Best author interview: Opëshum Patroz, author of Beyond the Father : Book 1 (gods on Trial: The Series™)

 

Opëshum has been writing since she was a child, and believes that authors are selected by their

 characters to bring their stories to the world. Incredibly shy and introverted, Opëshum does not make

 public appearances. She prefers to remain behind the scenes as the characters in her books take center

 stage. Her current work, the 8-Book SciFi Epic gods on Trial: The Series™ kicks off with Book 1,

BEYOND THE FATHER. Opëshum calls Sheridan, Wyoming her home, where she is currently writing

 Book 2 of this series. She enjoys nature walks, full moons, and open spaces where she can stare up at

 the stars.

Ruyi: Tell us something about yourself, where you are based, and how you came to be a writer.

OP: I live out in the sticks, off the beaten track near Sheridan, Wyoming. It’s a sanctuary for me after having been born in New York City, having lived in London for years, and having reached a point in my life where the noise and stimulation was disconnecting me from who I truly am - a recluse. However, as I moved to different locations, I always stayed close to my typewriter and wrote for the sheer joy of it. Although I no longer use a typewriter to create my work, I am forever captivated by the writing process, which has been a part of who I am since childhood.

Ruyi: Tell us something about the books/contents that you have written or created and the story behind them. 

 OP: I have written several books - but the characters in the books that currently remain unpublished have yet to give me permission to bring those books to the light of day. I will share, however, the story behind my first published work, Beyondthe Father. The first of 8 books in the “gods on Trial series,” Beyond the Father is a story that captures the memories of a precious population known as the Xżyberians. I regard them as precious because my conversions with them, and my ability to see them, have been both an honor and a gift. While I know that most people who dwell on earth will be uncomfortable with this answer, and will be inclined to believe that we are the only life forms in this infinitely vast universe, I must still be forthright about the origin of this book series. The Xżyberians chose me to tell their story, and I am humbled to have been selected.

Ruyi: Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way? 

 OP: I enjoy both eBooks and physical copies. The format does not change the experience for me if the work is written well. Beyond the Father is available on eBook, and the delivery of that format was handled entirely by my publisher. They will be releasing a paperback version of Beyond the Father in early December 2022. 

Ruyi: Which of your book is your favorite?

OP: Among the stories I have written, I have no favorites. They are all equally important to me.  

Ruyi: If any of your books were made into a movie, who would you have as the leading actor. 

OP: There is one character, Anglid, which readers have told me they see as the main character of Beyond the Father. However, as the author, I am ultimately positioning the book series to have a main character in the physical world and one in the spiritual world. It would indeed be interesting to see how a film director would capture the image of Flexix, the god in Book 1.

related story- Discover yourself

Ruyi: Do you think self-publishing is the future of book publishing?

 

OP: I think self-publishing has changed with the advent of the internet and smart phones, since publishing knowledge is no longer closely centralized. For authors who can traverse the demands that self-publishing requires, there are no barriers to entry. It’s a wonderful time to self-publish your manuscripts, if you have the time and resources to leverage all of the opportunities that self-publishing can offer. However, while self-publishing has earned a strong position in the way books reach readers, traditional publishing will continue to offer its own key benefits to authors who choose that option. 

Ruyi: What place does writing or content creation hold in your life?  

OP: It’s everything. It’s all - and COMPLETELY- who I am. 

Ruyi: What is your writing process or a typical writing day routine?  

OP: A typical writing day entails isolating myself from as many external sounds and distractions as possible. I am pretty easily distracted, and cannot write with music playing, the radio or TV on, or other noises. However, as long as it’s quiet and the moment feels still enough, I am able to develop my stories with the depth and crafting I feel they deserve.

Ruyi: What marketing techniques have been most effective for you? 

OP: My publisher has gotten measurable results by forcing me to open a Goodreads account- which I wouldn’t have known to do since I am not social media savvy. They have also used Twitter, Bookstagrams, and blog tour partnerships to expose my work to a larger audience. There are many great marketing options out there; however, these are the strategies that appear to be working best.

