5th Edi ti on 26/ 12/ 2020
BOOKS FOR LI FE
A magazi ne dedi cated ex cl usi v el y to auth ors
Desi gned by Romel i a Lungu
2 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS ARE M OST LIKELY
Su pr iya is an IT
TO BE AN ACTIVIST, AND WHAT KIND?
Pr of ession al t u r n ed
Su pr iya Deep: Th er e ar e n o act ivist s in m y cu r r en t book
Au t h or , based in In dia.
Am it av Gh ost . Bu t m y n ext w or k in a social scien ce f ict ion .
Her f avor it e t im e pass is
You w ill f in d a lot of act ivist s f igh t in g again st com pan ies
plot t in g w it h h er m u se
w it h agen das t o spoil en vir on m en t . Plan n in g t o br in g it on
?Deep?, an d secr et h ideou t
f loor by M ar ch n ext year .
is a cast le f illed w it h
Rom elia: DO YOU PLAY M USIC WHILE YOU WRITE ? AND, IF
ch ar act er s, cr af t ed in
SO, WHAT?S YOUR FAVORITE?
com plex plot s, w oven t oget h er w it h t h in t h r eads
Su pr iya Deep: It ?s m ost ly som e In dian Raga on f lu t e. I love f lu t e m u sic.
of love an d h eavy ch ain s of aver sion .
Rom elia: DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW SENTENCES. TELL US SOM ETHING WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU AND
Wit h h er in t er est in
SOM ETHING YOU HATE ABOUT THE WORLD.
poet r y, m ot ivat ion al t alk s, an d t h e st an d f or cau ses of t h e en vir on m en t
Su pr iya Deep: I t r y m y best n ot t o h u r t ot h er s an d at t h e sam e place n ot t o be h u r t by ot h er s. I h at e h ow people don?t h ave a sam e at t it u de t ow ar ds t h eir r igh t s w it h in a societ y an d r espon sibilit ies t o t h e societ y.
3 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
AM ITAV GHOST
SUPRIYA DEEP Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU?VE BEEN GIVEN ABOUT WRITING? Su pr iya Deep: Do t h e self t alk in t h e lan gu age you w an t t o w r it e. Rom elia: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO HELP OTHERS CREATE PLOTLINES?
Sh e is n ot aw ar e t h at sh e is dif f er en t . Pr iyak sh ee, an IT Pr of ession al, cou ld ju st see f lash es of t h e f u t u r e in h er dr eam s. St ill, sh e cou ldn?t save h er m ot h er ; h er f at h er w as
Su pr iya Deep: Sor r y,
f ar dead.
per h aps I?m n ot t h e cor r ect Th e cover -f aced, self -h ealer f igh t er w it h t h e per son t o an sw er t h is. M y Aegish jalm u r t at t oo on h is calf , AV, appear s in h er dr eam s m u se an d plot lin e ar e n ot an d soon in r eal lif e. He pr ot ect s h er f r om at t ack s n o on e bef r ien d yet . I ju st k n ow 3 else k n ow s abou t ; t ells h er abou t h er dead m ot h er r esidin g t h in gs abou t by st or y: in h is w or ld: M idlif e-Th e gh ost -w or ld; f alls f or h er again st St ar t , en d an d t u n in g poin t . t h e ?Gh ost law of pr ot ect or s?. Ever yt h in g else com es as a f low.
Toget h er t h ey discover t h at Pr iyak sh ee, lik e h er m ot h er , is a m em ber of JIVA, a h idden societ y w it h t h e pow er of Gh ost -im m or t alit y. To k eep h er saf e f r om h im self , AV pu r su es h er t o m ar r y h er boss Am it w h o h as developed an in t er est in h er becau se sh e cou ld pr evision lik e Am it ?s gr an dm ot h er . On t h e seven t h day of t h eir en gagem en t , Pr iyak sh ee is f ou n d m issin g, Am it is con vin ced of h er m u r der an d af t er r eadin g abou t AV in h er diar y, w h ich says t h at Pr iyak sh ee is capt u r ed in t h e Gh ost Wor ld, cu r r en t ly in et er n al sleep an d w ait in g f or Am it AV t o com e an d r escu e h er , Am it decides t o pr ove h er Sch izoph r en ic.
4 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Ren an d Kam er yn Low e ar e an Af r ican Am er ican
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS?
M om m y-Dau gh t er w r it in g du o. Ren Low e, w h o h as alw ays en joyed w r it in g
Ren Low e: Th e m ost ch allen gin g par t is com in g u p w it h r h ym in g w or ds t h at go alon g w it h t h e st or y lin e.
poet r y an d son gs, of t en
Rom elia: HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO
n ot iced h er you n g
WRITE A BOOK?
dau gh t er Kam er yn , w it h
Ren Low e: We w r it e r h yt h m ic ch ildr en?s book s, w it h an
h er pen an d n ot ebook in
aver age of ar ou n d 800 w or ds, so on aver age it t ak es abou t
h an d as w ell w h en ever sh e
10 days t o act u ally com plet e t h e st or y lin e.
w as w r it in g. Rom elia: DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW SENTENCES. TELL US Ren decided t o n ou r ish h er dau gh t er s?in t er est as
SOM ETHING WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU AND SOM ETHING YOU HATE ABOUT THE WORLD.
a w ay f or t h em t o spen d Ren Low e: I am ver y am bit iou s. Food m ak es m e h appy. I qu alit y t im e an d bon d, u sed t o w an t t o be a ch eer leader in m iddle sch ool. On e w h ich w ou ld also dou ble t h in g t h at I dislik e abou t t h is w or ld is it s lack of as pr act ice f or Kam w it h com passion f or h u m an it y. Kam er yn is f u ll of en er gy, sh e h er Lan gu age Ar t s. ?I loves dr aw in g, an d sh e bar ely sit s st ill f or lon g. Kam er yn w ou ld sim ply ask Kam doesn?t lik e t h at people som et im es ar e disr espect ed ju st qu est ion s t o get h er becau se of t h eir sk in color . im agin at ion goin g.
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REN LOW E
M Y M AGICAL BROW N UNICORN
Rom elia: WHAT, TO YOU, ARE THE M OST IM PORTANT ELEM ENTS OF GOOD WRITING? Ren Low e: Good w r it in g cr eat es em ot ion s am on gst you r r eader . Good w r it in g n eeds gr eat det ails so t h at you r r eader can r eally place t h em selves in t h e st or y. Rom elia: WHEN DID YOU FIRST CALL YOURSELF A WRITER? Ren Low e: On ce I began t o
Th is easy t o r ead ch ildr en?s book is abou t a lit t le gir l n am ed Kam . Kam is a you n g Af r ican Am er ican gir l w h o h as an en or m ou s, color f u l, vivid, m agical im agin at ion , an d sh ar es w it h u s t h e w h im sical
w r it e poet r y in t h e 8t h gr ade, t h at ?s w h en I began t o ack n ow ledge m yself as a w r it er .
f air yt ale adven t u r es t h at h er an d h er M agical Un icor n best f r ien d Su gar Pie h ave. Su gar Pie is n ot on ly m agical bu t sh e?s u n iqu e becau se u n lik e m ost Un icor n s, Su gar Pie is br ow n ju st lik e Kam ! M y M agical Br ow n Un icor n en cou r ages r eader s t o u se t h eir big im agin at ion s an d it w ill also h elp t h em t o r ecogn ize t h e m agic w it h in t h em selves. Th is book is n ot on ly f u ll of beau t if u l illu st r at ion s, bu t h igh f r equ en cy vocabu lar y w or ds as w ell t o h elp en h an ce r eadin g f lu en cy.
6 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 20202
ABOUT AUTHOR
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Th is is m y f ir st book . It ?s t h e best lit t le Novella you h ave ever r ead. I?m t h e m ot h er of t w o f ascin at in g people; Keyla Hill an d Dan iel Hill. I seek
Rom elia: DOES YOUR FAM ILY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER AS A WRITER? Gayla Hill: Absolu t ely. M y f am ily m em ber s ar e ver y en cou r agin g. M y m ot h er ; Don n a M acGow en s, is m y lou dest ch eer leader .
n ew ch allen ges t o t ack le
Rom elia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOM ETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A
an d n ew st or ies t o t ell. I
CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOM E A BETTER WRITER AS AN
st ar t ed w r it in g becau se I
ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
h ad st or ies t o t ell.
Gayla Hill: I w ou ld h ad paid m or e at t en t ion in En glish
I in it ially st ar t ed w it h
classes an d w ou ld h ave st u died w r it in g in college. I w ish I
w r it in g st age plays. I
w ou ld h ave k ept diar ies an d jou r n als as an adu lt .
w r ot e a t ot al of f ive
Rom elia: DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW SENTENCES. TELL US
begin n in g in 2012. I
SOM ETHING WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU AND
w r apped t h em u p by 2016.
SOM ETHING YOU HATE ABOUT THE WORLD.
Lat er In 2016, I w as Gayla Hill: Wh at I h at e abou t t h e w or ld is t h e evil t h at en cou r aged t o t u r n m y Social m edia h as given an u n lim it ed ou t let t o. We w er e plays in t o Novellas. bet t er of f w h en w e didn?t k n ow. PORCH SCENE w as m y f ir st t r an sit ion .
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GAYLA HILL
PORCH SCENE
Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS? Gayla Hill: Det ailin g m y scen es is t h e h ar dest par t f or m e. I?m st ill lear n in g t o be pat ien t w it h m y w or k . It t ak es t im e t o descr ibe a scen e. I?m w or k in g on t ak in g m y t im e t o capt u r e all t h e det ails. Rom elia: WHAT?S YOUR
Tak e a r oller coast er r ide t h r ou gh t h is f u n n y, in t en se dar k t ale of sh ady f r ien ds, sn eak y f am ily m em ber s, an d su spiciou s n eigh bor s, w h o ar e gat h er ed on a por ch du e t o t r agic cir cu m st an ces. Neigh bor s Tr acie; a f or t y-f ive-year -old ban k m an ager an d Am ber ; a t h ir t y-year -old w age ear n er ,
FAVORITE AND LEAST
h ave lived acr oss t h e st r eet f r om each ot h er f or
FAVORITE PART OF
w ell over a year an d h ave n ever m et . Th is even in g,
PUBLISHING?
u n der du biou s cir cu m st an ces t h ey w ill m eet f or t h e
Gayla Hill: M y f avor it e is
f ir st t im e.
t h e f in ish ed pr odu ct . M y
As t h e even in g pr ogr esses, old n eigh bor s an d
least is t h e edit in g, book st r u ct u r e, an d cover decision s.
f or m er f r ien ds st op by t h e por ch t o exch an ge gr eet in gs an d dr edge u p m em or ies pr ef er r ed f or got t en . Recollect ion s n ot on ly f r om t h e occu pan t s on t h e por ch bu t also f r om st or ies t h eir elder s t old decades ago, alon g w it h gh ost s f r om t h eir past s, r eveal secr et s t h at w ill sh ock an d f or ever ch an ge t h e lif e of at least on e of t h e por ch sit t er s on t h is qu iet r esiden t ial st r eet in Cin cin n at i, Oh io.
8 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR M y n am e is Hu gh
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY YOUR BOOK HAS
William s. I am a NY n at ive
CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST DRAFT?
r esidin g in M d. M y
Hu gh William s: M y book did n ot ch an ge sin ce m y f ir st dr af t .
in spir at ion f or m y n ew est
It m er ely in volved. It w as a jou r n alized pr ocess t h at evolved
book com es f r om t r yin g t o
in t o a book .
cr eat e som et h in g in spir at ion al du r in g a dar k t im e. Th e w or ld as w e k n ow it h as ch an ged . Th is jou r n al
Rom elia: WHAT PERSPECTIVES OR BELIEFS HAVE YOU CHALLENGED WITH THIS WORK? Hu gh William s: Th e t h ou gh t pr ocess or per spect ive is t o pr ovok e t h ou gh t on all levels t o af f ir m .
st yled book w as w r it t en t o
Rom elia: HOW M UCH RESEARCH DID YOU NEED TO DO FOR
be a r ein f or cer of self -car e
YOUR BOOK?
an d h ope. Th e book t ak es
Hu gh William s: M y r esear ch cam e f r om ju st t h in k in g abou t
you on a jou r n ey of 180 days
an d deliber at in g t opics abou t ever yt h in g in ever y day lif e
t ow ar ds af f ir m at ion s t h at
an d givin g a van t age poin t .
w ill br in g abou t self con f iden ce, an d aw ar en ess.
Rom elia: HOW IM PORTANT WAS PROFESSIONAL EDITING TO YOUR BOOK?S DEVELOPM ENT?
M y n ext in st allm en t of self h elp t o be r eleased in Febr u ar y of 2021 is ? 360 ..w or ds t o Live By ? ?
Hu gh William s: Edit in g w as ext r em ely im por t an t . Th is is m y f ir st in st allm en t of m in i book s t h at I h ave alr eady w r it t en bu t n ot r eleased t o t h e pu blic. I w an t ed som et h in g t h at cou ld be t ak en ser iou sly.
9 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
HUGH W ILLIAM S
180 DAYS
Rom elia: HOW DID YOU COM E UP WITH THE TITLE FOR YOUR BOOK? Hu gh William s: I w an t ed t o cr eat e a book t h at w as an easy r ead. Som et h in g t h at can easily be look ed t h r ou gh an d r ef er en ced back t o. Th e book r ef lect s posit ive af f ir m at ion s over t h e cou r se of 180 days.
A self -car e book explor in g a jou r n al of daily
Th is is w h at led m e t o t h e
af f ir m at ion s. Th e af f ir m at ion s ar e r ef lect ive of lif e
t it le.
exper ien ces. It s pu r pose is t o bu ild a bet t er sen se
Rom elia: WOULD YOU AND
of self over t h e span of 180 days!
YOUR M AIN CHARACTER GET ALONG? Hu gh William s: M y au dien ce is t h e m ain ch ar act er becau se t h er e is af f ir m at ion s t h at ar e r ef lect ive t o ever yon e.
Th e gen isis of t h is book w as bir t h ed f r om a t r yin g t im e f aced in 2020. Fr om t h e su r ge of t h e pan dem ic, t o m an y ot h er t u r m oils f acin g societ y, t h is book w as cr eat ed as a sim ple beacon of h ope t h r ou gh t h e u se of af f ir m at ion s. I am a w r it er w h om h as been w r it in g f or m an y year s. Th is is m y f ir st of m an y in st allm en t s t h at w ill f ocu s on bu ildin g in n er self est eem . It is m y h ope t h at t h ese af f ir m at ion s can sh ed ligh t on a dif f er en t van t age poin t of lif e an d speak lif e in t o h avin g self w or t h . En joy r eadin g!
10 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Dr . M ar ibel Rom an spen t m or e t h an
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK SOM EONE SHOULD CALL THEM SELVES A WRITER?
t h ir t y-year s w or k in g in h igh er edu cat ion .
M ar ibel Rom an : I believe t h at ?s an in dividu al ch oice. How ever , I on ly con sider ed m yself a w r it er af t er I pu blish ed
Sh e co-f ou n ded an d
m y f ir st academ ic pu blicat ion .
co-dir ect ed t h e Cen t er f or Global Edu cat ion at Set on Hall Un iver sit y. Sh e spen t
Rom elia: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR?
sever al year s at Teach er s
M ar ibel Rom an : For m e, I con sider ed m yself a w r it er w h en I
College Colu m bia
w as w r it in g academ ic ar t icles du r in g m y em ploym en t at
Un iver sit y dir ect in g t h e
t h e Un iver sit ies. M y f ir st pu blicat ion as an ?au t h or ? w as
Of f ice of In t er n at ion al
w h en I pu blish ed m y disser t at ion . Now I pu blish ed m y
Af f air s an d also t au gh t
secon d book , so I f eel com f or t able r ef er r in g t o m yself as an
on lin e classes at Sou t h er n
au t h or .
New Ham psh ir e
Rom elia: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING OR WHEN
Un iver sit y.
DID YOU START?
Dr . Rom an w as obliged
M ar ibel Rom an : I began w r it in g academ ic ar t icles abou t 15
t o en d h er f u ll-t im e
year s ago an d pu blish ed m y disser t at ion 8 year s ago. I
t each in g an d pr ogr am
r ecen t ly pu blish ed m y f ir st n on -f ict ion book .
developm en t car eer du e t o m edical con dit ion s.
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JOY IN THE M IDST OF PAIN
M ARIBEL ROM AN Rom elia: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WRITER WORKING ON THEIR FIRST BOOK? M ar ibel Rom an : Ju st st ar t ! Wr it e you r ideas an d t h ou gh t s as t h ey com e. Wor r y abou t gr am m ar an d f low lat er . Rom elia: WHAT, TO YOU, ARE THE M OST IM PORTANT ELEM ENTS OF
M illion s su f f er in g f r om ch r on ic pain ar e seek in g a h olist ic appr oach t o t r eat in g t h eir pain , becau se of t h e m edicat ion side ef f ect s or t h e in cr ease in opioid addict ion s. In Joy in t h e M idst of Pain , Dr . Rom an sh ar es h er
GOOD WRITING?
st or y an d st or ies of ?Pain War r ior s? an d t h e h olist ic
M ar ibel Rom an : For m e,
m et h ods (ph ysical, em ot ion al an d spir it u al w elln ess)
w h at I w r it e m u st be
t h ey u se t o t r eat t h eir pain an d live f u ll an d joyf u l
r elat able t o m y r eader .
lives. Th e book of f er s f ive pr in ciples t h at led t o discover in g t h at joy is in t er n al, it is som et h in g w e r eceive an d it m u st be n u r t u r ed an d t en ded t o. Dr . Rom an believes t h e r eader w ill be en cou r aged t o st ar t t h eir ow n jou r n ey of livin g in joy in t h e m idst of an yt h in g pain f u l t h at lif e br in gs t h eir w ay. Th e r eader w ill lear n t h at it is possible t o por t r ay a r ealist ic im age of bein g in pain w it h ou t let t in g t h e pain def in e u s, an d con f ir m t h at joy is an at t it u de of t h e h ear t an d spir it .
12 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOM ETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOM E A BETTER WRITER AS AN
Qu een P w as bor n in M an h at t an NYC. Sh e is a
ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Qu een P: I w ou ld?ve t ak en jou r n alism cou r ses back in
gr adu at e of NYIT (New m iddle sch ool an d h igh sch ool as w ell as join t h e n ew spaper Yor k In st it u t e Of clu bs t o be bet t er ver sed w it h pu n ct u at ion an d gr am m ar . Tech n ology) w it h a BFA in Com m u n icat ion Ar t s.
Rom elia: HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?
Sh e h as w or k ed in t h e en t er t ain m en t in du st r y all
Qu een P: On aver age, it h as t ak en m e abou t 7 m on t h s t o a
of h er adu lt lif e. Qu een P
year t o w r it e m y t w o book s.
h as w r it t en 2 poet r y
Rom elia: DO YOU BELIEVE IN WRITER?S BLOCK?
book s ?Wh en Th e M ood Is Righ t A Poet r y Jou r n ey ? an d ?M ood Sw in gs ?. Sh e h as been f eat u r ed in a #1
Qu een P: I t ot ally believe in w r it er ?s block . As a poet ess, t h er e h ave been t im es w h en n ot h in g cr eat ive cam e t h r ou gh m y m in d t o w r it e. It last ed f or w eek s on en d an d I f elt com plet ely st u ck .
In t er n at ion al Best -sellin g Book ?Wom en Win Again st All Odds ?.
Rom elia: WHEN DID YOU FIRST CALL YOURSELF A WRITER? Qu een P: I f ir st called m yself a w r it er af t er I st ar t ed w r it in g m y poem s an d sh ar in g t h em pu blicly on social m edia a year ago.
13 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
QUEEN P
M OOD SW INGS
Rom elia: WHAT PART OF THE BOOK DID YOU HAVE THE HARDEST TIM E WRITING? Qu een P: Th e h ar dest par t of w r it in g ?M ood sw in gs? w as decidin g on t h e placem en t of t h e poem s. Rom elia: IF YOU?RE PLANNING A SEQUEL. CAN YOU SHARE A TINY BIT
M ood Sw in gs is a poet r y book t h at explor es t h e
ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR
var iou s m oods w e t en d t o expr ess as w e t r avel
IT?
alon g ou r lif e?s pat h . It open s u s u p t o ou r t r u e
Qu een P: I am w r it in g a
f eelin gs w h ile speak in g ou r m in ds w it h ou t h idin g
t r ilogy. Th e f in al book w ill
beh in d t h e sh adow s.
explor e bein g f r ee af t er goin g t h r ou gh lif e?s
We all h ave m ood sw in gs. Th is is m y poet ic
jou r n ey f r om t h e pr eviou s
in t er pr et at ion of h ow w e pr esen t ou r selves w h ile
book s.
w e?r e goin g t h r ou gh t h ose u n cer t ain m om en t s. Hopef u lly, t h is book w ill en able you t o t ak e a look at you r self t o see exact ly h ow w ell you h an dle t h in gs du r in g t h at m om en t of u n cer t ain t y, w h ich cou ld t h en pu t you in a m ood.
14 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR As a t een ager , I f ou n d I
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOM ETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A
h ad a k n ack f or w r it in g
CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOM E A BETTER WRITER AS AN
an d cr eat ive ar t s. So m u ch
ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
t o t h e poin t t h at by m y sen ior year in h igh sch ool,
Sean Paqu et : I w ou ld h ave st ar t ed w r it in g w it h m or e disciplin e as a t een ager .
m y cu r r icu lu m con sist ed of f ou r ar t classes an d f ou r lit er at u r e classes. I
Rom elia: HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?
even h ad aspir at ion s of
Sean Paqu et : On ce I h ave t h e con cept in m y h ead, it u su ally
at t en din g t h e Dayt on Ar t
t ak es abou t a year f r om f r ee w r it e t o su bm ission .
In st it u t e. Th en I t ook a
Rom elia: DO YOU BELIEVE IN WRITER?S BLOCK?
placem en t t est f or t h e m ilit ar y called t h e ASVAB.
Sean Paqu et : I believe t h at people pu t t oo m u ch st r ess an d pr essu r e on t h em selves, cau sin g cr eat ive en er gy t o be block ed. Rom elia: AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK SOM EONE SHOULD CALL THEM SELVES A WRITER? Sean Paqu et : I w ou ld say t h at on ce som eon e st ar t s su bm it t in g m at er ial f or view in g t o a br oad dem ogr aph ic, t h en t h ey can call t h em selves a w r it er .
15 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
SEAN PAQUET
A GAM E OF GODS
Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS? Sean Paqu et : M ar k et in g an d pr om ot ion w it h ou t a dou bt ; I con sider t h e w r it in g par t t o be easy. Rom elia: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING OR
Ever sin ce I w as a ch ild, an d began r eadin g abou t alien s,
WHEN DID YOU START?
f an t asy w or lds, an d m agic, I alw ays w on der ed w h at if ?
Sean Paqu et : I st ar t ed
Wh at if all of t h ose An cien t Alien con spir acies w er e t r u e? If
w r it in g pr of ession ally
so, t h en w h er e did all of t h ose lost civilizat ion s an d colon ies
back in 2017.
go af t er t h ey m yst er iou sly disappear ed? Wh at if t h er e w as
Rom elia: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO AN AUTHOR
a cosm ic collect ion poin t som ew h er e ou t t h er e? So f or m an y year s, I cr eat ed t h is w or ld in m y im agin at ion
WHO WANTED TO DESIGN
w h er e Vik in gs an d Azt ecs st ill exist ed. I w ou ld dr eam of a
THEIR OWN COVER?
w or ld w h er e At lan t is st ill t h r ived. In m y m in d?s eye, I w ou ld
Sean Paqu et : I do cover design as w ell. I w ou ld do m y best t o poin t t h em in t h e r igh t dir ect ion if t h ey h ad qu est ion s or con cer n s.
en vision a w or ld over seen by a m yst er iou s all-pow er f u l bein g w h o w as n eit h er livin g or dead, bu t r at h er a m ach in e in f u sed w it h livin g con sciou sn ess. M y daydr eam s w ou ld be f illed w it h st r an ge qu est s an d pr eh ist or ic an im als. I began w r it in g t h is book in 2017. Sin ce it ?s begin n in g, I h ave gon e t h r ou gh m an y per son al an d pr of ession al t r ials in m y lif e. M an y of t h ose ar e also r ef lect ed in t h is w r it in g.
16 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Ajagbe Ayodeji is a h igh ly sou gh t af t er Scr ipt Wr it er , Con t en t Developer an d Copyw r it er . He is t h e au t h or of High Sch ool Lover s, Sad Love St or y, M ean t To Be, Tw ist Of Fat e an d Reason s To Live. He is t h e f ou n der of
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: HOW DO YOU BALANCE M AKING DEM ANDS ON THE READER WITH TAKING CARE OF THE READER? Ajagbe Ayodeji: Th e best w ay I can t h in k of explain in g t h is is t o pr esen t t h e Har r y Pot t er ser ies as an exam ple of good balan ce. J.K. Row lin g m ak es m an y dem an ds on u s as r eader s. Sh e pr esen t s u s w it h im possible sit u at ion s, en or m ou s t r agedies, an d h u ge m or al dilem m as ? an d expect s u s t o pr ocess t h em . Sh e seem s t o m ak e n o ef f or t s t o spar e u s f r om an yt h in g t h at cou ld go w r on g. Yet sh e
DailyPr ess Book st or e, an
does n ot obscu r e an y of t h at w it h ar ch aic lan gu age, f oggy
af f iliat e of DailyPr ess PLC.
plot , or bad w r it in g. Sh e does n ot leave u s w it h a f eelin g of
An on lin e book st or e t h at
gloom or depr ession at t h e en d of on e of h er book s. So sh e
h elps people get book s,
t ak es car e of u s as h er r eader s w h ile at t h e sam e t im e n ot
st or ies an d r esear ch w or k s
babyin g u s. Af t er a w h ile, I w as able t o t h in k of h ow I w an t
f or st u den t s an d lect u r er s.
t o em u lat e t h em in m y ow n u n iqu e w ay as a w r it er . Rom elia: WHAT DO YOU OWE THE REAL PEOPLE UPON WHOM YOU BASE YOUR CHARACTERS? Ajagbe Ayodeji: I ow e t h em a dedicat ion or an ack n ow ledgem en t page as t h e case m aybe an d m ost t im es, I t en d t o w r it e so w ell abou t t h em .
17 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
REFLECTION
AJAGBE AYODEJI Rom elia: WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCES LOOK LIKE TO YOU? Ajagbe Ayodeji: To m e, lit er ar y su ccess m ean s t o w r it e a n ovel t h at I?m pr ou d of an d w h ich h as a loyal r eader sh ip. Th is sou n ds sim pler t h an it r eally is. Rom elia: WHAT?S THE BEST
Ref lect ion : Ru ler s An d Pr eys st ar s a st u den t polit ician
WAY TO M ARKET YOUR
Com r ade Olu w at im ileyin Tu r n er , Ch ief Wh ip, a cyn ical,
BOOKS?
m an ipu lat ive polit ician det er m in ed t o becom e Pr esiden t .
Ajagbe Ayodeji: Def in it ely n ot on e-on -on e m ar k et in g. Bu t I t h in k t h e best w ay so f ar is digit al m ar k et in g an d I r eally t h an k God f or t h e var iou s
He is w illin g t o u se ever y secr et h e k n ow s, ever y pr essu r e poin t h e can f in d, an d ever y dir t y t r ick in t h e book t o secu r e h is ow n r ise t o pow er ? an d in t h e pr ocess con f ir m s ju st abou t ever y dar k an d t er r ible t h in g you t h ou gh t you k n ew abou t polit ics. Th e au t h or , Ajagbe Ayodeji dr ew on h is ext en sive
social m edia plat f or m s w e
r eal-lif e exper ien ce in st u den t polit ics f or t h e book , an d t h e
h ave n ow. Wit h Facebook ,
r esu lt is an elect r if yin g vision of h ow exceedin gly violen t
Tw it t er an d Google, I?ve
gover n in g can be beh in d closed door s.
been able t o r each m or e au dien ces.
18 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Jade Au r or a is an ar t ist , m odel, au t h or , an d
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS?
en t er t ain er based in Det r oit , M I, USA. Sh e st ar t ed h er m odelin g car eer in 2012, an d h as been f eat u r ed in pu blicat ion s su ch as Black Pin u ps M agazin e. Sh e is also
Jade Au r or a: I t h in k t h e m ost dif f icu lt abou t t h e pr ocess is cr eat in g t h e ch ar act er s, com in g u p w it h t h eir back st or ies an d su ch . I w an t m y ch ar act er s t o be u n iqu e an d m u lt if acet ed, so I pu t a lot of w or k in t o cr eat in g t h em , dow n t o t h eir n am es.
a bu r lesqu e per f or m er an d
Rom elia: DOES YOUR FAM ILY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER AS A
belly dan cer . Her n ovel,
WRITER?
?M ot or Cit y Wit ch es: Th e
Jade Au r or a: I com e f r om a ver y cr eat ive f am ily, m y m ot h er
Goddess Wit h in?, w as
bein g a w r it er h er self . M y f am ily h as been ver y su ppor t ive
r eleased in Ju ly 2020. A self
in m y jou r n ey. Som e of m y f am ily m em ber s h ave even
pr oclaim ed n er d, Jade also
bou gh t copies of m y n ovel.
cosplays in h er spar e t im e. Rom elia: HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK? Jade Au r or a: Th is is m y f ir st n ovel, an d it t ook m e close t o 3 year s t o w r it e it , m ost ly du e t o w r it er ?s block .
19 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
JADE AURORA
M OTOR CITY W ITCHES
Rom elia: HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS? Jade Au r or a: So f ar , I h aven?t r eceived an y n egat ive f eedback on m y book . It h as act u ally been ver y w ell r eceived. How ever , if I w er e t o
?M ot or Cit y Wit ch es? f ollow s t h r ee f r ien ds: Rach elle
r eceive a n egat ive r eview ,
Law son , Sar ai Pat t er son , an d Lou ise Eason . Rach elle is t h e
I w ou ld ju st let it bou n ce
w ealt h y dau gh t er of a pediat r ician , w h o en joys a su ccessf u l
of f m e. You can?t please
car eer as a m odel. How ever , sh e st ill su f f er s f r om deep
ever yon e, an d you r st or y
in secu r it ies die t o h er boyf r ien d?s con st an t ph ilan der in g.
m ay n ot be ever ybody ?s
Sar ai is Rach elle?s ch ildh ood f r ien d an d r oom m at e. Sh e
cu p of t ea, an d t h at ?s f in e.
w or k s at a com ic book st or e, an d is an aspir in g h or r or
Rom elia: WHEN DID YOU
au t h or , w h ich does n ot sit w ell w it h h er con ser vat ive f am ily.
FIRST CALL YOURSELF A
Sh e also st r u ggles w it h h er bisexu alit y, as w ell as t h e su icide
WRITER?
of h er f r at er n al t w in sist er , Fait h .
Jade Au r or a: I called
Lou ise is a m odel, dan cer , an d ar t ist w it h h er ow n
m yself a w r it er t h e
bu sin ess. Wh en sh e is n ot per f or m in g, sh e assist s h er
m om en t I h eld t h e copy of
m ot h er w it h h er occu lt st or e. Sh e is also a f u ll-t im e w if e an d
m y book in m y h an ds.
m ot h er . Lou ise com es f r om sever al gen er at ion s of w it ch es, an d t h r ou gh h er , Rach elle an d Sar ai lear n t o em pow er t h em selves, an d discover t h eir in n er goddesses.
20 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Est h er is an in t er n at ion al
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: DOES YOUR FAM ILY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER AS A
w om an . By day a Saf et y
WRITER?
M an ager , sh e spen ds h er
Est h er Jacoby: I live w it h m y Gr an dm ot h er , an d sh e does
spar e t im e w r it in g n ovels,
n ot u n der st an d w h at it m ean s. Sh e allow s m e ?som e t im e?
sh or t st or ies an d n ow h as
an d I t ell h er I u se t h at t o w r it e, bu t sh e t h in k s t h at a
st ar t ed on poem s. Or igin ally
h obby t h at does n ot pay is n ot w or t h m u ch . Sh e does n ot
f r om Ger m an y, sh e h as spen t
see t h e sen se. M y m ot h er seem s t o br ag abou t m y book s,
m ost of h er lif e in t h e En glish
bu t I do n ot see t h at r ef lect ed in sales. M y f r ien ds I h ave
speak in g w or ld, an d w r it es in
ch osen so t h at t h ey u n der st an d w h en I t ak e t im e ou t an d
En glish in t h e f ir st in st an ce.
aw ay f r om t h em t o im m er se m yself in m y im agin at ion .
