The post is not particularly new. But many of you probably have not read it because it was published as a guest post here. However, as time passed, I changed, the way I see the world is not the same anymore, either. And the post below is a little different, probably the changes are slight and subtle but they say a lot to those who can read behind the lines.

Please note, the post below is in no way personal. It is collective memory of things I have been told, things I heard, maybe things I felt, but probably things we all went through at different stages of our lives. These things changed us, made us tougher, made some of us cynical, made most of us hurt, made few of us weak.

Imagine it like this…

You meet someone, you talk for hours to each other ‑ you laugh, you joke, you have a fairly good time together.

You grow closer to each other… you start trusting, you know each other’s thoughts, ideas, feelings. You share more… and you care more.

You can talk about anything and everything, you would not bother about work when that person needs you, you are there for them and they are there for you. You can cry on their shoulder when you need it. Cliché? Maybe. Pathetic? Who cares? Because you do cry on that shoulder any time you need it.

You can’t imagine your life without that person… they are a huge part of it whatever you call them (we don’t label people here, do we?)

Of course you fight, but you deal with it … and it seems to you that nothing will ever change.  Why would it? You honestly believe that forever has no end.

Not that life cares what you believe in.
Because whatever is known as forever for you is just a moment in terms of eternity.

One day you fight, and then nothing is the same. Just one small fight. Months later you won’t even remember the reason for that fight. Just one word. Sometimes even just one look. Voila. You did it. NOTHING. IS. THE. SAME.

You let your pride and ego run loose. You gave your emotions a permission to fog the mind. You were… well, human. From that day on nothing you actually do matters. Words are not enough. Actions are not enough. Nothing is (or ever will be) enough. Nobody says it is over… just the regularity of your used-to-be-endless-conversations is different and after a long month filled with messages and mails and calls that went to voice mail you only receive a much cliched “thanks, I’m doing good” response.

Once.

First, you did miss them. Of course, you did. Everyone does. The intensity of the pain couldn’t be described in words. Then, the pain lessened but reached its peak each time you didn’t receive a reply to another mail, another message, another call. And then you get used to this absense, to the void that eats you up from inside. Sadly. You miss them still… not that intense, or maybe the ego is playing some crazy games with you. But the pain is not the same anymore.

This is when you lose faith in forever.
This is when you stop believing in people.
This is when you decide that you don’t want to be as close to anyone anymore.

You play in your mind millions of whys, hows, whens, and ifs.
It does not help. It will not help. You can as well stop trying. It does not work this way.
Nothing will get that one person back to you.

It is funny, but you are not afraid of pain, of losing hope, faith, or trust.

Everything you are afraid of is that while today you are still missing that particular person, tomorrow you might not be missing them anymore.

Someone once said, “Relationships are worth fighting for but sometimes you can’t be the only one fighting. Sometimes, people need to fight for you.”

And it hurts so much when they don’t…

It is funny how the world believes what you make it believe.
It is surprising that friends can be fooled that easily.
And it is painful when – even though you don’t want anyone to realize you are not alright – nobody actually senses a thing.

Someone once said there are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn. That someone was a wise person. What he (or she) did not mention is that this is a pretty much painful experience. You fight to hold on when all you have to do it to let it go. Either ways it would hurt like hell.

Once again, the world is a funny place. People are funny here. Thoughts are funny. You can’t help but smile when you think about all those promises that went in vain, all those assurances that you are not alone. Are you not? Seriously? You still smile when you think about those vows made and oaths taken. You know that you smile, don’t you? That hurting bitter smile filled with regrets, disappointments and pain.

We, humans, are really funny. I mean it. Have you ever counted how many of us say how the best things in life are worth waiting for… fighting for… believing in and just never letting go of.

Do you hold on to what you love?
Do you fight for what you think is right?
Do you?

I don’t.
In fact I can’t.
And maybe I don’t want to.
And adding more to that… maybe I even should not.

Because… you know, things change. And no matter how much you wish they could be, they will never be the same. It’s funny that we don’t see it that way. And it’s funny that when we finally see it, nobody else does. And even more funny is that when we see it, when everyone else sees it, when the whole world sees it, it does not matter anymore. You are already bruised, ruined and broken. Nothing can change the fact that everything is messed up more than you can handle.

