Award-winning author Theresa Rizzo delivers a thrilling crime novel packed with suspense, romance, and redemption.
The Scarfilis and Donnatellis love deeply and protect fiercely. “Family takes care of family” is the code they live by.
So when a hacker threatens Gianna Donnatelli’s life, Dr. Joe Scarfili is determined to keep her safe, only he has no police or tech experience, and Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed. Gianna protects Joe with the same unyielding resolve.
Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons. Joe tries her patience like no other. But together they’ll fight to save each other and their love… Or die trying.
Q. What inspires your writing?
A. I’m often inspired by newspaper articles and I’m inspired by brainstorming with other authors. Writing is often just so much fun that it’s motivating in itself.
Q. What is your favorite thing about being an author?
A. In truth…I love reading my reviews and chatting with readers. It’s so much fun to see how people interpreted my work and are affected by the stories.
Q. What is the toughest part of being an author?
A. Not making money and the marketing—hands down. Readers assume that talented authors are well compensated, but the vast majority are not. It’s the entertainment industry and it’s really hard to get your quality work recognized. A little known fact is that traditionally published authors typically get 6% of the list price of their book. So of $6.99 book—on average--the author receives .41. I’ve heard it said that there’s only about 650 fiction authors worldwide who can make a living from writing, yet there are ~300-400,000 fiction books published each year. An author needs to sell a LOT of books to pay the bills.
Q. If you could not be author, what would you do/be?
A. I’d try to make a living through my tile mosaic creations or I’d get a job in business. Here are pictures of some of my tile work:https://www.facebook.com/
Q. What would the story of your life be entitled?
A. The Best Is Yet to Come. I love growing older and learning and evolving.
Q. What is your favorite book of all time?
A. I don’t have one. I LOVE the Harry Potter series. Hunger Games was brilliant. I love Lisa Klyepas, Harlan Coben, Sandra Brown, Jodi Picoult, Christine Feehan and the list goes on and on…
Q. What character from all of your books are you most like?
A. There’s a little bit of me in every character I’ve written. Through my villains I get to express the dark side of me, through my heroes and heroines, I get to be brilliant, clever, and, well… heroic. Friends have said I’m a lot like Skye in The Lives Between Us.
Q. Which of your books was the hardest for you to write?
A. I write books that tend to have a current issue to explore; so all my books require a lot of research.
The Lives Between Us is about a grief-stricken reporter who plots revenge on Michigan Sen. Hastings who opposed life-saving stem cell research and therapy. She gains access to Hastings, learning secrets that would launch her career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only, she hadn’t counted on falling in love.
That book required an enormous amount of research on stem cell research and therapy and the life of a senator, yet my new release,Silent Sentry, is a complicated romantic suspense.
I had to do a lot of research on the city of Detroit’s decades-old problems and recent bankruptcy and renovation, and the mafia—past and present day. In addition, I had to navigate the complex suspense plot. So it was really challenging keeping ahead of the reader and remembering who knew what.
Q. Which of your books was the easiest to write?
A. None are easy to write. Each book has it’s own challenge—or shall I say, I like to keep growing in my craft, so I keep challenging myself in different ways with each book. For instance, Just Destiny is about a woman who has to fight for the right to have her dead husband’s baby. It’s kind of a weird topic, but when you dig into the legalities and morals of the issue…it’s pretty interesting.
Q. When reading your books I am always moved by the strong female relationships you create, are they based on relationship experiences you have had?
A. I guess so. Every book has a lot of me in it. I write about relationships because they fascinate me with their emotions and complexities and relationships are something every person can relate to, yet they’re far from simple.
Relationships—at least in my experience—are multifaceted, dynamic, and complex. They’re never easy—at least not for long. They require work, yet they’re as necessary to people’s wellbeing as the air we breathe. Obviously that connection is more important to some people than others, but community and love are universal human needs.
Q. What is your favorite season?
A FALL. Just thinking about it makes me smile J.
Q. Are you working on something new?
A. I’m working on another suspense called, Secrets. Dr. Piper Warren moves back to Boulder Colorado for a fresh start in her marriage and her career; however she can’t get pregnant, her husband is sent to war, and her best friend’s husband becomes her patient—and then disappears. As Piper unravels the truth, she’s drawn into a secret world of vengeance that threatens not only her moral code but her very life.
Theresa Rizzo
www.theresarizzo.com
An award-winning author who writes romantic crime fiction and emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families.
"You will find true success in those efforts that captivate your heart and soul. Belief fuels passion and passion rarely fails." Unknown
An award-winning author who writes romantic crime fiction and emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families.
"You will find true success in those efforts that captivate your heart and soul. Belief fuels passion and passion rarely fails." Unknown
Thanks for hosting me and my book on your blog, Emily! Hope you're having a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the blog!!!!
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