Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have lived in California all my life, preferring the quieter, scenic places. I love animals and nature and have spent much of my life pondering life’s big questions. My interest in birds led me to write several birding guides and my first published book, A Natural History of the Nipomo Mesa Region. As a musician and poet, I’ve performed in festivals and theater, though I always come back to writing stories. My first novel was published by Black Rose Writing and they are going to publish my second novel, too, in May 2021. Fathers of Edenville and Mothers of Pine Way are Books One & Two in my Pine Valley Series. I have already written Books Three & Four. Look for them in the years ahead! I live on the Central Coast of California, appreciating the nearness to the beach, since I now live in the suburbs. I also have a serious love for reading while enjoying a good cup of chai made with almond milk!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fathers of Edenville was my first published novel. My latest novel is Mothers of Pine Way. They are the first two books in my Pine Valley Series which is set in the fictitious small town of Edenville and follows the lives of its residents, both straight-laced and naughty, some definitely quirky!
I was inspired to write Fathers of Edenville when I had a premonition about my father’s death. I sat down to write a what-if story, what if he died, how would I react. I was surprised it was a fiction work, my first novel. Likewise, facing my mother’s aging and fearing for that loss, I wrote Mothers of Pine Way. There is a fifteen-year span of time between the two books, which bothered me. One day, though, I pulled out a chapter I wrote years ago and took off with it, happily surprised it was the sequel to my first book! Books Three and Four came easily after that.
I had so much fun writing, drawing from observations, memories of my own hometown childhood years, quirky people I’ve known, dreams, wishes, and the like. All have gone into the story. I learned a valuable lesson as a writer, that if I can’t go there, neither can my characters. Jim Hart was the most challenging character I depicted in my books. He is an emotionally disturbed alcoholic, which forced me to explore the darker areas of myself, something that actually brought me some very deep healing. I am very thankful for Jim Hart.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have purchased numerous journals and fancy little booklets to write in, but I always end up using the blank side of already printed paper that I save for recycling. I stick it in a clipboard and write away. I also have periods of insomnia and get up in the night to write. Some of my most profound and creative stuff has come out of the wee hours of the night. I keep a little black book of wisdom to do my automatic writing, in which I simply write without thinking about it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Steinbeck and the Grapes of Wrath, Harper Lee and To Kill A Mockingbird, Jane Austen, William Faulkner, Sometimes A Great Notion, Jack London, Mark Twain, Tolstoy, California and British authors, and many more, too numerous to name.
What are you working on now?
I am going through my edits on Book Three in my Pine Valley Series, Children of the Way. Book One introduces the town and its main characters. Book Two covers the years leading up to the incidents that take place in the first book. Book Three returns to the childhood years of these characters, showing their parents’ lives and delving more into the source of their difficulties.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am learning that timing is everything! I rely heavily on my publisher’s marketing guru and on sites like Awesome Gang for that extra support I need that I can pursue on my own. I also like to promote on Linkedin. I have been building connections with some really great people that way. I also joined AuthorsDen, which I actually like better than Goodreads.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Avoid talking about what you’re going to write before you’ve written it. You can take all the creative energy out of your inspiration by talking about it. It can deflate your ideas when you share with someone who is hypercritical or jealous of your creativity. When you’re working on something new and need help or guidance, seek it from those you trust (not relatives!). Trust your gut and your instincts! Be thankful for your creative gift and never take it for granted. Write, write, write. Without criticism, without editing, simply get it all down on paper! Once you tap into that creative stream, go with the flow.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I listened to Ray Bradbury speak at the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference in California many years ago. He said, if you want to write a book, write a page every day. By one year, you will have written a 365-page book. I’ve followed his advice religiously and it has never let me down.
What are you reading now?
I always juggle a few books. I’m reading Tali Nohkati by Koza Belleli, On Viney’s Mountain by Joan Donaldson. I just got Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham, which I can’t wait to start reading! I’m watching The Gilmore Girls series right now, so I”m looking forward to reading her book.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope my publisher will agree to publish Books Three and Four of my Pine Valley Series, Children of the Way and The Valley of Dreams. My fantasy is that the series will be made into a television series. Of course, I would love to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Besides books on how to survive on a deserted island, I would bring Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee, and Pilgrim of Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard, because I can never seem to get around to reading them.
Author Websites and Profiles
Corrine Ardoin Website
Corrine Ardoin Amazon Profile
Corrine Ardoin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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