Hi
Maria and welcome to Adventures in Authorland. Please get comfortable and tell
us about your adventure.
 |
| Maria Imbalzano |
What inspired you to write your first book?
I
read a lot and my go to books are generally romance. About fifteen years ago, I was reading a novel by a New York
Times bestselling author and was annoyed with the fact that she told us
something and then repeated the information three pages later. I thought, ‘we are not stupid readers. We
got it the first time.’ From there, I decided I could do this. Of course, I
couldn’t. I learned very quickly that it’s not as easy as a reader may think.
But I joined New Jersey Romance Writers and went to countless seminars and
conferences, trying to incorporate what I learned into the manuscript I was
writing. It has taken me a lot of time, effort and persistence to get to this
point, but I have loved every minute of it and look forward to continuing the
process for a long time to come.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Ten
years ago, I won the New Jersey Romance Writers “Put Your Heart In A Book
Contest” in the Long Contemporary category for my manuscript, “Weekend
Diaries.” That was a major contest and
one of the judges was Kristen Hannah. I
met with her after the conference and she said some very nice things about my
manuscript. Soon thereafter, I signed
with an agent and thought I was on my way. While several editors from different
publishers were somewhat interested, it never turned into a contract. However,
that ‘win’ gave me the confidence to keep at it and recognize that I would be
published someday.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve
written six manuscripts. UNCHAINED
MEMORIES is my fifth and the first one to be published. The first two books will probably forever
sit in my drawer. However, my third,
WEEKEND DIARIES, is my favorite and I plan to revisit it soon. It’s the story
of a NYC divorce lawyer, Samantha, who learns of her husband’s infidelity. She
is devastated and they separate. Sam
heads to the Jersey shore for a well-needed leave of absence from work and her
life. Four of her high school
girlfriends each take a weekend to visit and help her deal with her problems
while they shed some light on their own lives and issues. After coming to terms
with her pending divorce, she meets a local attorney whose past had intersected
with her and her friends ten years earlier. A shocking secret comes to light
which threatens not only the hero’s and heroine’s relationship, but that of her
friends.
In which genre do you prefer to write and why?
I
love contemporary, single title romance. I am familiar with the present and as
they say “write what you know.” It’s closer to real life and it’s easier to
draw from real life experiences – whether my own or someone else’s. While I will read historical, I know nothing
about that era’s lifestyles and it would take an enormous amount of research
and studying to learn it enough to write about it. I suppose I don’t have enough creativity to write paranormal
since I would have to build my own world.
Besides, I don’t like to read paranormal, so I know I wouldn’t want to
write it. Contemporary romance is the
place for me.
Do you belong to any non-writing organizations?
Since
I am a lawyer, I belong to several bar associations as well as the Mid-Jersey
Collaborative Law Alliance. I am also a member of the Matrimonial Lawyers
Alliance. In addition, I sit on two
boards. I am the Chair of the Special Events Committee and board member for Thomas
Edison State College Foundation and I am a board member of Dress for Success
Mercer County. With regard to the
latter two organizations, I am very involved in their fundraisers including The
Thomas Edison State College Foundation Grande Ball, their golf outing, Dress
for Success’ Cocktails for a Cause and Power Walk.
Do you see writing as a career?
I
work best – at anything – when I’m under pressure and don’t have enough time in
the day to get it all done. I fear that
if I didn’t have my day job to contend with, and had all day, every day to
write, I would not be as efficient as I am now. Of course it takes me two years to write a book, but I definitely
know myself, and while I might cut down on that two year time frame, I would
not have enough pressure to keep me in my chair at the computer. Then again, if I had a three book deal with
a major publisher with due dates (and a really nice advance), I could
definitely see writing as my only career.
Maria
Imbalzano is a matrimonial lawyer in central New Jersey where she not only uses
her law degree to navigate her clients through the court system, but her
psychology degree to guide them through their personal struggles. While writing
motions, legal memoranda, and briefs is fascinating, it pales in comparison to
creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys.
In
addition to practicing law and writing fiction, Maria enjoys spending time with
her husband and two daughters either at home or at the Jersey Shore.
Blurb
from UNCHAINED MEMORIES:
giving them a voice, and advocating for
their rights. She couldn't do it for her mother, so she does it for others,
even if it means losing the love of her life.
