Welcome to Author Services Australia, Maura Pierlot, and welcome to our author interviews! If you could start by introducing yourself to everyone, let them know where you’re from and some of your interests and hobbies.
I’m an author-playwright-filmmaker who hails from New York City but has lived in Canberra for nearly 35 years. I write for children and young adults, mainly in the SEL, wellbeing, mental health, ethics and environment spaces. I have seven books, an award-winning web series and a feature-length anthology film under my belt, with an eighth book out next year. I also write for adults, mainly memoir, personal essays, hybrid/creative nonfiction and microfiction. I’ve always been drawn to big ideas and have a PhD in philosophy (specialising in ethics). I divide my time between Canberra and Jamberoo, NSW, where my husband and I switch to farm mode (avocado, walnuts, macadamia, timber). In an earlier life, I was an ethicist, editor of Australian Medicine, and (with my partner) the owner-operator of several businesses in the finance, real estate, property development and marketing sectors. When I’m not busy creating, I enjoy gardening, bushwalking, painting, travel and spending time with friends, family and animals.
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always been drawn to words and creative expression (having an artist mother helped). As a child, I was an insatiable reader, lost in a world of books. I grew up in in the Bronx in the ‘60s – wild at heart despite (perhaps because of) being witness to a series of unfortunate events. Writing has always been my way of giving a name to my emotions, drawing connections between mind and body that I couldn’t otherwise explain. I stood up in year 3 and told my class I would be a writer one day; it was as certain to me as the sun rising each morning. In my 20s I was a freelancer for the local rag, muckraking in Washington, DC politics. Writing was a key component of all the careers that followed, but I was penning work for other people – medical writing, academic writing (philosophy), health policy, marketing and advertising campaigns etc – not the stories I wanted to write. When my husband and I were juggling our businesses and raising a family, I didn’t seem to have a spare moment to think, let alone to write. But as the years marched on, and the kids grew up, I longed to reconnect with my creative self. A few early competition wins and placements buoyed my spirits and I’ve never looked back.
What is your preferred genre to write in?
All of my published titles fall under the children’s/young adult category, and I do enjoy writing for this audience, especially stories that help us tap into our better selves. But as odd as this may seem, I’ve long suspected that my natural fit is memoir (personal essays), slice of life pieces and travel blogging. Needless to say, I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming and genre-hopping lately.
What is your writing process?
My writing process is deeply personal, often intuitive and typically evolves with each project. Thoughts and emotions take over first with the spark of an idea. My head is crowded with characters and voices competing for space. When they’re so confident that they keep me up at night, it’s time to start tapping the keyboard.
When I sit down to write, I let the narrative unfold organically. I trust my instincts, allowing characters and ideas to mingle, fight, negotiate, console and learn from each other as the story takes shape. I often write in a state of flow, focusing on capturing the essence of what I want to convey rather than worrying about structural integrity. I always focus on voice first; usually, because I’ve hung out with the characters for so long before putting pen to paper, the words come out in pretty good shape. When I’ve gone as far as I can with the manuscript, I’ll seek feedback from trusted readers, whose insights help me see my work from new angles. But in the end, I’ll always go with my gut.
With ongoing multitasking and a fortnightly commute from Canberra to our Jamberoo, it can sometimes be difficult to jump from left brain to right brain. Lately, I’ve been jotting down poems or painting before writing to free up my mind. If I get stuck, I’ll go for a walk or play with our dogs or (if I’m at the coast), pick avocados or spend time in our rainforest with the resident wombats, lyrebirds and echidnas – a very contemplative and inspirational setting.
What is one thing you wish you knew now that you didn’t know when you started writing?
That publication decisions are driven more by commercial considerations than literary value.
What was the hardest part of self-publishing?
The hardest part is navigating a crowded, highly competitive marketplace. Nearly all bookshop space is taken up by the large publishing houses. Readers will only engage with work they know about. Getting the word out may be a routine, achievable task for large organisation, but can be an insurmountable challenge for small indie publishers with limited time, energy and budgets.
Which book is your favorite and why?
It’s impossible to name just one favourite, so here’s the top 10 (in no particular order):
Beloved (Toni Morrison) for its resilience in the face of unbearable pain;
The Book Thief (Markus Zusak) for the power of words to dispel darkness with hope and humanity;
She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) for its raw, honest depiction of a woman’s struggle for identity and self-acceptance with humour and poignancy;
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera) for its philosophical exploration of our choices and the weight of those decisions;
Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Joan Didion) for its acute observations of the ‘60s, capturing the beauty and chaos of political and cultural upheaval;
The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion) for its profound and intimate glimpse into love and loss;
The Secret History (Donna Tartt) for its intricate weaving of beauty, intellect, morality and the consequence when human nature is eclipsed by darkness;
My Brilliant Friend (Elena Ferrante) for its richly detailed narrative of the joys and complexities of female friendships;
Black Water (Joyce Carol Oates) for its chilling narrative and deft exploration of how power exploits vulnerability;
The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) for its authentic voice and masterful portrayal of alienation, adolescence and identity.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Joan Didion – I’m in awe of her incisive prose and keen observations, how she captures the complexity and fragility of human experience in a way that compels readers to confront their own truths.
