Soul Mate Publishing author, Joanne Guidoccio...

Please welcome romance author, Joanne Guidoccio to my blog - welcome, Joanne! I am pleased to be a part of your tour for your latest release, THE COMING OF ARABELLA - wishing much success and sales. Let's start with my questions...

What did you want to be when you grew up?

From an early age, I loved curling up with a book and losing myself in the stories. Reading time was my favorite time of the school day. I also enjoyed visiting the bookmobile that came every other week. For most of my childhood, I was torn between careers in teaching and librarianship.

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

I start each day with a cup of Chatty Matty coffee, a delightful blend of lightly roasted and dark roasted beans. This popular blend is only one of the many certified fair trade and organic gourmet coffees available at Planet Bean, a popular roastery in Guelph.

What genre do you typically read? Why?

I have eclectic tastes and enjoy reading contemporary women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, self-help, and memoirs. While the storylines vary, reinvention is a common theme throughout many of the books I read. Also, the protagonists are usually boomer women. In short, I enjoy reading and writing boomer lit.

Share a favourite childhood memory.

Growing up, I enjoyed spending time with Nonno Antonio, my paternal grandfather. He was a voracious reader who inspired me with his love of the written word. I have fond memories of reading aloud to him and watching him nod in approval as I mastered new words.

Do you have any shameless addictions? ie. Tea, Books, Shoes, Clothes?

I love chocolate in any form – bars, cookies, pastries, drinks. To keep this addiction under control, I do not keep any chocolate in the condo. When invited out, I indulge, appreciating every single moment of the experience.

What do you think is the biggest challenge of writing a new book?

I have no problems coming up with a title, characters, and storyline. I am most challenged by actually sitting down at the computer and starting to write. Once that first chapter is complete, I can feel the momentum starting. 

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages a day?

When I’m in the flow, I aim for 1000 words a day. On good days, I reach that target by noon. 

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

When I started to write Between Land and Sea (Book 1 in The Mediterranean Trilogy), I assumed it would be a stand-alone book. Truthfully, I couldn’t imagine myself writing more than one book about mermaids. But as I reached the end of the book, I realized there were many unresolved issues and secrets. So, I came up with storylines for Books 2 and 3 - The Coming of Arabella and The Making of a Mermaid Psychic. 

The Coming of Arabella

by Joanne Guidoccio

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GENRE: Paranormal Romance

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BLURB:

On the day of her engagement party, an ex-mermaid’s life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of another mermaid—a sister she has never known. Under normal circumstances, Barbara Davies would be overjoyed, but her special day is already wrought with tension. While Barbara is not the first mermaid from the Mediterranean kingdom to settle in small town Ontario, she has yet to reveal her origins to her fiancé. So when Arabella, the gorgeous sister whose disturbing black eyes banished her to the island of Crete, saunters into her life, clutching the arm of Barbara’s discarded lover, a powder keg of emotion is released.

Relationships falter and careers stall as envy stirs in the hearts of the sisters. On the verge of meltdown after her fiancé leaves Canada for a teaching job in Vermont, Barbara flees to Arizona hoping for a reprieve. There, she finds solace at a retreat for ex-mermaids and a second chance at love with a charismatic preacher. As she contemplates a new life in the desert paradise of Sedona, shocking secrets emerge and tragedy strikes. A stronger and wiser Barbara rises up to face these new challenges and embrace the best parts of her mermaid heritage.

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EXCERPT

Arabella threw back her shoulders and gazed down at Barbara. With her heels, she was almost a head taller. “What I need is a relationship with you.”

“A relationship with me?” Barbara repeated. She had been prepared for almost any response but not that one.

“That’s right. BFFs, soul sisters, whatever you want to call those tight bonds these humans have.”

Barbara’s eyes widened. “Do you even know or understand the concept of BFF?”

“Of course, I do. A BFF is a best friend forever. You’re my twin sister. You can’t get any closer than that.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Barbara said. “You can’t order up BFFs. Friends have the same value systems and look out for each other. I can’t imagine you doing that for me.”

“Or you doing that for me,” Arabella said. “Mama’s explained all the reasons you’ve been avoiding me, and I do understand the envy and bitterness.” She shuddered. “I can’t imagine losing everything like you did. I don’t know what I would do. But that’s neither here or there. I’m a part of your life, whether you like it or not. And I’m not going anywhere. So, you better start being nice to me.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Arabella smiled and tossed her hair. “Everyone in your circle likes me. How would it look if you ignored me?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

In high school, Joanne dabbled in poetry, but it would be over three decades before she entertained the idea of writing as a career. She listened to her practical Italian side and earned degrees in mathematics and education. She experienced many fulfilling moments as she watched her students develop an appreciation (and sometimes, love) of mathematics. Later, she obtained a post-graduate diploma as a career development practitioner and put that skill set to use in the co-operative education classroom. She welcomed this opportunity to help her students experience personal growth and acquire career direction through their placements.

In 2008, she took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes paranormal romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Social Media Links

Website:  http://joanneguidoccio.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

Buy Links for THE COMING OF ARABELLA by Joanne Guidoccio

Amazon (US):   http://is.gd/DQhWmI

Amazon (Canada):  http://is.gd/JrwC1l

Amazon (UK): http://is.gd/fJ2x4E

Amazon (Australia): http://is.gd/6KovIe

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Joanne Guidoccio will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.

RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1252/

Comments?? Questions??