Welcome Venita! Thank you
for taking this time to give us an interview.
It’s my
pleasure.
Can you tell us a bit about who you are and where you’re from?
I was born and
raised in Southern California. For the past thirty years I have
been living in the Santa Clarita Valley, but I haven’t decided
if I like it or not. Not sure if I know who I am, but I’ve
pretty much weeded out who I’m not.
What made you
interested in becoming a writer?
I guess you
could say I’ve been writing in my head all my life. About seven
years ago, I woke up one morning with an idea. I couldn’t get
rid of it, so I sat down at my computer to drain my brain. I
became obsessed and didn’t quit writing for nine months. I gave
birth to a mystery-suspense novel. It was painful too. I was
afraid I had permanently damaged the nerves of my gluteus
maximus.
Who is your
favorite writer?
Gosh, that’s a
tough one, so many have influenced me. I loved Jack London when
I was younger, still do. I was hypnotized by his stories of men
and animals surviving the elements, or not.
When my third
grade teacher played the audio version of Edgar Alan Poe’s,
Telltale Heart, I never forgot the delightful apprehension
it filled me with. In my early adult years, I loved the suspense
and heart-pounding reaction that Stephen King could produce in
me. I so admired their ability to terrify.
Humor is a big
part of who I am. I loved how easily Erma Bombeck could make me
laugh. Another humorist that was always able to tickle my fancy
is, Robert Fulghum, author of, All I
Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.
You
have a blog site called Just for
Laughs, which I would recommend to anyone that needs
a good laugh. Where did you get your sense of humor? Are these
just things you think of off the top of your head?
I
have to attribute my humor to growing up in a crazy family. I
was the self-appointed comic relief, sort of like a rodeo clown.
I was happy if I could take the focus off the mad bull in the
living room. Or was it an elephant? My goal was to get someone
to double over with laughter. I don’t know if you can learn
humor, or you just have to know where to find it. I get ideas
for my blogs from news stories, (I pray that a talk show host
will make a slip of the tongue and give a totally different
meaning to a story). Sometimes I hear silly comments while I’m
standing in line at the theatre or simply looking for the
absurdities in life. They’re out there…you just have to listen
and watch. Trouble is, often I feel pressured to find something
funny to blog about. Sometimes I wish I had a funny icon on my
toolbar so I could just click and type.
You had a book that
was just released from Vintage Romance Publishing called Dead
on the Money, which picks up where Initials for Murder
left off. Do you plan on adding another sequel?
No,
I don’t want Tom and Olivia to overstay their welcome. I did get
attached to them though. I always miss my characters when I have
finished a story. When you spend that much time with them they
become like family. Kind of scary, huh?
Your book Mixed Nuts is considered a comedy, but your
book Dead on the Money is a mystery, and In the Rough
is action-adventure. What made you decide to go from comedy to
mystery?
I
don’t remember making that decision. I just get ideas and they
don’t all necessarily fit into the same genre. There are
controversial opinions about crossing genre’s. It sort of
reminds me of Harold Ramus, warning the parapsychologists not
to cross the laser beams in, Ghostbusters. It’s a bad
thing. However, in the end it was encouraged. I realize this has
nothing to do with your question, but this is how my mind works,
like a hummingbird on crack.
When it comes to
genre, do you plan on sticking with comedy and mystery or is
there another genre you are interested in pursuing?
Forbidden
Publications will be releasing, In Mysterious Ways, in
electronic format very soon. It’s a paranormal story of the
effects a crop circle has on six people’s lives. Oops, I’ve
crossed the beams again.
What genre do you
find is easier for you to write about?
I
don’t think any of them are easy. I used to think that writing
Vintage would be easy because life seemed so much simpler sixty
years ago. Not true. If you want your story to be believable,
you better have your facts straight.
Can you tell us
something about the next book you are writing?
Well,
it’s back to humor. It’s about an amateur screenplay writer who
defeats unbeatable odds in order to get her manuscript into the
right hands.
Can you tell us how you go about finding your characters for
your books?
Sometimes I am
inspired by characters in a movie, or by a friend. There are
personalities all around us. All we have to do is pay attention.
Of course, most of my characters are some aspect of me. Maybe
it’s a yearning to complete or correct something inside myself
through one of my characters.
Do you do
researching for your books and if so, what types of researching
do you do?
The
Internet is a wonderful research tool, it’s like having a
library in your home. I do have quite a few writer’s reference
books strewn across my kitchen table. Murder and Mayhem, Deadly
Doses, Death in Paradise, to name a few. Hmm, maybe that’s why
my friends don’t want to stay for dinner.
When you write your books do you have a message that you want to
send?
Yes,
I guess I do that without actually planning it out. Stuff like,
don’t judge a book by its cover, be careful what you ask for.
Every action has a consequence…etc.
Beside just working full time and being a published writer, you
are also the Membership Chair person for the California Writers
Club, in San Fernando Valley. Can you tell us what California
Writers Club is all about?
CWC
was founded by Jack London in 1909.
California Writers is a club
for, by and of writers – across all genres and level of skill.
We educate, we learn, we grow, we support each other. We book
informative guest speakers, have entertaining socials,
networking mixers, critique groups, publication opportunities,
we offer exciting special events - and offer the chance to
showcase talent.
If you could give new writers out there one bit of advice what
would it be?
Please,
please, please, don’t let anyone discourage you. If you want to
write, do it! Enter contests, there are hundreds. Join a
critique group. Allow seasoned writers help you to make your
writing the best it can be. Most of all, never give up. When you
have enough rejection letters to paper a wall, consider yourself
a professional. A dear friend wrote me a note that says: Use
the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if
no birds sang except the best. It’s been on my refrigerator
for almost ten years.
Do you have anything you would like to share with your readers?
Sure. Please let
me know if ever I bring a smile to your face. Life is tough, and
if I can take your mind off that for just a little while, I’m a
happy writer.
Thank you so much for your time, Venita and best wishes on your
new release. It was a pleasure hearing about your writing
experience.
No, thank you!
You can visit Venita Louise
online at
www.venitalouise.net
.
Venita has donated a free
autograph copy of her newest release Dead on the Money in
fall contest.
Click here
to learn more
Interviewed by Patty Foltz
The Authors Lounge
