I would like to welcome Janice Spina (J.E. Spina), novelist and children’s author, to my blog today.

She is the author of the recently released novel Hunting Mariah!

• What is your name and where do you call home?

My name is Janice Spina and home is beautiful, live free or die, New Hampshire, USA.

• Do you have a pen name?

For my children’s books I write under Janice Spina but for my novels I write under J.E. Spina.

• What is the name of your most recent book and if you could sum it up in 20 words or less, what would that be?

My first novel, Hunting Mariah, I recently published. Here is a quick synopsis:  An insane killer, obsessed with blood and death, seeks revenge with those he perceives wronged him.

• What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I have always loved writing and started at the age of nine writing poetry in the form of cards for my mother’s birthday and Mother’s Day. Because of all the praise my mother gave me I became encouraged to write some more.

• How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

My husband designed the cover and came up with the final cover after three different versions. I put the three versions of the cover on my blog and asked readers to vote for the one they thought was the best. The final cover is the result of that poll.

• How did you come up with the title for your book?

I always have a title for a book before I begin to tell the story. The story comes later as I sit down to type. It seems to flow from my fingertips and the characters just take over.

• Do you prefer books, e-books, paperbacks, hard covers or audio books?

I used to love paperbacks but over four years ago I bought a 1^st Edition Nook and I never looked back. I purchase books for both my Nook and my Kindle app and enjoy reading on both. I love the ease of keeping all my books in one place making it easier to carry them when I travel on vacation or just to the doctor’s office. I have to admit though I sometimes miss the feel and smell of a new book in my hands! Ha!

• Are you a self-published/indie author?

Yes, I am an indie author.

• If you’re a self-published/indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route?

It was out of sheer frustration due to all the rejection letters I received. It was time-consuming and exhausting to send them out and then just wait for some word. Some of them were encouraging and requested that I resubmit at a future date. Which I did but never received another word. I realized that these publishers were probably inundated with manuscripts and didn’t have time to answer or even read them all. That is when I decided to pursue my dream on my own. I have never been sorry for one day that I did. One of my books won a Silver Medal from Mom’s Choice Awards this year.

Now all my children’s books and my first novel are available online. It is very exciting to be an author. I wanted to get my work out there for all to read and I finally did. I felt I wasted a few years not doing it sooner.

• What is your favorite film based on a book?

There are so many books that have been made into movies. But I think I would choose an old one, How to Kill a Mockingbird. Now that I say that I need to watch it again. It was a powerful movie with an accomplished actor, Gregory Peck.

• What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

I just started reading Secret Thoughts: A Medical Thriller, by H.S. Clark. It is interesting and gripping. I especially like medical mysteries/thrillers due to my medical background as a medical secretary and assistant.

I sometimes have two books going at the same time. I am also reading in between children’s books for many other indie authors for reviews. Also, I am a copy editor so I read and edit clients’ books too. I don’t know how I find time to do it but I work it all in. I may skip a lunch or two doing it though but my wonderful husband cooks dinner for me. I am blessed to have him or I would forget to eat!

• Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading and writing?

I love to crochet and have done all kinds of afghans, baby clothes and amigurumis (animals) for my grandchildren.

I also enjoy singing and was a member of a Sweet Adeline’s chorus for several months. It was a cappella chorus (without music). Singing makes me feel happy and relieves tension and stress. Now I only do it as I wash dishes or in the shower or if I get a chance to go to a place that has karaoke. Ha!

Taking long walks with my husband and traveling to some of the places on our bucket lists is something I also enjoy doing.

• Where can your readers follow you?

I have a blog where I post book reviews, author interviews, and guest posts, news about my books and publishing adventures and travels. I have been fortunate to have followers who are very supportive and have received numerous blogging awards from them.

Blog: http://jemsbooks.wordpress.com

Website: http://jemsbooks.com

FB: http://facebook.com/jespina77 for my novels

FB: http://facebook.com/janicespina7 for my children’s books

FB http://facebook.com/janice.spina.9 for supporting others

Twitter: http://twitter.com/janice.spina

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/com/pub/janice-spina

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/janicespina7 Author Page for all books

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7222888.janice_spina

 

~SYNOPSIS~

 An insane killer, obsessed with blood and death, seeks revenge with those he perceives wronged him. He is now on the loose. His next victim may be Mariah. During his rampages he writes macabre poems for each of his victims.

Mariah has lost her memory. Will she remember what has transpired in her past? Can Mariah escape the deadly killer’s grasp? Will she finally be safe? Who will apprehend the killer?

J.E. SPINA’S NEW NOVEL, HUNTING MARIAH!

 J.E. Spina’s first novel, Hunting Mariah, is now published to Create Space http://www.createspace.com/5060224. It is also available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle!

J E. Spina will be offering a giveaway on Goodreads as soon as the Kindle version is available. Please go to her blog for more updates on upcoming links http://jemsbooks.wordpress.com. and website http://jemsbooks.com

J.E. Spina’s novel has been a long time in coming. She started it over twenty years ago but put it on the back burner until this year when she decided it was time to get it ready for publication.  J.E. Spina is an author of five children’s books, one of which received the Silver Medal from Mom’s Choice Awards. She writes her children’s books under Janice Spina.

J.E. Spina has written three other novels – a spiritual/mystery, historical/drama, and a YA fantasy which she hopes to edit and publish over the next two years. In between she will continue to publish more children’s books under Janice Spina. Besides being an author Janice is also a copy editor, blogger, avid reader, book reviewer and supporter of fellow authors.

 

It has been a pleasure to have you on my blog, Janice. Thank you so much for sharing your book with us and for letting us take a glimpse into your life as an author.