Now adays, sh e is also w or k in g on t r an slat ion s so t h at h er w r it in g can be f ou n d in bot h lan gu ages.
Rom elia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOM ETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOM E A BETTER WRITER AS AN ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Est h er Jacoby: I w ou ld h ave r ead even m or e an d m or e w idely! Rom elia: HOW LONG ON AVERAGE DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK? Est h er Jacoby: Th at goes f r om a f ew w eek s t o over a year . Th e on e I am w or k in g on n ow st opped gr ow in g an d h as been a WIP f or over a year . I st ill w an t t o f in ish , t h ou gh !
21 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ESTHER JACOBY
NEW LIFE COTTAGE
Rom elia: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR? Est h er Jacoby: Non e, n ot r eally. Is t h er e su pposed t o be a dif f er en ce? Rom elia: HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS? Est h er Jacoby: I don?t t h in k I h ave h ad an y yet . Depen din g on m ood of t h e
Fr ien dsh ip ? Loyalt y ? Tr u st
day, I m igh t cr y, or w ipe it of f lik e r ain dr ops on m y sh ou lder an d given t im e
Hat r ed ? Bet r ayal ? Loss
w ou ld t h in k abou t w h at w as said. I h ope I w ou ld t ak e it f or a t ool t o im pr ove. Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS? Est h er Jacoby: Get t in g t h e f in ish ed w or k ou t an d appr eciat ed.
Do n ot let t h e ch ild-lik e cover f ool you : Th is is t h e h ar d h it t in g st or y of Nat alie, Gabi an d Sam an t h a. Th ey discover t h at m or e t h an sim ple f r ien dsh ip u n it es t h em . Toget h er , t h ey em bar k on a gr u esom e jou r n ey t h at w ill st r et ch t h eir f ait h in each ot h er an d in t h em selves. Will t h eir f r ien dsh ip su r vive?
22 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Roder ick Edw ar ds (ak a Roder ick E) w as bor n in 1968
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS?
an d adopt ed at age 4. His adopt ed f am ily w as ch aot ic an d vir t u ally n on -exist en t m ak in g f or a u n iqu e per spect ive of lif e. Du e t o h is
Roder ick Edw ar ds: It is w h at it is. Som e of m y w r it in g I expect n egat ive f eedback , especially in a w or ld f u ll of people w h o get of f en ded at pict u r es on pan cak e an d r ice boxes.
ver y t h in ph ysiqu e, as a
Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR
you n g boy, doct or s su spect ed
WRITING PROCESS?
Roder ick h ad a m u scle
Roder ick Edw ar ds: Edit in g an d f or m at t in g an d t h e f eelin g of
det er ior at ion disease w h ich
déjà vu .
cau sed h im t o spen d m an y Rom elia: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING OR WHEN year s in t r eat m en t . DID YOU START? Roder ick Edw ar ds: I?ve been w r it in g sin ce I cou ld pu t pen t o paper bu t per h aps t h e qu est ion is w h en did I con sider m yself a w r it er ? Again , bein g pu blish ed is n ot t h e on ly t h in g t h at m ak es a per son a w r it er , bu t I?ve been pu blish ed sin ce 2017.
23 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
THE UNIVERSE
RODERICK EDWARDS Rom elia: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WRITER WORKING ON THEIR FIRST BOOK? Roder ick Edw ar ds: Do n ot con sider you r f ir st book as you r gr an d opu s bu t r at h er you r ?get you r f eet w et ? t h r ow aw ay book . Th is is t h e book you ?r e lear n in g h ow t o do all t h e f or m at t in g an d edit in g. If you in vest you r h ear t in t o t h is book , you m igh t be disappoin t ed an d w r it e n o m or e. Rom elia: WHAT, TO YOU, ARE THE M OST IM PORTANT ELEM ENTS OF GOOD WRITING?
Explor at ion of ever yt h in g w e believe an d w h y. Cu t t in g t o t h e h ear t of ou r act ion s. Tou ch in g ou r n er ves an d sou l u n t il t h e scab is a scar is a par t of w h o w e ar e; a bir t h m ar k on t o t h e r eal u s. Bu t n ot t oo h eady, n ot t oo vagu e t o u n der st an d, r at h er r igh t t h er e w h er e w e all exist ever y day of ou r lives. An sw er in g t h e qu est ion s w e h ave in ou r qu iet m om en t s aw ay f r om t h e ch aos of livin g. Th e Un iver se is a book f or all believer s an d u n believer s of an yt h in g an d ever yt h in g an d n ot h in g.
Roder ick Edw ar ds: Gen u in en ess. If a st or y is f or ced, it becom es obviou s t o t h e r eader .
Ever y spir it u alist , ever y devou t per son , ever y apost at e, ever y soccer m om , ever y yu ppie, ever y h ippie, ever y pr iest , ever y dr u n k . It is design ed t o leave a m ar k , w h et h er posit ive or n egat ive.
24 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR M y n am e is Fait h , an d I?m a
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY YOUR BOOK HAS
con t em por ar y r om an ce
CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST DRAFT?
w r it er , w h o en joys addin g
Fait h Tr oyer : M y n ovel, He?s Th e Goal, h as ch an ged
st eam y love scen es t o m y
sign if ican t ly sin ce t h e f ir st dr af t . It w as su pposed t o be a sh or t
n ovels/ n ovellas. I?ve been
n ovel, abou t 25,000 w or ds in len gt h , f or a h oliday an t h ology on
w r it in g sin ce I w as a k id, bu t
Am azon . How ever , t h e collect ion en ded u p f allin g t h r ou gh , an d
becam e ser iou s abou t m ak in g
I h ad t o m ak e a decision . ?To pu blish , or n ot t o pu blish ??Th at
t h is a car eer w h en I w as 16.
w as t h e qu est ion . I en ded u p t ear in g t h e en t ir e f ir st dr af t
I?m 32 year s of age, an d h ave
apar t an d m ade it in t o a f u ll f in ish ed n ovel.
ju st self pu blish ed m y f ir st n ovella en t it led ?Lay M e Dow n ,? f ou r m on t h s ago t o
Rom elia: WHAT PERSPECTIVES OR BELIEFS HAVE YOU CHALLENGED WITH THIS WORK?
