Isabella "Izzy" Church is an actress, singer, and writer: born in Sacramento, California, USA who is focused on film, television and music. Izzy attended Marymount Manhattan College graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Communication Arts, specializing in writing for film and television. To further her writing career she interned at DreamWorks for the head of the film and television department. Additionally, she pursued her acting studies with one of the top acting instructors in the country. Currently, Izzy is living in New York City and heading up a boutique Media Development Company called, Third Culture Creative. Website | Twitter ************************************************************************* Here is my interview with the beautiful and talented Izzy Church about her debut novel, a romantic comedy titled Angry Movie Guy. This is your first book. Why did you decide to write a book? What motivated you to write the Angry Movie Guy? I love to read and I love telling a good story. At the university, I studied screenplay writing for film and television, which is quite different from tackling a novel. However, a few kind words from the right people led me to begin writing, Angry Movie Guy. You have to be inspired to write, so you need to pick a theme or themes that motivate you or you’ll end up struggling to complete what you started. Angry Movie Guy combines several things that I love: romance, comedy, and movies. I like the book cover. Can you tell us more about it? Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? I’m glad you like it and to answer your question...yes, I do think the book cover plays a significant role in the buying process. It took several attempts before I achieved the desired results. Angry Movie Guy is a film critic who deliberately pans films, so I thought it was only natural to have him tied up by his love interest in film reel. Surprisingly, it was easier than I imagined convincing my friend to let me tie him up. George Campbell is a real trooper! Those are my legs on the cover of the book and the film George is tied up in is old sound tape, which was donated to me by the NYU film department. My design team at, Third Culture Creative completed the additional graphics on the book cover. How many hours a day did you devote to writing the book? Did you aim for a set amount of pages per day? Some days I would wake up and write till the sun went down. Other days, I would only write for a few hours. I never aimed to complete a set number of pages in a day however, I did create goals for myself when I hit the second and third phase of learning that writing is re-writing. Once the first draft of Angry Movie Guy was complete I basically had to re-write entire chapters…. enhancing, clarifying, and revising what I originally wrote. Therefore, I would devote a few hours in a day to re-writing a particular chapter and once the chapter was complete…. I would do it all over again. It’s like sports or playing an instrument. You don’t become a great musician or ball player over night… you have to practice and focus and be willing to take a few hits. How did you develop the plots and characters? I am not an organized writer. I hear that many writers need to have the beginning, middle, and end in front of them before they begin to write. They have notecards with character traits, etc. I find this to be restricting. It feels like I’m writing a paper or preparing for a test. I just write… and allow for the story to unfold. Of course, it all begins with a good idea, but the rest is like a good mystery… like how life unfolds before our very eyes. Plot holes can happen even if you plan out every little detail. Just like, how life hits us with unexpected twists and turns. It is essential, that when you discover a plot hole you don’t give up. There is always a solution. I suggest having your story read aloud to you. It helps to listen for plots holes or characters that need further development. What do you think makes a good story? The five elements of a good story are: inciting action, conflict, resolution, protagonists, and antagonist. Also, if your story surprises you every time you read it…. it’s a great story. If you laugh and cry every time you read it… it’s a great story. Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? I learned how to be patient with myself. What is your least favorite part of the writing process I guess the re-writing. It is tiresome to go back to the same chapter over and over looking for what you might have missed the last time you worked on it. If Angry Movie Guy were to be turned into a movie, which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead characters from your book? I need a strong comedic actor to play the part of Charlie (Jack Waters). There are so many actors who I think would do a great job, but lately I have been leaning towards Jack Black or Zach Galifianakis. For the role of Harry…it would be great if Woody Harrelson or Sam Rockwell played the part. For the female roles… I would love to play the role of Alex (Evie Greene). I wrote this as a vehicle for myself as an actress. And for Samantha, I believe Zooey Deschanel or Ellen Page would be a great fit. Of course, you never know who is going to deliver the best reading, so I’m open to being surprised. What makes your book standout from the crowd? I don’t think it is your typical romantic comedy. I am a big fan of Charlie Kaufman’s work. His imaginative story telling techniques inspired me to add a lot of quirky unforeseen elements into the mix. Can you share a little about your current or upcoming projects? Sure, I have several projects in development. However, two projects are near completion. The first is a graphic novel and animation project titled, Suffer Club, which will most likely appeal to a select demographic. For those of you who enjoy: Family Guy, Simpsons and King of the Hill you will most likely be drawn to the wit and humor of the Suffer Club. I am very proud of this project! Finally, I am allowing myself to share the quirky and funny images that have graced my sketchbooks for years. The second project, is a young adult-children’s book titled, Dr. Pookie & The Case of His Missing Thought. I love this story… it makes me laugh every time I read it. I wrote and illustrated the chapter’s book and my goal is to make it a series. Can you tell us something unique about you? Hmm… I guess people find it interesting that I tackle multiple mediums: artist, singer-songwriter, actress, and filmmaker. While it has it challenges to work in multiple mediums it also is quite enlightening and beneficial! It helps you to grow as a person, artist, and writer. Oh! I am also a big fan of street art and graffiti! Anything additional you want to share? It would mean a lot to me if you checked out my e-book and if you like it please help spread the word. The print version will come out in November, but it is available for pre-order now. Also, I have created some amazing bonus gifts for those of you who pre-order the novel. Thank you Izzy!
