Author Spotlight with Jennifer Domenico

Name: Jennifer Domenico

How long have you been writing? 

I've been writing since I figured out how to hold a pencil. 

Professionally, I've been writing for less than a year. I've had a few blogs over the years and even wrote for Examiner for a while, but I sat down and wrote my first novel just this past summer. It was published in October.Okay, that's not entirely true. I wrote, by hand, a novel back in my twenties and it was awful. Complete rubbish. So I don't really count that attempt.

Who has most influenced or inspired your writing? 

I have an aunt that is a published writer so I would say some of my inspiration comes from her, just that she had the courage to pursue it. As far as influences, I believe for me, it's rather broad. The act of falling in love with a book, feeling connected to the characters, being absorbed in someone else's world, and the intense pleasure that comes from that through the written word is inspirational for me. If I can create that kind of feeling for someone, well... nothing would please me more.

What is your most favourite book and why? 

That's a tough one. There have been many over the years that sucked me in.

Can I name a fiction one and a non fiction one? 

For non fiction, I'll say Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. Her descriptions were so detailed. In one scene she describes a bean soup she was eating, by the time I was done reading it, I felt I could actually taste that soup.

For fiction, I guess its more historical fiction, The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George. It's written as though Cleopatra is telling her own story. Magical.

What is the worst book you have ever read and why? 

I usually won't finish a book I don't like, even though I try very much. I also try very hard not to bash other books, just because of author karma. If I don't like it, I don't comment. But in general, what I don't like is an underdeveloped plot, word choices that require a dictionary near by, or ridiculous plot points that require too much suspension of reality. Some fantasy is fine, of course, it's partly why we read, but it can veer towards nonsense at times.

What are you currently working on? 

I just finished writing the manuscript for book two in my trilogy. It's sitting now with test readers and then it will be off to editing. I plan to start book three in the spring, and have it published by summer. I have an idea brewing around in my head for a pseudo memoir about getting your mojo back after 40. 

What is your favourite genre to read and to write? 

I like to read travel essays about Italy. I am borderline obsessed with anything Italian and really love being pulled into a well written account of living there. I write contemporary romance that some have classified as erotic fiction, although that's not how I classify it. Odd that I write that genre but don't regularly read it. I have read some of the more popular romance books recently though, market research, I suppose.

What tips would you give readers when choosing a book?

Be open minded! Many good books out there are not in book stores and don't have big marketing budgets behind them. Listen to what your friends are reading, explore the internet for up and coming authors, and while you may read reviews online, be aware that everyone's opinion is subjective

What tip would you give authors when promoting their books?

Spend time cultivating relationships with your readers and other authors. Join supportive communities, like Master Koda, and get involved. Reciprocate any kindness or promotional efforts others help you with. Tell everyone you meet you are an author and have something with your book info on it to hand out. Be visible in social media but make your interactions meaningful. I chat with readers on my Facebook page almost daily. They've taken the time to come and like the page, I want them to know how much I appreciate them. I'm still learning a lot but promotions and such can be a good way to engage readers too.

In the movie of your {most recent} book who would play your characters? {Please give us the name of the book and the name of the character each actor would play} 

The first book in my trilogy is called, Turn Towards the Sun. I think my two main characters, Enzo Milano and Ava Bradshaw, would be cast by currently unknown actors. I've been playing around on my Pinterest page with "casting" my characters so if you really want to see what I have in mind, you can stop by there. I secretly hope that someday these books will be a movie. 

Other than writing do you have any other passions/ hobby's or jobs?  

I have a day job and of course my dream is to make a full time living being a writer. I have most definitely found my passion in writing and I'm very excited about where it will take me in the future.

What's your dream? 

Make enough money writing that I can pay off all my bills, buy a villa in Tuscany, and get invited to be interviewed by someone famous, Barbara Walters or Katie Couric, perhaps. I'm only slightly kidding.

Tell us something few know about you? 

I'm a pretty open book but some things that are sort of interesting I guess, are that I speak fluent Italian (my husband is from there), I'm a certified life coach and holistic nutritionist, and I would much rather by books that shoes anyday.

Have you any big writing plans for 2013? 

