1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
This is a story about my life. Initially, it was not my plan to write and publish this book. I simply began journaling to aid in my healing and recovery process and upon doing so; it occurred to me the potential benefits of sharing my story with others.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
I wanted to bring awareness to the taboo subject of child-to-parent abuse and possibly making a difference and offering hope to fellow survivors and others.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I have two important messages: (1) It is never too late to make changes in your life; and (2) Unconditional love is not always possible if one’s safety and well-being are at risk.
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4) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Popular book review sites such as this one, have been very positive and helpful in providing exposure to my book.
5) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Do not give up on your dream of writing. For some it take 6 months and for others it takes 6 years. Either way, once you have completed and published your book, it is an extremely satisfying experience.
6) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I am actually thinking of writing some children’s books- quite the opposite from this book! I am looking forward to continuing with my publishing career and writing under my own name.
1: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I never grew up with an interest in writing, books, or television. Writing always came naturally to me, and I always got A’s on my high school reports despite struggling with ADHD and dyslexia. I loved to play with words and implement them in rap and songwriting. Eventually, I gave up on music because I couldn’t accomplish what I wanted in that artform. It wasn’t until watching television’s Lost and Breaking Bad that I found an interest in writing television. The serialized style of those shows made me aware of what was possible. After studying the craft, I gave it a try. Seventeen scripts and eight years later, I’m now pitching shows to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Max, etc.
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2: What inspired you to write your book?
La Entrada was initially written as a television pilot to get in front of a leading Mexican production company. I believe it was my fourteenth script, and I was frustrated at the time with script after script dying without anything to show for it. I thought this one would be better as a graphic novel and decided to connect with an artist to show my work to friends and family.
3: What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope that readers are inspired to face disappointment with perseverance. Mirna and Carlos have both been overlooked and experienced hope deferred, but they keep chasing their desires. In future books, we will see how that works out for them in unexpected ways.
4: What drew you into this particular genre?
This genre is one that I hadn’t tried to tackle in the past. I wanted to try something new while starting from a grounded place. I’m excited to lean heavier into the genre in the next book as we explore what is beyond the portal.
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5: If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I’m curious to know more about the pain of Mirna’s younger years. How has her upbringing led her to a relegated position in society? I would also like to ask Loisha what happened to her that she feels the need to maintain loyalty to the President.
6: What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Instagram has been huge for me. I have a production Instagram where I post all the pages from La Entrada, but my personal account has been most helpful. My friends that I grew up with and former Home Depot co-workers have come through for me. I’m honored by the outpouring of support. Pinterest is also helpful for me to promote the artists that I work with at the same time as my writing.
7: What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Read, study, and write. I have countless friends who claim they want to be writers but never write. I also have many friends who write but don’t study their craft, and their books or scripts fall flat. You have to know why you are doing what you are doing, regardless of how naturally talented you are.
8: What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
Reality television is my primary form of income currently. I’m about to return to Shark Tank as the primary production manager. I’ll oversee logistics, personnel, and finances for the show. I hope to make some time soon to finish the next La Entrada graphic novel. Also, I have a couple of shows that I’m pitching. I’m looking for a production company to partner with on a political drama and a YA mystery. Who knows where the future will lead? I’m just enjoying the process.
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About the Author
Andrew is a television writer, producer, and production manager living in Los Angeles, CA.
Shark Tank on ABC was his first big break in TV as an art department production assistant. He was quickly spotted for his administrative skills and found mentors in production management, where he climbed the ranks. The unscripted shows he has worked on include Miss Universe, Paradise Hotel, The Voice, and The Grammy’s. He has also worked on several scripted shows, including Blunt Talk, Dr. Ken, and Insecure, as well as digital content when he co-launched The Rock’s YouTube channel as a line producer and writer.
For its three-night live presentation, Andrew co-wrote O Little Town of Bloomington, a Christmas musical that sold out the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, CA.
Before transitioning to full-time writing, he developed his craft by breaking down scripts minute-by-minute and writing over twenty pilots of his own. He created several Graphic Novels, including La Entrada, available through Amazon.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I am a former engineer and forensic expert from Bulgaria. I prefer silence and loneliness.
