Welcome Brianna Martini, to Love Romances & More. We are excited to have the opportunity to speak with you and learn more about your work. 

To start off with, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?  

 I’m a full time mom of two wonderful children and foster parent of 2 children, depending the complicity of there situation. I love children and as a former early childhood teacher it keeps me  young at heart.  

Your name is so pretty. How did your parents pick out your name? 

Thank you, thank you for the compliment. lol….honestly I never asked.  

How long have you been writing; was it something you have always wanted to do? 

 I have been writing all my life and coming from a studious and journalistic background my father wrote for an Italian daily, and we had our own radio broadcast for 18 years.   In fact we used to publish an Italian monthly magazine, LIRI. I interviewed and reviewed many debut authors. Since my father passing  last year, I have ceased the publication of the magazine, but have setup a new publishing division within the publishing company we are  coming out with a series of new projects.   

What influenced you to get published? How long did it take you to get your first book published?  

My father influenced me to write, he was and is my inspiration, my grandmother inspired me, also Sir. Richard Branson, Jenna Jameson and my soulmate.  

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing? 

Developing recipes/cooking and reading go hand in hand for me it’s a passion as much as writing. I enjoy teaching and I’m mentoring 8 new authors, two have signed a contract with a major publisher. Fundraising is another love of mine, and I make sure that I’m always involved in one project a month throughout the year.  Of course I also like knitting,  and needlepoint.  I have knitted scarves and mitts for the homeless which I have been doing for the past 6 years. I also enjoy illustrating/arts, photography, horse back riding, long walks, fishing with my boys, motorcycling, and songwriting.  I’ve had numerous lyrics set to music and recorded.    

Often a writer’s first book is the toughest to write. Was this true for you? If so, what helped you get through it? If it wasn’t the first, which one was the most difficult to write? The easiest?  

I have been writing all my life, so I knew that I’d put a pen to paper and write a full novella or novel one day. My first short story was published when I was 7 in a local newspaper and I haven’t stopped since then.  Poetry I began reciting and mom of course wrote them when I was three years of age, at 4 I won my first poetry, at 8 I won three short stories contest  then a few novellas and two novels. 

White Wolf and My Harley is a very intriguing title for a book! Can you give us a little synopsis of this book? 

lol, this started out as a short story, which ended up being published in All Romance eBooks website last year here’s the link: http://allromanceebooks.com/newsletter61-2007-07-27.html.  I have received many emails asking for a full length novel or novella. I’ve decided to write it as a novella.  It will be released in August , and the full length novel will be released in paperback in October for the holidays.    

I see you like to write poetry as well as novels. Do you find that both types of writing take the same talents?  

Yes it does take both the same talents since I’m writing from my heart, what I feel is expressed through my writing. For some writers this might be a difficult task from switching from poetry to novels, for others it might be easy as it is for me.   I enjoy incorporating my poetry, original recipes and spells  into my novellas and novels. 

Do you usually outline your stories before you write, or do you "go with the flow"? 

It depends what I’m writing. Some days I might be on the public transit and see something or someone that might trigger my creativity and I take notes of what I want and feel at that time and then proceed to write the story. Other times I write as I’m writing a movie script in sequences, and visualize the main characters. Last novella I decided to do something different by writing the ending first then precede with the complete story.  I think the story developed quiet well, and will use this method again.   

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?  

Oh heavens yes, I’m an avid reader of romantic literature. I love reading, and if the books are autographed they sit in my classic shelf library at home.  Then I have the ones that  enjoyed reading and hold a special place in my heart in total I have approx 10,000 + paperbacks, hardcovers, young adult novels and children picture books.  Of course my favorite ebooks are all saved on my eBook Reader (Sony) and who knows how many memory cards I got in my case.  

My favorite authors are too many to list but my classic ebooks files consists of Bertrice Small, Sabrina Luna, Ann Cory, Vanessa L. Gilfoy,  Bianca D’Arc, Annette Blair, Marly Matthews, Laura Baumbach,  Marianne La Croix, Jeannie Botham, Margaret Moore, Emile Richards, Mary Balogh,   C.L. Wilson, Margaret Atwood,  Gabriella Amora,  H.H. Self,  Anya Bast, Lorilei James, Sean Michael, Megan Hart, Joanne Fluke, Bella Andre, Charolotte Boyett-Campo, Beth Williamson, Mardi Ballou, Alessia Brio, Jourdan Lane, Audra  and Stella Price,  Savannah Corrente,  Emma Holly, Anthony Chase,  Lauren Dane, Annmarie Ortega, Brenda Joyce, Charlene Teglia, Bertrice Small, Mark Henry, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mandy M. Roth,  Audrina Leone, Portia Da Costa, J.E. D’Angelo, Toni Andrews, Constance O’Day Flannery, Lucy Finn, Gena Showalter, and Harlequin series  authors,   and may others for a list please check out my personal website at http://www.briannamartini.com and http://www.myspace.com/briannamartini.