Yep, publish book two in the trilogy, then write and publish book three. By this time next year, I hope to be starting on my pseudo memoir or whatever else strikes my fancy by then.

What is the best review of your work you've received to date? 

Many of my readers compare my book to Fifty Shades of Grey in terms of the handsome, controlling billionaire and the sweet, loving woman that sweeps him off his feet, even though the content is quite different. 

The best review to me was from Amazon:

"Who needs Christian Grey, when you can have Enzo Milano." 

With the massive success and compelling nature of FSoG, the fact that someone put my character up to that level was a huge compliment. 



Is there anything else you would like to share or tell us? 

Yes, I would just like to say that if you like an author or a book, tell everyone! Share website links, buy the book as gifts, engage with the author, especially independent authors. Everyone might not agree with me on this, but I write, not just for myself, but for the entertainment value of readers. There's nothing more heartwarming than to hear your enthusiasm about a book or character and to know you shared that feeling with your friends and family.

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Do remember to stalk, connect, hook up and support Jennifer. 

Twitter: @jendomenico


Blog: www.jenniferdomenico.wordpress.com

Facebook Link: www.facebook.com/authorjendomenico

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jendomenico

Jennifer on Amazon
Also available in paperback.

Author Spotlight with Cody L Martin, Author of Adventure Hunters.

Very excited to share with you this Author Spotlight on fellow Independent Author Cody L. Martin. Cody has been kind enough to answer my quick fire questions and to share some personal and professional insights with us. 

Name: Cody L. Martin

How long have you been writing?

Off and on for about sixteen years. 

I wrote my first full-length screenplay in high school. After that, I began to write more of them; starting out as fanfics for TV shows I liked, then moving on to original works. About four years ago, I decided to write shorts stories as taking a break from screenplays. When I decided to become an independent author, I turned one of my original screenplays into my first novel. Adventure Hunters is the result.

Who has most influenced or inspired your writing?

Stephen King. 

He is the author I read the most and his book On Writing is pretty much my writing Bible. The way he writes characters, using their voice in the POVs, it’s amazing. In a roundabout way, George Lucas and Steve Jobs, since they brought about technology that has let anyone become an author. Also, screenwriter Syd Field and his book Screenplay. I learned about structure and outlining from his book. It’s been invaluable.

What is your most favourite book and why?

That’s a tough one but the the book that sprung to mind first was The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver. He’s a master of plot twists and The Watchmaker was such a neat villain.

What are you currently working on?

The Super School Uniform. 

In it, a Japanese middle high school students gains an alien suit that gives her superpowers. She must stop an alien race from transforming the Earth into a copy of their homeworld. It’s been harder to write than I expected but I will finish it. I’ve included cultural notes based on my experiences as a junior high assistant English teacher in Japan, I’m hoping the readers will gain a little insight into the school system and culture.

What is your favourite genre to read and to write?

Action and science-fiction. 

I actually watch more movies than read, so I try to write novels that would match a movie I’d want to watch. I like these genres because they are such escapisms. When I read or watch a movie, I don’t want to be reminded about how bad the real-world is. I want to get away, away to worlds and characters that are bigger than life.

What tips would you give readers when choosing a book?

With an ebook, download the sample. That’s why they are there. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, especially sci-fi and fantasy. There are some gorgeous covers on bad books. As well as bad covers on good books. Read the first few chapters, skip to a few pages in the middle.

What tip would you give authors when promoting their books?

Get help! Hahaha. I’m not good at promoting, so I’m glad to have a support group like Master Koda on Facebook.

Other than writing do you have any other passions/ hobby's or jobs?

My current job is teaching at an English cram school in Japan. I really like it. As for any other passions, probably music from Hello! Project, an umbrella name for different artists under the same company. Artists include Morning Musume (my all-time favorite singers), Berryz Kobou, and C-ute. Watching movies as well and spending as much time as I can with my wife Yoko (which, sadly, isn’t nearly enough).

What's your dream?

To become a full-time writer. If I could get paid enough to do it all the time, I’d quit my job and write. With each book I’m trying to be better and better.

If you could write a book with any famous author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My first impulse was to say Stephen King since he’s my favorite writer, but I’m a huge fan of Jeffery Deaver as well. He’s a master at plots and he outlines and plans his stories, as do I. I think I’d learn a lot about structuring and outlining by working with him.

