Check out this author spotlight for Stefanie Nici!
You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
Hello! My name is Stefanie Nici and I have been writing since childhood. While other kids dreamed about becoming a movie star, a fireman, etc. I longed to become a writer (and yes, sometimes a movie star too). The dream became a real-life possibility once I learned about self–publishing, as that left me with no excuses anymore.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 (or more!) of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Winter, spring, summer or autumn?
While I enjoy all the seasons for different reasons, I love the breezy, sometimes chilly, sweater weather of Autumn. For me, there is a stir of magic in the air as the leaves begin to change color, the amazing autumn equinox takes place, and it is Halloween season. Anyone can dress up in costume if they like, listen to scary stories, and everything is pumpkin flavored!
Cat or dog?
I love the beauty and independence of cats, but a dog will play catch.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee in the morning, tea after that.
Morning or evening?
Lately I have been an early bird. So early, it is still dark outside.
Library or museums?
A library for the books, a museum for the art and culture.
Mountains or beaches?
I live in New York, so I have access to both. Hudson Valley has beautiful mountain views along the Hudson River. Your imagination can really run wild wondering what lies within them. Then we have the hazy, lazy beach days on Long Island to get some sun and read a book. It feels like being on vacation.
Plotter or pantser?
Panster. I fly by the seat of my pants!
Pen and paper or computer/phone?
It took a while to get comfortable understanding writing wasn’t just pen and paper, so now my laptop and phone are my new best friends.
Standalone or series?
Standalone for books. Series for television. I look forward to the brilliant writing that connects episodes together, along with watching the actors play those returning characters with troublesome lives.
Book or ebook?
There is nothing like the feel of a book in hand, shopping for them, and bringing them home to place on the shelf. Some covers give inspiration, they can also make me feel happy, sad, or simply look like art.
Hero or anti-hero?
Depending on the character – anti-hero.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
Second chances with love, family, or with themselves are my favorites.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I write Contemporary Women’s Fiction, stories about the trouble life can throw our way. While that genre may sound like it is for women readers only, I am thrilled to see reviews from male readers as well.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
My second book, The Smoke Tree: Broken Branches is a follow up to my first book, The Smoke Tree. I wrote it as a stand-alone for those who may not have read the first book yet. It tells the story of Tora, who is now estranged from her husband and on the road to happiness. But her road is bumpy and filled with detours. She may never get to her desired destination.
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
Real life inspiration for me goes back to when I was an only child. My mother was always reading so we always had books and magazines to keep me busy. I watched a lot of television which may seem mindless, but for me it was the opposite. It taught me the science and patterns of storytelling from a visual standpoint. I plan to create a television series or movie one day. I also must credit my dolls – as funny as that may seem. I feel they played the biggest part in exercising my imagination. I would create scenes, plot, and dialogue off the top of my head. My primary source of inspiration now is that I read to get into writing mode; I watch television for visual stimulation; and music, while I use that less, can evoke the emotion that may be needed for a scene I am writing.
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
Time-wise, I am on a new routine. I get up at 5 a.m. have coffee, catch up with social media and then begin my writing. When I need a break, I make breakfast, do some exercise, clean, while keeping the story and the characters in my mind.
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
The one piece of advice I would give is this: Don’t just dream about becoming an author, make it happen!
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
Thanks for asking! You can find me here:
https://www.facebook.com/stefanieniciwriter/
http://Www.instagram.com/stefanienici
https://Www.twitter.com/nicistefanie
https://youtube.com/channel/UCbm62_USgVnFPjKzjWtcLOA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YF7N1DH
https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Tree-Broken-Branches-ebook/dp/B08QSMY8S3
