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Member Since: Nov. 21, 2010

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Vera Nazarian

Biography

VERA NAZARIAN is a two-time Nebula Award Finalist, 2018 Dragon Award Finalist, award-winning artist, a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and a writer with a penchant for moral fables and stories of intense wonder, true love, and intricacy.

She immigrated to the USA from the former USSR as a kid, sold her first story at the age of 17, and since then has published numerous works in anthologies and magazines, and has seen her fiction translated into eight languages.

She is the author of critically acclaimed novels DREAMS OF THE COMPASS ROSE and LORDS OF RAINBOW, the outrageous parodies MANSFIELD PARK AND MUMMIES and NORTHANGER ABBEY AND ANGELS AND DRAGONS, and most recently, PRIDE AND PLATYPUS: MR. DARCY'S DREADFUL SECRET in her humorous and surprisingly romantic Supernatural Jane Austen Series, as well as the Renaissance epic fantasy COBWEB BRIDE Trilogy.

Her bestselling and award-winning series THE ATLANTIS GRAIL is now a cross-genre phenomenon -- a high-octane YA / teen dystopian apocalyptic science fiction adventure, romance, and historical mystery thriller -- has been optioned for film, and is in development as a major motion picture franchise or TV series.

After many years in Los Angeles, Vera lives in a small town in Vermont, and uses her Armenian sense of humor and her Russian sense of suffering to bake conflicted pirozhki and make art.

Her official author website is http://www.veranazarian.com

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Smashwords Interview

What inspires you to be a writer?

Inspiration has little to do with it. Basically a writer has strong opinions and has something to say, to communicate to the world (and sometimes amuse the world in the process). If you like interpreting what you see around you, analyzing and describing and explaining to yourself, reasoning out loud, and then making others better understand; if you want them to see things your unique way, you usually become a writer of some kind. If you like words, language (English or any other), if you find beauty in the sound of speech, then you might end up writing. But most of all—if you secretly think of life as a story imbued with patterns and meaning, and if you like to wonder and dream and imagine “what if” possible alternate endings and adventures; if you like to put yourself into someone else’s shoes, then you will end telling different variations of this story to yourself and others. Oh, and of course you will have to write your story down. Because you won’t be able to rest otherwise. Some think of it as logorrhea (fun word), but you know it’s just passion that needs to be expressed. Every new book is your passion compressed into words.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I was abandoned by urban elves on the doorstep of an apartment in Moscow, Russia, a mad changeling child wrapped in a blanket of leaves and dandelion.

Seriously, I was born in 1966, in the former USSR, the child of penniless intelligentsia parents. My schoolteacher mother had taught me to read early and introduced me to fairy tales of all lands and cultures, and to ancient Greek mythology. I was a six-year-old girl obsessed with the Homeric epics, knew passages by heart, wanted to change my name to "Athena," carved functional bows and spears out of wooden sticks in the back yard of the apartment complex and pretended to be an Amazon.

I was also a very sickly child, and spent most of my time out of school bedridden, and reading tons of books that my mother would bring me from the library. I read the classics, children's fantasies and fairy stories, novels of magic and ancient history -- all in Russian, of course. When we left the USSR, I was just finishing up 3rd grade, and had just begun to study English, my second language, at the same time as I was assimilating by osmosis my other native language, Armenian (later in school in the US, I studied Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and German).

We immigrated to Beirut, Lebanon and lived as refugees during the very beginning of the Lebanese civil war, then lived in Greece, and finally were admitted to the United States in 1976, the Bicentennial year. During my time as a refugee, I did not attend school since I did not know enough Arabic and was illiterate in Armenian (those were the only schools available), and instead my mother made me read an old borrowed children's encyclopedia in English for over a year, in lieu of formal schooling. Thus, I never finished 3rd grade and did not attend 4th grade.

I feel like my head is a cauldron of different cultures, East and West, all made familiar and comfortable -- so much so that I cannot imagine not knowing a little bit about everything all around the world. Linguistically I seem to have an innate ability to understand roots of words from many languages I have never formally studied, and to correctly infer meanings. Culturally it all mixes together into an acceptance of many possibilities, an open-ended permanent state of wonder.

