The Road to Moresco follows an Italian woman and her daughter who, during WWII, faced multiple tragedies and had to find a way to survive amidst the constant turmoil. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I was inspired by the actual life events of these two women and even more so their perseverance in the face of these events. I had the good fortune to meet the daughter, Clara, and through conversation with her, I began to also get details about her mother. The time periods and events these women had to endure mirrored a life existence that my own parents and their parents had. It was eye-opening to see this same time period through a different lens. I started doing research into the historical events during those times. I asked deeper questions about how societal shifts in mindsets influenced events and actions. First, I wanted to structure the story as a historical journey, staying true to the timetable of these events like landmarks on a road trip. Along the way, I noticed that the characters’ reactions and emotions became much more important, while the historical references shifted into the background as environmental. The dialogue between characters was the hardest part for me. I wanted to balance the “show don’t tell” aspect of conveying their thoughts and emotions with an almost Socratic-like approach to give the reader a better understanding about how their way of thinking was also changing over time. I do not think I would have been as passionate about telling their story in this manner and doing this work if I had not been so moved and inspired by them in the first place.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?

The human condition – what we feel, our emotions, the life events we encounter – can be the basis for empathy and connection to a reader. This goes beyond the psychology or philosophy that a reader may be looking for. There is an acknowledgement, the understanding, that binds the reader to the character leading to a condition where the reader cares about and for the character in the book. The reader sees themselves. They can live through the fiction as if they were there themselves. In that moment, they are on the same journey as the character. They are looking for the same thing. I tried to do that with my storytelling, so that at the end of the book it becomes a shared effort, that the reader, too, has been all along on the road to Moresco.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

There is a central theme of water, first as destruction and catalyst for change, but also a binding element that brings people together. And ultimately a peaceful and serene element that conveys resolution and calm. I was also keen to explore the various theories of psychology and philosophy that not only were driven by shifts in societal norms but also that impacted the characters directly in how they coped with certain events or with each other. Blending Eastern versus Western philosophy was cathartic because I also had to infuse so much of myself into the book and into the characters, my imagination, and my real-life experiences having to fill the gaps.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

I think The Road to Moresco has its own place in my heart, with a certain sense of completeness and depth that I do not want to dilute. I wrote with a certain purposefulness and intended for the context to be approachable while also delivering on ideas and concepts that provoke introspection. I am hopeful people will read this book many times over and get something new from each time. I do not think there is a follow-up to this story. However, I am beginning to work on a new story. It is in the formative stages. I did not consider myself to be a writer before publishing Moresco, but I really enjoyed the process and the result.

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