Bill Savas, MBR reviewer,interviews Liana Metal, an e book writer

Q: When did you start writing?

A: I have always been writing little bits of everything, such as lyrics for songs and stories for comics, but it was in 70s that I took it more seriously, when I started working as an EFL teacher. I first created picture grammar books for my younger students and then vocabulary picture books. At that time I used an old typewriter, and my own illustrations in pen and colored pencils. But years later, I started writing more extensively, mainly short articles and short stories. After completing a Creative Writing Course, in 90s, I became more persistent and I created my first book, an illustrated children’s story. The whole experience of book making was exciting and worthwhile. Since that first kids’ book, I have been writing non stop, not only articles, but e books both fiction and non fiction.

Q: What motivates you to write a piece?

A: Actually, anything can incite a new story. I observe things and people around me and I may come up with a new idea at any moment. Sometimes, I have my best ideas when I go to bed at night. Then I have to jot down a few lines on a note book I keep handy before I fall asleep and I forget everything in morning!

Q: What about rejections? How do you deal with them?

A: At first I was very discouraged, but later on I realized that each rejection slip is a step forward. Moving on through rejections makes a writer stronger and more self confident, if he/she is willing to learn something from them. Eventually, if one’s writing skills improve, there will be less and less rejections over time. We all have our bad and good times in this field!

Q: What was your first book?

A: The white snail, a kids’ story, which is still my favorite little baby. I self published it at a local printer and distributed free copies to my students. I even transformed it into an activity story book so as to use it in class. That was first story that made me find a way to create an e book, so that more people can have access to it online. Thus, Bedtime Stories e book was created. Then more e books followed.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

How and when did you get started as a writer?

I always wrote as a child – letters to friends and poems, but never thought of myself as a writer until receiving an A on an essay in college. I’m a late bloomer and didn’t become a newspaper reporter until almost age 40.

How do you usually find your ideas?

Truthfully, I always had trouble coming up with “fresh ideas” sought by magazine editors. My first book, Catskills Alive, was conceived during a trip to Catskills with my husband. We stayed at an inn near Delaware River and I could not get over its beauty and lack of tourism. I thought “What is wrong with this picture?” and decided to write a guidebook to whole region. That was my first "fresh idea."

Did you ever get any rejections? If yes, how did you react to them?

Funny question. What author has not gotten rejections - enough to paper walls? In early days, it really hurt because I always took it personally. Since doing newsletter and reading how some authors cope with rejection by shrugging it off, I’ve gotten better about it. If I really believe in my project, I’ll never give up.

Tell us about your books. What was your first one?