Joan Wahl - The IAN Interview

Joan Wahl

I live in western New York where I enjoy all four seasons (although not so much the lake effect snow!)  In addition to being an author, I am also a wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, and work full time as a legal secretary.  I have been a reader my entire life, and read a little bit of everything, from mysteries, love stories, true crime, the occasional memoir, and historic fiction.  I love to travel, cook, photograph lighthouses, and watch football. 

Summer Love in Music City was born out of my love for country music, and all things Nashville. I watch a lot of country music videos, which remind me of a four-minute short story, and sometimes I want to know more. My main female character, Summer, falls in love with a famous country music superstar.  When their eyes meet backstage after a concert, their worlds collide in a moment of perfect serendipity.  But how can they navigate getting to know one another without the whole world watching and weighing in?

My book is available online at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and on Amazon in all formats – soft cover, hard cover, Kindle and Audible.  The audible version was narrated by famous actress and professional narrator, Michelle Williams. 

I wrote Summer Love in Music City with the intention of it being the first in a series, as I am always happy to find a book I love only to discover it is part of a series.   My publisher has the right to future works with the same characters, so I am hopeful that more stories will follow.  I am also in the beginning stages of drafting a stand-alone Christmas story. 

 

IAN: How long did it take you to write Summer Love in Music City?

Joan Wahl: My best guess is somewhere between six and seven months.  But then the hard work began!  I cannot feel creative sitting at a computer.  My book was entirely hand written, and then typed, printed, revised, proof read, and revised again.  When I wrote the last line of the book, I went back and re-wrote the first line to tie everything together.    

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Joan Wahl: Without giving one of the most memorable moments away, it is based in part on the name of the main female character, Summer. Brody, her love interest, writes a love song for her entitled Summer Love.  They hope to keep Summer’s identity a mystery by implying that he has a summertime love interest.  The song is an important part of the storyline as it progresses.  

IAN: Who designed the cover?

Joan Wahl: Probably the most “fun” homework assignment my publisher gave me was to go to several bookstores and look at covers that interested me.  I sent them my ideas, along with a description of what my characters and the background should look like, and their graphic arts team brought my vision to life.  

IAN: How is Summer Love in Music City different than others in your genre?

Joan Wahl: My book is both similar and different from others in the genre at the same time.  There is a strong family component, in addition to being a love story. In Summer Love in Music City, my main female character is a twin.  She is close to her family, particularly her twin sister, Autumn.  She recognizes that her decision to embark on a relationship with Brody will affect the lives of everyone she is close to.  I hope everyone who enjoys a close-knit family will find something in my story that they can relate to, and feel like they were transported to so many of the iconic places Summer and Brody visit.   

IAN: Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Joan Wahl: I have met – but never fallen in love with – someone famous.  I have been fortunate to meet some of my favorite authors, actors, musicians and even my football hero.  I have given more than passing thought to what their “real” lives must be like.  How can they have a date night with their spouse or take their children to the zoo?   Is the price of their fame worth what they gave up?

I have, however, traveled to many of the places featured in my book.  I have had many a biscuit at the Loveless Café, a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity III, and visited the Grand Hotel.  I hope featuring places I have visited has made my story more believable.    

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing Summer Love in Music City?

Joan Wahl: The hardest part of writing the book was coming up with the conflict.  What could cause Summer to lose faith in Brody and their relationship?  It had to be believable, true to the characters, and also to the arc of their story.  I had already envisioned how they would reunite, but first I had to separate them.  I wanted my readers to be so invested in the storyline that they would experience all her emotions – anger, sadness, betrayal.  And experience Brody’s confusion, desperation, and willingness to give everything up for the woman he loved.  

IAN: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Joan Wahl: I used to say if I could change places with anyone for one day it would be New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub.  One of her earlier works written under her pen name is a time travel story entitled If Only in My Dreams.  Every December when I read it, it transports me to a different place. I feel the confusion and disbelief of the character who travels back and forth in time.  Her desire to try to change history, the fate of the man she has come to love.  Her mysteries are equally intriguing and impossible to put down.  Wendy grew up very close to where I live, and she returns to the area frequently for author talks and book signings.  I have met her on numerous occasions.  She is personable, down-to-earth, and genuinely enjoys engaging with her fans. I could never hope to be as prolific or successful as she is, but I do hope to foster the same kind of connection with my readers.   