 

related story- Hope Raisers

 

Ruyi: What do you think makes a book or content sell?  

OP: Honesty. When authors write from their own unique voice, honestly crafting their stories with a style that really reflects their personal style of storytelling, then readers will be drawn to that. There is so much vast content out there to write, and so many wonderful ways to tell those stories. I believe that in being present in our own skin and honoring who we truly are when we write, we are able to produce books that people will want to read. 

Ruyi: What is the most moving or affecting thing a reader has said to you? 

OP: One reader whom I greatly respect said that Book 1 of “gods on Trial: The Series™” would make a great movie one day. That statement made me cry :) 

related story- First Assignment

Ruyi: What are your favorite books, and why?  

OP: I will always adore Goethe’s “The Sorrows of Young Werther” for the joyfully luscious description of unrequited love that particular novella achieved. I was also heavily influenced by Dostoevsky’s “Notes From Underground” for its razor-sharp edginess, and the successful use of magic realism in Gabriel Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” 

Ruyi: Who are your favorite authors and what do you like the most about them? 

OP: For the reasons above I adore the writings of Goethe, Dostoevsky and Márquez. As an author, I also feel deeply drawn to Alexander Pushkin. 

Ruyi: Tell us about the works that you are currently working on and their progress.  

OP: I am currently heads down drafting Book 2 of “gods on Trial: The Series™” - which I am expecting to complete by the end of 2023.  

related story- South Side Alchemy

Ruyi: What challenges do you think are faced by writers, content creators like you, and what is the worst thing about the industry according to you?  

OP: I think the biggest challenge when creating a novel series is making sure you don’t get distracted and derail the direction of the work. I try not to read every single review or every recommendation or wish list that reader’s express they want to see in Book 2.  I also try really hard not to rush the process of completing the upcoming story just because fans may be anxious for the release of Book 2.  At the end of the day, I ultimately want to deliver fully developed stories that pass the rigor of getting past my own standards, and I fear I will fail if I rush the process. 

Ruyi: Apart from writing, what goals do you want to achieve in life? 

 OP: I want to learn as much as I can about what “makes the world go around” and what inspires humanity.

 Ruyi: What message do you want to share with budding writers and content creators?  

OP: The most important message I have for budding writers is to take your time. The very best of what you will write will take more than a day, a month, or even several years. Take your time to perfect your work. Your future dedicated readers will ultimately thank you for it.

Ruyi: Where can readers find you on social media?

Facebook 

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Goodreads 

New books to read right now:

Hope Raisers

Rosen

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Fake news around the dinner table

Beyond the father

First Assignment

Where the Lilacs Bloom once again

Interview with Author Roni Rosenthal

 

Roni (Aharona) Rosenthal, PhD, was born in Haifa, Israel. She is named after her grandfather Aharon, who passed away eight months before her birth.

Roni is the Director of Judaic Studies and a Hebrew Literature Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

Ruyi: Tell us something about yourself, where you are based, and how you came to be a writer.

RR: From a young age I loved reading books, but I never thought I had the ability to interest another person through my words. I started writing only when I reached my 30’s. I wish I knew it before.

I always knew I would be a teacher because I loved working with students. At some point I realized that a good school needs a good leader and I found myself in the position of a school principal. Later I went back to school and completed my Ph.D. I really enjoy working and supporting my college students now.

 

Ruyi: Tell us something about the books/contents that you have written or created and the story behind them. 

RR: In December 2009 my father passed away. I went home for the funeral and found an old family photo album, a handwritten family tree, and a note that read "Write their stories, tell the world what really happened to them."

And so, I did.

I’ve recently published a new book titled “Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” based on a true story and real events of my Jewish family in Romania.

“This is a beautiful, heart-wrenchingstory about the journey of a Jewish family in Romania throughout WW2 and the20th century. A Powerful, Tragic-Heroic story of unsung heroes and anEverlasting memoir, based on a true story.” (Amazon reviewers)

 

Ruyi: Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

RR: Yes absolutely, I enjoy various book formats, including E-books, audiobooks and paperback. It was especially important for me to make my books accessible to all readers.

“Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” is available as a Kindle here:

Amazon

 

Ruyi: Which of your book is your favorite?

RR: The book “Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” is a culmination of 12 years of family research. I was able to find a lot of supporting and personal documents, but there are still many questions that remain open.

I’ve done my best to honor my father’s wishes and pay respect to the hardships endured by my great-grandmother Rosa Isopovichi and her niece (my grandmother’s cousin), Friddie Stoleru.

 

Ruyi: If any of your books were made into a movie, who would you have as the leading actor.

RR: Interesting question. I recently watched (once again) the movie: "Woman in Gold" based on a true story. I believe that the excellent relation between the two wonderful actors: Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds creates something magical on the screen.

 

Ruyi: Do you think self-publishing is the future of book publishing?

RR: Yes, it allows writers to express their unique voice and literary works in various ways and encourages diversity.  It also exposes readers to a wider range of literature and cultural aspects that might not have been available to readers within the traditional publishing industry. 

 

Ruyi: What place does writing or content creation hold in your life? 

RR: Writing is part of the air I breathe. Over the years, despite the daily hardships, I never stopped creating and writing. Today I feel that writing is an essential part of my daily life and I wish I had more time to focus only on writing.

 

Ruyi: What is your writing process or a typical writing day routine? 

RR: The best hours for me to sit and write are at night. Often, I set the alarm to 4am or just write after midnight until the early morning hours. These are the quiet hours. When everything is calm, I allow myself to connect with my feelings and thoughts and give my whole to the world of writing and creation.

 

Ruyi: What marketing techniques have been most effective for you? 

RR: I wish I had a good advice to share with other writers. I believe in word of mouth when it comes to book recommendation.

 

Ruyi: What do you think makes a book or content sell? 

RR: I personally enjoy reading books based on true stories. When I wrote this book: “Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again” I let reality and real events dictate the book. I remember having a sort of argument with my editor who suggested changing the ending of one of the events. My answer was, but it happened like that in reality. I can't revive the woman and give the event a happy ending, if reality outlined the end in a certain way.

I believe that sometimes reality is greater than imagination.

 

Ruyi: What is the most moving or affecting thing a reader has said to you? 

RR: Readers really liked the book and that moved me. I was told that my book is a “page-turner”. I was told by some readers that they had tears in their eyes while reading Fridie’s story. That the story reminded them of their lost family members, and a reader who said that she wished my book would never end.

I have tears in my eyes thinking about those readers, their families and so many lost lives.

 

Ruyi: What are your favorite books, and why? 

RR: I enjoy memoirs and historical-fictions. I mostly read stories based on real life experience. 

 

Ruyi: Who are your favorite authors and what do you like the most about them? 

RR: With intention and foreknowledge, I decided years ago not to choose one favorite author. (The same goes for my music taste). I have many authors whose writing I enjoy. I prefer to keep all options open and read a wide variety of different writers and literary works.

 

Ruyi: Tell us about the works that you are currently working on and their progress. 

RR: I was asked to translate the book “Wherethe Lilacs Bloom Once Again” into Hebrew and I am working to accomplish this task day and night. It is important for me to publish the book in other languages as well. It is important for me that the book and my family's memories resonate in different parts of the world. It is important that we learn from history. It is important that we hear the silenced voices. It is important to know, it is important to learn from history and most importantly - to remember.

 

 

Ruyi: What challenges do you think are faced by writers, content creators like you, and what is the worst thing about the industry according to you? 

RR:The downside of the system is that there is a huge variety of books that are printed every year but receive very little attention. These are the books that I, as a reader, prefer to read. I will choose to devote my already limited time to reading the books that do not have a well-oiled machine of advertising relations and money behind them. I prefer the books published by writers who are just starting out, local or anonymous writers.

Ruyi: What message do you want to share with budding writers and content creators? 

