Thursday 19 July 2012

Barbara Billig

Author of:

 The Nuclear Catastrophe (a fiction novel of suspense) also published as "THE DISQUIET SURVIVORS of the Nuclear Catastrophe

Book Blurb: 

Set in beautiful sunny Southern California, Ben Harrington and his pregnant wife, Sara, live in San Mirado. Ben is head of Whitewater Nuclear Power Plant. On a fateful day, what could NEVER happen.....does happen. Ben and Sara, the plant workers, the people living in San Mirado and those in adjacent cities all have to make decisions as to what to do, where to go.
Their choices have have both good and bad consequences - and some last forever.

This fictional story brings home the reality of what would or could happen.. History has shown us time after time that......what can go wrong....will go wrong. What would YOU do? Your answers may be different after reading this novel.
As an introduction, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Barbara Griffin Billig graduated from Washington University in St. Louis at age nineteen with a degree in biology and chemistry. She taught for several years in St. Louis before moving to Southern California. There she owned a variety of businesses including pet shops, restaurants, and a real estate brokerage firm. Deciding to take a sabbatical from the business world for several years she wrote, in conjunction with another teacher, Bett Pohnka, “The Nuclear Catastrophe”, published in hardcover. This fiction novel portrayed what ultimately came to pass with 3 Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Japan Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. A new updated edition of this, entitled “THE DISQUIET SURVIVORS of The Nuclear Catastrophe” is now available in paperback with the EBook edition keeping the original title, "The Nuclear Catatstrophe".
What is your book about?

This is a fictional story of what can happen if a nuclear power plant were to suffer a malfunction and the surrounding residents were forced to evacuate.  Their lives would be affected forever.  And we should all be prepared in the event the unexpected and unforseen happens to us.   Our choices might make the difference between living and dying.  See what these fictional characters chose.
When and why did you begin writing?

 In 1975 I decided to take a different path.  However, in those times it was hard to reach the world as the internet did not exist.  I had 2 books published but did not enjoy traveling and speaking directly to groups.  So they sold to libraries and languished otherwise.  Today, it is much easier to reach out to people, and I enjoy both the writing and the contacts all over the world that are created.
What genre do you prefer to write in?

No preference
What is your biggest writing achievement to date?

My fiction novel currently out that is being showcased here.  I had also written a non-fiction book:  "A Successful Business of Your Own".  It was bought extensively by libraries, but the advent of the internet has made it totally out of date.  The other book, "The Nuclear Catastrophe (a fiction novel of suspense) can still be found in libraries across the United States.
What inspired you to write this book?

Majored in science in college and saw into the future as what was bound to happen with nuclear power.  It is eerie how I nailed in my story what eventually happened in Fukushima 30 years later.
Who is your favourite author, and what is it about their work that strikes a chord with you?

Michael Crichton.  Wrote fictional stories based on actual science.
What book are you reading now, and would you recommend it?

indie authors trying to get started and am amazed at the high quality of writing that they have that has been overlooked by the  small world of hardcover publishers.  Try:
THE CATALYTIC PROGRAMME – a fiction thriller

written by Terry Callister
What are your current projects?

Getting "The Nuclear Catastrophe" in front of the public before I start another book.
Where and when do you do most of your writing?

 in the quiet of my home office.
What would you say was the hardest part of writing your book?

the editing.  It's hard to make those decisions yourself, as to what should stay and what should go.  To the author it is all important.  Join a writers's club and submit to them for critique.
Who designed your book cover – and was the cover something you deemed important?

 #1 was designed by the publisher.  Cover #2 was designed by me through Amazon.  It is important.  Again, submit to others for their reaction.
Did you try to go down the route of traditional publishing first – or did you feel that self-publishing was right for you from the beginning?

 The first time I was published there was no other route  except the traditional.  When I discovered my book, though out of print, was still be sold by Amazon, and B&N, and some survival web sites as a used book, I decided to update it & bring it back out.  There is no question that the indie author has a great advantage now over taking the lowest slot in some publishers group.  The book gets out much, much quicker  as self published and then depends on the author taking the time to publicize it.  I could write 10 pages on this subject and some others have - the indie author now has great opportunities.  Don't wait for someone else to do it for you - do it yourself and do it well.
Where can we buy the book?

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WDRWXY
Available for Nook as THE DISQUIET SURVIVORS of The Nuclear Catastrophe

And available in paperback
Read an excerpt now:  http://bit.ly/pY8HxX

Do you have a website or blog where we can keep tabs on you?
Blog:  http://www.thenuclearcatastrophe.blogspot.com

Web page: http://mysite.verizon.net/resrrmof/
Do you have any advice for other writers?

 I find it takes a commitment of at least 2 hours a day to work on publicizing the book.  If you are not willing to do that, I think you will not have the results that you want.  And please, get a second opinion - or more - about what you have written.  The traditional routes of publishing provide an editor.  If you are going to do the indie route - then join a writer's club.
And, finally, do you have anything else that you’d like to say to everyone?

Good luck in all your efforts.  They can pay off if you are persistent

No comments:

Post a Comment