And all that "wonder thinking" had to have an outlet. I started to write some time in Lebanon, still in Russian, and then switched over into English in the USA.
How did you know that this was the path that you wanted to pursue?
For some time as a child I fooled myself and told myself I’m not a writer, I'm just "writing"—after all, who would want to do that kind of boring, solitary work? Think about it, you’re always by yourself, inside your own mind, making up stuff, pulling ideas and storylines and words out of nothing. I started out wanting to be an artist, then a psychologist, then worked for most of my day jobs as a tech support specialist in the computer industry. I just wrote in all my spare time (lunchtime, after I got home from work, weekends), as do most other professional writers. If you ask, most writers have day jobs. But the need to tell stories eventually always reasserts itself. And at this point I am fortunate to be able to write fulltime.

Where to find Vera Nazarian online

Website: http://www.veranazarian.com/
Twitter: @norilana
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-nazarian-97abb62/
Blog: http://www.veranazarian.com/blog/

Where to buy in print

http://www.amazon.com/author/nazarian

Series

The Atlantis Grail Novella Series by Vera Nazarian

The Atlantis Grail Novella Series explores various aspects of The Atlantis Grail Universe with in-depth new original content including storylines and outtakes in novella form, written from the POVs of various favorite popular characters such as Aeson, Xelio, Oalla, Keruvat, Erita, Brie, Logan, Anu, and many others.

Aeson: Blue

Price: $3.99 USD.

Aeson: Black

Price: $4.99 USD.

The Atlantis Grail by Vera Nazarian

A dystopian teen adventure and romance series about competition to survive an asteroid apocalypse on Earth and be rescued by the space colony of Atlantis.

Qualify

Price: Free!

Compete

Price: $6.99 USD.

Win

Price: $7.99 USD.

Survive

Price: $7.99 USD.

Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian

Cobweb Bride

Price: Free!

Cobweb Empire

Price: $3.99 USD.

Cobweb Forest

Price: $5.99 USD.

Supernatural Jane Austen by Vera Nazarian

Mansfield Park and Mummies: Monster Mayhem, Matrimony, Ancient Curses, True Love, and Other Dire Delights

Price: $4.99 USD.

Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons

Price: $4.99 USD.

Pride and Platypus: Mr. Darcy's Dreadful Secret

Price: $4.99 USD.

Books

Aeson: Black by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail Novella Series. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 45,220. Language: English. Published: May 30, 2022 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Romance » Sci-fi

Prince, soldier, hero of Atlantis... Haunted by death and the blue eyes of a stranger... Faced with an impossible choice... Love or Duty.

The Atlantis Grail Companion by Vera Nazarian

Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 49,860. Language: English. Published: December 20, 2021 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Romance » Sci-fi

Wixameret, TAG Fan! You hold in your hands the ultimate reference to the universe of The Atlantis Grail.... Things, places, rules, customs, stats, definitions, explanations, a complete (to-date) Atlanteo language glossary, maps, drawings, schematics, secret nuggets of new information not found anywhere else—it’s all here! And now, prepare to take a deep dive into the universe you love!

Aeson: Blue by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail Novella Series. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 39,710. Language: English. Published: March 20, 2021 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Family, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction

(5.00 from 1 review)

Aeson's secrets revealed at last! Before Gwen won Aeson's heart… Before they joined forces to protect two planets and humanity itself… Aeson faced death on his own. And lost.

Survive by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail. Price: $7.99 USD. Words: 348,120. Language: English. Published: January 3, 2020 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera

(5.00 from 1 review)

The End is Here, in a Fiery Cosmic Apocalypse! Gwen Lark knows how to Qualify, Compete, and Win… The time has come to Survive. The final battle is here, and Gwen, and everyone she knows and loves, are in for the greatest fight of their lives. SURVIVE is the fourth and final book in The Atlantis Grail series, now an international cross-genre phenomenon, optioned for film.

Win by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail. Price: $7.99 USD. Words: 320,150. Language: English. Published: July 12, 2017 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic, Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera

(4.50 from 2 reviews)

2018 Dragon Award Finalist — Best Science Fiction Novel The Games are Forever! It’s one thing to Qualify and Compete… Now she must Win. Gwen Lark is one of the few lucky teenage refugees to escape the extinction-level asteroid barreling towards Earth and reach the ancient colony planet Atlantis. Now she must compete in the brutal and deadly Games of the Atlantis Grail.