You might as well again pretend like you are okay. And the world might again as well believe that you are. Funny, huh? But you can’t change the fact that you are not. And you can’t change the fact that it does matter if the world could see that you are not fine, not okay, not happy.

But you will go to sleep as you always do, late in the night. And you will wake up the next morning, putting on the mask. And the world will see the smile and believe you are fine. Can’t see through, can it?

But you know… sometimes everything really IS so messed up that even pretending it is fine does not do the trick anymore. And then out of nothing for a split second everything seems to make perfect sense. The only problem is… it is only for a split second.

The New York Times best selling novel for 57 weeks, Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, has stirred up some controversy since being published in 2007.  The story is a dark one, revolving around Hannah Baker, a high school girl, who committed suicide prior to the opening of the novel.  This is not a plot with a happy ending.  It is not an attempt to save Hannah from suicide.  She is already dead.  Instead, the story is about Hannah’s desire to enlighten others about her reasons for suicide.

Coming home from school one day, Clay Jensen discovers 7 cassette tapes waiting for him, discreetly wrapped and mailed anonymously.  Hannah has sent the tapes to those she believes to be at least partially responsible for her death.  Threatened by public exposure that could lead to embarrassment, being ostracized, or even jail time, those featured on the tapes continue to pass them along to the next on the list, and now Clay finds himself with the tapes in his possession.  As Clay listens to Hannah pour out her thoughts and feelings, the reader gets to hear her voice as well.  As secrets are revealed, we begin to understand the impact our words and actions can have on others, even if we believe them to be innocuous.

There is no denying that Thirteen Reasons Why is dark in nature.  As Meghan Cox Gurdon points out in an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, many contemporary fiction novels for teens are darker than they were a couple decades ago.  Books for teens today often contain horrific images and topics.  An article by Rob Brunner provides Asher’s response to Gurdon’s negative view of popular teen fiction, and provides an explanation why this darker material is so popular with teens today:

I always have a hard time finding the right word to describe the mood of the book [Thirteen Reasons Why].  It basically deals with this uncomfortable subject matter. It’s hard for anyone to bring up, even outside of fiction. But that’s why it needs to be talked about. I think that’s why teens read a lot of these things: because it isn’t talked about openly. Or if it is, it’s talked about in clichéd ways, like that article [by Gurdon]. You have to talk about these things openly and honestly and not just the clichés and the knee-jerk reaction.

Teens today long for someone to understand them.  They are searching for adults who will listen without judgment.  They need to know they are not alone in their thoughts and emotions.  That is why these books have been popular with teens. Parents, teachers, and other adults who stop to consider this should come to the realization that our children need authors who will write about the topics that so many of us find to be dark and distasteful.

Thirteen Reasons Why is such a powerful text because it is one that everyone can identify with whether they have contemplated committing suicide or not.  By writing the novel from both the perspective of Hannah, and Clay, Asher helps every reader connect with both perspectives:  that of the victim, and also that of the bully.  If we stop for a moment to be honest with ourselves, we can all think of people we may have hurt, purposefully, and likely inadvertently.  Thirteen Reasons Why helps us to understand some of the possible consequences our words and actions could have on someone else.  And those consequences don’t just include suicide.  Prior to committing suicide, Hannah experienced a decline from a joyful life into one of depression.  The betrayal, vengeance, lack of thoughtfulness, and other mistreatments suffered by Hannah have a snowball effect that gradually leads her to view suicide as her only escape.  Reflecting upon the severity of the aftereffects, it is not enough for us to mitigate our actions and say that the possible consequences are not our fault.  We don’t have a right to say that the victim should grow a backbone or toughen up; we can’t say that we didn’t know about their abusive upbringing, or the rough times they are going through.  Asher helps us understand that we can never truly know everyone we come into contact with, thus we should always be careful with what we say and how we act.

