A LEAP FROM A SICK BED TO A BEACON TOWER

 

I cannot thank Alem Hailu enough for publishing my interview, Parts 1 and 2 in the Ethiopian Herald on 7th and 10th November 2021. Part 2 has been published today in the Wednesday Ethiopian Herald. It is also published on Poetry Fest - Exquisite Art Studio, a blog. He even published it on Linked In. This is the full interview at Poetry Fest.

READ IT HERE

A LEAP FROM A SICK BED TO A BEACON TOWER

By ALEM HAILU - DEPUTY EDITOR IN CHIEF

To uplift the mood of the bedridden whose life despair has eclipsed, and to enthuse emerging authors, they could climb to ivory tower even dragging their last leg from a morass with perseverance, there could be no better example than the footpath of internationally-published-renowned-author-poet Brenda Mohammed.

This journalist has got the privilege of e-mail interviewing her. Excerpts below.

Could you brief us about your upbringing, your family, and neighbours with your village, country, and school as a backdrop?

*

My father was a school principal. I was born when he was principal of the Union Village Presbyterian school in Trinidad, my home country. I had six sisters and three brothers. Because of my father’s status, we were well known and respected by all in the village. Neighbours and friends regularly visited our home to seek his help in getting their children accepted at the school.

The principal’s home was in the same yard as the school and church, and we attended church and Sunday school regularly. My father held positions of responsibility in the church too. My oldest sister was the church’s organist, and at times she sang in the choir.

When I was seven years old, my father was transferred to another village in South Trinidad, and the setting of the home, school and church was the same. The people were just as nice.

My father was granted a Government scholarship to further his studies in the United Kingdom, and my mother took charge of the home and cared for us singlehandedly until his return.

I won a scholarship to attend a prestigious high school in San Fernando, but after one year my father was promoted to Senior Inspector of Schools and transferred to East Trinidad. I and one of my sisters were therefore sent to St. Augustine Girls’ High School, another prestigious school in the east, from where we both graduated.

*

How was your educational pursuit? Does the profession you qualified in cross-fertilize with authorship of both books--fiction and nonfiction?

*

My life in the early years was based around my father’s career and moving from place to place. He was again transferred to the south, and he built a brand new home for us in Marabella in South Trinidad. After graduation, I did not want to return to school to do higher studies. Although I was just sixteen years old, I wanted to work at a bank and I got the job.

I also pursued studies in banking on a part-time basis and was successful. I received promotion after promotion and achieved managerial status. As a Commercial Credit Manager, I was required to visit large businesses, assess their worth, write proposals for finance, and send them to our Head Office for approval. Most of the time I received clean sanctions, meaning that they were approved with no questions asked.

That built up my confidence in writing. To answer your question, my profession cross-fertilized with the authorship of both fiction and nonfiction books. In fact, I wrote a story, ‘Dead Business,’ and part of the setting was in the morgue of a funeral home that I visited to assess finance for a crematorium.

*

You were combating cancer? How was it like the life you spent? You have a book about how you overcame the dark spot in your life to flicker a ray of optimism. Will you allow as a chink into the book by way of a synopsis?

*

I consider my near-death experience with cancer to be a blessing in disguise.’ I Am Cancer Free,’ was the first book I published. It became a bestseller and motivated me to keep on writing. It was an award winner in the category Health and Fitness in Readers Favorite International Awards 2018, and winner of Mc Grath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the category Best Non-Fiction. It received a five-star review from Readers Favorite, and I will share the review instead of a synopsis.

Completed on:02/16/2017

Review Rating:5 stars!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

“I Am Cancer Free by Mrs. Brenda C. Mohammed is a poignant memoir of the author's personal battle with cancer.

Her faith in God and proving that ovarian cancer need not be a death sentence are what make this memoir a heartrending read. The author's 'never say die' attitude, the decision not to give up in life, and finally being cancer-free will encourage everyone who has been diagnosed with the disease or who has suffered from cancer.

The memoir recounts from the time of diagnosis the experiences the author went through during the treatment, her emotions, fears, finances, until the successful treatment of the disease. It is a courageous story of survival, faith, and strength.

The author chronicles every step of her journey methodically, without leaving anything out, making the narration very personal, honest, and palpable to readers. The presence of God in everyone's life, a positive attitude, and the power of prayers run through the memoir.

The author reiterates the fact that faith in God removes all obstacles in life. The conversational style of writing connects well with readers, making it easy for them to understand her journey.

