Interview with Cinthia Ritchie

It's March 20th. Which means, it's SPRING! But, who was counting? If only Ol' Man Winter knew this fact. He is throwing a mighty fit outside my house, right now. Seriously. It sounds like the house is about to lift off, Wizard of Oz style, and it's scaring my animals. Not me, though. I'm one tough cookie (eep!).

As long the roof stays over my head, I'd like to welcome Cinthia Ritchie to We Do Write.

Cinthia Ritchie is a former journalist and Pushcart Prize nominee who lives and runs mountains in Alaska.

She’s a recipient of two Rasmuson Individual Artist Awards, a Connie Boocheever Fellowship, residencies at Hedgebrook, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts and Hidden River Arts, the Brenda Ueland Prose Award, Memoir Prose Award, Sport Literate Essay Award, Northwest PEN Women Creative Nonfiction Award, Drexel Magazine Creative Nonfiction Award and Once Written Grand Prize Award.

Her work can be found in New York Times Magazine, Sport Literate, Water-Stone Review, Memoir, Under the Sun, Literary Mama, Slow Trains Literary Journal, Sugar Mule, Breadcrumbs and Scabs, Third Wednesday, Writer’s Digest, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, Cactus Heart Press and over 30 other literary magazines and small presses.

Her debut novel, Dolls Behaving Badly, released Feb. 5 from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group. 

Welcome to We Do Write, Cinthia. You have an impressive list of accomplishments. How long have you been writing?

Oh wow, I've been writing since I was about five years old. I used to write stories for my stuffed animals. I still remember jumping from my sister’s bed to my bed, the floor beneath us littered with scraps of my stories, which for some reason we pretended were crocodiles.

Yikes! I've heard those paper crocs are FAR worse than the real ones. Glad you and your sister survived.

Tell us about DOLLS BEHAVING BADLY. I have to admit, I am in love with your cover. So, what is the story about? 

It’s a quirky Alaska story with oddball characters, the ghost of a Polish grandmother, a couple of ornery moose and a recipe for communion wafers. Here’s the official blurb:

Carla Richards is many things: an Alaska waitress who secretly makes erotic dolls for extra income; a divorcee who can't quite detach from her ex-husband; and a single mom trying to support her gifted eight-year-old son, her pregnant sister and her babysitter-turned-resident-teenager.

She's one overdue bill away from completely losing control--when inspiration strikes in the form of a TV personality. Now she's scribbling away in a diary, flirting with an anthropologist, and baking up desserts with the ghost of her Polish grandmother.

Still, getting her life and dreams back on track is difficult. Is perfection really within reach? Or will she wind up with something even better?

Sounds like a really fun read. How did the idea of the story come to you? 

I was a single mother working two jobs at the time and late at night I’d sit in the bathroom and read (the bathroom was the only place where I could get away from the cats). One night it hit me: There were very few books with single mother heroines. I decided to change that.

A few nights later while I was reading in the bathtub, I saw or imagined I saw, the ghost of my Polish grandmother. Ach, Pudel, she said, and just like that the story came to me.

As a single mother working two jobs myself, I LOVE the idea of a single mother heroine. We just don't get enough props, do we? With time stretched so thin, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers to help you out, or do you self-edit? 

I belong to a writing group and trust their opinions more than my own, yet mostly I self-edit. The process inevitably opens up untapped parts of my writing, and myself, and while this is sometimes painful, it’s always necessary.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? 

I totally write by the seat of my pants. I don’t plan or outline. I sit down each night not knowing what will happen next, where my characters will take me. It’s what I love most about writing, the mystery and the revelations.

Amen, sister. What’s the hardest part of writing for you? 

Sitting down each night and writing. I stall. I fold laundry, wash the dishes, brush the dog, floss my teeth (and I hate to floss my teeth). Writing is scary. It demands so much emotional energy, so much discipline and dedication. Mostly, it demands hope, and that’s not always an easy thing to muster.

And Amen to that, too! Getting started is such a challenge sometimes. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing? 

Fizzy water. I don’t drink alcoholic or sugary beverages so I keep tall glasses of carbonated water at my desk. The bubbles perk me up.

