Hi!
I am Carolyn Howard Johnson, your trusty New Book Review blogger and author of
the multi award-winning HowTo Do It
Frugally Series of books for writers. This blog has heretofore been
exclusive for reviews but I thought I’d do a special series of interviews after
I chatted with Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary
Agency – Where ‘can’t’ is not in our vocabulary! I
thought sharing the interviews would help the many subscribers and visitors to
this New Book Review blog, including authors, reviewers, and, of course, readers
who just might find a new favorite author among the featured books and
authors.
So,
today welcome Diane Yates.
Diane
Yates is a member of the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer’s Guild and the
President of the Ozarks Writers League. The sequel to Pathways of the Heart, All
That Matters, is due for release April 2016.
What
is your genre? Is it fiction or nonfiction? My
first two books, Pathways of the Heart and All
That Matters, are creative nonfiction.
What
made you want to be a writer? I
write to be read. From a young age, I wrote skits and loved creating or telling
a story. My desire
is to evoke feelings from my readers: feelings of joy, peace, love, romance, and
empathy, just to name a few. I would love for them to laugh, cry, and rally for
my protagonists. When they read the words ‘THE END,’ and close the cover,
nothing would please me more than if the book they’d just finished would inspire
them to be a better person. Change the world, so-to-speak, one reader at a
time.
Of
all the authors out there, who inspired you most? As
a teenager, I waited eagerly for the release of Jane Aiken Hodge’s next book,
which was about one a year. I devoured each one with its strong female
protagonist immersed in diverse conflicts set amidst riveting historical events.
As an adult, there are many authors such as Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Nicholas
Sparks, Janette Oke, LaVyrle Spencer, and Karen Kingsbury.
What
is your writing style? Do you outline? Linearly? By scene? Why? I
find that I outline by scene. In writing creative nonfiction, I don’t want to
miss pivotal points that often add to the complex character of my hero or
heroine. Outlining helps me see the big picture.
Do
you write every day? How much? How long? My
goal is to write each day. However, it’s important for me to be inspired, and,
when that inspiration arrives, I follow, no matter how long the
journey.
Do
you think reading is as important to writing for an author? Why?
For
me, I love to read, and I’m sure I learn writing techniques and style in the
process.
What
are some of the things you would like to share with budding authors? When I
began writing novels, I forgot to pray for direction. Instead I was writing just
for fun. My advice for budding authors is to seek guidance regarding the purpose
of your writing. Whether it’s fiction or whatever genre, you want people to read
your work. Consider how your words are adding to the lives of your readers. E.B.
White, author of Charlotte’s Web, said, “A
writer has the duty to be good, not lousy; true, not false; lively, not dull;
accurate, not full of error. He should tend to lift people up, not lower them
down. Writers do not merely reflect and interpret life, they inform and shape
life.”
Do
you have any marketing and promotional advice, referrals, tips you would like to
share? I struggle with
marketing and promotion and therefore welcome advice from others instead of
sharing my lack of knowledge!
Do
you think conferences are beneficial? If so, what have you learned? Which ones
do you frequent? Connecting with
other writers and industry professionals at a conference, and learning from
them, is vital in improving your craft. I’m a member of local writing groups,
such as the Ozarks Writers League and The Columbia Writers Guild, and attend
their conferences as well as others that offer topics or speakers of interest.
MORE
ABOUT THE SPONSORING AGENTS
Jeanie Loiacono, President, Loiacono Literary
Agency
A facilitator of dreams, Jeanie Loiacono represents over eighty authors. Her
forte is mystery, romance, thrillers, historical/military/southern fiction, and
all quality fiction/nonfiction. Her passion is to see her authors
succeed.
“There is nothing more rewarding than to hold one of my author’s books and
know I helped bring it to fruition. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to
work with some of the most talented writers in the world.”
Jeanie.L@llallc.net www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com
IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INTERVIEWS--TO FIND GREAT READING OR TO NETWORK WITH
AUTHORS--PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG. YOU ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THIS
FAMILY WHO LOVES BOOKS! YOU'LL FIND A WINDOW TO DO THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG
PAGE.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning
HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at
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