White Swans By Annamaria Bazzi

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Kendíka’s second chance at life begins as a nightmare.



Will the eerie eyes always looking down from the sky reveal themselves?



Kendíka challenges the aliens no one has ever seen to bring about a better life for the humans trapped in the surreal Regency world she wakes up in. While getting to know her alien owner, she discovers the aliens aren’t so perfect and have much to learn about humans.



Will Kendíka survive or perish, attempting to make life better for the people living on Regency?









Book Links:

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Excerpt:



Startled by the lack of movement, Kendíka sat up in bed, scanning the shadows in the moonlit room. Perspiration beaded her forehead while her heart pounded against her ribs. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the limousine next to Mr. Vetrano, arguing about her future. He insisted the will mandated her future, not him. Did the pill knock her out? How dare he drug me!

She blinked and, holding her breath, glanced around the unfamiliar room. When her lungs screamed for air, she exhaled then took another deep inhale. What the hell? What happened to the limousine?

Butterflies unsettled her stomach. Her back stiffened. Her heart drummed. Oh, my God! When did I get out of the car or come to this room? Why would Mr. Vetrano bring me to such a freaky place? Fear and the thought of her parents’ death brought fresh tears to her eyes.

She slid out of bed and shuffled her bare feet along the stone floor, hands held out to make sure she didn’t bump into anything hidden by the shadows.

At the opposite end of the room, she could make out a dark blob, which she hoped might be the door. Somewhere along the wall near it, she would find a light switch. She advanced slowly, making sure not to stub her toes. Her fingertips ran along the smooth wood. The handle felt cold. She pulled on the knob, but it didn’t budge. Strange! Her heart missed a beat. Why is the door locked?

With all her strength, she pounded on the door. “Mr. Vetrano?” She paused. “Is anyone out there?” She beat her fists on it a few more times, but when no one came to investigate the commotion, she slid to the floor and buried her face in her hands. Think, girl, think. Standing again, she moved her hands along the smooth walls at the edge of the molding, feeling for a light switch. Why can’t I find it? She tried again…nothing but wall. Why is no one coming?



Fun Facts:

- One of the more challenging items I researched was how to address people. I had been under the impression that I could refer to a duke as ‘My Lord.’ Boy was I wrong! To do so is quite degrading. A duke is addressed as ‘Your Grace’, and he’s introduced as, for example, ‘Charles Emory, the Duke of Deverow.’ Yes, he is one of the leading characters in my book.

- What about the funny little hat maids wore that looked like a shower cap? Well, that’s called a mob hat, and no, it has nothing to do with mobsters and gangsters. It was an essential part of a maid’s uniform.

- Speaking of servants, I had to understand what a footman does versus a butler. A footman did a variety of indoor and outdoor jobs. Important to me were the indoor jobs. Learning that a footman laid out the table, served the meal and tea, and assisted the butler helped me determine what Wordsworth’s duties had to be in the book.

- During this research, I learned that the butler was responsible for household security and most important, the wine cellar. The butler didn’t wear a uniform, but he wore a black cravat instead of a white one so he would not be mistaken for a gentleman.


About the Author:

Although born in the United States, Annamaria Bazzi spent a great deal of her childhood in Sicily, Italy, in a town called Sciacca. Italian was the language spoken at home. Therefore, she had no problems when she found herself growing up in a strange country. Upon returning to the states, she promised herself she would speak without an accent. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Computers with a minor in Spanish.

Annamaria spent twenty years programming systems for large corporations, creating innovative solution, and addressing customer problems. During those years, she raised four daughters and one husband. Annamaria lives in Richmond Virginia with her small family where she now dedicates a good part of her day writing.

Contact the Author:

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Check in on Kendíka’s Facebook Page

Questions for Authors

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, simply that greed and jealousy are terrible qualities with terrible consequences.

Was there an Author who inspired you to write?

I’ve always admired Emily Brontë and her novel Wuthering Heights. I’m still in love with the hero/villain Heathcliff. Oh to be able to create such a memorable character! But to be honest my fantasy/sci-fi inspirational authors are Orson Scott Card and Terry Goodkind.

How did you come up with the characters in your books?

A question everyone wants to know. Some characters just pop into my head pretty much with all their good and evil qualities and a pretty established personality. When I do sit down to create a character, especially an evil protagonist, I always keep in mind what evil deeds I want him to preform so I can shape his personality in a way that his actions become part of him/her.