The author has also shared the poems she wrote during that phase in her life, where she again speaks about her story, faith in the Lord, and a Higher Power.

For all those who are suffering from cancer and are battling the disease, this book is a must-read as it will give them hope, strength, and courage to fight the disease.”

*

As a prolific and decorated author displaying a meteoric rise in the literary firmament, from where do you get the stamina to climb from one rung of the ladder to another, and still keep the tempo, which proves to be the difficult thing?

*

I am humbled that you have seen my accomplishments in such a remarkable light. My secret is, that I pray to God for guidance for each step I take. I give all credit to God.

*

Stunningly, not only being prolific you are also versatile in genres. What can you say about that? Do you conduct thorough research before writing books? The language fine-tunes with the theme to render your book palatable. Could you say a word or two about that?

*

Your question made me examine the genres I have written - memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, mystery, children’s books, psychological thrillers, poetry, and poetry anthologies.

My memoirs and children’s books are based on my careers and travels.

My Life as a Banker begins with my childhood and continues with my career in banking.

After leaving banking, I worked in Insurance and qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table, the Premier Association for Financial Professionals, several times. I travelled abroad to several conferences, and my books, Retirement is Fun and Travel Memoirs are filled with those experiences.

With science fiction, mystery, romance, and thrillers, I used my imagination and did some research too. Most of my poetry are motivational compositions. My self-help books are about writing, and I wrote this to help aspiring authors.

*

You have bagged numerous awards. Tell us about the bright spots in your life concerning your authorship. What is the upside of giving an award? What must be the method of nomination (some complain about race/color... discrimination)?

*

I have won several literary awards in the USA, Peru, Kazakhstan, Seychelles, Nigeria, India, Romania, Argentina, Morocco, Philippines, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Indonesia, and the UK.

I made headlines in several newspapers around the world.

Many of my books were bestsellers when newly released and many received five-star reviews from Readers Favorite International.

In November 2018, I won two awards on the same night, from Readers Favorite International for my science fiction book, ‘Zeeka Chronicles,’ in the category Young Adult Thriller, and my Memoir, ‘I am Cancer Free,’ in the category Health and Fitness. I received those awards in a magnificent ceremony at the Regency Hotel in Miami.

Three of my books won gold awards in Connection EMagazine Readers’ Choice Awards - Zeeka Chronicles, in the category science fiction, [2018] Stories People love [2019], in the category romance, and How to Write for Success, in the category non-fiction. [2019].

In Sept 2021, my mystery book, Barry Holmes Mysteries, won me Best Writer - Fantasy Award in the CLR [ Culture, Literature, and Research] Awards.

My science fiction book, ‘Zeeka and the Zombies, has been approved by Cinebooks.com to be made into a cinematic book, and it is presently in production.

To answer your question, awards motivate a writer to improve and that is the upside. I do not think that race or colour should be factors when nominating someone for an award.

I give awards in my Literary forum to poets who are deserving and are considered five-star poets. Awards should be based on a writer’s work and nothing else.

*

Given your talent and the impacts your books about cancer and How to Write for Success, among others created, many wonder when is it you bag a Nobel prize in literature. What is your take on this?

*

Alem, to win a Nobel Prize, someone who has already been nominated for one, must nominate a writer. I do not know any of the nominees or winners personally. It seems way out of my reach, but with God nothing is impossible.

*

Have the five-star reviews you received motivated you for a further thrust into literature?

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Yes. They certainly have.

*

Your poems appear in reputed journals. What inspires you to write poems that some think is a restricted domain to the select few? You have a circle of poets. Would you relate to us about that?

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I do not think that writing poems are restricted to a select few. In fact, I believe there are more poets than writers of fiction and non-fiction. I am a member of numerous poetry groups on Facebook, and I am being invited to join more new ones, which are being formed every day.

Of the 42 books I have published to date, ten are poetry books. I expect to publish my eleventh one for my birthday on 1st December.

*

How and why did you establish a literary network on How to Write for Success?

*

I started the How to Write for Success Literary Forum in February 2018, with a mission to spread Literary Talent Worldwide. At that time, I had the help of four Administrators.

In 2019, we were concerned with the number of suicides in the world, and decided to publish an anthology with poems to prevent suicide. Since it was our first attempt at an anthology we kept it low-keyed.

We opened a sub-forum to collect the poems and named it - Poems for Prevention of Suicide Literary Forum.

