This week we talk to Barbara Bellesi Zito (Lucky Stiff, Literary Wanderlust, January 2023). In an interesting twist to our usual interview, Barbara’s debut features a male protagonist but one who exactly fits the WFWA definition of a “main character’s emotional journey” as he processes his lottery win and what it means to his work, his family relationships, and his own growth as an individual. Written initially as a screenplay, Barbara credits that version with honing her skill at both dialogue and story structure. We discuss whether living in a publishing hub like NYC is an advantage to a writer, how she found her publisher through a Twitter Pit Mad event, and what’s crucial to remember when injecting humor into your women’s fiction story.

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer covering lifestyle and home trends for Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, REAL SIMPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, and other digital publications. She earned her BA from Wagner College and her MFA from Emerson College. She lives in Staten Island, New York with her husband and their dog. She is working on her second novel and has recently begun coaching other writers and creators. In her ongoing efforts to champion other women writers, she curates @thewomenwritersclub page on Instagram.

To learn more about Barbara, click here.