Author Interview: Juli D. Revezzo

Today we learn a little about author Juli D. Revezzo, who just released her debut novel, The Artist's Inheritance, a paranormal fantasy. Enjoy!

 

 

Jennifer: Where can we find out more about you and buy your book?

Juli: Your readers can find out more about me at my site: http://julidrevezzo.com

and at  Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo


They can find out more about The Artist's Inheritance at Amazon.com:
http://t.co/jnAo9bE1

and Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/220457
coming soon to Createspace

Jennifer: Tell us about your book.

Juli: My novel is a paranormal fantasy novel entitled The Artist's Inheritance, and the story goes as follows:

The Artist's Inheritance Antique Magic, Book #1

 

Settling into their new home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Caitlin finds strange changes coming over her husband Trevor. He seems obsessed with a beautiful chair he’s carving.

When the nightmares deepen and ghosts begin lurking—she knows something’s not right, and not just her newfound precognitive abilities. It’s the damned chair, she’s sure. Could it be just what it seems: a mundane piece of furniture? If so, why is it attracting dark forces—the forces she suspects drove Trevor’s siblings to insanity and suicide?

Before the same happens to Trevor, Caitlin must convince him to sell his art. But armed with only a handful of allies, and little experience of the supernatural, she must proceed with caution against the hellish forces besieging her family. If she succeeds, she will break the ancestral curse. If she fails, she may lose forever the one thing she cares about most: her beloved Trevor.

 

Jennifer: Where did you get the idea for the story?

Juli: A few years back I was contemplating a Christmas present for a special friend (fellow author Jolene Dawe) and didn't want to just give her any ole normal store bought thing. She and I challenged each other to write a small collection of stories for one another. The stories stemmed around differing mythologies, mine most notably Celtic,  and The Artist's Inheritance sprang from that challenge--which in intervening years has been severely updated and expanded to what readers will see now. What would happen to an artist if he let his work get the best of him, I wondered. What if the artist--or his family--had no say in the matter? What if his wife didn't like that? What if his ancestor's didn't? Once I asked Caitlin that question, I found she had a lot to say on the matter. So, I let her go--and what was supposed to be a one-off, short Christmas present became a novel. ;)

Jennifer: What other projects do you have coming up?

Juli: I'm working on a second and third volume in the Antique Magic series, following Caitlin and Friends' continuing life and interactions with the Otherworld. I hope to have book two ready to go sometime next year--before summer, if all goes well.

 

Jennifer: What is your writing process like--do you outline first or just start writing, etc.?

Juli: A little of both.  The word "outline" scares me. *laughs* Usually I'll get an inkling of the character, and where he or she might end up. Once I have that picture,  I  let the character just start talking. The story's kernels then begin to drop, though from time to time, a bit of research and thinking may be needed to bring the tale to fruition. Any suggested mythology within the story may lead me to the library (or to the internet) or a character's occupation may lead me to research or ask around about things, that sort of thing. So I guess I'm a plantser, in writer vernacular. A little bit of plotting, a little bit of just pantsing--or winging--it.

 

Jennifer: Do you work with a writing group or mentor? Why or why not? If you do, what do you get out of it?

Juli: Yes and no. I do have a group of mentors I work with, but for many years I did most of my writing on my own. For the last twelve years or so I've had a good pal I "bounce" ideas off, which really tends to help gel the story. I've also, these last few years, involved myself in the FF&P chapter of the RWA [Romance Writers of America] and they've helped me hone in on some of the stuff I've sprinkled into my manuscripts. I also have a friend who's a Civil War buff, and she allowed me to pick her brain for certain scenes in The Artist's Inheritance. :)

 

Jennifer: What have you done to develop your writing craft?

Juli: Just writing, writing and writing some more.  I also read everything I can from craft books, to history, to fiction, and books on whatever subject fits the character at the moment, even the internet can help with this, what with online writing articles and classes (a plus of the RWA, if it's a mite expensive). But the best of these is just sitting down and writing. That's really the best way to learn. If you fail at it, start a new project until you get from Once Upon A Time, to The End. You can pick up the little technical things from reading.

 

Jennifer: What have been your most successful marketing techniques?

Juli: So far, I'd have to say the use of Twitter, blogging, and word of mouth.

 

Jennifer: Is your family supportive of your writing?

Juli: Definitely. My parents were always been behind me, one hundred percent. Dad thought I'd be famous, (well, never say never!) and Mom turned me on to Nora Roberts a few years back which in turn brought the Romance Writers of America and and the fantasy romance genre to my attention, which ended up being the new home of the type of fantasy novels I loved. But I digress, Mom's also been very supportive of my work, regardless of the venue it shows up in. :) My hubby's always encouraged me to keep writing and even goes so far as to let me talk out my stories to him when I'm stuck. He's my logic-meter. If something doesn't sound right to him, it's wrong for the story.

Jennifer: When and why did you decide to become a writer?

Juli: This might sound like your typical answer, but I've been making up stories my whole life. As a teen, though, I wrote poetry and song lyrics based on stories I loved (filk, as it's known as in most circles), but the year I graduated high school, I read Isaac Asimov's Robot's of Dawn and Michael Moorcock's Elric series and between them (and my love of Arthurian legends) I finally got away from trying to write my stories in Iambic pentameter. ;)

 

Jennifer: Who is your favorite author of all time, and why?

Juli: Without doubt, Michael Moorcock. His work is lush and imaginative, but intelligent, funny and sometimes, it can be dark and profound. He can set a story anywhere from a made-up world to our present day America and pull it all off in style. He's a writer I discovered in high school and no matter how many of his books I read they never fail to disappoint me.

Jennifer: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be, and with whom?

Juli: I would love to see Florence, Italy and of course, to go with my beloved husband. :)

Jennifer: Thanks to Juli for stopping by, and best of luck with the book!