Interview with Valentina Ciaccio
Published 2014-02-21.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
My first "story" was definitely a dirty letter to someone. Of course I wrote stories in school, but this book is nothing like anything I have ever written in school. As far as this book goes, it began as a blog. I would tell girlfriends or someone something that happened, or give advice and people would say you should write a freaking book!
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Most people will find this very shocking, but I love reading. My favorite book is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. To keep relevant to my genre, I should probably say that I used to read romance novels or something which I did a few times, and maybe they made me more into sex than the average teen, I dont know, but I have read my share of erotica and there are definite stories that I read and say "well, there are twenty minutes of my life I will never get back", and then there are some that I read and say "Ok, that was hot". I dont really know how to describe their impact past that.
What is your writing process?
Most of what I write about is from an event that happened in my life. I have always had a very different way of seeing things, and the stories that I tell are my recollection. For example, there is a story where me and a friend set a pillow on fire. I remember it being very sexual and he remembers being completely scared and hectic. I just take it from my brain and put it on paper or on the screen. And I like words....I am a wordsmith!
How do you approach cover design?
It actually was the hardest part! I wanted something sexy but chic and I like sephia tones and light colors. I also love animal prints and pink, but I put it up to my marketing guy. He is out in L.A. and he said go with the animal print/pink cover, so I knew I had to do the opposite. I figured this is not a book that anyone would want someone to see them reading on the train or at their desk, so I wanted to keep it low key.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Probably being a control freak. There were some small publishers that wanted me to write for them, but I had to give up too much of my creative process and let them make most of the decisions. I didn't really need the money and did not want to have my life put on such display. Being an indie author, I can have total control over what I write and I dont have to make appearances or out myself. So far, it has worked for me.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have an iPad, with the Kindle app. I prefer actual books though. I have a library card at the NYC public library and use it.
What do you read for pleasure?
Newspapers, magazines and I tend to google everything. I like learning. There was a conversation the other night about Hong Kong and I had to know the square miles, (426!) so I googled it and I ended up reading tons of information. I have zero patience to read instructions or anything technical. I still have no idea how to use my surround sound.
What's the story behind your latest book?
Call Girl Diary, the first one that I did was a series of moments in my life, and a few opinion pieces. Right now I am working on what you maybe can call the sequel. It is a little bit more of a sequential recollection of the past year or so. I don't want to say much but there is definite recognizable regulars, a little bit more insight to me and my emotions and thoughts. There is still the sex, the dirty sex, but that is just because that is largely who I am, but it is not a total sex book. There isn't a title yet though.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
When I am not writing I am working. And you know what that means! When I am not working, I am either shopping, or out with friends. I love to travel, and try to do it several times a year. I have a travel buddy, and he is much older than me and for the past seven months he has not been able to travel so I made two solo trips and a few girls got together to go to Greece, so it has been a slow travel time for me.
What do your fans mean to you?
Because of the genre, my fans are mostly anonymous. There are women that read my work, and they are the ones that reach out to me and ask questions and I love it. I always reply or talk to them. The bulk of my fans (I hate that word) are men, who stay pretty anonymous. Its the nature of my business so I am very used to it, and I love them too but its not a very connected relationship like someone else would have with what they consider "fans".
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