Poets from around the world participated in A Spark of Hope: A Treasury of Poems for Saving Lives, The Kindle versions of the book were given free of charge, and the book achieved Amazon's No 1 bestselling ranking within a couple of days.

In 2020, we published Part II of A Spark of Hope, and that too earned Amazon's No 1 bestseller ranking.

The Covid pandemic started in early 2020 and caused chaos in the lives of citizens all over the world. There was a rise in Domestic Violence and the Administration felt there was a need for an anthology against Domestic Violence.

Another sub-forum, - Literary Forum for Poems Against Domestic Violence was created for this purpose.

Volumes One and Two of Break the Silence: An Anthology of Poems Against Domestic Violence were published in 2020 and 2021.

Again, the Kindle versions of the book were given free, and both volumes achieved Amazon No 1 bestseller rank.

With the success of How to Write for Success Literary Network and the popularity of my book How to Write for Success, many members published books. We saw the need to establish the third sub-forum, Library of How to Write for Success – Books only.

The fourth sub-forum, Grupo Hispaniomundial De Escritores - UHE Trinidad and Tobago was formed as a result of my appointment as National President of UHE Trinidad and Tobago, by the President and Founder of Grupo Hispaniomundial De Escritores, Carlos Hugo Garrido Chalen.

Today, we have sixteen efficient persons who help with different aspects of the Administration of the Literary Network which comprises the main forum, four sub-forums, and members in excess of 13000.

In February 2021 we started a half-yearly magazine and have published two issues in March and September 2021. The next issue will be on the fourth anniversary of the network.

We also have a website and YouTube channel.

*

Did covid-19 and the economic meltdown affect your penmanship? (Some say on the other end covid-19 promoted readership)

*

Covid19 brought about many changes. It stopped me from travelling, but I spent the time writing. I believe it also promoted readership because book sales have increased.

Do you have a plan to be a publisher and help emerging authors?

Becoming a publisher would entail hiring a big staff. I do not have future plans to do so. However, I believe that if I have succeeded in mastering self-publishing, every writer can do it. My reasons for publishing’ How to Write for Success Volumes One and Two’ are to help emerging authors master the art of self-publishing, and save the expense of hiring a publisher.

*

Do you have a plan to write fiction about Trinidad so that others enjoy the story of your motherland?

*

Some of my fiction books are set on the beautiful island of Trinidad. They are The Gift of Love, The Axe Murderer, What Happened to Mary Loo, Barry Holmes Mysteries, and Heart-Warming Tales. I may write another one soon.

*

You are an advocate against domestic violence and suicide. What works did you (and friends) do to such effect?

*

Together with several bestselling authors from my literary forums, we have published four Amazon No 1 best-selling anthologies for these causes: A Spark of Hope I and II: A Treasury of Poems for Saving Lives, and Break the Silence I and II: An Anthology Against Domestic Violence. We have had many heart-warming reports that these books have helped to save lives.

READ THE INTERVIEW IN THE SUNDAY ETHIOPIAN HERALD. Read Page 8

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SPACE TIME MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS HUMANOID BRENDA MOHAMMED

SPACE TIME MAGAZINE
Subject: Interview | Name: BRENDA MOHAMMED
GALAXY: Milky Way, PLANET: Earth, SPECIES: Humanoid.
OCCUPATION: Author, GENRE: Sci-Fi…
IDENTIFICATION OF HUMANOID: Brenda Mohammed


INTRODUCTION
Brenda Mohammed a multi-genre, award-winning author and poet, is the author of twenty-one books. She lives in Trinidad in the Caribbean.
Brenda is a former Bank Manager of a leading International Bank in Trinidad and Tobago and a former Insurance Professional. She holds a Banking Diploma from The Institute of Bankers, London and a Life Underwriting diploma from American College, USA. She is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table – The Premier Association for Financial Professionals.
Since she started writing she has won several awards. In November 2018 she traveled to Miami to collect two prestigious awards from Readers Favorite International for two of her books. One award was for Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka, a Science Fiction, and the other for I am Cancer Free, A Memoir.
Her work has been recognized by World Nations Writers’ Union, and she was made a member as well as an Honorary member of its World Higher Literary Academic Council.
She also received a World Laureate in Literature Award for her lifetime achievements in Literature, and a Certificate of Honour for serving as a juror in an International Poetry Contest from World Nations Writers Union in December 2018.
At the same time, she was presented with a Global Literature Guardian Award from the Founder of Motivational Strips and its Associates, World Nations Writers’ Union, and Union Hispanomundial de Escritores
On 4th March 2019, Motivational Strips and the Nominating Authorities recognized Brenda for her efforts in maintaining and spreading Global Peace and awarded her with a Global Peace Award [Gold].
June 2019 appointed National President of the Union of Writers, Union Hispaniomundial de Escritos for Trinidad and Tobago.
In August 2019 received a Diploma and World Poetic Star Award from World Nations Writers Union. Writers, Union Hispaniomundial de Escritos for Trinidad and Tobago
On 31st August 2019 was honored by the Seychelles Government Accredited Literary Society [ LLSF] for her contribution to World Poetry, creativity, and writing expertise.
On October 16th 2019 she was awarded the Order of Shakespeare Medal by the Founder of the Facebook group Shiju H Pallithazheth for selfless service imparted to keep the ambiance of world writers on a rightful and progressive path, as well as in helping the forum in maintaining the modus operandi of Motivational Strips secure since its inception stage a year ago.