RR: Keep writing. Your words touch and can move mountains. Even by reaching the heart of one reader, consider it as your true success.

 

Ruyi: Where can readers find you on social media?

Facebook 

Twitter

Goodreads

Linkedin

 

 

PROFILE: Meet Natalie Rodriguez, Author of the Intriguing Book series, Elephant and Skeletons

 

Natalie Rodriguez is an award-winning writer, director, and mental health and anti-violence/trauma advocate based in Los Angeles, CA. In 2014, she graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-Television-Film. Her first experience in entertainment was an internship at the Conan O'Brien show and Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures, where she worked at the offices of producers, Matthew Rhodes (“Cherry,” "Men in Black: International") and Academy Award-winner, Cathy Schulman ("Sharp Objects," "Crash").

Natalie was also a panelist at events, including Google, Hispanicize, and YouTube, where she has shared her story as a writer, filmmaker, and a female working in the entertainment industry. Some of her previous writing work can be found in publications such as the HuffPost Blog, Thrive Global, Anxiety Resource Center, Opposing Views, NowThis News, Zooey Deschanel's Hello Giggles, The Mighty, and more.

In 2017, she founded her production company, Extraordinary Pictures, focusing on both films, television, digital series, and social issue projects. The company has a list of projects in its roaster, including development on a TV sitcom, "The D," which placed in top-ten for best comedy screenplays at Stage 32. At the moment, Natalie’s second directorial feature film, “Howard Original,” is in post-production and set for an August 2020 release date on YouTube Premium. The film is based on the award-winning short film about a washed-up screenwriter named Howard, who encounters more than just selling a story, a studio rejection, and writer's block when his pet cat comes to life.

Natalie’s directorial feature film, "The Extraordinary Ordinary," which she also wrote, produced, and was the executive producer on, is making its round through the festival circuit. The film deals with young adults, mental health awareness, and the aftermath of trauma. The film won ‘Best Film About Women’s Empowerment’ at the Glendale International Film Festival and scored nominations in Best Director, Best Female Director, and Best Picture. The film also had a sold-out world premiere screening at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF), winning ‘Best Performance’ by the leading actress, Maddison Bullock. Further details on the project can be found @theextraordfilm, including recent film festival awards and nominations.

Her other screenplays and films have also been featured and placed in the final rounds at HollyShorts Film Festival, NALIP: Latino Lens Film Festival, ShortsTV, Stage 32: Comedy Screenplay, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Culver City Film Festival, Indie Night Film Festival, Hollywood Screenplay Contest, Table Read My Screenplay - Austin Film Festival, and others.

Natalie was most recently an ambassador for Jen Zeano Designs (JZD), a clothing company in association with USA Networks. While she continues to build her creative background, Natalie is always open to collaborating with other artists and advocates. Currently, she awaits the publication of her first young adult novel this April 2020, "Elephant," a story about four childhood best friends who uncover a family secret. The book was also a finalist at Clare Books' the Binge-Watching Cure II contest for 'Best Novel.’

SOME PUBLISHED BOOKS 

BY NATALIE RODRIGUEZ

ELEPHANT

When was the last time you were shut down for experiencing a mental health struggle or feeling unheard by others, including those closest to you?

Summer of 2006. Four childhood best friends. A family secret.

After a strange encounter leaves him hospitalized, a timid teenage boy named Matt "Matty" Smith comes home to a continuous series of events met with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Under the guardianship of his grandma, Lucia, Matt lives with unspoken questions about his grandfather and parents. The elephant in the room. As Matt develops over the summer, the secrets only grow more profound and complex. Will the answers ever come? While searching for answers, Matt and his three childhood best friends encounter the meanings of love, forgiveness, and fate.

This story is for those who feel their voice is unheard and for children, teenagers, and the adult who never had the chance to heal from their pain.

BUY

SKELETONS

When was the last time you confronted the skeletons in your closest?

Immediately following book one, “Elephant,” Matthew “Matty” Smith awakens from his coma and discovers that his worst nightmare is all true: his grandmother, Jamie, and Derek have gone missing and his mother murdered his father and grandfather years ago.

