Interview and Excerpt: The Seven Steps to Closure by Donna Joy Usher
Thanks to Donna for stopping by with a Q&A and excerpt from The Seven Steps to Closure. Please visit CLP Blog Tours for more information and a giveaway!
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?When I was about 8 I was inspired by Elyne Mitchell’s The Silver Brumby Series, to pen my own brumby novel. Unfortunately, I felt that plots were unnecessary and that character development was overrated, (I mean I was only 8), so after a few weeks of frantic scribbling I gave up.It wasn’t until about 7 years ago that I let my passion for reading steer me back to writing. However this time I attended writing courses and read books on the subject and it wasn’t long before I was hooked on the whole process.
How would you describe your books?
If I was only allowed to use one word to describe my books it would have to be - FUN. I do try and have something for everybody though: some romance, some touching moments, a lesson learnt and of course, I like to make people laugh, so you can normally expect my work to be funny.
Why was The Seven Steps to Closure a book you wanted to write?The Seven Steps to Closure started with a dream, which I used in a flashback scene, and it grew from there. The journey Tara travels in her attempt to find closure and heal her broken heart, is one that I think many women can relate to and even more can learn from. I fell in love with her, her family and her friends and I just had to tell her tale.
I love the cover! Can you tell us about that process?I spent days and days searching for the perfect picture for the cover. Finally, I stumbled across the picture of Tara trying to do up her over-stuffed suitcase. It was so symbolic of the state of her life at the beginning of the book, that I knew it was perfect. From there I did a rough design which I passed onto Derek Murphy from bookcovers.creativindie.com and he made it into the masterpiece it is.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?I can’t start writing until I have all the scenes worked out and ordered on card files. I suspect it’s a form of OCD. I get frustrated with myself though, (suspect that’s a form of schizophrenia), as I just want to leap in and start writing, but I know from experience that if I don’t do it in the proper order I will start finding excuses not to write. When I writeWhat is some of the best financial advice you would give?Always pay off your credit card on time - just kidding, (although that’s true). I have owned a couple of different businesses over the last ten years – a dental practice and a bathroom renovation and retail business, (stupid, stupid – what was I thinking?), so I actually have learnt quite a few very valuable financial lessons. The main one though that I apply to my life as a writer involves marketing. You can waste an awful lot of money on ineffective marketing. You need to identify your target market and then find a way to get your information directly to them for the minimal cost. Social marketing has opened up many free opportunities that authors can utilise to help them market their work. We have to be clever and use them in a way that is also not offensive or spam-like. Blog tours, like this, are an excellent way to reach your target audience and gain awareness.
What are your favorite genres to read?I love chicklit, fantasy and even a little horror.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?Women should be able to be happy and whole without being in a relationship, and it’s a fallacy to think otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I think a well-proportioned relationship, in which both partners’ needs are met, is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately though, if we rely on a relationship to find fulfilment we leave ourselves open to being manipulated and used, as Tara did in her first marriage. A relationship should be the icing on the caramel and white chocolate mud cake – not the cake.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?I think it’s extremely important, especially for indie authors. Before social media, self-published authors were either invisible, or forced to spend enormous amounts of money, often ineffectively, trying to raise awareness of their work. You could almost say that social media gave birth to the indie author.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?I would say work out your characters, work out your plot, and then write and write until you come to the end. Give yourself permission for your first draft to be awful, and then spend just as much time editing as you did writing.
