Guest Interview with Monica La Porta! On The Priest!

Hi All,

There´s something in my neat little soul, which positively adores that the last day of September is a Sunday. Now, I know that sounds crazy, but we all have our quirks, don´t we? :D I think it makes the calendar look a lot tidier! And to round off the neatest month of the year, I have a guest interview with one smart lady, who
writes in English even though her mother tongue is Italian! The language of love! Or should that be charm? ;) Monica La Porta is here with me today and before we get started, here´s today´s Song Of The Day!A sultry number to match my sassy guest! :D

Craig Armstrong – Let´s Go Out Tonight

Hey Monica! Welcome to my blog and I hope you don´t mind me calling you sassy! :D

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Hi, Serena, thanks for having me here. And as long as it´s a compliment, I don´t mind at all! ;)

As I stated in my intro, Monica, I´m filled with praise at the mere idea of what you´ve been through to become a writer. Your history is incredible! It´s hard enough writing in your own language, never mind the one of your newly adopted home! What actually gave you the writing bug?

As you know, Serena, I’m an Italian who at the tender age of thirty-one moved to the States. My whole life isn’t defined by that decision, but I can´t deny I’ve matured and become who I wanted to be thanks to having tested my limits by leaving my country of birth. I had to learn English and adapt to a different lifestyle. There’s nothing more gratifying than conquering your fears one small step at a time. I realized I was capable of doing things I had never thought possible before. At the same time, I was reminded life is too short to live day by day and not doing what makes you happy. Almost four years ago, I started writing and I haven’t stopped.

What a great answer! Happiness! You do it for the love of writing. I have to agree with you there. Someone asked me what my writing dream was only yesterday and I told them, but I forgot to mention that. How supremely happy it makes me to write love stories...Why does it make you happy though, Monica? 

It makes me happy because I love being able to create whole universes. I love the freedom to work whenever I want, which is always. I love the idea that other people might care for my characters. I just love writing.

Your very first book, Monica, is The Priest, no? Does it include a particularly favorite scene of yours? And if so, why?

 

It does indeed! My favorite scene in The Priest—a dystopian story set on Ginecea, an alternate Earth where women rule over men and heterosexual love is forbidden—is when Mauricio, a slave who knows his death is near, commits one final act of defiance against the women who keep him under chains. With only minutes left to live, he decides to make them count by refusing to obey his guards. Before fainting, Mauricio writes the word ‘no’ arranging cups on a tray and faces the cameras to smile in triumph. It was an emotional scene to write.

Wow, it certainly sounds very emotional! And powerful! Amazing, isn´t it? How certain scenes really stick with us. I won´t deny there have been times, where I´ve been so angry with something that´s occurring within a scene of my own, that I´ve cried! How silly is that? But that´s how much it means to us, isn´t it, Monica? Would you say sticking to a writing routine blocks the creativity? Or do you prefer to keep things scheduled?

I must write every day and I do try to reach my quota of words for the day, but other than that I vary the way I write on regular basis. Sometimes, I spend hours on my couch.  Others, I sit at the kitchen table. I normally have a playlist going and I change the songs depending on my mood.

I must say, you sound very disciplined! Re. listening to music, sometimes I can and sometimes I can´t! If I´m listening to something it can really break my concentration and it just infuriates me! Wish I could! Oh well! :D Monica, would you happen to have any writing hints or tips for us fledgling writers?

Write, write, write. Don’t get discouraged if at first your story doesn’t flow the way it played in your mind. It takes time to master the craft and practice makes everything better. When you’re done with the story, let it rest for a while. Then read it from beginning to end as if you didn’t write it. Rewrite some or all of it if you need to and ask people to read it. Finally, if you can, hire a professional editor and a proofreader. If you can’t, join critique circles, writers groups, etc. Don’t publish anything you aren’t sure it’s the best possible work you have written.

I truly agree with you there, Monica. While an editor is great and so is a critique partner, time and distance from a novel really is vital, because if the story doesn´t please you when you read it back, then why should it please an editor? Would you say you´re heading for the top, Monica? And don´t worry, we won´t think you´re big-headed if you say yes! :D

I strongly believe everybody is special; I’m just different I guess. My stories don’t follow one specific genre and that is always a challenge when I have to choose between categories when I hit the publishing button. I only write stories I’d like to read, which it means that I follow my heart to the very end in every book I have written.  I’m grateful for the opportunity I have been given to publish without having to pass through the censorship of a publishing house. My stories are oftentimes a glimpse into our society and reality isn’t always pretty. I like what-if scenarios where an aspect of our reality is seen through a mirror glass. Everything is the same, everything is different.  In my Ginecean series, I analyze what would happen in a matriarchal society where love between men and women is considered the ultimate perversion.  I touch several topics that are still taboo, even in 2012. Hopefully, after reading my stories, people will think about the fact that everything is relative. And sometimes it’s a good thing.

Thank you for joining me today, Monica. I truly appreciate your answers and I can´t deny, you´ve made me feel better about my decision to not push ahead with Breaking Aurora, my WIP. You´re so right- it is important to only publish what you feel is your very best work- so thanks for that!

I hope other people have learnt something from Monica and if you´re interested in reading more about Ginacea and the intriguing-sounding 'taboo' subjects, then here are the links! For Monica´s blog, click here! Follow her on twitter! Add her on Facebook, find her on Amazon and Goodreads.

Now, for her books! :) The Priest! And her latest work, Pax in the Land Of Women!

Have a great day everyone and I hope you´ve been inspired! I certainly have! Breaking Aurora is in the distance, it just isn´t as near as I´d like it to be! You´ll all be the first to know, when it eventually is! :)

Love

Serena

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