Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Open for Submissions
Exclusive Interview with
António Bizarro
When did you start writing?
I started writing song lyrics when I was around fifteen, while learning to play the guitar. I wanted to write songs and lyrics like my idols, the Seattle-based band Alice In Chains, which, to this day, are still my favorite band.
What makes writing your passion?
The infinite possibilities of language and the ability to imagine different scenarios in order to convey ideas and perspectives.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing, seriously, for nineteen years, since I started writing short stories, an evolution from the song lyrics I began with.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
It was amazing at first, though later I came to realize that I love writing for the sake of writing. It’s nice to be read and to hear some compliments, but the act of writing is a pleasure in itself.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I always try to introduce an element of oddness in my stories, and sometimes that element is the characters themselves. I’m interested in mutations, physical, psychological or otherwise.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
As in many, many aspects of life, there’s always someone trying to scam you or to make an imediate profit out of you. It is the same in the music world, in the arts world, etc, which is sad. It would reasonable to think that people that are lovers of art should be less interested in mundane things like money and profit, and have an elevated spirit and behavior.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
Fortunately, I don’t struggle with that. When I’m not writing, I’m thinking and researching and day-dreaming about my stories, or working on my music.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
-
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
-
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Yes. I don’t have a problem with them, specially if they are well fundamented and constructive. A bad review on my work is not a personal attack on me, and most times are opportunities to improve myself.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
It is a very nice feeling, in particular when you realize that the reviewer was able to understand what you were trying to convey and the references behind the work.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Many times, taking many artistic liberties.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I have a character called Tony Dornbusch, who’s sort of an alter-ego, with some of my characteristics grossly exaggerated. He travels from story to story, either as a character or as a writer.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
-
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I don’t have a problem connecting with readers, I love to talk about my books and the books that I love, although, to be honest, I prefer to communicate through my writing.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
-
Who is your favorite author? Why?
I have many favorite authors, but if I had to choose one, it would be JG Ballard. He was an artist in the true sense of the word, and a technological and media prophet.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
My dream would be to be able to make enough to pay the bills with my writing and my music, to be my own boss.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
-
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
-
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
-
What would you say to your readers?
-
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
-
What is your day job if you have one?
-
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
-
Did you have a happy childhood?
-
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
-
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
-
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
-
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
-
What is your favorite music?
-
Share a secret with us 🙂
32