Welcome, J.J. DiBenedetto!!
1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(J.J.) I’ve been writing since at least junior high school. But I didn’t really finish anything of any length until after college, and I never really did anything with those stories. It’s not until about 3 years ago, when a friend sold her first novel, and I decided, “why can’t I do that, too?” and then I got moving.
2. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(J.J.) Usually, I try to work on a different story, or skip ahead to a scene I know I need later in the book, just to get myself writing something. It generally works. But there have been times I’ve gotten stuck for 2-3 weeks before I could really pick up writing again.
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
(J.J.) I’ve got my day job (in the marketing department of a large non-profit organization), taking care of my Mom, spending time with my wife, and then there’s being trained by my cat. All that keeps me very busy!
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(J.J.) It’s no secret with me – everyone knows. Friends and family are all very supportive, and I’m grateful for that!
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(J.J.) Frank Herbert, Stephen R. Donaldson, Nick Bantock, Alistair Reynolds, Katherine Kurtz – I think that’s a good start to a list!
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(J.J.) Obviously I’d love to see my own books on the screen. I think the Dream Series would make a fantastic TV series or series of movies on the Hallmark Channel or someplace similar. I can totally see Danielle Panabaker (Dr. Caitlin Snow on “The Flash”) playing Sara.
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| Danielle Panabaker – aka Sara |
For someone else’s book, I would love to see Mark Helprin’s “Winter’s Tale” adapted properly as a movie. I don’t know who I’d cast in it (but definitely not Colin Farrell!)
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(J.J.) I’m working on the final book of the Dream Series (Dream Wedding, out October 20th). Once that’s done, I’ve got a couple of ideas about what will come next, but right now all they really are is ideas and not even fully formed yet.
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(J.J.) All my books are on Amazon, and you can see them at http://viewAuthor.at/JJDiBenedetto. They’re in a series, so you should read from book one straight onwards – time passes and life happens to the characters as the books go on.
9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
(J.J.) Basically, THANK YOU! to everyone who’s read my books, everyone who’s been supportive and encouraging, and to my friends and family, my wife most of all.
Ok ladies and gents, before you run off, I want to share my thoughts on book 1 and 2 in the Dream series. I’ve also attached images for the entire series so make sure and check them out as well.
Oh and don’t forget to drop us a line below!!
College junior Sara Barnes thought her life was totally under control. All she had to worry about was her final exams, Christmas shopping, applying to medical school – and what to do about the cute freshman in the next dorm with a crush on her. Everything was going according to plan, until the night she started seeing other people’s dreams.
It’s bad enough that Sara is learning more than she ever needed to know about her friends and classmates, watching their most secret fantasies whether she wants to or not. Much worse are the other dreams, the ones she sees nearly every night, featuring a strange, terrifying man who commits unspeakable crimes. Now Sara wonders if she’s the only witness to a serial killer – and the only one who knows when and where he’s going to strike next.
Between adjusting to life as a newlywed and trying to survive the first month of medical school, Sara Alderson has a lot on her plate. She definitely doesn’t need to start visiting other people’s dreams again. Unfortunately for her, it’s happening anyway.
Every night, she sees a different person and a different dream. But every dreamer has one thing in common: they all hate Dr. Morris, the least popular professor in the medical school, and they’re all dreaming about seeing him – or making him – dead.
Once again, Sara finds herself in the role of unwilling witness to a murder before it happens. But this time, there are too many suspects to count, and it doesn’t help matters that she hates Dr. Morris every bit as much as any of his would-be murderers do.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Have you ever wondered what your friends or family dream about at night? Especially when you see them smiling or hear them talking in their sleep. Since I have two chatterboxes living with me, I admit I’m curious.
To walk in happy dreams would be a kick. Heck, I wouldn’t mind stepping into the mind of some wacky ones, too. Maybe not ones with giant ants though (referencing passage in book).
However, to step into the dream of a killer and watch helplessly as they end a life. Man, that’s rough. On one hand, you could do as Sara did and use the dreams to your advantage; save a life. On the other hand, you’re watching a murder unfold and might not be able to help. What that would do to a person’s psyche…. Can’t even fathom.
In Dream Doctor, Sara is engrossed into a more twisting mystery. She steps into the dreams of many “suspects” and has a real conundrum on her hands. Who wants Dr. Morris dead and who’s actually trying to kill him?
Doesn’t this sound like the theme to a Lifetime Movie? *grins*
My only small issue with the story was the jerky feeling I had while reading it. Comparison: Have you ever ridden with someone who was attempting to learn to drive a stick?
Stop. Start. Stop. Start. Repeat!
That’s how the flow of the book was for me.
However, I did enjoy “viewing” the dreams right along with Sara. J.J. made me, as a reader, feel like Watson to her Sherlock.
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
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