Saturday 13 April 2013

Evelyn Cole, author of The Underbelly

The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole is available for Kindle and the Kindle app from Amazon:
US: The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole
UK: The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole

The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole
The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole

Sub-titled Dr. Jacquelyn and Mrs. Hyde: Trishita MacCabe struggles to escape the slums of Worcester, MA by moving into an upper class home as live-in maid. An auto-didact, she yearns for a college education. Dr. Jacquelyn Hyde, assistant superintendant of a large suburban school district, has a secret obsession to destroy other people’s frivolous collections. She hires Trishita; their stories collide.

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Evelyn Cole is the author of five and a half novels that explore the power of the subconscious mind as contributor to problems. Her novels include several moments of humor and more unromantic sex than murder or villainy.

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Author Quiz interviews Evelyn Cole...

Where did the inspiration for The Underbelly come from?
Inspiration for The Underbelly came from two sources: one was the fact of social class in America does not equate what we say about it. Who announces his class upon meeting others by saying, “I’m from the top half of the lower class. How about you?” The other came from interest in why people have huge collections of things.

If The Underbelly was made into a movie who would you want to play the main character and why?
I would want the Coen Brothers to film two of my novels, The Underbelly and Gambling for Good Mail, using their regular actors.

If you could invite one character from your novels to a dinner party who would it be and why?
I would invite Trishita in The Underbelly to a dinner party because she is hungry to learn, would come early to help with the cooking, and would speak in two languages, the one of her educated current life and the one of her thoughts in the slums of her childhood.

A Tough Journey: To The Heart Of Happiness
What do you think stimulates sales the most; positive reviews or advertising?
I have not advertised, however I have bought time for several online radio programs. I do not advise that approach, as sales were few as a direct result. I think good reviews help more, plus a good website.

How do you see the publishing industry changing over the next few years?
Despite the increase in digital publishing, I think there will always be a market for paper. I do not expect many authors to make a living as novelists unless they invent a new genre that catches on after vampires expire.

Do you have a favourite review or has anyone expressed a particularly nice compliment about your writing which stands out as your most memorable piece of praise?
Book Review: Gambling for Good Mail by Evelyn Cole -
August 23rd, 2007 by Nathaniel Jonet

"I once read a textbook that said to be alive is to be addicted. People are always drawn to things which will fill in the gaps of their lives. Felicia Wood, the protagonist of Evelyn Cole’s latest masterpiece, Gambling For Good Mail, is certainly illustrative of that point. She waltzes through page after compelling page, helplessly addicted to mail-order shopping and men (although in a very benign and mellow way).

Gambling For Good Mail is a juggernaut look at Southern California life. From relationships to romance novels, religion to self-help groups and New Age treatment centers, this book traipses through life with a smile. How often do we think about life? What do we hide from? What do we run to in order to protect ourselves? Those are questions which Evelyn Cole inquires after through this novel.

I’m going to go ahead and do it. In my mind, I compare Evelyn Cole with another famous novelist who often concerned himself with California and its people: John Steinbeck. Steinbeck’s California was gritty and raw, the crack in the world where the scum fell and was oppressed. Cole’s California is a much lighter place, but affected with the malaise of uncaring. Steinbeck had cracks in his stucco, but Cole has smooth glass windows with empty people behind it. They both weave tales of a land less than it should be, although each in a powerful and unique way. Now, Gambling is no Grapes Of Wrath or East Of Eden. It’s not even a Winter Of Our Discontent or Tortilla Flat or Cannery Row or The Red Pony. But with Evelyn Cole, I don’t find it hard to believe that such a masterpiece should be long in coming.

Gambling For Good Mail is not a literary risk, it’s a roaring triumph."

What is your opinion on Amazon's KDP program?
I have not seen any increase in sales from this program. I believe attracting people to my website and using Facebook will work much better. I have three novels in the KDP program now.

Apart from yourself, which other author would you recommend to readers and why?
I would love to be able to write like Tom Robbins.

What target audience would you recommend your books to?
Adult readers who like to think as well as laugh.

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Evelyn Cole, author of The Underbelly

Thanks for your comments, Evelyn, and good luck with your writing.

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Discover more about Evelyn Cole (author, gourmet chef and ping pong champ) at her website:
www.evelyn-cole.com

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Follow Evelyn Cole on twitter:
@evycole

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The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole is available for Kindle and the Kindle app from Amazon:
US: The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole
UK: The Underbelly by Evelyn Cole

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