Hmmm... I should try that instead of the gallons of coffee I consume. If you could have any super power, what would it be? 

I don’t know. Probably it sounds corny but I’m pretty happy with myself and my life at this point. Though it would be cool to fly.

Not corny at all. But, if you have an interest in flying, you should head on over to my house. I think it's about to be ripped from it's foundation and carried away. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Last summer I goggled “moose infatuation,” because when running, I had a young male moose trot after me. He wouldn’t leave me alone and, face it, he was quite a bit larger than me. His ears were all perked up and he looked so happy, almost as if he knew me. I veered off in the woods and hid in a grove of trees, and each time I peeked out, his ears perked up again, almost as if we were playing hide and seek. It was the oddest thing. The google search brought up recipes for moose stew and moose burgers—too funny!

Okay. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: behavior, havoc, and vacuuming. I’d love to except, um, what is a vacuum again? 

Vacuum? Hmm...I'm sorry. I can't help you with that one (but my dust bunnies are grateful for that, at least). 

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Running. I’m a long distance runner and I LOVE running. In the summers I’m always up on the mountain trails, dodging moose and bear scat. There’s nothing like running in the vast silence of wilderness. I can’t get enough of it.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs. 

There are so many and I’m sure I’ll forget more than I remember: My partner, Mike. My sister, Candace. My mother, who is 78 and drove 30 miles into the city three times, anxiously waiting for my books to arrive. My friends, running buds and writing groupers: Ela, Susie, Sarana, Louise, David and Jonnie, Scooter and Roy, Deb, Lucian, Kris, Karen, Don, Holly, and the “other” Deb. And strangely, my dog, who is always there for me and doesn’t mind when I hug her smelly head and sob, when I’m stuck in the throes of writing agony.

Thanks for joining us today, Cinthia! It was a pleasure having you.

Cinthia Ritchie and her novel, DOLLS BEHAVING BADLY, can be found: 

Amazon

Barnes& Noble

IndieBound

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Interview with Melissa Jo Peltier

Today we're chatting with author Melissa Jo Peltier about her novel, REALITY BOULEVARD.
Welcome to We Do Write, Melissa. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 60’s. The first time I saw my Dad cry was the day Bobby Kennedy was shot. I attended the excellent public schools of the Wellesley, Massachusetts school system, where I got an education comparable and sometimes superior to many of my college friends who attended posh private schools. I then traveled from Massachusetts to California to attend Pomona College in Claremont, California. I entered as a theater major; changed to Theater/English double major; then changed again to a double major in English, in English literature and creative writing. I had enough credits for a Theatre “minor”, if they’d had them.

I spent a semester at the University of London, Birkbeck College, through the Institute for European Studies. I attended on a $6000 grant from the Carnation Foundation. I spent a lot of time in Charles Dicken’s house.

When and how did you discover you wanted to be a writer?

I just always was a writer, from the start. My mother told me I used to play aloud in dialogue from soon after I could talk. She’d overhear me, say, playing with my bear and my dinosaur.

Bear: “’I’m tired’,” he said.

Dinosaur: She sighed. “No, don’t go to bed yet.”

Then they walked over to the garden…

I decided to write fiction in my own voice after writing 7 major non-fiction titles as co-author or “credited ghost.” Writing in another person’s voice made me so frustrated, I had to let my own voice free, finally. I hadn’t really let it free since college.

Tell us about REALITY BOULEVARD. What's the story about?

Reality Boulevard is contemporary fiction, Hollywood novel, satire, wanna-be literary novel

When Oscar winning producer Marty Maltzman's award-winning non-fiction series "Lights and Sirens," is suddenly cancelled after 16 seasons, the quirky documentary filmmaker and his colorful staff find themselves unemployed and out on the streets in an artificial new Hollywood filled with Kardashians, Survivors and Real Housewives. As the collection of oddball characters adapt to a surreal world in which the lines between truth and lies are blurred both on and off the screen, this darkly funny novel reveals an insider’s view of Hollywood and Reality TV.

What is your most memorable moment in your writing career.

