Born Adriana Kelly Banovic, this fifteen-year-old is the title character in the Banovic Series, Adriana Book 1.

How is she different from when she appeared in Changes, Family Portrait Series?

When I wrote the Family Portrait series, back in 2014, we lived in a completely different world. A pandemic was something you’d hear about in faraway lands… until it landed in our land. In those days it took an epic mess up to end your career, whereas these days, a simple disagreement could end your career in a matter of minutes! As a result, this reimagined character has to deal with all of this in this new world. In this new world, it is harder to hide who you are. Whether or not you knew Adriana from the Family Portrait series or now getting acquainted with her, she has a lot of secrets.

How has the storyline changed from the first novel in the Family Portrait series?

I’ve added another layer to the character. In Book 1, Adriana is fascinated with learning about her grandfather who had just died. Because of some rift between her father and grandfather, she was denied the opportunity to get to know him when he was alive. As if speaking to her from the grave, she learns that they are very much alike.

The series is described as the love child of Ozark and Cruel Intentions. Explain.

In the series, you have Kevin, Adriana’s older brother, on the surface his business is harmless and he is admirable that at such a young age he’s able to accomplish all that he has. Beneath that, he’s involved in very shady business dealings that could put his family in danger. He is balancing two worlds on a razor blade. That’s the Ozark-ish part.

At Westwood Academy, we have “the mean girls”. Astrid and her crew are back to terrorize. Now with social media and technology at their fingertips, they have more tools to play with. Hence Cruel Intentions for the 21st Century.

Westwood Academy is back! What has changed?

I’ve given them swanky uniforms! I’ve built out the school more to take the reader into the halls, and locker rooms and added more tech, basically, the school is even posher than it was before.

Are all the characters back? Did you promote or demote any characters?

New and noteworthy characters:

Alexis, the photographer. She plays a big role in Adriana meeting Haze.

Lindy and Michelle, are the hosts of a podcast called Top Talk. I love them! They are instrumental in driving Leighann’s storyline forward.

Tsar, the model with a coke problem. Tsar made an appearance in other versions but I decided to bring her in earlier.

L’Wren DaCosta, Leighann’s sister. She is not a new character but she’s gotten a personality makeover. She is a formidable opponent to Savi. Unlike before she was a bit mousy.

Demoted characters:

Rebecca (Bex), Frankie’s on-and-off love interest and Zax’s ex. Maybe she may make an appearance later but who knows?

Carys Wilson, she’s still in but her role is much smaller. There’s enough drama in Book 1 so I reduced her storyline.

What’s up with the cover? It’s not like other books in the genre.

It is deliberately different because I wanted it to stand out and give potential readers a glimpse of what to expect. The cover is meant to mimic a tabloid magazine. It is even mentioned in the story. I know it’s different and that’s the idea. Hopefully, it will attract the right audience.

In closing

I hope readers give this series a chance. It is deliberately short so that people can read it at lunchtime, or during their break. With all the chaos going on in the world, we need to give our minds a break. This book is written to take you out of whatever you’re going through at the moment and whisk you away into the lives of these characters.

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