From what I read over the years, I realized that some books are like portals to other worlds, and that these worlds become real when they meet the deep thought of the author and the imagination of the reader. I started writing because I decided I could create my own worlds that I didn’t find in the books I read.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
My book is an attempt to answer the question of whether it is possible to overcome the limitations of existing and creating a new world of dreams comes true. My characters are not looking for excuses but for a path (sometimes wrong) to their own identity.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Some of the themes in my book are: change as a path to salvation or destruction, the clash between being and mind, dream as a path to one’s own unknown worlds.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
My great addiction to fairy tales and fields of imagination. I try to reach the limits of my imagination and express the inexpressible.
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5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Each of my characters is part of my imagination, but at the same time an independent subject. I would not like to ask them questions. They themselves choose the questions they seek answers to.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Any site that broadens their horizons. One of my favorite sites, for example, is the Online Etymology Dictionary.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
They must first understand what they want. If they want to please the audience — to follow the prevailing fashion in writing. If they think they have a voice of their own that needs to be heard, they should start studying themselves and assess whether they have the strength to endure the inevitable disappointments in their path.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
It would be a weird story collection about new challenges such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, loss of identity and their collision with a human mind.
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About the Author
Valeri’s is a moody and particularly well written book. His prose is eloquent and artistic, as he shares his intriguing tales of mystery, melancholy and perhaps macabre. Despite a wide variety of genres, which seem to range from horror to sci-fi to historical fantasy, there is a common style throughout, and at times, as he moves from one narrative to the next, it becomes a little difficult to discern between them. That said, each of these little anecdotes is a distinct work of art and character.
He is a gifted author, with a talent for atmosphere. This collection of short stories is best read of an evening, ideally by candlelight, while fully immersed; in any other setting, the metaphorical and philosophical feel of it may be a touch more difficult to engage. They deserve no less than to be absorbed and indulged, and to do that you really need to get onto the author’s wavelength, which can best be described on occasion as abstract. I realized very quickly into the first tale that there was concentration and commitment required to optimize the full experience of this wonderful piece of work.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I have always liked writing. It began with essays in the elementary school, continued with writing to at least ten pen pals from the whole world, and I had to do a lot of writing also in the companies for which I worked. In the last twenty years I wrote a lot of textbooks for my students. My memoir is a bit different writing and I must say that I enjoyed it.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
I wished to let my children know how life was when their mother was young. I also wanted to show women that it was possible to join career and family life even in the ex-Yugoslavia where management places were reserved for men who were members of the Communist party.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope that readers will understand and support one of the main points, namely campaign against domestic violence. And I also hope that they will struggle to achieve their dreams just as I did although I was a poor and frightened country girl.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I adore reading biographies, autobiographies and memoirs so it was easy to decide that I should write also my own memoir. I am thrilled if I read a full description of somebody’s life and it is not necessary that this person is a celebrity. Everyone’s life is something special and worth reading.
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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Social media are (at present) my weak point. I have recently asked one of my colleagues to help my organize Facebook and I hope that I will soon get used to it. I normally communicate by e-mail and I respond each mail that I receive: info@leila.si.
6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Everybody has an interesting story to tell. Do not keep it for yourself, share it with us! Read a lot to get the necessary writing skills and be honest and objective when writing.
7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I would like to describe the second half of my life when I had to struggle with my son’s Crohn’s disease and with Slovenian government to establish a private college. I would also like to write about my pilgrimage Camino de Santiago (walking, about 800 kms). Perhaps I will find time to write one or two biographies of Slovenian women.
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About the Author
The author writes under the pseudonym Iris Novak. She was born in the second half of the twentieth century in Slovenia, the northern part of the then Yugoslavia. She graduated from English and German, acquired her MA in Management and PhD in Librarianship. She worked in the international business, in librarianship, was director of a school for foreign languages and finally established her own business: employment agency and a college. The author lives in Slovenia, is married and has three children.
