gives exactly seven times the love that a human does.”

    “When a dog enters the world, he is a blank slate; his owner is the one that molds his soul and personality. Dogs differ from human children in this respect; sometimes children from families with great parents and upbringing just turn out bad. I have never seen a dog that wasn’t mistreated or taught to be aggressive turn out bad. I’m sure there are exceptions, but they are just that, exceptions.”

    “Dog’s are always glad to see you. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been gone for 10 minutes or two weeks, when your dog sees you, it’s glad that you’re there and they’re with you.”

    “Dog’s make the best companions; they commiserate well and don’t judge you, even when you know damn well you’re the one in the wrong.”

    Dad loved dogs.

    There's more but I don't want to clog the blog with the whole "Dad, Dog & Fish" book.

    Shih Tzu's are great dogs. Our other member of the clan is Blackie and he's part ST. I think he's an alien though.

    Thanks for the interest April!

    Chuck

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  11. Anonymous5:31 PM

    "I love Bunkie!"
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com)

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  12. We've tossed everyone in a hat and want to congratulate Libby for winning a free copy of A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story!!! Libby, email me your mailing address at thewriterslife@yahoo.com. Congrats!!!

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