Author Interview with Taryn Simpson

Interviewed by LINDA M. FAULKNER - Author Exchange Blog

http://lindamfaulknertips.blogspot.com

Taryn Simpson is an award-winning novelist, Pulitzer Prize competitor, ghostwriter, screenwriter, and blogger. Additionally, Taryn has enjoyed success as a classically trained musician. She credits her musical creativity as a stepping-stone to her successful writing career. Her screenplay, Conversations with Pearl, was featured at the Southern Festival of Books in 2002. Her current novel, The Mango Tree Café, was written with co-author Alan Solomon.

Your first career was in music, which you credit with being the foundation of your writing career. Tell us about your musical background.

Sure, I had a love for music that began early in my life. I was always drawn to percussive sounds which began my interest in drumming. So I became involved in marching band throughout school which garnered me a scholarship to college where I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music. I had auditioned at The Julliard School when I was 17 and discovered that Manhattan and Julliard were too expensive so I went to college locally. My background in music reflects classical training where I played in orchestras, operas, musicals, and percussion ensembles, master classes with Leigh Howard Stevens and other notables. I’ve also played in concert bands, jazz bands and even a steel band! You name it, I did it.

What got you started writing? Tell us about all the different genres and types of writing you do.

When I was around 4 years old, my mother made sure that I learned how to read before I attended kindergarten or elementary school. She is a voracious reader and felt that if I became one as well, all types of opportunities would come my way. As a result of early reading, I also learned to write poetry and short stories from her. She wasn’t formally trained, but had a natural talent for it, so I had a built in teacher. My favorite genre is fiction, although I’ve only come to love it within the last 10 years or so. John Grisham opened the door for me on that one with The Firm. So, I began writing fictional thrillers. After that, I developed an appreciation for literary fiction. Norman MacLean, Wally Lamb, and others have also shaped my writing. As a ghostwriter, I enjoy writing memoirs for clients, as well. You meet some really interesting people along the way. I still like writing short stories and blogging. I have a personal blog where I talk about my growing up years, politics, pop culture, and life in general. I love to read words that cause me to pause.
Your current book was co-authored with another writer you’ve never met in person and who lives in China. Give us the scoop about this!
Yes, that’s correct! One day, I suspect that Merriam Webster will have an entry that states: Alan Solomon and Taryn Simpson--See Serendipity. To give you the background, a writing colleague of mine called one day and asked if I would be interested in ghosting a fiction book for a client. I asked for the client’s phone number so I could get more information about the job. She chuckled and said, “You might want to email him. He lives in Beijing.” I couldn’t believe it. I emailed the client, who turned out to be Alan Solomon. I began asking him questions about the project and he stopped me and simply said, “Read the first chapter. If you hate it, no harm done, we’ll part ways and go about our day. If you like it, we can discuss further.” I read the chapter and fell in love at first read. I knew this would not be a ghostwriter job. The novel needed some tweaking, rewriting, and polishing and I was determined to be the one to do it. We always kid each other that we can never meet now, neither on the phone nor in person: It would mess up our chemistry for writing!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer?
There are times like other writers where I get blocked. I’m going through that right now with a novel I am working on. But, I find if I give myself time and space, the right direction will come about. But I the biggest challenge, I would have to say, is to be truthful. I remember when I was watching the movie “Biloxi Blues,” there is a scene where the nerdy guy in the barracks is sneaking a read from Matthew Broderick’s journal. He read some unflattering thoughts about the nerd and he was confronted about it later. Broderick felt badly about it and tried to erase the hurtful passage in his journal. The nerd cautioned him to always own what you write. It takes courage to write the truth. I’ve never forgotten that scene and try to be true to the written word. No matter how vulnerable it might make me feel.
What is the title of your most recently published book? Briefly tell us what it’s about and let us know where we can buy it.
The Mango Tree Café, Loi Kroh Road by Alan Solomon and Taryn Simpson is the latest one to be published.
The synopsis: Imagine owning a restaurant near the jungles of Thailand that sits upon the most legendary mystical road in the world. Legend states that whoever walks upon Loi Kroh Road will be forever changed or shall never be seen or heard from again. In fact, the English translation of "Loi Kroh Road" is "Wash Your Bad Luck Away." Larry, the main character, is seductively lured to the world-famous street to purchase this restaurant. The restaurant serves as a place where he observes world travelers, such as himself, as well as locals who discover their fate upon this historic road. He is on a journey to discover his mission in life as he is guided by a ghostly figure that appeared to him as a child. On his adventures, he comes face to face with his greatest fear, his lingering questions of mortality, and his soul's lonely reflection.
The book is available on both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble’s website, as well as other online book retailers.
What are you working on now and when/where do you expect it to be available?
I’m working on a novel that is tentatively entitled "The Long Road to Extradition" where you will meet Nicholas, a precocious yet sensitive teenager who is also the black sheep of the family. He witnesses a horrific act that tears his family apart. From the time he is 13 years old, he makes his way through the foster system until one day he escapes his life of misery. Through his journey, he meets unforgettable characters along the way who make lasting impressions upon him, which prod him to delve into his bruised emotional issues to make peace with himself. His extensive travels prove that his problems will always be a cumbersome and heavy burden that will sit upon his shoulders until he has his day of reckoning with his emotional baggage. His journey by foot is a long one, but his journey to made amends is even longer. It is through his journey that he discovers "The Long Road to Extradition." Sheesh, I hope to have this one completed by the end of the year and published soon after.
Writers, especially new writers, are always looking for tips and helpful information. What is the single most important “tip” you can give to a new writer?
Do not take any writer’s advice as “the gospel.” That may seem strange advice coming from a writer, but I have learned that there is no one correct way to do anything. Some writers break all the rules and enjoy success. Think outside the box! Follow your bliss! Be creative and take control of your career.
Are you a member of any writer’s organizations? How has membership/lack of membership affected your writing career?
I’m a member of Book Marketing Network; Authors, Speakers, Coaches & Pod casters; The Freelancer’s Union; and Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group. Being a member of all these different groups help you to see what others are doing with regard to writing or marketing their books. Sometimes it can spur some ideas of your own.
Do you have any upcoming book signings or appearances? If so, give us all the details.
Actually, we are working on that as we speak, but nothing is set in stone yet. You’ll be the first to know though when it does happen!
Here’s your opportunity to tell us anything else you care to share.
Well, aside from "The Long Road to Extradition" being a work in progress, Alan and I are also co-writing another novel titled He Played the Game, which takes place in England. It centers around a well-to-do family; their lives are forever changed when the father announces one day that he is leaving for no apparent reason. The eldest son begins his search for his father and the reason why he left his family so abruptly.
I am also co-writing a couple of children’s books with Nancy Mura, a very talented child author who penned the book series, “Willie Whistle.” The two books we are writing together are called The Table and Chair and Rosie and Baby. I will have my hands in a lot of different type of projects in which I’m thrilled to participate.

