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Leo Honeycutt is riding the crest of an historical wave with the release
of his book, Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana. In the spring
of 2005, Edwards asked him if he was interested in the project. Leo
asked "if he was interested in a straightforward book." Thus began the
many battles between the former governor and the former broadcast
journalist. But what's the story behind the author?
Born in Oak Grove, Louisiana, Leo attended Oak Grove High School, the
University of Louisiana in Monroe, the American Film Institute
Conservatory and Harvard University. He currently resides in Baton Rouge
with his wife, Jackie, and he has two children, Danielle and Jarrod.
While his past accomplishments include twenty eight years as a
television journalist, he is presently the president of Honeycutt
Communications, LLC, where he is a media specialist. While his office is
located in Baton Rouge, he also has an office in New York.
Leo first began writing in elementary school for the simple reason of
liking it. He excelled in English and found that he couldn't stop
writing. He's a former member of HeartLa, a local writers group, and
only let his membership lapse due to an increase in business traveling.
He does, however, miss the encouragement and support of other writers.
Writing gives him the ability to re-live key historical moments through
another person's eyes. "I can hear the sounds, smell the smells, touch
the earth at any moment in time and see through the eyes of those who
lived 100 or 1000 years ago. Then, I can be back in my own home in time
for dinner that night."
Reconstructing Louisiana's recent decades for the book on Edwards has
been one of Leo's most memorable experiences as a writer thus far. It's
difficult to grasp the meaning of current events, but years later, "the
twists and turns of Louisiana and American history can be explained."
When one understands history, one can pretty much predict the future.
Leo feels that nothing ever changes "because leaders forget the past and
make the same mistakes repeatedly."
Leo's study of the human condition has taught him that compassion
connects people. He admits that he was very selfish until he realized
the meaning of what Jesus said, "You must lose your life to find it."
Love is the only lasting thing in this life. Everything passes with the
wind - fame, youth, fortune. "Nobody gets out of this alive, and there
are no trailer hitches on hearses." What matters most is Love.
His advice for other aspiring authors is to practice discipline. "Stop
whining about 'not being in the mood' and just start." Get the words
down every day, even if you have to beat the sun up (which is his
favorite time of day). Leo also states that a writer must learn to edit.
"Fewer words make stronger sentences and bolder visuals - less is more
because it forces you to create beautiful scenes with only a few brush
strokes. Good pacing doesn't allow a running on of verbage."
Leo handles rejection letters by tossing them in the trash. Always
remember that the rejection is professional and about your work, not
about you personally. He says that attempting to land an editor or agent
on a good day is a "crap shoot". They receive many submissions daily,
and writers should remember they are swamped. He strongly urges writers
to believe in themselves, particularly when nobody else does.
As far as writing rituals go, he gets up before dawn, when "it's still
quiet and the ghosts of my dreams are still milling about." Writing in
chaos is hard, and while sacrificing ourselves for other people is
noble, "one day we'll wonder if they've closed the exit to our own
destiny. Being disciplined enough to take decisive action to grow leads
to fulfillment, which leads to happiness. And in a happy state, our
relationships are also fulfilling."
Leo jokingly says that he uses a sledgehammer to break through writer's
block, but in actuality, he takes a break by walking, watching TV, or
reading before getting back to writing. He doesn't have one favorite
author but many - "Fitzgerald, Penn Warren, Steinbeck, Twain, Hemingway,
Moses, Solomon, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul." His favorite books
are All the King's Men and The Great Gatsby. Gone with
the Wind is his favorite movie because it is more of a story about
relationships than it is about the "grand Old South".
The music he enjoys includes Johnny Cash, Gilley, The Beatles, Nelson,
Elvis, Beethoven, Sinatra, CCR and Bach. He enjoys cooking, traveling
and photography.
His family is supportive of his writing because they don't have much of
a choice. "If you want to be supported in your dreams, you have to
support others in theirs." His wife reads many books "hot off the
press". His children help when his schedule is too demanding by taking
calls, scheduling appearances, unloading and delivering books and other
necessary tasks. His feline rules the house, and Miss Kitty graciously
allows them live there.
Leo is working intensely on a new project, When Camelot Began in
Louisiana. The story is about how President John Kennedy began his
unofficial presidential campaign in Louisiana, and he is very excited
about the book.
Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana was released on December 14,
2009. Leo did not have a publisher when he began the book, but a few of
the houses in New York wanted control of the book. He didn't need any
more fame. He simply wanted fair compensation for the work, which took
five years to write. The book is available at all bookstores, Amazon and
www.edwinedwards.net . Leo
will have many upcoming book signings across Louisiana at Borders and
Barnes & Noble. He will also be the Emcee at a readers' luncheon on
November 6, 2010 for HeartLa, where the Keynote Speaker will be
Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the popular Dark Hunter series. For more
information, visit www.HeartLa.com
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