Winning the News and Documentary Emmy for writing TITANIC: DEATH OF A DREAM in 1995, a documentary I also produced and directed for A&E. I thought we were such a long shot that I used up all the film in my camera before the award was even called. My late Dad was my “date” as well, which made it extra special.

What problems have you encountered in your career and how did you deal with them?

I think the early rejections for Reality Boulevard stumped me a bit. Most of the publishers who rejected me had only good things to say about the book and rather vague, subjective reasons for rejection (including not knowing how to market). So there was no clear path to rewriting to make it attractive to editors. Since this is my first novel, I was (and still am) very insecure about gauging its real merit – is it good? Is it not? I know as a reader I enjoy it, but without an audience, it’s hard to tell if the rejections were a sign to quit writing, or just a bump along the way. Fortunately, Apostrophe Books loved Reality Boulevard, and they absolutely “got it” the way I intended. Since then, my Amazon reader reviews http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Boulevard-ebook/dp/B00BBF23BW show that there are a lot of others out there who are entertained by it. But the extreme lack of confidence in my own ability – with no real clear path to improving it - was really unsettling for a time.

Did an established writer mentor you in your early days? If yes, how did the mentor help you?

My mentor/angel was National Book Award-winning poet and essayist, Adrienne Rich.

When I was in college, my senior year, I wrote a poem in a creative writing class. I can’t recall its title right now, but it was about conformity in suburbia and how little girls dream of growing up to look like Barbie. (My work had a lot of feminist subtext back then.) When it came time to discuss in class, the writing professor tore the poem apart. Not the style or craft, but the subject matter. He actually laughed at it, saying “Who cares?” Later I heard from a freshman who had this particular professor as an advisor. She told me he often used my poems as examples of what not to write about. Naturally I was devastated, but I had an angel on my side.

That same semester, Adrienne Rich – then my hero as a writer; I’d read all her books – came to the consortium of colleges that included mine and offered a select writing workshop open to only ten students in all the colleges. I was chosen as one of the ten. After my other professor’s ridicule, I remember running all the way to across three campuses to have a meeting with Ms. Rich. She was outraged at the behaviour of the other professor and told me I had real talent, a real voice, and I must never, ever let anyone tell me what I should or shouldn’t be writing. She was a powerful woman and she passionately convinced me to keep writing. We stayed in touch for several years after the class and I feel so blessed and honoured to have known and studied under her. Not to mention having her save my writing from certain death.

What genre do you most often write?

Reality Boulevard is a sort of genre hybrid – a contemporary Hollywood novel that reads like satire. Right now, I’m trying the thriller genre, as thrillers are among the books I love to read and movies I love to see. I haven’t written enough longform fiction to know if I’m going to be drawn to one genre or another yet…I always saw myself as a literary novelist but I’m not sure I’m talented enough to warrant that title.

What other genres have you written?

I guess non-fiction first person “credited ghost” would be my previous specialty, but I’m focusing on my own fiction now

Who are the authors who most influenced your writing and your career?

There are so many, it’s impossible to list in a questionnaire. Charles Dickens, to me, is one of history’s greatest writers. Talk about someone who was born to be a writer – his inexhaustible productiveness had him writing as many as three long serials at one time. Dickens appeals to me because of the humanity in his work, and because somehow, he manages to infuse all his characters – even the worst of them – with a creator’s love and forgiveness. He also was the first great writer to combine the social novel with entertainment – something I aspire to.

Who are the authors your read most often?

Right now I’m reading a lot of thrillers to familiarize myself with the best of the genre, and I really like Kate Atkinson, Tana French, Lisa Gardner Gillian Flynn, Richard Price and Jo Nesbo. I know the Stieg Larssen books get a lot of flack for his “populist” writing style, but the characters he created were incredible. I loved Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies and I think Jennifer Egan is one of the most interesting writers out there today.

What advice would you give to all up-and-coming writers?

Just write the next word. And tell the truth.

