Come on in and join us, Booklovers!
It's time for another Coffee Chat! Since the Midwest has skipped spring this year and gone straight to summer, I’m drinking my coffee before the day gets too hot. I hope you have your favorite beverage and are ready to talk with mystery author, Joanne Guidoccio. (Psst, she also has a giveaway. See below.)
Welcome, Joanne! How do you take your coffee?
JG: I love my Chatty Matty organic free-trade coffee black with a packet of Stevia.
Ally: Oh, you thought you'd trip up my magic pot with that one, didn't you? Not possible. While I whip up your brew, please introduce yourself to readers.
It's time for another Coffee Chat! Since the Midwest has skipped spring this year and gone straight to summer, I’m drinking my coffee before the day gets too hot. I hope you have your favorite beverage and are ready to talk with mystery author, Joanne Guidoccio. (Psst, she also has a giveaway. See below.)
Welcome, Joanne! How do you take your coffee?
JG: I love my Chatty Matty organic free-trade coffee black with a packet of Stevia.
Ally: Oh, you thought you'd trip up my magic pot with that one, didn't you? Not possible. While I whip up your brew, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.
Where to find Joanne Guidoccio:
Website: http://joanneguidoccio.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio
In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.
Where to find Joanne Guidoccio:
Website: http://joanneguidoccio.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
JG: While sitting in Sister Maris Stella’s Grade 13 English class (circa 1973), I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel. At the time, I was reading Margaret Atwood’s novels and poetry. Our teachers raved about her and encouraged us to read more Can Lit (Canadian Literature). I toyed with the idea of a fine arts degree but followed the conventional advice of the times and pursued a career in teaching. In my heart of hearts, I knew that someday I would resurrect that writing dream. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement and devoted my second act to writing.
Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?
JG: When I first started writing, I paid little attention to name selection. Whenever I introduced a new character, I would use the first name that popped into my head and then become very attached to that name. That resulted in repetition and confusion. In A Season for Killing Blondes, Book 1 in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, I used Paolo, Paula, and Pauline for three of the characters. Thankfully, one of my beta readers pointed out the repetition. Later (after publication), I noticed the same problem with Mel and Melly Grace; Jean and Jenny Marie.
With Books 2 and 3 of the series, I have been more careful with name selection. I write out all the character names beforehand and spend several days getting comfortable with them. Anything that sounds confusing or repetitive is replaced.
Ally: Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? If so, who would play the parts?
JG: I’d love to have the three books in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series--A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, A Different Kind of Reunion—made into movies.
I would want Lorraine Bracco to play the part of Gilda Greco. A long-time fan, I enjoyed watching her play Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos, a role she had to actually request. The producers had originally asked her to audition for the role of Carmela, but Lorraine felt compelled to stretch herself in the role of the psychiatrist.
Carlo Fantin – Colin Firth
Leo Mulligan – Woody Harrelson
Cassandra Coburn – Anna Kendrick
Ally: Does your real life show up in your writing?
JG: Having lived and taught in different cities throughout the province of Ontario, I felt free to “borrow” characteristics from former colleagues and students to create composite characters. While Gilda is approximately 70% me, the same can’t be said of the other characters. I would be very surprised if anyone recognized himself/herself in the novel.
Ally: Which of your books is your personal favorite?
JG: I think of my five books as my children. As I wrote each one, I felt an intense love and passion for the storyline and characters. If you had asked me during any of those writing marathons, I would have immediately answered that the current WIP was my personal favorite. In hiatus, I would have to say that A Season for Killing Blondes is the book that is dearest to me. I started the first draft during the most challenging season of my life (chemotherapy for Stage 3B breast cancer) and took another three years to edit and polish the manuscript.
Ally: Try these five short answer questions.
Ally: Who or what inspired you to write fiction?
JG: While sitting in Sister Maris Stella’s Grade 13 English class (circa 1973), I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel. At the time, I was reading Margaret Atwood’s novels and poetry. Our teachers raved about her and encouraged us to read more Can Lit (Canadian Literature). I toyed with the idea of a fine arts degree but followed the conventional advice of the times and pursued a career in teaching. In my heart of hearts, I knew that someday I would resurrect that writing dream. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement and devoted my second act to writing.
Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?
JG: When I first started writing, I paid little attention to name selection. Whenever I introduced a new character, I would use the first name that popped into my head and then become very attached to that name. That resulted in repetition and confusion. In A Season for Killing Blondes, Book 1 in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, I used Paolo, Paula, and Pauline for three of the characters. Thankfully, one of my beta readers pointed out the repetition. Later (after publication), I noticed the same problem with Mel and Melly Grace; Jean and Jenny Marie.
With Books 2 and 3 of the series, I have been more careful with name selection. I write out all the character names beforehand and spend several days getting comfortable with them. Anything that sounds confusing or repetitive is replaced.
Ally: Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? If so, who would play the parts?
JG: I’d love to have the three books in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series--A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, A Different Kind of Reunion—made into movies.
I would want Lorraine Bracco to play the part of Gilda Greco. A long-time fan, I enjoyed watching her play Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos, a role she had to actually request. The producers had originally asked her to audition for the role of Carmela, but Lorraine felt compelled to stretch herself in the role of the psychiatrist.
Carlo Fantin – Colin Firth
Leo Mulligan – Woody Harrelson
Cassandra Coburn – Anna Kendrick
Ally: Does your real life show up in your writing?
JG: Having lived and taught in different cities throughout the province of Ontario, I felt free to “borrow” characteristics from former colleagues and students to create composite characters. While Gilda is approximately 70% me, the same can’t be said of the other characters. I would be very surprised if anyone recognized himself/herself in the novel.
Ally: Which of your books is your personal favorite?
JG: I think of my five books as my children. As I wrote each one, I felt an intense love and passion for the storyline and characters. If you had asked me during any of those writing marathons, I would have immediately answered that the current WIP was my personal favorite. In hiatus, I would have to say that A Season for Killing Blondes is the book that is dearest to me. I started the first draft during the most challenging season of my life (chemotherapy for Stage 3B breast cancer) and took another three years to edit and polish the manuscript.
Ally: Try these five short answer questions.
- a. Manicure or Pedicure: Both!!
- b. Color of Nail Polish you’re currently wearing: Beau (soft pink)
- c. Non-writing Hobbies: Yoga, scrapbooking, artist dates, blogging, movies
- d. Hiking or sunbathing: Hiking
- e. A Favorite Movie: Out of Africa
A Different Kind of Reunion
Genre: Mystery
While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.
Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.
Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?
Trailer: https://youtu.be/wqiTpt2KfZA
Buy Links:
Amazon (Canada): https://is.gd/vR5Sxn
Amazon (United States): https://is.gd/lU0qw7
Kobo: https://is.gd/5MMKWF
Indigo: https://is.gd/11GpVs
Barnes & Noble: https://is.gd/ckNfhx
iTunes: https://is.gd/oPe0RD
The Wild Rose Press: https://is.gd/nQ2ZjT
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