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The author who decided to be a writer, so she could inspire people the way her late father inspired her....... that's Cassandra Stangle. Let's get to know her more and her newest book, Wings of Darkness and Flames. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? "Well, I always wanted to be a writer , my mother showed me a picture of me in pigtails at about seven holding a paper and a pencil, grinning. She said that I was wiring a story about a Leprechaun." When and why did you begin writing? "I started about seven but, I wrote my first book when I was ten. It was a fantasy about the prince saving a princess from a monster, the normal little girl dream. I wanted to write because of my parents. My mother was a bookworm and always read to us. My father wrote short stores and poems, but only for my mother and us kids. I really focus more on it after my father passed away wen I was nine. I wanted to make him proud, it's my way of honoring his memory. " What inspired you to write the Wings of Darkness and Flame? "Well, two things happened. Fist, I had a dream about this couple walking in a park at night and they were attacked by a monster of shadows. The man made a flaming sword and fairy wings burst from his back. He killed the monster then I woke up. Second, that morning my roommate had a new CD playing wile we were cleaning. It was about fairies and magic. I started writing then and a year later, it was finished. Tell us a little bit about the cover art. Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? "I wanted the cover to to be wings so it is tied to the title of the book. Each book in the series will have a wing title and cover art to link them all together. It also makes easier for the readers to find them. Yes, i do think that the cover is important in the buying process. When I'm looking for a book I have three steps: 1. The cover has to jump at me in some way, whether it's the pic or the title. 2. The blurb on the back has to be enticing and would make me ask a question. 3. I read the first chapter, and if it isn't interesting, I put the book back." How much research did you do for the book? What are some of the references that you used while researching? It took me 6 months to get all the info I needed for the book series. I looked up at all the myths and legends on the Fae and Fairies, Fairy - Wikipedia , Fairies - Fact Monster , Faeries ~ Truth and Legends of the Fairy Folk. and monsters, Mythological Monsters, Then I looked at 3 different languages to make my own, etc. What makes your book stand out from the crowd? "It is original, nothing like you have ever read before. My friends have said it's fiery passion, blood lusting, heart pounding action, with soul searching destiny, all rapped into the battle between Good vs Evil with characters that jump off the page." What was the hardest and easiest thing about writing the book? "The hardest part about writing the book was creating my own language for the characters to use. Also, researching all the different types of faeries was quite taxing. The easiest thing I had to do was creating and developing my characters because they practically came to life on their own." How do you use social media to promote your book? "I have a Facebook page, and I use the book bloggers website. If you have any other ideas, let me know." Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it? "NON-FICTION. I believe that books are a way to escape the normal day of life in to a world far from what we know. " How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books? "I love print books. I love the feel of paper between my fingers. the feel of the leather binding, and the smell. All books smell different , not just the smell of paper but the ink and some even smell like flowers. Ebooks are colder because they are on a device They are also more modernized and print books are becoming obsolete slowly which saddens me. What project are you working on now? "The second wings book, "Wings of time and silence." It will be coming out Summer of 2016." Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers? "When you pick up one of my books, you will be taken into a wold far from what you know, to be sounded by wonder and magic. You will see things that you have never heard of, and meet creatures that dwell in the wold of dreams. Come and see places that baffles the imagination and tantalizes the senses, follow the unique people and witness their lives as they battle the meanest of nightmares, meet legendary figures, and find their soulmates in the world of fantastic magic." Thank you Cassandra! |
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