Everyone has a story.
Everyone’s story is different.
This is one of the first things I realized as I became aware of who I
was and began to find my place in the world.
It’s also a fascinating phenomenon, THE most fascinating phenomenon, if
you ask me, that every breath we take, every motion we make and every word that
comes out of our mouths is part of a story—OUR story. It’s up to us how we view the world and I choose
to perceive my life as a story.
It’s so much more fun that way, seeing the ordinary for the
extraordinary that it is—I enjoy every minute of it!
Everyone’s story is different.
This is one of the first things I realized as I became aware of who I
was and began to find my place in the world.
It’s also a fascinating phenomenon, THE most fascinating phenomenon, if
you ask me, that every breath we take, every motion we make and every word that
comes out of our mouths is part of a story—OUR story. It’s up to us how we view the world and I choose
to perceive my life as a story.
It’s so much more fun that way, seeing the ordinary for the
extraordinary that it is—I enjoy every minute of it!
Books—our greatest source for stories spelled out on paper—have been a part of my world for as long as I
can remember. When I was a baby, my
parents would read books to me every night.
I quickly caught onto the concept.
At age two, I memorized the book Fuzzy Rabbit by Rosemary Billam. Of course, it wasn’t the same as reading the
words but it was the STORY that stuck in my mind. It fascinated me, the
simplistic view of the world the book portrayed and though I didn’t yet understand
the terms what drew me was that the story had character development, a
conflict, resolution and conclusion. My
fascination with this concept grew further when I was six, and watching Days of
Our Lives with my Mom. Soap Opera’s are
not exactly the TV show of choice for the average six year old but I was fascinated
once again, not only by the drama but with how the characters were all connected
to one another within a small world.
Thus my love of series (connected characters, connecting stories) was
born!
can remember. When I was a baby, my
parents would read books to me every night.
I quickly caught onto the concept.
At age two, I memorized the book Fuzzy Rabbit by Rosemary Billam. Of course, it wasn’t the same as reading the
words but it was the STORY that stuck in my mind. It fascinated me, the
simplistic view of the world the book portrayed and though I didn’t yet understand
the terms what drew me was that the story had character development, a
conflict, resolution and conclusion. My
fascination with this concept grew further when I was six, and watching Days of
Our Lives with my Mom. Soap Opera’s are
not exactly the TV show of choice for the average six year old but I was fascinated
once again, not only by the drama but with how the characters were all connected
to one another within a small world.
Thus my love of series (connected characters, connecting stories) was
born!
Two of my favorite series to read growing up were the
beloved Ramona books by Beverly Cleary and Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley
High. Like many young readers, I was
drawn to books that entertained me but also to stories that CONNECTED
characters and their worlds. When I was
into a character, I wanted to read everything I could about that character and
so, as an adolescent, I got my hands on every book about Ramona, Ramona’s
sister Beezus and Beezus’s friend, Henry.
When I was a little older, I enjoyed reading about the drama at Sweet
Valley High for twin sister’s Jessica and Elizabeth be it with school, their
friends and with the boys they were dating.
I was very excited about these young adult romance which introduced me
to the concept of fantasy. Looking back, I see that they served as a precursor to what
would later become a major part of my life—the adult romance novel.
beloved Ramona books by Beverly Cleary and Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley
High. Like many young readers, I was
drawn to books that entertained me but also to stories that CONNECTED
characters and their worlds. When I was
into a character, I wanted to read everything I could about that character and
so, as an adolescent, I got my hands on every book about Ramona, Ramona’s
sister Beezus and Beezus’s friend, Henry.
When I was a little older, I enjoyed reading about the drama at Sweet
Valley High for twin sister’s Jessica and Elizabeth be it with school, their
friends and with the boys they were dating.
I was very excited about these young adult romance which introduced me
to the concept of fantasy. Looking back, I see that they served as a precursor to what
would later become a major part of my life—the adult romance novel.
I didn’t plan on becoming a novelist. I’m sure that there are some writers who know
their whole lives that they want to be writers but for others it comes to us as
more of a surprise. In spite of my very
early fascination with books that is in fact the way that it happened for
me. I graduated college in 2005 which
was right around the time that the job market was beginning to change. Unsure as to exactly what I wanted to do with
my life I took an internship after graduation and while I was assisting fashion
designer Norma Kamali with her beauty line I was giving a lot of consideration
to exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life. I’d sit out in my backyard for hours in the
afternoon and just think—I looked forward to those times of the day when I
could be in my own thoughts. It dawned
on me that if I could be doing anything at all it would be something in which
my imagination would never have to stop, something which truly had no
limits. I’d taken several writing classes
in college and I knew that I loved writing more than anything else. What I did not know was how in the world I
was going to get started with it.
their whole lives that they want to be writers but for others it comes to us as
more of a surprise. In spite of my very
early fascination with books that is in fact the way that it happened for
me. I graduated college in 2005 which
was right around the time that the job market was beginning to change. Unsure as to exactly what I wanted to do with
my life I took an internship after graduation and while I was assisting fashion
designer Norma Kamali with her beauty line I was giving a lot of consideration
to exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life. I’d sit out in my backyard for hours in the
afternoon and just think—I looked forward to those times of the day when I
could be in my own thoughts. It dawned
on me that if I could be doing anything at all it would be something in which
my imagination would never have to stop, something which truly had no
limits. I’d taken several writing classes
in college and I knew that I loved writing more than anything else. What I did not know was how in the world I
was going to get started with it.
