Indie Author Interview: Christine Nolfi

Today's Interview is with Indie Author Christine Nolfi, Author of the Fiction Book 'Treasure Me'.

Interview with Christine Nolfi 

Alan Kealey (Indie Author News): What is your writing background?

Christine Nolfi: I owned a small public relations company in Northeast Ohio and have written professionally for thirty years.

Christine, tell us about your debut novel, Treasure Me.

Treasure Me is the only novel I’ve ever written that simply arose from my subconscious. I awoke one morning with a very amusing image of a young woman—a thief—dangling from a window trying to escape from the man whose pocket she’d picked. I’d already written the first draft of Second Chance Grill and knew this new book would also take place in the small town of Liberty. So the supporting cast was immediately in place: the town’s feisty matriarch, Theodora, who carries a Blackberry and a pistol; her nemesis, the fluttery Ethel Lynn, and all of the other characters who are an integral part of the town’s only restaurant, The Second Chance Grill.

Who do you see as your target audience?

Women who enjoy fast-paced plots and sassy characters. Think of the movies Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman.

Are you working on another book project?

I’ll release the next book in the series, Second Chance Grill, in March 2012. Prior to that, I’ll release a darker, stand-alone novel, The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge.

How would you describe the success of your book?

Treasure Me enjoys 4- and 5-star reviews on Amazon and GoodReads. Publishers Weekly gave a positive review when the book was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, and I’ve just begun entering the work in national contests. The Amazon Prime promotion is certainly working—the eBook has enjoyed thousands of downloads in the last two weeks.

Where did you publish your book?
I’ve used CreateSpace for both Treasure Me and my February release, The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge. I plan to use them for all my releases.

Believe in yourself.

Can you give tips to other Indie Authors regarding writing and the self-publishing process?

Digital publishing offers a marvelous opportunity for talented authors—especially authors who don’t easily fit into a traditional genre—to reach the reading public. A division of Penguin considered bringing Treasure Me and the upcoming Liberty books out in hardcover. Earlier, Random House was interested in Second Chance Grill.

In both instances, the editors were flummoxed. Were the books romance, mystery or women’s fiction? The prose is close to literary, with cozy mystery elements and snappy dialogue thrown into the mix. Given the financial investment a publishing house makes releasing a debut novelist, it’s understandable why both editors were hesitant to offer a contract. They weren’t sure, exactly, how to promote my novels.

If you’re a writer considering the Indie route, here’s my advice: Believe in yourself. The world is made all the more beautiful by literature’s wide variety of voices. Find critique partners you can trust to help you nurture your distinctive brand of fiction. When you write that first draft, turn off your internal editor—it’s more important to get your ideas down on paper. Later, revise. And revise. And revise until you’ve polished your manuscript to a diamond-bright brilliance.

If possible, hire a competent graphic designer for your cover art. Build a social media platform, and personally connect with every reader who is kind enough to tweet your novel or send a private note. Join writer’s groups and never feel bashful about asking questions. I’m always happy to help—if you’d prefer not to leave comments on my blog, you can reach me privately at christinenolfi@gmail.com

Do you write full-time or do you have a day job? 

I write full-time, usually six days a week. 

How can readers connect with you? 
I offer tips on the publishing process and my personal journey on my blog. 

[See links at the end of this blog-post] 

Thank you so much for the Interview, Christine. Good Luck with your future book projects.

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About the Book Treasure Me (Christine Nolfi's first Novel)

Petty thief Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart.

The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that an investigative reporter who has arrived in town will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie begins to discover a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.

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Link to Christine Nolfi's (new) Website

Link to Christine Nolfi's Blog

Connect to Christine Nolfi via Twitter: @christinenolfi

Link to the Book on Amazon (with excerpt of the book - read the first three Chapters)

 

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