Interview With Author Besim Dervishi

 

 

1.      What inspired you to write this book? What inspired me to write the trilogy is the bringing to light of historical and archaeological truth. Because for me, history has been written wrong. The archaeological "discoveries" of the 1800s or mid-1900s are still circulating in literature when this science was misused by various forces to use archaeology and history, not as a science that united peoples but as a science that divided them, and these so-called discoveries were used for nationalistic purposes and territorial expansion to the detriment of smaller nations.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? Mount Tomor is a sacred mountain for Albanians, but I think that in ancient times this mountain was sacred to the Pelasgian and Illyrian tribes, very ancient tribes that lived in these areas. In fact, this mountain was sacred to all the ancient tribes in today's Europe.  I have written a "Triology", which is presented in three books.

The first book: TOMOR: THE FATHER OF PAGAN GODS, is the introduction to the topic of the historical problem. The second book TOMOR: HOME OF THE PAGAN TEMPLES, is the elaboration of the problem. And the third book: TOMOR: BEYOND DODONA'S MYSTERY, is the conclusion of the problem. In this trilogy, the problem of the location of the Oracle of Dodona is raised.

The story of the end of the 1800s, known as the Oracle near Ioannina, present-day Greece. But in fact this was the Oracle of Death and the Mountain that is today known by the name of Olicka was not Mount Tomar but Mount Pteleon that the ancient historian Strabo mentions in his book Geography 7.

According to me, Mount Tomar, near which the Oracle of Dodona was located, is the mountain with this name located in the South of Albania, near the ancient city of Berat. In support of this theory, I have given many archaeological and historical facts.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I think this Trilogy will provide knowledge to all readers who want more information about this time. The Oracle of Dodona is first mentioned in the Iliad when Achilles turns his face towards Dodona, praying to it. In ancient times, people lived in caves. But with the construction of the Temple of Dodona, which according to the ancient historian Herodotus, was built by three old women who came from Thebes in Egypt. People came out of the Caves to visit this Oracle, and without purpose, this place became a meeting place and the first civic center in Europe. It should be noted that according to the ancient historian Aeschylus, the first Oracle was on the top of this mountain. And I think that before the Oracle of Dodona (which was built in the historical era), there was another Temple, which was the Temple of Mother Earth, which was built in the Heroic Era.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? For the three titles of this Trilogy, I have decided in consultation with the Publishing House. The title of the first Book TOMOR: THE FATHER OF PAGAN GODS, is a title that contains within it the entire concept and belief that the inhabitants have for Mount Tomor. Also the title of the second book TOMOR: HOME OF THE PAGAN TEMPLES, conveys the same idea and belief that exists among the inhabitants of this area. While the third book TOMOR: BEYOND DODONA'S MYSTERY, shows the idea and the final conclusion. The cover design was decided in consultation with the publishing house, incorporating the image of the mountain, as well as artifacts discovered there.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?
I have been working on this trilogy for about fifteen years. For scholars, historians, writers, researchers, I want to say that you must have the desire to research and write. You must have perseverance and self-confidence. Never retreat from your path and if you are prejudiced, you are ignored. Look ahead.

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? During the time I was writing the book, I was helped by the University I attended, during which I learned the subject: "Academic Writing".
Also, the residents of the area helped me by providing me with a lot of historical and archaeological information.

7. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? This study resembles, in terms of writing style and way of thinking and presenting evidence, the work of scholars and researchers Martin Gray, Michael Tellinger, and others.

8. How do you feel your book compares to others in your genre? I like this very much and I feel very honored and appreciated.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? During the realization of this study I had some challenges. At first there was the time I had to find to go to archaeological sites and find them. I also had to find the time to write the trilogy.
I have had many other trials, which I have overcome with the help of my family, as well as the residents of the area.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? I want to tell all readers that they should read this trilogy because there you should get a lot of historical and archaeological information. History teaches us that the books of the Library of Alexandria were burned almost all in three periods. First by Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. Later in 389 by Theodosius and finally by the Arab General Amru. Today's books are nothing but a deviation or reproduction of those that have been remembered or have "saved" from these three great fires.

For this reason, in our studies we have used as main sources the sources found in the field, while we have used the statements of other authors as complementary sources.
Trilogy for Dodona and Mount Tomor
TOMOR: THE FATHER OF PAGAN GODS!
TOMOR: HOME OF THE PAGAN TEMPLES!
TOMOR BEYOND DODONA'S MYSTERY!

It is not a trilogy that speaks of a dead time and has dead, altered or transformed authors as a source. It is a trilogy that speaks with living facts about a time of heroic and historical periods which is of great importance.

To show that the center of European civilization was in the Temple of Dodona. There are many facts for this theory. In support of it we have put dozens of artifacts, sphinxes, terracotta, ancient writings that take us to distant periods over 10,000 years old.

About The Author: Besim DERVISHI was born in the village of Peshtan in Berat, Albania,  on February 1, 1976. He started the first grade in this village in the k-8 school. "Kadri Asllani." In 1984, he left to live in Poliçan, Skrapar, where he finished his studies at the 8-year school "Refat Keli."From 1990- 1994 he completed the Mechanical High School in Poliçan Skrapar. In the years 2004-2007, he continued his studies in Law at "Hasan Prishtina" University, Kosovo. In 2007-2009, he continued his studies in the master's program in the field of Criminal Law and, in 2010, received the title: "Master in Criminal Sciences." During this time, he conducted training organized by USAID, ABAROLE, the University of Pristina, and the American Embassy in Pristina, as well as other training in Tirana in the criminal field. In 2009, he started working in the State Administration in National Security. In 2013, he left for the USA, where he works in the medical field. On October 20, 2019, at the Albanian Literature Days Competition in America, organized by the "Kuvendi" Publishing Company, under the auspices of the couple Pjetër Jaku and Elinda Marku, the jury of this competition awarded the first prize in prose for the story "Bird of Cuckoo." In September 2020, "Kuvendi" Publishing House. Lezhë publishes his first book of stories, "Zogu I Qyqes." In 2021, he will publish his second book, the poetic volume URORO, STRALL, ESHKE DHE BAROT, Tirana EMAL Publishing House. In 2021, the Publishing House "Helios Publishing" in the State of Connecticut published his book in English: All three of these books are available on the AMAZON Platform, at the link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BRZFY4H4?ccs_id=7691ba8f-c20e-4616-a8bf-c55c10043725

 

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For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity 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.

 

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