Conversely, we have all also had experiences where we have been the victim.  We have all been hurt by others.  In some regards this book can help us understand that sometimes the pain that is caused is unintentional, which may help us move past the incident with forgiveness or at least understanding.  But more importantly, Asher helps us know that we are not alone.  Others have been hurt before and others will hurt after us.  There’s a small comfort to be had in knowing we are not the only ones to face the hardships we currently endure.  Asher also presents the reader with some options to deal with the problem of being the victim.  While things didn’t improve for Hannah, the reader may realize some solutions they may not otherwise contemplate, such as talking with a councillor, opening up to family, or confiding in friends.  Hannah provides us with a look at what could happen if we don’t try hard enough to find a solution that works for us, while Clay allows us to see that suicide is final, and it ends all the possibilities that could have existed to find happiness.

Unfortunately, some readers struggle to fully comprehend the reality of teen suicide.  It’s often too simple to blame the victim as weak or flawed.  It’s too simple to say that no one should ever feel suicide is a valid option.  It’s too simple to accuse Asher of creating an unrealistic plot and characterization.  But I urge every single reader to please step back and consider the power of words and actions, especially on a developing teenager.  Especially on someone who experiences repeated disappointment.  Especially on someone who does not have the benefits of a loving family and network of friends.  Teen suicide is real!  You might see it as weakness or illness or whatever, but does that justify allowing these hurting, vulnerable children to simply give up on life?  I implore you not to deny the believability of this story.

With the movie rights already sold to Universal Studios (on February 8, 2011) and casting finished, the impact of Thirteen Reasons Why is primed to reach a much wider audience.  I, for one, look forward to seeing some positive changes in the world as these characters touch the lives of moviegoers and readers alike.  But I shudder to think of the potential fallout that is possible from those who refuse to see teen suicide as a problem.  What about you?  Will you be a believer?  Will you stand up for those who can no longer stand up for themselves?  Allow this story to touch your life as it has for so many of the readers who have sent letters of thanks to Jay Asher.

I mean it. Really. It is not insomnia or something of that kind. No. I just don’t want to sleep. Seriously, what’s the point in sleeping? You sleep – you peddle away your time. I’m better than that.

I never sleep.

They think I do. Fools. Every time I go forth into the night they believe I will be sleeping like everyone else. The only difference is that I am not EVERYONE. Stupid. They never get it. They even don’t know what they want. When I am there, they complain. When I am gone, they complain more. People, goddammit!

I never sleep.

Instead I go places. That’s fun. In this jet age it is simpler than ever. Breakfast in New Zealand, lunch in Nice. Dinner? Still thinking. Tough choice. New York or Vegas? What do you think? Oh, you don’t think? Jealous, huh? Well, strictly speaking, I don’t travel on my own. I… Umm, that’s complicated. And you won’t understand anyways. I bet you don’t like me now. Do you? Nobody likes me. And why? Right! Because I NEVER sleep.

Never.

Stars don’t sleep. They indulge in pleasures. Every single minute. Carpe diem, you know. And I am the greatest star. What? I am not bragging, you brat! Everyone knows it anyways. If you don’t I can’t care less. Read more instead of sleeping away the rest of what-used-to—be-your-grey-cells. Speaking of which, did I mention that I never sleep?

You don’t remember? What a short memory span! No, no, no. I am not going anywhere. See, haven’t I said you will complain. Not complaining? Seriously, man, who are you kidding? Oh… feeling hot now, aren’t you? No? Everyone feels hot when I am around. I am kinda the hottest chap here. Huh? Where do you think you are you going now? You can’t hide from me. Nobody can. Run, run! I will come and get you.

Blimey! Ran away… People. They are so funny. Sigh. How tough it is to be the Sun!
Wish I could get some sleep.

Colors of My Soul is the place for writers to showcase their work. Every now and then we publish interviews with interesting people, most of them are published authors. We not only celebrate their success but learn from them. Today we introduce to you Ute Carbone, an incredibly talented writer who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

Ute, tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What inspired you to write your first book?

I’m actually not one of those people who began writing as soon as she could pick up a crayon. My handwriting has always been abysmal and I can’t spell to save my life, so as a child I figured I couldn’t write. I’ve always loved stories, though, and I used to make up imaginary friends when I was a kid, so I guess those were precursors to writing fiction. I began writing seriously in my thirties. I started as a poet and then, slowly, came to realize I wanted to write prose. I began with short stories and they kept getting longer. After lots of fits and starts, I challenged myself to finish a novel. I did and I haven’t looked back since.