Tell us where we can find you and REALITY BOULEVARD.

www.apostrophebooks.com/books/realityboulevard
www.goodreads.com/book/show/17364636-reality-boulevard www.pinterest.com/apostrophebooks/reality-boulevard-by-melissa-jo-peltier
My website www.melissajopeltier.com
Twitter: @apostrophebooks and @MelissaJPeltier
Facebook: facebook.com/apostrophebooksltd

Interview with Rob Kaufman

Today we're chatting with author Rob Kaufman about his novel, ONE LAST LIE.

Welcome to We Do Write, Rob. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in Connecticut with my partner of 22 years and my dog of 12 years (Still a puppy in our eyes). I have a marketing/advertising business that I will gladly “move” to someone else once my books start hitting the sales goals I’ve set for myself.

How long have you been writing?

Honestly, since I’m about five years old… when I would tape together giant pieces of orange paper, write a story on them, draw stick figures and ask my mother to put it in the library. If it was up to her, they would’ve had their own shelves. Unfortunately, there were librarians who weren’t as supporting.

Tell us about ONE LAST LIE. What’s the story about?

Philip and Jonathan have had the perfect life together for ten years - fulfilling every dream except that of having a child. Along comes Angela, Philip’s college friend who apparently conquered her old demons of obesity and manic-depression. After reacquainting and becoming good friends, the three decide to have a child together through artificial insemination of Jonathan’s sperm. From that point, Philip and Jonathan’s idyllic life begins to unravel. Angela’s mask of deceit gradually slips as her pregnancy awakens psychological and physical problems, leaving Philip and Jonathan regretting ever allowing her into their lives. Told from an elderly Jonathan’s hospital bed, Angela’s tangled web unwinds into heartbreak, deception, legal battles, and finally murder – with a surprise ending no one could have ever imagined.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

One of our lesbian couple friends were trying to have a child and couldn’t get pregnant. In passing, I told my lawyer friend that I was thinking about offering them my sperm. Her words to me were, “Absolutely not! The law is too unclear. What if she’s crazy?” From that statement alone came, “One Last Lie”.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I self-edit… over and over and over again. Once I’m satisfied, I work with an editor who tears it apart and basically makes me start over again. It’s not a very pleasurable experience, but in the end, it’s worth it. I think.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

In everyday life, I’m a planner. When it comes to writing, I’m a TOTAL pantser. I tried planning out my first book… chapter by chapter… character by character, etc. But too many new ideas come during the writing process and I end up throwing out the plans. It’s better to let my mind run free and not restrict it to plans. I do that enough in real life!

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The most challenging part of writing for me is when I have an essence of an idea, for a chapter, let’s say, but the words will not come to mind. I write a sentence, I delete it. I write another sentence, I delete that one. I stand up, look out the window. I blame it on my mood, on my breakfast, on the noise, on the quiet. I sit down again and breathe deeply to allow the relaxation to bring on some good ideas. Nothing. I finally write a few words and then leave the room for the day because I’m exasperated. Then I have to decide which is worse: writing a few words with which I’m not completely satisfied or not writing anything at all. I know, my job could be a lot worse, no doubt about it. But still, that doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A bottle of water and plenty of snacks – pretzels, chips, and of course, chocolate chip cookies.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Invisibility… I’m sure you can imagine MANY reasons why.

LOL. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

“Why am I having strange thoughts?”

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: fluidity, booking, and consult.

There’s never a need for booking a consult with a fluidity specialist since the only constant is change.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

worrying about why I’m not writing.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

As the dedication to my partner in the book reads, “To Chris, without you this book would never exist… and neither would I.” I also have to thank my parents who have ALWAYS supported my writing and need to write, my close friends (and not so close friends) who have read my books and given me constructive (usually) criticism and all the people I don’t know who have read my books and given me four and five star reviews!

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

FIND “ONE LAST LIE” AT: www.OneLastLie.com and Amazon and GoodReads and Barnes&Noble and Smashwords

BUY “ONE LAST LIE” AT: Amazon and GoodReads and Barnes&Noble and Smashwords

Interview with Damon Marbut

Today we're chatting with author Damon Marbut about his novel, AWAKE IN THE MAD WORLD.