**Excerpt**
In the end it was Elaine who cracked the Nat nut. Natalie was once again the last to arrive for dinner. When I say once again, I mean once again in recent events. I am usually the last one to arrive - although sometimes Dinah and I take it in turns. Elaine is always smack bang on time. Normally Nat is exactly 5 minutes early for everything. She says it gives her time to focus - which I guess is a handy thing when you are a lawyer. We were onto our second glass of wine when she rushed in. Her long hair, normally perfectly coiffure, was tousled and her blouse was incorrectly buttoned.'What happened to you?' I exclaimed in horror, thinking she'd been mugged on the way to the restaurant.'Problem at work, all sorted now,’ she mumbled as she took a seat.'What sort of problem?' asked Elaine suspiciously, while staring at her blouse.‘Oh you know the normal type. Big emergency,' she muttered evasively, trying to tame her hair. Finishing her unsuccessful grooming attempts, she picked up her menu, staring at it intently.'What type of emergency?' asked Dinah.'Oh big client, I had to get his divorce documents in order. Speaking of which,’ she said to me, ‘yours have been submitted. You look great by the way.''Thanks, for the compliments and the divorce papers.' I patted my hair. 'I'm finally getting the hang of doing it. You should have seen me the first time I washed it. Total disaster: I looked like a mushroom. Tristan got me a hair straightener and some anti-fizzing agent and it's all under control.'Elaine was staring at Natalie. 'Who is it?' she asked suspiciously.'Who's who?' Nat stared even more intently at her menu.'The big important client,’ Elaine persisted.'No one you would know.''I know a lot of people.’'Look can we just drop it, it's not important.''Not important? You’re late for dinner tonight, Thursday you didn't even show up for the movies.''Oh shit!' Nat looked stunned. 'I totally forgot.'Now it was my turn to look suspicious. 'If you forgot,' I asked, 'why did you send me a text the next day?'Nat squirmed in her seat.'Oh my God,' Elaine said. 'What's wrong?' I asked, looking at her in concern.‘Oh My God.’She seemed to be fine so I glanced around for a fire or some other cause for her apparent alarm.'OH MY GOD.'I intensified my search, now hunting for an axe murderer or a suicide bomber. And then I noticed Nat. She sunk guiltily into her seat as Elaine pointed a finger at her and hissed, 'You've been having sex!''Shhhhhhh,' Nat urged, flapping her hands at Elaine. 'Shut up.’'I will not shut up. I want to know with whom, and where and for how long and well, just tell me everything.’ Elaine pulled her seat in closer to the table and leaned towards Nat, eagerly awaiting the details.'You've been having sex?' I asked Natalie.She looked at me sheepishly, and then smiled.'Really?' I asked. 'Anyone we know?' She shook her head.'Any good?'She grinned. Elaine called a waiter over and ordered a bottle of bubbly. 'To celebrate,' she explained. 'Now - tell us everything.’
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Donna's tour page will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Seven Steps to Closure before December 24 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Born in Brisbane, I started my working life as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling I discovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now I drill by day and write by night.
When not doing either of those things I like spending time with my husband and two little dogs, fishing and camping, motorbike riding, traveling, drinking wine on my deck and eating chocolate. Last year I ran my first half marathon and took up paddle boarding.
I have lived in a myriad of places: Melbourne, Perth, England, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs, Sydney, Cairns and am now situated on the New South Wales Central Coast. Connect with Donna! www.donnajoyusher.com
Buy the Book! http://www.amazon.com/The-Seven-Steps-Closure-ebook/dp/B0082S1WPE
https://www.createspace.com/3881375
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22The+Seven+Steps+to+Closure%22
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?When I was about 8 I was inspired by Elyne Mitchell’s The Silver Brumby Series, to pen my own brumby novel. Unfortunately, I felt that plots were unnecessary and that character development was overrated, (I mean I was only 8), so after a few weeks of frantic scribbling I gave up.It wasn’t until about 7 years ago that I let my passion for reading steer me back to writing. However this time I attended writing courses and read books on the subject and it wasn’t long before I was hooked on the whole process.
How would you describe your books?
If I was only allowed to use one word to describe my books it would have to be - FUN. I do try and have something for everybody though: some romance, some touching moments, a lesson learnt and of course, I like to make people laugh, so you can normally expect my work to be funny.Why was The Seven Steps to Closure a book you wanted to write?The Seven Steps to Closure started with a dream, which I used in a flashback scene, and it grew from there. The journey Tara travels in her attempt to find closure and heal her broken heart, is one that I think many women can relate to and even more can learn from. I fell in love with her, her family and her friends and I just had to tell her tale.
I love the cover! Can you tell us about that process?I spent days and days searching for the perfect picture for the cover. Finally, I stumbled across the picture of Tara trying to do up her over-stuffed suitcase. It was so symbolic of the state of her life at the beginning of the book, that I knew it was perfect. From there I did a rough design which I passed onto Derek Murphy from bookcovers.creativindie.com and he made it into the masterpiece it is.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?I can’t start writing until I have all the scenes worked out and ordered on card files. I suspect it’s a form of OCD. I get frustrated with myself though, (suspect that’s a form of schizophrenia), as I just want to leap in and start writing, but I know from experience that if I don’t do it in the proper order I will start finding excuses not to write. When I writeWhat is some of the best financial advice you would give?Always pay off your credit card on time - just kidding, (although that’s true). I have owned a couple of different businesses over the last ten years – a dental practice and a bathroom renovation and retail business, (stupid, stupid – what was I thinking?), so I actually have learnt quite a few very valuable financial lessons. The main one though that I apply to my life as a writer involves marketing. You can waste an awful lot of money on ineffective marketing. You need to identify your target market and then find a way to get your information directly to them for the minimal cost. Social marketing has opened up many free opportunities that authors can utilise to help them market their work. We have to be clever and use them in a way that is also not offensive or spam-like. Blog tours, like this, are an excellent way to reach your target audience and gain awareness.
