Ask the Author: Terri-Lynne DeFino
Answered Questions (14)
Terri-Lynne DeFino
I would 100% retire to the Pen if it existed. You don't know how many times I've looked longingly through Zillow, at Bed and Breakfasts up in Maine, thinking, "If only..."
Sister writers and I do take a beach house once a year; our own writer's commune. Only a week! But a small slice of heaven. Thanks for writing!
Terri-Lynne
Sister writers and I do take a beach house once a year; our own writer's commune. Only a week! But a small slice of heaven. Thanks for writing!
Terri-Lynne
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Wow! Thanks so much, Helen. Big beaming smile here. Just a word of warning, PLEASE don't judge a book by its cover. My Bitterly books with Kensington's Lyrical Shine are absolutely NOT represented by their covers. Ugh. Seriously terrible.
Again, thanks for your note. Made my day!
Again, thanks for your note. Made my day!
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Good morning! I'd be open to doing a phone in. I suppose it all depends upon the date. Let me know your thoughts. ~Terri
Terri-Lynne DeFino
I have three happy places--Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda, Villefranche in France, and Bar Harbor, Maine. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the perfect setting for my fictional mansion on the water. Spending several months living there in my head was an added perk.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
If/when I use your name, I will most certainly send you a copy. :-D
Quartet is usually available through Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu. It bops from streaming service to streaming service. It's also available on DVD.
So your mom didn't want to be within driving distance of your grandmother? Sometimes, just the right amount of distance is a good thing. Close enough to visit now and again, not close enough for those pop-ins.
Quartet is usually available through Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu. It bops from streaming service to streaming service. It's also available on DVD.
So your mom didn't want to be within driving distance of your grandmother? Sometimes, just the right amount of distance is a good thing. Close enough to visit now and again, not close enough for those pop-ins.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Thank you, Marlys! (Now that is a fabulous name. I might have to use it one day. :) ) And tell your friend thanks from me, too. Does a writer's heart good to know people like her work.
The book came to me in stages. First stage was after watching the movie Quartet (are you familiar? If you haven't seen it, DO! It's one of those fantastically under-rated movies.) Quartet features an old folks home in the English countryside, specifically for musicians, opera folk, etc. After watching it, I thought, "Wow! How awesome would it be to grow old in a place dedicated to the publishing industry folk?" The old rivalries, collaborations, the whole world of publishing distilled into a single home for the elderly. That went on the backburner while I finished up a contract I had for a series with Kensington Publishing.
The story within a story came from my lament about novellas, and how "short books" are dubbed novella now, because no one likes the word "novelette," which is actually what those short books are. A novella is an art form in and of itself, and one we're losing. The story within a story is an homage to the Paterson of my people in true novella form.
Thanks so much for your question!
~Terri
The book came to me in stages. First stage was after watching the movie Quartet (are you familiar? If you haven't seen it, DO! It's one of those fantastically under-rated movies.) Quartet features an old folks home in the English countryside, specifically for musicians, opera folk, etc. After watching it, I thought, "Wow! How awesome would it be to grow old in a place dedicated to the publishing industry folk?" The old rivalries, collaborations, the whole world of publishing distilled into a single home for the elderly. That went on the backburner while I finished up a contract I had for a series with Kensington Publishing.
The story within a story came from my lament about novellas, and how "short books" are dubbed novella now, because no one likes the word "novelette," which is actually what those short books are. A novella is an art form in and of itself, and one we're losing. The story within a story is an homage to the Paterson of my people in true novella form.
Thanks so much for your question!
~Terri
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Thank you, Kerin! I'm really glad you enjoyed my story(ies!) Since completing Bar Harbor etc, I've written three more, and am nearing completion of a fourth. Hopefully, something new will be in the publishing works soon.
In the meantime, I'm not sure how you feel about women's fiction with a romantic bend (and a little otherworldly element), but I have three books published with another publisher. Actually...I have copies of Seeking Carolina I was about to donate to the library (we're moving and I'm trying to PURGE!) They're from a less than perfect print batch, legible but not sellable. If you want to give it a go, I'd be happy to send one to you. And if not--no worries! RWF isn't everyone's cup of tea! (It's not always MY cup of tea, either. LOL)
In the meantime, I'm not sure how you feel about women's fiction with a romantic bend (and a little otherworldly element), but I have three books published with another publisher. Actually...I have copies of Seeking Carolina I was about to donate to the library (we're moving and I'm trying to PURGE!) They're from a less than perfect print batch, legible but not sellable. If you want to give it a go, I'd be happy to send one to you. And if not--no worries! RWF isn't everyone's cup of tea! (It's not always MY cup of tea, either. LOL)
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Good morning, Hector. Thank you! So glad you liked Beyond the Gate. It's always nice to hear. Both Finder, and A Time Never Lived take place in the same world, but in a different part of it. Consider BtG's archipelago Australia, and Finder/ATNL's Therk, Africa. Same world, a little overlap in worldbuilding.
I have to be honest, while I love BtG, the other two are better. Both Finder and A Time Never Lived are available on Kindle for only $2.99 at the moment. If you e-read, now's a good time to give them a go. If you do, I'd love to hear how you liked them, or didn't. Thanks again for the kind words, and for reading! !Terri
I have to be honest, while I love BtG, the other two are better. Both Finder and A Time Never Lived are available on Kindle for only $2.99 at the moment. If you e-read, now's a good time to give them a go. If you do, I'd love to hear how you liked them, or didn't. Thanks again for the kind words, and for reading! !Terri
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Honestly, and I knock wood when I answer this, I've never experienced it.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
The best thing? Gads, that's a hard one. My day is full of words, stories, editing. But the best thing is knowing there are people somewhere reading what I wrote and, hopefully, being touched by it.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Write. There is nothing to aspire to if you don't. Every word that makes it out of your head and onto the page brings you closer to achieving whatever goal you've set for yourself.
And never stop learning. Ever.
And never stop learning. Ever.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
Dreaming August and Waking Savannah are in edits, but when I'm not doing that, I'm writing Being Charlotte. This story takes place in both Bitterly, Connecticut and Cape May, New Jersey.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
I just write. The inspiration comes from knowing I will sit down at my computer and let my fingers get to work. I do find the ocean inspiring, as I do nature in general. But I'm also inspired by people, the inherent beauty we all have if we're willing to find it. When someone does, when it shines, there is nothing more inspiring.
Terri-Lynne DeFino
I usually have two or three books waiting in the wings. The ideas usually come in a spark set off by some random comment. For instance, the plotline for Dreaming August came to me when a friend said that gardening is her solace whenever she's stressed. She needs to get her hands into dirt. Up popped Benedetta, my heroine in Dreaming August. A tap on the shoulder, a whispered voice, and a whole novel came bubbling up. Magical.
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May 17, 2021 07:52AM · flag
May 17, 2021 10:18AM · flag