Can you tell us about challenges in getting the first book published?

Where do I start? My first published novel is actually the fourth one I’ve written.  The publishing world is changing dramatically and it’s tough for a newbie to break into ‘the big six’ Over the past ten years it’s gotten tougher. After a lot of soul searching, I decided to give small publishers a try. Since then, I have a book out, contracts for two more and I just signed a contract for a novella. It was the right move for me, though it might not be for everyone.

What genre do you write in? What makes this genre so special for you? How did you know that this is the genre for you?

I write women’s literary fiction and romantic comedy. Coming from poetry, literary fiction was a natural and I love stories that are up close and personal, about ordinary people who face challenges and often turn out to be extraordinary. I also love to laugh, so a few years back I started a comedy. It was kinda fun and since then I’ve written a few more. Now, I go back and forth between the two.

How does your writing process look? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you have a goal of word counts daily/weekly? Or are you more sporadic with a gush of words all at once and then nothing for a while?

I used to be very sporadic, but I’ve found that to get stories finished I have to sit down on a regular basis. I try to write something every day, but there are days when I can’t get to it due to other obligations.

Do you write according to how the story actually unfolds (from a reader’s perspective) or do you write it as it comes and fit the pieces together?

I’m a pantser, which means I write without plotting out first. But I do write as the story unfolds. For me, the fun of writing a first draft is discovery. I’m often surprised by what my characters do! But this means there is a lot of back and forth. I’ll sometimes write my way into a blind alley and then I’ll have to back up and write over.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing? How do you handle this?

Every book is a new and different challenge, which is the exciting part. The hardest part overall, for me at least, is to keep the momentum going for a novel length story. I usually begin with a couple of characters and an idea. The idea is so compelling that it keeps me writing for about fifty to a hundred pages. And then, inevitably, I hit a wall. The great idea isn’t so hot, there’s another idea floating around that is ever so much better. I’ve learned to grind through, because if I do at some point (at least so far) I can see the story come together and the ending becomes clear. Then I get excited again.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

Writing is both art and craft. The art part is, to me, voice. Your voice is as personal as a fingerprint and it’s the unique stamp you put on all your work. The best way to develop it is to write a lot and keep writing. But, to make your story compelling to readers, you also have to have a sense of craft. These are the things you can learn: how to use POV and tense, how to write good dialog and compelling description to name a few.

What is the best writing advice you can give?

Read a lot. Read the kind of books you want to write. Read them as a writer, with an eye to how the author does his or her magic. And then write and write and write some more. Remember that old adage about getting to Carnegie Hall by practice baby practice?  Any musician who wants to play Carnagie puts in hours of practice. As does any athlete wanting to play pro sports. Even those who are already acclaimed keep practicing and keep striving to be better. The same adage holds true for writing. You may well have natural talent. But you’ve got to hone it through practicing.

If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?

I’d start sooner. It took me an awfully long time to find writing and moreover, to discover it was what I really wanted to do. Next time, I’d be more intoned to the clues which were there all along.

What are your current / future projects?

Right now, I’m editing a romantic comedy called P-town Queen that’s due to be released in June. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my editor, she makes me look good by saving me from all my dumb mistakes!

I’m also working on another romantic comedy that’s about two thirds (give or take) finished. I’m hoping to finish by spring.  And I have a few things in the early stages of development, a sort of sweeping romance for one and a more serious piece that involves a murder (new to me, writing about murder) for another.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Umm, read my book?? Seriously, I love hearing from readers so come on over to my website or my blog and drop me line.

Flash Interview

Light or dark chocolate? Dark Chocolate. Not even a close contest.

Favorite color? Lavender.

Dogs or cats? I like both. But probably dogs if I had to choose.

Tea or coffee? Coffee.

Light side or dark side? Lighter.

Pen and paper or laptop? Pen and paper. I write all my first drafts longhand.

Quiet room or music in the background? Quiet room mostly, but a little music can be nice.

Ute Carbone

I began writing  as a poet and have had a number of poems published in small press magazines and anthologies. My work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared in such publications as Comstock Review, Hawaii Pacific Review, and Bellowing Ark. I taught first-draft writing workshops for about twelve years and keep a fan page based on the workshops at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildwords/191658074009.