A few of my college peers decided to form a critique group
about the same time that I was doing my internship and when asked to join I
jumped at the chance. The class that
we’d taken together was creative writing in drama (play writing) and that was
what most everyone was there to do. So I
wrote a play (a romance–something very different than what I had been writing
in school) but I realized that what I really wanted to be doing was writing
something longer, much longer in fact.
Unlike many romance novelists-to-be I was twenty two years old and I’d
never actually read a romance novel. But
as I loved romance more than anything else I felt compelled to write one anyway
and flying completely by the seat of my pants I wrote a “novel,” a story in
which I elaborated on the tale of an old personal crush and I worked our
fantasy story toward a happy ending.
Though the book never saw the light of day I had found my path and had
decided exactly what I should have always known I wanted to do with my
life—write romance novels!
about the same time that I was doing my internship and when asked to join I
jumped at the chance. The class that
we’d taken together was creative writing in drama (play writing) and that was
what most everyone was there to do. So I
wrote a play (a romance–something very different than what I had been writing
in school) but I realized that what I really wanted to be doing was writing
something longer, much longer in fact.
Unlike many romance novelists-to-be I was twenty two years old and I’d
never actually read a romance novel. But
as I loved romance more than anything else I felt compelled to write one anyway
and flying completely by the seat of my pants I wrote a “novel,” a story in
which I elaborated on the tale of an old personal crush and I worked our
fantasy story toward a happy ending.
Though the book never saw the light of day I had found my path and had
decided exactly what I should have always known I wanted to do with my
life—write romance novels!
Not being at-all versed in my genre of choice, I had a lot
of work to do and I quickly made up for lost time, getting my hands on every
romance novel I could find and reading just as many non-fiction books about the
craft of writing. One of those books had
a note in which the author stated that while many people envision the exciting
and glamorous life of the writer, writers actually spend the majority of their
lives alone, in a basement, writing. I
believe the statement was meant to scare people off. I remember thinking, A whole lifetime of nothing but writing? Wow, that sounds like so much fun!
of work to do and I quickly made up for lost time, getting my hands on every
romance novel I could find and reading just as many non-fiction books about the
craft of writing. One of those books had
a note in which the author stated that while many people envision the exciting
and glamorous life of the writer, writers actually spend the majority of their
lives alone, in a basement, writing. I
believe the statement was meant to scare people off. I remember thinking, A whole lifetime of nothing but writing? Wow, that sounds like so much fun!
Before the critique group dissolved, I wrote a second story
which was inspired by the setting of the job I accepted upon completing my
internship. I borrowed ideas from my own
life setting many times but it was not until I wrote Dangerous Ally, a story set in a grandiose mansion in Westchester
New York which had nothing to do with any of my life experiences when I finally
got “the call.” The call for me was
actually an email and I was in work when it came. I said aloud, “Oh my God, I think someone
wants to publish my book!” The guy
sitting next to me said, “No way, that must be spam.” But alas it was not and in that moment the
greatest dream I’d ever had (besides finding my own true love, of course!) had
at last come true!
which was inspired by the setting of the job I accepted upon completing my
internship. I borrowed ideas from my own
life setting many times but it was not until I wrote Dangerous Ally, a story set in a grandiose mansion in Westchester
New York which had nothing to do with any of my life experiences when I finally
got “the call.” The call for me was
actually an email and I was in work when it came. I said aloud, “Oh my God, I think someone
wants to publish my book!” The guy
sitting next to me said, “No way, that must be spam.” But alas it was not and in that moment the
greatest dream I’d ever had (besides finding my own true love, of course!) had
at last come true!
As is the case with all writers, I received many
rejections on my path to publication.
Those rejections are a part of the writing journey and when seen in the
right light they can strengthen the writing, as well as the author they’re
written to. I’m so grateful for every
failure and every success I’ve had so far on my short writing journey and that
brings me to the present day, in which I begin PASSION BETWEEN THE PAGES, a
blog I hope to grow right along with me, a blog for both readers AND
writers. We all share the same passion,
after all! And books and romance are the
greatest passions I know!
rejections on my path to publication.
Those rejections are a part of the writing journey and when seen in the
right light they can strengthen the writing, as well as the author they’re
written to. I’m so grateful for every
failure and every success I’ve had so far on my short writing journey and that
brings me to the present day, in which I begin PASSION BETWEEN THE PAGES, a
blog I hope to grow right along with me, a blog for both readers AND
writers. We all share the same passion,
after all! And books and romance are the
greatest passions I know!
In honor of PASSION BETWEEN THE PAGES’ debut launch I’m giving away a kindle copy of my latest release, Dangerous Magic [The Pinnacles of Power]. Click below for a chance to win! Good luck and happy reading!!!
Dangerous Magic Kindle Edition Giveaway
The most erotic dream of Corinne’s life may not have been a dream at all…
★★★★★ “Dangerous Magic has it all–passion, suspense, mystery and mysterious happenings–a unique story line with plenty of action!” ~BookTalk with Eileen
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Anna! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Good luck on the blog. Very nice first entry!
Thank you, Kelsey! Sweet Valley High was the best. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Be sure to enter to win a copy of Dangerous Magic. I'll be posting more giveaways in the coming weeks. 🙂
Great debut! Looking forward to more posts! I also read Sweet Valley High as a kid, and your baby pictures are cute! So glad that you are following your dreams and your heart with the mighty pen!