Bonnie Hearn Hill, a newspaper editor in a past life, is the author of Intern and five other adult thriller novels. She teaches writing in Fresno, California and an occasional online class for authorlink.com She also mentors writers and speaks at numerous writing conferences.
Here's a few questions thrown to her about her mentoring:
Q. I know you have chosen to teach and mentor other writers. Who are your most outstanding students?
A. I can't answer that. Would it be Hazel Dixon-Cooper who got a six-figure advance for two humorous astrology books and went on to be the Cosmopolitan magazine astrologer? Or would it be Gloria Salas, a fourth-grade dropout/genius, who sold her first confession and ran through the grocery store, screaming to everyone in line, "I wrote this. This is my story." ?
Q. Any other student success stories?
A. More than I can recount here. I do recall one young guy back in the early '90s who didn't understand that his point-of-view was bouncing all over the place. I kept writing, "VP," on his manuscript, and he kept moving his story higher on the page. He thought I was writing, "UP." Happy ending, though. His book, PRISON SHIP, was published this year by Ace. His name is Mike Bowers, and he told me the book was accepted pretty much as I edited it ten years before. He had lost faith in it and asked me to tell other writers, "Don't give up the way I did."
For more from Bonnie, check out:
http://www.bonniehearnhill.com/
facebook.com/bonnie.h.hill
Here's a little something about Bonnie's Latest Release -
First of the Star Crossed Series from Running Press/Perseus Books
Frankenstein says she doesn’t put enough of herself in her writing. She tries to appeal to him with homemade brownies. That falls flat, but her opportunity presents itself when the Gears, a group of boys causing mischief at school, streaks her friend Chili’s backyard while Logan, Chili, and Paige, are in the spa.
The Gears also paint nasty things about the Capricorn journalism teacher, Ms. Snider, on the wall at school. Logan decides to identify them using astrology. Frankenstein is intrigued.
Logan is Aquarius with a Pisces Moon. Pretty mellow, but her Aires Rising gives her some Fire. She decides to put it to work to get what she wants. With the fellowship—and Nathan—hanging in the balance, she resolves to trap the Gears on the night she is certain that they will strike again. It is a risky scheme that involves Calypso, a dress mannequin that the girls have dressed up to resemble Logan.
What Logan has failed to see in the stars is someone with a more deadly motive. Then suddenly, the stakes increase, and there’s more at risk than any of the threats by the Gears.
Buy Link for Bonnie's Book - http://www.amazon.com/Star-Crossed-Bonnie-Hearn-Hill/dp/0762436700
One last question, Bonnie -
Q. I'm a Leo. What does that say about me as a writer?
A. Leo is one of my favorite signs, if only because you have such fabulous hair (manes). You're ruled by the Sun, and that light probably shows on your face. You are probably also extremely talented. Your challenge may be to decide what you really want to write, as opposed to what gives you a quick ego fix. Go for the long-term high.
Thanks for letting me visit your blog on my 31 Days of Aries.
Bonnie
Can't find Bonnie? Then you're not looking!
Here's a few spots to try -
facebook.com/bonnie.h.hill
Aries Rising, March 2010
Taurus Eyes, Summer 2010
Gemini Night, Fall 2010
Please welcome Bonnie by leaving a comment and your email address. You may be the lucky winner of Aries Rising - check her website/facebook pages for details on an ITouch contest.