Interview with Maria Mroziuk, author of ‘Angry Blonde’

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? 

I’m not sure but I was very young. Maybe first or second
grade. 

Who inspired you to become a writer?

Everyone I knew encouraged me to write. My family, my
grandmother in particular, always said I have a gift and I should use it. 

What are your favorite books?

I have so many. Off the top of my head: Gone Baby Gone, I
Never Promised You A Rose Garden, Sunshine, The Kite Runner, Smack, Random
Family….I can fill up a whole page with titles. 

What book are you reading right now?

I was reading Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
and it was so good, I was so into it, and then halfway through my kindle just
completely died. 🙁 So now I have to either buy a new kindle or find it in
paperback. 

What did you like the most about writing your own book?

I had complete control over the words. They were mine. I
didn’t need school, money, or a perfect situation to put them together and
create something that can have an impact on people. Also, writing is therapuetic, sort of like a
diary even though I’m making up experiences instead of recalling them. 

How did you come to the idea of writing ‘Angry Blonde’?

The idea had been brewing in my head for a couple of
years at least, but I never had time to write a book until 2013. 

Which character in ‘Angry Blonde’ did you like the best
and why?

Mandy, because she is very loyal and focused, and she has
a strong sense of right and wrong. But that is because she had a strong family
and support system to guide her. 

A couple of characters in this book are Polish. Do you
have a connection with Poland?

My husband and some of my friends are from Poland.
Greenpoint, where the story takes place, has a large Polish community. 

If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you like to do?

I’m a few things other than a writer, the strongest being
a mother and a hairstylist. If I couldn’t earn a living off books and hair,
well….I have no idea. 

There is a lot of talk about drugs and drinking in this
book. How where you growing up as a teenager?

I did my fair share of drugs and drinking but I was more
on the responsible side. I always went to school, got good grades, and had a
job. I was never interested in the “party 24/7” lifestyle. 

What are your future dreams in writing?

You know, when people ask me about dreams and goals, I
always come up short on a good answer. It’s strange but up until recently, I
was afraid to set goals and dream big because something awful would happen and
drive everything off track. But now that I’ve recovered, more or less, I’d say
that my biggest dream is to have people read my books, like them, have strong
emotions towards them (whether it’s love or hate), and of course, spread the
word about them. 

What would your advice be for beginning writers?

Write for yourself, not for others. Don’t hold anything
back. If it’s about something risky, or your writing style is not conventional,
all the better. Don’t be afraid to put your book out there. The more people it
reaches, the bigger chance of someone loving it so much that they are amazed
and inspired by it. And then it will all be worth it.

– Thank you Maria for making the time to answer my questions. I loved reading and reviewing your book – 

About the Author:

 

Maria
Mroziuk has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pen. She
currently lives in New York City and is working on her fourth book. Angry
Blonde is her first published novel.

For more information about ‘Angry Blonde’ you can go to Amazon and Goodreads. Or look
for Maria Mroziuk on Facebook.