VBT Pit Stop Hanging at the Max's Bar & Giveaway with Andrea DiGiglio - Finding Alice

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today at Max’s Bar in Hell, Michigan. I can tell we're going to get along just great ;).

Andrea was born and raised in Michigan, she still resided there
with her son. Andrea has always been a writer at heart. Over
the last decade she has written, starred and directed in many
screenplays. She recently in the last few years decided to
venture in writing novels. She hasn’t looked back since, giving
it her full attention. She is very excited to share the wonderful
words she creates, with the world. 

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...


Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. I was brought up to do the right the thing, say what you mean and do what you say and that love is one of the greatest gifts of all. For over a decade I have worked at the family business but at heart I’m a writer and an actress all the way. It’s not really a surprise my mother is an artist and my father a musician. The day job puts food on the table for us all but our hearts reach for the world of arts each with our own muse. When I’m not writing or working with the family I spend most of my time with my toddler Aiden. That is a true gift.


BK: Please tell us a little about your book....


Alice is a feisty runaway who chooses to start her life over. What happens when you start your life over? Complications arise; love, destiny and everything in between come crashing down on Alice. I believe the blurb is the best way to describe the book. 


Cursed with an intense version of empathy Alice runs from a wasted life to start a new one somewhere no one will know her; Hell, Michigan. Alice works at a hole-in-the-wall bar in the middle of nowhere mostly keeping to herself to avoid the overwhelming emotions of those around her. Alice allows her best friend to convince her into taking a few college classes without realizing it would drastically change her life forever. From her first day of class she was hooked on him; his scent, his eyes, the way he talked to her inside her head. 


Throughout her struggles she learns about true love, true pain and the truth of her own heritage. Alice must quickly find out who she is because after all everyone else is out to find her. With Angels and Bounty Hunter’s in constant pursuit she finds protection within a group of Fallen Angels. These Fallen Angels vow to do anything to protect her; for it is their belief she will save their kind and all of mankind.


BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?


I love everything paranormal. For the last decade I had been writing primarily screenplays some of which have been produced into films. When I had my son I wanted to be with him as much as I could and filming wasn’t going to allow me the sort of time I felt he deserved. I am a creative being by nature and needed an outlet. Writing and storytelling has always come naturally to me so writing a novel was an obvious choice for me. This particular story, it just happened.


BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?


The child in me is screaming 4th grade. I used to carry around one of those composition notebooks and it held all my best stories in one and the other was my book Marina’s Mallrat. The adult in me would say around eighteen, that is when I truly took it seriously.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?


I write on many sheets of paper and create a timeline of events and sticky tack it to my wall. That way I know what I covered, what I didn’t and when I need to touch back on something I can see it right in front of me.


BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?


All of the time! It is one of the most evil things I have encountered. First I take a break and walk away, no need to work yourself up about nothing. If when I return to it I can’t seem to get un-stuck I usually talk to one of my beta testers or writers in my writers group. Bounce ideas off of them; let them read where I am to see if they can catch what is making me stuck. Usually that works for me, on occasion it doesn’t. In that case I take a break for a few days and try not to think about it. Sometimes you just get burnt out and your characters don’t want to help. 


BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?


I make a cup of coffee and turn my writing playlist up before I even start. I spend a lot of time with my eyes closed as crazy as that sounds. I sit back and envision the story on the back of my eyelids like a movie. On rare occasions I will use my dragon speak software so I can speak what I want but I normally use it during revisions only. When I know where I’m going or get some serious fuel my eyes snap open and I look like a mad genius punching away at my keyboard all while bobbing or swaying my head to my music. 

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?


I would love to make a career out of writing books. I enjoy storytelling to extreme levels and hope that in the future I can focus solely on that. We all hope our work touches the readers that clutch onto them. 


BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?


You and the hard questions! The strength that Alice has was the most important thing to the story. I hope that the story is enjoyed and that the reader can live through her eyes and feel her strength and bravery and maybe take that into their own lives. 


BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?


Art is subjective. You do what makes you happy, some will love it and others will hate it. Just remember do what you love and people will feel the passion, It will reach out to them like invisible tentacles.- 


It’s hard to hear when someone says they disliked your work but this reminds me to shake it off and keep on trucking along.


BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?


No matter what else is on your plate keep writing, anything. Write what you love, if you are passionate about the work it will show through and people will relate to it. 


BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?


I am currently working on the sequel for Finding Alice, Alice’s Sacrifice (The Alice Clark Series, #2) I am also working on another paranormal book currently untitled with author Jessica Gibson. These two are the front runners of projects I have stuffed in my closet. 


BK: Where can readers find you? 


Anywhere! *evil laugh* 
Blog: http://andrea-digiglio.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @andreadigiglio 
Facebook Author: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrea-DiGiglio/158314532770
Goodreads Author pg: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298949.Andrea_DiGiglio
website www.andreadigiglio.com

Alice is cursed with an intense version of empathy; she runs from a wasted life to start a new one somewhere no one will know her, Hell, Michigan. Alice works at a hole-in-the-wall bar in the middle of nowhere mostly keeping to herself to avoid the overwhelming emotions of those around her. Alice allows her best friend to convince her into taking a few college classes without realizing it would drastically change her life forever. From her first day of class she was hooked on him; his scent, his eyes, the way he talked to her inside her head. 

Throughout her struggles she learns about true love, true pain and the truth of her own heritage. Alice must quickly find out who she is because after all everyone else is out to find her. With Angels and Bounty Hunter’s in constant pursuit she finds protection within a group of Fallen Angels. These Fallen Angels vow to do anything to protect her; for it is their belief she will save their kind and all of mankind. 



Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

Giveaways:  

Finding Alice officially releases February 19, but you can win 1 Ebook for kindle or B&N/pubit. Fill out the Rafflecopter below. Contest ends Feb. 16 at Midnight and winner will be announced here on the blog February 17. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway