Featured Author
Vincent Annunziato
About the Author
Vincent Robert Annunziato published his debut novel, Status the Game, in 2014. He was born on Long Island, New York. He graduated Sachem High School, and received a B.S. Degree from Hofstra University in Television Science. Vincent spent several years in Hollywood working for various production companies. He eventually wound up landing a job with the government, marrying a wonderful woman, and raising three beautiful children. After thinking the dream of becoming a writer had passed him by, Vincent wrote his first novel on an Amazon Kindle HD tablet while commuting to work.
Vincent Robert Annunziato published his debut novel, Status the Game, in 2014. He was born on Long Island, New York. He graduated Sachem High School, and received a B.S. Degree from Hofstra University in Television Science. Vincent spent several years in Hollywood working for various production companies. He eventually wound up landing a job with the government, marrying a wonderful woman, and raising three beautiful children. After thinking the dream of becoming a writer had passed him by, Vincent wrote his first novel on an Amazon Kindle HD tablet while commuting to work.
Status the Game
Now Available!
Read our review here
Vincent was kind enough to join us for an interview! We are excited to learn more about his novel, and to hear about any future projects he may be up to!
Interview:
MBB: How long have you been writing, and what were your earliest inspirations?
Vincent: I started out trying to make it as a Screen Writer/Director when I graduated college in 1987. Things didn’t work out the way I thought and I wound up falling in love, raising a family and taking a hiatus from all things entertainment. Now some 26 years later I’m writing novels. I will say that writing never left me throughout my hiatus, it simply nudged me very patiently to get going.
MBB: What approach do you take to begin writing?
MBB: What approach do you take to begin writing?
Vincent: I am a bit of an artist cougar and I allow my inspirations to carry me through the first act of the book. I spend the most time here and try to really iron out the characters, plots and sub plots. I am very particular to pacing. I usually listen to top 40 songs while I write and manage to not hear a word they are singing.
MBB: Please tell us a little about your book.
MBB: Please tell us a little about your book.
Vincent: Status The Game was my first entry into writing novels and it has been very successful for me. The novel was quite challenging to write, since I had to work between two worlds, the gaming world and the real world and make sure that they intertwined. I use the tag-line “The game that is too dangerous to stop playing.”Ultimately, readers will find the novel to be very contemporary and I believe quite thrilling. It really depicts our generation of internet savvy gamers and socialites and how they interact. You’ll find themes in here that even the adults can relate to such as: Inappropriate relationships between teachers and students, cyber bullying, guns in schools, etc.
MBB: Did your book require any special research or preparation?
Vincent: This question is more associated to the conceptualization of Status and the answer is no. But an interesting point is the way in which Status is designed. I tried to break some ground by replacing chapters with game rules. So when a reader reads it, they will feel like they are learning about the game as the main character is. I thought it was a nice way to really pull the reader in. Some people have thought it jarring at first, but then they appear to get swept into the story.
MBB: What do you like most about writing in the Young Adult genre?
MBB: What do you like most about writing in the Young Adult genre?
Vincent: I love Young Adult. The readers at this level want to get transported to other worlds where they can get lost in a writer’s playground. There is a certain innocence and anxiety of this age group that translates very well in the characters I like to deal with.
MBB: What advice do you have for other writers who are just starting out?
Vincent: First - Get a good editor! Make sure you do a development edit and then have the copy edit done. Spend some time straightening the story out. Second – Get a great cover design! Covers sell. I don’t care what people say. If you can't attract readers, you will get passed over. Third – Read up on marketing novels.
MBB: What are your plans for future projects?
Vincent: I am currently working on 33 Degrees, which is a dystopian future where the ice age has hit and the second civil war has hit. It will publish in 2014 and my daughter absolutely loves it (she’s 16)!
MBB: If you were stranded on a deserted island with all the published works of just one author, who would it be?
Vincent: Tough, tough choice. I will have to go with Mary Shelley – I want to discover the mind of a young woman who wrote such a classic at the age of 15 and in so short a time. I have been enamored with the story of Frankenstein.
MBB: Is there anything else you would like to add?
MBB: What advice do you have for other writers who are just starting out?
Vincent: First - Get a good editor! Make sure you do a development edit and then have the copy edit done. Spend some time straightening the story out. Second – Get a great cover design! Covers sell. I don’t care what people say. If you can't attract readers, you will get passed over. Third – Read up on marketing novels.
MBB: What are your plans for future projects?
Vincent: I am currently working on 33 Degrees, which is a dystopian future where the ice age has hit and the second civil war has hit. It will publish in 2014 and my daughter absolutely loves it (she’s 16)!
MBB: If you were stranded on a deserted island with all the published works of just one author, who would it be?
Vincent: Tough, tough choice. I will have to go with Mary Shelley – I want to discover the mind of a young woman who wrote such a classic at the age of 15 and in so short a time. I have been enamored with the story of Frankenstein.
MBB: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Stephanie - TY for taking the time to discuss Status with me. It is so refreshing to find someone willing to give a new indie a chance! I love your blog! Hope your readers are interested! Stay Strong! Stay Loyal!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vincent! It was a pleasure!
Delete