Interview with Daphne Uviller and book giveaway

By Melissa Patafio
**Giveaway is now over**

Today, Daphne Uviller has stopped by CLC to talk a bit about her latest book "Hotel No-Tell". Daphne used to work for a New York City law enforcement agency and has used some of her knowledge to help her main character, Zephyr Zuckerman, navigate her way through an undercover assignment at a Greenwich Village hotel. She introduces her readers to Zephyr in "Super in the City" and continues her adventures in "Hotel No-Tell." I have enjoyed getting to know Daphne better and want to thank her for visiting Chick Lit Central.

Thanks to Crystal Patriarche from BookSparks PR, we have one copy of "Hotel No-Tell" to give away to a lucky reader in the US.

To find out more about Daphne, visit her on Twitter and Facebook.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Hotel No Tell?"

The monstrous fear that I had only one novel in me, that I’d never be able to write a second.


How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?

Skydiving, deep-sea fishing, and flower-arranging. Oh, I wish I were that interesting! I play with my family, drink coffee with friends, and read voraciously.


What is your usual writing routine?

Some writers enjoy the freedom to write in their pajamas. I need to make the bed, get dressed, and leave the house. I go to cafes while my kids are in school and work as fast as I can before putting the parent hat back atop my overtaxed head. No gallant rising-at-five or post-bedtime writing for me, I’m afraid. I wish I could swing that.


If "Super in the City" or "Hotel, No Tell" were made into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character Zephyr?

Funny you should ask. Hollywood has come calling, and I have a wonderful manager actively pitching the books, so I’m actually supposed to be thinking about this! My problem is that I’m of the Jennifer Aniston/Julia Roberts generation. Other than Emma Watson, I’m not sure I have a command of the twentysomething talent out there. Suggestions, anyone?

As a born and bred New Yorker, what are a few things every visitor should see or do that may not be in the tourist guides?

Walk, walk, and walk – and do not waste your time going above 14th street. The free entertainment and the soul of the city is in the characters you bump into on the sidewalks. Serendipity is everywhere. If that’s not a satisfactory answer, check out the Hudson River Park, the High Line, grab dinner at Salam Restaurant in the Village, a drink at The Dove, and if it’s raining, go the Rubin Museum on West 17th. Also, browse Three Lives & Co bookshop on West 10th.

How do you deal with writers block?

I’m constantly writing down ideas for scenes, characters, dialogue, and story lines. I now have a document that’s about a hundred pages long. This means if I’m stuck, I can troll through my notes to spur my imagination. If that fails, going running usually helps.


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Iceland. A couple of friends have gone and reported that it is as cool and otherworldly as it sounds. An island nation with hot springs and lots of uninhabited areas. I loved Australia for the same reason.


Did you base any of your character Zephyr's stories off of real life experiences you had during the three years you spent in law enforcement?

Some of the cases I mention in passing were real, or similar to real cases I worked on, but the main case that Zephyr is working is completely and utterly a product of my imagination. But it is a scientific fact that the majority of NYC investigators are named Tommy. (Or Mike or Bobby.)


I read that you believe in "Paying it Forward". Have you had any opportunities to "Pay it Forward" to other authors?

All the time. I regularly shared contacts with assigning editors at magazines when I had those contacts. If someone is truly serious about writing a nonfiction book, I’ll let them look at my proposal for "Only Child" (my first book) and try to find the time to give them feedback on theirs, though that can be tough. I’ve written blurbs and given feedback on query letters. But please, don’t ask me for my agent’s contact info. That’s not polite or professional – I’ll gladly offer if I think you and he are a good match.

If you were not a writer, what would you be doing instead?

Personal organizer. I love to organize – in fact, it’s my biggest source of procrastination. I tell myself I couldn’t possibly sit down to write until that bill is paid or that closet is organized, and that’s why I leave the house, to avoid temptation. Writing is an extremely messy mental process, and I need to be away from my physical messes, which are much easier to clean up!

Special thanks to Daphne for chatting with me today and to Crystal from BookSparks for arranging the interview and providing the book for the giveaway.


How to win "Hotel No-Tell":
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US only. Ends August 1st at midnight EST.