Iris Novak: AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN IN YUGOSLAVIA: 2 excerpts
Chapter 18, excerpt: University
The next morning, I came to the lectures again and many other students, too. The first two hours were cancelled. Then an old teacher began to lecture about old English literature. When he started speaking, my neighbors and I exchanged looks. His pronunciation was so poor, and he spoke English with such a horrible Slavic accent that we could not imagine how he’d become a university teacher. Of course, he had a PhD in English literature, but how did this justify such poor pronunciation? His lectures were boring, and he spoke so quickly that we could not write down his words. When we argued that we could not put down his words, he said that we could study old English literature in the library. The loudest student, the one from Texas, asked if we could borrow or buy one of his books, but he said that there weren’t any.
“So, we have to take down notes, don’t you think so?”
“You can, if you can’t remember what I say,” and he looked at her as if it was obvious that her intelligence quotient was under average. “But do not write everything, put down just what is essential. Only perfect fools put down every word that the teacher says.”
Some students tried to show that they were intelligent, so they stopped writing, but the majority of us silently admitted that we were simpletons and that we could not differentiate which of the teacher’s words were important, and which were not. All those who did not write notes and learn them by heart failed their exams. Then they borrowed our notes and some managed to pass.
This approach to teaching was the norm in Yugoslavia and has continued at the university level in Slovenia, with few exceptions until now. Even now, many people are not aware that students deserve fair treatment and respect. If one starts to say that teachers should focus upon students, he often hears that only really strict teaching, as was used in the previous century, forms really good professionals. What brainwashing we endured!
Chapter 50, excerpt: Everything Changed
Our youngest child brought a lot of happiness to our family. Both girls were old enough that they could sometimes take care of him, feed him or change his nappies. Lili was nine, Vali was six and Martin was two. The whole family observed how he started to raise his head, fix his eyes and stare at something for a long time, how he started to crawl and then walk.
During his first months, he enjoyed it when Tone held him in his arms, and it made my heart thrill when I watched them. As soon as Martin could sit at the table, we placed him in a special chair as an equal member of the family.
Each time I served a meal, my little boy showered me with compliments: “You cook so well, how beautiful, how wonderful you are!”
The child gave me more praise in one week than my husband in our whole life. I mentioned that Tone could try to imitate Martin, and Tone started with his old excuses, saying that he was not like other men who flattered women. He always spoke the truth and I should appreciate it, instead of expecting stupid courting behavior that was beneath him.
“I’m not speaking about courting. What I want to say is that you could sometimes praise me if I am well-dressed or if I cook something good. I do not expect you to bring me flowers.”
“Why should I speak such nonsense? You are certainly well-dressed, because your closet is full of clothes. I just don’t know why you always look as if you were going to a business meeting or to a concert. Other women dress in a sportier way. And I also don’t know why I should praise the food that you prepare. I eat everything, isn’t that enough?”
Martin interrupted him: “Mum cooks well, the best in the world.”
Tone stared at him: “Well, I wouldn’t believe that some people can flatter women even when they still wear nappies.”
“That’s not flattering – it’s a sign of love. The little creature loves me and tells me that, while you don’t care about me anymore.”
“Oh, come on, don’t speak like that. OK, if you want to, I will from now on start saying that I love you and that you cook well. Tomorrow, in the evening, I will be the first to praise you.”
On the next day, he came to dinner, sat down, placed his spoon beside his plate and tried to invent an appropriate compliment.
But Martin already stroked my hand and chirped: “What a good cook you are. I love you so much.”
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Hi, I’m Ethan Avery, a Young Adult Fantasy writer, amongst other things, and I’ve been writing for so long now I can’t remember how it all began. Reading and watching my favorite stories as a kid and wanting to create something as imaginative and amazing I’m sure was the start. Fast forward to now and I’ve written so much that it’s hard to keep track of it all. I suppose my love for the art of the craft is what keeps me coming back.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
Sword and Sorcery: Frostfire my debut novel started as an idea about 15 years ago as I, unknowingly at the time in my youth, discovered my love for worldbuilding alongside my good friend Lamont Turner. It was just a bunch of random fantasy stuff at first, that over time was refined into an actual story. Worldbuilding is tricky like that for fantasy writers, it can be easy to delve so deep into lore that you need to make sure you’re staying focused on actually telling a story.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I’m big on the idea of artists not telling people how to view their work. I’m sure that for some people it’ll have a bigger impact for them than others and there’s nothing wrong with that. I believe there’s a story out there for everyone that’ll speak to exactly what they’re going through right now. Sword and Sorcery: Frostfire might be that for someone today. Which is the real treat of being an artist. Someone else might connect with what we’ve done in a way we never expected or imagined, and it might only be that one person. But to me, that’s still more than worth it.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
The books and movies my father passed onto me. He loves stories as much as anyone I’ve ever known and I can’t thank him enough for sharing his passion. Without him, this book would’ve never came to be.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I’d ask them all what they thought of each other. There’d be some clever responses for sure.