Kin dle. ?Lay m e Dow n ,? is t h e
Fait h Tr oyer : M y f em ale M C, Vada, is a plu s-size h er oin e. Sh e?s
f ir st book in m y ser ies called
m ou t h y an d pack s a pu n ch . Sh e gives M ax, t h e m ale su ppor t
?Ju lia an d Gideon .?
ch ar act er , a r u n f or h is m on ey, an d h e eat s it u p. Th ou gh con sider in g h er past , sh e?s pu t u p w alls, so h er ?sassin ess?is m ost ly a f r on t t o k eep m en aw ay f r om h er , bu t it w on?t w or k on M ax. He even t u ally ear n s h er t r u st an d begin s t o t ak e h er w alls dow n . I w an t ed Vada t o be a w om an w it h cu r ves f or a specif ic r eason . Plu s size w om en ar en?t u su ally valu ed or f ou n d at t r act ive in t oday ?s m edia or lit er at u r e, an d I w an t t o ch an ge t h at .
25 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
HE'S THE GOAL
FAITH TROYER Rom elia: WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA FOR YOUR BOOK? Fait h Tr oyer : I?m a big f an of ?w om en?s f ict ion?an d ?spor t s f ict ion?n ovels. I?ve r ead qu it e a f ew book s w it h t h e ?M ixed M ar t ial
Vada Fin ley is m an y t h in gs: You n g. Det er m in ed. Fu ll of
Ar t s?an d ?f oot ball?t r opes,
sass. Def in it ely n ot a con t r ol f r eak w it h a t ou ch of OCD
bu t n ot h in g w it h h ock ey.
w h en it com es t o m ain t ain in g t h e h om e sh e sh ar es w it h h er
Som e h ock ey-t h em ed
older br ot h er . Th at is, u n t il h er br ot h er t ak es an ext en ded
st or ies ou t t h er e, t h ou gh I
bu sin ess t r ip an d in vit es h is best f r ien d t o live in h is r oom
w an t ed t o pu t m y spin on
w h ile h e?s gon e.
t h e ?h ock ey ?t r ope.
En t er M axw ell Vah n , a h ock ey playin g m an -w h or e w it h
Rom elia: HOW WOULD
on ly t w o am bit ion s in lif e: t o st op goals on t h e ice an d scor e
YOU DESCRIBE YOUR
of f it . He?s a w ild car d, a f r ee spir it , an d an STD w ait in g t o
BOOK?S IDEAL READER?
h appen , cau gh t in a dow n w ar d spir al. Wit h ou t a dou bt , h e?s
Fait h Tr oyer : M y book ?s ?ideal?r eader w ou ld be
t h e last per son Vada w an t s in h er h om e, or h er lif e! At least , t h at ?s w h at sh e t h in k s?
an yon e w h o lik es a w ild
Bu t M ax is som et h in g else. Th e m or e t h ey get t o k n ow
r ide; f illed w it h t on s of
on e an ot h er , t h e h ar der it is f or Vada t o k eep h er dist an ce;
excit em en t , dr am a,
an d t h e less in clin ed M ax is t o st ay aw ay. He?s u sed t o
in t im at e love scen es, an d
playin g gam es, bu t t h is t im e h e?s r eady t o get ser iou s; r igh t
isn?t af r aid t o ask f or t h e
u p u n t il a f or m er f lam e set s ever yt h in g on f ir e.
t issu es.
26 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR Au t h or of ?How t o Avoid M ak in g t h e Big Relat ion sh ip M ist ak es? (2015) Paper back , Kin dle
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? Nigel Beck les: 12 year s ago ? bu t alw ays en joyed w r it in g f r om a ver y ear ly age.
an d PDF f or m at s available Am azon .co.u k h t t p:/ / am zn .t o/ 2bY1Ih U · ?How t o Avoid Abu sive
Rom elia: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK? Nigel Beck les: Appr oxim at ely 5 year s. Resear ch n on - f ict ion book .
Relat ion sh ips?A Gu ide t o
Rom elia: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORM ATION OR IDEAS
Toxic Per son alit ies (Du e
FOR YOUR BOOKS?
f or pu blicat ion ear ly 2021)
Nigel Beck les: Resear ch / per son al st or ies. Rom elia: WHAT LITERARY PILGRIM AGES HAVE YOU GONE ON? Nigel Beck les: Non e ? bu t I am a avid collect or / r eader of book s. Rom elia: WHAT IS THE FIRST BOOK THAT M ADE YOU CRY? Nigel Beck les: Au t obiogr aph y of M alcolm X.
27 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
NIGEL BECKLES
BIG RELATIONSHIPS M ISTAKES
Rom elia: WHAT IS THE M OST UNETHICAL PRACTICE IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY? Nigel Beck les: Bu yin g f ak e posit ive r eview s. Edit or s n ot pr ovidin g a pr oper ser vice.
Get r eady t o m ove f or w ar d in you r per son al
Rom elia: DOES WRITING
r elat ion sh ips w it h exper t coach in g f r om au t h or an d
ENERGIZE OR EXHAUST
con t r ibu t er t o t h e aw ar d w in n in g m ovie docu m en t ar y
YOU?
?Look in g For Love?Nigel Beck les. Realise you r desir e f or
Nigel Beck les: En er gized, I
per son al gr ow t h an d develop posit ive h abit s. If you ar e
love sh ar in g ideas,
sin gle, divor ced or w on der in g w h y you r r elat ion sh ips k eep
con cept s an d sh ar in g
f ailin g ef f ect ive coach in g w ill h elp you t o u n der st an d
in f or m at ion .
clear ly w h y you m ay h ave m ade som e poor r elat ion sh ip
Rom elia: WHAT ARE COM M ON TRAPS FOR ASPIRING WRITERS? Nigel Beck les: Not bein g disciplin ed t o pu t t im e aside t o act u ally w r it e.
ch oices in t h e past . Th e n ext im por t an t st ep is lear n in g h ow t o m ak e m u ch bet t er decision s w h en dealin g w it h t h e r elat ion sh ips in you r lif e. Th is cou ld be im pr ovin g a cu r r en t r elat ion sh ip or ch oosin g you r n ext pot en t ial par t n er . Th e t r u t h is t h at r eal an d last in g ch an ge of t en r equ ir es t h e su ppor t an d pr act ical in pu t t h at a sk illed coach pr ovides. You ow e it t o you r self t o k n ow h ow you can avoid a m ajor r elat ion sh ip disast er an d t h e best w ay t o im pr ove you r cu r r en t r elat ion sh ip. Alt er n at ively, if you ar e sin gle an d look in g f or love, h ow t o m eet t h e k in d of par t n er you ar e look in g f or .
