BLOG TOUR: Author Interview - Joe Abruzzo

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place that aims to please come rain, snow, wind or LIFE....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  ^_^

So.  It's the day before Thanksgiving and all is ...well, not well per se but managed at least.  This afternoon we'll have a new refrigerator...yay!  Hopefully that will put the holiday feast back on track and a cold glass of Diet Coke in my hand.  (*yum*)  In the mean time, I plan on feeding your need to read with a little Q&A today....sound like a plan?  I thought so.  Our guest "speaker" comes to us courtesy of Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc and features an author celebrating their recent release, Curious about the book? I thought you might be.  Here's a peek inside the cover...

Dogs Running a Hill

by

Joe Abruzzo

Whether he is bird hunting on the plains of Kansas or conducting search-and-rescue in earthquake-shattered Turkey, there is always a dog at Jay Gerinni’s side. The one constant in his tumultuous life are the dogs that supply him with adventure, companionship, fierce loyalty—and protection. Jay and his beloved Lee Anne are living the American dream in their country home when problems with a psychotic neighbor begin to escalate. Can he protect the very creatures who would give their lives for him?

 

DOGS RUNNING A HILL, based on the screenplay “A Day in Dog Years,” will touch the heart of dog lovers as Jay questions his faith in God and confronts the evil that lives next door. Anyone who shares their life with an animal companion will identify with the unconditional love of Jay’s dogs and how deeply they affect his life. The story weaves its way through Jay’s aging memories as his growing relationship with a series of canines helps him find comfort, direction, and hope. 

 

As Jay faces his own mortality, the secret that he has kept covered for many years threatens to overtake his peace of mind.  Can the canine friends he has devoted his life to now be the answer to his own salvation? DOGS RUNNING A HILL is a unique and inspirational story of love, devotion, and friendship between a man and his dogs. 

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Sounds interesting, right?

There's mystery, danger, a search for self and something bigger than us...and of course, dogs!  ^_^  Sorry, big dog lover here and stories that feature them tend to pull a little harder on my interests at times.  That being said, when the opportunity to participate in this tour came around, I had to decline the read (schedule is too full right now...but perhaps in the future) but said YES to the Q&A; after all, it's always fun to learn more about the mind behind the work.  With that in mind, please join me in welcoming author Joe Abruzzo....

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INTERVIEW:  Author Joe Abruzzo

Q. Please tell us about your current release.

Even after reading the synopsis, you could still actually consider the novel as a triple love story with a lot of twists and turns. An unconditional love between a man and his dogs, an unconditional love between a man and his wife, and a questioning love between a man and his God. This is certainly no "Lassie Come Home Story" and is designed to hit on all cylinders when it comes to emotion and reason. Hopefully the reader will come away thinking about the story days later.

Q. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I wanted to write about the consequences of vulnerability. If you love something, anything (even dogs) you are at risk. Somebody or something can get to you.

Q. Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

Having been a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild), I was privy to a lot of screenplays, movies, actors, directors etc. I felt that what was missing was a unique story, different than the tired old sequels & boring films that the Hollywood bean counters continued to come up with. So, I wrote an original screenplay that I felt was different, passionate, and lasting. We had the ear of CAA (Creative Artist Agency) and a seasoned Director named William A. Graham. Unfortunately, Director Billy was severely injured forcing the project to be put on hold. To keep the story out there, I converted the screenplay into a novel. Sounds ass backwards, and probably is, but these were the cards we were dealt.

Q. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about the book?

Nothing about the book, but as far as the overall project, I would have considered going digital (relatively new at the time) rather than 35 mm. We could have accomplished this at a lower budget before Director Billy's accident.

Q. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Although fiction, one still needs to pull on his/her own experiences for knowledge and authenticity. In my case, it became very emotional at times. I had lost eleven dogs in the past eleven years including the six on the cover of the book.

Q. Do you have a musical play list you listen to when writing? If so, what kind of music?

Music is the unsung hero of any inspirational creation. For promotional purposes, we actually created a 30 minute CD that alternated between narrative of the story and snippets of music ranging from classic instrumental to 'twangy' sounding country, and everything in between.

Q. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Don't think I really have any. But I did carry a small notebook & pen with me where ever I went.

Q. Do you plan any subsequent books?

Vulnerability again. Losing your identity (identity theft) but this time it would be a comedy.

Q. Please tell us your latest news.

Nothing really new .... just trying to stir the pot to create a buzz about the story for not only the novel, but the film as well.

Q. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

One needs to know that there is no wasted word or slug line in a screenplay. This concept was transferred to the the novel; meaning that speed reading would not be recommended.

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Special thanks to Liz at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc for the chance to participate in this blog tour and to author Joe Abruzzo for taking the time to answer our questions.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour as well as those upcoming, be sure to visit their official site or stop by BookTrib for more bookish fun.  For more information on the author, stop by his site and say hi!  This book is available now so be on the lookout for it on a store shelf near you.

Until next time...happy reading!