The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road has a Chance for Review by HARPER COLLINS Publishers

It's true. My co-writer, Alan Solomon emailed me this evening to let me know about a new site that Harper Collins is developing in order to find up and coming authors!


So, we ask you to review the site by clicking HERE. "BACK" the book and read a sampling of the book for FREE.

That's all there is to it! Be sure to let me know your thoughts...Enjoy!

To Follow the Journey, You Must Familiarize Yourself with the Surroundings

When I first started working on "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road," I had no idea what to expect from the story. I had never visited nor read anything about Thailand. I had knew of Bangkok, Thailand but didn't really know what the countryside looked like or how people lived their lives in that part of the world.

As I imagined, it was much different than life in the U.S. It's a world filled with spirituality, mysticism, grittiness, primitive life, loneliness, tourism, overcrowded isolation, street dogs, natives dressed in coolie hats, and brooding angst. It's a world so unlike our current society, yet it somehow feels disturbingly familiar.

All these elements cast a shadow upon Loi Kroh Road which casts a spell of certain uncertainty. It is all of these reasons and more that I love this story so much. You will too.

The Story Lingers Like All Great Books Should...

Have you ever read a book that was memorable? I don't mean remembering a book you read last week or even a year ago...but years later. To me, that is the hallmark sign of a great book. And, I can remember books that I read years ago that cause me to pause even now.

Who knows why certain books do this to us. Different human experience I suppose. What caused me to think about this is that I was talking to my mother on the phone this afternoon and we were reminiscing about the days when I was growing up in Groves, Texas. One of my earliest memories of our living room was the massive book shelves along one wall that was filled with wonderful books, magazines and encyclopedias.

I remember poring over the various books that were on those shelves ...For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sleeping Prophet, The complete collection of Stephen King's books, The Thorn Birds, Stubborn Child and a host of other memoirs, bibliographies, fiction and nonfiction books. I also read and re-read stories in the Children's encyclopedias about Mozart, Gandhi, Clara Barton and Leonardo DaVinci.

These books lasted throughout my growing up years and beyond. The enrichment of these books and the joy of reading has shaped my life for the better. And, I remember those books that touched me to this day.

And, as we both reminisced, my mother asked, "Remember in The Mango Tree Cafe, when...." and I smiled, because I knew that Alan's and my book had made that incredible leap from good book to a memorable one.

HURRY! While Supplies Last!

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If you haven't purchased the book that has everyone buzzing, do it now and save 10% NOW!

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"Lights, Cameras, Prologue"

As I've mentioned before in other posts, I am a firm believer of grabbing the reader's attention from the first word. I know that when I open a new book, I don't want to wait to be hopelessly hooked with the storyline.

I remember sitting in front of my laptop screen watching my cursor blink impatiently as if it were waiting for me to type some letters for it to place upon my word document. Alan and I had been emailing back and forth regarding the beginning of "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" as we both weren't satisfied with the current beginning.

I know I wanted the story to lure the reader in quickly and quietly into the jungles of Thailand. I wanted to have the reader be able to picture what "Larry," the main character looked like, felt and thought as we find him sitting on the veranda in the glare of the morning sun. After countless rewrites, I came up with an idea...Larry was considered the supreme storyteller by his friends. The recounting of his boyhood home, his experiences along the journey reflect this art of storytelling. I decided to show the unkind effects of a journey that was too long and difficult for this sensitive man's soul.

A man whose oratory skill was unmatched was now mute. One can only wonder about the stories that can no longer be released from his psyche.

