Interview: Frank Scozzari, author of 'From Afar'
Join me every week as I share a few shout-outs on romance author goings-on, related events and recommended reads.
Let's meet author Frank Scozzari
Michelle: "He hobo'ed his way across America at age 18, twice trekked the John Muir Trail, backpacked through Europe, camel-backed the ruins of Giza, jeep-trailed the length of the Baja peninsula three times, globe-trotted from China to the Pyrenees to the White Nights of northern Russia, and once climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro …"
Did your adventures inspire the writing — because you had to tell someone about what you'd uncovered or discovered? Or did your adventures enhance the creative urge that was there all along, so that even if you weren't an adventurer, you'd still write stories like From Afar.
Frank: I think I've always had the creative urge and would write whether I traveled or not, but my adventures certainly inspire my writing. It's life's grand experiences that influence us, and as writers, it's difficult to travel to a faraway place such as Africa or Russia and not return with new stories in our heads. Often I carry along a notepad and pen, and if I'm not taking mental notes, I'm scribbling down my thoughts and impressions. I can't take a trip without meeting interesting characters and finding new emotions.
From Afar is a compilation of several trips to Russia. It's full of little stories and characters I met along the way. Although fictionalized, most of the tales in the novel are based on true-life encounters.
Michelle: This blog is all about the happy ever after or happy for now ... would you say that you are an eternal optimist in your stories?
Frank: I am an eternal optimist, but, strangely, in my stories the optimism is often disguised. It is there, but the reader must look to find it. I've always enjoyed literature that makes one think, so I guess my writing style developed on this notion. Sometimes even a story that ends in death has a triumph hidden within.
From Afar is not necessarily a "happy ever after" story. But the journey certainly paves the way to find happiness in love. Shakespeare once said. "The course of true love never did run smooth." From Afar is proof of that!
Michelle: With social media and quest for longevity, having a quote that can outlive you and even elevate one to being on a postage stamp motivate me to ask — do you have a quote of your own creation or is there one that you particularly admire or live by from another notable soul?
Frank: My three favorite quotes are:
"Happiness is pursuing work that sustains the spirit." — Walt Disney
"You're only as good as the best thing you've ever done." — Billy Wilder
"All who wander are not lost." — Unknown
Here are three quotes of my own that found their way into my writing:
"It doesn't matter where the journey takes you, so long as in the end it takes you home."
"If you don't write it or photograph it, with time it never happened."
"There are two things you can't force — luck and love."
Michelle: What's on your horizon — upcoming events, projects, etc.
Frank: I have just completed a new novel — a romantic thriller about a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant. Also, I have a short story collection scheduled to be published next fall, as well as short stories pending publication in various literary magazines including the Río Grande Review (University of Texas at El Paso), The Contemporary West (Weber State University) and Ignatian Literary (University of San Francisco). I am planning some adventurous trips this summer. Other than that, it's write, write, write!
Michelle: Thanks, Frank. Good luck with everything.
To find out more about Frank and his books, visit frankscozzari.com.
From Afar by Frank Scozzari
Frank Scozzari's From Afar turns an unapologetic light on a central character, Morgan Stanfield, to reveal a guy who I initially thought of as a Don Quixote-type character. But that would be to easily dismiss Morgan's focus and energy on finding love, as something that is illogical or irrational (and because my distrusting, jaded soul is sighing over Morgan's headlong adventure).
And, I do like Morgan. He makes me laugh … and laugh … and laugh. I can see why he avoided hanging with his friends because they would laugh, too, or shake their heads. What a romantic! But his addiction is so bad that it's cringe-worthy in his sincerity.
Most books when I'm properly engrossed, I won't put down until I get to the end. From Afar was so good (and funny) that I had to put it down repeatedly with the hope that when I returned, Morgan would not go down another adventurous path or that I could slow down the inevitable approach to the end of the story. No matter how much he got knocked down or taken for a ride, Morgan mustered that seed of faith in humanity to give the unknown one more try. I found his naiveté appealing (between shaking my head).
Kudos to Scozzari's writing. There is a natural, inviting, even realistic quality that drew me in and allowed me to be a silent partner on this unforgettable ride with Morgan. While this is a spotlight on the human condition, the setting of Russia is as bold a character as any of the humans. Its unique cultural personality provides timely conflicts and rare moments of pleasure for Morgan, again making him a survivor.
About From Afar (courtesy of Solstice Publishing):
For centuries, poets have argued that unrequited love is love in its strongest form. From Afar is a timeless tale of Morgan Stanfield's search for love in the far northern city of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Leaving the warm climate of Santa Barbara, he embarks on a four-day odyssey where he encounters a Russian beauty, a prostitute, a wise old babushka, an American chauvinist, intellectuals, the Russian mafia, and the 'face' of love, and comes to know how love from a distance can be more captivating than love close on hand.
Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland
Elyssa Friedland's Love and Miss Communication has the contemporary vibe of the (formerly) working girl in the big city, stumbling her way to self-discovery and surviving bad relationships.
Evie Rosen is a relatable character whose world is pulled apart in a domino effect. Watching the train wreck has its relatable moments and draws sympathetic reaction toward seeing someone's self-esteem demolished. But there is a lesson to be learned under this witty and insightful journey from hell and back to the land of healthy living. The lesson wasn't going to come from social media postings of status updates and selfies.
In a brave decision, Evie cleanses the palate by cutting off her Internet addiction. In that seemingly inconsequential move, Evie takes the old-fashioned approach to communicating and engaging with her world. Friedland's Love and Miss Communication challenges our mind-set with a thought-provoking what if. And Evie's story promises an enjoyable experience with a happy ever after.
About Love and Miss Communication (courtesy of William Morrow):
This unforgettable debut novel asks us to look up from our screens and out at the world…and to imagine what life would be like with no searches, no status updates, no texts, no Tweets, no pins, and no posts
Evie Rosen has had enough. She's tired of the partners at her law firm e-mailing her at all hours of the night. The thought of another online date makes her break out in a cold sweat. She's over the clever hashtags and the endless selfies. So when her career hits a surprising roadblock and her heart is crushed by Facebook, Evie decides it's time to put down her smartphone for good. (Beats stowing it in her underwear—she's done that too!)
And that's when she discovers a fresh start for real conversations, fewer distractions, and living in the moment, even if the moments are heartbreakingly difficult. Babies are born; marriages teeter; friendships are tested. Evie just may find love and a new direction when she least expects it, but she also learns that just because you unplug your phone doesn't mean you can unplug from life.
OUTLANDER ON HEA
The popular Outlander recap is back. Join Mandi Schreiner and me to catch up and join in with your thoughts about the popular historical drama airing on Starz.
Michelle Monkou loves writing her sexy, complex heroes. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.