An Interview with Author Lala Corriere

Lala Corriere’s writing consumes her. Her suspense includes subplots with socially redeeming revelations. Both good and bad. This is her moniker.

CFC: You find some unique elements for your novels. In Widow's Row, you introduced readers to the idea of transgenders and in CoverBoy you explore the sexual sadism of cults. Where do you come up with these unusual twists?

LALA: Crazy, huh? Let’s say I’ve always had an active imagination. And I have an inquiring mind. I think people need to know their world, their country, and their own backyard. I’ve always believed prejudice is born of ignorance. In my first novel, Widow’s Row, I explore our transgender community. With luck, awareness brings understanding, and just maybe—acceptance. On the other end of the spectrum, there is real crap going on in our world. Believe me, when I wrote CoverBoy I had never heard of revirgination, and in my non-scientific poll most persons are shocked. And the cutting off of toes to fit into designer shoes. It’s a crazy world out there!

CFC: You have elected to publish independently. Would you ever consider a traditional publisher? Why or why not?

LALA: Widow’s Row was tied up on exclusive submissions, to two separate big publishers in a row, for over 2 ½ years!  This is what I’ve learned. I don’t believe anyone will treat my career with as much care as ME.  I don’t think traditional publishers are able to provide the marketing and white glove treatment that I can. Will that change? The market is in turmoil. Who knows? I never say never.

CFC: If you weren't a writer, what?

LALA: I always thought I wanted to be a princess until I saw the pressures on Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. I don’t have the voice to be a singer. I don’t have the patience to be a teacher. And I pass out at the sight of blood. What does that leave me because I can forget science and math! I love art. I dabble in it. I love interior design and at one time I made a decent living at it. When my children all left for university I realized I needed a passion. I’m married to an Italian who is passionate about his work. I found my ardor in writing. Let’s face it. You have to be passionate if you’re going to be disciplined enough to sit at a computer monitor for hours, days, and years.

CFC: What are you working on now?

LALA: I wish you could hear me squeal with excitement. I was gifted a story from a retired big-city detective. It’s one of those stories where truth is truly stranger than fiction and no one will believe it! My biggest challenge will be massaging the story so that this TRUTH will be credible. And writing blurbs that don’t give the ending away!


CFC: What question haven't I asked that I should have?

LALA: I was recently asked this one: What was one of the first challenges you incurred in your career?

I’m going to answer with two. First of all, I hope most of you know that less than one percent of the population that says they are going to write a book actually finish it. Less than one percent! Big challenge number one.

Once that baby is done we authors need to procure blurbs from other published authors. It’s intimidating. Necessary. I get that. I sent an email to Paris Afton Bonds. She’s a prolific romance novelist with a huge readership. Guess what? She read for me and she gave me a blurb! How easy was that? I aimed higher. I emailed Danielle Steele. I received back what I assumed was a form letter explaining that she was unable to read unpublished works due to contractual obligations. I understood. But I kept aiming. Maybe higher. I emailed Sidney Sheldon. Not only did he read for me and offer me three blurbs, but he was my mentor until he passed away about five years ago.

Years ago my father befriended the great Ashley Montagu, who readily expressed that sometimes being at the top is a lonely thing when one needs real people around them.

Aim high. Why not? Someone is waiting to hear from you!

******

Lala Corriere's newest release, CoverBoy (in addition to Widow's Row) can be sampled and purchased  here.

He prays for prey. His prayers have just been answered.

Lauren Visconti loses everyone she loves. They don’t walk out the door. They die. The Lauren Visconti Curse.

Her in-your-face magazine, CoverBoy, might have crossed a few lines. Now it appeared the curse had morphed. Now anyone Lauren had any emotion toward, good or bad, was doomed to be slaughtered.
Success came with the magazine’s dichotomy—photos of almost naked men juxtaposed between serious investigative reporting. Her articles ran true stories. Most readers had heard of sex-slave trafficking. Most didn’t know it occurred in their own backyards. Some readers knew about podiatry mutilations—the hacking off of elongated second toes and even the total amputation of little toes, all in order to fit into the expensive designer shoes. Very few had heard about revirgination.
CoverBoy’s articles named names.

The Obeah Voodoo scared Lauren. But could it help save her? More likely any help would come from the handsome psychologist.

This is what Lauren had to believe.

The Care and Feeding of Authors

By Peg Brantley, Author at Work, Stumbling Toward Publication


It's gotta be chocolate, right?

Nuh-uh.

Some kind of booze?

Nope.

But what I'm about to share with you creates an even higher high for those of us who wrangle words. Since I'm not yet published (with 3.375 practice novels stuck in a drawer), I'm taking this opportunity to speak for those who are.

I was talking with a friend the other day who absolutely loves to read. And to anyone who will listen (particularly another reader) she will share her thoughts and bubble with enthusiasm about a particular book or its author. I love spending time with her, especially when I have my Kindle to download samples while we're talking.

But she doesn't write reviews on Amazon. What? She hates reviews that give away plots, doesn't want to commit the time, and can't believe that what she thinks could possibly have any impact. When I told her she could write a review that didn't need to reveal any of the plot (hello . . . Amazon . . . book description), and simply say what she enjoyed about the book, or the writing style, her eyes lit up.

Most writers won't ask a reader to write a review on Amazon, or Goodreads, or anywhere else. But I'm here to tell you that those reviews can make a huge difference to your favorite authors. Maybe even feed them for a month. Now that's power.

My sister, Lala Corriere, whose first book was released for Kindle last November and expects to have her second book released before this November, flew sky-high because some readers, people she'd never met, took the time to write her and tell her how much they'd enjoyed her first book. The fire of passion those few words lit under her butt provided her the loving care she needed at that moment. She was propelled to a higher level of energy. And that's the kind of loving care she'll be able to look back on when she's having a rough day in order to re-energize and motivate. Talk about leftovers!

So here it is:

• buy their books (duh—this definitely falls under feeding);
• write reviews. Even three-liners that say, "I liked this book. You might, too! Get it now!" Whether it's on Amazon or Goodreads or an online loop of readers. As readers, you have more power than you realize, and your author will be so appreciative;
• let the author know if his or her efforts gave you a nice escape, something to think about, or just good beach-reading. A few nice words from you equates to thousands from them. A pretty fair exchange, don't you think?

Even at the point where I am in this career, encouragement is a necessary element to my existance. Just the idea that there are a couple of people out there, ready to give my initial effort a test run, keeps me going. Can you imagine how huge the reality will be?

Feed your favorite authors. Don't be shy. Don't think what you have to say won't possibly make a difference.

I promise you, it will.

Readers, is there something else you've done to feed a favorite author? Are you willing to write a review?

Writers, what keeps you nourished and well fed?