Articles

 South Ottawa retiree releases second novel.

By Spencer Callaghan of The News EMC.

It's safe to say of having published her second novel in two years retirement hasn't slowed down Ida Plassay one bit.

Coming off the success of her first novel "Love of a Lifetime"(2004), the 61-year old retiree has just released her second romance novel, "Abandoned Love".

Abandoned Love is a story about an insecure girl who was abandoned when she was a baby and cruelly told so when she was only four years old. She grew up in foster homes never feeling loved or wanted, that is until the right man comes along.

Published by Publish America and released on Aug. 21, "Abandoned Love" is the product of a woman who decided to begin writing as a hobby when she retired, something she never really had time for when she was working.

"It is something that I always wanted to do. I always wanted to write romance novels, but I had to work to make ends meet, help my family, raise my children. Since I have reitred because of disability I decided to write for my sake, for myself," said Mrs. Plassay.

Thanks to the encouragement and support of those around her, Mrs. Plassay has been able to turn her retirement hobby into a successful venture.

"I did it as a hobby whenever I wanted to get away, but a friend of mine and my niece read it and convinced me to send it in and from there it took off," said Mrs. Plassay.

After publishing two romance novels Mrs. Plassay is not resting on her success. She is currently in the process of writing her third novel which is currently three-quarters finished.

She plans on waiting at least a year before releasing it.

Mrs. Plassay says she draws on her imagination for her story ideas and characters and is thrilled to see that so many people are enjoying her work.

"I have always loved romance novels. I guess I am a romantic at heart," said Mrs. Plassay.

Abandoned Love can be found at bookstores across Ottawa and on the web at most online bookstores for $26.95. It is even a featured selection at Forbes Book Club.

"It is just overwhelming to be a published author. It is an honour to see my work published, to know other people are reading my stories," said Mrs. Plassay.

In Love with Written Word.

Ottawa Author mixes romance, humour in novel.

By Louise Daniels of the Ottawa Sun.

IDA PLASSAY's four children were quite amazed when they found their mother was writing a sexy romance novel.

"They know me as their old fashioned,strict 'ma'," she says with a laugh. "So to read something of this nature, it was a surprise. But they're proud of it, they're very proud of it."

The great grandmother has recently published her first book called "Love of a Lifetime."

It's a romance novel based in Ottawa, revolving around a young woman named Rita Sterling who breaks off a relationship with Gino, an evil man, for a far more superior man she meets only briefly on the day of her engagement party.

Morality Lessons.

The story is a good one, filled with Italian cultural references, morality lessons, gentle homour and of course, lots of romantic sex.

"People who know me would not believe I wrote this. My imagination is not old fashioned," she says.

"I don't approve of everything that I have written, but it happens," she says. "There's also lessons in the book." Plassay makes sure to mention the importance of chastity in the Roman Catholic faith and also in the face of disease.

For her first book in her second language, Plassay's "Love of a Lifetime" will appeal to the romance novel aficionado. There are no chapters, which makes the pace of the novel go by as quickly as the characters' relationships begin and end. The story spans only a few days in the lives of the characters.

The tenet of Plassay's story is that true love exists and it's important to recognize it when you see it.

She says that Love of a Lifetime is a cautionary tale, warning people not to sell themselves short when looking for that special someone.

"Never give up on true love. Love can happen anytime, anywhere, in everyday life. Not just on trips and in faraway exotic places. This girl was rushing to settle: She wanted love, she wanted a family, she wanted that family togetherness."

In the book, Rita recognizes her true love for Vittorio, an old friend of her fiance's, and ditches Gino just in time. Later, she finds out that Gino had been leading a secret criminal life behind her back.

Plassay signed a contract with Publish America, one of the largest "print on demand" publishing companies in the world, which owns the rights to about 11,000 books.

Plassay says that she's very happy with the opportunity that Publish America has given her. "Within two weeks, they e-mailed me and they said that they loved  the story and that they wanted to publish it."

Love of a Lifetime can be purchased online at www.publishamerica.com for $16.95 US and through many others websites.

Plassay is talking to local retailers about carrying her book, and is amost finished her second novel.

Written by Tom Collins of the Greenboro and Hunt Club Community News Paper.

A 59-year-old grandmother who blushes when talking about sex has had her romance nove published.

Greenboro resident Ida Plassay has released her first book "Love of a Lifetime". The book which was released in January, is about Rita Sterling, a 27-year-old who was to settle with a man whom she thought she loved. It was on the night of her engagement party that she met Vittorio delle Rose, who immediately made an impression on her.

"I've been reading ever since I can remember, especially romance novels," said Ms.Plassay. "It's a passion of mine. It's what I wanted to do always. It's a first book for me, so of course I'm very nervous and anxious."

Ms. Plassay has always wanted to be a full-time novelist, but with four children and jobs to keep her busy, she never found the time.

"Writing is always a risk, and I had to work at various jobs to make ends meet," she said.

Now with her kids grown up and moved out of the house, Ms. Plassay has the time to spend on her hobby.

"I did it whenever I wanted to be carried away." she says of her hobby.