Lights, Cameras, Prologue

One Novel, Two Authors - Ecstasy and Agony of Collaboration

I wanted to be part of this project." That project was creating the novel "The MangoTree Cafe: Loi Kroh Road," which won the Indie Book Award and could well wind up being the film sequel to "Casablanca." And that's how Taryn Simpson took on the unthinkable: Collaborating on a work of fiction. Most of us, whether writers or businesspeople, know the difficulty of working together on much more straightforward tasks. Fiction? That's why I arranged this exclusive interviews with Simpson.
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The Ecstasy and Agony of Collaboration: An exclusive interview with Taryn Simpson, co-author of novel "The Mango Tree Cafe."

JG: I was astounded that you collaborated on, of all things, fiction. How did that come about?

TS: Yeah, Jane, I suppose that it is pretty unusual.
I'm a ghostwriter by trade and a writer friend of mine contacted me. She had a potential client who had a novel which needed some punching up. She asked: Are you interested?

I said: Sure. Next I said: I will call the client and get more information. She said: Oh, I forgot to mention that he [Alan Solomon] is located in Beijing. As in China.

Sheesh. I wondered how the distance between us would work out. That was among the key issues to consider. Others were the language. Would there be a barrier there? Would references, metaphors or potential storylines be lost between Asian culture and American culture?

So, I contacted the "client" - Alan Solomon - and I began to question him about the project and he stopped my questioning. He simply emailed the first chapter, with the instructions: If you like it, we'll talk, if you don't, no harm done.

I read the first chapter. The rest is history. I saw where the novel needed a lot of work and quite a bit of rewriting. I knew that this wouldn't be just another ghostwriting job. I wanted to be part of the project. I've ghosted a lot of novels and books and I have never felt that way before about any project. I often to refer to it as the "Serendipity Project."

JG: How do we who want to go where you went choose a partner?
TS: Obviously, there needs to be a connection between the two writers. I was concerned about this with Alan [Solomon] in the beginning. But the more we discussed the story, our views about what should be included or excluded and so on I realized that we were compatible.
Whether the writers are in the same town or half a world away, the best way to seek out a good collaborative fit for yourself is to be brutally honest about your writing habits and ideas. Be willing to share that information with your potential writing partner.
So, that's what I did. I shared that information with Alan [Solomon] and he told me about his habits and ideas. Then he emailed me and explicitly stated: I'm ridiculously easy to work with. He was right.

JG: Was it a difficult process? Candor appreciated.

TS: It had its challenges. Being an American, it's hard for me to fathom that people in other countries don't have the same freedoms we do. If you have lived in the U.S. all your life, you tend to adopt the mindset of "If I have a certain freedom, surely everyone else has it too." Although watching the news I know differently.

For example, when I created a blog for the book, Alan Solomon wasn't able to view it online for some time. That was because of China's strict internet laws.

Another challenge was that I had a certain time frame where I catch Alan Solomon online. Remember, if the time in Nashville, Tennessee is 8 P.M., it is 8 A.M. in Beijing.

JG: What were the most satisfying parts?

TS: Oh, this is going to be difficult. Overall, I loved the fact that I got "lost" in "The Mango Tree Cafe" as a reader. I've never been to Thailand. But the events of the novel were so real to me that I felt like I have been there. It was a very strange feeling. And meeting people in Nashville who had actually been there was just surreal.

Also, I love many sections of the book. The ones which stand out in my mind include the metamorphosis the main character goes through. It covers from the time he is a child to current age of around 50ish. He is able to gain a realization about himself and his father which is melancholy at best. It's a sweet, sad, and all too painfully familiar feeling of knowing what it feels like to be so ultimately different from others and realizing that regardless of the lifestyle you lead, you can't run from what is inside yourself.

I don't want to give too much away. Let's just leave it at: It's a very poignant story.
One more thing. There is also the setting. It includes visions of a lush jungle full of exotic fish, elephants and street dogs. You can get a feel for some of this here on YouTube.

JG: What do you recommend to others thinking about collaborating on fiction?

TS: If you love fiction and find a like-minded soul who shares that passion, collaborating makes good sense. However, if you aren't ready to give and take on every facet of the story, then it may be best to go it alone. For me as a ghostwriter, it's almost second nature to be flexible.

JG: How about non-fiction?

TS: I would think that it's MUCH easier to write non-fiction with a partner. My philosophy is: If it makes sense to you, then by all means take the bull by the horns.

JG: Thank you so much.
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Here is where you can order "The Mango Tree Cafe." You can contact Taryn Simpson about her services at Taryn.simpson@gmail.com

Sins of the Father and The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road

The theme of the sins of the father has been universal in art, way before the discovery of material passed down through genes. My hunch is that ultimately the legacy of Ted Kennedy, who died today, will be carved out in context of what drove his father Joseph Kennedy and how the son struggled - successfully and not so well - against "destiny."

One brilliant exploration of that theme is the novel "The Mango Tree Cafe." By authors Taryn Simpson and Alan Solomon, it creates Everyman Larry. His father's passivity - stuck in the butterfat of farming life in New Zealand - drives the son to find a mission - and meaning. The father also passes onto the son too much dependence on alcohol. Although Larry, like much of humanity including Ted Kennedy, defaults often into escape through booze, he does find his way to a somewhere. That's unusual. The lion's share of the wounded, confused, curious more frequently journey only to find themselves still stuck in that metaphorical butterfat.

