An Interview with Azzurra Nox

Azzurra Nox is a Pushcart Prize nominee and a Killer Shorts Winner. She was born in Catania, Sicily, and has led a nomadic life since birth. Her current works are I Want Candy, Girl that You Fear, Into the Dread Unknown, and Panico!. She currently resides in So-Cal. You can follow her on Instagram @divazura.

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Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling, but the writer who truly ignited my passion for writing was Anne Rice. I was completely captivated by the rich, gothic world she built in The Vampire Chronicles. Her unforgettable characters and hauntingly beautiful prose inspired me to create my own. Because of her, I started spending more time each day writing, eager to bring my own imagined worlds to life.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I used to work as a music journalist—one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had. I got to cover concerts and music festivals, and interview musicians from all walks of life. Before that, I taught high school English, and these days, I work as a graphic artist. Most of my current readers know me for my horror stories and books, but I actually started out writing literary fiction. My most recent lit fic piece, Fragile Fruit, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2020.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Panico! wasn’t an easy title to land on. I wanted something that captured the fear and uncertainty Marie Antoinette must have felt during her arrest and imprisonment. In the end, Panico!—exclamation mark and all—felt right. It conveys not just panic, but the frantic, disoriented state of mind she might have experienced in those final, chaotic moments.

What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?

When the first reviews start rolling in, it hits you that the book is no longer yours. It belongs to the readers now, living in their hands, shaped by their interpretations.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I always love this question. As a former music journalist, music plays a big role in how I set the mood for a book. For Panico!, I curated a playlist that includes I Don’t Like It Like This by The Radio Dept., Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex, Viva La Vida by Coldplay, Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Dark Globe by Placebo.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope that after finishing Panico!, readers come away with a more human, nuanced understanding of Marie Antoinette, seeing beyond the centuries-old rumors to glimpse the real person behind the legend.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

This book means a great deal to me. For years, I wanted to write about Marie Antoinette but struggled to find a fresh, compelling way to tell her story—one that wouldn’t feel boring or cliché. I believe Panico! finally captures the right angle, diving into her experience during the Reign of Terror with a new and gripping perspective.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a horror feature script that dives into the dark side of the beauty and wellness industries. My upcoming book, This Fever Called Living, is set to release in March 2026. It’s a fresh retelling of Carmilla, but transplanted to Palermo, Sicily, in 1999—with a strong influence from Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher woven throughout.

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