I'm excited to have romance author Judith Kohnen with me today on my blog! Judith is the author of the Mandy Story book series. Her latest installment, For the Love of Mandy, has just been released so I reached out to ask her a few questions about the book, the series and what's she's been up to since One Chance, One Moment came out. It seems that One Chance, One Moment has won several book awards since we last spoke. How exciting! Judith shares some other great information so let's get on with the interview...
Can you tell us a little bit about your new
book For the Love of Mandy?
This
new release is the sequel to the nine-time award-winning novel, One Chance, One Moment – originally inspired
by the oldies hit song from the 70s titled Mandy.
You know … the one who came and gave without taking, but he sent he sent her
away?
Anyway, For the Love of Mandy takes off right
from where the first book ended, but unlike the first book that sends the
reader off onto a humorous spin of unexpected romance, this second installment hurls
the reader into a world of danger and intrigue. Yes, still with bouts of humor
now and again, but also on a more serious note involving sacrifice, desperateness,
as well as that enticing emotion we call want,
and the more survival instinct we call need.
Any questions left hanging from the first book is answered in this second book.
The new book trailer – which I created in less than a week after a quick
self-learning period with Adobe Premier Pro – relays this shift where the
continuing story evolves into a more suspenseful mode. What the trailer does
not reveal is the stronger “family” aspect of this continued story, and how a
mere boy of nine-years-old teams up with his “new dad” to rescue the woman who
will make their life complete.
I
totally love Garry – the main protagonist male of this book – yet I’m totally
in love just as much with Eddie – who plays both protagonist and antagonist in
very unique ways. Who will end up with Mandy? Only one will.
This book is the second installment in your Mandy series, with One Chance, One Moment being your first. Is it necessary to read One Chance prior to reading For the Love of Mandy?
Oh no, one should be able to pick up the second book without reading
the first. However, my hope is that, no matter what, the reader will be curious
enough to want to read the first book if they should read the second first. The
fact that it reads without the necessity of reading the first book has been
proven by my step as an author to ensure this second book could stand on its
own. An editor of Writer’s Digest (second Draft Services, which I HIGHLY
recommend), and another avid reader from Readers’ Favorite Review service assured
this second had the ability to do just that. I would suggest to any author who
is writing a sequel, especially one that continues with the same exact
characters, to have their sequel read by those who have never read the prequel.
Maureen Dangarembizi for Readers' Favorite said this: “Though For The Love Of Mandy is the second and
last book in this series, it is easy to follow and connect the events that lead
to the explosive ending.” From Writer’s Digest editor Terri Valentine: “What a
perfect ending to the novel. You paced the drama and black moment followed by
the resolution perfectly. Great dialogue and sense of scene and chapter.”
What do you enjoy most about writing romance
novels?
LOL, why running away from the real world, of course! Reality is not
always what we hope it to be. Unfortunately, some of our wishes and life
happenings are not “novel” material, particularly concerning happy endings. I
think that’s what I LOVE most about romance novels. Nearly every one of them
has a happy ending. Of course, there are those like “The Titanic” and “Gone
With The Wind” that are a bit less than satisfying … yet with the Titanic,
there is that “Other Side” happy ending that was satisfying enough for me … and
with Scarlet & Rhett, my imagination was left believing that yes, surely,
they would find each other in some near future moment! I admit that I hate
unhappy endings (which is why I’ll never write one), and that I honestly write
romance for the happy ever after (no matter that challenges get in the way now
and then!).
Do you read many romance novels?
As an author, I wish I could say “yes” because frankly, the more
reading one can absorb in their daily life, the better writer an author can be.
An author learns from other authors … what to do, but mostly, what not to do.
In all honesty, I have little time in my day to read; however, it is always my
goal to make such time to see what others are putting out for their readers.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and thus, the reason I spend so much time on one
book. But I know what I put out is my best, or so I try. I’m not in for the
“how many can I produce to make the most income” but rather “how many I touch
and heal who needs healing or who needs a lift-me-up?” That might be my
downfall, yet I believe in it somehow – what I do; what I create. I know I have
a lot more in me that I’m not allowing to play out. My hope is that I’ll write
more in the near future. Read more as well. My focus now is putting out the
“stories that matter.” I’m presently reading authors who have managed to
retrieve a load of followers due to their ability to produce stories that
people are attracted to. So many different likes and dislikes out there. As an
author, the best work is produced as the result of what that author most loves
and is inspired by.
Will there be a sequel to For the Love of Mandy in the future?
For the Love of Mandy is actually the last of The Mandy Story;
however, the story does continue with Robbie – the nine-year-old boy who grows
to be a man. It’s a possibility that I will write some short stories that take
off from The Mandy Story. The book I’m presently working on is about the boy
from the first and second book of The Mandy Story, but twenty years later, who
works for NASA and quite intelligent and important in the U.S.A. This next book
(if it should be my next … as I’ve other books in mind, both fiction &
non-fiction that I’m working on), Robbie, will have his own romance. I’ve
actually placed a sneak peek at the end of FOR THE LOVE OF MANDY for this new
adventure that asks the question … how does a young man in a wheelchair teach a
girl about love, and a troubled one at that? You can bet it will have a load of
humor, fun, and lots of adventure. Will it have a happy ending? Well, what do
you think?
What important piece of advice would you give
new authors who are just beginning the publishing journey?
Since my own journey has been quite a challenging one, and not one of
those super success stories by any means, my best advice would actually not be
my own, but advice I received from one of my writer colleagues, author Marie
Force. WRITE MORE BOOKS. I’ve two books that are wonderfully written and
crafted well, and yes, I’ve earned much recognition – nine awards to date – but
until I produce what readers want … more from a particular author they enjoy
reading, what have I truly accomplished? Yes, two great books. But
unfortunately, in this fast world we live in, more is better. True, that’s
quite unfortunate. There is no real or successful marketing without product to
give. They like you. They want more. And then some. If it’s not there, readers
go elsewhere to find what they are looking for. So, what do you do? You focus
on writing. That’s my goal for 2018. Who knows what I’ll come up with if I put
my mind to it? Of course, I
have to have the confidence,
the willpower, and the motivation. That’s the hard part. But it’s obtainable if
I believe in me. In the author. So, my advice to you? Believe in YOU. And do
what you’ve got to do. Focus on writing. Writing more books. Good books with
good titles, and good plot. Write what people want. Get enough of you out
there, and you’ll get noticed in the end. Spending a load of money to get
yourself recognized isn’t really the key you’re hoping for. Producing more
books, though, may be your ticket in creating a dream come true.
Judith Kohnen is the author of One Chance, One Moment and the recently released For the Love of Mandy – Books One and Two of The Mandy Story. A nine-time award-winning author, Judith
hopes to continue to inspire readers with stories of hope, healing, and
entertainment.
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