Blaize Nolynne took that literally when her dreams came into play after she graduated high school. She took the dream of being a writer to heart and furthered her studies where she went to college at the Children’s Institute of Literature. The beginning of her career was under the name C. Araya Delvesuvio as children books, her first that came out was ‘Sending A Message to Grandpa’ a story in which a young girl deals with her grandfather’s death in a unique way, that was in August of 2009. Later she published a chapter book under the same pen name ‘The Sixth Child of June’ in which was a fantasy chapter book for teens. As her mind kept going and the potential of new books were out there, the world is her notepad, she decided to publish a piece of work that she had been writing since she was fifteen years old. Recommended by her mentor to publish yet under another pen name ‘Angels In the City- First Mission, Second Wish’ came about under the penname ‘Kikkina Rhiki Destinu-Bantano ( which the book hit number 43 in Fantasy- fiction in the subcategory for the free books and number 68 for Free Kindle in November 2012). By the end of 2009 Blaize had already started working on more of an adult genre book at the time labeled ‘Fire’ on the computer file, which eventually she self published as ‘District One Stand By: The Captain’s Case’ in which was published in 2010. In April of 2012 the book ‘District One Stand By: The Captain’s Case’ had been picked up by a publishing house ‘Publish America’ in which she had to change the title to ‘Firefighter Down, District One’ by September 2012 the book had hit 100,000 on both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com best sellers list. By then interviews from newspapers, blogs and radios had interviewed her in which she admitted that being this high on the charts was a goal she always dreamed about. At the end of November ‘District One: On the Bleeding Edge of Change’ came out, which is the second book in the series with the lead character as a woman firefighter. By December ‘The Captain’s Last Year’ which is NOT part of the series, but about a terminally ill fire captain and what he does to try to make his community a better place with his last year.
At the age of 24, she has reached different heights in her career that she had only thought were dreams in the beginning, but now she has realized what you dream can come into reality.
She admits that the next installment of the series ‘District One Stand By: Love Beyond the Flame’ Book III will be out in 2013, however no date is set yet.
She does say that there is a book that she is determined to come out in June of 2013 which is a nonfiction that is based upon ‘Nikki’ whose life was impacted by bullying. The book will be called ‘Nikki’s Road’ and you can find out more about the book on its own page at http://www.facebook.com/Nikki.s.Road
Children books to teen books about angels, to fantasy teen books about curses to now about fires, arsons and the life of firefighters? What is next for Miss Nolynne? She admits that she would like to finish up her Firefighter Series, but may sometime in the future put out one about ‘Detectives’, but again she says that is in the future. Her main concern right now is her ‘Firefighter series’ as well as trying to write some children books still.
For more information on her writing check out these other pages:
www.facebook.com/blaizenolynne
www.facebook.com/blaizenolynnefan
1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?
I had always written stories, but I think it first came in my mind I wanted to be an author was when I was about eleven. I had been watching a show on James Patterson and how he was visiting a castle with his assistant and was able to visit places, meet people and write. I fell in love with that idea of visiting castles, meeting people and writing.
I love the fact that I can express myself and work out problems I am going through with my writing. It is like therapy in many ways. If I am having a bad day, my main character is having a bad day. If I am celebrating, so is that character.
What frustrates me the most about being an author would be the rereading and editing process. I think I have it the way I want and I reread it, and realize that isn’t the way I want it at all. It takes a long time for me to be satisfied with my final draft before it heads out to editing.
2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?
My books are available everywhere ( Amazon, Walmart, Barns and Noble, Target, everywhere)
‘Racing the Golden Hour: Flame and Cance’r is about a fire captain who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Being told he has one year he wants to change the community and try to change the strained relationship with his son.
‘Firefighter Down, District One’ is about a young firefighter’s daughter who is trying to solve the murder of her father. Everyone in the small town seemed to look away, but she is trying to unravel the truth.
