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Author! Author!: April, 2008
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Click an image to learn more about these books.
An Interview with
Zelda
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How did you start writing?
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My friend, Rochelle often reminds me how I would make up stories and give life to the most peculiar things, like an old afghan or kitchen utensils. When I was in my teens I wrote the ideas I wanted to share in a hard covered notebook. I entered magazine contests and learned early about rejection. My first published works were many years later when I wrote articles for nursing publications. It took ten years of serious writing before I sold my first romance, Brooklyn Ballerina to Avalon.
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How do you develop your characters?
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My stories are all character driven and the characters come from my imagination. In How do you develop your characters? I developed Alex’s character from the traits and personalities of many of the nurses I worked with. I wanted her to be a strong modern woman, balancing her profession, family and relationships.
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How do you name your characters?
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I try to give my characters names that help define their personalities. I read newspapers and magazines to find these names. A good baby-naming book is also helpful. Sometimes I combine names of people I know. They love seeing their name in print.
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Where do you get ideas for plots?
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Again, newspapers and magazines are full of plot ideas. My favorite is the Wall Street Journal center column. The idea for c came from a small clip in a news magazine about a break-in where nothing was taken. The house belonged to a famous French chocolatier and it was believed the thief was searching for a secret recipe.
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Are you working on anything else for Avalon?
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I loved creating the characters in Chocolate Secrets, especially the kooky candy maker, Chloe. I’m going to let her work her magic in a story of her own.
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Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Or for anyone wanting to submit to Avalon?
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You need to know the market you want to write for. Join groups such as Romance Writers of America where other writers share their knowledge of the industry. Many aspiring writers are not sure where their story fits. It’s important to know the genre you’re writing for. Always check the publisher’s guidelines.
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What do you do for fun - other than writing?
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My husband and I love to travel, especially with our children and grandchildren. Our favorite long distance destination is New Zealand. Close to home we visit New York and definitely Brooklyn where many of my stories are set. On our last trip we hit almost every chocolate shop in the borough of Brooklyn. We definitely consumed our share of calories in the name of research, but it was well worth it.
Visit my website Zeldabenjamin.com.
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