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Brenda Novak interview– winner announced! #HanoverHouse #MFRWorg
Robin Dricoll email me, please so Brenda can send *your copy of HANOVER HOUSE to you girl!!!!! Thank you for commenting. Congrats on getting picked by Random.org!
*Robin has 48 hours to contact me before I choose another winner. Thank you all for visiting, and a special thank you to Brenda!! š
Osiyo~
Iām thrilled beyond belief, truly, to be able to welcome one of my favorite-of-all-times authors to the Ranch today! Have you ever read the “Perfect”suspense trilogy? In case that hint isn’t enough, Iāll shout share whoā¦
Please welcome the lovely and uber-talented bestselling author and all around wonderful woman, MS. BRENDA NOVAK to the Round Pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oy. Was that as loud as it sounded in my head? I think I spooked Sonny and Apple. Sorry, my horse darlins. Now to get the Chihuahuas to shush so I can think. š
So, a couple of weeks ago I happened across a Twitter notice in my email that Brenda Novak was following me. What? My favorite writer, Brenda Novak? Me? Doubting Thomasina that I am, I checked and, sure enough, it really was her. Did I mention Iām a HUGE fan? š
Iāve admired her writingāand live vicariously through her as a suspense writer (since I canāt write the genre to save my life, and she does it so splendidly)āfor a very long time. After fangirl faded, I turned strictly Ranch owner (well, maybe still a little fangirlish) and invited Brenda to join me in the Round Pen and she graciously agreed. What a wonderful treat, I tell ya, folks! Iām all fangirl again here. Sheās sharing her newest release, the one I just grabbed, here today with all of you, too! Iāll let her tell you all about HANOVER HOUSE as part of our visit today. (For convenienceās sake, I hyperlinked her name above directly to this book for you to check out, along with all her other books. Youāll be glad you did, I promise. š )
We tried to keep this short, but Brenda agreed to let me interview her, and I came up with some things to ask her about.
So, Brenda, you are a NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author multiple times over, with many, many books in various genres; historical, contemporary and, my favorite, your suspense. First off, congratulations on your exciting achievements. Butā
1) When you first realized you were a successāsomething we all dream of, but are secretly afraid might actually happenāhow did you handle it in the beginning and move forward?
I donāt think thereās ever been a point where Iāve decided Iām a success. Like most people, once I hit one goal, another one appears right behind it, so my career is more of a journey than a destination. Thatās why I think itās so imperative to enjoy the process. Success to me isnāt necessarily hitting the big lists (although thatās always nice!). Itās turning out work Iām proud ofāand having my readers be excited about each new story.
I think all authors need your perspective. Thatās a great way to look at success!
2) Not all books are easy to write. Some stories are what one author refers to as pineapple babiesāthey hurt coming out. Which of your works or genre gave you the most difficult time, either with the writing or editing, and how did you get through it?
The most difficult book Iāve ever written was probably A BABY OF HER OWN. I was still a relatively new writer and, when I finished the story, I could tell something was wrong with it, but I wasnāt experienced enough to identify what needed to be changed. I turned it in, hoping for the best. Iāll never forget meeting with my editor at the RWA conference (which was coming up). She told me that I had a subplot in the book that was warring with the main story–and overtaking it. Fortunately, she was so kind about the way she shared this news that it didnāt crush my confidence. As I flew home, I was trying to figure out how to solve the problem. Taking out that subplot would mean losing 25% – 30% of the book. I wasnāt eager to do that. In the end, I knew that was the right path, however. I made myself remove that subplot, focused on the main story and finished that book. Then I used the subplot to start a new story that was related to the first. So that mistake actually spawned my first series! If I hadnāt screwed up in that way, and if my editor hadnāt been sharp enough to catch it, I probably never wouldāve written the Dundee series. I wouldāve continued writing stand-alone novels. As you can imagine, Iām now very happy that I had to go through that exercise! The Dundee books are some of my readersā favorites.
How awesome for you to get an editor to walk you through that at such an early stage of your career.
3) I keep Dr. Pepper (or coffee) at hand, and chocolate when times get rough, listen to music and I have a little stuffed Captain Jack Sparrow doll that cheers me on in that swooningly sexy voice only Johnny Depp can masterā¦ok, maybe thatās just in my head. What is your go-to āthingā while writing, if anything?
I donāt keep anything on hand (other than some trail mix since I donāt like to interrupt my work to eat), but there are certain things I do to kick-start my muse, or to remind me of how much I love what I do. Usually, if I want to be inspired, I listen to the soundtrack for LES MIS or PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Or I watch LAST OF THE MOHICANS. Thereās just something about those works that really get my imagination going. Also, reading a really good book will get me excited to create again.
While writing my current release I was forced (by my heroine) to listen to an Opera CD while working. Apparently Viv liked Opera. Who knew? š
4) Where do you draw from for the intensely deep, emotional impact your books all seem to be packed with?
