About the Author:

Born in Havana, Cuba, Maria Lucia immigrated to the United States in 1960. A University of Memphis education graduate and a professional musician and vocalist, she moved deeply into the study of music and launched a very successful musical career. She spent many years in private practice, facilitating her own seminars and counseling on creativity. Her experience includes programs for gifted children in the public school system and creativity seminars for musicians at the university level. She has been a musical director for church programs, a composer of music, and a producer of concerts. She has traveled nationally, performing and delivering seminars for more than twenty years.  Lucia has just moved to Mesa, AZ.

www.andrusianchronicles.com

Q: It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it?

I’m dedicated to the trilogy right now due to my “other half’s” ability to make enough for both of us. I’m very grateful for that and know that it’s a privilege to have that option. I do teach and have a self help Heart School that I do online and in person when I can.

Q: What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?

I have mostly spent my time in the music field and teaching on my own. I like to cover things that are a little unusual and classified as the spiritual side to the heart. Have they influenced/inspired your writing? Both of these jobs, singing, writing music and teaching the spiritual side of the heart have helped me tremendously in writing. It was a music teacher that taught me how to open up into my deepest self and look for my “inner” music. This has helped me find my authentic story. The one I’m beginning in this novel. My teachings in spirituality lead me to metaphysics, the paranormal and fantasy.

Q: What compelled you to write your first book?

The incredible story behind it!

Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No. I transitioned into it to write this story.

Q: Tell us briefly about your book.

This is a powerful paranormal fantasy. It begins with Amora Madre content in the Smokey Mountains pursuing her teaching of love, things of the spirit, and metaphysics. But when soul mate Gabriel Ephraim enters her life, they’re catapulted into service for an Intergalactic Supernatural Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C. The time is now. The struggle in the spirit world over the nation and planet is evident, and the greatest threat is that humanity doesn’t know. It’s a fantastic story.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

Book 2 and 3

Q: Do you have a favorite character? Why is s/he your favorite?

I have 2 Casey and Nia. They are the twin Onaweyans. They are amazing child like ancient beings who protect the leading characters and have tremendous powers to travel between dimensions. I love their craziness, their purity of heart, their abilities and their part in the story.

Q: How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

I felt like my dreams were coming true.

Q: If you could live in one of your books, which one would you live in?

I would live in Liberation inside the supernatural intelligence agency ISIA.

Q: The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

I create them from pieces of myself and some of the people around me. They reflect what I believe in, my values, what I love and treasure, and how I feel about the world.

Q: What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

One of my favorite authors is Tolkien; even though he’s complicated his imagination amazes me. I try not to get caught up in the details I just look at the big picture and all of the worlds he creates. My favorite genre is fantasy, with science fiction close behind.

Q: When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?

I hope they will say that my work and I helped change the world for the better in some constructive way.

Q: Where you have lived and what you have experienced can influence your writing in many ways. Are there any specific locations or experiences that have popped up in your books?

Absolutely! I just spent the last 10 years in D.C. and it’s all over the novel. I couldn’t help it. Washington was my inspiration.

The story came together piece by piece each time I went to walk the downtown areas of Washington D.C. I love doing this. I love visiting the monuments and getting into the energies of the founders and the old Washington when things were quite different. That’s what stirred the idea inside of me. “What if the USA and our planet had an intelligence agency that specialized in the supernatural areas of protection? And what if the headquarters were right here in downtown D.C. but no one could see them? And what if there were evil spirits involved in an unbelievable derailing of world events and it all culminated in the 21^st century? In our time and current world news” well, I was on fire and I started plotting out the story. I took many autobiographical events and weaved them into the idea expanding as I went along and I began doing historical research of our beginnings as a race, and a country. I love Washington for holding this amazing energy for us all, our beginnings, how democracy came about and what our founders went through to get the idea established. It had never been done.

Q: What is your writing space like? Do you have a designated space? What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk? Music? Lighting? Typing? Handwriting?

I like to keep a space just for the book I’m working on. I like to separate it from my other computer stuff so this time I have my laptop set up in the den where I can look out the window when I need inspiration and watch nature.

 Q: In my experience, some things come quite easily (like creating the setting) and other things aren’t so easy (like deciding on a title). What comes easily to you and what do you find more difficult?

The story comes easily to me. When I am in the right mood it just flows out of me effortlessly but when it comes to marketing and promoting my stuff…well I’m terrible. I also don’t like the left brain side of things like the editing and nit picking stuff.

Q: Have you ever had a character take over a story and move it in a different direction than you had originally intended? How did you handle it?

Yes and I just go with it and see where it takes everything. Characters are strong sometimes; I find they tell me what they want and how they want it.

Q: Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?

YES!

I have this great Pump Up Your Books Tour that I’m on with you. The schedule is on my website www.andrusianchronicles.com and I have the launching party for the revised edition of Liberation, Book One of the Andrusian Chronicles at the internationally known bookstore Changing Hands in the Phoenix metro area on July 21^st at 7:00pm. There are books on sale there now and also that evening.

Q: It’s one thing to write a book and another to edit it. How do you feel about the editing process? What was it like to edit your book?

I didn’t do it. I had great editors come in and help me. They were thorough and helped me understand why things needed to be the way they suggested. Many times I didn’t agree and we made peace and settled somewhere in the middle. It can be intense for someone to get a hold of your work and move it around all over the place!

Q: Now that you are a published author, does it feel differently than you had imagined? 

Yes. It’s hard work!

Now, use this space to tell us more about you. Anything you want your readers to know. Include information on where to find your books, any blogs you may have, or how a reader can learn more about you and writing.

Everyone can find Liberation at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com and also may order the novel at most any bookstore they walk into. If they are here in Arizona in the Phoenix area I would love for them to come to the launching party on July 21^st at 7:00pm and buy books from Changing hands Bookstore.

I do have a blog off my website and the link is on the website www.andrusianchronicles.com and a Facebook fan page that I would love everyone to “like”! Here is the link please visit Liberation.

https://www.facebook.com/MariaLuciaLiberation?v=wall&ref=ts

Thank you so much for having me!