Compete by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 173,140. Language: English. Published: August 14, 2015 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic, Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure

(5.00 from 1 review)

It’s one thing to Qualify… But do you have what it takes to Compete? With Earth about to be destroyed by an asteroid, teenage nerd, geek, and awkward smart girl Gwen Lark, and her friends compete for privilege, position, love, and survival onboard great starship arks, as they journey to the ancient colony planet Atlantis. Meanwhile, the fate of Earth and their families hangs in the balance.

Qualify by Vera Nazarian

Series: The Atlantis Grail. Price: Free! Words: 207,320. Language: English. Published: December 22, 2014 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Romance » General

(4.50 from 8 reviews)

Nerd, geek, and awkward smart girl Gwen Lark must compete against other Earth teens, including high school crush Logan Sangre, in order to Qualify for interplanetary rescue from an asteroid apocalypse, in this high-octane dystopian thriller from a Nebula Award Finalist, in the vein of DIVERGENT and THE HUNGER GAMES. Now optioned for development as a feature film series and/or TV series.

Cobweb Forest by Vera Nazarian

Series: Cobweb Bride, Book 3. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 115,350. Language: English. Published: December 31, 2013 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Historical » Renaissance

(5.00 from 1 review)

The world is broken… A dark Goddess rises. A mortal maiden must stop her. COBWEB FOREST (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book Three) is the third and final book of the intricate epic fantasy flavored by Renaissance history and the romantic myth of Persephone, about death’s ultimatum to the world.

Cobweb Empire by Vera Nazarian

Series: Cobweb Bride, Book 2. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 114,700. Language: English. Published: September 25, 2013 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Romance » Historical » General

(4.50 from 2 reviews)

In a world where no one can die, she alone can kill... COBWEB EMPIRE (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book Two) is the second book of the intricate epic fantasy flavored by Renaissance history and the romantic myth of Persephone, about death’s ultimatum to the world. Now that she’s Death’s Champion, what will Percy do?

Lore of Rainbow by Vera Nazarian

Price: Free! Words: 7,480. Language: English. Published: May 28, 2013 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Fairy tales

(5.00 from 2 reviews)

Enter the one true realm of one thousand and fifty shades of grey... How did the world without color come to be? Discover the ancient mystery in this short story that started it all, the prequel to the monumental epic fantasy LORDS OF RAINBOW!

Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian

Series: Cobweb Bride, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 103,710. Language: English. Published: March 8, 2013 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Romance » Historical » General

(5.00 from 3 reviews)

Many are called... She alone can save the world and become Death's bride. COBWEB BRIDE (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book One) is a history-flavored fantasy novel with romantic elements of the Persephone myth, about Death's ultimatum to the world.

Vampires are from Venus, Werewolves are from Mars: A Comprehensive Guide to Attracting Supernatural Love by Vera Nazarian

Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 10,700. Language: English. Published: February 17, 2013 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal, Fiction » Humor & comedy » Parody

The critically acclaimed author of MANSFIELD PARK AND MUMMIES tackles a hilarious new parody topic -- supernatural relationship advice! Admit it, you've secretly dreamed of dating a sexy brooding vampire or an alpha werewolf... Now, you can! Learn how!

Pride and Platypus: Mr. Darcy's Dreadful Secret by Vera Nazarian

Series: Supernatural Jane Austen. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 145,020. Language: English. Published: September 22, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Parody, Fiction » Romance » Regency

When the moon is full over Regency England, all the gentlemen are subject to its curse. Mr. Darcy, however, harbors a Dreadful Secret... Shape-shifting demons mingle with Australian wildlife, polite society, and high satire, in this elegant, hilarious, witty, insane, and unexpectedly romantic supernatural parody of Jane Austen's classic novel.

Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons by Vera Nazarian

Series: Supernatural Jane Austen. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 96,660. Language: English. Published: August 6, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Parody, Fiction » Romance » Regency

From the critically-acclaimed author of MANSFIELD PARK AND MUMMIES... Dragons in the skies of Regency England! Gothic horrors collide with high satire in this elegant, hilarious, witty, insane, and unexpectedly romantic supernatural parody of Jane Austen's classic novel.

