Interview with Maria Vermisoglou on Her Debut Novel 'The Cursed Girl'

Vermisoglou enjoys reading, traveling, and crafting handmade items. She began her writing journey when a story idea captivated her, leading to the creation of Eva's character. Although she had written stories in the past, she felt a real connection with this one, describing the process as magical. She highlighted the emotional difficulty writers face when making tough decisions about their characters, stating that writers often feel deeper pain when they must harm the characters they've created.

The writing, editing, and publishing processes proved to be challenging for Vermisoglou. She conducted extensive research online since her book was written in English, a language less common among publishers in Greece. Initially inclined toward traditional publishing, she opted for self-publishing through Createspace due to the complexities of finding an agent. The process took over six months to complete, during which she gained a stronger grasp of the English language.

For aspiring writers, Vermisoglou advises continuous writing, regardless of self-doubt. She encourages perseverance, emphasizing that many successful authors started with humble beginnings.

Inspiration for "The Cursed Girl" flowed naturally, with roots in works such as "The Mortal Instruments" by Cassandra Clare and the TV series "The Witches of East End." She created Eva's character after finishing Clare's novel, initially imagining her based on Clare’s character Clary but allowing her to evolve distinctly.

Expectations for "The Cursed Girl" include themes of friendship, love, betrayal, and personal growth, with drama and emotional depth throughout. Vermisoglou intends to continue Eva’s journey in a sequel and has multiple fantasy and science fiction projects underway.

She recommends the humorous book "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores" for readers looking for laughter. Readers can find more about her work on Facebook.