*images above provided by Lillian Brummet

Today I’m sharing a special interview with author Lillian Brummet. Lillian and her husband Dave have run the Brummet Media Group for the past 25 years.

MC: You run the Brummet Media Group and write with your husband. Do you have any tips for working and writing with friends and family members?

Lillian: The first thing the co-writers, and therefore business partners, should do is create a thoughtful contract. This is a brief document discussing what is expected from each person (what they promise to do), the title of the book, followed by a paragraph outlining the contingency and succession plans.

Here you would discuss what happens if the relationship dissolves, if one person fails to accomplish their side of things, if one or both writers pass on who will now own the rights to this project (once it is published). This way each of you know who you will be working with and what current wishes each of you have. Of course this should be dated, signed and (preferably) witnessed.

The second thing you will be getting in place is the business plan, and this has several sections starting with the purpose of the project, evaluation of each other’s talents and skills and desires, what each other is willing to take on or learn that will take you to the next level.

You will be looking at the operations of things, the day-to-day activities. You will talk about marketing ideas, who will take on various tasks, how you will start and where you plan to go from there. At the very start of the relationship many of these things will be vague, but as time moves forward you will fine tune and update the business plan every 3-5 years. It takes, really, just a couple days of deep discussions and getting things on paper in a simple, brief format that you can both easily refer to.

Working with others can involve moments where we might have to step away to have to clear our heads, walk away and let emotions settle, come back with a solution-mindset and with a purposeful positive focus on the challenge at hand. Have regular meetings and really listen to each other's fears, concerns, challenges. Find ways to support each other.

Expect delays and disruptions, life isn't easy - so be patient with each other. But hold each other accountable as well by having that action plan in place. Figure out what your goals are for the year and then break it down into monthly agenda, so that it flows like a stair case getting you where you want to go. Those monthly meetings will help you evaluate what worked, where the issues were and what could be done about it.

When you are a couple, a married couple in particular, working together can get stale if you bring the business into every single conversation. You have to turn that part of yourself off once in a while, even though the business is right there in the home... and never goes away. Allow each other the time, the space, the compassion to be where they are, to feel those emotions and struggle with things. Don't harp and worry and frett and over-discuss the situation. Just be there for them, supporting them where you can because they will do the same for you - and you know you'll be feeling that way one day.

MC: You publish a variety of books from poetry to nonfiction, do you have a favourite genre or type of book to write? If so, why do you enjoy it the most?

Lillian: You are right we have a poetry book series, a green-living series, a book marketing guide, a cookbook, and a trilogy (coming this summer). We have a lot of interests and experiences that we like to write about - which was a consious decision. When we embarked on this career we made the conscious choice to create positive change in the world, based on experiences we had as gardeners, cooks, freelance writers, staff writers for newspapers and magazines, talk radio hosts and as assignment writers. It all led up to the books we have out now.

My favorite... they are all my babies, you know. I was going to say From One Small Garden - Over 300 Delicious Nutritious Recipes, but then right away my brain tossed in the Trash Talk - It's Easy To Be Green Series followed closely by the guidebook for writers, Purple Snowflake Marketing. lol... The cookbook is probably the best contendor re: being a favorite.

It is the most recent one and has had a wonderful reception keeping us busy with book signings and interviews. It has been a great way to support local community events from the Spring Festival event to the Santa Parade or Fall Fair - who have used it as one of their various prizes. Or supporting local businesses and friends with booths who use it to draw traffic their way by hosting a draw for the cookbook. We've been able to donate copies of this and other books, gift certificates or instruments to various silent fundraisers, and with 2 retail outlets in our small city stocking our books, well ...it has been a wild ride since the cookbook was published in Feb 2021.

MC: Have you had to overcome any challenges to be a writer?

Lillian: All the time! lol The world of writing is constantly evolving and there is always 15 new tools to add right after I just got used to using the last tool. I feel like I've been in university since I began in 1999. But that is also the joy of it, I think - it is impossible to get bored. I enjoy learning and discovering new tools, using platforms I haven't yet had a chance to explore... and I've learned to not get distracted by every single new shiny thing.

The main focus should be managing what I have on my plate right now and then slowly adding one item from the list. I call that list, and yes I have one, Opportunities. This helps me establish the mindset that I have all of these opportunities sitting there waiting for me to follow up on as soon as the schedule allows. Otherwise, one might fall into the thinking that they are failing, not good enough, not doing enough and have a long list of "shoulds" that weigh on their shoulders.

MC: What is your top writing advice for aspiring authors?

Lillian: Practice and be willing to learn new skills, new techniques, new platforms and use new tools. Be patient with yourself. Be responsive, tenacious, organized and take care of your self, as well.

MC: Writing is a time consuming endeavor. How do you make time to write, and how do you motivate yourself to keep going?

Lillian: The hardest part for me is actually getting the time to write re: creatively or book production. lol Today for instance I had a fairly clear schedule, I thought, with an interview at 11 AM, and a webinar at 1PM. I had a note to upload a video on our YouTube channel as well. But when I looked up at the computer, I had 37 emails (after eliminating the junk) to go through including an E-zine who wanted to choose from my list of available articles for a couple upcoming issues, and 2 more people wanted to be interviewed on my blog.

After dealing with those, I worked on a print magazine's urgent request for a 600-word article before setting it aside to do the 45 minute interview. There were follow up conversations with the podcast host, followed by a final proof of the article before sending that off to the magazine. I barely had time for lunch, in fact I ate it cold, standing up at the counter, before attending the 2 hour webinar. (She laughs.)

This interview here was my next project, but in the meantime I still have a couple dozen emails to deal with, the video to upload, and I haven't managed the Amazon Ads this week either. Just now, a notice came in saying a podcast interview was just published, so I'll need to listen to it and set up the promotions for that before day's end. It often goes like that.

When I decide to take on a creative or book writing project, I have to schedule the time off. I use one of those day timers and I'll literally mark writing days off—no interviews, no phone calls, no appointments, no visitors, no chores and no cooking. Just writing. That way I can focus and really get in the zone.

MC: What is your writing process like?

Lillian: I like to write with ambient music in the background. It soothes the dogs, drowns out exterior noise and is not distracting. I'll give the dogs stuffed treats after a long bathroom break, and then settle in for the writing process.

I always start with defining the purpose of the project. I want to know who the audience is, or the intended audience. I look for things that will appeal to them, questions they have, and I want to have an idea re: what has been written on the subject so that I can pick out areas or angles that have not been covered yet.

I'm actually working on a book manuscript right now and this one is so involved that I am using a bullet-point outline, that reveals the order of the chapters and a list of topics that are going to be covered in that chapter. As I'm working on the project and think of something I can easily go to the right section and add that thought right away. The only other book that required an outline was the book marketing guide.

MC: Do you have a favorite writing spot? Tell us about it and why you love it so much. 

Lillian: Yes, my office is located in the area of a home where the dining room is traditionally located. In fact the living room is right behind me and the kitchen is to my left. To my right are the windows and sliding deck doors revealing the view across the valley—beautiful—and the stunning mountains beyond. I prefer to use the computer and keyboard for the writing process, but I'm making notes by hand whenever thoughts strike my poor old brain.

Dave and I write in total partnership. Based on our discussions and note-taking sessions, I will do the research, gather data and start on the manuscript which is then tweaked and twerked this way and that way based on further feedback and discussions. Following this I do the best edit I can before handing it off to Dave. Dave takes on the various edits and rewrites, copy, book cover design, formatting, uploading to the publisher, updating images, creating book trailers and coming up with helpful marketing blurbs.

From there I'll head off to follow the marketing plan... Most (but not all) of the marketing, promotions, advertising and networking is done by myself, but Dave handles any in-person event from meeting with a manager to working with a non-profit fundraiser to doing a workshop or book signing event. Being a musician, he's used to being in those types of situations and excels there.

MC: Which authors or favorite books inspire your writing?

Lillian: I have 3 bookcases filled with our favorites... of those, the ones that stand out to me are:  The Sea Of Trolls (Nancy Farmer), North Lander (Burden), Ovum Factor (Marvin Zimmerman), Watership Down (Richard Adams), Gypsy Amber (Martin Smith) and On Stranger Tides (Tim Powers). I'm aching to dip my fingers back into writing short stories, flash fiction... but my schedule just does not allow it.

MC: What was your favorite genre to read when you were growing up?

Lillian: When it came to reading for enjoyment I was really, really into Tolkien's books, fantasy, adventure, thriller and even a few scary books and murder mystery genres. Actually, I don't think my taste has changed! (She laughs.)

Thanks so much for this insightful interview, Lillian!

Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes the Angle Hill Studio (drum teaching /repair services), The Brummet Media Channel (on YouTube), numerous award-winning books (on Amazon) and two very popular blogs.

Visit the Brummet's @: https://linktr.ee/LillianBrummet or

 https://taplink.cc/brummet -&- drop by their Amazon Author Page @:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0845RLK1X