Q&A & Giveaway with Tim Rowland, Author of Tim Rowland's Creature Features

1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m a humor columnist for Herald-Mail Media in Hagerstown, Md., a job I’ve been doing for about 20 years now, because Ben and Jerry’s has failed to offer me the position of full-time ice cream tester—the only job that could conceivably be better than the one I have.

2. When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business? 

I’ve been writing since the age of 12, when I put out my own newspaper called “The Beaver,” which was manufactured with a typewriter and carbon paper. My newspaper went out of business after two issues, so in this respect I like to think I was ahead of my time.

3. Can you tell me a little bit about  your book and what inspired it?

The real inspiration came when we started getting involved in hobby farming and saving “heritage breeds” of livestock. We raised some rare breeds of goats, pigs and cattle, which we found to be far superior to commercial livestock. But they also turned out to be funnier—so, since I naturally write about my immediate surroundings, I began to incorporate their antics into my humor essays.

4. What do you hope that readers take way with them after reading your book? 

A good laugh. And if they perhaps learn a little bit about what animals have to tell us, I would consider that to be a bonus.

5. I find it interesting to know what environment authors find most productive… Do you use a pen and paper or laptop? Quiet room at home or bustling café? Basically, what gets your creative juices flowing?

I “write” my stuff while riding a bike, or doing anything outdoors. I later transcribe it wherever I can find a keyboard—home, office, library … location doesn’t matter.

6. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Some, a few, not many, but some, will suggest that from time to time my sentences will go on forever, but I don’t know if I really buy into that, since I’m just trying to, you know, put a few words together in a form that I hope will be readable and entertaining, and I hardly see this as a demerit, especially when you add in the fact that I am usually being paid by the word.

As for a compliment, if a person tells me she has laughed out loud, I can live off of that for a month.

7. What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?

On my nightstand is “The Signal and the Noise” by Nate Silver. My favorite authors are Mark Twain, Tom Robbins and David Foster Wallace.

8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Anything outside—hiking, mountain climbing, biking, gardening.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Your voice is a confluence of other accomplished authors, or should be. The more high-quality stuff you read, the better you will write.

10. What can we expect from you next?

For some reason I am fascinated by the great reforestation of the East Coast. Trouble is, I might be the only one, which does not translate into encouraging sales projections.

11.     Do any animals share your life? Please tell us about them.

Oh yes, that’s what this book is about. Everything from dogs and cats to alpacas and a mini horse. Animals, in fact, are my teachers.

And now for a little bit of fun:)  This or That? 

Coffee or Tea?   Coffee

Sweet or Salty?   Swalty

Beach or Lake?   Lake

Winter or Summer?  Autumn, although I’m starting to like winter better than I once did.                                                                        

Cats or Dogs?   Are you trying to get me killed? People will take this answer Very Seriously. I started out cats, but dogs are gaining.

Zombies or Vampires?   Vampires

Country or City?  Country

Shower or Bath?   Shower

Morning or Evening?  Morning, sad to say.

M&Ms or Skittles?  What’s a Skittle?

Trains or Planes?  Trains

Comedy or Drama?  Comedy                                                                                                   

Title:  Tim Rowland's Creature Features

Author:  Tim Rowland

Reading Level:  Adult

Publisher:  High Peaks Publishing
Release Date: November 16, 2012

Genre: Fiction, Animals, Humor Essays

Find the book: Goodreads

When Tim Rowland's earlier book of his animal essays, All Pets are Off, was published, readers immediately clamored for more. Their preference for animal stories over the political columns Tim's also known for is understandable: animals are way more fun to read about than politicians. Especially now.

So here's a new volume of over 75 warm and funny essays, from the introduction to the farm of bovines Cleopatra and Heifertiti, the Belted Galloway beauties, to the further antics of Hannah the English Bulldog and Juliet the tiny Siamese, along with assorted donkeys, pigs, goats, horses, chickens, geese-and of course, more of the joyful bouvier des Flandres named Opie-that's sure to provide loads of smiles and even outright guffaws.

Tim Rowland is an award-winning columnist at Herald-Mail Media in Hagerstown, Maryland. He has written for numerous history and outdoor magazines and news syndicates nationwide.

He has also authored several books, most recentlyStrange and Obscure Stories of the Civil War and including All Pets are Off: A Collection of Hairy Columns, Petrified Fact: Stories of Bizarre Behavior that Really Happened, Mostly, Earth to Hagerstown, High Peaks: A History of Hiking the Adirondacks from Noah to Neoprene andMaryland's Appalachian Highlands: Massacres, Moonshine & Mountaineering

Tim is also keeper and lackey for a wide assortment of mostly non-useful, freeloading critters, aided as always by his trusty (well, mostly trusty) companion Opie.

Connect with the Author:  Website  

E-book or Print copy (US ONLY) of Tim Rowland's Creature Features!

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