Best in Show by Maria Grazia Swan

Award winning author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy, but has also lived in Belgium, France, Germany, in beautiful Orange County, California where she raised her family. She is currently at home in Phoenix, Arizona. 

As a young girl, her vivid imagination predestined her to be a bestselling author. She won her first literary award at the age of fourteen while living in Belgium. As a young woman Maria returned to Italy designing haute couture. Once in the U.S. and after years of concentrating on family, she tackled real estate. These days her time is devoted to her deepest passions: writing and helping people and pets find the perfect home. 

Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies (if she can find one, that is). When asked about her idea of a perfect evening, she favors stimulating conversation, Northern Italian food and perfectly chilled Prosecco.

Connect with the Author

Website/Blog

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

About the Book

Mina Calvi, Italian transplant to Southern California, thinks her love life might finally come together, just as her professional life has. Her Furry Friends Foundation, a no-kill shelter for rescued cats and dogs, is a success, and Mina hopes she may find a loving forever home for her-self, in the arms of Diego Moran, her elusive, frustratingly mysterious, on again-off again, lover. When a seemingly innocent night out with friends lands Mina in a hospital bed and Diego undercover, and not the covers Mina wants him to be under, Mina has to draw on all her new-found maturity, and all her supportive friends for strength. Meanwhile, a Best in Show cat takes up residence at the Ritzy Cats B&B, Mina’s other venture, setting Mina on the trail of a suspicious character who might not have the cat's best interests at heart. Add a Matchmaker to the Stars, a temperamental Italian chef and the usual menagerie of people and pets, stir it all up and you have an entertaining, hard to put down romantic tale of suspense.

Get it today on Amazon!

Keep reading for an interview with the author:

Why did you decide to be a writer?

This wasn't a decision, more like natural progression. I won my first literary award at the age of 14...the old fashion 14..not like today's social media savvy teens...and i didn't even owned a typewriter.

Do you have a "day job"? If so, what do you do?

I am a Real estate Agent in Phoenix, Arizona

What genres do you write?

Mystery in general, chick lit mystery according to the experts.

What is the biggest obstacle you face as an author and what do you do to overcome it?

Sadly the biggest obstacle is marketing in this ever changing world of computers and social media.

What is the best compliment you've ever received as an author?

A review, I assume from a school teacher??? Five stars and A++

What made you decide to self-publish?

The state of the publishing world. And...Amazon.

Are you a pantser or outliner?

I'm a total panster, if i already know the story I lose interest.

How do you come up with the titles for your books? Do you find it difficult?

This is a bit peculiar, but I usually start with the title first...yeah..i know...

Do you write about real life experiences, or does everything come from your imagination?

All my stories have a % or reality. You can't beat real life.

What are you working on now?

A new series it has some cooks, some crooks and a corpse. Also recipes aimed at seniors on restricted diets.

What was the hardest part about writing your latest book?

I'm working on it...had to move...that's the hardest part, you lose your concentration ans sometime your lap top also.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

Follow your dreams, never surrender.

Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your readers?

I am extremely thankful and grateful that people who were once perfect strangers have become my friends through my stories. It's the most wonderful sense of validation in the world. Mille grazie.