Interview with Susan DiPlacido:
Hi Susan. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
I actually have two brand new books that are coming out at the same time. The first is titled 24/7, and it’s a spicy, pulpy, chick-lit-with-an-edge book. It’s set in Vegas, and it’s about a female card counter who falls for a charming casino dealer. But when the dealer's past surfaces to haunt him, and threaten her, she's forced to make a dangerous choice. In a city built on luck, it'll take all her brains to figure out if she should gamble on her heart.
The second book is titled Trattoria, and it’s a lighter, romantic comedy. It’s about a family who runs a restaurant together and what happens when the older sister, Lucy Antonucci, tries to set up Danny Alvieri, a smooth and charming out-of-work actor, with her beautiful, spoiled and bored young sister Val. But what Lucy has cooked up for Val begins to whet her own more mature appetites.
Adding heat to the stew, the family-owned trattoria is in financial trouble, and the struggle to make ends meet causes sibling rivalries to bubble up hot and savory. If Lucy and Val are going to keep the trattoria -- and their hearts -- intact, this family is going to have to learn to cook together.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
I update my website frequently, it’s at Susan DiPlacido.com.
- How may readers contact you?
My e-mail is available through my website, and it’s susandiplacido@aol.com.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Well, my books are pure fiction, but they’re grounded in things I know, such as the restaurant business and sibling rivalry. And Las Vegas and gambling. Plus, I think each book definitely contains my own perspective on specific things.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Once I get an idea, it usually goes pretty quickly. A couple months is average.
- What is your writing routine?
Well, I work full-time during the day so I write mostly on nights and weekends. It’s nice because it’s quiet and I can concentrate.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I love to swim. So going to the gym, or in the summer just outside, and getting in the pool and doing laps really clears my head and loosens me up.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
Yes, I think it’s incredibly important. I think it’s important in not just women’s fiction, but in nearly ever aspect of life and art. Even heavy dramatic works have touches of humor, most of the time. But as a reader, I love a book that makes me laugh and see the silliness of situations. I think that’s a terrific way to relax!
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Actually, no, I enjoy writing them! I think it’s like humor. Why hold back?
- Who are some of your favorite authors?
OH, I have pretty varied tastes. Helen Fielding, of course, and Candace Bushnell. But I also love the high-testosterone stuff like Chuck Palahniuk and Charles Bukowski and Jack Kerouac. Elmore Leonard, too. I'm currently reading Bret Easton Ellis's newest, Lunar Park, and it's blowing me away.
- How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I’ve written two books, and luckily, both are being published. I also have a collection of short stories that I’m working on though, American Cool. Those are a tough sell, but I’m proud of the work in that collection and I hope it sees print someday. Right now, I'm working on my third novel, which is an erotic romance. It's already under contract, and should be released in early January 2006.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
I’m still undecided on which book I like better, though maybe I lean toward 24/7, because it’s a little more raw and edgy. Then again, I enjoy the silly factor in Trattoria too! But my favorite character is definitely Cy from Trattoria. He’s a tough guy with a lot of faults, but he’s a lot of fun too when you dig deep.
- Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Yes – don’t get discouraged! Rejection is a big part of the game in this business. But you have to stick it out and believe in yourself and keep trying. If you give up, you’ll never get anywhere. So stick with it. Don’t be afraid to bend and try new things. And if you get feedback, take it into consideration for doing future drafts. But always believe in yourself and your own vision!
Thanks so much for having me, this has been fun!
Thank you very much Susan, for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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Susan DiPlacido
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