The beauty of Cari Kamm...plus a book giveaway!

Interview by Amy Bromberg

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome back Cari Kamm and her brand new novel For Internal Use Only, which came out on Valentine's Day. Cari Kamm has worked in the beauty industry for over a decade, building brands, working behind the scenes, and even selling her own skin care line. She has a master’s in clinical nutrition from New York University. Kamm currently works in corporate social media management with clients in the beauty, fashion, and restaurant industries. Living in New York City with her mutt Schmutz, Kamm loves finding inspiration in the most unexpected places, being a novelist, and convincing her fiancé that ordering takeout and making dinner reservations are equal to cooking.

Thanks to Cari, we have TWO copies of For Internal Use Only (winners get to choose if they want an e-copy or hard copy) to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and/or Canada.
 

You can find Cari at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always been a storyteller or that person that loved to entertain and make my friends and family laugh. It’s a characteristic I get from my father. I was twenty-eight years old and craving inspiration at a specific point in my life. Here I was in New York City living and loving everything, even a shadow. But, something was missing in my life. So… I researched various hobbies from cooking (high burn risk), painting (too messy), volunteer opportunities, and even new career paths. I ended up taking a creative writing class with Mediabistro and it changed my life. During the class, I had no intention of writing a novel. I was more involved with the class because it challenged me, made me insecure, and sparked my spirit. The workshop assignments got me writing in class and at home. Five years and two books later... I’m still hitting the keys!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
After creating a detailed outline and character sketch, I begin writing and never stop to go back and read until the manuscript is done. I can’t edit and write at the same time.

Tell us five places you would most want to travel to.
I love to travel! I think growing up in a small town in West Virginia (population 3,500) and then moving to New York City with access to JFK International Airport and Penn Station, created the extreme need to be spontaneous and take advantage of the opportunities. I’ve conquered Italy and have stamped my passport with beautiful memories from Buenos Aires, Iceland and Paris. I’m heading to Moscow for my birthday on February 14th! I need to add Greece, the Maldives, Ireland, China and Indonesia. Also, I’ve always wanted to take a train from the East coast to the West coast and stopover in random cities!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
After creating the outline of the story, discovering where the characters actually took me. It’s amazing to me that I am reading a story they helped me create.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a marine biologist. All the unknowns in the ocean, the colors, the life. One major problem ... I’m terrified of the ocean! I won’t go in deeper than my knees.

What advice can you give to aspiring writers out there?
You grow more from criticism than you do from compliments. Never forget that you have the courage to be the writer you want to be and live the life you’ve always dreamed of. I’m amazed each day how much power we truly have inside ourselves to make things happen.

What are 4 things you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)?
1 – Rosebud Salve
2 – Sunglasses
3 – Moleskine notebook & pen
4 – My attitude

What’s next for you?
In November 2012, I participated in National Novel Writing month and completed my third novel. It’s my first romance novel and takes place in Costa Rica. I hope to release it later this year. To learn more, please check out www.carikamm.com.

Thanks to Cari for visiting us and sharing her book with our readers!

How to win For Internal Use Only:

Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is ONE thing you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


US/Canada only. Giveaway ends February 27th at midnight EST.