QUESTIONS
ALEXA WAYNE (AW): When did you find out you would want to write novels?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: It was never my intention to become a writer.
I wrote I am Cancer Free to tell persons in a similar position that cancer is a battle you have to fight and win. The response I received from buyers and readers gave me encouragement to write more books.

I am Cancer Free was the winner of Mc Grath House Indie Book Awards in the category Non-Fiction in September 2016 and won an award from Readers Favorite International Book Awards 2018 in the category Health and Fitness.

AW: You mentioned your work, all set in science-fiction or cyborg settings, would you let our readers know why you are attracted to that genre?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I am a multi-genre writer but suddenly got an idea for a science fiction series when I read about the zika virus.
It was set in the year 2036 and based on events that took place 20 years before.

After writing the first three books, Zeeka and the Zombies, Zeeka’s Child, and Zeeka Returns, I combined them into one book named Revenge of Zeeka: Horror Trilogy.

Revenge of Zeeka: Horror Trilogy received a five-star review from Readers Favorite.
I thought I was done with the series, but Zeeka haunted me in my dreams.
I had the same dream for almost a month.

He insisted that I write the fourth book, Zeeka’s Ghost because he said that I did not tell the full story.
“What do you mean by the full story?” I asked him.
He replied, “Start writing and I will tell you what to write.”
I said, “But you are dead. You committed suicide. How can you tell me what to write?”
“Do you believe in ghosts?” he asked.
I wrote Zeeka’s Ghost, the fourth book, which was unplanned, and believe it or not, Zeeka told me what to write.

I was still not finished with the series.

He returned in my dreams and told me to write the fifth book, Resurrection to reveal the true identity of Zombie Number Nine.
I was guided by him to do that book as well.

You must think that I am crazy, but I believe all writers experience something similar.

I combined all five stories into one book named Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka.
The book won an award in Readers Favorite International Awards 2018.
These are some of the headlines of reviews on Amazon.
1. I found the book to be original, brilliant, and full of suspense.
2. Just when you thought you knew everything about Zombies, comes this imaginative tale that re-defines their existence.
3. I loved this book. It will make a great movie. I recommend it if you love sci-fi novels.
4.Great Science Fiction reading.
5.Twilight Zone-like Sci-Fi Shorts.
6.Excellent, original story.
7. Blind-siding events Abound.
8. A fascinating vision of our future.
9. An above-average zombie series brought together in one superb collection.
10. Teens and up will adore this book.
11. I loved Zeeka Chronicles; it has worldwide appeal for anyone looking for an entertaining story that is different.
12. Mohammed did a great job taking current/recent events and imagining how they might affect our future.
13. A gory, romantic and thrilling take on the zombie genre, all in one collection.
14. Off-The-Wall But Engaging Sci-Fi/Horror.
AW: When writing about sci-fi, do you do research and if so, how far do you go with your research?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: Yes. When I wrote the Zeeka stories I researched for high-tech weapons, robots, programmable zombies, and other technology in the year 2036 but found nothing. My eight-year-old grandson came up with names for weapons and technological equipment and I am very proud of him. Reviewers commented positively on the shrinkenator, zombies, robots, and weapons.

AW: What is most important to you when writing your novels?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I write with the readers in mind. I want my readers to experience every emotion expressed by my characters such as love, joy, rage, terror, disappointment, and sorrow.

