Erik Christian's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-sci-fi-book"
Author Interview with Avraham Anouchi, Author of "From Timna to Mars: Searching for Rare Earth Metals."
Avraham Anouchi is an author, engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He grew up in Israel dreaming of studying engineering at the Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa. He earned his engineering degrees in the United States, but left his heart in Haifa. He is a former Vice President in United Technologies Corporation. He is now the president and founder of a high technology engineering company.
The dream was shattered when the 1948 War of Independence broke out before he finished High School. After the war he earned his engineering degrees in the United States, but left his heart in Haifa. His career led him to become a Vice President in United Technologies Corporation. He is now the president and founder of an engineering company.
After publishing numerous professional articles in English and historical ones in Hebrew, Avraham published four books: The Legacy - a memoir in English, Igeret Hamassoret - a memoir in Hebrew, The Hidden Scroll - a historical and archaeological novel, and From Timna to Mars - a fictional novel based on a real potential crisis for all humans on Earth, the depletion of rare earth metals.
2. Your real name and pen name?
Avraham Anouchi also known as A.Y.Anouchi
3. Please share some of the best memories of your childhood
I grew up in Haifa, Israel. My most important memory is my singing in a synagogue children choir. I dreamt of growing up to be a "Chazan" who chants solo. Although I was devastated when my voice changed and I had to leave the choir, I carry with me a repertoire of synagogue melodies and many songs I learned later in Hebrew, French, English and Ladino. I never stopped singing and even sang in a Pittsburgh Hebrew choir. I was fortunate to attend an elementary school which taught me four languages. I was fascinated by the complexity of chess. It turned out to be my best teacher on how to consider consequences of my decisions in life.
4. About your education
I hold a Master of Engineering degree from Harvard University and a B.S. Degree from Indiana Institute of Technology.
5. What career did you plan during your education days.
I always wanted to be an engineer and I succeeded in attaining my objective.
6. What languages you can speak and write?
In addition to my mother's tongue of Hebrew, I am fluent in French and English. I am semi fluent in Arabic and Ladino, a language I learned from my grandmother whose family came to Israel from Sarajevo.
7. What is your biggest source of inspiration in life.
History and archaeology
8. What hurts you most in this world?
The sudden increase in anti-Semitism, especially in European countries which experienced the holocaust.
9. What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?
It was not a challenge, but it was hard to overcome. My first wife lost her battle with cancer. It took me more than five years to recuperate and continue my life.
10. If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
I would chose to be the brother of Queen Shlom-Zion, known as Salome Alexandra. She relied on him heavily as an advisor before and during her reign in Judea before the arrival of the Romans. She has always been my idol.
11. What is your favorite genre and why?
Historical novels, especially ones which incorporate archaeology. From childhood, I always wanted to know how people lived in the iron age and in Biblical time.
12. When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?
My father's translation of novels from French to Hebrew inspired me to wish I could inherit his skill, but my profession in the United States limited my writing to technical articles in English. After my first memoir in Hebrew was published in 2000, I decided to translate it to English as a booklet for my grandchildren who grew up in Cleveland. Several years later, I joined an internet workshop of authors who edit each other's chapters. When three writers recognized me as not a native American, they labored in assisting me and managed to elevate my writing skill from that of a novice to a level which enabled me to published my third book.
13. Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share
a synopsis of your work?
"Igeret Hamassoret", a memoir in Hebrew.
"The Legacy", a memoir in English.
"The Hidden Scroll", a historical novel.
(See its attached Synopsis)
and "From Timna to Mars", a Space mission thriller.
14. What are your forthcoming writings?
I am writing another historical novel on the life and achievements of Queen Shlom-Zion, known as Salome Alexandra, who reigned in Judea before the arrival of the Romans
15. What are your future plans?
a. Pray that the next day will not be worse than its predecessor.
b. That I won't run out of imaginative ideas for my next book.
16. What four top most things you take care of while writing a book?
a. Weekly review my synopsis.
b. Analyze the plot structure to insure there are no conflicting statements.
c. Eliminate supporting characters who are not essential to the plot
d. Pray that I'll finish the manuscript before giving up.
17. How much real life goes into a fiction writing?
It is not logical for a writer to describe a mountain in Haute Savoie, if he or she has never been there. Describing the panorama views from Mount Carmel was easier for me since I grew up in Haifa. In my book "The Hidden Scroll", I included the details of a battle I was injured in. I believe that real life experiences make a novel more like real life. Writers who don't include in their novels their experiences, emotions, loves and fears are making a major mistake.
