Viviana De Cecco

What was your favorite book as a child?

The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. My mother gave it to me when I was 11. It was an illustrated unabridged version. It was a challenging read because the language was full of Indian and English terms that I did not know, but I was fascinated by the mysterious atmosphere of the moors and the wild beauty of that hidden garden where the main character, Mary, learns to be less selfish and more tolerant of others. I remember that I couldn’t wait to find out what secret lay behind those imposing walls, and I shed a few tears when Mary’s uncle remembered his wife’s tragic end and returned to love their son, Colin. From that moment on, I began to take an interest in English and American literature, reading the classics, especially Gothic and Romantic, but also typical British detective stories.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I cannot say exactly when I started writing. In elementary school, the teacher gave us essays in which we had to make up stories, and I, who was already reading fairy tales and children’s books, tried to unleash my imagination to fill the empty pages of my notebook. So I began to write at home, just for my own pleasure. I would fill the sheets of paper with stories and drawings, sometimes based on stories I had read, sometimes entirely from my imagination. I can say that I was a shy child and had few friends. Maybe I started writing to fill some of the loneliness.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I am not an adventurous girl. My life is rather quiet. To some people it might even seem boring. I am habitual and prefer to have adventures in my imagination rather than in reality. However, I have to admit that the only risk I have taken is to be self-employed, without a permanent position. It is exciting for me not to know what fate has in store for me, nor what new people I will meet along the way.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Until a few years ago, I listened to rock and pop music. Now I prefer silence. It may be the passage of time, but I need more concentration and music makes me lose track of my own thoughts.