Tuesday, August 9, 2016

FEATURED AUTHOR: M C DOMOVITCH


ABOUT THE BOOK

When successful model Ciara Cain wakes up in hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess.
Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.


INTERVIEW WITH M C DOMOVITCH


How did you get started writing?

I remember writing stories when I was still in grade school, and knowing even back then that I wanted to be a writer. But like many authors, I suffered from a terrible case of the “Who do I think I am to imagine I can write a book?” So it wasn’t until I reached a certain birthday and realized if I didn’t start now, I would never achieve my dream.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?

What I enjoy the most is when it all comes together at the end. That’s when I see the story works. I also really enjoy rereading the manuscript after putting it down for a few weeks. I do this to get a fresh look at it, so I can catch whatever details I may have wrong. At that point the story feels new again. I really like that.

Do you have a writing routine?
I try to write every day and mostly do. However, when my husband and I travel, I put away my writing for the week or two we are away. But the cost is the awful block I invariably come back to. It often takes me up to a week before I can get back into it properly.

What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
My one regret is I wish I’d started years earlier.

What’s more important—characters or plot?
Character. If the reader doesn’t care about the character, they won’t care about the story.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love Facebook. I could spend hours on it, which is a bad, bad thing. I have to give myself a limit, no more than half an hour in the morning. Then on to work.

What’s one thing you never leave the house without?
A notebook and a pencil. That way I can take notes whenever I get a great idea I’m afraid of forgetting. Sometimes it can be as little as a description of an unusual character I notice, and that I think would be good for one of my next novels.

What do you love about where you live?

I am fortunate to have three homes. My husband and I have an ocean-side farm on the West Coast where we spend our summers. We also have a home in Key Largo where we winter. The rest of the time we live in Toronto, Canada. I have a small writing nook in each place. At the farm I have a she shed. The woman’s version of a man cave. It’s very simple, but it’s far enough from the house that my husband can’t just walk into the room every couple of minutes with an anecdote to share. In our other two homes, I have a small corner near the TV room.

What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?

I love going out to dinner with my husband. We don’t do it nearly often enough. The main reason is that I have celiac disease and 90% of the time, when we go out I get a terrible attack. For that reason we mainly eat at home. Having said that, we have a couple of “safe” restaurants where we go. It’s amazing how a difference in atmosphere gets us talking as if we were just dating again. We always go home feeling romantic.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
First let me state that, no, I have never killed anyone. No, I do not stalk, terrify or torture anyone. But other than that, sure, I’ll give my characters a few of my traits, good and bad. But mainly good, since I’m a pretty nice person.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?
I can’t stand looking at a mess. It drives me insane. Seeing something out of place makes it really difficult for me to concentrate. When I write, I am forever, jumping up to close a cabinet door, wipe a counter or fluff up a cushion after my husband. If you ask him what drives him crazy, I’d hazard a guess that it’s that I am forever tidying up after him.

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site?

Dog-rescue sites. I am addicted to them. I have two dogs, one of which is a rescue and I’m trying to convince my husband to get a third dog. I give a portion of my earnings to dog rescue organizations, particularly the Soi Dog Rescue Organization and the Yulin Dog Rescue Organization. I also give to the SPCA.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

Man plans. God laughs.


Do you have any hidden talents?
I would like to say singing, but I’d be lying. I have the worse voice. Took me years to accept it.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Creative, funny, sociable, generous, driven.


What is your favorite movie?
My all-time favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption which was written by Stephen King. He is a wonderful author. For all his popularity, he doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves for the quality of his writing.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to Scar Tissue. This one is named Seeing Evil and is due out in November.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M C Domovitch is the author of nine novels, four of which were published under the name of Carol Ann Martin (by Penguin), another two under the name Monique Domovitch (by Carina Press). The other three are published as M C Domovitch, Scorpio Rising, The Sting of the Scorpio (Both now republished in one single tome), and Scar Tissue. The decision to use a different pen name was based on her departure from cozy mysteries and entering the Romance and Romantic Suspense genres.

Before becoming an author, Monique had multiple careers, beginning with modeling. She won a modeling contest in the 70s and became one of Canada's top models. After retiring from the fashion industry, she studied finance and joined an investment company. This led to a new career as host of her own television show about investing, with the television network, WTN. Following her retirement from finance, she decided to pursue her true passion, writing. At a writing workshop at San Diego's Writers' Conference, one of her unpublished books caught the eye of a publisher and of an agent. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Domovitch lives with her physician husband and their dogs. They divide their time between homes in Victoria and Toronto Canada and Key Largo Florida.

Connect with Monique:
Website  |  
Facebook  | 
Twitter  |  Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes