Interviews And Fun Facts About Angela

If you want to know more about me, this page should give you a pretty good idea of who I am.

You will find several questions with answers compiled from various interviews plus some Fun and Quirky Facts about me.

There are also links to the sites that feature my interviews. More to come soon!

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Do you write under your given name or a pseudonym?

I strongly believe in building the author’s platform and using the real name for it. I also use the same photo on all social media sites, which allows my readers to easily spot me.

Is there anyone you admire?

A lot of people. Probably too many to list here. I definitely admire my dad. He has taught me to work hard and believe in myself. Because of him, there is nothing that I can’t achieve if I put my heart into it.

Do you think of yourself as a particular type of writer, and how do you think that influences the decisions you make about your novels?

I don’t know if there are particular types of writers; maybe only particular types of genres. I write exclusively in English, which is my second language. I don’t write in my native Polish anymore, although I have in the past. I like to think that my brain is somehow divided into a “Polish language zone” and “English language zone”, although I speak more than those two languages. There are areas where those zones overlap, and maybe because of that my books appeal to readers in both cultures.

What is your most recent book release? And could you tell us about it?

Forged by Greed is the first book in The Forged Series. It is a Young Adult paranormal romance, although it’s far from a syrupy-sweet love story. The plot is firmly set in reality, which makes this book also contemporary. There are elements of high fantasy and a lot of mythology as well. Add a good doze of action to the mix and you have a book that should appeal to a large audience.

When can we expect the next book in The Forged Series?

There will be several sequels. Forged by Greed introduces the readers to the series. I already have a premise for the books two, three, and four. Book two—still untitled—will be published in the summer 2013.

Where did the idea come from for the series?

I have been infatuated by mythology ever since I remember. When my son was little, he loved this one book with stories about Hercules. He wanted me to read it to him over and over. One day an idea popped in my head. What if all the mythological gods and goddesses had one thing in common—they were actually the same deity, just observed differently by different cultures. The idea started to grow, and soon I implemented the paranormal elements into the story. I figured, if the goddess(es) can shift from one form into another, then their minions should be able to do the same, at least to some extent. Shape Shifters were the perfect fit, and that’s how the first book in The Forged Series was born. I wanted to keep the story set in today’s reality to give it a contemporary basis.

What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing a book?

It depends on the book. The first book in a series for example is somehow more challenging than the next, since there is a whole aspect of the story and character development. But the next books in each series bring their own set of demands, like keeping in par with the first book as far as developing good conflict, throwing compelling trials at the protagonist, and his/her personal growth based on overcoming those challenges.

Finding large blocks of time to write with no distractions and interruptions is my own personal challenge, but, so far, I think I manage pretty well, although there is room for improvement.

Do you have a favorite author?

Actually, I have a long list of favorite authors. Some of them are (in no particular order): Ernest Hemingway, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Kurt Vonnegut, Truman Capote, Elizabeth Gilbert, Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, J.K. Rowling, Shel Silverstein, Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, and Phillippa Gregory.

If you could co-author a book with a famous author, who would be your choice?

Neil Gailman or Jim Butcher.

Beach or mountains?

That’s a tough question. I am naturally drawn to water, especially a sea or an ocean. But I also love to ski, so if I had a choice, I would live by a large body of water and spend two weeks skiing during winter.

What three things would you want to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

A sunblock, a good book, and a huge container of water.

Though we have every expectation that you will live well past 125 years, when you finally find rest, what would you like your tombstone/obituary to say?

Ask me that on my death bed! But if I had to decide now, it would be “Here lies Angela, the author forged by persistence.”

FUN AND QUIRKY FACTS ABOUT ANGELA

I love chocolate, but only the milk kind. The dark chocolate is never my first choice.

I don’t have one favorite of anything – one color, one movie, one book… instead there are long list of what I like.

I have a beautiful cat, Cinnamon. He was adopted from the Humane Society.

I have a soft spot for expensive cars.

I read all the time, usually three or more books at a time.

I am right-handed.

I am a Polish language interpreter certified by the State of Washington.

I am obsessed with designer shoes and purses.

I easily fall in love (and get hurt).

I embrace life.