Maryann Zahra Interview Published on: 03, Jun 2024

My inspiration to become a writer was a combination of personal passion and influential experiences. At a young age, I loved reading, and it was the only way I could pass my free time after school. I read many children's books and history books at the time, which helped me in my English language. I loved the magic world I used to travel in whilst reading, and I still feel this sensation when reading or watching a good movie, the sensation which ignites original narratives inside me and urges me to put pen on paper. Later in my teens, I had a teacher, Marion Attard, for the English Language and English Literature subjects. She was very supportive and encouraged me to pursue writing, she knew it from the stories I used to write and was aware that each book and each poem can make me travel in another world. Living in a nation with such a rich past as Malta has also inspired me to use more of my imagination and storytelling skills.

English literature studies have exposed me to many writing styles, from Shakespeare’s to the elaborate sentences of Charles Dickens. I recognised the intertwining style of history inside the literature, and this is what sparked me the most. I matured a lot in the setting of the scenes especially historical events with which I can easily develop a narrative.

Certainly! First, it is William Shakespeare, as he taught me how to develop certain characters and weave plots. George Elliott (Maryann Evans) too has taught me how to detail characters and develop the story path. Then there was Alexander Dumas who influenced me a lot in intertwining history with the narrative.

Balancing such roles is challenging but rewarding. My first secret is setting up priorities and being aware of how to spend time. I hate wasting time, you will never see me browsing the various apps that haunt us today. Every day, I reserve time for writing, and I choose a time when my other roles don’t interfere. I don’t mind writing late at night, I find it the most relaxing and concentrated moment of the day!

Yes, my love for animals and nature does seep in my writing. I use nature and animals to represent wilderness, freedom, and innocence. Nature helps me a lot in setting the scene, and the atmosphere like the sound of rustling leaves, the roar of the sea waves and the swish of its foam. Also, characters interacting with animals can be developed more deeply and are brought more vividly to the reader.

I love the sea. Malta is a small island 21km across surrounded by sea. The sea gives me freedom, I feel free sailing out there, in peace with nature, listening just to the sound of the wind, the flapping sound of the sail or the sound of the rigging caressing the mast, the sound of the waves and the beautiful breeze in my face, the taste of the salt on my lips and the serenity that surrounds me. Nature does inspire my writing, as I write rich in sensory details and the writing becomes more vivid and engaging.

Certainly! I use the same process of when I used to write songs. I start with the title and stick to it. I have studied pianoforte playing and used to write lyrics and compose music too. So, first, I come up with the title, yes, the title of the book. This must be clear right away, so I focus on it. If you keep changing the title, you keep also twisting the story and confusion strikes. So, first the title, then a brainstorming session around that title with different paths that the story can lead to, then research, then bullet points to structure the story and identify the characters. Afterwards, I start with the first draft of each chapter concentrating more on the story than perfection, this will come at a later stage. I reread the chapter and pinpoint what can be developed more such as description of a scene or the characteristics of a character. When I arrive at the editing stage, I focus then more on clarity, structure and flow.

In ‘Villa Sans Souci’, I hope the readers take away a sense of deep connection to the themes and characters, especially the complexity of human emotions and relationships. I want the reader to experience the journey of each character, its emotions, the conflict resolutions between characters, understanding and empathy. Through the main character, the reader will experience the importance of personal growth, self-development, and that growth feeds on life challenges. I also shed light on various historical events and societal norms of that era. Finally, I want to leave the reader with a memorable experience, creating a lasting impression where the reader long after finishing the book will keep on thinking about the characters, their lives, what they went through, their challenges, and their journeys.

Firstly, identify the primary roles of the main characters which would be the pillars in the story. Then there would be other characters with short roles. They just come in the story to keep the story flowing and then they disappear. This technique makes my writing more realistic, after all in real life some people stay, and others come and go after a short while. Then create a character profile and a deep understanding of the character itself and the role that is going to play. Creating a distinctive voice for each character, yes even through writing by reflecting on the background and personality of the character in your writing, the reader will imagine the voice of that character. Then let each character evolve, the story will create the emotions, the tonality of the voice, and the journey of the character. There is a lot to say about character development because it all depends on the scene of that moment, the circumstances the characters find themselves in and how they react, are they strong or are they vulnerable? Oh, there is so much to say about the characters.

Of course, there are several themes/messages to be explored in my work, which mainly reflect my interests, beliefs, and observations. One main theme is personal growth and transformation, the journey of self-discovery and how to overcome adversity, human connections and family dynamics. What choices a person makes and what repercussions are created? Empowerment and independence in my characters are achieved through overcoming adversity. Another theme I use is nature or a tranquil ambience. I like to include such scenes to the reader, so the reader’s mind takes a break from the plot and at the same time the characters have some space to grow and reflect.

I go for a one hour walk with my Suzy (Siberian Husky) by the sea and in the countryside. It clears my mind and I come up with new inspirations. Sometimes, the writing block persists, so I would prefer to stop working on the book for a while but in the meantime, I keep browsing my mind for ideas. This usually leads to questions in my mind that require some research and suddenly the research leads to some ideas and the story will continue.

Certainly! I love the quote by Florence Nightingale herself, “how very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” In my book, you will find it worded differently but it is a quote which I came across when doing the research. Reflecting on it, Florence gave me a lesson, to kill fear, fear is an enemy, just do it afraid – but do it!

My advice is to do it! Life is short and full of challenges, some are simple challenges, and others are more complex. With challenges we grow. Do keep your family as a priority. The work around a family in the role as mother/wife still needs to be completed. After the house is in order, then, yes time for writing will be set. During the day there will be moments where you can take advantage of doing two things at the same time, for example, I used to record my voice relating an idea or continuing the story in my book whilst driving. Then in the evening I just listen to my recorded voice and continue writing the book. This way I used to find many passages ready just by typing them out. Stay committed to your writing goals, and trust in your ability to balance your passion for writing with your other responsibilities.

My upcoming project, well it is a work-in-progress as I am already in Chapter 10. It is another historical fiction book, more history rather than fiction this time, I am going to use some fiction to make the story more flowing, and it’s about a particular name of a King of the British reign. In my previous book, I had Queen Victoria as one of the characters, in my next book there will be a King. I must admit I love incorporating the Royals in my writing.

My AllAuthor experience has been fantastic. AllAuthor is a great tool for promotion. I loved the mock-up banners which I use in my marketing posts. Also, AllAuthor helps authors to be visible on the internet. Expanding the reach on the internet and marketing/promotion is crucial for the success of my book. AllAuthor has helped me keep my marketing/promotion campaigns flowing.