Please tell us a little about yourself. Which publisher(s) do you write for? What genre do you write?
I am a Carina Press author and I write Romantic Suspense. My debut book, Man Law, just released on July 4. It's the first book in the Private Protectors series. Book two, A Just Deception, will be released on September 5th and the third on November 7. I'm currently working on book 4. Busy couple of months!
What is your workday like? Are you a full or part time writer? It's crazy, that's what it's like! LOL. I work part-time as a marketing consultant. My background is in newspaper advertising and twelve years ago I decided I to work part-time. Working at home has allowed me to chase my dream of becoming a published author. I'm typically at my computer by around 6:15. I work for about 90 minutes and then get my son off to school. It's been a little rough with him out for summer vacation, but thankfully he's a trooper and gives Mom some space. During school though, I work until my guy comes home and we get busy with his activities, homework, etc. I do take an hour 3-4 days a week to go to the gym or out for a brisk walk. I find the exercise helps the creative process. And really, I just need it! LOL. Plus, it's a nice break during a busy day. When things quiet down at night, I settle back in at the computer.
Did you always know you wanted to pen books?
I was a junior in high school sitting in English class the day I decided I'd someday write a book. That dream went to the backburner until I hit my thirties because I was a career girl and had rent to pay. I always knew I'd write that book. Didn't know when, but I knew.
This is actually a great story. At least I think so. It took me almost four years to finish my first book. Actually, that was my second book. The first book (my practice book) sits in my desk drawer and will never see the light of day. Never! The second book though, I thought maybe had a shot. That book got me my first final in the Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest. I had received a couple of requests for fulls on that manuscript, but never had an offer. The rejections piled up and I moved on to my next book which is a spin-off of the previous book. That book (Man Law) poured out of me. I love, love, love the hero in Man Law. I tell everyone I want to be Vic when I grow up. After a few years of submitting my books, during which time I received requests for fulls and some contest finals, I got the call from Carina Press. By that time, I'd finished the third book in the series. I sent the other two books to my editor hoping they would buy the whole series. Well, they made an offer on the third book (so they wanted the second and third books), but wanted revisions on the first one. They hadn't made an offer and wouldn't guarantee an offer, but I knew if I wanted to see that book published, I had to nail the revisions. The revisions were not horrible, but I had to take out subplots so it was a fairly major rewrite. Still, I jumped at the opportunity. I had always believed that book had a chance and I knew my writing had improved, so I wanted to take the opportunity to revise the book. I tore that book apart, made the heroine a little tougher and tightened the screws on my hero. Then Carina made an offer. So, yes, after a major rewrite, my first book sold. My advice to any aspiring novelist is to never give up on your first book. The book may need extensive revisions, but don't give up on it.
How many books have you sold to date? Do you have a favorite?
Four. I'm currently working on the fourth. Do I have a favorite? That's like asking a mother of three who her favorite child is. The truth is, I love them all differently. I love the first book because that's a book I started while sitting next to my father's hospital bed before he died. I love Man Law because I adore Vic and I love A Just Deception because the heroine has tremendous trust issues she has to overcome, but she is a fighter and always bounces back.
How extensive is your research? What are the greatest lengths you’ve gone to in the name of research?
I'm a big external plotter so I like to have at least a middle and an end of the story figured out. I tend to do a lot of my research up front and recently hit a brick wall with my WIP. I had to hire a professional researcher to help me. That was fun because she came up with some great information that I would never have found. Otherwise, I'm fairly lucky because I have a huge family and someone always knows someone who can help me. Plus, I'm on several fantastic writing loops where I can usually find the answers to questions.
What do you find the most difficult aspect of being an author?
For me, the difficulty usually hits about three-quarters of the way through the book when I'm bone tired and so sick to death of my characters that I want to scrap the whole thing. That's when I really have to dig in and convince myself to push through. I always do though. I don't have any manuscripts that I've abandoned. Finishing them brings a tremendous amount of satisfaction.
Hopefully still writing books and getting published!
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. I actually eat an ounce of dark chocolate every day because I read an article that said dark chocolate (has to be 70% cacao) is great for the immune system. As good a reason as any to eat chocolate every day!
Man Law is my current release and it's about Vic Andrews, a maverick government assassin who has his cover blown and is forced to protect the family of his closest friend's widowed sister. In the process he breaks all of his man laws by falling in love. As I mentioned above, Vic poured out of me. He's a guy's guy, living by his sometimes crazy man laws and getting along just fine. Then Gina forces him to face the fact that he's completely useless when it comes to understanding women. And his man laws aren't doing him a damned bit of good. He has a vulnerability to him that I really tried to tap into.
Where can we find you on the web?
I have a Facebook page, I'm on Twitter, have a website and a Harlequin author page. I'm also part of a group blog called Romance University where we have industry professional blog about various craft and career related topics. Here are the links:
Thanks, Wynter for having me!
Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and women's fiction. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Chicago area with her work-a-holic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaton Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog. Adrienne's debut romantic suspense, Man Law, will be released by Carina Press on July 4, 2011. Her second book, A Just Deception, will be available from Carina Press on September 5, 2011. For more information please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com.
5 comments:
Great interview! I love hearing how other authors organize their days.
Good luck and congrats! Man Law is in my queue to read. Woot WOot!
Hi, Bonnie. With summer here and ten-year-olds herding through the house, I like to say there's an organized chaos to my days.
Thank you for picking up Man Law. I hope you enjoy it.
Gosh, I'm exhausted just reading your daily schedule! Vic is the perfect character. Congratulations on Man Law and many more to come, Adrienne!
My dance partner Maureen is in the house! Gang, Maureen and I tore up the dance floor at the Harlequin party a couple of weeks ago. Great fun!
Yes, the daily schedule is sometimes a grind. I'm treating myself to time off today and tomorrow to recharge. I'm a firm believer that our brains need the down time.
Congrats on your release, Adrienne. It's great to have you here at my blog.
I totally hear you about that three-quarter point in a book. That's where I falter, too.
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