Interview Selena Simonetti

by

Jeannine Van Eperen

1) Selena, since we’ve never met, could you tell me a little about yourself and your writing career?

I've been writing seriously, with an aim to get published, since high school about age 16-17 or so. I have always loved romance novels, especially historicals and I'm a big Fantasy and SF fan, too. I draw and paint, love to visit greenhouses and take pictures with my digital camera and will eventually attend fine art school as soon as I can afford it. I love to grow plants from seed and am starting my own little portable greenhouse. I belong to the Society for Creative Anachronism (http://www.sca.org/) a history recreation group. I'm starting to get into archery and I also love horseback riding (English style) and taking care of small animals. I have two hamsters, two guinea pigs, a betta fish with a snail, a canary and a pug dog.

2) I believe this is your first book for Wings ePress. Is Mairi’s Magic your first published novel?

Yes it is.

3) Tell us a little about Mairi’s Magic.

It's the story of a Scottish girl who has lead a horrific life as she grew up, but learns to trust herself and other people once again and to forgive as she finds love.

4) Could your story have been set anywhere or does this setting have some intrinsic value?

I love Scotland and wanted to write a story set in Scotland. Medieval Scotland, to be precise, since I have a very big interest in history.

5) Have you any unfinished work (be it writing or some other craft) that you believe one day you will finish? Or if you won’t finish it, why?

I've finished book #2, and am working on #3 right now.

6) Who are your all-time favorite authors and why?

Virginia Henley. for her attention to detail and heroines who are strong and independent. Laurel K. Hamilton, for her paranormal themes and ability to make them seem so real. Jacqueline Carey, for her Kushiel series and her writing ability and to create a flawed, but likeable character. Charlaine Harris for her humor and wit.

7) If you could talk to any historical figure who would you chose and why?

Veronica Franco, the Venetian Courtesan. She had a very interesting life and I'd love to hear her stories.

8) Do you believe travel to the places you write about helps or do you think that just researching the area is a good enough basis to write about the place?

No. I've never been to Scotland, but I did research and with that, a believable story could be written without going there.

9) What is your writing routine?

Write whenever I have a spare minute or aren't completely exahausted.:-)

10) Do you chart a plot? Write by the seat of your pants? Keep files on characters?

A little bit of everything.

11) Do your characters sometimes take you places you hadn’t planned?

Not often, but it happens.

12) Is there anything we haven’t touched upon that you’d like your readers to know about Selena Simonetti?

Nope.:-)

Thank you, Selena, for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. I look forward to reading your Scottish historical, Mairi’s Magic.