18. Is high level of imagination important to have for an Author?
Absolutely a must for novels. Without imagination, the author should not write novels. The Life of JFK can be written with some success without imagination, but I can't imagine a novel on the life of Alexander the Great without imagination.
19. Your dream destination on Earth?
To learn something new every day.
20. Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed.
What best things you liked in these countries around the globe?
Israel is my passion. I grew up in it. With all its problems, Israel has history, archaeology and modern beauty. I am fascinated by its technological achievements. With seven million inhabitants it has six Nobel prize winners in the last eight years.
Paris has elegance, architecture and history of art. The French language is like no other in its brilliancy.
The museums in France, Spain and Italy kept me wanting to return many times. I visited England, Belgium, Holland and Germany, but not enough to evaluate their attractions to tourists.
21. Your favorite time of the day?
When I find time to be alone and undisturbed in my writing and reading.
22. Your zodiac/ sunsign?
Libra
23. Your favorite color and why?
Blue.
It represents clear skies without approaching storms in weather and in life.
24. What is the last book you finished reading? What is the current book
you are reading?
Last Book was: "The Prime Ministers" by Yehuda Avner
Reading now: "Queen of the Jews" by Judy Ptsonk
25. Your favorite book and why?
"History of Time" by Steve Hawking (I read it four times already)
26. Your favorite movie and why? Casablanca.
28. Your favorite food? I eat to live. I don't live to eat. I prefer salmon to meat.
29. What three words come to your mind for each
Technology - Electronics, deep space, nanotechnology
Life - precious, short
God - Justice, order, soul.
Humanity - war, peace, won't last
Terrorism - must be stopped
Racism - jealousy, anti-Semitism
Childhood Abuse - stupidity, manic, bi-polar
Love - hate, marriage, joy
Parenting - blessing
Old age - a gift
30. State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote
a. Don't work hard, work smart
b. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
The last line of your autobiography would be
My Epitaph. Here lies a man who accomplished his dreams
31. What made you interested your genre - History, history and history
Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/AviYoel
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/avraham.anou...
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/Goodreadsco...
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/TIMNA-MARS-Sear...
Book Tour Schedule: http://www.elitebookpromotions.com/bo...
The dream was shattered when the 1948 War of Independence broke out before he finished High School. After the war he earned his engineering degrees in the United States, but left his heart in Haifa. His career led him to become a Vice President in United Technologies Corporation. He is now the president and founder of an engineering company.
After publishing numerous professional articles in English and historical ones in Hebrew, Avraham published four books: The Legacy - a memoir in English, Igeret Hamassoret - a memoir in Hebrew, The Hidden Scroll - a historical and archaeological novel, and From Timna to Mars - a fictional novel based on a real potential crisis for all humans on Earth, the depletion of rare earth metals.
2. Your real name and pen name?
Avraham Anouchi also known as A.Y.Anouchi
3. Please share some of the best memories of your childhood
I grew up in Haifa, Israel. My most important memory is my singing in a synagogue children choir. I dreamt of growing up to be a "Chazan" who chants solo. Although I was devastated when my voice changed and I had to leave the choir, I carry with me a repertoire of synagogue melodies and many songs I learned later in Hebrew, French, English and Ladino. I never stopped singing and even sang in a Pittsburgh Hebrew choir. I was fortunate to attend an elementary school which taught me four languages. I was fascinated by the complexity of chess. It turned out to be my best teacher on how to consider consequences of my decisions in life.
4. About your education
I hold a Master of Engineering degree from Harvard University and a B.S. Degree from Indiana Institute of Technology.
5. What career did you plan during your education days.
I always wanted to be an engineer and I succeeded in attaining my objective.
6. What languages you can speak and write?
In addition to my mother's tongue of Hebrew, I am fluent in French and English. I am semi fluent in Arabic and Ladino, a language I learned from my grandmother whose family came to Israel from Sarajevo.
7. What is your biggest source of inspiration in life.
History and archaeology
8. What hurts you most in this world?
The sudden increase in anti-Semitism, especially in European countries which experienced the holocaust.
9. What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?
It was not a challenge, but it was hard to overcome. My first wife lost her battle with cancer. It took me more than five years to recuperate and continue my life.
