posted every Friday
#IndieBragNovConv
#IndieBragNovConv
To be a little different from the usual 'meet the author'
Q: Hello. I’m Helen, the host of Novel
Conversations. Please do make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink?
Tea, coffee, wine – something stronger? You’ll find a box of chocolates and a
bowl of fruit on the table next to you, please do help yourself. I believe you are
a character in Florence Osmund’s novel The Coach House. Would you like to introduce yourself? Are you a lead character or
a supporting role?
A: Hello, Helen. Thank you for taking time for this interview. My
name is Marie Marchetti, and I am the lead character in The Coach House. Born in 1925, I was twenty-one years old when my
story first began. And for the record, my drink of choice is red wine.
Q: [Hands Marie a glass of fine Merlot] What genre is the novel and what is it about?
A: My story’s genre is literary fiction. It takes place in Chicago
in the 1940s and is about my life before, during, and after my marriage to Richard.
We started out having the perfect life together. Or at least it seemed until I discovered
his involvement with some very shady characters in suspicious activities. After
I accidentally got caught up in one of his harrowing escapades, I ended up
running for my life. But Richard wasn’t about to let me go so easily, and he continued
to try to seduce me into his world. Long story short, it was the unexpected discovery
of my real father and his heritage that changed my life more than Richard ever
could.
Q: No spoilers, but are you a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’? (Or maybe you
are both!)
A: I may not have always made the best decisions, but I am definitely
a “goodie.”
Q: Tell me about another
character in the novel – maybe your best friend, lover or partner … or maybe
your arch enemy!
A: My husband was one of those men who could charm the pants off anyone,
so I learned the hard way to always be on high alert for a hidden agenda with
him. And he was a master at playing into my emotions, making matters even worse.
Money was more important to Richard than anything else—including me—and unfortunately
that took a while for me to figure out.
Q: Is this the only novel you have appeared in, or are there others
in a series?
A: There is a sequel to The
Coach House titled Daughters in
which the story continues with my endeavor to get to know my father and his family—which
was not easy for any of us, especially my father’s wife.
Q: What is one of your least favourite scenes you appear in?
A: I had such a difficult time with a scene in Daughters when my father went with me to South Carolina where he
grew up the son of a slave. It was extremely upsetting to hear him tell his
story, observe the racial prejudice that still exists there, and witness the agony
on my father’s face as he re-lived painful segments of his life.
Q: And your favourite scene?
A: My favorite scene was the first Christmas I spent with my new
family. I don’t want to give away this moment, as it would lose much of its
meaning without knowing what led up to it.
Q: Tell me a little about your author. Has she written any other
books?
Florence |
A: The Coach House and Daughters
were my author’s first two books. Since then she has written five more novels—all
literary fiction, although I believe one could also be classified as a cozy
mystery.
Q: Is your author working on anything else at the moment?
A: Her current project is about two women from completely different
cultures who lose their fathers at the same time. It’s the story of how their
lives intertwine and the secrets they realize they have about each other’s
father.
Q: How do you think indie authors, such as your author, can be
helped or supported by readers or groups? What does your author think is the
most useful for her personally?
A: With the right editor, indie-written books are every bit as good
as those traditionally-published—the number of award-winning and best-selling
indie authors increases each year. If an indie book has been awarded the B.R.A.G.
Medallion, you know it has gone through a rigorous review process and
considered to be well worth the reader’s time and money. Give us a chance.
Q: Finally, before we must bid adieu, the novel you appear in has been
awarded a prestigious IndieBRAG Medallion, does your
author find this helpful, and is there anything else he/she would like
IndieBRAG to do to help indie authors receive the recognition they deserve?
A: The indieBRAG organization has been a great resource for vetting
and promoting quality indie books. Just keep up the good work!
Thank you Marie. It was a pleasure talking to you. Would your
author like to add anything? While she is finding something suitable, would you like more wine? And do have a chocolate or two. Salute! Here’s to being a successful Brag Medallion Honouree!
Florence says: I am so glad you were able to meet Marie—the first main character of
my own making. I have come a long way since then and share my writing
experiences—successes and mistakes made along the way—on my website. So, if
you’re a new or aspiring writer, please come for a visit. You’ll find writing
tips, learn what self-publishing is all about, how to get started writing, book
promotion ideas, and much more.
Contact with FLORENCE
OSMUND:
Website: www.florenceosmund.com
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/florenceosmund
INDIE BRAG LINKS:
Website: https://www.bragmedallion.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Indiebrag/
Twitter: @IndieBrag
HELEN HOLLICK:
Website: www.helenhollick.net
On Amazon: http://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
Subscribe to newsletter: http://tinyletter.com/HelenHollick
Twitter: @HelenHollick
Thank you Helen for chatting with Marie. Your choice in red wine was heavenly.
ReplyDeleteI have a special supply of the best wine hidden away....
DeleteAnother wonderful interview. It was nice meeting Marie (and Florence) - and one can only hope that she will eventually (and safely) escape the clutches of her shady husband.
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting meeting the characters isn't it?
DeleteSounds like a fascinating story with a good proportion of family secrets rattling in the cupboard!Thanks for a great interview.
ReplyDeleteI can say that this is a wonderful book and I think very timely considering the state we seem to be in today. All of Ms. Osmunds books are worth a read!
ReplyDelete