Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In my twenties, I was working in the advertising world but was not very happy. I had always wanted to act and one day, my husband asked me what was stopping me. I was twenty seven but decided to study acting and after a few months I was cast as the lead in two local plays, After that I was hooked! We were lucky enough to move around the country and Europe with my husband’s job. Our first stop was Los Angeles where I studied and worked, then New York City. Once we had children, I put acting on the back burner. A few years later, we moved to Switzerland where I did a few plays with the English Drama Society, then taught some workshops at the International School. Once we moved back to the states, we lived in Rhode Island and I started an after school program that ended with a full length play for the middle school. In between, I wrote plays, monologues and screenplays. This is my first book!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is named GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK. It is inspired by my parent’s transcontinental love story beginning in Rome, Italy during World War Two and ending in the 50’s in Asbury Park. My sisters and I grew up with these stories of danger, desperation and love at first site. For years I romanticized the war. All through my youth, I wished for one so I could meet my Prince Charming. But as I did the research, I realized how silly I was being. Getting into the minds of the young soldiers so far away from home, facing death and destruction sometimes on a daily basis was tough. Then discovering how desperate life was for the residents of Rome helped add depth to my story.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write anywhere – Starbucks, at a park or in my home office – but sitting at a table or desk with no distractions is when I am at my best. If I’m driving I use voice dictation.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Georgia Hunter’s WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES. I loved how she wrote about her family stories. Reading this book was a turning point for me. I initially wanted to do a book of love stories from the war. But I realized it was a little bit of a cop out. This story needed more care, the detail was there. Georgia Hunter was truly an inspiration for me.
What are you working on now?
I have two stories in me right now. One is based on mental health. I grew up with a schizophrenic sister and would like to write about that. People with mental illness are so misunderstood. Most of the time people assumed it’s a weakness and those with these illnesses should be able to control themselves. Trust me, it’s not. And it’s heartbreaking for someone to be trapped in their own psychosis.
The other book is much lighter. When my children were babies, we moved to London for a year and a half and then Geneva Switzerland for four years. While the experience was definitely challenging, we travelled to many interesting places and met such characters along the way. This is a book that would write itself!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m really unsure as I just released my first book!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get caught up in your first draft. There will be many, many more! Write as freely as you can. If you worry too much about grammar and punctuation, you will never finish. That is for the editing and proofreading stage. Also, workshop it as much as you can. I was fortunate enough to find an amazing group called The Write Group in Montclair, NJ. Each Friday I would bring a chapter to read for critiques and boy did I get them! But, it only made my work better.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I thought I was done after a year of writing (my first time writing anything) and my sister said it usually takes a lot longer. I was ultimately being lazy and realized this is too important of a story to be sloppy with it. I didn’t expect it would take five more years, but I learned how to write along the way. It went from twenty five pages and very one dimensional characters to 350+ pages and sub plots and nuance. While I hated my sister for saying that, it was absolutely correct.
What are you reading now?
ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting this book! I can tell it will be a long haul, but I can do a little each day. I’ll also be writing as much as I can.
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?
It’s hard to choose. There are so many, but a few of my favorites are THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah, THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood and LITTLE BEE by Chris Cleave
Author Websites and Profiles
Luigina Vecchione Website
Luigina Vecchione Amazon Profile