The somewhere is Loi Kroh Road in Thailand. Legend has it that dark ghostly presences dating back to 1296 hang out on that road. Larry finds redemption attempting to counteract that force. He and the woman he rescued from prostitution Noo operate the Mango Tree Cafe. It provides a more than clean well-lighted place to drink, eat, and tell one's story to Larry's sympathetic ear. Doing good results in doing well. Larry becomes wealthy enough to finance the heart operation which saves Noo. Sound a bit too inspirational? It isn't written that way.

This morality tale is about the possibility of triumphing over what could or maybe should be our destiny. Larry does more than run, lapse into alcoholism, and stare inward. As the adage goes, Destiny isn't what happens. It's what we create. For attorneys haunted by the dreams of their fathers, professors and mentors about what their career paths ought to be, Larry's struggle might provide hope that there is a way out of the past.

A worldwide revolution in how we make our living means that even the best and brightest are forced to search, and in new ways. Indie book award-winner "The Mango Tree Cafe" can be ordered from Amazon.com here.

Intuitive Readings Review on "The Mango Tree Cafe"

The Struggle to Disappear - Not so easy, or so desired, after a while

Increasingly our fantasies are about just disappearing - and our deep longing to do so.

There is plenty of precedent for doing just that. Stephen King's father went out for a pack of cigarettes. When King became iconic in the terror category of literature, an investigative reporter had tracked the wanderer to a new family in Pennsylvania. He was dead but a second family, though they didn't know the man they thought they knew hadn't gotten a divorce from his first wife, was very much alive.

More recently, as Evan Ratliff recounts in the current edition of WIRED, Matthew Alan Sheppard felt overwhelmed as well as bored by his life as married man and environmental and safety manager. He faked his death. Perhaps like so many runaways, he seemed to also want to be found. He was, by the authorities.

Indie Book Winner "The Mango Tree Cafe" digs right into these archetypes of getting lost. It's different, though, because the runaway Larry wants to find himself and help others do the same. The tale, by Taryn Simpson and Alan Solomon, is unusual in that the journey is not really one of flight.

Told by his farmer father in New Zealand to not set roots down in the world of butterfat consistency and price, Larry leaves what he knows. However, he already has a sense what he is going to find or must find. A ghostly presence visits him when he was a child and assigned him a mission of sorts. Stephen King-like, this creates both a feel of the mystical and the terrifying.

After taking plenty of wrong roads, Larry winds up on Loi Kroh in Thailand. It has that exotic pull force of attracting the world's most needy, most lost, most promising, and most doomed. Larry and his girlfriend Noo minister to them through the flowing booze, excellent chow, and an ability to listenat "The Mango Tree Cafe." By doing good, the couple also does well. They make a bundle and even more when they sell the restaurant.

The theme of the novel might be the Old Testament one of Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen. Of those who wander into "The Mango Tree Cafe", summoned by some voodoo force, most will continue their suffering.

They can't or won't exit their loneliness, fear of everything ranging from death to intimacy, resentments, and regrets. Given that, it could serve as a morality tale about leaving what has been or what is to journey forward, not stay stuck. Perhaps the novel is saying: We don't merely tell our stories. It's within our power to create those stories and put in the necessary energy to keep editing them.

The novel can be ordered here from Amazon.com.

"The Mango Tree Cafe" - Combo platter of Wally Lamb, Joseph Campbell - Book Review by Jane Genova

There's a warning in 12-step programs, whose members are notorious for running away: Where you go, you bring yourself. A card-carrying member of diverse versions of those programs and plenty cynical since I am a serial runaway I expected that to be the theme of "The Mango Tree Cafe." It wasn't. Actually, it was a combo platter of Wally Lamb and Joseph Campbell.

Winner of the Indie Book Award, the Novel by Taryn Simpson and Alan Solomon follows Larry as he flees from the mundane world of New Zealand butterfat. Actually, it's his father, a sensitive soul who got stuck on the farm draining cow udders, who tells him to hit the road. Hit it he did, all the way to Thailand. Along the journey he winds up on Loi Kroh Road, a universe onto itself of mysticism, hopes of salvation, and more often doom.

Larry is an Everyman, only with more than the usual share of fear of death, loneliness, inability to connect, and that sense of having a special mission. The latter is no delusion. A ghostly presence lands in his life in youth and keeps him on-track with that mission. The calling is to minister to other suffering souls. Yeah, right out of Wally Lamb's recent work.

Larry accomplishes his life's work through operating the highly successful "Mango Tree Cafe on Loi Kroh Road". Into it roam the world's most needy. Some exit whole. Others just fall through all safety nets, often by design.

Just like Joseph Campbell's hero, Larry is one of those fortunate ones who sets out on a journey to find what he wants and winds up with what he needs. Redemption comes in the form of being able to love. Larry establishes the platform for intimacy by being almost Christlike in giving.
Obviously, there are plenty of lessons in "The Mango Tree Cafe." But, as the adage goes, it's the journey - that is reading this tale - which makes it worth the price of admission.

You can order it from Amazon.com here.

Thank you Jane Genova - Speechwriter - Ghostwriter

http://speechwriting-ghostwriting.typepad.com/speechwriting_ghostwritin/

My favorite part of "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road"

I have to admit, I like the entire book! But, if I were hard pressed, I have some sections that I could read over and over without getting tired of it.


