BIO: Adrienne Giordano USA Today bestselling author Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and mystery. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog and Lady Jane's Salon-Naperville, a reading series dedicated to romantic fiction. To sign up for Adrienne’s newsletter or for more information on Adrienne’s books please visit: http://adriennegiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiordanoAuthor, Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads athttp://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGiordano. For information on Adrienne’s street team, Dangerous Darlings, go tohttp://www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousdarlings.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who are your literary influences and why?
Adrienne Giordano: There are so many. I love good storytelling. Whether it's the classics or modern genre fiction, I want to be transported from my everyday life. I've always been an avid reader. The first book purchase I made on my own was from the Bookmobile at my grammar school. The Bookmobile would show up a couple of times a year and each class was allowed to wander through. On my first trip, I bought The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. The book came with an album (yes, I said album!) and I'd sit and read along as I listened. I can still here the narrator's voice saying "Little brother, where is your light?". That was over forty years ago and I still remember it. I think that was my "aha moment" where I recognized that books weren't just words on a page, but the art of storytelling. As a reader, I want a book to hit my emotional hot buttons. As a writer, I try to do that in my work.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Why do you write?
Adrienne Giordano: Well, the easy answer is I love creating stories. I've always been a dreamer. As a kid, I had a stable of imaginary friends and I'd stay up late (don't tell my mom!) spinning tales for them in my head. A lot of kids grow out of their imaginary friends. I never did. I'm also a curious person so my mind is extremely active and writing is an amazing outlet. A few years back, I read an article in the paper about a wrongfully convicted man. All I could think about was the years he'd lost with his family. My mind starting wandering and before I got up from the table I had a plot idea that eventually turned into The Prosecutor. My curiosity makes me always want to know more about things I encounter. And that usually leads me to a plot.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who is Lucie Rizzo?
Adrienne Giordano: Lucie is the daughter of a notorious Chicago mob boss. She's Chicago's very own mob princess and she's spent her adult life trying to be more than Joe Rizzo's kid. She's smart (an MBA from Notre Dame), ambitious, and a tad temperamental. The temperamental part is probably what I have the most fun with because it gives her a comical edge when her older brother annoys her. When Lucie is downsized out of her banking job, she's forced to give up her Chicago apartment and move back home. In order to bring some money in while searching for another banking gig she starts a dog walking service that immediately lands her in the middle of a mystery. Along the way, she's forced to swallow her pride and accept help from her family. She also learns that running away from Lucie Rizzo, mob princess, isn't as easy as she thought.
BooksAndAuthor.com: DOG COLLAR CRIME (the 1st book of the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries) came out strong with great reviews and well received. In your opinion what makes this series different in the mystery genre?
Adrienne Giordano: This book is part light mystery, part romance, and part women's fiction. It's different in that it doesn't really fit into one genre. It's a mystery at its core, but it's also about Lucie's ability to grow. I wanted to write a book about a woman in her twenties who had a plan and then had to regroup when that plan blew up. More than that, I wondered what it would be like for someone like Lucie, a solid, honest citizen who'd never been in trouble to constantly be snickered about because of her lineage. I wanted to show Lucie's grit and her drive to succeed. She's a proud Italian girl ready to show the world just how powerful proud Italian girls can be.
BooksAndAuthor.com: DOG COLLAR KNOCKOFF (2nd in the series) hits bookshelves soon) - What can readers expect in the 2nd book?
Adrienne Giordano: In Dog Collar Knockoff, Lucie finds herself smack in the middle of another mystery and this one involves a painting she helped her client acquire. Of course, Roseanne, Lucie's BFF and the Queen of All Things Fabulous and Lucie's brother will be back to help (and sometimes hinder) the investigation. There are a few surprises regarding Lucie's personal life and Roseanne's as well. Overall, readers can expect the same zaniness (maybe a little more) the Lucie's crew provided inDog Collar Crime.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Being a multi-genre author (romantic/ suspense/mystery) how do you shift from one series/genre/character to another?
