Vacation to Graceland by Phillip Cornell - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Phillip Cornell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Tell us something you hate doing. Why?

I hate repeating myself, after I spend 3 to 5 minutes explaining something. My time is precious! Please do not waste it having me to have to repeat myself. Also, do not hear me explaining an answer to a question, then ask the same question in a different way. This leads me to have to repeat myself, and I do not like that.

Share a funny incident in your life?

My life is an ongoing comedy. Recently I was telling this girl at work how I had to block this girl I was flirting with on social media. She looked at me, and said, “Why did you have to be petty?” I told her that is all she understood. I put my displeasure with her actions in text, but I saw no results. Once I blocked her, her whole attitude changed.

What’s your pet peeve?

A pet peeve, is making plans with me, and canceling in a shady way. An example is, not answering your phone on the day off, or during the time of said plans. If you do not want to do something, just say that, do not waste someone else’s time.

Who was your favorite hero/heroine?

I am a huge Wolverine fan! The guy is utterly imperfect, and I love it. He is confused about who he is, but he does know he has to do something to make things right. I see myself in him sometimes, because I know there is always an opportunity to do something right. The problem is, my way might not be the correct way, just like Wolverine.

Have you ever had one character you wanted to go one way with, but after the book was done the character was totally different?

No! I know who my characters are from beginning to end. The way I write is, I see a character, and put him or her in situations. So the character stays true to themselves, but the situation changes. Sometimes a character with surprise me in how I have them handle a situation. With this being said, I will never change a character midway or near the end of a story. They are who they are, and will either mature in the writing or level out personality wise.

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.

Read an excerpt:

The idea of a family trip started, when my mom devised a plan to take my granny on a weekend trip. This was difficult because my granny was on a weekly dialysis schedule, so my mom had to come up with a way to keep her schedule and transport her from one city to the next without any problems. My grandma had been on dialysis for the past 2 ½ years, and with her increasing age and decreasing health, she needed more attention from care givers and family members.

The living arrangement in my mom’s house was setup like this. My mom, my sister Brandi, and my granny all lived there constantly. My other sister Crissy and her children did not live there, but they would visit often. I myself would visit quite often also. My job was 2 miles from my mom’s house, so it was nothing for me to visit on my lunch break or when I got off work. My granny anticipated me coming over many times. She would cook a meal for me, and place my name on the plate. It was not the perfect living arrangement, but it definitely had a strong family feel tied into it.

My granny kept close tabs on what my mom and sister were always doing, because that is just who she was. She still liked to get out the house ever once in a while. Her favorite pastime was people watching. If there was one thing that she enjoyed, it was talking about other people. This is a trait that has been handed down from generation to generation, and I myself am guilty of doing it also. Discussing people in a humorous light, that downgrades their physical appearance or personality, is second nature to me now. I can easily do it without any effort or stress. The thoughts just come to my head, and I let the mild form of slander flow. I have never been embarrassed of this, and like me, my granny has never been either.

About the Author:

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.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Phillipthedeal
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