Interview with Zita Harrison
Published 2018-10-12.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The magic of painting pictures with words and telling stories.
What are you working on next?
I am working on the next book in the Owl Manor trilogy: Owl Manor - Abigail.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have been a fan of Gothic literature all my life. The Bronte Sisters, Poe, Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier. Currently I have been reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Sarah Dunant, Anne River Siddons.
What is the story behind your latest book?
I have always been a very intense and passionate person. My latest book, Owl Manor - the Dawning, a Gothic Romantic Suspense, originated from my love for dark literature.
Being a woman, I have also always been concerned with the status of women throughout history. I am disturbed at how long we have been fighting to be taken seriously, and proud of the progress we have made.
Colorado holds a special place in my heart, hence the setting. I met and married my husband there and consider the Rocky mountains one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on earth.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
My family moved all over the world before I settled in the United States. I was born in Bangladesh and even though we moved when I was a year old, have family there and go back once a year. There I developed an interest in mysticism and the occult. My aunts and grandmother held seances regularly.
The bulk of my adolescence was spent in Europe where we travelled extensively. There I developed a love of history, the middle ages, Roman times, etc.
I met my husband in Denver, Colorado and we moved out to California together. My writing so far has been set in the mountains of Colorado.
When did you first start writing?
I have written all my life. I wrote in school, college, and decided to put my writing out there after I got my Masters in English literature.
How do you approach cover design?
I have a background in Graphic Design. So I look at the genre and mood of the story and try to put together images that represent that genre and mood.
What do you hope to get out of writing?
I love writing stories and I would love for them to be read.
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Books by This Author
Ink - Beneath the Stain
by Zita Harrison
A boy is born with a giant birthmark covering half his face. In a world where no one escapes judgment, his journey leads him to a realm where the eccentric and bizarre are celebrated. He discovers two other people have also suffered from bias all their lives, and the three form a tortured relationship which hurtles towards tragedy. But love prevails in the end.
