KAREN CIOFFI-VENTRICE
- Guest Author and Ghostwriter -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview a multi-talented writer from the U.S.A.
Welcome, Karen ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT
YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
I’m a number of things
as are most people today: wife, mother, grandmother, author, ghostwriter, and
author/writer online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing.
I’ve lived in New York
City until five or six years ago when I moved to Long Island – I didn’t get
very far. LOL
I always liked to
write. Like most writers I started writing as a child, primarily poems. I did
this through my teens. Then when I had my first child, she wouldn’t sleep.
Pacing the hallway with her at night, I started humming a tune and added words.
I wrote the sheet music to it and it became our family lullaby.
Many, many years later,
my children decided I should turn the lullaby into a picture book. That’s how
my writing and publishing journey began.
2.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU
BECOME A WRITER?
Turning my lullaby into
a picture book was the starting point to becoming a writer. I joined writing
groups, a critique group, and found a writing coach. And, I attended online
writing conferences and read a lot about writing.
Through one of the
conferences I took a workshop on promotion. It motivated me to create a group
website, Writers on the Move. I asked authors and writers I’d met along the way
to join and we started doing virtual book tours.
It’s been almost 10
years and we’re still at it. We don’t do virtual book tours any longer though.
We now use content marketing, blogging, to bring visibility to the members and
the group.
In addition to writing
for children, with my business background, I started ghostwriting articles for
business sites and health sites. That took me in another direction for a while
until I realized it’s so very important to focus on one thing. So, I put that
focus back into children’s writing.
While I really enjoy
both types of writing, I find children’s writing, whether for myself or for
ghosting clients, more rewarding.
3.
WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A
MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
I’m a pantser. I shoot
from the hip. Although, for my middle grade fantasy I used an outline of an old
Chinese tale to work from. It was given to me by a nonfiction Chinese writer in
one of my writing groups.
But, it also depends on
the type of story being written. All my children’s picture books and chapter
books are from the hip. If it’s a middle grade novel, it makes more sense to
create some kind of outline, even if it’s simple. Once the basic direction is
known, I let the story and the characters unravel themselves.
4.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST
ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
The thing I enjoy most about being a writer is to create
something from nothing. You start with a blank page and whether you’re working
from an outline you created or just jumping in, you begin to create a story.
And, it can at times amaze you how it takes shape and how it grows. I just find
it fascinating.
5.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST
THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
I guess rejection can
be a tough part of being a writer. And, it’s not like other work where you go
to an office with fellow workers. Most writers work out of their homes and they
work alone.
And unless you’re
self-publishing, it’s researching and submitting your work as often as you can.
And, it’s continually coming up with new work so you always have things in the
submission loop.
And then there’s the
marketing.
6.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A
PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I was an assistant controller for a manufacturing company.
Then in 2000 I decided to give writing my all.
7.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
My greatest achievement
so far is my middle grade fantasy, “Walking Through Walls.” It based on an
ancient Chinese tale and set in 16th century China. It took two
years to write and I think it’s filled with great lessons that are subtly
weaved into the story. And, it has a great ending. It was honoured with the
Children’s Literary Classics Silver Award.
After this, making my
clients thrilled to have their very own quality children’s book is a wonderful
achievement.
8.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING
ON AT THE MOMENT?
For my own stories, I
have a three-book picture book contract with 4RV Publishing. And, I’m working
on a sequel to “Walking Through Walls” as well as another middle grade novel.
I’m also working with a
number of clients on their books.
9.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
My grandchildren
inspire me. And, I think the love of stories inspires me. Once I start writing
a story, it’s like entering another world.
And, what’s amazing
about writing is if something’s not working or you don’t like something in the
story, you just rewrite it. The only limit you have is your imagination.
10.
WHAT GENRE DO YOU
WRITE?
I write children’s books,
focusing on picture books, chapter books, and middle grade books. But, I also
do young adult.
11.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS
FOR NEW WRITERS?
My first tip for new
writers is to learn the ropes. Self-publishing has opened a lot of doors, but
some writers think it’s a pass-go card. Writing and publishing a less than
quality book reflects poorly on the writer and on the industry. Take the time
to learn how to write. Take online and/or offline courses.
My next tip is to
persevere. Writing can be a tough business. It can bring lots of rejection and
there’s lots of competition. Don’t let anything stop you. Keep writing and keep
honing your craft.
12.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM
WRITER’S BLOCK?
I’m so very fortunate,
I haven’t suffered from writer’s block.
13.
DO YOU HAVE A
PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
I don’t have an actual
writing schedule, like writing from ten to five, or something like that. But, I
do write every day, including weekends.
14.
DO YOU HAVE A
FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
Well, I don’t know if
I’d call it a favorite writing spot, but as there’s no where else to write, I
write in my living room.
15.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
JOY IN WRITING?
