S.R.Claridge writes Mystery and Romantic Suspense novels. Her work has been said to have the energy of Dan Brown, the mystery of Mary Higgins Clark and the humor of Janet Evanovich. Claridge novels will take you to the edge of your seat, keep you guessing until the very end and ultimately warm your heart. It is on the pages of every S.R.Claridge novel that Mystery and Sensual Suspense collide.

For more information on bookings, interviews and upcoming releases, please visit the author website and Facebook fan page.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

TUESDAY TALKS

Spotlight Author:    B R I A N     B I A N C O



Before we get started talking about your books, tell us a little about yourself.  Where are you from?  What is your occupation outside of writing?
I'm from Vancouver, BC. , but I live in New Westminster, which is a suburb of Greater Vancouver and the former capital city of BC until 1866, when Victoria was crowned the new provincial  capital. My background is in insurance as a broker but that hopefully is or will change in the near future to something else.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?
From all the tests I've taken over the years using the various forms they use to determine which occupation one is best suited for, the results have always pointed to me being an extrovert. I have no problem talking to people I don't know who may be standing next to me in a lineup or in a crowd waiting for whatever. The only problem sometimes is the fact that we sometimes run out of things to talk about. I spent 13 years coaching kids soccer, working my way through the ranks until I was appointed coach of a boys rep team (the best players for that age group) and stayed with them for 5 years until I retired then spend another 5 referring games. In that time I lived in Abbotsford in the valley and was the PR director of the Abbotsford Soccer Association and then President.

Do you have any pets?
No pets because I live in a condo and work, so I have little time to give to them during the week. I do have an aquarium (70 gallons) though but since my move I haven't restocked it. It's sitting empty right now.

What are your favorite books to read?
I like murder/mysteries, autobiographies, political works (non-fiction) but I also like what I call stories that can relate to the human condition. My favorite authors are John Grisham (but his early novels), Michael Cruz Smith and Garth Stein, especially his novel, 'The Art of Racing in the Rain". It's a really good book. I even mention it on my website as a book to read along with Sidney Poitier's autobiography, "The Measure of a Man", another great book people should read.

Where is the most unique place you have traveled?
I haven't done much travelling abroad because of family and work but I am finally taking my first airplane flight to cruise the Caribbean in the later half of April. It should be great fun since I plan on possibly using this experience to write another novel.

Aside from your successes in the writing industry, what in your life has given you the greatest sense of accomplishment?
My time spent helping others, primarily being a soccer coach, referee, executive. Also as a volunteer with Big Brothers, although it was a short ride, and my time with the Maples programme with kids that had problems within their families that affected their behavior. I was told then by the person in charge that I should make that my vocation in life but I took another path. In retrospect, I should have listened to her since I really get a lot of satisfaction from doing it.

How many books have you written and how many of those are published? 
I've only written the one book, "Dressed for a Kill" but I am working on two others. One is another murder/mystery and the other is based on the human condition titled, "Journey to Destiny". You can read the first 3 chapters on my website: http://www.brianbianco.ca/

How much character and plot detailing do you plan out before you begin writing a novel, or are you a “pantser” (fly by the seat of your pants) ?
I have a general idea of who the characters are and who and what I want them to be and how they will fit into the plot but as for anything else, I like to be surprised as much as the reader does so I let them take me to where they want to go but they have to remain within the plot and the storyline so I do have some control as to who they are and what they do.


Prior to becoming a published author, how many rejections did you receive?  How did you handle the rejections?
I received numerous rejections like all authors but the point to writing is to not give up. Critiquing someone else's work is a very subjective process whereby the reader decides whether or not the novel was interesting, thought provoking as to who dunnit in a murder/mystery like mine, were the characters and the plot believable, was the book entertaining enough to keep them reading, did they like the style of writing employed by the author, etc. What one reader likes, another may not but as a writer, we always hope the world will enjoy our novel enough to tell someone else about what they read.



How and when do you write? Do you keep yourself on a schedule or do you work while the muse is with you?
I don't write to a set schedule because I think it puts pressure on the writer to come up with something. I write when I feel the urge to put down on paper what I am thinking about. I spent a lot of late nights, sometimes as late a past three in the morning writing. Other times I didn't start until after five because that's when the literary juices started to flow. I'm trying to set myself on a schedule but so far it isn't working.

From your novel, Dressed for a Kill, which is your favorite character and why?  My favourite character from “Dressed for a Kill" is the PI called Bruno Carboni. He's a rogue who doesn't always go by the book, much like another character in the novel. He's abrasive, short on tact and grumpy at times. I have another favorite character in the book who goes by the name of Shawn O'Shea. He's owns the bar that Bruno frequents. They have a unique relationship which shows in the novel. Shawn along with Bruno practically wrote themselves into the novel.

If you could step into the world of anyone else’s novel or meet with any character, which/who would you choose?  John Grishams' character, Gray Grantham of the Washington Post from the novel "The Pelican Brief". I enjoyed the book but hated the movie since they butchered what Grisham had written.

If you could give one piece of advice to writers trying to get published, what would that advice be?  Stay with it and don't give up. Let your friends read your first couple of chapters and get their feedback. Listen to what they have to say and then decide if the storyline needs work, maybe your writing style, etc., but in the end, you have to decide what fits and what doesn't because it is after all, your story, your characters and your fiction. In the end you have to believe in what you have written. Remember, it’s purely subjective. There is no right or wrong. It’s only their and your perception of what is good and what isn't. Hopefully your perception is on the mark.

Where can we read more about you and your work?
You can visit my website at: http://www.brianbianco.ca/  where you can read the reviews and hopefully purchase my book which is available in digital form also for all you ebook readers.


Anything else you'd like to share with my blog readers?
I just wanted to say thank you to you for having me on your show and to your audience to being here and listening to us. Thank you again. It was fun.

 It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work better.  Best Wishes!

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