What's with the animal support?
I've witnessed a lot of animal abuse, mostly dogs. I've seen dogs purposely injured, with their limbs broken, or cut - it's got to stop! Dogs have only one purpose in life - they want to love you! Give some love back!
I am not asking anyone to become a vegetarian, but to be aware of the conditions which animals endure around the world: beaten, tortured, skinned and cut alive... The list is long. For some it is physical pain, for others abandonment is painful enough - have you ever seen a carcass of a dog chained to a tree in the woods or on the side of a highway? Just imagine what that dog suffered before it died of starvation.
Please join an organization closest to your heart and help put an end to animal cruelty. If you can't donate you can still help in a variety of ways. For example when in rural Latin America, Mexico etc., please be sure to carry some dog food around, it's cheap, light and may save a life.
Humane Society USA..Humane Society of Toronto..WSPA..Charlize Theron for WSPA..Celebrities speaking out on behalf of animals (VIDEOS) : Charlize Theron..Bill Maher..Alicia Silverstone
Would you change anything in the book (TFI) if you were offered the chance?
I don't think there's a single author out there who is fully satisfied with her/his novel. Same with me. Every time I read it I find passages that could use some polishing or cutting. I suspect it's a neverending process, and no book is ever fully finished in that respect. Yet, a writer must draw the line somewhere and move on to the next project.
It might be why so many books never come to print, writers continually polish and re-write.
Who asks these questions?
Friends, family, neighbours, readers, and visitors to my homepage.
Is writing a second or a third novel any easier?
Don't think so. I certainly feel more confident, but it is still hard work. Perhaps harder, because of the pressure to write an even better story.
How did you get first published?
Once the novel was finished I borrowed some books on getting published. All suggested getting a literary agent, so I compiled a list. Sent out queries at a rate of about 50 per week. Some five weeks later got fed up with rejections (or lack of response) and decided to look for publishers myself. Searched the Net for something like 'publishers seeking manuscripts', and somewhere at the top came up Dorchester. Having bad experience with agents I sent a brief email to Don D'Auria, not expecting him to reply since email queries aren't welcome across the industry. My email went out at about noon, and an hour later Don requested the manuscript. Few weeks later I got 'the call' that almost made me choke on my own tongue. Had to excuse myself and hang up. Called Don back the next day.
How many publishers did you query?
One. Dorchester. See details here.
Do you have a literary agent?
Foreign language rights to The Fifth Internationale are represented by Kalina Stefanova , ELST LITERARY AGENCY
How long did it take you to sell the novel?
About 3 months, which is very short from what I understand. After 2 months of receiving rejections from literary agencies, I decided to contact the publisher on my own and about a month later received The Call.
Did agents give reasons for rejecting TFI?
Rejection is not the right word, since they did not read the MS. Most sent standard slips stating they were too busy to bother. Someone, although intrigued by my query letter decided to pass because "America is not ready to accept that the CIA or the US government stood behind the creation of Al Qaeda and the World Trade Center 9/11 bombing"...
Was the CIA or the US Government involved?
Some of my characters wonder about it and ask at the source: The Fifth Internationale.
Does the Stadion Bazaar really exist?
Yep, it's my favorite place in Warsaw.
Can one purchase all the items you mention in the novel? The weapons, etc...?
Absolutely. Mind you, since Poland joined the European Union some overtly illegal items must be looked for, they are no longer displayed 'in-your-face', the way they used to be.
I want to write too! How do I start and carry on?
Turn off your cable. Cancel all engagements. Move to the Kawarthas or Mexico or wherever you can relax and forget about the outside world.
Pick up any book and chances are it starts off with some sort of a crisis. The book then is about resolving it. Between the start and the finish there are a few transformations. Follow the formula and voilla!, you have a novel.
OK, maybe it's not that simple, but it's darn close.
Certainly you need some idea what the story is about. You should have a picture of who your protagonists are, too. You probably don't need to go into too much detail beforehand. I tried to go the recommended way and wrote an outline. But, when I sat down to write the novel it quickly took on a life of its own. The outline was useless.
Your characters will be very important, a lot of what happens depends on who they are. Just let them guide you. There is no way of fully knowing them before you start writing, unless you are portraying an actual person. Don't be afraid to start without a full bio. You'd be surprised how much is revealed about them as the story develops.
Any tips for aspiring authors?
Exercise your body. Write. Don't rush it. Have fun with it. Write it for yourself. Write the sort of novel you'd like to read! That way even if you can't sell it at least you'll have read the best book ever written! Be your own biggest fan and harshest critic.
Is it true that you are a good chef?
I don't know whether I'm a good chef, but I do cook.
What do you cook? Can you share some recipes?
What do you like?
Well, what is your favorite dish?
I'm a vegetarian now, but my all time favorite dish remains steak tartar, though I doubt you'd like that.
Why not?
It's raw beef. Very well minced and ground, of course.
?!?!
This dish is heavenly but I haven't had it in years, mostly due to lack of organically grown beef. I wouldn't touch that stuff they produce nowadays. Anyway, it's raw beef, raw egg yolk, some salt, pepper, oil, onion, pickles and sweet paprika. Mixed together. Simple.
Okay, can you suggest something else, perhaps also ethnic but less so...?
Sure. Another favorite of mine is this dish that sort of goes well with The Fifth Internationale, both having a connection with Eastern Europe. It is called Bigos, or a hunter's stew. Traditionally it was taken along on those long hunting trips in the olden days, you know the sort that lasted for days. The dish holds really well for a long time you see. It is very simple to make. Take some pre-cooked meat, leftovers after Thanksgiving will do just fine. You may in fact mix different meats: turkey, beef, pork, whatever is on hand. Heat some sourkraut, add the meats (cut into bite sized chunks), some wild mushrooms (also previously pre-cooked), carrot, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and heat the whole thing together making sure it does not burn - there is nothing worse than burned Bigos. Serve over mashed potatoes or with sourdough bread.
Then of course there is my favorite soup, beef tripe...
What's the most romantic thing that ever happened to you?
Two words: BEFORE SUNRISE. See the movie with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Exactly same story only the city is Cracow, she has to catch a train to Vienna, and they stay together in the end.
You know what's really freaky? In the sequel, BEFORE SUNSET, He becomes a writer! Now, how about that!?
Whom would you like to star in a movie based on your novel?
Ha-Ha! Good one. The part of Ania, the receptionist is already spoken for. Otherwise, I see Johnny Depp as Stan, and the part of Mollie is still for grabs! Hollywood celebs line up!
You're bragging like an asshole celebrity!
Hey, I resent that! Don't call me a "celebrity" !