I remember that the opening of the book was rewritten at LEAST 10 times; all with different ideas in each one. At one point, I was stumped and decided to reread other sections of the book. Mainly, the end. It reminded me of the circle of life and how we all grapple with the uncertainties and changes we go through as individuals. I reread the ending and as I always do, tears slid down my cheeks as I could feel the heartbreak that "Larry," the main character experiences. It's more than a story about the love of your life...it's about something so deep and personal that your soul aches and you aren't quite certain why.

Once I read the last word on page 286, I turned to the beginning of the story and prepared to weave the circle to be complete. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine that I was sitting in a cane chair beside Larry watching the elephants in the early morning sun right outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. In my imagination, I stole long sided glances observing his body language and feeling the ache of his soul. I wrote the beginning and knew I had finally gotten it right.

I emailed it to Alan (as I always do) for his opinion. I waited as my cursor blinked impatiently on my computer screen. Finally, he responded with a one word reply; "Fine',"which is found at the end of the last stanza of every sheet of music. The meaning? FINISHED.

Cheers-

1 author, Simpson

MEDIA KIT FOR TARYN SIMPSON

About the Author(s)
Ms. Simpson is an Award winning novelist, Pulitzer Prize competitor, freelance ghostwriter, screenwriter, and blogger. Taryn's background also includes classical training as a musician. Among her honors include: Selected for University of Texas at Arlington's college level percussion camp when she was 12 years old and auditioned at the famed Juilliard School in New York City at the age of 17.

Today, Ms. Simpson has just completed her latest literary effort with her co-writer, Alan Solomon who is originally from New Zealand but currently resides in Beijing, China. “The Mango Tree Café, Loi Kroh Road,” is a novel which is garnering rave reviews from readers all over the world. The book was shown at the Beijing, China International Book Fair, competed for a Pulitzer Prize in the Best Fiction category and was recently designated an Award winning novel at the 2008 Indie Book Awards.

About the Book – “The Mango Tree Café, Loi Kroh Road”


Printed: 286 pages, 6" x 9", perfect binding, cream interior paper
(60# weight), black and white interior ink, white exterior paper
(100# weight), full-color exterior ink PDF (966 kb)
ISBN: 978-1-4303-2522-2
Publisher: Lulu.com
Rights Owner: Simpson - E Publishing
Copyright: © 2007 Alan Solomon & Taryn Simpson
Standard Copyright License
Language: English
Country: United States
Edition: First Edition





Synopsis of the Book
Imagine owning a restaurant near the jungles of Thailand that sits upon the most legendary mystical road in the world. Legend states that whoever walks upon Loi Kroh Road will be forever changed or shall never be seen or heard from again. In fact, the English translation of "Loi Kroh Road" is "Wash Your Bad Luck Away". Larry, the main character, and is seductively lured to this world famous street to purchase this business. The restaurant serves as a place where he observes world travelers such as himself as well as locals who discover their fate upon this historic road. He is on a journey to discover his mission in life as he is guided by a ghostly figure that appeared to him as a child. On his adventures, he comes face to face with his greatest fear, his lingering questions of mortality and his soul's lonely reflection.

Press/Interviews
The Book Crawler– California http://podcast.thebookcrawler.com/2007/08/15/revvell-interviews-taryn-simpson.aspx
Linda Della Donna – Griefcase – New York http://www.griefcase.blogspot.com/
Virtual Book Review – http://www.virtualbookreview.com/
International School of Beijing Newspaper – Beijing, China

Other Press/Advertising
The Tennessean – “Ghostwriter connects across continents”
Nashville author, Taryn Simpson has never spoken with Alan Solomon, but she co-wrote his novel by email and instant messaging to and from Beijing. (Billy Kingsley/The Tennessean)
Ideas, Goals and Dreams Magazine – National Magazine
Book of the Month – Australian Women’s Club
Chiang Mai City Life Newspaper – Chiang Mai, Thailand
You Tube Book Videos http://youtube.com/watch?v=aQD0R5IXOhs http://youtube.com/watch?v=dkYjEtHNw8M

Book Showings/Contests
International Book Fair – Beijing, China
Indie Book Awards 2008 - National
Pulitzer Prizes 2007 – New York City, New York
USA Book News 2007 – National
Indie Book Awards 2008 – National (WINNER)

Reviews
“…I read the novel Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road and I am a harsh critic when it comes to what I enjoy, well I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and hope that you write another soon…”

“This video is exceptional and clearly depicts what you can expect from this read. (MTC Pt II)

“…I just received the novel and decided I would glance at it before returning to work… my glance at the novel ended some 4 hours later when I finally got to the back cover I am going to re-read it, something I have never done with any novel before in my life... The characters leapt out at me…. Thanks to you and Taryn Simpson for such a good read…”

“I have read the book four times now; I have never read the same novel so many times as I have this one. It is great and new things are revealed on every read. I hope I see more from you two again. Wonderful story, full of real life, I think.”

“…Now answer me this, why is it that every time I tune into YouTube, I am drawn to watching and listening to this promo?it has power!!

“…This video is exceptional and clearly depicts what you can expect from this read…”

“The book is incredible.”

“…Heck get this book into the shops! I have this listed on my favorites!”

Genesis of "The Mango Tree, Loi Kroh Road"

When I first read the draft manuscript of this book, I was blown away. Before I started reading it, I wondered why is this guy writing about Thailand? I just didn't see it being a subject friendly book topic. But, I came to learn that it was much much more than just a book about Thailand. It's a story about life.

