Jolene Fall 2015 (enlarged)
Just thought I’d take a second to share this with all of you. Books Go Social just published my author interview.
Jan 13, 2016 | Interviews
Love’s Illusions- An interview with Jolene Cazzola..
BooksGoSocial
Today we are chatting to Jolene Cazzola, author of Love’s Illusions.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
Wow, the first question is a tough one! Let’s go with I’m 64 years old and just started writing last year. My background is in the visual arts (have MFA) and my real life work experience is in social work and business (have MBA), but my heart is in the arts.
What kind of books do you write?
Probably the best genre classification is women’s fiction or romance. Most people think of my book as romance since it is very sexy. But I think of the book as being about love, survival, self-deception, regret, and the constant struggle that goes on within oneself. My characters are not perfect – they have real life flaws.
What inspired you to write?
A need to know. I regret not knowing more about my parents, who they were as people, what their lives were like. I didn’t want my own daughter to have that same regret. Even tough my book is fiction, there is a lot of me in it.
What makes your writing stand out from the crowd?
I’ve been told it’s because of the way the characters are written. They are real, They think, they feel, they love, they hurt. The reader is brought into their lives and experiences things the way they do.
What is the hardest part of writing – for you?
I tend to write in my head first, so the hardest thing for me is actually sitting down and translating those thoughts onto paper. Once I sit down and begin, I’m fine – the issue is not finding something else that just has to be done. In other words – procrastination!
Where do you like to write – what is your routine?
I wrote Love’s Illusions at my kitchen table, after work and on weekends. Shortly after starting my second book, I moved my desk into a corner of my sun room. Now I can look out at the greenery in the back yard and let my mind escape during the day. Surprisingly enough, my most productive hours are between 10 pm and 2-3 am when it’s dark and there’s nothing to see except blackness. I guess I’ve always been a night owl.
What do you do when you are not writing – do you have a day job?
My day job ended about two months ago, so I’m now retired. When I’m not writing I’m listening to podcasts, taking courses struggling with marketing. I enjoy spending time on my”pet” social causes, going out with friends and trying to figure out how many cats can comfortably live in one house. Six of them currently let me take care of their every need. Did I just hear someone say the words ‘crazy old cat lady?”
Do you work with an outline or just write?
I have a basic idea of where the story is going, but it’s in my head, not on paper.
What advice would you have for other writers?
**Stay off social media unless you are truly marketing – otherwise it’s just a time suck. **Write more. The more you write, the easier it gets. **Set a daily word count goal and stick to it – exceed it if at all possible. **Never stop learning, be it about how to improve your writing or marketing. **Don’t forget to breathe.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
I’m finding marketing, using social media, to be just as important as writing. Indie publishing allowed lots of people to put their work out into the world, but now the issue is breaking away from the crowd. I’m still learning what to do and when.
What’s your next step?
I’m currently 67,000 words into book 2 of the Love’s Illusions series. When that’s done, I’d like to write some short stories and begin book 3. Since I came to writing late, I feel like I don’t have any time to waste.
Love’s Illusions by Jolene Cazzola is available here.
If you are interested in book promotion, please visit http://thebookpromoter.com
It was such fun answering questions for them – I hope you enjoy reading it! View Link