With the hospital placing him on lockdown, including no visitation rights by his loved ones such as his best friend, Lisa, Matty finds himself deteriorating into a state of the abyss, consumed with the secrets of his family. Convinced that it was the ‘stranger’ who kidnapped his grandmother and friends, no one believes him. The hospital only believes that Matty is slipping into a toxic mental state, repeating the cycle of his family.

Until one day, Lisa helps Matty escape the hospital.

On the run from Dr. Brown, Officer Barry, and the town of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Matty and Lisa set off to find their friends and Lucia and for answers on who the ‘stranger’ is. Once they unmask who the ‘stranger’ is, Matty continues to unravel the deepest secrets of what was supposed to be forever hidden in the Smith family as well as the town.

BUY

Click here to follow 

Natalie Rodriguez on Twitter

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Counting the Cost: Ruyi’s Interview with Bulgarian Film Director and Writer, Aleksandar Tomov-Junior

There are no short cuts to greatness.  

You must follow due process!

Bulgarian Writer and Film Director Aleksandar Tomov-Junior

Ruyi: Tell us something about yourself, where you are based, and how you came to be a writer.

 

My name is Alexander Tomov, Jr. I am a freelance writer, screenwriter, and film director. I live in Bulgaria, a small country in Eastern Europe. I was focused on literature from an early age. Both my parents are writers. I started writing short stories before my 20`s.

 

 

Ruyi: Interesting, Tomov! Good to hear that your parents are writers. Tell us something about the books/contents that you have written or created and the story behind them.

 

I write mostly short stories. This is my literary form. I have several self-published books with short stories. I also distribute many of these online, free. In recent years, I have also written screenplays for documentaries and feature films. My favorite genre of my stories is absurd. However, I also have stories in many other genres, such as documentary, fantasy, science fiction, post-apocalyptic, surreal, dystopia, satire and grotesque, and drama.

 

Ruyi: Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

 

I prefer to read a book on paper. But I do not underestimate and belittle the electronic version of the books. Either way, the future of all arts is closely connected to the Internet. It provides a type of global communication that has been unknown in all previous eras and surpasses even the boldest notions. I have published several e-books on Amazon in the past, but in recent years, I have provided a large part of my work not only as short stories, but also as short movies, which are free.

 

Ruyi:  You are truly a man of many parts. Which of your book is your favorite?

 

Maybe my last book, “Beyond the Absurd”. Initially, it consisted of 12 short stories, but I am currently working on expanding it.

 

 

Ruyi: You are a movie director and you already know the process of making a good movie. If any of your books were made into a movie, who would you have as the leading actor?

 

That`s a very difficult question. I am a cinephile and I have followed the development of many actors, among whom there are those with exceptional talent. One of my favorites is Tim Roth. But I also can't ignore the great old school actors. I immediately think of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

 

Ruyi: if you love someone like Robert, you must write novels, do extensive promotion, and hope someday you will get into the Hollywood to make your dream a reality. There are no short cuts to greatness. You must follow due process. However, do you think self-publishing is the future of book publishing?

 

I cannot say for sure, but the truth is that self-publishing is what gives exceptional freedom and opportunities to, so-called, neglected authors. In the publishing industry in my country, as well as around the World, unfortunately, there is a great deal of psychological burden. It all comes down to impose personal preferences, which are not always adequate. A classic example is the Harry Potter story. The book was initially rejected by the most famous and established publishers. It was published by accident, due to a personal request of one of the minor children of one of the publishers. From then on, we all know the story. I mean that this is a classic example of how sometimes the opinion of even the most skilled in the industry is not adequate. The biggest check is time. The case is similar to the recommendations with which people are a mass burden. At the first level, your only chance to be noticed is if a prominent literary critic points you out. Only then, readers will pay attention to you. Fortunately, many people look at the meaning and content of what is written.