Dr. Clayton Montgomery believes in working hard and playing even harder, until
he reconnects with Charlotte. Barely noticing her crush when he tutored her ten
years ago, Clay has a chance to make up for lost time when the beautiful lawyer
comes back into town...until he discovers her chosen career path.
Now, philosophical differences soon become a reality and Charlotte is faced
with the choice of representing a client against the hospital and against Clay.
Will Charlotte give up her career and her tribute to her mother for a second
chance with the man who got away?
Excerpt UNCHAINED MEMORIES
He called on his memory,
pulling up their very last encounter.
“I’m
leaving for college today.” She stood tentatively in his office doorway, her
crystal blue eyes so expressive in their sadness. “I wanted to thank you for
all your help, especially with physics and calculus. I never would have done so
well without...you.” She avoided his eyes as her voice trailed off, choked with
tears.
His
heart constricted, startling him. He hadn’t anticipated the day she would no
longer be around; trailing him at the hospital, asking incessant questions,
teasing him for being so serious. His life was on overload with his internship,
not allowing him to realize the time he dedicated to her was not just
tolerated, but treasured.
He
walked around the desk, intending to give her a friendly hug, but when he took
her in his arms something changed. Her familiar flowery scent awakened his
senses as if he’d been in a deep sleep and he closed his eyes to heighten the
aroma. Her body fit against his like a shadow.
He fought the confusing stimuli. This was Charley,
his former patient and pupil. But that wasn’t who he held close, who he
breathed in. When had she become more than that?
Charley
hugged him hard, laughing through tears. “I hate good-byes.” Before making her
escape she added, “Dr. Collins has my information at school. Call me sometime.
Let me know what you’re up to.”
Clipped,
hasty words said with a matter-of-factness meant to cover up the emotions she
plainly felt. The same emotions that had just blind-sided him.
Then
she turned and walked away, her new life ahead of her.
Clay’s lips touched
Charley’s forehead as they circled the dance floor. He closed his eyes, taking
in the smoothness of her skin. Before he could stop himself he asked, “How’d
you like to go out to dinner one night next week?”
She pulled back to look
at him, as if to gauge his sincerity, or perhaps his motives.
“I...I don’t know.
Maybe.”
Disappointment moved through
him. Why was she being hesitant, cool? It wasn’t as if she didn’t know him.
Christ, he’d spent countless hours tutoring her. Even more time talking to her,
being her friend, so she wouldn’t feel so alone.
Could a decade erase all
that and make them near strangers? He didn’t think so. The second he’d realized
it was her tonight, the years had melted away. They’d fallen into easy
conversation. Since she was back again, why couldn’t two old friends reconnect?
In no time, the song
ended and Charlotte slipped out of his arms. “Thanks for the dance. I better
get back to my table and say my good-byes.”
He held onto her hand.
“Don’t go.” He didn’t know what else to say. It sounded so pathetic. But he
didn’t want the night to end. Confusion pulled at his brain. Why did he want
her to stay? Why was she so anxious to get away from him? They’d had a nice
talk earlier. All he’d done now was ask her out to dinner. But if she wasn’t
interested...
She gave an apologetic
smile. “Even though it’s the weekend, I have to go into the office tomorrow.
Prepare for trial on Monday.”
He had to work tomorrow,
too. Yet, he wasn’t letting that interfere with spending more time with her
tonight.
He released her hand. It
wasn’t his style to push. “It was really nice to see you again, Charley.” More
than nice.
Indescribable.
“If you change your mind
about dinner, give me a call. You know where to find me.” He raised her hand
and kissed her fingers. “Good-bye, Charlotte.” Backing away, he headed for the
door, an unfamiliar feeling of pure disappointment assaulting the pit of his
stomach.
Maybe it was all for the
best. He didn’t have time to rekindle an old friendship. Hah! Who was he
kidding? He didn’t want to be friends with her. His forte was casual affairs
with beautiful women. But that wouldn’t be right for Charley. She deserved
more.
And unfortunately, he
didn’t have more to give
Links:
For more information go to:
Website
Facebook
To purchase UNCHAINED MEMORIES go to:
Amazon
ITunes
The Wild Rose
Press
OR
Barnes
& Noble.com
OR
All
Romance
After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay
in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up
windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she
witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the
driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved
could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather.