10. If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
I would chose to be the brother of Queen Shlom-Zion, known as Salome Alexandra. She relied on him heavily as an advisor before and during her reign in Judea before the arrival of the Romans. She has always been my idol.
11. What is your favorite genre and why?
Historical novels, especially ones which incorporate archaeology. From childhood, I always wanted to know how people lived in the iron age and in Biblical time.
12. When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?
My father's translation of novels from French to Hebrew inspired me to wish I could inherit his skill, but my profession in the United States limited my writing to technical articles in English. After my first memoir in Hebrew was published in 2000, I decided to translate it to English as a booklet for my grandchildren who grew up in Cleveland. Several years later, I joined an internet workshop of authors who edit each other's chapters. When three writers recognized me as not a native American, they labored in assisting me and managed to elevate my writing skill from that of a novice to a level which enabled me to published my third book.
13. Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share
a synopsis of your work?
"Igeret Hamassoret", a memoir in Hebrew.
"The Legacy", a memoir in English.
"The Hidden Scroll", a historical novel.
(See its attached Synopsis)
and "From Timna to Mars", a Space mission thriller.
14. What are your forthcoming writings?
I am writing another historical novel on the life and achievements of Queen Shlom-Zion, known as Salome Alexandra, who reigned in Judea before the arrival of the Romans
15. What are your future plans?
a. Pray that the next day will not be worse than its predecessor.
b. That I won't run out of imaginative ideas for my next book.
16. What four top most things you take care of while writing a book?
a. Weekly review my synopsis.
b. Analyze the plot structure to insure there are no conflicting statements.
c. Eliminate supporting characters who are not essential to the plot
d. Pray that I'll finish the manuscript before giving up.
17. How much real life goes into a fiction writing?
It is not logical for a writer to describe a mountain in Haute Savoie, if he or she has never been there. Describing the panorama views from Mount Carmel was easier for me since I grew up in Haifa. In my book "The Hidden Scroll", I included the details of a battle I was injured in. I believe that real life experiences make a novel more like real life. Writers who don't include in their novels their experiences, emotions, loves and fears are making a major mistake.
18. Is high level of imagination important to have for an Author?
Absolutely a must for novels. Without imagination, the author should not write novels. The Life of JFK can be written with some success without imagination, but I can't imagine a novel on the life of Alexander the Great without imagination.
19. Your dream destination on Earth?
To learn something new every day.
20. Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed.
What best things you liked in these countries around the globe?
Israel is my passion. I grew up in it. With all its problems, Israel has history, archaeology and modern beauty. I am fascinated by its technological achievements. With seven million inhabitants it has six Nobel prize winners in the last eight years.
Paris has elegance, architecture and history of art. The French language is like no other in its brilliancy.
The museums in France, Spain and Italy kept me wanting to return many times. I visited England, Belgium, Holland and Germany, but not enough to evaluate their attractions to tourists.
21. Your favorite time of the day?
When I find time to be alone and undisturbed in my writing and reading.
22. Your zodiac/ sunsign?
Libra
23. Your favorite color and why?
Blue.
It represents clear skies without approaching storms in weather and in life.
24. What is the last book you finished reading? What is the current book
you are reading?
Last Book was: "The Prime Ministers" by Yehuda Avner
Reading now: "Queen of the Jews" by Judy Ptsonk
25. Your favorite book and why?
"History of Time" by Steve Hawking (I read it four times already)
26. Your favorite movie and why? Casablanca.
28. Your favorite food? I eat to live. I don't live to eat. I prefer salmon to meat.
29. What three words come to your mind for each
Technology - Electronics, deep space, nanotechnology
Life - precious, short
God - Justice, order, soul.
Humanity - war, peace, won't last
Terrorism - must be stopped
Racism - jealousy, anti-Semitism
Childhood Abuse - stupidity, manic, bi-polar
Love - hate, marriage, joy
Parenting - blessing
Old age - a gift
30. State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote
a. Don't work hard, work smart
b. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
The last line of your autobiography would be
My Epitaph. Here lies a man who accomplished his dreams
31. What made you interested your genre - History, history and history
Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/AviYoel
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/avraham.anou...
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/Goodreadsco...
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/TIMNA-MARS-Sear...
Book Tour Schedule: http://www.elitebookpromotions.com/bo...
