Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I go by the pen name Faith St. Augustine to distinguish my nonfiction from my autofiction books. I have also published a book called Chilangos in the House: The True Story of a Mexican. My background is journalism-newspapers and magazines-and I’ve been writing stories almost all of my 49 years. I’ve also edited a few books, such as You, Were Born to Love by Gloria Coppola, and many magazines.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Divine Stupidity: Part 1 is a story about growing up, chasing men (and women), and the mad search for identity and life’s purpose. My life experiences were the main inspiration, but more than that was the desire to be better, to do better things, and to keep on the straight-and-narrow with regard to relationships, especially married men. I thought that by writing about my indiscretions and giving them a life beyond the past and outside of myself that I might learn from them. I can’t say that it worked, but it’s a work in progress.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Too many to mention. I am fortunate that after 17 years as a freelance writer I have found a full-time job that supports my writing habit. As the Manager of Marketing Communications at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, a NJ-based independent Catholic teaching hospital, I write a weekly newsletter for employees and slip in autofiction each week to an audience that seems to be hungry for human connection. I believe that creating a friendlier work environment among employees will spill over into the underserved community in this impoverished area of the state.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love old and new writers like Anais Nin, Philip Roth, Mary Karr, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sheila Heti, Frank McCourt, Haruki Murakami, Janet Fitch, Betsy Lerner, Jeanette Walls, Tina Fey, the list is endless. Recently I re-read all of Frank McCourt’s books, actually listened to the audiobooks during my commute, and the muse jolted me awake as if to say, “Wake up! It’s time to write another book!”
What are you working on now?
At the moment I am writing another piece of autofiction about my relationship with food. It’s not exactly a love story. In fact, it’s more like a horror story with lots of chase scenes, me chasing my tail around the kitchen, that is.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook. That’s where all my friends are. But I’m getting friendlier with Twitter.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors, as in people who have recently published a book, is don’t stop writing. Write something every day. Keep a journal. Keep in touch with your ideas because some of the best ones are fleeting.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard was to write what you know. I have also consistently appreciated the advice of Julia Cameron, author of The Writer’s Way, such as writing “morning pages” and going on “artist dates.” I do both whenever possible.
What are you reading now?
Speak from the Heart by Steve Adubato
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, of course, until I publish my new book about my relationship with food. I may even go the traditional route this time, as my first two books were self-published.
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?
1. White Oleander by Janet Fitch 2. Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert 3. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
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