I think this goes back
to the question of what do I enjoy most about being a writer. It’s all about
creating the story.
16.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE
AUTHOR AND WHY?
I love Kate Chopin. I
read “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin while attending college and it’s stayed
with me since. That’s what a really good story should do.
And, Linda Sue Park
because I love “The Single Shard.”
17.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST
COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
From a reader of
“Walking Through Walls,” the greatest compliment has been, “It’s really good.”
18.
WHAT WAS THE WORST
COMMENT FROM A READER?
Maybe enough people
haven’t read my books yet, I haven’t had any bad comments.
19.
WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES
INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
I don’t think writers
can help but have some of what happens in their lives influence their writing.
That’s what makes every story unique - it’s told from the perspective of an
author who has her very own history and experiences. Is it possible to filter
all that out?
20.
OTHER THAN WRITING,
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Aside from writing, I
love the obvious stuff, God and family. I used to draw a lot, but that and
accounting gave way to writing. Between family and writing, there’s not much
time for anything else.
21.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK
/ BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
I did get a
professional edit on “Walking Through Walls,” but not for “Day’s End Lullaby.”
I meticulously
self-edited both books.
In case new writers are
reading this, I just want to mention that while self-editing is a must, as the
author you can’t possible catch all your errors. You’re too close to the work.
You know what you meant to say and you see what you meant to say. So if it’s at
all possible, get your manuscript professionally edited.
22.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT
DAY.
My perfect day in
regard to writing would be if I had a new book submission going the rounds and
I got a call from an agent or editor who wanted to take it on.
Okay, let me think
bigger. My perfect writing day would be having one of my books hit the New York
Times Best Sellers list.
23.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS
FOR THE FUTURE?
My plans for the future
are to continue what I’m doing. I’m also making it a priority to attend more
children’s writing workshops. It’s important to keep honing your craft and to keep
up with new trends.
24.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY
SELL BOOKS?
I think book trailers
are an effective book marketing tool. People love visuals and getting a teaser
or bits and pieces of a book can certainly help motivate someone to buy.
25.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN
ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
I do see myself in some
of the characters I write. I think sometimes my values pop up here and there
while telling a story.
26.
DOES THE PUBLISHING
INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
The children’s
publishing industry does frustrate me, especially the picture book side of it.
But, it’s business and just like all businesses, publishing companies do what
they do to make money. The editors have to find manuscripts that will do just
that. So, they’re going to carefully choose books that they think will get past
the acquisitions committee and go on to do well.
The best thing a writer
can do is to keep learning, keep getting better at writing stories an editor
would be willing to take a chance on. And, to keep submitting.
27.
DID YOU EVER THINK OF
QUITTING?
I’ve thought about
quitting the writing business here and there, but never did.
28.
WHAT WAS YOUR
FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
My favorite manuscript
was “Walking Through Walls.” I love the ‘respect’ of the time period the story
takes place. And, I enjoyed the research I did to get the place and period
right. And, I just love how it turned out.
29.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A
WRITER?
I define success as a
writer as creating page-turning books. Books that the reader remembers. Books
that may even change a reader’s life.
30.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A
SCREENPLAY?
I’d love if my books
made it into a movie, wouldn’t every author? I’ve never written a screenplay,
but will probably take some courses on script writing as I’ve gotten a few
queries for it.
31.
HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
A book’s cover is the
first thing a potential reader will see. And, it’s probably the most
significant determining factor for the person to buy the book.
A lot of thought must
go into designing the book cover.
32.
WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT
MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
You can write a great
book, but if no one knows about it . . .
Book marketing is a
must. I have a number of strategies I use to bring attention to me and my work.
I’m also an author/writer online marketing instructor with WOW! Women on
Writing. I give online classes through them.
If there are new
authors out there, the first thing needed is an author website.
33.
ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
One of my books, “Day’s
End Lullaby” is self-published. “Walking Through Walls” is traditionally
published.
34.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
Hmm. Five words I would
use to describe myself would be: hard working, loyal, responsible, positive, and
creative.
35.
WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
The things that most make
me ‘mad and sad’ are hatred, dishonesty, and the attitude of entitlement.
36.
WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
I’ve been doing a lot
of reading for my work, so the latest book I read is “The Most Magnificent
Thing” by Ashley Spires. It’s an excellent children’s picture book.
37.
WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
I know it’d never fly
in today’s publishing market, but I’d love to have my last sentence be, “And,
they lived happily ever after.”
I think in today’s
climate of anger, hatred, and craziness, everyone wants a happy ending.
38.
ANYTHING YOU’D
LIKE TO ADD?
I’d like to thank you
for this interview opportunity, Clancy.
Clancy's comment: Thank you, Karen. I admire anyone who can write for young kids. Best wishes to you, and wishing you top book sales.
I'm ....
No comments:
Post a Comment