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| Cullinan Diamond mostinterestingfacts.com |
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| The Crown Jewels of Romance! Binnie is in the back row, second from left. |
Today's guest is a special gem to the romance community - Binnie Syril Braunstein. She joins for me for a cozy chat!
Kim: You live in the Baltimore area - can you share your favorite sight, sound, and smell?|
Binnie: My favorite sight is the Washington Monument - Baltimore's monument, that is - on Mt. Vernon Square.
My favorite sound is the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra!
My favorite smell is the enticing aroma coming out of the stacks at McCormick's (in Baltimore County).
Kim: You kindly sent me several of your romance books during my R&R. Can you tell us about your books and your path to publishing?
Binnie: One day, on the way to my job as a librarian, I heard words in my head: "He was ugly. Very ugly." I didn't know who was ugly, or why, but I scribbled down some notes when I got to work. Eventually, I had written a short story, which later turned into a modern version of "Beauty and the Beast," with the theme, "I love you the way you are." It was eventually published as a short story in Woman's World, along with quite a few others. My second book also started out as a short story, but was eventually published as my first book, The Color of Love. After that, my first short story, which had turned into the book of my heart, was published as Out of the Darkness. The third book, Baby Love, was published later. All three books are set in Baltimore.
Binnie: My favorite sight is the Washington Monument - Baltimore's monument, that is - on Mt. Vernon Square.
My favorite sound is the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra!
My favorite smell is the enticing aroma coming out of the stacks at McCormick's (in Baltimore County).
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| Mt Vernon Square freelargephotos.com |
Kim: You kindly sent me several of your romance books during my R&R. Can you tell us about your books and your path to publishing?
Binnie: One day, on the way to my job as a librarian, I heard words in my head: "He was ugly. Very ugly." I didn't know who was ugly, or why, but I scribbled down some notes when I got to work. Eventually, I had written a short story, which later turned into a modern version of "Beauty and the Beast," with the theme, "I love you the way you are." It was eventually published as a short story in Woman's World, along with quite a few others. My second book also started out as a short story, but was eventually published as my first book, The Color of Love. After that, my first short story, which had turned into the book of my heart, was published as Out of the Darkness. The third book, Baby Love, was published later. All three books are set in Baltimore.
Kim: You also write other forms of fiction - what are they and what inspires them?
Binnie: I've written many short stories, 49 of which have been published. The first one was a Christmas story about a woman slated to spend Christmas alone... and then encounters unexpected company. My second published story was about a single mom and the guy across the hall, set against the background of a New York blackout. It was called, "Once Upon a Time, There Was a Purple Dragon."
I wrote a couple of dog stories, both about couples where one person loved dogs, but the other wasn't so easy to convince. One story dealt with a woman expecting to spend New Year's Eve alone: "Champagne for One." And one of my favorite stories was about a woman so tired of the singles scene that when a man calls up and asks her for a date, she turns him down. But she then agrees to "phone dates." As you can tell, I love the short story format! All of my short stories except one were romances.
I've also written poetry. My writing career really started out when I wrote six poems dedicated to a friend who had died. I designed the book, had it typeset, copies printed, and copyrighted it, and gave copies to my late friend's family. The day the book went to the printer, those fateful words, "He was ugly, very ugly," came into my head.
Binnie: I started out doing publicity for myself and branched out when a fellow romance author asked me to help her. One of the challenges is that each author I work with is different, wanting different things. Typically, I custom design plans for each author, all the while keeping to my mantra, "Champagne publicity on a lemonade budget."
Kim; If a reader is interested in your writing, or an author is interested in your services, how can they contact you?
Binnie: My books are available on the out of print market, in places like Paperback Swap, etc. An author who is interested in my publicity service, Press Kit Communications, can contact me via email: BSBGC@aol.com.
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| Glorious Baltimore! |
Mahalo, Binnie, for joining us today at SOS Aloha! I know I will see many of Binnie's clients at RT in Chicago. I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Have you ever reacted to an idea that popped into your head?
I met Binnie at an idea that popped into my head - the Fort Meade Old Fashioned Tea Party (at this link).
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| Sally MacKenzie (left), Diane Gaston (right) and me at the tea party! |
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, January 28, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 29.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
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| The Cullinan Diamond atop the sceptre. |
That is a beautiful stone. Amazing how they form. I have lots of ideas that pop in my head but most are not worthy of putting into action.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I laughed out loud when I read that "He was ugly." popped into Binnie's head and she wrote it down! Nice interview! I enjoyed reading about Binnie!
ReplyDelete~Cecelia Dowdy~
I occasionally try to do things that pop in my head but I forget many of them since my memory is not what it used to be.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes do things that pop into my head I think the last one was make pizza from scratch.
ReplyDeletereally good pic "Glorious Baltimore" and "The Cullinan Diamond atop the sceptre"
ReplyDeletei have so many ideas in my mind and sometime i'm trying to make it happen and i think i'm a bit like set something up ;)
Great post, Kim! Usually I think 100 times before actually doing something, I'm not spontaneous person. Just once I reacted immediatelly and I ended up with a bright orange kitchen.