Welcome to We Do Write, Damon. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, Dorothy. I’m originally from Mobile, Alabama but have bounced around the country and have lived in an assortment of great and not-so-great places, but most always with amazing people, which makes the not-so-great tolerable and often spectacular. I now live and work full-time in New Orleans, where I’m finishing a new novel and waiting for a few other books currently with presses to find their homes. It’s an athletic time for all these projects in motion, but exhilarating as well.

How long have you been writing?

Since about sixth grade. I carried folders of poems and short stories around with me, skipped class to hide in the library (which was difficult to pull off because my godmother was the librarian). But as far as producing professional work, in education, academia and trade, I’d say a decade now.

Tell us about AWAKE IN THE MAD WORLD. What’s the story about?

Awake in the Mad World is a story about a group of friends in various stages of continuing or ending their relationship with university life and entering the “real world” that follows. It isn’t a wholly unique concept, but what sets it apart, I think, is that they’re writers and philosophical thinkers, graduating or already graduated from similar academic fields, and so they’re sharing that struggle to identify themselves as such against a world outside of college that doesn’t seem to care too much how big one’s vocabulary is or how passionate one is about the arts and inward-searching and self-discovery. It’s really about friendship and accessing that crucial soul-cry within ourselves to state to the world around us that we’re never going to give up on chasing what we think is beautiful and important in our lives.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I began to write it, honestly, for fun back when I was in graduate school. I had these great characters I was basing on myself and my friends. Simple as that. I loved how they interacted, and largely got by with making little up because I could just watch us all go. I was writing a few other things at the time, more dense projects—poetry volumes, a novel about madness—and so the levity I experienced with writing Awake in the Mad World was put on hold for a few years so I could muscle through that more difficult stuff. I told an interviewer this same story a few months ago, and she was surprised to learn I actually wrote the book over a seven year span. But I think, for me at least, it’s hard to write something appropriately, if you want to tell the truth, when you’re in the middle of it. The novel I’m writing now is the same way, but because I know that about myself it’s taking me a year to get to that point I found myself at with Awake in the Mad World after six years and realized I wanted to finish it, since I’d lived enough of it and processed it and could continue with accuracy and finality. I can say that imaginary “The End” felt incredible.

I understand it's an entrant for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Can you tell us more about that?

From what I understand of the Pulitzer Prize (which I’ve ascertained from a recent NPR spot I listened to at home), the intention of the prize is to give voice to novels that otherwise might be lost in the publishing market’s chaos, but novels that represent the American psyche and have literary merit. I set out to achieve that end when finishing the book, but without saying it exactly that way. I just knew I was influenced by music and poetry and I wanted the story to have that as its guide more than anything else. I already knew there was an existential, and American, conflict in the book, being offset by joy and hope. The rest the Pulitzer committee looks for is up to them. I’ve done my best with the telling of these characters, in an arguably cinematic way, and the message they embody. I do, however, have a friend in Atlanta who used to sit in on the Pulitzer selection processes—I don’t know how she earned the privilege—but she said it was a thrilling moment to experience. I think she’s excited more than I am. I’m more focused now on the best I can put into this new book.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I self-edit. In graduate school I was taught to be fiercely critical of myself. I do, however, ask a core group of friends—in Korea, here in New Orleans, in California, and in Ohio—to read a draft before I move ahead with it. Usually they find typos, where I’ve gone over it so much I can’t see the “to” instead of the required “too,” for example. I think a line or two have been slashed because of their respected eyes, but generally (and I’m fortunate) they just insult me for how solid the draft is and, if they’re in town, we go out to dinner.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I have no idea what that means.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Letting go for a day. When I’m working on something which, for the last eight years, has been constant, I have a hard time separating myself mentally from the work to enjoy something as simple as cooking or going to see a movie. I see it was necessary time away from the keyboard, but I still feel I’m wasting my time. I pretend I don’t put much pressure on myself, but I know better. I end up admitting it in interviews...

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A clipboard or legal pad with a few pens. Everything else is negotiable.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

The ability to stop someone’s cruel thought from becoming an action.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I’m pretty serious when I’m online, so I doubt I’ve Googled anything weird. Plus, I have friends who work for Google and they make me paranoid about it.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

You, firstly, Dorothy. I really do value those who take time to seriously engage in the literary community. There’s a lot of ridiculous noise and insincerity “out there,” so thank you for your interest.

