Tag Archives: Fabio Bueno

An Interview with Fabio Bueno

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An Interview with Fabio Bueno


The Reading Café would like to welcome Fabio Bueno,who has published his first book…Wicked Sense. 

Our review of Wicked Sense was posted before this interview. 

Let us meet Fabio.

 

 

Hi Fabio.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.
Will you please tell us about yourself?

Fabio: Thanks for having me over at the Reading Café, Barb! My name is Fabio Bueno (yes, it’s my real name :). I live in the Pacific Northwest with my wife and kids. I like to write and hang out with friends and family, travel, run, play games, drink coffee, and talk endlessly about books, movies, and sports.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Fabio: Yes, since I was a kid. I’ve written a little in high school, a novel after college, and a couple of screenplays a few years later. However, I’ve only decided to write seriously a few years ago.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Fabio: Writing is a solitary business. It was hard in the beginning, but now it’s not so bad. I meet weekly with my great critique group (we call ourselves Writers in the Rain because we all live near Seattle). I go to conferences, workshops, and book events. And I’ve been fortunate to meet many friends online (readers, writers, editors, bloggers). Now, I don’t feel alone at all.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Fabio: I usually create a rough outline of the novel before writing anything. Nothing too detailed, just a sentence describing each chapter. I also like to have fully fleshed out characters before I start. Then, I let the details come organically to me. As for the writing environment, I prefer mornings, writing in the library, and being offline, but I’ve written anywhere and anytime 🙂 If you wait for ideal conditions to write, you will write very little.

TRC: Wicked Sense is your debut novel.  It is part of a series- Singularity. How many books do you plan in this series?  How did you come up with the idea of Singularity?

Fabio: The Singularity Series will be a trilogy. I have also outlined a pair of novellas featuring a couple of intriguing secondary characters, but there’s no release date for those yet. 

The Singularity concept came from a series of questions: what if witches lived among us in a secret society within our society? How would that work? How challenging would it be to remain hidden today, when technology is available everywhere? How would this society resemble the old folk tales about witches?


TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind Wicked Sense?

Fabio: Witches live in our world, hiding behind a Veil of secrecy enforced by a code and by magic. But when an extraordinary release of magical energy announces the arrival of a teen witch with unparalleled powers (the Singularity), the Veil is threatened. The British covens send Skye to Seattle to find the Singularity. Skye, however, gets involved with a charming boy and faces a formidable rival in one of the Night Witches. 

I wanted the audience to experience both sides of the relationship, so I decided to write it in alternating chapters showing the points-of-view of the female and the male protagonists.

  • Link to Amazon (readers can also download a free sample for kindle and free kindle apps)
  • Link to Goodreads (free sample available in .epub format for most other e-readers)


TRC: Wicked Sense is YA & Paranormal.  Your website says you love Urban Fantasy and Paranormal. What drew you to YA, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal?  Have you considered writing any other genre?

Fabio: I just read a lot of YA and fantasy in general. I believe I like YA because it deals with a very special time of our lives, when our personalities are still taking shape, the possibilities are endless, and everything seems possible. The fantasy aspect builds on that, taking the “what-if” factor to an even higher level.

I like to write suspense and romance too, but instead of writing these genres, I try to incorporate elements of both into the YA paranormal/UF stories 🙂

TRC: How do you describe what Urban Fantasy is?

Fabio: For me, a book is considered Urban Fantasy if it has supernatural elements and takes place in modern times, in our world, but depicting a secret or underground society.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Fabio: I’m working on the sequels to Wicked Sense, and on a new series, a darker YA urban fantasy.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Popcorn!

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate cake topped with condensed milk (I know it’s unusual, but you should try it)

Favorite Author: Nowadays, it’s John Green

Favorite Novel: “The Giver”

Favorite Movie: “Casablanca” (perfect blend of everything: romance, action, suspense…:).

Favorite TV Show: A tie: “Firefly,” “The West Wing,” and “Gilmore Girls” (I guess I have an eclectic taste 🙂

Last Movie that you saw: “Super 8” – it has an “E.T. the Extraterrestrial” vibe. I liked it.

Thank you Fabio, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Wicked Sense.  Keep us informed about any new books or series that you have planned.