AW: Which authors influenced your writing in science-fiction?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I cannot name a science fiction author because I never read any science fiction books that interested me. I can name movies that enthralled me like Star Wars, Star Trek, Back to the Future, T-Rex, Ex Machina and many more.

AW: Which of your novels is your favorite and why is it your favorite?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka is definitely my favourite novel. It was my first try at science fiction and it was a great success. It received a five-star review from Readers Favorite soon after I published it, and won several awards as follows:

1. Award winner in the Category Young Adult Thriller in Readers Favorite International Awards 2018.

2. Winner of the gold award in the category science fiction in Emagazine Readers' Choice Awards 2018.

3. Top ten finalist in the Author Academy Global Awards 2018.

4.Winner in Science Fiction in SIBA Awards 2017.

AW: Do you believe in alien visiting our world, by that I mean in abduction or close encounters of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th kind?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: No. I do not believe in aliens although I may write about them. I regard them as fiction.

AW: What made you decide to be self-published?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I chose self-publishing as I wanted the freedom to revise my books or covers whenever I want without having to wait on a publisher to do so.

AW: What sets you apart from other science-fiction and cyborg authors?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I don’t consider myself a famous science fiction writer. However, the book, Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka did win awards from Readers Favorite and other entities. Reviewers have emphasized its originality, so it is worth reading.

AW: What can readers look forward to from Brenda Mohammed in 2019?

BRENDA MOHAMMED:

In January 2019 I released my first book of Poetry, Strength for the Disheartened: Motivational Poems.
I had founded a Facebook group called How to Write for Success in February 2017.
In October 2018 I affiliated it to another Facebook Group called Motivational Strips.
Both groups have the same mission of Writers’ Empowerment.
Because of that association, I have developed a passion for poetry.
On February 2nd, 2019 both groups produced A Spark of Hope: An Anthology of Poems for Saving Lives.
The book topped the charts on Amazon and made New Release No.1 within the space of two days.
In February 2019, I released a Crime fiction, The Axe Murderer: Barry Holmes Investigates.
in August 2019 I released my second book of poetry - Dreams of the Heart: A Poetry Collection.
After I returned from a trip abroad I wrote STORIES THAT INTRIGUE, a romance novel, and released it in October 2019.
Whether or not I will write another science fiction book only time will tell.

AW: Is there any website or social media where people can reach or follow you?

BRENDA MOHAMMED: I have several Facebook Pages for the different genres as well as a website.

Website

Twitter
BlogSpot
LinkedIn
GoodReads
Amazon Universal Link

This concludes our interview.
Thank you so very much for your time.
We thank you for your time and answers.
We are honored to have you on our website and we hope you had a wonderful time answering our questions.

Kind regards,
Space-Time Magazine

Best-Selling Author Susan Faw interviews Brenda Mohammed

Author spotlight caught up with superheroine Brenda Mohammed and her trusty sidekick pooch, cruising in her cancer kicking pink mobile.
Advocate for all things rosy, Brenda is sure to be found at the forefront of any cancer-related crusade.

Without further ado, here’s Brenda!

Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Author Brenda Mohammed
First Susan, let me thank you for offering to do this interview. I am a Multi-Genre Author living in Trinidad and Tobago and am a fan of photography and art. When I am not writing I am on Canva.com playing around with graphics. If you visit my author page at Amazon, you will see the seventeen books I wrote and the ones for which I received awards.

Two of my non-fiction books and one fiction book have won awards.

‘I am Cancer Free’ won the award for Best Non-fiction from McGrath House in 2016.

‘My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living’ was voted second in the category Best Bio/memoirs in the SIBA Awards by Metamorph’s Publishing in 2016.

‘Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka’ placed third in the category Best Science Fiction in SIBA Awards 2017.

I donate books to children’s hospitals, national libraries, and school libraries. I love to travel and I wrote a book on my travel memoirs.

How did you get started on your writing journey?



I started writing after I left the corporate world. I retired at an early age from my job as a Manager of a leading bank in the Caribbean and entered the Insurance Industry. I qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table six years in a row. As a result, I attended the MDRT Conferences in various cities in the United States. At those conferences, I heard from many speakers, who spoke about how they achieved success in life. Every one of them wrote a book. I decided to write a book and to date, I have written seventeen.

Are there any poets or writers who influence you? How so?

When I was attending High School, I read, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” by Norman Vincent Peale. That book influenced my life in many ways.

Let’s talk about your novel! What is it about?

As I said earlier, I wrote eighteen books so I will talk about the first book I wrote.

It is about my bout with cancer. The name of the book is ‘I am Cancer Free: A memoir.’

How is the title significant?

The title is just what it is. After twelve years, I am still cancer free.

Where did inspiration for this come from?

When I decided to write this, I felt that I had a good story to write – a story that will benefit others who may find themselves in a similar position in which I found myself. I did not start writing about my bout with ovarian cancer until eight years after I was afflicted with it. I wanted to be sure that I was indeed cancer free and could convey that message to the world.

Who do you think would like your story and what kind of readership are you aiming for?

Persons who have cancer or have a loved one going through that ordeal are interested in my story.

What is the message you are trying to get across in your book?

Never give up. The doctor in Trinidad gave up on me. My husband, children, and others did not; neither did the doctors at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Centre. I also emphasize the power of prayer.

What is your writing process like?

At first, I had no process. I just sat at the computer and wrote. Later on, after reading several writing courses I learnt to draft a plot before starting my book.

How do you go about editing your story?



I invested in Pro-Writing Aid. This software helps me to fix style and other issues. It searches out elements like repetitiveness, vague wording, sentence length variation, over-dependence on adverbs, passive voice, over-complicated sentence constructions, and much more.

ProWritingAid analyzes my writing and presents its findings in twenty-five different reports. It highlights potential pitfalls in my writing.

I can decide which suggestions work for my content, and the ones to ignore. When I am satisfied with my final draft I send it to my beta readers for further evaluation.

Where did you find your cover artist and what was the process like?

For this first book, I designed my own cover, but I discovered Sharon Brownlie for my fiction series, Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka.
She is a person I can relate too.

How did you go about getting published?

I chose the self-publishing route and published on Amazon Kindle Publishing and Draft2Digital.



What was your self-publishing experience like?

I had no problems. I followed the guidelines and the book was published.

What are the pros and cons of self-publishing?

With self-publishing, you can go in and change your content as often as you wish. I can also choose the price I wish to sell the book. With traditional publishing, authors do not have those privileges. I know of authors who complain that their books are priced too high, readers refuse to buy, and they can do nothing about it. Self-publishing has its stigma. Maybe readers prefer traditionally published books but I have not felt any loss by being self-published.

What were the surprises? Good or bad? If so, what were they?

There were good surprises for ‘I am Cancer Free.’

In September 2016, the book was the Winner in the category non-fiction in McGrath House Indie Book Awards.

In February 2017, it received a five-star review and five-star seal from Readers Favorite.

It has remained in the top 100 on Amazon in the category Medical eBooks > Internal Medicine > Oncology > Chemotherapy. I am surprised that it is still there.

At one time, it was No.10.

Two of my other self-published books received awards from Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards, five-star reviews, and five- star seals from Readers Favorite in 2016 and 2017.

How do you go about promoting your book as a self-published author?



I do ads with canva.com and post them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I also write about my books in my blogs. I have a page on my website for all of my books.

Is there something about the whole process you wish someone had told you before? Good or bad?

Yes. I wish that I had taken writing and book marketing courses before I started writing. I have learned from trial and error over the past couple of years.

Do you have any advice for writers who want to self-publish?

Yes. I do. My motto always has been “The sky is the limit. Always reach for the skies.”
That should be every author’s motto.
I am also writing a new book, ‘How to write for Success: Best Writing Advice I received.’
It is now on Pre-order at the reduced price of 0.99 cents until publication on 1st December 2017, my Birthday.

What plans do you have for the future of your writing?

I will continue to write when the ideas flow.

What are your social accounts if people want to connect with you?

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Google Plus

Amazon

YouTube

See Beth Write: Author Spotlight: Brenda Mohammed

See Beth Write: Author Spotlight: Brenda Mohammed: Today's featured author is Brenda Mohammed. She was generous enough to take the time to answer some questions so we can know more a...

Tell us a little about you. Where are you from? What kind of books do you write? How many books have you written? Do you set your stories in the area you live in?

I am a former bank manager from the beautiful islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.

I write both fiction and non-fiction.

To date, I have written seventeen books.

Eight of the nonfiction books are memoirs – six personal, one of my father, and one of my deceased pet dog. I wrote a science fiction/horror series – Zeeka Chronicles [ Revenge of Zeeka] comprising of five books, as well as two books of short stories, one children’s book, and one book containing all five stories of the Zeeka series.

The memoirs are set in the area I live, but the Zeeka Series is futuristic and set in the year 2036 on an imaginary island called Gosh.