Joyce Carol Oates – There are few authors who can match her ability to build haunting, beautifully lyrical narratives that delve into the underbelly of the human psyche, especially when it comes to identity and trauma.
Wally Lamb – I was introduced to his work late and can’t get enough. He has an unparalleled ability to craft a story rich in compassion and resilience, with characters so deeply flawed that our empathy and allegiance to them is seemingly unlimited.
What are you working on right now?
I always have several projects on the go, which excites and exhausts me in equal measure. I’ve been wrestling with a memoir project for some time – the topics are challenging and triggering so it’s slow going. But as frustrating as the timeframe is, I know it will be finished when the time is right. I have a wellbeing title in search of an illustrator/collaborator. I’ve jumped back into painting after a long absence. I just released my picture book, Clutterbugs (1st April), a fun, meaningful take on sustainability, recycling and repurposing. My young adult novel, The Lies We Tell Ourselves, comes out 1st August after a loooong journey. This is the work that I am perhaps most excited for so many reasons.
How do you handle a bad review?
I’ve never had a bad review. I don’t necessarily think that’s a commentary on my work (though I’d like to think that my writing resonates with audiences), but moreso that book reviews seem to have devolved into testimonials rather than critiques. I’m not suggesting that reviewers should tear apart someone’s work, but simply that we should be able to accept feedback, good and bad, when offered with courtesy and respect. The closest I’ve had to a bad review was a theatre reviewer who said my play with youth mental health themes ‘wasn’t a fun night out’ and was slightly ‘depressing’. I had to laugh at that – did the reviewer seriously think I was going to play anxiety, depression, family dysfunction, gender dysphoria, bullying etc for laughs? But I’m a realist at heart. Reviewers are as diverse at the work itself, and no creative work will appeal to everyone. So, I took it on the chin.
What’s next for you as an author?
Late last year I won the Cook Creative Writing Prize to produce a hybrid chapbook on grief and loss, though lately I’m thinking it might belong in my memoir. I’ve written poetry since my teen days; not many people know that since I rarely share any of this work. I’m thinking of doing something with my poems along a theme, a collection of sorts. I have a picture book out with Scholastic next year and a few manuscripts to be finessed before submitting. An enthusiastic band of supporters is trying to convince me to host a podcast; oddly enough, I brainstormed about this long before, during lockdown. Perhaps it’s time to dust off the idea and see if I can make it happen.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Writing, travelling, maybe podcasting, perhaps even teaching. (I taught philosophy at uni in the states decades ago and a few people who’ve caught wind of this have been trying to lure me back to academia.) I’m working on a film idea at the moment so, fingers crossed, I could be knee-deep in production. I have a half-finished play that I’d like to get up. I’m a qualified art therapist so may do something in that arena. I’ve always been involved in community work (The Book Bench Project being my most recent initiative), and I can envisage leaning more into this sector; visual arts too.
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
I’d love to be able to manipulate time – to pause, rewind and fast forward through moments of my choosing. As the years advance, it seems like the memories I’d rather forget are the ones that linger; the ones I should have paid more attention to are hazy. But at the same time, I realise that thinking too much about the past or future compromises my ability to enjoy what matters most: living in the present.
Where is your ultimate holiday destination?
I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska and am finally travelling there later this year. I spent two months in Italy and Croatia last year and would love to return. I’ve waited a lifetime to go to Ireland and have started mapping out a journey for 2026/27. (I’d love to do a writing residency there.) Bora Bora and the Maldives have always intrigued me, as has Iceland. But alongside these beautiful destinations, Australia is top of the list for travel (whether nature, culture, adventure, culinary, historic etc). I’m particularly drawn to regional areas and country life.
What are some of the items on your bucket list?
Write a novel (or screenplay) in a foreign country – Ireland would be a top pick for personal reasons. Complete a family history for both the Italian and Irish sides of the family.
Continue to develop our farm with permaculture practices as a thriving and sustainable enterprise. Brush up on French and learn Italian. Do a poetry slam (and/or perform in a play). Pick up the guitar again and be able to play even half as well as I used to. Put on my philosophy hat in some professional capacity.
Thanks so much for taking the time to do an author interview with us, Maura Pierlot!
Check out where you can buy Maura Pierlot books below and how to follow Maura Pierlot on social media. If you would like to do an author interview or have questions about our author features, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Author Name: Maura Pierlot
Genre/s: Children’s (picture books), Young adult fiction, Creative Nonfiction (memoir/personal essays), and Poetry.
Author Website: http://maurapierlot.com/; http://bigideaspress.com/; http://fragmentsthefilm.com/
Social Media Links: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon Author Central, and Goodreads.
Best Link to Where People Can Buy Your Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=Maura+Pierlot
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