Interview with Cristina Istrati…
Thank you again for taking part in this blog interview. I’m very grateful for taking time out from your writing to answer these questions.
Q: Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer.
A: My name is Cristina Istrati. I began writing four years ago. I`d say my entrance into the world of writing is a bit uncommon, because it happened due to a…dream. In one summer night, back in 2007, I had a dream in which I saw myself writing books. In the next day, I grabbed the pen and with some white sheets, I started writing. As I was doing that, the pleasure and joy were coming over me minute by minute and the outcome of that was my first book, a romance novel called Seductive Ambiguity. Today I know that everything that started with a simple dream, turned out to be my biggest passion and love. Today I know that writing is my vocation. 
Q: What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?
A: I generally write romance. This is my favorite kind of literature and I have to say that it expresses me the most. I love to write romance. Of course, I`ve considered to write other genres and as a matter a fact, I`m quite looking forward to start. I write Children`s Stories too.
Q: What have you had published to-date? How much of the marketing do you do?
A: I published in 2009 my first romance novel. It was a 28 chapter novel and I wrote it in six months. I don`t really do all that marketing part but I have my site and I`m managing that.
Q: Do you have an agent? Do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?
A: No, at this moment I don`t have an agent but I`m in the search of having one. I already sent queries to the literary agencies and hope to hear from them soon. To have an agent is a good thing nowadays and surely helps you in your writing career. I think every respectful writer should have one. And yet, I don`t think that an agent is vital to an author` success. A writer can very well write without having an agent too. If we look at mankind`s biggest writers from a century or so ago, they didn`t have a literary agent and still they wrote amazing, everlasting books. Victor Hugo didn`t have an agent, William Shakespeare didn`t have an agent and yet they became famous writers. I think it`s all about how much you invest in yourself and how serious you are in regards to your writing.
Q: Are your books available as eBooks? If so what was your experience of that process? And do you read eBooks?
A: No, my books are not available as e-books; at least, not for the moment. Yes, I read e-books.
Q: What was your first acceptance and is being accepted still a thrill?
A: My first acceptance was good, didn`t even expect it to be like that. I was given a beautiful surprise. Of course, being accepted will always be a thrill. Maybe not like the first one but definitely, it is a continuous thrill.
Q: Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?
A: Yes, I had rejections too. It`s a part of the process, you can`t stop or avoid them. At first, I was getting upset when I faced them, as I wanted for all the people to love what I was writing but that period is gone now. I understand now that people are free to do and say whatever they want and really, it`s not something personal. Some of them won`t like what you write. What`s the problem? None, as long as you see it that way. Don`t let that get to you and keep on writing.
Q: What are you working on at the moment / next?
A: I finished writing my second book, which is a fifty chapter’s romance novel. It will be published in September. Having this done, I`m enjoying now a small break and after this I will start my third novel. Don`t know exactly the whole story but I`m pretty sure I`ll place it somewhere in the Oriental part of the world. I`ve just returned from Austria:) (this was the country where the second novel was set). Now, I`ll go to a sunnier place 
Q: Do you manage to write every day? What’s the most you’ve written in a day?
A: No, I don`t manage to write every single day as I have also classes to attend and sometimes I simply don`t feel like writing, don`t have that natural, abundant flow and at that moment, I know it`s better for me to do something else instead. The most I`ve written in a day was four hours.
Q: What is your opinion of writer’s block? Do you ever suffer from it? If so, how do you ‘cure’ it?
A: Writer`s block is a very common thing among writers and I know it can be so annoying at times. I remember I had it once, for about five days. I couldn`t write anything and I was so upset as I was getting so close in finishing the novel on which I was working at that time. Eventually, I let it go, I embraced my lack of inspiration and soon after, I could write again. That was the first time I`ve “suffered’ out of writer`s block but that experience didn`t repeat itself again. Usually, inspiration comes easily to me. If I see something beautiful or looking for reasons to praise, it`s enough to trigger my desire to write. When I write on a book, it`s that eagerness and excitement to see what`s the next step of the story that keeps my inspiration flowing.
Q: Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
A: Usually, I get the idea and run with it. Everything else unfolds to me as I write.
Q: Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?
A: When it comes about my books, I`m sure all of them will see day light. But, I also have a notebook where I write and it`s that that I`m not sure it will see it because there are works very close to my heart, very private. It`s the place where I literally write whatever I`m feeling and I think I should keep it in a more hidden form.
Q: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect of your writing life?
A: My favorite aspect of my writing life is that I can create my own stories, places and characters. I love to create destinies and to play with my imagination. The least aspect is the typing process. It`s like reading the same book twice.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
A: If they love to be in service for others, have a burning desire to do a hard work but rewarding and mostly, an unshakable wish to write, they should do so. Otherwise, they will give up on the first moment when writer`s block comes.
Q: What do you like to read?
A: I like to read good books, related to history, self-improvement, spirituality, romance. Also, I like to read well written novels, almost on any subject.
Q: Are there any writing-related websites and/or books that you find useful and would recommend?
A: Yes. There are several writing sites as :
http://www.fictionfeedback.co.uk/index.php
http://www.everywritersresource.com/
As for the books, there are three that I particularly like. It`s about:
Brian Tracy- Eat the Frog
Allan Pease- Questions are the answers
Donald Trump- Think big and kick ass.
Q: In which country are you based and do you find this a help or hindrance with letting people know about your work?
A: I am from Romania. Yes, it can be helpful in letting people know about my work.
Q: Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how invaluable do you find them?
A: Yes, I am on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Behance . I think they are a great way to promote yourself and your books, to tell the world who you are.
Q: Where can we find out about you and your work?
A: You can find everything you want to know about me from my site, http://cristinaistrati.com
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
A: I`m most happy for taking part in this interview. I had a good time answering the questions and I hope they will be an advantage for those writers that already have a background, as well like guidance for those that are at their literary beginning. Thank you!
Interview made by Morgen Bailey
Email: morgen@morgenbailey.com
Blog: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com
Website: http://morgenbailey.com
