#WriterWednesday Interview with Francesca Maria

I’d like to welcome Francesca Maria to the blog for #WriterWednesday! It’s cold in parts of the world right now, and she’s bringing a bit of summer memories and warmth to our North American winter.

A few of your favorite summer traditions: Picnic lunch on the beach with a book and my hubby, swimming, BBQs, late night strolls

Something summer-related that you’ll never do again: Disneyland on a summer weekend, I love it but it’s too crowded and hot!

Something crazy you did on vacation: Cave tubing in Belize, it was so much fun and the water was incredible!

Something you’d never do again on vacation: Travel in the back of a pickup truck for three days without air conditioning or seatbelts. Ah, the 80s.

Favorite summer beverage: Orange Fanta – sometimes with an added scoop of vanilla ice cream.

A drink that gives you a pickle face: Maker’s Mark – don’t ask.

Best summer memory: Going to Great America Amusement Park with my girlfriends as a wee lass.

Something you’d rather forget: Crashing a boat into a pier – really, don’t ask, it has something to do with the Maker’s Mark above.

Funniest summer story: When I was young my family took a trip up to Yellowstone. My dad was an amateur photographer who got too close to a Buffalo that charged at him. My dad ran for his life laughing away while the rest of us screamed in bloody terror for him to get back into the car. It was funny – afterwards.

Something embarrassing that happened during the summer: Probably a pretty common story, the upper half of my swimsuit came undone and it was my guy friends that pointed it out.

Best thing you ever grilled in spring: Turkey burgers, hands down.

Your worst kitchen or grilling disaster: Same as above – though burnt.

Your favorite thing to get from the ice cream truck: Cherry Popsicle

Some dessert that you wish you’d never bought: Flan.

Favorite thing to do on a summer evening: Go for long walks and check out the stars.

Least favorite thing about summer: The HEAT! I melt.

The thing you like most about being a writer: Creating something from nothing and having people enjoy it.

The thing you like least about being a writer: The pressure of meeting deadlines is both a blessing and a curse. I write my best stuff under pressure but I could do without the stress of it.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: Dark Chocolate

Things you never put on your shopping list: Milk, it just doesn’t like me.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life: The joy I feel when I’ve finished something that I’m proud of.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over: I wish that I started writing professionally earlier in life. But I learned that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I played drums for a punk band for the first time, with no rehearsal at a club in front of a live crowd.

Something you chickened out from doing: Hiking high up on a precarious cliff. I had to turn back down, no thank you.

About Francesca:

Francesca Maria writes dark fiction surrounded by cats near the Pacific Ocean. She is the creator of the Black Cat Chronicles, a true horror comic book series narrated by a mystical black cat. And her short story collection; They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark will be out in April 2023 from Brigid’s Gate Press. Her short stories and essays can be found in Crystal Lake Publishing's Shallow Waters series and anthologies and Death’s Garden Revisited. You can find her at francescamaria.com and on Twitter @Writer_of_Weird.