Ask Paulo Coelho - Tuesday, April 2nd! discussion
Ask Paulo!
I have recently started reading your books through recommendation of a friend, I have only read a couple of your books, "The Alchemist" and "The Devil and Miss Pyrm." I do plan to read more. I think you are such a good story teller. What inspires you to write and what does it take to become a good story teller?
Hey Paulo, such a pleasure to have a contact with you. I learned alchemy since I was 17 (a half and a year ago), and I was wondering about where do you learn alchemy? I think that you're more into spiritual alchemy instead of plant alchemy, am I right? I assume you have read Ambelain's works? The second question is: where did you get all the wisdom in your book 'The Alchemist'? Do you experienced it or learned it from someone?
That's all for now. I'd be very grateful if you can answer my nosy questions :).
Hello. I wanted to ask you which is the favorite book you have written so far and why.Thank you so much.
Sara
SIR I HAVE READ THE ALCHEMIST . I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THINGS TAKE YOU TOWARDS DESTINY AND HOW DOES ONE FIND HIS DESTINY ?
Bom dia Paulo,I am Brazilian, but live in San Francisco, California for many years. I have had the occasion of meeting you twice when you came here to advertise your books. I enjoy reading your books, which feed my soul and I see myself re-reading the same books over. I do appreciate your success in the world, and I am proud of it. What the critics in Brazil have failed to realize is that you write for the soul of your readers, not for the Academy of Letters. When I read one of your books, I cannot read anything else for a while because I keep thinking about the messages I receive from your narratives. I am an elementary school teacher, and I am seriously considering adding some of your novels in my curriculum, definetely the Alchemist and the Pilgrimage, which were the first I ever read. I am still thinking of others that would be appropriate for children. Have you considered writing books for children?
Hi Sir Paulo. I am a 16-year-old girl, and I've read your book "Veronika Decides to Die."I find it very intriguing how you see craziness or madness in a very positive way. What are your thoughts if almost all people in the world would think outside the box and the world would somehow be mad? Would it be better or it would just turn out like this one?
When you have come to what looks like your biggest fear or breaking point what has led you through and is it similar each time?Thanks,
Ari
Hi Paulo ,I read 7 of your books,all are very impressive .Especiallythe way you manage to put out the feelings of the characters in a simply way is amazing . The question is :How it's possible for you to know that well the thoughts and the women feelings ?
Thank you very much ,because you gave me a lot of love , inspiration throw you books. Sabrina
Hi Paolo, i've read most of your books..i like the spiritualism inside. I just want to ask one question, what is your source to write those magnificent stories?
Marwa wrote: "How you deal with tough times in your life?"great question i wanna know too :)
I am currently reading The Alchemist and I have to say that I love your writing style. I find inspiration in every single page of your book.-What inspired you to write The Alchemist?
-Do the ideas always come easily to you while writing?
-If you were not an author, what do you think you would be?
Thank you.
The Zahir is my favorite of all of the books of yours I have read. It actually made me experience deep rooted feelings I have had for long time. I still haven't resolved them and the book needs a few more reads. What is your Zahir? Was this book about a personal Zahir of yours. It seems to me, it is the quest to write your "true" story.
I would like to start with a short statement about how I met my husband. We met at work, when he came from a hospital across the city to fix my computer as a favor to a friend who worked at the university hospital I was employed by. After he fixed my computer from me, he made a reference to the Camino, which I immediately recognized. I asked him if he ever read "The Pilgrimage," and he said it was his favorite book. I was thrilled to find that out, since I had never met another American who was a fan of your writing. We went out for a drink to discuss your books, and the rest is history!One of my favorite things about your writing is that you're a male who has an uncanny ability to write from a female perspective. To what do you attribute to this skill, which is so rare amongst male authors?
How can we deal with being far from the people that we love ?
What is most important in relationships Love or Respect?
After i read your book the Alchemist i'm trying to pay attention to the signs that God sending to me but sometimes i get confused .. it seems not clear for me so how can i be sure of the message?
Hello Paulo,I'm a fan of your writting. I read Veronika Decides to Die and now I'm reading Brida, but Veronika is still my favorite. About Brida, this book have lots of deep meanings, I am wondering what inspired you to write this book. Is Brida's story a real one? You practiced or belive in those religious,Wicca or other non-Christian, concepts described in this book?.This book (and,others like The Alchemist) has many philosophical ideas and motivational messages. I am grateful for that. Are welcome in a chaotic world like ours.
Thank you,
Bianca :)
Hello Paulo,I read The Alchemist a year ago for a my senior project in school. I enjoyed it a great deal and found it to be truly inspired. I read the book in english much to my mother's dismay who thought I should read it in spanish, the language she has read all of your books in. I reminded her that Spanish is not the original language of your books either. What is it like to have your books translated into so many different languages? Is there ever any fear that some of the meaning will get lost in translation?
Thank you,
Veronica
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The Alchemist was the first book of yours that I read some 2-3 years ago.And its the book that had the most impact on me.I am guilty of the fact you wrote there about how intimacy leads us to controlling another person we are intimate to.Because these days I feel like I am losing some people because of that.Howto stop it?Now I am on a different country away from home.I'm in the desert land of Saudi Arabia for a job. And like the shepherd I wish that in the end I'll find my treasure back on my land just at the doorstep of our home.And since I'm feeling like the woman of the desert itself, maybe I can make it a part of my nature to wait.
Primero,que nada gracia por existir volverte escritor y haber puesto en mi vida " el alquimista" cuando más me hacia falta, he leído la mayoría de tus libros y veo que en tu vida fue primordial encontrar a tu maestro o guía espiritual, vengo de una familia divorciada mis 43 años el único guía que he tenido son lo libros pero siempre he esperado algún maestro que me guíe por algún camino más espiritual, que me recomiendas? ...Bendiciones y mucha luz!
Sorry, because im going to write in spanish because my inglish is not very Good. Hace diez años leí Verónica decide morir, hace 2 o 3 leí El vencedor esta sólo, y hace un mes no se cómo, llegue amis manos los Manuscritos de Accra y todos estos libros me han dejado marca y una cicatriz que nada ni nadie podrá mover de mi. Ahora Mi pregunta es ¿sabes Paulo, lo que realmente lograr con tus libros? Por qué has cambiado vidas enteras. Y ¿es quizá la ciudad de Acra, la misma conocida por ser la ciudad de los caballeros templarios? Thanks
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I did not know. I was just following my dream
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For the moment, yes. No major distributor wanted to distribute it
Dear Paulo, At many instances I feel lost while reading can't really understand or lets say imagine and visualize what you're trying to tell me through your novels, I don't know might it be because of the translation since I read your novels in english? Also how close are your novels to reality have you actually witnessed some of the events you mentioned in any of your novels?
Thanks a lot and have a wonderful day
Hi! Yes, I have a question. What you need to daring to write novels?
I want to be writer!
Dear Paulo,Regarding The Winner Stands Alone; why did you write Igor as the last standing? Do you consider him the winner?
Take care,
Bruce
Mr. Coelho,What advice do you have for young Catholic and Christian authors so that we may positively contribute to society without distracting others from truth and faith?
Peace be with you,
Amanda Murphy
Hi Paulo, Welcome to the forum. Thanks for taking time to answer.Paulo wrote: "Margo wrote: "Welcome to the group! Paulo will be answering questions on Tuesday, April 2nd in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for Paulo or just want to introduce yourself ..."
I've been writing for some time now, but only recently did I start to attempt storytellng. I've always used writing as an outlet and as a tool to try and uncover truths about the world and about myself, but with storytelling I find it a little different because of the fictional aspect of it; creating characters and a setting and a plot, etc. You're able to weave together many, many different kinds of truths and messages in your books (So far I've read The Alchemist, Veronika Decides to Die, The Witch of Portobellow, and am in the process of reading Eleven Minutes).
My question therefore is: when you write do you write the story first and find the message within the story, or does your story form around the message? Or is there another way you put the two and two together?
Hello Paulo,Thank you for the great books you've been writing. I'm so fascinating by your writing altough I've read few of your books and surely I'm gonna continue to read the rest of them.
I just have this question: How can someone experience a "Spiritual Awakening"?? I've been trying with this concept for quite sometimes and still can't reach it within. So if you could please tell me your experience?
Thank you,
My Spirit Budour
How would you define alchemy? What are your opinions on modern science and its relation (or non-relation) to alchemy?
I want to ask you about the prologue of the Alchemist;about the meaning of "in the depth of his eyes I could see my own beauty reflected" and I want to ask if it has a positive or negative meaning???
Does it reflect the selfishness of the lake who was unable to see the beauty of Narcisus or does it reflect a deeper meaning about how in the presence of some people and because of their positive energy all the goodness inside of us come out and we feel that we are so beautiful ????
I would really appreciate if you can give us your personal point of view.
Welcome Mr. Paulo to the group and I am so happy you are going to discuss some questions with us:when you write your famous book Alchemist what let you think that person should follow his heart and where is the brain from the story.
I really believe heart is the main power not like brain but still the brain is important to guide us to right road.
Hi Mr. Coelho,I've read some of your books but my all time favorite is still the Alchemist. I can't stop reading it for some reason. Although I'm sure you've been asked plenty of times, but I want to know what or how did you feel when you were writing the Alchemist?
The reason why I asked is because I fell in love with every scene and I was thinking that whoever wrote this must be a genius.
Thank you and Keep up the amazing work
Ashley
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?By the way, The Alchemist was great.
Hi Mr. Coelho. What are your other dreams? :)
Hola mr.Paulo Coelho i was read 12 books of you and looking forward to read Manuscript Found in Accra , i would to ask you if you can be my guide and how i can Contact with Others guides ,Thanks for the effort to respond to our questions ♥♥♥ MARWA FROM ERITREA ♥♥♥
hello Paulo,In Your books you bring some kind of types of magic which makes the reader addicted to you.. Especially in Brida and Alchemist I felt like I'm inside the book. how do you manage to write such incredible books? how does the story come into your mind?
Hi Paulowith the respect to your experience what can I do to reach wholeness within myself
Hamid
I have read a number of your books, my favourite being, Eleven Minutes for reasons I am not entirely sure of myself. I was wondering which of the books you have written, regardless of their respective successes, do you hold most dear and why?
Hey Paulo,I'm inspired by your books, the quotations. Books written by you acts like a magnet to the readers.
You always manage to get an amazing plot for your story's. I'm one of the biggest fan of yours from India.
I'm very keen to know how you started your career in writing. I have a sense of concern with and curiosity about writing novels and story's. I'm just 16 years old, and its' like I've to think about which career would go the best for me.
Can you please advice me how to start with the writing career? I'm almost baffled and need some help.
Thanking you,
Gunit
about the destiny you wrote in the alchemistevery thing was in Quran and GOD spoke about it
what do you think about islam !
Hi Paulo sir,What do you think about meditation? I tried it a while ago when I was small. People say it rejuvenates and strengthens, is it true? Is it recommended?
Thanks,
Deepak.
Ask Paulo Coelho - Tuesday, April 2nd!
Books mentioned in this topic
Veronika Decides to Die (other topics)The Alchemist (other topics)
The Winner Stands Alone (other topics)
The Pilgrimage (other topics)
Brida (other topics)
More...
I admire almost every book I read you've written. Ever since my friend gave me The Alchemist as a present. Your other books I've bought/buy instantly, when they are released on the Dutch market, because I wanted to have them on my bookshelf, so I can read them again whenever I want.
However, there's one book that disappointed me: The Winner Stands Alone. When I bought it I thought: Wow, this is a big one. But it turned out to be so different from your other more philosophical books, like The Pilgrimage, Brida, and The Fifth Mountain.
To me The Winner Stands Alone is a book about uncontrolled lust and murder, but I think I haven't found the deeper meaning of this book yet.
Could you, please, explain a bit of the essence of this book, so I can understand why you have written it. Thank you very much in advance.