Today I am pleased to welcome another wonderful author from my writers’ group, eNovel Authors at Work. Florence made me jealous. When you see the view she enjoys daily from her window, you’ll know why. I wish I were her cat, actually! Florence’s acclaimed literary fiction novel, Red Clover, is currently FREE! This means she came here today, like a proper Greek bearing gifts for all. Stick around, why don’t you?
FREE! (Till June 4th)
Imagine feeling like an outsider. Now imagine feeling like an outsider in your own family.
The troubled son of a callous father and socialite mother determines his own meaning of success after learning shocking family secrets that cause him to rethink who he is and where heʼs going. In Lee Winekoop’s reinvention of himself he discovers that lifeʾs bitter circumstances can actually give rise to meaningful consequences.
GET YOUR FREE COPY NOW! (Till June 4th!)
Newlyweds Marie Marchetti and her husband Richard have the perfect life together. Or at least it seems until Marie discovers his involvement with people and activities that make her run for her life. Fate draws her to Atchison, Kansas, where she rents a coach house apartment tucked away behind a three-story Victorian home that she believes is a safe refuge and perfect place to start over. Richard isn’t about to let her go so easily and continues to seduce her into his world, yet it is the discovery of her real father and his surprising heritage that changes Marie’s life more than Richard ever could.
Twenty-four-year-old Marie Marchetti has just experienced a life-altering revelation—the identity of her real father. As she packs for her first visit with him and his family, she wonders how her life is about to change, how they will receive her, and what she will learn about her own identity. A lot happens as a result of Marie’s Thanksgiving visit, and in her search for peace and truth in her life, she quickly learns that disparate lives can converge and interact in profound and surprising ways. But ironically the most consequential outcome of her visit unexpectedly grows out of an encounter with a twelve-year-old girl named Rachael.
Things that happen to you in the past can mold you into someone you’re not.
After recovering from the shock of her parents perishing in a tragic accident, Grace Lindroth discovers clues in their attic that cause her to believe the people she called Mom and Dad her whole life may not have been her real parents. In her search for the truth, Grace encounters people whose actions cause her to be distrustful of just about everyone, making her mission that much more difficult but heightening her determination to uncover what she believes is essential for her to go on with her life.
Hi Florence and welcome to my blog!
Hello Fros, thank you for the invitation.
I should tell you, Florence, I am very impressed by your wonderful array of books. And what stunning covers!
Thank you very much.
Tell us, do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?
I believe all fictional characters fall into one of three categories to some degree: those who have traits similar to the author’s; those who have traits the author wishes he had; or those with traits the author is glad he doesn’t have. So the way I see it, the author’s fingerprints are all over their characters in one way or another.
I strive to craft believable characters with whom readers can connect. Maybe they can relate to their flaws, their morals, or their fears. Or maybe they can relate to a character because they know someone like that. I’ll admit many of my characters have a trait or two similar to my own, some of which I proudly own and some not so much. But I never do it intentionally—it just happens as the characters evolve in my head.
What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I refer to my current project as Book #5—an appropriate title will eventually come to me. It’s about a young man who, when confronted by his desperate father seeking help from him, is forced to choose between a strong familial bond and bitter childhood memories.
Gosh, I am hooked already! Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?
I really like Dennis Lehane’s ability to craft unique stories that have complexities and plot twists that keep readers turning the pages. I also like and admire Nicholas Sparks’ ability to develop touching story lines. If an author makes me cry, he’s good.
I’ve only read Mystic River by Lehane and it was riveting. I don’t often cry reading books. The one I remember vividly that made blub was P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern. It broke my heart, actually. Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?
I have two websites—one for readers and one for writers. On http://www.florenceosmundbooks.com readers will find the synopsis and first chapter of each of my books. For my latest novel Regarding Anna I include some fun photos of fans reading the book.
On this website http://www.novelelements.com I offer substantial advice and reference materials for authors—especially new and aspiring authors. There they will find ways to hone their writing skills, tips on promoting and marketing their books, self-publishing strategies, ways to build an author platform, advice on working with editors, ways to spot a scam, and much more.
That’s genius, Florence, having one for authors and one for readers. And they both sound wonderful! What do you enjoy the most as an indie author that you imagine you wouldn’t if you were traditionally published? If you had a choice would you still go indie?
When I was ready to publish my first book, self-publishing was frowned upon in the industry, and authors ran the risk of incurring a damaging stigma if they chose that method of getting published. So when I couldn’t get a traditional publisher to notice me, I was apprehensive about going the self-publishing route. But I went that route anyway, and looking back, it was a smart decision because fortunately things have changed. While there are some definite advantages to being traditionally published, I like the higher royalties and control I have over my work that comes with being self-published. If a publisher approached me today wanting to represent me and my books, I’d likely decline.
Describe your workstation. Are there any favorite objects you have there for inspiration?
I am fortunate to live in a highrise overlooking Monroe Harbor and Navy Pier on the shore of Lake Michigan. My desk sits in a bay window that allows a great view of the boats and water on one side and the Chicago skyline on the other. I find it all very inspirational.
Oh, my goodness! How do you get any writing done? And most importantly, do you have a spare couch? (*laughs*) Where do you get story ideas?
For years while I was working for large corporations in a variety of traditional positions, I thought about writing novels after retiring. Thought about it, dreamed about it—I knew that was what I wanted to do. So whenever I had an idea about a story line, an interesting scene, or compelling dialogue, I wrote it down on any scrap of paper that was handy and then dropped it into a shoebox I had tucked away in a closet. Those ‘shoebox’ ideas evolved from observing and listening to people in a variety of places—at work, on the street, on TV, in the movies, at family get-togethers, and some from my own personal experiences.
When it came time to start writing, I retrieved those hundreds of scraps of papers, categorized them, and put them into piles. When I had finished, three distinct stories had emerged. I used one for my first novel and its sequel, and the two remaining ones eventually morphed into my third and fourth books.
Again, genius springs to mind! Well done, Florence. One last question: what has been the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life the hard way?
I’m not sure if this is the hardest lesson I’ve ever learned, but it is certainly one of the most important, and that is to be true to and honest with yourself. Once you’ve learned to do that, life is so much easier.
That is the perfect advice for anyone looking to find peace inside, I am sure. Before we wrap this up, I told people I want to be your cat. Do you want to show them that picture you showed me earlier?
Sure!
Now, people, can you see my point? Luckiest cat in the whole wide world! Thank you so much for being here with us today, Florence!
Thank you for this opportunity, Fros, and I hope your readers will download Red Clover while the FREE offer lasts!
After a successful career in corporate America, three-time indieBRAG honoree Florence Osmund retired to write novels. “I like to craft stories that contain thought-provoking plots and characters with depth and complexity—particularly ones that challenge readers to survey their own values,” Osmund states.
What others are saying about Osmund’s books:
“Florence Osmund is a brilliant wordsmith who paints such a rounded picture of each character that the reader feels he is in the book with them.”
—Charles Bray, Founder of INDIETRIBE.com
Florence lives in the great city of Chicago, with her seventeen-year-old-cat Miska, where she continues to write novels.
Visit Florence’s Amazon Page
Visit Florence’s Author Website
Visit Florence’s Book Website
Email Florence at: info@florenceosmund.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/FlorenceOsmundBooks
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FlorenceOsmund
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/florenceosmund
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8800692-florence-osmund
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