Strand's Simply Tips: WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Author Annamaria Bazzi---Book Tour Introducing White Swans REVELATIONS

Annamaria Bazzi, Author
REVELATIONS
The White Swan Series

Annamaria Bazzi brings us The White Swans series of YA, fantasy short stories. The newest member is REVELATIONS, targeted at teens who prefer short stories. Annamaria uses “simplicity” to create the mysticism of her fantasy world. But beware: she "loves mixing genres." Reviewers say, “the plot lines are twisting nicely” in this third story of the series.

When not busy writing, Annamaria enjoys painting, walking and spending time with her family.

This interview is part of Introducing The White Swans: Revelations Book Tour.

Q: How would you describe your new story White Swans: REVELATIONS to your readers? Fantasy? YA? Science fiction? Romance?

Annamaria Bazzi: The White Swans is a series of YA, Fantasy, short stories created for all teens who won’t read because novels are just too long. In the midst of the Fantasy, I throw in some Science Fiction. I love mixing genres.

Q: Reviewers of the first story in the White Swans series described it as “Alice in Wonderland gone bad” and “mystical.” How do you create that sense of mysticism?

Annamaria Bazzi: I don’t try to be mystical or mysterious, because, in the past, when I would try to inject those qualities or feelings into the story, I’d fail miserably and critics would slash me for it. I was beaten too many times before it sunk in that all I need to do is show the story as my mind’s eye sees it, no more no less. Simplicity is the best way of showing a story. Through simplicity, the mysticism or mystery will become apparent on its own.

Q: How do you make a make-believe world believable? Characters? Back-story?

Annamaria Bazzi: First, I have to believe in this world, because if I don’t believe in it neither will the reader. A make believe world has to have elements that the reader can identify with, elements that come from the real world that the reader will be familiar with.

The characters need to have personalities the reader can identify with, they should be someone that could be living next door.

Q: What do you do to make us care about your characters, particularly your protagonist Kendíka?

Annamaria Bazzi: All I really do is try to make her as real as possible. She is a young woman modeled after the personalities of a couple of my girls. Kendíka must be someone teens can identify with.

Q: Are you in control of your characters, or do they intrude and make you write things you haven’t thought of yet?

Annamaria Bazzi: I always believe I’m in control, until the characters slap my hands and move in a totally different direction than I wanted to go in. That’s what happened in book two when this unknown girl, Jillian, popped in and is now sharing the story with Kendíka.

Q: What makes a good villain? Can you name the villain in White Swans: REVELATIONS?

Annamaria Bazzi: I have two villains in the series, and in this book it starts to be apparent who they are, Harry, the Count of Paddington and his owner Brodrik.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Hobbies? Events? Favorites?

Annamaria Bazzi: I love to read and paint, and sometimes I enjoy drawing. I also enjoy going for walks.

About Annamaria Bazzi

Although born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country.

Upon returning to the States, she promised herself she would speak without an accent.

She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish.

Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solutions, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.

About WHITE SWANS: REVELATIONS

After attempting to accept her fate in the strange fishbowl world, Kendíka decides it’s impossible. Call her a pet, will they? Determination revived, she tempts her “master’s” fury by trying to make life better for the people of Deverow’s Duchy. She will bring technology to the Regency era or end up a swan trying.

Still longing for a higher station in her new existence, Jillian sets her sights on Harry, the Count of Paddington. The only problem? Getting the man to take notice of her. Perhaps discovering some common ground—besides their rabbit-like features—will do the trick.

Links

Visit annamaria at:

Facebook

Blog

Twitter: @AMBazzi

AUTHORSdB

Goodreads

You can write to annamaria at: annamariascorner@yahoo.com

Links to annamaria’s books:

White Swans: Revelations

Amazon

White Swans: The New Girl in Town