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Joan Wahl: I began to think about writing a book in March of 2020 when the world as we knew it changed dramatically.  I did not start with an outline, just a basic idea.  At the beginning, it was a fun hobby.  After about 9 or 10 weeks when I returned to work full time, Summer and Brody were still there, and would not leave my thoughts for long.  Their story deserved to be finished.  Even though I was the one writing their story, I felt like they were driving the train.  I would occasionally have a thought or idea and reject it because it was not true to their characters.  I have never set aside a specific amount of time each day to write, or try to write a certain number of words each day.  But I never know when inspiration will strike, and I have been known to write down an idea on almost anything from the back of a bank receipt, grocery list or envelope.        

IAN: What do you hope readers come away with after reading Summer Love in Music City

Joan Wahl: I am a mother whose daughter lost her first child. Nothing makes you reevaluate your life more than tragedy.  One of the scariest things I have ever done was hit the “submit” button and send my book to a publisher.  I knew I could be a dismal failure, a smashing success, or something in between.  My advice is to do something that challenges you.  You may not want to write a book, but perhaps you always wanted to learn how to paint or sail, go back to school, or audition for a play.  I also want you to cherish your friends and family members.  If you would like to follow me on my Facebook page, Joan Wahl author, I would love for you to join me on this journey.           

Kaaren Sutcliffe - The IAN Interview

 Kaaren Sutcliffe

I was hooked on fantasy from first year high school when my English teacher read The Hobbit to the class.  She had a large crystal ball on a necklace, which glinted as it moved with her breaths … just magic.  When I was on maternity leave, I found the time and brain space to begin my own fantasy novel, with a strong thread of romance. Eight novels later, I still love this genre and my latest series manages to combine my writing with my new sport of dragon boating. More magic. I live on the stunning south coast of Australia, where inspiration is easy to come by.

IAN: Tell us about your latest book.

Kaaren Sutcliffe: Eminent Mage, book 3 of The Mage & the Bird Caller was released at the end of 2023. This series has been so much fun to write. It features a handsome spy, Mage Everand, who is sent on a secret mission by his Mages’ Guild to find out who is sabotaging the inaugural gathering of the four surrounding river provinces. He has seven days to unravel the threat. His mission goes awry from the outset: he is translocated into the river, nearly run over by a dragon boat and spotted by the entirely desirable woman standing up steering the boat! So much for being undercover.

The simple mission gathers in complexity, and the boatwoman, Lamiya, who has her own mysterious bird calling abilities, is everywhere he turns. Realising he needs her, he relies on her evolving mystical abilities as they face increasing threats from a rogue half-mage, an incensed ancient river dragon, and a growing awareness that all is not right at the Mages’ Guild. By book 3 Everand has lost his heart to Lamiya and his destiny has been diverted. The ancient red dragon, Akachi, reveals the entire history of the Guild has been a lie, and is a force the provinces and mages must reckon with. The Mage and the Bird Caller, working together. must find a way forward.

IAN: Is Eminent Mage published in print, eBook or both?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: The three books are all available in print and e-book versions. I hope to release an e-book trilogy set soon.  

Amazon, AmazonUK, AmazonAU, Smashwords, ESentral, and at Barnes&Noble.

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: My preferred writing style is closely-held, deep third-person perspective for the two or three key characters. I aim to write a chapter in a viewpoint before changing, and love the way this can show differences between how a character sees themselves and how others see them. I try to keep my writing active, engaging, highly visual and the plot moving along. When I write, I see the characters moving and speaking and I am transported there, living and feeling what they do. I’ve been told by readers that my books would make excellent movies. I also like to keep an underlying sense of humour and have the lead characters stuff up on occasion. This offsets and enhances the truly poignant moments. I like those too.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading Eminent Mage?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: Mainly, I hope readers enjoy the roller-coaster ride and have been barracking for the protagonists. My characters tend to insist on adding layers and themes to my stories, so by the end there are many thoughts readers can take away. These include the concepts surrounding integrity and self-worth, betrayal and forgiveness, how far would you go for love, how far will you go to do what is right, the value and strength in working together, loyalty, camaraderie … forgiving oneself and the link between our spirit and our bodies. And, I say with a smile, if readers are a little impressed by the sport of dragon boating that would be good too.