What are your favorite genres to read?I love chicklit, fantasy and even a little horror.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?Women should be able to be happy and whole without being in a relationship, and it’s a fallacy to think otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I think a well-proportioned relationship, in which both partners’ needs are met, is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately though, if we rely on a relationship to find fulfilment we leave ourselves open to being manipulated and used, as Tara did in her first marriage. A relationship should be the icing on the caramel and white chocolate mud cake – not the cake.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?I think it’s extremely important, especially for indie authors. Before social media, self-published authors were either invisible, or forced to spend enormous amounts of money, often ineffectively, trying to raise awareness of their work. You could almost say that social media gave birth to the indie author.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?I would say work out your characters, work out your plot, and then write and write until you come to the end. Give yourself permission for your first draft to be awful, and then spend just as much time editing as you did writing.
**Excerpt**
In the end it was Elaine who cracked the Nat nut. Natalie was once again the last to arrive for dinner. When I say once again, I mean once again in recent events. I am usually the last one to arrive - although sometimes Dinah and I take it in turns. Elaine is always smack bang on time. Normally Nat is exactly 5 minutes early for everything. She says it gives her time to focus - which I guess is a handy thing when you are a lawyer. We were onto our second glass of wine when she rushed in. Her long hair, normally perfectly coiffure, was tousled and her blouse was incorrectly buttoned.'What happened to you?' I exclaimed in horror, thinking she'd been mugged on the way to the restaurant.'Problem at work, all sorted now,’ she mumbled as she took a seat.'What sort of problem?' asked Elaine suspiciously, while staring at her blouse.‘Oh you know the normal type. Big emergency,' she muttered evasively, trying to tame her hair. Finishing her unsuccessful grooming attempts, she picked up her menu, staring at it intently.'What type of emergency?' asked Dinah.'Oh big client, I had to get his divorce documents in order. Speaking of which,’ she said to me, ‘yours have been submitted. You look great by the way.''Thanks, for the compliments and the divorce papers.' I patted my hair. 'I'm finally getting the hang of doing it. You should have seen me the first time I washed it. Total disaster: I looked like a mushroom. Tristan got me a hair straightener and some anti-fizzing agent and it's all under control.'Elaine was staring at Natalie. 'Who is it?' she asked suspiciously.'Who's who?' Nat stared even more intently at her menu.'The big important client,’ Elaine persisted.'No one you would know.''I know a lot of people.’'Look can we just drop it, it's not important.''Not important? You’re late for dinner tonight, Thursday you didn't even show up for the movies.''Oh shit!' Nat looked stunned. 'I totally forgot.'Now it was my turn to look suspicious. 'If you forgot,' I asked, 'why did you send me a text the next day?'Nat squirmed in her seat.'Oh my God,' Elaine said. 'What's wrong?' I asked, looking at her in concern.‘Oh My God.’She seemed to be fine so I glanced around for a fire or some other cause for her apparent alarm.'OH MY GOD.'I intensified my search, now hunting for an axe murderer or a suicide bomber. And then I noticed Nat. She sunk guiltily into her seat as Elaine pointed a finger at her and hissed, 'You've been having sex!''Shhhhhhh,' Nat urged, flapping her hands at Elaine. 'Shut up.’'I will not shut up. I want to know with whom, and where and for how long and well, just tell me everything.’ Elaine pulled her seat in closer to the table and leaned towards Nat, eagerly awaiting the details.'You've been having sex?' I asked Natalie.She looked at me sheepishly, and then smiled.'Really?' I asked. 'Anyone we know?' She shook her head.'Any good?'She grinned. Elaine called a waiter over and ordered a bottle of bubbly. 'To celebrate,' she explained. 'Now - tell us everything.’**Everyone who leaves a comment on Donna's tour page will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Seven Steps to Closure before December 24 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Born in Brisbane, I started my working life as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling I discovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now I drill by day and write by night.
When not doing either of those things I like spending time with my husband and two little dogs, fishing and camping, motorbike riding, traveling, drinking wine on my deck and eating chocolate. Last year I ran my first half marathon and took up paddle boarding.
I have lived in a myriad of places: Melbourne, Perth, England, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs, Sydney, Cairns and am now situated on the New South Wales Central Coast. Connect with Donna! www.donnajoyusher.com
Buy the Book! http://www.amazon.com/The-Seven-Steps-Closure-ebook/dp/B0082S1WPE
https://www.createspace.com/3881375
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22The+Seven+Steps+to+Closure%22
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