Dave Ferraro


I'm excited to have Dave Ferraro here today!  I first met Dave when he was assembling a sample of Indie Authors to put into a free book titled: Dark Muse.  I was shocked and excited when he asked me to participate, I was familiar with two of the authors that had already signed up (Shannon Dermott & Christie Rich) and was beyond excited to be invited.  It has been a real pleasure for me to get to know him and I wanted to introduce him to all of you as well! 

1. What do you look for in the books you read?  Initially, I look for a book that sounds interesting, with a good hook, but I am really influenced by reviews.  If a lot of people are talking about a book, I'll probably give the synopsis a look and listen to what people are saying about it.  Just because a book gets a negative review doesn't mean that I won't read it - I like to see what reviewers did not like about the book and then decide if that would effect my personal enjoyment of the book.  If someone didn't like a book switching between viewpoints, for instance, that wouldn't bother me, so I would still be willing to read it, even if the reviewer recommended skipping the book.  I also give more weight to reviews from a professional critic, such as appears in Publisher's Weekly, but if many readers have the same reaction regarding a book, I would definitely pay attention to that consensus.  When it comes to story, I do like a fantasy aspect to the books I read, from supernatural to dystopian, but it really all comes down to the characters.  If I don't connect with the characters, then I really don't care what happens to them in regards to plot, so I tend to like those books that are more character-driven as well.  A good hook is important, but if not executed well enough for me to care about the parties involved, it's going to fall flat for me.
 
2. Who is your favorite author? Favorite book?  Graduating with a B.A. in English, I read a lot of the classics, and to this day, I keep up with reading them.  I feel like being exposed to good writing like that, I sort of learn it through osmosis, and it makes me a better writer.  So, I have to go with the classics on this one.  My favorite author, hands down, is Jane Austen.  Her books are witty, romantic, and when I'm reading them, I feel like I'm stepping into another world.  They're just a lot of fun.  My favorite book is "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by Ann Radcliffe, which Jane Austen referenced several times in "Northanger Abbey" (the protagonist was obsessed with the novel).  It's a book that has everything:  It's epic, full of action and heroics, forbidden romance, dark villains, and a dreary castle that's full of mystery and wonder.  It's an important work of Gothic literature that I wish more people would be exposed to, but it's a daunting, huge book, so I can understand people being wary of jumping in.  
I feel like as a young adult author, I should answer this question for those in my field as well.  My favorite YA author, comes down to a tie between Christopher Pike and L.J. Smith, both being huge influences on me growing up.  I would pick up new books (actually written by them) in a second.  I was obsessed with L.J. Smith's books as a teen (I was citing "The Vampire Diaries" as my favorite novels for a long time), and Christopher Pike is just a master at writing books on all sorts of subjects, with such confidence, that I can't help but constantly be impressed by him.  And I feel like my favorites change a lot, but I would say currently, my favorite YA book is either "The Monstrumologist" by Rick Yancey, or "Star Crossed" by Elizabeth C. Bunce...or "Paranormalcy" by Kierstin White.  lol
3. What is the best part about being an author?  I just love the act of writing.  Dreaming up characters and worlds, having those characters interact with one another, is just a lot of fun.  I derive so much pleasure from it - I just can't see myself ever stopping.  I have too many stories to tell!  Then there's fan reactions to what takes place in my books - I'll never get sick of that!  There's nothing better than having someone tell you that they love your books and then go on to tell you their favorite characters and how they felt when certain things happened.  It's an amazing experience.
4. What is the worst part about being an author?  Marketing.  Getting these characters and stories that I love so much in front of other people, especially when there's so much content out there for people to choose from, is intimidating, and it's really difficult and tedious.  I would rather spend more time writing, but as a self-published author, I just have to get out there and not only get the word out, but format my books, create covers, etc.  It's time-consuming, and a frustrating process.
5. What do you want others to know about you?  Aside from reading YA and classic books, I'm immersed in pop culture on many fronts.  I'm a huge film buff (especially horror movies and animated films, although "Kill Bill" is my favorite), a  HUGE comic book reader (I grew up reading them - I even have a blog: http://www.comics-and-more.blogspot.com/), a music enthusist (from singer-songwriter stuff to alternative to country to dance) and I watch too much TV (and I can't help but be sucked in by "The Real Housewives").  If anyone wants to chat about books or movies, I welcome them to contact me - I love discussing the arts and taking recommendations!
6. What is the last book you read?  The last book I read was H.D. Gordon's "Joe."  I'm a big fan of the author's "Alexa Montgomery Saga," so I jumped at the chance to read a new one from her.  And it didn't disappoint.  H.D. is a great new talent that I hope many more people discover.  She's actually part of the "Dark Muse" indie paranormal sampler I co-edited with Nicole Passante earlier in the year.  If anyone is looking for exciting new authors to try out, including the talented and lovely Nancy Straight, I recommend checking this free book out.  ;) - Awe, now I'm blushing!
7. Where do you see yourself in 1, 5 and 10 years?  In one year, I will have more books under my belt, and hopefully a larger fan base.  In five years, I would love to be published by a major publishing company so that my books can reach more people.  Ten years?  I'll still be writing "Hunters of the Dark," and probably other books too!  And possibly dominating the world with awesomeness.
8. Who is your favorite Book Blogger?  I really like the work that the ladies do over at Passionate Book Divas (http://www.passionatebookdivas.com/).  It's a great site and I love that they are so supportive of the indie writers.  I also can't help but visit The Story Siren (http://www.thestorysiren.com/) on a regular basis too. 
9. What project are you working on now?  I'm working on a new stand-alone YA paranormal fantasy that I've been meaning to write for awhile now.  Besides my "Hunters of the Dark" books, I get ideas for other projects that are just on the back burner for years until I finally have a fully-formed world I can jump into.  A few others that I've written will show up for sale soon too.
10. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead) at Starbucks for a cup of White Mocha Latte, who would it be?  If it's a date (lol), I would go with Chris Evans.  And if you can make that happen, that would be awesome.  But seriously, I think it would be Joss Whedon.  He's a huge inspiration to me, and we have a lot of similar tastes, so I think we would have a lot to talk about.  He's pretty much my idol.
Thank you again for the opportunity, Nancy!! - Dave, I'm so glad you stopped by and I have to agree that the ladies over at Passionate Book Divas are WONDERFUL!!!
You can find Dave Ferraro at

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