AUTHOR INTERVIEW - CHARLOTTE BLACKWELL

We interviewed a foreign author , Charlotte Blackwell recently.

SHORT BIO:
Charlotte Blackwell is based out of Calagary, Alberta. She has authored the Embrace series of novels which are of Young Adult(YA) paranormal romance genre. Immortal Embrace is the first book in this series which has been released. The second book in the series - Forbidden Embrace comes out in September 2011. 
So here goes :

1. Tell us something about your debut novel.

1. Immortal Embrace, my debut novel started out as just something for fun, for my daughter and me. It has now turned into a whole series and am so excited that it has been published to share with others. Immortal Embrace is a story about Vampires, witches and a whole bunch of supernatural wrapped in to a normal high school package. Unfortunately it doesn't stay normal for too long. 

2. The characters sound fascinating! Can you give us some more details about them?

2. I based character traits from the people I know and love...or hate. Sophia the protagonist is based off my daughter and me - shy, a little self doubting, and so on. Nate, her love interest shares a lot of his quirky traits with my husband, they both love to fine the cheesiest line out there and use them. The characters go on as such; Florence is the spitting image (minus the whole vampire thing) of my grandmother of the same name. I think the best thing about my characters is that they grow, learn and develop just as we did as teens and how teens will now. They go through many of the same internal struggles that teens face. 

3. How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

3. As I mentioned before I wrote it just for fun, but it has become so much more than fun. This is my life now, I love reading and writing and am happy to have it as a career. I really never believed anything would come out of writing Immortal Embrace, but so much did, I found myself and where I belong.   

4. Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer?

4. I always enjoyed writing letters and little things down, really just my feelings. Until a few years ago I didn't even enjoy reading. That is when my daughter pushed me into reading some YA books and I haven't stopped. Picking up a pen and a note book was the best thing that ever happened to me (aside from my family). I loved writing, but knew nothing about it, so I did research and I learned, got mentors, and beta readers and who ever I could learn from. I also began writing articles for online news sites. That taught me how to edit better and improve my craft. 

5. What writers have influenced your novel or writing style?

5. Kelley Armstrong, LJ Smith, Kathi Barton, and pretty much anyone who I love to read or will take the time to teach me more. Life is an ongoing learning process and we can always learn more. I take in as much as possible when reading and try to learn, making note of what I do and don't like. 

 

6. What does your writing environment look like?

6. That's easy, its my bedroom. I sit on the bed, door closed, ceiling fan switched on and write. I sometimes watch TV or listen to music, but I am always in my room. It is my oasis. 

7. Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

7. It has come pretty easy so far. I have tons of little notes with ideas to put in the story somewhere and they keep coming too. So I guess I will keep writing this series until I can't anymore.  

8. Where can we find out about you and your work?

8. The best place is my blog/website, I have tons of info there about me, my books and lots of other stuff too. http://charlotteblackwell.blogspot.com/  

9. Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

9. I stay at home and I am mother of 3, my oldest daughter is home schooled, the other 2 go to public school. My hobbies are them, I drive them to activities and we play games or watch movies together. It is very rare for me to be without one or all of my children.  

10. What are you working on now? What is your dream project?

10. Currently I am working on edits for book 3 Mystic Embrace, I also have an Adult contemporary romance in the works, but my dream project I would have to say is the Embrace series. It is my first and has so many elements that I love, I wonder everyday where it will take me.  

11. So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

11. It was good, but I knew there was more story to be told. Immortal Embrace originally included part of Forbidden Embrace, but I later decided to split it into 2 books. I don't remember why know. 

12. Describe how you brought your first book to the market?

12. I began by querying agents and having test readers try it out. After about 5 months I decided to try some smaller publishers and was offered a contract only about 2 weeks after I submitted to a foreign publisher. Excited but still unsure, I decided to try another small publisher in North America this time. I received an offer with in 5 hours of submitting. This was the place for me, the same publishing house as one of my favorite authors Kathi Barton. I knew it was right. With in months of signing the contract everything was in place and Immortal Embrace was let out in to the world. Now In a few short weeks, book 2 Forbidden Embrace will also see the light of day.    

