Meet Author Christopher Mannino

Christopher Mannino’s life is best described as an unending creative outlet. He teaches high school theater in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition to his daily drama classes, he runs several after-school performance/production drama groups. He spends his summers writing and singing. Mannino holds a Master of Arts in Theater Education from Catholic University, and has studied mythology and literature both in America and at Oxford University. His work with young people helped inspire him to write young adult fantasy, although it was his love of reading that truly brought his writing to life.

VR: Christopher, please share with us something about yourself and your background.

CM: I am lucky enough to pursue my two greatest passions professionally: theater and writing. I teach high school theater outside Washington DC at a school with a large and active theater department, and work with young kids through a local theater during the summers. I started writing YA fiction to help inspire the kids I teach, although I plan to branch into other genres soon. I grew up in Massachusetts, and now live in Maryland with my wife, who is also an author.

VR: Tell us about your newest release, Sword of Deaths.

CM: 

THE SCYTHE WIELDER'S SECRET CONTINUES

Susan Sarnio made a choice, and will spend the rest of her life as the only female Death. Last year she was bullied and ostracized. Now, to her complete bewilderment, four Deaths vie for her affection. Yet, something is terribly wrong at the College of Deaths. When a ship carrying scythe metal is attacked, many blame the newly-freed Elementals, but Susan knows the Elementals are innocent.


Shadows from the distant past come to light. Dragons circle the horizon, blood spills, and nothing is what it seems. Susan and her friends struggle to stop a war. They search for the fabled First Scythe, hoping to sway the balance, but who is the true enemy?

VR: Sounds fascinating, how did you get the idea for The Scythe Wielder's Secret Series?

CM: The idea for the series emerged while I was studying at Oxford. I became stranded at Tintagel, on the coast of Cornwall. I watched the dawn from a promontory the following morning, completely alone, on fifty foot sheer rocky cliffs, being buffeted by fierce winds from every direction. I imagined a character who was completely alone, yet who overcame her isolation to persevere.

VR: Share with us something you wanted to be when you grew up. I know, aging is inevitable but growing up is optional.


CM: I’ve wanted to be a novelist for a long time, since I was very young and grew up reading books by authors like Tolkien and Pratchett. For a long time I did not want to be a teacher, which was my parents’ profession. I wanted to be a pilot or an astronaut for many years, as I’ve always loved flying.



VR: Tell us about your current work in progress. 


I’m currently finishing The Scythe Wielder’s Secret, and immensely proud of the final novel Daughter of Deaths, which I feel is definitely the strongest novel I’ve written so far. Following this series, I’m going to write an adult science-fiction thriller, sort of Dan Brown meets Michael Chrichton.


VR: Thanks for stopping in for a visit. Be sure to check out author Christopher Mannino's website.


website (with purchase links) http://www.christophermannino.com/sword-of-deaths.html

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