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An Interview With Amanda M. Slade BineczTell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you? I was born in Harrisburg, PA. I obtained my B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University and my M.A. in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?) Currently, I live in Norman, Oklahoma with my husband Michael. I work for a non-profit, the Oklahoma Dental Foundation, where I am the Executive Operations Coordinator. What is your favourite food? My favorite food would be vegetarian, of course. I love ethnic Indian and Moroccan foods. Junk food is my absolute weakness – I am addicted to sugar. What is your favourite colour? I love the combination of salmon pink and apple green. I have the tendency to purchase neutral color clothing, but if I had to pick one favorite color, I would have to say it would be gray. What is your favourite sound? I like sounds, any sounds – there is no better way to concentrate than with background noise; it could be the radio, TV, or nature. Who is your favourite person? My favorite person would be my husband, for being the understanding and compassionate person that he is. I cherish my family and friends, to include my grandfather, dad, mom, sister, brother, niece, and godson. What is your favourite place? My favorite place would be anywhere new, different, and exciting. I am “testing” the waters to try to find that perfect place where I can retire to – after the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is my ideal volunteer job and I want to pursue a volunteer position with them in about 10-12 years. What is your favourite memory? My fondest memory would have to be my wedding in St. Thomas. Michael and I had a very intimate wedding on the beach. After the ceremony, we noticed there they were strangers watching from the pier and clapping for us as we were pronounced husband and wife – cute! What is your favourite article of clothing? If I had it my way, I would not wear any clothing; hence, your answer is none. What is your favourite word? My favorite word…what do I catch myself saying time and time again? That is a hard question. In promoting my books, I found myself saying or writing beauteous often; I guess it could be a favorite word of the moment. What is your favourite writers' quote and why? I would be telling the biggest fable of the decade if I answered this question…I do not have one. What is your most favourite quality about yourself? My favorite quality is my honesty; however, it has its good and its bad sides. I would never say that I do not like this characteristic; however, some people tend to read into what I am saying more than they should, no matter how tactful I am. From my point of view, I love the bluntness. What is the least favourite quality about yourself? Something about me, I tend to give of myself more than I should. Have you ever been the friend who gave 110% to a relationship only to receive 15% in return? A relationship should not be based on ratios but it is emotionally straining when you are more of a friend to a person then they are to you. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why? It has not even been one year since my move to Oklahoma from Germany. I was experiencing reverse culture shock for a very long time. I yearn to go back to Germany. Nonetheless, I really miss the friends that I made in India. If I could live right now, it would be a hard decision between the two – both places have such great people and I value the friendships that I formed while living there. What inspires you to write and why? One of my long-term goals is to write two books, however, my current selection – The Beauteous Series, captures my ability to capture the essence of landscapes. What is your favourite book and why? I really enjoy the book Embers. It is by a Hungarian author, Sandor Marai. It is a great read and very enjoyable – a book that you cannot put down until you are finished reading it. What is your favourite genre and why? I would not say that I had one favorite. List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why? Without overanalyzing the situation, I can think of several authors that I respect and appreciate very much, the Frommers Authors. I would like to thank them for their many guidebooks that have helped to steer me on the correct path (A+ maps and reviews). What do you think makes a writer successful? A successful writer is able to analyze constructive criticism and use that criticism to promote positive change. Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer? Even though I am more of a photographer who has published works, than I am an author, what will make me successful is listening to my audience and considering their needs in publishing my photography. What are your goals as a writer? My goal, as an author, is to gain an audience who respects my work and pushes me to improve. What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers? Dream big and follow your heart in your writing. Do not fear failure, instead think of the resentment you will have if you never try. What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing? I hope to give my viewers a sense of culture, an outside perspective – I want them to look at my photos and feel as if they were actually there. List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS). Lulu | www.lulu.com/ | Lulu offers self-publishing. Additionally, they have forums where you can interact with other authors for tips and advice. If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse). All three of my published books have recently been released for sale on Amazon | www.amazon.com, they are also available on Lulu | stores.lulu.com/Slade_Binecz. How long did it take you to write your book(s)? It did not take long, only a couple of months, including revisions. Most of the groundwork was already laid as the photos were taken 1-2 years prior to publishing. What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience? I would change the format to a hardcover book with a dust cover – other than that, I love my books. What have you learned about the publishing world? Self-publishing is a hard process, as is anything that you have to work for. I think publishing is easier than marketing. Your work is not finished once your book hit on-line stores. You have to create the demand since you do not have a big publishing house doing it for you. This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them? Thank you for expressing interest in my work and the world beyond your country of origin. I hope I have given you a glimpse of what some other countries have to offer and intrigue you to start an adventure of your own. It would be awesome to have your support on Facebook, FiledBy, and/or WeRead. What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing? I have published my books because I wanted to share a piece of myself with you. I want to encourage you to find what you love and share it with others as well. |
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