Queen of All She Reads: Virtual Tour & #Giveaway for Vacation to Graceland by Phillip Cornell

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Tour, presented by Goddess Fish Promotions, for Vacation to Graceland by Phillip Cornell. Please leave a comment or question for Phillip to let him know you stopped by. You may enter his tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. You may follow all of the stops on the tour by clicking on the banner above. The more stops you visit, the better your odds of winning. Good Luck!

Interview with Phillip Cornell

Me: Vacation to Graceland is the first book you published - did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Phillip: No! I did not know I wanted to be a writer. I just discovered my talent about 4 years ago. I started writing as a stress reliever, and saw I had something going. Even till this day, it feels awkward to tell people I am a writer. But I will say that the more people who do discover my novel, give me confidence in saying I am a writer.

Me: How has becoming published changed your approach to writing?

Phillip: The business side of publishing is eye opening. I just want to write, and for people to know I have legitimate talent in the field. The way publishing is set up, for me to reach the maximum viewing crowd, I have to promote. I never saw myself as a promoter, but time and time again I find myself practicing speeches, and reading back through my novel to properly sell it to anyone who ask me about it. I know my writings are entertaining, so I do not write to target specific audiences. If you like it, you like it! If you do not, you don’t.

Me: What is a typical day like in your life? Do you write every day?

Phillip: My days are typically boring. I go to work 5 days a week. I do not work on Friday or Saturday, so I use Friday as my taking care of errands day. Sunday through Thursday I wake up around 8:00 am and knock out work. I then come home and take a nap. After my nap, I do some sort of in home workout. It is either a jump rope session or pushups. After the workout, I either chill and watch TV, or begin the writing process before I go to sleep. I do not write every day, because it mostly depends on my mental state. I am a moody person, so if the mood is right then I will write. If I am distracted or not feeling creative, I will just go to sleep and start over again the next day.

Me: Do you listen to music while writing? If so do you make a playlist for each story or do you just randomly listen?

Phillip: No music what so ever. My mind moves like lightning through the sky. I need silence, or miner background noise to keep my ideas in order while I write. I can see an entire story in my mind, and all I have to do is power through, and lay it down on paper. There is nothing wrong with listening to music. I just submerge myself in it so much, that I want to listen and digest it; not write my stories to it.

Me: Who or what has been the biggest influence on your writing?

Phillip: The “who” would be my family in general. They have been awesome with the support. They call and text, to keep me going! The “what” is a little more complicated. I was really down about my life. When I was 25, things were not going the way I envisioned them. I had a choice of either being sad, or write about how I was feeling and make plans to change my life. I chose option 2, and I am happy I did!

Me: What do you think it is about “family reunions or even holiday “get togethers” that brig out the best and worst in us and often the comedic?

Phillip: Most people do not know how much their family has rubbed off on them, until they are separated from them for an extended amount of time. College really showed me this. I met people from different families, and lived with them. I realized certain things I did, and certain ways I acted was not typical. So learning how to do things differently on your own, then going back to the environment where you learned how to do things originally. You see how silly somethings, that your family does, really are. This all happens because you are able to look at things from the outside perspective.

Quick Get to Know You Questions:

1. Favorite Color? Any Earth tone colors

2. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate on a cold night? Hot Chocolate

3. Favorite season? Fall

4. What upcoming book or movie are you looking forward to the most in 2017? Anything Marvel drops I am excited for!

5. Favorite holiday and holiday meal? Thanksgiving, and any meat entrée associated with it

Vacation to Graceland

By Phillip Cornell

Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing

Release Date: May 23, 2015

Genre: Comedy/Adventure/Travel

Length: 92 Pages

ISBN: 9781457537387

ASIN: B01FWNDK7O

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | GooglePlay

About the book:

A man, his mother, his sister, his granny, his niece, and his nephew make a trip to Memphis Tennessee for a family reunion. During the course of the trip, the family encounter a series of circumstances that mold the trip into an unforgettable experience. Through the arguing and internal bickering within the group, they come together and strengthen the blood bond they share with each other. Reflecting on each and every situation encountered, the man realizes the trip is an overall social, emotional, and educational journey.

EXCERPT

Ardella went into the women’s restroom, and I waited by the sculpture until she was done. While I was waiting for Ardella, I lost track of Mike. I knew he had not gone far, but I could not see him. All of sudden a crowd of people rushed into the court! Most of the women ran into the women’s restroom, and some of the guys ran into the men’s restroom. I stepped out the way of mob. I assumed someone had gotten shot, but I did not hear a gunshot! After 10 minutes of chaos, Ardella found me standing by the sculpture. She asked me what happened. From her vantage point, she just saw a bunch of people rush into the restroom while she was inside of it. I told her I was not sure, but I did not hear a gunshot. Ardella shrugged it off, and we found Mike and his friend by the barbeque stand.

Mike’s friend told me that the barbeque stand, I was standing next to, was the best barbeque in Memphis. My initial observation of the food stand was that it was nothing but Africans cooking food. I was not sure if I wanted to eat there, but after short consideration, I decided to roll the dice and give it a try. I stood in line, with Ardella, waiting to be serviced.

Before we got to the front counter, I asked Ardella what she was eating. Ardella usually eats clean, and does not eat greasy fattening food. This night she had been drinking, so she was fine with taking a break from her usual eating habits. She did keep her strict policy of not eating pork. This cut her options of food drastically! She was restricted to about 5 items on the menu. I felt bad for her, but it was her choice. I personally did not plan on giving up pork until I was 30 years of age. Ardella got some chicken, and I got a pulled pork sandwich.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Phillip Cornell is a college graduate. He gained his degree in Biological Sciences, and currently works at a local pharmacy. He is the only son of Harron and Connie Cornell, and the youngest of 3 children. In 2006 his father passed away due to colon cancer, and his mom became an inspiration to him and his family in the way she supported everyone. He has a passion for all types of competitive activity, with sports being the favorite. Overall he lives for different experiences to stimulate the mind, and firmly believes that life is something that has to be lived, read about, and dissected. His biggest weakness is beautiful women, and the thought of being a failure. Firmly believing everyone deserves their moment no matter how long or short it is, Phillip listens to anyone who has something to say. The more he writes. The more he realizes what he creates, is something that needs to be shared with someone other than himself.

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