We’d like to introduce Arlene Lomazoff-Marron, the author of Beneath the Blanket of Snow and If I Had Known.
BBE: Welcome. Let’s get to know you first before we talk about your books. While my team alter the bright lights to shine—just so, tighten the thumbscrews and hook up the polygraph; why don’t you start at the beginning and tell us about your early life and upbringing?
BBE: Where are you from, and where do you live now?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I live in the US, near 
. I have lived in the Philadelphia area all my life.
BBE: how did you perform at school, top of the class, or the child they said would never amount to anything as long as he had a hole in his—inkwell?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I was a good student but very shy. I wasn’t part of the popular group of kids. I performed poorly in sports. I had a sizeable inferiority complex.
BBE: Where are you now? Tell us a bit about your life, work, family?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: My husband Gerry and I are living a good life. We are retired and pursuing our passions. We have plenty of time to do what we like, and we mix in some volunteer work, too. We have a blended family of five children and are eagerly awaiting the birth of our eighth grandchild.
BBE: Where do you go when the world gets scary?
Arlene Lomazoff-MarronI: I take comfort in being at home. Although I am happy that the pandemic is easing and I can resume some activities with others, I am fortunate that my home is very comfortable.
BBE: Which five people, alive or dead, would you invite to a dinner party?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Jill Biden, John Steinbeck.
BBE: What is your method for writing?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: There are plotters and pantsers. I consider myself a hybrid. While I plan a central theme of my book and some primary events, I often write passages or chapters without planning them. I especially do this with dialogue. For example, two of my characters have a conversation, which sets the tone for another occurrence.
BBE: Favourite book?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: The Grapes of Wrath holds the top spot. I loved the book, but the ending was so sensational that I occasionally revisit the last pages.
BBE: What makes you different?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I did not set out to be a writer or study to be one. I started writing after retirement from 40+ years in healthcare. Although I have always been good at spelling, grammar and words, I never considered writing once I went to nursing school.
I consider myself a late bloomer. I have many new activities since I passed 50. I was 63 years old when I wrote my first book. I can’t imagine what new things I will do with the rest of my life!
BBE: And how did you come to writing?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: A week before I retired, a co-worker mentioned that I should start on my bucket list. I said that I would write a novel first. I have no idea why I responded so quickly and with such conviction. Then, I wondered if I could do it. Soon after, we were quarantined due to COVID19, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to write.
BBE: What are your influences and your writing ethos?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I didn’t realize how much my life influences my writing until I finished my second book. Although both books are fiction, I draw on my feelings, emotions, and past experiences when I write. I use fictional places and names in my books. I research them thoroughly to ensure they are not real places: towns, colleges, hospitals—or people.
BBE: How far have you come, and where are you going with your writing?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I have written two novels and a short story. Currently, I’m working on a series for young adults, and I’m cultivating ideas for a third novel.
BBE: Ready—Set—Go. Tell us about your books in order of publication?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Beneath A Blanket Of Snow
Blurb: Jonathan Perkins had it all: a successful business, a stunning home, a wonderful family. He was on top of the world—until he nearly threw it all away. Meredith Perkins lived a life of luxury, courtesy of her husband’s hard work and diligence, but was isolated from the realities of the working world. Her days were spent decorating their spacious home, lunching with affluent friends, practicing yoga, and shopping in boutiques. That was until her husband’s crime turned her world upside down. Meredith was hounded by the media, deserted by friends she had counted on for support, and struggled to reconstruct a life for her and her children. Still, in their glass houses, her friends kept their own secrets. How much do you trust your spouse? Do you keep secrets from your partner? How much do you trust your friends? Is everything what it seems on the outside?
Most of us carry secrets. We hide them from others, often not telling our close friends or even our spouses. It may seem to outsiders that others are carefree and without troubles, but in truth, even those who seem to have it all harbour secrets.
Beneath A Blanket Of Snow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DH91FMM
Reviews:
- A very engaging novel with many insightful observations. Both the development of the characters’ stories and the unraveling of their secrets was captivating throughout the novel. Impressively, this is the author’s first novel, but she has complete control of the narrative and her style throughout. This book flowed well, and it was easy to immerse myself in the characters and their lives. The author did a great job, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Great read.
- It’s more emotional than your typical crime drama and grittier than most chick-lit stories.
- This story was very realistic, a mix of drama, crime, friendship, family, trust, and independence. The plot was smooth from beginning to end.
- This book is awesome! The play on adjectives makes you feel like you are there, very pleasing indeed. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read other books from this author.
- There are no words. Nothing but a major delight to read. I loved this book and wanted to read it carefully. It had my interest from the beginning until the end. The format and wording are well done. The characters are all interesting. Bravo!
- The writer did a fantastic job telling the story. The characters were well rounded and easily relatable.
- The author has a gift for storytelling, and I am glad that I took the time to read this book!
