Interview by Daisy Prescott

Posted August 1, 2013 by Karen in Author Interviews, LLLoves Author Days / 2 Comments

 

 

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Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 

I’m a writer, wife, dog mom, traveler, fangirl (recently survived my third Comic Con), reader, Sharknado lover, and social media addict who lives in a Boston suburb that I pretend is Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls. I have a steel trap memory for places and food, never get lost, and have a knack for giving nicknames that stick.

 

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

 

The biggest challenge for me was getting the first draft written. I’d been attempting to write a novel for years but kept getting stuck. Then I heard an author say you don’t have to start at the beginning or even write in sequence and that unlocked the writing process for me. After publishing, the biggest challenge as a new writer was getting the book into readers’ hands. I’m so grateful to bloggers (like you) who took a chance on reading a debut novel. At the end of the day it’s readers sharing a book that they love that creates word of mouth buzz.

 

Do you have a day job as well?

 

I do have a day job as a freelance writer. It’s flexible so I can take on fewer assignments when I’m working on fiction. My day job focuses on design and decorating. I think that helps with descriptive writing in fiction.

 

How did you come up with the title?

 

Geoducks Are for Lovers was inspired by a similar phrase that I came across while researching geoducks. It was my working title when the book was a NaNoWriMo project but stuck because it’s an quirky title and works on many levels for the book.

 

How does your writing process look? Consistent with regular amounts of word counts daily/weekly… or more sporadic with a gush of words all at once and then a dry bed for a while?

 

When I’m writing, I’m consistent with a routine and daily word count goals. This discipline comes from freelance writing where I need to hit certain word counts and article deadlines. It’s the getting into the creative headspace that can be more sporadic. After Geoducks came out, I took a break from writing  to focus on promotion and marketing. It’s difficult to have the brain power to do both. Or at least for me it is. Social media is the enemy of writing.

 

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? 

 

Can I plead the fifth? Many details of the book are rooted in real life experience, but all names and characteristics have been changed to protect the guilty. No character is based solely on a real person, but there are a lot of personality elements and events that have made it into the book from people I’ve known and my own life. I think of these details as little Easter eggs for friends and family when they read it.

 

What character have readers asked you the most about? Which left an impression on them and did it surprise you?

 

Readers really love John Day. This surprised me because I always thought of him as a secondary or even third-tier character. Maybe I’ve tapped into something with the hot lumberjack thing. Many readers really love and relate to Jo, especially in the laundry room scene. That makes me happy that I got her character right.

 

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? 

 

I’m editing a short story inspired by Selah’s work, called “The Pink Pearl,” which is pirate “erotica” and tons of fun to write.. I’m hoping to release in early August. Next up are two spin-offs from Geoducks. And my week at the beach has inspired another standalone. I need to find the time and focus to write everything.

 

You’ve been given the task to host a last minute dinner party. Which authors are on your ultimate dinner invitation list? Alive or Dead. 

 

Tough question! I’m lucky to have some great friends who are also authors and our dinners are always a riot. Throw in Jane Austen, Dorothy Parker and Nora Ephron, and things would get very interesting. Although I’m certain Miss Austen would be horrified by our dinner conversations.

Smooches 

 

Beach or Mountain   Beach (I’m at the beach while typing this).

 

Book or movie? Book

 

Can you roll your tongue or tie a cherry stem into a knot with your tongue? Roll

 

Chicken or Fish? Fish. Chicken is just chicken, but there is so much variety with fish.

 

Chocolate or vanilla? For cake or ice cream, vanilla. Everything else, chocolate.

 

Cowboy hat or cowboy boots? Both! I have my grandfather’s straw cowboy hat hanging in my office.

 

Have you ever been in an overloaded passenger van, with giggly woman? I signed a NDA so can neither confirm nor deny I was in such a van in Orlando. 😉

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2 responses to “Interview by Daisy Prescott

  1. Brianna Soloski

    Daisy! I’m loving what I’ve read of Geoducks so far and am thrilled that you’re going to continue with those characters.

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