Tell
us about your latest release Escape?
Escape is part one of a trilogy entitled Unchained, which is a family saga spanning over one hundred and
forty years. Escape opens the trilogy in 1856. In it, Lori
is a slave girl, and Daniel, the young abolitionist who falls in love with her
and helps her to escape. The Unchained Trilogy is historical
fiction with romantic elements.
What's
next for you?
I’m currently at work on Masquerade:
Book Two of The Unchained Trilogy. After overcoming torturous trials and challenges, Daniel and Lori have a family.
However, their youngest daughter, the beautiful and treacherous Lavinia,
chooses to pass as white. Masquerade
is Lavinia’s story. She runs away to New
York to become an actress, all the while hiding her true identity.What made you decide to write this story?
Lavinia is introduced near the end of Escape, but she’s a rather demanding character, so demanding that
she insisted on having her own book!
Okay, here’s the real story: Unchained
was originally one novel, but it snowballed to over 700 pages, so last year I
decided to turn it into a trilogy.
When will it release?
When will it release?
I’m aiming to release it around Christmas of this year (2012).
All the best with your upcoming and all future releases Maria!
Maria around the web:
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Nas, thank you so much for having me here at Romance Book Paradise!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Romance Book Paradise, Maria!
DeleteI do hope you will enjoy chatting with my friends here!
The trilogy sounds great. Will be watching for it
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna!
DeleteHi, Donna! Thanks, hope you enjoy it:).
DeleteA trilogy is much better than a 700+ page novel in my mind. ;) Best of luck to Maria.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly! I agree, and I've made each part of this trilogy capable of standing alone.
DeleteThanks Kelly!
DeleteThe Unchained series sounds like a good one. In particular, Lavinia's story sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHi, J.L., thank you! I must admit, Lavinia's story is my favorite part just beaus she's so bad;)!
DeleteHello Joy!
DeleteYes, Lavinia's story does sound intriguing! Shall be looking forward to it!
Congrats to Maria on her upcoming release!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you, Talli!
DeleteThanks Talli for coming by!
DeleteCongrats on your trilogy! I just read your dialogue article on Karen Jones Gowen's blog :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Nas!
Thanks, Carol!
DeleteHi Carol,
DeleteThe dialogue post at Karen's How Dialogue Reveals Character is wonderful for writers!
The trilogy sounds great! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry!
DeleteHello Sherry!
DeleteThanks for reading along and commenting!
I love the sound of Masquerade! Thanks so much for this fun highlight, Nas! So stoked for Maria. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Morgan!
DeleteThank you Morgan!
DeleteEscape sounds fascinating and I think this is a series that I could really get into. I enjoy HF and this time period is very interesting. Wishing Maria much success!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Hi, Jess! Thanks so much:). I really love that time period, too.
DeleteThank you Jess for reading along!
DeleteMaria McKenzie, good luck with Escape. Nice to see her here, Nas.
ReplyDeleteHi, Theresa! Thanks so much:).
DeleteThanks Theresa!
DeleteDaniel, Lori, and Lavinia's stories sound intriguing. It's been wonderful getting to know Maria and her writing from post to post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by Medeia!
DeleteHi, Medeia! Thank you, and thanks so much for stopping by:).
DeleteHi Nas! Lovely to see Maria here and to learn more about her upcoming novels.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, thanks for dropping by and reading along!
DeleteHi, Denise! Thank you, and thanks for visiting:).
DeleteSounds like an intriguing series. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Nas, for introducing me to Maria and her work.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ruth! Thanks-hope you do get to check it out;)
Delete700 pages -- wow!
ReplyDeleteHi, Suze! Exactly;). When I started submitting it to agents, one suggested I make it into two parts. But with rewrites and revisions, it grew beyond 700 pages! As a reader, I'd prefer three parts:).
DeleteHi Nas, Hi Maria
ReplyDeleteI can relate to a character's demands. Your book sounds amazing. I know you'll do well. Good luck.
Nas
Thank you so much for being a judge on Romantic Friday Writers. I appreciate your hard work and of course, I'm thrilled I was the chosen winner. Flash fiction is a good way to sharpen your writer skills.
I'd be interested in learning more about your editing job. A publisher in Australia. Amazing and best of luck.
Nancy
Hi, N.R., Thanks so much! Yes, sometimes those characters really seem to come to life;).
DeleteN.R.--Congratulations on your Flash fiction win:)!!
DeleteThe trilogy sounds wonderful! Great idea to seperate the story into 3 parts...
ReplyDeleteLavinia sounds like a great character and the question of identity is one that, I'm sure, lots of readers can relate to, in one way or the other.
Hi, Michelle! Thank you:). I agree, in one way or another lots of go through that growing up.
DeleteGreat post, Maria and Nas!
ReplyDeleteI've occasionally thought of doing a one-off sort of story along parallel lines- abolitionist falls for a freed slave he helped escape, and finds himself at odds with his family for betraying them- but I wonder if I'd have to be an American to handle the cultural nuances...
Love how Unchained is unravelling!! It's getting juicier!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x