Author Jemima Valentino

Jemima Valentino is an English 30-something; married to an excessively patient man with two beautiful daughters and an excitable cross-bred mutt called Eddie. She is also a writer of dark paranormal romance, BDSM erotica and modern fiction.

Jemima fell in love with reading and writing as a child but it was only in 2009 that writing became an obsession. After months of procrastination and plucking up the courage, she published 'His Elle' in January 2011 and now has a full blown desire to continue writing.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/House-Hundred-Hill-Nephilim-ebook/dp/B005ME377C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317456926&sr=8-1

Amazon.co.uk - http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Hundred-Hill-Nephilim-ebook/dp/B005ME377C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317457013&sr=8-1

Author Links:

Website - http://www.jemimavalentino.com

Blog - http://www.jemimavalentino.blogspot.com

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/JemimaValentino

Facebook Fan Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jemima-Valentino-Author/232810170090039

What is the current project you are working on?

Well, I have just released my latest book 'The House on Hundred Hill' which is available to purchase on Amazon Kindle, Smashwords and AllRomanceebooks.com. It's also soon to be available in paperback and also for nook on Barnes and Noble. I've been writing it on and off for about a year and even changed the story half way through as I wasn't at all happy with the original version. It's the first in the 'Nephilim' dark paranormal romance, erotica series and I'm just about to start writing the second one. I'd love to see how this series pans out, as I haven't got a clue at the moment! I generally write on the fly and by the seat of my pants - I wish I could be one of these authors that has a clear idea on how the story reaches the end before I start writing. I generally have an ending in mind, and then try and make the rest of it fit! I really don't have an organised mind.

What inspired you to become a writer?

I wouldn't say anything actually inspired me, it's just something that I knew I was always going to do, like you know the sun is going to come up every day. Ever since I was I was a child I've always read a lot, and was incredibly fortunate to have massively supportive parents that never censored my reading - even when they knew I was far too young for some (most) of the books in their library. I guess if anything then this inspired me, reading hundreds of awesome stories that played out in my mind. I've always been a story teller and have a dozen beginnings to a dozen books in my head at any one time. I've now started sleeping with a notepad and pen beside my bed, just in case I wake up in the night with a new idea.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

There is only one answer to this, and that's telling stories that impact my readers, even if it's just in some small way. I'm an emotionally dark writer (or so I've been told) and absolutely love it when readers post reviews of my work that say the story in some way affected them - even if the review is bad!

What is the worst thing about being one?

Writers block. I hate it. For me it manifests in total frustration when I can't get the words out, or my writing is totally awful and I have to start again. Any writer will very probably tell you the same thing. It's a disability.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be come a writer?

Read a lot and edit a lot. Get yourself a good editor, or at the very least an honest friend or three that will critique your work. Under no circumstances release anything you've written on the internet unless you are 100% sure it's as edited as it can be. Read other work in the same genre and get yourself into the blogging circuit to get to know the book bloggers who will eventually help you promote yourself. You cannot read or edit enough, and that's a promise.

What do you like to do besides writing?

I have two young daughters so I spend as much time with them as possible. I also read (a lot) and am somewhat of an entrepreneur so I have a few little businesses that keep me going asides from writing. I'm just about to start archery course too, so I have an incredibly busy life and always doing something!

Who is your favorite author?

There are a few authors that I love to read, some indie and some mainstream. I don't have a favourite as such but I love Stephen King and have also just read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins which is a favourite for me at the moment.

What are some of your favorite books?

Needful Things by Stephen King is my favourite book of all time, but I also love the Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, and books by Paulo Coelho. Some of my favourite indie books are Sweet Tooth by Philip Ellis, Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas and The Reunion by Jeff Bennington. I've read so much that sometimes it's hard to remember everything but I am absolutely sure there are more books that I've fallen in love with over the years.... oh yeah, Skallagrigg by William Horwood - that used to be a fave of mine when I was an early teen.

You could have any super power. What would it be?

Invisibility. How cool would it be to wander around naked and no-one could see you?!

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Just a thank you for hosting me on your blog as part of The House on Hundred Hill book blog tour. I really appreciate it.