Close to Destiny :

My Adventure in Writing

At the beginning of the month, I had the pleasure to review Close to Destiny, by Adria J. Cimino. Today, I’m thrilled to post her guest-post:

Writing, just like reading, is always an adventure, transporting us to new places far from our everyday reality. How do I write? I collect adventures, interesting scenes and moments, memories of fascinating people and store all of this material in my mind. And then one day, there is a spark, bits and pieces connect, and a novel is born.

The story of “Close to Destiny”? Here’s how it all began…

Part I in the writing adventure

 

My inspiration started where much of the story takes place: In an elegant London hotel. I used to stay there for brief business trips a few years ago, and there was always something very mysterious about the place. Long, mazelike hallways, an eerie sense of calm, muted lighting… After a busy day, I would walk through the halls in the evening, expecting to see activity, and yet, everything was strangely calm. I would hear laughter from time to time, but impossible to find the source.

 

The words “What if…” came to mind, those exciting words that to me always mean a novel is taking shape. And so the adventure began late one night in my hotel room. Curled within a nest of overstuffed pillows, I scribbled a few descriptions, a few thoughts into my trusty fiction notebook. (A writer must always travel with her notebook.)

 

The setting began to emerge, along with the protagonist, Kat, who like me, was bewildered by this unusual place. Then, as always in the writing adventure, I broke from the reality of the hotel and myself, and the creation process took over. Kat took on her own very distinct identity. The setting grew into something quite imaginative.

 

Part II in the writing adventure

 

A lovely cruise ship, formal night, fine gowns and tuxedos. My husband and I wandered into the casino, and there met two extremely charismatic young men, who I knew would end up in one of my novels. The initial image, the feeling, my mind took a snapshot right then and there.

 

Part III in the writing adventure

 

And then of course, there is all that is imagination. That resulted in the final product: “Close to Destiny.” Once I had a couple of those “real life” elements stirring in my mind, my imagination had all that it needed to start working! The rest of my writing adventure took place on paper and in my mind. My characters came to life, inviting me to follow them on a voyage that was much more exciting than the little business trips that sparked the whole idea. And that is how it should be. As a writer, I hope my most exciting adventures are on the page and that I may share them with you!

 

A glimpse of “Close to Destiny”:

Does déjà vu have a deeper meaning?

A puzzling gift from a stranger in a hat shop. Whisperings and footsteps in a dim luxury hotel. Dreams that transport to elegant parties where champagne flows like water. Kat is both frightened and intrigued by the events that have plagued her since she arrived in London, in a final effort to save herself from anorexia and recover from her latest suicide attempt.

Most disturbing is an encounter with a mysterious woman who introduces Kat to Will. And this lovely messenger has information she desperately wants to share with Kat: an incident from more than a century ago that could transform Kat’s future. But will Kat listen?

A story of the role of destiny in life… and of righting the wrongs of the past.

Click here to find “Close to Destiny” on Amazon!

Adria J. Cimino is the author of “Paris, Rue des Martyrs,”
a novel about four strangers whose lives entwine in a Parisian neighborhood.
Adria lives in Paris and enjoys sharing her adventures in the city
and thoughts about the writing life in her blog “Adria in Paris.”
http://adriainparis.blogspot.com/

Previously, she worked as a journalist for more than a decade
at news organizations including the Associated Press and Bloomberg News.
Adria, who grew up in the sunshine,
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.

Website | Blog  | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter @Adria_in_Paris

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS BOOK

VERDICT: A hat may have more to it than it looks! Evolving in between the blurred lines of reality and past experiences, Cimino focuses on relationships between people. Rich literary fiction with a twist.

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