If you would like to learn more about Fabio, you can find him at the following links:

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Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno – a Review

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Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno – a Review

 

While there may be an overflow of Young Adult Paranormal Romance books, the fact that it’s “cool” to read again should be celebrated by all.  What I find particularly disturbing in YA books, as I read many, is the dystopia theme running so rampantly.  Wicked Sense, the debut novel by Fabio Bueno, was a breath of fresh air!  PNR without a doubt, the heroine is a 17 year old witch searching for the elusive “Singularity” (the witch at the pinnacle of their practice), but the dialogue, the interactions between characters, and the love story…all very normal and age-appropriate.  It reminded me of my own teen craze, but without the cringe.  It made me hopeful for what my own daughters are [not too] soon to face.

Skye is the only daughter of a famous, Oscar award-winning British actress who also happens to be a witch.  In keeping with the “business”, Skye travels with her mother A LOT.  They have a beautiful house In London filled with staff, but it’s always felt like a movie set; not a welcoming home.  

When a witch comes into her powers at the approximate age of 15 (which Skye implies are disguised debutante balls & quinceaneras), there is an outburst of magical energy, aka Daybreak.  They inherit two (2) charms:  Athleticism, Shifting, Intimidation, etc…  Skye inherited the Allure and True Sight (a more precise ability to detect or sense another witch).  The Singularity’s Daybreak was so thunderous; it was felt across the entire West Coast!  As a result, witches from covens world-wide, known as the Sisterhood, are searching for the witch in an effort to learn what makes her so unlike everyone else.  Hey…someone transfer Skye across the pond to Greenwood High School in Seattle! 

The Sisters aren’t trying to constrain or stifle the Singularity; they fear such an expulsion of energy will result in revealing the Veil, their basic protection of the craft.  If such an event is revealed to the public, fear of the unknown can result in magic criminalization or worse:  modern day witch trials.  So why won’t the Singularity tow the line and reveal herself?  A witch so powerful, she is masking her unique signature to avoid all interested parties.

Enter swoon-worthy Drake, a non-competition swimmer who decides to approach new-girl, Skye, before his more experienced friends make their move.  To their mutual surprise, the connection between Drake and Skye is instantaneous.  They are both shy, but interested in letting their attraction develop gradually.  Level-headed thought processes at this age?  Not only a resounding YES, but they’re both very careful with each other’s feelings and sensitive to those around them.  Where was MY Drake 25 years ago?! 

Before long, episodes of magic take root and accelerate.  A classmate and fellow Sister named Jane approaches Skye who is none too happy with her presence and basically tells her to keep her distance (her resentment is off the charts).  While teaching Skye a short-cut through the park during a storm, Drake is struck down by a tree.  Unable to carry Drake’s unconscious body (let alone get cell service to call 911), Skye relies on her magic to stem the flow of blood from Drake’s head wound, but she doesn’t realize that Drake is unconsciously committing that to memory.  When someone intentionally exchanges Skye’s facial moisturizer with a blinding potion in the locker room, leaving her in the most vulnerable position after her shower, you can imagine the result.  Could these acts be those of the Singularity, trying to fend off Skye’s approach or could there by another Sister vying for the ultimate conquest herself?  Perhaps she should ask the Overseer of the Seattle Sisterhood if there have been any sightings on the whereabouts of the Singularity?  Oh, no wait — he’s Skye’s ex-boyfriend…awwwwkward. 

Turmoil is a minimum in spite of Skye’s true nature and mission to locate the Singularity.  Drake handles the knowledge and pressures well.  The pair intelligently navigates through insecurities and peer pressure (both narrate the story; alternating chapters are from Drake and Skye’s POV) amidst a supportive cast of friends.  The two male friends come across as “good cop” “bad cop”, but they add a comical element to jab at Drake’s innocence.  Skye’s BFF has an immodest reputation, but she proves steadfast and indispensable.  

The Singularity’s identity is revealed, but the reason behind the concealment was my only criticism of the book.  Skye redirects attention, **I won’t spoil it for you!** but this will undoubtedly give cause for an investigation.  And then where will Skye be?  Hey…NOT thinking things through…VERY YA!!! 😀

I was pleasantly surprised by Wicked Sense.  And truth be told, I WANT the investigation into the “irregularities” to begin sooner than later.  Why?  I WANT to revisit Skye and Drake!  I was so fond of this well-crafted couple, they are worthy of carrying a sequel.  I know we have tons of books on our To Be Read list, but this book merits attention by every demographic.  I look forward to future stories by Mr. Bueno.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

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