Interview with Paula Dombrowiak

Published 2020-07-22.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love being able to create a character and watch him/her develop. I have an idea at first and as the story develops, so does the character and it may not be my original intent. I let the character speak for itself and that is just a really cool part of writing for me.
What is your writing process?
I find inspiration for a story usually by listening to music. It conjures up a certain feeling and then the story develops in my head. I don't use outlines or story boards because I like to just start writing and see where it takes me. I call it layering because I start off with a very rough first draft and then I go back over it with more detail or adding in scenes and I keep doing that until I have it to where it's almost final. I might have an idea of what I want a character to be like but usually it never ends how I started. The characters sort of speak for themselves and develop as I write the story. It's what's so great about the process for me.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I have a day job which I really like but if I could make writing my full time job, that would be a dream. Besides that, I love the simple things, like hanging out a coffee shop catching up with a friend, curling up in my comfy chair with a good book, walking my dog or taking a road trip so I can listen to music in my car and sing along.
Who are your favorite authors?
Wow, there are so many. My absolute favorite is Cassandra Clare and her Shadowhunter Series. I also love Lauren Kate's Fallen series and Maggie Stiefvater's books. They are in the Fantasy Young Adult category which is one of my favorite genres. In the Romance, Music category it has to be Olivia Cunning. She rocks!
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Well, I am a Mom so whether I want to get out of bed or not, I kinda have to feed thing 1 and thing 2. I am not a morning person but I do have a day job besides writing so there's that.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
When they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, I don't think that applies to books in general, lol. Book covers that stand out to me are the ones I will generally stop and read the synopsis to see if it's something I would be interested in reading. Since I've published an eBook, I've been more conscious of trying to find less known authors. I'm looking for the undiscovered gem. I will also go to independent bookstores and talk with a book seller to get a recommendation. If I don't buy the print book, I'll look for it on my eReader.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes! It's so embarrassing because it was fan fiction before there was such a thing. I was reading a lot of Sweet Valley High books back in the 90's and I remember writing (on a typewriter) a story of my own about those characters. I actually still have it in a binder with a bunch of other stuff I wrote.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Ok, this is going to sound very corny but it's not the first story I read but it was very influential to me. I remember this very distinctly because it was during the holidays in 2008 and I bought this new book that was making waves at the time, Twilight and it was such a unique storyline that it made me want to really start writing stories of my own. My own writing is not like Twilight at all, but it was the authors own story about how she came up with the book that really resonated with me. She had a dream and started putting pen to paper so that's what I started doing. It took me this long to actually publish a book but it's what really got me starting to think about writing seriously.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Smashwords has empowered me to self publish by providing such useful information about the whole process, from marketing to cover design, etc.. I am extremely grateful to be able to write the stories that are in my head and have the forum to be able to reach so many readers.
What are you working on next?
I am currently working on a sequel to Blood and Bone which focuses on Jack O'Donnell's daughter, Hayley. She was featured in the book as a supporting character and the sequel will focus more on her as she navigates her own career in the music business. Where Jack was a 90's grunge rock star, Hayley's is in the dance music genre, which is what's popular at present. So I get to explore a different genre of music in this book. The reader will also get to see more of Jack and Erin's relationship in the sequel where Blood and Bone left off. Also, I am collaborating on young adult fantasy book with my daughter. It's about the afterlife and one teenagers aspiration to become a Reaper. It's a fun story with a lot of humor that has some action and adventure in it.
How do you approach cover design?
Book covers are probably the most important part of marketing your book. I know this because I do judge a book by its' cover. it needs to represent the books genre and stand out to the reader because it's the first impression. A professional book cover really makes a huge difference. I worked with a professional eBook Cover Designer (found on Mark's list) and gave her a general idea of what the book is about and what I think I want. When I see the finished product, I can always make adjustments and play around with color or font's to make the final product.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.

Books by This Author

Bound To Burn
Series: Blood & Bone. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 92,510. Language: English. Published: September 22, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Romance » New adult
A steamy, age gap, rockstar romance with a bit of a slow burn, a strong sassy heroine, a grumpy alpha hero, low angst and a happily ever after. Love has a way of blazing through you like poison, leaving you breathless but still wanting more. Bound To Burn is the 4th book in the Blood & Bone series and although it can be read as a standalone it is best read in order.
Bonds We Break
Series: Blood & Bone, Book 3. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 87,380. Language: English. Published: April 14, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Women's fiction » General
An emotional, fast burn, love triangle, rock star romance, featuring a strong female singer songwriter about marriage & divorce and second chances that has a tragic ending. Bonds We Break is the 3rd book in the Blood & Bone series and is NOT a standalone. The books must be read in order for the best reader experience. If you require a happy ending, this book may not be for you.
Breath To Bear
Series: Blood & Bone, Book 2. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 95,280. Language: English. Published: November 30, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Romance » Adult
She’s my redemption. My second chance. If my past doesn’t destroy me first… Breath To Bear is the 2nd book in the Blood & Bone series and is NOT a standalone. The books must be read in order for the best reader experience
Blood and Bone
Series: Blood & Bone, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 110,890. Language: English. Published: October 30, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Romance » New adult
Twenty-five years of rock ‘n’ roll hasn’t softened Jack O’Donnell’s brilliant blue eyes or his rockstar attitude. His whole life has been a toxic cycle of self-destruction and addiction, with a few gold records thrown in. And he has no intention of sharing his heart-wrenching story with anyone. Until the petite, doe-eyed reporter turns up on his doorstep on the anniversary of his biggest regret.