One of the unexpected, but most welcome, benefits coming out of the past two years has been the expansion of my virtual writing ‘tribe’. In particular, I have spent a lot of time getting to know the wonderful community that is Write Publish Sell, based out of the US. I was a speaker at last year’s Women in Publishing Summit, talking about Indie Publishing, and will be again this year, focussing on turning writing from a hobby to a business. And last summer, I spent four months honing my marketing skills at the online Women in Publishing School, which is where I met this months’ guest. We are members of a small networking and support group covering three nationalities in four countries on two continents. And we are acting as alpha readers for each other’s respective second-in-series murder mysteries. I am delighted that Carol Amorosi has agreed to join me on my blog today.
Hello Carol and welcome. Let’s start by taking you back to your childhood. What is your earliest memory — and how old were you at the time?
One of my earliest memories is eating ice cream with my mom in the hospital. I was four and had my tonsils out. The part I don’t remember is that I was in the women’s surgical ward, and the doctor sent me home early so the ladies could get some sleep. Apparently, I was busy entertaining them.
What was your favourite subject at school — and which was the lesson you always wanted to avoid?
Today, I would say history was my favorite; it is one of my passions, and my favorite things to do include historical sites. But in school, however, it was theatre. I was involved in productions from middle school through university, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production. My least favorite was science. It wasn’t that I found it difficult; the teachers made it so dull.
Talking about yourself, how would you finish the sentence “not a lot of people know…”?
Not many people know that I have traveled to 45 of the 50 states. My goal is to travel to that northwest corner when we return from Germany.
Where is your favourite place on earth — and why?
Camping in the mountains. It’s hard to be in a bad mood out in nature, and I enjoy the peace and quiet. It’s rejuvenating to get away from the hustle and bustle now and then.
How do you relax?
Long walks with my dog. I do my best thinking as we stroll along. I also enjoy reading.
Describe your ideal menu — and where would you like to eat it?
Greek. I spent five years on the island of Crete. The food was excellent, so fresh and flavorful. As I sit here in snowy, cold Germany, I imagine eating calamari, mussels, and grilled fish on the pristine sands of Marathi Beach on Crete.
Watch a film, go to the theatre, read a book or talk to friends — which would you prefer?
Read a book or chat with a friend. While I enjoy movies, I find it hard to sit still unless they grab my attention. And with a background in theatre production, I am the worst person to attend a play with as I am easily distracted by how well they create the magic.
What would you have printed on the front of your T-shirt?
How do I take my coffee? Seriously. Very seriously.
Would you describe yourself as left-brain (analytical), right-brain (intuitive) or a mix of both?
I’m ambidextrous, so I would have to say both. I’ve worked in both technical and creative fields and enjoyed each. It’s difficult for me only to do one or the other.
Your first novel, Death on the Line, was published last October. It is set in 1763. For eighty years, skirmishes have erupted along the controversial border of the American colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Astronomer Charles Mason and surveyor Jeremiah Dixon have been sent by the king to resolve the issue with the latest in 18th century technology. And part of their team is young Angus MacKay, who is going to turn out to be a bit of an amateur sleuth. Why did you write this particular book?
My greatest hope in writing this series is to spark an interest in history in at least one person.
Thank you Carol for sparing the time to chat with me today. Good luck with this book and with the rest of the series. Readers, you can find out more about Carol, her writing and her books on her website. You can also find her on Facebook.
Ducie's Diary: February 2022 - ELIZABETH DUCIE: AUTHOR
[…] you are a regular reader of my blog, you will have seen my interview earlier this month with Carol Amorosi. She is an American who has spent a fair bit of time in recent years in Europe and currently lives […]