Infrequently Asked Questions with Author Sebnem Sanders

 

INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here at S.A.V.A. Press, not only do we like and respect writers, but we find them profoundly interesting. As such, whenever we publish and promote authors, we also try to get to know them a little bit. Hopefully, you’ll find the following questions and answers both engaging and enticing enough to delve into more of the author’s available content…

And now, without further ado, S.A.V.A. Press is proud to present: Sebnem Sanders!

S.A.V.A. Press: “Author bios, by their very nature, are meant to be short and sweet. Is there anything outside of your author bio that you’d like your readers to know about you, or that you think your readers might find interesting and/or surprising about you? If not, feel free to use this space to speak directly to your readers about anything related to your published work…”

Sebnem: “I’m a dreamer and I prefer to write stories about the human condition, with our weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes I use elements of fantasy to depict human nature, but my stories evolve mainly on Earth.”

S.A.V.A. Press: “Here at S.A.V.A. Press, we feel that all writers can contribute something to the conversation about the art of writing. Can you share your thoughts on what, in your opinion, are the elements of great writing?”

Sebnem: “In my opinion, the voice is very important, the narrator who tells the story and the way he or she tells it. Then characters and plot, and suspense which can be created with hooks, and perhaps a twist at the end. There are only so many stories that have been told and re-told. I think the way it is told makes the difference. I believe in a simple language, without big words and convoluted sentences. Clean, precise, and unpretentious.”

S.A.V.A. Press: “Writing is an art, and all artists derive inspiration from their mentors and idols along the way. Can you elaborate on the people who’ve inspired and influenced you, and helped mold your writing thus far? And please don’t feel as if your answer has to be limited to writers. Inspiration can come from all kinds of sources…”

Sebnem: “I like Paulo Coelho’s style, especially in The Alchemist. He uses simple language to depict his stories, elements of fantasy that create a magical atmosphere, and he has his own philosophy of life which he doesn’t dictate, but implies to the reader. I also like Paul Auster, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Margaret Atwood’s works.

“I’m a good observer. Inspiration comes from many sources. A conversation between strangers, a newspaper article, a book I’ve read, a film I’ve seen, a song I’ve heard, a poem, a painting, a photograph, nature, and acts of nature which I find fascinating. I love art and I’ve written stories or poems on many paintings or photographs that inspire me.”

S.A.V.A. Press: “Please share your thoughts, both positive and/or negative, on the literary landscape of today…”

Sebnem: “Commercial work sells. Literary work doesn’t sell that well unless it’s from a famous author. Romance, thrillers, erotic works are popular. Literary fiction lags behind…

“New writers have a tough time, but sometimes a debut book hits the best seller list, which is great.”

S.A.V.A. Press: “If you could suggest one fiction book that everyone should read, what would it be, and why?”

Sebnem: “It’s terribly difficult to choose one book because I have so many favourites, yet I’ll go with Paul Auster’s The New York Trilogy. This book has 3 stories in it, ‘City of Glass,’ ‘Ghosts,’ and ‘The Locked Room.’ It’s called a postmodern interpretation of detective and mystery fiction, exploring various philosophical themes (Wikipedia). To me, these three stories depict the human condition, with elements of fantasy, suspense, humour, and masterful writing. The three stories are separate, but are also connected as they all take place in New York.”

Sebnem E. Sanders is a native of Istanbul, Turkey. Currently she lives on the eastern shores of the Southern Aegean where she dreams and writes Flash Fiction and Flash Poesy, as well as longer works of fiction. Her flash stories have appeared in the Harper Collins Authonomy Blog, The Drabble, Sick Lit Magazine, Twisted Sister Lit Mag, Spelk Fiction, The Bosphorus Review of Books, Three Drops from the Cauldron, The Rye Whiskey Review, CarpeArte Journal, Yellow Mama Webzine, Punk Noir Magazine, Flash Fiction Offensive, and The Cabinet of Heed, as well as two anthologies: Paws and Claws and One Million Project Thriller Anthology. She has a completed manuscript, The Child of Heaven and two works in progress, The Child of Passion and The Lost Child. Her collection of short and flash fiction stories, Ripples on the Pond, was published in December 2017. More information can be found at her website where she publishes some of her work:

https://sebnemsanders.wordpress.com/

Ripples on the Pond - Kindle edition by Sanders, Sebnem E.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.