Zeeka Chronicles [Revenge of Zeeka] was a nominee in the SIBA Awards 2017.in the category Best Science Fiction.
It placed third in that Category.
The book received a five-star review from Readers Favorite on 27/9/17

My Life as a Banker placed second in SIBA Awards 2016 in the category Best Bio/Memoirs.

I am Cancer Free came first in McGrath’s House Awards 2016 in the category Best Non-fiction.
THe book also received a five-star review from Readers Favorite in February 2017.

Most writers I know are voracious readers. What kind of books do you like to read? What is your favorite book?

I love reading and will read and review any type of book. I like books with a moral to the story.
I cannot pinpoint a favorite book because there are many that I enjoyed.

Let's play a quick game of "This or That".

E-books or real books? E-books.
Coffee or tea? Tea
Sweet or savory? Savory
Dogs or cats? Dogs
Summer or Winter? Summer
Morning or night? Morning

Would you mind telling us about your writing style? Such as: Do you have a routine? Do you need complete silence or blaring music? Early morning writing or late night writing?

My thoughts flow best in the stillness of the night. I can get a lot done between the hours of 8.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.

Do you have a favorite writing snack?

I cannot eat anything while writing and that is why I love to write after dinner.

Which do you think is the hardest to write: the first sentence or the last one?

The first sentence is easiest to write. From there on the words flow. The characters come to life and tell me what to write.

What is your biggest distraction while writing?

Sometimes while writing, someone will call on the telephone and keep me away from my writing, disrupting my trend of thought. This does not happen very often.

What is the best writing advice you've ever received?

Keep writing, even when it hurts. Incidentally, I am working on a book with those very words as a subtitle.


Do you have any advice for new writers?
Follow your dreams and never give up.
I am also working on a book to help new authors. It will be published before the end of the year.

What's next for you? What do your readers have to look forward to?

I will keep on writing. However, my strongest wish is to have one of my books – Zeeka Chronicles [Revenge of Zeeka] made into a movie.
Then my readers will really have something to which to look forward.

Where can we connect with you? Tell us where to find you online.

My readers can find me on Facebook where I have four pages:

My Author Page

Fascinating Memoirs

Revenge of Zeeka

Brenda’s Video Book Trailers

I am also on Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Google Plus.


Twitter

LinkedIn

Amazon Universal Link

Google Plus

An Interview with Author Asif Husain Khan

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Asif Husain Khan a former Management official and author of Tracing my Footsteps.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I have been a management person with varied experience in Marketing, Planning, Procurement, and production. With thirteen years of stay with a tobacco company in Pakistan (an affiliate of Philip Morris Inc.) I was responsible, in addition to other marketing functions, writing company's long/short-term plans and also the preparation of periodic reports. During next fifteen years, I was responsible for procurement of fertilizer and pesticides from all over the world; this provided an opportunity to communicate and meet people from different nationalities.
I am a graduate with Economics and Statistics; in addition, I have attended several professional courses.

What inspired you to write your first book?

It was March 2014 in Fremont, California, that I desperately searched for a short course to kill my three months stay in the USA.
I had no specific choice in mind.
While going through available courses, I chose one on English Writing skills for non-fiction writers offered by Berkeley University, California. The choice was more for the university than the course itself, as I always desired to study there.
At the end of the course, participants were asked to write an essay on different topics suggested by the instructor.
I was asked to write on myself.
It was a difficult topic, as I had no idea what to write, the only few sentences I could think of were who I am, my qualifications experience, just like a curriculum vitae not to talk about 2500 required words.
It took quite a few days, and gradually, I was able to add more words.
When the essay was complete, it exceeded 2900 words.
Before the final evaluation by the instructor, the whole class was divided into two groups, and each group sat in a circle.
Each author dispensed his or her essay to every member of the group and read his or her essay aloud.
After he was done, other members discussed the positive and negative aspects of the essay, the author had to sit quietly.
I was the second to last to readout.
When I was done, I just sat with my fingers crossed and waited for the negative comments to pour in.
People started giving their opinion, but I could hear positive comments coming from everywhere.
They returned the copies to me with their comments after the discussions. When I went through the comments, the instructor wrote at the opening paragraph “Great first sentence. I have never heard this before. It’s very interesting.”
Again she writes “These paragraphs end with ‘snappers,’ like Zinsser mentions.
Nice work.”
One of the course participants wrote appreciating remarks at every paragraph: she wrote in the opening paragraph, “I really like learning this detail.”
At the last paragraph, she wrote “Great close. You just need a paragraph like this at the end.”
Another participant wrote about a paragraph, where I mentioned a servant in her late seventies who used to tell us a story every night; she wrote “I would like to hear more about the story-telling aspect.
What did her voice sound like?”
One of the members of the group wrote “Lovely writing. I would like to see the finished piece or the book this could turn into”
Comments from other participants were no different.

