Interview: Zac Rantz, author of Hindsight (and a Cover Model!)

Today I’m honored to be able to have Zac Rantz on the blog! He’s the author of a non-fiction book called Hindsight, and he’s also a cover model (musician, actor, AND works in the school district). So please check out the interview, enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and show him some support!

Hi Zac! Welcome to In Libris Veritas! It was great to meet and chat with you at UtopYa this year. Let’s chat a bit about you first and then we’ll talk about Hindsight.

So you seem to be a man of many talents. You’re the Director of Communications at your area school system, you can act, sing, and you’re a model! What made you decide to start modeling?

A friend of mine was doing it, so I saw it on his Facebook page. I contact Kelsey from K Keeton Designs…and well, the rest is history…or a book cover…maybe a magazine soon. I love being creative, so modeling is just another way for me to do that.

Do you have a favorite photoshoot that you’ve done?

I really like the shoots where we just get together and play and be creative. You can some up with some really great work…and some pretty funny things as well. When you have something specific you need to shoot, that’s the focus, but when you can just let go, who knows what will happen and what you can come up with.

How does it feel to see yourself on the covers of books?

Both really awesome and kinda weird.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Good question…I’ll let you know when I’m not working. Ha ha. But, I’m usually reading, going to movies or concerts, or trying to do some traveling when I’m not working. I try to chill some since I’m always on the go.

You do seem to have a lot to do!

So let’s talk about your novel Hindsight. The book is a non-fiction account of the Joplin EF5 tornado and it’s aftermath, can you tell us a bit about why you wrote the book?

I don’t think anyone really understood the full impact of the tornado. I know I didn’t. But, from the first moments we arrived in Joplin and started helping out the school system, I started taking notes of things that were happening because I was wondering if my school district was prepared for things that Joplin was going through.’

You really can’t plan for a major crisis, and it’s funny that we plan for a certain way for a crisis to happen, but it rarely happens the way we planned. So, what schools (and really the lessons are applicable for any organization) need to do is prepare early and make certain procedures a part of the daily life of the district because then when I crisis happens, it’s a part of what you do and not some separate thing that you need to re-learn in the middle of a stressful situation.

So many different groups and organizations commented that Joplin Schools was able to recover because of the communication and community outreach they had done before the tornado. When so many people say the same thing, we should pay attention and do the same thing.

When you started writing Hindsight were you surprised by anything while writing the novel?

I was in a tornado when I was four years old. And, I didn’t realize how much working in Joplin would bring back those memories. The smells and feelings never leave you…and it all came flooding back.

I also am glad I wrote so much down. We were working so much that I forgot certain things happened until I read my notes and went “Oh, yeah, forgot about that.”

Are there any things schools should do to prepare for crisis of this magnitude?

Schools and organizations need to engage their communities. Building those communication and community contacts and support now before any crisis hits will help you when one does. The lessons in the book really can be applied to anything from a scandal, to a tornado, to an earthquake. The overall theme is the same, it’s just the specifics that you need to adjust.

You will need to reach our for help, communicate out information, and have a lot of trust in each other. You don’t want the first time that you meet someone to be in the middle of a crisis, so start talking now. Communication is so important, and becomes so much more important in the middle of a crisis.

How about a few random questions?

Favorite food?

Sushi

Do you have any pets?

I have a dog that is a Beagle/Boxer mix…she’s really energetic…

I bet! I have a Lab/Boxer mix and she’s a handful.

Truth or Dare? 😛

Dare!

If you could have one super power what would you chose?

The ability to fly. There are so many places I want to visit that I could get to them so much faster and visit more often.

I know you love music being in a band, so what do you like to listen to?

I like a little bit of everything. I have the craziest mix of music. i’ll go from Saliva to Kelly Clarkson to Dierks Bentley

Is there anything you’ve always to do but haven’t had the chance?

I’d love to sing a duet with one of my favorite music artis

Thank you for answering a few of my questions Zac! I wish you all the best.

About Zac Rantz

Zac Rantz was born and raised in Nixa, Missouri. He is the child of high school sweethearts and grew up to be an active member of his community.

Zac is currently the Director of Communication at Nixa Public Schools and has served in many positions in the Missouri School Public Relations Association, including president. He has been honored with multiple awards for his work in communication and public relations.

Zac’s creative side comes out through his involvement with his band, Human Anyway, and in acting on both stage and screen.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Covers with Zac Rantz

Want him on the cover of your book?

K Keeton Designs

About Hindsight

On May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri, was changed forever by an EF5 tornado. The Joplin school district was hit hard by this event, but through the chaos, many lessons for schools can be learned. Looking back at the days, weeks, and months after the tornado, as well as other crisis events, this book asks questions and gives answers to help schools better prepare for a crisis. A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to Joplin Schools to help with their recovery.

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Purchase

Amazon Kindle/ Amazon / Barnes & Noble / CreateSpace

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

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5 Responses to Interview: Zac Rantz, author of Hindsight (and a Cover Model!)

Francine Soleil (@francinesoleil) says:

July 9, 2014 at 2:32 AM

Wow. He has done so much! How is that possible? I’m very interested in seeing the book covers he’s in. 😛

- Michelle @ In Libris Veritas says:
  
  July 9, 2014 at 12:57 PM
  
  Lol, I knew I forgot something! I just added the two covers he is on!
  
michelle says:

July 9, 2014 at 3:34 PM

I have such a morbid facsination eith natural disasters! I dont tend to read non fiction but this would be intesting! And holy wow this guys does SO mUch ! Where does he find time to sleep!

- Michelle @ In Libris Veritas says:
  
  July 9, 2014 at 7:42 PM
  
  I know! I had no he did so much when I met him, he makes it all look so easy!
  
kimbacaffeinate says:

July 9, 2014 at 9:33 PM

Hindsight look really good. What a fantastic interview and I think this is the first author I’ve read about who writes and models for book cover. How bookishly delightful!