Margaret Millmore's Doppelganger Experiment revisited

Margaret A. Millmore is back to talk more about her novel, Doppelganger Experiment.

Margaret was born and raised in Southern California and moved to San Francisco in 1991. She currently resides there with her husband. She is the grandniece of Irish author Benedict Kiely and the second cousin of Irish author Sharon Owens. She’s written two flash fiction stories for Bay Area artist Kenny Mencher (The Welcome Home and Untitled-Luke N. Goode). She and her husband are avid travelers and would love to live outside of London some day.

Welcome back, Margaret. Has San Franciso affected your writing?

I’m not sure how the environment has affected my writing, but I enjoy using the city as base for my stories.

How many books have you written?

I’ve written three books in total, but only one is currently published.

Give a short synop of your published book.

Doppelganger Experiment:

After more than four weeks in a coma, Jane woke up to find several things wrong; she didn’t remember the last three years, she was married to a man she didn’t know, and frightening dreams were infiltrating her sleep. But were they dreams or memories? As she struggles to recapture a life she doesn’t remember she discovers clues that lead to flashes of memories and the discovery of horrific experiments that end in murder... and something worse than murder.  A psychological thriller based in San Francisco.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Both formats are available.

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Nothing is more exciting than a good review, it lifts your spirits and justifies all the hard work you put into your novel. However, there are always bad reviews, and they can be devastating…if you let them…

For the first few months after Doppelganger Experiment was published, I was receiving 4 and 5 star reviews, pure heaven. But then I began to receive some ‘not so good’ reviews, needless to say, it was pretty disheartening. I think as human beings, it’s instinctual to lay blame on anyone but ourselves, after reading the reviews, I wanted to do just that. But I couldn’t, I wrote the book, I made the mistakes and they were mine, I owned them and it was up to me to fix them.

I did the only thing I could think of, I asked my publisher to pull the book, have it re-edited and then I too went through it with a fine tooth comb and made additional edits and revisions. I also published 2 star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads (2 stars as to not skew the existing review status); I did this so that the readers would know that I heard them, that I respect them and that I wanted to make it right! Is the book better now? I truly hope so. I think I’ve learned a great deal from this experience, and I hope it’s made me a better writer.

Good for you, Margaret. I applaud you.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

They can check my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter

www.margaretmillmore.com

http://www.margaretmillmore.com/featured_authors

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002915649470                             

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/margaret-millmore/4/a6b/6a9

Margaret, thanks for coming back and sharing that story with us. Folks interested in the first interview with Margaret will find it in the archived blogs.

Buy links:
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/margaretmillmore.htm
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/margaret-millmore?store=book&r=1
http://www.amazon.com/Doppelganger-Experiment-Margaret-Millmore/dp/1937593207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318857839&sr=8-1#_

Margaret Millmore's Doppelganger Experiment



Margaret A. Millmore was born and raised in Southern California, moved to San Francisco in 1991 and currently resides there wsband.  Reading is an addiction for her, and one she’ll never give up.  She has an active imagination and often made up stories as a child.  After ending a successful career, she found herself with the time to pursue those stories, and the floodgates opened.  She loves just about every kind of story, but especially fiction. "Throw in some supernatural or paranormal overtones and I’m in heaven," she adds. She is the grandniece of Irish author Benedict Kiely and the second cousin of Irish author Sharon Owens. So writing is certainly in her blood. 

Margaret, welcome to the blog. May I pour you a cup of tea?

Thank you, Susan. Yes, you may.

Tell us what books or authors have influenced you.

My earliest love was CS Lewis’ Narnia books, but I’ve been a die-hard Stephen King, Ray Bradbury and Dean Koontz fan for as long as I can remember. I read a great deal, and almost every author I read inspires and influences me.

 

Tell us about your latest release.

Doppelganger Experiment is psychological thriller based in San Francisco with a touch of the paranormal: After more than four weeks in a coma, Jane woke up to find several things wrong; she didn’t remember the last three years, she was married to a man she didn’t know, and frightening dreams were infiltrating her sleep. But were they dreams or memories? As she struggles to recapture a life she doesn’t remember, she discovers clues that lead to flashes of memories and the discovery of horrific experiments that end in murder... and something worse than murder.  She must uncover the secret to the experiments to recover her life and end the horrible things that are happening.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Yes, the book is available in both formats at most on-line retailers.

How do you develop characters, Margaret?

I usually develop the main character(s) when the story idea comes to me, from there the characters develop with the story itself, they sort of write each other.

 

How do you choose your settings?

I’ve lived in San Francisco for the last twenty years, so it was just natural to use the City as the setting.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

I use as much social media as I can and of course I shamelessly ask friends and family to spread the word. It’s very difficult to promote, but you really have to put your all into it, I also do a ‘featured authors’ page on my website, this is to help promote my fellow authors and more often than not they kindly reciprocate.

Can you tell us about current or future projects?

  I’m working on a new thriller, but it’s in the very early stages, so at this point, there isn’t much to tell.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

  You can visit my website at www.margaretmillmore.com, or the following links: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002915649470

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/margaret-millmore/4/a6b/6a9

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/margaret-millmore?store=book&r=1

http://www.amazon.com/Doppelganger-Experiment-Margaret-Millmore/dp/1937593207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318857839&sr=8-1#_

 

Here's a blurb for her novel, Doppelganger Experiment:

After more than four weeks in a coma, Jane woke up to find several things wrong; she didn’t remember the last three years, she was married to a man she didn’t know, and frightening dreams were infiltrating her sleep. But were they dreams or memories? As she struggles to recapture a life she doesn’t remember she discovers clues that lead to flashes of memories and the discovery of horrific experiments that end in murder... and something worse than murder.  A psychological thriller based in San Francisco.

 Margaret, it has been a pleasure to have you over. Continued success with your writing endeavors.

Thank you, Susan.