Welcome
Vickey Kall
Author bio:
Baby Boomer Vickey Kall left corporate America around
15 years ago to put her Master Plan into operation. She returned to school,
scored a Masters Degree, and began writing for a living. Yeah, she expected to
make a living at that. She was naive,
ok?
The end of 2013 is the point in the Master Plan
code-named "Unbridled Success," and YOU can be a part of it! Buy
Vickey's book now. Buy several copies and give them as gifts. Demand she be
featured on Oprah! Force the media moguls and Wall Street movers to pay
attention! It's up to you, and you, and you--an all the other good little girls
and boys I see in my Magic Mirror.
Oops, did I go a bit overboard there?
Brief synopsis of
your book:
The
Boomer Book of Christmas Memories is collection of the true and sometimes wacky
stories behind the fads and holiday traditions that Baby Boomers cherish. Who
dreamed up aluminum trees? What kids' game originated in a polio ward? Which
toy designer was married to Zsa Zsa Gabor? The Boomer Book of Christmas Memories
reveals all this and more! Read about the decorations, foods, songs, TV
specials, and most especially the toys of the era--from the late 1940s through
the 1960s.
Book title:
The Boomer Book
of Christmas Memories
Current book or
project you’re working on:
What was the
inspiration for your novel?
I don't know! I honestly don't remember what sparked the
idea, and it bothers me now.
Please share
three interesting facts about your book which are not covered in the synopsis.
1) The inventor of the Slinky went
wild with partying, then got religion and started stuffing Bible tracts into
the Slinky boxes with the toys. He left his family to become a missionary in
Bolivia.
2) Paramount pictures wanted $2500.00 to allow me to use a
still from the movie White Christmas
in the book. (I declined)
3) Many things--like
StingRay bicycles, Hula Hoops, SuperBalls and Silly Putty, came about through
the most random and bizarre sequences of events, it's almost unbelievable.
Who is the most
complex character from your current novel?
N/A--unless it's that crazy Slinky inventor
Are there any
characters in your book that remind you of yourself?
N/A--there really aren't any characters in my book. It's
nonfiction.
If you could pick
any well known or famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
Stephen King! He's a
Boomer, he appreciates good writing and good stories, and I think he'd love the
book.
Genre/Author/Reader:
What genre does
your book fall into?
Pop culture, history, or nostalgia.
What is the first
book you remember reading, that affected how you thought or felt about
something?
Probably fairy tales. Those stories affected how I thought
about women, or girls older than me, about what made a good story, and a lot
more. Because of that I can understand why some get so angry over fairy tales
that constantly portray women as victims who must be rescued. Hey, I bought
into that for a long time!
Which three
authors have inspired you the most, and why?
1) J. R. R. Tolkien--I discovered him in the 60s, and suddenly
realized that fantasy--pure, unadulterated fantasy--was permissible.
2) Isabel Allende, because she mixes history and fantasy so
delightfully.
3) Barbara Tuchman, whose history books were so lively and
interesting
And the last two are examples--I could easily have named
others. But Tolkien is unique.
Have you ever read
a book you couldn’t finish reading?
All the time. Life is too short to force yourself to read
books you don't enjoy.
Do you read a
book, while you are writing a book?
Yes, because I need a break from myself, and a good book can
be very inspiring.
The process:
How many books
have you written? Which book is your favourite and why?
Four: Two that were never published, then The Boomer Book of
Christmas Memories and Death Speaker, a historical novel. I love them both, but
the novel has more of an emotional impact.
Is there anything
that helps get you in the mood to write?
Not really. I'm
almost always in the mood--unless I'm really tired. I don't even like the idea
that someone shouldn't write without being in the mood. You have to write; you
can't wait for the right mood.
What were three
challenges you faced when writing your book?
1) The decision to go with full color pictures and titles,
etc. I didn't want to because of the expense, but my book designer (wonderful
person!) convinced me by showing me how the book would look in color. It was
just too beautiful to ignore.
2) Digging for information. I love research, though, so I
didn't hate that part--but it was challenging at times.
3) Deciding what to include. For instance, I took out a
section on Sea Monkeys because it wasn't really a Christmas gift. And where do
you draw the line in talking about how the Barbie doll was developed? It's
fascinating and weird, but a whole book in itself.
What lessons have
you learned as an aspiring writer?
It is absolutely worth the investment to have your book
edited and proofed. Don't scrimp on this--we all need it! And don't scrimp on the cover either, because
that is what all potential readers first see.
Do you ever
experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to ‘overcome’?
No. I've heard a wonderful writer named Taffy
Brodesser-Akner talk about that. If you are supporting yourself, you just cannot
afford to indulge writers block. Just write, and keep writing.
What is the most
important thing you’ve learned, either in the self-publishing or traditional
publisher, route?
It changes constantly. What you experienced a year ago when
self-publishing will not be your experience today, and if you took a class in
self-publishing two years ago, everything you learned could be obsolete.
How long does it
usually take for you to complete a book?
The first one took over five years, the second 18 months.
But they're such different books that I don't know if that means anything.
Do you have any
ideas for your book and Hollywood? Actors, directors, music.
N/A
Which book to
movie conversion is your favourite?
Probably the latest Great Gatsby. I love the book, but it
was not written to be a movie. Robert Redford staged a very beautiful and
faithful movie of it in the 70s, and that puts me to sleep now. The new movie
takes many liberties--including the music, which was a deal-breaker for
some--but I thought Baz Luhrman captured the excitement and made the characters
understandable in a way that they never were before.
Do you watch a
lot of science fiction or fantasy movies?
Yes!
Do you study
science, the planets, history or anything special to help you with your
writing?
Absolutely. This book was a complete and total immersion in
history. Every page--every sentence is backed up by research. But even with the
novel, research is crucial because your readers are smart. If you tell them
that a full moon rose at noon, they may throw your book away and tell everyone
else not to read it. So you must do research.
What, who, and
when were you first inspired you to write?
A small spiral notebook and a copy of Peter Pan that I read
in school around the 2nd grade. I wanted to write that book so badly that when
I came home from school every day I wrote that story in my notebook, as well as
I could remember it.
Personal favs:
Drink – Coffee
Food – Pastries
and candy bars.
Vacation –
France, but on a tour so I don't have to stress out over my weak knowledge of
the language.
TV show – Once
Upon A Time
Movie – Lord of
the Rings or Pirates of the Caribbean will always grab my attention
Animal – My dog
Sport – Whatever
my grandsons are playing
Book – OH, hard!
There are so many great ones! Harry
Potter, today.
How can people
connect with you?
Website/Blog: BoomerBookofChristmas.com, or VickeyKall.com
Twitter: @VKHistory
Facebook: Boomer
Book of Christmas, or Vickey Kall
Goodreads: Vickey
Kall
Where can readers
find your book?
On Amazon:
Honestly, that is the best place. Retail/bookstores will not
carry it because, in order to keep the price under $40, I can't give them the
discount they need. So please go to
Amazon for the full-color Boomer Book of
Christmas Memories, in either eBook ($5.99) or print ($38.)
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