Featured Interview With Vijaya Schartz
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in France, and I traveled a lot, lived in India for a while, then in Hawaii. I now live in Arizona (I like the heat) and, of course, I’ve had many cats in my life. My current kitty girl is Jasmine and I believe she is telepathic… like many cats in my books.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started writing at six, but I didn’t have much to say then. At eighteen, I thought of writing detective novels and non-fiction books but didn’t get very far. It’s only after I settled in Arizona that I revisited my dream of writing novels. I now have thirty novels published.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I always loved sci-fi and I grew up reading Jules Verne and Frank Herbert (DUNE series). I also read a lot of history and fantasy novels. King Arthur, Celtic legends, and any kind of mythology. I love Diana Gabaldon, as a writer and as person. My inspiration comes mainly from dreams. I also watch lots of movies and I’m a fan of Star-Trek, Star Wars, Avatar. I have so many ideas for books and series that I will never be able to write them all in one lifetime.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My November 2019 release is AKIRA’S CHOICE. The idea started as a short story a long time ago, but after I wrote the first two books in the Azura Chronicles series, I decided to write a sister series set on the space station Byzantium, featured in the Azura universe. All the books in both series are standalones, but some characters re-appear in multiple books.
Akira is a strong heroine, a Samurai, and a bounty hunter. She also has a deep sense of honor… and recently acquired a cheetah retriever who follows her everywhere. Not your run of the mill cat, mind you. But a genetically engineered, titanium reinforced and specially trained animal… or so she’s been told.
As her ship is thrown upon the Byzantium space station by a singularity, Akira’s life is about to become interesting, exciting, and dangerous.
Of course, there is a brave hero in the mix… although Akira is no damsel in distress and can take care of herself. But she isn’t prepared for Kazmo, the Resistance fighter she is supposed to bring to justice.
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Great interview, Vijaya!! Congratulations on the new release!!