Valerie Clarizio: From Numbers to Novels – An Inspiring Journey to USA Today Bestselling Author

Valerie Clarizio, USA Today Bestselling Author, shares her love for writing romantic suspense amidst the tranquil beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Writing Romantic Suspense Among Michigan’s Wilderness

Valerie Clarizio shares her inspiring transition from accountant to USA Today bestselling author, revealing her journey, challenges, and love for romantic suspense inspired by her idyllic Michigan cabin.

V alerie J. Clarizio is a masterful storyteller whose journey to authorship is as inspiring as her novels. With more than twenty books under her belt, Valerie has captivated readers with her talent for weaving gripping romantic suspense, contemporary, and time travel stories that leave a lasting impression. Her journey from a reluctant reader to an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author is a testament to her determination, creativity, and passion for storytelling. Balancing a full-time career in finance and a part-time teaching role, Valerie found her calling later in life and embraced it with unrelenting dedication.

Her stories, like her own path to success, are rooted in persistence and fueled by a love for adventure. Whether she’s crafting compelling detective tales like her debut “Spinelli” series or painting vivid scenes of intrigue and romance inspired by her tranquil cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Valerie’s books never fail to charm and thrill in equal measure. With numerous accolades and bestseller titles, she has firmly established herself as a beloved figure in the realm of romantic suspense.

Valerie Clarizio’s brilliant storytelling, heartfelt determination, and breathtaking romantic suspense novels inspire readers and writers alike globally.

In this exclusive interview, Valerie opens up about her unique path to becoming an author, her passion for romantic suspense, and the key factors that keep her creative spirit alive. Join us as we delve into the story behind this incredible author and the books that continue to captivate readers worldwide.

What inspired you to transition from a career in accounting to becoming a romance author, and can you share the process of writing your first book, and the challenges you faced getting it published? 

My desire to read and write came later in life. When I was about forty years old, a friend handed me a Janet Evanovich book and suggested I read it. From the first words on the page, I was hooked. At that point, I read everything Evanovich had penned. Then, I moved on to a bunch of other romance and mystery authors who’ve since become my favorites. One day, I mentioned to the friend who loaned me the book that I dreamed up a hero for Evanovich to write about. If only I could get hold of Evanovich, I’m sure she’d do it, right? Said friend strongly suggested that I write the hero’s story myslef. I took the challenge thinking that it couldn’t be that hard. Little did I know. I wrote that book and got more rejections from agents and editors than I can count. Not knowing what I was doing wrong, I joined a local writer’s group, and a fabulous woman from the group took me under her wing and taught me the craft of writing romance novels. After several conversations and her returning my manuscript to me so re-lined I wanted to cry, I pulled myself together and redrafted the story. She reviewed the novel again and told me it was time to resubmit it to publishing houses. I got THREE offers on that book. And so it began😊

Now, I still have the day job in finance/accounting, so I haven’t fully transitioned to just writing yet. But maybe soon.

What drew you to the romantic suspense genre, and are there particular elements you enjoy incorporating into your stories? 

I love the mystery and intrigue of the romantic suspense genre. I don’t mind reading contemporary romances, but I prefer a little spark and chaos in the romance novels I read and write, and the suspense elements provide just that.

What’s your favorite aspect of writing at your cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? Do the surroundings influence your creative process? 

I love the peacefulness of writing on the back deck of the cabin. It’s a cozy area. Though I sometimes get distracted by the wildlife that happens by. On almost any given day, I’ll see deer and turkeys. On a lucky day, I’ll see a fox or an eagle. I’m waiting impatiently for a moose, wolf, and bear to stroll by. I know they are there because I’ve spotted all of those animals near the cabin, just not in my yard. I guess there’s just something about the outdoors that comforts me and gets the creative juices flowing.

Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay motivated and focused while writing? 

I generally write only on my days off from the day job unless I’m under pressure to meet a deadline. If a deadline looms, I’ll write before and/or after work as well. When I sit down to write, I like to know that I have a large chunk of time for writing. Short time frames don’t work well for me.

I like complete silence when I write. I go into my home office and shut the door. I try not to get sidetracked by checking my social media accounts during writing time, but sometimes I fail pretty miserably at that because I like to know what’s going on.

If I’m at the cabin writing, I do have a rule that I only write until noon. After noon is play time!

What challenges or benefits have you experienced being recognized as a USA Today Bestselling Author? 

Earning the USA Today Bestselling Author designation provides credibility as an author. The challenge is living up to the expectation that comes along with the designation, as once that designation is tagged to an author, there is very little forgiveness for errors in our written works, yet we are all human.

What is your most valuable advice for aspiring authors hoping to publish their own work someday?

The most valuable piece of advice I’d give to an aspiring author is to join a writers group(s) or organization(s). When I first started writing, I didn’t have a clue as to how to go about it or the rules of the romance genre, and that showed by the number of publisher rejections I received. Not knowing where I went wrong, I joined a romance writers’ group that met in person. During the first meeting, I learned more from this group about the craft of writing than I imagined possible in two hours. Without this group, I’d probably still be unpublished. Joining writing organizations and groups is extremely important because that’s where you’ll not only learn about the craft of writing but also the paths to publication, whether it be traditional or self-publishing. There’s no sense in reinventing the wheel. Save yourself some time and lean on these groups and organizations for assistance.