Interview With Author Shefqet Meko

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? My inspiration for this book stems from my unique life. Spanning two centuries, two continents, and two vastly different societies, I've had the privilege of experiencing life in Albania under the socialist block. This stark contrast has ignited my imagination and provided a wealth of inspiration for my writing.  

2. What is it about, and who is it written for? "Saga Across the Atlantic" is a story about resilience, hope, and the pursuit of a better life. It follows a childless couple's journey to America, struggles, and unwavering determination to succeed. It's a story that resonates with anyone who dreams and strives for a better future, making it a compelling read for a wide range of readers.  

3. What do you hope readers will get from reading your book? I hope readers of my books will see American freedom and endless opportunities with a fresh perspective. They will gain a deeper understanding of what it means to live and dream in America, a land that offers everything to be free but demands nothing for free. I invite you to embark on a journey of discovery.   

4. How did you decide on your book's title and cover design? This is a time struggle. You put several titles as options, and you cross them all out. It takes work. The book's title is Arkimend, saying, "Give me the point to hold the globe." I  have been lucky to hear my friend's suggestion in the final title, and on the book cover are the artists to figure out.  This process is like seeing several new girls, and you are not sure where to focus and love because all of them are so beautiful that you have a hard time choosing... Ahaaa.  

5. What advice or wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?   I remember that when I was young, one of the most famous Albanian writers, Ismail Kadare,  told us at the national conference of young talents in literature: "In the writing business, you enter to be famous and to be the greatest one." At that time, we all were astonished by such advice. He was encouraged to be brave and intelligent and aim at the top of success. We were under a dictatorship where the most famous gau was the Leader and no other. This advice sparked much discussion and criticism but was one of the best. My best friend in the writing business tells me: tell your story as you feel it. Readers will get it.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Nowadays, whether we like them or not, books, even human treasures, and wisdom, are becoming the "commodities of the market." They are there in the open market, on librarians in the bookshops. On fair that readers can choose from. You dream of being a best seller, but to come to this point, you need not only talents, skills, and a unique way of writing and telling the story but a lot of investment in advertising. I feel good when readers reach out to me and say they liked my book. This is an unnoted award that feels any writer.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career helpful when writing this book?   Writing a book and having nothing from your life and experience is impossible. Of course, the life you experienced is reflected in your book, but it is mixed up with other stories that your friend may have told you or seen in the distance. Writing is a mixture of truth and fantasy all the time.   

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? It's important to be you. I write about my thinking, analyze the situation, prescribing  the characters, etc. Writing the book is not a prescription from your doctor,that should be exactly what he is  telling the pharmacist to give you. This process is very complex because it is you, others,  standings, ideas, and your other readings as well. So, there are so many factors in your mind that make you write in your own way. However I would say that my writing style is like Balzak or Hygo, sometimes like Jack London as writers that I did read in my  youth. It's my belief that each writer has his own style of writing as a "passport" to go to the audience of the readers.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Often, when you start a book, you do not sleep well, or sometimes you do not sleep at all. You are living in a different world once the book is in your mind. It's like an architrave project. He should put all the details and measure everything to succeed. In writing, even you do not have such perfect measurements. You have a lot of ideas that, most of the time, confuse you, and you struggle to get clarity. It's a process that is coming through your mind. Not simple, not impossible.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? The author has only the name on the book. The rest is in the market and readers' choices; it's fantastic. Once you buy my book, it's yours to enjoy. Of course, the author dreams of having a chance to interact with readers to get their ideas, objections, and suggestions, making the book enjoyable. For instance, in my novel "The American Visa," the main character dies at the end. He lost his life accidentally after fighting for justice. Most of my readers asked me, "Why did you kill   Artan Pojani (The main character) at the end? I was astonished by such a reaction, but getting involved in this kind of debate was fun. My answer was simple. "I did not kill him. God decides my hero's fate. We all have our own fate that we like to say "Was written by  God" or, for those who are atheists, "Was a random chance." Life is like that. We never know our end, but we live and dream like we never will die. One day we will go, but the books that we wrote or read remain among the generations to come. 

About The Author: Shefqet Meko is an Albanian-American author. A former journalist for Radio-Tirana, National Radio of Albania, he moved to the USA with a green card in 1999. Since then, Shefqet Meko has lived with his wife and two boys in Minneapolis, MN. Meko has published several books in Albania. The American Visa was his first novel published in the USA, and Saga Across the Atlantic is the second one.  

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.