You're welcome!

And others...the late Michael F. Shugrue of New York, one of my mentors and best life teachers, the poet Sue B. Walker, also a friend and inspiration, Michael at Reality Distortion Movement Arts, Greg, Josh and Dustin in California, Mistica, Devon, Paige, Meagan, Andre, my mother and sister and cousins and so many more.

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

At the moment it is exclusively available through Amazon on Kindle and in paperback, as well as my blog. The book will re-release on Kobo, Sony, Apple ibooks and Nook. The addresses are below:

http://www.damonferrellmarbut.com
and
http://www.amazon.com/Damon-Ferrell-Marbut/e/B008E72MCK

Interview with Jennifer Brown-Thomas

Today we're talking with author Jennifer Brown-Thomas about her book, BLISSFUL LIES.

Welcome to We Do Write, Jennifer. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thank you so much for having me! I am a 26-year-old wife, mother, author, director and entrepreneur. I graduated from Texas Christian University in 2011 and I am enjoying the tireless process of my journey to achieve all the goals I have set. I am a mom to a beautiful, spunky, hardheaded little blonde haired beauty and I love every second of it.

How long have you been writing?

For as long as I can remember. When I was in fifth grade, I would script television shows and movies as the actors were saying their lines on the screen. I think that helped me to perfect my typing skills, which of course, has helped me to be more efficient in my creative writing.  

Tell us about BLISSFUL LIES. What’s the story about?

Blissful Lies, is a very character driven story. It’s easy to root for them, easy to hope they get their ‘happily ever after.’ The official synopsis: Blissful Lies is a heart-wrenching story exploring the enviable bonds of five best friends who, in the midst of growing up together, are just starting to realize how much they still have to learn about life.  They quickly find the limits of their relationships are tested when secrets and lies rapidly interrupt their picture perfect existence, threatening the stability of years of friendship. At the center of their universe is mother to one group member and Brown-Thomas University Chancellor, Addison Hamilton. Uncertainty in her own life leads her down a path of no return as she finds herself a little too involved with someone many years her junior. While each person is forced to take responsibility for their hidden secret, they wonder if ultimately, it’s just too much to move forward as the ‘family’ they once claimed to be. Join us on the journey, which allows true love to surface despite obvious obstacles, fearful hatred to emerge with a vengeance and betrayal of even the most loyal of friends. As lives are left in tattered pieces, everyone is forced to choose…. Will the group fall apart at the seams or will the strong bonds of everlasting friendship withstand the fire of deceit?

In the film, Blissful Lies, the female lead, Addison Hamilton, played by Leann Hunley, is a strong, successful, capable pillar of her community. She’s spent her life doing what makes other people happy… and now she’s doing something for herself. You’ll certainly be hoping her new romance gives her the happiness she never had with her husband…

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I just sat down and started writing one day. I think you use what you know, and you write about people, places and things you’ve seen along the way. In the book, lots of people, experiences and situations influence the characters, plots and locations but there wasn’t any one particular influence. I thought about it a little, sat down one day and just started writing…

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

-I host a series of edits amongst my team before we send the manuscript to the publisher/editor. These various rounds of edits help to weed out simple grammatical errors or missed words.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

-I think a little bit of both. When it comes to my personal life, it’s very ‘go with the flow’. That’s sort of how you have to embrace things when you have a child. But when it comes to my company and conducting business, we’re definitely planners! It takes a great deal of focus to stay ahead of the game with all we have going on.  

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

-I’d have to say the hardest part of writing is just making sure that when the evening hours arrive, I’m not too tired. I do most of my writing between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and after a long day it takes me a couple of cups of coffee to get my second wind. 

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

-A cup of coffee and my phone. Haha. I take a break every couple of hours and text chat with my cousin. She and I have the funniest conversations at three in the morning. Totally my lifeline… 

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

-Teleportation. As busy as I am it would be amazing to just teleport from one place to another in the blink of an eye. 

