Celine Rose Mariotti
SHELTON — Celine Rose Mariotti has always had a lot to say, so writing mysteries, science fiction, ghost stories and poetry was just the creative outlet she needed to express herself.
Derby-born Mariotti, who has lived in Shelton all her life, said her love of writing began in elementary school. She was the kid who got excited when the teacher asked the class to write a short story or a poem. A creative writing class in high school further sparked Mariotti’s love of putting pen to paper. Her first poem got published in 1991. Mariotti said her ultimate dream was realized when her first book-dubbed “Olivia MacAllister, Who Are You?” (Rock Village Publishing) was published in 2004.
Mariotti has since had 15 books published, either through a publisher or self-published, and her work has appeared in journals and magazines both nationally and in the UK, Australia, India and Hong Kong. Her books run the gamut from science fiction and detective mysteries to poetry and ghost stories, having been inspired by iconic TV shows like “Lost in Space,” “Star Trek,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “Columbo.”
Mariotti’s latest four offerings — “Atomic Soldiers,” “I Hear the Banjo Playing,” “The Return of George Bowman” and “All the Things and People I Love” — were recently released.
The Valley Indy caught up with Mariotti, a graduate of Sacred Heart University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and minor in English, to discuss her love of all things writing.
Valley Indy: When did you first become interested in writing?
Mariotti: Since I was a kid in elementary school, I was always the happiest kid in class when the nun or teacher asked us to write a poem or story. When I was in high school, I took a Creative Writing course, and my teacher told me I had a lot to say and someday I would write books and I did.
Valley Indy: Is there a particular genre you lean toward when writing, and if so, why?
Mariotti: I tend to lean toward mystery/detective, ghost mysteries, science fiction, family type stories and poetry. Poetry is a way of expressing feelings. I love a good mystery because you have to carefully reveal a little at a time who the perpetrator is. When you write a ghost mystery, your ghost has to be interesting and have a reason for why his/her spirit lingers on. Science fiction is where you can make anything happen. I love to create worlds on other planets and let my imagination soar.
Valley Indy: What’s the inspiration behind your four latest books?
Mariotti: I was always a big fan of the TV show “Lost in Space” and I guess it was an inspiration for my book “Atomic Soldiers” where I created a lot of different space aliens that the crew of the Capricorn-29 encounter on their way to Saturn. In “I Hear the Banjo Playing” and “The Return of George Bowman,” I was inspired to create the character of George Bowman, a country singer who plays the banjo and who is a ghost. My “All the Things and People I Love” is a collection of poems I wrote about all the many things I love-my family, my guitar, the soap operas, Las Vegas, the New York Giants and many other things that are dear to me.
Valley Indy: What do you hope readers take away from your books?
Mariotti: I hope readers will have been entertained, and totally engrossed in my story or my poems. I hope the ending of my story will satisfy them and they’ll want to read another one of my books.
Valley Indy: What writers inspire you?
Mariotti: I love reading Alexander Dumas-one of my favorites is “The Count of Monte Cristo.” I love reading the “Murder, She Wrote” series. I also enjoy Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason books. When you read them, you can see Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale-casting was perfect for that show.
Valley Indy: Where can people buy your books?
Mariotti: “Atomic Soldiers” is up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell’s Books, Watermark Books and Café and Target. “I’m Too Young to be President” is up on Amazon and Kindle. For my self-published books you can contract me directly at [email protected].
Valley Indy: What do you do for work besides writing? Any hobbies?
Mariotti: I have a home business CRM Enterprises where I do editing, proofreading, typing, design business cards, labels, bookmarks, notecards and write poems for special occasions. I play the guitar and banjo, love to garden, enjoy needlepoint and love watching daytime soap operas. I’m a fan of the New York Giants. I love to listen to Tom Jones, Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Tony Bennett.
Valley Indy: Any advice for aspiring writers/authors?
Mariotti: A good writer has a vivid imagination. Writing is a talent, a gift from the Muse. A good writer has a command of the English language-grammar, spelling and sentence structure. Part of being a writer is to also be a good editor. And a good writer is also an avid reader.