13.Top 3 All-time favourite books.

13. I can't just name 3 books, because I love series, but her are 3 of my favorite series. 

Grant Brothers Series by Kathi Barton,

Darkest Powers Series by Kelley Armstrong

Night World by LJ Smith  

14. Lastly... Do you have a favorite quotation?

14. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." — Maya Angelou

15. Is there anything else you’d like to mention or another question that you would have liked to be asked (if so what would you have replied)?

15. I would just like to thank you and your readers for having me. I am so excited to share the embrace series with you all. I love to hear from reads so please visit my site and leave a comment, I will reply as best as I can. 

Connect with her via email - embraceseries@gmail.com

Click here to like her facebook Page

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - PRASHANT SHARMA

We interviewed published author of two novels, Prashant Sharma recently.

SHORT BIO

Prashant Sharma is currently working in strategy and marketing for a multinational bank. He passed out of IIM Lucknow in 2009 and Delhi College of Engineering in 2007. He is the author of two books - Love, Life & A Beer Can (a national bestseller) and If I Pretend I am Sorry.

So here goes :

Tell us something about your novel - If I Pretend I am Sorry.

This is my second book and a very different one from the first. While the first one was about college life and the complications that go with it, this one is a story of three selfish and greedy men who are a part of the Mumbai underworld. It is the story of how the lives of these three men are intertwined and how it reaches a conclusion.

How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

“There was a thought- four people meet in a room. They have had interconnected lives, and only one of them walks out”, this was the premise, the story flowed from there. 

When did you take to writing?

It started during the second year of MBA at IIM Lucknow. Just something I wanted to do. I guess, MBA teaches you that on some level- to follow your heart. While on some other level, it teaches you how to be a part of the rat race.

 

Where do you usually write? What is your favourite setting to write in?

I write at home sitting on my chair on my laptop. No favorite setting as such. When you start writing, you get into the story so much that the surroundings cease to matter.

Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

It was a free flowing thought process. The story became clearer to me as I kept on writing. No writer's block in this one luckily.

Does this story have anything to do with your personal life? Or is it a story of someone close to you?

No, not at all. It is a story of three guys with very very grey characters. I hope none of my friends are like that!  

Was there any difference while writing your second book as compared to your first? Do you consider this book to be better than your first?

I think it will be unfair to compare. All those who have read both would agree with me. The thought process etc, everything was very different. But both are very close to my heart.

Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain

Not much. Just one facebook page for both the books - Love Life & A Beer Can & If I Pretend I am Sorry and my facebook profile. 

How has been your experience so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this space that you would like to share here?

Its been amazing. The publishing house, especially Mr. Jayanta Bose, have been very helpful and very supportive. I really look forward to writing a lot more. As of now, there are no lows, only highs. I do this as a hobby and not as a profession, so I guess, the expectations are minimal but the satisfaction is great.

Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

I work in a multinational in strategy and marketing. It’s a good job and involves creativity.

Hobbies are watching cricket and I am the biggest Hindi movie fan you will ever find. 

So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

It feels the best when you see it in the bookstore. Nothing beats that feeling.

What is your dream project? Are you working on another novel?

Dream project is to direct a movie. Let’s hope it happens.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - ADITI TALWAR SODHI

We interviewed published author Aditi Talwar Sodhi recently.

SHORT BIO

Aditi Talwar Sodhi born in Mumbai, is currently living in Dubai working in advertising field armed with an MBA degree. She has spent her childhood in a house that echoed the full-throated drone of Osho’s discourses; that had bookshelves on which J.Krishnamurti, Norman Vincent Peale, The Mahabharata, The Bhagavad Gita, Oscar Wilde and such fought for space with Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, Jeffrey Archer, Paulo Coelho, Ayn Rand, et al.