It begins with a young man in New Zealand who is urged by his father to escape the mundane essence of life as a farmer. He was given the final push and encouraged to see and experience the world. Something every person should do. But, we are either too frightened, or feel that we "should" do the proper things upon graduation of high school...college, job, marriage, children and so on. Instead, we wind up seeing life as Larry's (the main character) father.

Whether you are milking a cow on a farm, changing diapers on a baby or drafting reports for a boss...the mundane suddenly becomes missed opportunities. An all too familiar theme for those wishing to play it safe.

Life is worth taking a chance that makes your heart pound. You may experience unbelievable pain and grief from taking a chance, but you also risk that you may experience the most profound joy and happiness imaginable.

What would YOU do?


Buy the book. C'mon...take a chance.

A Friend from Across the Pond

A note from one of Alan's friends:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi,

I am a close friend of Alan Solomon and have worked with him on assignments around the world. If Alan has written a novel then I can tell you that it will be a winner for sure! His ability to read people, and his story telling had many of his friends in awe of him. He has seen so much, thinks very deeply, and when he tells a story it doesn't matter whether it is true or not, if he is telling it to you, then you WILL believe it!

The Mango Tree Cafe' in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Alan ran a good business at the Mango Tree Cafe' and many others became jealous of his success and they tried everything to emulate his style and success, but they could not achieve this as it takes that special personality, that ability to laugh at yourself, to laugh along with others, to call yourself a silly bugger for mistakes and not blame everyone else, and there is only one guy who can do all those things.

If you meet Alan you instantly like him, he becomes a friend for life, because you want him as a friend. This novel will be a winner, if any publisher looks at this novel, my advice is don't let it slip through your fingers, it will be a winner!

1 author, Solomon

Steve Quirke
London, England.
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I agree.

1 author, Simpson

Mango Tree Cafe - Trailer 2

Mango Tree Cafe - Trailer 2

The Inside Scoop on The Mango Tree Cafe

Nashville, TN USA

Chiang Mai, Thailand

When people pick up our book, "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road," and read it, one of the first questions my co-author and I get is, "The novel was great! How did you guys meet?"

Weelllll, long story short, we've NEVER met. We've never met in person, We've never talked on the phone nor have we Skyped each other.

We HAVE however, emailed each other along with sporadic instant messaging courtesy of Gmail. You may be asking yourself, How the heck do you write a novel with someone you've never met over email? My short answer is "It takes a special book and a special person to come up with the story." I found those things in Alan Solomon.

How I became involved with The Mango Tree and Alan Solomon
A writer colleague of mine contacted me one day and asked those fateful words: "Do you have room in your workload to take on a fictional novel?" My answer was a fast yes since at the time, non-fiction and memoirs tended to be quite popular for clients. My first love is fiction and always will be.

Alan Solomon

When she began telling me about the project, I began to wonder if I should have said "No." The reason I felt this way is because, the book is centered in Thailand. Thailand? I had no interest or desire to write a fiction novel about Thailand! My colleague urged me to email the author for more information. I mentioned that I would call him to get a better handle of what is needed and ask about this Thailand setting! My colleague chuckled and said, "You sure you want to call? He's located in Beijing, China!" I mutter "Great" under my breath and took his email address down.

Little did I know how the next several hours would affect my life in every way. I emailed Mr. Alan Solomon and was trying to think of a polite way to ask why he chose Thailand to place the setting of the book. He simply asked me to read the first chapter to see what I thought and whether I wanted to take this project on. I downloaded the chapter and began reading.

I read the first sentence and felt my heart turning each page. I was instantly hooked and began to see the diamond in the rough. When I came to the last page, I knew what I had to do. I replied to his email and said WITHOUT A DOUBT, YES.

And, the rest as they say, is history. ;)


1 author, Simpson

Some Book reviews Received By Authors about "The Mango Tree Cafe"

I received your novel The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road, I thought I would glance at before getting into it as I am a regular to Chiangmai and know the Mae Rim region as well. I wish to tell you that my glance at the novel ended some 4 hours later when I finally got to the back cover I am going to re-read it, something I have never done with any novel before in my life. An easy read, a really very good yarn. The characters leapt out at me and somewhere inside me is Larry. Thanks to you and Taryn Simpson for such a good read.

Chris Collins
UK
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Hi Alan your book arrived today! Read the first 8 chapters before I decided I really needed to do some work. I thoroughly enjoyed what I've read so far it is an easy read and made me think so much about my own life.

Cheers
Colin Leigh
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Hi Alan, Taryn

I have just finished reading the mango tree cafe, well done it is a great book and I hope that you win the book of the year prize!

Ted Osborne
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Hi

Are you guys aware or interested in the Kiwi guy living in China who has written a novel called The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road. I purchased it off Amazon and it is a really good read.The Promo number 2 on Youtube is good as well. Great to know Kiwis do fly!!
Rob.
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Hi Alan and Taryn

Thanks for writing your novel. it's so exciting!
Nina
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This video is exceptional and clearly depicts what you can expect from this read.
(Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road PART TWO)
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Hi Alan.

I showed the novel to my family in Kansas and they are all well-read people. Their first response was its a good story.

Lyn.
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wOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!! How cool...I gotta get your book...The Nashville article was grest I will buy the book monday..you must be rapt..and wouldnt it be fab if you got even a nomination for the pulirzer...keep me in the loop!
Keep smiling and be positive!