My women’s literary novel,Blueberry Truth, was published by Etopia Press in August of 2011.  I have two romantic comedies due for release by Champagne Books: The P-town Queen,   in June 2012 and Afterglow, in January 2013. I  also have a short story, “The Summer Girl” due out in the “Words on Fire Anthology” by Nemesis Publishing, later this year and a novella, “The Whisper of Time” to be released by Whispers Publishing; the release date for these to be announced.

You can find me at:  http://UteCarbone.com; or at my blog:  http://ute-carbone.blogspot.com/ and on twitter at  http://twitter.com/#!/Wildwords2

Blueberry Truth is available from Etopia Press and through most e-book distributors. For more info go to:  http://super-e-books.com/2011/12/blueberry-truth-by-ute-carbone/

Interested in being interviewed by us? Drop us a line at contact@thecolorsofmysoul.com

Every Saturday we post the best writing tips we have come across during the week. You can contribute the links that you think are worthy of adding to our list from Monday to Friday on our Facebook page.

Here is this week’s list.

20 Ways to Kill Your Writer’s Block Forever by Carol Tice

Directing Scenes of Dialogue by Jenn Brisendine

20 Phrases You Can Replace with One Word by Laura Hale Brockway

Make-or-Break Verbs by Constance Hale

Self-Doubt ~ Worst Enemy to Creativity by Shelli Johnson

Three Comma Rules You Need to Learn Now! NO MORE EXCUSES! By Taylor Houston

Stop Feeling Your Writing by Tim Kane

Five Steps to Finding Your Voice by Susan J. Morris

Enough reading for the weekend, I think. I hope these articles will contribute to your success in your writing  journey.

If you are interested in writing a guest post on writing tips we will be happy to publish it. Please check our guidelines here.

The thing that never dies… that is expectation.

Let me take my life for an example. I was born, and my relatives expected me to be named something other than Vinay. (Mom let me in on this.) Some of the names they suggested are positively ghastly to hear. First expectation down the drain… I grew up into a handsome little boy. They expected me to get into the best school; so much so, they left me with some weird looking strangers who asked me questions I had no idea what to say to. I suppose they were mathematics, but how they foretold that I would have affection for that subject, God only knows! That expectation, thankfully, was met and I started enjoying my school life. It was fine for a while, but once I got into middle school, I was expected to compete for marks. 98 wasn’t enough, neither was being second, the first was the ONLY option, I was told. Ah, it was like telling me to make tea, and giving every ingredient but the tea leaves. They even resorted to blackmail actually, telling me to get that top marks, and I’ll give you a computer. I must have been a dunce then, because I let myself believe that till twelfth grade. That expectation of being a bookworm was unfortunately satisfied too. When that was satisfied, the next four years were sought after. You can play later… four years you do well, you can be happy the rest of your life. And I tried, really tried. But even I was expecting something of them that they went on taking advantage of. When I realized my wait was endless, it was too late. The time when I had to play, relax and enjoy my life, with the friends that kept telling me to come out of my shell, that time was gone. And try as I do, to become that outgoing, extrovert that I wish myself to be, a part of me still has that bookworm in me, who can’t think of anything but a fear of going out of the boundaries that was unknowingly instilled into me. Today, I am what I expected to be, a mostly happy cheery faced person who loves to talk, hang out with friends, try to become better at what I love to do. Even then, that expectation of others never satisfies. If you’re earning a hundred thousand each year, make it double tomorrow. Don’t ever think of slowing down or even going at that same pace which you’re comfortable at… Life’s a rat race… Oh yes, it is. These words that are pushed into my head since the middle of my education, it’s become set into.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t mean to say that once your expectation is met, you shouldn’t expect again. Just that, if you are expecting something of someone, they do expect something back too. As much love as there is in this world, it is give and take, not take and don’t give. If you expect faster outputs, give the correct inputs at first, and then applaud the effort the other is putting in, so that person feels the joy he put into the work has paid off. If you expect someone to do well, tell them so, and give that person what he needs to succeed. If you promise the world to him today, and then again, use that same promise to go on making him chase tomorrows, it’ll hurt later; for what would have been useful today isn’t the same tomorrow. It’s like saying someone to make some tea, and giving him everything but the tea leaves.