Adrienne Giordano: It's actually a ton of fun to write in multiple genres. The Lucie Rizzo series gives me an opportunity to work on lighter, funnier projects. I find switching back and forth to be a great cleansing of the mind. One thing I have trouble with is drafting two books (no matter what genre) at the same time. My brain just doesn't like to work that way. I find I can draft a book and edit another, but that's about it. Right now I have four projects on my desk. I'm drafting one, doing revisions on another, doing final grammar edits on the third and researching the fourth.
BooksAndAuthor.com: If Hollywood called today and asked you to cast a Lucie Rizzo film - Who do you cast and why?
Adrienne Giordano: Oh, this is fun. I think the two most important characters to cast would be Lucie and her best friend Roseanne. Their dynamic is always so interesting to me. They are complete opposites but the relationship they have is amazing. For Lucie, I'd want to cast a young Sandra Bullock or Reese Witherspoon. Lucie has a lot of sides. She can be sweet, funny and has the ability to look wholesome or sexy. Mostly, she likes being in her jeans and sweatshirts. In short, Lucie could be everyone's best friend. I'd love to see Jennifer Lawrence as Ro. Ro is a hoot to write. She doesn't take any nonsense from anyone and is fiercely protective of Lucie. She's also a diva with a wicked sense of humor. Pretty much, I want to be Ro when I grow up.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What do you hope to achieve with the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries ?
Adrienne Giordano: What I hope to achieve with all of my books is to give readers enjoyment. There's nothing better than receiving reader emails telling me how much they loved my books. It's always on my mind when writing. If I've made someone smile, I've done my job. It's all about the reader.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What's next?
Adrienne Giordano: Plenty! Next month Red Sole Clues, an anthology that includes Dog Collar Limbo, a Lucie Rizzo novella, will release. Then in May, Dog Collar Couture, book three in the Lucie Rizzo series, will be out. I'm also finishing up edits on Deadly Odds, a stand-alone romantic suspense that will release this summer. Misty Evans and I are also working on Protecting Justice, our next book in the Justice series. Also on deck is Living Fast, a romantic suspense that is part of the Steele Ridge series. This is a jointly written series with Kelsey Browning and Tracey Devlyn. I'm thrilled about this collaboration and can't wait to see the books roll out. I'm writing Living Fast, book two in the series Reid Steele is the main character in the book and he's been chattering in my ear for months now. He's an alpha male who never shuts up (even in my head!) and I'm excited to push him to his limits. The Steele Ridge series will be out in October. It's going to be a busy and exciting year.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who are your literary influences and why?
Adrienne Giordano: There are so many. I love good storytelling. Whether it's the classics or modern genre fiction, I want to be transported from my everyday life. I've always been an avid reader. The first book purchase I made on my own was from the Bookmobile at my grammar school. The Bookmobile would show up a couple of times a year and each class was allowed to wander through. On my first trip, I bought The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. The book came with an album (yes, I said album!) and I'd sit and read along as I listened. I can still here the narrator's voice saying "Little brother, where is your light?". That was over forty years ago and I still remember it. I think that was my "aha moment" where I recognized that books weren't just words on a page, but the art of storytelling. As a reader, I want a book to hit my emotional hot buttons. As a writer, I try to do that in my work.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Why do you write?
Adrienne Giordano: Well, the easy answer is I love creating stories. I've always been a dreamer. As a kid, I had a stable of imaginary friends and I'd stay up late (don't tell my mom!) spinning tales for them in my head. A lot of kids grow out of their imaginary friends. I never did. I'm also a curious person so my mind is extremely active and writing is an amazing outlet. A few years back, I read an article in the paper about a wrongfully convicted man. All I could think about was the years he'd lost with his family. My mind starting wandering and before I got up from the table I had a plot idea that eventually turned into The Prosecutor. My curiosity makes me always want to know more about things I encounter. And that usually leads me to a plot.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who is Lucie Rizzo?
Adrienne Giordano: Lucie is the daughter of a notorious Chicago mob boss. She's Chicago's very own mob princess and she's spent her adult life trying to be more than Joe Rizzo's kid. She's smart (an MBA from Notre Dame), ambitious, and a tad temperamental. The temperamental part is probably what I have the most fun with because it gives her a comical edge when her older brother annoys her. When Lucie is downsized out of her banking job, she's forced to give up her Chicago apartment and move back home. In order to bring some money in while searching for another banking gig she starts a dog walking service that immediately lands her in the middle of a mystery. Along the way, she's forced to swallow her pride and accept help from her family. She also learns that running away from Lucie Rizzo, mob princess, isn't as easy as she thought.