Iām not sure where that comes from, to be honest. I think Iāve always been a student of human behavior, so I have a pretty good grasp on human motivation. That definitely helps. And I tend to like big, dramatic books, movies and music. I think those preferences just bleed into my work. (And thank you for the compliment. I want my books to resonate emotionally, so this is really great to hear. :))
They definitely resonate with me, so youāre welcome!
5) Since I began writing I hear that we should celebrate each finished manuscript, each sale, etc. What do you do to celebrate new accomplishments? Following that, what do you do for fun when not working on a book?
I donāt really do anything to celebrate. I think Iāve been in the business too long to worry about those rewards! LOL Finishing seems to be reward enough. I do love the relief, the letdown of the pressure, however. When I finish a book, especially if Iām really proud of it, I feel as if Iām walking on air for the next couple of weeks. That emotional high is a wonderful thing! As far as what I do for fun, I love to travel, read, shop, play volleyball, ride bikes and just hang out with my adult kids.
*Sigh* I still grab cheesecake and wine to pat my own back. LOL
6) I love that youāre not just a writer, but an advocate of a great cause. Can you tell us about the juvenile diabetes auction you created, why you did it and how/where can we get involved in the cure for this awful disease?
My youngest son has Type 1. He was diagnosed at just five years old. Iāll never forget hearing the list of side-effects he will likely suffer in his lifetime. That made me want to fight back, to do everything possible to protect my child. So I started Brenda Novakās Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research, which I ran for ten years. Then, a year ago, I shut down the auction and changed up my fundraising efforts by procuring a digital boxed set containing stories from some of todayās most popular authors, which I sold to raise money. So far, with everything combined, Iāve managed to raise $2.5 million (thanks to the generosity of all those who have been so good to support me), and I hope to keep adding to that total. Keep an eye on my website for next yearās boxed set! Anyone whoād like to get involved or learn more can visit www.brendanovakforthecure.org.
I can only imagine the heartbreak of learning your little one is ill, and those are both extremely wonderful causes youāve created. $2.5 million? That is incredible, and amazing to hear of the generosity of others. I hope putting this out will help bring that number up even more for juvenile diabetes research.
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Now for a sneak peek at Hanover House and the eerie cover, which I love!
Welcome to Hanover House…
Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has established a research facility in remote Alaska where she studies serial killers. Sheās determined to solve the mysteries of the psychopathic mind. But dealing with so many twisted killers means she has to be careful. Terrible things could happen if only one thing goes wrongā¦
Here’s an excerpt:
To hide the fear that slithered, snake-like, just below her skin, making the hair on her arms stand up, Evelyn paced across one end of the small, concrete cell, pretending to be absorbed in her notes. Itād taken a few days, but she was back at San Quentin, and they were bringing Hugo Evanski to meet with her. Only this time she was prepared for anything he might doāand so were they. The warden had told her Evanski would be escorted by two correctional officers instead of one, and he wouldnāt be allowed to get out of control again.
When he didnāt appear as soon as sheād expected, however, she set her notes aside and leaned on the desk to haul in a deep breath. Sheād only been released from the hospital two days ago, still had a bandage covering her stitches and a black eye to show for that earlier incidentāembarrassing proof that sheād allowed herself to be hurt by someone sheād known was dangerous. There was no excuse for that, especially because her detractors wouldnāt hesitate to use what Hugo had done to undermine her efforts, if word ever got out. She had to be careful about what showed up in the press, couldnāt allow Hugo Evanski to jeopardize a program that was still in its infancy and needed time and support in order to grow.
A clang signaled sheād soon have company. She snatched up her notepad so that no one would be able to tell that her hands were shaking. Although she told herself the same thing wouldnāt happen twice, no amount of self-talk could overcome the emotional response that welled up whenever the slightest sound, smell or other trigger reminded her of what Jasper Moore had done twenty years ago. And Hugoās attack definitely reminded her of Jasper. Just about any violence did.
She watched as the heavy metal door slid open and two hulk-like correctional officers walked their charge into the room. They tried to seat him in the steel chair bolted to the floor, probably so that he couldnāt launch himself at her again, and, when he stiffened instead of bending, forced him into it.
āSit your ass down,ā one of the guards growled.
Hugo gave his chains a rebellious jerk but eventually complied, lifting his nose in the air and smiling at her as if he was too preoccupied with and delighted by what heād done to her face to be bothered by correctional officers who were determined to show him they were in charge. āLooks like youāve had an accident,ā he said to her.
She fingered the tender spot near her temple. āItās nothing. Someone of your reputation…I wouldāve expected you to be able to do a lot more than simply knock me into a table.ā
When the two officers on either side of him barked out a laugh, obviously surprised by her response, the smile disappeared from Hugoās clean-shaven face. āMaybe it wonāt go quite so well for you the next time.ā
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Ā Hanover House- http://brendanovak.com/books/posts/hanover-house/
You are an inspiration to so many with your fundraising and your writing. Iāll definitely check out the link and the boxed set! Thank you so much for hanging out on the. I hope youāll visit again.
Welcome visitors. Leave a comment to Brenda for the chance to win an ecopy of Brendaās Hanover House only here on the Ranch!! š
Dodadagohvi~