Donna it is a pleasure to be
interviewing you. Congrats on winning the BRAG Medallion. Please tell me about
your book, The Grave Blogger.
The pleasure is truly mine! Thank you so
much for the opportunity to speak with you and your readers. Winning the BRAG
Medallion was a thrill that I'll never forget.
The Grave Blogger story centers around
Raya, a freelance writer and blogger who researches cold cases for true crime
websites. During her research, she stumbles upon a 20-year-old case dubbed the
"Bayou Family Slaughter" case. The newspaper account of this horrific crime
immediately causes a psychological reaction in Raya, with disturbing sights and
sounds reverberating through her mind. Though they feel very real, Raya is
unsure if these are memories or hallucinations. Determined to uncover the truth,
she heads to the scene of the original crime - the small South Louisiana town of
St. Felicity - to investigate the Bayou Family Slaughter case.
When she arrives, Raya gets help from Nick Simoneaux, a young St. Felicity
detective who has reopened the old case, but is Nick hiding family secrets from
Raya? Raya is uncertain if there is anyone in St. Felicity she can trust. Is the
murderer still living in St. Felicity or nearby in the mysterious but scenic
bayous?
As Raya reveals St. Felicity's secrets,
she unravels the mysteries of her own past, and discovers that hidden secrets
often lead to danger - to herself and to those she loves.
The premise for your story is intriguing. Who or what inspired you to
write this book?
I've been a blogger for about ten years
now, so I thought it would be fun to make blogging the occupation of the main
character. Once I determined that, I asked myself, "What does this character
blog about?" The idea of blogging about unsolved cold cases came to mind, and I
decided then that I would enjoy reading such a blog, so it just seemed like the
perfect start to developing an interesting character who finds herself embroiled
within one of the cold cases she is researching.
Is there a particular reason why you chose South Louisiana for the
setting of your story?
The easy answer would be to say that I
was born and raised in South Louisiana, so it's less challenging to write about
familiar territory. However, while that's true, it's not the entire reason.
South Louisiana, with its many bayous and its haunting past, provides a natural
setting for a mystery / suspense novel. In addition, the Cajun population
naturally contains its share of "quirky" characters, and I wanted to infuse the
tense drama with some lighter, sometimes funny, moments. Finally, I believe
readers enjoy learning about new places and cultures, without having to think
too hard or being made to feel as though they are being educated. South
Louisiana provides plenty of rich experience through landscape, history, and
culture that keeps readers engaged and interested.
Where there any challenges in writing, The Grave Blogger?
The biggest challenge in writing The Grave Blogger was my own propensity
for second-guessing myself. Since this was my first novel, I was constantly
wondering if this thing was any good or not. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to
distance myself enough from my writing to be a completely objective judge, but
hopefully, the second-guessing will lessen to some degree over time.
The other main challenge is one that I'm sure is all too common - time - or
the lack thereof. My "day job" and life in general makes it difficult to devote
much time to writing, so the majority of the book was written late at night. I
suppose the late night writing sessions may have even contributed to some of the
darker moments in the book.
What is your next book project?
The Grave Blogger is the first in a series. I'll be writing several more
that involve the same main cast of characters. Each subsequent book, however,
will focus on a different character than the others. So, for example, The Grave
Blogger's main character was Raya. While she will still play a significant role
in every book of the series, she won't be the main focus. Nick, Dustin, Sharon,
Elise, and perhaps others will get their share of the spotlight in future
novels.
Will you self-publish again?
Absolutely! That's not to say I would necessarily turn down a publishing
deal, but I do love the control that comes with self-publishing. There are
benefits and drawbacks to both traditional publishing and self-publishing, but I
don't regret taking the self-publishing route at all. It's been a very positive
experience for me.
What is your favorite genre to read?
I love a good mystery! I'm not terribly picky about
the sub-genre. Traditional mystery, hard-boiled detective, police procedural,
suspense, or thriller...I'm happy with them all.
What are you currently reading?
I just started reading "The Exiled
Element" by John L. Betcher. I've only read 6% so far (according to my Kindle),
but I'm already enjoying it. I especially like the main character, Beth. She has
spunk and wit to complement her brains and skills.
How did you discover indieBRAG?
My sister told me about it. I have no idea how she discovered indieBRAG,
but obviously word of mouth is still a powerful force in marketing.
What is your favorite quote?
"You'll never shine if you don't glow".
This is a lyric from an old Smash Mouth song called "All Star". The video is a
little silly, but the lyrics really do pack a lot of meaning. This particular
quote is actually my motto; it's definitely one of my life's guiding principles.
That line can probably be taken any number of ways, but I interpret it this way:
Find the spark within you; the joy, the
life, the wonder of yourself and let it out! Share those special parts of
yourself with the world, and you'll find that the tiny spark begins to glow,
eventually resulting in a light that shines brightly in many positive
ways.
Author Bio:
Donna D. Fontenot is a blogger,
novelist and web geek. Born and raised in South Lousiana, she grew up in a
typical Cajun family that cherished good food, good football, and good fun. Her
technical skills led her to a career in web development, but over time, the
creative side weaved its way into her life, leading to work that encompassed
online marketing, blogging, and now...writing suspense novels. You can find out
more about her at DonnaFontenot.com or browse her book's website at
www.TheGraveBlogger.com .
A message from BRAG:
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Donna Fontenot who is the author of, The Grave Blogger, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as The Grave Blogger merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.
Thank you!
Stephanie
www.bragmedallion.com
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