Iain Taylor
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Just read the review in the Tennessean - looks good. I'll definitely have to pick up a copy once I get back to the UK.

Erik Gaustad
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The Mango Tree Cafe may very well be a fabulous hit. The book so far is very good..............in fact it is a bit hard to put down. I am only part way through and the movers are supposed to deliver our sea shipment tomorrow so I will probably be forced to take a break from the book. I will get back at it soonest to finish. It is totally imaginative..........and it reads as though it is being spoken to me. It is a fabulous read, that's for sure.
Let me know how it is going!
Take care,
Lynn

Purchase a copy of the "Mango Tree Cafe" Today and let us know what you think.

Virtual Interview Linda Della Dina

Welcome Readers! Have I got a treat for you. Recently, I caught up with authors, Alan Solomon and Taryn Simpson and asked for an email interview. Solomon and Simpson teamed up to write The Mango Tree Cafe' Loi Kroh Road. What is stunning about this union, is Solomon makes his home in Asia, and Simpson resides in the USA.

Here's what Taryn Simpson and Alan Solomon had to say:

How did you come across this project?

TS: A writer friend of mine got a lead from a gentleman that had written a rough draft of a book and needed someone to "punch it up". She forwarded the book to me because it was fiction and she knows that it's my speciality. I thought it was going to be 'just another writing job'. Enter Alan Solomon and The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road. I read the synopsis he wrote for the book and was immediately taken with it. Why did you write this book?

AS: I received the power to write this novel from the moment I entered Loi Kroh Road and felt the mysterious magic of the street.

What was it like working with another author from a different part of the world? Were there barriers? Name one?

TS: Absolutely! Being an American, it's hard for me to fathom that people in other countries don't have the same freedoms that we do. Even when it comes to something minor such as the internet. If you have lived in the USA your entire life, you tend to adopt the mindset of "If I have a certain freedom, surely everyone else has it too". Although watching the news I know differently. It's just different when you become aware of how rich our freedoms are in this country when you hear people from different parts of the country talk about certain limitations they have. For example, when I created the blog for the book, Alan wasn't able to see it online for quite some time due to China's strict internet laws. TS (continues): Another barrier was I had a certain time frame where I could catch Alan on line. Remember, if the time in Nashville, TN USA is 8pm, it is 8am in Beijing. So, when I'm winding down from the day, Alan is beginning his. From 7:30pm my time until however late I could make myself stay up is when we had brief conversations about the book. Once I logged off for the night, Alan would leave me emails for the next morning (which is his night!). It was crazy!

AS: No barriers working with Taryn, Taryn was so enthusiastic and so helpful, for me it was like we were seated in the same bar side-by-side discussing our next move.

How long did it take you to write The Mango Tree Cafe'? Were friends, family members supportive?

TS: Well, that's hard to say. Although the book was written, I re-wrote roughly half of it and added/deleted sections of the book. Generally a novel takes 2-3 months or maybe more. That's not including editing. Yes, my partner endured many conversations about the book. When I become enthralled with a book, look out. I talk about it non-stop!

AS: The novel from start to finish took around 4 years, however the 'pull' to write was in my head for as long as I can remember, probably in High School. My family and friends never knew I was writing the Mango Tree Cafe, however if they had known they would have been supportive with a roar of laughter.

Without giving too much away, what is your favorite part of The Mango Tree Cafe? Do you have one?

TS: Oh, this is going to be difficult. Overall, I loved the fact that I got "lost" in this book as a reader. I've never been to Thailand and never had a yen to go. But, the events of the novel were so real to me that I felt like I have been there. It was a very strange feeling. And, meeting people in Nashville that had actually been there was just surreal. TS (continues): I love many sections of the book. The ones that stand out in my mind is the metamorphisis the main character goes through. It covers from the time he is a child to current age of around 50ish. He is able to gain a realization about himself and his father which is very melancholy at best. It's a sweet, sad, and all too painfully familiar feeling of knowing what it feels like to be so ultimately different from others and realizing that regardless of the lifestyle you lead, you can't run from what is inside yourself. I don't want to give too much away, but it is a very poignant story. I promise you will be in tears at the end. Not to mention that the setting includes visions of a lush jungle full of exotic fish, elephants and street dogs. I tried to put that feel in the You Tube video I did for it.

AS: In the novel there are many personal favorite parts I enjoy, however I guess if I had to identify just one part I would have to say it was when Larry realized he lost his only love Noo and to the end of the novel believed he was hearing her and seeing her and that someday she would return to him.

Did you accomplish everything you set out to do when writing this story?

TS: I think so. This question would probably be better served if answered by Alan Solomon. But, after he read the final draft I sent him. I could tell he was quite pleased.

AS: Yes I believe so.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your story?

TS: I have to remind people that the story was created by Alan. But I want people to come away with whatever makes them think about the book. It has a lot of messages and there is one for everybody. I loved how the book describes the misfits of Loi Kroh Road as beautiful and exotic. Yet, the lives they lead were very gritty and difficult.

AS: Questioning life and how things happen to us as we travel through life which we can miss unless we are alert and seize the moment.

Are you working on anything at this time? Can you share what it is?

TS: I'm having to FORCE myself to move on from this book! LOL. I'm marketing the heck out of it as we speak. But, I have a couple of ideas for books that I am working on. The Mango Tree book has created a real desire in me to start writing "literary fiction" much in the same vein as "The Color Purple", or "A River Runs Through it". This book is pivotal in my career. My next book is tentatively entitled "Invisible Fences". Although it can change.

