We recently connected with Maria P Frino and have shared our conversation below.

Maria P, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The biggest trend in the publishing industry was the advent of self-publishing, which is now established and well-known. In the last few years though it is AI (artificial intelligence) that is causing much concern. There are advantages to AI and many creatives use it well, but with the emergence of ChatGPT and other AI platforms, the fear of creative rights being copied and AI replacing jobs within the publishing industry is growing.

I have used AI a few times for my writing, mainly when I’m finding that the research I need is not enough or a question needs to be answered differently. I use it sparingly and ALWAYS write in my own words using some ideas AI has given me.

There is also the issue of AI creating images, fake news, and plagiarising. It is a real issue and one I am keeping a close eye on. Many in the publishing industry are doing the same.

AI, when used correctly, is a great tool for creatives. But a warning, use with caution.

Maria P, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My career is in using words to communicate. For companies and then freelance I have written and edited PR, ads, corporate communications, and newsletters. I have written about products from food to jewellery, fashion, and interiors as well as garden and building products. When I’m not writing corporate communications or as a Senior Reviewer for the online site, Weekend Notes, I work on my self-published fiction books. ​

My first published story, The Studio is a short crime story. Xenure Station: A Billion Light Years is my second short story and is a science fantasy. Both are available as eBooks wherever books are sold online.

The Decision They Made, my debut novel, and my other books are available on my website – www.mariapfrino.com.
Weaving Words, an anthology I collaborated on, is also available as an audiobook. I contributed two short stories to this anthology along with eight other authors. I am open to collaborations with fellow authors and artists. You can follow me on X, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook.

As I mentioned, I am happy to work with other creatives in collaborations. Writing, editing, publishing, or podcasts. I have already contributed to an anthology by Women About Women – Weaving Words; have been interviewed on a few podcasts, and have interviewed authors as well. I’m happy to discuss book publishing, writing, and collaborations with you.

Recently, with several other authors, I set up Sydney Authors Inked, a collective of self-published authors who do free book talks in Sydney. We discuss books, reading, publishing, and all book-related topics. This year we have introduced an interview format where Sydney Authors Inked is in conversation with an author, traditionally or self-published, and we hope to grow this format. We have authors interested in being interviewed. These talks are held at The Little Big House, Summer Hill, a beautiful space where events like ours are held regularly. Anyone interested is welcome to attend, look out for tickets on Humanitix, our events are usually held every second month.

I am pleased to see that self-published books are now recognised to be as good as traditionally published ones, I do hope readers out there appreciate that authors who publish their own work are running a small business, so when you buy one of our books you are supporting these authors who usually struggle to make a decent wage. I enjoy what I do and hope to keep writing for many years and keep entertaining readers.

My base is Sydney, Australia and my books are available worldwide. After ten years of being a self-published author, I am happy to be a part of this collaborative and inclusive industry, where new voices are published every day. Readers, please keep supporting authors and their work, it is for you that we keep writing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are many rewarding aspects of my craft, but I will try to focus on one. For me, receiving feedback on my stories can be very rewarding. In ten years, I have grown as a self-published author and this can be attributed to the feedback I received for my early works.

Writing may be a solitary pursuit, but it takes a team to reach the goal of publishing. I regularly use graphic designers for my covers, beta readers, editors, and have several writers’ groups I attend. These people help me to stay on track or improve my stories, all of which are of benefit to readers.

Without feedback, my stories would not be as polished as they are. Each time I write a new story, I use all the elements I have learned from my previous books. Readers, we authors appreciate you giving us feedback, whether in the form of a review, an email, or a text. Sharing our books with other readers also helps. If you enjoyed a book, shout it to everyone who will listen.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is not an easy place to be, especially for authors who are the shy, retiring types. It helps to have a thicker skin when you tread the socials path, some comments (and reviews) can be brutal.

As I have been a marketer for many years, I don’t have a problem promoting my books on social media. Over the years I have taught myself enough graphic design skills to help me design posts that receive engagement, especially on Threads and X (Twitter). All the platforms I’m on keep growing on a daily basis.

My advice to anyone starting is to use social media to your advantage. Follow successful people in your industry, see what they do, and then use this information to format your brand. Keep your branding on point with your product or business, use colours that convey a presence and keep your branding consistent. Also, be patient, accruing social media followers takes time, I have been at this for ten years and my following took years to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariapfrino.com/
• Instagram: @mariapfrinoauthor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpgcommunications
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mpgcommunications
• Twitter: @frino_mp
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Images are all mine – Maria P Frino