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

-I honestly laughed out loud at this question. The weirdest thing I’ve ever googled would have to be: “Is there a spatula in Fifty Shades of Grey?” – In regards to Ellen Degeneres’ reading of Fifty Shades of Grey.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3JCwnwHbU

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: mandarin, eclipse, and envelope.

A mandarin colored eclipse illuminated the sky as I sat on the balcony of my room and opened the envelope containing my first love letter from you. 

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

-If I’m not writing, I’m probably taking care of my baby.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

• I literally have the most amazing support system. My husband is supportive of the time my career demands, which is such a blessing. It’s not easy having so many irons in the fire, and he respects and encourages my dreams. My mom is my Texas manager, so she’s involved in everything I do. From scheduling to negotiating, she’s a regular Kris Jenner—so I’m incredibly lucky to have her. In fact, that’s what we call her—“Kris.”  No one will love or protect you like your mother does. My dad is so supportive too. During filming, Blissful Lies, we ran into some awkward obstacles. One day on set when we were filming on-location, a huge round skylight presented a problem during a shot that was supposed to take place at night. The room was radiating with light, making it obvious the scene wasn’t being filmed during the day. So, my dad ran to buy a huge tarp, climbed up on top of the hotel where we were filming and then on top of a tower on the roof and covered the giant hole so it appeared to look like early evening. That was just one of the many things he did during the entire process. He’s amazing. My cousin Tara is so supportive too. She’s always making me laugh, sending my encouraging words and making me laugh with emoticons. She’s such an important part of my life. My grandmother is overwhelmingly encouraging too. I’m so blessed to have all of my family around me pushing and promoting me in every way possible. My cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, etc. I am really close to my husband’s family too, so I get the best of both worlds. It’s incredible.

• Throughout my short career I have met some really unbelievable, inspirational people. One lady, in particular, who is the very definition of class; who occasionally reminds me why we’re in this business in the first place; who has remained true to herself and encourages me to do the same, despite the Hollywood glitz and glamour is Lauren Koslow. She’s a very talented actress, and now dear friend. I look forward to working with her on future projects.

And finally, where can we find you and your books online?

www.jenniferbrownthomas.com
www.blissfullies.com
http://blissfullycouture.blogspot.com/

Twitter:
@jennythomas10
@TheBlissfulLies

Get the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Blissful-Lies-Jennifer-Brown-Thomas/dp/0985048832/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1336439225&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blissful-lies-jennifer-brown-thomas/1110455024?ean=9780985048839

To order autographed copies, e-mail: Teenia@jenniferbrownthomas.com 




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Official Entry Post for the Three Two One Pitch Contest

This contest is now closed. Thank you for all your entries. I will announce the winner as soon as literary agent Marie Lamba makes her decision. Stay tuned!

So you think you can pitch? It's time for aspiring writers everywhere to pitch to awesome literary agent Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. The contest starts today, November 15th, and closes at midnight on the 16th. Just a reminder to those who haven't participated before, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. No run-ons!

TWO - Two days to enter: November 15th and 16th.

ONE - One agent, Marie Lamba, will judge and pick a winner.

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• YA
• MG
• Contemporary Fiction
• Women's Fiction
• Some memoir

Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome. NO picture books, science fiction, or high fantasy (though paranormal elements are acceptable), category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), non-fiction, or books that feature graphic violence.

Each contestant is allowed two entries.

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

Entries should be formulated in the following manner, right here in the comments section:

• Your name
• Your email
• Title of your manuscript
• Genre
• Word count
• Three-sentence pitch

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. On your mark, get set, GO!

Interview with Nick Orsini

Today we're chatting with author Nick Orsini about his novel, FINGERLESS GLOVES.

Welcome, Nick! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m 26 years old, only about 5’6’’ tall, big glasses and a sometimes-beard. I call it that because it’s not quite as much of a beard as it is an unfortunate collection of lazy stubble. I’m a writer, a terrible guitarist, an amateur professional wrestler and a connoisseur of classic video games. I also pride myself on my T-shirt collection and my skills with a light saber. I have an unhealthy obsession with horror movies and creative socks.