AS: I am thinking all the time, I watch and listen and keep a notebook. Something may happen. I am not too sure.

Any advice to a writer in the process of writing her own book?

TS: Some writers will say write at any cost. I say write when you have alone time and if you don't have it, make time to write. Even if it is for 10 or 20 minutes a day. Don't be discouraged. Get it down. Worry about deleting or editing later. Listen to music or do an activity such as people watching that will help you get in the mood for what you are writing because I think it bleeds through.

AS: Place a mirror on your writing desk and as you write occasionally look up and you will see what your next line is to be, because looking right back at you will be the lines, the eyes sending you the message and experience of life.

Purchase a copy of "The Mango Tree Cafe" Here

The Legend of Loi Kroh Road

Loi Kroh Road - Chiang Mai, Thailand

The story goes that when King Mengrai the Great founded the city of Chiangmai in the year 1296, the superstitions of the East entered the city and lay in wait in the shadows of Loi Kroh Road where today, it is told, they still wait patiently. As planes land at Chiangmai airport, it is said that with every landing a fool steps off and enters Loi Kroh Road, never to be the same again or, in some cases, never to be seen again.

Some of the Reasons you Should Read the Novel "The Mango Tree Cafe"

The Book Trailer, Part I

What Some of the Reader are saying:

• I bumped it up to 5. The book is incredible.
• I really love the song and want to read this book. I know that it is going to be a real good story because the song and photos are real.
• Hi! See that the novel is almost ready for press ..... are you planning a launch somewhere along Loi Kroh Road ??? ... or maybe at the Writer's Club in CM ???liked the trailer. My thoughts entirely about the street "mystical" .... Hope I'll get a chance to stop by and see you there before the end of the year.Now I'm in Spain the next 10 days, and then heading out to Thailand about 16th July for a month.Take care, Best regards, PAUL
  I can't wait to get hold of the book! Loved the song on the promo - Tom
• Hey, this looks great! I will ask my bookshop for the novel
• Taryn, the music is so good and the graphics are warm and inviting. Where do I line up for my ticket to take my walk onto Loi Kroh Road?
• I see on the blog that one of the co-writers is a Kiwi! So am I...we are quite special eh/ Now answer me this, why is it that everytime I tune into youtube I am drawn to watching and listening to this promo...it has power!!
• heck get this book into the shops ! Ihave this listed on my favorites!
• Is this book available in Canada?I first visited Chiang Mai in 1992 and eventually ended up living there for about 5 years ,under trying circumstances,fund less,expired visa etc. These somewhat adverse conditions in which I found myself enabled me to see and know Chiang Mai as the average Falang never could.Many vivid memories and even through all of the adversity C.M still holds a special place in my heart.Cheers Chok Dee Kaap
• Hi Writer4762I have read the book four times now, I have never read the same novel so many times as I have this one. It is great and new things are revealed on every read. I hope I see more from you two again. Wonderful story, full of real life, I think.
• This video is exceptional and clearly depicts what you can expect from this read.

You can Purchase Your Copy of "The Mango Tree Cafe" here

About the Novel "The Mango Tree Cafe', Loi Kroh Road"

Description:

Imagine owning a restaurant near the jungles of Thailand that sits upon the most legendary mystical road in the world. Legend states that whomever walks upon Loi Kroh Road will be forever changed or shall never be seen or heard from again. In fact, the English translation of "Loi Kroh Road" is "Wash Your Bad Luck Away". Larry, the main character, is seductively lured to this world famous street to purchase this restaurant. The restaurant serves as a place where he observes world travelers such as himself as well as locals who discover their fate upon this historic road. He is on a journey to discover his mission in life as he is guided by a ghostly figure that appeared to him as a child. On his adventures, he comes face to face with his greatest fear, his lingering questions of mortality and his soul's lonely reflection.

To Purchase this Book

Genesis of "He Played the Game"

Greetings from Nashville, TN-USA. Time: 5:28 am CST

Alan with his "pet" elephant in Thailand

For those of you not familiar with The Mango Tree Cafe, please click on the link above to read more about the book. And, additionally, if you haven't read the book, do so. At the risk of sounding conceited, this book is touching, poignant, funny, action-packed and most importantly, spins a great yarn.

Background on The Authors, Solomon & Simpson

Alan Solomon
Alan Solomon is a gifted author who has worn many hats during his professional life. He is originally from New Zealand and developed an interest in Asian culture. His travels have taken him all over the world where he has worked as a consultant, security officer, police officer, restaurant owner and again as a security officer where one of his duties was to assist the Chinese police with security for the Beijing Olympic Games.

He currently lives in Beijing, China where we communicate via the internet only. We've seen each other's photos (obviously) but neither of us has phoned or talked to the other. First and foremost, he is a writer.

Taryn Simpson
Taryn Simpson is a professional freelance ghostwriter and counts one of her major accomplishments as becoming a refugee from Corporate America. She has worked in the Human Resources arena for over 15 years and finally made the decision to quit existing and to start living. She met Solomon when he was needing a co-writer to assist him with his novel, "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road." Simpson often recounts the story of when she read first read the story; "I love this novel from the first word. Any book that captures me mind and spirit and has me in tears at the end counts as one of those books I'll remember forever."

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