Have you any big writing plans for 2013?

I’ll just be happy to get my second book published.

What is the best review of your work you've received to date?

None. I don’t have any reviews of Adventure Hunters (hint, hint, to all you reading this post).

Is there anything else you would like to share or tell us?

Support independent authors. (I don’t like the word indies). Leave reviews, ratings, comments, anything. The publishing industry is changing and whatever we can do to increase the quality of our work, we will do. But we can’t do it without readers letting us know what works and what doesn’t.

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Do remember to stalk, connect, hook up and support Cody: 

Twitter Handle: @kitamurafan

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/cody.martin.52

Blog/ Website: http://codylmartin.blogspot.jp 

Here are some links to my stuff:

Amazon author page 

Smashwords author page

Monday's Mantra: Friendships

I had an experience over the weekend, one I never want to repeat, but it thought me a lot about myself and friendships. 

1. I'm much, much stronger than I thought. 

2. 

Source

James Tenedero on: The Writing Process

I’m thrilled to have been invited to contribute some thoughts on writing to What Blá Did Next; thanks very much Bláithín!

In this vein, for today’s guest post I thought I would blog about my own experiences in crafting my first novel, The Consistency of Parchment. More specifically (and hopefully not too presumptuously) I’d like to offer a few pointers that I now realize had served me fairly well in completing my book.

1) Research your topic

I firmly believe in the value of getting well situated in the topic that you’re planning to write about. With The Consistency of Parchment I had set out to create a novel based partly in modern-day Eastern Europe, with all its attendant political and social history. In order to credibly do so, I spent a lot of time researching the character of Communist rule in this region over the decades from the mid-twentieth century onwards. I had spent some time in Budapest in 2003, which gave me a good foundation from which to explore some of these issues. However, I also did a lot of archival research, collecting any and all manner of book, pamphlet, monograph, and other published document that would help me better understand the setting that I presumed to capture in my fiction.

While I certainly don’t profess any degree of real expertise on this topic, I do feel as though this legwork gave me a much better sense for how to position the story in its broader context. If nothing else, deep research gives you a certain amount of authorial confidence, which helps to see you through the difficult portions of the storytelling task that may follow.

2) Create an outline – and feel free to ignore it subsequently

I’m a consummate list-maker; I tend to sketch out even the most mundane tasks in exacting detail before I commit to action. When it came time to begin writing my book, then, I felt compelled to prepare very precise chapter-by-chapter outlines that would guide the upcoming grunt work. This exercise was certainly helpful, but more so for the mental discipline that it forced upon me than for the actual tangible results that it yielded.

I needed that broad framework to jumpstart my writing. Once I’d started, though, I felt perfectly free to deviate from the outline that I had spent so much time generating in the first place. It can be hard to abandon (or at least significantly alter) a huge chunk of work that you’ve spent so much time getting just right. In my experience, though, on the few occasions when I’ve done so the entire process seems to flow much more naturally as a result.

3) Write blindly

This point is closely related to the previous one. Once you have your outline in place and are either filling it in or have thrown it over in a fit of reckless (but warranted) abandon, write blindly – that is, with a minimum of revision and self-censoring. For me, this is probably the hardest piece of advice to follow. As a writer, I like to think that every word I commit to the page has been carefully weighed and judged eminently appropriate for the need at hand, and so it’s hard for me to let myself be carried away by the creative process. On those rare occasions when I’ve felt as though some particularly insightful prose might be within my reach, though, this controlling tendency does me more harm than good.

In general, I’ve come to believe that there’s a lot to be said for trusting your first instinct and making sure that you get the words out onto the page in the first place. The editing can come later – which brings me to point number four:

4) Edit mercilessly

Once I had the rough first draft of my novel completed, the first thing I did (after the requisite self-congratulation and back-patting) was to drop the manuscript into a drawer and try to ignore it for a few weeks. When I came back to my copy with a more measured opinion of the book, I edited it savagely and without remorse. Sentences or even whole paragraphs were excised, description was added to some chapters and stripped out of others, and grammar was tightened up considerably. This was tough, unforgiving work, but ultimately it provided me with a much improved – and more readable – piece of fiction.

