Ciao Arizona asked five questions to author Maria Grazia Swan. Maria has written short stories for anthologies, articles for high profile magazines and numerous blogs tackling love and life.
Ciao Arizona: Tell us about your Italian background. Does that influence the way you work and write your books?
Maria Grazia: I was born in the province of Vicenza-Veneto ..think Venezia, Northern Italy. I speak the Venetian dialect. I left Italy at an early age and moved around Europe until I settled back where I was born only to meet my future husband (American). And that’s how I
eventually moved to Arizona. Now I have dual citizenship.
Yes, all my series have a female main character who is Italian born but living in the United States, that allows me the freedom of inserting Italian quirks and habits. By the way, I go back home every year…have lot of family there.
Ciao Arizona: Where do you spend the quiet moments in between writing, editing books, etc.?
Maria Grazia: I like to walk, often alone, early evenings if I walk on grass, morning if I hike on the preserve. While I walk, I visualize my chapters, in full Technicolor, then in the evening I sit at the computer and write. I’m not a television watcher. But I like to read; believe it or not, I still get the morning AZ Republic that’s how my day begins. The daily paper and a cup of coffee.
Ciao Arizona: What is your favorite Italian food, drink and dessert?
Maria Grazia: That’s a hard question and please don’t assume I’m a snob, but Italian food is often regional. And I’m very picky. I love meat cooked on a wood burning fireplace, the old fashion way, with #polenta on the grill and cooked greens, like dandelions/mustard greens…typical food of Veneto. I’m a wine drinker, love #Prosecco, a product of #Veneto, as for dessert? #PannaCotta is among my favorites. But I can think of at least ten more desserts I like.
Ciao Arizona: Can you give us a few recommendations for places to dine in the Valley?
Maria Grazia: I’ve been patronizing Veneto Trattoria for over twenty years…always joke about the name. It should be Trattoria Veneto, but according to Roberto, the owner who is Northern #Italian, that would confuse Americans. I also like Nick’s for a lighter meal. So many restaurants disappeared since the pandemic. When not eating Italian, I like a steak and potato, yes, plain food, love filet mignon. Phoenix has so many great restaurants serving great steaks. And some very reasonable too. I also enjoy Kasai in Scottsdale, it used to be Sapporo, and they serve Asian cuisine. What I don’t like is fast foods and the Italians restaurants serving food that isn’t Italian. They tend to add garlic to everything because
that’s supposed to be Italian. No naming names. As you can tell, I’m a boring eater. I cook my own food 99% of the time. My kitchen has a sign that says; if you feed them they will come…I’m seldom alone at the table.
Ciao Arizona: What are your plans for the future, any upcoming new book?
Maria Grazia: Yes, working on book 6 of the Baker Girls cozy mystery series. Plus, I have signed with an Italian Literary Agency to shop around one of my series. I have 3 books out in Italian and it has been a struggle beginning with the translation.
What’s funny is that Italians love anything American so we kept the original titles, but needed new covers with more ‘romantic undertones’. Many Italian authors use Americans pen names. Go figure..
Ciao Arizona: Many thanks to Maria Grazia Swan, Author for taking the time to do this interview with us. To find out more about her work you can visit the following link: https://mariagraziaswan.com
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