Since
that life-changing conference, Monique Domovitch has published nine books, four
with Penguin using the pen name Carol Ann Martin, two with Harlequin using her
own name, and another two with Lansen Publishing. Scorpio’s
Kiss was previously published as two novels, Scorpio Rising and The
Sting of the Scorpio. Scar Tissue, her latest, is her ninth novel
and she is hard at work on her tenth.
A great believer in the energizing
power of writers’ conferences, she says that if not for that first conference
she attended, she would not be published today.
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Scorpio's
Kiss is a spell-binding tale of love, ambition and greed that will keep the
reader turning the pages until its surprise ending. Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real
estate, Scorpio's Kiss takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s
through
the tumultuous lives of its heroes.
There is
Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns
to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming
a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in
the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves.
Half a
world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a
benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an
ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her
art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early
abuser.
Domovitch’s novel is a compelling
tale, filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the
power of ambition. Scorpio's Kiss promises to resonate with all who once had a
dream.
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Giveaway!
Monique Domovitch is giving away 5 paperback and 5 ebook copies of SCORPIO’S KISS!
Terms &
Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- Five people will be selected to win one of five paperback copies and five people will be selected to win one of five ebook copies of SCORPIO’S KISS
- This giveaway begins April 18 and ends on July 18.
- Winners will be announced on Monique’s tour page on July 19.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Thank you for this
interview! I’d like to know more about
you as a person first. What do you do
when you’re not writing?
Thank you so much for having
me. When I’m not writing I’m most likely reading, or cooking. I like to cook so
much that I have a Facebook page dedicated to gluten-free recipes. I was
diagnosed with Celiac five years ago and have been on a quest for great
gluten-free recipes since. When I find them, I post them. To the interested,
look for Skinny Recipes. But chances are, if you’re trying to reach me anytime
between 9 and 6, I’m probably writing. It’s what I love to do.
When did you start writing?
I started writing as a child,
short stories that I would read to my siblings and their friends. I can’t even
count the number of books I started writing but never finished throughout my
life. Scorpio’s Kiss was the first one I actually finished. I’ll never forget
the thrill I got when I typed those words, The End. I felt as if I’d just given
birth. I popped open one of those miniature bottles of bubbly and cried.
As a published author, what
would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?
If it hadn’t been for the San
Diego Writers Conference, which I attended back in 2010, I would not have been
published as soon as I was. I had only decided to make a go of writing as a
career about eight months earlier. I attended a seminar called The Slush Pile,
where one had to submit the first page of their manuscript to attend. And then
in a scene straight out of American Idol, the judges--editors from one of the
big publishing houses--read the first line of each manuscript, which they then
critiqued. The judges were harsh, and as I watched the pile get smaller and
smaller, I dreaded them getting to mine. I’d worked so hard at my novel, I
didn’t have the heart to hear any discouraging remarks. And then, all at once,
mine was being read. But instead of stopping after the first line, the judge
kept reading. She went all the way down the page before slapping the page down
on the desk. Uh, oh, I thought, Here it comes. But instead of the criticism I
was expecting, she exclaimed, “This is great. It makes me want to read the
rest.” And then the magic words. “Whoever wrote this come and see me at the end
of this class.” Needless to say, I am a big believer in the power of writers’
conferences.
If you could go anywhere in
the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?
That’s what I’m doing right
now. I’m in Key Largo Florida where my next novel is set. The time is the
sixties when Hurricane Donna came roaring through the Keys, destroying
everything in her wake. The morning it rages through Key Largo, something
happens that will forever change the lives of all the characters. It will be
decades before the mystery is solved and everything is laid to rest.
If you had 4 hours of extra
time today, what would you do?
If I had four extra hours I
would hire a boat and go looking for one of the fabled sunken treasures in the
area. In some places the water is so clear, you can see right down to the bottom
of the ocean. And then I’d probably use the experience for a scene in some
future book.
Where would you like to set a
story that you haven’t done yet?
Hm. Lets see. I like romantic
locations. Maybe Montreal. There is something quite romantic about the Paris of
North America. Not only that, but, having lived there for thirty years, I know
it like the back of my hand. I’d love to bring that city to life for readers.
Back to your present book, Scorpio’s
Kiss, how did you publish it?
Of the nine books I’ve written
and published, Scorpio’s Kiss is the first that I’ve self-published. Scorpio’s
Kiss is such a departure from my other novels that I wanted full control on
every aspect of the publishing process. I didn’t want anyone to dictate cuts or
changes to morph it into something closer to my previous works. This genre is
what I love and where I want to go from now on.
In writing your book, did you
travel anywhere for research?
Yes. And I had such fun doing
it. Scorpio’s Kiss is located in New York and Paris. Poor me. I had to
fly all the way to those two cities to really get a feel for them. Sad ain’t
it?
Why was writing Scorpio’s
Kiss so important to you?
I loved writing this book so
much it practically wrote itself. I loved the characters, all of them, even the
truly detestable ones. In fact, those were the characters I loved best. They
were so much fun to write. All the planning and plotting. It’s way more
interesting to write devious people than to write nice, polite characters.
Where do you get your best
ideas and why do you think that is?
It is no secret that the main
character in Scorpio’s Kiss was inspired by Donald Trump. Back in the eighties,
I was friends with Ivana Trump and we kept in touch after she married. I had
the privilege of visiting the Trumps’ many homes and meeting Donald. He is such
a colorful character, I couldn’t help but create a fictional character based on
him. Having said that, I have to tell you that the book is entirely fiction.
All the events happened strictly in my imagination.
Any final words?
I hope you all enjoy my novel,
Scorpio’s Kiss and take a moment to leave a review on Amazon. This
author will be eternally grateful.
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