Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Book Week: Scorpio Rising

Scorpio Rising (The Scorpio Series, #1) 

Synopsis:
Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes.

There is Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves.

Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser.

Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream.
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Social media links:
facebook.com/monique.domovitch
@Moniquedomovitc

Link to purchase books:
Amazon
 

Hop on over to the authors website and enter to win some signed books and Amazon GC's!
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Monique lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla.
and now onto the Interview questions with Monique......


Monique:Green
Me:White
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Q:  The beginning of the novel starts off abruptly and with a lot of very physical, sensual, and even taboo themes. What made you decide to start Scorpio Rising this way? How do you think your readership reacted initially?
Alexander Ivanov is an irresistible charmer, and I wanted to illustrate this from the start. It was also important that I create a reason for his mistrust of women. Abused children often become victims of sexual predators because of their immense need for love. And often, these children grow up and gravitate toward others very much like them. This is why I also chose to make Brigitte an early victim. Throughout the book, I tried to show the duality these early experiences gave them, their strength manifested in their work, and their weakness manifested in their insecurities and unhealthy life choices.   

Q:  Paris is an effective backdrop for Brigitte and the final scenes of the novel. Why did France, and specifically Paris, stand out to you as the setting you wanted to use rather than Canada or a closer city?  

I chose cities that most resembled my main characters—New York for its fast pace, its huge ambition and opportunities and for what we often think of when we think New York, skyscrapers and multi-million dollar real estate deals. This was the perfect representation of Alex. Paris, on the other hand, makes me think of everything that is beautiful, beginning with romance and art, representative of Brigitte. 
Q:  What novels and authors inspired you to write Scorpio Rising? Are any themes from these novels alluded to in your story? 
I don’t know that any specific authors or specific books inspired me…except maybe the Centaine series by Wilbur Smith. I just love books with really strong characters that are as lovable as they are sometimes despicable. I wanted to create a cast that wouldn’t leave readers indifferent.
 Q:  Which character was your least favorite to write? What about that character made him or her so difficult to convey? Do you feel you successfully developed him or her?
The most difficult character to develop was Lucien. I wanted readers to see him for what he was, but still disguise his real motives from Brigitte.
Q:  Sex is a great example of power and how some characters, such as Anne and Alex, use it to try and exert their will over others. While you wrote Scorpio Rising, did you expect sex and power to play such strong roles? How do you think the novel would be different without the aspect of sex?
I was very careful to write sex scenes that were not graphic. I wanted the reader to know that sex was taking place, but without going into details. When I write, I always keep in mind that my parents and my children will be reading this. Chuckle. Sex, however, is an important tool to use when illustrating manipulative behavior.  
Q:  With Sting of the Scorpio already released, what are you currently working on?
I have a finished novel—still unpublished—currently being considered for a Hollywood movie. This is incredibly exciting for me. I keep reminding myself, however, that the chances of it getting produced are slim to none, but just being considered is a huge compliment. I’m also nearing the finishing line of my first murder-mystery for Penguin, after which I’ll probably take a few months to finish a few other projects I’ve had to put aside. I have so many stories floating around in my head that I’ll never be without material, or without a break for that matter. :)
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I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did!
Please stop by my other fellow bloggers who are participated in the Scorpio Rising Book week for their posts:
June 4th ~ Jen ~ Author Bio Spotlight ~ http://momzunas.blogspot.com/        
June 5th ~ Me ~ Author Interview ~ http://mamivalsbooks.blogspot.com/  
June 6th ~ Simone ~ Guest Post ~ http://inspirationsbysimone.blogspot.com/ 
June 6th ~ Melissa ~ Excerpt ~ http://spewsofmyviews.blogspot.com/ 
June 7th ~ Nicole ~ Excerpt ~ http://purplepenguinreviews.blogspot.com/ 
June 8th ~ Frishawn ~ Review ~ http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/  
 

2 comments:

  1. Awesome interview :)
    I wish her luck on her book being considered for a movie! :)


    Tabby @Insightful Minds & IM Design Studio

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