Love me for what I am

Then I can love myself too

Nurture my little dreams

So they can grow with you

If I chase what you want

Where shall be my wishes?

I can love, if you love me

Or die slow like lost kisses

I know you dream for me

Expect the world each day

But each promise of yours

Seems far with each delay

Hold me close, tell me

That in this me you believe

And I’m sure I’ll realize

The dreams that I conceive

I don’t believe in life being a rat-race… where the winner gets the spoils. I believe life is a beautiful journey, more in the journey than the destination. Set goals, and get there… but in your hurry to get there, don’t miss out on what is around you. The world expects many things about you, but to make those expectations happen, don’t forget your own, because some things aren’t worth sacrificing for any joy or reward that getting there sooner will give you.

Colors of My Soul is the place for writers to showcase their work. Every now and then we publish interviews with interesting people, most of them being published authors. We not only celebrate their success but learn from them. Today we introduce to you Andy Szpuk, whose debut novel ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’  was published in 2011. We asked Andy a few questions and he kindly answered them.

Andy, tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What inspired you to write your first book?

I was aged six, and I remember scrawling in my exercise book at school that I wanted to be a writer just like William Shakespeare, even though I’d never read any of his work – I’d just heard his name. More than three decades later, I finally followed that path, although my style is very different to Shakespeare of course. I began by writing short stories, all about ordinary people in their everyday lives, and I slowly built a collection. In 2010, one of my stories, ‘We All Scream’, was accepted by Bridge House Publishing into an anthology of short stories, ‘Mosaic’.

My debut novel, ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’, is all about my father and his journey through a   devastating period of European history. Like many people at that time, he was torn away from his   home and family at a young age. Conventional history tends to focus on the moves of the main players – those in power. Whereas, more and more now, we’re hearing the stories of ordinary people, and what happened to them. So, it feels like I’ve added a piece to the jigsaw.

Can you tell us about challenges in getting the first book published?

Well, of course, once I’d completed my manuscript and edited extensively, I started to look for publishing opportunities. I looked around the web, I submitted to numerous literary agents, and to smaller, indie publishers, all without success. It was in December 2010 when I finally stumbled across Night Publishing, and emailed a query over to them. Tim Roux invited me to send the first chapter to him and a few weeks later offered to publish it.

Then came the final editing and proof-reading, and when I began these tasks, with help from the Night Publishing team, I realised how much work is involved in putting out a quality product. The cover was designed and developed, and, following some feedback from the team, I constructed a pronunciation guide to help readers with some of the language. It seemed to go on forever, but finally in September 2011, the book was released on Kindle, and the US paperback edition became available in November 2011.

What genre do you write in? What makes this genre so special for you? How did you know that this is the genre for you?

My short stories are essentially contemporary fiction, telling stories about ordinary people in their everyday lives.

‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’ is a historical memoir which is a genre that is becoming more and more popular, with many authors producing well-researched and thought-provoking material. Historical fiction/memoirs can explore past events in-depth, and present them in a powerful, dramatic form to really grip a reader. I find basing my material on actual real-life events a wonderful challenge and a deep learning experience.

How does your writing process look? Do you follow a regular routine? Do you have a goal of word counts daily/weekly? Or are you more sporadic with a gush of words all at once and then nothing for a while?

If I’m working on a full-length project, then that will consume my time on a daily basis, whether it’s research, planning or the actual writing. I do set myself daily targets and have ways of keeping the momentum going. For example, I’ll look back at what I’ve written in the previous session, make a few minor edits, and that pulls me back into the story – then I’m up and running.

I also spend time updating my blog, linking up with other writers on twitter and Facebook, and, on a daily basis, I explore ways of promoting my work and engaging with readers. Although the internet can also be a distraction, so I try and stay focused on the writing.

Do you write according to how the story actually unfolds (from a reader’s perspective) or do you write it as it comes and fit the pieces together?

I’ve tried ‘making it up on the page’, and that doesn’t really work for me. The planning is a key part of the process, even it’s just a list of chapter headings with a few notes. I’m constantly analysing the structure of the written word, whether it is in other novels, on the web, or in newspapers and magazines. That’s the great thing about the writing craft – you can bend it and shape it in so many different ways.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing? How do you handle this?

