Pamela:
Maria, tell us about the books you write and how long it takes you to write
them?
I write
non-fiction and suspense with romantic elements. My non-fiction consists of
stories and quizzes and other entertaining subjects that I collect overtime.
Not so when it comes to fiction, my true passion. I’m a plotter. I start with a beginning
and an end and fill the middle as I go. If I knew the story in advance I would
be too bored to write it. I can write a fiction book in about 8 months. I’m a slow writer.
Pamela:
What is your writing schedule?
Don’t have one. I work full time as a Real
Estate agent and that’s why I can’t keep a schedule, you never know when
you need to jump in your car and go show houses. But the element of surprise is
part of the fun. I like what I do, a lot. My preference would be to write at
night, no noises, no interruptions.
Pamela:
When was the last time you read a book in one sitting?
I haven’t done that in a very long time, it
takes me about 3 evenings to read a whole book. Last one was The Winter Garden.
Pamela:
Tell us a little about your personal life?
You already
know what I do to pay the bills. I was born in Italy, but my family moved
around a lot and that was fine. I met and married my American husband (Swan) in
Italy. Soon after that we started the gypsy life, moving from county to country
until he decided to come back to the United States permanently. Here I am,
minus the husband. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, have 2 grown sons and 2
grandsons. I visit my family in Italy as often as possible. Love to travel, try
new things and date men not so ordinary. Lets leave it at that.
Pamela:
What writing advice can you give aspiring writers who want to be authors?
Never give up!
Writing is a craft, it can be learned. Sure some writers are more talented than
others, but that’s true of
everything. Perseverance is half the battle. How can you appreciate success if
you never experienced failure?
Pamela:
What would you like to say to your readers?
You changed my
life. You restored my faith in life and humanity. I pinch myself when I read a
new review. If this was a TV show I could show you the marks left by the
pinching, but, hey, plenty of room for more of that. Thank you, thank you.
Mille Grazie.
Pamela: Do
you have a few favorite books that you would like to tell us about and if so
have you met any of the authors?
I did a lot
more of meeting the authors when I went to conferences. I will only mention
some of my favorite dead authors so no one will get mad at me for forgetting a
name. Agatha Christie, Simone De Beauvoir, Truman Capote.
Pamela:
2013 as far as your career what comes next and do you have a booksigning that
you would like to talk about?
No booksigning
at the moment. I’m reissuing my
non fiction now that I have my rights back from Dorchester. Working on Mina’s third adventure, and getting ready
for a visit to Italy.
Pamela: In
closing what is your favorite meal, dessert, song and movie?
My comfort food
is pasta, however if I’m going to go
to a non Italian restaurant with new friend(s) I tend to pick steak and potato,
can’t do much
damage to that. As for dessert, it must be soft and chocolaty, like chocolate
mousse, éclairs. Song?
It has a lot to do with where I am emotionally. I have Edith Piaf in my car
now. Last year it was Green Day. Movie? This is going to sound corny, but here
goes. The English Patient. Love, love the movie. The book not so much.
Thank you
so much for the interview.
Pamela
Oh, Pamela,
thank you, very, very much.