BooksAndAuthor.com: DOG COLLAR CRIME (the 1st book of the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries) came out strong with great reviews and well received. In your opinion what makes this series different in the mystery genre?
Adrienne Giordano: This book is part light mystery, part romance, and part women's fiction. It's different in that it doesn't really fit into one genre. It's a mystery at its core, but it's also about Lucie's ability to grow. I wanted to write a book about a woman in her twenties who had a plan and then had to regroup when that plan blew up. More than that, I wondered what it would be like for someone like Lucie, a solid, honest citizen who'd never been in trouble to constantly be snickered about because of her lineage. I wanted to show Lucie's grit and her drive to succeed. She's a proud Italian girl ready to show the world just how powerful proud Italian girls can be.
BooksAndAuthor.com: DOG COLLAR KNOCKOFF (2nd in the series) hits bookshelves soon) - What can readers expect in the 2nd book?
Adrienne Giordano: In Dog Collar Knockoff, Lucie finds herself smack in the middle of another mystery and this one involves a painting she helped her client acquire. Of course, Roseanne, Lucie's BFF and the Queen of All Things Fabulous and Lucie's brother will be back to help (and sometimes hinder) the investigation. There are a few surprises regarding Lucie's personal life and Roseanne's as well. Overall, readers can expect the same zaniness (maybe a little more) the Lucie's crew provided inDog Collar Crime.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Being a multi-genre author (romantic/ suspense/mystery) how do you shift from one series/genre/character to another?
Adrienne Giordano: It's actually a ton of fun to write in multiple genres. The Lucie Rizzo series gives me an opportunity to work on lighter, funnier projects. I find switching back and forth to be a great cleansing of the mind. One thing I have trouble with is drafting two books (no matter what genre) at the same time. My brain just doesn't like to work that way. I find I can draft a book and edit another, but that's about it. Right now I have four projects on my desk. I'm drafting one, doing revisions on another, doing final grammar edits on the third and researching the fourth.
BooksAndAuthor.com: If Hollywood called today and asked you to cast a Lucie Rizzo film - Who do you cast and why?
Adrienne Giordano: Oh, this is fun. I think the two most important characters to cast would be Lucie and her best friend Roseanne. Their dynamic is always so interesting to me. They are complete opposites but the relationship they have is amazing. For Lucie, I'd want to cast a young Sandra Bullock or Reese Witherspoon. Lucie has a lot of sides. She can be sweet, funny and has the ability to look wholesome or sexy. Mostly, she likes being in her jeans and sweatshirts. In short, Lucie could be everyone's best friend. I'd love to see Jennifer Lawrence as Ro. Ro is a hoot to write. She doesn't take any nonsense from anyone and is fiercely protective of Lucie. She's also a diva with a wicked sense of humor. Pretty much, I want to be Ro when I grow up.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What do you hope to achieve with the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries ?
Adrienne Giordano: What I hope to achieve with all of my books is to give readers enjoyment. There's nothing better than receiving reader emails telling me how much they loved my books. It's always on my mind when writing. If I've made someone smile, I've done my job. It's all about the reader.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What's next?
Adrienne Giordano: Plenty! Next month Red Sole Clues, an anthology that includes Dog Collar Limbo, a Lucie Rizzo novella, will release. Then in May, Dog Collar Couture, book three in the Lucie Rizzo series, will be out. I'm also finishing up edits on Deadly Odds, a stand-alone romantic suspense that will release this summer. Misty Evans and I are also working on Protecting Justice, our next book in the Justice series. Also on deck is Living Fast, a romantic suspense that is part of the Steele Ridge series. This is a jointly written series with Kelsey Browning and Tracey Devlyn. I'm thrilled about this collaboration and can't wait to see the books roll out. I'm writing Living Fast, book two in the series Reid Steele is the main character in the book and he's been chattering in my ear for months now. He's an alpha male who never shuts up (even in my head!) and I'm excited to push him to his limits. The Steele Ridge series will be out in October. It's going to be a busy and exciting year.