Today, we're doing something a little different. This is our 21st guest author interview on the Marie Lavender's Books! blog, and fellow author Vivienne Vincent is visiting us.
Hello! :)
Hi. Thank you for having me today.
Oh, it's my pleasure!
Can you tell us a little bit about your book? When did it come out and where can we get it?
Dandelions is a romance and it’s my first
published work. It came out quite recently, on July 14, 2016. It’s a fairy tale
for adults. It’s the story of Izzy and Saber. Saber is not exactly a hero in
the traditional sense of the word. He is our Prince Charming but he is also the
evil wizard. I will let the readers decide.
It’s available on Amazon.
Fascinating!
So, did anything prompt this book? Something that inspired you?
So, did anything prompt this book? Something that inspired you?
Like the blurb says, “There are no Rhett Butlers and Darcys in
real life. Only Heathcliffs.” I remember reading Wuthering Heights when I was
young. I had read Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind before. Even
though I don’t think I fell in love with Heathcliff the way I fell for Darcy
and Rhett, Heathcliff was far more intriguing. I read the book several times
and I could not get over his enigmatic charm. So that’s where the inspiration
for Saber’s character came from.
Also, I think a lot of women meet so many jerks. They break us
and walk away and we are left wondering if they will ever realize the damage
that they did. And whether they will regret and try to make up for their sins.
Unfortunately, most of them are completely devoid of a conscience.
So I wanted to create a character that is flawed but has the
ability to fall in love and improve himself.
Sounds great! And what girl doesn't want the bad boy to reform at some point?
I never thought about writing until quite recently. Writing is
hard work and I have always been too lazy. To tell you the truth, Dandelions is
the result of four years of unemployment.
LOL. It's true writing is a lot of work, but it's great that you turned an unfortunate experience into something positive. :)
Do you have any favorite authors, Vivienne?
I read a lot of non-fiction. When it starts to feel too much, I
switch to romance. I like reading Harlequin books. They have a lot of amazing
writers.
I recently read Nora Roberts’ Impulse. I really liked it.
It was perfect for me because when I read fiction, I prefer not to read lengthy
works.
Oh, no, she didn't...Nora is one of my favorite authors! You have great taste. ;)
So, we're curious about something.
Do you write in a specific place? Or time of day?
Do you write in a specific place? Or time of day?
Dandelions was written at night. All of it. But I don’t think
that I should continue writing at night, because it takes a toll on your
health. I am not a morning person so I plan to start writing in the afternoon. There
is a coffee shop near my house which I really like. I think I will start going
there regularly. I don’t know why but coffee shops inspire a lot of creativity.
You're right about that! And I really can't blame you. I used to write at night a lot as well...
Vivienne, are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?
Speaking from my own experience, I
will have to say:
1. Try to be a plotter not a
pantser. When I started writing Dandelions, all I had was Saber Fergus. That
became a problem because the process of editing and rewriting was
nerve-wracking. I am glad I got to work with Debbie Rowe who held my hand
through the process with amazing patience.
2. Be yourself. Nurture your own
unique style.
3. Sometimes we have really funny
and smart bits that we want to include in the story, but don’t force them in. I
know it’s painful, but let it go.
4. Be patient. Be persistent. If you
get stuck, leave everything and spend time in nature. Inspiration comes at
random moments. Just make a note in your phone and add it to the story later.
5. When you write something you want
to sell, don’t write it for yourself. Stories belong to readers not writers,
which goes for anything fan-based.
6. Set realistic goals. Don’t expect
your first book to sell a million copies. Be prepared to deal with hostility
and criticism. As a writer, you have to have a thick skin. Learn to face unfair
criticism and rejection. Don’t let these things discourage you to the point
that you give up.
7. And last but not least, be prepared
to put up with the bout of depression that follows the completion of the creative
task.
Wow, such great advice. Thank you!
I have to agree with several of these points. Yes, it's hard to say goodbye to characters once you've been with them for so long...:(
And thanks so much for stopping by, Vivienne! It was such a pleasure to have you here. :)
Readers, here is the blurb for Dandelions.
“There are no Rhett
Butlers and Darcys in real life. Only Heathcliffs.”
An avant-garde romance that goes beyond sexual
chemistry and digs deep into human nature and relationships.
Elizabeth Goodenough met Saber Fergus for the first
time when she was eight and he was twelve. He broke her heart when she was
eighteen. Ten years later, an unwitting mistake on Izzy’s part once again
brings her face to face with the same one-night stand that once brutally
crushed her.
But something seems different this time. Has her dark
knight really transformed into a knight in shining armor, or is he playing
her all over again?
Here is an excerpt.
At
this point, Saber cracked a crooked grin and asked, “What’s his name?”
His
flat voice became ebullient. His mischievous smile created subtle wrinkles
around his deep-set, ebony eyes. They were shining far more brightly than the
stars I spent hours staring at trying to figure out which ones were my parents.
“I
haven’t named him yet. I got him only about a week ago. I am still thinking of
a name.”
“Got
him or stole him? Just like you were trying to steal our flowers.”
He
was teasing me and it was working.
“You
cannot steal flowers. Flowers belong to Mother Earth and Mother Earth belongs
to all of us.”
“This
part of Mother Earth belongs to me, so I own everything in here including
wicked little girls with their hideous looking sons of bitches.”
The
way that stiff-necked boy retaliated right away, it became clear that he was
not someone easy to take down.
He
continued. “So since both of you belong to me, why don’t I name him for you?
Dandelion. How is it?”
“Dandelion?”
The name made me smile. “I like it. I will call him Dandelion. Now he has an
actual name. Grandma says once you have a name, you become a real person.
Dandelion too is a real person now.”
“No,
he is still an ugly son of a bitch. Do you like the dandelion collection over
there?”
“It’s
beautiful. I wish I had some in my house, but our house is too small and we
don’t have a garden.”
“You
can take one from here. Come with me.”
Saber
moved toward the garden and I followed him. He plucked a dandelion and handed
it to me. It was my first time holding one. I was staring at the delicate
dandelion when Saber came close and blew right into it making it vanish into
thin air. I was still trying to figure out what had happened when I heard a
giggle.
“You
are a meanie,” I told him.
“Am
I?”
His
eyes shone like a polished apple. He snatched the stem out of my hand and
flicked it. It fell on the ground.
“Dandelions
are far too delicate. They are just an illusion. They look real but they never
last. Here.” He plucked a red rose and gave it to me. “Take this instead. Red
roses are far more resilient.”
Definitely an interesting story here! I want to find out what happens next...
Purchase Links:
Universal Amazon: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01IG97RCU
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/6423501
Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/dandelions/
Thanks again for visiting us on the MLB blog, Vivienne, and telling us about your writing journey and letting us know all about Dandelions! :)
Author Bio
Vivienne Vincent grew up in a fairly conservative
environment which ironically sparked her interest in unconventional subjects
and romance novels. As a young girl she became interested in novels from the
Victorian era as well as modern day romance. She is pretty much obsessed with
British and American sitcoms and crime series. Look her up on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with her. She loves to hear from readers.
Vivienne Vincent grew up in a fairly conservative
environment which ironically sparked her interest in unconventional subjects
and romance novels. As a young girl she became interested in novels from the
Victorian era as well as modern day romance. She is pretty much obsessed with
British and American sitcoms and crime series. Look her up on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with her. She loves to hear from readers.
Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vivienne-Vincent-850442295083956/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VivienneVincen8
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2abR73V
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/57734728-vivienne-vincent
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15486427.Vivienne_Vincent
Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/vivienne-vincent/
Vivienne's Book:
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