Interview with Rita Chapman

 
I would like to thank Rita Chapman for the interesting interview we did a few weeks back.

Below is the full interview:

“This week it is my pleasure to interview Ahmad Ardalan. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
 
First, I would like to thank you for interviewing me.
I am an Iraqi, born in Baghdad in 1979. A continuous cancer-fighting warrior. I spent most of my childhood in Vienna, Austria after my parents relocated there following my father’s appointing at the United Nations. After his diplomatic mission finished at the end of 1989, I returned to Iraq, where I continued my studies and graduated from the University of Dentistry. As a result of the unstable political, military, social, and economic conditions in my home country, I decided to leave Iraq and move to the United Arab Emirates, which has been my home since then. After facing difficulties to pursue my career in dentistry at the start, I opted to pursue employment in the business world. Since then, I have has held several senior roles within the pharmaceutical and FMCG industries, throughout much of the Middle East.
I began writing less than a decade ago, I hope throughout this interview you will get to know more about my journey.
 
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book The Clout Of Gen in 2012. The book borders between Sci-fi and suspense with its main theme related to time-travel.
Ever since I was a child, I became fascinated with time travel after watching an American series about two scientists traveling through time called The Time Tunnel. This whole adventure about the quest to change the past or altering the future played in my head since then, and nearly two decades later, I penned my first book about that intriguing subject.
 
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write only when something really formulates inside, and after six novels, and seven years of writing, the result is novels in different genre.
 
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and collect ideas on paper beforehand?
I would have to say both, it starts with an idea, then throughout the imagination, the studies, taking notes start to blend in, and thus a novel at the end.
 
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
“As we talked and got to know each other, I noticed that Akram often drifted away from our conversations, as if he was somewhere else. Since he was an artist, I was compelled to ask him about how he got his start, about his vision as a creator of art. So, after my third glass of excellent white wine, I sat beside him and found the courage. “Why do you paint, Akram?” I asked. “What—”
“Close your eyes, Sebastian,” he said, stopping me. “Just for a minute, close them and tell me what you see.”
I did as he asked and answered, “Nothing, just black.”
He tilted my head a bit to the west. “Open them now and find the blessing of vision. This abundance, the explosion, the mixture of colors, the movement, life passing by… See the sun setting? What colors can you find in the sea? Surely there are blue and gray, but don’t you also see that darker gray, light green, even black? Look at the hues of the sun drowning in the sea, melting in oranges, reds, purples. Look at those trees over there. Look at the waves, at me, at your hands, the eyes[…]”
Excerpt From
The Art Collector of Le Marais
 
Who is your favourite character and why?
One year ago I would have easily answered that with saying Ali, The Gardener of Baghdad because of his genuine emotional soul, his optimistic look on life, a true man of love and hope, but after finishing my latest novel The Art Collector of Le Marais, it is obvious it is Sebastian, the art collector himself. His undying passion for arts, the fuming eager of challenge, and his love for the continuous learning of cultures all over the world has made him the closest to my heart.
 
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
The Art Collector of Le Marais, was a blast. I enjoy art a lot, and visiting museums and galleries around the world, as well as reading about artists, especially those that made Paris their home was a beautiful ride. I usually finish writing my novels within six months, with The Art Collector, the ideas were flowing so fast, I finished it in less than two months.
 
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Write more books, and keep promoting from time to time. A wheel always has to move, otherwise it will stop one day.
 
How would you describe yourself?
A traveler, a man that is thirsty to learn more and more about the beauty of life, and the differences of those that live on it.
 
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Either working as I manage my region for a big German company within the Food and Beverage industry, or traveling all over the world.
 
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I think this is a real tough one, very tough, as I have been thinking about this now for the past five minutes, eeem I think somewhere around Wolfgangsee, the beautiful lake in Austria, just watching life from a balcony from one of the flats nested above the lake is satisfying for the soul. Mountains, snow, boats, forests, the skies. What can I say more.
 
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
My mood at that moment, sometimes I need to calm down, thus I go for a literary read, sometimes I need something to flow with my adrenaline, so I would look for a thriller or a suspense book.
 
Do you have your own website?
Yes, I do, and thanks for asking me about that. It has all the details about my novels, and where you can find them.
http://www.ahmadardalan.net/
 
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No I am not, as my latest novel came out only two months ago, and I am busy with promoting that as well as my other books.
 
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I have promotions every now and then, I usually announce that on my Instagram page. Another reason for those interested to follow me there by adding Ahmad_Ardalan









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Ahmad Ardalan