Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Valbona Kociu, author of The Pact Beneath the Bridge.

Good day Valbona and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background.

Valbona:

I was born in Tirana, Albania. I graduated high school and continued my university studies in Albania in the field of Economics. At the age of 18, I published for the first time the novel: Pa Mbimer (translation Without Surname). In the year 1997, at the age of 22, when the lethal insurgency burst into the open in Albania, I fled the country to further continue my education in France in the field of Econometrics.

Norm:

When did your passion for writing begin? What motivates you and keeps you going?

Valbona:

The passion to write was born within me. At the age of 7, I wrote my first poem and later I composed and created 5 songs for little children.

The passion of writing grew stronger and furiously in my life. I started writing my first novel at the age of 16. Pa Mbiemer was randomly found by the literary editor, Rudolf Marku, and was later published in 1992 by the publishing house Naim Frasheri. My style has been compared with Françoise Sagan.

All my life, I’ve traveled in the midst of a big people’s ocean. I took my traveler’s ship and left behind thousands of mothers’ voices who cried for their distant children, in the haze of immigration. Every morning, when the sun greets the world, I say to myself: “I must write, today!”

Norm:

What was the original language of The Pact Beneath the Bridge?  How difficult was it to translate it and were you satisfied with its translation?

Valbona:

The original language of the writing was the Albanian language. The translation from Albanian to English was done by my brother who lives in Chicago, Saimir Kociu, who is a translator.

He preserved perfectly my unique style. Later, I contacted a copyright professional, Nomi Isak Kleinmuntz from California, who did a marvelous job of editing, where the colors of the writing sang with the style’s rhythm. The translation process was laborious but very important.

Norm:

How many languages do you write and speak and which languages do you feel most comfortable with when writing?

Valbona:

I can read and write Albanian and French, I also speak Italian. The language that I’m most comfortable expressing my emotions is Albanian.

Norm:

How did you get the inspiration for your story? As a follow up, how did you go about creating Steven Won? How long did it take you to write The Pact Beneath the Bridge and was it improvisational or did you have a set plan?

Valbona:

One of my passions is the description of emotion, the human psychology. I sought after a suffering man, isolated from the world and in my imagination I met Steven Won who was sitting in a small prison cell. As a result, the story’s idea emanated. I like to focus my thoughts on one individual, one object…so later I can develop a story.

Norm:

Does your work have a broader mission than simply storytelling or entertainment? If so, can you expand and what do you hope readers will take away after reading your book?

Valbona:

It is simply a strong story, a psychological thriller. Emotion is my trade mark. I just want the reader to be the spectator of this raging emotion.

Norm:

You write with a very vivid style. Do you use any particular techniques to help with your writing? Are there any writers you admire or look to for inspiration?

Valbona:

I write directly in the computer. The keyboard’s typing rhythm stimulates my writing. Since childhood I admired Kafka.

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Valbona:

After the translation and the editing process, I sent my story to the self-publishing house Outskirts Press. This is how The Pact Beneath the Bridge was published in English.

Norm:

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career?

Valbona:

One of the methods that I used was making available the electronic version of my book at:

http://www.outskirtspress.com/thepactbeneaththebridge.

Naturally, there are other methods, which I hope to learn.

Norm:

Who are your favorite authors, and why do they inspire you?

Valbona:

Victor Hugo – a colossus in the depiction of human suffering.

Kafka – the power of the metaphors in his writings.

Steven King – the convulsions that come from his pen.

Norm:

When you write do you have a particular audience in mind?

Valbona:

I mostly write for adults.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to share with our readers and what is next for Valbona Kociu?

Valbona:

I foresee another novel:

“Here is a small door where you can enter the emotional world never

 before read anywhere.

Open the door!  

Don't get scared, you are simply a spectator.”

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

 To read Norm's Review of The Pact Beneath the Bridge CLICK HERE

 Click Here To Purchase From Amazon The Pact Beneath the Bridge