It was a cold winter day. Hit songwriter Benita Hill (“More Money” by Crystal Gayle), Shawn Camp (“How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn) and I were dreaming about anything and anyplace warm. I mentioned that I always wanted to write a song with pina coladas in the title and if I did, I would have one for each hand. At that moment, Shawn started singing the chorus. We thought it would be perfect for Jimmy Buffet, but when Allen Reynolds (Record Producer for Garth Brooks, Crystal Gayle, Kathy Mattea, etc) heard it, he asked to hear it again and again and decided to pitch it to Garth Brooks. The rest is history!

Michael (CIO): Having worked for many years as a successful host at Country Music Television (CMT). What inspired or motivated you to write a children’s book?

Lance: I was inspired when I was a kid.   I always loved Shel Silverstein and Doctor Seuss and I guess I never grew up.  The influence has always been there.

Michael (CIO): Now the title is The Old Man and the Cat.  What can we expect from this story and what is it about?

Lance: I was putting together a compilation book and had 30 or so pieces, and one of them was called “The Old Man and the Cat”, and so it started with the first couple of stanzas about the adventures that this old man and his cat would go on.  I continued to write this and the book now has 17 complete stanzas.  

Michael (CIO): Is this the only adventure for the old man and the cat or will this eventually be turned into a series of books?

Lance: I have a lot of ideas for a lot of books.  But people who have read it already keep asking me, “Well, what happens next to them?”  So I will probably continue on with it and create that compilation book.  I have a lot more stories in me so I am ready to Rock and Roll.  There will be more.

Michael (CIO):  Will you stick mostly to children’s books or will you try to venture into novels one day?

Lance: I write a lot on the side just for myself, but I doubt that will ever see the light of day. For me, writing children’s books is about entertaining kids first.  This is my first book, so I don’t have the right to call anyone out, but I think people sometimes forget to entertain kids first. And I think parents will pick up a book that is entertaining and one that has a message. But the books that last are the ones that entertain and you can read 20 years later as an adult and remember how much it entertained you.  But as an adult you say, “Oh, there’s the message.”  So I don’t see myself writing for adults because I don’t have a message for them, but maybe by the time I am 80 I will have a message for adults. I just want to write for kids now.

Michael (CIO):  What is the message that kids would be able to take from this book?

Lance: Well, hopefully first it is entertaining, but the message is that these characters run into different problem and they keep trying to solve them. Sometimes things don’t work out, but they keep trying.  If I could sum up the message in one word I guess it would be perseverance.  But it is also about friendship, cooperation, but sorry no fishing lessons though.

Michael (CIO): I am also a teacher for an Urban School and know that children sometimes have trouble following a book that does not pertain to them. Would urban kids like this book as well?

Lance: The message is universal.  Some parts are set in the middle of the city. Some parts they are fishing in the park.  They maybe fishing illegally- and the message to some is don’t get caught. (chuckles)  But the message should be universal for all kids no matter what their background. There is something in here for everyone.

Michael (CIO): Who has been your audience so far and what has their reaction to the story been?

Lance:  I have read it to a lot of kids and a lot of kids in my own family.  I have a lot of cousins and second cousins.  I don’t have any kids of my own, but I think that’s what helped me write this story- not having kids of my own.  I started writing this by what I was entertained by when I was a kid. And so far all the kids I have read it to really love it.

Michael (CIO):  Being a writer myself, I know how difficult the process can be to get your book developed and published.  How difficult was the publishing process for you?

Lance:  I met with different management companies and discussed the possibilities, and I almost went the publisher route.  Instead I went the independent route and self published my work.  The only difference between the two is control, and I am a control freak.  I didn’t want to lose control; I wanted to maintain my idea from beginning to end – the look, the style, the sound.  And the company I went with is a fantastic company and the people there have given me great advice, and then I can handle the publicity part on my end. So I decided to go at it on my own.  And maybe one of the big publishing companies will want to buy the rights for A LOT OF MONEY.  Also, publishing companies take much longer to get a book out. I wanted to get the book out to the public as quickly at possible.

Michael (CIO):  With a new book out that usually means a book signing tour.  Will you be traveling cross the country to promote this project?  

Lance:  Yes, we have a 51 city tour all over the country mostly in November and December to get it out there before the holidays.  It helps with the name I have built for myself through CMT and I am grateful that it opened doors and opportunities for me to do books signings at stores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders books.

Michael (CIO):  Speaking of CMT and your relationship with them, how have the people at CMT responded to this new venture?

Lance:  They have been so supportive.  We also have a foundation called CMT One Country where a portion of my proceeds will go to them and their partners at the Boys and Girls Club. So it’s great that it helps out the children at the same time.  I will also be visiting local Boys and Girls Clubs and school to get the chance to read the book to them.  So through CMT’s help, a lot of this has become possible.

Michael (CIO):  Writing a children’s book is only half of the battle.  Tell me about the process of having it illustrated.

Lance: My illustrator is a man by the name of Manuel Conde (Mac).   He is terrific.  He has really bold art work, and I picked him out of a lot of illustrators’ portfolios.  He’s just fantastic. His art really helps tell the story. I told him about what I was looking for and he just nailed it and made it even better than I imagined.  I really want to use him on all the Old Man and the Cat stories. 

Michael (CIO):  As television personality you have had to deal with critics before.  But as you journey out on an entirely new endeavor, are you nervous about critics and your reviews?

Lance:  The only thing I am nervous about it whether or not kids like it, and the ones I have read it to love it.  I am not really nervous about critics.  When I started at CMT, I had lots of critics and it really doesn’t matter because people will want to say what they want to say, but at the end of the day I am just trying to make some kids happy and entertain them.  I hope critics do like it, but I am thinking more about the kids. I am just excited about this new venture.

Michael (CIO):  When can we expect the book to be released to the public?

Lance:  We have a November ship date, but pre-orders are available now at Theoldmanandthecat.com and LanceSmith.net.   So you can pre-order it now.

Michael (CIO): Now Dolly Parton had a song “Coat of Many Colors” that eventually was turned into a children’s story.  Any plans for you to turn your children’s story into a song?

Lance:  I usually write rhythmically and melodically, and it has a beat and alliteration, everything I learned in 8^th grade English- tell your students that (chuckles). So I would love it if it could be turned into a song to be recorded for audio to go along with the book eventually.

Michael (CIO):  That would be a great idea. What other marketing would you hope to do for this project?

Lance:  Well, I like to read it the story fast and put rhythm and different voices to it.   So down the line we may like to create a read-along CD and have different voices read it. My uncle is the “Mama’s Got the Magic of Clorox 2” voice and he is helping me produce the read-along CD.  So I will be on it, my uncle would be on it, and even my wife.  That way, children don’t get bored with it, and maybe eventually I can get some of my artist friends to read along to it. (Sarcastically) And then next we’ll have shirts, onesies, just not diapers- no one poops on the old man and the cat (laughing).  I would love for this book to be a classic.  Not to be boastful, but because I am really proud of it.  When I look at it, it reminds me of the books I was read as a child.  So I am really excited about what this book has to offer.  The possibilities are endless.