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6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Hmm, I’m not actually sure. YouTube maybe?
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Stop editing, stop starting over, and just FINISH IT. It will be bad. That’s ok. You can edit it afterwards. But you have to finish it first.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
Plenty! I have an upcoming film, then it’s onto writing more books!
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About the Author
Ethan Avery believes in the power of stories. As a child growing up in Ohio, they gave him a chance to see a bigger world, and to hear what life was like for people that didn’t look like him or believe what he did. And now, years later, he hopes to do the same for others. When he’s not writing novels, directing movies, or wasting other people’s time with his YouTube channel, Ethan plays video games (poorly), basketball (painfully), and D&D (problematically with praiseworthy peers). For more information on Sword and Sorcery and what Ethan’s writing next, please visit www.storiesbyethan.com
Hello everyone! Welcome to a special post today, where I am lucky enough to share with you the upcoming book from author Farena Bajwa, Flowers Grow on Broken Walls, a beautiful collection of poetry about healing and finding out who we are in the world. I hope you’ll enjoy this special spotlight, including a fantastic Q&A with the author.
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Synopsis:
Flowers Grow on Broken Walls is a unique collection of poems and prose that talks about healing and finding yourself in a world that constantly tells you that’s who you shouldn’t be.
The poems, which tell a story, go over our everyday human emotions; from being heartbroken and questioning our self-worth in a world of judgment and scrutinizing social media, to finding ourselves and appreciating those really important in our lives – especially our inner, true selves.
The collection displays a raw and honest portrayal of an artist who cannot help but create something beautiful in the midst of the ugliness she has been put through, and who continues to hope against all odds, as she lets go of what she has been told is important and finds herself in one truly is.
The story that starts with heartache ends with healing, it starts with rejection from someone but ends with self-acceptance, which is the only way for true healing.
Author Bio:
Farena Bajwa is a talented poet, storyteller, actor, filmmaker, and voice-over artist. Even though she studied Marketing Management, her creativity comes from her heart. Whether it’s filmmaking, voice-over, or acting, she owes it to her life philosophy: ‘’learning by doing’’. ‘’Flowers Grow on Broken Walls’’ is Farena’s first written collection of poetry that speaks about the journey to self-healing after experiencing the loss of someone, but mostly, the loss of yourself. She wants to inspire her readers using her power of words to make them feel less alone and to let them know that no matter what they go through, healing is just around the corner, already cheering for you.
I am primarily inspired by my own experiences, but I love to hear and to learn about other people’s experiences too. I am also inspired by situations going on in the world.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been journaling my whole life. But I only started writing poems when I started writing Flowers Grow on Broken Walls. The interesting thing is, I’ve always had thoughts running through my head formed in a poetic way. When I didn’t understand, when something happened, I would think those thoughts in small poems. I thought art would be able to lift off the weight from unpleasant situations I was dealing with right away. And oftentimes, it turned out to be true.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Yes, constantly. But I don’t get intimidated by it. Whenever I have a writer’s block I just feel like: “Oh, I am probably not meant to be writing right now. So let’s see what I can do to take are of myself/have fun/get some other work done etc. And eventually the block ends and I am inspired again. The key? Letting go.
What is your next project?
All I know is that I am currently writing poems. One poem after another. I don’t have a specific theme, I guess I’ll find out when the time comes.
What genre do you write and why?