Although I’ve now had a novel published, it feels very much like a beginning, and I’m in the process of experimenting with many different aspects of the craft, such as fractured timelines, different perspectives and viewpoints.

I guess the biggest challenge for me is to produce a second novel which is a worthy follow up to ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’, which is such an important work.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

There are so many! Any aspiring writer should quickly gain an awareness of techniques such as ‘show don’t tell’, viewpoint writing, use of tenses, use of dialogue and many other techniques, but also aim for a natural delivery and to create something that is moving and thought-provoking.

What is the best writing advice you can give?

Be as critical as you can of your own work. Never be satisfied with what you’ve produced – certainly not the first draft.

If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why?

Well, I can’t change my journey as a writer, so it’s a question I can’t really answer. Completing ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’ has been a monumental achievement for me, and will be difficult to follow. However, now I’ve completed it, maybe I’m free to really explore the written form and work on anything I like.

What are your current / future projects?

I’m working on a series of short stories related to ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’, and also researching and planning a follow up project.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I’ve had some wonderful exchanges with readers, and it has led to further, deeper reflections on my work, and a closer examination of the thematic content, and of other aspects. Feedback from readers is always worth hearing, and I welcome it.

Flash Interview

Light or dark chocolate? Fruit and nut.

Favorite color? Racing green.

Dogs or cats? We looked after a goldfish last summer, and I grew quite fond of him.

Tea or coffee? Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.

Light side or dark side? Shades of grey.

Pen and paper or laptop? PC, or pen and paper at kitchen table.

Quiet room or music in the background? Quiet room (but usually surrounded by chaos).

Andy Szpuk

Novelist and short story writer, based in Nottingham UK. Andy’s historical memoir, ‘Sliding on the Snow Stone’ was published by indie giant Night Publishing in 2011. Examples and links to more of Andy’s work, and other literature-related activities, can be found at http://andyszpuk.wordpress.com.

Andy’s book can be found:

Sliding on the Snow Stone on US Amazon

Sliding on the Snow Stone on UK Amazon

Interested in being interviewed by us? Drop us a line at contact@thecolorsofmysoul.com

“Here we go again! It’s going to be one of those days, isn’t it?” She sighed.

“I mean I don’t know what I do wrong?”

“May be it has less to do about what you do wrong and more to do about what you don’t do. Just saying.”

“And what more should I be doing?”

“You know there’s more to dating than hanging out with each other all the time and watching movies together?”

“And when do I know, it’s time for more?”

“Read the signs dammit!”

“Now that’s my problem. I suck at reading the signs. I don’t want to get stuck in that conversation again – Oh, but I just think of you as a friend. A very good friend. You’ll get someone special. Not me of course, don’t be silly. But someone very special,” he mimicked a girl’s voice that closely resembled that of his last love-interest.

“Wow! There’s a lot of pent-up anger in there! May be you’ve chased the wrong girls in the past. Reading the signs shouldn’t be that hard.”

“But why do guys always have to read the signs? Why can’t we play the riddler and give the girls vague clues and see if they can read the signs. You girls fight for equality all the time, why not take some ownership in this area?”

“It’s just not how the way things work. Girls take rejection a lot harder than guys, you know.”

“That’s just type-casting the guys. It’s not like we’re used to rejection any more than you are. We take it hard too. There are jerks among guys and… umm… there are some outrageously wayward girls, but you can’t generalize on that. Plus, statistics suggest that there is a far lesser chance that a guy would reject a girl than of a girl rejecting a guy. The odds are in your favor.”

“And where do you get these statistics?”

“I have my sources, but that’s besides the point.”

“Well, if you could read the signs half as good as you do the statistics, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

“Do you know something, I don’t?”

“There’s plenty I know that you don’t… but in this particular case, can’t you see any discrepancies in my statistical graph? Especially in the vertical corresponding to that of a heart?”

“You don’t mean….”

“I’m asking you out, you idiot!” He just stood there grinning. She continued, “Wipe that stupid grin off your face! See, that’s why girls don’t do these things! You’re so immature!”