An Interview with Author Linda Rondeau

Sylvia: Hi Linda, it is such a pleasure to interview you.  Please give our readers a brief introduction of yourself and a little about your book.

Linda:  My name is Linda Rondeau and I am an award winning author.  I write for the reader who enjoys a little bit of everything. My stories of redemption and God’s mercies include romance, suspense, the ethereal, and a little bit of history into the mix, always served with a slice of humor. Walk with my unforgettable characters as they journey paths not unlike our own. After a long career in human services, mother of three and wife of one very patient man, we now reside in Florida where I am active in my church and community.

Sylvia:   Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Linda:   We need not become locked within our emotional pain.  Samantha Knowles was abused as a child. Rather than turn her anger inward, she sought to help other abused children through her work as a Special Victims prosecutor. Still in deep sorrow following the tragic drowning of his wife and son, Jonathan Gladstone struggles to break free from his pain and to renew his artistic talent. However, the villain, Harlan Styles, does become trapped in his childhood abuse. He justifies his poor choices and sees himself as a victim with the right to avenge.

I hope the reader will understand that part of the human condition is to experience pain. We need not let our pain swallow us in bitterness. Rather, we can find an outlet as we learn to forgive those who wronged us and turn our negative experiences into gain.

Sylvia: Yes, pain is something we all must endure. How we choose to deal with it can be a major factor on the outcome.

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been successful?

Linda:  The whole marketing scene has been akin to an amusement park experience. Some rides are worth going around a second time. Others, not so much!  I am using blog exchanges and blog appearances primarily while I am lining up public appearances at churches, libraries, stores, and organizations. I have discovered that these are more successful with face to face contacts rather than cold phone calls. I am finding that the best marketing tool is a satisfied customer. As readers express their enjoyment and share the book with their families and friends, I am seeing the fruit of word of mouth advertising. I am always ready to discuss my book and keep copies on hand for those unexpected encounters.

Sylvia: What inspired you to write your first book?

Linda:   The Other Side of Darkness is my ninth book and first published novel. I wrote my first novel in 2002, currently titled The Scent of Water, a story of three women finally confronting their pasts, inspired by a reunion with a cousin I had not seen in nearly twenty years. I wrote the Other Side of Darkness as I explored how an adult woman might cope with childhood abuse years later. I chose to set the book in the Southern Adirondacks for its historical importance and my familiarity with the area.

Sylvia: Wow, 9 books… you are one writing lady! Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Linda:   We need not become locked within our emotional pain.

Sylvia: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Linda:    Don’t give up. I received the call for my first book contract; eleven years to the day I made a commitment to become a professional writer.

Sylvia:  Linda, why should we buy your book?

Linda:   In addition to its’ entertainment value, The Other Side of Darkness is a powerful testament to the human spirit as my heroine struggles to rise above the pain of childhood abuse.  While the book is suspenseful, it is also filled with humor and characters that I hope will live with the reader for quite some time.

Sylvia: Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

Linda:   I love to write in my home office and I prefer to use my desktop, perhaps because it feels more like a typewriter. I like the sound of clink-clink as I write. On occasion, I will write with my laptop out on the patio or take it with me to a quiet place. I am fortunate to have a quiet home now that my children are grown.

Sylvia: What is your POWER WORD?  Why this word? (A power word is a word that has great effect to the person hearing or reading it. My power word is EMPOWER) 

Linda:   Overcome. I believe that God did not intend for us to wallow in our trials. My favorite verse is, “I have come that you may have life, life to the fullest.” John 10:10. While this world does have it share of difficulties, I firmly believe God gives us the Grace and Power to overcome.

Sylvia: Wow, I like that Power Word!  

Both Harlan Styles and Samantha Knowles experienced childhood abuse. Yet the outcome of their lives is vastly different. Why?

Linda:   Many readers comment that my villain is “evil.” In, The Other Side of Darkness, my villain shares a similar background as the attorney who prosecuted him and the one upon whom he seeks revenge. Yet, the end result is much different.  Samantha Knowles chose the path of a living, vital faith that buoyed her from her painful childhood experiences. Harlan Styles chose to hug his pain, using it to justify a life of crime. He slides down a slippery slope of poor decisions.

Sylvia:  Linda, where can my readers buy your book?

Linda: Readers can go to Amazon

Sylvia: Linda, it’s been a pleasure

Linda: Thank you, Sylvia. I appreciate the opportunity.

Contact:
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Me_jOBFVM
Website:  http://www.lindarondeau.com
Blogs: http://lindarondeau.blogspot.com/; http://backinthedaze-linda.blogspot.com/;
Email: lrondeau@gmail.com

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