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Monday, December 20, 2010

Interview with Larry Hammersley

Joining us today is fellow TSRA author, Larry Hammersley. Tell us about yourself, Larry.


[Larry] I am married to Sue coming up on 49 years this December 29, have two children and four grandchildren. I graduated from Purdue in January 1961 with a BS in chemistry and from IU in January 1975 with a MS in chemistry. I enjoy writing science fiction and romance, jogging, amateur radio, a bit of woodworking, and am active in our local church. I worked as a civil service chemist for forty years and retired in September 1999.

[Anne] Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! That’s awesome! When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

[Larry] I believe it was almost forty years ago when I dreamed up a science fiction novel. I had fun plotting and getting ideas while doing such mundane tasks as mowing the grass.

[Anne] Tell us about your latest book.

[Larry] May I talk about my last novel I’ve written early this year? It is strictly romance involving two of my favorite characters from a short story. Leroy and Jody have resolved to avoid the opposite sex as they enter college. They’ve had unhappy experiences in high school. The story covers six years of their life and involves Leroy trying to break down Jody’s icy barrier and her opinion that a career woman has no room for a man in her life.

[Anne] Sounds like a wonderful story, Larry. What inspired you to write it?

[Larry] The Leroy and Jody characters exist in my first accepted short story with Wild Rose called Lab Partners. That has been my most popular story if you can call 15 downloads popular. It is available in the Vintage Rose line. The novel casts Leroy and Jody into modern day but is not a time travel. I had to give these characters closure.

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Larry] Leroy and Jody moved to Pittsburgh after graduating from college so I did a bit of internet search on the three rivers there and a little of scenery involved. I already have knowledge of chemistry labs and chess tournaments which form a part of the story. I also did a bit of reading on the H1N1 virus which both Leroy and Jody contracted.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Larry] Two things. I’ve been thinking about a short historical story, romance, based on a true happening in my home town of Williams, Indiana. The event was the building of a hydroelectric dam in 1910. I have a number of photos of that project and would like to build a story around a young man and woman, fictional of course, around that project. The other project is one based on the Biblical character of the Shunammite Woman. It can be romance as her husband I perceive from the scriptures is probably 40-50 years older than the woman. She was a marvelous woman.

[Anne] What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

[Larry] I’d say mainly a plotter, a little dose of pantser included.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Larry] Well, now that is a revealing question. I’d say Leroy from my Lab Partners story or Leroy from the modern version novel which is entitled A Change of Heart. Why? Because he’s a lot like me but with more ability and more deep feelings. He’s a track star, an ace in chemistry, and lucky enough to have romance in college. I told you this would be revealing.

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Larry] Alaska, although I’ve been there but I’d like to get to the real wilderness or I’d like to go to Antarctica perhaps for an adventure involving one of the science stations based there.

[Anne] You’ve just been informed that your latest release was a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Larry] Jason Ritter would play Leroy, but he’d have to shave the facial hair away. He’s on the TV show The Event. I had to do some searching on Jody. I like Gemma Arterton with red hair and she would need the straight hair and bangs hair do. I’ve not seen her acting but liked the photo.

[Anne] What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Larry] I like science fiction and sweet romance, both of which I like writing. I always have romance in my science fiction stories.

[Anne] Having read some of your work, I have to say you do a great job writing both, Larry! Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Larry] Freedom of worship, blessings of good health and ideas for stories.

[Anne] Awesome choices! What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Larry] Keep plugging away and don’t sweat the rejections. This is what I must continually remind myself.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Larry] http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/ I hope to have a website one day. A friend is supposed to be constructing one for me but she is very busy.

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Larry] You can get Motorcycle Woman at Red Rose Press.


Here’s the blurb:

Tess McBride relied on her motorcycle to carry her away from an unhappy past, one that involved her father leaving her mother for another woman and her mother dying a year later.

Resolved to avoid men, judging them to be all alike, she meets Johnnie Parker, a stranded biker whose motorcycle she repairs. Her staunch resolve is undermined by Johnnie's kindness, respect and lack of a sordid agenda toward her, not to mention him being handsome.

Should she stick to her plans to take to the open road again after replenishing her traveling bankroll from her motorcycle mechanic's job in Johnnie's hometown? In the past, that question was easily answered, but what about now? Johnnie has fallen in love with her. The answer is obvious when she knows he's genuine, he treats her special, and she realizes that she has fallen in love with him too.

And you can find my other titles on my author page at The Wild Rose Press or at Smashwords. You can read a free story, very short on my blog.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Larry] Thank you, Anne, for having me.

Thanks for the interview, Larry! I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas and an awesome New Year!

22 comments:

Unknown said...

Loved the interview Larry. Your friend is still trying! You will have an awesome webpage one day. :) I loved Motorcycle Woman and can't wait to read your newest book.

Val

Unknown said...

And I forgot to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY for December 29th! How awesome to be married that long.

