ALWAYS JULIA: The Art of a Life received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Ava Zacardi.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
ALWAYS JULIA: The Art of a Life was published in August 2022. It is the first book of the series, ALWAYS, HONESTLY and FOREVER JULIA. The second book, HONESTLY JULIA: A Matter of Perspective, is now available on Amazon.
What’s the book’s first line?
Sam has not been able to stop thinking about the girl he loved wholeheartedly in first grade.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Life is an art. A well-lived life is a masterpiece. Julia DeRosa, an artist at a crossroads, longs to fill the negative spaces in her life with new beginnings.
The story starts with a memory revealed in a dream. A dream that sets in motion a cascade of revelations. Recently divorced and unemployed, Julia finds herself living alone in a small house in Astoria. The reappearance of a childhood friend, Sam, complicates matters. Haunting memories, surprising realities, and personal triumphs draw a new, unexpected picture.
Spanning decades of their lives, family members lift themselves off the pages and into your heart. Hope, sorrow, and love paint a poignant portrait of a family.
ALWAYS JULIA is an emotional roller coaster with unexpected twists and turns. This fast-paced novel draws you in and leaves you wanting more.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
In my everyday life, I am an art teacher to senior citizens who have always wanted to learn how to paint. Their achievements have been remarkable. Their willingness to not see age as a barrier and follow their passions and dreams inspired me to rekindle my desire to write. I wrote quite a lot in high school and college, but life pushed me in another direction. I reached a certain age and decided it was now or never, and set down my paintbrush and took up the pen. I wanted to write a book with an older woman’s perspective that spoke to the resilience of the human spirit.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Julia is a woman who is breaking free of her past life and mistakes. She is witty and expressive and works hard to remake her life. Her voice has a distinctive timbre, almost a gravelly undertone. In an unofficial Facebook poll, my readers agreed that she is the older version of Marisa Tomei in the movie My Cousin Vinny.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I read THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers in high school. It was then that I decided that I wanted to be a writer. It seemed like a superpower to tell a story that touches people at their core.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
ALWAYS JULIA is my first book, and I’ve written a second, HONESTLY JULIA. Right now, I am working on the last book in the trilogy, FOREVER JULIA. I don’t know what possessed me as a first-time author to think I could write a trilogy, but I’m doing it!
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
My creative energy is channeled into painting when I’m not writing. I also teach art, which I find very rewarding. It is incredibly gratifying to feel the joy of creating art in the presence of other people. My students say they come to class to relax instead of going to therapy. Plus, as a bonus, I tell them good stories.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I’m writing in my head all the time. When I sit down on my laptop, the next chapter is usually in an amorphous state, and it gels as I write. My goal is usually to write a chapter at a time. I’m not a daily writer, but a frequent writer. My process is similar to the way I paint. I’m a visual person, and I see a scene in my head first, and then I type away, trying to create what I imagined.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
First, I want to thank Amazon for making publishing available to people like me. The best thing is my book is out there. I have a little fan base. And that’s the most challenging part: building up readership. Running a social media campaign takes a lot of time and energy away from the creative process.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Be the little engine that could. Sometimes, it can be tough when there are no new reviews on Amazon, and your KDP report has shown zero sales for way too long. You’ll feel like Billie Eilish singing What Was I Made For? But then, some small comment from someone on Facebook will surprise you, or you’ll sell ten books at a book fair. It’s a journey. Enjoy the ride. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would go to a traditional publisher if that were an option. I believe establishing myself as a credible indie writer will help advance my writing career. The advantage of having editorial and promotional assistance would be most welcomed.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I’m not after fame and fortune. I’m a creative type who is intrinsically motivated to make things. It’s a race against time, to cross the finish line having given everything my best shot. I’m dating myself but play the ROCKY theme song.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
How do you choose between Kristin Hannah, Lisa See, or Ann Patchett? But the novels that stay with me forever were written by Willa Cather. MY ANTONIA is a story for the ages.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I wish I had written THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett. It is a brilliant story of how we are intractably tied to our childhoods. Being a Goodreads “Pick of the Year,” like Anne Patchett, would also be nice.