Spotlight on Linda Dominique Grosvenor

March 2004

Ayden: It took some doing, but I managed to sit down with author Linda Dominique Grosvenor. We talked about her work and life in general.

Linda, thanks for joining me. Let's start with something fairly easy... Have you always known that you’d be a writer?

Linda: A poet maybe, but not a writer. Actually when I was younger I thought I'd be an artist. In second grade I had a water color painting sell for $20. That was a lot of money back then. It wasn't until I started writing an article gone awry that my first novel came from that experience. I was hooked on storytelling. My recent novel Bloom is my most favorite story to date.

Ayden: Do you treat your writing as a normal everyday job: set hours, set place, that sort of thing?

Linda: Yes, actually there's no sleeping until noon for me. Besides the fact that my cat would never let me, there are certain early morning shows that motivate me and inspire me as I write. So I'm up at 7a.m. and I'm really never done. I can watch a movie on television in the evening and an idea comes to me. I jot it down and save it for the morning. There are only three places I can write though, on a long drive in the car, at the movies and at my computer.

Ayden: When you write, do you tend to plot extensively or do you just let the storyline and characters lead?

Linda: Normally when I write I have an idea of where my story is going, the matter is just how the character will get there. Just like any destination, you can take the shortcut and have a cut and dry story or your can take the scenic route, which is a little more beautiful. That's one of the reasons I love Bloom so much, the story is visual and I love flowers.

Ayden: Do you remember the day you heard you had sold one of your novels? What were you feeling?

Linda: My husband answered the phone and it was my agent. I was elated that someone wanted it enough to make an offer and although there are tons of small presses I wanted the push of a major publishers behind my second and third book, especially since I had self-published my first release. I really needed that national distribution to reach a wider audience. With almost 100,000 books sold I'd say I reached my audience and then some.

Ayden: Any advice for aspiring writers?

Linda: My one piece of advice is to support other authors. A lot of people come into the business with a "buy my book" mentality. You get what you give, support others and you'll be surprised at how many people in turn support you. Support isn't limited to just buying their book, but also stretches out into logging on for their online chats, coming out to the bookstores when an author makes a local appearance as well as just spreading the word when you read a good book. All of these things will also give you practice for when your book is released. One hand truly does wash the other.

Ayden: How does your family feel about your chosen career?

Linda: I think my family enjoys it. My mom especially enjoys telling people that I have several novels in the stores for purchase. I still get a giddy feeling when I see my books in Wal-Mart and other local retailers. All in all my family has supported me and never told me to get a "real" job. That makes my day.

Ayden: Let's take a minute and talk about your novels. The heroine in one of your novels, Bloom, owns a floral shop. Did you have to do much research to accurately portray her work day?

Linda: Yes, actually I researched the rural areas of North Carolina for the story as well as flowershops in general and varities of flowers specifically. I didn't interview anyone who actually owned a floral shop. Once I had the location down, a working knowledge of flowers and their cycles I just let Lily Manchester tell what happened. I believe in letting my heros or heroines lead the way in a story so it doesn't come across as forced.

Ayden: Bloom is written in the first person. Is it harder to tell a story in this voice? Your readers only get to see things from one point of view.

Linda: I love first person. I believe that if you tell a great story they can feel the other characters as well. I believe that even though the story is narrated and told from Lily's point of view that readers can still sense the feelings of Alex James and why he felt what he felt for Lily as well as what Lily's ex-husband still feels despite her objections.

Ayden: Your upcoming novel, The Hamptons, is already receiving rave reviews. Is it still exciting to read reviews after having published several novels?

Linda: Yes, The Hamptons was interesting to write. I've gotten some great feedback on this summertime cutie. I think books are each their own little planet and so I definitely love to hear good things about each work I release. I want to stay at the top of my game so feedback for me is critical. Pretty Boys is a collection of 3 novellas and readers are already saying that each story could have been a complete novel. It's available now and each story follows a woman who is plagued by a pretty boy or in the true sense, a good looking man. The Hamptons is my sixth fiction release and already readers are preordering it. I think I'm finally on my way.

Ayden: Where can readers find your novels?

Linda: Bloom is available at bookstores nationwide and is part of an older woman younger man series called The Cradle Robbers. Bloom is book #2 in the series and I hope to do another book for the series in 2006. Pretty Boys, The Hamptons and Fever are available nationwide too and via online booksellers. I've been spotted in KMart, WalMart and other unsuspecting stores too.

Ayden: Reading the biography on your website, you're rather busy. Will you tell us a bit more about the projects you're involved in?

Linda: Right now I'm assisting my local church with building up their library to help get kids as well as adults off the street. I'm toying with a documentary and look forward to independently producing the film adaptation of my second book Like Boogie on Tuesday. I also host the domestic violence channel at Bellaonline.com. I'm also doing one hundred other things, but it depends on what day you ask me.

Ayden: You are very active in domestic abuse problems: getting the word out, how to recognize warning signs, putting an end to it. When did this become something you knew you had to support?

Linda: I recently auctioned a manuscript on Ebay for the proceeds to benefit domestic violence. I write a column for Bellaonline.com and like to feature authors who have that central theme in their books. I look forward to speaking at events and attending domestic violence functions in the near future. When I fill personal orders for books I often slip a domestic violence brochure in with it. If everyone took a stand against domestic violence maybe we could eliminate it altogether. That is my wish.

Ayden: Time for a few less work-related questions. *g* When you manage to tear yourself away from your writing, what do you do for fun?

Linda: I like to travel. I'm planning a trip to Paris and Mexico soon. I love to eat too and enjoy exploring the foods of various cultures. My favorite is Indian food. Curry is my all time favorite spice. I enjoy playing with my cat Jing Jing and hope to adopt several more cats. Right now at this particular time in my life I think I'm addicted to forensic shows. If it shows how and what happened...I'm watching it. It may not make sense, but it does relax me.

Ayden: Favorite way to relax?

Linda: The beach. Not a crowded one. Sitting on a balcony in Mexico looking out onto the water as the sun rises is extremely tranquil and relaxing to me.

Ayden: Last question... If you were given the chance to start your career over, what would you do different?

Linda: I would more than likely start out as a poet so that once I started writing novels my readers would understand my need to be descriptive and have them "feel" the story. Other than that, I am enjoying the way my career is going. Writing full time is a satisfying life.

Ayden: Linda, thanks again for talking with me. I had a wonderful time.

To learn more about Linda, her available and upcoming novels, and other projects visit her website - http://www.lindadominiquegrosvenor.com.

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