Interview Wih Author Lydia Lukidis

Author of: Gerbs in the House : The Dilly Dally Bedtime Routine

1. What type of books do you write? I write books for children, everything from fiction to educational content. My favourite age bracket is 4-8, these kids are so open minded and truly believe in the magic!

2. What is your newest book about? My newest book is Gerbs in the House: The Dilly Dally Bedtime Routine. It’s about a little gerbil named Petri who simply refuses to go to bed! His father tried everything from reading books to giving him snacks and even performing silly tricks. It’s a fun story that many parents can relate to.

3. What inspired you to write it? Bailey and I were brainstorming themes that were accessible and universal, both for parents and children alike. When I thought of bedtime routines, my own daughter came to mind, as she’s the queen of the dilly dally!

4. What is the writing process like for you? Writing is never predictable. Inspiration can strike at any time and you can’t force it. Sometime I start a  book with clear ideas on what will happen. But at other times it’s a lot trickier. I’m writing a book now that’s more character driven, so my characters are all created but it’s not clear how the story will unfold. In that sense, writing is magical. Sometimes you only find out what will happen as you’re writing it.

5. What did you do before you became an author? I’ve been writing since age 8, starting with little poems and then short stories later on. It’s always been my first love and it’s what I studied in University. Upon my graduation, I created my own jewellery line, which seemed like an odd choice but it was a way for me to be creative. Then I  transitioned into puppetry where I was writing children’s plays, and that led me to writing children’s books.

6. How does it feel to be a published author?  It feels great to be recognized by your peers and the public! It’s definitely an exciting thing. Writing is much more difficult than people imagine. It takes a  lot of work, time, and dedication. It’s not enough to be creative; you need to also know how to market yourself, and then you need to research the industry. Getting published is a process.

7. Any advice for struggling writers? Don’t be afraid of rejection! You will be getting rejection letters, it’s part of the trade. Accept them and move on. Spend time doing research but don’t forget to write every day, Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down with administrative work. It’s a balance between the creative end of things and the business side.

8. Where do you see book publishing heading? It’s obvious that the industry is changing and it’s important for authors to adapt to that. You can’t fight technology. I’ve been getting many eBooks published and I also get hired to work on children’s apps. This is great because it lends itself to diversity. But at the same time, for me there’s nothing like holding a book in print. I love books, not only reading them but collecting them. So for me, I will continue to publish books in print as long as I’m able!

For more information, please consult: www.lydialukidis.com

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015