28 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR M elissa-Su e Joh n , Ph .D. is a social psych ologist by
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT?S YOUR FAVORITE UNDER-APPRECIATED NOVEL?
t r ain in g an d is cu r r en t ly
M elissa-Su e Joh n : M ost of t h e book s I r ead ar e w ell-loved,
em ployed as a Lect u r er at
w ell-appr eciat ed, an d h igh ly r ecom m en ded book s. I r ead
Gat ew ay Com m u n it y
m ost ly ch ildr en book s, f in an cial an d self -h elp lit er at u r e,
College, t h e Dir ect or of
spir it u al, biogr aph ies, r om an ce n ovels, an d r ace-t h em ed
Edu cat ion an d Tr ain in g at
book s. I am in a book clu b so I get t o r ead book s I w ou ld n ot
Th ou gh t Par t n er
n or m ally select m yself . Th is year I r ead ?Th e Tot al M on ey
Solu t ion s, Pr oject
M ak eover ? by Dave Ram say, ?Bet w een t h e Wor ld an d M e? by
Con su lt an t at Gr eat er
Ta-Neh isi Coat es, ?Cast e? by Isabel Wilk er son , ?Paper Tow n s?
Har t f or d Har m Redu ct ion
by Joh n Gr een , ?Becom in g? by M ich elle Obam a, an d ?Th e
Coalit ion , an d is t h e CEO
Pu r su it of Happin ess? by Dou glas Ken n edy. M y f avor it e n ovel
of Lau r en Sim on e
w as ?Th e Pu r su it of Happin ess? becau se it w as a t r agic love
Pu blish in g Hou se.
st or y. Rom elia: HOW M ANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE? M elissa-Su e Joh n : I w r it e less t h an an h ou r ever y day du r in g t h e academ ic year , bu t in t h e su m m er , I spen d m ost of m y w ak in g h ou r s r eadin g, w r it in g, an d edit in g. I cu r r en t ly h ave a blog w h er e I w r it e book r eview s an d ar t icles abou t ou r even t s.
29 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
M ELISSA-SUE JOHN
THINGS W E W EAR
Rom elia: WHAT PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU FIND YOU WRITE ABOUT M OST OFTEN? (CHILD, TEENAGER, YOUNG ADULT). M elissa-Su e Joh n : I h ave alw ays k ept a jou r n al. I st ar t ed w r it in g ch ildr en book s af t er I h ad m y ch ildr en an d becam e pu blish ed in m y lat e 30s. Rom elia: HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING THAT M ADE YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT FICTION? M elissa-Su e Joh n : For m e, gr eat f ict ion h as h ist or ical pr em ise or scien t if ic basis. Wit h ou t it , it ju st doesn?t k eep m y in t er est . In Paper Tow n s I lear n ed abou t w ays t h at car t ogr aph er s w ou ld pu t f ak e t ow n s on t h e m aps
Th in gs We Wear is an in t r odu ct ion t o t h e dif f er en t t h in gs w e w ear . Olivia Lau r en an d h er f r ien ds explor e w h en , w h er e, an d w h y w e w ear t h e t h in gs w e do. Ch ildr en w ill in cr ease t h eir vocabu lar y an d cu r iosit y
t o see if ot h er car t ogr aph y
abou t f ash ion , t r adit ion , cu lt u r e, saf et y, an d t h e
com pan ies w er e u sin g t h eir
sign if ican ce of clot h in g.
m aps. Th at w as f ascin at in g.
Recom m en ded Age: 6 t o 12
30 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
ABOUT AUTHOR I gr ew u p in a sm all coal
AUTHOR INTERVIEW Rom elia: WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA FOR YOUR BOOK?
m in in g t ow n in sou t h w est er n Vir gin ia. I qu it h igh sch ool in m y ju n ior year , an d I cou ld n ot
R.K. M u llin s: I w as w at ch in g a TV sh ow abou t ser ial k iller s. I w on der ed w h at m ade t h em do it . In st ead of ask in g on e I in ven t ed on e.
r ead past a f ou r t h gr ade
Rom elia: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BOOK?S IDEAL
level. A t each er at M ou n t ain
READER?
Em pir e Com m u n it y college
R.K. M u llin s: M yst er y, su spen se, t h r iller , an d h or r or
r ecogn ized m y dif f icu lt ies in
r eader s. Sick an d t w ist ed im agin at ion lik e m e.
r eadin g an d t ook t h e ext r a Rom elia: HOW M UCH RESEARCH DID YOU NEED TO DO FOR t im e t o h elp m e. I h ope m y YOUR BOOK? st or y w ill h elp ot h er s t o w or k past t h eir dif f icu lt ies
R.K. M u llin s: Not a lot r eally. Sin ce ever yt h in g is m ade u p.
an d lear n t o r ead.
Rom elia: HOW IM PORTANT WAS PROFESSIONAL EDITING TO YOUR BOOK?S DEVELOPM ENT? R.K. M u llin s: Ver y, m y gr am m ar st in k s. Rom elia: WHAT WAS YOUR HARDEST SCENE TO WRITE, AND WHY? R.K. M u llin s: Th e Jan it or t alk in g t o David, an d David bein g h at ef u l t o Jason ..
31 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 12/ 2020
R.K. M ULLINS
TIM E FOR A SERIAL KILLER
Rom elia: WHAT CHARACTERS IN YOUR BOOK ARE M OST SIM ILAR TO YOU OR TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW? R.K. M u llin s: All of m y ch ar act er s ar e u n lik e people I k n ow. I m ade su r e t o n ot an yon e I k n ow in f lu en ce m y ch ar act er s.
David Ran dolf Er w in?s m or bid f ascin at ion f or r epu gn an t m u r der er s w ill be h is u n doin g.
Rom elia: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
As an est eem ed r epor t er , h e blew t h e lid of f William St eph en M ar t in?s st r in g of gr isly m u r der s ? all con sist in g in n ocen t w om en cu t dow n h or r if ically at t h e pr im e of t h eir lives.
R.K. M u llin s: I st ar t ed in 1998 an d f in ish ed in 2012.
You ?d t h in k t h is w ou ld give Er w in en ou gh sen se of f u lf illm en t t o t ak e a st ep back an d r elish in h is acclaim . Bu t
Rom elia: HOW DID YOU
t h e dr aw of m u r der er s pr oves t oo st r on g f or h im t o r esist .
COM E UP WITH THE TITLE FOR YOUR BOOK?
A spin e-ch illin g let t er ar r ives at h is of f ice f r om a dyin g m an ? som eon e w h o cr edit s h im self w it h a f ar m or e gh ast ly
R.K. M u llin s: I h ad t h e
cr im e spr ee t h an an yt h in g Er w in h as ever en cou n t er ed.
en din g in m in d f or t h e st ar t , it gave w ay t o t h e t it le.
Will Er w in f in d ou t w h o t h is m an is an d w h at h or r or s h e h as in f lict ed on ot h er s? Will Er w in be able t o escape f r om t h is n igh t m ar e bef or e becom in g a vict im h im self ?
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