IAN: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Kaaren Sutcliffe: There are a few, but the standout one has to be Dragons Abreast Australia. As a survivor of breast cancer, and hence a pink paddler, I am overwhelmed by the support from DAA for me as a paddler and an author. At the Pink Paddle Power regatta in Melbourne, December 2022, I was immediately adopted by the DA Canberra team to paddle, and invited by DAA to be one of two keynote speakers at the Ball that night with the opportunity to sell my books. I think I’m affectionately known as ‘the dragon-nerd author-paddler’.  The welcoming, supportive vibes at DAA events is amazing. As a way of saying thank you, I donate $5 from each book sold directly by me to DAA on an ongoing basis. Paddles up!  My own local club, Nature Coast, has also been supportive and paddlers unfortunate enough to sit next to me are occasionally subjected to my literary adventures while we are out training.

IAN: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: I’m lucky in that my lead characters tend to present already well-formed and chatty about what they want to do. The character/s that I always struggle with are my antagonists. I like to think this is because I am a nice person … but it always takes me longer to shade and nuance my villain and to work out what their real motivations are. In some ways this is useful as when the villains are nuanced and 3-D it makes their actions and hence the outcome less predictable, which does wonders for the dramatic tension. In Eminent Mage, I specifically gave the rogue half-mage Malach the task of wreaking chaos. He was a total wild card, exceeding even my expectations! I had trouble turning him off, and when the story was finished and the book was being prepared for publication it encountered all these bizarre glitches — the editor suggested it was Malach still causing havoc.

IAN: Did you learn anything from writing Eminent Mage and what was it?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: I learned many things, but the key one was that it is a good plan to have at least started your book three before you send your book one to publication. Akachi, the red dragon, dropped a total game-changer on me early in book three, which meant I had to go back and tweak book one to set it up properly. But it was fabulous because the realisation made sense of all these threads I’d subconsciously planted, and it was a matter of drawing them together and refining them. A second major thing I learned was that if I’m struggling with a scene and it just isn’t flowing, I might not have chosen the best character viewpoint. There is one chapter that completely stalled me in Everand’s viewpoint, and as soon as I scrapped that and started again in Malach’s viewpoint the whole thing flowed.

IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: Trust your characters, fall in love with them, let them breathe and help you. And learn to enjoy the process of rewriting.  To quote William Zinsser in On Writing Well, “It’s in the rewriting that the game is won or lost”.  Take your time with the polishing phase, ask if each scene is optimised, whether it is in the right character’s point of view, whether you can save a few words, say anything crisper or more evocatively? I was repeatedly amazed by how I could shave a few thousand words off each time I polished the books. Related to this, use a good editor and proofreader. I chose mine carefully, and the feedback gives me confidence that a book is ready, and I enjoy improving my writing from the things they pick up.  There’s always something that can be worked on.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Kaaren Sutcliffe: I have two standalone books planned for 2024.

The work in progress (halfway already!) is a contemporary romance set on the south coast of Australia. Hayley, only 34, is a very young breast cancer survivor who goes to the coast to recuperate and rediscover herself. Her body and self-esteem have taken a beating. She accidentally discovers the local dragon boat club, and the handsome, muscled Chinese sweep and coach persuades her to give paddling a try. Justin, 35, looks like an Oriental warrior, and Hayley is soon smitten. Can she overcome her self-doubts to be with him? Justin is impressed by Hayley’s resilience and determination, and she is sooo pretty, but can he get past his policy of never dating in the boat? Let alone persuade his Chinese parents to accept that he loves an Australian girl. Scenes from this book have done really well in Romance Writers Australia short story competitions. The beginning is published in the 2023 Sweet Treats anthology, and the first intimate scene will be published in the 2024 Spicy Bites anthology.

The other book is a sequel to the Mage and the Bird Caller series, set in the fourth province of Riversea. Lamiya’s dedicated and handsome lead pacer, Lazuli, gets to have his own mission when the battered body of a sea serpent washes up on the beach in southern Riversea. Who killed the sea serpent and is the island of Ossilis under threat? Lazuli is sent to work with the people of Riversea to find out. While there, he comes across the exotic paddler and exceptionally talented artist, Charonia. Working title Trail of Bubbles.