If We Had Known
Blurb: While time often seemed to stand still, and tedious weeks stretched into months with no occurrence out of the ordinary, their life had irrevocably changed in an instant.
It was his eyes that told her. Those blue eyes. Like the water in the Caribbean.
A college student. A professor. A secret. A devastating medical diagnosis. A young woman looking for meaning in her life. A man searching for his beginnings. A couple who wanted it all.
Were their fates linked by circumstance? Or were other forces at work?
Would we make the same choices if we knew what would happen as a result? At a point in my life, I said that if I had known what troubles were in my future, I would have refused to move forward. As if I had a choice! But I not only survived the hardships—I blossomed.
If We Had Known https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093P4JTY3
Reviews:
- Arlene Lomazoff-Marron, the author of Beneath a Blanket of Snow is on it again with this new drama. I found her work equally good, if not surpassing her previous work. I would recommend this book to those who love family life fiction.
- If We Had Known is an intriguing drama about a family facing an undiscovered diagnosis and the traumatic implications. But it’s more than that. Lomazoff-Marron uses that as a jumping-off point to look at the lives of a family, skillfully observing it through each individual’s point of view. What seems accurate from one person’s narrative is questioned when the reader hears the other side of the story. This is a lot for a writer to juggle, but Lomazoff-Marron makes it look easy.
- I enjoyed how the author weaves the characters’ lives into a tale of love, abandonment, hurt, recovery and joy. This book sucked me into the lives of its characters and held my attention until the last page. Thoroughly recommended
- This book is even better than Ms Marron’s first book. The characters are etched convincingly. What makes this book stand out is that the subplots don’t detract from the main story. A skilful writer, Ms Marron has done a commendable job in structuring this novel. The newspaper column to close the book is a masterstroke.
My website http://www.arlenelomazoffmarron.com
BBE: Which is the favourite of your books?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Since ‘Beneath A Blanket Of Snow’ got me started as an author, I would have to say it’s my favorite. But as I indicated when I introduced If We Had Known to my readers, just as having a second child is as joyful as the first. Releasing a second book is no less exciting than the first one.
BBE: Did one of your characters ever behave in a different way than you had planned?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I have said that I don’t plan everything in my writing. Without revealing anything specific, I’ll say that one of my characters knew their spouse’s secret. Not only did the spouse not know it was no longer a secret, but I wasn’t told either!
When I was writing the passage in the manuscript, my fingers typed words that revealed the character had known the secret for many years. It occurred during a dialogue between two characters. Because it was unplanned, it is one of my favorite passages.
BBE: Tell us about your writing achievements and about things that haven’t worked so well for you?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Several things have made me happy. Knowing that readers love my books have given me so much joy. It’s a tremendous thrill to sign copies of my books. I belong to two book clubs, and both wanted to read Beneath A Blanket Of Snow. Having others discuss and critique my book was terrific.
On the flip side, despite great reviews, it’s challenging to get recognition as an author. Social media helps me gain some exposure, but it could and probably should be a full-time job.
BBE: What are you working on?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Along with other indie writers, I have written a short story for a collaborative anthology, The Need for Speed. The book is available on Amazon.
I am working on my serial for young adults. It’s called Hiding in Plain Sight. I plan to have several main characters, each with their personal series. The characters will be running from their pasts and hiding in unique places while searching for better lives. I want to publish these stories on a new platform that Amazon is introducing in the near future.
BBE: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Hopefully, I will continue to write what people like to read. I enjoy writing, and since I have free time, I plan to go on doing it.
BBE: How did you come up with the titles of your books?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: I decided on If We Had Known partway through the book, as I became more engrossed in the characters’ lives.
I wrote the entire manuscript for Beneath A Blanket of Snow before I came up with the title. I finished the book a few minutes before I did a yoga practice. As I was resting at the end of the yoga session and my mind and body were relaxed, the title came to me. I untangled myself from the lotus and changed the title on my computer from Book Draft to, Beneath A Blanket of Snow.
BBE: How do you market and promote your work?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Except for Facebook, I hadn’t joined any social media platforms until I published my first book. I started out behind. Since then, I’ve joined some well-known and lesser-known groups. Beneath A Blanket of Snow was read and reviewed by several Bookstagrammers, who all gave it good reviews. I have done many written interviews and appeared on several podcasts. Most of the opportunities arose because I saw a social media post.
Thank you for your post!
BBE: Tips for other writers?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: Put your best work out there, especially if you are an indie author. Sometimes readers think that if an author isn’t traditionally published, their work isn’t worth reading. Take the time to research sentence structure, formatting, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
BBE: What will your epitaph say?
Arlene Lomazoff-Marron: She improved with age and kept her mind and body active until the end.
BBE: Thank you for taking our interview. We hope you’ve enjoyed it. Best Book Editors wish you every success with your career, with life and with you.