When I was back in Pakistan, I received a few emails from my course-mates persuading me to expand the essay; Shalra, my wife also encouraged, and that was the time Tracing My Footsteps started taking a shape.

Are your writings based on someone you know or events in your own life?

Tracing My Footsteps is my story, a story about people around me: my parents, and people around me.
It contains details about the culture and traditions inside the house, a house built in 1760, it's about the culture and daily life outside the house.
It's about my travelling to other countries and also within my own country.
It contains interesting anecdotes which I encountered from time to time.
There were some emotional moments how I felt then when my parents and siblings started leaving one after the other.




What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I spent ten years in the house I was born, my father was born, and my grandfather and great-grandfather were born. I remembered the house and the people living there in a joint family system. I also had some memories about the surrounding vicinity, but I wanted to know more about the place and the people, my ancestors and the history about the house and the area. I had interviewed people living now in Pakistan and they were there in Meerut at that time, but the information I collected was not enough I would think enough for the book. I contacted my cousin still living in Meerut, India, who is very fond of collecting such information and is a writer himself. He provided some detailed information which helped me to write this book, but I still think that information was not enough.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes, I do in fact, although I was not aware of.
The instructor at UC Berkeley mentioned on my final project as saying " These paragraphs end with ‘snappers,’ like Zinsser mentions".
I am not sure if this style is of my own or I picked-up unconsciously while going through Zinsser's book "On Writing Well", but it seems less likely because styles cannot be changed by going through one book.
I also like and believe what Sam Shepard says "The most authentic endings are the ones which are already revolving towards another beginning."

Zinsser quotes work done by three authors, E. B. White, H L Mencken and James Herndon. All these three authors have chosen a topic which is normally of no interest to mass readers. They have written for themselves but strong attributes like rhythm, selection of words, specific details and a purpose with simple style have made those writings worth reading. Zinsser advises writers not to worry about what the reader or publisher is looking for, write for yourself, choose your own topic, depict your personality and humor if you like it. I have tried to add those attributes and wrote it for myself.


What book are you reading now?

I have just completed Brenda Mohammed's book " My Life As A Banker" and I am now reading "Life In a Hospice" by Ann Richardson.

What are your current projects?

Hopefully, my paperback version will be out this month and then I will start my new book which will consist of short real-life stories.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
In case I get a chance to visit my birthplace, Meerut in India I would change my book "Tracing My Footsteps" considerably.
The reason is, I would see the house I was born after more than fifty years, I would go into minor details which I might have missed out.
There is so much to study, even the surrounding vicinity of the house which was built a few hundred years ago and was in its original shape at the time I was born has changed a lot how it has transformed into present-day structure but the layout is the same and most of the people living there are 2nd or 3rd generation of the people who lived at that time.
I would collect some more details and anecdotes of my forefathers from my cousin living there and is fond of maintaining the historical record. With all that additional input, I am sure the book will be changed considerably.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I like Russel Baker as a memoirist; his memoir "Growing Up" has a flow of story with detailed description and nice words.
In fact, I learned from this book that I went for searching new words in my book.
Although at times he describes emotional scenes he seems to be in control, on the contrary, I wrote some emotional scenes but that show I am on emotional pitch. I like Zinsser for what he describes and guides on writing non-fiction.
I learned a lot from "The Art of the Personal Essay" by Philip Lopate.
It contains essays on almost every topic.

Who designed the covers?

I conceived the basic concept of the cover design, which shows author following his footsteps back to his childhood. I asked a girl from commercial arts to develop the design. She did a good job. She showed the concept in a human face. It has come up very well.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I go to gym for my exercises about 4-5 days in a week. I play tennis although not on regular basis and also go swimming occasionally.

If you were not a writer what else would you like to do?

I am a management person by profession incidentally turned writer, but I am strongly inclined towards designing and interior decoration. I feel I would have been an architect or an interior decorator if I had not chosen management as my career.

Follow Asif Husain Khan on Facebook and Twitter

Buy his book at Amazon.