K. Reagan Zell - The IAN Interview

K. Reagan Zell

I currently live in southern New Jersey with my husband, two lovable St. Danes, and four energetic cats. As a true New Jersey-ite, I can usually be found taking walks on one of the state's breathtaking beaches, watching the amazing sunrises and sunsets while listening to a variety of music. I also enjoy discovering and exploring many of the amazing New Jersey nature trails or visiting any one of the remarkable New Jersey historical sites. It is in the nature that surrounds us and the psychology within us all that intrigues and inspires me the most to write about what I see, hear, and feel around me.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

K. Reagan Zell: During the Covid quarantine, I began to write a nine book paranormal romance series, The Beguiled West Series I. Beguiled Persuasion (Book 1) begins the captivating journey of Cait, an empath who accidently discovers that her once despised empathic gift has a different purpose in her life. Nevertheless, her discoveries and ultimate decisions are not without perilous consequences.

Having broken up with her boyfriend when she discovered that he was married and then immediately having to deal with the sudden death of her father, Cait takes a sleeping pill to help her cope. Her one innocent action of that pill as she tries to find emotional relief sets into motion an incredible journey of unimaginable paranormal events. Traveling between her present-day timeline and 15th century Ireland, she encounters psychics, a Shaman, Druids, a rogue time shifter, and the Galloglaith warriors. As she slowly but surely makes her way through the astonishing events, she also makes some devastating discoveries and must decide who is dangerous and who is not.

Beguiled Persuasion is the first book in the series, followed by Mists of Tiarnas, Valley of Ogham Na, Nattfisker Ridge, Tears of Tårene, Lanterns of Sennaire, Manens Sunrise, Buran of Qaneame, and Borde's Rim.

IAN: Is Beguiled Persuasion published in print, e-book, or both?

K. Reagan Zell:The books are only E-books.

 IAN: Where can we go to buy Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: Currently, books 1-5 are available on Smashwords.com (formats: epub, mobi, pdf, lrf, pdb, and txt); Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Beguiled Persuasion is also available on various library channels.

IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

K. Reagan Zell: Interesting question. I began to write the books as I listened to music. As different types of music provided a background, the ideas entered my mind. I could actually imagine and feel the characters, their actions and reactions, their dialogues, and their emotions all set against different locales. It was like when an idea pops into your head when you want to fix something, make a recipe, or decorate. It was like that, but different. There was no outline or winging it; it was as if I were a viewer watching a movie, losing myself in the storyline, and feeling the full impact of the tale.

IAN: How much of the book is realistic?

K. Reagan Zell: I would say that as far as being realistic, or even tied to personal experiences, there are some elements in the book in regards to that. As we grow in life, we always draw upon our own experiences and that of others. Love, birth, life lived, déjà vue, and death are all universal. Experiences are what make us human, connecting our values and realities through life.

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

K. Reagan Zell: Many years ago, I had an English teacher in high school who had assigned the classto write a short story. Once again, through music, my mind moved into a scene and I created a fiction story as the images came into my mind. After we had turned in our assignments, the teacher asked me to stay behind to talk. Once everyone had left, he began to question me as to where I got the idea because he felt that I could not have written something as good as that. Although he could not find any story that matched my fictional story (of which he never would - the story was original), he was still cynical. After a long discussion back and forth and explaining my inspiration process, he finally gave me an "A". He realized through our conversation that I liked to write, but he still seemed doubtful that a high school student could write such a good fictional short story. Back in the day, educators did not recognize talent, felt that anything out of the ordinary was false, and did not encourage growth of a student's special talent. I was graduating high school a year early, had good grades and he still had doubts. Unfortunately, because of my experience with him, I never wanted to write fiction again.

Then years later, came college and working on an advanced degree, a master’s in psychology. Writing assignments and term papers based upon science and the strict association writing rules (400+ pages) left me feeling cold, empty, and not producing anything worthwhile. Although I did well, my heart was not in it. In my opinion, I was not creating anything meaningful, just plugging along with the required norm. Once I got my degree, I was done with writing such cold and emotionless papers and assignments; it was not my passion.  

IAN: I see. Then how did you find your way back to fiction writing?