5) Avoid checklists

As a final piece of advice, I would encourage you to be wary of anyone (myself included) who professes to distill the craft of writing into a seemingly simple checklist of steps. Writing is a hard slog, and as authors we all develop our own techniques to cope with the uncertainty and anxiety that grips us all too frequently in the course of our work. You may find some ideas here that pay off exceedingly well for you. On the other hand, some of the points I’ve suggested will be much less relevant. The important thing to realize, I think, is that there’s no best way of writing your masterpiece. Try some of these tips on for size, but hold them loosely … Be ready to let them go if inspiration seems to be pulling you in an altogether different direction.

Happy writing!

James

"Big, big thanks to James for stopping by today and sharing some fabulous incites and points with us!! Be sure to check out his book The Consistency of Parchment and connect with him below!" ~ Blá
 

LINKS

Author page: James Tenedero 

Amazon page for TheConsistency of Parchment

Blog: http://jamestenedero.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @jamestenedero

Finished The Hunger Games? The Forbidden Trilogy is your next must read!

AND

For 2 days only August 20- 21, 2012, 

Forbidden Mind by Author Kimberly Kinrade 

is on sale for only 99cents on Amazon in honor of being featured on EReader News Today! 

Check out the book trailer on Youtube!

Synopsis:

Sam thinks she's months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.

Only Sam isn't normal. She reads minds. And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything.

Drake wasn't raised as a 'Rent-A-Kid.' He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam.

When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn't a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape.

To survive, they must work together.

But will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?

What are the critics saying?

Described as X-Men meets Alias but with a human trafficking twist (and more romance), fans of Katniss and The Hunger Games will find a new heroine to root for in the action-packed Forbidden Trilogy.

Reviews:

"...a thrilling, dark and deeply romantic read that had me sitting on the edge of my seat and eagerly awaiting the next installment." - Refracted Light Young Adult Book Reviews

"Do not make any plans on the day you begin, as once you start, you will not be able to put it down." - L.M. Stull, Author of A Thirty-Something Girl

"...hooked me in from the beginning." - L.E. Manning

"This book was fantastic!" - Patti Larsen, Author of Family Magic

"Forbidden Mind is beautifully written and worth your reading time." - BookWormSans 

"Definite must read. For once you start, you simply can't stop. 5 out of 5 stars!" - H. Badgwell

Excerpt:

The door to the studio hung open just a crack, and angry screams assaulted us as we approached. Luke and Lucy looked to me as if I knew what was going on.
I shrugged my shoulders in the universal I've-got-no-freaking-idea way and crept to the door. I could have just slipped into their minds, but listening to people talk both out load and mentally was hard to track and gave me a pretty big headache. At that moment, what they were saying, or rather screaming, to each other was more interesting.

We didn't want to budge the door and draw attention to ourselves, so Luke pushed his head through. He bobbed in and out so quickly I almost missed it. Being able to walk through anything was mighty handy at times.

I nudged him. "Well?"
"Higgins and Mr. K. They both look pretty pissed."
They sounded it too. I'd never heard Headmaster Higgins yell at any of the teachers, or students for that matter.

He wasn't a pushover by any stretch, but he'd always been levelheaded—until today.
Higgins shouted at Mr. K. "How could you enter her without permission from me? Do you realize what you've done? This could ruin the school and everything we're doing here."

Was Higgins talking about me?

Mr. K replied with the same volume and anger. I could imagine the vein over his left eye bulging. "You have no idea how talented that girl is! She should be at the best art school in the world, not hidden here like a freak of nature. It's my job to make sure she has a future when she leaves this god-awful place, and I'm not letting you, or the people you work for, stand in my way. Or hers."

They must have been talking about me, but it made no sense. Why didn't Higgins want me entering the contest, and why did Mr. K hate this place so much?

"Don't you mean, the people we work for? They employ us both, and you'd do well to remember that, Mr. Krevner. Their reach extends beyond the gates of this school."

I couldn't believe it. Was the headmaster actually threatening my art teacher? What was going on?

"You will pull her from that competition and clean up the mess you've made, or your days here are numbered. Am I making myself clear?"

