Interview on The Secret Door!
Hello, Chiara, and welcome to The Secret Door! Thank you for agreeing to be my guest. It is indeed a privilege and a great pleasure to talk with you!
Hello, Monia! Thank you for your hospitality. I can't wait to have a chat with you!
You are a young and imaginative. From your writings we will immediately notice your love for creation and imagination. Tell us about yourself, tell us about your interests and who is behind the mysterious figure of a writer.
Not much to say, really. I am a normal girl! I am twenty years old and live in Pescara. From October 2012 I attend a course in group dances and in my spare time, when I'm not planted in front of the PC to write, I like to listen to music, follow the American TV series and movies. I'm addicted to books that manage to turn something in me. At the age of eight years I began to practice horseback riding at a competitive level, stopping after ten years. As for my personality ... well, let's say I have many, so I do not know what to say! I have the power to transform myself according to the environment in which I am.
Your first book, "The awakening of the Fire," published in 2012 by Tabula Fati, is a fantasy novel that is part of the series "The Queen of the Underworld" and that brings together many elements intriguing and fascinating. It is an original story and certainly magnetic. Explain us how it came into your mind the idea for this saga and why you decided to give life to a story where the figure of the deity has such an important role.
I have always been bowled over by the evil, and when Morwen appeared in my mind I decided that hers would be a story full of tragic events and deadly wars. Morwen had to be dark and so seductive to kill with a glance. She had to be the scariest and unreachable than deities who want to kill her. She had to be the Goddess of the Gods, born to be the absolute Sovereign. She turned out to be exactly how I wanted... until it arrived Galadir who suggested I make things a little more interesting and naughty. I should have to command him to not interfere and let me write, I know, but it is impossible to resist when he shows his damn sexy smile!
Often, writing stories, our imagination leads us to take up the elements we have learned over time. When you invent a plot do you let the memory will suggest you ideas to rework or do you try to deviate from what has influenced your imagination over the years? For example, to create the world in which it is set "The awakening of the fire," did you take inspiration from literary topics that have intrigued you in the past?
When I discovered the world of fantasy, I read of land very different from those that were created in my imagination. Before creating The Queen of the Underworld, I had never met obscure landscapes, neither in reality nor in the literature, so I entrusted everything to my mind. None of the novels I read was so darker, so I was inspired by other authors only for the genre and, in the early days, for the style to follow.
In your fantasy saga we can note the presence of a well-defined mythology and the Gods take actions whose consequences affect the Land of Men. Did you get inspired by a particular mythology to create your own?
I think I didn't! It's been so long, I do not remember all the details tested while writing! It is true that, as my mother always told me, in elementary school, the teacher read to us the Iliad and the Odyssey ... Maybe my subconscious was so fascinated by those events to prompt me to insert the gods in my work.
Morwen is a multi-faceted protagonist and she's characterized by a strong personality. What did you want to show through her character? Why did you decide to develop the dark figure (and perhaps, in the popular imagination, negative) of a Goddess of the Underworld? This is not the most obvious choice to bring out a heroine so dark! Indeed! Was you scared by the idea of abseil down mentally in her shoes? Or did you have fun?
With Morwen I wanted to give the opportunity to the 'dark side' to have a leading role and show that not always the Good has to be at center stage. I love the 'bad guy' of a story, and by Morwen I got exactly what I wanted: an incontestable leader and the embodiment of darkness more than seductive. I've never been afraid to enter her mind, indeed: while writing the spin-off that tells about the three years she spent in Nobbis in the Kingdom of Winged Horses, I was able to understand her better and be even more impressed by darkness that cloaks her. Writing about she is more than a pleasure, and yes, it's really fun to see her shoot one of her deadly looks and turn fear against those who are so foolish as to catch her eye. If then there's also Galadir... oh, palpitations are guaranteed!
When you wrote "The awakening of the fire," did you know you wanted to create a saga or was it a choice you made when you have finished writing the first volume?
I had everything clear before to start to write, because I usually draw up a list characters, plot and timeline.
The fantasy world you have created is certainly a treasure trove of details from which we can draw endless inspiration narrative. In fact, you've already written an erotic story set in this land that continues the exploits of Morwen. "Tasting the Fire", published by Lite Editions, is a spin-off that tells the passion between Morwen and Galadir and what promises to be an exciting and engaging story. What is the reason that prompted you to go deeper into the relationship between the two lovers?
When I wrote The Queen of the Underworld I didn't know the erotic genre yet, but the level of sensuality was very high in my books. I wanted the readers really found out what happened the first night of love between the Prince and the Queen. I wanted they taste the intensity of feeling that binds them together.
The fire is a key element in these two works. What does it mean for you? Is it particularly important in your life?
I think that expresses Morwen's true nature: dangerous but charming, deadly but irresistible, treacherous but sinuous, devastating but essential.
Now to your last novel, "The Lion's Promise", published in March 2013 with Narcissus Self Publishing, and has already found considerable favor with readers. The story is set in Tanzania, a place that isn't often taken into account for urban fantasy. Why did you choose to develop the characters' events in such an exotic and remote location?
I needed to breathtaking views and impact locations that made the events that revolve around the main characters even more powerful and exciting. And what better land than Tanzania? The Ngorongoro crater is gorgeous, and perfect for the life of a bunch of shapeshifters. And Sanje Waterfalls, which hosts one of the most touching scenes, are of a superlative beauty. I wouldn't have chosen a different location for my novel.