K. Reagan Zell: It was not until decades later with the Covid pandemic/quarantine that I once again decided to put pen to paper - with my headset on, listening to music - and wrote what I saw, heard, and felt in my mind's eye. As I approach another milestone in my life, I will eventually write full time, listening to my music, and writing what I see, hear, and feel. I have found my passion and will enjoy it well into retirement down the road.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: It is my hope that not only is it a good story line, but that people associate the emotions and experiences as being universal, connecting to something that we have personally known, a shared understanding of life. By being able to relate to the challenges and joys in our lives, it is those experiences that connect us all as humans.

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing Beguiled Persuasion?

K. Reagan Zell: For me, the hardest part is not the writing of a book, but rather the disbelief of some of those around us that cannot fathom that any person they know can even be creative. The reasoning is something very basic; people have an unconscious tendency to connect a person with what they do in life rather than what they are. A newscaster who is a talented painter will always be first referred to as a newscaster; a homemaker who has a dog training business will always be first referred to as a homemaker; and a talented high school student will always be first referred to as a student. It is unfortunate that our positions in life are what label us first, limiting our primary recognition of the talents we possess and where we prosper and flourish the most. Again, as with the English teacher, people have the tendency of viewing talented people through the eyes of skepticism, an unaware portrayal based upon their own association of the world around them.

It is a slow process when they discover and finally believe that a person has a natural and imaginative talent. In the end, the most important thing for any creative person to remember is that it is not what we do or earn, but rather, it is our passion and drive to create what we value the most.

IAN: Who designs your book covers?

Multi-talented book cover designer and award-winning author, Melissa Alvarez (https://bookcovers.us/). She is one of the most amazing, passionate, and outstanding creative designers that I have ever met. When designing a cover, it is so important to get the elements right, to be able to have the designer see what you see, and Melissa nails it every single time. I am truly blessed to be working with her.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Beguiled Persuasion is currently available on Smashwords.com and I will be uploading books 6-8 of the Beguiled West Series I this summer. I am currently finishing the dramatic conclusion in book 9 (Borde's Rim). The new series (Beguiled West Series II) that I will be working on is The Eshunna Trilogy, a futuristic romance genre.

Effie Kammenou: The IAN Interview

Effie Kammenou

Effie Kammenou is a believer that it is never too late to chase your dreams, follow your heart or change your career. She is proof of that. At one time, long ago, she'd thought that, by her age, she would have had an Oscar in her hand after a successful career as an actor. Instead, she worked in the optical field for 40 years and is the proud mother of two accomplished young women.

Her debut novel, Evanthia’s Gift, is a women’s fiction multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by her Greek heritage, and the many real-life accounts that have been passed down. She continues to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.

Evanthia’s Gift: Book One in The Gift Saga was a 2016 award finalist in the Readers Favorite Awards in the Women’s Fiction category.  Waiting for Aegina is Book Two in The Gift Saga and Chasing Petalouthes is Kammenou’s latest release, completing the series.

Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her entertaining family and friends or traveling for ‘research.’

As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, she incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the books.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

Effie Kammenou: Chasing Petalouthes is the conclusion of The Gift Saga Trilogy,

a generational family saga and contemporary romance. This last book focuses on the current youth of today in this Greek-American family. As with the other two books, the story flashes back in time to the youthful days of the older generation, going back as far as the 1920s in Kefalonia, Greece. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first two books for a richer experience.

IAN: Is Chasing Petalouthes published in print, e-book or both?

Effie Kammenou: Chasing Petalouthes is available in print, Kindle and on Audible. The entire trilogy is available in all of these formats.

IAN: Where can we purchase a copy of Chasing Petalouthes?

Amazon.com/Print  Amazon.com/Kindle   Audible.com  BarnesandNoble.com  iTunes.apple.com

IAN: What inspired you to write Chasing Petalouthes?

Effie Kammenou: Chasing Petalouthes is the last book in The Gift Saga. Each book in the trilogy deals with a different generation of a Greek American family and their closest friends. The current generation is the focus here, inspired by my own children, their friends and the world in which they live. Each generation has learned from their elders and even from some ancestors they’ve only heard about through family history. The same holds true here, as this book binds all the generations together, showcasing how each life affects the other.

IAN: How long did it take to write Chasing Petalouthes?