She likes travelling, cinema & cooking.

So here goes :

Tell us something about your debut novel.

“Of Dreams” is about the dreams of three young girls - Aarti, Amrita and Payal and their journeys to realize them; the choices they make along the way and who and what they become as a result. It is about inner journeys and outer achievements, it is about unloading our past baggage and realizing our potential. It is about becoming who we are meant to be!

How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

For me an emotion plus an idea equals a book. Everyday I am touched by issues that I feel I can’t do anything about; they seem to be beyond my sphere of influence. Just the other day I was watching BBC’s report on the lopsided gender statistics of the Indian population. Even today a male child is preferred to a female child in our country. So I have taken up the pen to redraw the sphere with a larger circumference and reach out to as many open minds as possible. And I intent to continue picking up issues that tickle, taunt and traumatize the modern Indian woman and wrap them up in entertaining plots and elegant prose.

When did you take to writing?

For a very long time now ideas have been bobbing inside my head, but I was too busy with the everyday to take their hand and see them through. It was when I gave up my job at the birth of my child that I turned my attention to them. The child gave birth to a mother and the opportunity to an author.

 

Where do you usually write? What is your favourite setting to write in?

I write elongated on the sofa with hot butter popcorn to my right and soft cushions to my left. The lights are dim and the hum of the air-conditioner reassuring.

Did this story  come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

Part of the story was etched in my mind as if in stone - Aarti and Karan’s story; but as the other characters developed they became strong contenders and demanded center-stage and thus from the story of one girl set in India my book became the journey of three modern Indian women set in India and Dubai.

Does this story have anything to do with your personal life? Or is it a story of someone close to you? 

Well, they say debut books are autobiographical in nature. The book definitely has a lot of me in it, in the sense that it embodies what I see, hear and observe around me and it reflects my thoughts and feelings - but all of that has been liberally interspersed with pure fiction to make it an engaging racy page-turner.

Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain

My virtual self is my website - www.ofdreamsthebook.webs.com

My book’s facebook page - Of Dreams by Aditi Talwar Sodhi - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Of-Dreams-by-Aditi-Talwar-Sodhi/221452524557849

My facebook profile - http://www.facebook.com/aditi.talwar1

What are your thoughts on life – The one thing that it takes to live it?

The one thing I have come to believe in is that there is no right and wrong - there are only perspectives. It is important to find that voice inside you that shies away from saying what you think, that scurries away at the first glimpse of a conflict, that scoots at the thought of being judged or ridiculed - and express yourself.

How has been your experience so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this space that you would like to share here?

Since I finished writing the book my learning curve with respect to the publishing industry has been steep and still going strong. This uphill climb can sometimes be very exhausting especially when met with roadblocks like rejection e-mails from publishers, distribution snags, getting the right exposure, etc. There are a lot of ideas that slide into obscurity because they don’t get the necessary platform / exposure. 

Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

I was a part of the advertising industry before I moved to marketing at Vodafone Mumbai and then back to advertising in Dubai.  So I was always in the ideas business. It taught me to cull insights and present them in a crisp engaging way. But in the corporate world the function of an idea is to ultimately push product and there are so many stakeholders to please that sometimes what sees the light of day seems like a distant cousin of the original thought. The beauty of writing a book lies in the purity and innocence of the thoughts and words.

As for my hobbies, I enjoy wildlife safaris and snorkeling; I love the movies; and I find cooking therapeutic.

So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

The entire experience of writing it was cathartic and when I finished - I felt lighter, freer ... happier.

Top 3 All-time favourite books.

Wow, there are so many. Top 3 would be - 

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand; 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 

The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor 

Participate in book giveaway organised by Aditi - http://bookreaderslounge.blogspot.com/2011/07/of-dreams-free-book-giveaway.html
Last date to participate being 7 Aug 2011