ReplyDeleteBinnie, I must have been living with my head under a rock. I had no idea you had written so many short stories. Mega kudos to you! I think its much harder to write short - all the good stuff has to be spot on or the whole thing flops. It was great to learn more about you and to see those lovely pics of Baltimore. I have fond remembrances of the WRW Teas as well. I think I've been to two of them and both were worth the trip. Blessings everyone! Maggie
ReplyDeleteI have tried a few things that have popped into my head. The last one was making some chocolate chip cookies from scratch.
ReplyDeleteNice interview. There are lots of fun things to do in Baltimore--if you prowl around looking for them. In Canton, I discovered an old building that used to be a broom factory and had been turned into shops and offices. Who knew? I used it in a book. And when a friend was here in August, we took a speedboat ride in the Inner Harbor. I also love wandering around the Balto Washington Monument--especially during the Baltimore Book Festival. Then there's my fave restaurant, Charleston, in Harbor East.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
I have a lot of ideas that pop into my head, but I don't act on them all. For stories, I have my idea notebook, and I'll jot ideas down in it. Spontaneous ideas like moving the furniture around, painting walls, etc do occur and I usually act on them right away before the "muse" for that kind of work goes away.
ReplyDeleteI have loads of ideas sometimes I follow through on them because I recon the ones that stand out are the good ones and so far I am right ! I love the pics of the diamond and I am also very proud to say I do not stay far from where the gorgeous stone was found !
ReplyDeleteWhenever I start a sentence with, "I have an idea," I get strange looks from the Hubs. Yes, sometimes I have reacted to ideas that have popped into this brain of mine. No results were disastrous; maybe hilarious!
ReplyDeleteLove the pic of the Queens!
I have had many "Ideas", some worked and some did not. lol
ReplyDeleteGreat pic of Queen Elizabeth. She looks so young. I have not read any of Binnie's books but will put on my wish list to read.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I usually don't react to ideas that pop into my head. Sometimes I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably not the most impromptu person but someone else can usually get me to go along with their's lol.
ReplyDeletecatslady
I have gone along with a few ideas that have popped into my head. This has had mixed results, but I'm usually never sorry that I went for it anyway!
ReplyDelete~Heather
book_lover6983@yahoo.com
Wow, Binnie, you have been so prolific! I had no idea! It was fun "getting to know" you and I agree you're definitely a gem--thank you for the interview, Kim! :-)
ReplyDeleteThe ideas I usually react to involve food. If I get a craving or an inspiration to make a dish I will set out to do it.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Can't really think of any ideas that I've tried to act on; usually I can't remember them!! I was able to visit Baltimore once and just loved the inner harbor and the aquarium! Would definitely love to return.
ReplyDeleteI think on it ,but don't do anything wit it lol
ReplyDeleteKimh
Binnie is a fabulous publicist! I can attest to it!
ReplyDeleteI frequently react to things that pop into my head...sometimes when I shouldn't! Most of the time it is just a craving for food or a sudden idea that I should do something...but I sometimes discover that planning (or following a recipe) is the better path to follow!
ReplyDeleteI tend to be a very careful planer, so if an idea just pops into my head I usually think it's there for a reason & go with it.
ReplyDeleteoh, ive had a few times that ideas have popped in my head and when that happens, i usually do whatever the idea is. ;D and its not always for the best. lol the most recent thing to pop in my head, to write a book with a theme in mind. so far, so good! ;) thank you!
ReplyDeleteI decided I didn't want to live through another midwestern winter so I decided to move to another part of the country. I chose the Pacific Northwest. I had never been to Washington state but I made a decision and I am thrilled with the area. I know it could have been a reckless decision but it really turned out to be a great one.
ReplyDeletegeishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
My friend Binnie is the consummate resource for finding out what book I should read next. Of course it has increased my TBR pile tremendously. If only I could read as fast and as many as she does.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that pops in my head is that we should all write to Harlequin and tell them to reprint the 3 stories you show as e-books. They were great romances.
Cynthia Parker
Binnie,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you'd written so much. I do know that you're an amazing person and a wonderful force within the romance community. My sincere thanks to you for all that you do. *Hugs*
God bless.
I rarely act on any idea that pops into my head! It would not ever be a good idea, most my spur of the moment thoughts are not very smart! I think through everything way too much it seems! LOL Thanks for sharing wiwith us!
ReplyDeleteOmg the stone is soooo biggg:). Yes I do have lots of ideas n sometimes I used my idea to write down my uni assignment n my uni blog:). Cheers aretha_zhen@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI like to think things through before reacting to the ideas that pop into my head.
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting and reading about Binnie. A few ideas that popped into my head I acted on. But not so many now that I'm older and usually forget them anyway. lol
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Great interview, Kim! It was nice getting to get to know Binnie a bit :)
ReplyDelete