Effie Kammenou: Each book takes me a different amount of time to complete. One of the biggest factors is how much research needs to go into the story. Evanthia’s Gift took me almost three years to write. It’s not only the longest of the three books but it also required the most research. Chasing Petalouthes took about a year and a half.

IAN: How do you come up with the titles?

Effie Kammenou: I find titles to be the most challenging part of writing a book. Chasing Petalouthes came to me quickly and I never questioned it. Petalouthes means butterflies in Greek. Essentially, the book is titled, Chasing Butterflies. There are many books with this title. There is no other carrying the name Chasing Petalouthes. It fits the story perfectly as the two main characters discover who they are as they approach adulthood.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

Effie Kammenou: Since Chasing Petalouthes is part of a three-book saga, I want readers to take more from it than just a simple love story. It’s so much more than that. This book is a tribute to love in all its forms—love of family, culture, friendship and humanity. And of course, romantic love. Readers not acquainted with Greek culture and traditions will become fully immersed in it. Readers with Greek heritage will enjoy the familiarity. I also want younger readers to recognize the importance of the past, family history, and the lessons that can be learned from elder relatives.

IAN: How much of the book is realistic?

Effie Kammenou: As much as I love to read a feel-good romance that is pure fantasy, I wanted this book to be real and relatable. There are many ups and downs in this book, difficult situations and happy resolutions. The first book was inspired by my mother and other relatives, as well as my own personal experience. The emotions are real, though the details, circumstances and situations are different from the real-life events.

IAN: What book are you reading now?

Effie Kammenou: I just Finished The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis. As a New Yorker, I appreciated the peek into the history of Grand Central Station. It was a beautiful story told from the perspectives of two women—one living in present day and the other in the 1920s.

IAN: Are there any new authors that have caught your interest?

Effie Kammenou: I just mentioned Fiona Davis. She was new to me and I plan to read more books by this author. Chanel Cleeton is another author I will read religiously. Her book Last Year in Havana was one of my favorites reads of the year.

IAN: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Effie Kammenou: The writing community has been generous and welcoming to me. When I finished writing my first book, I had no idea what to do next. I received helpful advice and aid whenever I needed it. I soaked up everything more seasoned authors were willing to share with me. In turn, I do the same for less experienced authors trying their hand at publishing and marketing.

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

Effie Kammenou: That is the goal! I was a theatre major in college. It was always my dream to act professionally. I got married, had children and needed a real job with a steady salary. I worked in the optical industry for forty years. Once my children were grown, I wanted to, once again, fuel my creative energy. I did this through writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m now in a position to make a career of it, whether or not it earns me a decent salary.

IAN: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Effie Kammenou: I’ve thought about this a lot. There is one chapter I wish I had written. A chapter from the perspective of one of the male main characters, RJ. There are two love stories in this book and I give Zak, the other male love interest, a chance at his own chapter. I wish I had done the same for RJ.

IAN: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Effie Kammenou: If we’re speaking of contemporary writers then I would have to say Sylvain Reynard. He is not only a master wordsmith, but he has great knowledge of literature, art, history, music and religion. He brings all of this into his work along with deep messages, while bringing the most sensual and romantic characters to life.

IAN: Do you have to travel much concerning your books?

Effie Kammenou: All three books take place in New York and several different locations in Greece. This last book, Chasing Petalouthes, also has a section of the story set in Paris and Champagne, France. Being of Greek heritage, I’m familiar with Greece, its culture and people. But I had to visit and see it with different eyes to write about it. I did a tremendous amount of research on the Champagne region and the process of champagne making. But in order to really write authentically about this corner of the world and its industry, I had to see it all for myself, speak to vintners and immerse myself in the culture.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Effie Kammenou: Currently, I am working on the first book in a new series, which will also revolve around a Greek American family. The dynamics of this family will be quite different than that of the families in The Gift Saga Trilogy.

In addition, I’m contributing a short story to an anthology titled, Paperback Writer. The proceeds of which will go to the World Literacy Foundation. 

Ann Streetman: The IAN Interview

After editing the high school newspaper, I worked my way through the last two years of my college journalism degree on an off-campus professional magazine. Then came a lifelong career in public relations, public affairs, association management, and manuscript editing. Telling the stories of organizations and issues and helping others to do so has been a satisfying occupation.