What are your current projects?

I have several going on. Working on a sweet romance with pet for a Christmas box set. Working on another romance to see how my fans react to it. I need to write another romance novella with the theme of wine for another box set I’m a part of. Still editing Dragons in the Resistance a young adult novel and I need to start on the second book of the White Swans series.

Do you see writing as a career?

It is something I’d like to do full time, but only time will tell.

Do you ever picture yourself and one of your heroines?  If so, which one?

Can’t say that I ever have.

Do you have a favorite heroine/hero from one of your books? If so, who?

I have two favorite heroes from a novel that still needs editing and is sitting on a virtual shelf waiting it’s turn. They are Richard and Asmifsf, two aliens from far away galaxy.

What kind of research do you do for your books?

The research depends on the topic. For White Swans I had to research the Regency Period and familiarize myself with the times—dress, mannerisms, addressing nobility, types of servants and their duties.

What is the hardest part of writing your book?

Editing, editing…and more editing…that’s the part I hate. I love the creation part, but the editing is so stressful and repetitive it drives me crazy.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

What is your favorite Genre and why?

My favorite genre is science fiction probably because I love theoretical physics and love to learn about the Universe and its making.

Do you prefer to write alone or do you like to collaborate with other authors?

As of yet, I’ve never collaborated with another author so I have no idea if I’d like it.

Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you get through it?

Maybe because I work on many projects at a time I don’t usually experience writer’s block. If I get stuck in one project, I set it aside and turned to another. I’m always working on something. If all else fails I have two blogs that I run. As you can see I’m never out of things to do if I get stuck on one project.

When you are reading a book, who is your favorite author?

I have a few favorite authors. I love Orson Scott Card, Carl Sagan, unfortunately he only wrote one book, Contact. I also enjoy reading Terry Goodkind older works, The Sword of Truth, Megan Whalen Turner, just to mention a few.

Do you come up with the cover or does someone else do it?

I come up with the concept and then my cover designer brings it to life.

If you could change anything in your writing what would that be?

It’s not a matter of changing, but a matter of always improving.

What book if any would you want to be made into a movie?

The book I’d love to see made into a movie is one that’s still waiting editing. It is a science fiction with a bit of a twist and it features my favorite characters Richard and Asmifsf.

Who would you want to play the hero/heroine?

For White Swans I envision AnnaSophia Robb as Kendíka, Victoria Justice as Jillian, Zac Efron as Charles and Chad Michael Murray as Harry.

Everyone uses computers, tablets, phones and no one uses handwritten form or typewriters, what do you prefer to use?

Goodness, I think I’m one of the few who will still grabs a notebook. I prefer composition books. I believe I have about eight filled with writing, and one is always in my night table in case I’m inspired during the night. The only part I hate about this is that eventually I have to type them into my word processor.

Is there a ritual you do everything before you begin your book?

No special rituals, I’m a boring individual…

What do you do when you finish your book and turn it in to the editor?

Since I always work on multiple projects at a time, when I deliver one manuscript to my editor I’m already working on two or three other projects. I don’t really have down time unless I go on vacation, and even then I take a notebook and my laptop with me.

 White Swans A Regency World (book 1) is a fantasy/sci-fi young adult novel filled with adventure and a pinch of romance.

some interesting facts:

-          One of the more challenging items I researched was how to address people. I had been under the impression that I could refer to a duke as ‘My Lord.’ Boy was I wrong! To do so is quite degrading. A duke is addressed as ‘Your Grace’, and he’s introduced as, for example, ‘Charles Emory, the Duke of Deverow.’ Yes, he is one of the leading characters in my book.

-          What about the funny little hat maids wore that looked like a shower cap? Well, that’s called a mob hat, and no, it has nothing to do with mobsters and gangsters. It was an essential part of a maid’s uniform.

-          Speaking of servants, I had to understand what a footman does versus a butler. A footman did a variety of indoor and outdoor jobs. Important to me were the indoor jobs. Learning that a footman laid out the table, served the meal and tea, and assisted the butler helped me determine what Wordsworth’s duties had to be in the book.

-          During this research, I learned that the butler was responsible for household security and most important, the wine cellar. The butler didn’t wear a uniform, but he wore a black cravat instead of a white one so he would not be mistaken for a gentleman.