Old Farts by Vera Nazarian

Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 2,720. Language: English. Published: April 18, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Literature » Literary, Fiction » Humor & comedy » General

(4.00 from 1 review)

Everyone knows that bookstores are such enticing places, filled with the complex scent of books, periodicals, freshly ground coffee, and infinite possibilities. Wonders, secrets, and delights lurk among the stacks... And yet, few know the real truth. Bookstores conceal unimaginable dangers! This very short story by two-time Nebula Award Finalist Vera Nazarian packs a very literary punch.

The Duke in His Castle by Vera Nazarian

Price: $3.42 USD. Words: 32,930. Language: English. Published: March 19, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Historical, Fiction » Horror » Occult

This 2008 Nebula Award Finalist novella THE DUKE IN HIS CASTLE by Nebula Award-nominated author and award-winning artist Vera Nazarian is a dark, lush, erotic fantasy in the vein of Mervyn Peake's GORMENGHAST, with interior illustrations by the author.

Three Names of the Hidden God by Vera Nazarian

Price: Free! Words: 7,520. Language: English. Published: February 27, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Themes & motifs » Spiritual & metaphysical

(5.00 from 1 review)

What occult mysteries tie together a magical disappearing lake, a courageous young birdcatcher, a hidden god, and the savage politics of an ancient kingdom? Discover the wonders and wisdom of the Compass Rose in this new fantasy short story by two-time Nebula Award nominated author Vera Nazarian, set in the same mythic universe as her critically acclaimed novel DREAMS OF THE COMPASS ROSE.

After the Sundial by Vera Nazarian

Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 63,400. Language: English. Published: February 26, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera

AFTER THE SUNDIAL by two-time Nebula Award Nominee Vera Nazarian is the author's first short fiction collection that focuses specifically on science fiction works, bound by the common theme of time and temporal exploration, and can be viewed as a companion volume to her earlier collection, SALT OF THE AIR which focused on fable, myth, and fantasy.

Mansfield Park and Mummies: Monster Mayhem, Matrimony, Ancient Curses, True Love, and Other Dire Delights by Vera Nazarian

Series: Supernatural Jane Austen. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 172,390. Language: English. Published: February 22, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Parody, Fiction » Fantasy » Historical

Spinsterhood or Mummification! Ancient Egypt infiltrates Regency England in this elegant, hilarious, witty, insane, and unexpectedly romantic monster parody of Jane Austen's classic novel Mansfield Park.

The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration by Vera Nazarian

Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 29,100. Language: English. Published: February 21, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Nonfiction » Inspiration » Personal inspiration, Essay » Sociology

THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR OF INSPIRATION: Old Wisdom for a New World 366 Days of Insight from the Inspired.Us Blog by Vera Nazarian The premise is simple... New bits of common sense, inspiration, and insight to jump-start your day. What if it inspired all of us?

The Witch Who Made Adjustments by Vera Nazarian

Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 12,630. Language: English. Published: January 7, 2012 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Historical, Fiction » Holiday » Halloween

(4.50 from 4 reviews)

A humorous and deeply heartwarming fantasy novelette of a witch who may not be as "terrible" as she seems -- a witch who came into a turn-of-the-century town, just a few days before Halloween, and changed the lives of the entire populace, and especially young Tommy, a hardworking boy, and his impoverished family.

Salt of the Air by Vera Nazarian

Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 108,400. Language: English. Published: November 14, 2011 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fairy tales, Fiction » Fantasy » General

An unforgettable first collection of fantasy short stories from a two-time Nebula Award Nominee and award winning artist Vera Nazarian. "Cautionary, sensual stories of love, reversal and revenge upend fairy tale conventions in Nazarian's lush collection... Sumptuous detail, twisty plots and surprising endings lift these extravagant tales." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

The Young Woman in a House of Old by Vera Nazarian

Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 11,150. Language: English. Published: November 12, 2011 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Horror » Ghost, Fiction » Fantasy » Historical

(4.50 from 2 reviews)

The young girl lived in a big stone house with ivy-covered walls and with old men and women who were all her kin... So begins a mysterious short story of a peculiar little girl growing up in a very strange house filled with antiquity and dark wonder. Hold on to your heart.

