An Interview with Nancy Famolari.

Nancy Famolari lives with her husband, five horses, two dogs and five white cats on a farm in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. Her stories and poems have appeared in Long Story Short, Flash Shot, Fiction Flyer, Lyrica, Alienskin Magazine Clockwise Cat, and Matters of the Heart from the Museitup Press. She received an award from Fiction Flyer for one of her flash fiction stories. Her novel, Summer's Story, will be available from Red Rose Press in the fall 2008. Her mystery, Murder in Montbleu, will be available from Red Rose Publishing in 2009.


1. What do you most enjoy about writing?
- What I love most about writing is feeling the characters come alive. When I write a novel, I know where I want to end up, but I let the characters take me there by talking to each other. Their actions move the story forward. It's such a rush to be able to interact with your characters. They become friends. I actually miss them when I've finished the novel. It's better than reading because you get to know new people in an in-depth way.

2. How do you advertise your books?
- Since my two book are ebooks, I advertise primarily on the web. Being part of a virtual book tour, like this one, is a good way to tell prospective readers about my book and to let them get to know me. I also have been on blog talk radio. That was great fun. If my book comes out in paper eventually, I will have several opportunities. The library wants to feature me at a local author's luncheon and the local Barnes and Noble wants to invite me to a local authors day. I have business cards with my book cover and information on where to purchase it. Since the book isn't available yet, I will be looking to see what avenues work best for sales.

3. What is the best tip you can give someone who wants to write?
- The best tip I can think of is apply your seat to the chair and write. Courses are great, so are critique groups, but the sad fact is that you have to put in the hours developing your voice and learning to use all the things you've discovered in courses. Critique groups are a double edged sword. You can get valuable information, but you have to have enough self-confidence to decide what to accept and what to reject. It is, after all, your work. It has to please you.

4. Do you have an agent?
-At the present time, I don't have an agent. I was lucky enough to attract the interest of an excellent editor and got the contract for Summer's Story that way. I took a seminar with Jonathan Mayberry. He gives a very good seminar on publishing and advertising your book. He is primarily interested in print books and for those you really need an agent. I asked him the question whether ebook authors needed an agent. He said, you don't need an agent at the current state of the industry. Most agents aren't interested unless it's possible to get an advance and few ebook publishers give them. However, when advances are generally available that will undoubtedly change.

5. Do you have a favorite author?
- Dorothy Sayers is still my favorite author with Elizabeth George not far behind. I'm afraid I'm addicted to British style mysteries. I'm looking forward to reading Caroline Graham. Her novels have been adapted for television as the Midsomer Murders. So far I'm loving the series. Now I have to try the books.