Interview with Author JV LaMotte
Janice Lamotte Lavallee
I am presently in the process of returning to Massachusetts, the place of my roots.
I am presently in the process of returning to Massachusetts, the place of my roots.
Good morning, Janice. Welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors. What have you written?
My first novel is – The Peacock Butterfly - and I recently
finished the sequel - The Peacock Butterfly Redux – Second Chances - to be
released Fall of 2014. Waiting in the wings I have a children’s series to be
finished.
What is your favorite genre to write?
At the moment my genre is fiction comprised of contemporary
history and romance.
How old were you when you started writing?
I’ve been a storyteller my entire life, and somewhere along
the way I began to write. I began by keeping journals. I love travel and would
write in detail about trips I would take. The story of The Peacock Butterfly
came to me late in life.
Describe your perfect evening.
Dinner with friends and family with wonderful food and vibrant
conversation is my perfect evening.
Favorite food.
It is difficult for me to pin point a favorite food as I
live to eat, not eat to live. The enjoyment of food is a part of my life, and I
write about cuisine in both books. However, being a true New Englander among my
favorite foods are lobster, steamers and clam chowder.
What makes Janice LaMotte LaVallee laugh?
Who cannot laugh at the funny side of life? One only has to
listen to comics like Billy Crystal to see there is much humor in our daily
lives. I think we take ourselves too seriously most of the time. I find myself
guilty of this, as well.
Where would you like to visit?
I have a very long bucket list including a trip to Machu
Picchu, the Far East and a safari to Africa during the migration.
Favorite musical artist.
Yo Yo Ma tops my list. I have been following his career for
years. His growth as a musician is phenomenal and inspiring.
Do you listen to music when you write?
I do like background noise when I write - I have an eclectic
taste in music from jazz to blues to rock 'n' roll to classical - whatever is playing generally suits
me.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Life inspires me. People inspire me. Nature inspires me.
There is enough inspiration in these alone to inspire a person for a lifetime.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and
why?
It is not one person but an extended family of parents,
siblings, grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins and a cast of characters on a
farm where I grew up that influenced my life through unconditional love.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or
dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Since I am a storyteller I would like to sit down with the
first ruler of Sumer - King Etana of Kish from the region of ancient
Mesopotamia who lived before the invention of writing in c.3600 BCE. I would
like to know what he knew from the oral history of his time. I have a curiosity
of how civilizations evolved. There is so much missing in our history that
archeologists have yet to discover. It would be amazing to know what these
ancient people knew that we don’t.
Oh, you aren't going to believe this, but my husband has been going on and on about King Etana of Kish and his role to have scribes copy an epic poem (Gargamel? Gargamoosh? Gargamesh? I wasn't really listening to him.) in cuneiform. I had never heard of him before, now twice in one day. Wow. Who is your favorite author?
Not one in particular - Hemmingway, Updyke, Bellow, Antonia
Fraser and Oliver Bernier are at the top of my list -each for a different
reason.
Best book you ever read.
I cannot honestly answer this question, as there are too
many, but Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery the first book I remember
reading as a young girl left a lasting impression on me, and a thirst for
reading.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
When I need a break from writing, I concentrate on the
marketing and selling of the book, plus getting the sequel to the editor.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
When I told someone who writes for a prestigious magazine I
did not consider myself a writer, he told me that I had written a book
something he had been talking about doing for 20 years. He said that qualified
me as a writer. If one has the desire to write then the only advice I have is
to sit down and write. I think there are stories in all of us that are worth
sharing and telling, it just depends if one has the passion to write them down.
Do you have any links for us to follow you?
The book can be purchased from the
sites below:
For face book page, and web page
visit links below -
Thank you for being with us this morning, Janice. I just love the cover of PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. Come back and see us again. Wishing you continued success in all your writing endeavors.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Carol
Carol thank you for the opportunity to interview on Vision and Verse. I find life full of surprises like you hearing about the Epic of Gilgamesh from your husband then from the interview. Serendipitous!! I would love to come back when the sequel is published. Janice
DeleteI would LOVE to have you back when your sequel is published. Just let me know when you are ready. You are delightful.
DeleteHugs,
Carol