Author Feature With Metra Farrari
We got to get a little more personal with Metra Ferrari author of All The Blues Come Through (Heir To a Myth Book One) . This book follows Ryan Bell, a botanist capable of growing miraculous air-purifying flowers, as he goes to meet a mysterious Greek assembly who believes Descendant of Artemis.
Let’s get to know the author behind this thrilling tale.
Why was publishing this book important to you?
Escaping to a pretend world was very important to me when I was younger, when my own reality was difficult to handle. I wanted to create that safe space for someone else who needed somewhere to bail to, because had I not been invited into another author's fantasy world, I might have turned to harmful vices. Something as simple as reading a book is so powerful. I wanted to give back. Adding my fantasy world to the reader community is a thank you note for my survival.
We're all dealing with so much, run ragged, spread too thin. This novel is a gift to those who need a little brain-cation, a place where the present/in the moment logistical side of our reality gets some time off and the imagination kicks in.
And what's fantastic about writing is although I created this story and a fantasy world, there's only so much that I can bring to life from what I see in my head to the pages within the novel. I love the thought that every single reader of All The Blues Come Through has their own special version--a secret world--that exists only in their mind. There is something sacred about the relationship between the reader and the book; as a community of readers, we read the same novels but we each use them in our own unique way.
What, if anything, did you feel like was lacking in other books in your genre?
I don't want to pretend that my book offers something completely unique and is a remedy for something that is missing out there. However, I really wanted to nail the authenticity of how a millennial woman--someone who loves her overweight cat, binge-watches TV, loves wine, is apprehensive about the latest fashions and feel more at home in an old Abercrombie sweatshirt from her high school years--would react if she was dropped into this fantasy world where myth is reality. I want my millennials readers to say, "OMG I would TOTALLY say/think that" or "Oh that is so something I would do." I wanted the book to be a realistic case study in what would happen if we found out that Olympians were real.
Also, I love intergenerational friendships and I don't think we see enough of them in books and the media. There's such a rich dynamic between two people whose ages range widely but have so much in common. It was important to me that the two female characters not have a purely mother-daughter aspect to their relationship, but also a sisters/bestie aspect as We don't fully appreciate our elders and what they've been through, and younger generations have a habit of writing them off. But in my experience, they just want to be included. Us millennials roll our eyes when our aging parents and grandparents don't know what TikTok is, but have you actually ever sat down and showed them? Age truly is just a number, so it was extremely entertaining to write about a 28-year-old and a 72-year-old that often switch stereotypical age roles, tastes and attitudes.
What's something you learned about yourself through writing?
I finally have an outlet for my imagination. Whenever I was interviewing for a typical 9-5 job, I always wanted to share that my top three main strengths were "imagination, day-dreaming and wit." That answer would have certainly made me unemployable for the types of jobs I was applying to. So for me, writing made me feel like I'd finally found what I'm supposed to be doing and validated what I am passionate about.
What do you hope readers walk away thinking after they’ve read your book?
I hope they have a book hangover! I love reading a book that sticks with me for days afterwards, where you're so invested in the characters and replay all that was at stake. I hope my readers demand the sequel pronto!
What are some books you’ve read recently that have inspired you?
The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy
This intriguing journey kept me guessing where it was going without me ever feeling "let's get to the point." I think both in writing and in life, we don't necessarily enjoy the journey, being more focused on the destination. We're constantly wondering what's going to happen in the end! But Marc Levy kept this wonderful pace where I felt I was able to stroll through the book along with the main character, Alice, rather than binge the entire thing in one sitting. Marc made me want to savor the book; I am in awe of his pacing!
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Kristin, Kristin, Kristin. Her talent is inscrutable, especially when it comes to making me ugly cry. While I prefer to transport my readers to a magical, unreal place, Kristin brings us to a place and time that is so real, I often felt as though I was choking on dust like her characters. To create such a visceral reaction is a magnificent talent. She also tells a story in which the reader leaves feeling grateful for what they have.
Get your own copy of Matra Ferrari here.