A Cup of Tea on the Commode: My Multi-Tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom was the THIRD PLACE FICTION WINNER winner in the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Mark Steven Porro.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
A Cup of Tea on the Commode: My Multi-Tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom. WriteLife Publishing released my book on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.
What’s the book’s first line?
“My mother’s first attempt at dying, the first I knew of anyway, occurred February 5, 2011, nine days after her eighty-ninth birthday.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
“A Cup of Tea on the Commode” is a beautiful testament to a son’s love and devotion for his mother as he navigates her last years. Mark Steven Porro drops you in the center of what it’s like to put your life on hold to care for the woman who gave you life, discovering as much about himself as he does about her. It’s rare for a son to take on 24/7 caregiving. Here you will find a unique, funny, and heartwarming blueprint of how it can be done. This story is unexpected, hysterical, and life-affirming.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Yes, of course, my mother. She deserved better and needed to be rescued. So, I gave up my carefree bachelor life, moved back into my childhood home to fill her last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, I came pretty damn close.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
“A Cup of Tea on the Commode” offers readers a beautifully written, poignant, and often humorous memoir chronicling the author’s journey of caring for his 90-year-old mother in the final years of her life. The story is touching, hysterical, and life affirming.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’ve always enjoyed recording family history in handmade greeting cards, poems, memory books, a documentary of searching for my family roots in Italy, etc. In Hollywood, I wrote lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. So, I’ve always written in one form or another. During my time caregiving, I took lots of notes, photos, and videos. I had friends going through something similar. I offered them tips and advice from my experience, and they seemed to find value in it. I realized I had something here and thought memoir would be the best way to share what I learned.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes, this is my first book.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m basically retired here in the South of France. In between writing, I run a Chambre d’hôtes, and after a fifty-year break I started carving wood statues again.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
I’m not quite an indie as I signed with a small hybrid publishing house. But whether an indie or a traditionally published author, I enjoy all aspects of writing, editing, designing, and marketing my book. I’ve created more than 150 promotional videos, designed my website, appeared in or on over fifty interviews and podcasts. I constantly update all my authors platforms (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, etc), post on my blog, and remain active on all social media platforms. I also set up a studio and recorded the audiobook at home. I won’t admit to being a control freak, but I do like being in charge. Making sure all marketing efforts remain on brand is not a simple task.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Find the joy not only in the writing and editing but in the marketing as well. No matter how good your book is, you’ve got to get the word out.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
You never know when you pour your heart and soul into something if it will resonate with others. I have been fortunate to receive praise from readers and critics alike. My book has also been honored with several literary awards to date. It’s lovely to know that many others have also fallen in love with my mother. Sharing my mother’s story keeps her in the present, which is a lovely gift to me. So, this is all the motivation I need to continue spreading the word about this book and to continue with my writing.