Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?
Massimo: Nationality is the easy part: Italian. What is more
complex is the influence of various cultures. My first work was abroad, in
Switzerland, and I never spoke Italian at work: either English or French. I
lived in Switzerland, France and the US. I adapt and enjoy people and discover
traditions, way of life, culture. I felt at home wherever I lived.
Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the
characters?
Massimo: Totally. Amazing, isn’t it? With me, characters take up
their own life and they act independently too. I kind of sit and watch what
happens to them and how they react to situations. Sometimes I struggle to write
down all that happens and everything they say so much it goes fast. Maybe you
need a bit of insanity to write a novel.
Scarberryfields:
While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etc., where do you
turn?
Massimo:
Luckily, I found, after a good deal of research and previous attempts, to a
great editor and fellow-writer: Rebecca Stroud. She is an established author
and praised for her impeccable editing. I am in debt with her for how much
effort she has put into Daimones.
Then I also have the plethora of written tools, dictionaries, physical and
online, Webster, the Internet and Google, and The Elements of Style. I wish I
could swallow it and learn by osmosis.
Scarberryfields:
With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or
complain about the time spent away from them?
Massimo:
I tell myself I am on a forced sabbatical, so I can write a lot. Luckily, it
does not interfere at all with family life…often ;-) Anyway, they are very
supportive and waited patiently for a revised second draft to be ready before I let them read
the novel.
Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so,
how?
Massimo:
In a sense, writing is entering a different world, a separate dimension.
Sometimes you find yourself in a trance-like state and the real world becomes
veiled and obfuscated. It is a dreamed moment. I do not need to find other means
of evasion from the asperity of life, when I’m writing.
Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social
networks?
Massimo:
Sometimes. It does not disturb me. I always had a multi-tasking mind so I can
write and reply to the occasional tweet or email without losing track. Or maybe
I have latent schizophrenia.
Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for
your debut novel?
Massimo:
No. At all. I used critters, an online community who provides peer-to-peer
beta-reading, a couple American friends, and two British. They claimed my
English was better than that of a few of their neighbors. They suggested I get
an editor, too. So you see, they are good friends, they know how to say things
without hurting your feelings ;-)
Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking as a marketing tool,
is beneficial?
Massimo:
I hope so. It is something I have to discover yet. I can’t see why or how it
couldn’t though. For sure, it will allow me to connect with readers, actual and
potential ones. On twitter I found a large
community of writers. As an example, see what happened with Paulo Coelho and
his latest work. He made a tremendous use of social network and the results
have been incredibly positive. He tweets a lot, by the way.
Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed
and published?
Massimo: “Daimones” is my
debut novel, and the first volume of a planned trilogy. Elsewhere, I have been
published a lot for academic reasons. I won’t mention the title of the paper—as
they are called—here because we are here to discuss fiction, not reality ;-)
Scarberryfields: Where
can readers go to find your books?
Massimo: Primarily
on Amazon and Smashwords. Am now on their Premium Catalogue also, so Daimones—and the sequels—is available on
Kobo, B&N, Lulu, Nook, and others. It is also going to be on Italian
e-retailers soon. Here are the
most direct links:
Scarberryfields: You don't need to thank me, Massimo. Everybody knows how much I enjoy featuring and supporting talented authors like you. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I have enjoyed learning more about you.
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