Interview with Olivia Pariset
Published 2018-02-17.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Touching the reader's heart, encouraging, enlightening, or just sharing the same emotion for a moment. Like a choir singing the same note, uplifting beautiful voices in every range.
What do your fans mean to you?
They are friends along on the journey. I am lost without them.
What are you working on next?
The Gardner's Art, Grace Cavanaugh Series Book 1. The story is based on an unsolved art theft from 1990 in Boston, MA. Special Agent Grace must catch the thief and stop the art from disappearing forever and save her career in the process.
Who are your favorite authors?
JR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Hemmingway, Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, Robert Dugoni, Gregg Olsen, C. Hope Clark, Michael Connelly, Steve Martini, Anthony Doerr, Susan Wiggs, Milan Kundera, and so many more...
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Coffee, first. Then, a fresh beginning. The sun is up, there are so many things that could be done, where do I start?
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Listening to good music, playing music, eating, thinking about writing, or managing my business.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
NetGalley lately. GoodReads, the local paper, local bookstore announcements, just plain searching my options on Amazon or Barnes and Noble!
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
My first "serious" story, I wrote in 3rd grade. It was about a girl and her cat--an autobiography.
What is your writing process?
Waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about the plot lines (or lack of them), where the chapter needs to go. Then getting up in the morning, inhaling my coffee and sitting down to my computer. Music (instrumental, cello, piano, contemporary or classic) playing softly. The first words on paper are the hardest; then they start trickling through my fingers and onto the screen. Hours later, I realize I've written quite a few pages, some of them worth something.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The Bobbsey Twins. I still love them. My sense of adventure and mystery solving began with them.
How do you approach cover design?
It must fit the main story theme and have the right colors. I never know until I find it.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
The Bible, Les Miserables, Romeo & Juliette, Emily Dickinson (all her poetry); and the current book I am reading at the moment.
What do you read for pleasure?
The Bible, women's fiction, crime/adventure fiction, philosophy, anything I can get my hands on...
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Kindle fire or my iPhone/Kindle app (all connected so my reading goes with me everywhere!)
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Twitter, Amazon marketing programs, word of mouth.
Describe your desk
A solid oak (handbuilt by a friend); laptop computer with large dual monitors, comfortable chair, option stand-up desk accessory, a fountain pen and writing pads, and great music/speakers.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was sprouted in Texas, then followed my father around the US and Puerto Rico for 16 years. This gave me a sense of the world, and roots all over. I learned a lot about human nature, of the joys of living and the pain of loss. I had to learn to make new friends often so I am not afraid to introduce myself to a stranger. I see them all as friends--we haven't met yet. The same for my reading audience. There is a sense of freedom in the process of writing because of that perspective.
When did you first start writing?
Within minutes of learning the letter "a".
What's the story behind your latest book?
My mother worked for the FBI in the 50s in DC and Chicago. She wasn't allowed to be a Special Agent. My protagonist is a tribute to what she might have done if she had the opportunity.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Freedom to choose.
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