Written Author Interview
Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do outside of writing. What is a day in the life like for you?
I’m married to my best friend, we’ve been together 40 years, a mother of two amazing adult children and I enjoy a spot of gardening, movies, music and spending time with family and friends. My life is full even without my writing.
What inspired your first novel? What was the thing that got you into writing in the first place?
My first novel, The Decision They Made, is loosely based on stories of WWII that I heard growing up with my parents and aunts/uncles. I am a copywriter, so I have been writing my whole working life. I didn’t publish until 2019 … because, well, life was just too busy. And what got me into writing, it’s in me and I am compelled to write whether it’s advertising copy, editing a newsletter or writing a novel.
How do you come up with characters? Are they spontaneous or meticulously planned?
I’m a spontaneous writer, characters evolve as I write. When I first started fiction writing, I didn’t plan anything but now I do tend to plan my books with an outline of characters and plot points. But this doesn’t mean I stick to this plan, it depends where the characters want to go. There are times where I add to the outline as more characters come to life in a story.
What are some of your favorite genres to read? Are there any books you’d recommend to first time readers or people looking for something new?
I read everything except horror and erotica. I enjoy non-fiction books too. Picking a favourite genre isn’t easy, but maybe contemporary fiction is my first pick, then science fantasy and occasionally I like a good historical drama. If someone is serious about reading, I’d recommend starting with a classic like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee’. Others that also make you think are – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood or The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer?
For me it’s the marketing. Even though I have marketed many products throughout my career, having my self-published books noticed is the most difficult thing I’ve done in years. If I could hand over the marketing to someone else, I would. But being self-published, I do everything.
What is your process to completing a novel from outline to final product?
I don’t have a routine, I write when I have time. This can be four times a week, five on a good week. Or it can be once a week. The outline takes a few days, I don’t spend a lot of time on planning because I know it will change. Once I start writing, the story flows and I can finish writing a novel in three to six months. Then it goes through more drafts until I’m happy for others to see it – editor, beta readers, send out arc requests. The cover is designed while I’m waiting on feedback. Although there are times when the cover comes first, this has happened a few times. Being self-published, I pick the publication date a month after the final manuscript is complete. Then, the hard part starts – the marketing.
What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve written in your novel? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.
Umm, I’m not really sure I have? I write a bit of drama, some magic and fantasy and young adult. If I had to pick, I guess it would be for Edward’s Cat, my magical ya trilogy, where in one of the books a bully makes a geek kid lick his shoes. I thought that was quite gross.
What’s one thing about being a writer that absolutely drives you up the wall?
I hate to harp on this, but it’s the marketing. I find it hard and feel like I’m screaming into a void at times. And then someone like you pops up on social media and makes my writing life just that little bit easier. Thank you.
What does being a successful writer look like for you? What type of life do you want to live as a writer?
Success to me is all the author friends I have made since publishing my debut novel in 2019. When COVID hit in 2020, we all met online and on zoom. Video calls became the norm. I have also helped to set up a group called Sydney Authors Inked, we help authors to promote their books for free by doing author/book talks and book festivals. We only started two years ago and have a good email list with many authors interested in being interviewed. I’d like to sell more books, but making these friendships along the way has been so much more rewarding.
Describe your writing journey. If you had to write a story centered around it, do you think you could pull it off?
If I start from when I first published in 2019, then being hit with a pandemic meaning launches were delayed and I couldn’t get to bookstores personally, then I could definitely pull it off. What a way to start a career as an author, one where you can’t get out to promote your books. I guess selling online, social media and having a website does help, but without face to face promotion, it is difficult to sell books.
Follow and Connect with Maria P Frino
About
Maria P. Frino is an Australian author known for writing contemporary, young adult and women’s fiction. Her work often explores themes of family, resilience, and the impact of personal events on individual lives.
One of her well-known novels, The Decision They Made, is a compelling World War II drama inspired by her own family history. The story delves into the sacrifices, relationships, and hard decisions made during wartime and draws heavily from her Italian heritage.
Maria’s style is characterised by rich storytelling, with a particular focus on human frailty and relationships allowing readers to be immersed in her character-driven stories. Her writing is both emotional and evocative, appealing to readers who enjoy stories that interweave personal and historical narratives.
In addition to her books, Maria is active on social media and often engages with readers to discuss her works, her writing process, and the inspiration behind her stories. Maria is involved with Sydney Authors Inked, a group she started with five other authors. It is a collective of authors based in Sydney, Australia, focused on creating a supportive community for local writers. This group provides a platform for authors across various genres to connect, collaborate, and share resources, with a particular emphasis on helping each other with writing, publishing, and promotion.
The collective often organises author events and festivals, where members can showcase their work, gain insights into the writing and publishing industry, and build connections with other writers.
Sydney Authors Inked is a great resource for readers interested in discovering local talent, as well as for writers seeking a vibrant literary community.
You can follow Maria on Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and Facebook.
Social Media
Website: http://www.mariapfrino.com
Latest work (Fame and Other Disasters): https://a.co/d/3s4WB6O
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