5-STAR Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Sunday, May 03, 2015

Indie Author Interview: Olivia Wildenstein


Indie Author Interview with Olivia Wildenstein - Author of the Young Adult Fiction Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti.

Olivia Wildenstein earned a bachelor’s in comparative literature. After designing jewelry for a few years, Wildenstein traded in her tools for a laptop computer. When she’s not writing, she’s psychoanalyzing everyone she meets (Yes. Everyone.), baking up a storm, and attempting not to arrive late at her children’s school.

Interview with Olivia Wildenstein

Author Olivia Wildenstein
Author Olivia Wildenstein
Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your (writing) background?
Olivia Wildenstein: My family has dealt art for several generations, so I was exposed very young to magnificent works. Colorful nudes, blurry landscapes, and portraits of stuck-up or pensive-looking lords and ladies were hung up everywhere in our home. It sometimes felt as though I possessed an outlandish extended family.
As for writing, I started with poetry. I would write sonnets for Mother’s Day and Victor Hugo-style odes on Father’s day. I loved words. I adored welding them together and crafting rhymes.
Novel writing, I started much later. Six years ago to be exact. The summer I was pregnant with my first child. Two great passions were born that August.

Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
My favorite old-timey writers were Oscar Wilde and Dorothy Parker for their wit; Emile Zola and Jane Austen for their poetry; and George Orwell for his imagination.
My favorite modern writers are Nicholas Sparks, Rainbow Rowell, Natalie Babbitt (is she considered modern?), and Liane Moriarty.

"[...] there was no other job I would rather do than write."

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
My desire to be a writer flickered on and off since birth. However, in August 2009, I realized there was no other job I would rather do than write.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Oh yes. I was seven and obsessed with horses and dogs, because I hadn’t yet discovered boys :). It was about a superhero dog with a cape, magical biscuits that could make him fly, and the ability to talk. I still have the first chapter somewhere…

Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?

I write in the afternoon. My most prolific writing hours are from 4pm to 8pm. There are nearly no distractions at that time.

Please, describe your desk/workplace.
It’s white, there’s a large window that gives view onto the street, and it’s calm. It’s conducive to writing.

What do you find easiest about writing? What’s the hardest?
The easiest part about writing is that you’re completely self-sufficient. The hardest part is that, once the book is done, you can no longer remain self-sufficient.

What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The greatest joy is being able to play make-believe at thirty, and be admired for it.

Olivia, please tell us a little about your Young Adult Novel Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti.
Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti was born out of me thinking out loud. I’ve been working on a project to bring writers and sick children together to create personalized stories. And I’m not speaking about the ones where you add a name to a finished plotline. I want to create novellas tailored to an individual child’s dream. Before launching the project, I needed to explore the intricacies of working with terminally ill children, thus Duke came to me. And then Jaime…

Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti (Olivia Wildenstein)
Click to Read an Excerpt

What inspired you to write the book?
This need to understand how a child and their family would react to such a proposition. I know my characters are all imaginary, but their feelings and thoughts are very real.

Who do you see as your target audience and where can we buy the book?
My target audience is anyone above the age of 13 who possesses a beating heart.
You can buy the book on all major distribution platforms: Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo…

"[The book] has made them all cry and laugh and smile."

How would you describe the success of your book so far?
Success for me is how well a story resonates with the reader. And it has. It’s made them all cry and laugh and smile. I feel successful.

How long did it take to write the book?
It took me 3 months to write the first draft and 3 months to correct it and another month to publish it.

"[...] get the first draft out."

Can you give some advice for other Authors regarding the writing process?
Everyone will tell you this, but get the first draft out. And then prune your manuscript, rewrite your dialogue, and catch those pesky repetitions.

Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
Yes. And it’s completely different! A series with a crossover YA-NA (Young Adult/New Adult) appeal. It’s The Voice meets Gone Girl. You’ll have to follow my blog www.oliviawildenstein.com to learn more about it.

"E-books are awesome, but once you’re done reading them, they vanish in the Cloud."

Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
I don’t think bookstores will disappear—at least I hope they won’t—but I think they will have to start selling more than just books. E-books are awesome, but once you’re done reading them, they vanish in the Cloud. Which has led to buying the paperback version of all the books I adored.

What is your e-reading device of choice?
The paperwhite Kindle. It’s light and easy to use. The iPad is too bright, even on the dimmest setting. I’ve never tried anything else.

Do you write full-time or do you have a day job? When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
My day job is writing; my night job is my children! When I’m not working, I’m taxiing my children around town, baking (you can check out some of my concoctions on www.sisterbakers.com), discussing books and life with author friends, and taking care of household chores and bills (the fun stuff).

How can readers connect with you?
On Goodreads, they can find me under my name. On Facebook I run a page dedicated to reading and writing called Writers Anonymous. On Twitter—which I’m just figuring out—they can find me under  @OWildWrites.
Last but not least, they can follow my writing adventures on my personal webpage: www.oliviawildenstein.com.

Thank you very much for the Interview, Olivia.



About the Book Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti

Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti (Olivia Wildenstein)
Click to Read an Excerpt
Cora Matthews, the principal’s gloomy goth daughter, is not exactly popular Duke Meyer’s type. Still, Duke finds himself inexplicably drawn to her dark eyes and mysterious manner. She makes it clear she doesn’t return his admiration, but when a burst appendix lands Duke in the hospital, he and Cora will be forced to come together by the most unlikely intermediary: her eight-year-old brother, Jaime.

Duke learns Jaime has brain cancer and little chance of long-term survival. He admires the kid’s plucky positivity and wild imagination and offers to write a story about Jaime’s make-believe superheroes. So begins an epic tale—that of Ghostboy, Chameleon, and the Duke of Graffiti—and a deep friendship between Duke and Jaime.

Despite their outward differences, Cora and Duke bond over their affection for Jaime, but unintended betrayal and Jaime’s advancing disease threaten to derail their blossoming romance before it can truly take root.

"You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy this tale of friendship in difficult circumstances. It will appeal to readers of any age. The characters are attractive and the story keeps you turning the pages! It's a fast-paced, emotional tale which will warm your heart. [...] Highly recommended." - Reader Review



Link to the Book

Link to the Paperback Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti on Amazon

Link to the eBook Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti on Amazon


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