Barbara Avon
Author Interview - Barbara Avon
Author of Sultry Is the Night
The year is 1982.
This town has a distinct border, the good side and the shady side, where the townspeople battle rats for scraps of food. Mario used to live among the rich, but he now resides on the wrong side of the tracks thanks to the father who left him behind. Worst of all, he’s mourning his mother’s death and what he thinks is the loss of his lifelong dream, becoming a chef.
After meeting Dito who owns "Dean's Pizzeria", things are finally changing for Mario. Until Tess enters his life – the beautiful, mysterious stranger who lives in a luxury high rise. But there’s something off, something she’s hiding, something dark.
Some borders aren’t meant to be crossed.
"Sultry Is the Night", is for anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong.
Author Interview - Barbara Avon
Author I draw inspiration from:
Jack Finney, best known for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" also wrote a time travel story, "Time and Again". I was fascinated with the concept of time travel and Finney inspired me to write four of my own time travel stories. I also have always admired Anne Rice's exquisite use of language and I still own my original copy of "Interview With the Vampire". These two authors are vastly different, just as my stories are vastly different from one another. That's the beauty of using words to paint a picture.
Author Interview - Barbara Avon | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
My couch faces the main window in my home, and faces the sunset. It's the perfect colorful backdrop for when I want to escape into a new world and leave reality behind at the end of the day. When it rains, or snows, it's as if Mother Nature's curtain is hanging over my window. It's comforting, like a warm blanket over my legs.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
If I was stuck in an elevator with Dallas Winston from "The Outsiders" written by S.E. Hinton, I imagine having a conversation about life and the injustices we face, but in the end, if we can overcome hardships and stand up for what's right, the world becomes a better place. I would tell Dally that if he's surrounded by those he loves, and if he loves himself, nothing is impossible. Like Dallas, my male protagonist, Mario, in "Sultry Is the Night" is from the "wrong side of the tracks".
Author Interview - Barbara Avon | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I was a shy kid and always made up stories in my head to "get lost" in my own world. I scribbled poetry for myself when I was a teenager, but it was my Grade Nine English teacher, Mr. Costanzo, who inspired me to pursue writing. After he made me read my short story aloud to the class, and awarded me an A +, I knew that I would one day write a novel. It was a harrowing experience for a shy girl, but my classmates' reaction gave me the confidence I needed. The story was a love story set in the 1980s with flashbacks to the 1930s. I could hear several of the girls in my class sniffling after I was finished reading. It both shocked, and thrilled me. I wrote my first novel in 2002, published it in 2015, and have been writing, and publishing ever since.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I love paperbacks because of their flexibility. I do own hardcovers and enjoy using the dust jacket flaps as bookmarks. While I enjoy audiobooks (and do have one of my own books available as an audiobook) I prefer the act of "reading". I feel more immersed in the story, and can read at my own pace!
The last book I read:
The last book I read was "This Was Not the Plan" by Cristina Alger. I thoroughly enjoyed her thriller "Girls Like Us" but "This Was Not the Plan" took a sharp turn from her usual style and genre. A story about a new widower (and single dad) it was laced with humor, and bittersweet moments. As a widow myself, I was able to relate to the character and enjoyed Alger's succinct, but descriptive writing.
Author Interview - Barbara Avon | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
As an Indie author, I choose my title, create the cover, and know the ending of the story before I begin writing it. I open my Word document and write from start to finish, editing as I write. After that, I format the book using Kindle Create for both my e-books and paperbacks, and then I publish. I have always written my books this way. It works for me because it feels as if I'm telling myself the story and reading it (as a reader) at the same time.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I think I'd be best friends with Jude, from "Hey Jude" by Kathleen Stone. Jude is a relatable, likable character. She is flawed, broken, but aren't we all? Her relationship with Shea (the deaf child who won her - and my - heart) was tender and heartwarming, and in stark juxtaposition, her relationships with men, including that with Sullivan (Shea's father) were fiery, and exciting.
Author Interview - Barbara Avon | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
If I weren't an author, I'd definitely be a food critic! Indulging in delicious food is one of life's greatest pleasures. I often include food descriptions in my books. Mario is an aspiring chef in "Sultry Is the Night". Being Italian, cooking and then eating with your loved ones isn't just something we do to survive. It's an experience and an expression of love. In "real-life", if I couldn't publish my stories, I would want to indulge in food and then review the restaurant/meal so that I'm marrying two of my favorite things: food and words.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I think that one of the most elegant eras in fashion is the 1930s. In fact, I wish the fedora would make a comeback! I was able to shoot myself back in time in my book "Timepiece" which opens in 1932.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I would like to travel to Italy to meet my extended family, and to indulge in the art, food, and architecture, but unfortunately, I'm deathly afraid to fly.
My signature drink:
I prefer wine. One of my characters states, "Italians bleed wine, not blood." Whether red, or white, there's nothing better than a glass at the end of a long day, shared with loved ones, or paired with a delicious meal. Let's not forget the after dinner espresso!
Favorite artist:
Frank Sinatra is my favorite artist and I mention him, and his songs in many of my books. I often say that although our stories are fiction, they offer glimpses into who we are, and what we love. They are like time capsules.
Number one on my bucket list:
One of these days, I look forward to treating myself to a writer's retreat. It's something that I've often thought about doing. It would be one of those internet-free escapes when I can focus on nothing but the story. It would be a bonus if it happened in the middle of a breathtaking Autumn when the leaves have all changed color... and if there was a private hot tub available!
Anything else you'd like to add:
Thank you very much for featuring me!
Find more from the author:
Twitter: https://x.com/barb_avon
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/barbara-avon
AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/author/barbaraavon/
About Barbara Avon:
Author Interview - Barbara Avon
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. - Pablo Neruda.
I grew up Italian in the Niagara Region and attended Notre Dame High School, and then Brock University. In 1999, I moved to Ottawa to pursue work and have worked for two major Ottawa area magazines. Being the shy kid in school, I created stories in my head, and when my Grade 9 English teacher awarded one of my short stories an A +, I knew that I would one day write a novel.
My work appears in various anthologies including Steering 23 Publications, Storytime for Grownups, and Beyond the Levee. In October of 2022, “Revived” was chosen as “Horror Book of the Year” by the “Feed My Reads” community.
When I'm not writing, I'm experimenting in the kitchen, reading, watching 1980s movies, or engaging with my peers on Twitter. I believe in magic. Books are magic. Love is the most remarkable magic.