I’ve recently decided to donate all of my paperback romance novels to a few local cancer hospitals, women shelters, pregnant teenagers homes and seniors citizen’s residences.  

Do you find it difficult at times to write love/sex scenes?

Ah, yes I found it difficult to write a bi sexual scene and  threesome when I started out. Now the scenes come naturally since I’ve done a study on the male and female g spot in fact I got a book coming out, The Male and Female G Spot and Squirting Phenomena.   I’m happy that I did the research since I got rid of my difficulties by researching many topics and and viewing websites, and DVD’s, reading a few  publications,  and ezines. I know that many readers will email me therefore here is a short list of the publications, Playgirl, Variations, Penthouse Letters, Variations, Penthouse Forum,  Ruthie’s Club, Oysters and Chocolate,com, Jane’s Guide, Sensual Food Stories Magazine,  Bust Magazine and a handful of others;)  

Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"? If so, what did you do to get passed it? Have I heard those words before? 

Yes I have and still do suffer from writer’s block just like every writer that I know does. I always think of  Luciano Pavarotti, he  suffered from stage fright (which I don’t.) yet he still went on stage.  He said once “I carry my security blanket with me all the time it’s my handkerchief.”   Mine is reading and relaxing. If I suffer from complete MWB then I go out for a walk or meet  with my friends, play soccer with my children or  cook up a storm.

Writer’s block is something that can strike anyone at anytime especially if you’re under tremendous pressure. And daily stress doesn’t help. In my case loosing my beloved father and mentor last year, and then grandma and my favorite uncle and aunt and scores of friends have been to much for me. I just couldn’t stop writing poetry and stories. My only release was writing. Therefore, what I had and still have is the opposite of suffering from a writer’s block.  I’m not sure what it is called but I’m happy with what I’m doing at this at time.  

If you could write and be guaranteed publication of any genre of book, what would it be?  

As a muliti genre published author, I have three non fiction books coming out this year, one is the Male and Female G-Spot which and the Squirting Phenomena will contain chapters and information on squirting. The second book I have co written with Jovella Nasci,  How to Become a Professional Book Reviewer, and the third book is Gestational Diabetic and Diabetics. This book will contain over 100 original recipes for diabetics/heart and stroke disease. 75% of the royalties from the Gestational Diabetic will be donated to the Diabetic Association.

If there was one genre I would write would be an inspirational novel. Of course I would complete my erotic thriller if I knew a publisher would guarantee publication.   

Are you working on anything right now? Can you tell us a teaser about these projects?  

Beside the above, I have 6 of my Italian paperbacks being translated into English for North American release sometime this year and next year. All of them are erotic romances, except for two one is second volume of a best selling poetry and a cookbook and the second is a children picture book.

Two more in releases in projection for the holiday season White Wolf and My Harley  and the Santa and Mrs. Claus short story which was published exclusively on Myspace and my official website  last year holiday season. With over 1,000 emails request, I’ve decided to write a novella.  The both will be released electronically, audio  and paperback.   

Any final advice to aspiring authors?  

Yes write about your favorite genre and topic. Don’t be afraid to write by totally express yourself. You are the first person to read your own work. If you don’t like your story you can always delete or throw out what you wrote  and start again. Never ever give up.  This is something that my father always told me, and no matter how hard it is for me right now. I won’t give up on my dreams. I wrote this right after my father died and it’s dedicated to him.

Words of Gold

By Brianna Martini

Copyright 2007

The words that you speak

are your personal expressions from your soul.

The publisher that publishes your book,

sets a wheel in motion to enhance the public mind.

Your stories and poems are your gift of literacy

to the world.

Your books are your diamonds,

Your words are gold,

Your readers

 a part of your life. 

Thank you so much for spending time with us at Love Romances & More. We wish you the greatest success in all of your future endeavors.

Thank you Penny for interviewing me and for giving me this wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Love Romances and More.