Author Interview – Eleni Papanou

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

I grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and I wrote a blog about the hardships I endured as a child with bullying, and how I saw it as a contributing factor to my creativity. I’d also done many things in my life before I started writing novels. Some friends and family thought I was confused as I switched jobs often and never could seem to stick to anything long enough to find personal satisfaction. I see that part of my life as a period of experimentation and reflection. I had to go through it to find myself. And now that I did, I have a lot of experience to draw from!

How did you develop your writing?

A friend of mine asked me to help him with his screenplay. During the process, I realized I had a knack for telling stories. Of course, back then I knew nothing about structure. After a harsh comment was made about my writing, I immersed myself in learning how to plot and structure. I also took some screenwriting courses. I still use the techniques in my writing, and I recommend all writers learn the craft. There’s no better way to learn how to structure. As a side note, I saved the critical comment, and it wasn’t as harsh as I’d thought it was when I first read it. At that time I lacked confidence, which was why I had such a strong reaction to it. If I knew who wrote the letter, I would thank him or her for getting me off my butt!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I never know when inspiration is going to hit. Sometimes it happens after a major event. I was inspired to write a screenplay when my eldest daughter was born, and I’ll be turning that into a book soon. I wrote my next release, Beneath Omega’s Sunrise, after reading an article in the UK Daily Mail about a boy who’s allergic to the sun. The story has nothing to do with a sun allergy. Inspiration is a strange animal!

What is hardest about getting published, writing or marketing?

Marketing. I don’t like it, but I know it has to be done.  The positive aspect is that I met some exceptional people along the way. I’m reading as much as I can about marketing and hope to find a way to make myself enjoy the process.

What marketing works for you?

To be honest, I haven’t figured it out yet. As I write visionary fiction, I find the best way to present my work is by getting involved with other writers of the same genre and building something together with them. I’m one of the founding members of the Visionary Fiction Alliance.

Markos Adams is famous, but not for his flashy guitar chops, leading man good looks or homemade baklava. After a heavily publicized suicide attempt, he resolves to get his life and mind back in order. The morning after his return to the stage, Markos’s worst nightmare is realized when his daughter, Jessie, is abducted. The kidnapper contacts him with the terms of the ransom. Markos must identify who he is in twenty-four hours. If he fails; he must commit suicide. Markos races against the clock to unmask the kidnapper and starts to question his sanity when he experiences visions of Jessie singing to him. Is Markos slowly descending into madness, or is he the victim of a sadistic criminal act that  will force him to face his biggest fear…that he’ll die before seeing his precious daughter again.

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Genre - Paranormal Mystery

Rating – PG13

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Website http://elenipapanou.com/