How did you get the idea for lions shapeshifters? And why did you decide to create a story where friendship is threatened by love?
The idea came from the Disney animated film The Lion King: I have always been fascinated by lions and I wanted to use my passion for them to create an original story. Love vs. friendship ... is not it the greatest war fought, leaving the secular between Good and Evil? Sometimes friendship wins, and sometimes it's love. It is up to readers to decide which of the twofeelings will have the best in my novel: for some it will be friendship, for others will be love. I do not tell anything!
Was there anything in particular that inspired you for "The Lion's Promise"? A dream or an event, for example?
I was inspired by a Japanese anime series that won me over heart and soul, and that gave me the input for the triangle Jamila-Daren-Kenan.
Your novels are fascinating and original environments and engaging and dramatic plots. However, the romantic part is always present and love stories you tell are full of passion and supported by deep and tormented feelings. While the writing, what has most importance? You tend to go deeper into the emotional aspect of a story or prefer to dedicate yourself to the events and general objective of the plot?
Maybe before I gave more importance to the events that revolved around the characters, maybe I purposed with descriptions or episodes that had little relevance. Now, however, I focus only on the main characters, their emotions. Even when I read a book, for example, I like that the story relates only to the lead couple and not being shifted to other things: it risks boring or to lead the reader to 'speed up' the reading to return to the main story.
How do you creater your characters? And how much of you is in them? What is the element that should never be lacking in the construction of the personality of the main characters of your stories?
When I create a character I always based on real people, mainly on the actors of the big screen who can send me the kind of character that I need. How much of me is in them? Well, I always say "nothing!", but often my mother, who knows me better than anyone else, denies. My characters are always very strong, dark and tormented, or determinated, brisk and fun... there is something for everyone!
What is the message that you would like to send to the readers who read your books?
I never claimed to convey a message, to tell the truth. I wish that those who read my books remain fascinated and touched in some way. I'd like to make a mark in each of them, however small.
You have published with publishers and with a method of self-publishing, in both cases with success. Are you satisfied with the experience of self-publishing? What are the main advantages and disadvantages in both cases? Is there any advice you would give to anyone who wants to take the path to self-publication?
I am very satisfied with the self-publishing! However, I have also been working with the Tabula Fati, which allowed me to participate in events such as the Turin International Book Fair, Pandino Fantasy Books and San Giorgio di Mantova Fantasy, and to meet many other Italian writers of the genre. The disadvantage to publish with the publisher i'ts that some readers would prefer the digital version of The awakening of the Fire, conversely some would The Lion's Promise in paper format. My advice to those who want self published is to do a good job of editing, provide a good cover and make lots of advertising on the web.
What are the genres you most like to explore as a writer and as a reader?
Currently I jumped headlong in the erotic genre, as a writer and as a reader. Thanks to the strong emotions present in these novels, the erotic can touch many parts of my soul and conquer me completely. In my library there are also many urban fantasy and paranormal romance for adults, and even some thrillers are making their way through my shelves.
Your style and your imagination have been influenced by an author in particular? Or by a book?
Certainly the discovery of the novels by Keri Arthur has been enlightening for my style. Hers is what I like most: direct and intense, which goes straight to the heart. Study his writing style was very instructive, especially when I was writing action scenes. The moment I landed in the erotic genre, however, I was haunted by the style of Beth Kery, lapidary at the right point as that of Arthur's and wonderfully descriptive in highlights.
Why have you taken the road of writing? And what is the essential thing to your creativity while you let your imagination and write your thoughts? Do you listen to a particular type of music?
Writing makes me happy, it allows me to keep going when maybe it's a bad time, it's my life. The indispensable element when I sit down at my computer is the music, yes! All songs of Evanescence have been crucial during the writing of The Queen of the Underworld, while for The Lion's Promise I have inspired by Alains Morissette, Leona Lewis, Nickelback, Seether, Breaking Benjamin and Snow Patrol Ft Martha Wainwright.
We know that "The Queen of the Underworld" is a series and, having already released the first volume, we look forward to the sequels. Can you give us some little anticipation? And in addition to this fantasy saga, what are your future plans in literature?
Deadly Imprisonment, second book in the series, will be released for autumn/winter. Here we will have to do with the sadistic Deshre, determined to make the Prince Galadir her personal toy. Galadir shall survive her cruelty and temper himself to deal with the hardships that await him. It will be very difficult and Galadir will have to take the situation in hand, show what he's worth and become the hero that his Land needs. He will also be called upon to make a choice that is likely to break him: continue to fight to save Morwen, or sacrifice himself and gain the power that will allow him to kill the Goddess of Death?
Stay tuned!
The other works that I have in my drawer include the saga sequel to The Queen of the Underworld and its cross-over, a spin-off of The Queen of the Underworld, a self-contained urban fantasy and the first two books of two urban fantasy series for adults. I am currently working on the second volume of these two series and I'm finishing the first novel of an erotic trilogy that will be released by episodes for Lite Editions.
Dearest Chiara, I congratulate you and I wish you to realize your dreams! It was a pleasure talking about you and your novels and I thank you for being my guest and for bringing us together! Want to greet the readers and readers indicating the main ingredients that can be found in your novels if they decide to read them and enter in your fantasy world?
Thanks to you, Monia, I enjoyed it very much! I hope I have intrigued your followers and have enticed those who like to read stories about tormented love and passion, of epic and bloody battles, hatred and darkness, to dive in my novels. A warm hug to everyone!
