Welcome Iliki, thank you for answering my questions.
When did you
first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I don't think I
actually realized it, it just happened. I have
been writing short stories and poems
since the time when I was
a little girl, but
I never
realized that I
wanted to really be
a poet. As I
began to make friends with other
poets and writers on social media, most of them told me to keep
writing free verse poetry and develope my short stories.
How long does
it take you to write a book?
It takes about a
year. Mind
The Gap (*poetry collection), took me about
a year to
write, because I
wanted it
to be complete in every way. I wanted it
to be the best possible reflection of my writing—like
a good play. When I write, I
keep myself focused on the beginning,
the middle,
and the
end. I like a smooth transition from one
to the other.
What is your
work schedule like when you're writing?
I do the
marketing thing in the morning. In
the afternoon I
devote my attention to whatever there is
that I need to get done so
that I can stay on my schedule.
Nighttime is when I usually write. I
try to write every night, even when I'm
too tired. I may be tired when I start,
but writing gives me energy when I
need it,
and it
relaxes me whenever I feel tensed.
What would you
say is your interesting writing quirk?
The amount of
coffee that I
consume is probably my biggest quirk
– LOL! It is
probably my only quirk. At least, it is the only one that I am aware
of.
How
do your books get published?
Both
self-publishing and traditional publishing have pros and cons, but I
decided to self-publish my first book. I wanted it to be me that
would put the finishing touches on, Mind The Gap.
Where do you
get your information or ideas for your books?
When
it comes to poetry, I never get outside information. Instead, I just
express my innermost feelings—I write what I feel inside. For the
novel that I'm writing, my inspiration comes from people's daily
lives, social rules and events. They are social standards that
everyone hate, yet no-one does anything to try to change them.
When
did you write your first book and how old were you?
I
wrote, Mind The Gap, at the age of twenty-two. I was going through a
very tough and emotional period of my life. The only escape for me
back then was writing.
What
do you like to do when you're not writing?
I
love sketching portraits, cooking, physical workouts, and reading. I
also am a beauty/fashion editor on a blog. When I have some free
time, I attend seminars about history and literature
What
does your family think of your writing?
My
parents don't understand the concept of ploughing heart and soul into
something and not getting much in return. But I'm staying committed
to my artistic works—writing is a way of living.
What
was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your
books?
I
realized that people have the ability to be whatever they want to be.
They just have to do things step by step. Everything is easier that
way, even writing a book.
How
many books have you written?
Which is
your favorite?
Mind
The Gap is my first book, my first poetry collection. It will always
be my favorite, because it is dedicated to my aunt's memory. I wrote
it for her and for me. Losing a loved one can destroy you, and
writing helped me not only to avoid destruction, but I became a
stronger person with the ability to create beautiful things even in
the worst of times.
Do
you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so,
what are they?
Write,
write, and write, and read, read, and read. A good writer should
never stop reading and writing. Moreover, please control your
perfectionist tendencies –
perfectionism
can make you end up with nothing but a lot of blank pages.
Do
you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I’ve
not heard from them much, probably because my book was just recently
published. I get really nervous discussing my book with readers, but
the good thing is that no-one has contacted me to tell me how awful
my book was.
Do
you like to create books for adults?
I
love writing, and I believe that my writing style has no boundaries
when it comes to age. At the same time, I don't think that I could
write a book specifically for children.
What
do you think makes a good story?
A
good story must have characters that are passionate as well as
characters with visions and flaws. I believe that writing is like
“living...” , like Standford Meisner said about acting,
“...truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” A good story is
all about truth and I couldn't agree more with the quote by Ernest
Hemmingway, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at
a typewriter and bleed.”
As
a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I
wanted to be the prime-minister of my country.
Iliki
Stergiou was born in Athens, Greece but grew up in a small a seaside
town, in East Attica. She is a poet and a poetry blogger since 2012.
blog:
ilikistergiouofficial.blogspot.gr
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1RdixBV
Createspase:
https://www.createspace.com/5328078
Book
description:
Iliki
Stergiou - A Young Poet From Greece, And The Land of Sorrow
In
this poetry collection, Iliki Stergiou describes the struggles that
every person has to make at some time or another in their
life—crossing the labyrinth of losing someone that they truly love.
The author experienced the unwanted but ever-present trauma of loss
and grief following the loss of a loved one—a loss that cannot be
replaced, but one that is sure to come, and one that must be
accepted, because there is no other way.
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