Post date: Sep 13, 2016 4:06:32 AM
Pepi Vilana interview with David Alan Binder
Dear Writers and Dear Readers, this is my first interview with an author from Spain. Now there are interviews from 8 countries and 41 states (of the USA).
Short bio from her website (Google translated this for me and sometimes the pronouns are wrong, but Pepi is a she): Pepi Vilana studied at the school Josep Maria Folch i Torres and the Autonomous University, where she graduated in Economics.
In 1996 she won a contest of literature in her village in the categories of short story and poetry respectively. Thus she began her writing career while pursuing his dream of becoming a math teacher.
In 1999, soon after completing her studies in economics she started working as a teacher at the School Pia Caldes de Montbuí while climbing start practicing assiduously.
In 1997 she published her first book, "The Dream of Kilimanjaro" is the journal of the expedition which was part to ascend to the summit. This book has made a second edition in 2014.
In 2013 he published "The Conquest of Cim" ("The conquest of the summit"), the story of the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson.
That same year, after several publishing houses offered to publish his novel "Mom, Dad. I'm here", the author decided by Createspace publisher, which still works.
In 2014 he published his first novel in English "Murder in Kathmandu". It's a whodunit but also a trip to Nepal, a country that awaits us many surprises.
He is now preparing his second novel in English, "The Mysterious Affair of the Sirius star" and will feature the same characters we met in "Murder in Kathmandu".
And also in the process of preparing a self-help book, "How Karate helped me to overcome stress", with which in a very personal way we expose how he overcame a very difficult part of his life thanks to the daily practice of katas
Website: http://www.pepivilanaescritora.com/ (escritora means writer)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pepi-Vilana/e/B00S4SLMIE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1473616948&s r=8-2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PepiVilana
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PEPIVILANA/?ref=bookmarks
Good reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7174626.Pepi_Vilana
1. How do you pronounce your name (only answer if appropriate)?
My name is pronounced in the same way that is writes, Pepi Vilana.
2. Where are you currently?
I live in Spain, in a small town near Barcelona called Mediona.
3. What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far?
What I more have learned since started to write is that in every second of the day there is something by learning.
4. What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating quirk?
I'm happy when I write, when I try to capture with words what I feel at this time. Writing is my passion.
5. Tell us your insights on self-publish or use a publisher?
In Spain, the publishers take over the work of the writer and this is a very low percentage for his books. When discovered Createspace publishing, I thought in publish because I give the opportunity of sell low demand, I might make a living from writing.
a. Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they?
The name of my publisher is Createspace. CreateSpace is a DBA of On-Demand Publishing LLC, part of the Amazon group of companies.
6. Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
The e-books are easy to publish books and very low costs. This brings greater benefits both for the Publisher to own writer and, if we add alternative publishers, which help publish to anyone who wants to do it, I think this is the future. Print low commands and each time more books digital.
7. Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published?
The best advice I can offer is to be patient.
8. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent? Any tips for new writers on getting one?
I do not. I never hired an agent service although I think that it is relatively easy to find a good agent via the internet.
For those new writers that will move well in internet, that take advantage of the networks social. For those who may not spend much time to promote themselves, looking for an agent.
9. Do you have any suggestions or helps for new writers (please be specific and informational as possible)?
Those who choose to write and dedicate yourself to it, must have something to tell and there must be people who want to enjoy or learn while reading it. I have a few rules when writing:
-I am true to myself
-Humble
-Language without looking around to reach more people
-Use correcting grammatical
-Back to read what it has written
10. What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating?
I was surprised was my ability to create covers of books. I always thought that it would not be able to but the truth is that I learned and I keep trying to improve.
11. How many books have you written?
I've written several books:
-On my excursions by the mountain
-"La conquesta del Cim"
-"El sueño del Kilimanjaro"
-About my work as a teacher
-"Mamá,papá. Estoy aquí"
-My first novel black in English:
-"Murder in Kathmadu"
- And now I'm writing a novel about my disease, the Hashimoto's encephalopathy.
12. Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)?
The main advice to be a better writer is to be critical of self and learn from the mistakes.
13. Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story?
I always think in the objective of the protagonist and them roads that you take to it are then turns that go giving to the history. In the life real nothing is easy, you fall and must return to lift you and this is what I intend to capture in my books.
14. What makes your or any book stand out from the crowd?
I don't think that any of my books has excelled, but has no doubt helped other people.
I think that the books that stand out is because its essence, the subject of that book or the objective of its protagonists is very next to them readers. You need people who believes in what you believe, or who see the world as you see it.
15. What are some ways in which you promote your work?
When I finish a book, I write a press release and sent to different media. Twitter and Facebook also are some good platforms to give to know your work and sell you to you same as writer.
16. What is the one thing you would do differently now (concerning writing or editing or publishing or illustrating) and why?
If had time I would like to return to rewrite my old novels, because I think that now could improve them. But also understand that form part of the wealth of the learning, of myself, of my growth as a person.
17. What saying or mantra do you live by?
“Live and let live”
18. Anything else you would like to say?
Many thanks for your time.