Nadja Maril is a writer based in Annapolis, Maryland USA and one of her first published short stories, “Uncle Max’s Gift,” was published by Café Lit in December 2021. https://www.cafelitmagazine.uk/2021/12/uncle-maxs-gift.html
Now she has a new book out in the world, RECIPES FROM MY GARDEN, a collection of short prose and poetry https://rb.gy/vvssje. Described in early reviews as a “feast for the senses and balm for the spirit,” the book is comprised of flash prose, poetry, and essays inspired by Maril’s kitchen, garden, and family memories.
What do you write? Why this in particular?
I write to make sense of the world, and even when I write fiction, I’m usually inspired by true events. The prose and poetry in RECIPES FROM MY GARDEN was primarily written during the Covid-19 Pandemic, a scary time, when I took many solitary walks with husband and dog and took comfort in gardening and cooking. I started experimenting with focusing deeply into the associations I have with various objects, which yields some interesting short prose.
What got you started on writing in the first place?
I love to read. Reading has always been a place to explore, learn, and escape. At various times in my life I’ve been involved in all the arts—music, dance, acting, drawing— but writing provides the opportunity to communicate on a multitude of artistic levels.
Do you have a particular routine?
I try to make a list in the morning of what I’d like to accomplish, such as new pages on one project or revision on another, along with the mundane business and household chores of living and check things off when I get them done. (It’s an imperfect system but at the end of the week I’ve usually accomplished a fair amount)
Do you have a dedicated working space?
I have a glassed-in heated porch overlooking the back yard, but I often work on my laptop at the dining room table.
When did you decide you could call yourself a writer? Do you do that in fact?
I’ve always been a writer, sometimes poet, as long as I can remember being able to read and write; but the majority of my life I’ve needed to take on additional professions to support myself, including being a journalist, newspaper columnist and magazine editor.
How supportive are your friends and family? Do they understand what you're doing?
I dedicated RECIPES FROM MY GARDEN to my husband Peter. That says it all.
What are you most proud of in your writing?
Despite many many rejections, I refuse to give up and I keep on working to improve my craft.
How do you get on with editing and research?
This is where I thank my writing colleagues who have taken the time to read pieces and provide feedback. Different perspectives are very helpful when editing. As to research, I have a curious mind. I’m always looking things up, so to me the research part is second nature.
Do you have any goals for the future?
I’d love to publish a short story collection that includes several of the stories already published. I’m been working on a novel, a woman artist’s story set in the 1980’s. I’m also writing more poems and memoir pieces.
Which writers have inspired you?
I like to read as many different writers as possible. I’m a big Margaret Atwood fan. I’ve been inspired by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jorge Amado, Denis Johnson, Kate Atkinson, Ted Chiang… the list goes on and on.
How can we get a copy of the book?
The book, published by Old Scratch Press, is available on Amazon and other online booksellers and some book stores ( but I’m not sure about Great Britain brick and mortar)
Here is the Amazon link. https://rb.gy/vvssje.
Here is the Nadja Maril website: www. Nadjamaril.com
And here is the Nadja Maril bio:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nadja Maril’s poems, essays, short stories, and novel excerpts have been published in The Lumiere Review, Lunch Ticket, Spry Literary Journal, Change Seven, Litro Magazine, Zin Daily, BarBar, The Sunlight Press, CaféLit, and other publications.
She grew up in Baltimore and wrote and directed her first play at age seven. Nadja earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the Stonecoast Program at the University of Southern Maine and is a Contributing Editor for Old Scratch Press. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland.
A former freelance journalist, weekly columnist and editor, her articles have appeared in such magazines and newspapers as: Victorian Homes, Chesapeake Taste, Old House Journal, The Cape Cod Times, The Annapolis Capital, What’s Up? Media, and The Washington Post. She is also the author of two reference books, American Lighting 1840-1940 and Antique Lamp Buyer’s Guide.
Nadja Maril’s children’s books—Me, Molly Midnight: the Artist’s Cat, and Runaway Molly Midnight: the Artist’s Cat —were collaborative projects with her father, artist Herman Maril, whose paintings and drawings illustrate the stories that are set in one of her favorite places—Cape Cod. Nadja is also the author and illustrator of Who is Santa? a book for all ages.
An inveterate blogger, Nadja’s weekly musings often include writing prompts and original recipes.
More at
nadjamaril.com.