It took two years to write the book, but only a few weeks to get it published.

After reading the novel, Ms. Plassay's niece and her friend convinced her to send it out to be published. She sent it to a few online book publishing companies. Publish America bought the rights to the book, and printed it almost immediately.

So far, her book has gotten positive reviews on the publisher's Web site.

One reviewer, named Susie wrote

"I was truly captivated by the heart warming love and romance portrayed in this novel. Once I started reading I could not put this book down. I have read many and this is by far the best one yet. I'm anxious to read Ida Plassay next book."

Alexa from Vancouver wrote "I have just recently received "Love of a Lifetime" in the mail, and it is the best romance novel yet. My 20-year old daughter Nancy just saw the cover and wanted to read it. I just finished yesterday. I could NOT put it down. I was also thrilled to know it took place in Canada. I hope Ida Plassay writes another excellent romance novel like this!"

Rita wrote "It is absolutely impossible to dislike this book, It is a great piece of literary work. I didn't put it down until I finished. It is a wonderful book."

Ms. Plassay said while the book is set in Ottawa in 2002, it contains many of the old-way style of her Italian heritage, such as the fact the main character stays at home until she is married.

"It's sexual but it contains human value," she said.

Her family have all read the book.

"They're all so proud of me," she said. "They all think its going to be a best-seller."

Ms. Plassay is already through her second book, which she continues to use her own style.

"It's purely fictional, just my imagination and common sense in putting the story together."

Love of a Lifetime costs $16.95 US and is available through www.publishamerica.com and many other web sites.

Italian-Canadian writer showcases culture and romance in her writing

Ida Plassay has one book published, one book in the editing process and another just being written

By Matthew Perry

Abandoned Love is a book that came to fruition due to the author’s inability to abandon her own love – a love of writing.

Ida Plassay published Love of a Lifetime in November of 2004 and has since signed another contract with PublishAmerica to publish a second book titled Abandoned Love and has begun writing a third.

            “This is something I always dreamed of doing,” says Plassay. “However, with children and family and working . . .  it wasn’t possible for me to find the time or the money that it takes to write novel” she said.

            “I love the years I spent raising my family and I wouldn’t trade it in for anything, but it didn’t leave me with a lot of time to work on my writing.” She continued.      “So when I retired I began writing and it has led me here.”

            However, she admits that throughout the years the characters grew inside her mind to the point where they almost feel like family members themselves.

            “It really amazes me how much the characters have come to life,” she adds. “They have their own way of thinking and acting and it all comes very natural to me.”

            Abandoned Love is a story of one woman’s romantic endeavors with her “true love” only weeks before she is set to marry another man. It is a descriptive and passionate novel and includes many steamy romance scenes.

            “My children were a little surprised, about the love scenes,” she laughs. “I think they were surprised to read something like that written by their mother . . .  and it wasn’t an easy thing for me to write, but I knew it was what the story needed…I may be retired, but my imagination is not old.”

            Being an Italian-Canadian is something Plassay, her maiden name is Pasqua, says shines brightly through all of her work.

            “Well, the story takes place in Ottawa, and I think that gives it a unique feature in itself . . . I haven’t read too many books set in Ottawa,” the author explains. “However, it also incorporates a lot of the customs and intentions of the Italian-Canadian community. Although the story is completely fictional I know these traditions, I grew up with them and I have seen them.”

            Most of the characters in the book are of Italian descent, Plassay adds, and that her cultural experiences and ideals add to the book’s wealth of symbolism, especially regarding the main character Rita Sterling and her purity.

            “Sterling is meant to be a pure girl and I believe that a white dress is a symbol of purity and that purity comes from respect for ones own self,” she says. “I think that not enough girls today respect themselves enough and that is one of the points I was trying to make in the book.

            “My main message was that they should believe that there is special love for everyone and you shouldn’t sell yourself short.”

            It turns out that the author almost sold herself short before she even got started.

            “I had always, always wanted to write a romance novel,” she says. “So when I retired I just decided that I would do that . . . even if it was just for myself.”

            This is where one of her closest friends came into play. After reading the book Tracey Belanger noticed something special about Plassay’s work.”

            “I found myself coming back week after week to see what Ida had written,” says Belanger. “When she was close to finishing I just had to insist she do something with such a great read, so I told her I would help her get it published.”

            One problem was that Plassay had written the novel out three times, but all in longhand so her  niece Natalina Destro offered to transcribe her work onto a computer and her friend Belanger started looking for publishers.

            “Ida has since learned how to use the computer and is writing on it, which also speaks of her passion for writing,” says Belanger. “But, it is just great to have a wonderfully written book and one that expresses such solid virtues that many books, movies and TV shows today don’t have.”         

            However, Plassay admits she isn’t trying to preach when she writes and that she in fact has only one goal.

            “I want to write a great romance story that I though people would identify with and enjoy,” she says. “It is really an honour just to be published and to know there are people out there reading my work.”

            “I just wrote about what I knew and believed in myself.” She concluded.

Love of a Lifetime is available through www.publishamerica.com or on the Chapters on Rideau Street. It can also be ordered from any major book retailer online.

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