Something crashed into a wall, and my friends and I jumped back in surprise.

"Everything is very clear. You use her and her gifts, rent her and all these kids out to the highest bidder as spies. You make billions on these Rent-A-Kids, as they call themselves. And now you want to snuff her chance to shine doing what she truly loves? No. If you want to destroy her dreams, you can do it yourself. I'll have no part in it."

Footsteps approached the door. I tripped back, grabbed Luke and Lucy, and the three of us ducked around the corner of the building. I peeked out just as Mr. K stormed from the studio, his face bright red and contorted in anger. Not his best look.

Headmaster Higgins followed him out moments later. He adjusted his navy blue suit and plastered a calm mask over his face. His midnight black skin did not reveal his recent spike in blood pressure the same way that Mr. K's pasty complexion had, but the tight way he held his shoulders and the fists he made of his hands spoke to his anger.

Tears stung my eyes, and I swiped at them with the back of a hand still stained with splashes of paint. If they pulled me from the contest, hundreds of hours of hard work would be wasted, and my future would get flushed down the toilet. That couldn't happen!

When both men were gone, the three of us snuck into the studio and closed the door behind us. My enthusiasm had drained out of me like dirty bathtub water. I sniffled and wiped my traitorous eyes again.

Lucy put her arm around me. "Cheer up, Chica. We'll figure this out, I promise. They can't keep you from this, not after all the hard work you've done. And you'll be leaving for New York soon. Luke and I will join you there, and we'll make all of our dreams come true, just watch!"

I tried to smile, for her sake, but the smile didn't reach my eyes.
Luke rubbed my head as if I were his pet dog. "Where's this painting I've been hearing so little about?"
I swatted his hand and couldn't suppress a small, but genuine, smile. Luke could always cheer me: funny, gorgeous, and so much like a brother it sucked.
"Over here." The canvas draped over my painting appeared undisturbed. A sigh of relief escaped me. At least nothing had happened to it. "Close your eyes."
They both groaned but did as told.
Fear and nervousness buzzed through me as I pulled the canvas off. What if they hated it? What if everyone hated it and my dreams of being a real artist died before they could even be born? My lungs clenched with stale breath and I exhaled before I got too dizzy. "Okay, you can look."

They stood there, jaws dropped, stunned into silence. They either hated it or totally loved it.
"Um, is this a bad or good silence?"
Lucy pulled her mouth closed and swallowed before she spoke. "O.M.G. Sam, this is the most incredible, unbelievable thing I've ever seen in my life. You painted this?" "You like it?"

Her mental voice slammed into me. 'Would I lie to you? It's amazing!'

Relief flooded me even as I laughed at her joke. I could read minds, sure, but she was the human lie detector. No one dared lie to her.

Luke hugged me and whispered into my ear, "I'm so proud of you, Sam. This is truly epic!"

We stood there staring for several minutes. This painting represented so much about me, my life, my future... everything. I hated to leave it even for a minute, but my stomach protested its neglect with a loud rumble.

Luke grabbed my hand. "Come on, let's feed you. My treat."

With the buzz of success filling me, and Luke's hand in mind, I entertained a what-if. What if I could get past the whole brother thing with Luke? I took in his tall, well-defined frame, his dark hair and bright blue eyes. Gorgeous inside and out, but... nothing. No spark at all. Such a pity. Of all the guys at school, he was the only one I could even imagine being with, but I couldn't force the chemistry and neither could he.

We walked to dinner hand in hand, and I consoled myself with the fact that I had the best friends a girl could want. Not a bad consolation prize after all, and worth a hundred boyfriends.

Bio:

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children's fantasy chapter books Lexie World, Bella World, and Maddie World all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they're humans, her two cats who think they're gods, and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

For a list of her books, check out: http://Amazon.com/author/kimberlykinrade

Website: http://KimberlyKinrade.com

For a fun fan experience, join the team at I.P.I. at http://IPIAcademy.com

For kids and parents of young kids, join the Lost Kids at http://ThreeLostKids.com

Twitter: @KimberlyKinrade

IPI Twitter: @IPIAcademy

Facebook: /KimberlyKinrade

IPI Facebook: /IPIAcademy

Email: Books@KimberlyKinrade.com