author spotlight: valerie nifora

​Valerie Nifora is a best-selling and award-winning author, who was born and raised in New York to Greek immigrant parents. She credits her Greek heritage for her love of words and storytelling. 

Her first romance novel, The Fairmounts, debuted as a #1 New Release. It's a historical romantic-suspense story that follows Harry LaCroix as he returns from war looking to settle into a quiet life with his last living relative and confidant, Lois Fairmount. But his plans take an unexpected turn when he falls for a mysterious heiress with a missing fortune. The Seattle Book Review gave The Fairmounts 5-Stars stating quote the story is "a beautiful romance novel, full of suspense, mystery, tales of old legends, and so much more."

She's also written a collection of romantic poetry called, I Asked the Wind that explores innocence, sensuality, passion, desire, heartbreak and loss through the lens of her personal experience spanning 15 years. I Asked the Wind has received a Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association, a 5-Star review from the San Francisco Book Review, a Top 10 Finalist for the Author Elite Awards a globally recognized honor, and a Distinguished Favorite by the Big NYC Book Awards.

Valerie holds a B.A. in Communications from Emerson College and an M.B.A. from Fordham University. She is married, a mother of two amazing sons, a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, and tea addict. 

Q. You've received several awards for your recent novel, The Fairmounts, with Mary Whitcombe being the sequel, what inspired you to write them?
Answer: The Fairmounts was a dream that I had during the pandemic. Writing the was my mental salvation. It was a very difficult time. I lost a lot of loved ones. It was difficult for a lot of people. Writing as Harry was the light for me through all that darkness and a way to honor the wonderful people that risked sacrificing themselves to care for others.

Q. Had you published anything before The Fairmounts? Did you always want to be a writer?
Answer: I published an autobiographical poetry book about love called I Asked the Wind. I know that I've always been a storyteller. Even the poems are small distinct stories. I think stories are my art form. I let them take whatever shape they want. They're an extension of me in many ways. I try to highlight the beauty in the world. I do believe that life is beautiful, and people make it ugly. So, I try not to contribute to the darkness and add to the beauty.

Q. Is there darkness is your books? What would you say is your unifying themes?
Answer: I think there are characters that are dark, yes. It's a balance of dark and light. Light always wins, of course. I write about love, forgiveness, redemption, and hope. It's how I try to live my life. Do no harm, and if I can, do good. That's what you find in my books. There are bad things that may happen, but we are always greater than those bad things.

Q. Are your characters based on real people or are they entirely fictional?
Answer: I think all my characters are various facets of me, to be honest, as well as real people that I know. They are pieces of people that I sort of put together and create these fictional beings that feel very real to people. It's all entirely unconscious by the way. It's not something I intentionally do. It just happens. I've had people tell me that they know the characters, or they go out into the world and try to cast them. Oh, that one looks like a Harry LaCroix, or maybe that one is a John Fairmount, that sort of thing. It's always amazing to me.

Q. How do you feel about your work being adapted into other forms, such as movies or TV shows?
Answer: That would be a dream come true. I think the stories are written in a very cinematic way. I also think the stories stay with you long after you put the books down. I'm always open to that possibility, but until then, I'm going to keep letting my characters tell their stories.

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Visit Valerie on her website:
www.valerienifora.com 
Join Valerie on Faceboook:
www.facebook.com/ValerieNifora
Follow Valerie on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/valerienifora
Engage Valerie on twitter:
www.twitter.com/vnifora
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LINKS for BOOKS:
https://valerienifora.com/thefairmounts/
https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Whitcombe-Valerie-Nifora/dp/B0CNGBV3K7/
PRESS & MEDIA:
https://valerienifora.com/reviews/
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Check out Valerie's UPCOMING NEW RELEASE book here.