Since retirement, I concentrate on telling the stories of characters which are a figment of my imagination. Occasionally, I write children’s books populated by animals and real life objects to spark the imagination of toddlers and young readers.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book Her Man in Sorrento.

Ann Streetman: Sarah Millerman meets handsome Navy Commander Nathan Ferrari on the steps of a cathedral in Amalfi, Italy. Nathan is staying at his Aunt Alessa’s beach house in Sorrento, while he is on annual leave from Naval Base San Diego. 

Sarah’s vacation takes unexpected turns as breathtaking as the drive along the Amalfi coast. As Nathan puts it, “You’re an American on vacation. I am an American on vacation. It makes sense for us to have some fun together.” Sarah intends to keep the relationship light and flirty and uncomplicated, as they enjoy dinners under the stars at the beach house and day trips around the Amalfi coast. But it did get complicated.

After the vacation, they continue an uneasy romance in San Diego. Both have been hurt by lost loves. Nathan is essentially married to the Navy. Sarah is focused on finishing her master’s degree in cybersecurity and snagging a great job wherever she wants to go. 

Is Nathan ready for a wife? Could Sarah ever be a Navy spouse? I hope IAN readers will come along for their romantic journey.

IAN: Is your book published in print, e-book or both?

Ann Streetman: Her Man in Sorrento is available only in e-book format at this time.

IAN: Where can we go to buy Her Man in Sorrento?

Ann Streetman: Published in February, 2018, it is available only on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079K5793C. After August 2018, it will be available on other popular e-book retail sites.

IAN: What inspired you to write Her Man in Sorrento?

Ann Streetman: I have a passion for writing about favorite places I’ve visited, Italian characters, and people who serve in the military and the people who love them. Her Man in Sorrento allowed me to exercise all three of these interests in one novel. How could I not write this novel?

IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

Ann Streetman: My regular writing process is using an outline, but I create the characters and the major places of action long before I begin the outline. In fact, the outline keeps changing right up to my beginning the last chapter of the first draft. As the characters interact, the plot details and the outline change. I am happiest on a day when my characters simply take control of the plot and send it in a direction I did not anticipate. That’s a good writing day.

IAN: How long did it take to write Her Man in Sorrento?

Ann Streetman: I worked on the book about six months.

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Ann Streetman: My writing style is concise. No flowery language here. Maybe it’s the journalist in me that won’t allow it. Besides that, I never want my “author words” to impede my reader’s interaction with the characters since it is the reader’s own imagination that makes the characters come alive.

Settings are very important in my writing. It’s my job to make the reader experience the environment where a piece of action takes place. More often than not, I let one of the characters describe the details of the setting via his or her internal thoughts or through dialogue with another character. When a character describes the setting, the reader is also getting insight into that character. The description must be detailed and convey emotion that will arouse the reader’s interest and enrich the story line. A good setting implies how the characters feel about their surroundings and how that environment contributes to their interactions at the time.

My writing style includes constant editing as I develop the first draft. When I write a scene that is not quite right, I usually realize it. I’ve learned to fix the problem as soon as possible. When I start a day’s writing session, I read the product of the day before. Then I fix the things that are bothering me before moving forward.

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Ann Streetman: The book is titled Her Man in Sorrento because Sarah and Nathan meet there and the Amalfi Coast is so much a part of who Nathan Ferrari is. The title is in keeping with my niche of novels set in places I have loved to visit.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

Ann Streetman: I hope the readers come away believing two imperfect people in their own world can love each other enough to find their way forward together.

IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Ann Streetman: The characters and events are solely the creation of my imagination.

IAN: How is Her Man in Sorrento different from others in your genre?

Ann Streetman: I have carved out a small niche of romance with an international flair. Many of my readers may not be able to visit the places I write about. Perhaps my books can take them there.

The joy of forgiveness and redemption are recurring themes in my books. I am by no means the only romance author who embraces those themes, and I salute others who do.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone

Ann Streetman: My next book is not a sequel to Her Man in Sorrento. I have written one series Love on Life’s Zip Line, and I did enjoy writing it. I hope IAN readers will check it out.

As for the next book, there’s only one thing I can tell you now. The characters will be imperfect people with the courage to find their way forward, whatever their circumstances are. When the IAN readers put down that next book, they will know that chivalry and love tested by real life are alive and well in my books and in my life.