About Alison Caiola:
Award-winning author, Alison Caiola’s, many years in Hollywood as a writer and PR Executive qualify her to write about the entertainment industry, as she does so well, in the best selling page-turners, The Seeds of a Daisy,The Silver Cord, and upcoming novel The Family Bond. Hollywood is the backdrop in all three books, whose stories are wrought with gut-wrenching emotion, heart-stopping adventure, and real laugh out loud moments. Alison’s writes in the women’s fiction, general fiction and popular fiction categories.
Alison Caiola has written scripts, screenplays (mostly romantic comedies) and articles in popular lifestyle magazines. Like Daisy, in The Seeds of a Daisy, Alison has a son–J.D. Daniels–who is a successful, award-winning actor and author.She currently resides on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island with her Malti-Poo daughter-dog Emma, surrounded by vineyards, farms and wonderful friends
What inspires you to write?
I am deeply inspired by people and their stories. Ever since I was a child, I loved to listen to people talk about their lives and experiences.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process begins in my head. I create stories and “scenes” in my head while I am driving, in the shower, exercising, daydreaming, and even when I am meditating. When I feel I know where the story is going, I sit down and write. Most of the time I have my characters already fleshed out in my head, but every once in a while during the writing process a character will emerge that I had not previously thought of and almost take on a life of their own. When that happens, it’s always exciting!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I hear my characters voices as I’m writing them. During my first book in The Lily Lockwood Series, The Seeds of a Daisy, there was one particular facet of the book that was most difficult for me to write. It was full of emotion and was inspired by a particularly difficult event in my own life. It brought back such sadness for me that I stopped writing for six months. In that time, I promise you, I almost heard Lily, the protagonist, saying: “C’mon Alison, we’re all waiting. Time to bust a move and get back to the story!”
What advice would you give other writers?
My advice for other writers is to surround yourself with writers that you respect; join a writing group or network online and off. When you’ve found writers that you trust and have built your “community” then share your books. I always tell young writers to be open to constructive criticism. After you listen, evaluate it, choose what you believe to be constructive and discard the rest.
I find it important and extremely rewarding to mentor young writers or ones that are in the earlier stages of their writing careers. I have had wonderful mentors in my life and know that significant advice from someone who has been where you are, can be life-changing.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have done both: self-publishing and I’ve also published with a publisher. Both have their up and down sides. In both circumstances, marketing and knowing who you’re readers are is of great importance. I came from a marketing background and climbed the ranks in the entertainment industry in Hollywood to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. So I have a bit of a foot up in knowing how to craft a proper an impactful marketing and promotion strategy. My advice to others, whether you self-publish or go the tradition route of a publisher, surround yourself with people who can help you get your book out to the world. There are many online courses and also book marketing companies that I find extremely helpful. Right now the publishing landscape in changing at such a rapid pace that authors have more control, more opportunities, and more challenges than any other time.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I feel the future of publishing will be more of a hybrid: a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing. We are seeing those particular models emerge now. Hybrid publishing companies are becoming quite popular where they offer a team: editors, artists, marketers to work closely with the author. When the book is finally published and marketed, all the team members share in the profits. I feel this may be a way for a gifted author to separate themselves from the crowded space of self-publishing, while still being able to maintain more control.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Women’s Fiction, Suspense, and Contemporary Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Alison Caiola Home Page Link
Link To Alison Caiola Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
