Interview with Michael Milardo

Author of Nick Ilsanto and the Scourge of the Black Hand

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Middletown, CT and now reside in East Hampton, CT.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I have a wonderful son whose family lives nearby me. Family and writing are the two most important things in life to me. I have also lived in New York City and Boston.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have written many years, starting way back when I was a film and television student at New York University. I began writing screenplays, for which I gained some recognition and financial reward, but writing a novel has always been primary in my heart.

I have now published four novels and a collection of short stories. “Nick Ilsanto and the Scourge of the Black Hand” is my latest work. The crime/historical novel was published this past spring.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My stories often involve a protagonist in search of lost love, but within the context of a much larger story, one that involves social justice and historical fact. I enjoy writing historical fiction, as has been the case with my last two novels, “Nick Ilsanto” and “Bobby Stitch,” which now has sales in eight countries on four continents. A third novel, “Chica and Me, and a Girl Named Angel,” involves a dog’s search for lost love and is told from a pit bull’s point of view.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Judging from reader responses, I think a broad range of readers connect with my stories. I try to write for as wide a range of readers possible, including young adult and beyond, both male and female.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Much of fiction writing, at least for me, is a very spiritual experience. I think the Romanticists of the 19th century had it right- the closest we can come to a god and creator is through one’s imagination. It is mystical how ideas come together to form a plot and story, and how original characters and ideas evolve in unexpected ways. Along the way, I have also evolved as a writer. In writing fiction, I have learned a great deal about who I am. I am a writer.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Don’t hesitate, don’t overthink, just write and learn to trust yourself. There is no such thing as writing; there is only rewriting.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Thousands! Millions!

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

If you believe in what you have done, you want the best for your “child.” You want it read, you want it seen and discussed. In other words, you want it criticized and recognized by literary critics and knowledgeable readers.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I am a writer, first and always.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I need to use more forms of social media and more websites. I sincerely believe that my stories are open to film adaptation, especially “Nick Ilsanto” and “Bobby Stitch.” Both novels are now available in many of Connecticut’s public libraries.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am currently working on a non-fiction book entitled, “Lost and Found in Alaska: A True Story of Survival and Miracles on Kodiak Island…an Elsewhere.”

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Hybrid Publisher.