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by Maria P Frino
Debut Novel
Two sisters, Amelia and Simona Lillostra, share a secret. One so distressing to them it is never to be revealed. What they didn’t count on is a young Russian man entering their lives, a man related to Amelia’s Russian lover from WWII.
When TV anchor, Larissa Mina meets Alexey Dubrovsky at an awards night, neither has any idea there is a secret in both their pasts. What is this dark family secret and why were two loving sisters torn apart?
Also available in Italian - La Decisione Presa. Buy online or at various bookshops in Sydney.
A Billion Light Years. A science fantasy short story
Dawa and Zenac want to escape from The Enforcers. They have three hundred followers who want to do the same. Why do they need to do this and who are The Enforcers? This is a thrilling sci-fi short story of a power couple wanting to keep humanity safe. Can they achieve this? If you enjoy science fiction, science fantasy and stories of heroes who do good for all, this short story will certainly keep you entertained.
A crime short story
Raymond is accused of a crime he could never commit. He lives in a house on top of the hill where no one else wanted to live. He rents from a mysterious landlord. There are many rumours about the house and its landlord. To prove his innocence Raymond will have to betray his friend. Does he understand the consequences of his actions?
Young Adult Short Story
Gina and Albert are siblings. They help out in their parent’s shop, D & G Deli, on the Princes Highway in Unanderra, a suburb in Wollongong on the NSW South Coast. The shop is open seven days a week, but both want to play Saturday sports. How could they do this when their parents needed help in their small businesses?
This brother and sister are typical of children and teenagers in Australia who worked in their parent’s businesses during the 1950s and ‘60s. They dreamt of being the same as all the Australian kids. Going to the beach or movies on weekends and playing Saturday sports. All they want is to fit into the Australian lifestyle.
Adult Contemporary Fiction
A contemporary fiction novel about the friendship of two men and their love for the same woman. But Edward does not know that Dave was married to Faith for a short time. Will this secret hurt their friendship?
Dave and Edward are two lonely men who find a connection neither expected. When they meet at the local Killcare Men’s Shed, they form an unlikely friendship.
Set against the backdrop of Killcare, a sleepy, seaside town, Dave navigates his way from there to Northern Queensland and England. His return to Killcare sees him make good friends, find his DIY talents and miss Faith more than ever.
This book contains adult themes, drug use and coarse language. Recommended for 18+ readers.
Science Fantasy Drama
This trilogy came from a short story - Xenure Station: A Billion Light Years. It is the continuation of Dawa and Zenac's story and their struggles with the High Priest Enforcer and The Enforcers who follow him.
Xenure Station Trilogy, a sci-fi space drama where The Enforcers and The High Priest Enforcer are taken on by two power couples who free humans from the grip of this dystopian society.
Book 1 – Xenure Station: A Billion Light Years.
Dawa and Zenac want to escape from The Enforcers. They have three hundred followers who want
to do the same. Why do they need to do this and who are The Enforcers?
Book 2 – Xenure Station: The Revenge.
Leyna was Thadd’s girlfriend before she went to Xenure Station. She and Thadd worked out a plan to overthrow his tyrannical father, the High Priest Enforcer. Leyna is caught by Xenure Station’s security forces after Thadd dies, so she vows to keep going with their plan.
Book 3 – Xenure Station: The Return.
Dawa and Zenac join forces with Leyna and Eween. The High Priest, now known as Dilvant, resides in Crete. Will he remain quiet or is there trouble ahead for all of them?
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A Magical Tale of Edward, his Twin and a Cat.
AVAILABLE NOW
A young adult novella.
Edward's Cat is a young adult (YA) novella about a teenage boy who can transform into a cat. Even though his twin sister had the power before she died and was able to control it, Edward has no control over how or when he transforms. When Milly, Edward's twin, passes away, her power is bestowed onto her brother. This is a magical realism tale of growing up, learning about yourself and becoming the person you want to be. See how Edward and his mother deal with their grief and how Edward uses the power of Milly the Cat to exact revenge against his bullies at school.
An Anthology by Women About Women
Weaving Words is an anthology of diverse short stories written by women, about women. It emerged through the collaboration of eight passionate writers who got together to share ideas, offer advice, and give each other support. Their passion and creativity fuelled their efforts and culminated in a book filled with unique and fascinating tales, as varied as the authors themselves.
This eclectic collection spans a range of genres from murder to travel, from comedy to mysticism. Each short story will take you on a journey, where you will be touched by the simple kindness of gifting casseroles, share in the heartbreak of a dysfunctional love, be startled at revelations of unknown families, laugh at a neurotic house sitter, be intrigued whilst searching for hidden treasure, and fall under the spell of a mystical healer. The writers call themselves ‘Women About Women’ and this is their first anthology. The touching, suspenseful, and magical stories contained within do share one common trait: They are quite simply unforgettable.
Sample one short story in
Weaving Words here -
PODCASTS | AUTHOR TALKS | WEB CONTENT
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. If you're interested in working with me, send me a message via my contact form below.
Novels and Short Stories
Maria has made a career in using words to communicate. Working at a TV station, her first paid job, nurtured Maria's love of words. A move to Sydney to study Communications gave her the opportunity to work with advertising & public relations agencies, corporate companies, magazines, and newspapers. She has written PR, ads, corporate communications and newsletters for products from food to jewellery, fashion, and interiors as well as garden and building products. When she is not writing corporate communications or as a Senior Reviewer for the online site, Weekend Notes, she works on her short stories and novels.
Her first published story, The Studio is a short crime story. Xenure Station: A Billion Light Years is Maria’s second short story. Both are available as eBooks wherever books are sold online.
The Decision They Made, Maria’s debut novel and her other books are available on this website – www.mariapfrino.com. Buy these books as eBooks or print. Weaving Words, an anthology Maria collaborated on, is also available as an audiobook. Maria contributed two short stories to this anthology along with eight other authors. You can follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
'In the spirit of reconciliation Maria P Frino, Author, acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.'