Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I was born and raised in Russia (former Soviet Union) and moved to the United States over two decades ago. My decision to relocate was driven by love, as I followed the one and only person who held my heart.
Now I live in Dallas, Texas, with my husband, my teenage son, a dog and a cat.
I actually work in IT industry in the company that produces accounting software. So, I’ve never really planned or studied to become a writer.
But being an avid reader and inspired by hundreds of books by my favorite authors, my mind was always crowded with stories of my own imagination. Only may and many years later, I found the courage to transition those stories from my thoughts onto paper.
What inspired you to write your book?
This is something a bit embarrassing to say, but it was a midlife crisis that suddenly hit me. At some point I started thinking that I’ve lived most of my life and had always been doing something that I had to do, and not as much what I wanted to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, I’m an IT and I like what I’m doing, but it felt like a large part of me wasn’t there.
I always came up with the stories in my head, the adventures of the characters I’d created. And suddenly I felt an urge to write it down. It started as a “writing into the desk” kind of activity, but eventually I went ahead and made my stories into books.
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
My stories predominantly featured a courageous female protagonist whom I associated myself with. And those women had to go through a lot. Sure, I give them super skills and magic abilities, but at the end, those are strong women with their hopes, dreams and feelings. I want readers to see how no number of obstacles could throw my heroines off their path.
What drew you into this particular genre?
During my childhood I developed a strong passion for literature, particularly science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. The local public library became my second home, where I would lose myself for countless hours in the captivating stories written by Asimov and Bradbury, King and Tolkien, Verne and Stephenson, or any other Si-Fi book I could get my hands on.
Fiction, and particularly science fiction, just has so many incredible opportunities for new worlds and settings and adventures. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Oh, I would ask my girls, if they are mad a me to throwing so much at them. All those troubles and obstacles they had to overcome, all these heartbreaks and difficult choices to make. But in the end, I’m sure they would say that everything they had to endure only made them stronger.
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Being a newbie in the publishing industry, I’m still testing the grounds. All social media, as exciting and inviting as they are, have a lot of disappointment and troubles.
Facebook promotions attracted all kinds of strange characters sending me very inappropriate content. Instagram seems to be filled with “Book promotion” channels, that promise you great sales, but in reality, I’ve yet to see any results (except my expenses of course)
I found pubby.co website very helpful with increasing the number of reviews for my books. It’s a good approach that makes you read other author’s books and review those, and get points that you then can use to get your book reviewed.
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Don’t give up and keep working. Keep reading and listening to the books and build your vocabulary. The English language is so rich and generous that a writer needs to explore any opportunities to improve one’s writing skills, and what could be better than using examples of fellow authors?
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I thought I’ve completed my “Warriors of Mirral” series, and the third book, “The Princess from Earth” would be a conclusion of this storyline. But I’ve already heard from a couple of my loyal readers that they want to see more of this multiverse I’ve build.
So, I’ve already started putting my thoughts on the next installment which would be an expansion of the “Warriors of Mirral” world.
About the Author
Katrina Zari , an author born and raised in Russia, spent a significant time of her life immersed in its rich culture before transitioning on a life-changing journey to the United States two decades ago. Her decision to relocate was driven by love, as she followed the one and only person who held her heart. Throughout her upbringing, Katrina developed a strong passion for literature, particularly science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. The local public library became her second home, where she would lose herself for countless hours in the captivating stories written by Asimov and Bradbury, King and Tolkien, Verne and Stephenson, or any other Si-Fi book she could access.
Inspired by these literary giants, Katrina’s creative mind was crowded with stories of her own imagination. She always wrote stories in her head, inspired by those great books. She was adding her own characters and coming up with their new adventures. It was no surprise that her stories predominantly featured a courageous female protagonist, a reflection of her deep understanding of these inspiring heroines whom she gladly associated herself with.
Years later, she found the courage to transition those stories from her thoughts onto paper.
https://www.katrinazaribooks.com
All Rights Reserved Book Blog