How long have you been writing?

About four years.

Tell us about FINGERLESS GLOVES. What’s the story about?

Fingerless Gloves is set over a 24-hour time period. It’s this story about Anton, and early in the book his best friend, James, gets rushed to the hospital. Overnight, Anton goes on this quest to figure out what happened to James. Essentially, what he’s really looking for is how to put his past behind him in order to move forward with his present. It’s a story about these things we do to keep ourselves from feeling older. It’s also about the tragedies we sometimes have to endure to realize the true value of the time we get to spend here with our families and our friends.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

It came to me one night in 2010, I was living in Montclair, New Jersey and was going through some internal struggles. I wanted to write a story not about growing up, but about feeling like a grown-up. I also began to ponder how important my friends are. Fingerless Gloves is a very pop-punk story - about the value of love and self and the journeys we go on with unforgettable people.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I don’t really plan. I let the story guide itself. I muse on many different things when I’m writing and I have the hardest time outlining, etc.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The first line of the first chapter. I really like to start things off with a bang. I always imagined first lines should be epic, sweeping things. I literally study first and last lines of novels, examining them closely. It’s weird, but it matters!

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My Garden State movie poster. It reminds me where I’m from. I saw that movie over 10 times in theaters. It’s one of my favorites.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

The ability to teleport like Nightcrawler. I’d only want to teleport to places I could see. I wouldn’t want to be able to blink my eyes and be on top of the Grand Canyon or at the bottom of the ocean – I’m not impractical.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

“What is a McRib made of”

I don't want to know, lol. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: turbulant, beautician, remorseful.

I felt remorseful when I put the beautician through a turbulent series of requests for a high-top fade.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Watching Batman and Robin with my roommate, on my couch, laughing.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

For my parents: Richard and Catherine, thank you so much for allowing me to grow up the way I did. Thanks for sending me to school every day when I hated it. Thanks for giving up so much for your kids. All of this is for you.

For my sister Allyse, you do better work than I do … you help people every day and live a most admirable life. You made it out of New Jersey even when New Jersey hasn’t quite made it out of you. Thanks for helping me get it together.

For Juice and Ryan, you two stuck with me since the beginning. Thanks for helping out on the “Read or Die” Tour and for believing in this the whole time. You guys are an amazing support system and have made me laugh harder than I ever thought possible.

For Dylan, thanks for that first interview on TellMeSomething.org …that site has become so much since then … you’re a so-so podcast host.

For Tara, thanks for helping this writer grow up a little. Your encouragement and care has seriously led to some of the best work I’ve ever done. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

This is also for every person who ever responded to my first novel, Two Wrongs Make a Vice, and/or any of the poems on AdorkableLife.com … none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for you. Your stories and emails and kind words helped me keep writing. I told you, years ago, that together, we’d bring writing back … and we have. This all belongs to you. Thanks for letting me tell you stories.

Lastly, for Grandma Orsini, Grandpa Teddy, and Grandma Nori, all it takes is an old photograph or a memory to set me off writing again. Thanks for calling me all through college to make sure I was doing ok. Although you aren’t a phone call away anymore, the lessons learned from your lives continue to inspire my writing.

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

My blog, AdorkableLife.com … Fingerless Gloves is available now from Apostrophe Books, on all ebook retailers!

Links to buy Fingerless Gloves:

Amazon USA: http://www.amazon.com/Fingerless-Gloves-ebook/dp/B009K4U6UG

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fingerless-Gloves-ebook/dp/B009K4U6UG

iBookstore USA: http://goo.gl/txhCn

iBookstore UK: http://goo.gl/3vK7n

Kobo USA: http://goo.gl/uVtsi

Kobo UK: http://goo.gl/uVtsi

Links to find out more about Fingerless Gloves:

On Apostrophe Books: http://apostrophebooks.com/fingerlessgloves

On Apostrophe Books: http://apostrophebooks.com/writers/nick-orsini/

On Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16064385-fingerless-gloves

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FingerlessGlovesByNickOrsini

On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/apostrophebooks/fingerless-gloves-by-nick-orsini/