I write poetry because poems are able to give my feelings a voice. They help me understand what I am feeling and also how I can deal with these emotions.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
The invisible life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. A magnificent piece of work dancing between different timelines, magic, and blood cold reality that we often think boring. But truthfully, it is our reality that is more enchanting than magic if you stop taking friendly gestures of strangers, or new shortcuts you discovered etc. for granted.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
A reviewer wrote:
I loved reading Shakespeare and feel that this author could certainly be a modern day version of him. The disappointments, loss, love, and other happenstances of life are well within these poems.”
Just reading the name Shakespeare connected to my book gave me all the right chills- and I am so grateful for it😊
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The biggest challenge was having to go back to these intense negative feelings that I was experiencing. I had to recall every emotion and I was scared I would be pulled back into the dark. The biggest reward was knowing that I had overcome these feelings. While I was writing the pages for the first few chapters that cover those lower feelings, I realized how much I had changed and how it didn’t affect me as I thought it would.
On rituals:
Where do you write?
Primarily in Cafés. The smell of coffee, the cozy ambience and the gentle, faint talking of people inspires and energizes me.
Do you write every day?
No, only when I am inspired. I can’t write if I don’t feel the words I am writing. If a word only feels like a word to me and not like an emotion, I can’t write because it doesn’t seem truthful to me. Afterall, poetry is all about a feeling wanting to take shape, so it can be released.
What is your writing schedule?
I don’t set specific timeframes to write, nor do I schedule specific days. I write when I feel like I have something to say, when something is bothering me, when I need to put my feelings into written words. I can write for a whole week and create 3 poems a day or I won’t write for weeks. I can write and pretend but I can’t lie about how I feel. Also, readers are not stupid, they know instantly if someone is being authentic in their words or not.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
I almost only write my poems on paper. Flowers Grow on Broken Walls was entirely handwritten. I bought a notebook with colorful flowers on the cover when I started writing my book. I saw that notebook and it just called out to me. I didn’t know then, “Flowers” would become the main message in my book😊
Fun stuff:
Favorite dessert?
Cake. In any shape or form. I love cake. I would die for cake.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
Killing Eve and Peaky Blinders. My two favorite series I’ve already watched a thousand times. Both series are brilliant. Amazing writing, amazing acting, fast paced, dramatic with moments of fun and ease in between and – I just love these kinds of series!
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
There are actually two songs:
Love wave by The 1-800
Ebb tide by The Platters
What is your go-to breakfast item?
Coffee. Always and forever coffee.
Who was your childhood celebrity crush?
Ash Ketchum of Pokémon…I mean come on. How can you not find that drive and that determination that boy had attractive? He wanted to become the Pokémon master and he was GOING for it. Damn.
One thing no one would expect from you.
I have a deep love for dinosaurs. I am fascinated by the thought that there’ve been huge reptiles walking on our earth once. I used to collect dinosaur figures, read books and watch documentaries (and of course Jurassic Park). I wanted to become a paleontologist when I was a child because I always hoped to find a living dinosaur one day. It is my dream to see a real-life sized skeleton of a dinosaur someday. I never had the opportunity to see one.
Really? What is your favorite dinosaur?
A Brachiosaurus. You’ve got to love this teeny tiny head on this big fat body. The fact that it weighed more than 28 tons but only eat plants, it belonged to one of the tallest dinosaurs and could easily crush another dinosaur with a slight step – but still was one of the friendliest and more peaceful reptiles is just ridiculous- and so cute.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’m a working psychologist and author. My recently published memoir, “Home Boys,” available on Amazon as an e-book or paperback, is the product of my interest and passion for psychology and writing.
I began writing in elementary school and later took creative writing courses in high school and college. I’ve always loved the written word as both author and avid reader. My writing background includes sketches, novel, nonfiction, play, and screenplay. I’ve had screenplays optioned and plays produced in New York and Los Angeles.
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What inspired you to write your book?
I’ve been a clinician since the late 1990s, counseling a wide variety of clients ranging from maximum security inmates to celebrities, working folk, foster care kids, and anyone and everyone in between. But it was my early career work with Probation youth that deeply shaped my thinking and approach as a clinician. I had a tremendous affinity for these kids. They really touched my heart. “Home Boys” is equal parts remembrance, information, and love.
