I’d like to welcome Loni Emmert, one of my fellow authors at Mainly Murder Press. Loni and her sister P.I. Barrington, California natives, fell in love with New England during fall vacations in Maine and New Hampshire, which became the settings for their brand new co-authored mystery Button Hollow Chronicles #1: The Leaf Peeper Murders.
Loni has spent the last 25 years working in the music industry and writing press releases and magazine articles. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and writes articles on writing, reading and other related topics.
Congratulations on the new book! Tell us, Loni, what do you remember from 25 years ago?
LONI: Twenty-five years ago today, I was a newbie in the music industry working at the fabulous Island Records on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Many hats were placed upon my head as our office was busy and small, all of which provided vast and varied learning opportunities for which I am forever indebted.
My favorite duties were working backstage at concerts for our artists including U2 and Robert Palmer (RIP) and handling artist relations, radio promotion and marketing tasks. I was extremely young and dumb, but those were some of the best times of my life even though there was a lot of work and some stress. Better to be anxious because you have to take a call from Bono than because someone in the drive-thru wants a burger.
Even as a novice I understood the enormity of having the opportunity to meet and work closely with so many incredibly talented musical artists. I’ve remained in the music industry ever since – long live rock.
If you’d like to ask Loni a question, please feel free to leave a comment. Visit her web site to find out more about her books. Also check out her new mystery novel on Amazon and at Mainly Murder Press.
Life in idyllic Button Hollow, New Hampshire, is beginning to unravel for Sheriff Jeff Ramsey. A series of suspicious deaths has the elderly members of the volunteer Citizens’ Brigade up in arms, and their zealousness is complicating the Sheriff’s already intricate investigation. His personal life is also threatened when his wife receives a tempting job offer in Boston. As Jeff attempts to solve Button Hollow’s mysterious crime wave and protect the Citizens’ Brigade members from themselves, he learns that beautiful fall foliage cannot hide the corruption that lies close to home, and protecting his beloved town’s citizens may prove easier than saving his marriage.
Hi Loni, Working in the music industry sounds fascinating! When you worked backstage at a concert, what were some of the tasks that you had to do?
Congratulations on your book, Loni! Sounds like my type of read! I just added it to my to-read list.
I’m fascinated by your background. My two addictions are books and music. I am not to be trusted in a store with either. (My collection of both is truly out of control!) What are your thoughts on the current trends with the music industry, as far as digital music, indie musicians, and the industry’s inability to latch on to the new trends? And do you see book publishing going in a similar direction?
Hi, Loni (& P.I., too): I’m looking forward to reading your new book. I’ve been trying to find the time to read all the new MMP releases, so yours is definitely on my list.
Thanks, Stacy, for introducing another interesting author!
This is a great post – I love learning more about you, Loni. You have led (and still are leading!) a fascinating life!
See you at SinC!
Loni, I’m surprised we didn’t know each other; that’s about the time I was at the radio station. (Okay, I’m off by a couple of years; I didn’t get to the station until ’88)
We ought to talk… swap stories…
Oh, yeah. Stacy, I’ve got this posted about at Win a Book for you!
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by, and thanks for posting to Win A Book, Susan!
Hi Stacy, backstage it could get crazy. Once, my first time backstage with U2, I actually had to bring my personal VCR so the band could watch the latest episode of a TV show that wanted them to appear. They had never seen it so I had to tape it the night before and bring it (and my VCR) to the concert. Backstage Bono was so nice. It was a lot harder the next morning to get it back from the band – I arrived early at the hotel just to wait a few horus because the band was still sleeping. Rock and roll.
Hi Darcia, those are my two passions, too! The music industry has a hard time keeping up with the new technology so it can be challenging some days. I do see books going in the same direction, though I hope it is more controlled to benefit the authors, and publishers as well. Too much music has been stolen over the years leaving the artists, songwriters and companies that represent them to suffer the losses so I hope the book industry handles the changes differently. And sooner.
Thanks Suzanne, me too! I’m trying to read all of the MMP books but I’ve so little time to read I need to make a chunk of time just for enjoying a good book!
Thanks Hannah, hopefully see you soon
Susan, I’m surprised we haven’t crosssed paths, too because from 84-89 was when I was doing a lot of radio promotion & marketing duties. Email me: Stacy has my email. Do you still work in music? I’m at Universal.
I want Loni to write memoirs of her duties in promotion. She has some incredible tales of what she had to do being the lowest on the Island totem back then! Hint: fake noses (yes, you heard me) and “going for soda” (not what it sounds like)! And I won’t even mention the “bag lady doll” that accompanied the “bag lady song”.
Patti
I think you should write a memoir also, Loni. You have some fascinating anecdotes. Thanks so much for joining us and good luck with the new book!