ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tatsiana Chykhayeva is a Hospitality Professional and a certified Life Balance coach. Born in Belarus, she traveled to England to complete her studies.
She has lived and worked in Switzerland, the UAE, China and the Bahamas.
Her interest in human psychology and life philosophies, together with her first-hand experiences in meeting people from different cultures has led her to believe that no matter where we come from, we are all connected. We have similar challenges, feelings and emotions. This is what her first novel is about.
Tatsiana lives in India with her husband and Patches, their furry friend. She spends most of her time working and volunteering with various NGOs, organizing charitable and social events.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Q. Can you tell us about your debut book Lana?
Lana is my first novel. It belongs to the psychological fiction genre. However, the book is very easy to read and to understand.
While writing it, i aimed to keep the language very simple and the story line intriguing. I hope i managed to achieve it.
Q. What was your inspiration for Lana?
I am a certified life coach, as well as a big talker :) I like to meet new people, speak to them and learn about their lives. Many chose to share their life challenges and struggles with me.
Over the years of traveling, working abroad and meeting people from all over the world, i've seen a vivid trend in human problems. At the end of the day, no matter where we are from, we all want to be happy.
Unfortunately, along the way, we often look for someone to blame for our disappointments instead of taking full responsibility over our lives.
I've chosen some of the most common excuses that we, humans, use when we try to explain our own failures and wrote about it.
I hope that bringing up such topics, showcasing it through examples of fictional characters, could help all of us to improve our lives and find happiness.
Q. So, where did you start? What was the writing process like for this book?
I started writing about a year ago. I had a clear idea of what I wanted my book to be like. However, by the time I finished it, it was very different from what I'd envisioned.
Along the way, I asked some of my friends to read the first chapters and received very positive feedback. That certainly motivated me to write more and to get it to the final stage of publishing it.
Of course, I could not do it without the full support of my husband. Probably, next time, I will have to write about the importance of people in our lives.
Without good family and friends, it is hard to achieve something in life.
Q. Lana touches on multiple social issues. Why was that important for you to write about and incorporate into the book?
I would not call it social issues, but rather "simple excuses" that we all use to explain our own failure. To take responsibility is a very difficult step. More for some than others, but it is never easy for anyone.
However, maybe someday, we can all realize that being responsible for our own decisions and actions is very important and extremely rewarding.
It is not easy, but it is worth it. Maybe that is one of the keys to happiness. Who knows :)
Q. What characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know?
I did not write about anyone specific in the book. It is rather a fusion of character traits from various people that I had met in life.
Of course, often exaggerated or combined, but realistic enough for others to relate to them.
Q. Are there any authors or specific books that really influenced your writing?
I've been a fan of Paolo Coelho for many years, especially in my teenage days when i first came across his book "Alchemist". I am sure I was not the only one who enjoyed his writing.
He is truly a brilliant writer. Hence, I adopted the idea of writing such a philosophical book.
By no means I would dare to compare myself to his success in execution, but I hope that my intent to deliver some simple life truths would also be recognized and understood.
Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
My first attempt to write was at the age of seventeen. I came to my father and told him about my plans to publish the book. "Are you sure you want to do it now?" - He asked. - "Maybe ten years from now, your view will change and you will not want to read your work any longer."
I felt his support but decided to wait till I grew up and my thoughts would be more justified.
My father is no more, and I never grew up. But one thing i understood, that without the support and understanding i would not be where i am now.
Without some specific events in my life, disappointments, troubles and tons of examples, I would not have a story for my novel.
Everything happens for the best. At times, it is wise to wait. But, do not ever wait for too long. Just do it!
Q. What first made you fall in love with writing and books in general?
I love reading and at times, i get disappointed in books that i chose. I wanted to tell a story in a specific way and i did it.
Of course, we can never make everyone happy. But I am very pleased with the results.
Q. Do you have a favorite spot where you like to spend time?
I like to be wherever i have good company, intelligent conversation, tasty food and wine. The location itself never matters.
Q. What has the pandemic taught you?
That action is life. The world can pause for a bit, but we should never. Life is short and there is no time for standing still. Always move forward, create and wish for more.
Q. Future of SALISMANIA.com through your eyes?
Grow, grow, grow. Never give up and keep on doing great! I think it is a great platform and a very useful resource.
BUY NOW: Lana: You will be as happy as you will allow yourself to be. https://amzn.eu/d/4uXiQae