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
One of the themes of “Home Boys” is “Look below the surface.” A supposedly bad kid may be a traumatized or misunderstood kid. It’s always worth trying to help him. Which is not to say that we should excuse or allow criminal behavior, but rather hold out for the possibility that a life can be turned around with structure and guidance.
What drew you into this particular genre?
I am by nature a teacher, and I believed that a memoir would be effective in reaching an audience of early career therapists who would benefit from reading about the successes and missteps of a seasoned clinician. I thought that a non-clinical audience would be moved by the story of Probation boys struggling to make their way through a difficult world.
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I post excerpts of “Home Boys” reviews as well as announcements about the book on Instagram and Facebook. I recently had fun shooting and posting a humorous video featuring my sister, playing the role of an extremely annoying fan, begging me for a printed a copy of my book. We’ll likely shoot a few more videos featuring her character. My hope (or fantasy?) was that the video would go viral. You can see it at Home Boys – The Price of Fame – YouTube.
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
It may seem a bit trite or banal, but I think it’s important to write in your own style. Be yourself. There is no right or wrong way to write, only your way. Place a Kurt Vonnegut novel and a Philip Roth novel side by side and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Two distinguished writers who could not be more stylistically and thematically different.
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I am co-authoring a nonfiction book, “The Truth About Rehab,” with two colleagues and also plan to re-publish my middle grade novel, “Baymo” (the publishing company went under a few years ago and the rights reverted to me). It’s the story of a dog who wants to become a man and gets his wish.
I have several other complete or nearly complete novels and nonfiction works on the shelf. My goal is to publish them all over the next few years.
A final word: thanks for reading this interview and much gratitude to Anthony for hosting and posting. Please look me up on Instagram and Facebook and feel free to write me at drsethck@aol.com.
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About the Author
Seth C. Kadish, Psy.D., Director of Group Therapy at PCH in Mar Vista and former Clinical Director of Milestones Ranch Malibu, was a Staff Psychologist at California State Prison, Los Angeles County, counseling maximum-security inmates. Prior to that, Dr. Kadish worked with Probation youth at Penny Lane in North Hills, CA where he was named Clinician of the Year 2001. He is the creator of Pattern Identification and Reduction Therapy™, a clinical approach based on his work in prison, group home, private practice and treatment center and is the author of Pop Your Patterns: The No-Nonsense Way to Change Your Life. In addition, Dr. Kadish has been featured in a variety of radio broadcasts, documentaries and television series including Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals (Oprah Winfrey Network) and the award-winning documentary, Iceberg Slim.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I write contemporary romance, and I’m passionate about traveling, history, and languages. When I write, I try to incorporate elements of all of them into the stories. I’m currently learning how to speak modern Greek, and also speak Portuguese, Spanish (and have in the past also learned German, French, and Italian, although not fluent any more since I don’t use them much!). My romance trilogy has been translated to Spanish and is being also published in Greece. I’ve been involved for several years with the Houston Writers Guild, and I’m currently a Board member of The Ocotillo Review literary journal, which is published by Kallisto Gaia Press, and have also worked as a flash fiction editor for the journal. I also write other genres, poetry, flash fiction, and short stories under another pen-name. Since I was very young, I always wanted to be a writer.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
My most recent book was the third and final book in a romance trilogy, but the idea for the trilogy was born many years ago when I was visiting the museum of fine arts. I had the idea of a character visiting the museum and falling in love with a curator or archaeologist, then started to write about it and the trilogy came to life.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Hope – hope to find love, even if it’s long distance and across cultures.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
It was actually a challenge. Two friends of mine who are also writers challenged me to write a romance, and so the trilogy was born.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
It would be Nikos. I’d ask him what he felt when Sabrina left him in Athens and when he realized he was in love with her, because he didn’t go after her at the time and seemed to just have accepted that she didn’t want to be with him.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
My newsletter (it is the best way to get the latest news about my books, and I also hold giveaways frequently. Newsletters usually go out every two months or sometimes monthly if there are news worth sharing. To sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/dgdaqD), followed by:
Andrya Bailey is an award-winning contemporary romance writer. She enjoys traveling and visiting museums and historical landmarks where she can learn about art and history, which she usually incorporates into her stories. She loves to write love stories with strong alpha males and exotic scenarios – after all, what better romance fantasy is there?
