An Interview with Meglena Ivanova



K.S.  Hello and welcome to the blog. I am very excited to have you here. Why don’t we start off with a small introduction? Tell us a little about yourself. 
M.I. Hi everyone. It is a pleasure to be here today. Originally I am from Bulgaria, amazing small country in Europe, but now I live and write in one the greatest cities on the planet NYC. I share my home with my husband, Stanislav, our cat Lulu, and our lizard Bieber, very cute bearded dragon.

K.S.  Any interesting writing quirks or stories you would like to share with my readers?
M.I.  I cannot read with the television going. I have to go in another room that is quiet. I can even manage to read while someone is playing a video game. It is only with the television on that I cannot completely immerse myself in what I am reading.
I also listen to music while I read so some songs sort of become anthems for some books. Usually they don't make any sense but if I hear the song I want to read the book or if I read the book I want to hear the song.

K.S.  When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? What sparked the desire to pen your first novel?
M.I. I write because it is how I express myself. Ever since I was little, I had these crazy ideas rolling around in my head. I could never get rid of them until I wrote them on paper. Sharing my worlds with others is more satisfying than I thought it would be.
When I began writing in 1998, I had no idea where I was headed. Since then, I’ve published many short stories, essays and a few articles. My biggest accomplishment is my first book, called The Legend of The Moonstone: Sacred Stones Collection, which I had the pleasure to publish as Independent Author, 2013.
What sparked the desire to pen my first novel, this is one of my favorite questions. Well, years ago in Silistra, Bulgaria, I was given a moonstone by a friend who told me it was the stone of tenderness, an amulet of protection for travelers, a gift of lovers for passion, a channel for prophecy and a path to wisdom. I was so thrilled by that gift so I decided to do some research and then to write a story, not with any intention of publishing but to create the kind of story I wanted to read but couldn’t find. It became addictive and I enjoyed it more than reading; a bit of a god complex, I guess. That how I started to write The Legend of The Moonstone: Sacred Stones Collection. I’m currently writing on the second book in the trilogy – The Bloodstone.

K.S.  What genre do you write?
M.I. Sci-Fi & fantasy has always been my most favorite genre. My first novel in the genre, The Legend of The Moonstone: Sacred Stones Collection is a modern fairytale where different dimensions merge and beings from different worlds interact. It’s a story for children in heart of all ages.

K.S.  What would you say has inspired you most in your writing career? Or, who is your favorite author and why?
M.I. My favorite authors include David and Leigh Eddings, Anne Rice, H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, Lynn Flewelling, Paulo Coelho, Dan Brown, C. S. Lewis, L. J. Smith, J. K. Rowling, Stephanie Mayer, Nick Cassavetes and more.
They inspire me on a fan-based level, whether it's from what they've directly said to me, what they've posted on their websites, or just their own life stories of how they became who they are today. Their works fires up my imagination and allow my mind to wander in a different ways.

K.S.  What does your family think of your writing?
M.I. I’ve been incredibly blessed with friends and family who support my dream. They tell me all the time it’s what I was born to do, and they actually ask to read what I’ve written lately.

K.S.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your book/s?
M.I. As a writer, the most amazing thing that I have learned, and continue to learn every time I write or read, is that the mind of a writer is more amazing than the entire night sky full of stars.

During writing my first book, I've learned quite a bit, and find I'm still learning. To be honest, I think that we only learn to write the novel we're working on for the simple reason the story, and each book, changes as the characters grow and develop. Of course, if we switch genres, the new book will be completely different. We have to learn how to handle our material with each work!  

K.S.  What inspires you?
M.I. For me, there are so many things that inspire me. Different photos, songs, sceneries, quotes, and life-experiences make me just want to write and write. There are a lot of people that inspire me too though. My friends, family, and my school English teacher, are always inspiring me to continue my writing on a personal level.
There is a deep, deep, soul satisfaction that I get when I know that I've gotten the words to express my thoughts and feeling 'just right.' I find it fascinating and delightful when readers interpret them in ways other than what I imagined.


K.S.  Can you tell us a little about any of your novels?
M.I. THE LEGEND OF THE MOONSTONE is a vibrant fiction-adventure, is telling the story of a powerful stone, which is part of the ancient Sacred Stone, called the Moonstone. Professor Stransky is adventurer and dreamer who set off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to rescue the Moonstone and defend our planet. In this adventure he and his crew of two very special and extraordinary students are about to fight for their own lives and for the lives of all of humanity against the Upper Souls (evil and destructive creatures, who wanted to become immortal and conquer the universe).




K.S.  Where can we buy your novel?
M.I. You can find my book at Amazon. It’s a Kindle edition and it cost only $3.99.



K.S.  Do you have a website, fan site, or Blog that we can visit?
M.I. Yes I have Website and Blog.
At my Website you will find more about my book, short stories and me.

At my Blog you will find tips for authors, articles on various subjects, author interviews, book reviews and lots more! I would be very grateful for anyone who stop by and say Hallo! I am also welcoming any author or blogger who wants to participate in interview or blog post. Together we can help to spread the news about our books and our worldviews.

K.S.  Do you have any closing advice to aspiring writers?
M.I. On the aspect of writing, my advice is simple: ‘Follow your instinct’. We shouldn’t be thinking what others would say when they read our book. We should write for ourselves. This is where passion and truth lie and without them, the text can never come alive and become emotions that will sweep readers off their feet.

On the aspect of promotion, first of all, I advise authors to do a thorough research – there is an abundance of resources out there – know your tools! Also, approach other authors with courtesy and be helpful. Don’t seek to be helped before you become useful yourself. People respond to kindness and thoughtfulness. Concentrate on Twitter and Facebook for your promotions, especially the first! Last, blog at least 3 times a week. In my own experience, people respond mostly to useful tips and personal accounts/feelings from the author’s personal life.



1 comment:

meglenaivanova said...

Thank you for having me on your site Katie! :)

One of the challenges of doing a lot of interviews is that inevitably I am asked different versions of the same questions over and over again. For the first time in a long time I can say I actually got asked unique questions that put a smile on my face. They were short. Simple. To the point. They were perfect for what I wanted to share.

Thank you sweetie!

P.S. Everyone who would like to write a honest review about my book can get a free Kindle copy. Just came to my blog and contact me. Thank you!!!

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.