 

Ruyi: Absolutely, you are right. Talent is never enough. Many things help a writer to limelight. One of them is luck and another is perseverance. What place does writing or content creation hold in your life?

 

I think about it all the time, but I do not keep statistics on the exact time I spend in writing. Everything happens by feeling.

 

Ruyi: Quite frankly, the muse is your friend. What is your writing process or a typical writing day routine?

 

The process is strange. My day does not necessarily start with sitting in front of the computer and writing. Everything moves on an unconscious level. If I have to analyze my process, I can say that at certain moments my consciousness turns on this frequency. Then I just sketch out unrelated ideas, thoughts, and even dialogues, clarified and arranged over time.

 

Ruyi: What marketing techniques have been most effective for you?

 

This is something I am still learning. I cannot say I have found the right formula.

 

 

Ruyi: What do you think makes a book or content sell?

 

It's always about the story. It must be authentic and told in an exceptional way, to reach the consciousness of everyone, regardless of the reader`s personality and taste. For me, there are probably 10-15 immortal topics in literature, as well as in cinema and life. If they are told uniquely, no reader and no person can remain impartial to them. The eternal subjects are love, death, friendship, betrayal, jealousy, greed, envy, hate, power, sex, violence, fear, revenge, remorse, change.

 

Ruyi: What is the most moving or affecting thing a reader has said to you?

 

Several readers have compared my short stories to those of Franz Kafka, which is a great compliment to me.

 

Ruyi: What are your favorite books, and why?

 

I can say an infinite number of books here. But one of the books that have always amazed me is Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s, ”The Little Prince”. A simply written book that contains the whole World.

 

Ruyi: Who are your favorite authors and what do you like the most about them?

 

I would certainly point out many authors who, on a conscious and unconscious level, have shaped me and strongly influenced me as a writer. Some of them are Dostoevsky, Kafka, Borges, Chekhov, Exupery, Jules Verne, Gogol, and William Shakespeare.

 

Ruyi: Tell us about the works that you are currently working on and their progress.

 

I am currently working on several screenplays for feature films. Soon, I intend to translate them into English and offer them for a film adaptation to a film director in my country, as well as to Western directors. I also continue to write frequent short stories. They are like second nature to me.

 

Ruyi: Good. What challenges do you think are faced by writers, content creators like you, and what is the worst thing about the industry?

 

Aleksandar Tomov-Junior

The biggest challenge for a self - published author is to find a way to express himself. Many talented writers fail to do so. In today's world of super-information, this is extremely difficult. The worst in the industry are prejudice and ego. Everything is subjective. Incorrect definitions are often required. In this respect, one can only trust yourself, no matter how difficult it may be. As I said earlier, even the most skilled and famous in this field make huge mistakes. The only unmistakable test remains time.

 

Ruyi: Apart from writing, what goals do you want to achieve in life?

 

All professional goals for me are related to cinema and literature. As a hobby, I am a very avid amateur athlete.

 

Ruyi: What message do you want to share with budding writers and content creators?

 

Even if it sounds proud and a little arrogant, I would tell them that there should be only one way to make things happen. And this is their way! To believe in yourself is difficult, but it often gives the most invaluable advice. Take care in these difficult times!

 

 

Ruyi:  Yes, we are truly in troubled times. Coronavirus popularly known as Covid-19 is a pandemic and it is hurting the world right now. The World Health Organisation(WHO) say we should stay at home and stay safe. Observe social distancing, wash our hands regularly, and use tissue papers when you sneeze or cough. Do not touch your face, eyes and mouth. Lastly, self isolate yourself if you have been exposed to someone who has the virus. Where can readers find you on social media?

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

Thank you, Alek!

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YOU MAD? 

BAKE CAKE! 

BY JOY ISI BEWAJI

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complete story

SHE WANTED TO GET MARRIED

 TO JIMMY. BUT WHEN SHE MET DALMOS,

 HER PRIORITIES CHANGED. 

DALMOS WAS TOO GOOD ON THE BED

AND SHE COULD NOT RESIST HIM