Lords of Rainbow by Vera Nazarian

Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 162,370. Language: English. Published: October 16, 2011 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Romance » Fantasy

In a world without color, illuminated by a silver sun, she is willing to fight for one man unto death... Another is willing to die for her. An unrequited love... War. Mystery. Exultation... An epic fantasy of unspeakable wonder... "...Strange, poignant, and exquisite.... her novel about a world without color — strange when what she writes is so colorful." — Marion Zimmer Bradley

The Clock King and the Queen of the Hourglass by Vera Nazarian

Price: $3.42 USD. Words: 38,450. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2011 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Romance » Time travel

(5.00 from 1 review)

A far future "dying earth" science fantasy tale about identity, erotic desire, flying water and a mystery... "This is science fiction the way that Jack Vance's Dying Earth books are science fiction." — Charles de Lint

Mayhem at Grant-Williams High by Vera Nazarian

Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 30,490. Language: English. Published: January 21, 2011 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Holiday » Halloween, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Horror

Think _your_ high school experience was Hell? Vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghouls... and brickhead idiot students. Welcome to Grant-Williams High. (Includes Two Adventures in One Volume)

Dreams of the Compass Rose by Vera Nazarian

Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 124,100. Language: English. Published: June 8, 2010 by Norilana Books. Categories: Fiction » Visionary & metaphysical, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

(5.00 from 1 review)

"A clever concoction of vignettes and short stories knitted into a morality tale about the temptation of illusion and the price of truth... an exotic setting reminiscent of Tanith Lee's Flat Earth series.... The author's sumptuous language will resonate with Lord Dunsany and Clark Ashton Smith fans.... Nazarian's vital themes and engaging characters are sure to entertain." (Publishers Weekly)

Vera Nazarian's tag cloud

"fan guide" "imaginary world" "the atlantis grail" action adventure affirmation affirmations alien planet aliens almanac ancient ancient aliens ancient egypt ancient world angels arabian nights armenia armenian art artifact asteroid atlantis austen australia authors battle against ultimate evil bibliophile bibliophile mystery books bookstore bookstores bride calendar chivalry choices chronology clandestine classic classical literature classics clock clockpunk cobweb bride cobweb empire collection colonization colony planet color comedy coming of age compass rose compendium competition contemporary creative creativity creepy critical thinking daily dark dark fantasy dead death death takes a holiday demons desire dragons dream dystopia dystopian education egypt egyptology end of time epic epic battle epic fantasy evolution exploration fairies fairy family fantasy fantasy romance far future freedom friendships future futuristic game games ghost ghost story ghosts ghoul god gods good and evil goth gothic grail greece greek growing up guide hades hades and persephone halloween handbook heartwarming hecate hero heroes heroic fantasy hidden high fantasy high school historical historical 1700s historical fiction historical romance history holiday horror hourglass humor imagination insight inspiration inspirational inspired interaction isolation jane austen kickass knights legend life life and death light literary literary figures loneliness lords of rainbow love love and marriage love match lyrical magic magician magus mansfield park mansfield park and mummies mashup match measures memory military military fleet military sf monster monsters motivation motivational mr darcy mummies mummification mummy mysterious mystery myth mythic fantasy mythology nazarian nephilim northanger abbey nostalgia obsession occult origin origin myth origin story paranormal romance parody people perpetual calendar persephone pharaoh philosophy platypus pride and prejudice priest prince rainbow reading reference regency regency romance relationship advice relationships renaissance renaissance warfare resurrection rivalry romance romantic romantic fantasy royal royalty russia russian sacrifice satire school science fantasy science fiction secret secrets self help selfhelp sensual sex sexuality sf shades of grey short short stories short story slayer sociology sorcery soul mates space space adventure space exploration space opera spaceflight spaceship speculation speculative fiction starcrossed love starcrossed lovers story story cycle storyteller sundial superfan supernatural support survival tech technology teen temporal temporal exploration the one thousand and one nights thinking time time and space time measurement time travel treasure true love undead underworld unrequited love urban vampire vampires vera nazarian warfare warrior werewolf werewolves wisdom wise witch witches wizard women wonder world literature writers ya ya fantasy young adult