Rita D’Orazio
Author,
QC, Canada
Website: http://www.amazon.com/Rita-DOrazio/e/B00BEW23IU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1385939629&sr=1-2-ent
Latest book: Katerina
Novel
Harrington E-Interview
Q: Do you have a day-job, and if yes, what is it?
Rita D’Orazio: I don’t have a day job at the moment. I left the corporate world over a year ago to dedicate my time to writing. For the last ten of the 30 years that I have been in the private sector; I spent managing the office of a lobbying firm in our nation’s capital.
Q: How much time do you spend on reading and writing, respectively?
Rita D’Orazio: If I’m writing a manuscript I dedicate well over six hours a day on it. It all depends on what I’m working on at the time. As for reading, I go through spurts of reading a couple of novels a month then I take a break.
Q: Do you have a library card? Explain.
Rita D’Orazio: I last had a library card in my early twenties. I became a bit of a germaphobe.
Q: Which book did you absolutely loathe reading in high school or college? Did you ever grow to appreciate it later?
Rita D’Orazio: Unfortunately people will be upset that I’m saying this but I have to say John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath.” I didn’t pick it up again later in life but that has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Steinbeck’s writing. It all has to do with my personality. I’m a hopeless romantic so for that reason I get steered towards other reads.
Q: How would you react to a 12-year-old who states that he/she hates reading?
Rita D’Orazio: Horrified. Children do go through different stages in life of loving to read and then not picking up a book for a while. Having had two twelve-year-olds myself, I can say they both love to read now and they’re in their twenties.
Q: Do you like playing video games? Explain.
Rita D’Orazio: No. When my children were growing up the rule of the house was that we were never to get them video games. I thought it best that the kids get outside and play and have human interaction with other kids in the neighbourhood.
Q: What’s the best advice you have ever received, and who gave it?
Rita D’Orazio: I was told to never underestimate my personality. “You can always pay for someone with better qualifications but a personality is something you either have or don’t and I’m hiring your personality.” That statement was made to me the day I was offered a job by my last employer.
Q: What’s the top item on your bucket list?
Rita D’Orazio:To one day make it to the New York Times Bestseller list. If I’m going to have it on the top of my bucket list, it might as well be my biggest dream.
Q: Are you older or younger at heart than your age?
Rita D’Orazio: Younger.
Q: What time do you usually get up in the morning, and how does your daily schedule look like?
Rita D’Orazio: 5:30 a.m. now that I’m home. I start working by 6:30 after I’ve watched the morning news and had my cup of coffee. I either write, do some research for my next project. It all depends on the particular day.
Q: What would you print on your favorite T-shirt (and wear it)?
Rita D’Orazio: Believe in yourself.
Q: Which character’s life from a classic novel would you like to live? Explain.
Rita D’Orazio: Alice is my favourite character from Alice in Wonderland. I love her strong and quirky personality. She stayed true to herself and didn’t care what her mother or anyone else expected of her.
Q: What do you wear when you are the most comfortable?
Rita D’Orazio: Yoga pants and a t-shirt.
Q: What is your top choice of a book you’d like to turn into a movie?
Rita D’Orazio: My own and I’d have Charlie Hunnam play Ryan Fitzpatrick. Ha! Wally Lamb’s novel `She’s Come Undone.’
Q: What’s the coolest place you’ve placed an autograph besides the first page of a book?
Rita D’Orazio: Can’t say I’m at that stage just yet. It’s still odd to me when someone wants my book signed.
Q: What do you blast in your car when driving (music, radio channel, other)? Explain.
Rita D’Orazio: Winter to Spring it’s a variety of JLO, Pitbull, Lady Gaga, I need uplifting tunes; I’m not much for the minus 30 something weather, so these artists keep me upbeat.
Summer, definitely the Beach Boys, I never tire of them.
Connect Through Reading
Click on book covers
The Harrington Review 