Laura Shinn said...

Larry, fantastic interview!! We're both on the brink of a landmark year! Jay and I are at 24 years married and you're at 49. *g*

You must love the cold to want to brave Alaska or anything that far up north! I'm more of a live on the beach gal, though I live in Texas. LOL

I enjoyed the excerpt and learning more about you. Very good interview & much good luck with your upcoming projects. *G*

Laura Shinn

Larry Hammersley said...

Thank you Val and Laura for stopping by. I made a mistage on anniversary count. Upcoming is 48 years, not 49. Thanks for the kind comments on Motorcycle Woman, Val and thank you Anne for including the blurb and cover. Laura I just finished your story Chances Are. Very nice romance. I wouldn't say I liked the cold, just the scenery. Mars is one of my favorite planets to write about. Cold and harsh wasteland there.

Redameter said...

Interesting interview Larry. You have been married a long time, and fortunate to find someone so early on in life to spend it with.

Good luck with all your books.

Love and blessings
Rita

Miss Mae said...

Hi Larry!

It's always a pleasure to read more about you and love your interviews. :)

You know, from what I've read so far of your works, I am really in love with "Buddy's 12 Year Crush". I wish you would do more with that story. :)

Congrats on all your successes, my friend, and here's hoping for more of them! :)

Anne Patrick said...

Hi Val, Laura, Miss Mae & Rita! Thanks so much for dropping by in support of Larry.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi Rita: thanks for stopping by. Yes, Sue has had to put with me for a long time now. She's still striving to make me perfect. What a job she has. I appreciate the well wishes.

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi Miss Mae: Interesting you mentioned Buddy's 12-yr Crush, the free read at Wild Rose. That stems from a novel I wrote but Buddy doesn't end up with Vicky or Mandy, his third cousin but rather Nina, an intellect in college. That novel is entitled The Vanishing Shed and has much more than romance. Thanks for your continued support, Miss Mae.

Larry Hammersley said...

Anne: Sorry, I had to disappear for awhile. Hopefully, I'll be hanging around now. This is a great opportunity to be on your site as I'm sure it has a high volume of traffic.

Gina said...

Hi Larry and Anne! Gosh, this was a great interview! Really - 49 years? I teared up! Congratulations! Good luck with all your writings! Anne, wonderful blog, you totaly rock! Hugs, Regina

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi Rita; Thanks for your compliments. I had to correct myself. It is 48 years this December 29th. We must be accurate about these things. Sue and I were married December 29, 1962. On the way out the back door at Mom and Dad's poor Sue tripped over the old cistern rock in the dark. Fortunately, she didn't fall but it was rough on her shoes. Larry

Gail Pallotta said...

Hi Anne and Larry,
What an interesting interview. I'm glad that Leroy and Jody are going to get together. With the conflict they'll have to overcome, it sounds like it will be a great book.

Anne Patrick said...

Hi Gail and Gina! Thanks so much for comments. I hope you both have a Merry Christmas!

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi Gail: Thank you for the encouragement. I really need it especially now. I've netted two rejections in as many days just now and I'm really discouraged. One was for a short romance story and the other for my science fiction thriller/romance. I really hope I can get the Leroy and Jody story accepted. It is entitled A Change of Heart. Well, that title gives away the ending doesn't it?

Kris Bosch said...

Hi Anne and Larry. I enjoyed the interview. Larry, I love your cover for Motorcycle Woman! I put it on my TBR list and look forward to reading it.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

E.A. West said...

Great interview, Larry and Anne. I love learning more about my fellow Sweeties. :)

Larry, happy 48th anniversary! It's wonderful that you've been married that long.

Larry Hammersley said...

Oh, dear, Regina, I got your name wrong. Forgive me for that. I think you're on RAMP aren't you or SRA? Anyway, thanks again and I hope you check in again here to read my apologies.

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi Kris: Thanks for the compliment on Motorcycle Woman and the cover. The Red Rose cover artist did very well on that cover. Tess rides a Harley Sportster and I believe that's what is behind her. I look forward to your feelings on that story when you pick it up. That story has a history of rewrites, rejection at one site and acceptance by Red Rose Publishing. I enjoyed writing it.

Larry Hammersley said...

Hi E.A. Thank you so much for stopping by. It has been awhile since we've talked. I enjoyed the one story of yours I've read. Thank you for the anniversary well wishes. It doesn't seem that long ago. Sue and I've been through a lot in 48 years. There have been very sad times and happy times as anyone experiences I suppose.

marcusdweston said...

Excellent interview! Congrats on 48 years, Larry. That's quite a feat now days. Good luck to both of your with your writing careers and Merry Christmas to all.

Larry Hammersley said...

Thanks for stopping by, Marcus. Best of the holidays to you. I hope 2011 will be a good one for you and I hope I fair better next year in regards to writing and getting accepted.

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