Olympian Passion, the first book in the Olympian Love trilogy, has received the 5-star seal from Readers’ Favorite and is the 2016 New Apple Literary e-book Contemporary Romance – Solo Medalist winner. Olympian Heartbreak, the second book, is a 2018 New Apple Literary “official selection” in the romance category.
Follow her Facebook page to find out more at facebook.com/andryabailey and on Twitter: @andyb0810.
*NOTE: In this interview, JM refers to author John Mondragon, and KA refers to author Kelly Alblinger*
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
JM: I’m an American-Palestinian husband/father of 2 beautiful boys, currently living in Maui, HI. I’m the youngest of the boys and I wasn’t very social growing up, so I always kept a journal with me to doodle and write whenever I got bored or needed to keep busy. Writing was my friend growing up and stuck with me ever since.
KA: I’ve been a writer and a storyteller all my life but I’ve only been writing professionally for about six years. I am a prolific ghostwriter with dozens of works to my (unnamed) credit, having crafted everything from blog posts to articles to DIY guides, biographies, memoirs – even a book based on an original musical score. My great-uncle was the author of the beloved novel “Where the Red Fern Grows”, so I think writing is in my DNA.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
JM: A couple things inspired this book. My oldest brother who plays one of the characters in the story suffers from a mental disorder, so he was a big inspiration. I also went through personal life traumas that helped create the story. Lastly, hearing of so many suicides/depressions of children and young adults played a big role in wanting to find a way to reach out to the public.
KA: Prior to TCIM, I had not ventured into the YA genre. It was challenging to write from the perspective of a twenty-something male, and even more of a test to factor in the state of the protagonist’s mental health challenges. My hope is that readers will find the voice authentic and representative of some of the challenges they face.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
JM: The mantra created for the book is “Speak Up and Speak Out”. My message as an advocate of mental health to readers is to help spread awareness on this subject and create a platform where people who struggle or feel embarrassed can feel safe and heard! There have been so many taboos surrounding mental health and I want to help normalize the illness.
KA: I find the characters in TCIM to be fascinating. They are different facets of the same person characterized as individuals. I wanted to portray the anxiety and isolation that we all occasionally feel, but in a more extreme way. Dissociative Identity Disorder gave me the opportunity to delve deeply into those feelings.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
JM: The drama genre isn’t something we planned but sort of fell upon when the story unfolded. It turned out to be great and I really enjoyed the intensity of the book.
KA: My son is in the same age range as the characters in the book, and I wanted to write about personalities that he could relate to.
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5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
JM: Charlie is by far the most impactful character in my opinion because when he arrives there’s a drastic turn in the narrator’s life. Charlie likes to take charge and is a bully who always gets his way. I would ask Charlie, why he is the way he is?
KA: Instead of one character, I’d want to talk to the parents. I’d want to pick their brains to find out why they chose not to seek treatment for him when a diagnosis was made. Was it the cost of treatment, or societal pressure to conform, not to stand out? Did they fear judgment from the community? Did they feel ashamed or that DID would be a negative reflection on their parenting?
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
JM: I have a lot of friends on Facebook so that’s where I get most of my attention from an audience.
KA: Currently Facebook is the primary means of engaging with our readers, but there will soon be a presence on Instagram and possibly Twitter as well.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
JM: No matter how hard it gets, fulfill your dream of becoming an author. It took me over five years to finally publish my first book. Don’t give up!
KA: My advice to beginning authors is to believe in yourself. That might sound cliché, but it’s SO important. If you don’t believe that you have a good story or concept, no one else will believe it either. My second piece of advice is: EDIT!
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Are any new books/projects on the horizon?
JM: A sequel to The Clash Inside Me is definitely something I want to do. We’ll just have to wait and see.
KA: I have a number of book projects currently in the works – a memoir and two novels, specifically. My intention is to bring a variety of experiences to readers, so I endeavor to change up the characters and situations in each story.
