If I had to describe myself, it would be in a word that has many meanings with a complexity which falls off the tongue.
A word made up of many elements, is deceptive in appearance, and creates an illusion from the imagination.
My word would be Phantasmagoric. ~Summer Ross

Monday, February 7, 2011

Author Interview

Today I am interviewing Stephanie Haefner author of A Bitch Named Karma.
 If you have any questions for the author please place them in the comments section.




 Stephanie's Bio:
Stephanie Haefner is a wife, mother of two and novelist from Buffalo, NY. Her debut, A Bitch Named Karma, is available from Lyrical Press. Her shorter works have been published in Nickel City Nights: Erotic Writing in Western New York, Flash Me Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Voices from the Herd. She is a member of the Buffalo Writers Meetup Group and when not writing, she enjoys dance, scrapbooking, and Disney World. Visit her at www.stephaniehaefnerthewriter.com.





Summer:  Many people find writers to be "Odd" or "eccentric"- are you? If so how?

Stephanie: I honestly don't think I'm eccentric, but I guess you'd have to ask my family and friends! I think everyone has their quirks and mine happen to be that I am anally organized and I like things to be in their exact right spot! But other than that, I'm kinda boring!
 

Summer: How do you juggle your family life and writing?

Stephanie: My daughter is in school, so with only one child home during the day, I can usually get some work done. But on the weekends, no so much! One of my New Year's resolutions was to find more time to write and one major change we've made is Tuesdays. That is my work day and when hubby comes home, the kids are his for the rest of the evening. He makes dinner and gives them their baths, then gets them into bed. It's only one day, but I can usually get some decent work done.
 

Summer: When you created A Bitch Named Karma what kind of feedback did you expect, what kind did you get, and what was your honest reaction to them?

Stephanie: The story has gone through many changes, and for the most part, everyone's reactions were positive. Lexi, my main character, is very sassy and says what's on her mind. Some of her thoughts and actions, the sex scenes and language, was a little shocking to people. The reaction that bothered me the most was my mom's. She had a hard time accepting that "her daughter" wrote such descriptive sex scenes and used such language. It hurt me that my mom could not separate the book and the writing from me as her daughter. I wished she could just read it and enjoy it and not think of me as she read it. But in the end, mostly everyone loved Lexi.  It was a real struggle to find a home for the story, and many of my friends and writers group members just could not understand why no one wanted to publish it.
 

Summer: Has this experience changed how you will write future books?

Stephanie: No. I write what I feel and I have to stay true to myself. I'm not going to change my style for anybody.
 

 Summer: What can we expect from you next?

I actually have two short novels releasing this year from Lyrical Press. The first is Paradise Cove in March, and then Soap Dreams in June! I am also hard at work on the sequel to A Bitch Named Karma, titled Karma Kameleon. It's finished, I'm just perfecting it before I submit it to my editor!
 

 Summer: Finally do you any advice for aspiring authors?

Just keep writing. Practice really does make perfect! And find a supportive critique group. I would be no where without my writer's group!

Thanks so much for interviewing me! It was lots of fun!

****

And thank you Stephanie for being such a good sport with my questions. It was really great to see your view point on your book and family life.

If you are interested in A Bitch Named Karma you can check it out HERE
Stephanie also has her blog which you can take a look at HERE

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18 comments:

Melissa said...

Fabulous interview! I heard this book was good. I'm going to have to go check it out.

DL Hammons said...

Great interview! That was interesting reading about her mom's reaction. :)

Carolyn V said...

Great interview guys! I love Stephanie's advice to just keep writing. I need to take that advice for myself. =)

Stephanie said...

Thanks again Summer!!!!!!!!

Old Kitty said...

What a great title!!! Makes me want to discover what's it all about!! Thanks for a fab interview with Stephanie, Summer Ross!!! I hope Stephanie's mum is now ok with Stephanie the writer. Take care
x

Stephanie said...

Thanks everyone!!! My mom loves that I am an author, but she just had some trouble with her "little girl" writing some of the scenes! I felt the need to remind her I am 33! LOL!!

Raquel Byrnes said...

Family ties...the situation with your mom sounds hard. I know its hard for moms to separate their daughters from the career woman they've become. Congratulations on your upcoming releases!
Edge of Your Seat Romance

Lindsey Edwards said...

What a great interview Stephanie and Summer!

I love the covers for your new short story titles Stephanie, I saw the pics on your blog! *squee*

Angela said...

Great interview! I'm glad Stephanie found a good home for her novel.

Golden Eagle said...

Great interview, Summer and Stephanie!

Margo Benson said...

Great interview! I'm so glad Stephanie stuck to her literary guns with her novel and didn't bend to what others may have wanted - an important lesson, thank you!

LTM said...

super interview, Summer! And glad to meet Stephanie. I've heard of this book, so I think she must be doing well with it--I love the title. All the best~ :o) <3

Summer Ross said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Jules said...

Late again but great interview. Interesting, my mom does the same thing with my writing. Sometimes she even calls to verify things :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Stephanie said...

Thanks Raquel!!

Lindsey, thanks so much!! I am so excited about the new releases this year!!

Thanks Angela! It truly is a story in never give up. Funny how it happened and as soon as it did, it felt like the perfect place for my book...like it had been waiting this whole time for me to find Lyrical Press!

Thanks Margo!! Hope I can be an inspiration to other writers!!

LTM, thanks so much!!

Colene Murphy said...

Awesome interview ladies!!

Jeff Beesler said...

Hi, Summer, just wanted to let you know you got an award on my blog on Monday. Congratulations!

Stephanie said...

Thanks Colene!!

Summer, the Linky thing for my blogfest expired...the site now charges. So I have a new sign up form on the page!

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