‘District One Stand By: On the Bleeding Edge of Change’ is the sequel to Firefighter Down, District One. Catisha Spadoni is out catching an arson as well as battling domestic abuse.
‘District One Stand By: Love Beyond the Flame’ is the last at the moment in the series where Catisha is fighting to solve another arson case in Maine. However while putting arsonists in jail it also makes enemies as her life is being threatened.
‘Vanished in Thin Air’ is about a private investigator who is trying to find her half siblings. When she was sixteen years old they vanished as if they did not exist at all.
‘Daddy’s Little Killer’
I also have the non-fiction series Mommy CEO in which helps taking out the guess work of starting a business, even if you are a stay at home mom.
The rest of my books are children and picture books under two different pen names.
3) What projects are you currently working on?
‘Shades of Pink, Shades of Hope’ it is a book that was inspired by my grandmother’s battle with breast cancer.
4) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?
My biggest achievement would be a thirteen-time International bestseller. My goals in the next five year is winning the Pultzer or Nobel prize as well as making it on the New York Times Best seller.
5) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?
I wish you could see me face to face right now. I have a folder with rejections. My original ones when I was trying to publish my first books I framed. They have stayed with me as inspiration.
I still get rejections now although sixteen years worth, I could probably cover the house with them. Most of them now include magazine articles that I pitch and are rejected. It isn’t a big deal, I just continue to edit up the piece and resubmit.
6) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?
Yes, I have a schedule to write. I try very hard to write when no one else is in the house, as it is not easy when I have a house full of people.
I do outline my novels. It usually starts on a scrap paper as an idea, than I begin thinking of characters and than I will go on to a more detailed outline. I think how long it takes to finish depends on the novel.
7) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?
I do not believe it is ever too late to be successful. If you look deep at the success charts of authors, even the famous ones including J.K was in her thirties. Other authors have been older than that. If you put your mind to something and focus, I don’t think it is impossible.
8) Are you an avid reader and have you always been? What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you? Who is your favorite author? What book are you currently reading?
I would have to say the very first was ‘The Giver’. It made me realize how lucky we were not to have a life already chosen or have twins and only one is chosen to live.
I love Dr. Vincent Norman Peale, James Patterson, Nick Vuijick and Nicholas Spark.
9) Did the quarantine stifle your creativity or did it make you even more driven to get things done? What perspective did the Pandemic give you that you that now influences what you do creatively?
I have gotten a lot done during covid writing. The state was shut down for awhile so it gave me a lot of quiet time to think.
10) Given the recent shake-ups in publishing, what are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is being represented today? Do you lean more towards traditional publishing or self-publishing as a preference? Does being a hybrid author interest you?
I have done all three types of publishing. My first books that were best sellers were all self-published. I am in the process of having a traditional publishing company carry them, because of guidelines on different awards or best sellers. It also gives me different locations like Targets, Walmart, and different stores that I can get in from the day I published on my own through Amazon.
I also tried a small publishing house in Maryland. I am sure if you go back on different interviews you will find how unhappy I was with this publishing.
I think the best advice is do what’s right for you. Make sure you read the contract, have a lawyer look at the contract, and don’t be afraid to go in a store and ask for another author’s book through that publishing house. Look at how many happy authors or unsatisfied. Don’t make a hasty decision as publishing isn’t a snap of the fingers type of process.
In the end you will know what is right and what makes sense to you, but be careful and read things through.
11) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally. I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity? How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?
I do feel the same way. Within different stories I have been able to deal with different things in my life. ‘Racing the Golden Hour: Flame and Cancer’ was inspired by a question my grandmother asked me when she was told she had one year to live. She asked me what I would do with my year.
In other books it talks about battling domestic abuse, PTSD, cancer, ailments and other situations. I think writing is a part of me and how I can deal with what is going on in my life.
I think my ‘unique’ part of my art is I will talk in first person in my book with every day issues people face and suck them in with how the character feels and they can relate.
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