Author Interview: Irene Wittig

About the author:
I have led an international life. I was born in Rome, started school in Buenos Aires, returned to Europe, back to Argentina, finally arriving in New York when I was seven. Grew up surrounded by fellow Europeans displaced by persecution and war. Was an art student at the HS of Music and Art, and a language major at City College. Had a Fulbright to Germany. Took a freighter to Italy and stayed five years. Married on the isle of Capri. Moved to Virginia. Twenty years later, my husband and I lived in Switzerland for six years. We now live in Arlington, Va. near our daughter and her family, and look forward to visiting our son and his family in their new home in Capetown, South Africa.

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
I would not describe myself as a romantic fiction writer, but love is an essential part of both my novels.

Tell us about how you write.
I write slowly. I imagine my characters in circumstances perhaps not of their own making, but circumstances they must find their way through. "What would they do now?" is probably the question I ask myself most often.
I also revise a lot as I write because it makes me think. I find rushing through the plot and going back to revise does not work for me.

Do you listen to or talk to to your characters?
Not exactly, though I am always thinking about what they would say in the circumstances in which they find themselves.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
Write a book that you would like to read, and that is meaningful to you.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
Age was a deciding factor for me. I figured it might be years before I found an agent, and the agent found a editor who was interested, and the editor got approval by the business manager, and and and, so I decided to self-publish.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think self-publishing will become more and more important.

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook, Print